صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

the same in effect,) that "sins are pardoned unto sinners, before they do actually believe in Christ."

THE REASON.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. x, 10.-But without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. xi, 6. See Gal. iii, 22.-He that believeth not, shall be damned. Mark xvi, 16.-He is condemned already: the wrath of God abideth on him. John iii, 18, 36.-See proofs for the affirmative, page 116.

REJECTION III.

They do utterly DENY, that "Reprobates (as some call them,) for whom Christ died not, (if there were any such,) are bound, notwithstanding, to believe in him, and to believe that they are elected unto glory; and that, therefore, those that believe not shall be condemned justly, yea, shall therefore be punished with more grievous torments by Almighty God."

THE REASON.

1. Will ye speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him? Job xiii, 7.-He is the God of truth. Jer. x, 10,-that cannot lie. Tit. i, 2; Heb. vi, 18.-All his commandments are truth, righteousness, and faithfulness. Psalm cxix, 86, 151, 172. Christ was a minister for the truth of God, and no lie is of the truth. Rom. xv, 8; 1 John ii, 21.

2. If we meet with false Prophets and dissemblers, (for all their fair speeches,) he bids us Believe them not. Jer. xii, 6; Matt. xxiv, 23; Prov. xxvi, 25.

3. He denounceth grievous judgments against such Prophets go about to induce the people to trust in a lie. Jer. xxviii, 25: xxix, 31.

as

4. It is a sore judgment, inflicted only upon the obstinate and refractory, (and therefore certainly no duty of them that are not such,) to be given up to such errors. "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved; for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. ii, 10, 12.-So that the God of truth and righteousness doth not bind men (as a part of their duty) to believe falsehood, much less doth He punish them with "more grievous torments for not believing it."

5. Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? Job viii, 3.-Yea surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. xxxiv, 10, 12. He will not lay upon man more than is right, that he should enter into judgment with God. Verse 23.

THE STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY,

TOUCHING

THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST'S DEATH.

Whether Christ Jesus, out of a serious and gracious purpose and decree of God the Father, suffered that most bitter and shameful death, that he might bring into favour with God ONLY SOME FEW, and those formerly and in particular chosen to eternal life by an absolute decree: Or that he might merit and obtain reconciliation with God, for all and every sinner, without difference, by doing and suffering those things which Divine Justice, by sin offended, did require to be done and suffered before he would enter [into] a new gracious covenant with sinners, and open the door of salvation to them?

THE DECISION IS CONTAINED IN THE FORMER ASSERTIONS AND NEGATIONS.

THE THIRD AND FOURTH ARTICLES CONTROVERTED,

WHICH ARE TOUCHING

THE GRACE OF GOD IN THE CONVERSION OF MAN. ́

WHAT THE REMONSTRANTS HOLD.

TENET 1.

THEY hold, that a man hath not saving faith of himself, nor from the power of his own free-will; seeing, while he is in the state of sin, he cannot, of himself nor by himself, think, or will, or do, any saving good, (in which kind, faith in Christ is eminent,) but must needs, by God in Christ, through the power of the Holy Ghost, be regenerated and renewed, in his mind, affections, will, and all his powers, that he may aright understand, will, and meditate, and do that which is savingly good.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"A man hath not faith or any saving good of himself," &c.] Ye were sometimes darkness. Ephes. v, 8.-When we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death. Rom. vii, 5.-God hath concluded all in unbelief. Rom. xi, 32.-For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephes. ii, 8.-To you it is given-to believe. Phil. i, 8, 9.-None can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; (who is therefore called) the Spirit of faith. 1 Cor. xii, 3. -Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. iv, 13; 2 Cor. iii, 5.-For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. v, 6.-Without me, ye can do nothing. John xv, 5.-No man can come to me, except the Father draw him. Every man, therefore, that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John vi, 44, 45, 65.

"He must needs be regenerated," &c.] That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. John iii, 6; 1 Cor. xv, 50.— Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii, 3, 5.-But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. vi, 11.-Not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Tit. iii, 4, 5, 6.-The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath begotten us again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. 1 Pet. i, 3, 23 See Ezek. xxxvi, 26, 27.

"He must be renewed in understanding, will, affections," &c.] Renewed in the spirit of your minds: Ephes. iv, 23.-In knowledge. Col. iii, 10. See I Cor. i, 4, 5.-To whom I send thee, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Tit. ii, 11; Acts xxvi, 18. God, through the Holy Ghost, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts xv, 9.-The blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God. Heb. ix, 14.-Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. 1 Pet. i, 22; 1 Thess. v, 23.

"That he may do that which is savingly good," &c.] Make the tree good, and his fruit good. Matt. vii, 17, 18; xii, 33--35. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Rom. vi, 22. See verse 18.

TENET II.

They hold, that the grace of God is the BEGINNING, proCEEDING, and FULFILLING of ALL GOOD; So as even the regenerate man himself, without GRACE PREVENTING, EXCITING, FOLLOWING, and co-WORKING, cannot think, will, or do good, or resist any temptation to ill: so that the good deeds and actions which any man can conceive, are to be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"The grace of God is the beginning," &c. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above. James i, 17, 18.-If the

Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John viii, 36. See 2 Cor. iv, 6.-Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Cor. iii, 17.—It is God, which hath begun a good work in you, which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. i, 6; ii, 13.-The Author and Finisher of our faith. Heb. xii, 2.-Whereunto he called you by our gospel. 2 Thess. ii, 14. See verses 15, 16, 17; 1 Pet. v, 10, &c.-His Divine Power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Pet. i, 1, 3.

"The regenerate man himself cannot, without grace, resist any temptation to ill," &c.] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day. Ephes. vi, 13.-Watch and pray, &c. Matt. xxvi, 41.-Lead us not into temptation. Matt. vi, 13.

"The good we do, is to be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ." By the grace of God, I am what I am. 1 Cor. xv, 10. -The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Gal. ii, 20.—Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, &c. 1 Pet. i, 3.— But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory, by Christ Jesus; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen! 1 Pet. v, 10, 11.-See Rom. i, 8 1 Cor. i, 4, 5; Ephes. i, 3, &c.; Rom. xvi, 25, 26, 27; Rev. i, 5, 6.

TENET III.

They hold, that to hear God's word, to be sorry for sin committed, to desire saving grace and the Spirit of renovation, (NOTHING OF WHICH, notwithstanding, CAN A MAN DO WITHOUT GRACE,) is profitable and needful for the obtaining of faith and the Spirit of renovation.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

Negotiamini dum venio: "Trade, till I come;" for whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. Luke xix, 13, 26. See Matt. xiii, 10-17; Luke xvi, 11, 12; xix, 17.-Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John vi, 45.-Faith cometh by hearing. Rom. x, 17.-They (of Berea) received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures. Therefore many of them believed. Acts xvii, 11, 12.—If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God. John vii, 17. See Psalm xxv, 12, 14; cxi, 10; Prov. i, 7.Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation. 2 Cor. vii, 10. See Acts ii, 37, 38; xvi, 29, 30.—If thou wilt incline thine ear

« السابقةمتابعة »