[A speculative acknowledgment of Christ, without a prac- tical application to him for all the benefits of his salvation, will be of little use. The offices he sustains have respect to the necessities of fallen man : and under a sense of our need, we must look to him to fulfil those offices for us. Is he a Prophet ? We must look to him to instruct us by his word and Spirit, and to guide us into all truth. Is he a Priest ? We must rely on the atonement which he has offered for us, and seek, through his prevailing intercession, all those good things which he has purchased for us, and which God, for his sake, is ever ready to bestow. Is he a King ? We must put our- selves altogether under his government and protection, and live only for the glory of his great name. We must renounce every other hope, and rely on him for every thing ; looking to him, and to him only, as " our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our complete redemption." In a word, " the life which we now live in the flesh, we must live altogether by faith in the Son of God, who has loved us, and given himself for us."]
But, in contemplating this duty, I would call your attention particularly to,
II. The authority by which it is enjoined —
If to act faith on Christ were merely conceded to us by permission, it were a great and invaluable gift-
[Suppose the Israelites, when perishing with thirst, to behold the rock stricken, and the water gushing out like a river; would they need any command to drink of its refreshing streams? Would not a permission be amply sufficient? Me- thinks, if it had even been prohibited, they would have broken through the commandment, to slake their raging thirst. At all events, we are sure they would not have needed a command to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them. Or let us take another supposition. There is, we are told there is, an impassable gulf between heaven and hell. But, suppose there were a bridge built over it, and an open door made into the highest heavens, and a free permission given to the fallen angels to escape from their dungeons, and to resume the thrones of glory from which they fell ; how long, think ye, would they continue in their abodes of misery ? Would so much as one of them need a command to leave his sad abode, and to return to the enjoyment of his primitive felicity ? Then why should not a permission suffice for us ? A permission is given us; " Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast outc."
c John vi. 37.
Mii 1 JOHN, III. 23. [2451.
And what do any of you want more? Do you not need the waters of life as much as Israel ever did ? And are you not under the same condemnation with the fallen angels ? Yes, verily : the only difference between them and you is this, that they are already suffering the punishment of their sins ; but over you the penalty is suspended, and only waiting the com- mand of God to fall upon you to the uttermost. Surely, then, there should be in you the same anxiety to escape from the wrath to come ; and a bare permission should suffice to induce you to embrace the salvation set before you in the Gospel.]
But what shall we say, if God has recommended to us this salvation in a way of advice ?
[ This he has done : " I counsel thee," says our Lord, " to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear ; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest seed." By the prophet, too, it is said, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Where- fore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good ; and let your soul delight itself in fatnesse." Such was the advice given by St. Peter to those who, on the day of Pentecost, inquired, " Men and brethren, what shall we do ?" He bade them " repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins," which, he assured them, should be conferred on all who followed his advicef. And what was the effect? No less than three thousand persons instantly complied, and embraced with thankfulness the proffered benefit. So the jailer, when Paul gave the same advice to him in answer to a similar inquiry, arose immediately, and, with all his household, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ8. Why, then, should any of us delay? Why should any thing more than a mere word of advice be necessary for any one of us ?]