Salvation by Grace Through Faith, Sermon 3
SERMON III. The Nature of FAITH.
EPHESIANS II. 8.
By Grace are ye ſaved THROUGH FAITH.
THERE is in many Reſpects a ſurpriſing Correſpondence, between the Means by which we were betrayed into Ruin, and the Methods which infinite Wiſdom employs for our Recovery.—By the Rebellion of the firſt Adam, we are made Sinners; by the Obedience of the ſecond, we are conſtituted Righteous—In conſequence of our Relation to the primitive Tranſgreſſor, our Natures are univerſally corrupted and defiled; by an Union to our divine Redeemer, we are ſanctified in Spirit, Soul and Body—We loſt the Glory of our Innocence by hearkening to the Father of Lies; we are reſtored to the Favor and Image of God, by giving Credit to the Word of Truth —By truſting to Satan we became miſerable; by believing in Him who came to deſtroy the Works of the Devil, we recover our forfeited Happineſs—This is that ſublime Truth which is taught us in the Words of my Text— By Grace are ye ſaved through Faith.
IN my following Diſcourſe I ſhall endeavor to explain the Nature of that FAITH by which we are ſaved—and conclude with ſome IMPROVEMENT.
THERE is a Faith which is common to the Children of God and the Servants of Sin. Faith is often mentioned as the diſtinguiſhing Character of the Saints, and ſometimes is aſcribed to the worſt of Beings. It formed the brighteſt Glory of Abraham the Friend of God—and inſpires the apoſtate Spirits with Fear and Trembling. There muſt then, be an eſſential Difference between that Faith by which we are ſaved and that which may accompany us to eternal Damnation.
FAITH conſidered in a religious Senſe is an Aſſurance of thoſe Truths, which are revealed in the inſpired Scriptures—It is founded, not on the Conjectures of human Reaſon, but on the Authority of God the Revealer. Every Thing which God has revealed or promiſed; every Thing which is contained in the Volumes of the Old and New Teſtament; is the proper Object of Faith. But the eſpecial Object of that Faith, which is the diſtinguiſhing Characteriſtic of the real Chriſtian, is JESUS CHRIST —the eternal SON OF GOD—the appointed SAVIOR of a revolted World —He offered up himſelf a Sacrifice to divine Juſtice, that we might not be condemned at it's awful Bar—He fulfilled all Righteouſneſs, that we might have a valid Title to the Reward of Life eternal — He is propoſed in the Goſpel in all the Glories of an allſufficient and condeſcending SAVIOR, to be received as the Gift of God, to be truſted in by all thoſe who are ſenſible of their Guilt and Miſery, and deſire to obtain the Bleſſings of Salvation.—Faith is a Perſwaſion, that it is the ſole Prerogative of this adorable Perſon to reſtore our lapſed Race to the Favor of God;— or to expreſs myſelf in the Language of Inſpiration, Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we muſt be ſaved. Acts iv. 12.
THIS Faith is often deſcribed in the Goſpel to be a firm Belief—THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD—the promiſed MESSIAH.— Conſequently, that his Doctrine is divine—His Promiſes certain—which ſhall infallibly be accompliſhed in their appointed Order.—We believe what the ſacred Hiſtorians have recorded of His miraculous Birth—His unſpotted Life— His wonderful Works—His meritorious Death —His glorious Reſurrection—His triumphant Aſcenſion into Heaven—His prevalent Interceſſion at the Right Hand of the Father.
THESE Truths are received as faithful Sayings, not becauſe they could be diſcovered by human Reaſon, but becauſe they are authenticated by a divine Teſtimony.
WHEN the Son of God commands us to receive Him as a Meſſenger from Heaven, He gives the moſt unqueſtionable Evidences of the Divinity of his Miſſion. He declares that He is a Teacher ſent from God, and diſcovers his Claim to this Character by the Demonſtration of the Spirit, and by Power—He practiſed the moſt heroic Virtues in every Period of his Reſidence among Men—He confirmed his Doctrine by Miracles which could only be performed by an omnipotent Arm—He appears to be the Prince of Life, when expiring in the Agonies of Death —He diſpoſes of the Joys of Paradiſe, when ſuffering as a condemned Malefactor.
