An Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies | Page 7

opened by the gospel for
miserable sinners! A gracious promise was given early, even to our first

parents, immediately after their fall. The seed of the woman shall break
the serpent's head [Gen. iii. 15.]. This promised seed is the Lord Jesus
Christ, who, in due time, was to appear 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 [I 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 produces an
inward change in the soul, called, in the scripture, the new birth,
regeneration [John iii. 3-7], or conversion, and thus enables a sinner,
convinced of his sin and misery, to look to Jesus, and to believe on
him.
But though repentance and faith are the gifts of God, which none can
obtain by any endeavours of their own, yet we are encouraged and
commanded to pray for them [Luke xi. 17.].
All who have thus, through grace, believed, and are daily living a life
of faith in the Son of God, shall be saved: but such as carelessly neglect,
or wilfully reject this gospel must be damned [ Mark xvi. 15.]. Think, I
beseech you, of this! Remember, that it is the solemn declaration of the
Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Now is the time to obtain the blessings revealed in the gospel, and
which are set before you when it is preached. Many have had these
gracious declarations made to them, before we were born, and they will
be repeated to many after we are dead. But THIS is our day. NOW is
the accepted time, now is the day of salvation [I Cor vi. 2.].
TO-DAY--for you and I may not live to see to-morrow. TO-DAY; if
you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts [Heb. iii. 7, 8.]. My
brethren, it is your duty, your wisdom, and will finally prove to be your
greatest happiness, to seek an interest in this salvation for yourselves. It
is your personal, and must be your heart concern, to make your calling
and election sure [2 Pet. i. 10.].
For death will soon put a period to all the overtures of grace and mercy,
with which many, and particularly YOU, are now favoured. It is as I
have said,