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"For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell." And Heb. vii. 25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him."

As to his willingness to save any sinner who thus comes; see Matt. xi. 28, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you And John vi. 37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

rest."

And the truth, both of Christ's being able and willing thus to save, is seen and relied upon by all true believers. 1 Tim. i. 15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." And 2 Tim. i. 12, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

These are the things concerning Christ, necessaty to be believed. But it must not be forgotten that there is a peculiar manner of believing these things, which is essential to saving faith.

It has been confidently asserted, indeed, by one author, at least, that the faith by which we are justified, is a simple belief of the simple truth. He says, "Let us lay aside all questions about how a man believes; and let the only question be, What does he believe? Every one who believes the same truth which the apostles believed, has equally precious faithi with them. He has unfeigned faith and shall assuredly be saved."*

But if we believe simply as the apostles did, or as their Lord taught them, I am persuaded we shall Hot believe this doctrine. John says of Christ, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on

* Mr. Sandeman.

his name." Paul tells us of the pious patriarchs, "These all died in faith; not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were persuaded of them, and embraced them. He also speaks of such as perished, " because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." Peter, having spoken of coming to Christ, and being built upon him as the elect and precious corner stone in Zion, says, unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious." And James spends a whole chapter in showing that a simple belief of the truth will not save men; observing, among other things, that the devils have this faith.

Thus the apostles taught; and thus they had learned of their Divine Lord. Many are the sayings of our Saviour which evidently teach us that the consent of men to be saved by him, as well as their assent to the truth delivered by him, and revealed concerning him, is necessary in order to an interest in his salvation. He said to unbelievers, "Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life." He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." He said, "Whosoever he be that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple: and whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." But he hath sufficiently decided this point in our text itself, that saving faith implies activity, or something done; and is not a mere passive conviction of any truth whatever: "This is the work of God, that ye believe."

True believers receive the truth in love. They embrace the doctrines, and promises, and terms of the gospel with cordial complacency. They love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. They come unto. him, and to God by him. They trust in him, and are made his willing people in the day of his power willing to be taught, saved, and governed by him, as their prophet, priest and king. These exercises of heart, as well as right ideas and convictions

of every necessary truth, are evidently, according to the scriptures, of the essence of saving faith.

II. It remains to be considered, how we are to understand, that believing thus on him whom he hath sent, is the work of God.

From the question to which these words are an answer, it is obvious that our Saviour here speaks of the work which God requires us to do, and not of that which he does in us and for us. Faith is the gift of God, as a foundation for it is laid by the renewing of the Holy Ghost: nevertheless, it is the act, and the duty of man. 1 John iii. 23, "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." And John iii. 18, "He that believeth not is condemned already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

But, believing in Christ, is not the only duty required of man, under the gospel. "God now commandeth all men every where to repent." Yea, repentance seems to be spoken of as prior to saving faith Mark i. 15, " Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Acts xx. 21, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." And as a man must repent sincerely, before he can believe to the saving of the soul; so, those who thus believe, must bring forth fruits meet for repentance. They must maintian good works, and be holy in all manner of conversation, or their faith will not save them. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation -teacheth us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." And we read that God," in the day of the revelation of his righteous judgment, will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who, by patient continuance, in well doing,

seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life." Why then should it be said of believing on him whom he hath sent, this is the work, and not rather a work of God?

I answer; Though believing in Christ is not the only duty which God requires of man, nor the only one which is made necessary to his salvation; yet, to believe with the heart on the Saviour of sinners, is required in a peculiar manner, and for singular purposes. More particularly,

1. Believing on him whom he hath sent, is the work of God, as this is the only thing in a sinner, by which he can attain unto justification of life. By this alone can we have admission into the covenant favor of God, or become entitled to the promises of his everlasting love. This alone determines the matter respecting a man's eternal happiness. John iii. 36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Rom. iii. 20-23, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.-But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." And ver. 27, 28, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Thus faith stands alone, in the affair of gospel justification. By this alone we obtain remission of sins, and an unfailing title to the kingdom of heaven. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Not that there is any thing so sin

gularly excellent in faith itself. If it entitled a sinner to justification by reason of its own merit, boasting would not be excluded by the law of faith, any more than by the law of works. All that gives faith the only place, or any preference, in this all-important matter, is its laying hold of, resting upon, and so obtaining an interest in, "The Lord our righteousness;" in whom there is a full sufficiency of merit for the most unworthy. We are justified by faith, in distinction from every thing else, done by us, or found in us, only because, in believing, we receive Christ, and become his disciples and subjects: and this places us in such a relation to him, that, with propriety, we can be received into the covenant favor of God wholly on his account. In families, and in kingdoms, it is a common thing for all the members to partake of the honors and advantages procured by the merit or labors of the head. And whatever makes one a member of a particular family or nation, gives him a title to the privileges and distinctions of that community. Now faith in Christ being that alone by which we become members of his body-of his household and kingdom; it is by this alone that we are entitled to the benefits of his merit and labors-of his obedience, sufferings, and intercession.

For this reason, when our Saviour was asked, "What shall we do that we might work the works of God?" he might well answer, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." As if he had said; You will find yourselves altogether mistaken if you think of obtaining the favor of God, and his spiritual and eternal blessings, by any good works of your own. The only thing you can do in order to this, and the only thing which he requires of you for this end, is to receive his Son, whom he hath sent to fulfil all righteousness for you, relying upon him entirely for all the merit you need, to recommend you to the divine mercy.

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