IN this critical Moment, Nature through all her Works declares his Dignity and Glory;— even the Inhabitants of the Grave ariſe to do Honor to Him who has the Keys of the inviſible World—He entered the Grave, not by Neceſſity of Nature, but voluntary Conſent.— He triumphed over the King of Terrors in his own Dominions, and aſcended like an invincible Conqueror to immortal Life.—This ſet the Seal of Heaven to the Truth of his Miſſion, juſtified his higheſt Pretenſions, and in the moſt ſolemn Manner declared that He was exalted to be a PRINCE and a SAVIOR.
THEY who yield an unfeigned Aſſent to theſe Truths are frequently ſaid to Believe. But when this Faith only floats in the Underſtanding, and does not deſcend into the Heart, captivate the Affections and regulate the Conduct of Mankind, it will not evidence that we are true Diſciples of Chriſt, or ſecure us a Title to the Privileges which he has purchaſed for his People. Simon Magus was made a Proſelyte by the Preaching of Philip—he was baptized into the Faith of the Goſpel, and it is ſaid that he alſo believed.—Yet we have the Teſtimony of an inſpired Apoſtle, that his Heart was not right with God: He was in the Gall of Bitterneſs and Bonds of Iniquity. Daily Experience teaches us, that Mens Judgments may be convinced, and the Will remain obſtinate and perverſe. We may give Credit to the Truth of a Doctrine, and our Heart riſe up in Oppoſition againſt it.
BUT this Faith, inſtead of being acceptable to God, increaſes His Diſpleaſure—So far from being beneficial to Men it adds to their Guilt and Miſery. A profeſſed Infidel is not ſo odious a Character as a perfidious Traitor.—It therefore neceſſarily follows, that the Faith which is the diſtinguiſhing Character of the Children of God, muſt be of a more excellent Kind than that which we have now been deſcribing.
THE Faith which ſaves us always engages us —unfeignedly to approve the Way of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt—chearfully to accept of Him as our only complete and eternal Savior— humbly to confide in Him for all the promiſed Bleſſings which He confers on his People.— Theſe are the inſeperable Attendants on a true Faith—and diſtinguiſh it from the moſt ſpecious Counterfeits.—I ſhall explain them in their Order.
I. A TRUE Faith engages us to an unfeigned Approbation of the Way of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt.
MEN who have been educated in the Principles of the Chriſtian Faith, often receive them as true, without any Heſitation. When convinced of their Guilt, they acknowledge the Neceſſity of an Intereſt in Chriſt to deliver them from the Puniſhment they have deſerved. Animated with a Dread of future Miſery, inſpired with the Hope of heavenly Happineſs, they attempt to give up themſelves to Jeſus Chriſt. But all is forced—their only Motive is to remove the Grounds of their preſent Diſquietude—when their Diſtreſs vaniſhes they ſoon return to their former Sins, or ſatisfy themſelves with a Round of religious Performances, and a Converſation outwardly inoffenſive and regular. The Name of Jeſus is heard with Indifference.—Perſons of this Character often prove the greateſt Oppoſers of the unadulterated Doctrines of Grace.
TO form Faith in the Heart, a ſupernatural Light muſt be communicated to us from above, to convince us not only of the Truth but Excellency and Glory of the Plan of Salvation revealed in the Goſpel. We view it not only as divinely true but ſupremely good.—This conquers our Prejudices, captivates our Hearts, produces a chearful Acquieſcence in the Deſigns of redeeming Love.—We admire this Method of Salvation, as the Contrivance of infinite Wiſdom, the Product of amazing Benevolence.—We behold the Character of the Deity diſplayed in it's brighteſt Glory, and the richeſt Grace diſcovered to periſhing Sinners. —Awful Juſtice maintains the Authority of the Law; and Mercy triumphs in the Recovery of a lapſed World.—Sin is ſeverely puniſhed, and the Sinner received to Favor—Our Surety dies to fulfil the Penalty of the Law—and in his Obedience unto Death accompliſhes a perfect Righteouſneſs in behalf of his People.
