Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

known it. Now, when a man thus thinketh of his ways, I say, when he doth sensibly, and with heart-humiliation, thus think, then hath he good thoughts of his own ways, because his thoughts now agree with the judgment of the word of God.

IGNOR. What are good thoughts concerning God?

CHR. Even, as I have said concerning ourselves, when our thoughts of God do agree with what the word saith of him; and that is, when we think of his being and attributes as the word hath taught; of which I cannot now discourse at large. But to speak of him with reference to us: then have we right thoughts of God when we think that he knows us better than we know ourselves, and can see sin in us when and where we can see none in ourselves: when we think he knows our inmost thoughts, and that our heart, with all its depths, is always open unto his eyes: also when we think that all our righteousness stinks in his nostrils, and that therefore he cannot abide to see us stand before him in any confidence, even in all our best perform

ances.

IGNOR. Do you think that I am such a fool as to think that God can see no farther than I? or that I would come to God in the best of my performances ? CHR. Why, how dost thou think in this matter? IGNOR. Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ for justification.

CHR. How! think thou must believe in Christ, when thou seest not thy need of him! Thou neither seest thy original nor actual infirmities; but hast such an opinion of thyself, and of what thou dost, as plainly renders thee to be one that did never see the necessity

s Prov. ii. 15. Rom. iii. 17

of Christ's personal righteousness to justify thee before God.* How then dost thou say, I believe in Christ? IGNOR. I believe well enough for all that.

CHR. How dost thou believe?

THE FAITH OF IGNORANCE.

IGNOR. I believe that Christ died for sinners; and that I shall be justified before God from the curse through his gracious acceptance of my obedience to his laws. Or thus, Christ makes my duties, that are religious, acceptable to his Father by virtue of his merits; and so shall I be justified.†

CHR. Let me give an answer to this confession of thy faith:

1. Thou believest with a fantastical faith; for this faith is no where described in the word.

2. Thou believest with a false faith; because it takes justification from the personal righteousness of Christ, and appliest it to thy own.

3. This faith maketh not Christ a justifier of thy person, but of thy actions; and of thy person for thy actions' sake, which is false.

4. Therefore this faith is deceitful, even such as will leave thee under wrath in the day of God Almighty : for true justifying faith puts the soul, as sensible of its

*Here we see how naturally the notion of man's righteousness blinds his eyes to, and keeps his heart from, believing that Christ's personal righteousness alone justifies a sinner in the sight of God; and yet such talk bravely of believing, but their faith is only fancy. They do not believe unto righteousness, but imagine they have now, or shall get, a righteousness of their own, somehow or other. Awful delusion!

Here is the very essence of that delusion which works by a lie, and so much prevails, and keeps up an unscriptural hope in the hearts of so many professors. Do, reader, study this point well; for here seems to be a show of scriptural truth, while the rankest poison lies concealed in it for it is utterly subversive of, and contrary to, the faith and hope of the gospel.

[ocr errors]

lost condition by the law, upon flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness; (which righteousness of his is not an act of grace by which he maketh, for justification, thy obedience accepted with God, but his personal obedience to the law, in doing and suffering for us what that required at our hands:) this righteousness, I say, true faith accepteth; under the skirt of which the soul being shrouded, and by it presented as spotless before God, it is accepted, and acquitted from condemnation.*

IGNOR. What! would you have us trust to what Christ in his own person hath done without us. This conceit would loosen the reins of our lusts, and tolerate us to live as we list: for what matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's personal righteousness from all, when we believe it ?†

CHR. Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou even this thy answer demonstrateth what I say. Ignorant thou art of what justifying righteousness

* Under these four heads, we have a most excellent detection of a presumptive and most dangerous error which now greatly prevails; as well as a scriptural view of the nature of true faith, and the object it fixes on wholly and solely for justification before God, and acceptance with God. Reader, for thy soul's sake look to thy foundation. See that you build upon nothing in self, but all upon that sure foundation which God hath laid, even his beloved Son, and his perfect righteousness.

+ No sooner can you propose to an ignorant professor, Christ's righteousness alone for justification, but he instantly displays his ignorance of the power of the truth, and the influence of faith, by crying out, "Antinominianism! Oh, you are for destroying holiness at the root, and for bringing in licentiousness like a flood." Thus pride works by a lie, and is supported by self-righteousness, in opposition to God's and submission to Christ's righteousness. Under this grace, plausible pretence for holiness, Christ's righteousness is rejected, and men are hardened in sinful pride; and they grow stout-hearted against the imputed righteousness of Christ, by establishing their own. This is a spreading heresy of the flesh, which most dreadfully prevails at this day. Be not deceived.

is, and as ignorant how to secure thy soul, through the faith of it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ, which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, his word, ways, and people, and not as thou ignorantly imaginest.

HOPE. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven.*

IGNORANCE JANGLES

IGNOR. What! you are a man for revelations! I do believe, that what both you and all the rest of you say about that matter, is but the fruit of distracted brains.

WITH THEM.

HOPE. Why, man! Christ is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions of the flesh, that he cannot by any man be savingly known, unless God the Father reveals him to him.

HE SPEAKS REPROACHFULLY OP WHAT HE KNOWS NOT.

IGNOR. This is your faith, but not mine: yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours,

66

* This, by all natural men, is deemed the very height of enthusiasm ; but a spiritual man knows the blessedness, and rejoices in the comfort, of this. It is a close question: what may we understand by it? Doubtless, what Paul means, when he says, It pleased God to reveal bis Son in me," Gal. i. 16; that is, he had such an internal, spiritual, experimental sight and knowledge of Christ, and of salvation by him, that his heart embraced him, his soul cleaved to him, his spirit rejoiced in him, his whole man was swallowed up with the love of him; so that he cried out in the joy of his soul, This is my beloved and my friendmy Saviour, my God, and my salvation! He is the chief of ten thousand, and altogether lovely. We know nothing of Christ savingly, comfortably, and experimentally, till he is pleased thus to reveal himself to us, Matt. xi. 27. This spiritual revelation of Christ to the heart, is a blessing and comfort agreeable to, and consequent upon, believing on Christ as revealed outwardly in the word. Therefore every believer should wait, and look, and long, and pray for it. Beware you do not despise it; if you do, you will betray your ignorance of spiritual things, as Ignorance did.

though I have not in my head so many whimsies

as you.

CHR. Give me leave to put in a word. You ought not so slightly to speak of this matter: for this I will boldly affirm, even as my good companion hath done, that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father; yea, and faith too, by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ, (if it be right,) must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power; the working of which faith, I perceive, poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. Be awakened then, see thine own wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, which is the righteousness of God, (for he himself is God,) thou shalt be delivered from condemnation.*

IGNOR. You go so fast I cannot keep pace with do you go on before: I must stay a while behind. Then they said:

Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be
To slight good counsel, ten times given thee?
And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know,
Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear:
Good counsel taken well, saves; therefore hear:
But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee.

t Matt. xi. 27. 1 Cor. xii. 3. Eph. i. 17-19.

you;

THE TALK
BROKE UP.

does not see his Nor is he quick

* That sinner is not thoroughly awakened, who need of Christ's righteousness to be imputed to him. ened, who has not fled to Christ as the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes, Rom. x. 4.

+ Ignorant professors cannot keep pace with spiritual pilgrims, nor can they relish the doctrine of making Christ all in all, in the matter of justification and salvation; and making the sinner nothing at all, as having no hand in the work, nor getting any glory to himself by what

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »