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inftrumental in faving fouls, will not absolutely prove, that the preacher is in a state of falvation himself: we hope it is generally fo; but there are exceptions and instances, which should awaken our circumfpection, and keep us constantly looking to the Lord in a spirit of humility and dependance. There was a Judas among the apoftles; and we are affured that at the last day, fome, yea many, will plead having done great things in the name of Chrift, whom he will notwithstanding difown as workers of iniquity *. Even the apostle Paul was impreffed by this thought, and he has recorded the improvement he made of it for our inftruction. I keep under my body, and bring it into fubjection, left that by any means, after I have preached to others, I myfelf fhould be a caft away †.

* Matt. vii. 22, 23.

+ Cor. ix. 27.

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SERMON XXXI.

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, GLAD TIDINGS.

ROM. X. 15.

[As it is written] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

TH

HE account which the apostle Paul gives of his firft reception among the Galatians *, exemplifies the truth of this paffage. He found them in a state of ignorance and mifery; alienated from God, and enslaved to the blind and comfortless superftitions of idolatry. His preaching, accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, had a great and marvellous effect. His principal fubject was the death of Jefus, who

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had lately fuffered as a malefactor at Jerusalem. Though the tranfaction was past, and the scene at a confiderable distance, yet by the manner of his reprefentation, the fact was realized to their minds; and they could have been no more affected, had they been actually upon the fpot, at the time. Jefus Chrift was exhibited to them, as crucified before their eyes*. By the fame divine energy they were inftructed in the knowledge of his character, who he was, and why he suffered; and likewife understood their own need of fuch a Saviour. Thus they hearkened to him, not with the indifference of the Athenians, but with application of all that he faid to themselves. They heard, they believed, and they rejoiced. The apostle reminds them, that they had not received a cold fpeculative doctrine, but such a one as imparted a bleffed nefs to them. This, indeed, many of them afterwards loft, when they were unhappily feduced by false teachers. But for a time the knowledge of a Saviour, fo exactly fuited to their circumstances, made them happy. And while they were so, they felt very strong emotions of gratitude and

* Gal. iii. 1.

esteem

esteem for the meffenger who brought them these glad tidings. Though he was by many accounted and treated as the off-fcouring and filth of all things, the Galatians received him as an angel of God, and attended to him, as if the Lord, who fent him, had spoken to them in perfon. And although he had, till then, been an entire ftranger to them, his message opened a way to their hearts, and they gave him every teftimony of the most cordial friendship; infomuch that had it been poffible, they would have plucked out their own eyes, and have given them to bim.

Thus, likewife, when Philip preached the gofpel in Samaria, the confequence was, great joy in that city *. But when the gospel is thus gladly received, there must be a suitable difpofition of mind. It is fent to the poor. It is defigned to heal the broken-hearted, to deliver the captives, and to give fight to the blind. And therefore they who are well fatisfied with themfelves, who fay, We fee, and who boast of their freedom, cannot poffibly judge either of the truth, or of the importance of the gospel doctrine. As the

*Acts viii. 8.

+ Luke iv. 18.

Lord

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