Chrift, and a fpiritual experimental conviction of his righteoufnefs for our falvation, are other words for the fame thing. But, oh! how many profeffing Chriftians are there, if this be fo, in a ftate of unbelief and condemnation, with the wrath of God, at this moment abiding on them. It is of the utmoft confequence, my dear brethren, that you fhould not be deceived in this particular. The faith, by which alone you can be faved, is "the "SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not feen *. They who poffefs it, know in whom they have believed; who is able to keep that which they have committed unto him, even the falvation of their foulst. They have the seal, the earnest of God's Spirit, the witnefs in themfelves. The Spirit beareth witnefs with their "Spirit, that they are children of God, and if "children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint "heirs with Chrift a." Because they are fons, "God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into "their hearts crying Abba Father b.” They continually "give thanks unto the Father, who "hath made them meet to be partakers of the in"heritance of the faints in light c: who hath de"livered them from the power of darknefs, and "translated them into the kingdom of his dear "Son iv. 30. *Heb. xi. 1. † 2 Tim. i. 12. See ver. 14. Eph. See v. 30. § 2 Cor. i. 22. See iii. 2, 3. 17, 18. 1 John v. 10. a Rom. viii. 16, 17. See ver. 15. v. 1. Eph i. 3. ii. 8. 14. & V. 1. b Gal. iv. 6. See ver. 19. 18. iii. 14. to 20. c Col. i. 12, 13, 14. See Col. i. 21. Col. ii. 6. to 14. Son; in whom they have redemption through "his blood, even the forgivenefs of fins *." They are brought out" of darkness into marvellous "light. Having been "once darkness,” darkness "itfelf, like the world around them, they are now "light in the Lord +." "God, who is rich in 66 mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved "them, even when they were dead in fins, hath quickened them together with Christ, and hath "raised them up together, and made them fit to"gether in heavenly places, in Chrift Jefus ." Thus they are rifen with Chrift, to a new and fpiritual life; are made partakers not only of his death, by a death unto fin;" but alfo of his "refurrection," by a "new birth again unto righ"teoufnefs (." 66 66 Having thus endeavoured to guard you against the danger of miftaking a faith of man's invention, for that faving faith, which is " the gift and operation of God ||." I will now most readily admit that the righteoufnefs of Christ, active and paffive, becomes ours individually by faith, and faith alone. So fays our Church; and fo fay the Scriptures. The merit of our Lord and Sa"viour Jefus Chrift" is nothing to us, except as it becomes fo❝by faith a." We are justified "by faith only." 66 Works done before the "the grace of Chrift, and the infpiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forafmuch as "they * 1 Pet. ii. 9. ¡ Theff. v. 4, 5. 2 Tim. i. 9. Catechilm. 2 Theff. ii. 13. Eph. ii. 4, 5, 6. See i. 3. Eph. i. 8. Col. ii. 12. a Article 11, they fpring not of faith in Jefus Chrift*" By "the deeds of the law there fhall no flefh be jufti"fied in God's fight: for by the law is the 66 knowledge of fin. But now, the righteousness "of God without the law is manifefted, being "witneffed by the law and the prophets; even the " righteoufnefs of God, which is by faith of Jefus "Chrift, unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. For all have finned, "and come fhort of the glory of God; being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemp❝tion that is in Chrift Jefus: whom God fet forth "to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, "to declare his righteoufnefs for the remiffion "of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of "God: to declare, I fay, his righteoufnefs: that " he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which believeth in Jefus." Oh wonderful difplay of divine wisdom and goodnefs! that when man was utterly loft, entirely depraved, altogether helpless, he fhould provide a full and fufficient atonement, an all-perfect righteousness in his dear Son, for all returning rebels, who will lay down their arms, and embrace his allegiance. Nay, that he fhould fend his Holy Spirit, powerfully to convince all, who do not obftinately refift and quench his facred influences; firft of their want of this atoning righteoufnefs, and afterwards of their intereft in it! "Brethren, my heart's defire and prayer to God "for you is, that you may be faved +." "Be not "ignorant, ignorant, then, of God's righteoufnefs. Go not "about to cftablifh your own righteousness: "but fubmit yourselves unto the righteousness of "God. Chrift is the end of the law for righte"ousness to every one that believeth." But, obferve, it is only to them that BELIEVE. "For "Mofes defcribeth the righteoufnefs which is of "the law, that the man which doeth thee things "fhall live by them. But, the righteousness which "is of faith fpeaketh on this wife. Say not, in "thine heart, Who fhall afcend into heaven? "(that is, to bring Chrift down from above :) Or, "Who fhall defcend into the deep? (that is, to "bring up Chrift from the dead.) But, what "faith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy "mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou fhalt con 66 For fefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and fhall "believe in thine heart, that God hath raised "him from the dead, thou fhalt be faved. "with the heart man believeth unto righteofunefs, "and with the mouth confeffion is made unto fal"vation*." These are not my words, my brethren, but the words of God. And, oh how delightful, how encouraging! Is this harfh, forbidding doctrine. God would have you all be faved. He would have you fo Now. "Now is the accepted time. "Now is the day of falvation t." He tells He tells you, "the word is nigh you, even in your mouth, "and in your heart; that is the word of faith, "which E مه which we preach." "Chrift ftands at the door "of your heart and knocks; and if you hear his "voice, and open the door, he will enter in*." And, he is the giver of repentance, the great "author and finither of faith t." He will give his Holy Spirit, to convince you both of your own fin, and of his righteoufnefs. It is only your heart he wants. You must give him your heart, your whole heart. You muft, at leaft, be will ing to do fo. You must pray to him to take it, and to make it all his own. There is, there can be no falvation without this. Though Chrift fhould have died ten thoufand deaths, without the love of him and his Almighty Father, shed abroad in your hearts, you can never be benefited by him; you can have no intereft in him whatever. And this love must be fhed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghoft given unto you." And, will you with-hold your hearts, obftinately withhold them, from fo kind and loving a Saviour, notwithstanding all his efforts, by himfelf, and by his Holy Spirit, to preferve you from ruin, from the everlasting torments of the damned. "Men and brethren, whofoever among you feareth "God, to you is the word of this falvation fent." "Be it known unto you, therefore, once more, that through this man," our great Immanuel, our God incarnate, Chrift Jefus, "is preached ❝unto you the forgiveness of fins; and by him "all *Rev. iii. 20. + Acts v. 31. Heb. xii. 2. Rom. v. 5. |