Salvation by Grace Through Faith, Sermon 4
SERMON IV. FAITH the appointed Way of SALVATION.
EPHESIANS II. 8.
For by Grace are ye ſaved THRO' FAITH.
TO glorify God, the great Author of our Being, ought to be the uninterrupted Employment of every intelligent Creature. For this we were formed by His Almighty Hand, and redeemed by His marvellous Grace. The Firſt Creation proclaims the Exiſtence of an all-wiſe and powerful Deity; the New Creation diſcovers the Wonders of his Love to his apoſtate Creatures.
THEREFORE, when the SON OF GOD deſcended from the Boſom of the FATHER, to tabernacle in human Fleſh, a Multitude of the heavenly Hoſt ſang Glory to God in the Higheſt, Peace upon-Earth and Goodwill to Men. The Deſign of this myſterious Diſpenſation was to place the Benignity of the Divine Nature in the moſt amiable and attracting Point of Light:—That the innumerable Orders of Angels might admire the Riches of his Grace —and all the Nations of the Redeemed might pay an eternal Tribute of Praiſe to Him, who delivered them from the Abyſs of Miſery, and made them Heirs of celeſtial Glory. Upon this Account the whole Scheme of Redemption is wiſely contrived, to ſubdue the Pride of Man, to advance the Honor of the MOST HIGH GOD. Therefore in the eternal Counſels of his Will, he determined, not only that our Salvation ſhould be of Grace—but through Faith.
IN a former Diſcourſe, I explained the Nature of Faith—I ſhall now endeavor to ſhow, in what Senſe we are ſaid to be ſaved through Faith—and then enquire into the Reaſons of this divine Conſtitution.
FIRST, In what Senſe are we ſaid to be ſaved through Faith.
EVERY Man muſt be juſtified by Law, or ſaved by Grace—or periſh forever.—If I expect to be juſtified by Law, my Obedience muſt be perfect, without the ſmalleſt Blemiſh;—univerſal, without the leaſt Exception;—perſevering without a Moment's Interruption. We appear before the Throne of infinite Purity, and challenge impartial Juſtice to find any thing in us worthy of Condemnation and Death.
BUT the Man who expects to be ſaved by Grace acknowledges himſelf a guilty Criminal, worthy of the ſevereſt Puniſhment:—He is ſenſible that his beſt Performances, if examined according to the Purity and Extent of the Law, muſt be turned into Articles of Indictment againſt him:—He therefore appeals from the Bar of Juſtice to the Throne of Grace; humbly confeſſing that if God ſhould be ſtrict to mark Iniquity, he muſt be eternally condemned: —He pleads the pardoning Mercy of God through the Mediation of Jeſus Chriſt:—The only Foundation of his Hope is—that the Supreme Lawgiver will not deal with him according to his perſonal Demerits, but conſider him as united to his dear SON, whom he cordially accepts as his SAVIOR and LORD:— Through Him—though condemned by the Law, he expects to be relieved by the Goſpel— though deſerving the Miſeries of Hell, he hopes to enjoy the Felicities of the Kingdom of Heaven. Chriſt and He only hath purchaſed our Salvation, by his infinite Merits;—in his Righteouſneſs we muſt appear, if we are accepted at the Tribunal of God. If Chriſt had not died for our Offences, and riſen again for our Juſtification, in vain ſhould we bewail our Sins, reform our Lives, employ our moſt aſſiduous Endeavors to recover our Innocence and Happineſs. Every well inſtructed Mind will therefore ſay with St. Paul, God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of Chriſt.
