Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A26316
|
Actual justification rightly stated containing a true narrative of a sad schism made in a church of Christ, at Kilby in Leicester-shire, proving, none of the elect are actually justified before faith.
|
|
1696
(1696)
|
Wing A459; ESTC R3827
|
24,143
|
28
|
follow from their Notion that the Elect are twice Justified and so there must be in their Sense a Posterie or Colatural act in God to their Justification 5. These Men say that Faith only Justifies us Declaratively or aâ— it gives the Revelation or Evidence of it to our own Consciences Which if so then the state of ungodly Persons if Elected tho' Swears Drunkards Whoremongers Murtherers c. is good and Justification changes not the state of the Sinner he being in a safe and sav 〈…〉 State before tho' he did not know it being not Condemned unless in his own Conscience God never charged him with Sin saw no Sin in him but imputed Christ's Righteousness to him from Eternity and not more Justified after he believes then he was before 6. Then also it will follow No man hath that Justification which is said to be by Faith or through Faith but he that feels the Comfort of it in his own Conscience or hath it Revealed and Evidenced to him by the Spirit being fully perswaded and assured he is Justified which we say many true Believers do not arrive unto assurance not appertaining to the Being or Essence of Faith but is the highest Degree thereof see 1 John 5. 13. Some who do truly Believe do not feel and know in their own Consciences that they do Believe but have Doubts about it 7. 'T is directly contrary to the express Word of God John 3. 18. He that believeth on him is not Condemned but he that Believeth not is Condemned already because he hath not Believed on the Name of the only Begotten Son of God That Unbelievers are Condemned is the express Words of the Text Now who can Condemn them but either God's Law his â—ustice or their own Conscience They say neither Law nor Justice do or can Condemn them And it is clear say we that their Conscience cannot 1. Because it is asleep and as the Apoâ—â—le says Defiled See Tit. 1. 15. 2. Another Reason is clear in the Text from the cause of Condemnation viz. Because they Believe not Now who will say that Natural Conscience doth Condemn for Unbelief for if so the Spirit in the ex 〈…〉 tion of his Office and for which he is sent is thrown away Joh. 16. 8 〈◊〉 are Condemned by the Law and till they Believe thâ—y remain under 〈◊〉 Condemnation Unbelief Condemns as it is a rejecting or refu 〈…〉 to apply the Remedy Not otherwise And let them be whosoever they 〈◊〉 tho' one of God's Elect or comprehended in his eternal Decree of E 〈…〉 on and Love of Intention Pity Purpose and Benevolence yet he remains â—â—â—demned till he Believes or hath actual Union with Christ For he that 〈◊〉 the Son hath Life but he that hath not the Son hath not Life 1 John 〈…〉 12 If we have the Spirit and do Believe we have Union with Christ 〈◊〉 have the Son but if we have not the Spirit if we have not Faith we 〈◊〉 no actual Union with Christ or have not the Son If any man have not 〈◊〉 Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 8. Moreover how can he that is 〈◊〉 to the Lord be said to be one Spirit with him if this Vnion be before Faith 〈…〉 8 Actual Justification before Faith or Actual Union with Christ is attend 〈…〉 with this Absurdity Viz. A Man may be said to be actually Dead and A 〈…〉 e Condemned and Justified at one and the same time Nay be a Child 〈…〉 Wrath and yet a Son of God have actual Union with and united to 〈◊〉 first Adam and yet be in actual Union with and united to the second Adam at one and the same time 9. It Presupposeth That a Man may be actually in Christ and be actu 〈…〉 y Justified and yet no change of Heart as well as no change of State 〈◊〉 that all before Regeneration are Children of Wrath is evident and is it 〈◊〉 Positively said If any Man is in Christ he is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. 〈…〉 any man be said to be truly and actually Justified and not actually in Christ 〈…〉 to 10. It presupposeth That a Man may be a Justified Person that is not es 〈…〉 tually called Now all know and grant there is no effectual Vocation be 〈…〉 e nor without the Spirit of Christ and Saving Faith be wrought in the Soul 11. It also holds forth or presupposeth That a Man may be a Justified Person 〈…〉 be actually Justified and yet not be Sanctified which is contrary to these â—â—riptures Rom. 8. 