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C^^^^^^^^-^^
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>^
/CA^
DEFENSE
OF SOME
Important Dodrines
O F T H E
GOSPEL,
SERMONS.
In
Twenty
Six
Preached
in
LIME-STREET.
By
feveral
Ministers.
VOL.
II.
LONDON:
Printed for
J.
A.Ward,
Oswald,
"1'^
^I'T^h
in the^Poultry.
at the
Mdccxxxji.
1?&M T S
SECOND VOLUME.
VI.
mUE
1^
doarine of
fuiferings open'd
viii.
liver'd
in three
fermons on
Rom.
He
Chrift's
him up
32.
own
for us all
page
By Mr. BRADBUBt.
The
The
iv
The
The
The
Contents.
page 5
fermon
fecond fermon
third fermon
firft
^9
55
VII.
God
in
four fermons on
Gal.
ii.
16.
fied
87
By Mr. Bragge^
89
1
45
177
1
VIII.
The Contents.'
VIII.
The dodrine
Philip,
15.
ii.
you, both
to will and to do^ of his good
pleafure
page 209
It is
in
By Mr. Wilson.
The
an
fermon
T he fecond fermon
fir ft
2^5
IX.
Philip,
i.
in
two
fer-
6.
By Mr. Hall.
The
The Contents.
vi
The
The
page ay
fermon
lecond fermon
firft
X.
The dodrine
and
fermons on
ftated
of the reiurredion
defended ; in two
Acts
Why
(hould
incredible
xxvi. 8.
be thought a thing
with you^ that God
it
369
By Mr. Gill.
The
The
fermon
fecond fermon
371
firft
4.15
XL
of the evangelical
dodrine of man's falvation by the
free grace of God^ from the charge
vindication
of promoting licentioufnefs
fermon on
in a
Rom.
The Contents.
Rom.
20, 31.
V,
vii
i, a*
vi.
might
through righteoufiiefs, to
eternal life.
Wiiat fhall we fay
then? {hall we continue in fin,
reign,
that grace
forbid
dead
in
fin
live
it?
any longer in
page 485
By Mr. Taylor.
XIL
pradical
religion
or
into the
vifible in
in the prefent
fuch as profefs
day
in a fer-
oon on
I
Rev.
The
viii
Contents.
Rev.
To
the
lii.
angel
Sardis write,
he
who
God,
i, a, 5.
the church at
of
and the
feven
ftars ;
know thy
God
thou
Remember
haft
therefore
received
how
and heard,
If
hold faft and repent
therefore thou wilt not watch, I
will come on thee as a thief, and
and
thou
will
ftialt
not
By
the
page 567
Same,
R^
THE
DOCTRINE
O F
CHRIST'S Sufferings
OPENED.
IN
THREE
SERMONS.
By Thomas Bradbury,
Minifter of the Gofpel.
Vol.
II.
SERMON
Rom.
He Spared
viiL 32.
own Son^
him up for
not his
but delivered
us
all.
HE SE
neCsy
*^-
lii.
B.
Z.
^iliatioA
ii.
26.
Of
Sufferings.
Chrifi^s
and brought
in
an
everlafting righteoufnefs.
for, faith
he in
the
and therefore
argument
his care
ycr. z8,
1 Cor.
iii.
is
is
invincible,
it
be feen
to
which
to let
true
ment,
it
way of it,
James
1.
5.
t^erally,
II
as to the
-,
God,
either as to the
Pfal. Ixxxiv.
defign of his
a fhield, as he
gives grace and glory, fo he with-holds no.
good thing frpmtthofe that walk uprightly,
Aa4
Of
Chnfi^s Sufferings.
'tis
doing
as
much
as
can be, to
give us his own Son ; and as it is impoffible any future grant fliould go higher,
for
us all things.
it
for expedi-
by making the
to be the plan of the
^^
'tis
ufed,
neartheit juftifies
will condemn me :
me; who
And
B3
is
he that
coa-
i,
8^9;
OfChrift's Sufferings.
f.
that
doncludes,
who
is
Now
this
it
fignifies
very
little
he proves,
done already.
1.
He
Tf uftee,
appointed
joKnxviii.
-,
propofition, that
" were, by
jfaj
liii;
i,
a Perfon^ as
God^s
Of
God's
Cbrifi^s Sufferings.
own Son
to
do
it
mfo
'j
dear a
is
I begin
fo called,
It is a diftinguijhtng title
find the
name
-,
you will
in
heaven and in
By
creation
we
dren of God
He has made us, and notPfal. c. 5.
we our felves ; we are the work of his
hands, and the flieep of his pafture.
There is one God our Father, of whom i Cor. viii. 5.
are all things, and we of him : This isAasxvii. 28
the dodtrine of nature ; the apoftle
fpeaks of it with an approbation at
Athens y as one of your own poets have
faid. We are his offspring,
(2.) Angels poiTefs the name with a
dignity above us, as they had an exiftence before us i for when he laid out
the partition between the earth and wa:
B 4
ter.
'
Of
ter,
CbriJFs Sufferings]
when he
fet a
xxxviii. 7.
together, and
morning
ftars
fang
for joy.
(3.)
Hehasfometimesdropt thename
upon
Pfal. Ixxxii. 6.
Dan.
iv.
principalities, and
magiftrafes
powers I have faid ye ^rc gods^ and all
of you children of the mofi high-y but very
<^ften
17.
we
find,
among
thing that
(4.)
He
is
and did it
he direfts Mofes to tell Pharaoh 5 Ifrael
is myfon^ and my firft-born ; let my foii
go that he may ferve me Thus he upbraids them, when they proved a foolifh
people, and unwife, and very ill requi6. ted the Lord, who was their Father that
had bought them ; that is, he had made
and eftablifhed them. 'Tis in thefe
:
Dcut.xxxii.
jer. xxxi. 9.
the earth
Nor was
3,
this a
new
to
am
is
fny
thing in
he was
feparate
vi.
2.
As we
He
Of
Chrifl^s Sufferings.
He
li, 13.
We
make
viii.'
15.
fame language.
^^-
3c.
upon
the faints arrival there, he that overcomes thail inlierit all things ; and I
will be a
God
my Jon
Thus he
to
num.
xxi. 7,
lo
Heb.
Of
13.
ii.
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
whom God
children
With
I,
ty
name
diffufed
and
has given me.
John
18.
i.
i.
18.
it
peculiar to
to himfelf.
him
Of his own
he has
is
it all
will he begat us
by the word of
only begotten
When God
him
own
Son,
This was the
it is by way of eminence.
Father's decree, this was our Lord's de2.
Pfal.
ii.
Hcb.i.
7.
5.
calls
his
claration, that
he
creature
four things.
I,
Equa-
Of Chrifi^s
Sufferings.
Equality of nature.
2. Perpetuity of delight.
,3. Unity bf counfel.
4. Communion of glory.
1.
I. The term, his own Son, can import no lefs than an equality in nature.
It does fo every where : All nations of
men are of one blood, Adam begat a fon Afts xvii. 2^.
in his own image^ and his own likenefs, cen. v. 5.
altogether fuch a one as himfelf. Nature is the fame in a child, as it is in
the fulnefs of ftature ; the meafure of a
of man,
Of
Ql.
Rev.
i.
1.
17.
8.
lfai,ix.
6.'
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
We
t John V.
we may
know him
that
is
true,
^ ^ ^'
'
thus
Of Chrifi^s
Sufferings.
i:>
we
50,
s^*
This
2.
citle.
a perpetuity of love
The Lord
poflefTed
me
in the
Cor.
beginning Prov.
\.
^4,
viii*.
always
before him.
He fpeaks very often concerning an unity of nature, and yet v/ith
a plain diftindtion of perfons.
He
is
call'd the
only begotten,
in
who
Thisjohni.
had
it
ai,
^45 ^<^-
i8.
Of
14.
Cbrifi'^s
at his haptifm
Matt.
17.
iii.
z Pet.
i8.
i.
is
is
my
Col.
Rom.
4.
1 3.
i.
Heb.
6.
ii.
i.
s.
xi.
pleafed.
whom hisfsul
I Pet.
whom
xli.
i.
beloved Son^ in
viii.
Epli.
//^j'
am
Matt.
This
fore, "This
John
Sufferings.
3^.
ifaLsi. 15.
Of
Chrijl^s Sufferings.
name
is
is
fo
how great
ful,
it,
in hisjobxi. 18.
folly;
by which
caird Wonder- ifai. ix.
that
<j.
He
Counfellor ?
peats
ved to batter him with ftones, for making himfelf equal with God. He goes
on
Son
whereas,
it
might
that the
heart of the king is unfearchable ; but
as the ^^mx. fearcheth all things^ yea, iCor.ii. lo.
the deep things of God, fo the Son
i,nows all that is in the Deity.
That
muft be an infinite mind that is equal to
an infinite nature ; no man knows who Matt. xi. 17.
the Son is but the Father, and who the
Father is but the Son.
And is it not a wonder that he fhould
paxt with him^ and give him up for us
'
all
6
1
ail,
OfCbrifs Sufferings.
with whom he took counfel
'Tis
Zech.
vi.
4.
The
title,
communion of
him,
as
we do
There
John
-5-
him
Ifai. xiv.
->
5-
is
is
all
thou lovedji
Rev.
fay to
Csn.
fignifies a
We may
and the
the kingdom,
glory.
xxi.
12.
1,
me
be-
The'
of Lucifer was,
that he fet his throne as the throne of
God, yet, without any inequality, we
the
higheft
infolence
Lamb,
ijiount Sion
iri
their
Of
SuffetingSo
Chrifi's
is
much
as
of
and
faid
il.
II.
We
God
Perfonji
did not pare him, which fignifies the greatnefs, the extremity of his
troubles.
The phrafe is full and llrong,
and carries in it a vaft meaning; he fubmitted to the utmoft anguifh and bitternefs.
You will underftand the word,
as you do when it is ufed in a cafe that
is oppofite, I will fpare them in the dayMal.
daat I make up my jewels, as a man
/pares his ownfon that ferves tiim. God's
that
Vol. il.
'
fparing
iil.
xr,
'
l8
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
fparing his people then, when he is putting them among his jewels, when they
are ftrung
common
falvation,
may
all
know and
feel the
fenfe
We
of the
it
fure.
l^v. SIX.
1 5.
He
for
2.
3.
to,
upon his
foul.
4.
The
Of
ChrijTs Sufferings.
4.
that he
was
fubjed: to,
5.
6.
The
The
to
all
chefe troubles.
any of them 3
he drank the laft dregs of the cup ; not
a drop was left or fpilt upon the ground,
(i.) You fee that God did not fparc
him from the perpetual jneannefs of his
life.
As foon as he was made of a woman, he made himfelf of 7io reputation Gal. iV. 4,
7.
he came empty into the world, though Phil.
in him dwelt all the fuhiefs of the God- ^^* "* ^
head bodily
He was to come of the
race of their kings, and was raifed up Luke
69.
as an horn of falvation in the houfe of
his fervant Davids but this mufl be at
a time when the tabernacle of David was A^fl^ xv. kJ.
-j^""'^"'
fallen-, as if God had caft off and ab^f
hor'd, and been wrorh with his anointed He had made void the covenant of
his fervant, and profaned his crown
he
had made his glory to ceafe, and caft his
in
ii.
i.
'
'
among
birth
the princes
Bethlehem, theMicahv.
was
him
in the inn.
What
Luke
ii.
i.
n.
7,
2o
Luke
Of
ii.
What
ChrijPs Sufferings.
9.
tidings
a glory
to
from heaven
here is a wall of fire
round about them, and no wonder when
the great glory was come in the midft
of them ? To hear the angels preaching
the everlafling gofpel, telling them tydings of great joy, that to them was
;
in
the city of
David
Luke
ii.
475
^^'
And
Pfai. ixix.
as he complains in prophecy,
reproach has broken my heart, I am
lo.reproach
liii.
Chap,
iv^
3-
1.
',
Ifai.
of heavinefs
their faces
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferingu
Ct l
ing for
in
him
He who
upon
was
to
his fhoulders,
You may
pains and fufferings. He who was fairer than the fons of men, has his W-
i^ai. Hi.
when
it
fhines in all
its
16.
6.
ftrength,
i.
1.
2.
14.
earth
Rev. xx.
n.
Of
22
John
6.
iv.
ChrijTs Sufferhig^.
He knew
xxii.
l^fal.
16
Heb.
X.
I Pet.
Pfa
ii.
"5.
xxxviii.
own body on
him
the tree
we
fo that
fee
no foundnefs
in
3-
-,
5^'
foul
c\tn.
unto^
them
to
watch.
like
Of
ChriJTs Sufferhigs.
aj
xxii.^-f,
earth.
(4.)
That which
prefs'd
him
fo
much
parted h'om
Judab.
*^^^- 1^*
;;
Of
3^^
Chrifi^s Sufferings*
Johnxvlii.
l^'
Chap.
xix. 4.
he fjould
crucify
him i
die.
He
told
them
foui.i
ffal. ii.
I.
V.
30.
Heb.xiii. 2
That
Of
Chriff^s
That which
Sufferings.
25
principally to be
(6.)
is
particular
the
energy that
minded,
the Father gave to all thefe troubles ;
is
-,
1.
He
who
all
things
are
poffible
we may
it
there,
8.
if Mact. xxvi.
may
v.
to
fay
within him.
Though
^^*
26
^ph.
V.
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
Though he was
1.
offered as a facrifice
of
Matto xxvii.
46.
Mark
XV, 36
him upon
it
Luke
ix.
met him
6,Elias
51.
Let us
come
in the
whe-
him down.
mount of transli-
to take
he could do nothing
it.
He foretold, on mount
^Tabor, what happened on mount CaU
'vary
and it was ftill more daring to
fay. Let God deliver him^ if he will
have him 3 for he faid, I am the Son of
God.
Upon the whole, you fee the truth
and propriety ofthofe aftonifhing words,
that it pleafed the Father to bruife
I will not
himy and put him to grief
fay it was threatened, but it was deat Jcrufalem^ but
to prevent
-,
Ifai. liif,
10.
lign'd,
Zech.
xiii. 7.
Jer. xlvii. 6,
"
when God
proclaim'd,
Awake^
into
Of
Chrifi'^s
Sufferings.
How
it
he
For
who
it
was
R.
S E
RMON
Rom.
He /pared
hut
us
viiL
not his
delivered
II.
32.
own
Son,
him wp for
all.
HE
let
became acquainted. He
gave himfelf for our fins^ that he mightcal.
deliver us from this prefent evil world,
according to the will of God^ and our
f.
4.
Father.
That fecond
their guilt,
is
true
Matt, xxvH,
^^y
^
;
50
Of
ChriJTs Sufferings.
Aftsiii.
',
What he
good.
The
Pfal. cxlvii.
5.rnind,
greateft end.
Meb.
ii.
to.
ferings.
The
Of
The
Chrifi^s
ii
Sufferings.
-,
particulars.
I. It was agreed on in the counfel' between the Father and Son.
2. It
iii.
15.
Of
ChriJTs Sufferings.
2. It was foretold in the very dawning of the love and kindnefs that appeared towards men.
3. It was defigned
of devotion, which
mong
4.
in the
God
whole frame
appointed a-
his people.
To
this
may
add,
that
thefe
'Tis
in their
felf was
'
apprized,
him-
fented.
7. 'Tis
of
There
it
in
is
to be an eternal
heaven
which
memo-
fliews, that
powers
Of
ChrijTs Sufferings
|j
own
obedience to
death
of
the crofs. It
deathj even the
to be confider'd as his
God
ftle's diftin(5tion,
the
Jews
only wife,
who
is
Him^
determinate counfel
God^ ye have taken^
ii.
zj,
and foreknowledge of
and by wicked hands
^i
come
Vol, IL
fix'd,
fphere,
what
and brought
that
it
fliould
to pafsi
h W^
vii.
$.
Of
54
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
the Son.
I Cor.
ii.
Indeed,
Pa
this
among
is
the fecret
of
**^'
We
Zech.
vi.
Ifai. Hi.
Johnii. 19.
Jfai. lili. 4,
Jfcr.
lo*
them bth.
'Twas the
pleafure of the
Lord
that
Pfal cxxxviii
*
2,
laft
Of
aft it
ChriJTs Sufferings^
'Twill hold
when
the
firft
^^
hea-
Rev. xxi.
r.
Coi. vi.
15^,
'y
down
for
he was
it is
To this
Pe:.
i.
iqj
the ^*
The
difciples
knew how
to confidef
the malignity
of mehj without any jumble or confuThey work together, and yet are
greatly diftind: ^ things are. call'd by
their proper names.
Here's the rage A<fls iv.
of theHe^then^ the vain imaginations ^^^ ^''^
fion
25,
*^'
Of
3^
Chrijl'*s
Sufferings,
both
to his
was not
hand and
is
attributed
his counfely as if
it
Prov.
viii.
3^'
contrived.
John
X,
II.
the
in
;
them,
is
The good
The
Of
The
ChriJTs Sufferings,
57
fufferings
i.
denote the
That
human
his troubles in
it,
thefe
expreitions
fo that.
The
firft
doftrine reveal'd to
Adam
New
;,
Of
gS
Heb.ii.
14.
ChriJPs SufferiTigs,
We
Gal.
iif.
8.
'di
It
Hcb.
XI. 4.
was by
fer'd to
than
faith in
God a
Cain,
that was
more
facrifice,
that
better
it
had refped;
to
him,
who
is
caird,
the foundation of
he obtained witnefs
that he was righteous; not by this faith
|)ut by this facrifice ; for though the
grammatical con(lrud:ion agrees to either of them, yet 1 rather choofe this
the world.
By
this
inter-
Of
Chrifi's Sufferings.
God
is
59
particu-
teftified
of
his gifts.
They
all
hope
(Q,t
be-^^^-
"vi.
gracious in
the remiffion of fins; and they looked
to the great atonement, as the reafon of
the hope that was in them.
So early did Rom.
fore
iii.
i8.
is*
God Jet
him to
xxvi< 12
v.
11.
Thefe
3.
flood
As they
to guide
they
walked before God, it proved them to be
reconciled
for how fhould two walk Amos
together except they are agreed ? Their
it.
by faith,
offered
as
facri-
iii.
3.
*i
Of
40
Chrifi^s
facrifices in fo
Sufferings.
Heb.
ix.
12.
ar-
that
believed ;
without the (hedding of blood there could
be no remiffion; and this muil carry
their thoughts to him, who was to redeem us in the body of his fejJo through
death.
But thefe
rules
came
to be
more
di-
Rom,
iv.
II.
the
When
cifed,
x Cor. V. 7.
li.
Eph. V.
uh.
many
as fo
who
is
who
2.
A^sxxvi.
7.
and a
intenfenefs,
reft
of thought upon
Now
to
11,
Heb.,i3:.
'
'
i4i
:
things
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
a |
come
things to
bloody fhould
for us
fied,
was
that the
way
of
^//pfeb.
Ix.
8.
x.
z.
iv^.
ly
and anHcb.
x.
9.,
10.
glorious has
heavens 5
things}i^\:,i^. 25.
them^
Of
4-1
Col.
17.
ii.
Heb. X. lo,
Jijii.
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
The -body
themfehes.
-
-^
is
Chrift
He
Heb.
^^*
ix.
25,
ly^ to abolijh
And
\\.\
there
therefore,
away fm by
may
You
beafts
Keb.
xiii.ii.
And
prefenred before the holieft of all.
thus is Chrift gone, not with the blood
of others, but his own ; nor into the
holy places made with hands, but into
heaven
it felf.
They had
xoni^ix.
s.
all
H^h
i^.
ii
'
n'*
as their diftincftion
them
from
Chrift
was
Matt, xxvii.
it
to
death
Of Chrifi^s
Sufferings.
^^
bw
the ceremonial
was
in full force, till the feed came to whom cal.
the promife was made ; and the thing
death: For
was over
to
all
which thofe
figures
ii.
19.
had their
allufion.
was
all laid
and contriv'd.
xxvi.a<tv
yet
fin,
jaftice
5. 'Tis
i^- ---
Of
44
ChrijVs Sufferings.
v/hziiht prophets y in their fe-rveral ages gave a lineal witnefs to, prophefy was nothing but revelation rc^
taird and dealt out in parcels ; holy men
of God fpake as they were mov*d,
^ipjfj^oiy blown about and carried, diredted and appointed, born and upheld
by the Holy Ghoft. What God at firft
declared with his own mouth, afterwards he diftributed through earthen
veflels, at fundry times, and in divers
manners. And as the firft and greateft
thing that ever he had to tell mankind,
5. *Tis
2 Pet.
^^'
Heb.
i.
i.
io,
I.
Pet.
i.
10,
apofi:le
Peter
tells us,
lines ftretching,
here.
As the
who enquired
II-
'vatioJi,
to us
them
iii.i
3,14.
them of their
fin:
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings]
^^
17,
make
it
the dodtrine
24.
thefe days.
David
j^,
his foul
do otherwife.
'Tis plain
from the
eftablifli'd
fangs
f,
9^'
Of
46
Pfai. ixix. 19.
Pfal. xl. 6.
Chrijl^s Sufferings.
thou bord
Heb.
X.
5,6.
Phil.ii. 7> 8.
Heb.v.
7.
or,
mine
am
ear hafl
out and
marked to be thy fervant for ever: I
have got the perpetual badge.
Ths
equivalent to this phrafe in the New
Teftament is, a body haji thou prepared
me : And by matching the one of thefe
to the other, we fee that with the fa-J/jio;i of a man he took on him the form
of a fervant^ preparing him a body^
was boreing his ear, he had it on purpofe to learn obedience by the things that
j
that
is,
fet
he fuffer'd.
Pfal. ex. 7.
David
of his drinking
way. Our poetical tranflator makes no more of it, than
that he fhould floop to mean refrefhalfo fpeaks
of the brook
ments
poiition,
in the
which
and
is,
I think,
carries
but a
mean
mean
exre-
Efaia
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
^f
xli.
ir.
mouth
dumb, he
is
He was
taken
opened not his
from prifon and judgment s cut off out
of the land of the living For the tranfgrejjions of my people was he Jlricken ;
:
my
Daniel
made
interceffion
fhall
be cut
ii.
exprefs
all
thofe
who
6, 7,
xii.
10.
is by faith.
It
accomplifhment of this defign
that one of the foldiers run a fpear intojohnxix.
hhis fide, and forthwith there came out
blood and watef^
6, 'Tis
was
in
Of
48
6. 'Tis
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
was apprized
Heb.
^^
X. 7j 8,
'*
comc^
of,
'y
may
homage
at laft
when he
faid,
not
my
ifai. liii.
a.'
The human
fpifed
Aasu.30.
Of
Chrifi's Sufferings.
ij.p
upon
him
all
cxxxH.
the people.
He
tree
upon the
away
road, and to
go empty
as if
7.
tation.
He
Vol.
II.
his
JO
OfChrifi's Suffemgs]
!iis
of mifery.
Crucifixion might
deaden the other two by degrees j the
cities
Ifai. Ini. 41
felt:
life
forrow like to
8.
He
his forrow.
till
the
John
.4^
iv. i9
vii.
45}
When
Of
ChrijTs Sufferings.
him, no
man
laid
hands on him,
be-johavlii. 20
-Hap. x.
is
9.
Thefe
out to meet
fufFerings are
He
thought
what he went
duty to
do fo. When he fpeaks of his being
betray'd, forfaken, condemned, and crucified ; fays he, that the world may
kndw I love the Father; As the Fatberjoha xW.
gave me comniandmeiit^ fo I do y a rife,
and let us go hence : 'Tis under this
controul that he prays and cries; Father, let this hour pafs from me ; neverthelefs, for this caufe came I to /y6/i chap. xli.
hour-y that is, " There is nothing in
ij this hour which I fo dread, but what
:
it
his
51.
17.
Of
51
Chrifi'^s
Sufferings.
poilure of
where
fhall
willing Servant.
lo. There is to be an eternal memorial of thefe things in heaven, which
fhews the defign was laid mi\iQ piace^
it
The
be ever admired.
is
ceafed to
them
weave
9.ev.
i.
Si 60
it
When
theyfpeak of J ejus y as the faithful Witnefs, the Prince of the kings of the
earth, you may fay. Holy and reverend
is his name ; but they don't forget that
he is the firji begotten Jrcm the dead ;
and from that title there gulhes out an
adoration ; to him that lov'd us, and
wa(}jed usjrom our Jins in his own bloody
be glory and dominion for ever.
Thus the happy throng that are about
him, from every part of the grand circles
give
Of
give
in
ChriJTs Sufferings,
their
praifes
Thou
:$
waft
bleffing.
E R-
RMON
Rom*
He Spared
viii-
us
3 2.
own
not his
hut delivered
in.
Son^
htm up
for^
alii
HE
E ^
abwnda
ii.
56
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
as well
as
comfort j
I Pet.
ill.
i6.
and therefore
why
which contain
Luke
ii.
14.
in
'em
towards men
nothing got by it.
will
and
truth,
much of a good
becaufe there is
fo
To
deny the
fatif-
Siom.v. 2.
in
we
ftand.
That
there
is
am
a finner,
is
fo true, that
no pretence to doubt
it ;
that
by this, God is angry is a matter beyond all difpute j that without his favour I can have no hope of efcaping the
wrath to come, is very certain : Now it
not to be fuppofed that he will be
gracious to me with any injury to himfelf ; but if I am faved, as it will be to
the glory of his mercy, fo there muft
be no dishonour upon any other attribute : Therefore fome way or other he
muft be faithful and juft to forgive us
our fins : He will be well pleafed for bis
righteoufnefs fake ; he will magnify the
laWy and make it honourable : It is not
enough that there is the forbearance of
is
John
i.
9.
Ifai. xliL
21.
Rom.ul
25.
God
Of
Cbrifi^s
Sufferings.
^j
vvv
)c<zi^(Sy
in the
righteoufnefs, that he
the juftifier
Jefus.
and, in
many
cafes,
it
is
more
pens'd with, and the penalties they declare are no more than the blaft of a
terrible
one, a mere
ftorm againft
aifai.xxvo 4,
wall.
But
Of
58
But
ChriJPs Sufferin^i
Deut.xxxii. 4. honourable
to him,
who
ways are
is
dif-
the Rock^
i.
Gen. xviiL
x5.
Pfal. ixv. 5.
Exod. xxxiv.
7.
no means
Now
if there
is
a fatisfadlion to be
Of
Chrijl^s
'0
Sufferings']
it,
dience.
Our
we were
able to
though
perfed:, is no
aftive obedience,
make
it
It may reach
ought to be
law,
of
but not to
the
demands
the
to
Doing
it.
a prefent
the breaches of
work, is no difcharge to a former debt
Duty can never be an atonement for fin.
He that offends in one pointy is guilty of James
more than
it
:
And if a perfon does not continue
in all things that are written in the book Gal.
ii.
lo.
all
of the law, he
is
accurfed.
iii.
lo.
fingle
him under
a condemnation.
^o
Of
Chrifi'^s
Sufferings.
y^
Ifai. liii. 6.
hand of Chrift,
Chap. xlii.ii.fure
falvation
a
Rom.
I
iii.
John
iii.
is,
righteous
fome way or
23.AS
4.
whatever law
Giri,
iii.
become
what he
other,
21.
righteoifnejs
it is
is
that gives
to be
life,
verily
by that law
It
this,
which,
I believe,
be equally trifling.
If the punifhment
is no pardon for us \
is
no
is
will
appear to
compleat, there
if it
fatisfaction to God.
is
not, there
As duty con-
law commands, fo
vengeance comprehends all that the law
fifts
has threatened.
To
im-
we :
We do
it
by a
dilobe--
Of Cbrifi-s
6i
Sufferings.
and he by a difpenfation.
he will receive an imperfeft punifliment, inftead of what he
has fpoke of, makes the threatning no
more than gr^at fwelling words of vanity, mere wind and blufter.
I can therefore, with all the ufe of
my reafon, fee nothing but a heap of
briars and thorns, a long train of entanglement, in denying the fatisfaftion of
Chrift i for I mull fuppofe that God
made a law, which afterwards he thought
fit to drop ; that he publiihed a threatning without any defign of an execution y and that had he forefeen the difficulty, he would never have done it;
with all the knotty twifted perplexities
that follow, that he is changeable, undifobedience,
And
to fay that
xxiii.
i|.
any
loft.
-^
deli^
v. 19.
v.
18.
6a
0/
delivered
Job xxxiii.
*4
Chrifi^s Sufferings^
becaufe he has
d:rine contained in
it.
I Cor. il 4.
Luke
i.
Rev.
xi.
78.
or the capacity of reafon ; that can neither contrive nor receive it.
The dayfpring by which we have the difcovery
came from on
propofition
is
i.
20.
Piov.xxx. 4,
-,
yet what is
;
is
what
his
Sons name ?
and
name,
his
That there was one
if thou can'ft tell
Prov.vlii. 30. always with him^ daily his delight^ the
Heb.
3.
brightnefs of his glory, the only begotjehni. 18.
Thefe are titles
^^^ ^^ ^j^^ Father.
that this world would never have heard
i.
Of Chrifi^s
of, if they
Sufferings.
Si>
ther.
Secondly^ 'Tis
we
read of his
no
own
lefs
when
amazing,
How
ments
Thirdly^ 'Tis ftill farther out of our
depth, that one hated by his nation,
envied by his rivals, deferted by his
friends, betrayed by men, and infulted
by devils, fhould have this whole calamity devolved upon him by a divine ap^
the Father of mercies,
; that
of protedting him from the
wickednefs of the age, ihould deliver
him up to it. Here are counfels and decrees, predictions and figures, orders and
refolutions, that thus it muft be
'Tis
not poffible that the cup fhould pafs
from him, but the will of the Lord
(hall be done : And as we are encompaffed on every fide with his marvellous
f ointment
inftead
works.
15;
3 3,
Of
64.
Chrifl's Sufferings.
V.
21. it
was
his
who knew
He made
no fin, that
is
him
all
us.
as ours, in
regarded as if
to be Jin for us
we might
be the
right eoufnefs of God in him.
If mea obje6l againft this part of the dodtrine,
as
tribute of glory to
God: He does
it
all
For
that he alone may have the praife.
this reafon, the Son is the Perfon, his
death is the price, a divine decree is the
and a divine imputation
We have no ftiare in finding
eftabliftiment,
the effed.
the furety, or bearing the burden, or
fixing the appointment, or giving the
i8.
XV.
pardon. God is all and in all : And as
i Cor.
he did it in no other view than of his own
glory, fo it ftiall have no other event.
He did it by himfelf j he did it for himEph. i. d.
felf.
are to the praife of the glory
We
Of
There
2dly.
6J
Chrift^s Sufferings.
is
nothirig can be
more
His firft
God, and
is
'
5.
for
gofpel.
The
Vol.
II.
i.
That
t9*
66
Of
Suffemgs.
Chrifi's
1.
the Sojt of
tiie
that,
ittt.if. 22.
Heb.vii. i6,
2.
That he had
all
were ever endured, by fhame and trouble ; a terror of foul, and a torment of
body, and that without any allay ; as if
he muft wring out the very dregs of
ffal. Ixxv. 8.
wrath, and have the laft drop of the
There was no forcup of trembling
row like to his forrow. Very often in
Hab.iii. a.
judgment God remembers mercy 5 but
PfkUxxvii. 9.here he h'diA forgotten to be gracious^ and
to his own Son had fliut up his tender
He was fo far from fparing
mercies
him from his agonies, that he did not
fpare him i?i them > his mercy was clean
:
gone.
Ter.xxxi. 20.
he is
deliver
d up
in a decree
that
was
Now
Of
Now
Chrifi's
6y
enclosed
there
is
--
fide,
Sufferings
if the beft
worft lot,
pointment, what was
we are
it
no turning
to the
right ^'^
We
what
poffible to fay
therefore
oblige
it
thofe
is
for.
Let us
whofe notions
to the crofs of
and fuppofe there was no falvation of a chofen people to be obtain'd
this way.
Let our imaginations do as
the dove did, when it flew out of Noal/sCQUs
ark, rove, and foar, and wander about,
and try if there is any reft for the fole
of the foot, belides what the Holy Spi-
Chrift,
rit
viii.
9.
hiflies
afflidts
Will any
in
a?2
willingly,
dren of men
fay
that
arl?itrary
wa)\
God puthat
heLam.
iii.
chil-
with
ix.
2^
^8
Of Chrip
Sufferings,
if fo,
in the mifery
JAt
7*
Cor. V.
Jin,
is
much
as
goodnefs,
his
as
honour of
of his juftice :
againft the
it
is
For,
2.
There
will be
no pretence that he
ie.
him
liable to
that
when
it.
the Mefiiah
is
cut
off,
it is
and I am perfwaded
this is a point that no body will difpute
with him. The Jews had really more
excufe for thefnjelves, than we can have
if you do not compreiov providence
hend in the death of Chrift the fin of
They fay to Pilate, If he
|hnxviii. 30. his people.
were not a malefactor, we would not
have deliver'd him to thee Thus they
7iot
for
hi7nfelf',
-,
thought.
