2 account of God, and stands in need of the very first principles of religion, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.1 The rock on which our Lord built his church, is the knowledge of himself, revealed by the Spirit of God: not a bare assent to truth, or the learning human compositions, but Christ in us the hope of glory. 3 4 "Of this rock our Lord spake to Peter. On this rock were built all that were ever saved; on the same rock will be built all who are followers of them, who throught faith and patience, inherit the promises. Against this rock the gates of hell never could prevail; over every other foundation, Satan, sin, the love of the world have always triumphed; no believing, no evidence short of this record from above, being able to sanctify a fallen nature." P. What you have said of the divinity of Christ, I let go. I most dislike your account of faith, knowing sins forgiven, and carrying holiness to such a height. I see, that from every topic you would prove necessity of inward evidences. I like the sentiments of others best; and there are not wanting Pulpits of reputation who think you carry these points too far. D. Whoever you mean, I perceive this, you are for opposing me in every thing, and are always ready to embrace the errors of every one that is mistaken. It is true, from every topic, I strive for the hope of the gospel;5 contending 1 Acts xx, 21. 4 Heb. vi, 12. 2 Matt. xvi, 16, 18. 3 Col. i, 27. 5 Col. i, 23. earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints;1 because upon this rock of internal evidence, and following Christ in gospel holiness, consists the whole of true religion. For as without natural life a man is nothing, so all profession of Christ without his spirit in us, is a lifeless carcase. I fear indeed, that some of these Pulpits of reputation, exceedingly over-value themselves; despising those who are more abundant in labour and success, whom God has in all things preferred to them. Let such remember they owe to these, as instruments in his hand, all their first awkenings, desires, and searches after truth; all the little light they have received, into a small part of his word, which they falsely call the whole scope of the gospel. For the most they contend for, amounts but to faith without assurance! Believing without the testimony! Justification without peace! Pardon without knowing it! Gospel without the law of holiness!" Adoption without the witness! Sons of God without being led by the Spirit!s Salvation in sin! The crown of life without the cross! LO without enduring to the end !11 "Nor are they satisfied with only making void the word and counsel of God: this seems too little, unless they are allowed to set up 1 Jude S. 21 John iii, 19. 3 Chap. v, 10. 4 Rom. v, 1. 5 Ps. xxxii, 5. ciii, 3. 1 Cor. ii, 12. 6 Rom. viii, 4. 1 Cor. ix, 21. Gal. vi, 2. James i, 25. 7 Rom. viii, 15, 16. Gal. iv, 6. 8 Rom. viii, 14. 9 Mat. i, 21. 1 John iii, 8. 10 Mark viii, 34. Luke ix, 23. Rev. ii, 10. 11 Mat. x, 22. Revelations ii, 10, 26. their own attainments of peace and assurance, and to maintain these to be the only standard of christian experience, all that is needful, if not all that is possible to be received. This is indeed, to render the power of the gospel of little efficacy, to make light of the promises which are in Christ Jesus, damp the earnest pursuit, prayer, and expectation, which the spirit of God enkindles in the faithful mind." "It is really amazing, that some who are so averse to the law, that they cannot endure the very sound of the word, but reject its precepts and obligations to obedience, under pretence of exalting that gospel which was instituted to restore the life and power of holiness, yet are so enamoured with the darkness of the ceremonial dispensation, that they blend it with the light of the gospel, mix Old Testament experience with the New, and see no absurdity in calling them one and the same thing." P. Is it then absurd to call them the same? What is the mighty difference? D. It is contrary to truth and to the prophecies which foretel the glory that should follow the sufferings of Christ.* It is destroying the * For a full confirmation of this point, see Is. iv, 2— 6. vi, 3. xi, 6-10. xii, 1—6. xxiv, 23. xxv, 6—9. xxvi, 1-6. xxvii. 3, 6. xxviii, 5. xxxii, 1—5. 15—18. xxxiii, 5, 6-21-24-35. Compare these passages with John vii, 37, 38. Rev. xxii. 17. Again, see Is. xl, 1—5—9—11-31. xliii, 6-16. xliii, 18, 19. compared with Jer. iii, 16. 2 Cor. iii, 7--18. See also Isaiah xliv, 3. xlix, 9, 10. li, 11. liii, lx, 1— 3. 11-22. lxi, Ixii, Ixiv, 4. compared with 1 Cor. ii, 9, 10. Isa. Ixv, 17–25, 26. lxvi, 5, 14. very hope of the gospel, bringing the scripture marks and evidences of evangelical righteousness, down to our own scanty experience, instead of labouring to attain what the scripture sets before us. It is no other than suiting spiritual things to the carnal mind, because our own attainments may chance to prove that we ourselves are believers upon no other principle, and stand upon no better foundation." "The design of God in giving us the consolations of grace, is to destroy sin, and work righteousness in us. So far as we attain this, all is sure: So far as we fail, we miss the whole end of Christ's being given for us. We are made partakers of Christ, and are his house; if we hold fast our confidence; and the beginning of it sted fast unto the end."1 "O modern teachers! when will you preach Christ the Lord? When exalt his name, and See likewise Zech. ix, 9-17. xiv, 9-20, 21. compared with Matt. xi, 11. I refer but to a small part of what might have been collected, and scarce to any but the prophet Isaiah. But the Psalms and other prophecies, speak expressly of a time of righteousness, and peace, that was not enjoyed under the old covenant, which the prophets knew was not to themselves, but to us; 1 Pet. i. 12. See also the whole Epistle to the Hebrews, particularly Chap. vii. 18, 19. viii. 6—14. xii. 22-24, wherein is proved beyond dispute, the superior excellency of the Christian, above the Jewish dispensation; and the enjoyment of privileges, through faith in Christ, superior to the most distinguishing favours ever vouchsafed to the seed of Abraham. For farther explanations, see a letter to Mr. P―e, by C. P. 1 Heb. iii. 6. 14. promote his interest? How long will you follow after vanity?1 putting the idols of your own imagination in the place of obeying from the heart?” Alas for this legal spirit! This differing nothing from a servant; this bondage and fear of death;* without adoption;5 the Holy Ghost not given;6 walking in darkness, and no light; veil on the heart; a law that makes nothing perfect; ignorance of God's righteousness, establishing their own;10 rejecting faith;11 boast of the law, and breaking the law;12 without strength;13 shadow of things to come;14 letter which killeth;15 a ministration of death and condemnation;16 a covenant to vanish away.' 9917 "On the contrary, behold the gospel! The veil done away;18 the darkness past, the true light shining;19 with open face beholding the glory of the Lord;20 changed into the same image;21 knowledge of God;22 obedience of faith;23 gift of righteousness, abundance of grace;24 freedom from the law of sin and death;25 justification of life; servants of righteousness;27 grace and truth;28 ministration of the spirit;29 better 1 Psalm. iv. 2. 2 Rom. vi. 17. 3 Gal. iv. 1. 4 Heb. ii. 15. 5 Gal. iv. 5. 6 John vii. 39. 7 Is. 1. 10. 8 2 Cor. iii. 15. 9 Heb. vii. 19. 10 Rom. x. 3. ix. 31. 11 Rom. 12 Rom. ii. 23. 15 2 Cor. iii. 6. 13 Ch. v. 6. viii. 3. 14 Col. 17 Heb. ii. 17. viii. 13. 18 2 Cor. iii. 14. Heb. vi. 14. 19 1 John ii. 4. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Eph. v. 8. 8. Is. lx. 19, 20. John i. 20 2 Cor. iii. 18. 21 Ibid. 24 Rom. v. 17. 27 Rom, vi. 18. 25 Rom. 28 John i. |