efficacy of faith, are here distinctly answered. If suppositions are made which can never be verified, no wonder if difficulties occur which cannot be solved : but let us only remember, that faith is a looking to Christ for salvation, and that that faith is uniformly and universally productive of good works ; and then we can no more doubt its efficacy to save the soul, than we can doubt the veracity of God. We inquire not, whether that faith be strong or weak ; (though doubtless the stronger it is, the more abundant will be its fruits :) we only ask, whether it be genuine and unfeigned ; and then we do not hesitate to affirm, that the possessor of it " shall be saved : " " he shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end1."]
Address,
1. Those who are averse to this method of sal- vation—
[Many there are to whom the doctrine of salvation by faith alone is an object of disgust. It was so in the first ages of Christianity ; and it is so still to the greater part of the Chris- tian world. But though the cross of Christ is still, as formerly, " to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolish- ness," yet is it at this time, as it was then, " the power of God and the wisdom of Godm." If it be objected, that to be saved by faith alone, and by faith in One who saved not himself, appears absurd; we answer, That such an objection might with just as much reason have been urged against the healing of dying men by the sight of a brasen serpent : and that it is not for us to prescribe to God in what way he shall save a ruined world. It is not for us to dictate, but obey. Were there therefore really as little connexion between the means and the end in the gospel salvation, as there was in the typical representation of it, it would still be our duty thankfully to submit to the remedy proposed. But this is not the case : it would be easy to shew that there is a wonderful suitableness between the death of Christ as an atonement for sin, and the mercy vouchsafed to us for his sake : nor is there a less suit- ableness between our exercise of faith in him, and his com- munication of grace to us. But without entering into that discussion at present, we refer to the type as decisive of the point. "Wash and be clean," was said to Naaman; "Look and be healed," to Israel ; " Believe and be saved," to us. This is Christ's message to a guilty world ; and " blessed is he who shall not be offended in him."]
2. Those who have experienced its saving benefits — [The brasen serpent was carried by the Israelites through- out all the remainder of their journey : and, if they had been
1 Acts xvi. 31. with Isai. xlv. 17. m 1 Cor. i. 23, 24.
170.H Balaam's character. 131
bitten again by the fiery serpents, they would doubtless have had recourse again to the remedy, which they had once found to be effectual. The need of repeated applications to our remedy is daily recurring ; and, thanks be to God ! its efficacy is undiminished. To all therefore would we repeat the direc- tion before given, " Look unto Christ and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." If those around you doubt, as certainly they will doubt, the efficacy of faith, let them read it in your whole conduct : let them see that your corruptions are morti- fied, and your evil dispositions are healed. Let them see that there is a difference between you and those around you, and such a difference too, as nothing but faith in Christ can pro- duce. They will be boasting of other remedies, which, in spite of their utmost exertions, they will find ineffectual : but let them see in you the superior excellence of that, which God has revealed in his Gospel. Declare to them the way of life : exalt the Lord Jesus in their eyes : commend him to them with your lips ; but most of all commend him to them in your lives. In a word, let your whole conversation be a visible comment on those words of the Apostle, " God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ; by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world"."]