7 10 30. 1 Cor. 6. 11. 12. Moreover it follows from their Notion That a Man that is in actual 〈…〉 ion with Christ and is actually Justified may be without nay utter 〈…〉 incapable of enjoying Communion with Christ Can Christ have Com 〈…〉 n with and Delight in filthy Swine Or Can Light have Fellowship with 〈…〉 iese Can a Man in a state of Enmity against God have Commu 〈…〉 n with and delight in God Therefore saith a Reverend Divine The 〈…〉 tive and Real Change are both at one time 1 Cor. 6. 7. But ye are 〈…〉 ctified ye are Justified Charnock on Regen p. 32. 13. It Presupposeth That there may be Union between two Persons 〈…〉 en but one Party only Consents which is very absurd for any to assert 〈◊〉 T is Christ that brings the Soul to Consent he gives the Soul Faith as in the succeeding Narrative is Noted which is his Love-token Grace infused in us as the Effects of Christ's Love constrains the Soul to Love him and â—o to consent to take him as it's Lord and only Object of its Affection But till this is done there is no Real Union We deny not but Christ apprehends us before we can apprehâ—nd him he first takes hold of us by his Spirit and infuses the Habit of Faith before we can act Faith there is the act of Unition before there is a compleat Union 14. It tends to put Men upon Temptation to slight the holy Law of God and renders the Doctrin of Repentance needless or a meer Legal Doctrin Hence some of them have intimated that they have nothing to do with the Law Nay and have uttered such Words and Expressions concerning the Law that are not fit to be mentioned as in particular David Culy one of Mr. Davis's Disciples and a Teacher sent forth as I am informed by him affirmed as it hath been proved against him by Credible Witnesses That the Law was of no use either to the Conviction of Sin or as a Rule of Life Moreover their Airey and uncouth Notions leads them out to assert other Strange and Rediculous nay Blasphemous Expressions For the same Culy said That a Believer in Christ was as Righteous as God himself To which Mr. Rix a Reverend Minister Reply'd That the Righteousness of Christ was imputed to Believers c. But he answered He had nothing to do with Christ's Imputed Righteousness nor the Righteousness of
8. Phil. 1. 22. To the end that all things may be of God 2 Cor. 15. 18. To the exaltation of free Grace and through the hearing of the Word of Reconciliation the Holy Spirit is given Gal. 3. 2. 5. Acts 10. 44 By which they are joined to the Lord in a Perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50. 4. 5. Thus being joined to the Lord they become one Spirit with the Lord 1 Cor. 6. 16. And by this are Married to Christ Rom. 7. 4. And this is their actual Union with Christ they being Reconciled to him as well as he being Reconciled to them But can this be when we are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise Aliens from the Common-Wealth of Israel and without Christ Ephes 2. 11. 12. Aliens and Enemies in our Minds by wicked Works Vnrighteous such that could not inherit the Kingdom of God and such â—ere some of you But ye are Washed Sanctified and Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Which doth clearly show that there must be two Changes 〈…〉 e one of Qualification and the other of Condition Titus 3. 3 4 5. Your Mistake is You cannot distinguish between Love as it is a 〈…〉 pose of Union in Christ and our being actually Reconciled and 〈…〉 ited to him therefore you say Faith is the effect of Union If you had said Faith is the effect of Love you had said True But I say saith is the Bond of Union on our part moreover there may be love in one Party where there is no Union Union is a mutual Agreement of both Parties by which both Parties are joined together more than in Love and Affection The Lord open the Eyes of your â—nderstanding Truly my Soul is Troubled for you 7. You say I Affirm That what Christ did upon the Cross his Death and Sufferings was not the Elects nor they have no Right to it until they Believe In Answer to this I shall give you my Judgment in the Words of two Authors one in great Esteem with yourselves and that is that Worthy and Learned Divine Dr. Goodwin and Mr. Davis Dr. Tho. Goodwin upon Ephes page 296. Part 2. States