Of Conſequence, when we are ſaid to be ſaved through Faith, it cannot intend that Faith merits our Salvation; or that God gives us eternal Happineſs to reward the Excellency and Goodneſs of our Faith: But it is the appointed Method, in which we are made Partakers of the Bleſſings which Chriſt hath purchaſed with his Blood—In this Senſe, and no other, is Faith the Condition of our Salvation. This the Goſpel teſtifies through all its inſpired Pages.—If thou ſhalt confeſs with thy Mouth (ſaith St. Paul) the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſhalt believe in thy Heart, that God hath raiſed Him from the Dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. —When the awakened Jailor makes the ſolemn Enquiry—What ſhall I do to be ſaved? —This is the Anſwer given by the Ambaſſadors of Heaven—Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved—Nor have the Refinements of later Ages found a directer Entrance into the Kingdom of God.
FAITH is that Grace which unites us to the SON OF GOD, the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD: By this Union, we become Partakers of all his Benefits. "Our Guilt is transferred to Him.—His Righteouſneſs is imputed to us." —To expreſs myſelf in Language dictated by the HOLY GHOST, He was made to be Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in Him.
LET us place this Truth in another Point of Light, and make it as intelligible as may be to the meaneſt Underſtanding. Salvation is frequently repreſented as the Gift of God: Now we all know, that there is a wide Diſtinction between that which is beſtowed as a free Gift, and that which is obtained as the Reward of Services performed: To eſtabliſh our Claim to the promiſed Reward, we muſt accompliſh our Taſk—finiſh the appointed Work, and punctually comply with all the Articles ſpecified in the Agreement:—But to enjoy a Gift, Nothing is requiſite, but to realize the Kindneſs of our Benefactor, and receive his generous Offer with Gratitude.
THE Difference is as great, as between a Workman who is employed on Wages, and an indigent Beggar who lives upon Charity: The Labourer has no Title to the ſtipulated Wages, till he has completed the Service expreſſed in the Contract; but the poor Mendicant only receives the Alms which are generouſly preſented to him.—The Bounty of the Donor authoriſes his Claim—his grateful Acceptance puts him in Poſſeſſion of the Benefit.
THIS gives us a perſpicuous View of the Method, in which we are made Partakers of the Salvation revealed in the Goſpel.—Salvation is not beſtowed upon us as the Reward of our good Services:—We cannot challenge it as a Debt from the Hand of Juſtice;—it is the Gift of unpurchaſed Bounty:—Our only Part is to accept the Goodwill of our heavenly Father, and aſcribe all our Happineſs to the Riches of redeeming Love.
THUS we are ſaved by Faith—Faith accepts the condeſcending Offers of a Savior, and gives God the Glory of that Grace, which He deſigned to magnify in the Recovery of an apoſtate World.—What is it to believe?—To give Credit to the Report of the Goſpel;—to receive that Savior who is freely tendered to us;—to depend on his Righteouſneſs, to give us a Title to the Favor of God;—to reſign ourſelves to his Spirit, to prepare us for the Enjoyment of Life eternal.
UPON this Foundation, all Pretences to Merit are deſtroyed; all Claims eſtabliſhed on perſonal Worthineſs are diſallowed. God gives —and Faith receives a Title to the Dignity and Privileges of the Sons of God. There is no Merit in receiving a Gift, though it be neceſſary to enjoying the Good which is tendered to me. —Thus Faith does not give me an Intereſt in Chriſt, on the Foot of Deſert; but by Virtue of a Divine Conſtitution. The Wiſdom of the Deity did not ſee ſit, that thoſe ſhould have a Title to this Salvation, who were inſenſible of their Want of it, or unwilling to receive it:— They are forever excluded, by an irreverſible Decree, who obſtinately deſpiſe, and ungratefully trample under their Feet, the ineſtimable Bleſſing.—I am now prepared,
SECONDLY, To enquire into the Reaſons of this Divine Conſtitution.
THE Deſign of Man's Redemption flowed from the eternal Counſels of Heaven. Before this Univerſe exiſted, the Deity foreſaw, that many of the free Intelligences He deſigned to create, would violate the eſtabliſhed Orders of his Government and fall from their original Dignity.—His unbounded Benevolence inclined Him to deviſe a Method of Recovery, for many of his rebellious Subjects.—The ſinning Angels, the firſt Tranſgreſſors, are excluded all Hopes of Mercy;—while the ſinful Poſterity of Adam are appointed to be the Objects of diſtinguiſhing Favors.
