Tit. ii. 1 1 — 14. The grace of God that hringeth salvation hath appeared to all vien, teaching us that, denyi7ig tmgodliness a7id ivorldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, afid godly, in this 2)resent world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
WHEREVER Christianity has been professed, the standard of public morals has been raised : and in proportion as it has gained an ascendant over the hearts of men, it has approved itself the friend and parent of good v^^orks. That many have perverted its principles, and walked unworthy of them, is true ; but this can form no solid objection against the Gospel itself, any more than the abuse of reason or of the blessings of Providence can disprove the benefit of them when rightly used. We will not concede one atom of the freeness or riches of divine grace ; yet will we maintain that the Gospel is conducive to morality : for at the same time that it brings salva- tion to men, it inculcates every species of moral duty, and enforces the practice of godhness in the most authoritative and energetic manner. This is evident from the words before us ; in which we may notice,
I. The character of the Gospel —
The Gospel is supposed by many to be no other than a remedial law —
[The law given to man in Paradise, and republished on Mount Sinai, required perfect obedience. But fallen man can never obtain happiness on those terms. Hence many imagine, that Christ came to publish a new law, suited to our weak and fallen state. They suppose that his death atoned for our past transgressions ; and that it purchased for us a power to regain heaven by an imperfect but sincere obedience. Thus they make the Gospel to differ very little from the law. They reduce indeed the standard of the law ; but they insist upon obedience to its requirements, as the terms on which alone we