minutely ; and to shew, first, that this alone accords with the character given of the true Gospel; and, next, that this alone is suited to our condition as fallen sinners.
As to the marks which characterize the Gospel, one of peculiar importance is, that it magnifies the grace of God. We are told by St. Paul, that God gave his Gospel to us, " that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus." And if we consider salvation as entirely by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the grace of God is indeed magnified beyond all the powers of language to express. The gift of God's only dear Son to die for us, the laying of all our iniquities on him, the accepting of his vicarious sacrifice in our behalf, the offering of a full salvation to all the sinners of mankind, on account of what he has done and suffered for us ; a bestowing of this salvation freely, without money and without price, even upon the very chief of sinners ; — all this is such a stupendous work of grace, that it fills even heaven itself with wonder. But let man be required to purchase this salvation, either in whole or in part, by any works of his own ; and who does not see how the grace of God is lowered ? We will grant, for argument's sake, that the giving of salvation on any terms, would have been a wonderful display of grace ; but, as compared with that which is revealed, it would have been no grace. As the Apostle says of the Mosaic dispensation, that '' notwithstanding it was made glorious, it had no glory, by reason of the glory that excelleth ;" so we may say of such a mutilated Gospel as we are speaking of; it might be glorious, inasmuch as it would be an exercise of mercy ; but it would have had no glory, by reason of the infinitely brighter display of Divine grace in the Gospel, as it is revealed to us. Indeed, St. Paul tells us, that if anij thing were required on our part towards purchasing of salvation, salvation could be no longer of grace ; because the two are contrary to, and absolutely inconsistent with, each other.