this Question But you will say How are we Saved in Christ and Justified in Christ upon Believing when we were Justified from our Sins in Christ when he Rose and had Sin taken off from him Did not he represent us then The Answer is as followeth To instance Adam will clear all Were not all men Condemned in Adam yet no man is Condemned in his own Person till he is Born yet Representively in Adam all Dyed So it is here so far as we take Christ as a Common Person Representing us what was done in him was done for us in him and so from Eternity Before Christ Dyed we were Saved in him in that Sense according to the Grace that was given us in Christ before the World began Saith he in 2. Tim. 2. 9. Christ himself Purchased it with a Reserve till we did Believe and Repent or else we are not to have that Benefit of his Death The Bond lay in God the Father's hand till we should come in to him for it I do not say the Scripture useth the Word from Everlasting but only that the Grace was given us in Christ and Christ dyed Representively but when we come to Exist in our own Persons then it is applyed to us and we are Saued in our own Persons by that Grace which once Jesus Christ purchased as a common Person for us Thus far Dr. Goodwin where you may see the very Thing you Charge me with as Error prov'd to be a Truth in plain Words by this Grave and Learned Divine that no man could or did find Fault with as ever I could hear of You may see your Foolish and Unsound Notions laid down and proved to be False by this Great and Judicious Man in the second Part of his Exposition of the Ephesians Page 144. 135. 294. so on and in divers Places in that Book Mr. Davis in his Vindication against the Rowel Pamphlet Saith I do not see what need there is of all this Noise about Words as I have constantly Preached and Affirmed That Elect Sinners are dead in Trespasses and Sins and under the declared Condemnation of Law and Gospel till they Believe and that then and only then they are freed from that Condemnation which I take to be actual Justification by Faith And he further adds That he shall stand by the Assembly's Definition of justifying Faith And in 24. Artic. of the said Mr. Davis's Confession of Faith he Saith That the Moral Law holds the Elect during their Vnregeneracy under it's Condemning force till they Believe Thus far Mr. Davis Thus you see the Man you so much admire is of my Mind But to Proceed The Elect are dead in Trespasses and Sins and under the declared Condemnation of Law and Gospel till they Believe and that then and not till then they are freed from that Condemnation If the Moral Law holds the Elect during their Unregeneracy under its Condemning force till they Belieue what Advantage have they while in Unbelief save only they are secured from the Execution of that Condemnation by the gracious Purpose of God and Merits of Jesus Christ To which Words I gave my Assent and since have set my Hand to the same Tho' you refused it and some of those that did and especially Benjamin Winckles who was a Member of the first General Assembly with me and since hath with me and others set his Hand to the same Words but after all this is shamefully gone off from his first and second Act. I have Proved by these two Authors That there is no actual Benefit conveyed to the Elect whilst in Unbelief 8. In your last Exception you say I said We were not Sinners till 〈…〉 had acted Sin and if no Sinners then no Objects of Christ 's love and Pity nor Justified Persons any wayes for you said they must 〈…〉 Sinners before they can be Pardoned else it would overthrow Ori 〈…〉 nal Sin and the Representive-ship of Christ for us as Elect. To this I Answer That this first Part is manifestly False I never 〈…〉 d We were not Sinners till we had acted Sin but I said None 〈…〉 uld be Sinners either by Original Sin nor Actual Sin till their Existance For how car we be partakers of Adam's Sin till we par 〈…〉 ke of Adam's Nature For Nothing can partake of Nothing 〈…〉 Nothing is not capable of the Imputation of Sin or Righteousness 〈…〉 Impute Sin or Righteousness to Nothing is the greatest Nonsense 〈…〉 the World And what were we before we were Created that which is Nothing can be the Object of Nothing and so not of Love no further than a Divine Being hath an Idea of that which is 〈…〉 t but in Time shall be That I said they must be Sinners before they