to destroy it, if that Nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their Evil, I will repent of the Evil that I thought to do unto them.

In Ezek. xxxiii. 11. As I live faith the Lord God, I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way, and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil Ways: for why will ye die, O Houfe of Ifrael?

In Ezek. xviii. 21, 22. it is faid, But if the Wicked will turn from all his Sins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he fhall furely live, he shall not die. All his Tranfgreffions that he hath committed, they fhall not be mentioned unto him.

How amazing is the Mercy of God! What Encouragement is here to engage the Wicked to turn from their evil Ways, to repent of their Sins, and to return to God and their Duty? How fhould the Loving-kindness of God make us afhamed of the Tranfgreffions and Offences we have committed against him! Is God willing to be reconciled to us, notwithstanding the Multitudes and Heinoufnefs of our Crimes! and willing fo perfectly to forgive them, that they shall not be even mentioned to us for a Reproach, and Condemnation, if we turn from all our Sins, and confcientiously keep all his Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right. And fhall we not be thankful for the wonderful Manifestations of Diving Grace, and return unto the Lord our God!

that there was fuch an Heart in all the Wicked! Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, (fays the Prophet) call ye upon him while be is near. Let the Wicked for fake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and be will have Mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Ifa. lv. 6, 7.

Ye

Ye are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them: Return unto me, and I will return unto you, faith the Lord of Hofts. Mal. iii.

7.

Therefore fay thou unto them, Thus faith the Lord of Hofts, Turn ye unto me, faith the Lord of Hofts, and I will turn unto you, faith the Lord of Hofts, Zech. i. 3.

Now these glorious Declarations of God, are certain Evidences that God is willing to be reconciled to Sinners, notwithstanding the Number of their Sins, and although they have long lived in Difobedience to him: They fhew that there is a Way, and a fure Way to Reconciliation and Peace with him, a fure Way to obtain Forgiveness, and the Favour of God; and therefore a fure Way to Safety, Comfort, and Happiness.

But what is the Way by which Sinners may return to God? This is a moft important Enquiry, and our Bleffed Saviour answers it in John xiv. 6. Jefus faith unto him, (that is, to Thomas, ver. 5.) I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: No Man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The fure Way of returning to God acceptably, is through Faith in Chrift Jefus, the only Saviour, and the only Mediator between God and Man.

Faith in Chrift is the only Way to obtain Salvation from our Sins, and Peace with God, I am the Door; by me if any Man enter in, he shall be saved, faid our compaffionate Saviour, John x. 9.

Look unto me, and be ye faved, all the Ends of the Earth, faith our gracious Redeemer, Isaiah xlv.

22.

This is the Way that God in his Word has revealed, and directs us to.

And it is what the Minifters of the Gospel are to inftruct us in.

They

They are to acquaint us, that there is a Fountain opened for Sin, and for Uncleanness, (Zech. xiii. 1.) in which we may wafh, and be clean: They are to preach that the Blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth us from all Sin, (1 John i. 7.) if we believe in his

Name.

They are to preach Repentance towards God, and Faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift, (Ats xx. 21.) and to publish thofe Declarations, which the God of Mercy and Salvation has made in his Word, concerning those that repent of their Sins, and believe in the Lord Jefus, fuch as the following, viz.

Acts ii. 38. Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jefus Chrift, for the Remission of Sins, and ye fhall receive the Holy Ghoft.

Alts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your Sins may be blotted out, when the Times of Refreshing shall come from the Prefence of the Lord.

And that in John iii. 16. viz. God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlafting Life.

John i. 12. As many as received him, to them gave be Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name.

John xii. 46. I am come a Light into the World, (faid our gracious Saviour) that whosoever believeth on me, should not abide in Darkness.

Acts xvi. 31. It is faid, Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou shalt be faved.

These facred Declarations of God, fhew plainly that there is a Way, and a fure Way to obtain the Pardon of Sin and eternal Life, and they fhew to us what this Way is, viz. the Way of Repentance and Faith; or the turning from our Sins, and re

turn

turning to God, and the Obedience we owe untó him; and the receiving Chrift, as our Saviour, and Prince, and trusting in him alone for Salvation.

And other Declarations recorded in the divine Word, do manifeft that this Way is the Way to Safety, Comfort, and Happiness.

It is the Way to SAFETY. For in Deut. xxxiii. 12. it is faid, The beloved of the Lord fhall dwell in Safety by him, and the Lord fhall cover him (or protect him from Evil) all the Day long.

And in Prov. xviii. 16. it is faid, The Name of the LORD is a strong Tower; the Righteous rnnneth into it, and is fafe.

In John xi. 18, 19. Thou shalt take thy Reft in Safety. Alfo thou fhalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid.

In Ifa. xxxii. 18. Our God fays, My People shall dwell in a peaceable Habitation, and in fure Dwellings, and in quiet refting Places.

And that it is the Way to COMFORT appears from fuch Declarations as the following, viz.

Pfal. cxix. 165. Great Peace (and therefore much Comfort) they have which love thy Law, and nothing fhall offend them.

In Pfal. cxii. 7. it is faid, He fhall not be afraid of evil Tidings; his Heart is fixed trufting in the Lord.

In Pfal. xxix. 11. it is declared, that, The LORD will blefs his People with Peace.

It is the good Pleasure of our heavenly Father, that they who love and ferve him, fhould enjoy inward Peace and Confolation.

Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People, faith your God. Ifa. xl. 1.

COMFORT is promised to repenting Sinners in Ifa. lvii. 18. I have feen his Ways, and will heal him. I will lead him alfo, and reftore Comforts unto him.

And

And the bleffed Jefus has promised unto his Disciples the holy Spirit as a Comforter in John xiv. 16. faying, I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for

ever.

This Way is also a fure Way to Happiness, to Happiness both. in this World and in that which is

to come.

It is declared in 1 Tim. v. 8. That Godliness is profitable unto all Things, having the Promife of the Life that now is, and of that which is to come.

The Abundance of precious Promises, Promises of Bleffings, fpiritual and temporal, in this World to ferious Chriftians, who believe in the Lord Jefus, and love, and ferve God in Holinefs and Righteoufcefs, the Promises of an eternal Salvation, of a Crown of Glory, of an everlasting Life, and of eternal Inheritance, (Heb. ix. 15.) are Evidences that there is a fure Way to Happiness.

The Apostle Peter fays, Bleed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which, according to his abundant Mercy, bath begotten us again unto a lively Hope, by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the Dead, to an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in Heaven for you, I Pet. i. 3, 4.

In this World, many are the Afflictions of the Righteous, tho' few, very few, in Comparison with the Numbers of the Mercies they enjoy; and light, very light, in Comparison with the Weight and Importance of the Bleffings God has beftowed on them: But God is prefent with them in all their Afflictions, he puts under them the everlasting Arms, and will most certainly deliver them out of all their Troubles.

He will make all Things to iffue well unto them, as appears from that Declaration, Rom. viii, 28.