SERMON III.

SALVATION BY FAITH.

"For what if some did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid; yea, let God be true, but every man a liar." ROMANS III. 3, 4.

It

THE doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ, is worthy the solemn consideration of all men. It is this, that rendered a revelation necessary. is this, that kindled the flame of transport in celestial bosoms, and raised that triumphant song,

Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men." Salvation is the doctrine of the Bible, and ought ever to be the theme of the pulpit. Salvation is the oracle of heaven, around which all denominations assemble, receive their instructions, and believe according to the force of evidence.

Prefaced with these remarks, we will now proceed to state what we conceive to be the Law and Gospel, point out the distinction between them, and defend the gospel doctrine of salvation by faith.

The law was a conditional covenant between

God and man. It was predicated on works. Under this covenant, if a man were strictly moral in his external deportment, if he lived up to its

letter, he was considered righteous. This covenant was imperfect, because it could be kept externally without reaching the heart. They could exclaim, like the young man who came to Jesus, All these things have I kept, from my youth up," and still lack that one great point, charity. Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh could be justified in the sight of God. The law, being temporary in its nature, had nothing to do with eternal things.

Paul says, "Sin is the transgression of the law." "Where there is no law there is not the knowledge of sin." From this it appears, that sin, being a transgression of that law, which was given us for the regulation of our conduct in this life, can receive no punishment in the future world. If sin should be committed in the future state, then in the future state it would be punished. The same argument will apply to our obedience to the law, which can receive, for the same reason, no reward in that world. "No flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law." "Eternal life is the gift of God." If so, then it cannot be "of works, lest any man should boast." God, being infinite in wisdom, could not have failed to enact a law so perfect, and so exactly adapted to the nature of man, that obedience would render him a rich reward, and disobedience a condign punishment. The wise man says, that

"the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner.

"To

We now turn to the spirit of the law. love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself, is the fulfilment of the law ;" and if we are not to be saved by the law, then our love to God and each other cannot save us; for that is the law. By what then are we to be saved? Answer: by the Gospel, which is God's love manifested to his creatures. The conclusion then is, that we are not to be saved by our love to God, but by God's love to us. This, I presume, no one will dispute. Here then we discern the difference between the law and the gospel. God's love is the cause of salvation; human love is the effect." Herein (says John) is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved "We love him because he first loved us." How many did he love? He so loved the world, who were dead in trespasses and sins, that he freely delivered up his Son for us all, he, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. This is the gospel-love that God commendeth towards us, and the love that will finally save us.

us.

Many persons contend that we must love God and do certain duties, or we cannot be saved. This is preaching ourselves. It is preaching the love of man as the cause of his salvation, instead of the love of God. And while thus preaching,

they will perhaps, at the same time, tell the sinner that God is his enemy. But will the sinner's love make God his friend? will it cause his Creator to love him ? No; right the reverse of this is the doctrine of Christ. "We love God because he first loved us." If we deny God's first love to the sinner, we then destroy the very cause by which alone the sinner can be made to love God. If we make men believe that God is their enemy and hates them, then we use all the means in our power to drive them from the bosom of their Father, and keep them in darkness and sin.

The sinner, in this situation, can never be made to serve God, only by being driven to it by terror, the same as some wretched slave is made to cower and submit in fear and dread to some

revengeful tyrant. But this is not the service God requires. He requires a service which is delightful, and in which his creature feels an abundant reward. We grant, that men, under the first covenant, were called upon to fear God. The reason of this appears obvious, when we reflect that God had covenanted to bestow certain blessings upon them, providing they would do their duty. If they failed, then he would execute the temporal judgments upon them, which the law points out, and threatens. Under this covenant men had just as much reason to fear, as they were liable to transgress it.

But when an angel announced the dawn of a better covenant, he said, "Fear not, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy." In this is nothing to be feared. All the fear lies in the first, and thunders out to every sinner, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law to do them!" But John, speaking in view of the second covenant, says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." The first covenant is founded on works, and is conditional; but the second is founded on the immutable promise of God, and is unconditional. In the law, we are commanded to do according to the reasonableness of its requirements; but in the gospel we are exhorted to believe in view of evidence and fact. And as no man can believe, or disbelieve what he pleases, therefore conditions are excluded.

What is the meaning of Gospel? It is good tidings of great joy. It is life and immortality brought to light at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, by giving us the assurance of a resurrection from corruption to incorruption and glory. It is news. In view of news, what is the first thing necessary? Answer; belief. It is impossible to work news; therefore the gospel is not of works. the law, the first requirement is to do; but in the

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