298 / 514
420
A
RATTOiv
A-EFTEJ:A
CO
,F
T$E
OOSpB{..
.S$8}j1.
¡CpiT,,
reached but to
pn,e
single
nation, and wrought.but
feebly
toward
the
cpnversion
of
sinful souls to
God
and
holi-
ness, in
comparison
of
what the gospel
Qf
.Christ has
+done.
Besides,
let
it
be
considered,
that
all
the
power
which
all the
former
discoveries
of
grace
to the
patriarchs, or
to the Jews, had
to save souls, was
derived from
the
;gospel
of Christ,
which
is
contained
in
them
in
lower
measures, and
in
a
more obscure manner.
Therefore
since the gospel
of Christ
now
stands forth in open
light,
and
in
full glory,
it
is
most eminently powerful
to
con-
vert
singers, to bring
this
apostate
world back again
to
Cod,
and
to
save
millions
of
souls.
I.
It
is
the most powerful means
of
salvation, consi-
dered
in itself,
and
in
its own
nature and
influence.
II.
It
is
the most powerful
means,
as
it
is
accompa-
nied with the influences
of
the Holy Spirit.
The
first
of
these
may
be called a moral persuasive in-
fluence; the last
is
supernatural
and
sovereign.
Let
qs
meditate
on
each
of
these distinctly.
Ì.
It
is
the most powerful means,
if
we
consider
the
gospel
in itself,
and
its
own
nature.
Not
that
the mere
word
of
the gospel,
reaching
the
ears
of
men,
is
suffici
ent
to change
the
heart,
and to
save
the soul without
divine
influences
:
For it
is
said
to be the
power
of God
to
salvation;,
that
is,
it
is
that
doctrine
whereby
God
exerts
his
divine power to
save
sinful man.
But
still
it
must
be
granted,
that
the
doctrine itself
in its own
na-
tùre
has
à
very
great
and
evident tendency
to this glori-
ous end,
as
it
is
the noblest, the richest,
and the bright-
est
discovery
of
grace
that
ever
was
made to man,
if
we
consider
it
in
its
own
nature,
it
has
the greatest
moral
power, or persuasive influence
toward the salva-
tion
of
perishing sinners.
This
is
easily
proved
by
ex-
plaining what
this salvation means.
Salvation includes
in
it
a
freedom from the guilt
and
punishment of
sin,
together
with
a right
and title to
heaven; it
implies also
a
freedom from the power of
sin,
and thereby
a
preparation
for heaven, and
a final pos-
session
of
it.
Under
each
of
these
considerations
it
will
appear
with
great
evidence,
that
the
gospel
of our Lord
Jesus Christ
is
the power
of God
to
salvation.
1.
It
is
the most powerful means to set
sinners
free