woful state we must
be brought, else we shall never see the face of God with comfort. This
is an eternal truth of God, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. John
iii. 16. That "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have
everlasting life." God so loved the world, he gave his Son to be a light
unto the world, that all might see their way back to God again: For sin
hath darkened the understanding, and clouded the mind of man and woman,
and alienated them from the life of God, and their hearts are hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. But now is the acceptable time, now is
the day of salvation, the day of God's grace and favourable visitation,
wherein he visits men and women, illuminates their minds and spirits
with a light from heaven, that they might see the deplorable state and
condition wherein they are, and what they are doing: It is in this
light, that they have a day of grace vouchsafed to them, that it may be
well with them, both here and for ever. They that receive this light,
and come out of that which they are called from, which is sin, they may
come to enjoy peace with God. It was sin that first separated between
God and man; and it is sin now that hinders man from acquaintance with
the Lord, who brings peace unto him: It is by this light, that we are to
acquaint ourselves with God, that we may be at peace. Thus saith the
Lord by the prophet, "It is sin has separated between me and you:" Sin
hath made a partition wall between God and us, and God hath sent his Son
into the world to break down this partition wall that sin hath made;
that so fallen man might return to God, and come into Paradise again,
out of which sin hath cast him.

Now, none can bring us back to God, and into favour and communion with
him, but our Lord Jesus Christ: He is the light and leader of his
people. There is no name under heaven by which we can be saved, but the
name of JESUS: It is he that saves his people from their sins; and it is
in him alone that we are blessed: "Blessed is he whose transgression is
forgiven, and whose sin is covered:" And for the sake of Christ alone it
is, that the Lord imputeth not iniquity to us. Now pray "Examine
yourselves, whether you be in the faith," 2 Cor. xiii. 5. "Prove your
own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates."
Examine yourselves, whether you have chosen the Lord for your God, and
Christ f