Why it has to be spoken now
And we will speak it at this time especially. By grace you are saved, through faith. Never was the defense of this doctrine more timely than it is now.
Nothing else can really stop the spread, among us, of the Romish delusion that a person is put right with God by his own merits and religious works. It is endless to attack, one by one, every error of that church. Salvation by faith strikes at the root, and where this is established, the rest falls at once. This is the doctrine our own church rightly calls the strong rock and foundation of the Christian religion. It is what first drove Popery out of these kingdoms, and it alone can keep it out.
Nothing else can check the immorality that has spread over the land like a flood. Can you empty the ocean, drop by drop? Then you might reform us by warnings against one vice at a time. But let the righteousness which is from God, by faith, be brought in, and those proud waves will be stopped.
Nothing else can stop the mouths of people who glory in their shame, and openly deny the Lord who bought them. They can talk as loftily about the law as the person who has it written by God on his heart. To hear them, you might think they were not far from the kingdom of God. Take them out of the law and into the gospel. Begin with the righteousness of faith. Begin with Christ, the end of the law for everyone who believes. Then the people who a moment ago looked almost Christian, or altogether Christian, stand revealed as sons of perdition. As far from life and salvation, God be merciful to them, as the depth of hell is from the height of heaven.
1872 text
8. At this time, more especially, will we speak, that "by grace are ye saved through faith": because, never was the maintaining this doctrine more seasonable than it is at this day. Nothing but this can effectually prevent the increase of the Romish delusion among us. It is endless to attack, one by one, all the errors of that Church. But salvation by faith strikes at the root, and all fall at once where this is established. It was this doctrine, which our Church justly calls the strong rock and foundation of the Christian religion, that first drove Popery out of these kingdoms; and it is this alone can keep it out. Nothing but this can give a check to that immorality which hath "overspread the land as a flood." Can you empty the great deep, drop by drop? Then you may reform us by dissuasives from particular vices. But let the "righteousness which is of God by faith be brought in, and so shall its proud waves be stayed. Nothing but this can stop the mouths of those who "glory in their shame, and openly deny the Lord that bought them." They can talk as sublimely of the law, as he that hath it written by God in his heart To hear them speak on this head might incline one to think they were not far from the kingdom of God: but take them out of the law into the gospel; begin with the righteousness of faith; with Christ, "the end of the law to every one that believeth;" and those who but now appeared almost, if not altogether, Christians, stand confessed the sons of perdition; as far from life and salvation (God be merciful unto them!) as the depth of hell from the height of heaven.
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.