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comfort forrowing David, when "all his bones were out of joint, like melting wax, and there "was no whole part in his body by reafon of his "fin?" Was it not the Divine Phyfician, the fovereign balm applied to his foul? What could reftore afflicted Paul to his appetite for bodily food? Was it not the fpiritual bread from heaven? Did not the cravings of his hungry foul first require to he, fatisfied? What could allay the anguifh of the three thousand "pricked in their heart," and cause them to " rejoice with joy unspeakable "and full of glory," becoming willing to lay down their lives for him whom they had fo lately crucified? Did not he himself fpeak the word, "I will; be thou whole ?" Nay, without a firm experimental conviction of this all-fufficient righteoufnefs of Chrift, is it poffible that one fingle convinced, weary, heavy-laden finner could ever be at rest ?

I appeal to you, who now enjoy the peace of God, that peace which paffeth understanding, with all thofe good "things that eye hath not "feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into "the heart of man, which God hath prepared for "them that love him, and hath revealed unto you "by his Spirit; that Spirit which fearcheth all "things, yea, the deep things of God *" Let me

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* 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. Thus our Homily of " the falvation of mankind." "In truth neither our faith nor our "works do justify us; that is, deferve remiffion of our fins: but God himself doth justify us, of his own

mercy,

afk you, then, whence arifes your peace, your confidence towards God? Is it from any thing in yourselves, from any righteoufnefs of your own? Oh, no! You will anfwer, "We are accounted "righteous before God, only for the merit of "our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, and not for our own works or defervings *." "Not

"by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of "the Holy Ghoft; which he fhed on us abundantly through Jefus Chrift our Saviour; that, being juftified by his grace, we fhould be "made heirs, according to the hope of eternal "life t." "What things were gain. to us, thofe "we counted lofe for Christ. Yea doubtless, and

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mercy, through the merits of his Son only. Neverthelefs, because by faith given us of God, we embrace "the promife of God's mercy, and of the remiffion of our "fins; therefore the fcripture faith that faith doth juftify, faith without works. And, as it is all one to fay, faith without works, and only faith doth juftify us, therefore "the ancient fathers fpeak thus; only faith juftifeth us: meaning no other than St. Paul means, when he fays. faith without works juftifieth us. And, becaufe this is. wrought through the only merits of Christ, and not through our merits, or through the merit of any virtue we “have within us, or of any work that cometh from us.: "therefore, in that refpect, we renounce again faith, 66 works, and all other virtues. For, our corruption "through original fin is fo great, that all our faith, charity, words and works, cannot merit or deferve any part "of our justification for us. And, therefore, we thus. fpeak, humbling ourfelves to God, and giving to our "Saviour Chrift all the glory of our juftification.". + Titus iii, 5, &c.

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* Article 11.

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we count all things but lofs for the excellency "of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus, our Lord: for whom we have fuffered the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung, that we $6 may win Chrift, and be found in him; not "having our own righteoufnefs, which is of the “law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, "the righteoufnels which is of God by faith *.”

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Let me alfo appeal to you who feel the weight and burthen of fin without this comfort. Where do you look for peace and joy, for hope and confidence? To yourfelves? To any power of your own? Or, are you fenfible that, by the works of the law, fhall no flefh be juftified: that if you be faved, it must be "by grace t:" God muft impute righteoufnefs without works that HE who juftifieth the ungodly, muft juftify you freely by his "grace, through the redemption that is in Chrift "Jefus" that," the condition of man, after "the fall of Adam, is fuch that he cannot turn "and prepare himself even to faith and calling 66 upon God." Take comfort. raged. Continue looking unto the promises of God are yours." "endure for a night; but joy "In a little wrath,

"morning.'

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Be not difcouJefus, and all Heavinefs may cometh in the he hath hid his "face

* Phil. iii. 7, &c.

The reader may

Article 10. Rom. iv. 6. & 5. fee this glorious truth in the following paffages, among. many others; Rom. iv. 11. 13.- -V. 17. 21.ix. 31.

x. 3. 5, 6. & 10.

iii. 6. to 10.

Gal. ii. 21.iii. 21.

Phil..

"face from thee for a moment; but with ever"lasting kindness will he have mercy on thee, faith "the Lord, thy Redeemer *.

"

I do not appeal to you, who have felt nothing of the peace of God, or the burthen of fin; who confider fuch reprefentations of the Scriptures, and our Church, as delufive dreams; and though you are contented to pray with your lips for these bleffings, with the congregation t, yet, as it is neither with the fpirit, nor the understanding," you remain eafy, in a reft of infenfibility, without them.

But, it may poffibly be urged by fome perfon, Is it not faid that " we are faved by faith, or by "grace through faith; he that believeth, &c. fhall "be faved: whofoever believeth on Jefus Chrift "fhall not perish, but have everlafting life." "What then is this conviction of righteoufnefs, "of which you speak? Is it fomething different "from faith, or in addition to it ?" We answer, It is neither the one nor the other, but fimply faith itfelf: though I have hitherto avoided ufing that term, because the most ignorant, worldly, and fenfual, all fancy themselves believers. But, hear the language of our Church: "Even the devils "believe, that Chrift was born of a virgin that "he wrought all kinds of miracles, declaring him"felf very God: that for our fakes he fuffered a "moft

*Ifa. xliv. 8.

+For instance, fee (among many others) the prayers of our Church Liturgy, before this, and the other two Sermons on the fame text, also the general Confeffions, &c.

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"moft painful death, to redeem us from death "everlasting: that he rofe again the third day; "that he afcended into heaven; and fitteth at "the right hand of the Father; and at the end of the world, fhall come again, to judge "both the quick and the dead. Thefe articles of "our faith the devils believe; and fo they be"lieve all that is written in the Old and New "Teftament. And yet, for all this, they be but "devils. They remain ftill in their damnabte "eftate, lacking the very true Chriftian faith. "The right and true Chriftian faith, is not only "to believe that Holy Scripture and the articles "of our faith are true; but alfo to have a fure "trust and confidence to be faved from everlafling "damnation by Chrift: whereof doth follow a "loving heart to obey his commandments. And "this true Chriftian faith, neither any devil hath, nor yet any man, who, in outward profeffion, in his receiving the facraments, in going to church, "and in all outward appearances, feemeth to be a "Christian, and yet in his life fheweth the con"trary. For how can a man have this true faith,

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fure truft and confidence in God, that by the me"rits of Chrift his fins are forgiven, and he recon"ciled to the favour of God, when he denieth "Chrift in his works? Surely no ungodly man "can have this faith and truft in God *." You may obferve, then, that, according to the Reformers of our Church, true faving faith in Chrift,

*

Homily

"of the Salvation of Mankind!"

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