INFINITE Wiſdom determined, that without vindicating the Honor of the Law, there ſhould be no Remiſſion of Sin—This the Son of God undertook, and voluntarily engaged to ſave a guilty World.—He exhibits Himſelf in the Goſpel in the Character of a Savior, and gives us the higheſt Aſſurance, that all who believe in Him ſhall experience the bleſſed Effects of his Power and Grace.—But if Men wilfully refuſe the kind Hand that is extended for their Deliverance, there is Nothing remains but that they periſh in their Sins.
THIS is the immutable Appointment, not only of the Sovereignty but Wiſdom of Heaven—Faith is the appropriated Way to Life— becauſe it brings nothing with it, but receives all from the Fulneſs of Chriſt—It pleads guilty before God, and implores a free Pardon—It acknowledges the Sinner's Inability to all ſpiritual Good, and ſupplicates that Grace which muſt perform all our Works in us.—Thus God alone is exalted, and human Vanity proſtrate in the Duſt: All Self-dependance is renounced and Holineſs and Happineſs received as a Communication from Chriſt: The Crown is placed upon the Head of our incarnate God, and the entire Glory of our Salvation is aſcribed to free Grace.—This forms the Excellency of Faith, and diſcovers it to be a fit Method to ſave thoſe who are utterly ruined in themſelves. Upon this Account St. Paul having declared that we are ſaved through Faith, in the next Verſe excludes Works, and gives this Reaſon— leſt any Man ſhould boaſt.
METHINKS I hear ſome ſay—How can Works be excluded; are they not neceſſary to Salvation?—I acknowledge the Faith that ſaves us is a vital Principle of univerſal Holineſs. Faith is eſſentially defective, if it does not produce good Works.—I further acknowledge, that, Purity of Heart and an uniform Obedience to the divine Commandments, are neceſſary Ingredients in the Character of thoſe, who ſhall be finally ſaved.—It is the irrevocable Conſtitution of Heaven, that without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord.
THE only Controverſy between us and thoſe that in this Article differ from us is this— Whether good Works are the Conſequences of our Union with Chriſt and an Intereſt in his Salvation; or whether they are antecedent Conditions of our obtaining this invaluable Bleſſing?—We aſſert the firſt; and think we are ſupported, not only by the Authority of St. Paul, in the Words of my Text, but by the uniform Tenor of the inſpired Writings. Grace and Works are frequently put in a direct and formal Oppoſition to each other:—That Purity of Heart—that Sanctity of Life—that Victory of Corruption—that unreſerved Devotedneſs to God—which are the grand Eſſentials of the Chriſtian Life, are not Virtues we bring with us in our firſt Approaches to the Savior; but Bleſſings He beſtows on them that come to Him by an humble Faith.
THIS will be uncontroulably evident, if we conſider—That our moſt ſpecious Performances, before we are brought into this ſacred Union, are corrupt and vicious—Without Faith, ſays the Author to the Hebrews, it is impoſſible to pleaſe God.—Without me, ſays the Faithful and True Witneſs, ye …an do nothing.
By Faith then are we ſaved and not by Works —For this Salvation is begun, before we can perform any Works that may be truly denominated Good. We receive Jeſus the Savior— We become Members of his myſtical Body— By virtue of this—His Righteouſneſs is imputed to us—His Spirit reſides in us—This leads us into all Truth—inclines us to all Good— enables us to walk in the Way that will finally conduct us to conſummate Purity and Bleſſedneſs.
I paſs to the Application of my Subject.
