Christ Crucified, Sermon 41
SERMON XLI.
ISAIAH LIII. X.
Verſ. 10. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, He ſhall prolong his dayes, And the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand.
IT was once a Riddle, how, out of the ſtrong could come forth Meat, and how, out of the Eater could come forth Sweet; It's here moſt clearly Unridled, and that in a moſt Wonderfull and Comfortable Manner; Our Lord Jeſus, the ſtrong Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, it put to grief and bruiſed, and his ſoul is made an offering for ſin, and here is the Sweet Meat that comes out of it. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, &c. The ſubſtance of the Words is, That by His Death many ſhall be brought to Life; It's the ſame Death that hath given us the hope we have of Life; And all the ground that we have to ſpeak of it to you; which had never been, had He not been bruiſed, and put to grief.
We ſhew, that here is holden forth the Lord's great deſign in the Contrivance of the Work of Redemption; And that theſe Words are a further anſwer to the Stumbling Objection propoſed before; to wit, How the innocent Son of God could Suffer? It pleaſed the Father to bruiſe him; when he ſhould make his ſoul an offering for ſin, &c. Which Juſtifies God, in that proceeding and ſerves to weep away that Reproach, that might ſeem to ſtick to Him; In ſum, it is this; If we conſider the notable and noble Fruits, and Comfortable Effects, that followed on His Sufferings, and Death; there is no ground to ſtumble at God's giving His Son, or at the Sons Condeſcending as Mediator, to Suffer, to be Diſpiſed, and put to D…ath; And this is the firſt Fruit, and Eff ct thereof, that He ſhall ſee his ſeed; Whereby is meaned, that by His Death the Elect, who are given to Him do by Faith in Him rec…ive a new Life from Him, a…d are taken in under a moſt ſweet and kindly Relation to Him by their being begotten again, to a lively hope, through His Reſurrection from the Dead.
We ſpoke to …is Point. That Believers are Chriſt's Seed; which ſhews the great Priviledge, that they are admitted to, and their great Obligation to Chriſt on that account; they are oblidged to Him, for their Spiritual Life and Beeing; as Children are oblidged to their Natural Parents, for their Natural Life and Beeing; And Infinitely more oblidged, in as much, as the one Life is Infinitly Preferable to the other.
There are three things more to be Obſerved, from the Words, And 1. Conſidering them as they ſtand in Dependence on the Former; That God's Deſign, in ſending His Son into the World, and the Mediators D…ſign, in coming ſo low; is to have a Seed begotten to the Hope of Eternall Life, and to have …oor Souls dead in themſelves, ſhareing of Life in and through Him; even to have many partaking of Life through His Death. 2. Conſidering the Words, as foretelling the event of Chriſt's Death, and Sufferings, We have this Obſervation from them, That Our Lord's Dea…h ſhall certainly procure Life to many; Or thus, it cannot be, but His Death muſt have tru…, to the ſaving of Souls from Death, and to the making of them partakers of Life. 3. Looking on the Words, as a Promiſe made to the Mediator; We Obſerve from them, That the Seeing of a Seed, is exceeding much thought of, by Jeſus Chriſt; It pleaſed Him wondrous will; Therefore this Promiſ… of a Seed is m…de to Him, to incourage H…m to lay down His Life.
We ſhall ſpeak a Word to each of theſe; And ſhall leave the conſideration of the Words, as they hold out, not only our Lord's out-living his Sufferings, but His ſeeing a Seed on the back of them, to the Second Effect that follows; He ſhall prolong his days.
