This leads me to the last inference. IV. What strong engagements is every true christian under to maintain the profession of this gospel? Not only is he laid under many obligations from the commands of God, and the bonds of duty, and gratitude, and love, but he has a constant pressing obligation within him. “How can I be ashamed of my hope, my portion, my everlasting all? Shall I be ashamed of that gospel, upon which my salvation is founded, and my best and highest interest, even my expectations of endless felicity? If I let go this faith, if I lose my hold of this gospel, I let go my hold of Christ, of God, and his love; I let go my hold of heaven, and all my happiness: My sins all return upon me with their insufferable loads of guilt and anguish of conscience, if I lose my faith in this gospel; for all my hope of pardon is built upon this foundation: heaven with the joys of it vanish from my soul, if I part with this glorious gospel of Christ, and death and hell face me with all their terrors.” There is an awful and solemn motive derived from the great judgment-day to maintain the profession of this glorious gospel; for our Lord himself has pronounced this threatening, and he will fulfil it, _Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words amongst a sinful generation of men, I will also be ashamed of him before my Father and his holy angels_. But this text shall be the subject of some future discourses. HYMN FOR SERMONS XVI. and XVII. _The Gospel the power of God to Salvation._ What shall the dying sinner do, That seeks relief for all his woe? Where shall the guilty conscience find Ease for the torment of the mind? How shall we get our crimes forgiven, Or form our natures fit for heaven; Can souls all o’er defil’d with sin; Make their own powers and passions clean? In vain we search, in vain we try, Till Jesus brings his gospel nigh: ’Tis there such power and glory dwell, As saves rebellious souls from hell. This is the pillar of our hope, That bears our fainting spirits up: We read the grace, we trust the word, And find salvation in the Lord. Let men or angels dig the mines, Where nature’s golden treasure shines; Brought near the doctrine of the cross, All nature’s gold appears but dross. Should vile blasphemers with disdain Pronounce the truths of Jesus vain, I’ll meet the scandal and the shame, And sing and triumph in his name.