make the death of Christ in vain; for by it the character of God is vindicated, His hatred of sin is depicted in the strongest colours, his love and mercy infinitely displayed and infallibly established, though not a single sinner be saved.

Having thus shewn the distinction between Redemption and Salvation, the connection and dependence of the latter upon the former, we proceed to show how very prominently and frequently Salvation is brought forward. St. Jude styles it "the Common Salvation," for it is designed for all, sent to all, suited for all. St. Paul styles it "so great Salvation;" and while he shows there is no way of escape to those who neglect it, he declares, "this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. i. 7. All the Prophets, it is authoritatively affirmed by St. Peter and St. Paul, bear witness to the same truth. Our blessed Lord frequently and distinctly proclaimed the object of His Divine mission to be "to save them that were lost." Luke xix, 10. Matt. xviii. 11. "To save the world." John xii. 4. That the world through Him might be saved. John iii. 17. "These things I say unto you that ye might be saved." John v. 34. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John x. 9. "Wherefore He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God through Him."

Heb. vii. 25. "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. ii. 10. It is expressly stated there is no other way of Salvation : "Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts iv. 12. and Is. xlv.

"The

Salvation is clearly declared to be by grace, and through faith. "By grace ye are saved." By grace ye are saved through faith. Ep. ii. 5, 8. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace." 2 Tim. i. 9. grace of God that bringeth salvation." Tit. ii. 11. It is through faith, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts xvi. 31. "Thy faith hath saved thee." Luke vii. 50. "If thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. x. 9.

It is needless to multiply quotations on a subject which must be abundantly evident to all who are conversant with the Word of God; nor can any doubt, who take the Scriptures as their rule of faith, that the simple and grand design of the gospel is the salvation of sinners by faith in Christ. This subject will, however, be seen to be a much more prominent

feature of Divine Truth, than at first sight might appear, if we take into consideration what Salvation implies, for the subject is frequently alluded to, and enlarged upon at great length, when the terms "Saved," or "Salvation," are not employed.

Salvation evidently is not merely deliverance from the guilt and punishment of sin, but, likewise, deliverance from the present love and power of sin. Scripture clearly and expressly states, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." Gal. iii. 10. "We shall be saved from wrath through Him." Rom. v. 9. Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thes. i. 10. This, however, is but one part of Salvation, for it is equally plainly declared that Christ saves us from our sins: "He came to bless us by turning us away from our iniquities." "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Mat. i. 21. 66 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Tit. ii. 14.

If, then, Salvation through Christ includes, not only deliverance from the curse, the guilt, and the penalty of sin, but likewise deliverance from the love, dominion, and defilement of sin, then it must be evident that Salvation includes justification, which delivers us from the former; and sanctification, which delivers us from the latter. "Being justified by His

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blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Rom. v. 9. And Jesus, as we have seen, is said to "save His people from their sins," "to purify unto Himself a peculiar people," "to deliver us from this present evil world." Gal. i. 4.

If, then, we would form any adequate conception of the great prominence Salvation occupies in the Word of God, it will be necessary to take into account the prominence that justification and sanctification occupy; for Salvation clearly includes both deliverance from the power as well as from the penalty of sin.

CHAPTER V.

ON JUSTIFICATION.

"We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification."—Article xi.

IN establishing the principle that every subject in Scripture is prominent in proportion to its importance, we proposed, as far as possible, to confine ourselves to the examination of subjects, the truth and importance of which are generally admitted. Unhappily, such general agreement does not exist with respect to the fundamental doctrine of Justification by faith, which Luther has styled "the criterion of a standing or a falling church." Notwithstanding the vast fund of information the Scriptures contain on this subject, and the clearness with which the doctrine of Justification by faith is stated by our church in her eleventh article, and the Homily to which she refers, we should still have deferred the consideration of the subject until we came to