the woman should bruise the serpent's head." That persons who have the Scriptures in their hands should speak of this as a new doctrine, is perfectly surprising; since it is written in every page of the sacred volume as with a sun-beam : but that a member of the Established Church should be so ignorant, is yet more astonishing: since it is that essential and fundamental doctrine on which the very edifice of our Church is built. Let not any therefore reject this doctrine ; or at least let them not call themselves members of the Church of England, if they do. The way of justification by faith is " the good old way," in which all the saints of God have gone from the foundation of the world ; and it is the only way in which any man can " find rest unto his soul."]
2. The excellency of the Gospel —
[The idea of being saved by faith only, is so simple, that the world can see no excellency in it : but this very simplicity constitutes a very distinguished part of its excellency. Sup- posing that salvation had been by works, or by faith and works united, who would ever have been able to ascertain what measure of good works would suffice for us, or what measure of imperfection would consist with their ultimate acceptance ? Verily, under such uncertainty, no human being could enjoy one hour's peace in the prospect of his great account: but when we are told that salvation is by faith only, then, whatever our works may have been in times past, we have peace in our souls the very instant we believe ; because we know that Christ is " able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him :" we know that " by faith we are Abraham's children;" and that " all the blessings of Abraham are ours," and shall be ours for ever1.
But the excellency of the Gospel appears no less in the fruits that it produces. Abraham was justified the first moment he believed. And did he on that account become indifferent to good works? See his conduct: he immediately went forth from his family and country at the command of God, though he knew not whither he was to go. In every place where he went, he built an altar to his God : and, even when called to sacrifice with his own hands his beloved Isaac, he hesitated not, but for three successive days prosecuted his journey to the place where the offering was to be made, and executed with- out reluctance the Divine command. So shall we do, if we truly believe in Christ. There will be no reserves in our hearts; nothing which we will not do, nothing which we will not sacrifice, nothing which we will not suffer, if only our God may be glorified thereby. Let the world produce a list of
r ver. 7—9.