Page images
PDF
EPUB

in Christ, because the revelation is addressed to them, and to them only. But to them it holds universally, that it is by faith or belief, they must secure the promised salvation. The difficulty is removed by remembering, that the dispensation relates to the whole world; whilst the revelation relates to those only who believe.

Secondly, this is apparent from the whole scope of this passage: "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved," an object which could not have been proposed, if the majority of mankind in all ages had been condemned for their involuntary ignorance of the Gospel.

Thirdly, it is to be inferred from our Saviour's next declaration, "He that believeth in him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God," &c. 18, 19. In these and similar passages, believers and unbelievers are opposed to each other.

But by unbelievers we are not to understand those who have never heard of the Gospel, but those who have heard it, and who reject its evidence. The Heathens are neutral, they are neither believers nor unbelievers, and if such had been condemned "because they have believed not in the name of the only begotten Son of God," the Gospel instead of "being tidings of great joy unto the people," had been the curse and condemnation of the great majority of the human race. How then could it have been affirmed " that God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved?”

Note. The following are some of the principal texts which speak of Christ, as the Saviour of the world. John i. 29., vi. 33. and 51.; 1 John ii. 2., iv. 14.; John xii. 47.; 2 Cor. v. 19.-" Is it not enough that Christ is called the Saviour of the world? You will say, Is it of the whole world? Yes,-' He is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world. You will say, Is it for all men in the world? Yes, He died for all men.' You

will say, Is it for every man?

Yes,-'He tasted death for every man.'" Baxter's Universal Redemption,

p. 286.

SECTION LII.

The Woman of Samaria.

THE Samaritans, as we have already observed, (see Sect. 37.) were the descendants of some Heathen who conjoined the worship of the true God with their own idolatrous superstitions. They were hated and despised by the Jews, who scarcely held any intercourse with them. But, at the commencement of our Saviour's ministry, he resolved to shew that he would not countenance such national prejudices. Having met with a Samaritan woman, he entered into a friendly conversation with her, and though he plainly told her the Samaritans, as a nation, were in error, yet such was his desire for her welfare, that the first positive declaration of his own Messiahship was made by Christ to this poor Samaritan : "I that speak unto thee

am He," &c. John iv. 7-26.

When the origin and circumstances of these Samaritans are considered, I cannot

but view this anecdote as affording great credibility to our general argument for the salvability of Heathen nations. They could not be esteemed regular members of the Jewish Church, nor were they possessed of what is now meant by Christian faith. "We know that this is the Christ, the Saviour of the world." It was on the universality of the Messiah's mission, not on any privileged election, they grounded their faith, but if Christ be "the Saviour of the world," in the sense of the Samaritans, he is also the Saviour of the Heathen.

The proper attitude to review such facts of our Saviour's life, is to carry back our thoughts to the circumstances of his contemporaries. As yet, no Christian Church existed, no sacraments were ordained,-how imperfect, then, must have been their faith, even when they exclaimed," this is the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

SECTION LIII.

The Nobleman's Son.

HERE is another miracle performed on a Gentile family, and that under circumstances which must add great credibility to our argument for the salvability of those who have not heard of the Gospel. This nobleman, who was probably belonging to the court of Herod, seems at first, not to have viewed our Saviour as the Messias, but only as a teacher sent from heaven, who was enabled to perform miraculous cures. He did not conceive that his power extended to a distance, and therefore he besought his personal attendance. "Come down ere my child die." Jesus accepted the man according to this imperfect faith, ("except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe,") and granted the object of his prayer.

The nobleman believed and his whole house. But what did he believe? All the articles of the Christian faith? He believed

« PreviousContinue »