only111?" This is at the root of unbelief, in all instances where much instruction has been given; " Men hate to be reformed; and therefore cast God's word behind them"."]
Address —
1. Those who persuade themselves that they al- ready believe —
[If an assent to the truths of Christianity were real faith, there would be no further room for that complaint which, all the Prophets and Apostles made, " Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed0?" But it is not faith ; or, at least, it is only " the faith of devilsp." Saving faith would bring you to a cordial reception of the Lord Jesus Christ in his proper character, as the Redeemer of men, and the Saviour of the world. The Jews denied that they were in bondage*1; and so do the generality of men amongst ourselves : and hence they disregarded the offer of a Deliverer, as we also do. But this proved them to be in unbelief: and it proves the same respecting us. I pray you, brethren, deceive not yourselves with the idea that you are believers, whilst your faith is inoperative and unproductive. If your faith do not bring you to Jesus as your only hope ; if it do not bring you to him to be made free indeed — free from sin, as well as free from guilt ; I declare unto you, that you are yet in unbelief, " you are yet in your sinsr." Whilst you imagine that an unproductive assent to the Gospel is saving faith, you deceive your own souls. You may call us Antino- mians, for exalting the exclusive efficacy of faith to save the soul : but you are the Antinomians, who maintain your faith to be saving whilst it produces no sanctifying effects upon you.]
2. Those who think that they have no occasion for faith —
[It has been said, that his faith cannot be wrong, whose life is in the right. But no man's life can be right, till he is united unto Christ by faith. He wants that principle which alone can sanctify the soul. But, let our sanctification be ever so perfect, will any man presume to put that in the place of Christ's atoning sacrifice? Will any man rely on his own merits, rather than on Christ's obedience unto death ? Ah ! fatal error ! Not even Paul himself could be saved by the works of the law ; and therefore he " desired to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteous- ness which is of God by faith in him8." And in this way must
m John v. 44. n Ps. 1. 17. ° Isai. liii. 1.
p Jam. ii. 19. fi ver. 33. r ver. 24. s Phil. iii. 9.