The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;SALVATION OF GOD. 287destroy, not save, her members. The point of all others onwhich the Bible has spoken out with most emphatic plainnessis, that Christ is the one only Saviour, and that hisatonement upon the cross is the sole and exclusive groundof eternal life. There are parts of revelation about whichwe may entertain imperfect or erroneous views, and yet besaved ; but this truth is the chief corner-stone of the gospel,and an error here must necessarily be fatal. We forsakethe one only foundation ; we go about seeking to establisha righteousness of our own ; we trust in a refuge of liesand cannot be saved. " For other foundation can no manlay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."*Herein we may trace the essentialand eternal differencebetween the Gospel and Popery,—between the Reformationand Rome. The Reformation ascribed all the glory ofman''s salvation to God,—Rome ascribed it to the Church.Salvation of God and salvation of man are the two oppositepoles around which are ranged respectively all true and allfalse systems of religion. Popery placed salvation in theChurch, and taught men to look for it through the sacraments; the Reformation placed salvation in Christ, andtaught men that it was to be obtained through faith." Bygrace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves,—it is the gift of God."-f- The development of the grandprimordial truth,—salvation of grace,—hasconstituted thehistory of the Church. This truth gave being to the patriarchalreligion; it formed the vital element in the Mosaiceconomy; it constituted the glory of primitive Christianity;and it was it that gave maturity and strength to tlwi Reformation.With one voice, Calvin, Luther, and Zuingle,did homage to God as the author of man''s salvation. Themotley host of wrangling theologians which met at Trentmade man his own Saviour, by extolling the efficacy andmerit of good works.The decree of the council by which the doctrine of the* 1 Cor. iii. 11. f Eph. xi. S.