Of
^9
Chrifiys Sufferings.
it;
17.
is
xi.
37-
it.
niery pitiful^
(ind
"
Di4
j,d.
^o
Of
Sufferings.
Chrifi'^s
And,
him.
Was
to'
Jearn
ifai.
liii.
8.
for US all
gre[jion
There
',
oj
are
as
God
7ny
fays,
was
people
two things
that I
he Jiricken,
would ob-
ferve here.
I.
The
was given up
he
what we
iliould.
Eph.
111.
15.
The
"
Job XV. z.
plain as
any ex-
he gave him
;
no eaftern figure,
or outlandiih.form of fpeech 5 no peculiarities or idioms, of which we are to,
We may unfetch the fenfe fi-om afar.
derftand the phrafe without any vain
knowledge, or filling our belly with the
That he died is certain, that
eaft-wind.
up for
us
it vvTiS
7iot
all.
There
is
for himfelf
is
evident
To
deny
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
-,
pheme
againft
fore
it is
ji
againfl all
to affirm the latter, is to blaf-
Jor
to
lie
goodnefs.
all
US',
is
that
And
there-
is,
vi.
ir-.
fore give
up
my
things.
Firji^ Shew you the force and wic^
kedneis of one interpretation. And,
ISeco?7dl)\
The
neceffity, clearnefs,
and
loofe
-,
judgeth righteoufly.
in
The
queflion
is
not,
whether
"
this is
F 4
i^
Pet. n, if^
Of
75
it
Chriftys Sufferings]
include the
that article
conceive not
-,
in
becaufe,
Heb.xii.
I.
james
v.
lo.
Pcb,
xi.
i.
If no
My
of that
Why
^;
Of
CbriJTs Sufferings.
j^
that they ought to aft as he did, in many cafes, I own, but not in all of them.
There
in
and
we may
xtvjhallbe.
The
As,
of a fubmiffion to
He, indeed, could
delivered
himfelf from the unrighhave
teous fentence, and he did not do it
but I deny that this is our duty. If
I can refift an unlawful execution, I
ought: If I had the ftrength oi S am/on
[i.]
neceffity
am bound
to ufe
it
them
He who made
6.
was becaufe
this particular,
he
is
fo that, in
no example, nor
ofi^^x, xlix. 7.
rulers,
is
felf:
He
is
no example
this
way
it
Q/"
74
Chrifi'^s
Sufferings.
Gal.iii. i?.
peut.xxi.
',
therefore,
The
human
Watt, xxvii.
4^
nance.
this
may
give
me
To which
anfwer.
If you confider this abftrafted from
his refurredlion, it is no difhonour to
fay, that there is fcarce a martyr from
whofe death we may not fee more reality in the Chriilian religion, than the
world could do from that of Chrift;
for if you look upon things only by the
out-
Of
ne
ChrijPs Sufferings.
outward appearance ; his crofs was enough to ftumble all mankind. Well
might they call it, T'he offence of theory v. n.
To fee a perfon go out qf the
crofs.
world difclaim'd by men, difown'd by
God, is amazing.
Had he gone off, as others do, in a
chariot of fire, not loving their lives to 2 Kings
u,
the death; had he cried out, as S/^-^^^-^"- "
ii.
phefz
him
56.
Of
7$
Cbrifi's Sufferings:
his
he
with
not
given up
things ?
If Chriflt
ing, I
God
am
will
me
all
things^
that I
I
Phil.
ili.
10,
that
we
are,
fufferifigSy
Gal.ii. 10.
Col
ii.
12.
purpofe
that
is,
That he became a
our room or ftead. The
2.
Gen.
*7-
ii.
i5,
iaid.
Subftitute^
iirft
covenant
Of
thou
Suffer ingsl
Chrifi^s
furely die
And
j^
accordingly
i^
an angel with a faming fwordy
drawn out againft Adam in perfon, if
he dared to return. But in the new covenant this /word is awakened againft Zech. xiii. 7.
another ; not the flock, but the Shepherd ; not the man who was God's eneiliy, but the Man that was his Fellow^
his Equal, and with whom he took the
The chaftifement of
fweeteft counfel.
cur peace was upon hi?ny and by hisJiripesifAu Vni f.
flialt
there
Gen.
iii.
is
we are healed.
(i.) This is the plain and eafy, the
unforced and natural fenfe of the words
If they mean not this, they mean nothing.
To darken a vilible text, is
talking in words without knowledge job xxxviii. s,
He that ftands for me, flands in my
place
he that afts for me, ads in my
llead
He is what I fhould have been ;
he does what I fhould have done He
that is given or appointed for me, is but
where I fhould be. To force a common fentence,is perfecution ; 'tis drawing
the gold of the fand:uary unto little
threads and wires, and ufing a text as
Said did a difciple, compelling it tOAasxni. n,
blafpheme.
(2.) The dodrine of Chrifl's fatisfaftion is no fingle, fcatter'd, independent
article, but agrees to the whole ftream
of the bible :
have not this truth
:
',
We
as
^S
Of Chrifs
S/r'
^Tr
the
Jound
of
Sufferings.
many
-waters:
I will
juft
^
Gen.>n.
...
Rc.
...
,.
,5.
was
themly -way. This is the
righteoufnefs
-.of God that n^itneffed by
the prophets.
Ever fmce he made
a
L'wW
lecl day.
_
Whatever
ledt,
have
faid
upon
this fub-
from the
many quotations
word of God
I wUi j^ere
:
remember
to
they pretend to
pafs for
Jcr.xu.
5.
Let
Of
Chriji's Sufferings.
-7^
Xnl 4.
intercefjion for
iz.
tranf
greffors.
Thus
he fpake of
The Son of
man^v^arkx.
4^
a ranfom for many.
His apoflles are witnefTes of thefe things.
God has commended his love towards Rom. v. a.
Us, in that whilft we were yet fmners,
Chrijl died for us: When we were
without ftrength, Chriji died for the ungodly.
God fending his Son in the like- chap. viii. 5,
nefs of fmful flefh, by a facrifice forfin,
came
himfelf-.
condemned
fin
righteoufnefs
in the flefh,
that the
Jeius,
OfCbrip
8o
Jefus,
Heb.
ix.
yen
14.
iz.
alL
who gave
By
his
own
blood
Chap,
Suffering^.
ili,
we
He
are healed.
I John
To
may
We
Rom.
Chap
vi.
iv.
We
juftification.
What
preaching
i.
29,
is
Behold the
way
Lamb
oj
a-^
The
Of
The
ChriJFs Sufferings.
its parts,
New
Teftament
and therefore
laying afide the imputation of his righteoufnefs, is a fpunge to the whole inftitution, and leaves us in all our worfhip
to be walking in a vain {hew.
Nor do I ever exped to fee the Bible
defended in the hands of thofe by whom
in
his blood
-y
it is thus defeated,
'Tis in vain to fet
out Jefus, unlefs it be as a PropitiationKom.
for our fns through faith in his blood 3
without this our preaching is in vain,
vain.
fins,
To
is
to
fay that
make
iii.
zji
he
thecal,
v, 4,
i.
I.
'y
OfChrifs
8a
jthn
xii.
3.
Sufferings.
God.
'Tis not duties that will do
when
which
Jobxiv. ^.
6,
is
made
it
to abhor
for
him-
felf,
Ifai. Ixiv.
a perfon
is
-,
rags.
To
tion by Chrift
is
we know
lives.
But
this
and
to
ftedfaft.
The
this doftrine to
Of
Sufferings.
Chrtfi's
:^
and abfolutions,
and cringes, their tyranny
and trumpery were the generation of
vipers that iffued from this womb
And
therefore when God poured out a Spirit
of reformation upon the land, 'twas not
only in fcowering the churches of Imagery, and rumbling among their idols,
but the ax was laid to the root of the
tree; Chrift alone was exalted in thatlfai.
i/,
day, and the wicked one confumed aTheiT.
8,
way by the brightnefs of his coming
then Were our priejis cloathed with righ- Pfal. cxxxiL
teoufnefs^ and all the faints jhouted for^^'
ries,
their confeffions
their croffes
ii.
2.
And \vhen
this dodlrlne
Proteftant caufe
is
denied, the
is
a going.
ii.
There
Is
fuch people
have got thejiump of agon they want
only the palms of his hands to be fet on
>
again.
Go
o:t\d
fee
God
the
vn,
l^i
Of
8f
the
Chrifl'^s
Roman
Stifferings.
Where-ever the
vehicle.
righteoufnefs of Chrift
goes out,
Avians,
The
in.
the
who
made room
tisfadlion,
Thus,
for Antichrifl.
2. As he was delivered up
remember it was for us all.
whole human
John
xvii.
(i.)
The
9.
iri.
Not
the
The meaning
Phil.
for us, fo
The
of
chiefeft
befound in
is,
that,
biniy
all
it.
lfai.xl.
Rev,
i.
II.
5.
nion.
The
When we come
in his beauty,
is
Rev.
xix.
\i,
afar off,
fword upon
his garment
the
King
we
fhall
find,
his thigh
is
to fee
indeed,
the
but,
however.
dipt in blood.
'Tis the
>
dodtrine
Of
Chrifi^s Sufferings.
we now
words.
G3
85
PLAIN
SCRIPTURAL ACCOUNT
A
O F A
Sinner's Justification
Before
IN
GOD.
FOUR
M9N
ER
By
ROBERT BRJGGE,
S.
B 4
SERMON
Gal.
Knowing
ii.
that a
I.
i6.
man
is
not
ju/iified
law,
we
believed inJefusChrift
we might
have
;
that
be juftified by the
^f.HESE
Of
90
Jufiification.
*'
the Spirit of truth, as he is Chrift's glorlfier, both lifts up a ftandard againft errors
of all forts, in the dodlrine of a finner's
juftification before God ; and holds out a
lamp of gofpel light, to dired: awakened
fouls into the true way of gofpel juftification: For they tell us how the apoftles
and primitive faints were all of them
juftified, and that negatively ; " Knowing
man
is
;"
law
'
perfedl or remedial.
Then
who
Gal.
iii.
2,1,
thofe
Of
Jufitfication.
without which the former would but have driven awakened Tinners to defpair, " but by the faith of Jefus
thofe early days
Chrift," that
as
objecftj
" Even
mount
is,
we have
Awakened
left to
is
finners, in
as
he
is
re-
I.
Ifhall ftiew
what
it is
ftiall
fliew
how
it is
that finners
are juftified.
I Vw I ihall endeavour to
errors
of
all
forts,
ner'sjuftification before
God.
Of
9?
I {hall
I.
Jufiification.
fhew what
it is
God
for a finner to
where I fhall
briefly afTign the difference between gofpel
juftification, and gofpel fanftification ; the
blending of which together is a Popifh
error, very pernicious, and of fatal confebe
before
juftified
quence, as
it
of imputed righteoufnefs,
ftant dodlrine
ftles
and, which
is
teoufnefs,
who
is
firft
to every
made
fandlification to us
righ-
"Of
gofpel.
Gofpel juftification
is
a change of ftate
Cor.
i,
30.
change,
Of
03
Jujlification.
Ey
change, from being filthy to be holy
are
made
near
to
God
we
by
the
^
the one
B7 being
other we are made like to him,
:
juftified,
by being
is
flain,
of
aliens
we
made
are
fandiified, the
children
child.
light
born, are as
the day they are
our children as they are ever after i but they are many years growing up
inta a ftate of manhood , their likenefs to
us, as it refpe<fls the mind, as well as the
body, is daily increafing
Thus a king's
firft born fon is heir apparent to the crown,
whilft lying in the cradle ; after-growth
adds nothing to his title j but it does to his
fitnefs to govern, and to fucceed his faOur right to heaven c(5mes not in
ther.
at the door of our fanclification, but at
that of our juftification ^ but our meetnefs
for heaven does.
By Chrift's righteoufnefs, it being upon us, we have a right to
the inheritance ; and by Chrift's image, it
being drawn upon us, we have our meetdren,
much
nefs.
is
more than
king's
Of
9^
.
Jufiification.
tor,
with
all
fpiritual
bleffings
in
heavenly
largenefs of the
Father's heart.
Chrift, as the Lord our
righteoufnefs, has brought in fuch a way
of knowing and of enjoying God, as the
firft
Adam and
fl:rangers to
his
to wit, a feeing
God
face to
chamber of heaven,
with God, even with all
and a being
filled
Chrift Jefus.
to prevent miftakes, as well as to
clear up feveral texts of fcripture, 1 would
obferve, that we read in fcripture of a two*
fold juftification, neither of which is the
Now
juftification I
down
We
^ Jer. iii.
lu
decla-
Of
Qtf
Jujltficatlon.
By thy words*
thou fhalt be juftified ; and by thy words
thou fhalt be condemned ^** The faints
all of them fpeak the language, not of
Aflidod, but of Canaan, and by fo doing
they evidence themfelves to be of the number of God's juftified ones; whereas Chriftlefs linners fpeak the language not of heaven, but of hell.
Of this declarative juftification the apoftle James fpeaks, in the
fecond chapter of his epiftle; who, in this
view, may eafily be reconciled with the
apoftle Paul.
The charge of fin brought
againft us by the law of God ; and that of
being hypocrites, of which the faints are
falfely accufed by the men of the world,
are two different charges
By good works
declarative juftification
''
fied;
which
the juftification I
is
am
to
treat of.
I fliall not confider it as
an immanent adt in God : God's immanent adts are furrounded with light in-
In doing which,
it is
Matt.
xii.
37.
accefiible^
Of
96
a^ceffible,
and
Jufiification.
full
of glory
and are
as
out of the
reach of our minds, than the higheft ftar
in heaven is beyond the reach of our arms.
As he mufl be a man^ and not an Inferior
being, who knows what the immanent adls
in man are, or how things lie in his mind
and will and he muft be an angel who
knows what the immanent a6ts of an angel are ; fo he muft be God, who knows
what the immanent adts in God are, or
how things lie in the divine mind and will.
Thus God himfelf fpeaks of them "
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, fays the Lord
for as the heavens are higher than the
earthy fo are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts V*
It muft therefore be fafeft in this, and in
all other gofpel dodtrines,to foar no higher,
than the wing of the word will carry us.
In the word, we read of a court held by
God, as a Judge, in Paradife ; before
whom our firft parents were audibly cited,
tried according to truth, and condemned
God alfo held a court on
in righteoufnefs.
the
fight whereof was fo
mount Sinai 3
far,
nay, infinitely
farther,
-,
My
jj
terrible,
that
Mofes,
though
typical
Of
Juflification^
h^f
how
*^where
from
all things^
Adam,
man
fallen fo
lliould be raifed fo
low
in the
firft
high in Chrift
the fecond; that they who are hell-delerving duft and afhes in themfelves, fhould
be made the righteoufnefs of God in another.
Ads
Vol, IL
:uii,
5S>.
^ Rota.
x. 4.
impu
Of
8
imputed
Jufitfication.
fuljfilt-
faid, as
it
is
in
The
Old
firft
Adam, not
men
to
Rom.
V. 18.
upon
Of
upon
all
men
09
Juflification.
to juftification
of
life
for
gene-
ral head.
II.
I {hall
is it
^ Phil.
iii.
9.
wholly
too
Of
Jujlification.
the uttermoft
It is that grace may fhine
forth the brighter, and not be eclipfed,
that this way of juflifieation was pitched
upon 3 for Chrift the Redeemer was,
:
throughout the whole of his furetyfliip, undertakings, and performances, to the praife
of the glory of the Father's grace. Never
did grace fo triumph, as in the provifion
and gift of Chrill. Every ftep the Redeemer took in this great work, was mofl
expreflive, as of the love of his heart, fo
of the grace of the Father's ; which hereby is fo fully and gloriouily manifefted,
as to
rlghteoufnefs,
over,
the
law
entered,
Rom.
iii.
that
the offence
24.
mighs
Of
\o\
^ujlification.
"'
life,
''
when we
after
which
ftraiten'd,
than
We
f Rom.
V. 20.
III.
Of
I0 5
III. T fhall
are juftified.
Jufiification.
{hew how
The
it
is
that finners
light of nature
may
juftifica-
juftified
this
is
To
following method.
fhall fhew, out of fcripture, what
1.
is
afligned to
fhew what
is
finner's juftification
in a
where
I fhall
fenfe,
(3.)
fhall
which
there
r.
is
6. I
evince
juftification.
Of
102
Juftification,
aflign
fhall
to
I.
fliew
fhall
God
affair
what part
the Father
in this great
rakes
to
himfelf,
He there
according to the fcriptures.
fpeaks of himfelf as being Judge of all
and of confequence he muft have a prinAccordingly we read,
cipal hand therein.
that it is God who juftifies; " Who fhall
lay any thing to the charge of God's eledt
God
It is
" :'*
that juflifies
To whom
all
all
law
all fin is
the tranfgreffion
that juflifies, or
to
no
flefli
anyfaving purpofe,
juflified.
That
and
this
great
-,
He
it
is
could be truly, or
folemn
tranf-
may
adlion
"
Rom.Yiii. 55.
4.
Heb.
xii.
13.
rious
30^
Of
name
rious
Jufiification.
form of a fmner's
that leads to
juftification,
with
all
contained in it, or is
confequeatial upon it, is fpoke of, in
fcripture, as his contrivance, and there
reprefented not only as the birth, but as
the mafler-piece of his adorable wifdom j
V Wherein he hath abounded towards us,
in all wifdom and prudence : So that the
fmner'sjuftifying righteoufnefs, is the proit,
or
is
he who brought
Thou art my
O Ifrael,
in
whom
fervant,
will be glorified ^y'
an end of fin, and reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlafting righteoufnefs, under a double character j the
one fubordinate to the other; as God's
righteous fervant, and by God s appointment, his peoples righteous Surety
came
-,
who
Of
Iqh
Jujlification.
to preach good
"
Chrift
glorified not
tidings S" &c.
himfelf to be made an High Prieft 5 but
he that faid unto him, Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee ^"
Neither
did he adt in his own name in the difcharge
of that office i " I am come in my Fatherms name, and ye receive me not ; '*
whofe Father was always with him, as
Man and Mediator. He both affifted and
accepted him, throughout the whole of
his obedience, whether adlive or paflive,
and was with him in his private life, as
well as in his publick fliewing to Ifrael
He was not alone in the cradle, nor in his
reputed father's houfe, any more than at
Jerufalem, or in the temple ; who was
raifed from the dead by the glory of the
Father, whereby he was adlually and pub-
the
from the
falfe
accufations of his enemies, but as his peoples Surety and great Reprefentative, from
all
for.
ifaj.lvi,
ly
Heb,
y,
5.
lo6
Of
Juflification.
The
perfed:
We
ther.
make
Of
ion
JufUficatim.
them
for he has
made him
we might be made
of God in him^j" which
the righteoufnefs
bleifed
angels,
of
the faints.
all
The proviiion,
of grace,
is
wholly and
the fuperaboundings
thereof; therefore is it once and again
called the gift of righteoufnefs, which is
folely
its
New
in
a gift as
upon
him
as
a Cor. V.
8,
Rom.
v.
17.
thoughts
Of
lo8
Jufiification.
me, a
juft
^J'
And
we think of him;
fhould but the more
endear him, as he is the provider of righteoufnefs ; and his being a Saviour, fhould
but the more encourage us to plead this
therefore thus fhould
God
with,
fiification before
God.
The
objection
is
this
Why
his
begotten Son
Ifai, xl/.
7^u
To whiclx
Of
Juflification.
lt>g
Now
is,
God
him
freely,
foolifh enquiry.
good
and
mends
us, in that
while
Eccl. xvii.
ay.
^ Rom.
v. 8,
that
Of
lo
Jujlification,
we
have a
new
perfedlions;
at the
in the
head of
image of
lower
this
Rom.
V, ao,
muta--
Of
hiutable
free.
To
Jujlification.
1 1
fuffer
them
to a6t fuitably
to the natural
find-
I !
Of
Jufiification.
"^
!*'
unbelief,
in the original.
The following fimile,
which
owe
to
the great Dr. Goodwin, may ferve to illuftrate what I have delivered on this head,
Suppofe a curious artift, who hath made
the fineft and the beft veflel of glafs that
all
in pieces,
of his
with a de-
make
out of
all
much
not
all
Ikill
feffed,
commend
glafs is
art
con-
yet to
xu
32
fimile
Of
Juftificatlon.
man
broke
thou
haft deftroy'd thy felf j but in me is thy
For God to make fo noble a
help ''."
creature as man i endowed, as, to be fure,
he originally was, with fuch noble powers^
and vaft capacities, was much ; but to
new form him, after fin had marr'd, and
broke him 3 as he ihall be form'd by
Ghrift, as to body, as well as foul, in the
morning of the refurrecSion, is much more.
The faints will not then complain of God,
nor be tempted to charge him fooliftily,
for fufFering fin to enter And as for the
Atheift and theDeift, they will then beftruck
Ifrael,
dumb, and
The
refti-
There
are
two
New Teftament
texts, as
whole book of
to, and direift
how they may with fafety be received, and
feafted upon, and fliould be fo by the whole
The firfl: of them is
houftiold of faith
" That in the difpenfation of the
this
fulnefs of times, he might gather together
in one all things in Chrift both which are
full of glory, as
God, which
any
in the
would turn
f Hofta
Voi.
II.
xiii.
9.
in
Of
1 ij.
Jujlifxation.
him ^"
other Vv'hich
is
like to
them
Whom the
"
-,
y Eph.
i.
10,
? Col.
i,
zo,
Acl
iii.
21.
fome-
Of
Juflification.
fometimes with
prodigies
and frightful
The
ming mountains.
Its
and weeds
dance
there
is
fields
bring
in
forth
an abun-
lock,
But, after
all
on
this
cafioned
believers
Even
I
fo Father^
for
fo
it
feemed
Of
Jufiification.
To
his fove-
it
in fin
-,
fuch
as believe in Jefus,
is
to quar-
now one of
How
furprizing
that
fweet did
Ifrael's
Ifrael's reft
Luke
X. 21.
ing
Of
Jufiificatton.
all
who
who
cannot
defire more than is entail'd on them, in
" Let none
that fingle, but great text
glory in man, for all things are yours;
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things preor things to come ; all are yours ;
you are Chrift's, and Chrift is God's \"
Can the great foul of man, when enobled
fent,
Cor.
iii.
ai> li*
I 3
there-
Of
1 1
therefore,
who
Juftlfication.
are
among God's
juftified
God, by
iCor.
iv.
1$.
R-
SERMON
Gal
Knowing
ii.
II.
i6-
man
that a
jujiified hy the
works of the
law,
we
believed inJefusChrift.
we
not
is
might be
of
have
;
that
hy the
juflified
law Jhall
no
flefh bejufiified.
ftants, to
as well as to
defend
it
" Lift
vanifli
of Jujlification.
I20
vanifh
fhall
away
wax
like
old, like
waved
his right
of being
in
it.
He, who
heaven as foon
righteoufnefs.
li.
6.
derftood.
Of
Jujlification.
I2i
human body,
it
-,
for as in nature
fuppofe
it
had
tion,
the fun,
andfhine
He,
dwells
all
all
out-ftiine in glo-
ry,
in ufefulnefs, all
tures,
^ Col.
ii.
9,
viour
12 5
Of
Jufiification.
was called of God, and freely undertook to pay his people's debts, both that
of fatisfadion to the law, as a broken covenant, and that of fervice to the law, as
a covenant of works. He was accordingly
made of a woman, and made under the
law; " When the fulnefs of time was
come, God fent forth his Son, made of a
w^oman, made under the law ;" that is,
under its preceptive part, as a covenant,
as well as its penalty, as a broken cove-
nant,
'
""
Gal.
iv^ 4,
nant
Of
nant;
being
all
Juftification.
its
its
As
is,
in
be
of
faid,
that the
firft
Adam,
it
may
at the
head
lower creation, was but as his menial fervant, being the figure of him,
who was to come, " who is the figure of
this
him
that
was
to
come ^"
cond Adam, was fulfilling all righteoufnefs, throughout the whole of his private
life ; for this alfo was part of his humiliation.
Suppofe the natural fun fliould be
took out of the heavens, and be fo leflen'd
* Pfal. xl. 8.
Rom,
v. 14.
and
23
Of
I54
Juflification.
on
fulfilling
all
righteoufnefs,
aftive, as
well
as paffive, at
-,
was made by
figure, yet
Chrift,
he knew
it
referv'd
0/^ Jujlification*
the difpenfation
called the
we
which
\^t?
fo enobles
it
is
is,
may be
a robe of fuper-
angelick righteoufnefs ; which as far excels and out-fhines the righteoufnefs of all
the eledl angels, as the fhine of the fun,
in its meridian ftrength, does that of the
new moon ; for would it not be blafphemy
to call theirs, as Chrift's is called, the
righteoufnefs of God ? or to fay that they
are made the righteoufnefs of God, in their
own, as we are faid to be made in Chrift's
righteoufnefs ? God no where calls their
righteoufnefs, as he does Chrift's, my righteoufnefs; " I bring near my righteoufnefs
Chrift's
furetyfliip righteoufnefs
it
really
is,
may be
a fuperparadifi-
Had
righteoufnefs.
of which
is
infinite.
What
f Ifai. xlvi.
1 5,
the
11
Of
the
fubftance,
teoufhefs has
in
Jufiification.
whofe
righ
furetyfliip
to an overflowing, all
it
5"
and
it is
abundantly
To finifh
declared fo to be in the New^.
the fins but of one, even the leaft of finners
in a way of fatisfadlion, would have rendered
bankrupt and beggar'd the arch-angel, not
to fay all the angels in heaven ; whereaJv
Chrift, as Surety of a better teftament,
has, in a way moft expreffive of all the
divine perfedtions, finifhed the numberlefs
fins of the many thoufands of God's eledt;
who were chofe not only with Chrift, as
an Head*
The fcripture fays, God has chofen us in
him ^'' not to prevent our fall ; for that
would have obviated his other character of
being our Saviour ; for " he is Head of the
church, and Saviour of the body -y' but
to deliver us out of the pit; by bringing
us off more than conquerors, and fixing us
in glory beyond all danger, or fo much as
a pojGBbility of lofing the manfions alotted
as
'
8 Dan.
ix.
24.
^ Ephef.
i.
4.
Chap,
25.
Of
i^n
Juftificatton.
were
of Chrift, the
the awaking of God's fword
againft the man that was his fellow, is a
nonfuch inftance of God's vindictive juthe furetylliip fuff^erings
Lamb
flain
-,
ftice.
(3.)
It is
a law anfwering,
or rather
-,
is
is
fpoke
well
he will
Theff. iv,
17.
Rom.
iiu
z6.
> Ifai.
Sin
il8
Of Jufiificatton,
being the tranfgreffion of the lav^r^
pours the utmoft contempt, both upon it,
Sin
and was
would
contempt
offspring,
is
poured by
all
their
numerous
generations;
Chrift, as the Fulfillef of all righteoufnefs,
not only fulfilled, to every jot or tittle,
but by fo doing, becaufe of the dignity of
his Perfon, fo magnified it, as it could
have been no other way, that we can conThis righteoufnefs
ceive of, magnified.
therefore of his, though it is manifefted
without the law, from mount Zion, and
not from mount Sinai ; yet it is witnefTed
to by the law, as well as by the prophets 3
their
feveral
Now
whole of our
HI
Rom,
iii.
zi,
exprefs-
Of
raa
Jufiification.
*"
was he rhore
glorified,
Thus we
fee,
what part is
Lord Jefus
allotted in
Chrift, in
the bufinefs of a finner's juflification before
fcripture
to
the
God.
Ifa. liii.
you
to,
IL
Rom. vi
4*
only
Of
120
Jujlificatlm.
mighty
of thee
is
**
as will
everlafting righteoufnefs,
the lafting
ven
it
outlaft
hills,^
felf ; in
and can na
;
Chrift's
than
mediatory
be
leffen'd,
more
fiilnefs can be exhaufted : from which the
gofpel receives its name, being call'd the
niiniftration of righteoufnefs, " much more
doth the miniftration of righteoufnefs exceed
in glory; " and in which all who believe
come up with an everlafting acceptance^,
with and before God the judge of all.
ehrift, as the Lord our righteoufnefs, fills both teftaments with his glory ; for thus confider'd he is the fum of
the old teftament promifes, and prophecies^
and the fubftance of old teftament sypes^
in thofe of glory hereafter
""
'
? Zeph,
uu
I7
a,
Cor.
iii,
9,
and
Of
yufli^cation.
I t I
and
jfigures
come
or the
Pope be-
of
this righteoufnefs,
as
better covenant,
as
well
My next
affair; a
God.
His
office
'
nally
'
>
Of
1^1
n^lly
by
his
yufiificatioH.
word;
powerfully by his
more
but internally,
own
Spirit:
who
anti
no
of a
is
We
He alfo
Of
Jujlification.
-,
it
dodlrinally,
So
where God has
it:
and
as the fand
upon
thoufand years of Satan's binding, and of the churches refreilimenc mentioned in the revelations, be a thoufand,
of prophetical years ; during which long
Ipace of time^ elect finners ihall fly as. a
cially if the
cloud.
32
Of
54-
Juftification.
cloud,
their windows.
to.
To
where
fin in
them.
To
ter
dlftinguifli aright between the letof both teftaments, and the Spirit of
Rev.
"
V. IT.
Rev.
V. 13.
power^
Of yufiification,
1 j
we
yet fuch
is
the
tlindnefs
and
invitations, exhortations,
tionsi
"^
z Cor.
iii.
6.
^ Hofea
xi.
4.
of
136
Of
Jujltfication.
we
ciled to
God
:"
And
ftead,
be ye
recon-;-
good, and
fatnefs
As
in fcripture there
is
the lan-
There
thofe things fliall live in them ^"
language
law,
the
of
as
a broalfo
the
is
ken covenant, which includes the thunders of Sinai, and tells us what fin is, and
what it deferves, and is, according to the
Rom.
ii.
15.
Ifai. Iv.
Chap,
x,
3,
Gen.
iv. 7.
5.
for
Of
purification.
1 3
for their fins i how he might have appointed all to wrath, inftead of appointing
be to them a
me a people
The full birth of which fruitful promife
is referved till the dawn of latter
day
glory 5 when the fulnefs of the Gentiles
fhall come in, and all Ifrael be faved : At
prefent, we fee but the firft fruits of eled:ing love ; the full vintage will not be till
the glory of the Lord, as it fhines forth in
the face, and in the gofpel of the Lord
Jefus Chrifl, fhall be fo revealed, that all
flefh fhall fee it together.
In the mean
while, we, who preach the gofpel, are to
Father's grace
publifh
it
I will
fhall
Hebo
be to
viii,
it
to
re'
the
Of
i^S
jufiificatm.
of whofe fuccefs
The
in fo doing
elediion has obtained it s :'^
And of their
God
may
of
them
that perifh
V We
numbers
and brought
The
fafe to glory.
way of the
bringing
near Chrift's righteoufnefs to the hearts
and confciences of God's elecS, is to ere<3;
fuch a tribunal in the court of conlcience,
as all the bufinefs and pleafures of life canftot hufh nor bribe ; before which the moft
bold and daring of firiners, how carelefs
aAd fecure foever they may for many
are fecretly cited, and
y<^ars have been,
tannot help making their appearance >
^Jchn
ufual
iii.
it.
.^
Rom,
Spirit, in
21.
7,
"
i Cor,
where
Of
Jujltfication.
where
over,
Thus
not
they,
who
men
corn,
to
2q
i^o
Q/
to
flourifh,
Jujltficatm,
like
the
upon
grafs
the
earth.
Chrift
\x\
as
their
fole juftifying
righteoufnefs
A^s
i.
4.
Tefta-
Of
\A\
Jujlification*
Whom
to be faved.
all Ifrael is
made
the righteoufnefs of
ftification,
They
chriftian
1^1
t)f JuJIification.
them
for
that alk
man
him
"
Was
it
as
to defire to be ufeful, as
Matt.
vii.
natural
is to
it
ir<,
be
Of
|)e
famous
Jujiificatton.
I^j
in his generation,
nor believing children for their refpedl^d parents. Thus fhould all the faints^j
pray for all in authority, and all godly
magiftrates, pray for all they rule
Thi|$
i^ould alt gafpel minifters beg him, for
the churches committed to their care; and
church members beg him for their paftors
Thus fhould godly relations and friends
b?g him for one another even mafters for
tiieir fervants, and fervants for their maSuch prayers put up in faith, would
ilers.
not return to us empty, but foon bring
down fuch a blefTmg upon us, and oursj,
as would turn our declining autumn, in a
fph'itual fenfe, into a promifing fpring.
Would any gladly know the principal
caufe of thofe many grey hairs, in a fpiritual fenfe, which, in town and country,
:
-,
are
not pleaded,
as
New Teftament
expeft
him,
it
;
ought
to be,
neither do
under his
by us of the
defire and
Teftament
we
New
cha-
Of Jufiification.
i 4^
charader, which
iier
"
He
ftiall
is
glorify
me/'
fays
Chrift.
glorifier,
Sanftifier,
and
meek-
nefs,
R-
SERMON
Gal.
