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?23
FAITH
IN ITS LOWEST
TECREES.
{.DISC.
VISI.
himself
with
all
the thoughts and wants
of
a perishing
Sinner
?
Is there power enoùgh
to
new
-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
of
our salvation.
If
he
says to sinners,
look,
and
be
saved;
who
shall
dare
forbid,
the
blessing,
or
appoint
a 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-
fice
and
righteousness
of
the
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
to
make
alive, to
save
and
to
destroy
;"
Deut.