June 18

"For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."—Ephesians 2:8, 9.

Or his fulness, says John, have all we received, and grace for grace; that is, observes the excellent Mr. Brooks, as the paper from the press receives letter for letter, or as the wax from the seal receives impression for impression, or as the glass from the image receives face for face, so does the weakest saint receive from Jesus Christ. Our salvation is of grace. Let us now contemplate

ITS MEANS. "Through faith;" that is, instrumentally; faith is exercised in the righteousness of Christ.

The nature of faith. What is is? It is not a mere notion in the head, but an act of the mind; the more simple and scriptural the definition given of it, the better. It is the firm and entire resting of the soul on the atonement of Christ for acceptance with God.

The operation of faith. It is a principle that cannot lie dormant in the mind. Genuine faith is always connected with Divine light, holy love, ardent desires, and practical godliness. These are the evidences of its existence.

The source of faith. "And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Here it is expressly stated, that faith is not of human, but of Divine origin. We are commanded to believe, and he who issues the command imparts strength for the obedience of it. Faith is our own act, as we are wrought on by the gracious influences of the Spirit of God.

ITS END. "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

The fact stated. Salvation is not meritoriously of works. There must be works as the effects of the gracious implanted principle; but it is not of works, as the moving cause. The sad degenerate state of human nature affords us an ample proof of this. We may just as well attempt to level the lofty trees of the forest with a gentle touch of the finger; to overturn with a breath the stupendous mountain, whose summit pierces the clouds: or to move the world with a lever of straw, as, with our poor performances, to remove the load of our guilt, and avert the awful consequences of Jehovah's indignation.

The reason assigned. "Lest any man should boast." Man is prone to the feeling of pride and vain glory. He does not like to be an humble petitioner at the footstool of Divine mercy; but ere he becomes a partaker of salvation, the lofty look must be humbled, and the Lord alone exalted, "that no flesh should glory in his presence." This subject should excite our gratitude for God's grace, it should lead us to humility for man's ruined estate, it should encourage our hopes for salvation.