For the Firſt Doctrine, we ſuppoſe, It will be clear, if we conſider how the ſeing of his ſeed is Subjoyned to, and Dependeth upon the former Words, anent His making His ſoul an offering for ſin which holds out this, That the great Deſign of God, and of Chriſt the Mediator its His Sufferings, is, to beget a People to …ternal Life, And to make way, that Sinners Naturall D…ad in Sin, may partake of Spiritual and H…avenly Life, and may be begotten to the Hope of Eternal Life, through Him: And what other Deſign, I pray, could there be then this? For the Lord had nothing to procure to Himſelf; To ſpeak ſimply, there could be no addition made to the Glory of God thereby; Therefore, it's ſaid John 6.39, 40. This is the Fathers will that hath ſent me, that of all that be hath given me, I ſhould loſs nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt day: And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one who ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him may have everlasting life; and I will raiſe him up at the last day. 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation; and what is it? That Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners: and that John 10.10. I came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
There are two things that we would ſpeak a Word to, for clearing of the Doctrine, And then make Uſe of it. The 1. is, How this can be God's Deſign in Chriſt's Humiliation, to beget many Sons to Life? 2. How Chriſt's Death Contributs to this Deſign? For the Firſt, When we ſpeak of God's Deſign h…re, we mean not His laſt and ultimat Deſign, but His immediat Deſign in the Goſpel, which is ſubſervient to that His laſt and ultimat Deſign; to wit, The Glorif…ing of His Grace and Juſtice, in giving the Mediator, to Satisfie Juſtice for Dyvour Sinners, who are not able to Satisfie for themſelves; and He having choſen this, as the Midſt, to that higheſt end, we may well ſay, that this is His immediat Deſign in the Goſpel; that thereby the Glory of His Grace and Juſtice might be manifeſted. For the 2d. Which is, How Chriſt's Sufferings contribute to this end? It may be ſoon cleared, if we conſider, that there is a twofold Let in the way of Sinners, partaking of Life, which Chriſt's Suff rings do remove. The 1. Let, is a ſtand…ng Quarrel, betwixt God and the Elect, they having Sinned, and having nothing to pay their Debt; This our Lord Jeſus, by His Death removes; He payes the Debt, and tears the Obligation, called, the hand writing that was againſt them, nailling it to his Croſs, Col. 2. And in this reſpect, His Death is called a ranſome for many; And in the Words before, He is ſaid to have made his Soul an offering for ſin, On the ſame account; to wit, That the Principal Deb…or might be ſet free. The 2d. Let, is Mans utter unfitneſſe to walk with God: For though the Debt were taken away, yet they have no Life; But Jeſus Chriſt, by His Death, hath laid down a ground, how a Sinner may be reconciled to God, and may partake of Grace here; And ſo be in caſe to walk with God, even while ſojourning in the World, in ſome good meaſure; and of the Life of Glory hereafter; His Sufferings are not only a Ranſome for their Debt; but alſo a Bridge (to ſpeak ſo) to ſtep over the Gulf of the diſtance th…t is betwixt God: and them, unto Glory, whither He, as the Fore-runner is gone before them; In this ſenſe, we have our Graces, as the Fruits of Chri…t's Suff…rings; the Life of Grace, Faith, Love, Perſeverance, &c. We have alſo Protection, Preſervation, and Guiding in the way, till we be brought through to Eternal Life: As that Word is, John 6.39, 40. cited before, That of all whom the Father hath given me, I ſhould loſs nothing: In the Firſt reſpect, Chriſt is ſurity for our Debt; In the Second reſpect He is ſurity for our Duty, In the Firſt Reſpect, we are admitted into Covenant with God; In the Second, we are entertained in it, by Him, who lives for ever, to make Interceſſion for us.