Knowing
that
ii.
III.
id.
a man
is
not
jujiified
law,
we
believed inJefusChrifl
we
might be
juftijied
have
;
that
by the
flefh be juftijied.
HE
God, which
I^or,
committed
is
according to
Vot. Ih
it,
to
my
truft "."
Tim.!. II.
made
Of
*.6
J'uftification.
are
in
the gofpel :
at the
Whence
it
is
plain,
that
head of a covenant of
world under his feet,
this
works, with
was no more than the morning ftar ; the
fhine of which is very inconfiderable, if
compared with Chrift, the fun of righteThe firft Adam, bright as he
oufnefs.
Adam,
Of
yuflification.
1^7
by
fied
faith,
is
incdnteftibly a fcripture
it is
to interpret
it
and that
*'
giV,
it
directs us
fhall
be thus
imputed to all who believe''." The conclufion drawn by the apoftle, in that fhort,
but excellent difcourfe, concerning a
ner's juflification before
God,
fin-
in the third
Rom.
Ver. 30.
iv.
5.
f
Ver. 24,
Chap. v.
Chap,
iii,
28,
i.
" the
Of
48
JuJUfication.
is
within
fuch
as
believe,
which
:
'
" "
And
is
who
Rom.
X. 4.
Chap,
iii.
zu
zz,
Gal.
iii.
6.
^ Ver. 8.
by
Of
i/j.^
Jufiification.
by faith, are bleffed with faithful Abraham^:'* As is that other phrafe ; " But
that no man is juftified by the law, in the
fight of God, is evident ; for the juft by
faith fhall live ""."
He goes on to tell us,
in the fame chapter, that " the fcripture
has concluded
mife, by faith
fcripture phrafes
Gal.
P Phil,
iii.
iii,
9.
"^
"
Ver. 11.
Ver. 22.
Jf
Ver. 14.
9,
dtrines
Of
50
Jujlificatton.
before
we
believe.
And how
faith in Chrift
It
is,
doubtlefs, fafeft, as
words and
phrcifes, to keep clofe to the rule of fcripture, and in the things of God, to fpeak
as do the oracles of God 5 which ho Arian
All
or Arminian ever did, nor can do.
new Ichemes call for a new bible, and errors of all forts coin new words andphrafes.
What the heart is in the body, which is
firft formed, and firft moves, that is faith
in
walk and
in the
it
new
worftiip,
creation
were, or at
drawn
it
leaft is
fo
is
in
firft
firft
formed, as
aftuated, and
God's
Regeneration therefore is, for
the comfort of babes in Chrift, defcribed
by the loweft aft of faith unfeigned ;
^^ Whofoever
believeth that Jefus is the
forth tov/ards Chrift, as he
is
falvation.
Chrift,
Of
-Chrift,
is
'^
though but
the
The
nefs
is
it
born of
is
birth, fmall as
be,
Jufttfication.
ufe
of a
and
office
of
in the bufi-
faith,
God,
imputed righteoufnefs
Chrifl's furetyftiip
worth of the
which appears to be
wedding garment
-,
men,
till
faith
is
wrought.
It
is
alfo the
by which it receives
of falvation, fo
garment
and puts on this
perfumed with love, the folds of which
" the gift
are fo full of grace and truth
of righteoufnefs, as it is called % muft
have an hand to receive it ; and " the
Tobe of righteoufnefs, which is the name
new
creatures hand,
John
V.
I,
L4
Rom.
v.
17.
given
Of
15^
given
fore
fin,
it
Jufiification.
'',
God,
as a
Judge,
and
to plead with,
before his rnajefty : Now as Chrift's righteoufnefs is our alone effet^lual plea for
Lord
of righteoufnefs,
them
oufnefs to bring
tinue
them
in
for
into,
a pardoned,
righteto
con-
juftified,
new
all
and
:
re-
It is alfo
by which
it bows before Chrift, as the Lord our
righteoufnefs, and fubmits, though not
without fome relu(5lance, efpeciajly ^t
as the
knee of the
creature,
Ifai. Ixi,
10.
times.
Of
Jujlification.
new
as to the
the praifes as of
its
provider, fo of
him
ture,
lows
It
is
by which
it
after Chrift, as
oufnefs,
and by
the
Lord
its
righte-
it
felf to
be faith
unfeigned.
to realize all
which we
bufi^
;>
^/
5 4-
Jufiification.
God
is
not
it is
in tears
love 5 but
that the
eye is
the hand to feed and cloath
us.
Thus
we
to plead his righteoufnefs to all thofe bleffed ends, for which it was provided by the
Father, wrought out by the Son, and is
revealed by the Spirit ; by doing which
heartily and conftantly, faith takes in the
comfort, and is thereby ftirred up to give
God the glory of fuch provifion of righteoufnefs.
Of
\tc
Jufilfication.
teoufnefs.
nefs.
Having thus
-,
Of thefe
and
fo
is
things, faith
is
work of grace
manifeftation,
in
general, as
well
Of
J156
Jufltfication.
',
Thefe
privileges,
nature, were
everlafting,
with
all
others of a like
Rom.
v%
from
Chrift;^ their
2.
Head;,
:;
Of
ich
JuflificatioH'
this
were we
filled
them
Thus
us.
may
gifts,
how
we
re-
receiving,
alms.
Thus
it is
in the
Chrift's righteoufnefs
is
aflfair
before us
called a gift,
which
How
this gift
of righteoufnefs
^
Rom.y,
is
I J.
yet
Of
15S
Juflificatidn.
yet
it IS
juftification, till
united
to
the
different things;
ter.
To
;;
Of
150
Jufiification.
you
alfo,
as
houfe ""."
have accefs into the grace of
up a
fpiritual
To
cation,
juftifi-
more than
a manifeftation
As the prodi-
down
his feeing
thefe
diftance.
in
wholly fcriptural
and fo
is
that
which
follows.
[2.]
of
ufe and office in this weighty aff^air, difcovers it to be more than a manifeftation
I Pec, ii,
4.
He
60
Of Juftificdtion.
He
compares
eye.
it
its
receiving afts, as
which
are fcripture
phrafes,
as
well as
Now
God;
for
our
* John
i.
13.
Rom.
v,
if.
i thefn
Of
purification.
love, or
unwarrantable;
the ear,
They would
grate
upon
liever,
[4.]
is
ftified,
at
ftate
the fame.
is
To conclude this
head of enquiry :
and notion of juftification by faith, include no more than a
manifeftation to our fenfe and apprehen-
Did
firft
fion, it
would
who
many
a foul, that
is
truly gra-
of the gofpel,
be no longer in a juftified ftate, but be
fallen from the grace of juftification
A
cious,
would, in the
i^vSo,
Vot.
II,
believer.
Of
Si
Juflification.
would be no more
whilft
fhut up in unwas
he
than
juftified,
belief; all which is unfcriptural, andfmells
rank of the Arminians, who hold a falling
believer, in the dark,
from
grace.
(2.) I fhall
come
to a fecond enquiry
when
Chrift,
their
great
Head and
we 5 "
Bleffed be the
Of
ther of our
163
Juflification.
Lord Jefus
Chrift,
who
lias blef-
fed us with allfpiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift ' ;" which " all" muft
But
thofe of grace:
fied in Chrift,
day to be
"
When
pear,
We
we
now we
tho*
who
we,
are glori-
hope one
with Chrift ;
believe,
glorified together
Chrift,
ftiall
ly juftified,
is
to
make them,
to fpeak of them,
eternal beings
How
as
if
or at leaft
they were co-
exprefsly are
we
told, in fcripture,
that, in point
Eph.
i.
5.
Co),
iii.
4.
M2
the
Of
164-
Jufiificaiion.
whom
Though God
defign'd,
from
everlafting,
on us
till
we
believe.
Not
and
;;
Of
Jufiification.
in adtaal poffefflon
fecuting the
is
confider'd
by
us,
65
i66
Of
with
all
exifted
Jufitficatton.
fiom
where
in the gofpel,
is
reveal'd, in
and
thereof,
glory
exprefsly faid to be to
is
may and
Chrift's righteoufnefs
all,
as believe,
is
fmner's juftification
fliould be confider'd, as
it is the
birth of time, and fo perfonal and adlual^
in the joyful and bleffed application thereoft
Nov/
as
thereof,
is
that
Of
jthat
Jujiification.
not only the next fummer, but an hundred years henee ; whence it follows not,
The
that trees are now full of ripe fruit.
fountains
and
virtually
contains
all
fea alfo
rivers that
it,
even
It
is
Chrifli's
ments of a
at leaft
may
be,
made and
finifhed long-
whom
it
is
fafe
and
moll fecure
but
it is
far
all
67
i68
Of
all its
Jujlification.
of Chrift's wing, as he
law for righteoufnefs
is
fhadow
to every one
Thus
believes,
believes
"
With
to
God condemns
% but
juftifies,
and
fo
is
My
come
fo ihall
to pafs
it
ftand
and
^:''
as I
Who
have purpofed,
is
faid to
work
all
of him,
who works
all
**
X.
li.
ID.
.^
Ifaj. xlvi.
ic.
^ Ifai. xiv.
24.
'
'-
but
Of
Jujitfication.
l6<
but
as
grace, and
it
adls
takes in his
glory.
Now
his
without
if this,
church militant, and to the church triumThings of time are otherwife conphant.
fider'd by God, when aftually exifting,
than they were by him, before his power
had brought them into being Before they
had a being, they were coniider'd by him
as things to be ; but when adlually exifting, as things that are ; and yet, by reafon
of certainty, as to the execution of his
decrees, he calls things which are not, as
:
tho*
by him
exifting, as
being by him.
cannot be
To conclude this head.
juftified in the fenfe of the gofpel before
faith, becaufe the word of God is exprefs,
We
that
we
are juftified
by
faith.
Chrift's
righ-
70
Of
Jufiification.
righteoufnefs
angels
tell
regard them.
(3.)
laft
I fhall
How
enquiry.
is it
grown
As
perfons.
all are
up
open
born, ihut
and then
firft
glorified
called,
<'
5
and
Whom
fied '/'
of
Now
this, as
an eledl infant
grown perfon
is
as
capable
of being ef-
renewed by grace ; of
being freely juflified, and for ever glorified.
feftually called, or
Rom.
viii.
30.
Where
Of
Where
is
it
guilty fouls
Jufiificatim.
for fin
the
fuliiller
fpreads
it
of God,
felf
is
guilty finners.
Had
Ifai. xlv.
2$.
Chrift,
Of
In
JujltficatlGH.
under the New ? who is his falvation to the end of time, as well as t*. the
ends of the earth. Cornelius bid as ^air
for falvation out of Chrift, as any man living ; for the angel told him, that his
prayer was heard, and his alms had
Chrlft,
is
-,
man
as Cornelius
now
alive,
an angel, or
fins
nuate their
them but
'y
wa(h
in
fins,
who have
faith unfeigned,
fountain,
all
that
fin
Ads
xi.
14.
they
tiiey pollute
Of
Jujlificatton.
and
i
,
it is
" the
blood of Jefus Chrift, God's own and onlybegotten Son, that cleanfes from all fin "^ ;'*
the confcience from the guilt, and the
heart from the love, and the life from the
rule and dominion of fin.
it
and
how
is it
that
it
To
conclude
With all your gettings,
and chief care fliould be to get
faith, which has fo many precious promifes made to it ; not only of falvation
and eternal life, in the general, but of forgivenefs of fin, of juftification, of reconciliation, of adoption, and of fandlification
your
firft
in particular.
To work which
the Spirit
to give
John
i*
%
of
y^
Of
74
of God,
as
it
Jufiification.
is
which
by
cloud of
Of
Jews,
i-?5
Juftification.
who many
king, a facriiice
fcripture prophefy.
How
exactly
the
Teftatnent a fulfilling of the Old
and not only the prefent ftate of Europe,
as to its diviuon into ten kingdoms ; the
kings of wliich have, according to fcripture prophefy, given away their power to
the beaft ; but the prefent ftate of all the
world is vifibly a fulfilling of fcripture
prophefy ? Are not the Jews, at this day,
the fcatter'd and the defpifed people the
fcriptufes fay they fhould be ? Is not Antichrift the long-lived man of fin, and the
cruel man of blood, the fcriptures fay he
fliould be ? Are not the Pagan parts of the
w^orld the dark places, and the habitations
of cruelty, the fcripture fays they fhould
be? Do not the {even Afiatick churches
lie defolate, as they were threatened by
is
New
?
Is not Maprophet, the fcriptures fay
he fhould be ? And are not his followers
many, like the waters of a great river, the
river Euphrates, to which they are compared in fcripture ? Does ROt the whole
world lie in wickednefs, as the fcriptures
fay it does ? And is not every faint as a
brand plucked out of the burning, as the
fcriptures fay they are ? Are not the Deifts
the fcoffers, walking after their own lufts,
and ridiculing the promife of Chrifl's co-
homet the
falfe
ming.
Of Jufiificatim,
ijS
would
book of
be
God,
Let us therefore
as
prife
the
tcoufnefs,
and our
own
guilt
>
his riches,
who believe
are juftified,
A^s
xiii.
$9#
m^
R-
RMON
Gal.
Knowing
ii.
id.
man
that a
IV.
not
is
juftified
law,
we
believed inJefusChrifl
we
might be
juftijied
have
;
that
by the
<^| firft
was, as
pearing of Chrift, the fecond
Vol,
II,
Adam,
to
take
Of
178
take
away
fin
Jufltficatmu
his incarnation
is
fpoke of
and
chief corner ftone of God*s world of nature, as well as of his kingdom of grace
created the
of
mouth of
praife,
this
and ia
Ifai.
li.
16.
Colofl;
i,
16
f Vcr. 17.
whe-
Of
ijij
Jufiification.
! Pfal. Ixxv,
3.
Heb.
i.
3,
Ifai. xlix. ?.
bring
l8o
Of
Juftification.
it
aftonilh
and delight
us,
when we
Lord of
our
Lord
heaven and earth {hould be the
righteoufnefs ? That he, who there fits on
come
hang in this lower world on a tree ? Between whofc righteoufnefs, its being upon
us for our aftual juftification and faith of
the operation of God, there is, for the
comfort of all who believe, a clofe connexion, which is my next head of difcourfe.
5. I ftiall
is
between
There
faith
is
in
;;
Of
Jujlificatton.
God,
recorded in
his word, reaches and confirms every truth
contained therein, whereby all gofpel imfor the oath of
as
it is
end of time,
ihall be
brought to believe
as believe,
be declared juftified,
We
^ hdi%
xiii.
39.
true
i85
Of
Juftification.
This connexion
before us in the gofpel.
I lake to be part of the law of the Spirit of
life in Chrift Jefus, Vv^hich makes every
true believer '* free from the law of fm
and death '."
next province is, to affigii to
6.
good works their proper ufe in this weighty affair, according to the fcriptures, which
are moft exprefs, in excluding the beft of
works performed by the beft of faints,
from being either in whole, or in part,
our juftifying righteoufnefs before God.
Thus Abraham's works, though very excellent in themfelves, are carefully exclu^
My
ded
What
''
3
Abraham our
flefh,
ftified
fhall
we
fay
then,
that
father, as pertaining to
the
has found? for if Abraham was juby works, he has whereof to glory
and
it
K''
way of
facrifice, at
Rpm.
viii.
2.
^ Chap.
iv.
2.
Ver.
^.
liOt
'
Of Jufiificatm.
8^
righteoufnefs
before God.
known
truth,
We may
we
are juftified
">
by
Rom.
iv.
fafely
apoftle does,
faith,
without
$.
the
"
..
Of
1 E^-
Jufiification.
are fo far
Good
p.
how
works,
fpiritual
are not
valuable
confideration laid down by us,
a
for the robe of Chrifl's righteouihefs j
bie,
is
^,
Rgm.
iii.
20.
* Gal. v.
4.
p Chap,
ii,
11.
the
Of
Jufiificatim.
the gofpel, and not any worth or worth inefs in us ; " Not by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according
to his
are
no
God,
all
among
the
number of God's
juftified ones.
law
is
of any ufe
what ufe
it is.
The
moral law
is
the great
Had not
ftandard of all righteoufnefs
Chrift's furetyfhip righteoufnefs come up,
in every point, to this perfeit rule, nei:
ftruck
85
86
Of
ftruck
dumb and
Juflificatim.
filenced, as to all pleas,
awakened
their
well.
Of
Juflijication.
ing juftified by faith, and accepted to eternal life, in the beloved, is all of grace, and
the peculiar language of the gofpel.
Both
Teftaments are full of the glory of Chrift,
Lord our
as the
pardoned,
us in
juftified,
reconciled,
Both Teftaments
alfo teftify, that " in the Lord fliall all
the believing feed of Ifrael be juftified, and
adopted
ftiall
glory
'
in oppofition
ledge
ftiall
my
righ-
of which
and particular account
in the New Teftament, efpecially in the
epiftle to the Romans, where this righteand is, in fo many
oufnefs is called a gift
words, faid " to be to all, and upon all
them" that believe, and that without difference; as really to all juftifying intents and
purpofes upon Abraham's believing feed,
as upon Abraham the father of the faithful, as really upon New Teftament faints,
as upon thofe of the Old ; as really upon
us, at this diftance of time, as upon pri-
we have
more
^ -/'
full
-,
*)
Gen.
iv.
7.
^ Ifai. xl/.
24.
^ Cl^ap
xliii.
n.
mitive
8^
88
Of Juflificatim.
mitive
faints,
as really
upon
upon
fathers
>
in
all
the
and
mife, be
vilege,
Of
vilege, are
are ours
iS
"Nullification.
like
to
fenfe.
{hall
believer,
and here
his
his
removed:
So that this court, which once was full of
bribes, and falfe reports, as well as with
falfe witneflTes, being renewed by the Spirit of Chrift, and fprinkled with his blood,
is, lefs or more, fiU'd with peace and
with joy in believing. This matchlefs robe
of righteoufnefs has in the folds thereof
peace with God i and all cloathed therewith
faith ^
it is
Of
190
Jufiificatton.
theirs, as
oufnefs of
glorifier,
God; who,
never
up
as
he
at pleafure, as
and the
fome
blank for
devil, to
libertines
Chrift's
is
fill
would
but
firft
and fo witnefles
In the light of whofe
to his own work
witneffing prefence, the robe of Chrifl's
righteoufnefs appears to be moft glorious^
and all cloathed therewith to be moft fafe
and happy ; by which their doubts are anfwer'd, and all their fears are fcatter'd,
and they go on their way rejoicing
inftead of finning, they are brought to
obey, with an high hand of filial love and
reverence ; and find, by bleffed experience,
faith,
Of
leaft
fin
Juftification.
that
is
My
IV.
laft
errors
againft
of a
nefs
work
of
all
finner's
fhall
be to guard
forts, in
the bufibefore
juftification
God,
The
our
all
guage
of which
Now, though
is.
Do
the law
is
flefli,
the Gentiles,
teoufnefs,
who
^|
Of
^2
Jufitficatim.
But
they were for eftablifhinga juftifying righteoufnefs of their own, as is evident, beyond all contradidlion ; " For they being
ignorant of God's righteoufnefs, and going
about to eftablifli their own righteoufnefs,
have not fubmitted themfelves to the righ-
5 Rom,
ly,
$0,
Chap.
x.
3[
Phil.
iii.
6.
quit
!
Of
Jujlificatton.
am not
men
as other
are
""/'
I fhall
fected the churches of Galatia, in the buiinefs of juftification before God) which was
this
They
joined together
mount
Sinai
is
"^
PhiU
iii.
Vol.
9.
II.
;^
Luke
i.
8.
^ Gal.
ii.
i.
awful
^^
l^^
Of
Jujlzfication.
own
inherent
righteoufnefs
of
its
follov/ers,
Gal. V. 4.
XV. 4, 5*
Their,
iio
7.
^ Gal.
i.
7.
John
Of
Juftification.
*^
.
Eph.
ii.
8,
9, 10.
in
^5
:; :
Of
9
in
Jujl'tflcation.
Lord our
of the law for
dition, that
firft
'^
John
i.
I,
s,
3, lo,
all
Of
thofe texts,
all
Jujlification.
which
hiftorical part
and
who, under
eftate,
among
the angels;
but foon
left their
firfl:
habitation
firfl:
come
infernal devils
Next
God made of
to
which was
our
was
nothing
firfl:
parents
from whom
with-held, which became a bountiful Creator to befl:ow on fo noble a creature as
man ; but how foon did man, left to the
cqndud: of his own free will, lofe all, and
become bankrupt ? Now if free will made
no earnings of a covenant of works, got nothing by it in a ftate of innocency, but lofl:
the
trial
free
will, in
-,
all
is it
likely to recover
all,
of a covenant of works, in a
and apoftacy ?
on the foot
ftate
of
fin
man's will
has been tried fince the fall, and found to
be no ways fit to be trufted. Was it not
tried before the flood, when length of life,
and ftrength of conftitution, furniflied
man-
97
io8
Of
Jufiification.
how
free will,
inftead of acting the grateful, dutiful, obedient part, when Ifrael was fo remarkably
by fuch an
high arm of power, through the red fea
murmur'd
againft
God^
called his
power
in queftion
Gen
vi.
5,
utmoft
"
Of
jqq
Juftification,
fo they perifhed.
And
as free will
adxd
will.
I
fhall
the better to
eftabliili
a juftifying righte-
oufnefs of their
Chriil's
Of
tlioo
Jufiification.
Chrift's
-,
-,
noflers
merited,
Chrifl:
and
that
we may
m>erit;
fo
that
Heps leading to the throne, on which carnal felf is by them exalted ; or as the fcaffolds which they make ufe of in building
Babel 3 by which, forry as they are, they
hope to mount the higheft heaven. Thus
doth Antichrill interfere with Chrift in all
his offices, that of a prieft, as well as that
of a king, and of a prophet.
I fnail next confider the miftake of the
Neonomians, who turn the gofpel into
a new remedial law, and make faith, repentance, and fincere obedience, to be the
linner'sjuftifying righteoufnefs before God.
*Ihat God'b favcd nss are brought to re-^
*
pent.
;;
Of
and
pent,
owned
Jujllficatton.
believe,
but
as it
and obey,
20T
is
readily
is
make
light
which Cornelius
is
The
ufe,
of
we
meet
7Q7
Of
Jujlification.
meet with
in fcripture
meffage
lius this
reconciled itate
ing of Peter's
-,
is
fent
efpecially
"
Of
upon
that fay-
a truth, I perceive
that
God
And
no
refpedter of perfons
but,
;
in every nation, he that fears him, and
works righteoufnefs, is accepted of him."
is
fent to
how
of them, as
much foever
beyond all doubt he does, they cannot fupply the place of Chrift: If they could,
Chrift might have been fpared, and a
Plato, or a Seneca, have fupplied the room
of a Peter, or an apoftle Paul.
I (hall, in the laft place, mention the
where I (hall
fhew who and what the true Antinomians
error of the Antinomians
are
-,
who
are fo nick-
13, 14.
named
Of
named by
the
ao^
Jufiification.
enemy
The
apoftle Paul
was
as
people
They
firm.
purpofe of God,
of
Chrift, and that
and in the purchafe
which is ad:ual, according to the word.
It is not to be forgiven in purpofe, or in
purchafe, that the believer prays ; but to
have purpofed and purchafed forgivenefs,
adlually applied to him, according to the
word. Their worft notion is, that believers are not under the law, as a rule of
duty
which
is
virtual, in the
Of Juftificationn
ao4:
Such
any, among Proteftant Diffenters.
would do well to remember, fo as to copy
who
bewailed fin
and deiired to have it
further mortified j and was under the law
to Chrift ^.
Praftical Antinomians are
after theapoftle Paul
in
its
remains
''
^ ;**
'
whofe god
deftrud:ion,
whofe glory
is
earthly things
are
is
their belly,
and
in their
\''.
numbers are
They gather not honey
daily encreafing
their
from
God.
The Application.
All the application
I fhall
make
is,
to,
Rom.
Phil.
iii.
vif.
24.
Phil,
iii,
lo.
Cor.
ix.
2ic
18,
the
Of
the found of
memory
205
Jufiification.
and
it,
the
into
of
in the notion
it
head and
But has it
Jefus Chrift.
Has this righteoufnefs been brought into
your confciences, in the peace and comof it ? Your fpirits, it may be, are
eafy ; but how came they fo to be ? If never difturbed and diftreffed for fin, it is a
fort
is from carnal
feand not from Chrift. Or if the
eafe be fuch as they at Rome are full of,
f Eph,
i.
18.
who
ho6
Of
who
think,
by
Jufiification.
their
Chrift's
But if it
is
Antichriftian.
all filth.
THE
'^iifS^td's
...^.m^
THE
DOCTRINE
O F
EFFICACIOUS GRACE
Asserted and Vindicated
I
N T
SERMONS.
Br
SAMUEL WILSON,
"^^,1P
SERMON
It
is
I.
Philip, il 13.
God who worketh in
both
to
own
good pleajure.
will and
to do,
youl
of Sb]
relation
VoL. n:
ther's
vrf^cacims'Wme.
aid
therms
ftibn
of your faith and joy, am now providenremoved from among you " Where-
tially
-,
-,
Of
who
Bff-cacious Grace.
and
life.
And
of
eternal
left
lirft
they fhould, confcious of their own fpiritual impotence, be difcouraged, he addsjy
" For it is God that worketh in you, &c/*,
Your work, indeed, is greatj your difficulties many J but if God is with you, he will
give you a will, and furnifh you with
power, to perform what is acceptable to
him.
Perhaps it will be faid, that the w^ords
under coniideration, relate to faints already
renewed in the fpirit of their mind, and
fo cannot, with propriety, be produced as
an argument for the neceiiity of a divine
agency, in the converfion of a iinner.
To this it might be anfwer'd, that it is no
but
lay
hold
one,
or the fame
mull
in the
both to will
"211
Of
engaged
Efficacious Grace.
the midft of
and hope,
of himfelf will or perform
in his fervice
if in
all
he cannot
any thing that
lefs
is
the finner,
a Have to
ny of the God of
The word
worketh,
is
this world.
ivi^yc2v^
which we
tranflate
mighty power j
fuppofes a difficulty in
the performance, and per fedlion orfuperior
It is not barely our
ftrength in the agent.
fetting our hand to a work, but the doing
of it throroughlyj or to purpofe. Accordit
gives
Of Efficacious,
Grace.
ai^
man as he will
own image, and
every
And
as this grace
is
on to the gloof
himfelf,
it mull needs
rious enjoyment
be a favour of ineftimable value.
The words being explained, give us an
his
leads
occafion to obferve.
is
a change
By
this
change,
do not underlland an
alteration of profeflion or character barely; for, astheapoftle tells us, circumcijQon avails no more than uncircumcifion,
where the new creature is wanting. The
change which we intend is real, not nominal, a change of the fubjeft, not of the
name
only.
A man
may
profeiTedly re-
i^.lva-
Of Efficacious
114.
falvation.
Where
is
Grace.
the perfon of
whom
courfe of fin
and impiety, he brought himfelf, by bare
reafoning, to forfake the evil of his way,
it
may
be
vere in thefe things unto the end ? Experience tells us, that fin and Satan fo entu'ely pofi^efs the finner's heart, that there muft
be fomething more than the care and improvement of our reafon to make room for
application,
we
that
it is
foul^
Of Efficacious
which the
foul, in
fubftance of
qualities
of
it
felf,
o> 1
as to the;
it,
it
foul
Grace.
are altered;
work,
jLord
is
has
not to
told us,
new
a principle of grace,
creature, or
choofe to call
it
the
new
is
power
fprm'd or wrought
of God, in a way of efficacious grace.
in the foul by the
creature, as di-
John
ill.
P 4
to,
though
8.
necef-
3l6
Of Efficacious
Grace.
neceffarily connected
1 With
and
his reafon-
all
fo begin,
thofe arguments
which may
that
the foul
is
paffive
in
is
'^
Dr. Whitby,
Of Efficacious
Grace.
2I7
fer to
was exerted
in creation, or
the
making
to be fo great as we
faid to create and
Ifai. xliii.
i.
fo
3i8
Of Efflcadous
much
fo
Grace,
Abraham, and fo much power in his raifmg his family, from fo fmall a beginning,
to be fo great a people, as might abundantly juftify the prophet in the ufe of the
terms Create and Form, without having
any regard to their promifary or covenant
engagements.
It is farther objefted \ againft this argument, that God is faid to create that
which he brings into a new and better
ftate
Thus David prays ; " Create in me
a clean heart ;" and God is faid to create
new heavens, and a new earth, and to
:
As
to the
had fa
it is
^.
in
and therefore
me
it
own
him-
cries to
a clean heart/*
It
with him, very probably, after fo dreadful a back-fliding, whether he had ever
been truly converted ; and if fo much
power, as would juftify the expreffion,
was
recovery,
we may
conclude what is needful for the rea linner, wholly dead in tref^
As for the other paiTage
pafTes and fins.
what
mentioned,
difficulty fo ever may
eafily
newing of
Pfal.
li,
lo.
Ifai.
17, 19
attend
OfEfcachus
Grace.
nor an old
man
filled his
old ;
feed together, and the Hon to eat ftraw
like a bullock ;" events altogether fupernatural and miraculous. As to the Greek
fathers fpeaking of the new creature as a
change for the better only, if it fhould be
years
may
Eph.il, T,
5.
Chap. I
18, 19.
the
20
Grace.
Of Efficacious
The
enlighten
the
of the
natural
them
is
The
evidently
God would
work of faith
carried on
his
well as in the
How
far
firfl
this
principle.
power
is
confiftent
with
be confider'd
in its place.
We are fa id,
be born
born of God, and not
of blood, nor of the will of the flefh, nor
of the will of man, but of God. In regeneration, the agency is removed from the
creature, and afcribed to the great Creator.
3.
from above,
To this it
is
to be begotten
" Dr,
in fcripture,. to
to be
^^
God,
Of Efficacious
God, and that
and the apoftle
begot them by
Grace.
i*ii
comes by hearing;
the Corinthians, he
gofpel ; which muft>
faith
tells
his
of moral
natural, all-powerful
To
this
we
reply,
way we contend
that though
faith
for.
comes
him
no encreafe;
for, as
the apoftle
whom
we
and difproportionate
to the
fubjed.
II.
If
we
this
change
palTes
upon
Of Efficacious
Grace.
perform their lufoal fundlions, fo the unrenewed finner is without God, and without Ghrift, in the world s he is loil to his
duty, and eftranged from every thing that
fpiritually good.
is
To
this it
is
objedled^, that
common
where
they are
ftrong, prove that the finner, even before
converfion, is not void of all fenfe, as a
dead body is.; fo that the argument^ according to us, if it proves any thing,
proves, fay they, too much. To this we
anfwer, that all convidlions are origui ]y
from God, and the finner, under the gr^i rA
fear of punifhment, may have no ap.r^
henfion of the excellency of his diuy, ni^r
conviftions,
any
efpecially
God
communion
vvir..,.
^E)h.
ii.
I. ,Gol,
ii.
15.
no
Kirace.
0/#,cactous Gn
Jew, and
to the
lefs
aa^
iio relation to
leaft
To
tized Chriftian.
of
al! to
much
the bap-
this it is fufficient to
"What then,
in
no wife
are
for
vers lufts/'
that
the
Now it will
apoftle,
eafily
before
his
be granted,
converfion,
was reftrained from groffer fins; none fuppofe that he run into all cxcefs of riot, but
had efcaped the pollutions, which were in
and if that is althe world through luft
;
lowed, it will be difficult to aflign a Teafon why he Ihould thug put himfelf into
the number of the chief of fmners, if there
had not been fomething common to them
!"
Rom.
iii,
9.
^ i
Cor.
vi.
1 1.
all;
Of Efficacious
124.
all
'Grace.
mean, an impotence
to good,
and
propenfity to evil.
farther account, which the fcrip2.
ture gives us, of our condition before converfion, is, that our underftanding is darkened ; that we are alienated from the life
of God, through the ignorance that is in
us, becaufe of the blindnefs of our hearts *
yea, we are faid to be darknefs ^ : And the
apoftle tells us ; " The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolifhnefs unto him s neither
can he know them, becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned "^ 5'' fo that if we are
made wife to falvation, God, who commanded light to fhine out of darknefs, muft,
in the fame way, and by the fame power,
enlighten our underftandings, to give us
wifdom
of God, will be accounted fooliihnefs ^
As to what is objeded, that thefe pafcafe, the gofpel, tho' in
it
felf the
blind,
" there
^
Eph.
^ i Cor.
is
iv.
yea,
we
iv. 6,
Ver. S.
^ i Cor.
i.
Cor.
ii.
-,*'
14.
a 5, 24.
There
Of Efficacious
Grace.
125
To
this
it is
objected
^,
that, if this
is
the
is
Tc) this
fenfe.
weanfwer
It
is
as true,
that, before
Rom.
iii.
lo, ii.
John
vi.
44.
Dr.Whitbyj,
Fag. 280.
Vol,
II.
