Christ, the Foundation of the Salvation of Sinners

A true Copy, Examined by

GEORGE WYLLYS, Secr'y.

An Election Sermon.

For other Foundation can no Man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

THE great and wise Creator of all Things, out of his own meer good Pleasure, and for the Display of his own glorious Perfections, hath created all Things, both visible and invisible, in Heaven above, and on the Earth beneath: He made the noble Creature, Man, after his own Image, and ordained him Lord of this lower World; then viewing his own Works, in their Beauty and Perfection, he pronounced them all very good. But it seems not long, before this happy Scene was changed. Thro' the Subtilty of the old Serpent, Man was prevailed upon to rebel against his Maker, and break that sacred Covenant which included his Posterity, and bro't himself, with his numerous Race, descending from him by ordinary Generation, under the terrible Sentence of Death: upon which, Man was immediately driven out of the earthly Paradise, and his Return was guarded with the flaming Sword, which turneth every Way, to keep the Tree of Life. This sad Revolt must have procured God's amazing Wrath and Curse, both in this Life, and that which is to p. 4come, had not a merciful GOD, out of his infinite Wisdom and Grace, laid a sure Foundation in his Son, for the Pardon of the Guilty, and restoring them to his Favor, and making them happy in the Enjoyment of himself forever. This Way of Salvation God was pleased to make known unto Adam in that early Promise, that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head. And he was pleased to unfold this Mistery of divine Grace, more and more, until the Fullness of the Time was come, that this glorious Savior should make his Appearance in this World, and reveal his marvelous Grace fully under the gospel Dispensation. This glorious Savior was prophesied of, under the Similitude of a Foundation, Isa. xxviii. 16. Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone, a sure Foundation. The Apostle particularly applies this to CHRIST, Eph. ii. 10. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone. In our Context the Apostle says, by the Grace of GOD, he had, with all Care and Application, preached the important Doctrines of the Gospel, leading his Hearers unto CHRIST, as the great and sure Foundation on which his Church is built, and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it; and all those who believe this Truth, and cordially receive CHRIST for their Savior, he calls GOD'S Building. A happy Superstructure upon CHRIST as the Foundation, who is able to support all their Hopes of eternal Life! And other Foundation can no Man lay, than that is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. Whatever Pretences Man may make to other Foundation to build their Hopes upon, whatever other Doctrines seducing p. 5Teachers may preach; yet the Lord JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of GOD, who was chosen of the Father, elect and precious, is the only Foundation of the Salvation of Sinners; all the Blessings of Providence and Grace, of a civil and religious Nature, come to us in and through him. Here many important Truths might be brought under our Consideration; but I shall confine my Discourse to a few Particulars under these general Heads:

p. 5I. That JESUS CHRIST is the Foundation of the Pardon and Salvation of Sinners.

II. That JESUS CHRIST is the Foundation of civil Government.

III. That JESUS CHRIST is the Foundation of the wise and good Government established in his Church.

I. That JESUS CHRIST is the Foundation of the Pardon and Salvation of Sinners. When we view the human Race fallen in Adam, their public and federal Head lying under the amazing Threatning of Death, which included in it all the Miseries of a temporal and spiritual Death, and the Pains of Hell forever. Horror and Despair must have seized the Guilty; had not GOD, out of his own free and Sovereign Grace, provided a Way for the Pardon and Redemption of Sinners, in and thro' his Son the Lord JESUS CHRIST. When we consider this wonderful Mistery of divine Grace, opened unto us in the sacred Oracles of GOD, it seems like Life from the Dead. Here the sacred and adorable Trinity are represented doing their Part, in this marvelous Method of divine Grace, in bringing about the Salvation of Sinners; and here JESUS CHRIST lays as the Foundation;—which may be illustrated in a few Particulars.

p. 61. JESUS CHRIST is the Foundation, as he becomes our Surety in the Covenant of Redemption made between the Father and the Son. The Covenant of Redemption was that eternal Compact made between the Father and the Son, concerning the Salvation of Sinners, in which the Father makes great and precious Promises to his Son, that he would furnish him for, assist him in, and give him Success in this important Undertaking, Isai. xlii. at the Beginning. And the Son engages to secure the divine Honor, and procure Salvation for all those included in the Covenant. The great Immanuel says, Lo I 〈…〉 do thy Will, O God. Heb. x. 7. In this Covenant we may conceive the Father addressing his Son in some such Language as this—"My Son, behold here the Posterity of fallen Adam, who have utterly undone themselves by Sin, and my Justice requires Satisfaction, and if it takes Place on them, they will be miserable to all Eternity. What can be done for their Salvation? …