b 2 Cor. xiii. 5. h Eph. ii. 8. • Acts xviii. 27.
k Gal. v. 6. ' • 1 John v. 4. m Acts xv. 9.
B Jam. ii. 19. ° John xii. 37, 38. p Rom. x. 16.
amongst you does it produce its proper effect, so as to demonstrate that God's arm has indeed been re- vealed to you! Nay, I will even appeal to you, whether at this moment a true Believer, who shews forth his faith by his works, and lives altogether by faith in the Son of God, as having loved him, and given himself for him, be not at this very hour, just as in the prophet's day, "a sign and a wonderV Yes, such characters are still as " men wondered atr:" nor is it so in this place only, but in every place where the truth is preached with fidelity and power. And this is a proof, that the report in my text is but little credited even in this Christian land.
Now then let me address myself,
1. To those who think they believe —
Justly does the Apostle say, " All men have not faith8." And this he speaks, not of professed hea- thens, but of those who were joined to the Church of Christ. So, Brethren, I must say to you, "All are not Israel who are of Israel1." I entreat you not to take for granted that you are right ; but bring your faith to the test. Inquire carefully into its origin and operation: for, if your faith be not "the faith of God's elect," it will only deceive you to your ruin. You all know how the Jews deceived themselves, by indulging a vain confidence, that because they were the natural descendants of Abraham, they were in a state of acceptance with God. And be assured, that the same fatal error obtains to a vast extent amongst us. If called to give a reason of the hope that is in you, how many are there who could only refer us to their birth of Christian parents, and their baptism into the faith of Christ ? But that is no other reason than what a Mohammedan or a Hindoo might give for Ms hopes, and his professions. If you would not perish with the unbelieving world, I charge you, before God, to dismiss from your minds all such
(i Isai. viii. 18. r Zech. iii. 8.
s 2 Thess. iii. 2. t R0m. ix. G.