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First, I am to enquire, whether the believing penitent finner will be delivered from condemna tion. But before I enter upon this enquiry, I think it proper to premife, first, what we are to understand by thefe terms, viz. finner, condemnation, deliverance from condemnation, believing, and penitent; as to the the term finner, I have, in my previous obfervations, fhewn, that by fin I mean the doing that which the light of nature, or divine revelation, makes a crime; or the omitting to do that which the light of nature, or divine revelation, makes a duty. Confequently, whoever does, or omits to do, as aforefaid, comes under the denomination of a sinner. By the term condemnation, I understand that fentence to punishment, which fin has juftly expofed, and the righteous law of God hath bound the finner over to. By deliverance from condemnation, I understand the obtaining pardon and forgiveness from God, fo as that the finner, with respect to a future state, is wholly exempted from that punishment which fin hath made him obnoxious to; and that he will be juftified or acquitted at God's bar, and ́reftored to God's favour, as if he had never tranfgreffed. By believing, I understand two things; first, faith in; and, fecondly, faithfulness to Jefus Chrift. Faith in him, is a being perfuaded, upon rational grounds, that the perfon, which the four Evangelifts have given us the history of his birth, life, death, refurrection, and ascension, is the Chrift, the Son of God; and that the good tidings which he proclaimed is true, viz. that God is in (or by) this Chrift reconciling finful mankind to himself. Faithfulness to Jefus Chrift, is an honeft profeflion of his name and truth, a willing and faithful fubmiffion to his kingdom and government, a patient bearing of his crofs, and a perfevering in hope of the heavenly inheri

tance.

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tance. And as to the term penitent, I have, ini my previous obfervations, fhewn, that repentance confifts, first, in an awakening fenfe of the evil nature, and the dreadful confequences of fin, and a conviction of our own guilt; fecondly, in a deep forrow, humiliation, and pain of mind, that we have done amifs; thirdly, in a confeffion of our folly; and, fourthly, in an actual forfaking it confequently, whoever doth this, in fincerity of heart, comes under the denomination of a penitent. Again, I premife, fecondly, that as this and the following enquiries relate wholly to what is contained in the chriftian revelation, fo it is from that revelation alone we fhall feek for fatisfaction. Again, I premife, thirdly, that the perfons referred to, and intended by me in thefe enquiries, are fuch as, at one time or other, have, or might have had (were it not their own fault) Chrift revealed to them; for as no man can believe in him of whom he hath not heard, fo his infidelity, if it may be fo called, cannot be a crime; because whenever faith becomes a duty, it is when the propofition we are to affent to, hath, fome way or other, been difcovered and made known to us, or at least might have been, had we not wilfully turned our backs upon it; therefore, what method God will be pleased to take with those which never heard of Chrift, as it is what we are not concerned in, so it comes not within the compafs of our enquiry. Having premifed these things, I come now to the enquiry, whether the believing penitent finner will be delivered from condemnation; which is anfwered in the affirmative, and I think will be fufficiently proved, when I have fhewn, first, that faith and repentance are fuch qualifications as God hath required the finner to put on. Secondly, That if thofe are wanting in him, he will be condemned. Thirdly, That they

are

are fuch qualifications in the finner, as God hath annexed pardon and falvation to. And, first, I am to fhew, that faith and repentance are fuch qualifications as God requires finners to put on; for this, fee John xx. 31. Thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God. Mark i. 12. They went out and preached, that men Should repent. Acts xvii. 30. But now commandeth all men every where to repent. Mark i. 15. Repent ye, and believe the gofpel. Acts xx. 21. Teftifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jefus Christ. Here we fee that faith and repentance are what God requires from the finner. Secondly, If thefe are wanting in him, he will be condemned for this, fee Mark xvi. 16. He that believes not shall be damned. John viii. 24. Except ye believe that I am be, ye shall die in your fins. Luke xiii. 3, 5«' Except ye repent, ye shall all likewife perish. Here we fee, that where faith and repentance are wanting, the finner will be condemned. Thirdly, Faith and repentance are fuch qualifications in the finner, as God hath annex'd pardon and falvation to; for this, fee Mark xvi. 16. He that believes and is baptized, fhall be faved. John iii. 16. God fo loved the world, that be gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Chap. xx. 31. These are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name. Luke xxiv. 47. That repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name. Acts ii. 38. Repent, and be baptized, for the remiffion of fins. Acts iii. 19. Repent and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out. Chap. xi. 18. Then bath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 2 Cor. vii. 10. Godly forrow worketh repentance to falvation not to be repented of.

Thus

Thus we see that faith and repentance are fuch qualifications as God requires finners to put on ; and that where these are wanting, the finner will be condemned; and that they are fuch qualifications in the finner, as God has annexed pardon and falvation to. From all which it is abundantly evident, that the believing penitent finner will be delivered from condemnation. This being fo,

I enquire, fecondly, Whether Jefus Chrift, the Son of God, doth obtain that deliverance for him. This enquiry is alfo answered in the affirmative; for the proof of which, I offer the following teftimonies, John iii. 17. God fent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be faved. 1 John iv. 14. The Father fent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 1 Thef. i. 10. Whom he raised from the dead, even Jefus who delivered us from the wrath to come. Here we fee that the finner's deliverance from condemnation is obtained by Jefus Chrift. This being fo,

I enquire, thirdly, Whether that deliverance is obtained by his fufferings and death. This enquiry is likewife anfwered in the affirmative; and is fufficiently proved by the following teftimonies. Matt. xxvi. 28. This is my blood of the New Teftament, which is fhed for many, for the remiffion of fins. Rom. v. 9, 10. Much more now being juftified by his blood, we shall be faved from wrath through bim: When we were enemies we were reconciled to "God by the death of his Son. Chap. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died. 1 Cor. xv. 3. Christ died for our fins, according to the fcriptures. Gal. iii. 13. Christ bath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, being made a curfe for us; for it is written, curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Eph. i. 17. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of fins. 1 Tim.

H. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all. Heb. ix. 26. Once in the end of the world bath he appeared to put away fin by the facrifice of himself. 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ bath once fuffered for fin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Rev. v. 9. For thou wast flain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. Thus we fee, from these texts, that the finner's deliverance from condemnation is obtain'd by the fufferings and death of Jefus Christ. Here, I think it proper to obferve, that tho' the finner's deliverance is afcribed to Christ's sufferings and death, yet it is not ascribed to them only, but also to his refurrection and interceffion. As Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. Chap. v. 10. If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Chap. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is rifen again; Who maketh interceffion for us. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able alfo to fave to the uttermost thofe that come to God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them. Here we fee that the finner's deliverance from condemnation hath as great a dependence upon the prevailing interceffion of Chrift, as it hath upon his fufferings and death; confequently, his fufferings and death do not alone obtain that deliverance, but it is obtained by Chrift's prevailing interceffion alfo. Having thus fhewn, that the finner's deliverance from condemnation, is obtained by the fufferings, death, and interceffion of Chrift.

I enquire, fourthly, Whether his fufferings and death do, in their own nature, and in the ftrict fenfe of the word, merit that deliverance, and are a full and equal fatisfaction to the Father, for the fins and offences of all believing penitent finners. This enquiry is two-fold. First, Whether the

fufferings