Behold alfo, under a variety and an appárent discordance of expreffion, the confiftent harmony of the fcriptural doctrine concerning juftification. The procuring caufe of our juftification is the atoning blood of Chrift. At one time therefore it is faid, that we are justified by His blood (i): at another, with a fimilar meaning, that we are juftified in the name of the Lord Jefus (k). The inftrument by which exclufively an intereft in that blood can be obtained, is faith. Hence it is fo frequently declared, either fimply, that we are juftified by faith; or with additional terms more pointedly fhutting out the concurrence of works either of the Ceremonial or of the Moral Law. As the entire plan of falvation by faith in the blood of a Redeemer is a difpenfation of wholly unmerited mercy: we are also described as juftified freely, juftified by grace (1). As there arose perfons who, neglecting St. Paul's definition of justifying faith, that it is a faith which worketh by love (m), fuppofed or pretended that a barren faith, a fpeculative and unproductive affent of the understanding, fufficed for juftification: St. James, with equal wif

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(i) Rom. v. 9.
(1) Rom. iii. 24. Tit. iii. 7.

1(k) 1 Cor. vi. 11.
(m) Gal. v. 6.

dom

dom and energy, maintains that faith which has not works cannot fave; that faith without works is dead, being alone; that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only (n), by faith, which is alone: maintains, not that works can poffefs any justifying merit, (for fuch a pofition would have been irreconcileable not merely with every part of St. Paul's reasoning, but with the great doctrine of juftification only through the blood of a Redeemer,) but that a faith which does not prove itself to be genuine by works is not the faith which juftifies,

For let it ever be carefully borne in mind, that, when the inefficacy of works has been here fet forth, and established on fcriptural authority, it has been their inefficacy as to juftification: their utter incompetency to produce any claim of merit before God, to abide the fcrutiny of His law, to countervail a fingle tranfgreffion, to remove guilt, to confer righteousness. But are not good works effential to falvation? Effential! Altogether indifpenfable: indifpenfable as though they were to justify. Since they cannot contribute to juftification, it is as evidences and fruits of faith that they are important. But as fuch they are fo important, that without (n) James, ii. 14, 17, 20, 24.

them

them no man fhall fee the Lord. Are good works then conditions of falvation? This contested term is objectionable or irreprehenfible according to the fenfe in which it is employed. If it be intended, that good

works are a meritorious condition of falvation; the meaning is totally unchristian. If the fenfe be, that they are an indifpenfable condition; it is fcripturally correct. The difference is manifeft. Were a condemned criminal assured by his judge, that, on coming forthwith to the judge's door, he should receive a free pardon and a noble donation : his attendance at the appointed place would be an indifpenfable condition, but not a meritorious cause, of obtaining the promised benefits. Be ye rich in good works. Though they can do nothing towards the purchase of falvation; as qualifications to make us meet for receiving the gift of it, they are indifpenfable. Expect not from them juftification, which is not within their scope. But by them, as a tree by its fruits, fhall a living faith be known. Every one of them is a facrifice acceptable, well-pleafing to God. According to the measure of them, shall be the gracious recompenfe of the righteous. Not one of them fhall lofe its reward. Be diligent in them, be confiftent in them, be perfevering

perfevering in them, for the fake and to the glory of the Lord Jefus Chrift: and thus lay up for yourselves, through His merits, a more and more abundant treasure in heaven.

SER

SERMON V.

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On LIVING after the FLESH, or after the

SPIRIT.

ROMANS, viii. 13, 14.

For, if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

IF

F one of your children, my brethren, arrived at years of discretion, was about to be placed in fome worldly fituation, by which he was to gain his livelihood; there would be some points, material to his future fuccefs, concerning which you would feel defirous of being fatisfied. You would afk; Is there a fair profpect, that if he shall be diligent, and in other respects fhall conduct himself properly, he will fucceed? Suppose yourself convinced that, on his diligence and good behaviour, his fuccefs might be regarded as certain. You would then perhaps enquire, whether

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