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me except my Father draw him," and that the exceeding greatness of power, according to the workings of the mightiest power in any case, should be put forth upon them that believe. Therefore men are in Christ by creative power only; "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; "a he is new made, if he be in Him. And this aversion, being so deeply natural, will still in a degree remain, while any thing of corrupt nature remains, in the hearts of even the regenerate themselves. A continual exertion of the same power will be ever requisite to hold souls to Christ, and retain them in their station in him. "He that establisheth us with you in Christ, is God:"bas if it were said, it is only a God that can do this. And how is God admired and adored upon this single account: "Now to him, that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever."c

But as the heart-rectifying communication from God, in this matter, is such as carries mighty power with it, so it gives proportionable pleasure, when it has overcome, and set the soul right in this thing. How delectable is it to receive the Son of God, when the heart is made willing in the day of power, when his cords take hold of the soul, and draw it to him! What pleasure is there in the consenting selfresigning act and disposition !

a 2 Cor. v. 15.

b 2 Cor. i, 21.

c Rom. xvi. 25.

It is most highly delightful to receive him, and give up ourselves to him as our full suitable good, so exactly answering all the exigencies of our distressed case. Then, the soul, sensibly apprehending its true state, cries out, "None but Christ," and finds him present, waiting only for consent, readily offering himself, "Here I am, take me, thy Jesus, thy help, thy life!" How overcomingly pleasant is this to a soul, that feels its distress, and perceives itself ready to perish, and that daily sees itself perishing, were it not for him. How pleasant, when, in the time of love, he finds the poor soul in its blood, and says to it "live;" clothes it, decks it, makes it perfect through his own comeliness, tenders himself to it, overcomes by his own mercy and goodness, and prevails with a sinful creature to accept him. How gladly doth it throw off every thing of its own, that it may entirely possess him, and be possessed by him. Here is the joy of espousals. That very consent itself, if it be sincere, has a secret joy accompanying it; and the soul feels the gratefulness and pleasure of its own act, though it do not for the present examine and take a view of it. For it is now, from a principle of life, embracing and drawing into union with itself an object, that is all life and goodness and sweetness, which therefore sheds its own delightful fragrancy through the soul, while it is in the mean time acting only upon the object directly. and not reflecting upon its own act, or

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considering in that very instant what will be consequential thereupon. But if withal it do consider, that it is receiving him who is to bring it to God, who is able to do it, even to save to the uttermost all that will come to God by him, -who is intent upon that design, and did, in the midst of dying agonies, breathe forth his soul in the prosecution of it, and with whom God requires it to unite for this very purpose, this cannot but add unspeakably to the delightfulness of this transaction, and of this effusion of the Holy Ghost, in the virtue whereof the thing is done.

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And to receive him as our Lord, which is joined with that other capacity, wherein we receive him, namely, of a Saviour, this also, and the heart-subduing influence that disposes to it, is most highly delectable. When the soul, that once said within itself, 'I will not have him to reign over me,' is brought freely to yield, and with sincere loyal resolutions and affections devotes itself to him, consents to his government, submits to his yoke and burden, says to him with an ungainsaying heart, as its full sense,

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Now, thou Lord of my life and hope, who hast so long striven with me, so oft and earnestly pressed me hereto, so variously dealt with me to make me understand thy merciful design, and who seekest to rule with no other aim or intent but that thou mayest save, and who hast founded thy dominion in thy blood, and didst die and revive and rise again, that thou mightest be Lord of the living and the dead, and therefore my Lord, accept now a self-resigning soul; I make a free surrender of myself, I bow and submit to thy sovereign power, I fall at the footstool of thy throne, thou Prince of the kings of the earth, who hast loved sinners, and washed them from their sins in thy blood; I will from henceforth be no longer mine own, but thine; I am ready to receive thy commands, to do thy will, to serve thy interests, to sacrifice my all to thy name and honour; my whole life and being are for ever thine:"-I say, there is pleasure in the very doing this itself, as often as it is sincerely done. And it adds hereto, if it be more distinctly considered, that it is no mean or undeserving person, to whom this homage is paid, and obligation made for future obedience. He is the brightness of the Father's glory, the express image of his person, the heir of all things, and who sustains all things by the word of his power. It is he, whose name is Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. It is he, to whom all power is given both in heaven and earth, and, more especially, power over all flesh, that he might give eternal life to as many as were given him. It is he, who spoiled principalities and powers, and made an open show of them; he, whom-because, when he was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he humbled himself, made himself of no reputation, took on him the form of a servant, and became obedient to death, the Father hath therefore highly exalted, and given him a name above every name, that at

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his name every knee should bow; and of whom -when he brought him, his first-born, into the world, he said, "Let all the angels of God worship him."

He is one, whose temper is all goodness and sweetness. "Tell Sion, thy king cometh, meek and lowly." He came into this world drawn down only by his own pity and love, beholding the desolations and ruins, that were wrought in it everywhere, sin universally reigning, and death by sin spreading its dark shadow and a dreadful cloud over all the earth: in which darkness, the prince thereof was ruling and leading men captive at his will, having drawn them off from the blessed God their life, and sunk them into a deep oblivion of their own original, and into disaffection to their true happiness, that could only be found in God.

This great Lord and Prince of life and peace came down on purpose to be the restorer of souls, to repair the desolations and ruins of many generations. He came full of grace and truth, and has scattered blessings over the world, wheresoever he came, has infinitely obliged all that ever knew him, and is he, in whom all the nations of the earth must be blessed. Who would not with joy swear fealty to him and take pleasure to do him homage? Who would not recount with delight the inexpressible felicity of living under the governing power of such a one?

If the tenor and scope of all his laws and constitutions be viewed, what will be found but obligations upon men to be happy. How easy

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