Uſe 1. See here, Believers, what ye are in the Fathers Debt, for ſending His Son; And what ye are in the Sons Debt, for coming to die for you; Ye behoved to have born the Curſe your ſelves, if He had not born it, but He took it on H mſelf, that ye might be Freed from it; Thus it ſtood with you, ye deſerved to be ſhut out for ever from God, to have the Sword of His Juſtice awakened againſt you: And he gave his back to the ſmitters, and his cheecks to them that plucked of the haire; And was content that the Sword of Juſtice ſhould awake againſt Him, and ſmite Him, that He might, by His ſtrips heal them, and by His Death, procure Life to them; Yea, it ſtood thus with you, and it could not be otherwayes; The Juſtice of God being provocked, and the Elect being under the Curſe, as it is, Gal. 3.10. Curſed is every one, that continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them: Ezek. 18.4. The ſoul that ſins ſhall die. Either they behoved to die, or the Cautioner; and our Lord was content to be a Sin-offering, thereby to ſet Sinners free: To be lifted up on the croſs, that he might draw all men after him, to pay their D bt, which all the Creatures could never have payed: And therefore, we would aſ… you, if ye think Heaven and Glory to be of Worth, and if ye think it to be a great mercy, to be free from the Wrath to come, and from the Damned State and Condition of Reprobat Angels, and of Reprobat Men and Women in Hell, And to be admitte… to enter with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob into the Kingdome of God, and into theſe H…avenly Manſions? Are ye not much in Chriſ…'s Debt, that procured this for you, and at ſuch a Rate, that thereby Life might be communicate-to you, who were Naturally Dead, in Treſpaſſes and Sins? whatever the reſt of the World think of it, if any of you be Born again, as you ought, in a ſpecial manner, to think much of it, ſo ye will do, in ſome meaſure; for ye are as much in Chriſt's Common as all that is worth; who was content, that Poor Sinners ſhould partake of Him, and of the Life that is in Him; to taſte of H…mſelf, and who hath ſaid, Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo. In a…moſt wonderful way, His D…ath is the Price, by which Life is Communicated to Us: And it would become B…vers well, to be often reckoning, what they are in His Debt. It's an of God's great Ends in the Work of Redemption, even to have Sinners eſteeming highly of, and much Raviſhed with His Grace, and with His Love, brightly ſhinning in the way thereof; yet leſs Conſcience is made of this, then of many other Duties, by Believers; We will ſend an Ear to a Practical Point of Doctrine, and will ſome way ayme to mind it; If we be bidden pray, we will pray; if we be commanded to Mortifie Sin, we will endeavour it, and ſo in other Duties: But who minds this as a Dutie, when we are called of God, to Admire, and Praiſe His Grace, and Love, and Humbly to Glory in Him, ſo, as ſeriouſly to ſet our ſelves to fall about it? And yet this were a moſt Native, Proper, and Kindly Exerciſe for Believers; even like the Work of thoſe, who ſay, Salvation to our God, that ſits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, Rev. 7.10. To him who loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood, &c. Rev. 1.5. To be taken up, with ſuch ſweet Soliloquies in our ſelves about this Subject, and with ſuch Songs of Praiſe to Him, who hath given us ſo noble a Beeing, and Life which is convoyed to us, by His Blood, is ſure a ſuitable Uſe of this Point; For if our Life be of much Worth, He muſt be of Infinitly much more Worth in Himſelf, and ſhould be ſo to us, who purchaſed it at ſuch a Dear Price.
The 2d. Uſe, is to exhort you whom we ſuppoſe to be renewed, (as ſome of you now hearing me are, and O! that all of you were) that when ever ye think of injoying of Heaven, and Glory, ye would think alſo, whence it came to be thus with you; O! think on that Rock, out of which ye are hewen, as ye are Believers, and are intitled to Life; And this will lay the Natural Pride, which, Alas! too often Believers have going along with their Hope of Life; as if they were ſomething better by Nature then others, becauſe they have hope to come to Heaven; but think this alſo with your ſelves, that there are no thanks to you, but to Him, who loved you, and waſhed you from your ſins, in his own blood; which ſhould make you walk ſoftly, and with a ſtopp…d mouth; and in this Caſe, every thought of your Title unto, and of your Hope of Heaven, would be both ſingularly pleaſant, and profitable to you.
Uſe 3. See here, that which maketh the Glad Tydings of Chriſt's Death wonderfully Comfortable; It's much that Chriſt came, and Suffered; but if ye add this, that His Deſign in Suffering, was to beget Sinners to a New and Spiritual Life, t… raiſe and quicken them that were Dead in in Sins, and Treſpaſſes, to pay their Debt, and to Cancell their Obligation; It makes it to be much more wonderfull; Alas we have great want of Spiritual Affections, that are not more Affected with this; even with this; That the Father ſhould ſend His Son and that the Son ſhould come into the World, and wherefore? That He might have a Seed; that poor Bodies that were Dead▪ and without Life might be quickned; and that ſuch as had no hope of Heaven might have it; That in ſuch a way an entry into Heaven ſhould be made to