ar in the world, to be
born of a woman, that by his life, sufferings, and obedience unto death,
he might recover fallen man from the misery and ruin in which he was
involved. Brethren, this gospel which, as the ministers and ambassadors of
God, we are commissioned and commanded to preach to sinners, proposes a
free and gracious pardon to the guilty, cleansing to the polluted, healing
to the sick, happiness to the miserable, light for those who sit in
darkness, strength for the weak, food for the hungry, and even life for
the dead [Gal. iv. 4, 5.; Gal. iii. 13.; I John i. 7.; Matt. xi. 28.;
Matt. xi. 5.].

All these inestimable blessings are the fruits and effects of the death
and mediation of Jesus Christ. His great design in coming into the
world was to seek and to save those who are lost[Luke xviii. 10.;
I Tim. i. 15.]; he came from heaven, that he might raise us to those holy
and happy mansions; he endured the curse, that we might inherit the
blessing; he bore the cross, that we might wear the crown; he died, that
we might live; he died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God [1 Pet. iii. 18.].

These blessings become ours, only by believing, or faith. Thus it is
said, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son
For what purpose? Why, That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life [John iii. 16,18.],--he that believeth
in him is not condemned; he that believeth in him who juftifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness [Rom. iv. 3, 6.].
My friends, search the scriptures, and you will find that this is the
tenor of the whole Bible; I may add of our church also, in
the Articles and Homilies. This believing is sometimes called a coming
to Christ, a looking unto Christ, a trusting in him, a casting our
burden upon him [John vi. 37.; Isa. xlv. 22.; Eph. i. 12.; Ps. lv. 22.].
And remember, that until we do thus come to Christ, trust in him,
cast our cares and burdens upon him, we have no part or interest in
what the gospel unfolds and offers; however others, who have
believed, and daily act faith upon him, are rejoicing in the participation
of those rich benefits and blessings which the gospel freely offers to
guilty and perishing sinners.

The faith whereby a sinner receives Christ, and becomes a partaker of
all the blessings of the gospel, is the sole gift of God, wrought in
the heart by his Holy Spirit [Eph. ii. 8.]. This Holy Spirit p