from the eye of their offended Godb. The prophets all bare testimony to this same truth : Isaiah speaks of Jesus as that " foundation which God has laid in Zion, and declares that whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed0:" and Joel, in the words quoted in our text, affirms, that " Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be savedd."
These words deserve somewhat more of a distinct considera- tion. They refer beyond all doubt to the Messiah, and to the dispensation which he was to introduce. All the preceding context indisputably proves thise; and St. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, expressly declares that they were fulfilled by the descent of the Holy Ghost to testify of Christ, and to convert souls to him* But in the prophet Joel the person on whose name we are taught to call, is Jehovah : it is no subordinate Lord, but Jehovah himself: from whence we know assuredly, that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is there spoken of, is " Em- manuel, God with us." O blessed truth ! He who was "a Child born, a Son given, is the Mighty God," " God manifest in the flesh," " God over all, blessed for evermore g." Him we are to invoke, and on him we are to rely, as " The Lord our righteousness :" and, if we do so in sincerity and truth, renouncing every other hope, we shall be saved : his righteous- ness shall justify us ; his Spirit shall renew us ; and his grace shall keep us even to the end ; " In him we shall be saved with an everlasting salvation ; we shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end11."]
This salvation is equally free for all —
[" There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek." This way of salvation existed before there was a Jew in the world : and the only advantage which the Jews enjoyed, was, that this way of salvation was made known to them in types and shadows, when it was altogether forgotten by the world at large. This distinguishing mercy, however, made no dif- ference as to the way in which they were to be saved : it afforded no new ground of hope to the Jew ; it took not away any old ground of hope from the Gentile. If a Gentile, like Job or Melchizedec, looked to the Great Sacrifice that was in due time to be offered, he was saved by it, though he did not descend from the loins of Abraham : and, in like manner, now, every creature in the universe who shall believe in Jesus, shall be saved by him : for " this same Lord over all (the Lord Jesus1) is rich unto all that call upon him:" there is no limita-
h Gen. iii. 21. with Rom. iii. 22. and Rev. iii. 18. c Isai. xxviii. 16. d Joel ii. 32. c Joel ii. 23 — 31.
f Acts ii. 10 — 21. 8 Isai. ix. 6. 1 Tim. iii. 10. Rom. ix. 5.
h Isai. xlv. 17. i Acts x. 30.