Sinners; this is the wonder; do ye Believers, indeed believe this, that the Lord's Deſign, in all the Work of Redemption, was to bring Dead Sinners to Life? This is it that makes Chriſt get the Name of a Saviour, That the Shepherd being ſmitten, God might turn his hand on the little Ones. And therefore, as a 4th. Uſe, See here a good ground, whereupon to Preach to you by the Death of Chriſt, the Offer of Life, and the Remiſſion of Sin, as the Apoſtle hath it, Act. 13.39, 40. Be it known therefore to you men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you, the forgivenneſs of ſins, And by him, all that believe are juſtified from all things, from which ye could not he juſtified by the law of Moſes; And there is never a Text, that ſpeaks of the end of Chriſt's Sufferings, but readily, it ſome way layes a ground, how a Sinner may get Life; And it is, as it were a Proclamation to Sinners, to make the right uſe of what is offered to them: If our Lord Jeſus had not Suffered, there had not been a warrand for us to ſpeak of Life to you; There had been no Treaty with Sinners, no Door opened, for acceſs to Heaven, no ground for any to call God Father: But on the Contraire, Chriſt having Suffered, and Satisfied Juſtice, it giv…s us Ground to make this Proc…amation to you: Be it known unto you, that through this man is preached unto you forgivenneſs of ſins: And theſe two, put together. 1. That there is a ſufficient Price laid down, for the Satisfying of the Juſtice of God, for the Debt of Elect Sinners. 2. That this is the Lords D…ſigne, in laying of the Pr…ce down, even to Procure, and to Communicat Life to them, according to that of John 3.16. God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten ſon, that whoſoever believes on him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. And that of John 12.32. And if I be lifted up, I will draw all men after me: This demonſtrats, that there is a Sufficient-Warrand, to make uſe of Chriſt, for pardon of Sin, and for obtaining of Life, through Him; For readily the Exception is One of Two; Either 1. That the Price will not …o the Turn; and that cannot be ſaid; for the Death of Chriſt is a Price Sufficient: or, 2. That Sinners know nor what is the Lor…'s Purpoſe in it, This Text holds out that, and tells us, I… is, that he may have a ſeed. This is the Sum of the Covenant of Redemption; ſa…eth the Father, Son if thou wilt lay down thy Life, Thou ſhalt ſee a ſeed, that ſhall have Life, through thy Sufferings; and the Lord would never have given His Son to die, if He had not minded the Salvation of Sinners, and to beget, and promove Life in them, through His Suffer…ngs; And to what end is the Goſpel Preached, by which Life and immortality are brought to light; But that what He hath bought, may be app…yed to Sinners?
And therefore, as a 5th. Uſe, We beſeech you to concur with Chriſt, in the Deſign of His laying down of His Life; Is it not, think ye, great Ingratitude to Him, and great Cruelty to your ſelves, that when the Lord hath Deſigned ſuch a thing, by the laying down of His Life; That ye ſhould, as far as ye can, ſtand in the way of it? Now His Deſigne is, to have many in His Common for Life; …hat He may have a Seed, and to have Poor Sinners, that are Dead, and Lifeleſſe in themſelves, taking with their Sin, and coming to Him, to get Juſtice Satisfied, and a Right to Life, by His Offering: And is this a Prejudicial Deſigne, or Unprofitable to Sinner…? Why then ſhould ye ſtand in the way of that? When Our Lord hath Deſigned Sinners good, and hath been content to lay down His Life, to make Life poſſible to you, when all His D…ſigne in dying, is, to have Sinners ſaved, by their betaking themſelves to H…m, and that, by their betaking themſelv…s to Him, the Second Adam, They may get a R…ght to Life Transferred to them? …s i… not Fol…y and Madneſs, for Sinne…s, to obſtruct what they can this His Deſign? The Apoſtle makes uſe of this Argument. 2 Cor. 5.…8, 19. He hath given us the word of reconciliation, that God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world to himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them; we therefore, as ambaſſadours for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Ch…iſt ſt…ad; be ye reconciled to God: And what is the reaſon? For he was made ſin for us, who knew no ſin: And or this …nd, That we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him: And is not …his the ſam… Argum…nt that …s in the Text? Our Lord was made … Sin-off…ring; that H… might ſee a Seed. And … …o, then we would int…eat you if the Bl…e…i…g Bowels of Chri…, can have any we…ght with you, and if you would do Him a Pleaſure, not to