This doctrine of our free justification by faith in CHRIST JESUS, however censured and evil spoken of by our present Masters of _Israel_, was highly esteemed by our wise fore-fathers: for in the subsequent words of the forementioned article, it is called a most _wholesome doctrine_, and very full of comfort: and so it is to all that are weary and heavy laden, and are truly willing to find rest in JESUS CHRIST.
This is gospel, this is glad tidings of great joy to all that feel themselves poor, lost, undone, damned sinners. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come unto the waters of life, and drink freely; come and buy without money and without price.” Behold a fountain opened in your Saviour’s side, for sin and for all uncleanness. “Look unto him whom you have pierced:” look unto him by faith, and verily you shall be saved, though you came here only to ridicule and blaspheme, and never thought of GOD or of CHRIST before.
Not that you must think GOD will save you because, or on account of your faith; for faith is a work, and then you would be justified for your works: but when I tell you, we are to be justified by faith, I mean that faith is the instrument whereby the sinner applies or brings home the redemption of JESUS CHRIST to his heart. And to whomsoever GOD gives such a faith, (for it is the free gift of GOD) he may lift up his head with boldness, he need not fear; he is a spiritual son of our spiritual _David_; he is passed from death to life, he shall never come into condemnation. This is the gospel which we preach. If any man or angel preach any other gospel, than this of our being freely justified through faith in CHRIST JESUS, we have the authority of the greatest Apostle, to pronounce him accursed.
And now, my brethren, what think you of this foolishness of preaching? To you that have tasted the good word of life, who have been enlightened to see the riches of GOD’s free grace in CHRIST JESUS, I am persuaded it is precious, and has distilled like the dew into your souls. And O that all were like-minded! But I am afraid, numbers are ready to go away contradicting and blaspheming. Tell me, are there not many of you saying within yourselves, “This is a licentious doctrine; this preacher is opening a door for encouragement in sin.” But this does not surprize me at all, it is a stale, antiquated objection, as old as the doctrine of justification itself; and (which by the way is not much to the credit of those who urge it now) it was made by an infidel. St. _Paul_, in his epistle to the _Romans_, after he had, in the first five chapters, demonstrably proved the doctrine of justification by faith alone; in the sixth, brings in an unbeliever saying, “Shall we continue in sin then, that grace may abound?” But as he rejected such an inference with a “GOD forbid!” so do I: for the faith which we preach, is not a dead speculative faith, an assenting to things credible, as credible, as it is commonly defined: it is not a faith of the head only, but a faith of the heart. It is a living principle wrought in the soul, by the Spirit of the ever-living GOD, convincing the sinner of his lost, undone condition by nature; enabling him to apply and lay hold on the perfect righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, freely offered him in the gospel, and continually exciting him, out of a principle of love and gratitude, to shew forth that faith, by abounding in every good word and work. This is the sum and substance of the doctrine that has been delivered. And if this be a licentious doctrine, judge ye. No, my brethren, this is not destroying, but teaching you how to do good works, from a proper principle. For to use the words of our Church in another of her Articles, “Works done before the grace of CHRIST, and the inspiration of the Spirit, are not pleasant to GOD, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in JESUS CHRIST; rather, for that they are not done as GOD has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin.” So that they who bid you do, and then live, are just as wise as those who would persuade you to build a beautiful magnificent house, without laying a foundation.