Veu. 38.] SERMONS UPON ACTS 11. 37, 38, 277
[3.] None so willing to relieve a poor afflicted creature as Christ : Heb. ii. 17, ' Wherefore iu all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and a faithful high priest iu things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.' He was once at liberty, but when he had undertaken he was bound. He was merciful to undertake, and faithful to accomplish it. He was God, equal in glory with the Father ; yet merciful to us, and faithful to God : merciful in dying, faithful in interceding, and mind- ful of us at every turn ; and so every way qualified to do our souls good.
III. The necessity of faith, that it may be applied to us.
1. There must be an application. Many think there is a Jesus Christ, we need take no further care, he did die for sinners, and therefore we shall do well enough. No ; there must be some way how we may come to receive benefit ; besides the meritorious cause, there must be an eftectual application, for we read of blood shed and blood sprinkled, of making the atonement and receiving the atonement, Rom. v. 11. It is for Christ's sake, for his merit and worthiness, that we are accepted. But then there is a way appointed how we shall be accepted ; therefore let us not presume of a propitiation without application. The cup of salvation yieldeth no benefit to us except we drink of it. Therefore since such a great part of the world miscarry, let us see that we do not defraud ourselves of so great a benefit.
2. That God must state the way of application as well as the way of redemption. There is the same reason for the one as for the other ; that God should propose the terms upon which Christ should be made ours ; for all is a work of his free grace and counsel. Well, then, we must be careful to find out God's appointment, and the way of salva- tion which he hath declared : Rom. iii. 25, ' Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.^ Not, ' through his blood ; ' but ' through faith in his blood.'
3. God hath declared this way to be faith : Acts x. 43, 'That through his name, who.soever believeth in him siiall receive remission of sins.' First, The scripture is very express in limiting the promises of pardon to believers : John iii. IG, ' For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Secondly, In declaring all those to be under the curse that believe not : John iii. 36, ' He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life ; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.' Thirdly, Iu placing faith, correlatively taken, in the room which works had in the first covenant. Thence so often have we these sayings, ' It is of faith, not of works,' which we meet with everywhere ; so that there needeth no more ado. Faith is then required, not in the popish sense, as if faith were the beginning of that righteousness for which sins are forgiven ; neither is faith that whicii God accepteth instead of right- eousness, but the means to receive it as our legal qualification.
4. This faith must be of a right constitution ; namely, such a believing in Chri.st as receiveth him to all the ends and purposes that God hath appointed him ; that he may be Lord and Christ, Prince and Saviour : John L 12, ' But as many as received him, to them gave he
278 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR. V.
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name ; ' James ii. 14, ' What doth it profit, my brethren, though he hath faith, and have not works ? can faith save him ? ' Christ must be received so as he may dwell and rule in our hearts, and quicken us in the way of holiness to everlasting glory. When a sinner doth thus take Christ to himself, and give up himself to Christ, the work is ended : Acts xxvi. 18, ' To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.' This is the faith that is required on our part, as on God's part there is required the intervention of Christ's merits ; this is the faith that every one should strive to get, and see if we have it, yea or no.
Use 1. To show us what course to take for peace and pardon. When we lie under a sense of guilt and anguish for sin, plead Christ's satis- faction to God's justice. 0 Lord Jesus Christ, thou didst take these my sinful debts upon thyself, and undertake to satisfy for them ; and I know that he hath made a full satisfaction ; I renounce all other hope of pardon and rest for my soul but upon his precious blood. If he be not able to save, I am content to perish : ' But he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.' When you do this in a penitent broken-hearted manner, God will not refuse. As Adonijah took hold of the horns of the altar, 1 Kings i. 51, and said, ' If I perish, here will I perish ; ' so are we to plead that satisfaction before the tribunal of God. We are allowed to ask blessings in his name, and use his merit in pleading with God : John xvi. 23, ' Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.' When you have a feeling of all your wants, and seriously need the pardon of sins, you will get a good answer. This is to use Christ as our propitiation : Heb. X. 14, ' For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' There needeth no more to be done by way of expiation.