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ment and defraying the expen- walking in craftiness, nor hand-
ses necessary for the general ling the word of God deceitfully;
welfare of the community, state, but, by manifesting of the truth,
or nation-and to indulge and commending themselves to eve-
gratify several of the strong in-ry man's conscience in the sight
clinations, lusts and passions of of God. Again,
the body and the mind. If the 2. It may hence appear, that
sound doctrine of the word of it is a great privilege to a people
God, in regard to both faith and to sit under that ministry, by
practice, was well understood which sound doctrine is plainly
and conscientiously regarded, it preached, clearly exhibited, and
would readily be seen that these suitably inculcated and enforced.
and numerous such like things, And on the other hand, That
which some allow and justify, it is a great calamity to sit un-
are utterly unjustifiable, contra- der the ministry, by which the
ry to the will of God, and ex- sound doctrine of the gospel is
pose to his wrath. And what neglected or kept out of sight,
indeed can be plainer, than that or artfully undermined and sub-
a clear understanding of the verted, and erroneous opinions,
wholesome doctrine of sacred or a corrupt system substituted
writ, is indispensibly necessary, in its stead. Hence, on the
to enable us to see and deter- whole,
mine with certainty, how we
ought to worship and serve the
Lord our God; and what things
we ought to and may warranta-
bly do; and what we ought to
refrain from and avoid? Hence,
therefore, it appears to be highly
important, that sound doctrine
should be clearly preached and
faithfully inculcated.

3. We may see the great and unspeakable privilege of having the holy scriptures in our hands, and the vast importance of reading and searching them with care and diligence, and of bringing every doctrine to the test of these divinely inspired writings. And let us so heedfully regard them, and give them such a cordial reception and entertainment, These observations will now that, through the attending powbe closed with a few brief infer-er of the Holy Spirit, we may ences, naturally resulting from find them able to make us wise the whole that has been said. to salvation through faith which 1. It may hence appear that is in Christ Jesus, and to fura large share of a gospel-minis-nish us thoroughly unto every ter's business, in point of preach-good work.

ing, is to state and explain, exhibit and inculcate the doctrine contained in the scriptures; and to distinguish it clearly from the unsound, corrupt and false principles and opinions, which tend to obscure, pervert or undermine it. All preachers of the gospel should copy the apostolic example, by renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty, not

B

PAREPIDEMOS.

On Justification.

ELIEVERS are subjects of justification, and at the day of retribution they will be openly acquitted in the presence of the assembled universe, and pro

.

nounced blessed. God will jus- pel justification; to which will be added several inferences. The several things by which believers are said in the scrip

1. The grace of God.

tify them from motives of perfect
benevolence; and infinite wisdom,
inflexible justice, and unbounded
mercy will be equally maintain-tures to be justified are,
ed by his holy decision. But
several things are necessary to
render believers proper subjects
for justification, and by these sev-
eral things they are in asense jus-
tified, as these will all vindicate
the ways of Jehovah before the
intelligent universe, in that day

"Being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 2. The blood of Christ.

"Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath

through him."

be

3. Faith in Christ.

"A man is justified by faith."
4. Gracious words.
"For by thy words thou shalt
justified."

5. Good works.

"Ye see how that by works a man is justified."

when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed. Although the scriptures plainly declare that believers are justified by several things, yet it must not be understood that they are justified by each of those things in the same sense, yet there must be a sense in which they are really justified by each of them, in order to dis- Gospel justification stands opplay the harmony of the scrip- posed to condemnation, and suptures and the beauty of the di- poses the demands of the law vine government. It is proper satisfied in order to vindicate the to notice here that nothing is Judge in pronouncing justificadesigned to be understood in tion upon the ill deserving; what follows, to exclude all from" for grace reigns through rightfinal justification, who have not cousness." Believers are justiarrived to years of understand-fied first by the grace of God, ing or that remain in heathen-for, says the apostle, " being jusish ignorance; for God who tified by his grace, we should be commanded the light to shine made heirs according to the hope out of darkness can shine into of eternal life." A gracious act, their hearts as he did into Cor-is favor shown to the ill deservnelius' while speculatively igno-ing. Believers are therefore ill rant of the way of salvation, and deserving as they are justified by the same almighty power freely by the grace of God.babes may be sanctified like Je- When man had violated the law. remiah, from their mother's of his God, and stood justly exwomb, and of such may be the posed to the threatened penalty, kingdom of heaven. But of which was eternal condemnation, those to whom much is given having no created eye that could much will be required. pity, nor created arm that could save, then was a time of God's love, for his own almighty arm wrought salvation. He laid help upon one that was mighty to save, one who could honor the law which man had broken, and suf

