hath exalted to the right hand of his majefty on high, and given to be the head over all principalities and powers, even to the confummation of all things.

DISCOURSE LI

TITUS ii. 14.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

THE expreffion here made use of, Who

gave himfelf for us, is fo familiar to the ears of Chriftians, and is fo well understood to relate to the death of Christ, and the offering up of himself upon the cross for the fins of the whole world, that there is no need to give light to it by alleging parallel places of holy Scripture. The expreffion is fomething fuller in St. Paul's firft Epiftle to Timothy; Who gave himself a ransom for all, ii. 6. As likewife, Gal. i. 4. Who gave himself for our fins: but the import and meaning of the words is one and the fame.

This doctrine of the Gospel, that the death of Chrift was an offering made of himself for the fins of the whole world, a price paid for the purchase of mankind, that they might become his, and, together with him, heirs of glory, and of a kingdom that shall never fail, is that great mystery hid from ages and generations, but now made manifeft by the

preaching of the Apoftles and Prophets of Chrift Jefus.

But, that we may not mistake, and imagine that, because this myftery is faid to be made known and manifeft to us, therefore we are entitled to call for the reasons, upon which this wonderful adminiftration of Providence is founded, it is neceffary to obferve, that the Gofpel is a revelation of the will and purpose of God. The reafons upon which he acted, when he ordained this method of falvation, are not fully revealed to us; nor have we authority to fay they ever will be. Under the Law we meet with many intimations of God's purpose to fave mankind: under the Gospel this purpofe is opened and proclaimed to all the world: but neither under the Law, nor yet under the Gofpel, are we inftructed in the reasons of this proceeding; but, having life and immortality set before us in God's own way, we are left to embrace them through faith, and confidence in his promife, who is able to perform the word which is gone out of his mouth.

And, fince God has thought fit to offer the Gofpel as a matter of faith to the world, and has given his word, confirmed by figns and wonders, as a sufficient fecurity for the performance on his part, he acts without commiffion, who proposes the Gospel to the world as a matter of fcience and knowledge, and the refult of mere reafon, and pretends to account for the methods of God's wifdom, which are far above and out of his fight.

If you ask, how it became neceffary for Chrift to die, or why God required a facrifice for thofe fins, which he might, if he had fo pleafed, have freely

forgiven? I know but one proper answer for a minifter of the Gospel to make to these inquiries, That God has not admitted him into thefe fecret councils, nor fent him to declare them to the world.

We preach the death of Chrift a facrifice and expiation for fin, because appointed by God, whỏ gave his Son to die for the fins of the world: we preach Chrift the refurrection and the life, because God hath given him power to raise the dead: we preach Chrift the judge of the world, because the Father hath committed all judgment to the Son. If you ask for our evidence, we answer with St. Peter, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whofoever believeth in him fhall receive remiffion of fins, Acts x. 43. We answer with our bleffed Saviour, The works which he did in his Father's name, they bear witness of him, John x. 25. We anfwer with St. Paul, That God hath given this affurance unto all men, that he will judge the world by Chrift, in that he raised Jefus from the dead, Acts xvii. 31.

Upon this evidence the faith of the Gospel stands: the Chriftian's hope of falvation has no dependence upon the fpeculations of curious inquirers, but refts upon this immovable foundation, that all the promifes of God in Chrift are yea, and amen; that is, fure, certain, and irrevocable promises.

The death of Chrift was, as the holy Scripture teaches, foreordained before the foundation of the world and fince God intended, in the fulness of time, to offer falvation to the world through faith in the facrifice of his Son, it is reasonable to suppose, that the facrifices before and under the Law were inH h

VOL. II.