[Wherefore are men so indifferent about their spiritual concerns? Is it that they are in no danger of perishing? If that were the case, why is so much said respecting salvation ? and why are we cautioned so strongly against relying on any but Jesus Christ ? Surely the very circumstance of Christ being sent down from heaven to die for us, is enough to alarm all our fears, and to convince us, that, if the salvation offered us could be procured by none but him, the danger of those who are not interested in him must be inexpressibly great. Let the care- less then consider this ; and flee for refuge to the hope that is set before them.]
2. The self-righteous —
[It is difficult to convince those who are looking to Christ in part, that they are really renouncing Christ altogether. But the Scriptures are so plain on this point, that there cannot be the smallest doubt respecting it. Salvation is " of faith, on purpose that it may be by graceb:" and if it be, whether in whole or in part, by our own works, it ceases to be of grace : it must be wholly of grace, or wholly of works c: it must exclude boasting altogether, or else admit it. But boasting must be excluded wholly d: and therefore all dependence whatsoever on our own works must be wholly and for ever renounced6. If we will not accept salvation on these terms, " Christ shall profit us nothing1."]
3. The desponding —
[The person healed by Peter and John was a very fit emblem of our state by nature and practice. " We are trans- gressors from the womb." But, desperate as in appearance our condition is, there is in Jesus a sufficiency of power and grace to make us whole : " his name, through faith in his name, shall give us a perfect soundness in the presence" of God and mang. Let none complain as though they were beyond the reach of mercy : for there is nothing impossible with Jesus : " with him there is mercy; with him is plenteous redemption; and he shall redeem Israel from all his sinsV]
b Rom. iv. 16. c Rom. xi. 6. d Rom. iii. 27.
e Rom. iii. 8. ' Gal. v. 2, 4. s Acts iii. 10. and iv. 10.
h Ps. cxxx. 7, S.