I. THIS inſtructs us in the Difference between the Law and the Goſpel.
THE Law demands perfect and perpetual Obedience, as the Condition of Life; the Goſpel requires humble Faith, as the appointed Means of Safety and Happineſs: According to the Tenor of the Law, we muſt have a complete and perſonal Righteouſneſs, to eſcape its damnatory Sentence; according to the condeſcending Terms of the Goſpel, the Righteouſneſs of our Surety delivers us from Death, and gives us a Title to Life Eternal.—This is the unalterable Voice of the Law, do theſe Things and thou ſhalt live:—This the alluring Language of the Goſpel, believe and thou ſhall be ſaved.
THE different Terms are wiſely adapted to the different States and Circumſtances of Mankind. The Law was delivered to Man when in a State of unblemiſhed Innocence, in all the Perfection of his Nature, when he had Strength to perform his entire Duty, without Defect or Deviation: But the Goſpel conſiders Man as fallen from his primitive Integrity, deſtitute of Ability or Inclination to do that which is Good. It is appointed for his Reſcue from the Condemnation of the Law and the tyrannical Dominion of Sin—Therefore it does not call him to purchaſe Life by his Obedience; but to receive that Grace which alone can enable him to will and to do:—Not to expect Happineſs from his own Virtue and Goodneſs, but by an humble Affiance in the Grace and Righteouſneſs of an all ſufficient Savior.
EVERY one who does not ſubmit to the Law of Faith, muſt ſtand or fall by the Law of Works. This infallibly condemns all the Poſterity of Adam without Diſtinction, whether Gentile, Jew, or Chriſtian. All have violated it's righteous Precepts and incurred it's dreadful Penalty.—How terrible is that Diſpenſation to an awakened Mind, which denounces Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguiſh on every Soul that doeth Evil!— How admirable that Grace, which reveals JESUS the Wiſdom and Power of God, to the Salvation of every one that believeth!—How alarming that Sentence, which curſeth every one, that continueth not in all Things written in the Book of the Law to do them!—How reviving that Voice which declares that Chriſt Jeſus delivers us from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us, and aſſures us that as many as receive Him have Power to become the Sons of God!
II. WHAT Reaſon have we to rejoice in the Light and Advantages of the Goſpel.
IN this Diſpenſation, the Grace of God appears in it's brighteſt Splendor, it's unlimited Freeneſs; to attract the Attention of periſhing Sinners,—The Divine Majeſty is ſeated on a Throne of Grace, and we are invited to touch the Sceptre of Mercy and live: Angels are commiſſioned to publiſh the Goodwill of God to Men: Miniſters are appointed to preach Peace by Jeſus Chriſt, to them that are afar off and to them that are near. The Condition of our Reconciliation with an offended Deity, is not indefective Holineſs, which muſt ſink us into the deepeſt Deſpair, but an humble Faith, which receives All, from the over-flowing Fountain of all Good.
HAPPY are we, my Brethren, though ruined in Adam, who have a Way of Recovery revealed by Jeſus Chriſt.
WHAT gloomy Fears muſt ariſe in the Breaſt of an uninſtructed Pagan, when Conſcience accuſes him of numberleſs Violations of the Law of Nature?—If he looks up, he beholds the Heavens darkned with Clouds of Wrath, and Thunders prepared by divine Juſtice, ready to be diſcharged on his guilty Head—If he caſts his Eyes down upon the Earth, he ſees the Grave prepared to receive him, and has juſt Reaſon to fear that the Pains of a temporal will tranſmit him to the Miſeries of eternal Death.
To whom ſhall he apply in this melancholy Situation?—To the Altars of his Gods?—Alas! the ſuperſtitious Rites, the uninſtituted Sacrifices, with which they are approached inſtead of effacing his Guilt, ſerve only to increaſe the Number of his Crimes.—Shall he implore Mercy of the Idols he abſurdly worſhipeth?— Alas! they have no Eyes to ſee, no Ears to hear, no Tongues to ſpeak, nor Hearts to pity his Diſtreſs.
