Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	justification_n	justify_v	sanctification_n	6,333	5	10.3320	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95872	A very short and brief account of the free justification of God's elect, from the condemning power of the law, by that law change of persons, (flowing from an eternal act of grace, by way of covenant transaction between the Father and the Son;) which brought Christ as mediator under the curse and condemnation of that broken law, in the very room and place of elect sinners. : Whereunto are added, some questions concerning this point; : proposed to be answered by those that do so confidently affirm, that the elect of God are equally with others, under the same condemning power of the law, before faith. / By A member of a Church of Christ, in the County of Essex.	Member of a Church of Christ.	1699 (1699)	Wing V279dA; ESTC R185966	13,548	48

for this fallen Man had never had a free promise of Life nor yet of Faith but had been under the Curse and there must have lain which were the case now if Christ did not mediate by Blood for those that were unconverted which makes the promise absolute For if the Elect uncalled be not under the promise in Christ as Mediator of this better Covenant to them then they must be strictly under the Law as some affirm as a Covenant of Works and have no promise but what that Covenant affords them till Faith and where they shall have that if not under the absolute promise in Christ as Mediator I see not but they are under the Curse and there must lie Again Question X. WHAT is the Gospel tender to Sinners if all Sinners are under God's Curse and Wrath whilst unconverted Who darst then to proclaim Peace in the King's Name to a Company of Law-breaking Sinners and Rebels Who darst then to proclaim Liberty to Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound or cause the Jubile Trumpet to sound if the atonement be not compleatly made by our High Priests atoning Blood see Lev. 25.9 in the Day of atonement you shall cause the Trumpet of the Jubile to sound and proclaim Liberty This argues that the Blood of Christ was Efficacious from the fall of Adam when the Law was broken this Blood pleaded in the Eye of Justice in the sight of God there was an atonement by virtue of the Covenant Contract and God himself sounded the Jubile Trumpet from Heaven and Preached Peace and Pardon in the free promise by a Mediator who by ●od's appointment was to stand in the Gap and make up the breach of a broken Covenant which was all along held forth in the Sacrifices Now if the atonement be not compleatly made by our High-Priest's own offering then the Tipe held forth more than was in the Antitipe Lev. 16.30 If Wrath be not appeased and God Reconciled in a bleeding Sacrifice to Sinners as such How then can the Gospel be a Message of Peace by Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles Acts 10.36 If God be not Reconciled in the atoning Blood of Jesus to elect Sinners as such then they are under no absolute promise of Faith and a new Heart and the Spirit Sanctification and Glorification as the price of his Blood to confirm this free Testament whereof he is the surety Heb. 7.22 If not then Christ ●●th only purchased a remote Reconcilibility in God and God will be Reconciled to Sinners when they believe which I suppose would be never if the case were so Then it follows that Sinners are called to believe in Christ that so God's Curse and Wrath might be done a way and God become Reconciled and at Peace with them and Pardon their Sins and except their Persons This looks like a new Law but I think no milder than the old Law for who will believe in an Angry God or can for Pardon if God Reconciled in the Blood of Christ be not that which Faith takes hold on then I mistake but I am well satisfied that those that are Orthodox and sound in the main say the same in other words which amounts to this That the Elect are under the absolute promise of a new Heart of the Spirit Sanctification and the like as the purcha●● of Christ's Blood And why not Justification for you will own that Go●● pardoning Grace and the Justifying Righteousness of Christ is the object of Faith and not Wrath and Condemnation directly FINIS

