5. Yet once more. We allow (though it is a melancholy truth) that a large proportion of those who are called Christians, do to this day abuse the means of grace, to the destruction of their souls. This is doubtless the case with all those who rest content, in the form of godliness without the power. Either they fondly presume, they are Christians already, because they do thus and thus; although Christ was never yet revealed in their hearts, nor the love of God shed abroad therein: or else they suppose, they shall infallibly be so, barely because they use these means: idly dreaming (though perhaps hardly conscious thereof) either that there is some kind of _power_ therein, whereby sooner or later (they know not when) they shall certainly be made holy: or that there is a sort of _merit_ in using them, which will surely move God to give them holiness, or accept them without it.
6. So little do they understand that great foundation of the whole Christian building, * _By grace ye are saved._ Ye are saved from your sins, from the guilt and power thereof, ye are restored to the favour and image of God, not for any works, _merits_ or deservings of yours, but by the free _grace_, the mere mercy of God, through the _merits_ of his well-beloved Son. Ye are thus saved, not by any _power_, wisdom or strength, which is in you, or in any other creature: but merely through the grace or _power_ of the Holy Ghost, which worketh all in all.
7. But the main question remains. We know this salvation is the gift and the work of God. But how, (may one say, who is convinced he hath it not) may I attain thereto? If you say, “Believe, and thou shalt be saved:” he answers, True; but how shall I believe? You reply, Wait upon God.――Well. But how am I to wait? In the means of grace, or out of them? Am I to wait for the grace of God which bringeth salvation, by using these means, or by laying them aside?
8. It cannot possibly be conceived, that the word of God should give no direction in so important a point: or that the Son of God, who came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation, should have left us undetermined with regard to a question, wherein our salvation is so nearly concerned.
And in fact, he hath not left us undetermined; he hath shewn us the way wherein we should go. We have only to consult the oracles of God, to inquire what is written there? And if we simply abide by their decision, there can no possible doubt remain.
III. 1. According to this, according to the decision of holy writ, all who desire the grace of God, are to wait for it, in the means which he hath ordained; in using, not in laying them aside.
And first: all who desire the grace of God, are to wait for it in the way of _prayer_. This is the express direction of our Lord himself. In his sermon upon the mount, after explaining at large wherein religion consists, and describing the main branches of it, he adds, _Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened._ (_Matt._ vii. 7, 8.) Here we are in the plainest manner directed to ask, in order to, or as a _means_ of receiving; to seek in order to find, the grace of God, the pearl of great price; and to knock, to continue asking and seeking, if we would enter into his kingdom.
2. That no doubt might remain, our Lord labours this point in a more peculiar manner. He appeals to every man’s own heart. _What man is there of you, who if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven_, the Father of angels and men, the Father of the spirits of all flesh, _give good things to them that ask him_? ver. 9, 10, 11. Or, as he expresses himself on another occasion, including all good things in one, _How much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him?_ _Luke_ xi. 13. It should be particularly observed here, that the persons directed to ask, had not then received the holy Spirit. Nevertheless our Lord directs them to use this means, and promises that it should be effectual; that upon asking they should receive the holy Spirit, from him whose mercy is over all his works.