WHICH Way ſoever he turns, he finds no Ray of Light to ſcatter the Gloom that ſurrounds him on every Side—No friendly Director to ſhow him the Path of Peace and Safety.—The Light of Nature diſcovers his Guilt, but can give no Aſſurance of the divine Favor and Forgiveneſs—This is the diſtinguiſhing Glory of the Goſpel. Thoſe who hearken to it's indulgent Voice, and truſt in it's faithful Promiſes, may be freed from all diſquieting Doubts, and enjoy that Peace of God, which paſſeth all Underſtanding.
IN CHRIST we behold—God reconciled— Guilt aboliſhed—the Law fulfilled—Death diſarmed—the Fire of Hell extinguiſhed—the Joys of Heaven purchaſed for all that believe and obey Him. Theſe happy Souls may, in the full Aſſurance of Faith, adopt the triumphant Challenge of St. Paul, Who ſhall lay any Thing to the Charge of God's Elect? It is God that juſtifieth; who ſhall condemn? It is Chriſt that died; yea rather that is riſen again, who is even at the Right Hand of God, who alſo maketh Interceſſion for us.
O GOD! How kind are thy Dealings unto the Children of Men! How boundleſs thy Compaſſions to ungrateful Rebels! How adapted are the Methods of thy Grace to thy deſtitute Creatures!—Thou knoweſt the Frailty and Inconſtancy of our Natures, therefore commandeſt us to commit the Keeping of our Souls to an Almighty Savior, who is the ſame Yeſterday, To-day, and forever.
III. WHILE the Goſpel eſtabliſhes Salvation by Faith, it takes the moſt effectual Care to engage us in the Practice of univerſal Holineſs.
TRU… Faith infallibly diſpoſes the Mind to an impartial Obedience to the divine Commandments. If it has not this Influence, St. James pronounces it a dead Faith; and it is the groſſeſt Abſurdity to ſuppoſe a dead Faith can bring us to the Happineſs of eternal Life. Faith ſubdues the Heart to a choſen Conformity to the Nature and Deſign of the Goſpel—What is the Deſign of the Goſpel? —Every one muſt acknowledge—not only to publiſh an Act of Indemnity in Favor of condemned Rebels, but to deliver them from the Dominion of their Luſts:—Not only to dignify them with the Title of Sons, but enable them to walk as becomes the obedient Children of God.
CONSEQUENTLY, to rely on Chriſt to deliver us from the Miſeries of Hell, and not alſo to ſave us from the Service of Sin and Satan, is not the Faith of the Goſpel; but a vain Imagination.—Inſtead of introducing us into the Way of Life, it opens a ſpacious but dangerous Road, which betrays us to the Chambers of Death. The Faith ſo highly recommended in the Oracles of God, is always attended with the Influences of the Holy Spirit: This Divine Agent reſides in the Heart of the true Believer, diſſolves his Attachment to every Sin, cauſes him to delight in the Law of God after the inward Man: The Fruits of the Spirit are Love, and the various Graces which conſtitute the Chriſtian Life. They who have not this Spirit of Chriſt, are poſitively declared to be none of His.
NONE believe in Chriſt, who are not previouſly convinced of the Corruption of their Nature, their Expoſedneſs to the Wrath of God, by their innumerable Violations of his Laws. When brought to acquieſce in the Deſigns of redeeming Love, we receive the bleſſed Jeſus to ſave us from Sin, as well as Wrath.—We ardently deſire to be made holy, as well as happy. An eſſential Part of that Salvation which He beſtows on his People, is an Heart purified from the Love of Sin, unfeignedly devoted to the Service of Heaven. He delivers us out of the Hands of our Enemies, that we might ſerve Him without Fear, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all the Days of our Life.
IV. THEY who periſh in their Sins under the Light of the Goſpel are of all Men the moſt inexcuſeable.
WHO would not ſuppoſe a guilty World would receive the Declarations of divine Grace with Raptures of Joy, and with the deepeſt Submiſſion accept the offered Favor: But conſtant Experience teaches us that Multitudes are inattentive to the joyful Sound, while others treat it with a profane Contempt.—Whence ariſes this infatuated Conduct?—A ſecret Infidelity is, doubtleſs, the Source of that fatal Security which prevails among Mankind. A wavering Aſſent to the Truths of the Goſpel, prevents their chearful Compliance with it's benevolent Deſign.
