V. SER M. valley is only cheared by tranfient glimpfes of joy. To these claffes of mankind is addreffed the invitation of the text. To them, it is in a particular manner addreffed; overlooking the giddy and diffipated multitude. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden. Not as if our Saviour were always ready to accept that fort of piety which is merely the consequence of diftrefs; or made all those welcome, who are driven by nothing but fear or danger to have recourse to him. His words are to be understood as intimating, that the heart which is humbled and foftened by affliction, is the object of his compaffionate regard; that he will not reject us merely because we have been caft off by the world; but that, if with proper difpofitions and fentiments we apply to him in the evil day, we fhall be fure of meeting with a gracious reception. It now remains to show, what that reception is which we may look for; what that rest is which Christ hath V. hath promised to confer on those who s ER M. I. CHRIST affords reft to the disturbed mind that labours under apprehenfions and fears of guilt. Let thofe who fuffer diftrefs of this nature come to Chrift, that is, with contrition and repentance, have recourse to him as their Saviour, and they shall regain quietnefs and peace. Foolish and guilty they have been, and juftly lie under dread of punishment; but the penitent forrow which they now feel, implies their difpofition to be changed. It implies, as far as it is genuine, that, fenfible of their folly, they now defire to become good and wife; and are determined for the future to hold a virtuous courfe, could they only hope to obtain pardon for the past. In this fituation of mind, let them not be caft down and despair. Chrift has brought with him from heaven the olive branch. T SER M. He carries in his hand the fignal of V. forgiveness. The declaration which he publishes is, Let the wicked for fake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon*. Infufficient though our own repentance be, to procure pardon from heaven, we are informed, that an all-fufficient atonement has been made by Christ. Neither the number nor the atrocity of offences excludes, from forgiveness, the penitent who returns to his duty. To all who come under this defcription, the offer of mercy extends, without exception. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him alfo freely give us all things+? This discovery of divine government, afforded by the Gospel, is perfectly calculated to scatter the gloom which had overcaft * Ifaiah lv. 7. + Rom. viii. 32. overcaft the desponding heart. The at- SE RM. V. mosphere clears up on every fide; and is illuminated by chearing rays of celestial mercy. Not only is hope given to the penitent, but it is rendered finful not to indulge that hope. We are not only allowed and encouraged, but we are commanded to truft in the divine clemency. We are commanded to believe that none who come unto Chrift he will in any wife caft out*. As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael+? -Such is the relief which the religion of Chrift brings to them who labour and are heavy laden under the impreffions of guilt and divine displeasure; a relief which nothing can render ineffectual to the heart, except the most gloomy fuperftition, founded on grofs mifconcep tions * John vi, 37. + Ezek. xxxiii. 11. SER M. tions of the nature and attributes of God. ལ, Let us now, II. Confider what reft the religion of Christ gives to them whose distress arises not from inward and moral, but from natural and external causes; from adverse fortune, or any of those numerous calamities to which we are at present exposed. To fuch persons, it may feem more difficult to promise any effectual relief. In the former cafe, the distress lay entirely in the mind. As foon as its views are rectified, and its apprehenfions quieted, the evil is removed, and the cure effected, Here, the diftrefs arifes from without; and the religion of Christ affects not the courfe of external events. But though it removes not all the evils of life, though it promises no continuance of undisturbed prosperity, (which indeed it were not falutary for man always to enjoy) yet, if it mitigates the evils which neceffarily belong to our state, and fupports us under them, it may juftly be |