[Many have an idea that God is too merciful to inflict on men the judgments he has denounced against sin : and on this presumption they dismiss all fear of future punishment. As for the justice or holiness of the Deity, they altogether over- look them ; supposing that their claims may be superseded without any difficulty, and that truth itself also may be violated without any dishonour done to God. But all this is a delusion, which will betray them to their ruin. God is merciful, no doubt ; yea, merciful beyond all conception : but then his mercy flows only in that channel which he himself has prepared, even through the Son of his love : and to expect it in any way that is inconsistent with the Divine attributes, is fatally to deceive our own souls.]
2. They who take refuge in a round of duties —
[It is common for persons, when convinced of sin, to engage in religious duties, with a hope of making thereby their peace with God. They will begin to read the Scriptures in private, and to attend on divine ordinances in public, and exercise a greater measure of benevolence to their fellow- creatures ; trusting that God will accept their services, and for the sake of them will pardon their past transgressions. But this is only to " heal their wounds slightly :" for there are two things necessary to their perfect restoration ; the one is, to make an atonement for sin ; the other is, to get their souls renewed after the Divine image: but neither of these can ever be effected by any exertions of their own. The attainments of the Apostle Paul, eminent as they were, could not stand in the place of Christ, either before his conversion or afterwards : and therefore he desired "to be found in Christ ; not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ k." Much more, therefore, must we renounce all hope of acceptance with God through any works of our own ; and seek salvation by Christ alone, if ever we would " behold the face of God in peace."]
3. They who rest in a faith that is unproductive of good works —
[True it is, that we must be saved by faith alone : and equally true it is, that faith does not save us, because it produces good works. It saves us simply as apprehending Christ, in and through whom we are reconciled to God. But the faith which apprehends Christ aright, will work ; it will " work by love," and " purify the heart," and " overcome the world :" and if the faith which we possess do not operate in this way, it is dead, and of no more efficacy for our salvation than the faith of devils. The only faith which will be of real service to
k Phil. iii. 9.