Redeemed and what are the ill consequences that follow if I say that Justice doth not charge these Redeemed ones but God is compleatly reconciled to them by the Death of Christ any more than the former Will it not amount to the same to say some are ordained to Eternal Life and Redeemed with the Blood of Christ as to say God doth not charge these Redeemed ones seeing we likewise affirm that none know that they are not under Condemnation before Believing and that whoever dies an unbeliever shall be Damned except any suppose that Terrifying Soul with Curse and Condemnation be the most effectual way to bring them to Faith in Christ and if so I am not in their Mind and I am sure the Gospel ought to be Preached and Grace proclaimed And I think it is the most effectual to propose the Truth as the object of Faith which the Gospel doth Reveal for Salvation God's pardoning Grace in the Blood of Christ and so Invite Sinners to come to God as reconciled in the bleeding Sacrifice of his Son Jesus This it is that offends some that have made the greatest Noise and have enfluenced others which in other words say the same things about words and because they cannot so directly strike at this free Invitation to Sinners to come directly to Christ without their Previous Qualifications which strikes so directly at their Idol self Righteousness therefore they are pleased to brand the Doctrine of God's free Justifying Grace with Nick-Names at their pleasure And I wish that some which see otherways be not frightned from owning the Truths they believed and received in the light of God's Holy Spirit for fear of being laden with Calumnies and Reproaches for it is a trying time and I do be-believe that those that are kept close to Christ in owning the simplicity of the Gospel shall meet with as great Trials as those that have gone before us for Christ will shake the Earth and the Heavens and remove those things that are made and Burn up the Hay Wood and Stubble Therefore let every Man take heed what he builds though upon the foundation of Christ 〈◊〉 Cor. 3.12 But to return to the Point in Hand there be various sentences and in various Courts where and by which God declares the non-Imputation of Sin to his Elect and all sentences of Court whatsoever do but declare God's Act of Grace in that Court where the sentence is pronounced and the last add final sentence will be at the great Assizes when Christ will publickly before Men and Angels pronounce them blessed Yet to conclude with some that they were not compleatly Justified till then would be great darkness so though God in his Word doth pronounce Believers Justified yet it will no more follow that they were not Justified before than the former if things be rightly weighed for this makes Faith a moral Condition of Justification as hath been shewn already and also denies Justification to be by the new Covenant or makes the Covenant of Grace conditional and that in a strict sence denies Faith to be a part of the Covenant Blessings but that Justification is by the Covenant of Grace Few do directly deny and I am as certain as I am certain that the Scriptures are true that the first pronounced sentence of Life to Sinners is by that Covenant Gen 3.15 And it is according to the Tenour of that Covenant for there are but two Covenants or Courts where the pronounced sentence of Life can be supposed to pass but by the works of the Law No Flesh shall be Justified Rom. 3.20 then is must be according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace if that be an absolute promise of Life then the sentence is an absolute sentence but that is an absolute promise of Life Gen. 3.15 Titus 1.2 1 John 2.25 Therefore the sentence is an absolute sentence past in the Court of Grace upon all the Womans Seed in their Covenant Head in direct opposition to the Serpents seed upon the Serpent and his Seed the Curse takes place having no Mediator to make up the breach and the promise in Christ takes hold of the Elect as soon as they have a being Rom. 9.13 Then except it can be proved that the sentence that passeth upon believing be according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace it will be in vain for to contend for that to be the first sentence of Life that is past upon an elect Person But I deny That believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt have Life or be Saved is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace it is a part of the New Testament Ministry but not the Tenour of the New Covenant Then seeing there is no Law given that can give Life Gal. 3.21 then prove that the Covenant of Grace i● conditional or grant that the ●●otence of Life is absolute or deny that the Justifying Sentence of Life passeth according to the Tenour of that Covenant and then it will lye upon you to prove by what Covenant we are Justifyed But leaving this that which I desire your answer to is these following Questions which I desire you would answer to each particular distinctly as you tender the Truth and the Glory of Christ and respect my good and the good of others by clearing up the Truth that the simplicity of the Gospel may be preserved by God's Special help and protection Question I. DID the Chosen of God which were loved with an everlasting and unchangable Love when they fell in Adam into Sin by the breach of the Law equally with others Did they then come under the same condemning Power