[It calls on no man to purchase salvation by any merits of his own; but offers it "freely to all, without money and without price." The light of the sun is not more freely given than this, provided we be willing to accept it. We may see how free it was in its first offer to man in Paradise. Our first parents even fled from their Maker, instead of imploring mercy at his hands; and God followed them, and, without any solicitation on their part, promised them that "the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head"." Thus it is in every instance that occurs; "He is found of them who sought him not, and made known to them who inquired not after him."] 3. It actually confers salvation on all who will receive the inspired declarations [The instant the word is received in faith, it becomes "effectual to turn you from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God." The sins of him who receives it are "blotted out as a morning cloud," and his soul is "made a partaker of a divine nature:" he is also admitted into the number of God's children ", and "his name is written in heaven." Say, brethren, whether this be not true? Say whether some of you, at least, cannot attest it by your own blessed experience? Then you see how justly that Gospel which we preach unto you is called "The word of salvation." There is no other word whereby any man can be saved: nor does any man truly receive this, without being saved by it. Hence, then, if you would understand it aright, and appreciate it aright, you must view it in this light, and receive it for the end for which alone it is revealed.] Having stated the true nature of the Gospel, I now proceed to, II. Execute the commission which we bear in relation to it St. Paul had a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles. The former he addressed as "the stock of Abraham;" the latter he included under those who "fear God." Now, though we have not exactly the same description of persons here, we have others who very nearly correspond with them; whom, therefore, we will distinctly address. 1. Those who, on account of their attachment to the law, may be supposed not to need the Gospel salvation a Isai. lv. 1. b Gen. iii. 15. c Isai. lxv. 1. d John i. 12. • Compare the text with ver. 42. and with Acts x. 35. [There doubtless are here many moral, and, in a qualified sense, religious persons, who think by their own repentance and good works to save themselves. But, beloved, the very best of you are sinners, and stand in need of mercy at the hands of God; as well as of a new nature, which God alone can create within you. "Your Father Abraham had this Gospel preached to him':" Moses also preached it, both in the ceremonial and moral laws. And if the Apostle Paul, who was, "touching the righteousness of the law, blameless," was constrained to "renounce all hope in his own righteousness, that he might be clothed in the righteousness of Christ," so must you do: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified "To you, then, is the word of this salvation sent;" and if you accept it as God's word to you, it shall prove "the power of God to the salvation of your souls."] 2. Those who, through their alienation from God and his law, may be supposed to be beyond the reach of salvation [Dear brethren, there is no limit, either to the mercy of God, or to the efficacy of his Gospel. "The blood of Jesus Christ, sprinkled on the soul, cleanseth from all sin :" "nor shall any one who comes to God in his name ever be cast out" Remember, then, that to you, even to every one of you, however far you may have gone from God, is "the word of salvation now sent:" nor is there one of you that shall ever perish, if only you truly and cordially embrace it.] Behold now the effect of proclaiming this word, in the case of the Apostle Paul: 1. Some desired to hear more of it [They desired that "the same words might be preached to them again the next Sabbath," and on the intervening days before it. Let it have the same effect upon you, my brethren; and suffer no means of instruction henceforth to pass away unimproved—] 2. Others, on the other hand, "contradicted and blasphemed" the word*_ [So you must expect to find it at this day. But be not stumbled at it. If, when delivered by the Apostle Paul, and by our blessed Saviour himself, the Gospel was in many cases rejected, wonder not if it be so when delivered by us. But shall the unbelief of some make the faith of God of none effect? God forbid. "Let God be true, but every man a liar"---] 3. Others were effectually saved by it— [Yes, some "glorified the word of life; and, having been ordained to eternal life, believed it "," and were saved by it. Thus let it be glorified by you. It is worthy of all your submission, and all your trust, and all your confidence and if you will "glorify it" by faith and obedience, it shall surely "glorify you" with everlasting life"— From this moment, therefore, let nothing divert you from it, but "continue steadfastly in the grace of God."] 1 Rom. iii. 3, 4. m ver. 48. n 2 Thess. iii. 1. o ver. 43. MDCCLXXVII. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST GLAD TIDINGS Acts xiii. 32, 33. We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. THE resurrection of Christ was the foundation whereon the whole edifice of our religion was built. To that Jesus himself directed his Disciples to look forward as the evidence of his Messiahship; and, after he had risen, he appeared to them repeatedly for the space of forty days, that they might be enabled to testify of it with the fullest assurance. A select number were chosen by him for the very purpose of bearing witness to this wonderful event: and because St. Paul had not enjoyed the same advantage as the other Apostles, he was favoured with a vision of his Lord long after his removal from the sight of all other mortals, in order that he, as well as the others, might be able to testify of it from ocular demonstration. In the words before us he speaks of Christ's resurrection, I. As an accomplishment of prophecy The passage quoted by the Apostle is very properly applied to this subject [The Psalms were in the Apostle's days arranged in the same order as they now stand. And the scope of the second Psalm is to declare the triumph of Jesus over all his enemies by means of his resurrection from the grave, and of his consequent exaltation to the right hand of God. And he might well be said to be "begotten" in the day of his resurrection, because he was then formed anew, as it were, from the earth.] It is confirmed also by many other passages that predict the same truth [As it was fore-ordained by God, so it was foretold in a variety of ways. Sometimes it was exhibited in types, and sometimes in prophecies. In one Scripture, not quoted indeed in this place, but cited no less than six times in the New Testament, this marvellous event was predicted in terms so plain that none could misunderstand it, who did not obstinately shut their eyes against the truth.] We must not however suppose this to be an uninteresting fact: for the Apostle further speaks of it, II. As glad tidings to the soul To the disconsolate Disciples the tidings of Christ's resurrection were doubtless exceeding joyful. But they ought to be no less so to us, since that event ascertains, 1. The virtue of his sacrifice [Had he not risen, his death had been in vain. We could have had no evidence that our debt was discharged, if our Surety had not been liberated from the prison of the grave. But his resurrection clearly proved that he had satisfied the demands of law and justice, and it thereby affords us a ground of assured hope, and triumphant exultation.] 2. The sufficiency of his power a Isaac, being put to death, as it were, by his own father, was received again from the dead in a figure, Heb. xi. 19. Jonah was raised again on the third day from the belly of a fish, Matt. xii. 39, 40. The living bird that was let loose after having been dipped in the blood of the bird that had been slain, represented Jesus as ascending to heaven with his own blood, Lev. xiv. 51, 53. with Heb. ix. 12. b ver. 34, 35. with Isai. lv. 3. which certainly must include the resurrection of him that was to be "the leader and commander;" and Ps. xvi. 10. which is so largely commented upon by St. Peter, Acts ii. 25-31. c Ps. cxviii. 22. with Luke xx. 17. d 1 Cor. xv. 14, 17, 18. e Rom. iv. 25. and viii. 34. [If he were still dead, it would be in vain to look to him for help. But, when he has raised up himself, and spoiled all the principalities and powers of hells, and been exalted on purpose that he might be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins, what may we not expect at his hands? Surely he is declared thereby to be the Son of God with power, and to be able to save us to the uttermost. Let us only seek to know him in the power of his resurrection', and nothing shall be impossible unto us m.] 3. The certainty of our own resurrection to dwell with him [Our resurrection depended altogether upon his: if he had not risen, neither should we have risen: but because he rose, we shall rise also. Christ is the first-fruits, which, while it sanctified, assured also, the whole harvest". He is our forerunner, who is gone to heaven to prepare places for us, and will come again to raise us to the possession of them. We therefore may consider death and the grave as vanquished for us, and look forward to the complete triumph which we ourselves shall have over them in the last day P. Because he liveth, we may be sure that we shall live also.] As a further IMPROVEMENT of this passage, permit me to observe, 1. How deeply are we interested in the writings of the Old Testament! [In them are promises of which we receive the accomplishment. The word of God is not of private interpretation', as though it belonged only to this or that individual. Many parts doubtless had a peculiar reference to those to whom they were spoken; but none an exclusive reference. Let us then embrace the promises as spoken to ourselves, and expect the fulfilment of them to our own souls.] 2. How thankful should we be for a preached Gospel! [Many, when the Gospel is preached to them, are ready to exclaim, "We beseech thee, torment us not." Yes, they look on faithful ministers as "the troublers of Israel "." But |