then he must be justified and faved by Faith alone in Jefus, the Redeemer. Faith was the In ftrumental, the Death of Chrift was the alone meritorious Caufe of his Salvation.

Another Inftance of the fame Kind we have in the 16th. Chapter of Acts.

When Paul and Silas were at Philipi preaching the Gospel, the Multitude rofe against them, took and carried them before the Magiftrates, who ordered them to be scourged and caft into Prison. At Midnight, as Paul and Silas prayed and fang Praises unto God, fud denly a great Earthquake fhook the Foundati on of the Prison, threw open the Doors, and loofed the Chains of the Prifoners. The Jailor awaking from his Sleep, and feeing the Prison Doors open, thought the Prisoners had made their Escape: Whereupon he drew his Sword, and was going to kill himself; when Paul, admonished by the Spirit, cried with a loud Voice, "Do thy felf no Harm, we are all here". Immediately the Jailor called for a Light, fprang in, came trembling, and falling down before Paul and Silas, cried out, "Sirs,

what

what muft I do to be faved"?

What Answer does the Apoftle give him? Does he bid him go and perform a Round of religious Duties, as the Foundation of his Pardon and Acceptance? This would have been fmall Comfort to an awakened Confcience. Does he bid him give all his Goods to feed the Poor, and then he fhould be faved? No: Like a wife Master-builder, he lays the Foundation of his Salvation upon Faith in Chrift, and then rears the beautiful Fabrick of good Works, and evangelical Obedience. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be faved, and thine Houfe ".

4

After the Apostles had given him this Anfwer, they fpake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in the House. They inftructed the Family, no doubt, in the whole Nature of the Method of Salvation by Jefus Chrift. "And the Jailor took the Apof tles the fame Hour of the Night, and washed their Stripes, and was baptifed, he and all his, ftraightway. And when he had brought them into his Houfe, he fet Meat before them, and

rejoiced,

.

rejoiced, believing in God with all his Hou fe". See how his Faith wrought by Love, "and by Works was Faith made perfect! Faith without Works is dead, being alone".

Let us now fuppofe the Jailor had died foon af

C

ter he was baptized: Either he would have been faved, or he would not. If he would not have been faved, the Apostle's Declaration to him was falfe. If he would have been faved, it was either by Faith, or by Works. It could not be by good Works, fince he was fo far from being a good Man, that he had but a little before been guilty of Scourging the Servants of the living Gop, and of intentional Self Murder. He must therefore have been juftified by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law. Agreeable to this View of the Nature of Juftification are the Words of the Apostle: "By Grace ye are faved, through Faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of GOD: Not of Works, left any Man should boast: For we are his Workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained that we

fhould

should walk in them". And again: "Now to him that worketh, is the Reward not reckoned of Grace, but of Debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the Ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righteousness".

If any Perfon fhould doubt whether this View of the Nature of Juftification and Salvation, which I have given, is agreeable to the Doctrines of the Establishment, let him turn to the eleventh Article of Religion, and he will read thus: "We are accounted righteous "before God, only for the Merit of our Lord "and Saviour Jefus Chrift, by Faith, and not "for our own Works, or Defervings. Where"fore that we are justified by Faith only, is "a most wholsome Doctrine, and very full of "Comfort".

The Homily on Juftification speaks the fame Language, only more clear, if poffible, than the Article already read.

"This is the Ordinance, or Appointment of "GOD, that they who believe in Christ should "be saved without Works, by Faith only, free

་

"ly receiving Remiflion of their Sins. Con"fider diligently thefe Words; Without 'Works, by Faith only, freely we receive "Remiffion of our Sins. What can be fpo"ken more plainly, than to fay, That freely, "without Works, by Faith only, we obtain "Remiffion of our Sins? These, and other "like Sentences, that we be juftified by Faith

only, freely, and without Works, we do of"tentimes read in the best and most antient " Authors ".

Thefe Words are very ftrong; much like to thofe of the Apostle Paul above quoted; and are certainly not meant to exclude good Works as unneceffary in any View, but fimply as the Caufe meritorious of our Justification and Salvation.

4

The Subftance of what has been faid is this: We are all Sinners, and confequently in a State of Condemnation. Jefus Chrift has fulfilled the Law of GOD in his Life, and made Satisfaction to Divine Juftice for our Tranfgreffions by his Sufferings and Death: "By the Mystery of his holy Incarnation, by his

"holy