to reverence the Christian revelation, while they live in a constant violation of every duty it enjoins. If the receiving of Christ, as he is offered in the Gospel, be the faith that saves, then the not receiving of Christ in that manner must be the unbelief that con- demns. This observation is of great importance : for the generality seem to have no idea that they can be unbelievers, unless they have formally renounced the Christian faith : their consciences are quite clear on this subject: the guilt of unbelief never caused them one moment's uneasiness. But can any thing be more plain, than that the same faith, which is necessary to bring us to salvation, must be also necessary to keep us from condemnation ? Indeed it is so self-evident a truth, that the very mention of it appears almost absurd ; and yet it will be well if we admit its full force in the point before us : for, however zealous many are to comprehend holy actions and affections in their definitions of saving faith, they are backward enough to acknowledge that a want of those qualities must evidence them to be in a state of unbelief : yet, till this truth be felt and acknowledged, there is little hope that the Gospel will ever profit them at all.
There is a qualifying clause in the text which we must not leave unnoticed; and the rather, because it is added in the former, but omitted in the latter part ; " He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Our Lord had appointed baptism as that rite whereby his Disciples should be introduced into the Christian covenant, as the Jews had been by circumcision into the Mosaic covenant : and men's submission to this rite served as a test of their sincerity, and a public badge of their profession. If any were inwardly con- vinced that the religion of Christ was indeed of divine authority, and were not prevented by insurmountable obstacles from conforming to this rite, they must cheerfully enlist themselves under his banners, and honour him in his appointed way; they must " follow the Lord fully," if they would be partakers of his benefits. But, on the other hand, if they should