WERE the Doctrines of Religion built on the vain Imaginations of Men—Were the ſublime Hopes of the Chriſtian unſupported with divine Credentials—No wonder the wiſe and conſiderate Part of Mankind, ſhould treat it with indifference: Why ſhould we purſue the flattering Illuſions of a credulous Mind? Why ſhould we be captivated with airy Proſpects, which will probably diſappoint our Expectations?
BUT Salvation by Faith is a Doctrine revealed by the God of Truth, ſupported by every Kind of Evidence that can be deſired by a reaſonable, unprejudiced Mind. St. Paul tells us, that this Salvation at firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard Him, God alſo bearing them Witneſs, both with Signs and Wonders, and divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, according to his own Will.
THE SON OF GOD, deſcended from Heaven, cloathed himſelf with the Infirmities of human Fleſh, to reveal theſe glad Tidings to a revolted World. He evidenced his Miſſion by aſtoniſhing Miracles, which bear the Character of infinite Wiſdom and reſiſtleſs Power. Theſe wonderful Works were not done in a Corner— in a private Retirement—among a few ſelected Friends—No—but in the Streets of Jeruſalem, in the Preſence of Multitudes, in the View of His Enemies.—As the LORD of Nature, the Winds and Sea obey His Voice—the moſt inveterate Diſeaſes fly at His Approach—His Commands are heard in the awful Manſions of the Dead, the Inhabitants of the Grave, anſwer to His Call, and riſe to Life and Vigor.— He Dies—the Heavens are darkned, the Earth trembles, the Rocks are rent.—He raiſes Himſelf from the Dead; Angels deſcend from Heaven to pay Him Homage, His timorous Diſciples acknowledge their Maſter and Lord. —At length He takes Farewel of this Earth, aſcends up to Heaven in the public View of his Followers, the Spirit deſcends on His Apoſtles in viſible Forms; they are immediately endowed with the Supernatural Gift of Tongues—they alſo perform illuſtrious Miracles, in the Name of their aſcended Maſter.
THESE were public and viſible Facts—acknowledged by the incredulous Jews, allowed by the moſt inveterate Enemies of the Chriſtian Faith, in the early Days of the Church—Authoriſed by theſe divine Credentials, the Apoſtles propagated the Religion of JESUS, with ſurpriſing Succeſs.—Without Power to awe— without Wealth to bribe—without Eloquence to perſwade—They triumphed over the Prejudices of the Vulgar, the Reaſonings of the Philoſophers, the long eſtabliſhed Idolatry of all Nations. Though the Princes of the Roman Empire endeavored to ſtop the Progreſs of the Goſpel:—Though Prieſts and Politicians made uſe of all their Art and Addreſs, to expoſe it to Contempt:—Though the Fires of Perſecution conſumed it's Profeſſors, for three hundred Years—it took deep Root, ſpread far and wide, and filled the whole Earth with it's ſalutary Influences.
WAS ever a Doctrine confirmed with ſuch illuſtrious Atteſtations? What could ſupport it, amidſt ſo many Dangers; but the Divine Protection? What further Evidence can Men deſire, that the Goſpel is a Revelation from Heaven, and conſequently, that Salvation may be obtained by Faith.
IF Men continue in Unbelief, it is to be aſcribed to the corrupt Diſpoſition of their Hearts, a fond Attachment to their criminal Delights.—A perpetual Engagement in the Buſineſs and Amuſements of Life, prevents their receiving the Truth in the Love of it. If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not, leſt the Light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, who is the Image of God ſhould ſhine unto them.
FROM this moſt terrible of all Judgments may God of his infinite Mercy deliver us.— To Him be Glory forever and ever. AMEN.