marr His Deſigne, as f…r as ye can (for He will infruſtrably accompliſh His Deſigne.) And that is, to have Souls brought in, to make Sinners Peace with God, and that they may make uſe of His Sufferings for that End: Need we uſe Arguments, to perſwade you to this? Wh…ch is ſo much for your own good and welfare, even to ſave your Souls; To come, and be Reconciled to God; to make uſe of Chriſt for Life, to prevent the Wrath that is to come, and to make Heaven ſure to your ſelves; Which is impoſſible for you, honeſtly to ayme at, but God ſhall have the Glory of His G ce and Wiſdome from you; And if this be not your ayme and endeavour▪ God will not have the Glory of His Grace in you; Though Paſſively, He ſhall have the Glory of H s Juſtice, in pun ſhing you, E…ernally in Hell; but that is not His great, and proper Deſigne, in the ſending of His Son; For H… could have had H s G… ry that way, though He had never ſent Him into the World: And therefore, in His Name, and in His ſtead, we do again, and again ſeriouſly beſeech, and ſolmnly obteſt you, to give Our Lord Jeſus Satis…action in this Particular; ye that are going to Hell, or are in hazard of it, come to Chriſt Jeſus the Prince of Life, The Purchaſer, and Giver of Life, and get Life from Him; Come as Dead-Sinners in your ſelves, and by the Law, to get a new Gift of Life, by His Right; And we propoſe this Suit, and Requeſt in His Name, who tells us, that He laid down His Life, to get a Seed; This Goſpel comes to every one of your Doors, and ſayes to you, will ye be oblidged to Chriſt for Life? will ye be His Children? If the Heart be honeſt, and ye can ſincerely ſay, content Lord, and will creep in under His Wings, that ye may be found in Him; and may be covered with His Righteouſneſs; There is good ground to expect a cloſed Bargain: For our Lord purpoſly Died, that He might have a Seed; and is calling upon you for this very End; and will not go back of His Word, if ye be content to Bargain with Him; And therefore I would again ſay unto you, ſhift not His call; It is His Deſign, to have a Seed; and it ſhould be yours, to ſeek to be of that Seed: O! let Him have His Errand among you; The Offer comes (as I juſt now ſaid) to every one of your Doors, and your anſwer will be, and muſt be, either yea, or nay, either that ye are content to be His Children, that His Grace may be Glorified in you; Or that ye are not content, and that ye will not come to him, that ye may have life; As it is, John 5. That ye ſcorn to be His Seed, and Children; But, Ah! the day comes, when ye would be glad of ſuch an Offer, and will not get it.
But to come a little nearer in the Application of this Uſe, 1. Are there not many of you without Life, Yea, hundreds of you? Not one among many, is renewed; If ye think your ſelves to be Dead, this Word of Life, and Salvation is ſent unto you, and ſure ye have need of it. 2. There is Life in Chriſt to be had, a Fair Purchaſe made, and a way laid down, to bring Sinners to have a Right to Life; And are not theſe two, think ye, well met and tryſted? on what ground then is it bottomed? upon one of theſe two or rather on both of them, implyed in this phraſe, of being Christ's Seed. 1. It implyes, That there be a coming to Chriſt, as void of Life; and an actual truſting to Him for the attaining of Life, That Sinners pricked with the fear, or feelling of the Wrath of God, acknowledge Chriſt, as the Father of their Life, and Credit Him with the Application of Life to them. 2. It implyes, not only the Credi…ing Him with the Application of Life; but that we commit our ſelves to be alone, i… His Debt and Common for it, which is implyed in that Word, John 5. Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have Life; The uſe making of Chriſt, for the attaining of Life, is implyed in the Word coming, And that is for ſlain and dead Souls to go to Chriſt, for Abſolution, and Life, called, Heb. 7.25. A coming to God by Chriſt; and again, It is not, ye will not come unto me that ye may buy or procure Life, or Work it to your ſelves; But ye will not come to me, that ye may have it: ye will not be in my Common for it: The firſt Word expreſſes, where we get our Life, and that is in Chriſt's Sufferings; The Second Word, how we get it, even as the Child gets Life from the Parent, we get it fully and freely conferred on us by Him: So that the Similitude ſayes this much, come to Chriſt, who hath procured your Life; and truſt your getting of Life to Him, on the Terms of Grace: And ſince this is all that Chriſt ſeeks of you, Not to make your Performances the ground of your Pleading for Life, but His Purchaſe; and that having need on your ſide, and fulneſſe on