“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ + thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ + thou shalt be saved. Acts 16. 31. 80807 The question of the Jailer, to which the words of our text contain a definite answer, is the question which has filled the minds of men with anxiety, in all ages since the fall. From the mournful epoch in the history of our world when Mans disobedience + the fruit whose mortal taste brought death into the world + all our woe ? turned man out of the garden of Eden, an outcast from the favour of his heavenly Parent + changed Earth from a scene of happiness + innocence into a theatre of woe + guilt that has been the question which has exorcise the earnest + diligent search of his helpless Posterity. And 2 [?] as it was only from the blessed + overflowing Benevolence a merciful God that Adam our first Father could [?ave] received the desired information ? when soon after the fatal fall, the glorious plan of salvation thro coming Savior was announced, The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpents head? So there is still no other source of Light to shed a ray of [light] upon our darkened path but from the revelation of God. Man it is time in the pride of Philosophy has delved amid the deep unfathomed mines of human lore. to find a clue which should guide him out of the maze of intricate labyrinth in which the contemplation of these mysteries will ever involve the human mind ? but pained, wearied + dissatisfied + dissappointed [?] the unsuccessful termination of their search. 3 They lived in doubt + died in darkness on [?] great subject. But this question so full of doubt + difficulty to mere human reason unaided by Revelation, is one of the easy solution when we apply to the proper source of wisdom. When like the Jailer of Philippi we are there gently convicted of sin + feel the fearful weight of our guilt + exposure to the wrath of an offended God, we who live in this age of Gospel Light may soon find those to whom we may propose the solemn question Sir, what must I do to be saved? + from whom the answer may be readily obtained Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!? Is there one in this assembly today anxiously desirous of discovering the way of salvation? 4 [?]y I venture to indulge the pleasing thought [?]ddres even one who wishes to be directed in this great enquiry? Whether there be one or none, Brethren one thing is certain, I doubt not but I look on those here this day, who should be diligently engaged in asking this question ? for you are lost? you are in need of salvation + if you do not obtain deliverance from your present lost condition, in time you are lost for Eternity. Would to God you might be awakened to this grandest of all enquiries, this day! We shall proceed to skew the nature of that Faith here spoken of Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ + then we will [endeavour to enforce the exploration] speak of its immediate effect. [of this apostle.] 5 I. We are to skew the nature of that Faith which is implied in the Exhortation. In order to elucidate the subject + render it more plain we remark that the Faith here spoken of is something more than the base assent of the understanding to the truth of a proposition. A mathematical demonstration may commend itself to our understandings without affecting our feelings ? we may be able to enter fully into all its bearings + see the force of its conclusions ? so of a logical argument + so of an abstruse metaphysical theory ? we may admire the depth of research ? The mazy mystery or the sublinecity of its results + yet we may never bring it home to our hearts so as to affect our feelings ? further than to assent 6 [?] our understandings to its truth. It is manifest that such belief as this has claims to the name of faith + yet if we make an application of this species of Faith to the matter of the souls salvation, we may readily conclude that it would never fill the requisition of evangelical Faith. We might believe that Jesus Xt. was the Saviour the world merely from the operations of our understanding brought to bear upon the testimony of impartial History but if no other faculty except the understanding be called into exercise, it will be a speculative dead inefficacious Faith that will never save the soul. But I remark, again that the Faith here spoken of is something more than the temporary reception 7 of the truth of Christ. Men are often found un[?] the excitement of the moment to grasp eagerly the hopes set before us in the Gospel without thinking of certain other things which it behooves them well to ponder. And hence having not taken the proper course to reach the object in view they have grasped something which they have vainly supposed to be the hope of pardon and as a natural consequence soon ascertaining their mistake they have let go their hold again + shrunk back to their original estate or one that is worse than the first. This species of Faith is well + truly illustrated by our saviour in the parable of the sower + the seed. As he went forth some seed fell on stony places where they 8 [?]d not much deepness of Earth + anon They sprung [?p] and presently when the Sun was up they were scorched + because they had much root they withered away ? This temporary Faith will not answer for the Evangelical in the Lord Jesus Christ. [This Faith we now proceed to say inlaid be condensed] [under two aspects ? I. as it saves + II. as] [it sanctifies.] Saving Faith we define to to include the full assent of the understanding and the cordial consent of the will. And it consists in the full belief in the Being + attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of man from the wrath of God + a full reliance 9 upon him + him alone as our saviour. [?] will not answer for us to believe that Xt is the saviour of the world unless we make a personal application of Him to our own particular cases. Many persons seem to repose with blind + confident hope upon the general mercy of God through a crucified Redeemer, + if asked the ground of their hope it will be found that it consists in the distant contemplation of the plan as it illustrates the benevolence of God and his mercy to man without ever making the appropriation to themselves ? but we must go nearer to the Cross and grasp it firmly ? nor be satisfied until we feel as it were the blood of of Xt gushing over our souls + cleansing us from the guilt of sin. 10 [?] said it was a belief in the attributes of the Savior There are his Power + Willingness to save the sinner. It is true the understanding has much to do in this matter. We must read + understand how is is able + willing before we will believe it ? all the difficulty in the case is that men are too apt to stop short here + suffer their hearts to have nothing to do with their faith + leave all the work to the understanding But we will believe his Power when we remember he is the mighty God the ever Father and the Prince of Peace ? we will believe his Power when we remember that he was in the beginning the Word + with God + was God ? that all things were made by him + without him was not anything made that was made that all Power was given 11 unto him in Heaven + on Earth that he was God manifest in the flesh. Surely we cannot doubt that He has Power to save sinners if this testimony be true. But the awakened sinner who in the contemplation of Xts character has arrived at this point, would be sunk in despair + every additional proof of the Godhead of Xt would only fill him with gloomy apprehension ? since in this dread Being he would be disposed to view not his Savior ? but his Offended Sovereign He would acknowledge without hesitation the Power of Christ + the doubt would be in regard to his willingness to save + he would scarce be able to say unto him with the leper in O.S. Lord if thou wilt thou could 12 make me clean. ? It will be readily perceived then that there must be some hope or faint expectation that Christ has the merciful disposition as well as the omnipotent Power to save the Sinner or he never will venture on Xt for salvation. And now while he is ready to shrink away from the experiment of venturing upon Xt. the faint accents of Gospel comfort whispered by some heavenly messenger fall in strains as sweet as Angels use upon his ear. He listens + anon they come upon his raptured soul like the full swell of the Heavenly Choir ? As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather he would turn + live. Jesus ye! Turn ye! for why will ye die O house of Israel! Look 13 unto me + be ye saved all ye ends of of the Earth! God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him shd not perish but have everlasting Life! Whosoever will let him come ? Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters! Behold I stand at the door + knock if any man hear my voice + open unto me I will come in to him + sup with him + he with me! Ask + ye shall receive ? seek + ye shall find. Knock + it shall be opened unto you. And now to add tenfold strengths to the evidence of Xts willingness ? his is pointed to the work of Xt in the atonement ? and he sees him suffering poverty, temptation ? persecution shame reproach contempt cruel mockings + scourgings Crucifixion + death 14 and then when he asks the natural question why was this? he heard ? For thee poor soul for thee! ? he says with an eye all tearful + beaming with the dawnings of hope + a heart all broken + contrite for sin + a soul all glowing with love + gratitude ? Lord I believe! help thou mine and unbelief ? Lord I can no longer doubt thy willingness as well as thy Power ? no longer hesitate to trust thee for thy Love is boundless as thy Power ? an ocean fathomless + illimitable as Eternity. Oh! who can doubt thy willingness to save? asserted so often in thy holy word + confirmed by the sufferings thou didst endure upon the cross! He now enters fully into the Apostles feelings 15 when he says God commendeth his Love to us in that while we were yet sinners Xt died for the ungodly This is a faithful saying that Xt Jesus came into the into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. ? This then is saving Faith ? it implies that having been fully awakened to see ourselves sinners + lost, we have an understanding apprehension of Xts ability as well as a cordial trust in his willingness to save us! The fact is not to be overlooked is that after all that has been said + may be said of the nature of Faith, many individuals really or affectedly tied mystery + insurmountable difficulty in regard to 16 this whole subject. At one time you may be told by one I am seeking the way of salvation and I have studied long + deeply the nature of Faith and now I am as fully persuaded as I can well be of the Omnipotence of the Saviour, I believe fully in his entire willingness to save + yet I cannot discover the mode by which this belief is to join me to Xt + thereby save my soul! Many persons who speak thus have entirely overlooked one thing and that is that there is implied in this Faith not only a full persuasion of Xts excellence but also a sense of sin + a need of salvation. You have come here with your understanding prepared to contemplate this subject in all its bearings + yet 17 with the pride of your heart unsubdued ? You have asked with a self complacent feeling. Good master what good thing must I do that I may inherit eternal Life? while within your bosom burns the unhallowed flame of avarice ambition of the or the love of Pleasure or some darling lust unchecked in its sway over your heart + when required to part with it ? you feel a secret unwillingness to make the sacrifice ? you have come it may be with Pharidaie is ? lemnity + thanked God for your excellencies, + hence you have gone away unsatisfied unjustified ? You have never felt as did the the humble Publican who stood hear the boastful Pharisee + smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner 18 Had you felt as he did + prayed as he prayed, you like him would have left mercy seat rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. We cannot pretend to penetrate the secret cause that prevents unsuccessful enquiries from understanding how Faith unites to Xt ? but we may boldly say that as none have ever yet been sent empty away, as God never said to any Seek ye my face in vain, the fault cannot be in God or his plan. Ye ask + receive not because ye ask amiss. You have come endeavouring to make yourself more worthy of Xt. You are more absurd in this than the diseased who would suffer a mortal sickness to progress in order that he might be better prepared to take the remedy. And of one thing rest assured there is something wrong in your seeking ? for Christ is bound by 19 his own gracious truth That him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out ? and since you fail, you do not come aright ? with deep humility confessing + feeling your need of Xt for just as soon as you do come in this way you will succeed ? for says God to that man will I look who is poor + of a contrite spirit + trembleth at my word ? again The Lord is nigh unto them that one of a broken heart + saveth such as be of a contrite spirit ? Coming thus you will find no mystery in the doctrine of faith in a crucified Redeemer. Let us for a moment look at the case of the Jailer. Here was a case of deep + agonizing 20 anxiety on the subject of salvation. Much may be learned by attending to the circumstances of his case. He had just been engaged in executing the commands of his superiors by the most cruel treatment of the Prisoners ? having thrust them into the inner prison + made their feet fast in the stocks ? he looks upon them as insignificant fanatics, who deserve their fate + he takes his station on guard with a determination of guarding them at the risk of his own life. [Perhaps he] But hark! from the dreary dungeon at the deep midnight hour, [he hears] these despised Prisoners send[ing] up their prayers to God + now swells upon the air the solemn strains of vocal music in praise to God from the cell of confinement. And now [while he stands] 21 [in silent wonder or indifferent contempt] Lo the Earth quakes ? the walls of the prison are shaken + the doors of the jail are thrown open Perhaps the Jailer remembered that on the very day before their apprehension it had been proclaimed by one. These men are the servants of the most High God ? and coupling the fearful Phenomena of Nature with this he at once imagines that the wrath of an offended God is about to overtake the Philippians to avenge his servants + roused to the contemplation of imminent danger ? he feels I am lost I am lost ? these men are safe ? They direct me This what must I do to be saved? ? The answer was ready ? and 22 Jailer was ready to receive it ? he did believe + was saved Go thou + do likewise! would you understand Faith? ? feel your need for salvation as did the Jailer ask with deep + overwhelming anxiety as he did + receive instruction with meek humility as he did + there will be no mystery in Faith to you. [[?] would I say to you then this say as the] [Apostles are to the Jailer Believe in the] [Lord Jesus Christ + thou shalt be saved!] [We [?] you [?] to exercise the] [act of believing which is yours. We know] [that Faith is the gift of God ? but to give] [it only thro his own appointed way. We] [before you. The motives to persuade] 23 We pass now to the consideration of the immediate result of this Faith in Christ. Thou shalt be saved! And what is it from which we are saved by the power and efficacy of Faith in Jesus Christ? [We remark that] The remark that we are saved from the guilt, the power the love + the pollution of sin. In this discourse we shall confine ourselves to the operation of Faith as it saves from the guilt of sin. We will suppose now that the sinner having been enlightened by God's spirit has seen himself a sinner + exposed to the wrath of God justly for his sins ? that he sees as it were the dark dungeons of Hell opened to receive him that he has heard the thunders of Gods Holy Law so long slumbering in mercy now muttering in mercy now muttering indignation and wrath 24 against him as a Rebel ? Cursed is every one that containeth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them ? that he feels himself weighed down by a mountain of Guilt ? that in short he has been brought to the Situation of the Jailer + is just ready to say with sinking Peter Lord save or I perish! Such an individual in well prepared to learn how he can be saved ? for he is anxiously inquisitive to know + meekly ready to hear ? what he must do to be saved ? he is told believe in the Lord Jesus Christs Power + willingness to save you + thou shalt be saved! I would but cant believe! He says so that my soul may be saved! But why can you not? 25 Because, he may reply, there is no apparent connection between, Xt. + my guilt. Let us see then if there be none. In the first place you are a sinner ? a sinful son of fallen Parents + consequently under the curse of the Law of God, which in death temporal spiritual + Eternal ? again the Law thunders its anathemas against you + tells you that nothing short of a perfect sinless constant endless obedience + an atonement of Infinite value can ever atone for your sins! Here beloved fellow sinner I tremble with you at the dark + dreary prospect before the sinner ? for who among the sinful descendant of Adam could ever hope to render the required obedience or how can a finite mortal offer an Infinite Atonement? The sinner then then in the eye of Gods Law 26 is condemned already ? Justice raises the sword [for] the execution of the when its arm is arrested by mercy in the person of the Lord Jesus Xt. And now he says Lo I come in the volume of thy book it is written I delight to do thy will O God! The sinner is justly condemned ? Thy Holy Law must be magnified ? Thy Justice must be satisfied ? the sentence must executed ? the supremacy of thy mortal Government must be maintained. But spare the sinner ? the guilty Rebel I engage that all honour shall be paid to the Law every jot + tittle of it shall be complied with ? and every demand of thy Justice shall be satisfied + I will be the victim ? He came he assumed 27 our form + nature that he might suffer + he united the Godhead with Humanity that he might sustain those dreadful sufferings ? he was man to be under the Law he was God to keep it perfectly? he was man to die he was God to rise from the dead to ascend up on high + sit forever at the right hand of his Father to intercede for us. And now the sword of Justice tho still drawn + impending over the sinner? may be averted by faith in Xt. The Law has laid its thunders by? the throne is sprinkled over with the blood of Xt? the Grace and favour of God in accessible only thro Xt. Here then behold the connection which is instituted by faith between the sinner + the Savior 28 The satisfaction has been made by Xt. + in you will only believe in Him ? with your whole heart + trust His Power + willingness to save you ? His merits which are indeed infinite will be imputed to you + you shall be accounted and treated as righteous in the sight of God only for the righteousness sake of Xt. [The best] To illustrate[ion of] this matter [is thus] we will suppose a vast prison house filled with miserable debtors, who are hopelessly bankrupt and are utterly destitute of all hope of ever being able to extricate