DISCOURSE XXII. THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY. HEB. V. 12. Ye have need that one teach you which be the principles of the oracles of God. WHOEVER is acquainted with this epiftle to the Hebrews will easily obferve, that all faid there of Jefus Chrift's eternal Godhead, of his being the creator, the upholder, and heir of all things, and his being above all angels, heavens, prophets, &c. is to magnify the doctrine of his atonement, which is throughout treated of in such a manner as is not befide in any part of the Bible. The author makes all the priests, laws, facrifices, the temple, and even the facerdotal veftments and ceremonies to be fhadows only of the Redeemer and his offering himself up like a lamb, by which he makes perfect all them that are fanctified. Hence it is that he esteems all the other doctrines only as the first principles of Christianity, and little in comparifon of this which he calls perfection; because this made perfect the falvation, and finished iniquity, made an end of fin, brought in everlasting righteoufnefs, blotted out the curfe and its caufe, opened the gate of heaven, reconciled the world to God, detroyed death, fpoiled him that had the power of it, that is the devil, and obtained eternal redemption for for us; fo that properly, above all other doctrines, this deferves to be termed the doctrine of perfection, as it is many times called by the apoftle in this epiftle, but particularly when he fays, "therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, namely, the laying the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of baptifm, of laying on of hands, of the refurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment, let us go on unto perfection;" from which tine he goes on to fpeak of the new covenant in the blood of Chrift, of his priesthood and facrifice, when he offered up his own body once for all, by which, he faith, "we are fanctified and perfected." Alfo, in the courfe of his doctrines, he fhews how little effect the daily facrifices, fprinkling of the blood of bulls and goats, &c. had on those who attended on such a worship, feeing they did not make them perfect; for, he fays, "If perfection was by that priesthood, then there would have been no need of another priest to come after the order of Melchifedech;" but he concludes, the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did," and that Christ crucified is the true doctrine of perfection. We must not, however, defpsfe the first principles of Chrift; they are facred truths, and lead and point to his atonement, as the steps led up to the temple. Of thefe, as they are mentioned in this epiftle, I will fpeak in a particular manner, and begin with the doctrine of repentance from dead works. All works done without a living faith in Chrift must be reckoned dead, for they are fo in the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Chiefly all the works of the flesh are dead, namely, idolatries, blafphemies, fwearing, idle jefting, and fongs of the drunkard, lies, uncleannefs, whoredoms, mur ders, ders, thefts, banquettings, pleafures, covetoufnefs, anger, revenge, envy, railing, injustice, cruelty, &c. These are all dead works, and are the fruits of dead men who have never been quickened by Chrift Jefus. These have fprung out of a dead and unbelieving nature; and those who do fuch things, all lovers of the world, and the things of the world, are dead to God while they live. This is eafily confented to by the ferious and more devout part of mankind, and fince they avoid the danger of running into thefe, think themselves fafe; and especially if, on the other fide, they are exercifed in works of piety, fasting, alms, prayer, reading the fcriptures, going to church, &c. but herein is alfo danger; for till we are made alive by the Holy Spirit, and adopted into God's family, we alfo are dead, and our works dead works, and must be repented of as well as our known fins. Whoever is not born again, is at beft but a fervant in God's houfe, and a fervant abideth not in the house always, but a fon abideth always;" let tim value his work as much as he pleafes, and let it be highly esteemed among men, yet where they have not been done out of a heart wherein the love of God is thed abroad by the Holy Ghoft, they are not good works, and are only fet up in the room of Chrift; and becaufe of this, they are in the fight of God an abomination. There are many ferious and fober people in the world who are quite ignorant of the righteoufnefs of God revealed by faith, and who cannot truft the blood and obedience, and tender mercy of Jefus Chrift, and therefore try to make a righteoufnefs of their own works, and comfort themselves that they are better than others, fetting up this for the cause of their acceptance above, and so run into grofs idolatry, and depend and truft the works of their hands, "which is the abomination which makes defolate," ftanding in the ftead of Christ, where where it ought not. All this is building upon fand, and what must fall before the throne in the day of trial; they are dead works, and not built upon the Rock. However fuch people may think well of their lives and works now, yet when our Saviour shines upon them and enlightens their eyes to fee and judge righteous judgment, they will find fo much pride, wandering, oftentation, felfifhness and fin mingled in their holieft deeds, that they will be afhamed of all they have done, and lothe and abhor themselves for efteeming the best work or most commendable action they ever did better than dross or dung, and repent heartily of their pride and felf conceit. The prince of this world has found means to deceive in every thing, and in nothing more than in the doctrine of repentance; for generally no more is meant by it by people of our time, than leaving grofs fins, and changing a wild and wicked behaviour into a life of fobriety and religion. There are indeed a few who carry the matter farther, and allow of no found converfion unless the finner has been firft awakened and alarmed with the terrors and thunders of the law, under which he cries out and is affrighted exceedingly, fo that he does not only leave off his fin, but trembles day and night for fear of God's judgment; and this is called by divines legal repentance, and often wears off entirely, as in the cafe of Efau, Pharaoh, and others, who for awhile were very penitent, but afterwards grew worfe than ever. In this manner drunkards, whoremongers, rioters, and fenfualifts of all kinds, repent. When they have gone further than ordinary in fin, or fallen worse than ufual, for awhile they cannot speak for tears, are afhamed to lift up their heads; they make vows to be better, and tremble, like Balaam when the angel met him with his fword drawn in his hand; but, in a day a day or two, they turn again, "as a dog to his vomit, and as a fow that was wafhed to wallow in the mire ;" and this last state is worse than the first. Or perhaps they fatisfy themselves in abstaining from outward fins, without coming to. Chrift crucified, and obtaining pardon and a new heart from him, and so nothing farther is the fruit but a moral life; and ftill, though they have a name to live, like the church of Sardis in the Revelations, they are dead, and without the Son of God in the world, and fo without life. True and gofpel repentance goes far more abundantly, and is, like faith, a divine work of our Saviour, who was exalted to give repentance to his people. A penitent man is one to whom our Saviour has called as he did to Saul, and arrested him as it were with, "Why perfecutest thou me?" Such ftand aftonifhed before God, and can neither eat, drink, nor fleep in peace; they have obtained such a fight of fin in their own natural heart, body and foul, and in all they have ever done, that their spirits fink and fail, and with a thirst and longing for mercy unspeakable, they turn and look towards him whom they have pierced and mourn for him. Nor can they take pleasure any more in the world, or in their former company or delights; the Lord has mingled wormwood and gall with every thing, and now they would give the world, to be affured that Chrift has forgiven them: they are in Peter's cafe after our Saviour looked upon him, their very inmoft heart and foul is melted, they weep and figh continually, and have no reft till they have got a reft for their fouls. If you would know what repentance is current before the Searcher of hearts, it is that which is learned at the foot of the cross, and begins at the death of Chrift. No one has a right fenfe of fin but by looking to Jefus, or rather by Jefus's looking upon |