and shews them unto the trembling sould; and thus over- comes his reluctance on the one hand, and his diffidence on the other. In this way the person is brought to see, that " righteousness is by faith" only; and to " hope" for that righteousness, yea, and to " wait for" it, till it shall please God to make known to him his interest in it, and to speak peace unto his soul.]
Address —
1. Those whose views of this subject are indis- tinct—
[All have " a hope of righteousness," which, in some way or other, shall prove sufficient for their acceptance, when they go hence. But, if we come to examine the grounds of their hope, we find that few, very few, have their views clear, decided, scriptural. To renounce all dependence on our own works, to have no leaning whatever to any righteousness of our own, is a very rare attainment. If we were told, that the smallest measure of self-righteousness would make " Christ himself of no effect to us," and leave us in the very state of the fallen angels, who have no Saviour, we should account it harsh. We are willing that the Lord Jesus Christ should have the principal share of the glory arising from our salva- tion, but not all. Beloved brethren, I pray you, examine into this matter : see whether you can be content to be saved precisely as one of the fallen angels would be, if he were now plucked as a brand out of the burning. You must be brought to this. Why was it that so many millions of moral and religious Jews have perished, whilst millions of immoral and idolatrous Gentiles have been saved? It has arisen from this : the Jews could not be brought to renounce all dependence on the law ; whilst the Gentiles have thankfully accepted the righteousness provided for them in the Gospel. " The Jews have stumbled," as thousands of Christians also do, " at that stumbling-stone :" for, on this account, Christ has proved to them no other than " a rock of offence ;" whilst to those who have believed in him he has invariably proved a rock of salva- tion e. And this is the peculiar danger of those who are most moral, and most religiously inclined. It was the Jews, who " had a great zeal for God," who fell into this unhappy snare, and would not submit to the righteousness provided for them in the Gospel f. I pray God, that you, my brethren, may not reject the overtures that are now made to you. I believe that there are many of you who have a zeal of God : but I fear that, in many cases, it is not a zeal " according to knowledge."
d John xvi. 14. e Rom. ix. 30—33. f Rom. x. 2—4.