themselves. [The] Portals of this living tomb are guarded by an inexorable Warden who refuses all egress until the uttermost farthing 29 is paid. But by chance or purposefully a benevolent individual visits this Prison house + offers to pay the debts of all the miserable inmates + actually shows himself to be possessed of means sufficient + will to pay the debts of all the Warden announces to the Prisoners the glad tidings of deliverance ? the benevolent Individual presents himself at the portals + he says I am able + willing to ramson all ? whoever among you will only trust in me ? give me your hearts + your affections come ? I will give you liberty ? So you suppose that there would be any difficulty here in the minds of these prisoners in understanding the meaning of the faith or trust 30 here proposed as the condition of deliverance? none! The groans + wailings of the wretched beings would immediately be exchanged for shouts of joy + eagerness to rush forth + comply with the simple conditions of their disinterested benevolent friend! Brethren, this world is a vast Prison house of sin! Filled with hopelessly insolvent debtors to the Law of God, deserved unto the judgement of the great day ? Jesus of Nazareth passes by he sees the wretched condition in which we sinners lay + he says ? I have paid the ransom let these sinners live! He stands before us + he says come unto me all ye that labour + are heavy 31 laden + I will give you rest if we felt our need of salvation we would easily understand this sweet invitation + when he says all I ask in return is thy heart son or daughter give me thy heart ? Believe in me! trust in me give all your affections to me + I will save you from the fearful load of guilt that now hangs over you ? we would find no difficulty in understanding this matter. But if in that Prison because there were some poor creature so wedded to the dismal place by mere force of habit or so benumbed by long continuance there, or so indifferent to the love of liberty as to neglect the the kind invitation of the disinterested friend who came to deliver them 32 we would see here but a faint + feeble picture of the sinner who has become so hardened in sin by habit? so attached to sin by long continuance so stupid + insensible to all that is high + holy in the motives of the Gospel as to induce him to slight Gods mercy ? to reject the Savior + do despite into the spirit of his Grace. Well might we suppose that the holy mind + gentle heart of the Savior would be grieved + angered when he looks upon such + beholds the hardness of their hearts. 33 Need I repeat the exhortation beloved friends, which the Apostles gave to the Jailer? Alas! I know not that there sits before me this day a single one who is affected as he was with a desire to know the plan of salvation? Yes! Brethren the apostles were then in enviable circumstances. They had before them a poor wretched sin sick some eagerly desirous of finding out how he might be saved + they rejoiced because the way for his salvation was open early. But here ? no joyful sound like this is heard. No tearful eye is seen ? no trembling sinner appears enquiring how he may be saved ? no deep groan of anguish-stricken souls burdened by a sense of guilt + the wrath of a justly offended God! ? is heard in their assembly! The mercies of a kind + Gracious Father are literally showered upon you. 34 One year has closed upon you + another [opened] begun in mercy + it had not opened your heart to yield to God! The judgement of God have been in your midst where is your friend who began the last year with you? he sleeps in dust + his spirit has long since gone to God who gave it? where are the faces we once saw in this sanctuary? [cold] one from the assemblies on Earth to join the pale nations of the dead! And we a little longer wait yet how little none can tell! God spake in trumpet tones in these judgements + whispered in accents of tenderness in these mercies ? yet all availed nothing! Nothing moved this heart of thine! Oh 35 for the holy fire of the Spirit of God to burn upon the flinty Rock of the heart + melt its hardness away and dissolve it in tears of penitential sorrow for sin ? Oh for a blaze of heavenly Light to flash conviction upon the darkened soul ? to illuminate the darkness thick Egyptian starless darkness that seems to envelope the sinners of this Community! Oh that some portion of that deep heart rending dismay + terror which shall seize guilty sinners at the judgement of the great day, might now anticipation as it were, seize you how yet not so as to tend to despair ? but that it might prompt the heart-felt soul originated inquiry 36 inquiry of the Jailer What must I do to be saved. So that rejoicing + thankful that you were at last awakened I might say to you Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ + thou shalt be saved! Amen!