of his divine mission, they would not believe in him, but would cast him out of the vineyard and slay him. What then must we suppose God would say on such an occasion? Surely he would speak to this effect: If I could hope that they would reverence my Son, I would overlook all the injuries done to my prophets, and would even send my Son for their salvation: but I know they would all thirst for his blood; they would pluck me from my throne if they were able; and, if I should put my Son into their power, they would load him with all manner of indignities, and put him to the most ignominious death: shall I then, foreseeing these things as I do, put him into their power? No: that were unworthy of my majesty, and degrading to my Son. I may possibly send my Son; but, if I do, it shall not be to save the world, but to condemn them according to their desert.']

These considerations fully evince the improbability that God should ever use the mediation of his Son in a way of mercy towards us. Yet we must add, II. That, notwithstanding it was so improbable, God did really send his Son, not to condemn, but to save the world

The frequency with which we hear of this stupendous mystery, prevents the surprise which the declaration of it must otherwise excite. But, whatever the ignorance of scoffers, and the pride of infidels may suggest, be it known to all, that God did send his Son,

1. To expiate sin

[God knew that it was impossible for man to atone for sin Yet it was also impossible that sin could be forgiven, unless an adequate atonement were offered to the Divine Majesty - What was to be done? The angels, even if they were willing, were not able to undertake our cause. There was but one, even in heaven, that was competent to the mighty task of appeasing incensed Majesty, and of satisfying offended justice: there was none but Jesus, the best-beloved of the Father, who from eternity had lain in his bosom. And would the Father give HIM? Yes; "He spared not his own Son, but delivered HIM up for us all." "He prepared him a body," and "sent him to be a propitiation, not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world" What amazing love! Eternity will not suffice to explore and celebrate this stupendous mystery.]

2. To work out a righteousness for us

[Mankind were as unable to provide for themselves a righteousness wherein they might stand before God, as they were to make an atonement for their past offences

But, behold, God would not leave us destitute; he gave his Son to fulfil the law which we had broken, and," to bring in an everlasting righteousness,”“which should be unto all and upon all them that believe" The name given him on this very account is, "The Lord our Righteousness." Clothed in his unspotted robe, the vilest of returning prodigals may stand perfect and complete in the presence of their God Every one of them may say, " In the Lord have I righteousness and strength."]

3. To exalt us to glory

He is

[It was not only to begin, but to carry on and perfect our salvation, that the Father sent his Son into the world. to be both" the author and the finisher of our faith”. Having delivered our souls from the guilt of sin, and from the powers of darkness, he will raise up our bodies also from the grave, and exalt us to sit upon his throne for evermore Never will he cease from his work, till he has fully and finally accomplished it on behalf of his people - - - How wonderful is this! Surely it almost exceeds belief: that, instead of condemning the world, God should send his Son to save it, to save it by laying down his own life a ransom for us, and by managing all the concerns of every one of his elect till he shall have finally established them in the possession of their heavenly inheritance! Hear, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth: yea, let all the choirs of heaven make it the everlasting subject of their highest praises - -

ADDRESS

1. Those who are regardless of their own salvation --

[Alas! how little effect do the wonders of redemption produce on the world at large! But what an aggravation of their guilt will it be to have poured contempt upon the Son of God! Surely God's greatest mercy will prove their heaviest curse. The very devils will have more to say on their own behalf than they. Satan himself may say, Satan himself may say, “ I never had salvation offered me; I never sinned against redeeming love." But careless sinners are daily "trampling under foot the Son of God," who lived and died to save them. O lay this to heart, and seek an interest in him who alone can deliver you from the wrath to come.]

2. Those who are ready to doubt whether they ever can be saved

[Many such there are in the Church of Christ But did God send his Son to execute a work which he was not

:

able to perform? or has Jesus discovered any backwardness to fulfil his engagements?-- Let not any be afraid for if a whole world is to be saved by him, he cannot but have a sufficiency to supply all our wants, provided we commit ourselves entirely to him

-]

3. Those who are enjoying salvation—

[While you are reaping the blessed fruits of the Father's love, surely you will often say, what shall I render to the Lord? If he gave up his dear Son for my salvation, shall not I give up a bosom lust for his glory? -Think how much you are indebted to him; and endeavour to glorify him with your body and your spirit which are his.]

MDCXII.

MEN'S HATRED OF THE LIGHT.

