[We are careful to distinguish between the two covenants; well knowing, that all who remain under the former covenant must perish ; and that there is no salvation for any man, but on the terms prescribed by the new covenant, the covenant of grace. In accordance with this, it is our constant labour to mark the danger of trusting to any works of righteousness which we can perform, and to shew the indispensable necessity of looking to Christ as " all our salvation and all our desire." In a word, St. Paul's views, as declared by himself, are those which we endeavour both to adopt and follow. He says, *' Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law. That he that doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise . . . The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that
IS, THE AVORD OF FAITH WHICH WE PREACH ; that if tllOU
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, (and consequently, that he is the promised Messiah,) thou shalt be saved. For tvith the heart man helieveth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith. Whosoever helieveth on Him shall not he ashamed^. '"~\
Having thus declared what the Gospel is which we preach, let me also declare,
IT. What we look for as the fruit of our ministra- tions— St. Paul had spoken of himself " as a savour of life unto life" and salvation to many*". And this is what we also hope to be, and what we aim at in all our ministrations. We hope, and, so far as God shall render our word effectual, expect,
1. To deliver you from all legal bondage — [Every man by nature is under the law, and expects to be saved by his obedience to it. Hence arise those self-denying efforts which unenlightened heathens make to commend them- selves to their deities ; and hence also spring those laborious exertions which Christians of a Pharisaic cast put forth to purchase the favour of the Most High. But, however much they labour, they cannot attain solid peace. There always remains upon their mind, as well there may, a doubt, whether they have done enough to purchase the remission of their sins, and enough also to secure a title to heaven. Hence they spend their days in a state of bondage, labouring incessantly to
K Rom. X. 5—11. >' 2 Cor. ii. 16.