that any are saved or condemned contrary to strict justice. Not one ungodly person will be found amongst those that are saved, nor one godly person amongst those that perish. Both the forgiving and unforgiving will have judgment " measured to them, according as they have meted unto others ;" and every man's happiness or misery will be exactly apportioned to him, according to his works. The godly indeed will feel no diffi- culty in ascribing their salvation to God and to the Lamb ; but the ungodly must for ever ascribe their condemnation to their own incorrigible folly and wickedness.]
3. Its excellency —
[The evils which Christianity is intended to remedy, are guilt and wickedness : and these it does remedy most effectually. Forgiveness of sins is freely offered to every penitent believer, without any respect to the number or greatness of his offences: *' the blood of Jesus Christ shall cleanse him from all sin:" if only the sinner believe in Jesus, " he shall be justified from all things," without exception. But does Christianity make no provision for holiness ? Does it leave men a prey to evil dis- positions, and a torment to each other ? No : it requires a change both of heart and life : it requires the exercise of uni- versal love: it requires a conformity to God himself: it saves not one single person, whom it does not first of all change into the image of God, and make " perfect as God himself is per- fect." Were Christianity universally prevalent, and if it had its full operation in every heart, there would be no unkindness in men towards each other, nor any trouble in their own minds. O that its influence were more generally known, and more deeply felt ! Let those at least who profess to have em- braced it in sincerity and truth, shew forth its power. Let them shew what amiable tempers it produces in the mind, and what a lovely carriage it produces in the life. If at any time they receive an injury, instead of meditating revenge, let them say, ' Now has my God given me an opportunity of recom- mending religion, and of glorifying his name : now has he called me to display the excellency of his Gospel and the efficacy of his grace.' Such conduct would serve as an evidence to our own minds that we are the Lord's, and would constrain others also to acknowledge that God is with us of a truth.]