We shall now attempt to point out in what sense believers are justified by each of those things mentioned in the gospel, and then notice the reason why they are all necessary for gos

fer its penalty that he might its nature and tendency it is live. It was infinite benevolence therefore an infinite evil;" sin which moved God to concert is exceeding sinful," exceeding and effect a plan that would ren-all bounds to calculate, or figder him just in justifying theures to represent it. It deserves believer. If the grace of God from goodness infinite opposihad not been exerted in behalf tion, that its nature may be exof fallen man, he must have for posed, and its tendency counterever eaten the fruit of his own acted. Justice to the universe doings, and been filled with his requires infinite opposition to own devices; "but where sin sin. abounded grace did much more abound." Divine love, that wonder into which the angels desire to look, concerted and effected the whole plan of gospel justification; for "by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." And in this sense are believers justified by the grace of God.

To execute justice, and display the evil of sin by manifesting an holy opposition against it, were reasons why God pronounced eternal condemnation on the sinner; it was not because he delighted in the misery of his creatures, for he delights not in the death of him that dieth, but on the contrary, beçause his tender mercies are over all his works, he discouraged rebellion with a penalty equal to its desert. God's holy

2. Believers are justified by the blood of Christ; for, says the apostle," being now justified by his blood we shall be sav-nature is manifested in propored from wrath through him." tion to his opposition against What Christ has done and suf- evil. Should he therefore abate, fered is the ground on which in the least degree, the penalty God justifies. The shedding of annexed to transgression, he Christ's blood, "who through would so far abate his infinite the eternal spirit offered him- love for holiness, and opposition self without spot to God," made to evil. Hence we see that the an atonement for the sins of the penalty annexed to transgresworld, so that God can be glori- sion was to execute justice, show fied in forgiving the penitent. the evil of sin, and display the In order to get a just idea of the holy attributes of Jehovah. It atonement, it will be here neces- is written, " By the law is the sary to notice the nature and knowledge of sin; for without tendency of sin, and the reasons law sin was dead." why God has threatened eternal punishment against it; and then what Christ has done and suffered, which answers the same end in the divine government, as the execution of the penalty upon the sinner.

We will now attend to what Christ has done and suffered, which answers the same end in the divine government as the execution of the penalty upon all transgressors. And,

1. He has obeyed the law Sin in its nature and tendency which sinners have broken. But introduces disorder, and spreads this instead of justifying condesolation and misery, and with-demns them, for it proves that out controul would annihilate the the law was reasonable, holy, happiness of the universe. In just, and good; it justifies the

the cross, to make expiation for sin, he approved the penalty threatened to transgressors, manifesting that it did not exceed their desert, and that the law was holy, and the penalty just and good; and he brought in an everlasting righteousness, that magnified the law and made

lawgiver, but not the transgres-gressors had suffered to all eter sor, and manifests the unrea-nity their just deserts. When sonableness of sin, in a greater Christ poured out his blood upon degree, but it does not display its infinite turpitude. 2. He who knew no sin neither was guile found in his mouth, voluntarily put himself in the place of transgressors, and suffered awhile all the malice of earth and hell to rage against him without controul. "He was wounded for our transgressions, it honorable. Hence we see that he was bruised for our iniquities, the obedience and sufferings of the chastisement of our peace | Christ answered the same end in was upon him;" so that by his the divine government, as the stripes we might be healed.execution of the penalty upon When the Son of God, who was all transgressors. Both mani the everlasting delight of the Fa- fest the nature of sin, honor the ther, that lamb who was without divine government, and display spot or blemish, became a vic- the holy attributes of Jehovah. tim of envy and malice, those Although the church of God is offsprings of sin, then its accur-purchased with his own blood, sed nature could be seen, for it wounded him without a cause. Here eternal goodness was despised, infinite love hated, and unbounded benevolence persecuted unto death, even the ignominious death of the cross. What a wonder of love and condescension is this, that the church of God should be purchased with his own blood; for it was the dignity of the Son of God that gave efficacy to his atonement. It was the divine nature which gave the blood of Christ infinite value; for he was God manifest in the flesh.