Q^
Ghrift^
aa6
Of Efficacious
Cbrifl,
Grace.
That
tree
Of Efficacious
Graces
127
be ^
it
clean water
clean.
you; a
new
Then
fprinkle
fhall be,
thefe words;
in
''
v/ill
Spirit will
will
'^
Rom.
viii.
7.
Deuc-.
z,^,
i8.
xxx. 6.
0^2
Ezek,
xi.
19,2.0.
pro-
Of
Efficacious Grace.
fear
Why
work were
di-
To
this
it is
objected
^5
33.
Chapo
xxxii,
sS*
^'
Dr. Whitby,
Pag. 2i,i.
theli'
Of
Efficacious Grace.
of God.
Befides,
which are
and what every
The
in his epiftle to
apoflle,
the
He-
it
God
is
it
to
""
Ads
Their,
xvi.
i.
0^3
[.>
" Eph.ii. S.
5.
make
Of
^3o
make
Efjicadous Grace.
fuppofmg
and
defiled,
bitual holinefs, at
no man can
leaft,
fee
fiefh
is
-,
John
iii.
3=
cleanfingj
Of Efficacims
Grace.
121
cleanfing, or that any thing defiled can enttr into heaven, is direftly flying in the face
of fcripture
fo that
told politively
what
they are
made
which
is
And,
is
Now, can
drawn from
premifes,
felves uncertain
We
which
are in
them-
anfwer, no more
is
of original
we
fin
and where
this
is
denied,
of no force.
might now produce fome eminent
inftances of the grace of God, in the reagree
it is
We
0^4
newing
Of Efficacious
newing of
Grace.
in fcripture
con-i
however, the
happy change was from God, and the immediate effed: of his almighty power.
Thus, in the ftory of Zacheus, it does not
appear that our Lord faid any more to
" Make hafte and come
him than this
down, to day I muil abide at thine houfe ^'*
Yet prefently a change was wrought in his
foul, and the fruits of it appeared in an ingenuous confeffion of his former iniquities,
and, in an humble refolution to purfue
the contrary paths of juftice and mercy.
Ncvv what can this, fo great and fudden
an aheraiion, be attributed to, but the
powerful influence which the grace of our
Lord Jefus Chrifl had upon his mind ?
V7e cannot fuppofe there was an opportunity for a great deal of difcourfe or reafoning with him ; but if there was, we may
eafily judge how far words alone are fufficient to engage a rigorous oppreflbr in ad:s
of righteoufnefs and mercy fo that, from
the effefts, we mayjudgeof the caufe, and
conclude, that fo great a change could not
have been made at once upon fuch an heart,
but by the fame power, whereby God is
able to fubdue all things to himfelf
Another inflance, which might be mentioned,
elude,
that
their
in
cafe,
-,
^^
Luke
xix,
is
Of Efficacious
Grace,
333
faid thefe
which
is
in
every finner's
Ads
ix.
'
Luke
xxiii.
5 9,
&c.
R.
SERMON
Jt
is
II.
to do,
both
to
own
good pleajure.
HE
doftrine
voured
you,
of his
which we endea-
to ftate
and
eftablifh,
difcourfe,
the preceding
wastothisefFeit: That
in
when
a linner
in his foul,
the
Holy
the effea ot
from the
work
it
the
fcripture reprefentations oi
a
called,
isit
in which
felf,
new
Kjrace.
OfEffi cactous Gract
new
creation, a refurredlion,
born
again
in the
and a being
of powexertion of which, the Aler;
mighty is, and cannot but be alone, and
the creature manifeftly paffive. Again,
we
obferved,
cles,
terms
from
expreffive
man, before
this
God
challenges this
it
in
work as
Old
the
to be equal to the work, as well as gracious to his chofen; and are as entirely fi-
the agenc}'',
they exclude
and fet afide the merit, of the creature.
Moreover^ we hinted that this muft be the.
lent, as
to
as
cafe
Gf Efficacious
Grace.
^^^
pollution of original
them
all
from
fin,
falvation.
we exclude
If they are rege-
unlefs
it
cacy.
We proceed now
to another confidera-
of efficacious
grace, in the renewing of a finner ; and
that may be taken,
tion, to prove the neceflity
From
V.
it
is
confifts in
entirely averfe
which, Satan,
who
and, in oppofition to
maintains the throne
utmoft endeavours.
There is a greater difl:ance betwixt the
terms, fin and holinefs, corruption and grace,
than between thofe of fomething and noIn creation, fomething is form'd
thing.
out of nothing 5 but in regeneration, (as
one fl:rongly expreflTes it) hell is changed
In creation, there is no affiinto heaven.
ftance, but then there is no oppofition;
but regeneration is like the ftemming of a
rapid ftream, and turning it into a contrary
in which as there is nothing to
courfe
in his heartj ufes his
',
help, fo there
is
The
Of Efficacious
5^8
The finner
Grace.
aot
Gen.
vi.
5.
league
OfBffi cactous
Gu
ixrace,
?9
Col.
i,
tiy
f Mis.
It
is
a change of a
Chmock, Voir n.
p^
208I
ftonc
Of Efficacious
3-4.0
Grace.
he fomewhere
as
have no reafon to
wonder that creation is only afcribed to
the hand of God, when, in regeneration,
But
his arm is fuppofed to be revealed."
operative."
elfe
So
obferves,
that,
"
We
to proceed,
times
prC"
Of Efficacious
Gracf.
^^t
wa-
moved under
faithful,
Vol.
II.
death
Of
^4-^
Efficacious Grace.
we
and
intellectual world,
firll
exercife of thofe
whatever concurrent cireumfiances may attend, is conftantly under his
principles,
providential influence
in univerfal nature
that
And is this
And can we
:
the cafe
fuppofe
in
works of God, he is
little or no concern ?
unaccountable, would
a
left out, as
How
this
having
ftrange,
be
how
Our
-^ffir/irinj/^
cacious
OfEffi
QyClCe.
Our
the moifture of the raiii, and the enlivening genial rays bf the fun: Nor will they
difpute the fun it felf had never been what
it now is, the great fountain of light and
heat, to the univerfe, but by the will and
power of the Creator. They will tell
you, the rain defcends at his appointment,
in the fea, they will allow a prinof life and motion is from God, and
the aftual exercife of it in a dependanee
upon him. What we call fometimes inftindl, or nature in them, is confefTedlv
notof themfelves, but from him, who hath
appointed their fituation in the order of
creatures, and furniflied them with all their
powers, fenfations, and appetites Whence
they are directed to coiled: their proper
the
fifli
ciple
food,
Of Efficacious
24.4-
Grace.
with
fouls,
ing,
capacities of reafon-
all their
reflexion, judgment,
from God
-,
that he
we have our
made
and memory
by his pow-
us,
all their
Now,
intelleftual
ihall
we admit
from God
am
a reafonable
Am
common
but as upheld by his power, and under the influence of his providence ? And
will it be faid, 1 can renew my felf, and
cleave to the Lord, with full purpofe of
heart, by my own ftrength ? What is this
but to allow a dependance in the lefs, and
to deny it in the greater ? What Adam
life,
pof-
Of Efficacious
Grace.
poffeffed in paradife, as to
04.5
the perfecllon
felicity
as,
^-
Cor.
iv.
7.
ment;
Of Efficacious
my reafon and
t24-6
inept;
to diiFer
Grace.
choice made me
were, indeed, the
enjoy'd in common with o-
The means
fame, what I
thers; but the fuccefs was the efFed: of my
own care, diligence, and attention, whilft
they mifs'd of it through their own heedlefsnefs
s,
and carnality.
It
is
objected to
here fpeaking of
gifts only, and of fuch as were miracuthis
is
human
ordinary difpenfations of it. To this we anfvyer, that, admitting the apoftle is fpeaking of gifts, renewing grace is undoubtedly one of thofe gifts, and not the leafl: va~
luable of them, which came down from
the Father of lights ; for when we are
born again, it is not of the will of the flefh,
nor of the will of man, but of God ; and
OB
Of
Efficacious Grace.
o,\i
on them.
other
in his
The
own
apoftle determines
cafcj
was
of me,
"
And
laft
Lord Jefus
how
of
it
was
fays
all,
Chrift,
he
am V
The
as
alteration
is
marvelous, the
from a perfecuter
a preacher ;
but I afcribe it not to my felf, but to the
grace of God ; and this grace, which was
beftowed upon me, was not in vain
So
far from it, that under its influence " I laboured more abundantly than they all /'
and io fi^arful was he, leaft God fhould
friend,
to
np.t
Of Efficacious
S^i-S
Grace.
brought him
If our will
point,
and
the balturning
is to give the
lance is placed in our own hands and, after
all the provifion which God hath made,
and the pains he is fuppofed to be at, the
creature is himfelf to determine the matter by his own choice or refufal; to be fure,
the honour ought to go with the agency.
And of this our opponents feem to be fo
fenfible, that fome of them allow that it
is of preventing grace that we will and
choofe what is good, and refufe what is
of affifting grace, that we are enaevil
bled to perform that will, and perfift in
that choice ; and of mercy, when we have
done all, that we are accepted 3 a way of
either in the
whole or
falvation, cannot be
in part,
of God.
',
Of Efficacious
of.
It
objefted
is
fome
boafting, in
ful:
That the
Grace.
inftances,
'^jlq
glorying,
that
'\
is
was found
apoftle
or
not unlawin
the
man make
elfe where
void his
he fpeaks
God
in his riches
glory in
this,
but
let
him
that glorieth,
that he underftandeth
I
am
the Lord,
and
which
Tigh^
Of Efficacious
^50
Grace.
own
man, and
determined ; nor
be certainly known, were this the
cafe, whether any one would determine
right : But, if the fcripture account of
man, before converfion, may be depended
upon, if he is dead in trefpaffes, darknefs,
and enmity againft God ; his will, being
averfe to good, and prone to evil, would
neceflarily determine in favour of fin, and
in a rejed:ion of holinefs. One would have
thought, that when the apoflle Paul
came to Athens, the feat of learning, the
wife men of that place would have pa-:
tiently heard what he had to offer, and
duly weighed and confider*d the nature and
importance of his dodrine, and that at
tain, till the creature has
could
it
^ Jer.
is.
23, 24,
leaft
Of Efficacious
Grace.
the major part of them would have embraced the gofpel evidence, which attended
leafl
we find that he
fuccefs in Corinth, a city
remarkably diffolute and wicked, thanJie
But, inftead of this,
it.
among
the
learned
philofophers
of
them
who is in heaven."
now enquire whether the
to us,
We fhall
grace
55
Of Efficacious
Grace.
Rom.
viii.
ip? 30.
^ Eph,
i.
4,
Of Efficacious
Grace.
05^
f.s
them
in the other.
Accordingly, in the profped: of his approaching death, he prays, iirft, that ** they
might be fanftified through the truth, and
be kept from the evil one ;" and then adds,
" Father, I will that they alfo whom thou
haft given me be with me where I am,
that they may behold the glory which
thou haft given me "." Grace and glory
are, indeed, bleffings altogether unmerited
by the faint j but they are due to his furety, upon an engagement on the Father's
part in the counfel of peace to the Son,
that if he would make his foul an offering
for fin, he fhould have a feed to ferve him,
and fee of the travel of his foul to his fatifNow our Lord Jefus Chrift hafaftion.
ving done his part, to the abundant fatiffadtion of the Father, which was declared
in his refurred:ion and feffion at his right
hand ; it would be unfaithful in the Father,
John
xvii.
17, 24.
and
Of Efficacious
^54
Grace.
me
or,
fome of thefe,
af-
all
Befides,
is paffive in the implantof grace, as we have enprinciple
the
ing
deavoured to prove, then there can be no
refiftance in regeneration, whatever oppofition may be made by the foul to common
convidtions before regeneration : or what
4. If the foul
conflidts foever
terwards
yet
between
flefti
we may, with
and
fpirit af-
the apoftle^
be confident, that where the work is begun, it {hall be carried on ; where the arm
of the Lord is reveal'd, the fuccefs will be
John
X.
16,
ahfwer-
Gi
OfEffi cactous Kirace.
atifwerable
fo that we conclude
:
55
God,
that
Having thus
the docftrine
attend to fome of
eftabliflied
it 5
fuch
as,
by the opponents
It is faid,
of
effi-
cacious grace, that God hath given fufficient grace to all men, upon the due improvement of which they may be faved, if
it is not their own faulc j and to affert the
contrary, fay they, is to wrong the fountain of goodnefs, aiid to reprefent him as
and fo
to make him the objed: of our dread and
hatred, rather than of our love and reve~
i^nd if all men have fufficienc
rence
grace, what neceffuy for this mighty power
of God, in the converfion of a finner ?
And, to prove this, they quote thefe
words: " What could have been done
more to my vmeyard, that I have not
a cruel, fevere,
ar.J
harfli
being,
Dn Whitby,
Pag. 234.
done
^5^
Of Efficacious
done
in
ic
wherefore,
Grace.
when
I look'd
it
ginally furnifh'd
forfeited this,
in
common with
jeftion takes
(2.)
which is abfolutely fo in it felf, without the induftry and care of the creature,
or fome fuperadded aids from heaven, we
deny that there is fuch grace^iven to all
men ; for if there was, the effedt mull be
the fame in all, and fo none could mifcarry.
If it is faid, the fuccefs depends on the
that
Will
Of Efficacious
Grace.
it felf,
257
is
fo
proper
jecftion
grace l3e never fo fufficient, the event is determined by a divine agency. Befides, is
it not evident, from the Spirit's ftriving
with the ungodly world, in Noah's time,
for a hundred years together, without fuc-
who,
We
more humano,
him with
Vol.
II.
We
0/
358
Efficacious Grace.
We might add, as
what the objeftion
is
not given to
all
grace,
means
The
gofpel
calls
is
entirely
unknown
to a great
That
is
falvation in
faith
ing by the
word of God
fo
that
we
may
afk,
"
a. It
Grace^
Of Efficacious
It is
2.
farther objected
*,
that
if
God
has not given fufficient grace to all, whydoes he judge or condemn any for the want
of it ? To this we anfwer, with the apo^
ftle Paul, there will be two rules, by which
the Judge will proceed in the great day ;
" As many as have finned without the
law, (hall alfo perifli without the law ;
and as many as have finned in the law,
fhall
from believing
that
God
am
far
condemn
the
^."
will
who
Heathen,
evil
live
finally
humbly
much
in
conceive,
be
condemned
fo
and pofitiveAnd,
ly {hutting their ears againft Chrift
their hardening their hearts,
is
the cafe,
is
*'
S 2
Rom.
ii,
iz,
Dr.
own
^9
a6o
Of Efficacious
Grace.
own
hearts,
if this
is
equally impoflible,
be of him,
this
them ? And
who
fhall
wifdom
God
we impute
goodnefs,
infinite
is
To
we
an-
command on God's
part
forbid.
this
fwer,
(i.)
That
if a
comply with
mull be fuppofed
to
it,
or
it,
then
we
fame power
to ferve him, as the faints in glory have
And, in this refpeft, the difference between
a ftate of imperfeftion and abfolute perfection, would be loft; for God requires
we (hould love him with all our hearts,
and with all our fouls 5 and the law admits of no abatement, but rigoroufly reto have the
him who
continues not in
all
things
writ-
Of Efficacious
them
written therein to do
were a
fair
way of
a6i
Grace.
:
So that
if this
we muft
God commands we
reafoning,
and perfect
holinefs
in
his
fear.
But,
(2.)
The moft
commands and
They
is this
:
exhortations, in fcripture,
are reprefentations of our
declarative of
5
God's authority, and right of dominion,
and not of our power or ability. A command refpedls us as creatures, whether
upright or fallen ; it is equally obligatory
on us; God hath the fame claim to wor{hip
from us, and the fame dominion over us,
fince, as before
the
fall.
To which we
add,
(3.) The defign of God, in rhefe commands, is to acquaint us with the neceffity
and importance of thofe things which he
requires
" that without holinefs we cannot fee his face ; that except a man have a
new heart, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven :'* And fo they are intended,
upon a coriviftion of our weaknefs and infufficiency, to lead us to him, who hath
not only required them of us, but hath
S 3
pro-
fer'd to,
Oj
Efficacious Grace.
a rebellious
Of
4. It
Efficacious Grace.
0^2
is
by making
it
neceifary,
To
we are to
;
diflinguifh between the nature of the will,
of choice*
and the
of
qualities
fame, in
tion, as
this
all
it
we anfwer
it
The
is the
regenera-
foul
faculties, after
its
qualities
of
are altered.
The
impair'd, not fo
efTence, as in
its
much
in
tendency
its
it is
nature,
or
now moll
unhappily turn'd off from fpiritual to carnal and fenfual objedls ; the will is the
to be converfant.
If the worfhip, fervice,
or love of God, are taken into the queflion,
we affert, thefe were originally the choien
S 4
objedli
Of Efficacious
064.
Grace.
of the delight of the innocent creabut are now the matters of his averfion, whilft he continues in a ftate of unregeneracy
And, when he is renew'd,
and every high thought and imagination is
reduced to a fubjedion to Chrift, we never
meet with a complaint from him of violence offered to his will, of being forced
and compel'd to the choice of holinefs.
True, he is fenfible of the hand of God
upon his foul, he feels, acknowledges, and
adores the arm of the Lord in his converfion ; but he is fo far from thinking it any
hardfhip, that he rejoices abundantly in
the mercy And whereas, now his foul is
thirfting after God, and his delight is in
the law of the Lord, he is fenfible this
wonderful change, in his cafe, was effedled
by his power, who works in his people
both to will and to do, of his own good
pleafure
he is far from defiring fuch a
liberty, as would leave him as liable to apoftatize and mifcarry, as to perfevere and be
faved No, he rather longs to be in heaven, among the fpirits of juft men made
perfed:, under a glorious neceffity (if that
may be deem'd fo, which is the matter of
their conftant choice and delight) of ferving God, without wearinefs or interruption : If he might exprefs the utmoft of
his ambition, it is to be with Jefus, in a
obje<9:s
ture,
-,
world where to
fin
or offend
is
impoffible.
We
Of Efficacious
Wc may obferve,
we
affert that
Grace.
God works
immediately in
implanting the principle of grace, we allow, that the renewed fmner is a proper
fubjed: of moral fuafion ; and that God
deals with him, in promoting a work of
grace in his heart, in an argumentative way,
and enables him to compare and judge of
things which are propofed to him, as proper to be purfued or avoided, and to choofe,
or refufe, as they appear defirable, or the
contrary; though we conclude, in all this,
the faint gladly efteems God's word as his
only rule, and his Spirit as his only guide.
As to what is faid concerning virtue, and
the rewards which are fuppofed to be due
to it, I apprehend, man, in his beft eftate,
is vanity 5 his obedience, in its utmofl fpirituality and perfedlion, is a debt which
he owes to his great Creator ; nor can he
be profitable unto God, fo as to enter a
claim, or challenge a reward from the Almighty So that as we utterly difclaim the
docftrine of merit on the creatures part, we
need not enquire how far the grace of
God, in the renewing of a finner, deftroys
this idol, which the pride of man is fo
willing to fet up and worfhip.
5. It is obje(5ted, if God works In us both
to will and to do, and without his fpecial
grace we can do nothing, then we may
een fit ftill, and do nothing, only wait
:
care-
Of Efficacious
f266
Grace.
lincere
and
To
we anfwer, that
God may certainly fix upon what
neceffary.
this
order he
and
which we
hand
The diredlion is, afk,
and knock ; the encouragement lies
us, for
want
feek,
at his
who
me
5
and
it
feek
fhall
me
and fuch
their flrength
as wait
They
early, fays
God,
on him,
fo that
it
fhall
fhall
in a
is
his
find
renew
way of
prefence.
upon them
And I would
us,
dif-
Of Efficacious
GraccY
ag^
pedations from
it ?
Thus we have gone through the principal objedlions advanced againft the doftrine
of efficacious grace, and conclude, upon
the v^hole, that we have fcripture and experience on our fide, whilft we affert that
the perfon, righteoufnefs, and fulnefs of Chrift ? Have we fled for refuge to
thing,
him,
Spirit
as
this,
rience of
or
ou^**
fouls
him
9 68
Of Efficacious
him have
all
the glory
Grace.
and
let
be our
it
we
God
all in
all,
as the
one
and where,
God
over
all,
great Jehovah,
they will, to endlefs
as the
THE
THE
DOCTRINE
O
Perseverance
Stated
and
IN
in
Grace
Defended:
TWO
SERMONS.
By
THOMAS HALL;
SERMON
I.
^M^^mS^i^f.
PhiliPc
i.
6.
form
Chrift.
^^^HATEVER
nities
be the
immu-
of them.
Glorious
things,
and
^7^
f
Of Terfcverance
and excellent.
As they
in Grace.
That
OfTerfeVerMCe
in Grace.
drr
fident that
work
he^
good
Would perform it
in the Philippians,
The
I have turn'd
you
to this verfe
from
becaufe
it
a jufh explication
>
lil:
Ixii.
Vol. Ih
It,
* Chep,
i.
The
Of Terfeverance
^74
The work
1.
ken
in
Grace.
which
it felf,
is
here fpo-
of.
2.
The
3.
The
perfedlion that
was
to
crown
it.
apoftle's confidence
with refpedt
to that perfedlion.
4.
The common
wc
That
may
this
eafily
fages in
this epiftle
particularly
this chapter,
from
where
they
Of Terfever ance
they were
already
in Grace.
favoured
^755
with fomq
Chap.
iv.
text refer*d
I.
to:
^n&
OfTetfevefance
to:
it.
in
Qrack
And
The
the apoftle, in his firfl: epiftle to the Theffalonians"; where He prays, that " they
might be preferv'd blarhelefs unto the
Chrift/'
The
may warrantably expedl a final perfeverance in grace, till they are brought
fafe to glory.
By the force of the word in the original,
the perfedion of the work is likewife figThe Greek verb ^, which we renitified.
"
might well be tranflated
perform,*'
der
*'
fihifhi'' and when the laft conflid with death
i^'over, then fliall the faints be immediately
made perfeft in holinefs, and be preferv'd
faints
Hon
Of Terfeverance
fion
in Grace.
^j/j
intended
good work
and, being
jfinifh'd, it fhall remain for ever perfed
for, in the day of judgment, the hints
fhall be openly acknowledged, ai>d profhall
finifh'd,
JDe
-,
nounced
bleffed
by fome
yea,
folemn
publickly confirmed in a flate of perfed: purity ai)d epdaftion, they fhall then be
lefs blifs.
(3.)
The
apoftle's confidence,
with
r^-^
In his expreffion,
this very thing," we
are
two pronouns
of
is
the
^ ;
*^
Being confident of
may
thing/'
The phrafe,
The
certainty of the
faints
final
This privilege
perfeverance in grace.
is
haa
Of Terfeverance
078
in
Grace.
was
be confider'd hereafter I
fhall go on to obferve that this phrafe
built, Ihall
-,
points out,
The
[2.]
The
importance of
this privilege.
and fervor,
with which the apoftle mentions it, are
plain indications that it is a matter of importance. Our attention would not have
been quicken'd by this remarkable intro-dudtion, had not what follows carried in
it an anfwerable weight and moment.
And there is good reafon for the utmoft
diftindnefs, earneftnefs,
ftrefs
to be laid
upon the
faints perfeve-
We
ics
yerfes^
OfTerfeverance
nj^
in Grace.
thankfulnefs to God upon every remembrance of the Philippians, and of his making requeft for them with joy. Now his
confidence, that the good work would be
performed to the day of Chriifl, ftands as
one reafon, both of his thankfulnefs and
of his joy.
in his praife,
of the dodtrine of the faints final perfeverance, had a fpecial influence not only up-
on
And
the
influence
juftnefs of
thefe re-
is,
(4.)
of the
to confider,
common
whole
affair
interefl
or thei:
and
Of Terfeverance
3 8o
and
in
Graced
Under
this head,
we may
the ttxt.
obfeirve
two
things.
[i.] That all the faints have the fame
good work begun in them, which was begun in the believers of the apoftle's day.
This will be evident, if we briefly take a
comparative view of the fpiritual and gracious attainments of thofe believers, with
the near and juft refemblance of the correfponding graces which are wrought in
all the faints ; e. g. Were the believers of
old renewed in the fpirit of their mind,
and blefs'd with the knowledge of the Redeemer ? fo are all the faints. Were the
^
is
their faith
the heart,
it
Did
purify
them on
is
which
Of Terfever ance
in Grace.
^gj
Again,
[2.]
ground
we may
obferve,
That the
for
his
apoftle
had no
fpecial
was
we
method of reafoning
force
^8i
Of Terfeverance
force of his argument
this
in Grace.
may
be fhewn after
manner.
He
firft
lays
it
down
as a fcripture prin-
ciple, or point
of
the good
work
them,
he would furely perform it to the day of
Chrift ; for it fhall certainly be thus carried on in all upon whom it is once
begun.
Beza obferves, that the word, in the
original, fhould here be taken to iignify
not his affedtion to them, but his judgment concerning them, and the ftate they
were in . And, in our tranflation, it is
thus
rendered
known by
Now,
fince
the
in
tree
is
its fruit,
And,
0/
Terfeverance in Grace.
aS?
And,
larity,
fince
to charge
Thus we fee
was not
built
on any
with refpedt to
all
in
whom
As the
text, therefore,
was
fuited
to
all
true believers,
end of time.
84
Of Terfeverance
in Qrace.
Ouraflerting, frotj>
thispaflage, the dodtrine of the faints perfe-
verance in grace,
is
fufficientlyjuftiiied,
by a
his
concerning
confidence
ground of
their
fafety.
the cafe of
applicable to
work
all,
in
vine original.
Thus
doctrinal obfervarion,
raife from it, viz. that
Dod:.
invincibly carried
faints.
which
I ihall
now
grace fhall be
OfTcrfeverance
Grace.
in
in
285
opening
truly
is
work
the good
on Jin all
for the apoftle's' ex-
believers, as there
was
fliould be performed in
the Philippians. What I have hinted already^ in the explication of the text, is, I
pedlation, that
it
think, as
quires
thus
is.
II. I fhall
I.
I fhall
diflinftly
This
of
this
is
and
endeavour to
fully.
docftrine.
What
defign
here;
fhall be
ming
Of Terfeverance
a 86
ming
them
in Grace.
upon each of
would hope things
may be
and hereby
efpecially
when
cife.
That
means neceffary for the eflablifhment of this good work, are under the
diredlion of God
and all obflacles which
would threaten a difappointment, are fubjea to his controul.
3.
all
-,
I.
The
;;
0/ Terfever ance
in Grace.
ig?
I.
is
hm
the failure of
thefe can never affedt the truth of our dodrine : And the reafon is plain, becaufe,
two
things.
to
be
mon gifts
Matt,
vii.
ii,
grace.
o88
Of 'Perfeverancc
grace,
which
which
in Grace.
quity, and
is
neceffary for the curing the fpiritual maladies of their own fouls.
This diftindtion may be farther fupported, from the apoftle's argument ^ ; where
might have the
lie fuppofes that men
higheft meafures of the gifts of the Spirit,
and yet be nothing in point of true grace
They might have fuch gifts, as to be capable of underftanding all myfteries, and all
knowledge They might have fuch faith,
as to be able to remove mountains, and a
zeal that would incline them to make the
moft liberal diftributions among the poor,
and to die, at laft, as martyrs in the caufe
of religion, and yet be deftitute of that
charity and love to Chrifl, and his people,
which is one of the efTential properties of
:
true grace.
And
is fuppofed, iii
confirmed by another pafTage ; where the apoftle plainly
{hews, that there was, in fadt, a dillribu-
this
as
this diftindlion
argument, fo
it
is
from
work
Cor.
xlii.
14.
i Cor.
xi.
13.
ceived
Of Terfeverance
ceived
that
in Grdc'e.
wickednefs, were yet in a capacity of impofing upon churches, upon the faints and
people of God themfelves; yea, by reafon
of the abundant furniture they had, as to
the gifts of the Spirit, they could pafs for
the apoftles of Chrift.
And if fuch an horrid deceit could be
prad:iied, in that pure and enlightened age,
no marvel
deftrudtion.
>
nuance
And
the works,
as thefe
gifts
will
fajl,
in
fo
the
And,
generally fpeaking, by one trying difpenfaticn oi another, the Lord turns fuch pro*
fo
by others,
ftill all
'"
Vol.
II.
iCor.
xi,
15.
lye,
Si
Of Terfeverance
JO
lye,
during
its
whole
in
truth in unrighteoufnefs.
ways hypocrites, and no
laft
Grace,
Such
have
(2.)
particular churches.
m happy and
flourifhing condition.
Of ^erfeverance
in Grace.
having
up
loft its
error
in
there
\^ill
ftiip
formerly prevailed.
Hereby God
is
a^i
09^
Of Terfeverance
in
Grace.
ment
to others.
The
though he fhould be
as a
mourning dove,
hid in the " clefts of the rock, in the fccret places of the flairs:'* So that however
the gifts of the Spirit, or the vifible flate
of particular churches may ceafe, yet the
grace, with which alone our
concerned, that fhall never fail.
work of true
doctrine
is
refpedts
OfTerfevcrance
in Grace,
095
open tranfgreffions of
by reafon whereof their
fome
believers,
reli'
OfT^rfeverance
$Q^
in
Grace,
and a ftumbling<.
block thrown in the way of others. Under
the remembrance and {tnfc of thefe things,
fome go mourning all their days.
Thus Chrift, the Leader or his people^
and the Captain of their falvation, does
fometimes fufFer the enemy to take an advantage, that he may have the opportunity of difplaying his glory, in recovering
The
(i.)
faints relation
to
God, that
The
God,
is
that
OfTcrfeverunce
to a
new and
in Grace.
peculiar relation
tO'
^95
himfelf,
executed through the exercife of his pardoning mercy " ; for this being fettled as
the <:onftant method of his difpenfing the
grace of adoption, it teaches us thatjulli-.
fication and adoption are both founded in
the blood of Chrift, and infeparably conneded one with the other. And, lince
is
thefe
and
and iniquities
it is conftrudtively the fame as if he had faid, I will
always be their God, and they fhall always
be my people; i. e. the relation fliall continue, they fhall be my fons and my daughters, and that for ever.
It mufl be allowed, indeed, that the
children of God, by their frowardnefs and
remiffnefs in their walk, may provoke
him to deny them the light of nis countenance, he may hide his face for a time. Or
he may frown and make them fenfible
of his fatherly dilpleafure, yet the relation
God may challizc
fliali never be extind:.
righteoufnefs,
will I
their fins
remember nomore";'*
"
Heb.
viii.
lo,
12.
**
Ver. 12.
and
Of Terfeverance
?9^
in Grace.
his compaflion
and correcft his children
and love will engage him to do fo, but he
;
family.
The
paffage
them out of
we meet with
in
his
our
proof of
The
this.
explication,
'
John
viii,
35.
through
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
097
never
fail.
This principle, which is infufed at the inftant of their regeneration, fhall continue
and abide in them for ever. The fpiritual
life is, in fome refpeds, like the natural, both
are liable to
and faintings
for a time,
Hof. xiv. 2, 4.
"^
life
Htb.
remain, fo the
viii.
ro.
EpK
ope-
298
OfTerfeverance
in Grace.
though
it fail'd as to
continue as to
its
its
it.
Peter's faith,
principle,
which imme-
Prov.
xii.
3,
3,
tally
OfTerfeverance in Grace.
9^^
ven,
is
may
learn to be
humble
God, and all poffiblc intervening events, which would threaten a difappointment, are fubjed; to his controul.
dired:ion of
The means
Among
External.
internal.
Col.
iii.
5,
his
goo
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
Again, he
to
his
der their final pcrfeverance in grace. Farther, he knows how long a ftanding in the
fchool of Chrift. on earth, is neceflary to
fit and prepare for his immediate and glorious prefence in heaven ; and he will give
his children a due time, that they may
have a proportional fpace to go through
that courfe of inftrudtion and new obedience, that variety of temptation and experience, which is proper for their greater
proficiency and edification now, and their
eompleat perfedion in knowledge and grace
at laft.
hope and
love, frefh
hungering
and
thirft-
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
50
lighting in
ings of the
Holy One
"
He
rhem
to
giveth power
that have
no
might,"he increafeth ftrength """ A bountiful God will fupply all their need y, and
give
them
godlinefs,
whether
all
things pertaining to a
life
of
from
all
it
thofe,
their
languifliing
till
as
he will
the corn and grow
in
their fcent
grace,
,
fliall
be as the
fubtil
go 3
Of TerfeVerance
fubtil
enemies
yet,
in Grcke.
however they
itiay
power
is
limited,
and the
God of
*"
xvii. 15.
^ Pfal. Ixxxiv.
lu
^ Gal.
Jude, ver.^.
John
Ifai.
xxvii.
ifai.
i,
ixii.
4.
n,
^ Chap.
Chrift
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
505
Chrift may be
in him ; and this not\tithftanding their
unworthinefs, and hell-dcfervings, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord
Jefus Chrift j for tho* he may take venglorified in
'
cafe,
we
this
do*-
does
it aflTert,
and
of grace 5 nor that
their opinion,
confider'd,
may
iTheff.i.
