What is here interposed, — that we cannot do any good for the time to come, — must be interpreted of ourselves, without the aid or assist- ance of the grace of God. And the things here reported by this author, are so expressed and represented, to exjDOse them to reproach and scorn, to have them esteemed not only false, but ridiculous. But whether he be in his wits or no, or what he intends, so to traduce and scoff at the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, I profess I know not. What is it he would deny ? what is it he would assert ? Are we able to make an atonement for our sins ? Can we be forgiven without an atonement ? Can we of ourselves do any good without the aid and assistance of grace ? Can any thing we do be a full satis- faction for our sins, or deliver us from the wrath of God; that is, the
302 A VINDICATION OF
punishment due to our sins ? Doth not the death of Christ expiate former iniquities, and remove the whole guilt of sin ? Is the contrary to these things the doctrine of the church of England ? Is this the religion which is authorized to be preached? and are these the opinions that are licensed to be published unto all the world? But, as I observed before, these things are other men's concernment more than mine, and with them I leave them. But I have said, as he quotes the place, " that we are reconciled to God by the death of Christ, and saved by his life, that actual obedience which he yielded to the whole law of God." As the former part of these words are expressly the apostle's, Kom. v. 10, and so produced by me; so the next words I add are these of the same apostle, " If so be we are found in him, not having on our own righteousness which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith;" which he may do well to consider, and answer when he can.
Once more, and I shall be beholden to this author for a little respite of severity, whilst he diverts to the magisterial reproof of some other persons. Thus, then, he proceeds, p. 55 : — " The third part of our wisdom is, to walk with God : and to that is required agreement, acquaintance, a way, strength, boldness, and aiming at the same end ; and all these, with the wisdom of them, are hid in Jesus Christ." So far are my words, to which he adds: " The sum of which, in short, is this : — that Christ having expiated our sins, and fulfilled all righteous- ness for us, though we have no personal righteousness of our own, but are as contrary unto God as darkness is to light, and death to life, and a universal pollution and defilement to a universal and glorious holi- ness, and hatred to love; yet the righteousness of Christ is a sufficient, nay, the only foundation of our agi'eement, and, upon that, of our walking with God : though St John tells us, ' If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,' 1 John i. 6, 7. And our only acquaintance with God and knowledge of him is hid in Christ, which his word and works could not discover, as you heard above. And he is the only way wherein we must walk with God ; and we receive all our strength from him ; and he makes us bold and confident too, having removed the guilt of sin, so that now we may look justice in the face, and whet our knife at the counter door, all our debts being discharged by Christ, as these bold acquaintances and familiars of Christ use to speak. And in Christ we design the same end that God doth, which is the advancement of his own glory; that is, I suppose, by trusting unto the exi)iation and righteousness of Christ for salvation, without doing any thing ourselves, we take care that
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God shall not be wronged of the glory of his free gi'ace, by a com- jietition of any merits and deserts of our own."
What the author afl&rms to be the sum of my discourse in that place, which, indeed, he doth not transcribe, is, as to his affirmation of it, as contrary to God as darkness is to light, or death to life, or falsehood to the truth; that is, it is flagitiously false. That there is any agreement with God, or walking with God, for any men who have no personal righteousness of their own, but are contrary to God, etc., I never thought, I never wrote, nor any thing that should give the least countenance unto a suspicion to that purpose. The necessity of an habitual and actual personal, inherent righteousness, of sancti- fication and holiness, of gospel obedience, of fruitfulness in good works, unto all who intend to walk with God, or come to the enjoy- ment of him, I have asserted and proved, with other manner of argu- ments than this author is acquainted withal. The remainder of his discourse in this place is composed of immorality and profaneness. To the first I must refer his charge, that " our only acquaintance with God and knowledge of him is hid in Christ, which his word could not discover," as he again expresseth it, pp. 98, 99, " But that the reverend doctor confessed the plain truth, that their religion is wholly owing to an acquaintance with the person of Christ, and could never have been clearly and savingly learned from his gospel had they not first grown acquainted with his person;" which is plainly false. I own no knowledge of God, nor of Christ, but what is revealed in the word, as was before declared. And unto the other head be- longs the most of what ensues; for what is the intendment of those reproaches which are cast on my supposed assertions? Christ is the only way wherein or whereby we must walk with God. Yes, so he says, " I am the way;" '" There is no coming to God but by me;" he having consecrated for us in himself " a new and living way" of draw- ing nigh to God. We receive all our strength from him; yes, for he says, " Without me ye can do nothing." He makes us bold and con- fident also, having removed the guilt of sin. So the apostle tells us, Heb. X. 19-22. What then? what follows upon these plain, posi- tive, divine assertions of the Scripture? Why, then " we may look justice in the face, and whet our knife at the counter door." Goodly son of the church of England! Not that I impute these profane scoffings unto the church itself, — which I shall never do until it be discovered that the rulers of it do give approbation to such abomina- tions; but I would mind the man of his relation to that church, which, to my knowledge, teacheth better learning and manners.