pleafed the FATHER that in CHRIST should all fullnefs dwell*. FOURTHLY, I propofed to fhew by whom, or by, what power and authority they were made, or determined finners. To be made finners in our text does not fignify to caufe any perfon to act or commit fin, nor to charge fin upon the innocent; but where the fault is found, judicially to determine fuch to be guilty. It is an act of judgment on tranfgreffors, whereby they are determined, or conftituted finners; GOD is the judge of all men by whom, and before whom the whole world are found guilty, for all have finned; in which fense it is here faid, by one man's disobedience, many were made, that is, judicially conftituted finners.-That this decree of judgment was not by Adam is plain; he doubtless, had it been poffible, would have hindered the charge of fin, together with the awful fentence, from paffing either on himself, or his pofterity. But after he had finned, he was as much under the law, and subject to its curfe as any of his feed; therefore he had no legal right, or authority either to prevent or inflict the penalty. As it was God's law that man transgreffed, no other had authority to charge the fin upon him but GOD only. This right to judge mankind, GoD hath referved to himself as his proper and fole prerogative: he is that one law-giver who is able to fave and to deftroy *.-Againft him was Adam's offence committed, and by him it is condemned and punifhed. Thus it is the LORD's act to impute fin, which he verily doth to the guilty, and to no other: for he that justifieth the wicked, end he that condemneth the just, they both are alike, an abomination to the LORD. It is alfo the fole prerogative of the most High to pardon fin and to clear the guilty: who can forgive fins but GOD only? No man hath any power or authority to do this, but GoD doth it, whofe judgment is juft.—The fupreme lawgiver who hath a right to condemn, hath a right alfo to justify. 2. SIN is fuch a burden which all the world cannot lay upon the confcience ;-it is heavier than the fand of the fea ---as fin is exceeding finful, fo it is exceeding heavy; an intollerable lead to thote on whom it is laid. Mine iniquities (faith he) are gone over nine bead as a fore burden, they are too heavy for me §. ---A wounded spirit who can bear ‡.---Men and Devils may accute and charge a perfon with fin; but they cannot fo lay it on him, as to burden his confcience with it unto condemnation; for this power * Jam. iv. 12. + Prov. xvii. 15. | Mark. ii, 7. Prov. xviii. 14. Pfal. xxxviii. 4. power belongeth unto God; hence he faith, bleffed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute fin; and as all the world cannot lay fin upon man, fo neither can they remove the burden or take it off when it is once laid upon him; but GoD, is able: the fame hand that laid it on, can alfo take it off; come unto me, faith the son of God, all ye that labour and are heavy. laden, and I will give you reft† ; 1 kill and I make alive faith the LORD thus it is God whofe judgment is according to truth, that imputes Adam's fin to mankind. And whereas it appears to be the act and deed of the most high GOD, it must needs be a judicial fentence founded in eternal reafon and equity. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right ||? Is there unrighteousness with GOD? GOD forbids. God in his infinite wifdom, faw it good to make the first Adam a public perfon and head of influence unto all men: whom he entrusted with the powers, rights and privileges, of every one of his children; when therefore he by tranfgreffion became obnoxious to the curfe of GOD, judgment came upon him, and in him, upon all who were represented by him.-- THUS by the disobedience of one, many were judicially made, or conftituted finners, by the special appointment and fentence of him who is moft E 2 Pfal. xxxii. 2. + Matt. xi. 28, juft, ↑ Deut. xxxii. 39. juft, in whofe fight every man is accounted, and is as verily guilty of Adam's firft tranfgreffion as he was himfelf: had each individual of mankind flood in his place and finned perfonally as he did, they could not be more guilty of the fact than they now are, for what he did was as much for his pofterity, as for himself; this would lead me more particularly to confider; FIFTHLY, its extenfive and deftructive influence; but declining that confideration for the prefent, I fhall conclude with a few fuitable inferences. 1. I infer that abfolute fovereignty is an attribute peculiar to JEHOVAH, and effential to the Deity. In all his counfels, covenants, and establishments with, or concerning his creatures; he confults with none of them, nor asks any leave, or formal confent of theirs to do what he doth concerning them; but determines all things, and worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; for as he is the author of all being, fo is he the LORD of all; and befides him there is no God, none that is effentially, eternally and immutably holy, juft, and good; it is therefore infinitely fit, and becoming the most HOLY GOD, to determine the state, and end of all things; for God cannot do iniquity; just and right is be*. 2. GOD having created the first man finless and upright in his own image; he appointed him a * Deut. xxxii. 4. public . public perfon; whom he entrusted with the bleffings and privileges of all mankind either to keep, or to loose them for himfelf, and for all fucceeding ages; even those many generations that fhould iffue from him unto the end of the world, and therefore the first fin of the first Adam was the caufe of all the fin and mifery that hath ever been, or will be, in him and his offspring till the end of time. By eating the forbidden fruit he made the waters of his own ciftern bitter, of which, whofoever drinks, fhall furely die; every human device and effort to ftop its courfe, or heal its destructive qualities, hath proved, and ever will prove vain and ineffectual; and that because of the curfe of GOD which attends their course wherever they come. 3. HENCE it appears, that whatever dignity man once had, he hath loft it all;-he is no longer crown'd with glory and honour, but covered with shame and wretchedness; he is become the affociate of rebellious fpirits, and of the beasts that perifh;-pride and fenfuality lord it over him; he is notorioufly enslaved to every foolish and hurtful luft : bow abominable then, and filthy is man, who bath drank, and still drinks iniquity like water? His |