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CHAP. According to the foundest principles of rea-foning, it may be alfo adduced as an additional proof of the correctness of our present statement, that it fo exactly falls in with those phænomena, and fo naturally accounts for them. For even admitting that the perfons above mentioned, particularly the last clafs, do at the bottom rely on the atonement of Chrift; yet on their scheme, it must neceffarily happen, that the object to which they are most accustomed to look, with which their thoughts are chiefly converfant, from which they moft habitually derive complacency, is rather their own qualified merit and fervices, though confeffed to be inadequate, than the fufferings and atoning death of a crucified Saviour. The affections towards our bleffed Lord therefore (according to the theory of the paffions formerly laid down) cannot be expected to flourish, because they receive not that which was fhewn to be neceffary to their nutriment and growth. If we would love him as affectionately, and rejoice in him as triumphantly as the first Chriftians did; we muft learn like them to repofe our entire truft in him, and to adopt the language of the apoftle, "God forbid "that I fhould glory, fave in the crofs of our

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IV.

"Lord Jefus Chrift *"-" Who of God is SECT., "made unto us wisdom and righteousness, " and fanctification, and redemption +."

many

DOUBTLESS there have been too who, to their eternal ruin, have abufed the doctrine of Salvation by Grace; and have vainly trufted in Chrift for pardon and acceptance, when by their vicious lives they have plainly proved the groundleffnefs of their pretenfions. The tree is to be known by its fruits; and there is too much reafon to fear that there is no principle of faith, when it does not decidedly evince itself by the fruits of holiness. Dreadful indeed will be the doom, above that of all others, of those loose profeffors of Chriftianity, to whom at the last day our bleffed Saviour will addrefs those words, "I never knew you; depart "from me, all ye that work iniquity." But the danger of error on this fide ought not to render us infenfible to the oppofite error; an error against which in thefe days it feems particularly neceffary to guard. It is far from the intention of the writer of this work to enter into the niceties of controverfy. But furely without danger of being thought to

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Condemnation of

those who

abuse the

doctrine of

free Grace.

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III.

Believing in Christ, what it

really im

plies.

CHAP. violate this defign, he may be permitted to contend, that they who in the main believe the doctrines of the church of England, are bound to allow that our dependence on our bleffed Saviour, as alone the meritorious caufe of our acceptance with God, and as the means of all its bleffed fruits and glorious confequences, muft be not merely formal and nominal, but real and fubftantial: not vague, qualified, and partial, but direct, cordial, and entire,Repentance towards God, and faith "towards our Lord Jefus Christ," was the fum of the apoftolical instructions. It is not an occafional invocation of the name of Chrift, or a tranfient recognition of his authority, that fills up the measure of the terms, believing in Jefus. This we fhall find no fuch eafy talk; and if we trust that we do believe, we fhould all perhaps do well to cry out in the words of an imploring fuppliant (he supplicated not in vain) Lord, help thou our "unbelief." We must be deeply confcious of our guilt and mifery, heartily repenting of our fins, and firmly refolving to forsake them; and thus penitently "fleeing for refuge to "the hope fet before us," we must found altogether on the merit of the crucified Redeemer our hopes of escape from their deferved punishment, and of deliverance from

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their enflaving power. This must be our first, our last, our only plea. We are to furrender ourselves up to him to "be washed “in his blood*," to be fanctified by his Spirit, refolving to receive him for our Lord and Master, to learn in his school, to obey all his commandments.

Ir may perhaps be not unneceffary, after having treated fo largely on this important topic, to add a few words in order to obviate a charge which may be urged against us, that we are infifting on nice and abftrufe diftinctions in what is a matter of general concern; and this too in a fyftem, which on its original promulgation was declared to be peculiarly intended for the fimple and poor. It will be abundantly evident however on a little reflection, and experience fully proves the pofition, that what has been required is not the perception of a fubtile diftinction, but a state and condition of heart. To the former, the poor and the ignorant must be indeed confeffed unequal; but they are far lefs indisposed than the great and the learned, to bow down to that "preaching of the crofs which is to "them that perith foolishness, but unto them

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SECT.

IV.

Answer to tion, that we infitt on calniceties.

the objec

metaphyfi

CHAP.

III.

The atonement and grace of

ther pref

fed as the fubject of our habi

"that are faved, the power of God, and the "wisdom of God." The poor are not liable to be puffed up by the intoxicating fumes of ambition and worldly grandeur. They are lefs likely to be kept from entering into the ftrait and narrow way, and when they have entered to be drawn back again or to be retarded in their progrefs, by the cares or the pleafures of life. They may exprefs themfelves ill; but their views may be fimple, and their hearts humble, penitent, and finIt is as in other cafes; the vulgar are the fubjects of phænomena, the learned explain them: the former know nothing of the theory of vision or of fentiment; but this ignorance hinders not that they fee and think, and though unable to difcourfe elaborately on the paffions, they can feel warmly for their children, their friends, their country.

cere.

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AFTER this digreffion, if that be indeed a digreffion which by removing a formidable Chrift far objection renders the truth of the pofitions we wish to establish more clear and less queftionable, we may now refume the thread of our argument. Still intreating therefore the attention of thofe, who have not been used to think much of the neceffity of this undivided,

tual re

gard.

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