Page images
PDF
EPUB

no spiritual motion or perception: it is from its union with Christ that it has a sufficiency for any thing that is good. Christ must live in the soul, as the soul does in the body. If we live, it is not we that live, but Christ that liveth in us.d Hence he both calls himself, and is called by others, "our life."]

This description will appear of the greatest importance, if we consider

II. His declaration founded upon it

Many are the ways which men have devised of coming unto God

[Some have sought for mediators among their fellowcreatures. Others have trusted in their own repentances and reformations---Innumerable are the refuges of lies in which sinners have sought to hide themselves from the displeasure of God

But there is no way to God but through Christ

[Nothing can be plainer than our Lord's assertion. If we ask, What is the way to God? He answers, 66 I am.' If we enquire, What other way there is? He answers, “None." If we wish to be informed whether there be not some exception in favour of those who have served God from their earliest infancy, as Timothy, or to the most advanced age, as John? the answer is, "No:" "no man cometh unto the Father but by me:" Timothy must come as Mary Magdalen, out of whom seven devils were cast; and John, as the thief, who died a few hours after his conversion. All need equally to have their guilt expiated, and their hearts renewed: and there is none but Jesus who can do either the one or the other of these things for us: therefore there is no other name or power but his, that can ever save us."]

ADDRESS

1. Those who are ignorant of the Saviour

[Have you so little concern for heaven that you will not enquire the way thither? Or do you suppose that a life of worldliness and carnal ease is the path that leads to God; and that men will find it, as it were, blindfold? If this were the case, Jesus would never have become incarnate, and died upon the cross, to open a way for you; nor would he have warned you to the contrary in such solemn terms as those before us. Consider this, for every tittle of his word, whether credited or not, shall be fulfilled.]

* John xv. 5. 2 Cor. iii. 5. f Col. iv. 4.

d Gal. ii. 20.

e John xi. 25.

g Acts iv. 12.

[ocr errors]

2. Those who desire to come to God

[Beware lest you attempt for a moment to find any other way than that marked out for you by Christ. He must be your only way of access to God. We do not say that you are not to walk in the way of holiness, (for the scripture asserts the contrary in the strongest termsh) but this we say; It is the blood of Christ, and not your own holiness, that must reconcile you to God; and it is the spirit of Christ, and not your own natural powers, that must enable you to believe in him, or to serve him. Submit to this at once; for you must be brought to it, if ever you would enter into the kingdom of heaven. You cannot come to God in prayer, but by Christ; much less can you be admitted to him in heaven. Even Christ himself, as the sinner's representative, entered into heaven by his own blood: thing not therefore that ye shall enter in by any other way.]

3. Those who have already come to God

[Yes; blessed be God, many have come, through Christ as their way, and by Christ as their life: and O, whither are they going to their Father's house, whither Christ is gone before to prepare a place for them! What a joyful thought! every day and hour brings them nearer to their home! and, for aught they know, they may arrive at those blissful mansions within the space of a few months, or days, or even hours! Regard not then if your road be occasionally rough; but keep in it; press forward; turn not from it even to the end; and, "when Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."]

h Isaiah xxxv. 8.

i Rom. x. 3.

k Heb. ix. 12.

CCCLXXXVI. CHRIST THE ONLY FOUNDATION.

1 Cor. iii. 11. Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

THERE is not any thing more injurious to the church of God than a party-spirit: yet even in the apostolic age did it begin to distract the Christian community. At Corinth it prevailed, and rose to an alarming height: and St. Paul was obliged to exert all his influence in order to counteract it. He reminded the partisans, that, as "God's building," they should be cemented together

with brotherly love: that they should study to shew themselves worthy of the place they held in the church, in expectation of that day when all their works should be tried by fire: and that, instead of fomenting strifes and divisions, they should unite with each other in cleaving stedfastly to the one foundation, whereon they stood.

The declaration in the text is plain, and of infinite importance

To enter more fully into it we shall consider I. What foundations men lay for themselves

Every man has some foundation for his hope. Though there are many shades of difference in the sentiments of different men, yet their grounds of hope may be reduced to two;

1. Their own goodness

[Some think that nothing but gross sin can expose them to the wrath of God. They therefore congratulate themselves as having never done any thing to merit his displeasure. Others imagine that they may trust in the good works that they have done. They have, in their own apprehension, been regular in their duties to God and man: nor can they conceive that they should have any reason to fear. Thus, like the Pharisee of old, they thank God that they are not as other men; and are filled with self-complacency, because they are punctual in the observance of certain duties."]

