SERMON XVIII. Faith the Way to Salvation. Ron. i. 16. The gospel of Christ, it is thepower of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. SALVATION is a frequent and familiar word in the mouth of all who call themselves'christians. It is a sort of asseveration or oath among the looser and meaner part of mankind : As I hope to be saved. But little do they know what salvation means. All the notion they have of it is this, that they would be saved from going down to hell, a place of fireand torment, and that they would go up to heaven when they die, to some unknown shining place above the skies, where they shall be free from all pain and uneasiness. This is the utmost point to which their idea reaches, and I think I have hit their senseexactly in this des- cription. Alas ! poor ignorant creatures ! They have no thought of being saved from sin, of having their hearts made holy, their sinful inclinations rectified, their passions subdued or refined, their love turned towardGod-and things spiritual, and their desire and delight fixed upon things divine and holy, instead of their sensual entertainments of flesh and blood. Theyhave no con- cern about the pardon of the guilt. of sin, and restoration to the favour or image of God, andnot so much as a wish for the joys that arise from his love, or from the blessedpresence -of our Lord. Jesus Christ in the world to come, ihave shown you therefore in the foregoingdiscourse what -this salvation is, and made it appear that the gospel isthe power of God to salvation, that is, it is a powerful means in the hand of the Spirit of God to save us from the guilt of sin, and to give us a right to heaven ; to save us from the power of sin, to fit us for the business and the joys of heaven, and ensure to us the actual possession of it. Thereare two things yet remain tobe considered in discours- ing on this subject : I. The place or influence that faith, or believing, hath in this salvation ; for the gospel provides this blessing only for be- lievers. It is called the power of God to salvation to every 4 one who believes. II. The wide extent of this glorious be- nefit : It belongs to everyone that believes, whether Greek, or Jew.
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