1 1,
fall
vifible churches, as
firft
fuch
love,
""P^^. xcix. S.
and
304.
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
-,
under which,
II. I
Of Terfeverance
II.
I fhall
the proof of
in Grace.
305
General Proof,
apoftJe's
be the
liere add,
this to
I iliall
that in
them
it
is
Sometimes
it is
aiTerted in
way
''.''
"
*^
Mark
Job xvii,
Vol.
xv*.
i6.
<^
John xl z6.
Ff jv.
iv.
i8,
9.
II.
is
Of iPerfeverame
2o6
Gracei
in
Thus we read^
over the righteous
' ;'*
that " upon all the glory {hall be a defence
and " there fhall no evil happen to the
Surely then they fhall not be left
juft V'
to a final apoftacy, the worft and foreft
evil that could befal them. At other times,
this dodlrine is refer'd to, as the ground of
the holy and humble confidence of the
faints, and plainly fuppofed as the foundation of their comfortable hope, their raifed
is fet
Hence
expectation, and earneft prayers.
and
confequent
pearofe fuch conclufions
"
The Lord will perfedl
titions as thefe
:
thy mercy,
forfake
not the
ever
for
endureth
Lord,
:"
Thou fhalt
works of thine own hand
guide me with thy counfel, and afterwards
:
-,
receive
to glory "/'
me
Here
Ifai. iv.
Pfal. Ixxiii.
5.
^ Prov.xiii
ir.
^*
Pfali cxxxviii.
2i
24-
and
Of iPerfeverance
in
ooy
Grace.
when
events were t6
As
to the pretence,
that fuch an
afili-
them
508
Of Terfeverance
in
Grace,
them
',
Lord God, the word which thou haft fpoken concerning thy fervant, and concerning his houfe, eftabliih it for ever, and do
\"
as thou haft laid
In his example then
we have
an in-
Godof Ifrael,
haft revealed to
thy
vii.
2 J.
heart
in
Of Terfeverance
309
Grace.
fervants
late
one, in teaching
is
prayers by
their
them
to
reguof
his declarations
why may we
mercy,
be fure at
leaft that
we may
no impropriety
in pre-
fenting
gainft
it.
And
fliould this
not follow,
then,
as
be admitted, yet
fome would
it
fuggeft,
will
that
from the
and prefervation from
faints
proteftion
fin,
it
had promifed
all tranf-
greffion.
This
is
for there
is
infpired
a vaft difference between the
fup
weak
the
and
apoftles,
prayers of the
the
received
have
who
plications of thofe
much
a
in
gifcs and graces of the Spirit,
lower
210
Of Terfcverance
lower degree, and who,
in Grace.
ia
at beft, fliare
his affiftance, in a very imperfedt meafure, even fuch as leaves them fubjeft
dua.
We
may
alfo
obferve,
that the
daily
from
"^
to deliver the
againfl
Rom
vi.
140
y i
Per,
ii.
9^
* i Cor.
But
OfTerJeverance
in
Grace.
truth
fhall
^
likewife
be
faithfulnefs
in the performance
^ Pfai.
XXV,
and
of it.
10,'
R-.
SERMON
Philip,
i.
II.
6.
form
it until
the Day
ofjefm
Chrift,
FTER
dodlrinal
obfervation,
viz. that.
of grace fliall be
invincibly carried on to perfedion in all
Dod:.
the faints.
OfTerfeverance
3 14-
in
Grace.
neral proof of it, by ohferving how frequently this dodrine is mentioned in fcripture, I iliall proceed now to conlider fome
The
particular arguments to fupport it.
chief I {hall infifl: upon iliall be drawn
from the following heads.
1. The immutability of the purpofe and
prcmife of God.
2. The Redeemer's care over his people,
is
equivalent to a promife.
And
if,
wave
confider
them
^je
OfTerfc^verance in Grace.
but flhall be careful herein nat to^ exceed
what, I apprehend, would be allowed by
thofe of the contrary fcheme.
The things
then which I take for granted are
thefe^ namely, that the declarations of
grace,
made
word of God,
in the
are to
in the
(2.)
quickly find,
of fpiritual
that,
among
other articles
of the
faints perfeverance
is
hended
3l6
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
For an inftance
hereof I ihall name that text where the
apoftle declares, that " the Lord hathfaid,
hended and
afcertained.
more
declare
muft
diredtly
what
their
meaning
be.
We
covetoufnefs
and
it
in
would be
*
converfation
their
*'
a weaknefs to imagine,
Heb.
xiii.
J.
that3
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
^i^
the midft of thefe many temptations, they did wholly efcape all inward
The words therefore could
defilement.
never be intended to engage for a prefent
that, in
till
they
And
this explication
able to
many
Lord fhall
them from
evil
?
And
iTheff.
iii.
and keep
again, to
what
5.
he
3l8
Of Terfeverancc
in Grace.
eth yoU)
infallible
who
alfo will
declaration
do
it
being
"^i"
And
this
immediately
is thereby
;;
Of Terfeverance
in
Grace.
founded
in
their
refpedtive
contexts,
is
fied.
Thefe
paiTages are a
good clew ta
may
the Lord
to be in
final
as
keep them
from
fuch
would prevent their progrefs to a
infallibly
fafe
perfeftion in holinefs, or
I
bar their
appearing at
in love.
all
laft
fition
all
believers.
This
^7o
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
is
no trufting
in
God,
there
is
no
faith.
Again, are the heirs of the promife defcribed by their humility, as where it is
faid, the Lord " giveth grace unto the
humble^?" As to this, there can be no
more certain evidence of true humility,
than a man's quilting his own righteouf^ Pfal. cxxv.
I.
f James iv 6.
nefs^
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
^'3ii
flefh,
'y
rence to
And
him
are not
all
thefe things
wrought by
of
all
the faints?
We
may
therefore juft-
Vol.
Eph.
'
II.
Yi
2,4.
And,
Oj T^rfcverance
^77
And,
fince this
in Grace.
muft be underftood of
their holding
the beginning of
obferve
how much
the fcriptures
[I.]
The.
OfTcrfevcrcmce
The
^aj
in Grace.
which is promifed
eternal falvation.
an
of
muil be meant
Accordingly when Chrift fays, " He that
[i.]
falvation-
and
^'^
'^
s"
the
meaning is, fuch fhall be blefs'd with eternal life, with eternal falvation.
[2.] Thefe promifes are made to believers as fuch. They refpecS not theftrength
or the high degree of faith, but the truth
of it 5 and are therefore applicable to perfons upon their firft entrance into a ftate of
The denomination of the perfons
grace.
to whom they belong, is founded on that
change of ftate, and on thofe vital aftings
of the nev/ creature, which are common
He that has
to all who are born again.
been quicken'd and enabled to perform
tliofe elTential adings of faith, which re,
late to
growth
in grace
that are
weak
tereft
in
in the promife,
as
they
that
are
ftrong,
Thefe promifes comprehendan infeparabie connexion between true faith and eternal falvation. This muft be granted j or the
[;^.}
''
John
xi>
'
z6.
'
Mark
xvi. i6,
abfo-
Of Terfever ance
524-
in
Grace.
fall
indifferently affirmed,
than
He
this:
that believeth
little
may
more
be faved.
matter would thus reft upon probability only; and what does fo, may never
come to pafs. Thus, according to the
fcheme which pleads for a poffibility of
falling from grace, the falvation of believers is reduced to an uncertainty at leaft.
But this is what the ftyle of feveral of the
promifeswill by no means admit of ; which
" He that believeth fliall not
run thus
The
come
into condemnation
^ :'*
*'
He
fhall
He
be
not be confounded
afhamed *"." No fuch interpretation of the
promifes as that fcheme requires, can fuit
with the language of fcripture in this affair,
^
^ John
V. 24,
:"
Pec.
ii.
"
<5,
fhall not
J^
Rom,
ix,
J 3.
or
Of Terfever ance
in
Grace.
^'^^
*'
;"
paffed
he that
he that believeth on the Son, hath
everlafting life ^ ;" " and thefe things have
I written unto you, that believe on the
name of the Son of God, that ye may know
It follows,
that ye have eternal life ^^Z'
that
*'
yea,
<'
that,
[4.] Thefe promifes of falvation muft be
underftood to give an aflurance of the be-
braham
and
A-
up
them through all furrounding
a feed, to raife
protecSl
his
pofterity,
till they were put into the poflefof the promifed land. In like manner, by God's promifing falvation to believers, he engages for every thing neceflary to its being obtained ; and a final per-
dangers,
fion
it
particular.
John V. 24,
John V. 13.
?
*
li.
I John v.
Gen. xvii. 8.
John
iii.
56.
make
Of Terfeverame
306
Grace.
in
make
have
their
unfhaken
in
good reafon to remain
holy confidence that when God has once
put his covenant-fear into the hearts of
any, fuch fliall not be fuffer'd to de^
part from him ; no, but he who has
infufed the principle of grace, will preferve it, caufe it to fpring, and make it
for he has promifed *' to be as the
thrive
dew unto Ifrael: He fliall grow as the
^'*
lilly, and caft forth his root as Lebanon
Hence
it
Nor
fliould
we
Hof. xiv.
5.
^ Matt, xiii
i^.
the
Of Tcrfever ancc
in
Grace
-yzj
dantly
""."
fliall,
from
fill
As a
'^
"^
John
Heb.
iii.
X.
10.
^ Ifa^xllf,
i.
Mai.
iii.
j,
I.
*^
came
gl8
Of Terfeverance
in
Grace.
own
to
do
his
-,
trull
committed
to hirn.
But
for the
when he
did he engage,
whole of it,
" I will
faid,
raife hini
pofitive
Now
Saviour's faithfulnefs, that as he will never fufFer any to pluck his people out of
^
John
vi.
l8.
'
Ver. jj,
Ver. ^o.
y^^^
his
Of Terfiverance
in Grace.
209
them to
or mad-
fall
out of
nefs
never be.
Johnx.
a 8.
decla-
go
Of
Tcrfevcrancc in Grace,
upper regions,
in
which no
We
people into a ftate ofgrace, and of his bringing them into the real enjoyment of communion with God ; and thus of his giving
them the beginning of eternal life, even
in this world. Such an explication would
be very agreeable to matters of fad:, and
confonant to other places, where it is faid,
He that believeth on the Son, hath everlafting life;" and then all pretence for un'^
derftanding
Of Verfeverance
in Grace.
^^j
muft
firft
be received into
fliall
tecflion.
Thus you
upon a
fair conftrucSion,
we
it,
relation
and
his
union with
them.
Each of
thefe particulars
diftinft confideration
but,
would bear a
fmce the
infeparable,
blef-
I
fings themfelves are
blend them together under this head, and
briefly
fet
in
{hall
fhew
ductions
pertinent
to
may
fcripture,
relation,
made
by which
and the ftriftnefs of
are reprefented.
the
The
ufe of in
nearnefs of this
places in
this union,
which they
are
0/ Terfeverance
33^
are
contained,
are
in Grace.
abundantly
known
.faid to
as
will
grace.
AH
ftanding
in
communion
fliall
be pardoned.
He
be-
If2i. liv.
xv.
5.
Eph. V. 23.
^ Ver. 30.
Joha
5.
be
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
33
body
is
derived, according to
working
ctual
and
his effe-
of his myftical
communication fhall be
in every part
this
when he faid to
encouragement and
comfort of all his people, " Becaufe I live,
ye (hall live alfo ^."
Which words are a
juft foundation, whereupon to build an
aflfurance that believers can no more fall
from their relation to Chrift, and that
ftate of grace into which he has called
them, than Chrift himfelf can be pluck'd
out of his throne, or fall from his glory.
Some, indeed, would infinuate, that
though his people fhall never perifh, thro*
any defed: on his part, for he will be faithChrift's laft breathings j
ful to
abide faithful to
him
3 5 4:
him;
aad
We
its
their difeafes
'"."
herd only,
Ifai.xlix.
15.
Pfal.ciii.
3.
as
Of Terfever ance
in Grace.
535
they are his myftical body, and thus the beloved parts of
himfelf, we have then the ftrongefl: aflurance poffible that they (hall ever be preferved ; for what man, in his right mind,
did ever yet hate his own flefh, or fuffer
the meaneft part of himfelf to mortify and
perifh, when it was in his power to premay be fure then Chrift will
vent it ?
never fuffer any of the faints to fall finally
or totally, while their union with him does
remain. And that this friall continue ever,
IS plain, from the refemblance which it
bears to the eternal union becv/een his Father and himfelf; which refemblance is
believers to Chrift, as
We
"
John
xvii. zi,
2i.
tual
OfTerfiverance
3^6
in
Grace
tual and
of
all
the faints.
There is one argument more, which remains to be confider'd j and that is taken
from,
3. The inhabitation and confiant refidence of the Spirit of God in the fouls of
believers.
the Spirit of
believer,
That which
my
*'
Rom. viii. 9.
Rom. viii. 14.
John
f Gal, v.
vi.
63.
'^
Chap.
iii.
5'
i2.
people.
Of Tcrfeverance
people.
And
in Grace.
337
we have
feeth
nefit
have
and aa
We
them
for
ever.
Vol. IL
John xiv.
i<5,
17,
b^
Of Terfeverance
33^
in
Grace.
To
this
through the
his
number,
is
To this
I Cor.iii. 17.
![
Ver.
i(5,
purpofe,
17.
we
Of Terfeverance
^2d
Grace
in
own
fouls,
the
fure
might be
or that their
built
upon
Chrifl,
foundation.
And
then
man
defile,
or, as
deit
is
pra6:ices,
to the
For no
the
Of Terfevcrame
34-0
in
Grace,
On
cafe.
is
in fuch
of ignorance and
flate
darknefs, and fuch a ftranger to any experimental acquaintance with Chrift, the
foundation, as can never be allowed concerning any true believer; nay further,
that he is guilty of that felf-deceit, of that
craftinefs and carnal policy, and of thofe
vain thoughts which are altogether incon^.
fiftent with the Spirit's dwelling in him
But
fliall
Cor.
iii.
the
iS, 19.
rebel-
OfTerfeverance
in
Grace.
54.
ing,
committed
fliall
caufe
him wholly
and
to depart,
how
lliall
And
charaders, we
people
can never
his
confident
under
all
thofe
promifed
may be
fall
frorn
grace.
Thus I have gone through all the arguments propofed for the defence of this do(flrine, though not all that might have
been brought ; for I thought it better to
give what I have produced, a full confidef
>'
Rom.
V.
10.
ration
Of Terfcverance
^/^2
ration, than
prevented
Grace.
have
and
firmly perfwaded
by mentioning more,
my fetting
ftrong a light, as
their
in
to
thefe in fo clear
v^as
And
would
may
I iliall
make
a reply to theprincipal
which, fome apprehend, forbid their aifent to the dodrine of the faints
perfeverance, as it has been here Hated and
objections,
^flerted.
A;
I
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
34.^
my
At
my felf obliged
to take
much
notice of any
paffage in
in the
apprehend, more properly belongs to another topick, and is ufually handled by thofe
that treat of the decrees and foreknowledge
of God. It cannot therefore juflly demand
to be particularly confider'd here.
As to all objedions then of this kind,
which would
infallibility
iniinuate, that to
of the
ground the
faints perfeverance in
be infallibly accomplifhed,
as
declared
'tis
544-
OJ Terfeverance
in Grace.
tingency of fecond caufes. For it is fufficient unto human liberty, that a man ads
without conftraint, and out of choice.
And is it not thus with the faints as to their
perfeverance in grace? Is not the new nature in them an overflowing fpring of holy
defires? Don't they adl freely in the exercife of every grace, whether of faith or repentance, of hope or love ? Is not the
OfTerfeverance
in Grace.
^^5
the will
we
is
now
have
ced,
by which
it is
more
Upon
it
may
no liberty
be
pure
as well
in the
who
Of Terfeverance
g2j.6
in Grace.
as renders
fail j yet
the faints freedom in adling is not deftroy'd
thereby.
No, no more than the liberty of
human adlion in eating or drinking is deflroy'd by the decree which fixes the number of a man's days *, which appoints the
it
neceffary
means of
his fupport,
and which
accomplifh
I Ihall
from
an hireling
as
now
fcripture.
ceffary
for
his
day ^
me
But
don't think
it
ne-
portion of fcripture, from which objeftions have been raifed: I ihall feled: a few of
thofe which are generally fuppofed to be of
the greateft moment ; and in my remarks
upon thefe I fhall endeavour to hint fuch
things as mayferve forananfwerto the like
objections when taken from any other. And
here let me remind you, that I think it but
iufl to make fuch an application of the diftincftions we have fettled, when the point
was flared, as the courfe of our reafoning
If any fhall quedion whether God has determined the
bounds of the life of man, chcy may find this matter clearly
difcufTed, and the truth of the affirmative well eflablifhed
and abundantly confirmed from fcripture, in Mr. Ridgley'j
''
Body of Divinity.
*
job
Vol.1, pag, 25
6260.
xiv. 5, 6.
fhall
Of Terfeverance
fhall
now
require,
in Grace.
fliall
fum them up
Others again are taken from the commands and exhortations, from the cautions
and directions which frequently occur in
3.
total apoftacy.
(2.)
Or
elfe in
is
:^/^j
34-8
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
upon
from his backmoft penitential frame, and muft be fuppofed to have had
the moft juft fenfe of his condition, even
then, tho' he pleaded that God would "re*'
ftore unto him the joy of his falvation
'^i
for this he had loft, yet we never read of
his praying that God would reftore unto
ferve that
his recovery
fliding,
when he was
him his
in his
that his
xxii, 3:.
^ Pfal, li.
u.
Ver. il.
whaf^
in Grace.
Of Tcrfcvcrance
^i^
a Spirit
as
as
to the inftance
of Solomon,
llory,
which make
cafe
his
look
more
how
For
expreft,
ftill
by
its
being
faid,
"
his heart
fcriptures
Lord God
and thus ftrengthned the kingdom of Judah, are faid to have walked in
the way of David and Solomon. ^ " Whereby 'tis at leaft intimated, that as to the
general courfe of Solomon's walk, his v^ray
was the fame with that of David: And
fince the way of both is there mentioned
with a mark of divine approbation, and
of
Ifrael,
we may
conclude,
Kings
xi.
4.
f Ver. 6.
grofs backfli^
2,
Qhr,
xi. 17.
dings-
Of 7erfeveronce
35^
in Grace.
dingsj yet they were neither of them guilty either of a final or total apoftacy.
(2,) Thisobjeftion drawn from the various
inftances
of apoftacy,
is
fometimes found-
"
fallen
from
grace,
"
/.
e.
from the
doftrine of grace.
Thus we read of others,- who concerning the truth have erred, of whom wa?
Hymeneus and
Philetus,
who by
their in-
deny but a doctrinal faith may be and frequently is overthrown. But this is very
far from proving that the faith of true
operation of
believers, which is the
^ Gal. V. 4.
z Tim.
ii.
iS.
God>
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
351
God,
how numerous
objeftion.
Becaufe 'tis declared by an infpir'd apothey were not of u?, tho' they went
out from us ^. Here's a plain intimation
that the perfons who went out from the
ftle,
Church,
were
believers:
lie,
not
really different
from true
and
dif-
or the inward
that received
^
Joh.
ii.
19.
it.
_^
Ver. ao.
But
35^
But
who
ginal
word
"
fignificatidn
intimates
of the ori-
no fuch thing,
itl
The
Ifrae-
who
lites)
%'7reiS'T\
Tim.
i.
19.
^ d'TreoffdfJLZvot*
3 otV<yOtHc& Av]lv'
PAdsvH.
59.
Ads
0^
which
xiii,
46.
2k ^4-
All
Of
^erfeverancc in Grace,
35?
upon
Nor
Peter %
ftrefs
vv^hc
had
It
not.
away, were truly fanftified. The apoindeed, fpeafc of fome " who had
efcaped the pollutions of the world ;" yea,
fell
file,
ferve
as to their
their
Vol.
II.
ii.
8-^1 i.
a
beaftial
Of Terfeverance
354"
in
Grace.
Such
I proceed,
2.
Some
objedlions are
Many,
God
fall
to the end.
that
it
is
and
in their obedience
fay, is
very
difficult to believe.
threaten that
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
355
come
to pals,
is
of
in
their cafe,
is
confirmed by mat-
in
we may
A(5ls xxvii.
ii.
own
^
Ver, 15.
Aa
M^er. p.
mift
256
OJ
mife had
{hews
Terfeverance
rendered
threats
in
Grace,
And
impoffible.
of deftruftion,
it
cafe of
in
as to
impoffible.
Some threatnings are likewife turned to
wrong
ufe, in
""
^ Ezek. xviii.
14.
preflion
Of
preffion
'*
Tcrfeverance in Grace.
where he
declares
557
of himlelf,
which
is
and yet at
was
a blafphemer and a perfecutor, one deftitute
of true grace. This diftincSion may be farther confirmed, from the words of our Saviour, when he tells his difciples, " Except your righteoufnefs fhall exceed the
righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees,
ye fhall in no cafe enter into the kingdom
of heaven''/' And if, according to this
diftindlion, the threat be applied, as it
ought, to perfons that had only a ceremonial or moral righteoufnefs, then it may
be allowed that many fuch righteous perfons did turn from their righteoufnefs, and
die in their fins ; which is no more than
to fay, that falfe profefTors and mere formalifts proved apoftatesj and this is a cafe
in the law, he
was blamelefs
"^
-,"
away from
his counterfeit
and hypocritical
much
die,
in as
wolfioputon
Philip,
as
the lamb."
iii,
* Matt. v. zo.
6,
Aa
For
258
OfTerfeverance
Grace,
in
is
brews; where
it
is
to the
" For
He-
faid,
it
is
but fince it
of
them,
afferted
in
text or connot
the
is
text, either exprefsly, or in terms equivalent, that they did believe or perform any
other ad", which could only flow from the
y
Hcb,
vi.
i|,
5,
-,
6,
vital
in Grace.
Of Terfeverance
5)9
anfwer
ferved,
it
There is fome
between thefe two
modes of expreflion ; though the former
might have led us to think that they had
once been partakers of repentance, yet the
[again] unto repentance.
difference, I apprehend,
latter,
which
intimates no
is
more but
fome
immoral
till,
at length, they
courfe openly wicked and proWhen things are come to this pafs,
pradlices,
fettle in a
fane.
Aa
"
ic
OfTerfeverance
3^0
common cafes^
It IS difficult, in all
men
in Grace.
for fuch
renewed
to be
their converfation.
As
to the perfons to
refers,
it is
whom
the apoftlc
indeed, to be impoffible
faid,
to a diabolical power.
Now
this
being
**'
But, beloved,
we
are
fup-
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
561
fo that there
is
of objeftion againft
the perfeverance of true believers.
Having thus cleared up the two places
which are generally thought to militate
againft our dodtrine the moft diredly of
all the threatnings, I fhall not enter upon
a particular examination of any other, but
only give a fhort reply to the obje<ftion taken from the words of the apoftle, which
denounce the foreft deftrudtion againft the
man that (hall " tread under foot the Son
of God, and count the blood of the coveiage, the leaft matter
nant,
Heb. X. 29.
Thus
36a
Of Terfeverance
Thus
in Grace.
if the threatnings,
apoftates,
pointed againft
at laft.
and
direcftions,
in
Thefe paffages are fuppofed to be pregnant evidences that true believers may fall
from grace, and reckon'd to be fo many arguments to prove that God has made no
abfolute decree, or promife, that they ihall
not do fo. It is faid to be unreafonable to
conceive that the fame Spirit of wifdom
ihould abfolutely declare that they fhall
not fall away, and yet be thus concerned
10 guard and caution them againft what he
has
I
Of Terfeverance
in Grace,
^65
inftance
apoftle Paul,
For
when
he gave the Centurion and foldiers the caution, faying, " Except thefe abide in the
fhip, ye cannot be faved \" fpeak by the
fame Spirit of wifdom, as when he told
them before there ihould be " no lofs of
any man's life, but of the fliip only ?"
Can we imagine that the vigilance and
caution required were an evidence that God
had never promifed to give the apoftle all
them that failed with him ? Muft we believe that the deftrudtion of fome of that
^^
Afisxxvii. 31.
Ver. 12,
com-
Of Terfeverance
564.
in
Grace,
God of
infinite
though a
had engaged
of any man's life
d,
faithfulnejfs
of
caution inef-
Neither he nor they did thus underftand things in that affair Why then
ihould they be thus interpreted in the
feftual
cafe before us
Finally,
would
it
not be a
ners in the
veffel, to
underftand
it
mari-
as telling
extravagant infinuations.
Again, In what ftronger terms can the
certainty of an event be fix'd, than was
that of Solomon's building the temple ?
in Grace.
265
this ab-
who had
ble afpeft
have to
who
o66
Of Terfeverance
in
Grace.
warned
man
fail of
%"
himfelf
and content
the grace of God
with a profeffion of religion without its
principle ? or that the difciples {hould be
exhorted " to put on the whole armour
of God, that they may be able to withiland in the evil day, and having done all
to ftand ^ ? " Inftead therefore of turning
fuch cautions and commands into obje(ftions againft this dodtrine, it feems more
agreeable to infer from them, that the
heart of the Redeemer is much fet upon
the falvation of his people ; and, confidering how frequently they occur, and
with what ftridlnefs and folemnity they
are conftantly given, they plainly fhew
that he does really intereft himfelf in the
perfeverance of his faints, and is refolved
no means fhall be negleded, which would
help to promote it. His diligence and
care in purfuing fuch methods as thefe,
are but the fruit of the immutability of
his purpofe to accomplifh the defign,
and of the wifdom of his counfel, to
bring it about in a way entirely fuited
to the nature of man, as a free agent.
Heb.
xii.-
15.
left
any
^ Eph, vi.
13,
" There-
Of Terfeverance
in Grace,
367
my beloved brethren, be ye
unmoveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, for as much as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the(
Lord/' Particularly,
I. Be diligent in the performance of re" Therefore,
ftedfaft,
grow
ye
as
may grow
thereby.
Watch and
pray,
Look
468
Of Terfeverance
in Grace.
God
your goings.
5. Laftly, truft in
God
to perfect that
the
THE
s^3esj
THE
DOCTRINE
F
RESURRECTION
Stated
1
and
Defended:
N T
SERMONS.
By
JOHN
GILL,
Vol.
II.
B b
SERMON
Acts
xxvl
I.
8.
incredible
HE
recftion
dead,
a dodrine of the
is
Bat to whatpurpofe
and of what avail will
Cor. XV.
Bb
15,
14,
The
Of the
57?
Refurre^ion.
I {hall
be improper to obferve,
of
the refurredtion of the
tthat the doiftrine
body from the dead has not been believed
]3y fome, but has been accounted abfurd
and incredible, ^^^' without any juft reafon, as \yiU be fhewn hereafter, and as may
be concluded fron; the w^ords of my text.
This dcdlrine is of pure revelation, what
^le mpre light of nature never taught mgn,
and by which they being only guided, have
It has been denied, as
declared againft.
;--^
TerI.
It will no|:
'
Of the
Refurrec^ion.
573
cerning
its
when
life,
""
-,
Ed. Rigak.
ifta deliramentorum, avidaeque nunquam deSimilis ik de alfervandis
fincre morcalitatis commenra funt.
c. 7.
*^
p. Z',i.
Puerilium
hominum,
corporibus
ac reviviicendi
promiira
C^uae (Malum)
Democrito
demen-
ifta
fcimur
Felix.
*=
&
interimus
Odav.
rr^Ti
hnoif aot/ov
jc,
vuW,
jy
to
p. 240.
{fj^g
ficut
na-
Minuc.
repromittere.
Oxon. 1662.
Taro to S^oyyicty
Tst
<j<;'(jS'^ct
etSvvetTOv ^<pifhy.(ri.
j^t/'^cfc7^v^,
txtinfcis, qui
lo. Edit.
p.
fxy)J'"
^*
&
aeternicatem
<^^'
ynetp)v
cfjjTd
clKk' hti yi
Cihivu,
(puffiv
><^
)C)
ret
'^
Xe/r/aj't^,
^'ttJvtov a^a.
cu^x^-^
Apud Grig.
2^f
L.
Ed. Spencer,
Bb
Chri-
Of the
2^4
Refurre<Hion.
Chriftians,
Thus
'
^ *'0
y^etKiTA J^ietyi^. 'TT^i 701 f Ahhoii AWetaiv, Cyril.
Alex. cont. Jul. L. 7.
Y^div 5^ 'TTcLvv (p\mel<p*i it) ff'Ti^y.oh.oy^i? rfjLAf fo//tio*MT,
^lahhov in %Ttv w^/y. Tatian. concr. Graecos Orat. p. 146.
Edit. Pans.
''
QEcumen.
in loc.
be
Of the
RefurreiHion.
^j^y
concerning them
be
which are afleep, that ye forrow not, even
By
as others, which have no hope:"
whom the apoftle means not Chriftians,
who had no hopes of the falvation of their
departed friends and relations, but Pagans,
who had nciLiier faich nor hope in the refurredion of the dead, and a futiii c ftate,
and therefore had not that to fupp ji t them
under the lofs of relations as Chriftians
had ; wherefore the apoftle adds, " For
ignorant, brethren,
we
profelytes to the Jewiih religion, nor members of thejewifli church, and were entirely
deftitute of divine revelation ; " having
no hope" in the refurredion and future
ftate^ and fo lived " without God in the
^
Eph.
ii.
J.
b 4
world,*;
Oj
576
world,'* or as
the RefurrecHion.
''''A5?o;,
Atheifts, in
And
it.
we may
am judged, for the hope of the promife made of God unto our fathers unto
and
come
God
day
and
tribes, inftantly
night,
hope to
which hope's
pa, I
for
am
this
Of the
Refurrediion.
after
^yy
"",
human
fhape,
and
all
that there
is
a tranfmigration
of fouls into other bodies, efpecially human ; that men may be tranflated body
and foul to heaven; of v^hich they give
inftanccs in
Ariftaeus
the Proconnefian,
"*
See Tr. Hody's Refurredion of the (fame) Bo^.^y af&c. p j, &c. where chefe notions of the Heathens
See aifb Gale's Court of the Genare at large treated of.
tiles, Par.' I. B. J. c. 7. p. STj 82. and Par. 1. B. a. c. 8.
ferted,
p.
189.
" Origen. contr. Celfum, L. 5.
p.
244,
24<;.
This was
p.
24.
felf
Of
2n8
the RefurrecHion.
by the fame
condemn'd by the fame council^
by the fame poifon. And fo, my
and die
friends,
we
are
likenefs there
is
be-
tween this, or any other of the abovementioned notions, and the Chriftian doctrine of the refurrec^tion from the dead.
The paflages cited out of Heathen authors, to fhew their knowledge of this
dodtrine, are fuch as the Greek verfes of
Phocylides ^ in which he exprefles his
hopes, that, in a very fhort time, the reiiques of the deceafed {hould come forth
out of the earth into light. But this poem
is thought, by learned men, not to be the
work of the Heathen Phocylides, but ei-
Phocylid. Poem.
Admon. L,
ther
Of the
fome
ther of
RefurretHion.
anonymous
fome ancient
^jq.
Chriftian, or
of
Befides,
Jewifli writer.
fo
expreffed,,
the verfes refer'd to are not
"*
EudemusRhodius ^, in DiogenesLaertius^telt
us, that it was the opinion of the Perfian
Magi, " that men fhould live again, and be
immortal " This they received from their
mafter, and the founder of their fedl % Zo:
roaftres;
who foretold,
**
Taubmannum,
aliofque
Qraec, L. 2. c
11. p. 4?6.
praeteream.
Fabricii
Biblioth.
njine
tis
legi
concfcndic
ad Cypriani Lib.
*
If.
1.
Dogma,
Phocylide declaratur ut non
Refurreftfonis
Idem,
:)^
p.
poflic
437.
dvAS-ctcTK \9eu.
phrafto, p. 77, as cited by Hod y.
*7rAi"T^ viK^^v
MiiQ9^% Gfes^eus in
Theo-
of
380
Of the
Nor need
RcfuTYeSlion.
this
be
won-
of
him, it appears that he was originally a
Jew, both by birth and religion ; was a
fervant to one of the prophets of Ifrael,
and v/as well verfed in the holy fcripturess
out of which, without doubt, hetookthis
dodlrine, as he did fome others, and which
he taught his Magi, and adopted into his
new religion. It may be more furprizing
to hear that Democritus, a corporeal philofopher, fhould have any notion of the
refurredlion of the dead; yet Pliny ^ afcribes
it to him, and derides him for it ; though
it has been thought, by fome "", that he
defigns another Democritus, and not the
philofopher, fince this opinion cannot be
very eafily reconciled to his philofophy.
Butfuppofing that he, and not another, is
meant, it is eafy to obferve how he came
ar,
fince,
fronii
""
and
New Teftamenr,
Par. i. B. 4. p. 212,
Natural. Hift. L.
