at the good pleasure of God, who hath so highly exalted him, as to give him a name above every name, that of Moses not excepted. Exalting Christ above Moses; contending for the doctrines of the gospel; enforcing the Spirit's work on the soul; and insisting upon good works, springing from union with Christ, the influence of the Spirit, and being performed under the dominion of grace; together with a service in the newness of the Spirit, worship in spirit and in truth; and all this without the works of the law, or even calling it the saint's only rule of life, are the heavy and dreadful charges which are brought in against some who are called Antinomians in London. You charge your sort with debasing the gospel, but, in this metropolis, they are charged with debasing the law, calling the covenant of grace the better covenant, setting the law of faith above the law of Moses, and the works of faith above the works of the law. Moreover, if any preacher dare to assert that the whole of the law's requirements is holiness, righteousness, and love to God and man; for which it promises life; but that it cannot give either life, or any qualifications for it; he is an Antinomian. And, if it be insisted upon that holiness comes by the Spirit; righteousness by imputation; love to God by the Holy Ghost; that they receive everlasting life by faith, which is the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and that "the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in such who walk not after the flesh, but after the

Spirit," then they are said to make void the law through faith. This is the judgment of our London evangelists at present: so that the righteousness of God, and eternal life, revealed in the gospel, applied by the Spirit, and received by faith that worketh by love, does not establish the law; nor is the righteousness of it fulfilled in such souls, but Antinomian leaven has fermented them.

'But, perhaps, we have more reason to guard you against the poisonous influence of a corrupt 'Antinomian leaven, than the more open attacks ' of Socinianism. Antinomianism comes to you ' under the guise of an angel of light, and is there'fore the more dangerous. It pretends to exalt 'the free and sovereign grace of God, to reduce 'the creature to nothing, and make God and 'Christ all in all. Now this is very right. The

grace of God is free and sovereign; we are all 'become guilty before God; and it is by grace 'alone we are saved through faith, not of works, 'lest any man should boast. But wherein does 'salvation consist? Is sanctification no part of it? Or, is sanctification not the work of God's 'Spirit in us, as our catechism asserts; but the 'holiness of Christ imputed to us, as the Antino'mians maintain?"

But, according to your judgment, Antinomian leaven, which sets Moses at the foot of Jehovah the Saviour, is worse than the open attacks of Socinianism, which debases him to the level of a creature, if not to that of a vile impostor. This

leaven comes under the guise of an angel of light, and is the more dangerous. In London, Sir, Antinomianism is called black, rank, devilish, and damnable; and, if it bears those dark colours, it cannot be compared to an angel of light. The legal preachers who brought the Corinthians into bondage, who tried to devour them, took property of them, exalted themselves against them, and smote them, either with the scourge of the tongue or the fist of wickedness, 2 Cor. xi. 20, Paul calls ministers of Satan; and says they were transformed into the likeness of the ministers of Christ, as Satan is into that of an angel of light, 2 Cor. xi. 13, 14.

'It pretends to exalt the free and sovereign ' grace of God, to reduce the creature to nothing, and make God and Christ all in all.'

If Antinomianism does this, it is from God, and is certainly worthy of a better name. The doctrine that exalts sovereign grace, lays the ax to the root of a proud legalist, his honour in the dust, and makes God and Christ all in all, must be the pure Gospel of Jesus to all intents and purposes; and this you own is right. But this, you say, it pretends to do. If you can condemn either the doctrine or the life of such an Antinomian, have at him, expose him, and down with him; but if you cannot overthrow his doctrine, prove him a liar, nor condemn his life and walk, you must judge of the tree by its fruit, of his faith by his works, take your notions of his heart from his con

duct in life, and leave his pretensions, or sincerity, to the searcher of hearts, lest you become, not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Salvation consists both of justification and sanctification, and both are promised: "Thy people shall be all righteous, the work of my hands," and, "I the Lord do sanctify them." And the Spirit of God, who reveals the righteousness of Christ to faith, sanctifies the believing soul; as it is written, "But ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." If any Antinomian denies sanctification by the Spirit of God, he denies a blessed doctrine of the Bible; and the happiness of the saint, which consists of a strong consolation by the Spirit of holiness; and, if he asserts, according to your charge, that the holiness of Christ is imputed to the believer, I think he makes use of an unscriptural phrase; which I shall not take upon me to defend, for I am satisfied with speaking as the oracles of God. I do not remember ever to have read of imputed sanctification: yet it must be allowed that the believer finds both righteousness and sanctification in his Covenant Head; Christ is made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And it is plain, that he by his suffering without the gate, sanctified the people with his own blood.

But, is it not as much the design of the free grace of God in Christ Jesus to purify a peculiar people, zealous of good works, as to justify them

freely, and magnify the law, and make it honourable, in their justification?'

Wherever the grace of God appears, it teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world. Gracious souls are not only zealous of good works, but careful to maintain them, for necessary uses. We cannot shew our faith but by them. By our light shining before men, and by their perceiving the works of our faith, is our heavenly Father glorified. This no good Antinomian will ever deny, though some who excel in these things are stiled black Antinomians.

The promise of the Spirit being the fruit of 'Christ's mediation, the purchase of his death.' I do not understand this; nor do I remember that either the promise or the Spirit is ever said to be purchased. We have destroyed ourselves, and in the Lord is our help. We were in captivity, and it was a great ransom that delivered us. We had sold ourselves, and we were redeemed without money. We are bought with a price; and, when our bodies have slept their time in the grave, and the redemption of the body appears, we shall then bear the name of a purchased possession, which is called the redemption of the purchased possession; for the Lord's portion, inheritance, or possession, is his people; and this inheritance he bought, this possession he purchased: but I never read that the promise, or the Spirit, is either bought or sold. Christ ransomed us from captivity, and God gives