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I. THE GOSPEL IS A REPORT.

1. It is not a new report. It is that which was first heard by our first parents, "Thou shalt bruise his head." It is the same which was received by the patriarchs and prophets, of whom it is said, "These all died in faith." It is the same which began to be made by Christ, when in the fulness of time He brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. Novelty is sometimes pleaded against the preachers of the gospel. There is, indeed, a sense in which it is new; its excellence can be known only by experience.

2. But, if it be not new, it is full of truth. Your attention might perhaps be excited by a report that is not true, as some of you may have been excited by the mimicry of the stage, or as others may have poured tears of sensibility over a romance. But all is truth, all is reality here.

3. But supposing it to be true, is it interesting? Is this report an important one? Yes, it is as good as it is true, as true as it is good. There is something striking in the scheme of the gospel. Infinite wisdom is displayed in it, infinite grace is manifested in it; it is infinitely glorious in its effects. Drop it in a town, in a village, in a family, its influence will be soon felt. It does more than all the wisdom of the senate — than all the maxims of philosophers — than all the power of armies.

II. THIS REPORT IS CONNECTED WITH FAITH. Else it is made in vain. The complaint is, "Who hath believed our report?" I do not mean a family faith, for the exercise of which a man can assign no other reason than that his father believed so before him. Nor do I mean a geographical faith, by which a man makes a profession of Christianity merely because he lives in a Christian country. I speak of genuine faith. This is a Divine principle, and it produces Divine effects. It is of the operation of the Spirit, and it is always accompanied by proper fruits. Wherever the gospel report is carried, it carries the obligation to believe it, for there is —

1. Sufficiency of object. Christ, who was "made sin for us, though He knew no sin," and who is as willing as He is able, and as able as He is willing, "to save to the uttermost."

2. A sufficiency of authority to warrant all that the sinner expects. The Saviour came to seek and to save sinners. And is not this your character?

3. A sufficiency of invitation. The language of this report is, "Come." The Old Testament says "Come" — "Come, and let us reason together," etc. "Ho, every one that thirsteth," etc. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Come" — "If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink" — "Come unto Me, all that labour," etc. "And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come," etc.

(W. Mann, A.M.)

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KJV: But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

WEB: But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"