7.
c. 5 s-
his
words
Old
213, 8^^\
are cited at large
in p. ?73.
fcendi
Democriti
quod
refert Julianus,
commune
Philofbphia
quod
bitur,
tum
nuna
noa
p.
viri
fide
habet, neque
dodi ex
Chriftiana
fuilTe.
illo Plinii
cum
ilia
de Refurredione
Fabricii
facile
concilia-
Biblioch. Graec.
corporum
L. 2,
aliec.
ij<
77P*
by
Of the
by
It,
Refurredion.
Egypt
lived in
other things.
The
either
originally founded
hell,
ilcins
flead,
j/
uv.
''OutTetrs
-zkA.
& Paula
^ioKoylci^;
k]
Xa.hJ^sL(i)v
A^t^hoy'ia,^ ifxet'jiv
iu
iv ^uovvij-ot^ k^
Cohort,
p,
t*^'
irauii
Avti-
15, 16.
motion
58a
Of the
RefurreSlimi
co
lis
head, and near his mouth, and yet he dn.able to extinguifli his third with either.
But, as a learned ^author obierves, " tlie
reafon why the Heathens defer? bed the
punifhmentsof the damned after ihis manner, was not becaufe they thought that
their bodies were not left here on earth,
but partly becaufe it was the vulgar opinion, that the foul had all the fame parts
that the body has, and partly becaufe fuch
defcriptions
do more
eafily
move and
affedt
and it is not eafy to defcribe the torments of the foul after tny other manner.
Our Lord, in the parable of Dives and
Lazarus, adds the fame author, fpeaks of
them in the fame manner, as if they had
bodies ; though what is related of them,
us
is
and
their graves."
As
fome
for
who
aflerted,
&c.
Hygin,
lytus
Of the
lytus
RefurreBion.
285
like kind
of the
JLiamia,
faid
to revive
*=
*"
Paufanias in Corinth,
roaftres.
&
<Fot
Myb/jS/jet
cfcV/rri*'.
Theophilus ad
Autolycum, L.
c. 37.
i.
6c L. 26.
c. 5.
^ Philoftrat.
*
vit.
Vid. Palaephat,
HiA. L.
Apollon. L. 4.
'
c.
16.
7. c. 5 a. ficCuptii
Apoch. Homeri,
p.
&
Plin. Nat.
11^.
againft
;;
Of the
584.
RefurreBion.
that
God
on
It
may
this fubjeft
proceed to obferve.
bleffed
difco-
many of
^ Rom.
^
iii.
1,
2.
Ads
xxiii.
8.
afferted
Of the
Refurr^Jlion.
385
"^
*"
New
and oppofed by
have had the advantages of
It was the error of Hymenaeus and
Philetus, " that the refurrediion v^as paft
yet
it
who
ibme,
them.
already
'
&
P Antique L. i5, c. 2.
deBello Jud. L. z. c. 7. ViJ.
Reland. Antiq. Sacr. Vet. Hebiaeor. Par. z, c. ir. , 6,
As Mact. xvi. 14. John i. ii.
ix. i. Vide Poli Sy-
&
nopfin in Locos.
^
Ifrael
de Refurredione, L.
Modena,
p. 81.
*
&
L.
11.
fol.
58.
i.
&
c.
16.
&
L. z.
Holflen, Obferv. ad
1 Tim.
5. c.
i.
ii.
MenafTeh ben
c.
18.
Leo
vitam Pychagor.
loc, a 4. . ^, 6,
18.
^ Vid.
alios
Vol.
II.
Cc
II. I
3S6
Of the
ReJurreBim.
accounted by
Firft, I fhall
and
fhew the
incredible.
credibility
of
it
that,
is
not incredible
it is
fection
nc
^ Imperfeftae
Deum quidem
tem
mighty power.
is
a glorious
A Heathen
"^
pofle
confcii'cere,
vitae poenis
defiiados
Hia.
U i.
c. 7.
once
Of the
RefurreSHoHs
once
faid,
God
287
it
from
and,
up fuch a
dition
y,
God
is not.
all
parts,
mcu,
feveral winds,
tabr. 1671.
Cecerum quis tam flultus auc brutus eft, ut audeat repuehominem a Deo, u: primum pocuiife tingi, ica poUc de-
nare,
Ijuo reforraari
Porro ditcilius
cipere quatn id
quod
eft id
<juod non
Minuc.
fiieric icerare.
fie
Felix, in
in-
oitav
p. 37, 98.
Ec ucique idoneus
fetiffe,
quam
eft reficere,
retccufe
de Kefurreftione
qui
fecit
initium dedilTe,
quanto plus
quam
eft
reddidiiie. Ita
credas infticutione.
Tercul).
carnis, c, 1 1
Cc
cruoi'
Refurre^ion,
Of the
588
crumbled into
reduced to a{hes,
duft,
eva-^
Apologift
"^
it
is
beneath
* 'AKKcjl /^^^ ^<^' eiC>iMTOl'.
xcf) flw/T
ycL
sr/i' cfc^iiAiiTof'j
q)C<Jeii
TOK
c-}'-
(?/:'
'^
nx) ly.'TToS'lQV
ro
9K
ri
To
}% elC>i\nTOVy
a'cTe^ ctJ^iK&iTVz
6te/v/^ii^V^''i
'Tr^gS'ti^oV
Ti TtiAlVJ-i
'TT^^i
;4
r)
u? aJ^I-
ai dvd^iov' y^TAKtv^ to
7u
^^^
7M
rg
'i^cod-iv )y
j^l
cdvoriTeti
elS'titY,^ei^.v
eiVdt^
'^^^
a'
a.J'i'
^Ast^",
av
(a'cT^
. {jCcJ-i
v'ttq^oIto S'let'TrAVToii
a^v
Tcov
y^^^^ '^vran
)C)
Aa^cck
Of the
5S9
EefurreJiion.
5^
yLiTeiX'^Vi h'TtdL(TcLvTQAV
6i (peovii^
J^uvaroy, ui
ciJ^tK^^
CeiKheov ;^
(pn(Tti
emjhv ^iu^eiivA
TK
<Jo<^eyveov,
rm '7rA^'^%
^^w'
<^^ tI
Tutgh Ti"
rU dJ^mia. r AvtTci^QV av
on
y^ vvv c^
el<^i>cyid-7i7zfy-*
eih\\ <^4 To
(Tfc-
d<p^ebT6>
nK
4eRefumaione MorU
p.
^ d^A^h,
Atheiiagoras
Cc
to
jao
Of the
RefurreSion.
to
fome others ;
if to
made
yer
more
agreeable to them; for they will be tj^'^T^Ac<, " like or equal unto the angels, b*^ Irig
Nor
the children of the refurreftion/'
will it be injurious to irrational and inanix^ate creatures j for thefe either will be, or
Of the
KejuneBion.
391
any fenfe of juftice, there can be no complaint of injuftice. Nor will there be any
injury done to
them
niQ to obferve^
That as confidering the omnipotence and
omnifci'ence of God, the refurfeftion of
John V. 19.
CQ 4
Spirit
Refurre&im.
Of the
0^9
have
be raifed
their fouls,
may
which
is
them
them ; and
of injuftice in
God to raife the bodies, both of the righteous and the wicked, that they may receive the things done in the body, whether
they be good, or whether they be evil.
Thefe things being confider'd, it may be
concluded, that the refurredtion of the
dead is not inconfiflent with the perfeftions
of God, and fo not incredible. To thefe
bulation to
fo confequently
that trouble
it is
no
ad:
conliderations I add,
2dly.
fons
who
The
feveral
have been
inftances
raifed
from
of perthe dead,
man
who
refur
Of the
ReJuneBion.
592
who was
refurredion : And
raifed by Peter ; as was Eutychus by the
apoftle Paul; which inftances are recorded
argument
in the New Teftament.
alfo Dorcas,
My
upon
thefe inftances
is
this
what has
inftances of
that
the dead
ble.
is
And,
juft
ham
and
by the reviving of dry bpnes y which was done by laying finews, and bringing flefli upon them,
covering them with fkin, and putting
The budding and blofbreath into them.
foming of Aaron's dry rod, is thought, by
fome, to be a figure of the refurredtion of
refurredtion,
I?
is
H^b.
fignified
xi.
19.
the
Of the
^94-
RefuYTeilim.
However, be that
as it will,
God
obferved,
that
if
could
this may be
deliver Jonah out of the whale's belly,
the dead.
From
fcripture teftimonies,
partly
which
Exod.
iii,
6%
and
0/ the
RefurreSlian.
5^5
TheSadducees came to
him with an inftance of a woman, who had
had feven hufbands, who were brethren ;
and their queftion upon it is, whofe wife
and
itftands thus.
ihe fhould be
in
the refurreftion
To
Dc
Refurre^ion^ Mortuorum, L
! c. lo.
(. 6.
But
39^
But
IS
certain, that
all
things,
and fure
The
learned
Mr,
Of the
Mr. Mede
RefuYY^Bion.
597
refped
to the covenant which God made with
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in which he
promifed that he would give the land of
Canaan to them, and to their pofterity
not to their pofterity only, but to them
alfo ^ therefore he obferves, that it was
neceffary that they fhould be raifed from
^
be acknowledged, that this is a Way of arguing the Jews v^ere ufed to, which may be
the rieafon of the Scribes being fo well
pleafed with it 5 and therefore faid, " Mailer, thou haft well faid V*
Such kind of
arguments as thefe, to prove the refurredlioix
of the dead, are now extant in their Talmud K For inftance : " R. Simai faid.
From whence is the refurredlion of the
dead to be proved out of the law ? from
Exod. vi. 4. where it is faid. And I have
alfo eftablifhed my covenant with them,
to give them the land of Canaan ; it is not
But, not to
faid to you, but to them/'
infift any longer on this proof, I proceed,
See his Works, L, 4. Ep. 43.
^ Luke XX. ^9.
rrmn
p.
98/, 98a.
'naii^ ^i^Q'^D
90. Coi. 2.
2.
To
Of the
5^8
RefurreSlion.
To
my
Redeemer
liveth,
For
know
and that he
that
(hall
dily catch.
Temporal
CO
c^iu
p. 59j
^Q.
from
Of the
RefuneBion.
ga
and
Chap.
xvii.
vi. 11.
i, 14,
5,
and
vii. 7, 8.
and
x, 20.
and
xvi. 22.
16.
cerning
400
Of the
RefurreBion.
my
comfort, I know
ving Redeemer, and
fuaded, that
if
Job
this
is
my
am
comfortably per-
when he
day, though this body of mine is now reduced to fkin and bones, and will fhortly
be therepaft of worms, yet it fhall be raifed
again, and, in this very fle{h of mine, fhall
I fee God, and everlaftingly enjoy him.
The preface to the words fhews, that it
was fomething future, and at a great diftance, which he had in view, even af-
to
Of the
RefurreBion.
zJ.ol
now mine
but
iffued
manifeftius
pcrft
Vol.
II.
Dd
thins
401
Of the
Refurre(^ion.
thing could be a plainer proof of this dofor, fays he, " no one finceChriil
ctrine
fpeaks fo plainly of the refurreftion, as
:
this
man
Thy dead men fhall live, towith my dead body, fhall they arife
xxvi. 19.
gether
''
live
any
more in this world, or rife again, to tyrannife over them ) or that many of the
people were dead, or fhould die by the
fword, famine, &c. and not live again ;
which the prophet mentions, by way of
complaint, and as the effedt of unbelief,
The
to which thefe words are an anfwer.
to
whom
is
Meffiah,
the
fpeaking
perfon
the charadlers given, in ver. 4, 12, 13. belong; who affures the prophet, that tho'
his men or people were dead, yet they
fhould live again, that they Ihould be raifed
ao-ain, either at the time of his refurredtion,
by virtue of it. The words are literally true of Chrilt's refurreclion, and of
or
ours
Of the
RefurreBion,
^02
him
burs by
and
die,
of them thatflept^"
tty^y ais fure as my dead body fhall they
Chrift's refurredtion is the pledge
arife."
of ours, becaufe he lives, we fliall live
become
alfo
the
firfl:
"If we
fruits
them
alfo,
which
fleep
God
the
is
To
dew of herbs."
for thy
dew
is
as
my book
iiv.
19.
Their, iv.
14.
Dd
refur-
ReJurreBton,
Of the
404.
refurredlion
The power
of
God
compared ta
fleep \
fitly
which
refurredtion
the
is
in
defcribed,
up
the dead,
which
refer this
were in them." The Jews
prophecy to the refurredtion of the dead.
"^
But,
To
See Job
Dan.
xii.
vii.
ii.
and
xvii. 16.
Ifai. Ixvi.
14.
^ Talmud Sanhedrim,
de RefurreClione, L.
Zohar in Gen.
loc.
Exod.
fol.
i.
II. 3.
&
i.
fo).
t.
, 2.
68. 4.
61. 4.
90. s.
fol.
&
&
2>Z,
jg.
5.
3.
&
100.
3.
&
in
Ed.Swltzbac.
each
Of the
RefurreJIion.
405
iliall
thefe
On
their imaginarions.
ciie
Lord
^ Talmud. Sanhed.
furredioncj L.
Jarchi,
79. J.
4^
y
i.
c. 5.
fol.
91.
relurred:ion of
fays
% whofe
i.
$.5.
&
6c in
Exod.
fol.
i^,
^.
&
4*
d 3
John
v.
i8, 19.
words
Of the
4.q6
KejuneHion.
beft
comment on
this text,
<*
might hcve produced feveral other fcriptures out of the Old Teflament for the
confirmation of this truth ; fuch as Hofea
vi. 2. and xiii. 14, &c. but I forbear, and
pafs on
the New Teflament.
And here,
was I to take the whole compafs of proof,
which this will furnifh out, I mufl tran-
To
fcribe
a confiderable part of
is
it.
fhall
the doctrine of
is a dod:rine
it
:
He
declared
both
Of the
407
Refurrcclion.
The
argu-
New
proceed,
To
2dly.
That
is
may
together inherit the kingdom, prepared for them from the foundation of the world ; otherwife the purpofe
their fouls,
of God, according to
^
eled:ion,
Dd
will not
I,
ftand
0/
2^o8
the Refurredlion.
ilandj when, on the contrary, it is certain, that his counfel fliall Hand, and he
will do all his pleafure.
It
is
were given
-,
faints,
which
our
John
vi.
39, ^0,
ti'ue,
Of the
RefuYYeBion.
4.09
true, this
tion
is
of the
foul
faints
is.
'^
foul,
after this
Now
God's."
if thcfe bodies, which
Chrift has bought, fhould not be raifed
from the dead, he would lofe part of his
myftical
body,
'^
Cor.
and
vi.
10.
fo
who
the
^ Ver.
are
his
church not
m.
Of the
^lO
RefurreBion.
',
is defiled
by
fin,
it
alfo ftands
in
need of
as
is
"
faying,
And
the very
God
of peace fan-
God
of
which he has
Cor.
vi.
19.
^1
Their, v. 15.
6. It
Of the
6. It will not
of the
RefurreSlion.
^I
tranflations
it is
fome
their
faints al-
and
bodies,
of juft
men made
among
perfedt, that
the
fome
Now,
in order to this,
the
refurredion of them isabfolutely neceflary,
that they may receive the things done in
their body, whether good or bad.
s Vid. Aucor.
Qu.
& Refp.
p. ^J43.
8.
Nei-
/^\2
Of the
RefurreSlion.
glorious Mediator in
human
nature, for
Rom,
viii.
23.
God-
Of the
A1
RefurreSlion.
God-man and
in the
flefli.
There
And
laftly,
and which
is
the apoftle
argument for
The
faints
may comfortably
his own order, Chrift the firft fruits ; afterward, chey that are Chrift's, at his co-
ming."
Job was
rife again,
fatisfied
becaufe
his
that he fliould
Redeemer
lived,
and
Of the
^l^
ReJuvYe^tm.
lives,
E R-
SERMON
Acts
PFhyJhouU it
xxvi.
II.
8.
he thought a thing
AVING,
in
my
former
dif-
of the dead,
proceed,
refurred:ion
ihall
To
now
who
I fhall
enquire
confider
it.
Firft,
41
Of the
Firft,
which
Ihall
tan
rife,
RefurreBion.
fhall
fhall
not
the dead
are in their graves fhall come forth, whether thefe graves be in the earth or fea,
from
it,
who
in Port. Mofis,
p. 557.
180, &c.
Jarchi in
xxxviii, 18.
&
L. r.
p.
If.
xxvi. 14.
Gaon
in
p.
z6g.
157.
&
54.
not. Mifc. in
Saa^iah
c. 7.
p. s 3,
Kiaichi in
Dan.
If.
loc.
ib.
15. $ 6,
xxvi. 19.
&
xii. z,
in
Of the
but
in general,
ReJurreBion.
^11
^ij
Remonftrants ^ have (hewn a very good liking of the fame notion. I .(hall a little
conlider this, feeing the greater part of the
teftimonies and arguments, produced in my
former difcourfe, chiefly relate to the refurredlion of the juft.
That the wicked ihall
rife, as
ift.
From
exprefs texcs
may be proved,
of
fcripture
The
Our Lord
Anti-focin. L. J.
c.
3.
$.
-vpc^L/'-.
2.
Socin.
15. p. Si.
Sc
Flo
c.
J).
"
Dan.
xii.
i.
Vol. IL
John
v.
29..
Ee
truch^^
Of the
41
when he
truth,
juft
refurretStion
be a
and
Refurn6iion.
of the dead, both of the
unjuft."
receive in their bodies the full re\^ard of punifhment, fince they have not
greater affliftions than the righteous 5 nay,
do not
obferved
-,*'
ward.
*
James
iii,
5, 6,
Pfal. Ixxiil
5.
3dly.
"
Of the
RefuneBion.
4*9
them from
the dead.
The
dies
How
Why
"*
e 2
2 Cor. V. 10.
Where-
ao
Of the
Wherefore do the
caft into hell fire,
KefurreBim.
fcriptures fpeak
with two
of being
two
be no
eyes, or
feveral hints,
it
may
be ftrongly conclu-
of
**
domi-
Of the
^'^l
Refurreciion.
V.
t8, 2p,
e 3
of
the RejurreHton.
OJ
^1:^2
of the other, the refurredlion of damnaBut now let us attend to the argu*
tion.
From fome
and
objeded is, PfaL i. 5.
" Therefore the ungodly fhall not ftand in
the judgment, nor finners in the congregation of the righteous/*
From hence fome
Jewifh ^ writers have concluded, that there
will be no refurredlion of the wicked, their
fouls perifhing with their bodies at death.
This notion may feem to be favoured by
the verfions of the Septuagint ^ and Vulgate, with fome others, who read the
words thus : " Therefore the ungodly
fhall not rife again in judgment."
But
fuppofing, and not granting, that thefe
I.
the
firft
that
paflages of fcripture;
is
may
*J
V?d. Kimchi
A/a
TbTc?
&
UK.
Abendana
in loc.
tiVa^nffovrai
ot
ctff-iCeti
Iv H,d^ei Sept.
wicked
Of the
ReJurreSlion,
^^ij
in judgment.
^
phrafe,
Aben Ezra
explains
(land. Jarchi,
on
iQp^
by
is
the Chal-^ee
Y^'^ \0V xV
day."
t^^V ^^^1 not
che great
HOy^ K^
no 7^*^
HOpH
Ano-
Of the
4^4-
RefurrecHion.
fcripture,
ViJ. Jarchium
&
Aben E2ram
in
in
Jud* Synag.
If.
c.
xxvi. 14,
3. p.
ipo 8c
Ji.
V Cliap? xii, 2,
wicked,
Of the
Refurre^im.
4.2
many
thefe
awake
yea,
it
is
faid,
that
in
which
fenfe the
word
ufed in Pfal. xcvii. i. " The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice^ let the multiIn the Hetude of ifles be glad thereof*
is
brew
text
it is,
let
many
illes,
i.
e.
let all
"^
Vid. Pccock. not. Mifc. in Port. Mofis,
Saadiah Gaon & Aben Ezra in Dan. xii.
t8o, &c
Kimchi in If.
c. 6. p.
z.
xxvi. 19.
many
^
^
^l6
Of the
Refurre^ion.
"A
as Eccl.
:..^"
Jphn
vii.
V,
lO.
28, ip,
Polem.
c.
13.
Quaeft. 3.
p.
189.
fay
Of the
RefurreBion.
4.17
Lord, and
from
reft
for
iv. 16.
(hall rife
firft,'*
furrcftion of the
is
oblerved,
are fuch
who
''
And
wicked
that thofe
from whence
who
rife
it
again^
and that
wicked
To which
it
may
Of the
4?8
Refurrec^ton.^
wards
for
it
would be an impropriety
dead in Chrift
to
who
if thofe
a fecond.
I fhall now proceed to confider
the arguments and objedions formed againft
the
refurredlion
of the wicked
taken,
2.
From
reafon.
It
is
faid,
that
God
is
them from
them.
It
to
torment
do not
To which
is
anfwer
it
is
true that
God
whom
on
mercy
'
*
is
Vid. Maccov.
m
"ai. xxvii.
ib.
Quaeff,
t,
p. 1 8?.
II.
will
Of
^.^o
ly to be tormented,
but that
God may
nifhment.
It is alfo argued % that Chrift is the
meritorious caufe of the refurredtion, and
therefore the wicked, or reprobate, fliall
not rife again, becaufe " Chrift has merited
own
order
rifes
in his
by
Of the
430
RefurreBioni
by
diator, but
'^j
an
eternal death,
the dead.
To which
that there
is
it may be anfwer'd,
a twofold death, a temporal
and an eternal one. Temporal death is a
reparation of the foul from the body, and
the firft death.
is what may be called
Eternal death is a feparation of body and
foul
hell,
Now
this
fecond or eternal
confiftent with
the refurrecflion
fecond death
death,
! Vid,
corporal
Of the RefumMion.
^2
it
as the juft
This
is
writers, particularly
Chrifl
Of the
^^1
RefurreBton.
all the
I now proceed.
Secondly, to enquire what that is of
man which fhall be raifed from the dead.
Man confifls of foul and body j it is not
the foul, but the body, which is raifed;
not the foul, for the foul dies not, and
therefore cannot be faid to be raifed from
the dead ; nor does it fleep with the body
in the grave, and therefore needs no awakening, nor will it be awaked when the
in
'
all nations.
body
is.
.
It dies not,
c,
U6.
8|*
ammor--
Of the
RefurreSion.
^^2
me
for
my
fubjed.
I fliall
juft
God
it
man
bears a refemblance of
in
chiefly
4'-*%!^?'
'joii (l^a,vairoi?..
*
p.
Vid
655,
eii'ct
Arifbcel. de Aninia, L.
J^ia
to
ioiKiVM
i. c. a.
L. i,
c.
8.
Quaefl. 7,
S^c.
Vol.
II.
Ff
things
Of the
4.54-
Refurreclion.
was
it
it is
in the
not
it
mind
felf
is
which preceded
the creation of the world, and that which
is to come ; when it confiders the former,
refpedl to that eternity,
The
Of the
The
RcfurreBion,
its
whith
it
defires
/{.^c
who
any creature
over it, to force it or dellroy it j it ad:s independent of the body, in v/iiling and
nilling, chufing and refufing, it uies no
Corporeal organ; yea, when the body is
fick and infirm, and ready to die, the will
is then adive and vigorous, and fhews it
felf to be fo, either by a vviliingnefs, or
an unwillingnefs to die; nay, generally
fpeaking, the more fevere the affliction is,
and the nearer the approach of death, the
more
matter
^ Vid. Ariftotel. de Anima, L. i,
Ciceron. Tufcul. Quaeft. L. i.
c.
5.
&
L.
2.
r,
i.
&
Principio
&
Quando
Haec
eft,
i^
"^
Scmpsr,
0/^/^^ Refurreciion.
43^
Semper,
Non
'"
fire,
aliquid
tenere,
Non
&
Et piudens magis
Verum
quidem:
dum
corpora laera
&
Qlio magis
lila
nothing
Of the
KefurreBion.
437
which- can be
nothing contrary to
deftrudlive of it 5 it is neither hot nor cold,
It is not as
moift or dry, hard or tender
an accident in a fubjeft, which, when the
fubjeft is deftroy'd, is deftroy'd with it j
if it hasany fubjedt on which it depends,
it muft be the body; but it is fo far from
being dependant on the body, and perifliing
with it, that, on the contrary, when the
felf,
body
The
perifhes.
foul
nature
and, according to
him
"*,
it
is
the
turae pucanda
in re confen(v>
eft.
fu
f 3
line
mains
Of the
4.38
RefurreSion.
mains
after death,
became vainer
and
was darkened, and loft
not only the knowledge of this, but many
in their imaginations,
who
ijie
Chaldeans
others
'
afferted
"
Oaav.
in
c,
it.
Some
afcribe
it
to
ichorsofit,
Thalts.
'^
firft
it
au-_
from
p. 37.
P Cicero, in
^^ci^enici^, p.
the
Of the
4^9
RefurrciHion.
who
However,
certain,
fire after
is
in
man
immortality, which
it
is
a natural deis
not in any
alfo natu-
if there
is
no future
ftate
If the foul
re-^
of
virtue, or
flings
of confcience, which
atreaded vvich
they are feized v/ith luch dread and trembling, with fuch pannick fears, they cannot get rid of.
thefe, as fome fay, were
are, at times,
-,
Ff 4
the
0/
44-0
the RefurreiHion.
in
which men
ihall live,
happinefs, or in mifery.
And,
from
is
neceffary
the
indeed, this
juftice
of God, who is the Judge of all the earth,
and will do right, in regarding the good,
either in
It
is
eafy to ob-
that,
affli(fted,
-,
will
Of the
KefurreBlon.
3.
44.1
vedfrom
which
the fcriptures,
-,
exprefsly
which fpeak of an everlafting covenant, which God has made with his peo-
tures',
*'
""
as well as
from
their particular
be fully
commen-
into the
recorded in thefe
And, to add no more, we may
God
hands of
"^j
or
fpirits,
at death,
fatisfied,
upon
all
Matt
xxii.
6, 8.
32.
X.
18.
John
its
Eccl. xii. 7.
vi.
Pfal.
feparate exiftence,
40, 47.
xlix.
1$.
vi.
Ads
^.
vii.
Ifai.
Phil.
i.
59.
iPet,
iii.
Iv.
23.
Luke
fu-
its
J. Mate.
2 Cor. v.
xxiii.
46.
19.
turc
Of the
^^7
RefurrecHion.
&
corpore, ne turn
fi
caderet.
Corporura enim
luo fomno.
Ita
fpeculo
ven-
Of the
^a
Refurredion,.
But what
is all
this
tQ,
thefe things, as nerves, animal fpirits, fenforii meatus, or ventricles of the brain
no place
in
it,
it, is has
nor can it be predicated of it.
When the
2.
awake and
body
is
adlive, as
% the foul is
evident in abun-
afleep
is
'"
prefs.
3.
The
muft be more
Tco <^b \9tv
74rii
3^,
it,
efpe-
7^
[/.dxt^A iKd^ri^'^TVJL,
ijTTVi'
etv-^^c!>7r\i
Kct7ci,<pcuH7iiJy )t^'i'o7i.
fes k.iis.,
when in
aftive than
'^
8. c.
Tt
47.
daily
444-
'
it is
not, as
it
Spirit
The
pleafure.
The
moft
do
foul feparate
holy, holy.
and
Of the
Refurre8ion.
^^5
the
refurreftion.
If this be true,
it
which
far better
:
Neverthelefs,
to abide in the flefh, is more needful for
you/*
Had the apoftle known that he
muft have remained in a ftate of inad:ivity
Chrift,
and
ufeleflhefs,
^
is
deprived of the
commu-
nion
;;
Or^^<? ReJurreBim.
44'^
eligible, to
live or
fometimes are,
"
willing rather
we are
from
labours,
their
follow them/* As foon as dead, they enter upon a ftate of happinefs and joy, and
are employed in praifing
the Lamb's new fong.
iCor.
V. 8.
s Eccl. xii. 7.
'^
Ecci.iv, 2.
^'Rev.xiv. 13.
a Cor. v. i, 8,
houfe
Of
^^n
the RejurreBion.
and
is
expreflive
*
* Luke xxiii. 4^.
Rev. vi. 9, 10.
^ Vid.Zanchitim de operibus Dei, L. z, c. 8. p. 674, &c.
^ 2 Sam, vii.
12. I Kings i, ai. Job vii. il. Dan. xii.
i.
1
Cor. XV.
Cor. XV.
1%,
Their,
iv.
14,
John
xi.
ir, 12.
51,
of
Of the
44-8
RefurreBion.
its
lying in
When
Chrifl f?id,
much
with
fince
it,
by
fleep
is
the foul
dies
meant no other
than death.
Again, they urge all thofe " fcriptures in
favour of their aot'cn, which reprefent
the happineis of die iliints, and the miiery
of the Vv^icked, iis not taking place until
the lafl: day, the end of the world, the
^
1 4.
Matt.
2,
xiii.
Tim.
iv.
Luke
xiv,
S.
refur-
Of the
ReJurrciPaon.
4.19
until
when
their eyes.
thofe Icripcures
^ Pfal. XXX. 9.
18.
Ifai
xxxviii.
Vol.
II.
and
i
Ixxxviii.
lo, ir,
12.
S.
Gg
de-
Of the
450
Refiirredion.
praifingGod; fuch
fit is
there in
my
as thefe
blood,
"
when
to
falthfulnefs in deflrudlion
ders be
known
in the
-,
thee
They
that
pit,
From which
which only
pofed to fpeak
dy goes down
God,
in like
whom,
^
in
Rev.
V.
is
laid in the
may and do
praife
ir, iz.
they
Of the
RefurrecUton,
^j^i
finging hallelujahs,
and afcribing
falvation to
and
to the
wife,
though the
faints,
throne,
Like-
after death,
do
not,
it is
go on.
To prove that
it is
the body,
This
of
which
it.
dieSj^
Gg
is
by
Of the
/^z2
by Socinus
p,
and
Refurrcdion.
his followers,
body
is
not
but
is
con-
The
and fcripture.
will
of
will
refolved
and
be
inthe four elements,
to the fame ; and though it may, after
death, pafs under many changes and alterations, yet the matter and fubllance will
always remain in fome form, and in fome
Death is a feparation,
place or another.
or a difunion, of foul and body, but not
an annihilation of either; by death the
whole compofitum is diffolved, but neither
it
be reduced to nothing
part of
it is
confifls
it
reduced to nothing
-,
the duft,
Controv.
Calov.
i. p.
Socinlfm.
Profiig.
Sed, lo,
Arcic.
I.
1017.
though
Of the
though the
RefurreSion.
45^
Befides, if the
body was
reduced to nothing by death, the refurre(^ion of the body would not be properly
a refurredlion, but a creation of a new body ; and, indeed, this notion of annihiladefigned to make way for the introdud:ion of that, the truth of which 1 ihall
prefently examine.
tion
is
As
Of the
4-5 4-
As
ReJurreHbn.
which fpeak of
to
be comforted,
When the
apoflle fays
^,
receiving
meats,
belly,
fupply
the natural
will be neceflary in the refurredlion, as a conilituent
part of the body, and for the beauty of
to
it
j-
xx:.
1$,
'
Gen.
v.
;4.
^ i Cor,
foul
Of the
Ke[urrcciio'fh
the body
now
from what
will be different
to the qualities of
as
is,
It is
455
allowed that
it,
it
but not
fubftance
its
when
'
own
feed his
fubftantial
which
is
raifed,
is
He
body."
difference
is
from
it
',
which two
not in
differ
their
fome circumftances
Cor. XV.
^ Yvy-vuv
57, 3S
noKy.ov, r\t2T\])
HD^n
as in
the
Talmud Son-
where cne reiurrfcitioii of the ju(t is rcprcfciued by naked wheat, buried in the earth, which
hedrim,
fol,
90. z,
that
it
was
many
cloathings.
It
feenis probable,
of
apoUle Paul
make
ufe
of it.
Gg
raifed
Oj
^ 6
c^
the RefurrciHion.
power."
raifed in
"^
which
is
is
caft into
iubftance, but
be after the
indeed,
fown
fays
refarredlion.
^,
The
apoftle,
which
is
fubjedl
Hence
when
% " That
flefh
and
:(\\. z,4.
>'
Cor. xv,
4^^.
Ver. 50.
and
Of the
RefurrecHon.
4.57
and mortality
for flefh
;
ther as finful, nor as mortal, fhall enjoy
the heavenly ftate ; therefore, in order to
" this corruptible muft put on incorruption, and this mortal muft put on
If it {hould be a new aerial,
immortality."
celeftial, or fpiritual body, different in
that,
fubftance
not be a refurreftion, but a creation ; befides, it is not confiftent with the juftice
of God, that new bodies fhould be created,
and which having never finned, as thofc
muft be fuppofed to be, which are of
God's immediate creation, be united to
thie fouls of the wicked, and be everlaftingNor can they be
ly puniflied with them.
faid to be truly human bodies, which are
wijthout flefli, blood and bones; nor can they
be faid to be properly men who are incorand, indeed, the fame perfons that
have finned, cannot be faid to be puniflied,
nor the fame perfons, who are redeemed,
be glorified, unlefo the fame body be raifed;
poreal
which
I ftiall,
3dly.
