THE GOSPEL REVEALED,

Being the substance of a Sermon preached in Providence Chapel, Ilchester, Sept. 10, 1837. By the Rev. C. D. GAWLER, Pastor. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory." Col. i. 27.

THE various blessings and privileges of the Mosaic dispensation were confined to the children of Israel, as the Lord's peculiar people. But whatever religious advantages the Jews enjoyed under the Old Testa ment, which distinguished them from all other nations, it is evident that the coming of the Messiah was designed to abolish this distinction, that according to the eternal purpose of Jehovah, the blessing of Abraham might come also upon the Gentile church. Hence the birth of Christ was to give joy to all his chosen people, both Jew and Gentile. His death was a reconciliation of the whole church unto God: "Having predestinated them unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made them accepted in the beloved; that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." But the calling of the Gentiles to a knowledge of their being July, 1838.]

fellow-heirs with the Jews, and incorporated into the same body of the visible church, was a mystery hidden from former ages and generations, until Jesus Christ sent his ambassadors to preach the everlasting gospel: and when these glorious truths were proclaimed by them, as many as were ordained to eternal life believed, and gladly embraced them by faith, and were made partakers of all the covenant blessings inseparably connected with them. Thus the apostle, in the text, congratulates both the Jewish and Gentile converts at Colosse, as believers in Christ and subjects of his divine grace: ، To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory." These words describe

FIRST-The peculiar character of the gospel:-The riches of the glory of this mystery. This concise description of the gospel is sublime and appropriate; and presents us with correct views of the intrinsic excellencies it possesses, and the gracious effects it produces. The gospel is riches. It is a rich display of the divine perfections in the scheme of the redemption of his people by Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of their salvation, according as they were chosen in him before the foun

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dation of the world; and for this purpose he was set up from everlasting to be the propitiation for their sins. To this fact all the prophets and apostles bear testimony, for they all spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Therefore said the prophet Isaiah, "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the

Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name.' He shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. "For the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set judgment in the earth and the isles shall wait for his law." According to these glorious truths, the believer may continually rejoice from an experimental knowledge of his having fully accomplished his heavenly Father's will, according to his eternal purpose, in saving his people from their sins; thus, beloved, reconciling his people to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, but, agreeably to the cheering language of the prophet, "the Lord hath laid on him their iniquity." Therefore, " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities;" according to the everlasting covenant made with him before the foundation of the world, ordered in all things, and made sure to all the seed royal. For in Jehovah is their everlasting strength.

2. It is a rich and unspeakable gift of mercy and grace. The mercy of

the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, and it blessedly flows down to all the heirs of promise through Christ their covenant Head; who, being touched with the feeling of their infirmities, made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; and thereby fulfilled all righteousness, magnified the law and made it honorable, died the just for the unjust, and put away their sin by the sacrifice of himself; and the Lord is well-pleased with him for his righteousness' sake, for by one offering he hath perfected for ever all them that are sanctified.

3. It is a rich and invaluable treasure of eternal blessings. The apostle speaking of the church has said (Eph. i.), "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself." Hence there is treasured up in him, an inexhaustible store of eternal blessings for all his blood-bought family; and blessings for ever be on his eternal name, for that all their springs are in him. The spring of life: He is the fountain of life, for in him they live, and move, and have their being. The spring of light: for in his light they see light, and whatsoever maketh manifest is light. The spring of faith: He is faithful who hath called them to a knowledge of himself by faith; for faith is the gift of God, and without faith it is impossible to please God. The spring of hope: hope is as an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast, fixed on Christ the Rock of eternal ages. The spring of love: “I have loved

fore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee" to love me with my own love. The spring of joy and peace; yea, every covenant blessing springs from him; for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." There is therefore a plenitude of spiritual and eternal blessings provided for them in Christ; so that all his people are thereby made rich in faith, being heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. These are riches of grace riches of glory-and the unsearchable riches of Christ.

II. The gospel is glorious.

1. It is glorious in its Author. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? This that is glorious in his apparel; travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. For mine own arm hath brought salvation unto me." Hence the prophet has given a glorious display of the finished work of Christ, who is the God of essential glory and infinite perfection. Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all his elect family. Therefore upon Zion, the perfection of beauty, hath God shined in all the glories of his grace; having by his obedience and sufferings prepared a royal robe for her in which she stands complete, being saved in the Lord with an everlasting sal

vation.

