Sermons preached

IN this Text I observed, That it is a great degree and step towards, yea a considerable part of our Blessedness, to obtain pardon of our Sins upon the account of Christ's Righteousness. I showed the necessity which lies upon Men, who are all become guilty before God, to look after this Pardon: And thereupon took occasion to represent the Excellency of the Christian Religion, that hath provided a Salve for the great Sore that runs upon all Mankind, above that of the Pagans, and also that of the Jews, to whom this Mystery was but darkly revealed. To proceed to another use. To exhort you to put in for a share in this Blessedness. To persuade you to it, let me use a few Motives.

IN this Text I observed, That it is a great degree and step towards, yea a considerable part of our Blessedness, to obtain pardon of our Sins upon the account of Christ's Righteousness. I shewed the necessity which lies upon Men, who are all become guilty before God, to look after this Pardon: And thereupon took occasion to represent the Excellency of the Christian Religion, that hath provided a Salve for the great Sore that runs upon all Mankind, above that of the Pagans, and also that of the Jews, to whom this Mystery was but darkly revealed. To proceed to another use. To exhort you to put in for a share in this Blessedness. To perswade you to it, let me use a few Motives.

1. Till you are pardoned, you are never blessed; there is an obstacle and impediment in the way hinders your Blessedness. What though you flow in Wealth, Ease and Plenty; yet as long as this black Storm hangs over your head, and you know not how soon it will drop upon you, you cannot be accounted happy Men. Do you account him an happy Man who is condemned to die, because he hath a plentiful ⟨p. 24⟩allowance till his Execution? Or, him an happy Man that makes a fair show abroad, and puts a good face upon his ruinous and breaking Condition, but at home is pinched with want and misery, which is ready to come upon him like an Armed-Man? Or him an happy Man that revels it out in all manner of pleasure, but is to die at night? Then those that remain in the guilt of their Sins may be happy. But now on the other side, a pardoned Sinner is blessed whatever befalls him. If he be afflicted, the sting of his Affliction is gone, that is Sin: If he be prosperous, the curse of his Blessings is taken away, the Wrath of God is appeased, and so every Condition is made tolerable or comfortable to him.