John iii. 19-21. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

IT appears strange to many, that the everlasting happiness or misery of the soul should be made to depend on the exercise of faith. The declaration of our Lord, That "he that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned," is regarded by them as a "hard saying;" they see no proportion between the work and the reward on the one hand, or between the offence and the punishment on the other. In the words before us we have a solution of the difficulty. We are taught that faith and unbelief are not mere operations of the mind, but exercises of the heart; the one proceeding from a love to what is good; the other from a radical attachment to evil. Our blessed Lord had repeatedly inculcated the necessity of believing in him, in order to a participation of his proffered benefits. He had also represented unbelievers as " already condemned," even like criminals reserved for execution. To obviate any objection which might arise in the mind of Nicodemus

in relation to the apparent severity of this sentence, he proceeded to shew the true ground of it, namely, That, in their rejection of him, men are actuated by an invincible love of sin, and by a consequent hatred of the light which is sent to turn them from sin.

In opening the words of our text, we shall shew, I. What is that light which is come into the world-Christ is called "The light of the world," "The true light," ,""The Day-star," and " The Sun of righteousness that arises with healing in his wings." But, It is the Gospel which is here said to have " come into the world"

[The glad tidings of salvation were now published by Christ himself; and both the manner in which that salvation was to be effected, and the manner in which it was to be received, were clearly revealed. Our blessed Lord had in this very discourse with Nicodemus declared, that "the Son of Man was to be lifted up upon the cross, as the serpent had been in the wilderness," in order that all who were dying of the wounds of sin might look to him and be healed. He had repeated again and again this important truth, on which the salvation of our fallen race depends. This mystery had from eternity been hid in the bosom of the Father; but now it was made fully manifest. This "light was now come into the world."]

The Gospel, in this view of it, is fitly designated under the metaphor of "light"-

[Light is that, without which no one thing can be discerned aright. And how ignorant are we, till the light of the Gospel shines in our hearts! We know nothing of ourselves, of God, of Christ, or of the way to heaven. We cannot even appreciate the value of the soul, the importance of time, the emptiness of earthly vanities. We may indeed give our assent to the statements which we hear made upon these subjects; but we cannot have an experimental and abiding sense, even of the most obvious truths, till our minds are enlightened by the Gospel of Christ.

Light causes all other things to be seen in their true colours. Thus does also the Gospel in setting forth the Son of God as dying for our sins, it shews us the malignity of sin; the justice of God which required such an atonement for it; and, above all, the wonderful love of God in giving us his only dear

Son, in order that we might have peace through the blood of his cross.

Light carries its own evidence along with it. Thus does also that glorious Gospel of which we are speaking: it is so peculiarly suited to the necessities of man, and at the same time so commensurate with his wants; it is so calculated to display and magnify all the perfections of the Deity, and is in every respect so worthy of its Divine Author; that it commends itself to us instantly as of heavenly origin, the very masterpiece of Divine wisdom.]

One would imagine that such light should be universally welcomed: but since this is not the case, we shall proceed to shew,

II. Whence it is that men reject it

It is but too evident, that, as in former ages, so now also, men reject the light. But whence does this arise? It is not because they have any sufficient reason to reject it

[If there were any thing in the Gospel that rendered it unworthy of men's regard, they would have some excuse for rejecting it. But,

They cannot say that it is inapplicable in its nature.-We will appeal to the world, and ask, What is there, that guilty and helpless sinners would desire? Would they wish for a Saviour? Would they be glad that the whole work of salvation should be committed into his hands? Would they be especially desirous that nothing should be required of them, but to receive with gratitude, and improve with diligence, what the Saviour offers them? In short, would they be glad of a free and full salvation? This is precisely such a salvation as is provided for them in the Gospel.

They cannot say that it is inadequate in its provisions.— If the Gospel brought salvation to those only who were possessed of some amiable qualities, or to those who had committed only a certain number of offences; if it made any limitation or exception whatever in its offers of mercy; if it provided pardon, but not strength, or grace to begin our course, but not grace to persevere; if, in short, it omitted any one thing which any sinner in the universe could need, then some persons might say, 'It is not commensurate with my necessities. But we defy the imagination of man to conceive any case which the Gospel cannot reach, or any want which it cannot satisfy.

They cannot say that it is unreasonable in its demands.—It does indeed require an unreserved surrender of ourselves to God and on this account it appears to many to be strict and