Lord, and I will exalt him; he is the chiefest of ten thousand and altogether lovely:" he fulfils the Father's decrees, glorifies all the divine perfections, destroys all God's implacable enemies, and brings all the chosen seed to glory; not one shall be wanting, nor the least spot or imperfection shall be found in any of them. How glorious is Christ in this appearance; the object of the Father's love, and therefore he deserves ours. Let us love the Lord then, let him be very dear to our souls, who is thus glorious in his apparel, walking in the greatness of his strength, mighty to

save.

9. We may learn what a glorious church the great Saviour will have, when all the saints are gathered to gether in one. The general assembly and church of the first-born will make no mean appearance in the great day. If three thousand were added to the church in one day, and multitudes soon after, what a vast congregation will all the saved make, when they meet together at Christ's right hand? It will then be seen, that he did not labour in vain, and die for nought: the redeemed will appear to be a number, that no man can number, out of all times, kindreds, and nations; which will be a full evidence, that our Redeemer has not left the salvation of his people uncertain.

10. What reason have all the redeemed to admire

and honour the sovereign saving grace of God and Christ? Peter said thus to the Christians to whom he wrote, "Ye are a chosen nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth his praise, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light," 1 Pet. ii. 9. A Christian may say; how is it, Lord, that thou shouldest love and redeem me, give thyself for me, and then reveal thyself to me, pour out thy blood upon the cross, and pour out thy Spirit into the heart of such a worthless worm as I? Lord, why did not I as well as others, receive the just wages of my sins? Why did my Saviour pay my debt, when so many others, fallen angels and men, must be paying theirs for ever? O glorious, sovereign, distinguishing

grace! Not to me, not to me, but to thy name be all the glory: peculiar love calls for special thankfulness. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that whilst this salvation is hid from others, it is revealed to me; and that I have been enabled to receive the atonement, and to joy in thee through Jesus Christ my Lord. This is a thank-offering which be comes all the redeemed, but it will be done infinitely better, when the saints come to sing the song of the Lamb in the new Jerusalem, according to this model of it; "Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation," Rev. v. 9. Those who stand with Christ upon "mount Sion, having his Father's name written on their foreheads," Rev. xiv. 1, 5; who are redeemed from the earth, should often sing that song, which none but they can learn, "who are the redeemed from among men, and are the firstfruits to God, and to the Lamb." But not only good works and good affections are to be given to their God and Saviour; but the redeemed peculiar people ought to be zealous of good works. Those who are bought with such an invaluable price, as Christ's blood, ought to glorify him in their bodies and spirits: his love, as well as his authority and right, should "constrain us, not to live to ourselves, but to him that died for us, and rose again."

11. What encouragement is there for us to wait for salvation by Christ, to lie at his foot, and hope in his mercy? The saved are a numberless number, sinners of all ages, sizes, and circumstances. The Saviour set forth in the gospel, is able to save to the uttermost, all who come to God by him. Those who are left to their own wills perish; God works a work which they in no wise believe: they will not come to Christ that they may have life; but those committed to the care of Christ shall come: he makes them willing in the day of his power, by his word and Spirit, and the pastoral rod of his strength. It is good then to wait at wisdom's gates; for such as find Christ, find life. There is en

couragement to hope for mercy, if we wait for it, in the way which Christ has prescribed: He has said, "Seek and ye shall find; search the Scriptures, they testify of me; come to me all ye that are weary, and I will give you rest." The Psalmist uses an argument which is grown much stronger since his time; Our fathers trusted in thee, and they were delivered," Psalm xxii. 4. We may say not only the patriarchs and prophets, but the apostles, the primitive church, and multitudes down to this present time, have trusted in Christ, and have been saved by him; therefore “it is good for us to wait and hope for the salvation of the Lord." It is our business to prove our election and redemption by our effectual calling. If we believe, we shall be saved; if we never do, then there is no salvation for us. It is a great encouragement that there is a Saviour, infinite in grace and merit, who will give the water of life freely, to every one that thirsts; and we have as fair an opportunity as thousands before us, who ventured their souls on Christ, and were kindly received by him.

12. Let us not sink under the greatest discourage. ments which we meet with in the course of Providence. Valuable and useful instruments are taken away, or laid aside; faithful and able ministers die; but Christ lives still; and blessed be the rock of our salvation. Christ is mighty to save; and with him is the residue of the Spirit: It is he that made those who are gone what they were; and he can give the same Spirit and gifts to others, or work the same effects, by less able and likely means. We should then cry to the Lord God of Elijah, to pour out more of his Spirit on his ministers and people, that salvation-work may be car ried on, not by human might and power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Christ has promised to be with his ministers and people to the end of the world, if they teach and do what he has commanded, Mat. xxviii. 20. Let us, then, in his own way, depend upon his promise, and wait for his blessing, who "walks in the greatness of his strength, and is mighty to save; who

gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Now to him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us

faultless before the presence of his glory, to our exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever.

AMEN.

2 P

THE

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS

OPENED.

THREE

SERMONS,

By Mr. THOMAS BRADBURY, Minister of the Gospel.

SERMON I.

ROM. viii. 32.

He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.

THESE words bear a full proportion to the design for which I have taken them; that is, they shew us the SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, in their reality, and their im putation. That Messiah the Prince is come, that he was cut off, but not for himself, Dan. ix. 26. that he suffered, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God, 1 Pet. iii. 18. he finished transgression, made an end of sin; he put it away, by the offering of himself; he made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in an everlasting righteousness, Dan. ix. 24.

As the doctrine of the cross is the glory of our religion, it is the foundation of all our hope: The apostle brings it in with a connexion; for, saith he, in the former verse, If God be for us, who can be against us? The consequent is inseparable, the argument, invincible, and therefore his care is to let it be seen that the antecedent is true; to which purpose he offers the text in evidence: "He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all; how shall he not with him freely give us all things ?"