boast ;" and there will be an end of all further argu- ment on this subject.
One more mark of the Gospel salvation is, that it secures the 'performance of good works^. The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, teaches us, that, deny- ing ungodhness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ^ Many are apt to imagine, that the doctrine of salva- tion by faith alone destroys all incentive to holiness, and tends to encourage all manner of licentiousness : this was the very objection which was urged against the Gospel in the Apostle's days, and which he set himself strongly to refute. Anticipating the objec- tion, he says, '* Shall we then continue in sin, that grace may abound ? God forbid ! How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?" And again ; " Do we then make void the law through faith ? God forbid ! yea, we establish the law^" The fact is, that there is nothing so operative as a lively faith. What was the spring of all those glorious actions that were performed by the long catalogue of worthies mentioned in the 11th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews ? From beginning to the end, we are told that faith was the principle by which they were actuated, and the root from which all their obedience sprang. Of the New Testament saints, none exceeded, or even equalled, Paul : and what was it that actuated him ? He tells us : " The love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead ; and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that died for them and rose again." This is the effect which faith will, according to its measure, produce in all. It
^ Had there been a fifth Sunday in the month, this would have been made a distinct subject : but the whole being to be comprised in four Sennons, this part could not possibly be extended, or be ren- dered so prominent, as the Author wished. But what is here spoken is the most decided sentiment of his heart.
This want has since been supplied in a Sermon, on Ps. cxix. 128. entitled, " The true Test of Religion in the Soul."
b Tit. ii. 11, 12. >• Rom. vi. 1, 2. and iii. 31.