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SERMON V.

On the RELIEF which the GOSPEL affords to the DISTRESSED.

Preached at the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

SERM.

V.

MATTH. xi. 28.

Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft.

T

evils.

HE life of man on earth is doomed to be clouded with various Throughout all ranks, the afflicted form a confiderable proportion of the human race; and even they who have a title to be called profperous, are always, in some periods of their life, obliged to drink from the

cup

V.

cup of bitterness. The Chriftian reli- S ER M, gion is particularly entitled to our regard, by accommodating itself with great tenderness to this diftreffed condition of mankind. It is not to be confidered as merely an authoritative system of precepts. Important precepts it indeed delivers for the wife and proper regulation of life. But the fame voice which enjoins our duty, utters the words of confolation. The gofpel deferves to be held a difpenfation of relief to mankind under both the temporal and fpiritual diftreffes of their ftate.

This amiable and compaffionate fpirit of our religion confpicuoufly appears in the character of its great Author. It fhone in all his actions while he lived on earth. It breathed in all his discharges; and, in the words of the text, is expreffed with much energy. In the preceding verse, he had given a high account of his own person and dignity. All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, fave

the

V.

SERM. the Son, and he to whomfoever the Son will reveal him. But left any of his hearers should be discouraged by this mysterious reprefentation of his greatnefs, he instantly tempers it with the most gracious benignity; declaring, in the text, the merciful intention of his miffion to the world, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

THE first thing which claims our attention in these words is, what we are to understand by coming unto Chrift. This is a phrafe which has often given occafion to controverfy. By theological writers it has been involved in much needlefs mystery, while the meaning is in itfelf plain and eafy. The very metaphor that is here used serves to explain it. In the ancient world, difciples flocked round their different teachers, and attended them wherever they went; in order both to teftify their attachment, and to imbibe more fully the doctrine of their masters. Coming unto Chrift, therefore,

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V.

therefore, is the fame with reforting SER M.
to him as our declared Mafter; ac-
knowledging ourselves his disciples, be-
lievers in his doctrine, and followers of
his precepts. As Chrift is made known
to us under the character both of a
Teacher and a Saviour, our coming to
him imports not only fubmiffion to his
inftructions, but confidence alfo in his
power to fave. It imports that, for-
faking the corruptions of fin and the
world, we follow that courfe of virtue
and obedience which he points out to
us; relying on his mediation for par-
don of our offences, and acceptance
with heaven. This is what is impli-
ed in the fcripture term Faith; which
includes both the affent of the under-
ftanding to the truth of the Chriftian
religion, and the concurrence of the
will in receiving it.

WHAT next occurs in the text to attract our notice, is the description of those to whom the invitation is addreffed. All thofe who labour, and are

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V.

SERM. heavy laden, that is, who, in one way or other, feel themfelves grieved and diftreffed, are here invited to come to Chrift-Now, from two fources chiefly our diftreffes arife; from moral, or from natural causes.

First, THEY may arife from inward moral caufes; from certain feelings and reflexions of the mind, which occafion uneafinefs and pain. A courfe of fin and vice always proves ruinous and deftructive in the iffue. But its tendency to ruin is often not perceived, while that tendency is advancing. For as fin is the reign of paffion and pleasure, it forms men to a thoughtlefs inconfiderate ftate. Circumftances, however, may occur, and frequently, in the courfe of life, do occur which difclofe to a vicious man the ruin which he is bringing on himself, as an offender against the God who made him. When fome occafional confinement to folitude, or fome turn of adverse fortune, directs his attention inimediately upon

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