unto it should be saved. The opportunity was gladly embraced by the perishing multitudes, and the means were instantly crowned with the desired success. And happy am I to say, that at this very moment is t/iat transaction renewed in the midst of you. You are all dying of the wounds of sin. Not a creature in the universe can render you the least assistance towards a recovery from your perishing condition. But the Lord Jesus Christ is this day " set forth crucified in the midst of you :" and the law itself, yes, the law itself, I say, directs you to Him, as God's appointed ordinance for your salvation. This day does the law proclaim itself as your instructor, " to bring you to Christ, that you may be justified by faith in him." And is this an illustration of mine ? Is the compari- son between the two a mere accidental coincidence ? No : the one was intended, by God himself, to be an illustration of the other. Hear the application of this record, as it was made by our Lord Jesus Christ him- self: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilder- ness, even so shall the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." View, then, the Saviour this day erected on the cross ; and hear him addressing you in these gracious terms, " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ! for I am God, and there is none else," " no Saviour beside mep."
Thus, then, you see that both the law and the Gospel, if properly understood, speak the same lan- guage. Both the one and the other say, " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." " All that believe in him are justified from all things." " In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." May God Almighty discover to us all this blessed truth, and give us the sweet expe- rience of it in our own souls ! Sure I am, that, if our last discourse placed the law in a terrific view, you cannot now do otherwise than behold it as a most faithful counsellor and friendly instructor : and,
v Isai. xlv. 22.