say that Stephen was not an eminently pious man ? Was he not chosen out by the people, because he was full of faith and the Holy Ghost ? Was he not endued with peculiar gifts, insomuch that his adver- saries could not resist the spirit and wisdom with which he spake ? Did he not also manifest a peculiar excellence of disposition ? Did he not with all fidelity charge the people's sins upon them ? and, when they were in the very act of stoning him, did he not, after the example of our Lord, pray for his murderers ? Did he not willingly seal the truth with his blood ? Was he not so highly honoured of God that his face was made to shine like the face of an angel ? and was he not, even while in the body, favoured with a sight of God, and of Christ, as standing at the right hand of God ? Say now. Where shall we find a man that bids more fair to be saved by his works than he ? yet was he saved by his works ? or co?ild he be saved by his works ? No. Notwithstanding all his works, he needed the blood of Christ to cleanse him from sin : he needed Christ, as his Advocate and Strength, his Saviour and his all ; and if Christ be not in a capacity to save him, he is perished. Nor have his works availed him any thing more than to lessen in some degree the condemnation he would otherwise have endured. Who then art thou that seekest to be justi- fied by thy works ? Art thou as eminent as Stephen? if not, how canst thou hope to be saved, when even he, if he had no better ground of confidence than his own works, must have perished ? Or suppose that thou wert as good as he, still thou must meet with the same fate ; thou must perish, and that eternally, if thou rely on any thing but a crucified and exalted Saviour. Oh, then, blush at your ignorance, ye proud, self-justifying sinners ! See how Satan has blinded your eyes ! See how far ye are from the way of sal- vation ! Oh, let me beseech you for Christ's sake, and for your soul's sake, to renounce all your self- righteous hopes and endeavours, and to rely on him who alone can save you, and who is able to save you to the uttermost.
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Secondly. We may see from hence how miserable is the state of unbelievers /
By unbelievers, we mean, not only those who de- liberately reject Christ, but all who do not actually enjoy an interest in him. Now these persons, what- ever they may think of themselves, and however they may bless themselves because of the abundance of earthly things which they possess, are in as miserable a state as can well be conceived : for, as they have no interest in Christ, it is eventually the same to them as if he had never risen ; only with this difference, that their guilt is much greater by neglecting the Saviour, than it could have been without such an aggravation. What then is their state ? precisely that mentioned in the text ; " their faith, as far as they have any, is all vain :" even though they assent to all which is spoken concerning Christ, 'tis all in vain : " They are yet in their sins ;" all the load of their iniquities lies upon them, and the curse of God hangeth over their devoted head. They will also "perish" whenever they die ; there cannot possibly be any admission for them into heaven : perish they must; and remain for ever the monuments of God's displeasure. And now say, is not this a miserable state ? What though a man have a large estate, can that make him happy ? What though he have a form of godliness, can that make him happy ? No : he must have an interest in Christ, or he will be a poor miserable wretch for ever. Oh ! my brethren, seek an interest in this risen Saviour : think of him, not only as dying for your offences, but as risen again for your justification : and be assured, that, as you shall be reconciled to God by the death of his Son, so, much more, being reconciled, you shall be saved by his life. Do not conclude too hastily that you have an interest in the Saviour : see whether you are " risen with him through a faith of the operation of God ?" and never rest till you can say, " I know in whom I have believed."