§. V.
Proof II.Secondly, If God were perfectly reconciled with Men, and did esteem them just while they are actually unjust, and do continue in their Sins, then should God have no Controversy with them[72]; how comes he then so often to complain, and to expostulate so much throughout the whole Scripture with such as our Adversaries confess to be justified, telling them, That their Sins separate betwixt him and them? Isa. lix. 2. For where there is a perfect and full Reconciliation, there is no Separation. Yea, from this Doctrine it necessarily follows, either that such for whom Christ died, and whom he hath reconciled, never sin, or that when they do so, they are still reconciled, and their Sins make not the least Separation from God; yea, that they are justified in their Sins. From whence also would follow this abominable Consequence, that the good Works and greatest Sins of such are alike in the Sight of God, seeing neither the one serves to justify them, nor the other to break their Reconciliation, which occasions great Security, and opens a Door to every lewd Practice.
[72] I do not only speak concerning Men before Conversion, who afterwards are converted, whom yet some of our Antagonists, called Antinomians, do aver were justified from the Beginning; but also touching those who according to the common Opinion of Protestants have been converted; whom albeit they confess they persist always in some Misdeeds, and sometimes in heinous Sins, as is manifest in David’s Adultery and Murder, yet they assert to be perfectly and wholly justified.
Proof III.Thirdly, This would make void the whole practical Doctrine of the Gospel, and make Faith itself needless. For if Faith and Repentance, and the other Conditions called for throughout the Gospel, be a Qualification upon our Part necessary to be performed, then, before this be performed by us, we are either fully reconciled to God, or but in a Capacity of being reconciled to God, he being ready to reconcile and justify us as these Conditions are performed; which latter, if granted, is according to the Truth we profess. And if we are already perfectly reconciled and justified before these Conditions are performed (which Conditions are of that Nature that they cannot be performed at one Time, but are to be done all one’s Life-time) then can they not be said to be absolutely needful; which is contrary to the very express Testimony of Scripture, which is acknowledged by all Christians: [73]For without Faith it is impossible to please God. They that believe not are condemned already, because they believe not in the only begotten Son of God. Except ye repent, ye cannot be saved: For if ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die. And of those that were converted; [74]I will remove your Candlestick from you, unless ye repent. Should I mention all the Scriptures that positively and evidently prove this, I might transcribe much of all the doctrinal Part of the Bible. For since Christ said, It is finished, and did finish his Work sixteen hundred Years ago and upwards; A Door of Mercy opened by Christ, upon Repentance.if he so fully perfected Redemption then, and did actually reconcile every one that is to be saved, not simply opening a Door of Mercy for them, offering the Sacrifice of his Body, by which they may obtain Remission of their Sins when they repent, and communicating unto them a Measure of his Grace, by which they may see their Sins, and be able to repent; The Antinomians Opinion of Reconciliation and Justification.but really making them to be reputed as just, either before they believe, as say the Antinomians, or after they have assented to the Truth of the History of Christ, or are sprinkled with the Baptism of Water, while nevertheless they are actually unjust, so that no Part of their Redemption is to be wrought by him now, as to their Reconciliation and Justification; then the whole doctrinal Part of the Bible is useless, and of no Profit: in vain were the Apostles sent forth to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins; and in vain do all the Preachers bestow their Labour, spend their Breath, and give forth Writings; yea, much more in vain do the People spend their Money which they give them for Preaching; seeing it is all but Actum agere, but a vain and ineffectual Essay, to do that which is already perfectly done without them.
[73] Heb. 11. 6. John 3. 18. Luke 13. 3. Rom. 8. 13.
[74] Apoc. 2. 5.
Proof 4.But lastly, To pass by their human Labours, as not worth the Disputing whether they be needful or not, since (as we shall hereafter shew) themselves confess the best of them is sinful; this also makes void the present Intercession of Christ for Men. Christ’s daily making Intercession for us.What will become of that great Article of Faith, by which we affirm, That he sits at the right Hand of God, daily making Intercession for us; and for which End the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered? For Christ maketh not Intercession for those that are not in a Possibility of Salvation; that is absurd. Our Adversaries will not admit that he prayed for the World at all; and to pray for those that are already reconciled, and perfectly justified, is to no Purpose: To pray for Remission of Sins is yet more needless, if all be remitted, past, present, and to come. Indeed there is not any solid solving of this, but by acknowledging according to the Truth, That Christ by his Death removed the Wrath of God, so far as to obtain Remission of Sins for as many as receive that Grace and Light that he communicates unto them, and hath purchased for them by his Blood; which, as they believe in, they come to know Remission of Sins past, and Power to save them from Sin, and to wipe it away, so often as they may fall into it by Unwatchfulness or Weakness, if, applying themselves to this Grace, they truly repent; for to as many as receive him, he gives Power to become the Sons of God: So none are Sons, none are justified, none reconciled, until they thus receive him in that little Seed in their Hearts: And Life eternal is offered to those, who by patient Continuance in Well-doing, seek for Glory, Honour, and Immortality: For if the righteous Man depart from his Righteousness, his Righteousness shall be remembered no more. And therefore on the other Part, none are longer Sons of God, and justified, than they patiently continue in Righteousness and Well-doing. And therefore Christ lives always making Intercession, during the Day of every Man’s Visitation, that they may be converted; And when Men are in some Measure converted, he makes Intercession that they may continue and go on, and not faint, nor go back again. Much more might be said to confirm this Truth; but I go on to take Notice of the common Objections against it, which are the Arguments made use of to propagate the Errors contrary to it.