' Acts x. 32.
through him only, through him exclusively, we must find acceptance with God.]
2. By faith as the means —
[Here again our best illustration of the subject will be from the context. Had Peter simply told Cornelius that he must seek remission of sins through the name of Christ, Cor- nelius might have thought, that he was to recommend himself to Christ by the very means which he had hitherto used to recommend himself to God, namely, by prayer, alms-deeds, &c. St. Peter prevents the possibility of such a mistake, by telling him, that "whosoever believeth in Christ shall receive the remission of sins ;" not, whosoever obeyeth him, but whosoever believeth in him. This shewed Cornelius that he must come to Christ as a sinner, to obtain the remission of his sins freely through his blood and righteousness : that he must not bring his own good deeds with him to purchase this blessing, but must receive it " without money and without price V
We do not mean to say, that Cornelius could be saved if he lived in wilful disobedience to God ; but, that he was neither to be accepted of the Father for the merit of his obedience, nor to obtain an interest in Christ on account of his obedience : the meritorious cause of his salvation must be the death of Christ, and the instrumental cause, or means, of his salvation must be a reliance on Christ. His obedience must follow the remission of sins as a fruit and effect ; but it must not precede the remission of sins in any wise as a cause.]
In the text we may yet further notice,
II. The importance of those doctrines —
We can scarcely conceive any thing more strongly marked than this :
1. All the prophets bear witness to them —
[All the prophets are not equally full and explicit upon this subject; but we have the assurance of God himself that they were unanimous in their opinions upon it, and that they all bear testimony to these blessed truths. Consult Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Joel, and ask them how we are to obtain remission of sins ? they will all say, Christ must be your righteousness1: it is HE alone that can make an end of sin"1: call therefore upon him"; look unto him ; glory in HIM : there is no Saviour besides him0.
What greater proof can we have of the importance of these
k Isai. Iv. 1. ' Jer. xxiii. G. ,n Dan. ix. 24.
11 Joel ii. 32. with Rom. x. 11, 13. 0 Isai. xlv. 22—25. and xliii. 11.