Preached first
When the objections run out, we are simply told that salvation by faith alone ought not to be preached as the first doctrine. Or, at least, that it ought not to be preached at all.
What does the Holy Spirit say? No one can lay any other foundation than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So then, whoever believes in him will be saved. That is, and must be, the foundation of all our preaching. Which means it must be preached first.
Well, someone says, but not to everyone.
To whom, then, are we not to preach it? Whom shall we leave out? The poor? No. They have a special right to have the gospel preached to them. The unlearned? No. From the beginning, God has revealed these things to unlearned and simple people. The young? Not at all. Let the children come to Christ, and do not forbid them. Sinners? Least of all. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
If anyone is left out, it would have to be the rich, the learned, the respectable, the moral people. And it is true that they often leave themselves out of the hearing. Even so, we must speak the words of our Lord. The commission runs like this: go, and preach the gospel to every creature. If anyone twists it, or any part of it, to his own destruction, he must carry his own load. But still, as the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to us, that we will speak.
1872 text
7. When no more objections occur, then we are simply told that salvation by faith only ought not to be preached as the first doctrine, or, at least, not to be preached at all. But what saith the Holy Ghost? "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, even Jesus Christ." So then, that "whosoever believeth on him shall be saved," is, and must be, the foundation of all our preaching; that is, must be preached first. "Well, but not to all." To whom, then are we not to preach it? Whom shall we except? The poor? Nay; they have a peculiar right to have the gospel preached unto them. The unlearned? No. God hath revealed these things unto unlearned and ignorant men from the beginning. The young? By no means. "Suffer these," in any wise, "to come unto Christ, and forbid them not." The sinners? Least of all. "He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Why then, if any, we are to except the rich, the learned, the reputable, the moral men. And, it is true, they too often except themselves from hearing; yet we must speak the words of our Lord. For thus the tenor of our commission runs, "Go and preach the gospel to every creature." If any man wrest it, or any part of it, to his destruction, he must bear his own burden. But still, "as the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord saith unto us, that we will speak."
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1872 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1872 panel is the public-domain sermon. Its disputed lines were checked against the University of Toronto scan of the forty-four sermons: a public robber, a common harlot, sons of perdition, the Romish delusion, and Popery.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 1. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 18 June 1738. Ephesians 2:8.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Salvation by Faith, 1872 wording (English · The whole sermon, divided to match the reading)
- Checked print Forty-four Sermons, University of Toronto scan (English · Checked the robber, harlot, perdition, Romish, and Popery lines)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.