2dly. It appeareth to be the necessary duty of all, thus, no less than this doth give a meeting unto God, offering himself to be our God in Christ; and no less than this doth answer our profession, as we are in covenant with him, as members of his visible church. The Lord of fereth to be our God in Christ; if we do not close with the offer, laying aside all thoughts of other ways by which we may attain to happiness, we give no meeting to him. He saith, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased hear ye him," Matth. xvii. 5. If we close not with the offer, we give no answer unto God. Moreover, we are all " baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, Acts ii. 38. Now unless we close with Christ, as is said, we falsify that profession; therefore, since this is the thing which doth answer God's offer in the gospel, and maketh good our profession, as members of his church, it is a necessary duty lying upon us.

3dly. Whatsoever a man hath else, if he do not thus close with God's device concerning Christ Jesus, and do not receive him, it doth not avail, either as to the accepting of his person or of his performances, or as to the saving of his soul. Men are accepted only in Christ, the beloved, Eph. i. 6. Abel and his offering are accepted by faith. Heb. xi. 4.; "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. xi. 6.; and "He that believeth not is condemned already, and shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," John iii. 18. 36. For want of this, no external title doth avail: " the chil

dren of the kingdom are cast out," if this be wanting, Matth. viii. 10, 11, 12. The people of Israel are like other heathens in regard of a graceless state, lying open to the wrath of God; Jer. ix. 25, 26. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, Egypt, and Judah, and Edom-for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart." If men do not believe that he who was slain at Jerusalem, who was called Christ Jesus, and witnessed unto by the prophets, and declared to be the Son of God by many mighty works; I say, if men do not believe that he is the way, and close with him as the only way, they shall die in their sins; John viii. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

We say, then, it is a most necessary duty thus to close with Christ Jesus, as the blessed relief appointed for sinners. Every one who is come to years of understanding, and heareth this gospel, is obliged to take to heart his own lost condition, and God's gracious offer of peace and salvation through Christ Jesus, and speedily to flee from the wrath to come, by accepting and closing with this offer, heartily acquiescing there. in as a satisfying way for saving of poor sinners. And, that all may be the more encouraged to set about this duty, when they hear him praying them to be reconciled unto him, let them remember, that peace and salvation is offered to the people in universal terms, to all without ex

ception; "If any man will," he shall be welcome, Rev. xxii. 17. If any thirst, although after that which will never profit, yet they shall be welcome here, on the condition aforesaid, Isaiah lv. 2, 3. All are "commanded to believe." 1 John iii. 23. "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." The promises are to all who are externally called by the gospel. God excludes none, if they do not exclude themselves; Acts ii. 39. "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." So that if any have a mind for the thing, they may come forward," he will in no wise cast them out," John vi. 37. being "able to save to the uttermost, them who come to God through him," Heb. vii.25. And these who have long delayed to take this matter to heart had now the more need to look to it, lest what belongs to their peace be hid from their eyes. But all these words will not take effect with people, until "God pour out his spirit from on high," Isaiah xxxii. 15. to cause men to approach unto God in Christ; yet we must still press men's duty upon them, and obtest and charge them by the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, and their reckoning to him in that day, that they give the Lord no rest, until he send out that "spirit which he will give to them who ask it," Luke xi. 13. and cause them to know what belongs unto their peace, and bring them up to their duty.

SECT. 2. What is previously required of those that would believe on Christ Jesus

We come now to speak of the third thing, viz. what is previously required of those who are to perform this duty. Men must not rashly, inconsiderately, and ignorantly, rush in upon this matter, saying, they are pleased with that device of saving sinners by Christ, and will acquiesce and rest on him for safety. Often men do deceive themselves here, and do imagine that they have done the thing. We shall therefore hold out some things pre-required in a person who is to close with Christ Jesus; which although we offer not as positive qualifications, fitting a man for Christ that way, Isaiah lv. 1. "Come, without money, and without price;" yet they are such things, as without them a man cannot knowingly and cordially perform the duty of believing on Christ Jesus.

Beside the common principles which are to be supposed in those who live under gospel ordinances; as the knowledge that men have immortal souls; that soul and body will be united again at the last day; that there is a heaven and hell, one of which will be the everlasting lot of all men; that the Old and New Testament is the true word of God, and the rule of faith and manners; that every man is by nature void of the grace of God, and is an enemy unto God, and an heir of condemnation; that reconciliation is only by the Mediator Christ Jesus; that' faith unites unto him, and is the condition of the new covenant; that holiness is the fruit of true faith, and is to be studied, as that without

which no man shall see God; I say, beside .these things, the knowledge of which is necessary, it is required of him who would believe on Christ Jesus, first, that he take to heart his natural condition; and here he must know some things, and also be very serious about them; I say, he must know some things: as First, That as he was born a rebel and out-law unto God, so he hath by many actual transgressions disobliged God, and ratified the forfeiture of his favour: yea, a man should know many particular instances of his rebellion on all hands; as that he isa liar, sabbath breaker blasphemer or the like; as Paul speaketh very particularly of himself afterwards, 1 Tim. i. 13. Secondly, The man must know that the wrath of God denounced in scripture is standing in force against those very sins whereof he is guilty, and so, consequently, he is the. party undoubtedly against whom God, who cannot lie, hath denounced war. A man must know that when the scripture saith, "cursed is he that offereth a corrupt thing unto God," Mal. i. 14. it speaketh against him for his superficial service performed unto God with the outward man, when his heart was far off, When the word saith, "the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain," Exod. xx. 7. the man must know it speaketh against himself, who hath often carelessly profaned that dreadful" name before which all knees should bow," Philip. ii. 10. and " which his enemies do take in vain," Psal. cxxxix. 20. When the word saith, "cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently," Jer. xlviii. 10. the man must know that it speaks against him