Again, (page 33.) “When they boast of sudden and surprizing effects as wrought by the Holy Ghost, in consequence of their preaching.”
Where, my Lord, is the enthusiasm of such a pretension? Has your Lordship been a preacher in the church of England, for so many years, and have you never seen any sudden or surprizing effects, consequent upon your Lordship’s preaching? Was this my case, should I not have reason to doubt, my Lord, whether I had any more than a bare human commission? Or might I not take up the Prophet’s lamentation, “O my leanness, my leanness!” My Lord, the gospel, like its author, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; and, if preached as it ought to be, will prick numbers to the heart, and extort the cry of the trembling goaler, “What must I do to be saved!” as surely now, as it did seventeen hundred years ago.
These then are the sudden and surprizing effects, my Lord, I always desire to have, and I heartily pray God, your Lordship and all your clergy may always see such effects in consequence of their preaching.
(Page 34.) “When they claim the spirit of prophecy.”
What I have said about my success, God has been pleased to fulfil already. What I have said about sufferings, they who without cause are my enemies are fulfilling daily. And as for the promises mentioned in my Journal, I freely own there are some particular promises, which God has so strongly impressed, and does still impress on my heart, that I verily believe they will be fulfilled.
(Page 35.) “When they speak of themselves in the language, and under the character of Apostles of Christ, and even of Christ himself.”
If I am not to speak in an apostolical language, why did my Lord of Gloucester give me an apostolical commission, “whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained?” And I hope, my Lord, using the words which Jesus Christ used, is not taking upon me the character of Christ.
(Page 36.) “When they profess to plant and propagate a new Gospel, as unknown to the generality of ministers and people, in a christian country.”
’Tis true, my Lord, in one sense, mine is a new gospel, and will be always unknown to the generality of ministers and people, even in a christian country, if your Lordship’s clergy follow your Lordship’s directions. For what says your Lordship, (page 46.) “I hope, that when your ministers preach to you of justification by faith alone, which is asserted in the strongest manner by our church, they explain it in such a manner, as to leave no doubt upon your minds, whether good works are a necessary condition of your being justified in the sight of God.”
But pray, my Lord, where has the scripture made good works a necessary condition of our being justified in the sight of God? St. Paul says, “by grace ye are saved, through faith, not of works, and that, least any man should boast. For eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Your Lordship exhorts your clergy to preach justification by faith alone, and quotes the 11th article of our church, which tells us, “we are justified by faith only, and not for our own works or deservings.” At the same time, your Lordship bids them to explain it in such a manner, as to leave no doubt upon their minds, whether good works are a necessary condition of their being justified in the sight of God.” Your Lordship, in my opinion, could not well be guilty of a greater inconsistency. This, my Lord, is truly a new Gospel. I am sure it is not what the Apostles preached; and it is as contrary to the doctrine of the church of England, and the whole tenour of the gospel, as light is contrary to darkness. Had your Lordship insisted on your clergy’s preaching up good works as a necessary fruit and consequence, instead of a necessary condition of our being justified, your Lordship would have used your authority aright. For we are commanded to shew forth or declare to others, that we have a true faith by our works. And the 12th article of our church says, that “good works follow after justification;” and how then, my Lord, are they a necessary condition of our justification? No, my Lord, salvation (if the gospel be true) is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. Faith is the means whereby that salvation is applied to our hearts, and good works are the necessary fruits and proof of that faith.