Endeavour
^
expreifes
he
"
fays,
to
prove.
Though
after
God
whom
^
fhall
Job fully
dodrine,
when
my fkin worms
my flefii fiiall I
fee for my felf,
and
Of the
45
RefurreJiion.
and mine eyes fhall behold, and not another, though my reins be confumed within
me/' He believed that the fame body,
which fhould be deftroy'd by worms,
Ihould be raifed again, in which he fhould
fee God, and behold him with the felffame eyes of his body he then had, and not
with the eyes of another, or of a ftranger ;
and this he firmly believed, though his
body would be deftroy'd by worms, and
his reins be confumed within him.
The
apoftle Paul
when he
fays,
which
Death is
which
in victory;"
would
not be true, if another, and not the fame
body, was raifed from the dead. Again,
pafs the faying
is
written.
fwallowed up
Ccr. XV.
5 3,
54.
lixke
Phi],
to Chrift's
iii.
21.
body.
Of the
RejurreBion.
459
body.
ferved.
1.
The
fignification
This
furredtion ^
article,
The
prefled
phrafes,
will be the
that dies
as
when
it
is
expreffed by the
Sic
& refurreftionis
quam quae
cecidit.
not! cecidir,
il,
nifi ejus
quod
quod
$92. Vid.
Ed.Ri^alr.
p.
Id.
de
Refurredione carnis,
c.
L.
iS.
5.
c.
p.
291
9.
ver-
Of the
,6o
Refurre^ion.
it
lofes
nothing
that
it
is
awaked
in the refurreftion.
The
places
will be raifed,
'"
John
V.
28, 29.
by
Of the
Refurredlion.
^6
God from
by
to
this
that the
c^
have been
roi't; /LtvY]jLidoi^y
i.
e.
all
the graves
perfons,
it
I.
p.
?i<
Ed. Sixth.
lb.
tide
Of the
^6 a
Refurreclion.
it
was enough
fliall
come
forth
and
every well meaning fearcher of the fcriptures will be eafily induced to think, that
our Lord deiigns that the fame bodies of
men that are laid in the graves ihall come
forth ; nor is any thing more ufual, in
common fpeech, than to denominate men
Of the
new
bodies a
Refurre(Hioyi.
which
created,
zj^^
are faid to
which
Lock,
ib.
flept arofe."
The
obfer-
vation
Of the
ij.64.
Refuneclion.
laid
is
'
to change, to a'2y\^
tyi;
tw-
our
'TnivJoi'joc r/uf^v^
vile
God
and where
aoifjiQLT^ vjuctv,
is
quicken tk
faid to
^vyit^
Befides,
How
'
fides,
how
tioned.
5.
The
inftances
of refurrections that
it
will be the
neral refurreftion.
The
it is
and many
Our Lord
arofe."
^ Phil.
-,
faid, that
iii.
21.
Rom,
viii.
Cor. xv,
from
^5
44.
the
Of the
Refurredion.
465
Of the
4-66
Eefurre^ion.
life,
of God, either in his promifes or threatnings, if the good things he has promifed,
are not beftowed upon the fame perfons to
whom
redemption of their body, from all weaknefs and corruption, if not that, but another body, fliali be given them, and be
I
united
Of the
RefurreiBion.
^67
them
?
,
In
fine,
flfcion
if
New
man
dies,
ftroy
body.
If this
might
and
in philofophicaldifputes,
and fo
one that owes another a fum of money,
and has given his note or bond for it, after
a term of time, may deny that he pv/es
the other any thing, or that he ever borh 2
row'd
it
Of the
ij.68
RejurreBion.
IV.
To confider
which God
have
'Tis a
work
it
is
it
might
be
Of the
469
RefurreSiion.
is
the refurreftion
of the
faints,
expreffes in
ftronger terms, "
apoftle
another
We having
according as it
believed, and therefore have
rit
of
faith,
place
",
in
fpoken^
we
and therefore fpeak, knowing that he which raifed up the Lord Jefus,
fhall raife up us alfo by Jefus, and fliall
prefent us with you ;" where alfo the refurredion of the faints is afcribed to God
alfo
believe,
^ iCor.
vi.
"
14.
Hh
iCor.
iv.
14.
the
Of the
/j^'^o
RefurrecIiOih
or
raife the
2.
dead
Chrift, as
will
for,
Father,
fliall
come
-,
John
V. '22.
of
Of the
RefuneBion.
/^"ji
down
his life,
Hh
3.
God
47^
3.
God
Of
the Refurrediion.
the
Holy
if the Spirit
The
in you/'
of the
your body
is
:" Now as the union between Chrift and his people is not dilTolved
by death, fo neither does the Spirit of God
lorfake the dead bodies of the faints, or
jiegled to take care of them ; the duft of the
faints is under his peculiar care and guar-
which
is
in
you
Rom.
viii,
ii.
'^
Cor,
vi,
19.
dianfhip
Of the
RefuYYcBion.
/^j^
of
will
when he
do
this
will
do
his
(i. e.
Chrilt's) voice,
and
fhall
come
forth r that " the Lord himfelf fhall defcend from heaven with a fhout, with the
voice of an arch-angel, and with the trump
of God, and the dead in Chrifl fhall rife;"
and that the " trumpet fhall found ',
and the dead fhall be raifed incorruptible;'*
but whether by the voice of Chrifl and the
arch-angel, the fhour, and the trumpet of
God, we are to underfland fo many feverai
diflinft things, or one and the fame thino,
is not eafy to determine.
The voice of
who
the arch-angel,
(hM defcend wiih
Chrift, may be called the voice of Chriit,
becaufe formed at his command, the fame
I ThefTiv. 16.
I Cor. xv. ^i
a notion thac a crumpet fliall be blown
at the time of the refurredion, as was at the giving oF tht
''
John
V.
28, 19.
mav
0/
^y4-
may be
'^^^^
RefurreSlion.
me;"
See Lightfoot,
Vol.
I.
p.
(5
So.
who
rightly
obferves,
i Per.
iii.
JO.
upon^
Of
upon, and
the Refurre&ton.
(hall
be
felt
4.^5
and perceived by
when tlie archangel fhall found the laft trumpet, attended with the fhout of all the reft of the anall
gelick hoft.
As for the time
coming
i.
7.
'^
John
vi.
39,40,44,
5^.
and
xi.
24.
The Jews
the
ri^hrcous fhall
rife
firft,
on
Of the
4.76
Refurre6lion.
on the
glory, fo alfo
is
dead."
There are many curious and needlefs quewhich are afked concerning the refur-
ftions
thefe
Of the
And
V.
laftly,
and ufe of
I ft.
-,
my felf
the trouble
be more ufeful
^nj
RefurretHion.
which
To
is,
this doftrine.
I fhall confider
the importance of
God,
deny
is
which
which
it
The
abfolutely requifite.
is
reit
be no refurreftion of the
dead, then is Chrift not rifen ; and if Chrift
be not rifen, then is our preaching vain,
and your
gofpel
is
faith
is
The whole
connefted with
it
if there
is
no
As
truth in
is none
the dodrine of the refurreftion receives
confirmation from the dodrines of perfonal
eledlion, the gift of the perfons of the
eledt to Chrift, the covenant of grace, rethis,
demption by
^ 2 Tim.
23,
ii.
there
in that.
Chrift, union
ly.
Htb,
vi.
ij
*^
Cor. xv,
Mthe
0/
^.yS
the E.efurre<Hion,
And
no difference
between them and the brutes, " As the
one dieth, fo dieth the other;" and if
perifhed
this
we
fo there
is
in
this
we
are of all
Befides,
only
men
has been
as
abfolutely ne-
is
life
without it the
judgment cannot proceed j for how fhould
" every one receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad," if his body is
not raifed. To fay no more, pradlical religion much depends upon the truth of this
doftrine ; the denial of it muft open a door
The opto all manner of licentioufnefs.
pofers of this dodlrine have been obferved ^,
in all ages, to be very bad livers; and,
indeed, it need not be wonder'd at, it is a
natural confequence, " If the dead ^ rife
not, let us eat and drink, for to morrow we
*
Cor. XV.
Nemp
enim
8.
Negantes enim
Ver. 19.
his refurredionem,
de Refurred.
quam
ejus
c.
11.
p.
386.
die."
Of the
^yo
RcfurreSHon.
On
converfation.
ward man."
2dly. I fhall
now
is important, and of
mufl
moment,
be ufeful. This dodtrine is
of ufe,
It ferves to enlarge
I. For inflru(Slion.
our views of the divine perfed:ions as the
doftrinej whatever
immutability of
God
faithfulnefs
in his
ftand.
Ads
xxiv.
15,
16.
hihlyg
Of the
480
RefurrecHion.
perfedions; fince he
God
of
over
all
all,
divine
the refurreftion
fruits of them that
is
may
tending
it
Rom.
iv. 17,
to
difficulties at-
nature.
And
8, 19, io.
when
Of the
RefurreSlion.
when
i^8
the apoftles
had the fentence of
death in themfelves, they were directed not
to truft in themfelves, " but in God, which
^
who,
fay,
they, delivered
us from fo great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we truft that he will yet
Moreover, this doftrine may
deliver us/'
teach us, that all due and proper care
ought to be taken of our bodies, both whilft
living, and when dead.
All proper care
ought to be taken of them whilft living
though they are not to be pamper'd, they
are not to be ftarved They are to be fed
and cloathed, according to the bleffings of
life, which God beftows upon men, provided the bounds of moderation and decency be obferved j for to trangrefs thefe
:
by luxury and
intemperariQe,
is
not to
"'
i Cor.
Vol. IL
i.
9,
"*
10.
Jphn xL 14,
ia
Of the
/^,0,
'ReJurrcBion.
''
Thus
in the refurre(ftion at the laft day:
^^
I know that he fliall rife again, in the
Then will
confolation at the laft day/*
ihall
Of the
RefurreBion.
with them,
it is
li 3
4S3
VINDICATION
OF THE
Evangelical Doctrine
O
man's
salvation
B X
THE
of
Promoting Licektiousness.
Br ABRAHAM TAYLOR,
Minifter of the Gofpel.
'^M^)M
^^s-&-n\
that as fin
death, fo grace
to
to
eternal
life,
by
abound ?
Jhall
God forbid
may
how
HEN
rational creatures
rebel
righteous and
mighty Maker, they cut themfelves off from all right, to
claim any benefit or bleffing at his hands
againft
They
their
and
4^8
Of the %8rine
of Grdce^
would provide
world,
as it encourages Holinefs.
^8^
for
ftars to
He
might, with'honour,
have left the
his
out ^ny ftain to
whole race of finfui men to deflrudion ;
for they, after tranfgreffion, have no more
claim to his favour, than the devils But
he wa^p'leafed to choofe a remnant of them,
bkckiifefs
and darknefs.
in
whofe
falvation
The
falvation of finners,
whether we
re-
gard
is
it,
in
its
when men
open'^d
49 O
Do^rine of Grace ^
open'd and unfolded, unlefs the Holy
Of the
rit leads
them
Spi-
knowledge of the
up with rage againft
to the
Conceited mortals,
or they abufe it.
are for working out their falvation
by their own ftrength, cannot bear that the^
glory of it fhould be given entirely to the
grace of God, and not partly to their feeit,
who
ble endeavours
-,
with
and wickedly and malicioufly charge it
with opening a door for licentioufnefs
and in drawing this fpiteful indidment,
againft the glorious gofpel of the
Jefus,
not a
it is
little
blefled
fequences,
Thefe,
to countenance their immoralities.
becaufe they do not care to leave their fins,
or to pradiife the difficult duties of repentance, felf-denial, and mortification, have
been ready to fay, that if falvation is by
grace, they fhall certainly be faved, fce-
>
but herein they dilcover their great ignorance of the defign of God, in the C:iriftian fcheme of falvation, which was not
barely to debafe man, and to exaie Chrift,
but to advance hoiinefs.
The great apoftle of the Gentiles, in the
words which have been chofe to fpeak from,
decla-
as it encourages
HoUneff.
^5
declared, that
eternal life
.but that
it
only reigned in a
way
This
in the wilful commiflionof iniquity.
the
Chrifl:,
of
at
minifter
accomplifti'd
fame
0/ ihe
49^
God, took
^oJlrine of Grace^
care
which vain
mended
neceffary
He
afted
does not
beftow a great meafure of garniture on the
front of the ftrudlure, which he rears, and
leaves the other parts entirely without ornament, but takes care that the whole edifice be well proportioned and compared
together, and that all the parts of it be fet
holinefs, as
who
It has
been
more than
feafonable or improper
eafily,
be
made
And
it
may, very
is
not
I fliall
by the
fliort
fummary of thofe
evangelical points^
it ; in
which we take
doing of whichj
I fhall evince,
in the ge-
neralj
as it
neral, that it
^ay
tioufnefs.
men
ii.
^, ^, 7, 8, 9.
Tir.
ili.
4,
5.
by
Of the
494
T>o6lrinc of
Grace
All faving
and through
death
and
it
is
afcri-
bed to the grace of God, in the facred volumes ; and farther, all the principal parts
of it, fuch as eledlion, juftification, regeneration, and effeftual calling, and the
coniummating our happinefs, are declaIf we confider
to be from grace.
the heirs of falvation, as chofe by God,
and predeftinated to eternal glory, it is
from his fovereign grace ; it is exprefsly
fa id, " God has chofe us in Chrift, before
the foundation of the world j having predeftinated us to the adoption of children,
through Jefus Chrift, tohimfelf, according
to the fovereiga pleafure of his will, to
tke praife of the glory of his grace
If
red
Rom.
V.
15, 17.
Eph.
i.
4, 5, 6,
we
as in encourages Holinefs,
4^5
imputes
it
ftified freely
tion purchafed
Eph.
V.
7.
Rom.
iii.
14.
Ti:. in, 7.
it
Of the
496
!Do(Hrme af Grace
fited us, to
give light to
them
that
lit
in
confefs,
indebted
for
the
I Pet.
Rom.v.
i.
5. Tit.
ii.
vi*
iii,
5,
Luke
i.
-fi,
79. i
Tim,
i.
9, lo,
25,
time.
as it encourages Holinefs.
time, as
it
497
is
compleated when we
leave the body, we muft own, that it is
all of grace, and is the gift of grace.
power, or
As God,
as
it
is
and
to
make
his
un-
mentioned in
fcripture, as
''
*^
Eph.i. 4, 5. 1 Their,
Pec.
i.
17,
Vol. n.
18,
19.
ii.
l^.
^
t
I
P^t.
Cor.
i.
j,
vi.
'
Til
ii.
ij.
10.
bodies
\
'
0/ *^^
498
bodies and
are
/
'
"^
fplrits,
that
we may
are
made
tion,
J)oBrtne of Grace ^
"
it is,
If
we
We
from fup-
benefits,
man
which
are
is
ved love, he is by this ' laid under obligations to be holy, and to abound in good
works; that he may manifeft, that he has
had imparted to him the gifts of mercy
"*
Ifai. xliii.
21.
"2
Pet.
i.
15.
that
as it encourages Holinefs.
that he
may ihew
/^o^
where he
fhali fee
When men
his
Redeemer
as
he
is.
We
gelical
in
truths,
what
is
which
commoly
are
comprehended
in the
following
fix articles.
in
it
we muft
they
felves,
are
in a miferable condition.
k.
this
Cf the
500
this
apoftacy,
from
T) olivine of Grace^
he,
and we
in
him,
fell
commu-
when we do what is
materially good, we do not adl from a
principle of love to our fupreme Lawfrom him
fo that
we
his glory
We
2.
God
ojs
encouraoes
it
God foreknew
2.
the
5QI
Holmefs.
fall
of man, and
knew
to periflb:
he chofe
in Chrift
forefight of
certain determinate
to falvation,
good works,
as caufes
number
without
moving
peared in the
as
man,
flefti,
offer'd a
and, being
fatisfadlion
God
of
as
wxU
infinite
Kk
by
Of
505
by
God,
And
all
that
by
is
his grace,
wrought
and to
reft
it is
employ'd
it
King
',
cere obedience,
as
a condition of God's
favour.
4. Regeneration is not owing to man's
power, will, or abilities, but he is renewed,
or new created, by the power of the Holy
Spirit, who enlightens his mind, renews,
his will, and purifies his aiiedions.
This
is
m it encourages HoUnefs.
505
Kk
the
Of the ^oBrine
504.
of Grace^
confummating
6.
their
When
love, grace,
happy
it
as it encourages
if
we view
Spirit, it
is
it
as
it is
that
HolmeJs.
applied to us by the
we may
be holy here,
may
better
is
ror
Of the
506
^DoHrine of Grace^
to be pro-
redemption, and in
not abfolutely neceffary, if
it muft not be made the caufe or condition
of falvation ? It is only by reafon of mens
moted
in eleftion, in
regeneration,
is
ing, as being an
ted wickednefs that they turn it into lafGod has declared, that the
great ends of (hewing the riches of free
grace, of exalting Chrift, and of promocivioufnefs.
Having
under the
former head, vindicated the doftrine of
grace, from the charge of promoting liII.
in
the general,
centioufnefs, I ihall
now more
diftindly
ihew.
as it encourages Holincff,
507
their
own
corruption,
They
and
pcxifh
receive
fliall
fliall
reward of unrighteoiifncfs
1 'hey
count it pleafure to riot in the day time;
hav ing eyes full of the a( kil terefs, and wh ich
cannot ceafe from fin
To them the mift
ofdarknefs is referved for ever 5 for when
they fpeak great fwelling- words of vanity,
they allure, through the: lufts of the flefh,
thofe who for a while ef(;aped from them
who lived in errors whi l/l they promife
them liberty, they themlelves are the ferthe
^iPet.
ii,
9,
10,
17,
18,
19.
vants
Of the
508
^oSlrine of Grace^
"^
who were
fornication
mocohando
lint,
nullam differen-
Idolothyton cdere.
Irep. 105. Ed. Mafiuet.
If any one is defirous to have a full account of the abominable impieties and horrible lewdnefs, which the Gnoftics
intc,
Epiphanius, Haer.
2.5
and
&
ik
praftifed, he
z^.
from
cqq
as it encourages Holinejs.
inter
&
&
ferioraj
dum hunc
eum
&
&
ti
in
qucmadmodum
pofuerunt qui
mundum
fecerunt
in fervitutem deducentcs
angeli,
homines.
&
&
naeus, Lib.
The
I.
c.
23.
may
p.
99, 100.
is loft.
7iva.
cm
cro/Ksr^t-
5IO
Of the
^oSirine ofGrace^
who appear'd
as
the Son, and
Father,
differently, as the
as the Spiritj in different difpenfations, lived in avowed fornication with one Helena,
he was the luprerne God,
common
proftitute,
that they
He therefore
allowed fuch as believed in him and Helena,
to live as they pleafed, perfuading them
not to mind the threatenings of the law,
and faying, that falvation was only by
grace, and that good works were not neceffary, there being no eflential difference
were not worthy of regard
\Kkvau*
Vcu
^iuv
)y
7^'J
dyy^-Kcov J^nixinfy^d-'^'
}io<r\J.o\'
dya.'d-ayy atAAsc
J^/ct
[/.oiyyt^veicug \')(Ja>v70
ayeoyiy^di
eoi
-vkr^
^^et
yLiy^ctvcifjSpoi^
iJLiTi'ovTi^
n^
yjitt-TOr 7^'^ct^'^
'TTctVToS'A'Traufy
t<4
ixv^itcid'
a a Act
'i
acortielcti*
I^sotikol
o(7ct 7'
Theodorir.
tji'A
y^
yonTL-ia.?
iS'ia,
Haerecic.
fab.
Lib.
I.
c. 2.
between
as in encourages Holiness,
flefh
as to this,
were
embraced by
all
much
in the
ked abufe of a
to
the
come
to nothiug.
ries
51^
Of the
7)o6lrine of Grace
ries to difgrace
it,
condemn
preffing
men
to duty, as legal
as it encourages Holinefs.
however,
as
too much to the will of men, without admitting thefe pofitions, which have great
difficulties attending them, we certainly
are at liberty to
do
it
And
as
we would
for
free
grace,
attributed
to
us.
we
fhall find
it,
if
we
folly,
it
fafe to
fpeak according to
into, of
one imperfedl lentence in oppofition to the whole tenor of divine revelation, or the analogy of faith.
As to the
cafe before us, we have a noble account
given us, by the apoftle Paul, of the tendency of the dodlrine of grace, to promote
piety, honeily, and temperance, in the
fetting
VaL.
11.
foU
Of
514.
the
^oBrine of Grace
we live
foberly, righteoully,
and pioufly in
he might redeem
might purify to
and
us from
zealous for good
people,
peculiar
himfelf a
works/* This is an excellent account of
the true doftrine, which the minifters of
the gofpel are to preach ; and therefore it
is no wonder, that the infpired inftrudler
us, that
all iniquity,
man
that they
may adorn
the gofpel of
We
and
if
retailers
to ftand
up
we
of
for
ii.
II 14.
dated,
as it encourages Holinefs.
515
moted
we
pro-
licentioufnefs.
men would
juft.
6
5
Cf the
juft,
T)o6{rine of Grace^
gainft
which
grace,
if the
f)ear,
of free
fome meafure, ap-
evangelical dodtrine
will, in
ully weighed.
I.
The dodrine of
and abfolute
free
eledtion
we
lie
elefted
to happinefs, becaufe
them
men
fore-
he chofe
Eleftion does not dif-
to holinefs.
as creatures
God
As they
lie
under to God,
by him
are form'd
* See efpecially
vinity, Vol.1, p.
*
the
1^6,
i. 440.
Work,
p.
col. i.
227. col.
Body
ofDi'^
-2}
I.
col. 2.
to
^IJ
as it encouraoes Hcflinefs.
the relation wherein he Hands to his Maker and Law-giver, as his fubjed:. Nay,
if we could fuppofe that a man, in a ftatc
of nature, could get any pofitive proof that
he is the elect of God, which by the way
is impoffible ;
yet could it be fo, this
would be fo far from flriking out his debt
of obedience, that it would add to it a
Surely, no
debt of love and gratitude.
one can fay, that if a man could have the
fureft evidence of his being eledledby God,
he has liberty to return to him hatred for
tainly,
happinefs.
truth,
we
find, that
there will be
no need
to multiply paflages,
LI
tend-
Of
loved, in
whom we
his blood,
whom
according
to
Eph.
i.
7,
II,
a.
his
as it encourages
c I
his will
it is
Holmefs.
works
all
things, or certainly
and
infalli-
bly brings all things about, after the purare chofe in Chrift,
pofe of his will
and are preordained to the privilege of a
change of ftate by adoption, which is merited and purchafed for us by Chrifl
the end of God, in choofing us, and pre:
We
deftinating us
was, that
Now
of adoption,
be holy and without
to the grace
we might
as far as in us
man pretend
to feparate
whom
Of the
520
whom God,
T)oBrine of Grace^
is
as it encourages Holinefs.
^^ j
rant
If I
for
am
hair-brain'd
finner
eleffled to falvation,
ved, let
me
live as I
lift
if I
to
fhall
am
fay,
be fachofen
-,
direftly
Of the
^7 7
direftly
tainly
T>oc^rine of
mad, or
we
fhould,
Grace ^
to be
mere
when
ideots
Cer-
of
this
faved,
ground
is
laid
down
muft be
I
in the oracles of
we
God
truth,
chofe
m it
encourages Holinef^.
525
We
creatures, to
do whatever
known to
Maker and kind
niade
us, to
is
by any means
Preferver.
The
far greater
number of
faith,
that
it
is
entirely
groundlefs.
as
Whether
licioufly
'
re-
Of the
5^4.
TfoBrtne of Grace^
mote
licentioufnefs
king.
for
fin,
or
make
appeafe the divine anger, magnify the law, and make it honourable, and
bring in an everlafling righteoufnefs, of
infinite value ; which might not only free
tisfy juflice,
title
And
is
rich grace
in
obli-
as it encourages Holinejs.
obligations
law
men
t^^^
obey the
exempted from
are under, to
obferving
it,
as a rule
up
death,
Of the
5^6
T)oSlrine of
Grace
death, and in his exquifite fufFerings, as en-during the utmoft ihamc, and the moft
to
him
for refuge,
it
jflies
di-
and for
a right
they who are advocates for the infinite meof Chrift, being the fole caufe of a finner's deliverance from mifery, and his being found by God, in peace, maintain,
that though faith, as it is ufed in juftification, is only employed in looking to, and
trufting in Chrift as a prieft, dying for fin
rit
yet,
prophet
',
for
it
it
it
receives Chrift
receives
him
as a
of
all
the glorious doctrines which he has revealed ; and it relies on him for fpiritu-
will,
zij
as in encourages Holinefs.
fin, to
overcome
againft
Though
faith,
the
as
powers of darknefs.
ufe of in juftifica-
made
fay,
5^8
Of the
^OiBrine of Grace
^
it
God.
is
make
'^
apoftle Paul^
Do we
we
Though we
forbid
we may
thus,
take
rather
eftablifh
the
afcribe juftificacion
then
God
law."
to the
Rom,
iii.
$r.
Co;", ix,
21.
law,
05 it encourages Holinejs.
50^
We
in the
he had
in faving us by Chrift was, to magnify his law, and make it honourable ; and
if we are of thofe who are faved by Chrift,
we
fhall
defire
to
in
no encouragement
for any to
do fo. The
good works are as
neceffary to juftify and fhew the fincerity
of our faith before men, as faith in the
feripture fuppofes,
that
righteoufnefsof Chrift
Vol, IL
is
necelfdry, in
Mm
'
our
jufti-
Of the T)0^Ytne
5 5o
of Grace^
juftification before
ftle
James
faid,
defign
rity
-,
crifice,
which Chrift
offered
up
for us, as
James
ii*
17 io.
the
as it encourages HoUnefs.
53
thedodfine
The
evangelical
docftrines
of
belie-
ing kept by Chrift from falling, and enabled by him to perfevere to the end, and'
of their being favoured fometimes with
the afTurance of the love of God, do not
lead to licentioufnefs ; becaufe, in the very nature of the things, it is fuppofed that
they are new created to holinefs, that they
are enabled, by ftrength received by Chrift,
to go on in the paths of godlinefs, and that
without holinefs they cannot fee the Lord,
either by the light of faith here, for their
comfort, or in the light of glory hereafter
for their exceeding joy.
If we will believe Chrift, the true and
faithful Witnefs, finners maft be born
again before they can be admitted into the
prefence of God, in the world of peace
He thus pofitively declared to
and reft
:
Nicodemus
"
except a
man
is
John
ill.
5,
5.
Mm
Qf
Of the ^oBrtne
5 ja
of Grace^
differ
fpiritual
8 I
fiated
this
His
hi expreifions.
own words
I (hall
Works,
Ijpiritual
change, converfion
a
is
a fpiritual motion
is
In rege-
power
confer'd ; converfion is the exerIn regeneration there is given us a principle to turn, converiion is our adual turning ; that is, the
principle whereby we arc brought out of a ftate of nature,
into a ftate of grace and converfion, the aftual fixing on
neration there
cife
is
of this power
God,
as the terminus
ad cjucm
one gives
pofle agerc
and
z. In
{IS
it
encourages
change
fpiritual
in
Holmefs.
there
it
to turn
from
fpiritual
fin
motion,
is
535
power
and a principle
Converfion
is a
the exercife of, or
infufed
it
is
of
In regeneration, man is wholly paflive ; in converfion,
adive : As a child, in its firft formation in the womb,
contributes nothing to the firft infufion of life, but after ic
has life, it is adive, and its motion natural. The firft revK
ving of us is wholly the ad of God, without any concurrence
of the creature ; but after we are revived, we adively and
voluntarily live in his fight : " He will revive ui, he will
raife us up, and then we fhall live in his fight ;" then we
{hall walk before him, and then '' we (hall follow on to
know the Lord," (Hof. vi. i.) Regeneration is the motion
of God in the creature; converfion is the motion of the
creature to Cod, by virtue of that firft principle : From this
principle, all the ads of believing, repenting, mortifying,
quickening, ipring : In all thefe, a man is adive ; in the
other, he is utterly paflive i all thefe are the ads of the will,
by theafllftinggrace of God, after the infufion of the firft
grace Converfion is a giving our felves to the Lord ; giving
our own felves to the Lord, is a voluntary ad, but the power
whereby we are enabled thus to give our {^Ivtz, is wholly
and purely, in every part of it, from the Lord hirafelf.
a.
he
is
renewed man
is
faid to be led
by the
Spirit,
(Rom.
viii.
14.)
putting a bias and aptitude in
Mm
luntary.
0/ the
554-
of the
^oBrtne of Grace
of life
and
hintary, and the ad of the creature.-^ The day of regeneis folely the day of God's power, wherein he makes
ration
fooU
plant
as it encourages Holinefs.
535
as
it
may
may
be
ftiled
adual
fandtification
it
for that
laid to be paffive
new
in the
birth,
but
is
raifed
from a death
It
fin, by
would be
in
if
hifs'd
child's
owing
his
efficience,
new
is
birth
to the
Holy
Spirit's
Mm
forth
Of the ^oBrlm
^6
of Grace^
life.
Rom.
xii.
I,
i,
y,
lo,
1.
world,
what
is
pcrfed: will of
cleave to
what
up over
it,
or unlock the door of the
vault that contains it; and we are dead in
trefpafies
and
fins,
new
ter'd parts
527
J)o6lYine of Grace
Of the
538
doing this is, that we may walk as children of the lighr, and may ad wifely and
circumfpedly. The apoftolick ^ doftrine
was as follows : " You were fometimes
now
f ighteoufnefs, and truth, and have no fellowjfhip with the unfruitful works of darktiefs : It is faid, Wake thou that fleepeft,
and
rife
but
as thofe
who
which
are
fo that
the dodlrine of our regeneration and convcrfion being owing to his efficacious and
irreSftible grace, can never countenance
lazlnefs or loofenefs.
We grow in grace,
who w^s
out his
truth
aid,
'
it felf,
we
Eph.
V.
He
II, 143
i5> 16.
he
Holmefs,
5^^
" You cannot
difciples
as it encourages
he
faid to
his
do
is
nothing.*'
We
good, unlefs
we
from
derive ftrength
Chrift,
hut
it
in Chrift,
him.
him
or truft in
we
ex-
are
left
to themfelves
jEfeep
5,
Ifai. xl,
30,
31.
ad;iv
Of the 7)o(3rme
54-0
aftive
and induftrious
of Grace
duty, that they
in
of the
fuch as
is
that
when
fcorning the
ground, fhe foars aloft j that they may
run in the paths of duty, which are truly
the paths of honour, without being weary,
or being obliged to drop, for want of fpifits ; and that they may refrefh themfelves
with continued walks within the facred inclofures of pure religion, where are the
moft refined pleafures, without being faint,
or being forced to fit down tired, without
a profped of being able to recruit their
vigour.
If we are once ingrafted into
eagle,
lively
Chrift,
My
"*
John
X. 27j
i8.
friend.
US it encourages Holinejs.
541
friend, to
The
ftrufting fears.
we have
to
the power
fure encouragement
we (hall be kept by
of Chrift, through faith, to
hope
that
fion
Of the
54-^
T)oHrine of Grace^
Holy
Spirit, and,
ftian,
bling us to cry, Abba, Father :" He witncffes with the fpirit of a faint ; for we
are ^ informed, that " the Spirit himfelf
bears witnefs with our fpirits, that we are
the children of God;" and he feals up to
a believer his intereft in the love of God,
and is the earneft of the heavenly inheritance ; for it is declared, in the word of
truth, that by the Holy Spirit, who is the
'^
we are fealed to
The affurance of
which
is
^ Gal, iv. 6.
^ Rem. viii. i6.
14, 12. Eph. iv. 30. 2 Cor. v. J.
**
z Cor.
i.
15^
feal.
as it encourages IJotinep.
^:>
rance
fets
',
Rjom,
xiii.
iv.
xp Jx.
we
Of the
54-4-
Do^rine of Grace
we believed: The
night
is
may
minifter grace to
the hearers; and grieve not the Holy Spirit
of God, by whom you are fealed to the
profitably, that
it
poffible^
(C5
it
encourages HoUnefs.
5^5
be
we
fhall fee
this
him
as
hope
he is
him,
in
We
even as he is pure."
of
muft judge
the tendency Of aflurance of
God's love by what the apoftles of our
Lord have faid concerning it, who had
large degrees of it; they declared, that it
is a motive to holinefs
If any then prate
about their aflurance, who are prefumpcuous finners, we muft look upon them
to be either frontlefs liars, or elfe wild
purifies himfelf,
who
take
the
Holy
Spi-
'giddy-headed
creatures,
motions.
4. Eternal
rit's
glory,
is
good works,
is
in
part
'
The
John
ill.
