SERMON XII.

The Gospel the true Way of Sal

vation.

ACTS. xvi. 31.

And they faid: Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift: and thou shalt be faved, and thy house.

N difcourfing on these words, I

have already fhewn, what is to be understood, both here and elsewhere, by believing in Jefus Chrift: or the nature of faith in him. Next, the benefit here proposed and promi

Serm. II. upon the Text.

fed,

SERM. fed, which is falvation. And thirdly, the

XII.

Acts ix.

connexion between faith in Jefus Chrift and falvation, with the evidence of it.

IV. I now intend to mention fome inferences by way of application.

1. We perceive from the hiftorie before us, that affecting, awakening occurrences in life are fometimes of great ufe to men.

The keeper of the prifon at Philippi by the shaking of the prison, and the loosening of the bands of all under his charge, was brought into great diftreffe of mind: fuppofing that the prisoners had escaped, and fearing the displeasure of his fuperiors. But that distreffe was ufeful. He was brought to ferious thoughts of religion, and a concern for eternal falvation, and how to obtain

it.

The Lord was pleased to render the converfion of Saul very affecting, who was to be an instrument in converting many others, and who was likely to meet with many difficulties in the discharge of the office, for which he was defigned. As he was journeying to Damafcus, in the company of others,

others, with a defign to apprehend all whom SERM. he should find there, that called upon the XII. name of Jefus fuddenly there fbined round about him a light from heaven, infomuch that be fell to the earth: and then heard a voice faying unto him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord faid: I am Jefus, whom thou perfecuteft.... And he trembling and aftonished, faid: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Much after the fame manner with the goaler at Philippi: Sirs, what shall I do to be faved? And the Lord faid unto him : Arise, go into the city and it shall be told thee, what thou must do.... And Saul arose from the earth.... And they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damafcus. And he was three days without fight. And neither did eat nor drink.

Poffibly, fome appearances lefs awful, fome means less awakening than thefe, might have been fufficient to work upon Saul, and convince him of his fin. Somewhat lefs than all this might have fufficed to induce him to become of a perfecutor a preacher of the gospel. Nevertheless, we may reafonably think, that every part of that re

markable

SERM. markable tranfaction was wifely ordered. It XII. was suited to make deep impreffions on Saul, and would be of lafting ufe, to fecure his future fteadineffe, faithfulneffe and zeal.

In a like manner, ftill, remarkable occurrences in life, whether fignal deliverances, or afflictive events, though not miraculous, may be overruled by Divine Providence for reclaiming men from a finful course of life, or for alarming good men, fallen into negligence and fecurity.

2. We may collect from this hiftorie, that the Chriftian religion does not condemn forbid the exercife of any employments and offices, that are neceffarie and ufeful in this world.

or

This perfon, after his converfion to Chriftianity, seems still to have continued in the office of keeper of the prifon at Philippi. He believed, and had been baptifed. And after this, when it was day, the magiftrates fent the ferjeants, faying: Let these men go. And the keeper of the prifon, told this saying to Paul: The magiftrates have fent, to let you go. Now therefore depart, and in peace. The order of the magiftrates was fent to him. And he delivered it to Paul and Silas.

go

He

He was therefore ftill in his former office. SERM. Nor does it appear, that St. Paul had enjoyn- XII. ed him to quit it.

Whilst therefore no finful compliances are infifted upon, as qualifications, any useful and neceffarie office may be discharged by a Christian.

3. We cannot but obferve here a just character of the Chriftian religion. It is the doctrine of falvation. It teaches men, what they ought to do to be faved.

21.

I Thef. i.

10.

We have formerly fhewed the connexion between faith in Jefus Chrift and falvation. Nevertheless it is fit to make this remark here. Jefus is eminently the Saviour. He faves his people from their fins. He delivers Mat. i. from the wrath to come. And will bestow eternal life upon them that obey him. Says the angel to the Shepherds near Bethlehem: I bring you good tidings of great joy, which Luke ii. Shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord. And his gospel is called the faving grace of God.

Such then is the word taught by Christ. It is the doctrine of falvation. It is not a

scheme

10. II.

Tit. ii.

II.