Reascni 5. This doctrine is certainly unsouhd, because it con- founds the distinction betwixt dogmatical and saving faith ; and makes it all one, to believe an axiom or proposition, and to believe savingly in Christ to eternal life. What is it to believe that God laid our iniquities upon Christ, more than the mere assent of the understanding to a scripture axiom, or proposition, without any consent of the will, to receive Jesus Christ as the gospel oflers him ? And this is no more than what any unregenerate person may do; yea, the very devils themselves assent to the truth of scripture axioms or propositions as well as men, James ii. 19. " Thou be- " Jievest there is one God, thou dost well ; the devils also believe " and tremble." What is more than a scripture axiom or propo^ sition ? " God laid the iniquities of us all upon Christ," Isa. liii. 6. And yet (saith Dr. Crisp, p. 296.) God cannot charge one sin upon that man that believes this truth, That God laid his iniquities upon Christ. The assent of the understanding may be often given to a scripture-proposition, whilst the heart and will remain carnal, and utterly adverse to Jesus Christ. I may believe dogmatically, that the iniquities of men were laid upon Christ, and persuade myself presumptively, that mine, as well as other men's v, ere laid upon him; and yet remain a perfect stranger to all saving union and communion with him.
Reason 6. This opinion cannot be true, because it takes away the only support that bears up the soul of a believer in times of temp- tation and desertion.
For how will you comfort such a distressed soul that saith, and saith truly, I have no persuasion that Christ is mine, or that my sins are pardoned ; but I am heartily willing to cast my poor sin- burthened soul upon him, that he may be mine ; I do not certainly know that he died intentionally for me, but I lie at his feet to cleave to him, wait at the door of hope ; I stay and trust upon him, though I walk in darkness and have no light. Now let such doctrines as this be preached to a soul in this condition (and we may be sure it is the condition of many thousands belonging to Christ) I say, bring this doctrine to them, and tell them, that un- less they be persuaded of the love of God, and that God laid their iniquities on Christ, except they have some manifestation that their persons were justified from eternity, their accepting of Christ, con- sent of their wills, waiting at his feet, &c. signifies nothing ; if they beheve not that their particular sins were laid upon Christ, and are pardoned to them by him, they are still unbelievers, and have no part or portion in him. Whatever pretences of spiritual comfort and relief the Antinomian doctrine makes, you see by this it really deprives a very great, if not the greatest number of God's people of theii- best and sweetest relief in days of darkness and spiritual
o6^ THE SECOND APPENDIX.
distress. So that this doctrine which makes manifestation and as- surance the very essence of justifying faith, appears hereby to be both a false and very dangerous doctrine. And yet there is as much or more danger to the souls of men in their
Error 3. That men ought not to doubt of their faith^ or question, whether theij believe or no. Nai/, that they ought no more to ques- tion their Juith than to question Christ.
Refutation. AVhat an easy way to heaven is the Antinomian way ? Were it but as true and safe to the soul, as it is easy and pleasing to the flesh, who would not embrace it ? What a charm of the devil is prepared in those two propositions ? Be but persuaded more or less of Christ's love to thy soul (saith Mr. Saltmarsh) and that is justifving faith. Here is a snare of the devil laid for the souls of men. And then (2.) To make it fast and sure upon the soul, and effectually to prevent the discovery of their error, tell them they need no more to doubt or question their faith than to question Clirist, and the work is done to all intents.
Now that this is an error, and a very dangerous one, will appear by the following reasons.
Reason 1. The questioning and examining of our faith is a com- manded scripture-duty, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. " Examine yourselves whe- " ther ye be in the faith ; prove your ownselves,"" &;c. And 2 Pet. i. 10. " Give dihgence to make yowc calling and election sure.'' " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. X. 12. The second epistle o/* John, ver. 8. " Look to yourselves " that we lose not the things which we have wrought :" With a multitude of other scriptures, recommending holy jealousy, serious self-trial and examination of our faith, as the unquestionable duties of the people of God. But if we ought to question our faith no more than we ought to question Christ, away then with all self-ex- amination, and diligence to make our calling and election sure ; for where there is no doubt nor danger, there is no place or room for examination, or further endeavours to make it surer than it is. How do you like this doctrine, Christians ? How many be there among you, that find no more cause to question your own faith or interest in Christ, than you do to question, whether there be a Christ, or whether he shed his blood for the remission of any man's sins ?
Reason 2. This is a very dangerous error, and it is the more dan- gerous because it leaves no way to recover a presumptuous sinner out of his dangerous mistakes ; but confirms and fixes him in them to the great hazard of his eternal ruin. It cuts off all means of conviction or better information, and nails them fast to the carnal state in which they are. According to this doctrine, it is impos- sible for a man to think himself something, when he is nothing ;
OF AXTIXOMIANIS^r, 569
or to be guilty of such a paralogism and cheat put by himself upon his own soul, James ii. 22. this, in effect, bids a man keep on right or wrong ; he is sure enough of heaven if he be but strongly per- suaded that Christ died for him, and he shall come thither at last. Certainly this was not the counsel Christ gave to the self-deceived Laodiceans, Rev. iii. 17, 18. but instead of dissuading them from self-jealousy and suspicion of their condition, whether their faith and state were safe or not, he rather counsels them to buy eye-salve, tliat is, to labour after better information of the true state and con- dition they were in, and not cast away their souls by false persua- sions and vain confidences.