IN Compliance with this marvellous Plan, the glad Tidings of a Savior are preached to rebellious Men, and all Nations are invited to accept Salvation through his Merits and Mediation.—When this is clearly diſcovered to the Mind, it puts a final Period to all our former Contrivances to recommend ourſelves to the Favor of God: We come to a fixed Determination to ſeek for Happineſs only through the Grace and Righteouſneſs of our adorable Redeemer. We believe it to be not only a faithful Saying, but worthy of all Acceptation, that Chriſt came into the World to ſave the Chief of Sinners.
INCREDULOUS Men may form a thouſand Objections againſt that Way of Salvation, which ſtrips the Sinner of all preparatory Goodneſs, brings him as a convicted Criminal to the Footſtool of Sovereign Grace, to expect all his Bleſſedneſs from the Merit and Obedience of another.—Yet this very View (which is ſo great an Offence to the Pride of unhumbled Nature) attracts the Admiration and Gratitude of every inlightned Mind. They adore a crucified Savior as the Wiſdom and Power of God.—This is the Language of their enraptured Hearts— This is a Scheme which ſecures the Honor of the Supreme Governor of the Univerſe, and provides for the Safety of ſelf-deſtroyed Man—God appears encompaſſed with the moſt awful and amiable Glory—the Pride of all Fleſh is humbled in the Duſt—the Believer is reſcued from deſerved Miſery and raiſed to immortal Happineſs.—This reveals a Savior, exactly adapted to the Circumſtances of deſtitute condemned MalefactorS, who have no good Qualities to recommend them; who have Nothing but the moſt abject Wretchedneſs to move the divine Compaſſions.
HAPPY they who are intereſted in this adorable JESUS! They are delivered from their Guilt and all it's melancholy Conſequences. To obtain this Bleſſing is my moſt ardent Deſire—the Centre of my Hopes:— If deſtitute of it—not all the Treaſures of Earth, or Glories of Heaven, can give me any ſolid Satisfaction.
THUS the Heart of Man is brought to delight in the Goſpel Salvation.—Theſe Views prepare us,
II. CHEARFULLY to accept of Chriſt as our complete and eternal Savior.
THE Revelation of the Goſpel diſcovers to me an allſufficient Savior; the Illuminations of the Spirit repreſent this Savior as incomparably excellent—the moſt deſirable Good—a Treaſure which will inrich me to Eternity.— The next Queſtion which naturally ariſes in an awakened Mind, is this—May I hope for an Intereſt in this ineſtimable Bleſſing?—Will this illuſtrious Perſon accept an ungrateful Rebel?— Will he beſtow Life and Salvation on me, who deſerve Nothing but Death and Damnation?
THESE Objections are in a great Meaſure removed by the Views I deſcribed under the laſt Head of my Diſcourſe.—For the Freedom and Riches of divine Grace, to the greateſt of Sinners, is an eſſential Part of the Glory which is diſplayed in the Goſpel. But we are naturally ſlow of Heart to believe: A ſelf-righteous Spirit appears in a Variety of Forms to obſtruct our Approaches to God through Jeſus Chriſt.
THEREFORE, the Word of God abounds with univerſal, unlimited Invitations to Sinners of every Order, Character and Degree, to accept of the Bleſſings of Salvation without Money and without Price. Theſe are beſtowed, not on thoſe who have any previous Virtues to authoriſe their Claim, but on polluted, impoveriſhed, and neceſſitous Bankrupts: They are to be received as a free Donation, and are the unfailing Portion of all that highly eſteem and thankfully accept them.
