?23 FAITH IN ITS LOWEST TECREES. {.DISC. VISI. himself with all the thoughts and wants of a perishing Sinner ? Is there power enoùgh tonew-mould his nature ? To strike divine light into his conscience ? To bend his stubborn will, and subdue all his powers to the obedience Of thegospel ? Has any mere creature power sufficient to change a dead' sinner into a living saint? To secure him through every temptation ? To fit him for the society of God and angels? And to bring him through death to eternal glory ? All this must be done if a sinner be saved. 2. These words also imply, there is none but God who has a right to prescribe the means ofour salvation. Ifhe says to sinners, look, and be saved; who shall dare forbid, the blessing, or appointa diffèrent way to obtain it ? If the Lord of heaven has said to poor perishing creatures on earth, ye shall be saved if ye believe : shall the Jew dare to impose circumcision as necessary to salvation ? Or the papists command penances or pilgrimages ! Or shall the conceited pharisee require a perfection of holi- ness, and a righteousness made up of the works of the law, in order to obtain eternal life? " The righteous- ness of the law saith," do this and live : But the " righte- ousness of faith says," Believe and be saved; Rom. x: 5, G, 9. It is granted, that this saving faith must be a vital principle in the soul, that manifests itself in repentance, and endeavours after universal holiness ; for a dead faith cannot save : But it is not our holiness that can provide acceptance with an offended God, it is faith in the sacri- ficeand righteousness ofthe Redeemer, that is the means appointed for this end. The 'great God has appointed it, and who shall dare to forbid ; his authority is sove- reign, and his appointment a sufficient warrant for our hope. 3. .I am God, and there is none else, includes thus much also for the comfort and assurance of the believing sinner ; that there is none can prevent your salvation, if you comply with the gracious proposals. Who shall con- deinn if God will justify ? Rom. viii. 33, 34. Who can " pluck us out of the hand of Christ, or separate us from his love ? John x. 28. Who shall destroy if God will s'ave ? It is his property, and his divine prerogative, to ." kill and tomake alive, to save and to destroy ;" Deut.
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