His ſide, ye ſhould come and have; What hinders your cloſing of a Bargain? This is the very thing your Salvation will ſtand, or fall on; even on your yeelding to come to Him, and to be in His Common for Life, and on your leaning to His Righteouſneſs, or not; and according at ye Act Faith, or not on Him, in this reſpect; So will the Sentence of your Abſolution, or Condemnation paſſe in the Great Day: And therefore, let me beſeech you yet again, above any th…ng, to make this ſure; And when I ſpeak of making it ſure, it is not only to have a Glance of the thing in your minds: as many may have, to whoſe Door Chriſt comes, when yet they will not go out of doors to Him: Nor is it only to have a Conviction in your Judgement and Conſcience, of the Reaſonableneſſe of it, as many of you have, ſo many Convictions of Sin, and of the neceſſity of Faith, in your Judgement, a… will make you Inexcuſable; ye are Convinced, that ſuch a thing ſhould be; And there it holds: The Lord draws you by His Word, to give aſſent to the Reaſonableneſſe of the Offer; but ye ſmuther the Conviction: Ye come Aggrippa his length, in aſſenting to the Truth; but come no furder; ye laid your account, it may be, that ye could not ſave your ſelves, and that your Salvation was only in Chriſt, and ye took that for Faith: But believe me, there muſt be ſomething more …hen that, even a laying of your ſelves over on Him, and a making of Application to Him, to fi l the empty Room in the Heart: I remember of a dying Perſon, that had a good Word to this purpoſe, who, when it was aſked at him, how his F…ith did now differ from that which he had in his health? Anſwered, when I was in health, I was convinced that I ſhould believe, but now, my Soul act…ally caſts it ſelf on Chriſt. The many Convictions that Men have, that they ſhould believe, will ſtick to them, and go with them to He…l; and make them the more inexcuſable, that they held there, and went no further.
6ly. And laſtly, It ſerves to be a ground of Expoſtulation, with many hearers of th… Goſpel, who have heard of this noble Deſigne, and yet make no uſe of it; O! Hypocrites, Formaliſts, and Prophane Perſons, what a Reckoning will ye have to make, when this ſhall be found on your Score; ye were dead in Sin, and the Lord contrived a Deſigne to ſave loſt Sinners, in ſending His Son to be an offering for ſin, and the Son came and laid down His Life; and ye were called and invited to come to Him, and to have Life in Him; The glad Tydings of Redemption were Preached, and made Offer of to you; and ye would not be content to cloſe with Chriſt, but would, ſo far as ye could, thuart with Him, in His Deſign, though it coſt Him His Heart-blood, to bring it about: What will come of this? or what will ye Anſwer Him for it? ye will ſay, it may be, that ye were content to concur with Chriſt, and ſtood not in the way of it; but it will be replyed; why then did ye live and die in your Sin, and bring your Soul to this dreadful hazard and loſs? your Conſcience and God will bear … upon you, and ye will not get it ſhifted; that your deſtruction was of your ſelves, becauſe ye would not be ſaved; And will that, think ye, be a Suitable and Satisfying Anſwer? That though Chriſt would have ſaved my Soul, I would not be ſaved by Him, and then to go to Hell for that? What a tormenting thing will it be in the Conſcience, that Life was Offered to me, on Condition of believing in Chriſt, but I Refuſed▪ or Scorned to take it on that Condition? Think on it, what ye will think to be ſent to Hell, becauſe ye would not be ſaved freely by Chriſt, And to periſh, becauſe ye would not be Chriſt's Seed; Becauſe ye would not take with your guilt, that ye might have Life from Him; What, do ye all think that ye have Life, are there none ſenſible of their need of Life from Chriſt? Alas! that we ſhould be put ſo often to repeat theſe Words; we may almoſt ſpeak to ſtones, with as great hope of Succeſs, as to many Conſciences among you, that are habitually obdured, and blinded with Preſumpt…on, by the god of this World, who hath put out your Eyes: But th… day comes, when ye will find your ſelves greatly miſtaken; I ſhall inſiſt no further; only, ſeing that ye are Naturally Dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes; and ſeing that Chriſt's Deſigne in dying, is, to have a Seed, As ye would not prejudge your ſelves of Life, As ye would not be found to be diſpiſers of His Sufferings, and ſuch as have trode the Blood of the Covenant under foot; ſtudie to make ſure eternal life to your ſelves, by betaking your ſelves to Him for it; or lay your reckoning to be reputed guilty of this horrible crime with all the aggravations of it.