Section 5.

SECTION 5.

Truth cordially embraced by faith saves under every dispensation of Divine grace, though in different degrees. A short view of the truths that characterize the four grand dispensations of the everlasting Gospel.

I HAVE signified that faith is more or less operative, according to the quality of the truths which it embraces. This observation recommends itself to reason: for as some wines are more generous, and some remedies more powerful, so some truths are more reviving and sanctifying than others. But every evangelical truth, being a beam of the “Sun of righteousness risen” upon us “with healing in his wings,” is of a saving nature. Thus I am saved from ATHEISM, by heartily believing there is a God who will judge the world; — from PHARISAISM, by firmly believing that I am a miserable sinner, and that “without Christ I can do nothing;” — from SADDUCEISM, by truly believing that “the Spirit itself helpeth my infirmities;” — from ANTINOMIANISM, by cordially believing that “God is not a respecter of persons, but a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” and a punisher of all that presumptuously break his commandments; — and from DESPAIR, by steadily believing that “God is love,” that “he sent his only begotten Son into the world to save that which is lost,” and that I “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Hence it appears,

(1.) That every religious truth, suitable to our present circumstances, (when it is kindly represented by free grace, and affectionately embraced by prevented free will,) instantly forms, according to its degree, the saving, operative faith that converts, transforms, and renews the soul. And,

(2.) That this faith is more or less operative, according to the quality of the truth presented to us; according to the power with which the Spirit of grace impresses it upon our hearts; and according to the earnestness with which we receive, espouse, and welcome it to our inmost souls. When God fixed “the bounds of the habitation of mankind,” he placed some nations in warm climates and fruitful countries, where the juice of the grape is plentiful next to water. And to others he assigned a barren, rocky soil, covered with snow half the year; water is their cordial, nor have they any more idea of their want of wine than St. Peter had of his want of the blood of Christ, when he made the noble confession upon which the Christian Church is founded. “O,” says a Predestinarian geographer, “the God of providence has absolutely reprobated those poor creatures.” “Not so,” replies an unprejudiced philosopher, “they may be as healthy and happy over their cup of cold water as some of our men of fortune are over the bottles of Claret and Madeira that load their festive tables. And some of those poor creatures, as you call them, may ‘come from the east and from the west to drink’ the wine of the kingdom of God ‘with Abraham,’ when ‘the children of the kingdom shall be thrust out.’”

What I have said of water and wine may illustrate what the Scriptures say of the truths peculiar to the Gospel dispensation. God forbid that an antichristian zeal for the Christian Gospel should make me drive into the burning lake Christ’s sheep which are “big with young:” I mean the sincere worshippers that wait, like pious Melchisedec, devout Lydia, and charitable Cornelius, for brighter displays of Gospel grace. For there are faithful souls that follow their light under every dispensation, concerning whom our Lord kindly said, “Other sheep I have which are not of this [Jewish] fold: them also I must bring [into marvellous light,] and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd.” Those feeble sheep and tender lambs I must take into my bosom; and to give them their portion of meat in due season, I venture upon the following remark: —

If free will, prevented by free grace, ardently receives the truths of the Christian Gospel, Christian faith is conceived. If the heart fervently embraces the truths of the Jewish or Gentile Gospel, (those which are peculiar to the Christian Gospel remaining as yet veiled,) the faith of a Jew or of a heathen is begotten. Nevertheless, if this faith, let it be ever so assaulted by doubts, impregnates the soul with truth, and works by love, it is saving in its degree.

I say in its degree; for as there are in the earth various rich tinctures, some of which form diamonds, while others form only rubies, emeralds, or agates; so there are in the universal Church of Christ various tinctures of Gospel truth, which form various orders of spiritual jewels, as appears from such scriptures as these: — “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. For in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him,” according to the dispensation he is under, and the progress he has made in practical religion. This Gospel, for example, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men, that they should seek the Lord [as the gracious Author of their being, and] love one another as brothers:” this everlasting Gospel, I say, has in all countries leavened the hearts of pious heathens with “sincerity and truth.” This doctrine, “Messiah will come to point out clearly the way of salvation,” added to the Gospel of the Gentiles, has tinctured with superior goodness the hearts of all believing Jews. This truth, “Messiah is come in the flesh,” superadded to the Jewish Gospel, has enlarged the hearts of all the disciples of John, or the “babes in Christ.” And these truths, “Christ died for my sins, and rose again for my justification; he is ascended up on high; he has received the gift of the Spirit for men, — for me. I believe on him by the power of that Spirit. He dwells in my heart by faith. He is in me the hope of glory. The promise of the Father is fulfilled; the kingdom of God, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost is come with power.” These richer truths, I say, superadded to those which are essential to the inferior dispensations, tincture the hearts of all adult Christians, and make them more or less intimately one with Christ, according to the degree of their faith, and the influences of his Spirit.

The field of truth is as boundless as the Divine perfections; and the treasures it contains are as unsearchable as the riches of Christ. Here We may literally say, “Deep calleth unto deep — Canst thou by searching find out the Almighty to perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou known” These three capital truths only — “God is — God is love — God is mine in Christ” — are more than sufficient to replace my soul in paradise. I know but little of them; and yet, thanks be to God! I know enough to make me anticipate heavenly bliss. Nor is it the least part of my present happiness to rejoice that there is an eternity before me to unfold the wonders of truth, and to explore the “mystery of God. Now I see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know but in part, but then I shall know even as also I am known.”