5. Query the fifth. “Whether those exalted strains in religion, and an imagination of being already in a state of _perfection_, are not apt to lead men to spiritual pride, and to a contempt of their fellow christians; while they consider _them_ as only going on in what they call the _low_ and _imperfect_ way, (_i. e._ as growing in grace and goodness only _by degrees_) even though it appear by the _lives_ of those who are considered by them as in that _low_ and _imperfect_ way, that they are persons who are gradually working out their salvation, by their own honest endeavours, and through the ordinary assistances of God’s grace; with an humble reliance upon the merits of Christ for the pardon of their sins, and the acceptance of their sincere, though _imperfect_ services?”
I must divide this query too, but first permit me to ask, What do you mean by _those exalted strains in religion_? I have said again and again, I know of no more exalted strain, than “I will love thee, O Lord, my God:” Especially according to the propriety of _David_’s expression ארחמך יהוה. _Ex intimis visceribus diligam te, Domine._ This premised, let us go on step by step.
_Q._ 1. Whether the preaching of “loving God from our inmost bowels,” is not apt to lead men to spiritual pride, and to a contempt of their fellow Christians?
_A._ No: But so far as it takes place, it will humble them to the dust.
_Q._ 2. Whether an imagination of being already in a state of _perfection_, is not _apt to lead_ men into spiritual pride.
_A._ 1. If it be a _false_ imagination, it _is_ spiritual pride. 2. But _true_ Christian perfection is no other than humble love.
_Q._ 3. Do not men who imagine they have attained this, despise others, as only going on in what they account the _low_ and _imperfect_ way, _i. e._ as growing in grace and goodness _by degrees_.
_A._ 1. Men who _only imagine_ they have attained this, may probably despise those that are going in any way. 2. But the growing in grace and goodness by degrees, is no mark of a _low_ and _imperfect_ way. Those who are fathers in Christ, grow in grace _by degrees_, as well as the newborn babes.
_Q._ 4. Do they not despise those who are working out their salvation, with an humble reliance upon the merits of Christ for the pardon of their sins, and the acceptance of their sincere, tho’ _imperfect_ services?
_A._ 1. They who really love God, despise no man. But 2. they grieve to hear many talk of thus _relying on_ Christ, who, though perhaps they are grave, honest, moral men, yet by their own words, appear, not to love God at all; whose souls cleave to the dust, who love the world; who have no part of the mind that was in Christ.
6. Query the sixth. “Whether the same exalted strains and notions, do not tend to weaken the _natural_ and _civil_ relations among men, by leading the inferiors into whose heads those notions are infused to a disesteem of their superiors; while they consider them as in a much _lower dispensation_ than themselves; though those superiors are otherwise _sober_ and _good_ men, and regular attendants on the ordinances of religion?”
I have mentioned before, What those exalted notions are: these do not tend to weaken either the _natural_ or _civil_ relations among men; or to lead inferiors to a disesteem of their superiors, even where those superiors are neither _good_ nor _sober_ men.
Query the seventh. “Whether a _gradual_ improvement in grace and goodness is not a better foundation of comfort, and of an assurance of a gospel new-birth, than that which is founded on the doctrine of a _sudden_ and _instantaneous_ change; which, if there be any such thing, is not so easily distinguished from fancy and imagination; the workings whereof we may well suppose to be more _strong_ and _powerful_, while the person considers himself in the state of one who is admitted as a ♦candidate for such a change, and is taught in due time to expect it?”
♦ “canditate” replaced with “candidate”
Let us go one step at a time.
_Q._ 1. Whether a _gradual_ improvement in grace and goodness, is not a good foundation of comfort?
_A._ Doubtless it is, if by grace and goodness be meant the knowledge and love of God through Christ.
_Q._ 2. Whether it be not a good _foundation_ of an assurance of a gospel new-birth?
_A._ If we daily grow in this knowledge and love, it is a good _proof_ that we are born of the Spirit. But this does in no wise supersede the previous witness of God’s Spirit with ours, that we are the children of God. And this is properly the _foundation_ of the assurance of faith.
_Q._ 3. Whether this improvement is not a better foundation of comfort, and of an assurance of a gospel new-birth, than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change?