THIS good News to a guilty World is not contained in a few obſcure Texts, tortured by the Arts of Criticiſm to ſerve a favorite Syſtem, but is the uniform Language of Inſpiration, clothed in a Variety of Expreſſions, repeated with the moſt affectionate Tenderneſs.—When THE SON OF GOD opened his divine Commiſſion, with what Meekneſs, with what Condeſcenſion did He addreſs his Hearers!—The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, becauſe He hath appointed Me to preach the Goſpel to the Poor, to proclaim Deliverance to Captives.
IN the public Courſe of his Miniſtry, He declares his compaſſionate Deſigns in the moſt expreſſive Terms; to remove every Doubt, to diſſipate every Fear that might ariſe in the Breaſts of Sinners and aſſure them of a welcome Reception.—He ſtands in a promiſcuous Multitude, incircled with Numbers of his inveterate Enemies, and cries with a loud Voice, with affectionate Vehemence, If any Man thirſt let him come to me and drink: Though involved in the deepeſt Guilt, covered with the moſt loathſome Deformity, if he earneſtly deſires the Bleſſings of Salvation, let him repair to Me; I will ſupply all his Wants, deliver him from all his Diſtreſſes, and quench his Thirſt after Happineſs with Fountains of living Waters.
WHEN our bleſſed Lord had finiſhed His Work upon Earth, and aſcended on high in Majeſtie Triumph, He received the moſt ineſtimable Gifts, to be conferred not on the virtuous and deſerving, but for the diſobedient and rebellious. Therefore from his exalted Throne in Glory, He declares the generous Intentions of his Heart, and cloſes the Canon of the Sacred Scriptures with this Royal Proclamation, Whoſoever will, let him come to the Waters of Life freely.
ANIMATED by theſe kind Invitations, ſupported by th…ſe reiterated Aſſurances of Succeſs, the Believer bows down at the Feet of JESUS, and thankfully accepts the offers of His … ▪ He does not derive his Encouragement from any Good he obſerves in himſelf; but from the free, univerſal Tenders of divine Grace to all, without any excluſive Clauſe, to prevent the moſt indigent and wretched, from a Participation of theſe incomparable Benefits—The good-will of God—the Merits of CHRIST are the only Foundation of his Hope—Thus he addreſſes himſelf to the adorable Jeſus in the Language of humble Faith—O! Thou condeſcending Savior! I acknowledge that by Sin I am become a Child of Wrath, juſtly condemned to ſuffer the Pains of eternal Death. I renounce all Hopes of Deliverance from any created Wiſdom or Power; but Thou art the Son of God, and by the Appointment of the Father the commiſſioned Savior of an apoſtate World; I therefore commit my Soul into thy Hands, as One every way qualified to provide for its Welfare in Time and Eternity.—O! Thou heavenly Prophet! remove the Vail from my Underſtanding, enlighten me in the Knowledge of the Truth, conduct me by thy Word and Spirit, in the Way that leads to thy eternal Kingdom.—O! Thou great High Prieſt! ſenſible that I am a guilty Criminal, I fly to the atoning Merits of thy Blood, to ſave me from the Puniſhment I have deſerved, and plead thy all-perfect Righteouſneſs that I may be juſtified at the Tribunal of God.—O! Thou Immortal King! I bow to the Sceptre of thy Grace, and cordially deſire that every Paſſion and Inclination may be baniſhed from my Breaſt, which oppoſes the Laws of thy Government.—O! Thou Captain of our Salvation! I truſt to thy victorious Arm, to defend me from the Power and Malice of my ſpiritual Enemies, to ſubdue the native Corruptions of my Heart, to preſerve me faithful to thy Cauſe, and finally introduce me to the Happineſs Thou haſt appointed for thy People.—Had not aſtoniſhing Grace allowed, nay commanded me, to receive Thee as the Gift of God, to accompliſh theſe important Purpoſes, I might juſtly ſuſpect that my preſent Addreſs would be rejected with Diſdain:—But ſince Almighty Love hath provided a Savior for periſhing Sinners— Since unlimited Goodneſs hath commanded the moſt unworthy to look unto Him that they may be ſaved—To receive this Gift, to accept this Goodwill is not unwarranted Preſumption, but a commanded Duty. I add,
III. THIS Acceptance of Chriſt as our Savior is accompanied with an entire Dependance upon Him, for all the promiſed Bleſſings which He beſtows on his People.
THIS naturally follows, from what I have already declared of the Nature and Operations of ſaving Faith.—If I aſſent to the Way of Salvation revealed in the Goſpel, as divinely …—If I approve it as the moſt excellent Way—If an Almighty Savior is offered to every Sinner without Diſtinction—If I have been enabled to accept this bleſſed Tender— Then I may ſafely conclude He will exert his ſaving Power in my Favor, and bring me to ſee the Good of his Choſen. For this is only to believe He will maintain the Honor of his Word, and fulfil his ſacred Engagements to his People. We have a Teſtimony from Heaven, that God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in Him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting Life: It is written with an immortal Pen, that whoſoever cometh to the bleſſed Jeſus, He will in no wiſe caſt out.—If therefore my Eyes have been opened to diſcern his Excellency—If my Heart has been perſwaded to acquieſce in the Deſigns of his redeeming Love—If it is the Top of my Ambition to be found in Him, clothed with his Righteouſneſs, a Monument of his Grace—The Inference is juſt—the Concluſion unfailing—He is and will be made of God unto me Wiſdom and Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption.
THESE Heavens ſhall vaniſh as a Scroll, this Earth ſhall be diſſolved by Fire, and all the Beauties of this lower Creation expire in Smoke; but not the minuteſt Article of the divine Promiſe fail of a punctual Accompliſhment.
JESUS is the only Hope of the Saints in the preſent Age—Nations yet unborn ſhall be the future Triumphs of his Love—Nor will He lay aſide the endearing Character of a Savior, till the Empire of Sin and Satan is deſtroyed, and all that place their Truſt in Him are fixed in immutable Felicity and Glory.
IMPROVEMENT.
I. LET us examine, whether we have that Faith, which is the unfailing Character of the People of God—a certain Evidence that we are made Partakers of the bleſſings of Salvation.
HAVE I been made ſenſible of my Sinfulneſs and Miſery; the Corruptions of my Heart, as well as the numberleſs Pollutions of my Life; of the infinite Evil as well as deſtructive Conſequences of Sin?—Men may talk of free Grace with ſeraphic Eloquence, and flatter themſelves with a pleaſing Dream, that they are the Favorites of Heaven; but till they perceive the condemning Power of the Law, and ſubſcribe to the Juſtice of that Sentence which is pronounced againſt every Tranſgreſſor, they continue under the Dominion of Sin, and ſee no Beauty and Lovelineſs in the Savior.
HAVE I been convinced of my utter Inability to deliver myſelf from this Miſery? Have I ſeen the Vanity of all Dependance upon the Uprightneſs of my Intentions, the Regularity of my Conduct, my humbleſt Confeſſions, or deepeſt Humiliations, to expiate the Guilt of Sin, and ſatisfy the Juſtice of offended Heaven? —Without this, I ſhall inevitably truſt to my Prayers, Tears and Amendments to recommend me to the Favor of God—I ſhall neglect the only Sacrifice which has made complete Atonement for the Sins of Men.
HAVE I accepted the Propoſals of the Goſpel? The Goſpel reveals an Almighty Savior to a ruined World, and by the moſt perſwaſive Arguments invites us to receive Him in that amiable Character. Have I heard the joyful Sound with Gratitude, and been made willing to be ſaved by Chriſt in his own appointed Way?—Is this the unfeigned Language of my Soul—Lift up your Heads ye everlaſting Gates, let the KING OF GLORY deſcend and take the full Poſſeſſion of all my Powers?—Do I not only depend on his juſtifying Righteouſneſs; but welcome the ſanctifying Influences of his Spirit?—Is He precious in my Eſteem, not only as an atoning Prieſt, but a commanding King;—to mortify my deareſt Luſts, as well as to deliver me from the Miſeries of Hell;—to form me to an entire Subjection to his Laws, as well as dignify me with the Privileges of his People?