of the Law and under the same Curse and Wrath of God equally with the non-elect whilst on Earth If not the very same shew where it differs and then it may be we agree in the main though differ in expressions But if the very same Then Question II. HOW can they be under the Curse and Wrath of God and suffer here on Earth in that state as the effects of Sin and consequently of the Curse whilst under it and not penal as part of the punishment due to Sin Though not Hell it self yet something of the same Nature though not the same degree because not under the Justifying sentence of Life past in the New Covenant Therefore the Curse of Afflictions not taken away they are no corrections in a Covenant way but properly punishment in Wrath as taken in a strict Sense Then Question III. HOW can this stand with that perfect atonement made by our high Priest's own Oblation or doth it not exceedingly derogate from that perfect satisfaction he made to Justice and his compleat filling up the Law by Mediatorial Obedience Heb. 10. v. 10 12 14. and chap 9 v. 12.26 Again Question IV. DOTH not this imply a change in God for there is a mighty change some where that one that stands condemned in God's sight and under his Curse and Wrath having all his Sins

A very short and Brief ACCOUNT OF THE ●ree Justification of God's Elect From The Condemning Power of the Law by that ●aw Change of Persons flowing from an Eternal Act of Grace by way of Covenant Transaction between the Father and the Son which brought Christ as Mediator under the Curse and Condemnation of the broken Law in the very room and 〈◊〉 of elect Sinners ●●ereunto are added some Questions concerning this Point proposed to be answer●d by those that do so confidently affirm that the elect of God are equally with others under the same Condemning power of the Law before Faith 〈◊〉 a Member of a Church of Christ in the County of Essex 〈◊〉 8.32 33 34. He tha●●●pared not his own Son ●ut delivered him up for us all how shall he not with 〈◊〉 also freely give us all things Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect it is God that Justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea 〈◊〉 is risen again c. London Printed in the Year 1699. TO THE READER THat which hath occasioned the publishing this short Treatise about Justification to the World is this A ●oor Member of a Church of Christ in the Country having affirmed that God's ●ect were never under the condemning ●ower of the Law being chosen in Christ ●s the Elect Head and Mediator of a ●●ee and absolute Covenant of Grace to ●hem Thereupon some Arguments ari●ng this being by some condemned as ●ot agreeable to Scripture these following ●ines were offered to clear up the point ●esiring an answer again in Writing that 〈◊〉 the Truth might appear by an Ingeni●s and Loving answer to some objections ●hich being refused made it seem at least to me as though the Refusers of so re●sonable a proposition were conscious themselves that affirming the contra●● was more Grounded upon Authors th● upon any clear Scripture Proof Whi●● made them so shy of coming to the light God's Word to clear up their so oft affirmed assertions that the very Perso● of God's chosen ones were under Curse a●● Wrath and the condemning Power the Law Before believing equally wi●● the non-elect the refusing to vouchs●●● clear Scripture Proof for this opini●● hath occasioned the publishing these f●● following Lines humbly desiring that might please Almighty God to vindic●● and defend his own Truth on which 〈◊〉 soever it be found and plainly discover 〈◊〉 bring to light all mistakes of this Nat●●● Therefore read and try every sentence the unerring Word of God and the L●● the Spirit vouchsafe to give out his lig●● and special teachings in the diligent sea●● of the Holy Scriptures To our Brethren in Christ TO our loving Brethren in the Lord Grace and Truth be with you As I doubt not but that we ●hall meet another day with exceed●ng Joy at the right Hand of Christ so I desire we may contend as Brethren in a Holy and Reverential ●ear of God our Father and for his Truth only therefore I only desire you to prove your assertion That Justification in the sight of God's satis●ed Justice before Faith is not accord●ng to Scripture And in order thereto shall propose some Questions to be ●●swered distinctly that so we may ●ome to a right understanding of each ●ther and see wherein we do really ●gree or disagree and not continue 〈◊〉 contend about Words to no purose if we do mean the same thing but if not let it come to Light with-without any under-hand dealing And I pray God Almighty confound what is not of God let it lye on which side it is and I hope I shall trample under foot with abhorrance whatever I could be convinced of to be contrary to the mind of God and do sincerely desire to use all the means I can