2 Thess. iii. 2. All men have not faith.
IF we considered the condition of fallen man, and the merciful provision which God has made for him in the Gospel of his Son, we should think it impos- sible for any one, who heard the glad tidings of salvation proclaimed to him, not to embrace the offers of mercy, and to bless God for such a marvel- lous dispensation of his grace. But the fact is, that there is no other thing in the whole world so hated and despised as this very Gospel. Persons of every description combine against it. To the Jews it is
a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness : and multitudes, even of those who profess to receive the sacred records as inspired, are found amongst the enemies of the Gospel : for, as the Apostle justly says, " all men have not faith."
Let me,
I. Shew to whom this charge applies —
It doubtless comprehended, in the first instance, the Jews, who professed to believe in the One true God. And it also referred to those who, whilst they ostensibly embraced the faith of Christ, were, in reality, no better than hypocrites ; deceiving others, and deceiving also their own souls.
Amongst those who have not faith, we may fitly number,
1. Infidels —
[The very term Infidel does, in fact, imply this. Not but . that persons of this description would be grievously offended, if you should represent them as no Christians. Yet it is, in fact, their character : for, in holding up to derision the great truths of revelation, they shew, beyond all doubt, that they possess not the faith of Christ.]
2. Formalists —
[These take credit to themselves as having attained a high degree of righteousness. But, whilst they " go about to establish a righteousness of their own, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God which is by faith in Christ a," they shew, that they have no just views of the Saviour's office, or of the salvation which he has wrought out for us by his own obedience unto death. The Gospel which they maintain is "another Gospel b;" and not that which Christ has revealed, and which his Apostles preached.]
3. Hypocrites —
[How many of these do we read of in the sacred records ; men who, having " a form of godliness, denied the power thereof0!" Of such St. Jude speaks; saying, "Clouds are they without water, carried about' of winds ; trees, whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots ; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame ; wan-
a Rom. x. 2, 3 b Gal. i. 6—9. c 2 Tim. iii. 5—8.