Use 1. (To confute them that say that every man shall be saved in his own religion, if he be devout therein, Turks, Jews, heathens ; and among christians, Papists, Socinians, &c. You see this is life eternal; this, and nothing else — no religion but that which teacheth rightly to believe in Christ is a way of salvation. There is no salvation but by Christ : 1 Cor. iii. 11, ' For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, Avhich is Jesus Christ ; ' Acts iv. 12, ' Neither is there salvation in any other ; for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.' There is no salvation by Christ but by faith and knowledge. They cannot have benefit by him, as some say, if they live only according to the law and light of nature: Heb. xi. 6, 'Without faith it is impossible to please God ;' and here it is said, * This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' The heathens had many moral virtues, but unless God did reveal himself to them by extraordinary ways, which we cannot judge of, all their privilege was lit mitms ardeant, their works being but splendida 'peccata. If any now may be saved without Christ, Christ is dead in vain, and we may want the whole gospel and yet be safe ; the philosophy of Aristotle and Seneca would be the way and power of God unto salvation, as well as the gospel. We must have a care lest, by going about to make them christians, we make ourselves heathens. 1
Use 2. Let us bless God for the gospel, {hat revealeth God and Christ. Many nations are spilt on the world without any knowledge of God and Christ, and are as sheep, whom no man taketh up. Blessed be God for our privileges. When we look to the hole of the pit from whence we were digged, we shall find ourselves as barbarous as others. PorteMta diabolica pene ^gypiiaca nwnina vincentia, saith
152 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. III..
Gildas of our idols. God threateneth Israel, Hosea ii. 3, ' I will strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born.' IE we should despise the gospel, abuse the messengers of it, God will return us to our old barbarism ; and we that were so shy of letting in popery, should usher in atheism. When the professors of the gospel were banished Cambridge, aud Peter Martyr heard the sacring bell, he said, There is the gospel's passing bell. It would be sad if we should hear such a sound. The ministry (I may speak it without arrogancy) are the only visible party that uphold the life of religion in the land : the Lord knows what may be the sad fruits of their suppression, if either these lights should be extinguished by violence, or be starved for want of oil. Methinks our message should make our feet beautiful. We preach God and Cln-ist. If we be a little earnest for the faith of the saints, remember it is for the good of your souls ; it cannot be zeal for our interests, for this is the way to endanger them. Bear with us, it is in a case of salvation or damnation : ' If we be besides ourselves, it is for Christ,' 2 Cor. v. 13. If we seem to hazard all, many nations to whom God hath denied the mercy, would welcome it with all tlianksgiving ; when God hath opened a door of hope to the Indians, it may be it will be more precious.
Use 3. Study God in Jesus Christ. This is the most glorious sub- ject of contemplation ; there we may find him infinitely just and yet merciful, pardoning sinners yet salving the authority of this law ; there we may see God and man in one person, and the beams of divine majesty allayed by the veil of human nature. In the godhead of Christ we may see his power, in his human nature his love and con- descension. He is our Lord, and yet our brother; a man, and yet God's fellow and equal : Zech. xiii. 7, ' Awake, 0 sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord ot hosts.' He would have a mother on earth, that we might have a Father in heaven ; our relation and alliance to heaven groweth by him. In Christ only can we look upon God as a father: Deuni absolutum debent omnes fugere qui non volunt 'perire ; otherwise we shall perish, and be overwhelmed with despair. Again, non solum periculosum est, sed etiam horribile, de Deo extra Christum cogitare. In trials and temptations it is dangerous to think of God alone, to consider him out of Christ ; but here infinite majesty condescendeth to converse with you. The Indian gymnosophists would lie on their backs, and gaze on the sun all day. Oh ! how should we, by the deliberate gaze of faith, reflect upon this [xe.'ya /xuaT7]ptov, 1 Tim. iii. 16, this glorious mystery, fit for angels to look into ! Only get an interest in it, or else it will be more cold and comfortless ; thy God and thy Christ, that is another thing when thou canst own God as thy father and Christ as thy brother. Luther saith, Deus magis cognosciiur in prcedicame.ito relationis quam in pixvdicamento suh- stanticc — To know God in relation to us is far sweeter than to be able curiously to discourse of his essence : John xiv. 20, ' At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.' When we know God in Christ, and Christ in us, this is to know hiu) indeed ; not only by hearsay, but acquaintance, to know him so as tu love him, and enjoy him.