to attain the clearest discoveries thereof Therefore I shall first explain my meaning concerning God's eternal Justifiing Act in his own Breast Acting in a way of Justice and Grace Jointly in God yet pure Grace with respect to elect Sinners preventing them in a way of Grace from the dreadful effects that otherways would most necessarily attend their fall in Adam And that he might clear them from the Curse of the Law in a way of Justice Grace puts the Law into a Mediator Hand and though Grace intended no to prevent the elect from falling i● Adam into Sin equally with others yet that Grace might super-abound where Sin abounded there was a Lamb provided who by divine appointment should bear the whole Curse due to Sin with all the dreadful effects thereof This I shall explain in as few but in as plain words as I can express my self my meaning is this there was from all Eternity a fixed immutable Will in God never to punnish Sin nor to inflict the penalty of the Law up his Elect his Will was not to prosecute his right against them in a way of Justice 1 Thess 5.9 but to deal with them as Righteous in a Mediator a pure act of Grace by free Imputation 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 5.21 Eph. 1.4 God from all Eternity did Immutably Will and bequeath eternal Life to his chosen in Christ through the Blood of the everlasting Testament Mat. 26.28 Heb. 10.10 It plainly appears in this 10th Chapter to the Hebrews that it was the Will of God that Christ should be offer'd up a Sacrifice to Justice by the which Will of God them that he died for were set apart to Life which I take to be meant by sanctified because the Apostle is treating of Justification and Pardon of Sin by Christ's own offering as our high Priest besides it would look strange to say the Will or Decree of God that Christ should die for Sinners should sanctifie us Inherently when it can hardly be granted that the Decree should make that Law Change of persons that Frees the Elect from Curse and Condemnation and sets Christ under it in their room but I think Sanctified by God's Will or Decree is set apart to Life and through Christ's own offering as it respects the thing Willed the Purging away Sin with respect to its Guilt and Condemning Power in the sight of Justice Now God's Will as a Testament of Grace to Elect Sinners was an eternal going forth Micah 5.2 by way of Covenant Transaction between the Father and the Son as distinct parties though one in essence and eternal Grace as it respected the fall and breach of the Law so likewise it acted from Eternity in a way of Justice by a Mediator to stand in the Sinners Law place so that Justice as well as Grace was eternally pleased that elect Sinners should go unpunished and hereby stand compleat in the unchangeable favour of God that when the Law was broken by Adam as a Covenant Head it should be compleatly answered by a second Man or Adam as Mediator as the elect Head and surety of a free Testament by Grace this Decree or imminent Act of God's Will made that Law change of persons which

set Christ as Mediator under the Curse and Condemning power of the Law which other ways could hot have touched him and turns the Curse of the Law from the Law-breaking Sinner which otherways would take hold on all Sinners as such and so sets him under the sentence of Life in the Court of Grace by absolute promise Titus 1.2 which free and absolute sentence of Life takes hold on the Persons of God's chosen as early as the law sentence can take hold on the persons of those that have no Mediator Rom. 9. 11 13. This is the immediate effects of Christ's Mediatorship for the Elect and the pronounced or declared sentence of God's eternal Will thus with Respect to this eternal Transaction in a Covenant way we may understand these following Scriptures Prov. 8.23 Micah 5.2 Zac. 6.13 Eph. 3.11 2 Tim. 1.9 1 Pet. 1.20 Now whither you will please to call this Imminent and Internal Act of God's Will Justification or not yet let the thing it self be granted and so far we shall agree I desire not to differ about Words if we mean the same thing I suppose you take only the pronounced sentence into Justification that I own as it declares the fundamental Act according to which they stand Just if we differ not about the sentence it self for I reckon that all sentences of Court that are according to Justice are grounded upon some preceding Act which makes the sentence Just Therefore I shall take in both because the Righteous Judge of the whole Earth will never pronounce any Law-breaking Sinner Just but those which he makes Righteous in a Mediator according to this Sovereign Act of his Grace but I take it for granted that our difference I mean amongst those that are sound and Orthodox is not about the matter of our Justifying Righteous nor whither it is God only that