312 PArTH THE WAY TO SALVATION, 1SERM. xvIrr. Though the Jews' enjoyment, of the land of Canaan depended on their good works and obedience to the law of Moses, yet their hope and enjoyment of heaven de- pended on their faith or trust in the mercy of God, which was to be farther revealed in the days of the Mes- siah. And it is the same gospel by which we are to ob- tain salvation, since Christ is come in the flesh; but with this difference, that we are nowmore expressly re- quired to make Jesus Christ the object of our faith, and we have a thousand clearer discoveries of his righteous- ness and grace than ever the Jews were favoured with. .Happy mankind ! though fallen and ruined in Adam, yet recovered and raised to righteousness, grace, and glory, by Jesus Christ. How dreadful is that law which prohounces a curse and death upon every transgressor! Tribulation and wrath, indignation and anguish upon .every soul. that Both evil, to the Jew first, and also to the gentile, Rom. ii. 9. But how sweet and reviving is the grace of that gospel, which becomes the power of God to the salvation of every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and,also to the Greek ! The great and blessed God saw the frailty of his crea- ture man, how ready he was to ruin himself under a law of works; therefore he has appointed his recovery by a -law of faith. And what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the infirmity of our flesh, that he has sent bis own Son.Jesus Christ in the likeness ofsinful flesh, to do for us, to fulfil all the demands- of the law, both in the penalty and the precept, to finish transgression, to make an end of sin, by his own sufferings, and to bring in an everlasting righteousness, that whosoever believes on him should be saved. Blessed God! How kind and condescending are thy ways to the children of men ! How full of compassion to rebels, who had de- stroyed themselves ! How gentle are the methods of thy recovering mercy ! If we will but confess our sins, mourn over our own follies, return to the Lord our God by humble repentance, and put our trust in an almighty Saviour; there is grace and life, and glory provided for us, and laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ our Lord. REMARK III. Though the gospel offers us salvation by faith and not by works, yet it effectually secures the practice of holiness; since holiness is. a part of that sal,
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