and sciences put together, show us the least part of that which only God can teach? The natural man, the man that is in a state of nature, without grace, endued with mere rational faculties, but destitute of divine, receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.1 Indeed the whole of the dispute may be reduced to this single proposition: The spirituallyminded discern spiritual things; the carnallyminded discern carnal things. None of the wicked (saith Daniel) shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Who is wise and he shall understand these things? Prudent and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. They who are alive to sin, and dead to God, cannot believe that our heavenly father giveth the holy spirit to them that ask him. And all that are unawakened, that know not themselves, nor feel the sinfulness of sin, who never felt the wrath of God revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness, nor knew it abiding on them who believe not, however seemingly religious, they can never conceive how a man can know his sin's forgiven." 5 4 P. But many pious and devout persons do not experience it; and will you affirm, that these are unbelievers unless they know their sins to be forgiven? 1 1 Cor. ii. 14. 4 Luke xi. 13. 2 1 Cor. xii. 10. 3 Hos. xiv. 9. 6 John iii. 36. 1 D. Look back from page 39 to 42, and think once more on what is said. "As for the devout, who experience nothing of what I am pleading for; may all who truly fear God be delivered from their portion! God never leaves his own, without the saving knowledge, and fellowship of his Holy Spirit. I read, indeed, of a sort of devout persons, that joined with the Jews against Paul and Barnabas, rejecting the counsel of God against themselves. But the humble hear thereof, and are glad. The meek shall he guide in judgment, and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way. The form and power of religion are different things. A man may profess Christ, while he is making war against him: But to be really devout, and yet void of the feeling sense of God's favour, is as contrary and ridiculous, as to talk of seeing the light of the sun, and groping in darkness at the same time." P. Still I look upon it as the height of presumption. 66 D. Presumption, to believe the scriptures! Presumption, to believe God faithful to his word! Presumption, to believe that if we ask according to his will, he heareth us. 5 Presumption, to think his people must be saved from sin, or fail of heaven!"6" P. Such doctrine tends to make men spiritually proud; and therefore ought to be opposed. 1 Acts xiii. 50. 4 Psal. xxv. 9. 2 Luke vii. 30. 3 Psal. xxxiv. 2. Matt. i. 21. D. Doth the scripture teach us falsehood? Did the lowly Jesus appear amongst us, to lift us up with pride? He said to one man, thy sins are forgiven thee.1 Of another, her sins which are many, are forgiven.2 Had this a tendency to destroy their souls? And was this indeed, a curse, and not a blessing? "Christ is the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. He was exalted, with the right-hand of God, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins." The apostles preached, that whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission of sins.5 P. For my own part, I humbly hope to be forgiven in the world to come, and then to experience all you speak of. D. And for my part, I humbly hope to submit to the terms God is pleased to reveal in the sacred scripture; to follow no other path, nor presume to trust in any device, or imagination of my own. If you are a Papist, the doctrine of purgatory is consistent: But if you believe me, or the Bible, what have you to do with being forgiven, purified, and saved in the world to come? Where the tree falls there it shall be. 6 "Who dies unpurg'd, forever dies, The sinner, as he falls, he lies Shut up in his own place." As death leaves us, so will judgment find us. If the next world would have served, for the attainment of grace, the foolish virgins came 1 Luke v. 20. Acts v. 31. 4 2 Ib. vii. 47, 48. 3 Heb. xiii. 8. 6 Eccl. xi. 3. time enough, and the door of mercy had not been shut against them. Eternity is not the place to fit us for heaven; but we are sent into this life, to be made meet for the world to come. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. The wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; but the unholy, unbelieving, the foolish and unfaithful, will be shut out for ever and ever." 1 P. You speak very alarming things: I hope they are not true. If it be as you say, what will become of us all! D. Say rather, if these things are not true, what will become of us? It is the truth of God, and his wise and gracious scheme for bringing us to salvation: And surely none can propose a safer way. Here all may find help, and none ever need to fail. Here is an hope sure and stedfast, entering within the veil. Let us only weigh ourselves in the balance of the sanctuary, and we cannot be deceived. To the law and to the testimony; if any man speak otherwise, it is because there is no light in him.5 P. Tell me plainly what that faith is you are contending for: You make it consist in something I never heard or thought of before. D. The homily of salvation tells you, that, "The right and true christian faith is a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God that his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God:" That merely "to believe 1 2 Cor. vi. 2. 2 Dan. xii. 3. 3 Rev. xxi. 8. 27. 5 Is. viii. 20. the holy scriptures, and the articles of our faith to be true, is not christian faith; for the devils believe all these things, and yet remain in their lost estate." I might say, the devils believe and tremble. But many in this christian land, believe, as it is called, and yet remain hardened. 6 But whatever faith consists of, it is what neither men nor books can teach you, nor can you ever acquire it by any abilities of your own. It is the gift of God: It is the operation of God. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith brings peace, purity, and gives victory over the world: Quenches, the fiery darts of Satan.s Now, when you have the peace of God which passeth all understanding," are purified, become victorious over Satan, the world, and sin; then I will own that you have the right and true christian faith: And to say you have this, before you have the scripture marks of it, would be to give up the Bible, and believe a lie." P. You surprise me! I always thought that every one in a christian land, who believed God's word to be true, had faith. Surely all who have been baptised, and can say the three creeds, believe. For my own part, I was taught to believe when I first learned my catechism. D. This proves, that you never believed aright: The word of God abideth forever. 10 He 1 James ii. 19. 2 Eph. ii. 8. 3 Col. ii. 12. 6 Acts xv. 9. 9 Phil. iv. 7. |