2. It is glorious in its constitution and contents, as a covenant of grace and message of salvation. Beloved, I am persuaded that nothing can be more congenial to the feelings of the church of God, whom he hath purchased with his own blood, than a comprehensive knowledge of the glorious covenant made between the

Jehovah,-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and thereby securing to the election of grace, an eternal inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and cannot fade away. Therefore it is conducive to the happiness of all the redeemed of the Lord, to be made acquainted with these great and glorious truths, which are SO blessedly revealed in the gospel of Christ. And for this purpose, he hath raised up and qualified ministers for the work, from amongst his people, and commissioned them by his Spirit to go forth in his name, to proclaim this glorious message of his grace to all the heirs of salvation.

3. It is glorious in its blessings and privileges. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away; reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time:" and the Lord has promised to keep his children as the apple of his eye from all evil; for they are the children of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, " And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ has promised that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, shall continue to lead his people into all truth, by taking of the things concerning himself, and reveal them unto

their minds.

4. It is glorious in its designs and operations, by promoting the honour of God, and diffusing a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ, by his enlightening and renovating influence. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever; being renewed

in the spirit of the mind, the weapons of the christian's warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong-holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

5. It is glorious in its promises and perpetuity. He saith, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; but I will be with thee always, even unto death. Hence the believer's confidence is raised to the very highest degree of assurance, knowing that the promises of God are all Yea and Amen in Christ; and therefore he can adopt the language of the apostle, and say, "I am confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." For this God is our God for ever and ever, and will be my guide even unto death; and when I shall have finished my course below, he will then receive me to glory.

III. The gospel is mysterious: "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory." When the term mystery is applied to the gospel, it does not imply the impossibility of knowing it; but rather, that it contains such profound truths as the natural man is unacquainted with, for "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." It is only through the medium of divine revelation, that he that is spiritual judgeth all things aright, and is enabled to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be

filled with all the fulness of God: and this blessed communication is made by the regenerating grace of God, which alone is able to make his people wise unto salvation. The doctrines of the gospel, the properties of religion, and the glories of heaven, are mysterious subjects, unknown to the unrenewed mind: nor can a saving knowledge of them be attained by human wisdom or acquirements, however refined; but when the eye of the mind is enlightened by divine grace, then the heart is enlarged to receive the blessings of the gospel; the views of the christian are expanded, old things are passed away, and behold all things are become new, so that he can see the beautiful harmony that exists in the decrees, counsels, covenant, oath, and promises of God, as they are blessedly revealed in the person of Christ; "in whom," saith the apostle, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Thus we see the force of that beautiful passage, wherein it is said, " But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

SECONDLY-The gracious revelation of the gospel:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles.

The Lord has revealed the gospel to his people at different periods of time, and under every dispensation of his grace, and through various instruments and mediums of instruction Heb. i. 1-4. "God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake

in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he hath made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." He therefore has commanded his servants to go and preach his gospel, promising to accompany them at all times, and in all places, where he has ordained its promulgation, so that by their instrumentality, he will make known unto his people the riches of his grace, and therefore,

I.—The gospel is made known in its written revelation.

The scriptures reveal the will of God, and clearly unfold the gospel of Christ for the salvation of poor sensible sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Thus the apostle had a solemn discovery of the depravity of his own corrupt heart, as a sinner in the sight of God, and of the remedy provided for his deliverance, in the person, blood, and righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Moses in the law wrote of the Messiah, and "to him gave all the prophets and apostles witness." Rom.

scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.) The written word makes known unto us the purpose of God in Christ; but it is the Spirit of God that must apply that word with power to our hearts, and give us faith to lay hold of the hope set before us in the gospel. This faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen; thus all our works are wrought in us by faith, which is in Christ Jesus, "who hath loved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our work, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began, and is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel, whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles."

II.-The gospel is made known in its public ministrations.

The means of grace, and the ordinances of the Lord's house, are divinely appointed as channels through which the blessings of the gospel are conveyed to the children of Zion; and whilst the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, unto us which are saved, it is the power of God unto salvation. Under the law the Lord appointed a priesthood, and sent his servants to minister in holy things, and thereby to instruct his people; but when the Lord of life and glory came into the world to do his heavenly Father's will, he abolished the legal priesthood, and established the ministry of the gospel, to make known its truths, and enforce its claims; for which purpose he raised up ministers, and qualified them for the work to which he had appointed them. Eph. iv. 11, 12. "And he gave some,