When the Prince of life and glory was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and crucified as the vilest malefactor, suffering all the pain and contempt, which devils could invent and envious man inflict under the reign of the powers of darkness, then the evil nature of sin appeared in its true colors; it could have appeared no greater if all trans

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which cleanses from all sin, that is, from all its evil consequences, yet it does not annihilate sin, so as to render believers guiltless; for they still remain deserving of punishment; if they do not, they are entitled to happiness on the ground of justice; but the sufferings of Christ did not consist in receiving the exact personal desert of every sinner; if it did, the quantity of evil in the universe would not have been lessened by his atonement. But it consisted in showing the evil nature of sin, honoring the di vine law, and displaying the perfections of the Godhead, and thus made it consistent with the divine government, for God to remain just in punishing, and not unjust in forgiving the penitent. Here justice and mercy met together, righteousness and peace embraced each other. Believers have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of sins. It is God that justifieth; but the

blood of Jesus is the meritori- any thing nor uncircumcision but

faith which worketh by love." Thus believers are justified by exercising gospel faith, as it fulfils the gospel requirement; for " he that believeth shall be saved."

ous ground on which he justifies, and in this sense believers are justified by the blood of Christ. 3. Believers are justified by faith; for, says the apostle," we conclude that a man is justified by faith." Faith in Christ is the 4. Believers are justified by gospel condition of salvation. gracious words; for it is writFor what saith the scriptures, ten," By thy words thou shalt Abraham believed God, and it be justified." When believers was accounted to him for right- are justified in the presence of eousness; now to him that work- the assembled universe, it will eth, is the reward not reckoned be necessary for evidence to apof grace, but of debt, but to him pear in their favor, that they that worketh not, but believeth have embraced the gospel terms on him who justifieth the ungod- of salvation; and the scriptures ly, his faith is accounted for require two witnesses to estabrighteousness." Thus faith is lish a fact. It is written, "At as necessary for salvation under the mouth of one witness he the gospel, as perfect obedience shall not be put to death ;” but was for the continuance of God's" in the mouth of two or three favor under the law. The ful-witnesses shall every word be filment of the law would have established." Hence we may preserved harmony and blessed-see the necessity of the believ ness. Genuine gospel faith re-er's evidences. The gracious conciles the sinner to the divine words of believers are evidence government, unites him to all that they have embraced the holy beings, and diffuses order, gospel terms of salvation; for it beauty, and tranquillity; it is is declared that " by their words therefore as necessary under the every controversy shall be tried.” gospel as perfect obedience was A confession of faith is one eviunder the law. When believers dence of its existence; he that exercise gospel faith, they re- confesses Christ before men in ject their own righteousness, the faith of the gospel, him shall humbly feeling their ill desert; Christ confess before his Father the very condition supposes they and the holy angels. It is diffifeel unrighteous, and unable to cult to believe that a person exanswer the demands of the law, ercises true repentance, and genotherwise it would not be neces- uine faith, without openly consary to apply and depend on the fessing his sins, and declaring righteousness of Christ as the his dependence on the Saviour's ground of justification in the righteousness; for out of the sight of the law, and for this abundance of the heart the reason repentance and faith are mouth speaketh. But to show coupled together in the gospel. that it is not only proper but ne"Jesus preached repent ye and cessary for words to express the believe." Gospel faith is an exercises of the heart, the aposoperative principle and purifies the declares, that, "with the the heart; for "in Christ Jesus heart man believeth unto rightneither circumcision availetheousness, and with the mouth

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