2, \
briefly
You
Ih
Na
thft
0/
54-6
the 7)oSrine of
Grace
The
The
injunftion
apoftle Paul's
" Follow
holinefs,
will
will fee
it
tering
be
is
this:
men
""
Indeed,
all
wicked
armour of
power
of
indignation,
exalted
them.
title
^ Heb.
to
xiii.
it
without holi-
14.
nefs
CAn
as it encourages HoUnefs.
iiefs ; or fay, it is
thing wrought in
his,
him
man muft
elfe it is
fome reafon
it
is
upon
all
we may have
of heaven, but
it
without
can never help us. A falfe hope in a finncr renders all admonitions unfuccefsful,
and, till his vain confidence is fhook, he
Matt.
xi.
Nn
12,
will
Cf the
5^8
7)oS{rin of Grace^
An
will not believe he needs converfion.
ill-grounded hope is the great engine of
the devil to deftroy fouls, and it is worfe
than no expectation ; for they will, of all
men, be mod miferable, who expedl to
be faved, and yet, when their breath has
left their bodies,
When
their title to
it.
Except
encourages HoUnefs.
it
we are made
Except
holy,
54.9
we have no
un(hM never
defiled and incorruptible,
be admitted to fet one foot within the
pure realms above, if we are not adorned
meetnefs for
is
We
with
The
real fan<5tity.
Chrift
is
the cloathing
righteoufnefs of
which covers our
which
is
the raiment
-,
foul
is
this
this life,
but
I
am
in this
am
am uncloathed, my
Nn
be
5^
of Grace
be found naked, and without a covering.
We muft be cloathed with the fpotlefs robe
of Chrift's righteoufnefs, and we muft be
adorned with the grace of fanftification,
Of the ^oBrtne
grace; and
from
our
all finful
feafoned' with
muft be purified
firft
fpirits
imperfedlions,
before
we
can inherit the glory of that blefled country, v/here there will be no place for what
is imperfedl and in part.
Without holinefs, none can do the work
of heaven, or perform the duties required
One part of the work of heaven,
there.
is to behold the glorious face of Gqd, and
What
to ftand continually before him.
are the morning ftars, and the fpirits of
juft men made perfedl, doing in heaven ?
Are they not taken up in viewing the perfections and excellencies of God, and in
admiring his attributes ; fuch as his wifdom, power, truth, goodnefs, and efpecially his love to finners ? But what could
unholy perfons do there? They will not
give God now any entertainment in their
thoughts, and, as they have no intelleftual
eyes to behold his glory, fo they are not
fit
to
come
ftand
as it encourages Holinejs.
551
what the faints offer to him that fits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, who redeemed finners by his blood, with the
is
their conftant
of
ever.
no
their joy to
Now
inclination
Can they
to
praife the
rejoice that
God
Moft High:
reigns,
and
Nn
and
555
^oBrtYie of Grace^
and reafon to fay, that without holinels
any could compafs the throne of God, in
The putheaven, with anthems of praife.
ting forth of perfeft love, and unconfined
afredions to God, is a work of heaven:
Tiie apoftle Paul has told us thus 5 " Love
never fails, as to other things ; whether
Of the
""
they
fliall
fail,
or
be done away."
Prophefies, or gifts
What
is
this love, in
its
God,
their benefadlor,
who is
fu-
him-
as it encourages Holinefs.
555
when their affedlions are fet againft him ? Can they find a predominant
delight in him, when their hatred againft
him is blown up to the higheft pitch Can
they have pleafure in his holinefs, when
to him,
We
muft not
fo far
now.
Of the
554"
DoBrine of Grace
now, when he
is
diftant,
fore the prefence of his glory, and to behold the brightnefs of his face in the country of vifion above.
Without holinefs, none can relifh the
would
heaven, if
find
we
ried thither.
no
refl:
or pleafure in
He would
find
no fweetnefs
as it encourages Holinefs^
Jights,
are
made meet
for
them by
till
555
they
fandification.
God, and
is
dience, and
is
is
men.
The Application.
Of the DoSlrine
556
own
but,
and
of Grace^
holinefs in
then, if
abufe
we
mifreprefent
it,
it,
or pervert
it
but
from
let
us
it,
its
true
them worthy
it
flandering
as if it
it,
as it encourages
Winging honour
HoUnefs.
^c'i
by a pious, pure,
honeft, and prudent walk.
Let us ftiape
our courfe by thofe words of the apoftle
Paul, wherein he has fet this matter in a
to
it,
and pioufly,
in
this
prefenc
redeem us from
all iniquity,
and
we would
n--~i4r
redeem-
Of the
558
Do(Hrine of Grace^
full
as it encourages Holinefs.
555^
and dangerous
lufts
of the mind ;
us
not give way to pride, malice, envy, ha-
and felf-feeking
tred,
things
we
all
When
in
let
many
much
lefs
give
way
prefumptuoufly ; let us be
deeply humbled, that we fo often provoke
the Moft High, by finning in thought, in
word, and in deed let us hate and abhor
fin, and look upon it to be moft abominable, becaufe it is odious to a God of infinite goodnefs, occafioned the groans, agonies, and death of a kind Saviour, and
tends to bring ruin on our immortal fouls 5
let us condemn our felves, that we have
committed what is of fo hurtful a nature
let us be fiU'd with godly forrow for fin,
and take a holy revenge upon it ^ let us,
by the help of the Spirit, turn from it to
to tranfgrefs
-,
God
and, as
we
us delight
to
made cuftomary, but let us take pleafure in that fingularity, which is commendable, which is to ftand off from every
has
thing that
God,
to
wound
fciences,
Of the
560
fciences,
and
which we
Let us
T>0(^rtne of Grace
to difcredit that
pure religion
profefs.
pracftife
all
moral
duties,
and
make confcience
perform
our
our engagements., ^nd to be faithful to every truft
committed to us : Let us be temperate in
our Ufing the things which are appointed
for the fupport and comfort of life, moderate in our purfuit of the world, and wary
and careful to provide things honeft in the
fight of all men; let us be humble in our
carriage and deportment, and be amiable
in our behaviour; let us be even in our
temper, if we are compafs'd about with
prosperity, patient in adverfity, in bearing
ill treatment,
and enduring infults, and
ready to forgive all perfonal injuries ; let
us be refigned to the will of God, whatever condition of life he may involve us
in, and delire, in whatfoever ilate we are,
therewith to be content ; let us love mercy, and be ready to fhew pity to any irl
diftrefs ; let us relieve the warns of others,
as we are able^ and do good to all, efpecially to thofe who are of the houfhold of
faith ; let us fliew benevolence to all mankind, even to thofe whofe principles and
let us
to
praftices
we may mod
all
all
detcft,
and
let
119
as it encourages Holinefs.
power f
we have
it
561
in
our
"
a<fl
with
fin-
and to promote
loyalty,
VoL.
Oo
bles
Of the ^o8rine
564
of
GraU^
hearts,
we
may
be pleafing to that
God whom
ferve;
When we do
mofti
it
CIS
encOurhges Holinefs.
565
let
things
we
are obliged to
we omit many
we
and to
are,
whom we
we
whofe
it,
let lis,
that
may
fo
we may
and
credit religion,
we make of
his
re
caft
^/ ^^^
5^4
^o6lrine of Graccy
conlid^ring that he
is
make gopd
unchangeable in
his
promifes, that
truth, to
he is, ever prefent with us, to guard us,
th,at he knows all our wants, and is infi.-^.
his
in
-,
regale
fW it encourages
regale us,
and joys,
565
Hdinefs.
fubftantial
and
fincere,
To
who
changes the
whole frame of our minds, that we
may walk in newnefs of life ; to thcfe
three divine Perfons, but the one fupreme God, whom we adore, be hothe
Holy
Spirit,
evermore.
Amen,
Oo
Humble
and Impartiai.
ENQUIRY
Into the Causes of the Decay op
Practical Religion;
Or into the true
Grounds
of the Declensions,
AS TO
Life
and
Power
THE
of
GODLINESS,
By ABRAHAM TAYLOR,
Minifter of the Gofpel.
Oo
REv-iii.
To
r,
2, 3.
who has
the feven Spirits of God^ and the
fevenftarsy I know thy works^ that
Thefe
write^
thou hafi
things fays he
a name
that
Be
thou livefi^
watchful^
and
die
to
for
have
If therefore thou
will come
thee
what hour
will
not
know
UR
he has it^n
fit
on
Of the Caufes
5 JO
of the Decay
on
his authority,
to be obferved.
When men
inculcate do-
ftrines,
On
which the
true
and
of Tragical Religion.
5y
intereft in
abound
in the
Of the
572
ihort epiftles, to be fent to the feven principal churches of the province of Afia, to
^
A. D. xcv.
Secundus
fiianos perfecjuitur,
mlulam
p.
relegatiis,
&
poft
Neronem,
Doitiiciinus, Chri-
iVpocalypHn vidic.
Pacnion
Hieron. in Chronic.
roufe
en
of TraJlical Religion.
roufe fuch as were under declenlions, and
to encourage fuch as were true to his caufe
and intereft. When he returned from
exile ^, under Nerva, he committed this
book to writing for the ufe of all the
churches.
It has been matter of a
for
fome
years,
among our
warm
conteft
brethren in the
much
heat, efpecially
who
upon me peremptorily
w^i/fV party.. hav^^beiV hit
take
:.-'-ri
**
A. D. xcviif.
to determine
mind and
the
will
'v'7.
de exilio
reverfi.
exilio folucum,
Ephefum
receififle
in
q.ia
Idem,
ibid.
^
The
reader
may
fee.
by two very
Sac. Vol.
I.
Lib. 3.)
and
Of the
574
will of the
Caujes of the
Holy
Spirit
T)ec<jiy
I muft,
however^
with
me
ftian
feven fcenesj
churches, in
till
the
who are
he
pleafes,
Cocceian,
here
falls
my Sermon on Nov.
S.
in
p.
with
the
prophetical
394$.
pien-
of TraSlical Religion.
575
all
flars, or he over-rules,
the minifters in his church,
to
him
He
when he
de''
faid,
know
condition, to have a
reality,
name
to live, but, in
might be
faid,
that
it
them
what
commendable, which
to be watchful, to
ftrengthen
to call to
mind, and
hold
faft,
And he
but
Of the Caufes
576
of the T^ccay
but as there does not feem to be any advantage refulting from fuch an obfervation, it
is rather probable, from their being commanded to hold fail what they had heard,
and learned, that they were declining in
zeal for the doctrines of the gofpel, as well
as that pradiical religion was at a low ebb,
and almoft ready to expire among them.
may allow, as indeed it feems to be
the jufteft account of the matter, that
thefe epiftles had a literal reference to the
churches then in Alia, which were overrun with the Gnoftics and Nicolaitans,
who denied the union of the divine and
human nature in Chrift, maintained, that
equivocation, and occafional conformity
to the Heathen ceremonies were lawful,
and abufed the doctrine of grace, to the
encouraging of loofe practices
However,
feeing all that is written in fcripture is recorded for our learning and ufe, we, in
thefe afcer-ages, may compare our felves
with the more ancient churches, and may
expeft, that if we are like them, the threa-
We
difleminated in the Afiatic churches, neither may the fame deviations from that ho-
which is required in
brace the gofpel, be found
linefs,
all
that
among
em-
us,
as
were
of
TraBicd
Religion.
5-77
judgments,
when we
leaft
expeft
it.
ftate
Of the
57
abound
in hblinefs,
and
in the
glories
While
difagreeable to the fcripture rule.
they thus held faft their integrity, they
were greatly honoured of God ; they were
mighty in word, they were powerful in
prayer; the work of converfion was fuccefsfully carried on, and many, who had
a.good difpofition wrought in them, flock'd
Then were feen the eviinto churches
dent fignals of the Holy Spirit's prefence^
and great ftridtnefs was kept up among
:
who made a
Thefe things we have
religious
thofe
and our
furvive,
profeffion.
and fome
remembrance how
who have
we
belonged to us,
At laft, it
andtofetour
how
are
we
men and
God to loofe
as
Chriftians.
our bands,
feet in a large place; but
pleafed
fmce
we
enjoy 'd
df Tragical Religion^
57^
which required
in
fin*
When we compare
the
prefent
is
Pp
of
580
Of the
are confined, which was the hideous reprefentation of this matter, among the Hea-i
then, it is hard to fay, when one thing is
like another.
like.
581
of Tragical Religion.
like, above God, which is a great advance
towards Atheifm, and can have no other
efFeft than making men think there is no
need of a God to govern the world. Many, who call themfelves Chriftians now,
will fcarce allow that we are accountable
to
God
and many,
who
is
for
men
As
to
walk
is
a fufficient rule
by.
the doctrines contained in fcripture, they are almoft all now ftruck out of
the lift of articles of faith : Error may
truly be faid to come in like a flood, and
to fpread it felf like a raging torrent ; we
to
may
',
Pp
and
Of the
582
is profanely banter'd
ftupid and brutifli notion of the foul's
faints
The
in
holinefs,
is,
by fome, hotly
immateriality and imjnortality are exploded by others
the refurreftion of the fame body is reprefented
as impoffible; and a general judgment,
nay, a particular tinie of mens appearing
beforeGod, to give an account of what they
have done in the body, is now a fubjed: of
maintain'd, and
its
-,
^idin
of ^raBkal
Religion.
583
much
ftrengthen the
much weaken
it is
in Jefus.
As matters
Pp
*ey
Of the
5 4-
with
difaffeclion
which
are
to
we
are to
called difcourfing
C85
of TraStkal Religion.
regard paid to the Lord's day, than is now;
all lengths of
Of the
586
that
is
now gone
were
fo re-
is
flarted up,
who, by
their
neg-
the
God of
their fathers.
Moral
juflice
was never
at a
We
of Tragical Religion.
rgy
made
thren,
their
or thofe
who
are friends
to
the
are perfuaded
is
We
wrong conftrudion
on many texts. We
pity on the contrary, we are to ihew bepevolence to the moft erroneous, but we
muft not, we cannot, believe that they,
'y
who
are
Of the Caufes
588
of the T)ecay
cefs of
We
rited.
monftrous errors,
their difpleafure
This
is
it,
it
we
wc
of Tragical Religion.
589
things
die
out of
its
II. I
place.
(liall
who make
All
a profeffion of religion,
were
as fenfible
but,
it
is
to be fear'd,
right notion of what really lies at the bottom of our prevailing back-flidings, and
I.
One
(y the Caufes
9^
i.
One
of the ^ecay
great caufe
Aical religion,
is
which
which men
take
it
to
wor-
IhipGod
in publick, to
of TracHical Religion.
afraid of
55!
controverfy,
would
fcarce give
up
thefe
we
cannot think that it is bare controverfy which is difliked, but the doftrines
themfelves, which are in controverfy defo that
fended.
It has been a piece
of advice given to
us, who ferveChrift in the work of the
miniflry, by fuch as we, on many account^i
Value and regard ; that fublime fpeculations, and abftrufe controverfies, fhould
not ordinarily be introduced into our fermons, for that thefe minifter queftions, rather than godly edifying And they obferve, that is an eafy matter to engage our
warmer hearers on fubjedts, which neither
they nor we can fully underftand ; that
this is the ready way to procure the regards
of thofe, who lay a mighty ftrefs on their
own opinions ; but that their efteem will
be purchafed at too dear a rate, lince, inftead of promoting true religion, it will
:
certainly deftroy
and contention
evil
it
work
for
its
it
that
where
this zeal
and every
that though fome may admire
fhining luftre, yet fatal expeis,
there
is ftrife,
rience proves
where
it
that pradlical godlinefs will foon be confumed. It is not eafy to fay againfl what
fort of men this counfel is level'd, it be-
Of the
59^
But
if
by
falfly fo called
fpeculations, are
when
be confumed ; becaufe,
has been feen, that as people
have grown uneafy, at having thefe do^
ftrines unfolded, their regard to practical
In the times of our
religion has leflen'd.
fathers, when there were more pulpit fkirdlical religion will
in fad:,
it
mifhes, as they are called, by way of contempt, which made fport for unbelievers,
who
they
banter, ridicule,
of real
religion,
the times
than
and fpeak
evil of
was much more
now Nay, bad as
there
is
are, it is feen,
againft
6J Trdciical Religion.
againft moving the ancient land-nriarks,
and pulling up the old barriers of truth,
who
which they
juftly, becaufe
knowledge,
how much
The
in
who
moft
performing the duties of it.
far greater
are
gratifies
their
corruptions.
and
The fame
cdg
^f ^^^
594-
though
diftinft in Perfon,
which
tell us,
the fcripture,
is
him who
believe
them, to which
V
p. i
J*-53.
exempted
ca^
of Practical Religion.
exempted from this charge, by their retaining many things, which he has made
becaufe a
man
is
is
as
of it,
poflible that a
Qjl
of
Of
596
title
If
of Traclical Religion,
If we take to usjuftly the
we muft
of Chrift,
title
of preachers
we
to
t^c^j
If
We
We
-,
Of the
598
he had a capacity to fufFer We muft defend the truth of his miracles, by which
he confirm'd his doctrine, and the reality
and the efficacy of his fufferings and death,
by which he made full and proper fatiffadlion for the fins of the elect, and did
not procure an uncertain precarious happinefs for the whole world, and fhew the
neceffiiy there was for him to rife and revive, that he might demonftrate, that he
had accomplifh'd his work, and that he
might afcend into heaven, and, having
taken his feat at the right hand of God,
might intercede for his people, in an authoriti :ive way, and that he might make
a more plentiful effufion of his Spirit upon
them When we thus (hew how he executes his office as a Prieft, we muft make
him known in all his offices; or, as he is
the great Prophet of the church, who has
given his followers a full revelation of the
mind of God, and who favingly enlightens
them, that they may receive the truth in
love 5 and as he is the King of faints, who
renews, rules, and governs them, who
ftrengthens them for duty, and who affifts
them againft enemies We muft perfuade
and prefs men to look to Chrift, as dying
for lin, to rely upon hmi alone for pardon
of guilt, ana for righreoufnefs to juftify
them, witiiout adding their imperfccft duties to his infinite merit, and to depend
on
:
of Tragical Religion.
on him for
ftrength, to
599
perform lincere
he
church,
eternal
fhall beftovv
who
life
We
is
rules for worfhip, fo that none muft impofe their inventions on his fubjefts ; and
that he is the Peribn who is to judge the
world in righteoufnefs, fo that he will appear a fecond time, in power and great
glory, to raife the dead, to take cognizance
oftheadlions of every creature that has
finned, to inflidl fulnefs of torment on the
rebel angels, to fix impenitent finners in
ever-during woe, and to place fuch, for
whofe fins he has fatisfied, in everlafting
blefiidnefs.
We are
ftry,
Qjl 4
cove-
6oo
Of the
covenant of works, to weaken the obligations his people lie under, to conform to
it as a rule of life, we muft make known
to men the duties it requires, as they are
incumbent upon
us,
whether we are
in
Tho'
private, fecial, or publick capacity.
thefe things are not to be wholly omitted,
we muft reckon
of our
'^ork, to ftate, maintain, and defend the
glorious doftrines of the blefled gofpel,
which relate to Chrift, and what he has
done for us, and which contain the foundation of our hope, as to a better world.
Even when we prefs the duties of the law,
\ve muft acquaint men, that it is in Chrift's
jftrength only that they can perform them,
and that it is abfolutcly neceflary to be
found pracftifing them, in order to (hew;
that they are his difciples, and to exprefs
yet
their gratitude to
it
a great part
him
we muft
fay,
the greateft truth in an ^ obfervation, which has lately been made, that
there are but few, i|i our days, who preach
Chrift, and few that regard him, and that
there
the
is
greateft
number
of
preachers
and
See Mr. Guife^s two fermons, p. Si, &c. al. p. 261, &c.
See likewife Mr. Sladen's firfi: fermon on Chriit rhe only
36. And the lace excellent Mr. Hurfoundation, p. 17
jion's knowledge of Chrift crucified, p. 299, &c,
*"
'
hearers
of TraiBical Religion,
hearers
It
is
feem contented
{hame, and
a great
to lay
it
him
60 f
afide.
ter
lefted,
when
Of what
Chrift
avail
is
it
is
up?
man, that he
fo little preach'd
to
tell
muft be ferious in his behaviour, and circumfpedl in his walk, that he muft beware
of the deceitful nefs of fin, and that he muft
be (conftant in worfhip, if he is not informed in whofe ftrength he muft engage
in duty, and on whom he muft rely for aid
againft fin, and is left in the dark, as to the
end he ought to have in view, in performing what religious fervice God requires?
Men ought to be acquainted, that their
performances will never recommend them
to God as a Judge, but yet that it is neceflary for them to obey the will of their
Creator, that may evidence that they have
believed in Chrift for righteoufnefs ; and,
till they are convinced of the truth of thefe
things, they will never fincerely regard
in
bodily labour.
formed with
upon
No duties
it
to be
can be per-
6ol
Of the
faith in Chrifl
that can be
what
is
and there
is
no obedience
but
If then
Chrifl: is left out in preaching, as declamations and harangues, which are made
about inward and outv/ard piety, mufl:
needs be extremely low and lame, fo the
practice of fuch whofe unhappinefs it is to
fit under fuch teaching, will be very fhort
of coming up to what the fcripture calls
To tell a man of the noble naholinefs.
ture of the Chrifl:ian virtues, of the beauty
of praftical godlinefs, and of the excellence of the gofpel morality, without informing him, in whofe ftrength he mufl:
ad:, will have as little efficacy on him, to
make him regulate himfelf, according to
the admirable model of duty, which is laid
down in fcripture, as a long difcourfe on
the defireablenefs and benefits of health,
would be of advantage to promote the recovery of a fick man, if he was not directed to ufe fuch means, as might fuit his
cafe.
3.
The
afcribing too
much
to the
power
of TraBical Religion.
very, we may be fure he would never promote his falvation, In a way injurious to
his divine perfe<5lions, neither would he
fet one attribute at variance with another
He
in
purpofed to deliver
which
finners, in
way
grace, his inexorable juftice, his unfearchable wifdom, his unchangeable truth, his
unfpotted holinefs,
his
almighty power,
man
mote
to
as fallen,
holinefs
to exalt Chrift,
When
be joined together.
perfons
When men
are
faving
60^
6o\
Of the Caufes
of the Decay
faving finners by Chrift : As they are notmuch concerned for one part of his defign,
it
require,
Lord.
It has been matter of fadl, that whenever a run has been made on the gofpel
dodtrine of juftification, by the imputed
reality, I
Ihall
choofe to give my
my own words,
but
in thofe
unbiafs'd
integrity,
is
in the
churches
ficationj p.
and
204 Sv7,
eminent piety,
and whofe
his labours,
;
his Scriptiire-Dodrine
of Jufti,
When
:;
of Tragical Religion.
605
When
The
6q6
Of
and conveyed
down
it
was tranfmitted
by our refor-
to them,
mers
fenfible declenfion
is
which have
firft
re-
amongft them ?
When
truth
is
loft,
holi-
W^
of Tradlical Religion.
We have a great noife made about works,
and yet there was never lefs working, than
there is now among us ; which fliews, that
men do not cry up works from a love to
holinefs, but only to favour a fadtion, and
qj
If
nions.
whence we
God
we may
4^eeo-
we can
faith
in Chrift,
is
great darknefs
among
it ;
yet
profeflbrs
about
it,
6o8
Of the
jaftification
by
to the leffening a regard to Chrift's righteoufnefs, has been followed with anencreafe
of formality and deadnefs in duty, and
with a great negledt of it; fo that the following advice of the author, whofe words
have been quoted, is very proper for us to
" Let us pray, that Chriftianity
regard
:
may
proper channel,
which is this; wh:-n men expedt the whole
of th'jir falvation from Chrift, and yet
ftrive to be as fruitful in their lives, as if
theyexpedled to bejuftified by their good
works. The greater fenfe any one has of
the free grace of God, the more precife
and exaft he will be, in the duties of every
among
us
return to
its
relation."
4. It is to
be
fear*d,
piety
of TraSlkal Religion.
6od
young perfons
Chriftianity,
which
ftrines
are
reveal'd
in fcripture.
knowledge of thofe
truths,
which
their foul-exercifes.
And, befides
is
f^rudion, p.
Vol.
on the Good of
early In*
1114,
II.
Rr
arc
Of the
Caufes of the
^caj
heart.
However,
it
is
of very great
ad-,
of them, in every relation, to be laid before them, from the oracles of the living
God. If they are left to themfelves, yet
by being taught pradlical duties, they may
be the more civilized, may be laid under
a greater moral reftraint, and may be made
more ufeful members of fociety. We cannot tell how foon the Spirit of God may
fuch, as, at the prefent, are in
a ftate of nature, and then they will always
find it of vaft advantage, to have been in-
work upon
of Tracheal Religion.
Sueh
nourKh'd up,
mothy was,
as the
a'nd
the
always- proved
ufeM
moft
thei^ Maftdr'S'
practice,
up
have
as
bceil
evangelift Ti-
good
dodtrine, hive
know
'
gi'ea-t-
Ghriftiaris.
a^
\K^i?'l^
i!he
rrioft
t'o
wi'feft
They
fa^itl^'
ai^d
care fa 1 to comd:
an obfervatibn, arid
it is very juft, aH<f eoAfirm'd by experience,
that fuch a^ Hav6 bedil niade partakers of
the grace of God-, who never were in ft runted in the dbdtrines of our Lord JefusChrift^;
have been often very warm, lincere, and
fcrupulous profeirbrs of Chriftianity ; but
they have be-eii generally either hot and
unfettled, or fond- of advancing ohly one
truth, and unerfy to hear of any thing
elfe, or ready to admire all preaching^
which is fuited to move the loWer paiTioris,
or elfe jpro'ne to run into enthufiafni.
Oii*
the other h^rid, when fuch abe converr^dt
as have been brought by inftrudlion to have
a good meafur^eof kriowlfedge of the peculiar and diftift^uilhirig dbdlriries of our ho-'
ly religion^- tli^y h^e beenmoi-e ftbdd^^ iri^
to
it.
It h^S' befen
to right-
their adhere!rtc%
more regularly
iWiifor^m
in
their coridJ^Vr
Tim.
iv.
Rx
and^
prirtci|)les;
K&s-'
Mk^
of
6,
been--*
61a
Of
been too great a neglecft, as to the inftrufting of youth j and we find the fad confequences of this, in the ignorance, profanenefs, and conceit, which we may obferve
in the rifing generation.
us,
who
way, there
are
which can be
faid
to
us,
them
have
of TraSical Religion.
have run Into neutrality and lukewarninefs,
have ventured to fay, that they look'd upon it to comprehend a heap of falfe opinions.
They have been more artful m
their management, they have told fuch as
would liften to them, that the words of
fcripture are certainly the beft, that Cate-
iions
pay a regard
butes
Of the
6 ^
1
ving God,
let
accounts of what lies fcatte.r'd in different parts of the book of God, it can anfwer no end to rua theru down as human
forms, except it be to difparage that religion, on the fide of which the compofers
juft
who would
ture.
of
ture,
T radical
pradlical
61
Religion.
religion
flourifh'd
But
not
moft violent
up
and catechifms,
in abufing all open declarations as to matters of faith, and in recommending licentioufnefs and lukewarmnefs, under the falfe
names of liberty and charity, would think
what they have been doing. They have
thrown down the banks, which were raifed
to keep out infidelity and error, and, feeing they have let thefe come in like a raging fea, it is not to be wonder'd at, if
they are not able to keep the tide our, by
oppofing the palms of their hands to it.
gainft creeds, confeffions,
Rr
5.
The
6i6
of the ^ecay
5. The great caufe of all the prefent cor
tuptions in pradlice, is the contempt which
has, for many years, beep caft on the Holy
Of the Caujes
Spirit,
in
It
common
for the
nothing aright, without his aid and affiMoral fuafion has been talk'd of,
ftance.
as being
fit
in
of their duty
it
felf to bring
and
men
to a fenfe
up
ofiice to blefs.
kcptupanexternalprofeffionofChriilianity,
than
61
of TraBical Religion.
than he has been among us of late years.
His Deity is by many denied, and endeavours are ufed to reduce
him
to the
rank
Great
Of the
61
his
work,
as a quickening
renewing
Spirit,
is
bowing the
ftions,
is,
Sionj
9
6
of Tragical Keligtm.
Slpn, with their faces thitherward ; and
they, who have long profefs'd religion,
have grey hairs increafing upon them, and
are under great decays and declenfions.
There is no queftion to be made, but
that, in thefe times of fad degeneracy, the
Spirit revives fome ferious zealous Chriwith his ftrong confolations 3 yet it
muft be faid, that he does not make the
preaching of the gofpel fo effetSlual for inftruiflion, edification, and comfort, to great
numbers, as he formerly did. Sinners may
now be alarmed with the thunders of mount
Sinai, and be allured with the ftill fmall
vcdce from the palaces of Sion, and yet
they continue fearlefs and flupid, fenfelefs and unaffedted.
Profeffing Chriftians
ftians
now
often
fit
before
God
as his people,
The
is,
the
blefling, and does not cloath his ordinances with povv^er; he withdraws from
U5, whofe prefence wa the gloi-y of our
aflemblies ; and he leaves us to feel the effeifts of our mad ingratitude, in grieving
him, in flighting his motions, and in calling CQnrtnipcon his Perfon and operations:
And
of conviction
670
Of the
we have
The Application.
we are
Since
be impartial, that
We
ligion
is
The
peo-
that
to a
but there is
fuch idle
Where-ever the truths of the
furmifes.
gofjpel have been moft preached, in their
purity, and where the profeflbrs of Chriliianity have been moll: cautious, as to giving them up, there has a regard to ftrid:
ferious religion moft prevail'd.
It may be
faid, that decays prevail among all forts
now; but it muft be aver^d, that they who
have the higheft notions, about the importance of the controverted dodrines of the
gofpel, and who exprefs their value for
matter of faft to be
fet againft
thofe
of Tragical Religion.
which
them
praftical godlinefs
ftate
whom
among
flourifhes moft.
be
We
fenfible of the
6a I
forun-
they proceed,
we
we
fallen,
backflidings,
works
go on
to ftir
up
patience
may be
come upon
us, to
may imagine.
Let us, when we
clenfions
which
prevail
among
to offend
us,
God
examine
Let ua
;:
6a a
Of the Caujcs
of the
*X>ecay
common
too
altar
let
facrifice
abound
let
in diflblutenefs
us bewail the
fins
come
in like floods,
when
iniquity abounds,
rhe
of TracHical Religmu
gjn
up a
of truth
we may grow
as
the
lilly,
that
we may
revive as the corn, that we may be fruit^ful as the vine, that our beauty may be as
the olive tree, and that v/^ may llrike down
'
rife
6^4
Lord
is
there.
deli-
of TraBicd Religion.
deliver'd our fouls.
clared, that in the
Our
6^5
Lord deof
Sardis he had a few names, who had not
defiled their garments, who fhould walk
with him in white, for they were worthy.
Let us be among the happy few, who arc
blefled
declining church
when
We
our
and
But
and
to.^ftrive
for
prefent;
is
we
We
Vol. IL
S f
make
6i6
Of the
make
a perfed rule
We
againfl: fuch as
reprefent them to be
powers, attributes, or mere names :
plead for their divine glories agalnft fuch
as would reduce them to the rank of crea-
We
tures
We
fland
up
fuch as would
put their obedience in his room, or tack
the flireds of their cripled duties to the robe
of falvation he has provided : We fl:and up
for efficacious grace, and the power of the
Spirit, againfl; thofe who plead for man's
free will
and for the final progrefs of behis righteoufnefs, againfl:
-,
them
that
would
be Tofl:
may
We
man
of
Tr uHical Religion.
62
countable for his anions. This is the honourable iervice ir which we are engaged
andean fuch poor 'unworthy creatures, as
we are, have a poft of greater dignity ?
Let us then be never flothful or negligent,
but let us contend eanieftly for the truth :
We
are
commanded in fcripture to do fo ;
we are by fome blamed for
therefore, if
fenfelefs a
hand, let us pity them for putting fo daring an affront on Chrift, who has com-
manded us to ftrive for his truth, and forgive them for throwing out fuch a vile
abufe againfl us. Let us never be weary
of well doing 5 but the more oppofition
we meet with, as good foldiers of Chrifl,
the more let us contend for the honour of
our exalted Mafter Let us always fighc
under the banner of the great Captain of
our falvation ; let us ufe no weapons but
what we fetch for the armory of God, and
let us leave the iffue to him whofe caufe
we plead) and, for our encouragement,
let us confider, that he, under whofe conduct we flrive, will fupp6rt us in our
difficult warfare, and will, after we have
fweat in the field of battle, as long as he
has determined, give us a quiet difcharge,
and will bring us to the deatblefs reahns
of joy, where the noife of difcord will
:
ceafe.
638
Of the Caujes
where we
ceafe,
as
he
is,
Ihall
7)ec(iy^
&c.
our Redeemer
and archfor ever praife and adore
fliall
and where,
we
angels,
of the
fee
witfc angels
him.
To
the one
glory, and
FINIS.
ERRATA.
The
Vol;94.
I.
P.
nius,
r.
Marc Antonine.
r.
Platonics.
but whac
y'-y^'