IN fine, is JESUS, in all his ſacred Offices, the ſupreme Object of my Affection? Do I prefer Him to all the Honors and Advantages of this Life? Do I count all Things but Loſs that I may win Him?—If theſe Diſpoſitions are implanted in us by the Spirit of God, they are Fruits of diſtinguiſhing Grace, and will terminate in the Harveſt of Glory.
II. THEY who pour Contempt on the Love of God manifeſted by Jeſus Chriſt, neglect their moſt important Intereſts.
INTEREST is the grand Spring of human Actions. They who are deaf to the Calls of Duty, inſenſible of the Obligations of Gratitude, are generally influenced by what they imagine to be their Intereſt.—But it is the Infelicity of Mankind, that they often confine their Views to the preſent Moment; and diſregard future Conſequences: They fix their Eyes on Things which are ſeen and temporal, but are blind to the Excellence and Beauty of Things unſeen and eternal.
WE ſee Men engaged in a perpetual Hurry, diſquieted with perplexing Fears.—Aſk them, what is the Matter?—My Honor or Intereſt is at Stake.—This awakens their ſollicitous Concern—and engages them to inceſſant Activity and Diligence.—Allow me, my Brethren, to enquire, is it not your Honor and Intereſt, to be delivered from the Wrath of God, and the unutterable Torments of Hell— to be admitted into the Family of Heaven and ſecure a Title to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light? I muſt rank you among the Number of abandoned Infidels, or degrade you from the Character of rational Creatures, to ſuppoſe you can heſitate one Moment, in deciding this important Queſtion.—None can be indifferent whether they live with God, or are eternal Exiles from his bliſsful Preſence—Whether they ſpend unceaſing Ages in the triumphant Joys of Heaven, or the excruciating Pains of Hell.
WHENCE then is it, that future Happineſs is ſo generally neglected? Whence is it, that Men who diſcover the moſt exquiſite Sagacity, in ſecuring the Intereſts of this Life, are ſo infatuated as to pay little or no Attention to the momentous Affairs of the World to come?— Is it becauſe the ſupreme Happineſs of their Nature is placed out of their Reach?—Is it becauſe there is no Proſpect of Succeſs, though they employ their utmoſt Diligence?—Bleſſed be God, this is not the Caſe—Are you excluded from the Hope of the Goſpel?—Is the inevitable Sentence paſſed upon you?— Are you not invited to return to your offended Sovereign?—Does not the Son of God call you by his Word and Spirit to come to Him that you may have Life?—If then you are excluded from future Happineſs, it is by your own Obſtinacy and Perverſeneſs.—If eternal Damnation be your Portion, it is becauſe you prefer your Sins before your Savior, the Pleaſures of the World before the Privileges of the People of God. Every Argument of Terror and Endearment are employed to perſwade you not to receive the Grace of God in vain.
THE compaſſionate Father of Mercies ſollicits your Compliance with his Demands, as if his own Honor and Intereſt were connected with your Happineſs. The great Creator becomes a Supplicant to his Creature Man—and beſeeches us with Bowels of Pity to be reconciled to Him. He ſwears by his own unutterable Name, that He ſeeks not our Deſtruction, but delights in our Happineſs. As I live (ſaith the Lord) I take no Pleaſure in the Death of the Sinner, but that he repent and live, turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?
IF you reject theſe moving Addreſſes—upon what can you depend! This World—it's Glories are ſwiftly paſſing away! Upon your own Goodneſs—the Defects of your Duties will forever condemn you! Upon your preſent Health and Strength—your Life is a Vapor which vaniſheth in a Moment! Every Hope will deceive you but that which is built on Jeſus Chriſt. Place your entire Dependance on Him, He will give you Grace, Glory, and every deſirable Good. To Him be Glory forever and ever. AMEN.