The only living and true Cod, the great and essentially glorious Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, is manifested to sinners, as dwelling in the man Christ Jesus. This is the peculiar and precious truth of the gospel, a glorious mystery known only to believing souls. All other pretended knowledge of God is but vain speculation and pompons ignorance, which dwell in men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth.

We all naturally act from selfish principles, and with mercenary views, because we are under the legal covenant: ‘Do this and live.’ Hence saith one, ‘If doing righteousness and performing good works will not justify and save me, as good sit still and do nothing, no matter how wicked I am.’ Saith another, ‘To be sure, we are justified by faith only, but then I must fulfill the terms and conditions of the gospel, for my holiness and obedience secures my salvation.’

Sin viewed in the glass of God’s holy law, fills the soul with terror, works wrath in the conscience, and leaves the sinner under the curse without hope. But while the infinitely precious sacrifice of Jesus is beheld, sin appears exceeding sinful; the sinner is truly humbled, sin is loathed, Christ is cleaved to, and hope springs up in a sin-distressed conscience.