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which Christ hath prepared for those who love and obey him.

On the contrary; if you are attached to schemes of ambition and covetousness, which you do not choose to relinquish; to habits of vice, which you are not disposed to abandon; to your own system of religious opinions, by which, right or wrong, you are determined to abide, know that you are in the same state with those Jews of whom Christ said, they had eyes which saw not, and ears which heard not, and hearts which understood not; and unless you repent, like them you will suffer the judgments of God; possibly not temporal destruction, but what is infinitely worse," everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.'

Consider these things; and may God, who is rich in mercy, make the hours of your consideration conducive to your soul's health. May he pour upon you the abundance of his grace; give you those blessed eyes which see, ears which hear, and hearts which understand; that you may perceive, and pursue the things which belong to your everlasting peace; through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

* 2 Thess. i. 9.

PART I.

THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.

1 JOHN ii. 1, 2.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

THE design of this Epistle of St. John seems to have

been to guard the Jewish converts against apostacy from the Christian faith, and to preserve them stedfast in the belief, that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God, and in that holiness of life which his religion required. The pernicious doctrines which then prevailed among the Jews; that men were accounted righteous with God by faith alone, without doing the works of righteousness; that zeal for God, and his laws, and service would atone for all crimes, even for the hatred and murder of their brethren, made this conduct of the apostle necessary at that time; and his judgment and authority in these points will serve for the instruction and correction of the church, to the end of the world.

Our Saviour had foretold, that, a little before the destruction of Jerusalem, many false Christs and false Prophets should appear, and should deceive many. To guard the Christians against their seductions, was another point the apostle had in view. He tells them, that these false Christs and false Prophets were then abroad; and, with the most affectionate zeal and prudent advice, cautions them against the pollution of their destructive errors.

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The text shows particularly the exact judgment and prudence of the holy man; being calculated to preserve them, on the one hand, from presumptuous sins; and, on the other, from desperation of God's mercy.

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My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not." To live in innocence, free from the defilemeat of sin, is the first and great aim of every Christian. It ought to be also the great aim of every one of Christ's Ministers to imitate this holy apostle, in their endeavours to preserve the people of God committed to their charge, free from the stain of guilt, and the anguish of remorse. They will, therefore, earnestly warn them of the dreadful end of a wicked life, and particularly of the fatal tendency of those errors in doctrine which may prevail in their neighbourhood, especially if they should be such as may influence their practice. But with their people it will remain to make their cautions and instructions effectual. Unless they apply them to their own circumstances, and beg of God his grace and holy Spirit to lead and preserve them in the way of truth and holiness, all their Ministers can do, will be lost labour.

The text seems more particularly addressed to young Christians, either in age, or on account of their late conversion to the faith; for of a Father in the church, these are properly the "little children." And these, through the levity of youth, and the strength of appetite and passion; or through ignorance and inexperience in Christian knowledge and practice, are more exposed to temptations, and more liable to be overcome by them. To them, therefore, the Christian Minister should particularly attend, for they particularly need his admonitions and instructions. In general they will be more candidly received by them. Their hearts are tender, their sense of duty to God is quick, and blessing will be on the head of him who helps to preserve their innocency, and keep them free from the pollutions of this wicked world.

The other danger of which the text warns us, is desperation of God's mercy, should we be so unhappy as to sin against him. The weakness of nature, ignorance, inat

tention, surprise, example, too frequently involve well disposed Christians in offences which they sincerely lament, and wish to avoid. And we trust, as they are more in number than we can recollect, God will, upon our general confession and repentance, in mercy overlook them for Christ's sake; especially as they arise from infirmity of nature which we cannot help, and against which it does not seem possible always to guard ourselves.

Except they are people of weak understandings, or under bodily disease, the Tempter can seldom find opportunity, from these sins, to drive men to despair. But where the sense of duty is quick, the temper mild, and the heart affectionate, conscience is often exceedingly tender. Remorse for wilful, premeditated sins, or what is unhappily taken for such, will then occasion the bitterest anguish, and deepest regret. Should the Tempter succeed in representing the inefficacy of penitence, and the certainty of the wrath of God; despair of his mercy ensues. This is the sharpest sting of sin; the deadliest wound that satan can inflict, and for which nature furnishes no medicine.

Faith in the propitiation of Jesus Christ the righteous, our Advocate with the Father, is the only balsam that can cure the wounds of conscience, or assuage the agonies of guilt. To this remedy the apostle directs his children in Christ; "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." And, "If we confess our sins, he," who bath "made a new covenant" with us in the blood of Christ, and hath promised that he " will be merciful to our unrighteousness, and our sins; and will remember our iniquities no more," "is faithful and just" to his word "to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."*

The text strongly asserts the doctrine of atonement for the sins of the world by the death of Christ; in virtue of which he is our Advocate in heaven, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us; pleading his own meritorious

* Heb. vii. 8, 12. 1 John i. 8, 9.

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