2. Their own works and Christ's merits united

[Many, who see, that their own works cannot justify them according to the strict tenor of the law, yet hope that they will, according to the milder demands of the gospel. If they see that these will not suffice, they will look to Christ to supply their deficiencies. If they see, that such an union is impracticable, and, that Jesus must be their only foundation, they hope, however, that he will save them for their works sake. Thus they either avowedly profess to participate with Christ the honour of their salvation; or, while they pretend to give the honour of it to him, they look for the original and moving cause of it within themselves. Like the Judaising Christians, or the Gentiles whom Peter misled, they unite the law to Christ; as though Christ needed to have something

Luke xviii. 11, 12.
VOL. IV.

b Acts xv. 5.
A a

e Gal. ii. 12, 14.

At all

superadded to him, to render his death effectual. events, if they find their error in this respect, they will regard their works as their warrant to believe in Christ; and will expect mercy at his hands, not so much because his grace is free and all sufficient, as because they have something in themselves, which may deserve his notice and regard.]

These plans of salvation however will be found very erroneous, if we enquire

II. What is that foundation which God has laid

Nothing can be more clear, than that he has not laid either of those, which have been before mentioned

[He often describes his people as performing good works: and often promises them, under that character, eternal life. But he always represents us as sinners, and as standing in need of his mercy. And he has sent his Son into the world for that very reason, because none could obtain mercy by any works of their own. Nor has he less clearly shewn, that works are wholly to be excluded from the office of justifying. He has told us that salvation must be wholly of grace or wholly of works. That every degree of boasting is excluded from that salvation which he has revealed. And that the persons, whom he justifies, are ungodly, and without any works whatever to recommend them.f]

Christ is the one foundation which he has laid in Zion

[He has set forth his Son to be a propitiation for sin:" and every sinner is to build his hope on Christ alone. Christ is the foundation laid in the covenant of grace. The same is laid in all the promises. The same was exhibited in all the types. The same is laid also in the gospel. We are expressly told that there is no other. Nor indeed can there be any other to all eternity.]

The necessity of building upon this will appear, while we consider

III. Why no other can be laid

Many reasons might easily be assigned: but one or two may suffice

[blocks in formation]

1. Any other would be unworthy of the divine architect

[God himself is the architect;m and must have all the glory of beginning and perfecting this building. But, if men were to found their hopes on any thing but the Lord Jesus Christ, they would have whereof to glory." So far as respect was had to any merit in them, so far might they ascribe the honour to themselves. Even in heaven their song must differ from that of the redeemed. Instead of giving all the glory to God and to the Lamb, they must take a portion of it to themselves. But this would be utterly unworthy of God to suffer. Indeed he has told us that he never can nor will suffer it. We may be sure therefore that no such way of salvation shall ever be established, as leaves man at liberty to boast. We shall be rewarded according to our works, and in some respect for our works; but the only ground of acceptance, either for our persons or our services, is in Christ alone."]

2. No other would support the weight that is to be laid upon it

[Whatever our souls need in time or eternity must be derived from that, which is the foundation of our hope. Our pardon must be obtained by it; our peace flow from it; our strength and righteousness be given us on account of it; and eternal glory be bestowed on us, as the reward of it. And can we build our hope of such things in any degree on our own works? Can we, who, if we had done all that is commanded us, should be only unprofitable servants, imagine, that we can in any respect merit such things, when we have done nothing that is commanded us, at least, nothing perfectly, or as we ought to have done it? Surely such an hope would soon appear to be a foundation of sand; and would infallibly disappoint us to our eternal ruin. Yea, the very persons who build on such a foundation, almost invariably deny, that any man can be assured of his acceptance with God; they account such an assurance to be an enthusiastic delusion; which is a clear acknowledgment of the insuffi ciency of their foundation to bear this weight.]

INFER

1. How needful is it to enquire what foundation we are upon!

[If we build but a common habitation, we are careful on what foundation we raise it. How much more care should

m Ver. 9.

n Rom. iv. 2.

• Rev. v. 13.

a Eph. i. 6.

PI Cor. i. 29, 31. Eph. ii. 8, 9.

« PreviousContinue »