Justifies through Christ nor whether it be by Grace excluding all manner of Works of the Law wrought in us or performed by us even the Act of believing it self as it is a Work of the Law though I could wish that were something better cleared as well as owned in words Therefore I shall pass these things and come to the very point and that is what Act of God it is that makes over the Righteousness of Christ as Mediator to an elect Person or gives him a Right to that Righteousness in the sight of God This I take to be fundamentally in the Sovereign Will of God in that Covenant Transaction between the Father and the Son there was a Grant unto our great Covenant-Head the Lord Jesus though he were purely God and had not then assumed our Nature yet he did personally exist and was a distinct Person from the Father from Eternity though of the same Nature and Essence And by Virtue of Eternal Covenant Transaction he was under an Obligation from all Eternity to take our Nature upon him as Abraham's Seed with a Special Eye to the Elect for he pass'd by the Nature of Angels and though it is true that he took Flesh Humane Nature yet he pass'd by the non-elect and on the Seed of Abraham he took hold that is of all Abraham's Spiritual Seed as he saith I and the Children thou hast given me The Apostle in that Second Chapter to the Hebrews Quotes that out of Isaiah and brings it to prove the Covenant Relation that was between Christ and the Elect and forasmuch as the Children were partakers of Flesh and Blood he likewise himself took part of the same by this Covenant Relation we became Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh as there is one Body as well as one Spirit by virtue of this Covenant Relation the elect only receive Life and quickenings from Christ as Head of the Covenant of Grace as the Father gave him to be Head to the Catholick or Universal Church the whole Body of election Eph. 1.22 23. and then it follows and you hath he quickened chap. 2. v. 1. Thus I have spoke in a few words something of that Union from whence flows Communion which doth not only precede Faith in order of Nature but in order of time also and by virtue of which we have the Spirit that works Faith in God's time from Christ as our anointed Head but to return by virtue of this Covenant Transaction he was likewise under an Obligation to bare all the Sins by way of charge and Imputation of all the elect in his own Body on the Tree as their Covenant Head and Mediator so he stood Ingaged by Covenant Contract from Eternity to answer for them to all the demands of Law and Justice John 10.18 This Command have I received of my Father and John 12.50 I know that his Command is Life everlasting The same Act of God's Grace that made our Sins to meet on Christ to Death as the wages of Sin brought his Mediatorial Righteousness upon the Elect to Life everlasting Rom. 5.21 chap. 6 23. By virtue of this Covenant Transaction it is made over to God's chosen by a free Testament of Grace in the Blood of the New Testament and comes upon them as a free gift of Righteousness Rom. 5.18 and we have Right to that Justifying Righteousness as held forth in the free and absolute promise as elect Persons being chosen in Christ as the elect head of this his free Testament and the Testament it self gives Right and the elect are heirs of promise as soon as they have a being not Natural Heirs by descent but Heirs by Grace for what is freer than Gift God made his Will in Eternity and bequeathed Eternal Life to his adopted Children that were predestinated to Son-ship acccording to the good pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 now this Testament of Grace in the Blood of Christ made known and Revealed by an absolute promise of Life Titus 1.2 taken from Gen. 3.15 this gives them right and makes them Heirs of the promise of Life and though the Blessings given in this Testament be in the Sureties Hand till the time apointed of the Father to be giving out successively at the several times appointed first the Spirit of Faith and then Sanctification gradually carried on and at last consummated in Glory therefore to make one Blessing thereof to be either Cause or Condition of the Rest would be very improper when all are but parts of the same free gift and that which gave them Right to one gave them Right to all that which gave them a Right to Faith before they did receive it gave them Right to Justifying Righteousness before they had Faith and that was thefree Testament it self in the Blood of Christ then here lieth the Right of elect Persons as such to Justifying Righteousness in the Will it self as being by that absolutely settled upon all the Heirs of promise by two Immutable things God's Promise and Oath and add to this the Testator's Blood and shews all is firm the elect have an Indefeasable Right and