With respect to its importance, never was there any other report so universally interesting as this ;
a Luke xxiv. 20, 27. b 1 Pet. i. 11. c Zech. xii. 7.
z 2
for it is not confined to a single state or kingdom, but to all the kingdoms of the earth, and to every indivi- dual from Adam to the latest of his posterity. Nor does any thing less than their eternal salvation depend upon it : they, who welcome it, will find acceptance with God ; and they, who reject it, will be " punished with everlasting destruction from his presence d." It is, in short, that Gospel, which " he that believeth shall be saved ; and he that believeth not shall be damned e."
And what tidings were ever so replete with joy ? The most signal deliverances, the most complete victories, the most glorious acquisitions, enhanced by every thing that can be supposed to exhilarate the mind, are no more, in comparison of this, than a twinkling star to the meridian sun. Even the angelic hosts, when they came to announce the wonderful event, proclaimed it as " glad tidings of great joy to all people." None ever believed the news, but he was instantly liberated from all his fears and sorrows, and filled with "joy unspeakable and glorified f."
Such then is the report referred to in the text : a report so marvellous, that it fills heaven and earth with wonder ; so true, that we may as well doubt our own existence as entertain a doubt respecting it ; so interesting, that all the concerns of time and sense are, in comparison of it, but as the dust of the balance ; and so joyous, that it is a certain and inexhaustible source of happiness to all who receive it.
But that there are few who truly believe it, will appear whilst we shew,
II. What reception it meets with in the world?
If the estimate which men form of themselves were true, we should rather have to ask, " Who hath not believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord not been revealed ?" For all imagine them- selves to be believers; and, because they have been baptized into the name of Christ, they conceive themselves to be possessed of real faith. But I must
'' 2 Thcss. i. 8. e Mark xvi. 16. f 1 Pet. i. 8.
966.] men's neglect of the gospel. 341
say with the Apostle, " Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith ; prove your own selves8." To ascertain the point, I beg you to ask yourselves two questions, viz. Hoxv you obtained your faith ? and, How it operates ? Do not suppose that the faith of Christ is a bare assent to truths which you have been taught by your parents, or that it is that kind of con- viction which is founded upon a consideration of evidence, such as you would feel respecting any common report which was substantiated to your satisfaction. True " faith is the gift of GodV In my text, the believing of this report is identified with '*. a revelation of Jehovah's arm" to effect that faith : and true faith can result from nothing but the almighty power of God forming it in the soul. If ever you have " believed, it must have been through the operation of divine grace1;" and that operation
sought by fervent prayer In connexion with
that question, ask yourselves further, How your faith operates ? Where it is real, " it works by love k," and " overcomes the world1," and " purifies the heartm." See then, Brethren, whether your faith produce these effects ; for, if it do not, it is but " a dead faith," "the faith of devils"." If vou examine yourselves in this way, you will find that there is still the same occasion as ever for the complaint in my text. The prophet Isaiah adopted it in reference to those to whom he ministered. Our blessed Lord, notwithstanding he wrought so many miracles, was constrained to witness the same obstinate unbelief amongst his hearers0 : and even the Apostle Paul, who was God's instrument to plant so many churches, yet saw reason to declare that these words were still verified in his dayp! And what must / say, my bre- thren ? You can bear me witness that, from the first moment that I began to minister amongst you, this report has been faithfully delivered to you : but "Who hath believed our report?" In how few