eral promises, which are the proper object of faith, and not of sense.
As our own interest is the proper object of sense, and not of faith,
therefore the defect in the one needs not redound upon the other. To sum
up all in one word,--if thou thinkest that thou hast not yet believed in
Christ, and hast no interest in him, I will not dispute with thee, to
persuade thee thou art mistaken, for all this debate would be in the dark,
because thou art in darkness. But one thing I would say unto thee,--labour
to do that which thou wouldest do, which thou must do, if such a case were
granted. Suppose it were so, that thou had no interest in him, what
wouldst thou do then? I am sure thou wouldst say, I would labour by any
means to have him mine. Why then thou knowest that cannot be before
believing, and receiving him on his promises, and not at all but by
believing. Therefore, since that this is it you must at length turn unto,
suppose the case were decided, why do you not presently, rather without
more wearying yourselves in the greatness of your way, turn in thither, as
to a place of refuge without further disputing in the business, and so by
believing in Christ and waiting upon him in his ways, you shall put that
out of question, which debating would make an endless question. The Lord
make you wise to know the things that belong to your peace.

Sermon XV.

1 John i. 7.--"And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin."

Can two walk together except they be agreed? As darkness cannot have
fellowship with light, till it be changed into some conformity to the
light, even so there can neither be any fellowship in walking, nor
conformity in nature, between God and us who are enemies to him by nature,
unless there be some agreement and reconciliation of the difference. Now,
here is that which maketh the atonement,--"The blood of Jesus his Son
cleanseth us from all sin." This is it that takes away the difference
between God and men, and makes reconciliation for us. This blood hath
quenched the flame of indignation and wrath kindled in heaven against us.
And this alone can quench and extinguish the flames and furies of a
tormented soul, that is burned up with the apprehension of his anger. All
other things thou canst apply or cast upon them will be as oil to increase
them, whether it be to cool thyself in the shadows of the world's
delights, such a poor shift as the rich glutton would have taken in h