for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God?" Helpless and hopeless for ever in myself, is all my hope in the free grace of God, and the discoveries of his mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ?

§ 2. Has the news of salvation by Jesus Christ been welcomed by me with the greatest joy and thankfulness? Do I esteem it as the best tid

e No one believes in Christ until he finds he has no other hope. As long as a person imagines that he has any thing in himself to recommend him to God, it appears to him incredible that he should be counted righteous for the sake of what was performed by another. But the same Spirit which convicts of sin, convinces us of righteousness, and reconciles us to the only mode of salvation that lies open to us. The Redeemer owes us no thanks for our application to him, for we should never have come if we could have found any other refuge.

66

f Here again the question may not at first glance appear to arise out of the text. But it really does. For Christ here reports the love of the Father as most extraordinary, affording us a gift which transcends every other. He that was unmoved by all the glory of this world, exclaimed, “ God so loved the world!" Can we then have viewed the gift in the same light and believed the report he intended to convey; if we are not filled with admiration at this most stupendous evidence of the love of the giver, which in no other way can be expressed than by the mention of the gift-that he "so loved us as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life." Yet, if we ask, whether we have received the Saviour with the admiration and gratitude he deserves, who could answer in the affirmative? Every Christian is dissatisfied with himself here, though he may be conscious that Christ appears to him an unspeakable gift.

ings that ever reached my ears, and the choicest mercy that could ever be imparted unto my soul? Is the report which the gospel gives of Jesus Christ, his godhead, his manhood, his fulness, his freeness, his willingness, and his ability to save sinners to the uttermost, received by me with the fullest confidence, the highest joy, and the warmest gratitude? Are such truths delightful as music to my ears, better than a cordial to my heart, and more valued by me than all the treasures of the richest mines? Do I see, admire, and adore the wonders of divine wisdom and love, which shine forth with united splendor in this way of salvation by a crucified Jesus? So far from taking offence at the cross of Christ, do I derive my sweetest comforts from it, and make my greatest boast and triumph in it? Do I see a divine glory in the way of salvation by faith, and do I joyfully and thankfully submit to be saved in this way? Am I made heartily wil

This is implied in the language of Christ. For he calls forth our admiration that God gave his Son, in order that "whosoever believeth on him should be saved." Thus also the apostolic writings declare that salvation is by faith, that it might be by grace, which grace is ever held up to holy admiration. The whole system of redemption is consecrated" to the praise of the glorious grace of God." With this the temper of the real Christian exactly accords; for salvation by faith, which is peculiarly odious to the carnal mind, is supremely grateful to the renewed and spiritual man.

ling to be saved on the soul-humbling, self-denying terms of the gospel? Willing to renounce my own wisdom, my own righteousness, and my own strength? And, willing that the grace of God, and the righteousness of Christ, should be alone exalted in my salvation? Do I entirely approve of, and am I sincerely pleased with this method of salvation in the gospel, by which God hides pride from man, and suffers no flesh to glory in his presence, that he that glorieth may glory only in the Lord?

§ 3. As guilty and condemned, helpless and hopeless in myself, have I come to Christ at his free invitation, and do I thankfully receive and The freeness, or grace, of the method of mercy so entirely accords with his views of his own ruined state, so perfectly harmonises with the unmerited unsought gift of Christ, and so secures the honour to him who alone deserves it, that with Paul he gratefully pleads the honours of faith and triumphantly exclaims," therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law. Where is boasting then? It is excluded by the law of faith.”

On the other hand, the mere semblance of religion leaves a man under the influence of his natural alienation from justification by faith. This is the reason why terror alone marks some persons' religion; and why some conclude that they truly believe in Christ and yet do not expect to be saved: they are not reconciled to the method of grace which God has adopted, and cannot think that to have believed in the Son of God is enough to prove them in a state of salvation. But the pious author of the Scriptural Marks of Salvation properly commences with this inquiry, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

humbly rest upon him alone for salvation? Have I come to him, owning that I have destroyed myself, and in him alone is my help found? Have I come to him, crying out, in the sense of my danger, Lord, save me or I perish; extend thy righteousness and thy grace to justify and and sanctify my soul, or I am undone for ever? Have I come humbly, joyfully, and thankfully accepting him, as the Lord my righteousness? renouncing all self-dependence, do I place all my

The following section keeps in view the scriptural idea of salvation, which includes deliverance from depravity, as well as exemption from punishment. This shews the holiness of the Christian's views, and proves that the vulgar exclamations against salvation by faith originate, not merely in ignorance, but in depravity. For if the mind were not vilely absorbed in solicitude for mere safety, the term salvation would instantly call up the idea of sanctification, or salvation from sin. When the whole import of salvation is taken in, to call salvation by faith an immoral doctrine is a manifest solecism. The Christian who looks to Jesus to save him from his sins, may rejoice in this as a scriptural mark of salvation. But those who apprehend themselves too sinful to be allowed to believe on Christ, and who are waiting to become better, shew that they have not the true idea of Christ's salvation, as including sanctifying power, as well as justifying grace. If all deliverance both from sinfulness and from danger is obtained by believing in the Son of God, it is evident that there is sanctity as well as encouragement in saying to men" believe on Jesus just as you are." Pollution and guilt can be no argument against believing, which is the only means of obtaining the first lineaments of the divine image and the first smiles of God's favour.

hope of pardon and acceptance with God, and my expectation of eternal life, in his adorable merits? Is this all my plea, my joy, and my boast? Have I come to him as weary and heavy laden with my sins? Have my sins been a burden to me, too heavy to be borne, and do I groan to be delivered from them, to be delivered from the power as well as the guilt of them? And, have I come to Christ not only as my righteousness to justify and pardon me, but as my sanctification to purify and cleanse me? And, do I see it to be as great a blessing, and do I desire and pray for it as earnestly, to be washed and sanctified by his Spirit, as to be justified in his name? With him, have I left my poor trembling soul, resolving to lie at his feet, and, if I perish, to perish there, humbly imploring, and trusting in his mercy, while it is my sincere desire and daily care to do his will, and approve myself to him in every thing?

§ 4. Is the Lord Jesus Christ precious to me? Whereas he was once without all form or comeliness, and I saw no beauty in him, that I should desire him; is he now to me the chiefest of ten thousand, and altogether lovely? Do I behold an infinite amiableness and glory in his person, a transcendant excellence in his righteousness, an inexhausted fulness in his grace, and a heaven of