The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)Watts, Isaac
Religion
The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)
Watts, Isaac
Dissenters, Religious -- England; Sermons, English -- 18th century; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
This is the language of faith, “Lord, I am a sinful and guilty creature;
I have no righteousness, no merit, to recommend me to thy favour; I have
no power to change my unholy nature, and rectify the criminal disorders
of my soul; I am unable to subdue the sins that dwell in me, or practise
the required duties of holiness; I deserve condemnation and death, and I
am by nature walking in the way to hell: helpless and hopeless for ever
in myself, but in thy rich grace is all my hope: I rejoice in the
discoveries of thy mercy; I come at the call of thy gospel, upon the
bended knees of my soul I accept of the proposals of thy grace; I give
up myself to thy power and mercy, as it is revealed in Jesus Christ, thy
Son, that I may be saved from sin and hell. To me belongs nothing but
shame and confusion of face; I renounce for ever all self-sufficiency,
and if ever I am saved, thy grace shall have all the glory.” Now when a
poor humbled sinner is brought thus far, and receives the salvation of
God in this lowly posture of soul, the great God has obtained a good
part of his designs in the gospel upon him; self is humbled, grace is
glorified, and the sinner is saved by faith.
V. Heaven is made up of believers. The whole number of the saved were
once sinners, and obtained salvation by faith.
The holy angels indeed never sinned, and yet whether their confirmed
state of holiness and glory is not secured to them by trust or
dependance on Christ, may be a reasonable enquiry; for _all things in
heaven and earth are_ said to be _gathered together, and reconciled in
him_; Eph. i. 10. Col. i. 20. But this we are sure of, that not one of
all the race of Adam hath been restored to the love of God, or raised to
heaven, by their own works but all by faith. It is sovereign and
glorious grace that has saved them all, and that by the gospel too, in
the various editions of it, from the promise in Eden, till the full
discovery of grace at the day of pentecost after the ascension of
Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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