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full of love was he! Our Lord Jesus being now exalted on his royal throne of mediation, by the covenant and oath of the eternal Three, it is his honour and glory to shine forth in the full lustre of his grace and mercy, and to express and manifest it to the uttermost. The apostle Peter speaking of Christ's exaltation saith, "Him hath God exalted with his right-hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to his people, and the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus as an enthroned, crowned Saviour, in glory everlasting, is upon his throne Almighty to save, bless and defend all who trust in him, to express his love to to his called ones to the very uttermost He is able to save them from all their sins. His blood is efficacious to cleanse them from every spot, stain, guilt, and defilement: to heal every wound, to pardon every transgression, to save with an everlasting salvation all who believe and trust in him. He lives in heaven a priest for ever, after the power of an endless life, to bestow the blessings of his mediation on such sinners as he died for. As

long as they remain here below, they are the subjects of a sinful nature. Through its influences within and upon them, they sometimes fall into evil, which fetches sighs and groans from them which cannot be expressed. Therefore whilst in this 'state Christ's love towards them is chiefly discovered and manifested towards them, in acts of mercy and pardon. It is hard for them to believe Jesus, in heaven, who "loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood," can compassionate them, when they have contracted fresh guilt, brought fresh stains on their minds, and gotten fresh wounds, being overcome by their own false and deceitful hearts. It would make Jesus precious indeed, if they did believe his heart was thus towards them, amid all that befals them of sin and guilt, temptations and misery. Yet his state of exaltation, by which he is so far above them, leads them to think, it can scarce admit that he should be so interested in their sinful cases, as to be naturally inclined, and necessarily disposed, to be full of compassion and mercy towards them. We are forgetful that he

hath actually taken up, into the highest heavens, all the sinless infirmities belonging to our nature, that he may express them towards us, as our wounds and wants require. Let us here take Paul for our guide, and therefore listen to what he says. He opens heaven to us, and speaks of Christ as there, in the thirteenth verse of the former chapter, saying, "Seeing then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Here is Christ within the veil. Now he proceeds to shew us what Christ is to us, how he feels for us, and is disposed towards us. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." O stupendous mercy! marvellous grace! the bowels of Jesus, though on his throne, are what they were on the cross, bowels of mercy! By infirmities, sins are to be understood. Any, and all those which the called are liable to. The mercy of Christ is here set open to our view. It flows forth in acts of everlast

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ing kindness. Are any of you who believe, fallen by your iniquity? Jesus saith, "I will heal your backslidings, I will love you freely." Are you under present guilt? "his blood cleaseth from all sin." Jesus is a present Saviour. Are ye fallen into sin? thus it is written, "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins." Is there a sense of present sin, guilt, and pollution on your minds? Jesus is now this moment with all the virtue of his blood in heaven, "the propitiation for our sins." O believers look off yourselves entirely, and look to Christ continually. He hath you in his thoughts continually. He engages never to turn away from you from doing you good. He saith, "I will never. leave thee, nor forsake thee." He will be your guide through life, your comforter at death, and your exceeding great reward in heaven.

Oh! that God the Holy Ghost may bless what has been thus feebly delivered, and encourage your hearts by it to trust continually in Christ Jesus. Amen.

273

SERMON XII.

1 COR. XV. 57.

BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

SIN is the greatest of all evils; and it hath, and still continues to produce all kinds of miseries. It has wholly ruined and corrupted our natures, and rendered them the subjects of evils, diseases, and miseries inconceivable and inexpressible. There is not, nor can there be any sort or degree of pain, misery, or distress we feel in our persons, either in mind, body, or estate, but sin is solely the cause of. All the miseries this nation groans under in the present day are wholly to be as cribed to sin. Yea, the damnation of sinners in hell, with all the tremendous horrors they are filled with, which they sustain and undergo in the infliction of

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