Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A42449
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The apostles Paul and James reconciled in the point of justification, and the controversies about it among Christians amicably composed
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Gataker, Charles, 1614 or 15-1680.
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1670
(1670)
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Wing G304A; ESTC R216435
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8,334
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The Apostles Paul and James reconciled in the Point of Justification and the Controversies about it among Christians amicably composed 1. Solâ side nos justificari Doctriâ—a est saluberrima ac consolationis plenissima Anglic. Confess art 11. Verum id tamen non imus inficias justificari nos etiam ex operibus ut D. Jacobus dixit rependit enim Deus unicuique secundum sua opera Et non qui legem audiunt sed qui faciunt justificabuntur Rom. 2. Sed ista nostri justificatio id est ultima vitae aeternae adjudicatio exhibitio nascitur pendet ex justificatione fidei ex qua ipsa opera bona proveniunt habent id ut licet ex se nihil minus valeant vitam aeternam nobis mereantur Inde sane quod per fidem jam Deus nos inter filios suos habet nostra ex ejus Spiritu patrata opera ipsi tanti sunt tantaque compensare mercede dignatur Bucer Cont. Episcop Abrinceus pag. 54. EVangelical Justification is considerable two ways as a Gift and as a Reward Considered as a Gift so it is absolutely free and freely given of God in Christ by the Gospel and we thro Faith and through Faith only do thankfully siducially obediently and constantly receive it and so from the nature of the thing it becomes ours This I think is Paul's meaning Rom. 3.28 11.6 Ephes 2.8 9. 2. Considered as a Reward so also it is absolutely free of Grace and not of Debt yet it is conferred upon none but the penitent the faithful the regenerate the Lovers of God and his Saints the fruitful in good Works the godly in Christ Jesus and these are evangelically worthy of it because of God's Promise in Christ This I think is James's meaning Rom. 4.4 Jam. 2.21 24. Rom. 2.6 11 16. 3. Both Apostles mean Justification before God and by it they understand the Absolution of one who hath sinned from all his Sins and from eternal Curse and Damnation for the same In this only they differ Paul considers God as a Donor as infinitely good and gracious to some and not to others to Abel and Peter and not to Cain and Judas And so the sum of his Doctrine is plainly this That the whole of a Sinner's Justification Pardon Adoption and Salvation from first to last is from the meer Grace and Mercy of God in Christ by the Gospel through Faith and through Faith only as distinct from precedent to the cause of and inseparably connexed with Sanctification and good Works Mat. 13.11 Joh. 10.28 Ephes 1.3 4. 4. James considers God as a Judg infinitely just and righteous and passing Sentence upon Men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel without out respect of Persons And so the sum of his Doctrine is clearly this That God as he is the Judg of all the World by Jesus Christ cannot but 〈…〉 for ever difference between the righteous and the wicked the penitent and the impenitent the faithful and the faithless the Lovers and Haters of God and his Saints the fruitful in good Works and the fruitless the obedient and disobedient by loving delighting in approving pardoning and glorifying the one of his meer Grace and Goodness because of his own holy Oath and Covenant in Christ by hating abhorring disapproving cursing and damning the other of Debt and due Desert because of their Sins persisted in and never truly repented of by rendring to both according to their Works Gen. 18.25 5. According to Paul Justification and Pardon of Sin as a free Gift in Christ received by Faith is antecedent to and by gracious necessity the cause of all our holy Love and therefore the more is forgiven us the more we love but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little Luk. 7.47 6. According to James not only Faith but also Love hope in God's Mercy filial Fear hatred of Sin heavenly Knowledg forgiving others their Trespasses against us and the like Evangelical Vertues and Graces these are antecedent to and by gracious necessity prepare and make us meet for and capable of pardon of Sin Justification before God Adoption and right to eternal Salvation as a Reward of Grace assured by God's holy Oath and Covenant in Christ to Persons so and so qualified Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons But in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Act. 10.34 35. 7. According to Paul no Sinner while unpardoned and liable to eternal Damnation A holy Sin-hating God engaged in Justice to damn the Sinner is not such an Object as a guilty Soul can love Mr. Baxter's Life of Faith p. 218. can sincerely love God Fear and flee from him as his righteous and terrible Judg he may and needs must but love and draw nigh to him with filial Reverence as his gracious God and reconciled Father in Christ he cannot But as soon as we are by God's Grace and Mercy in Christ through Faith freely pardoned all our Sins and by the same Faith perceive that so we are then we cannot but by sweet and blessed necessity love God resign our selves to his Will and be sincerely obedient to him in all things In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. That is as I conceive Pardon of Sin and Justification through Faith in Christ is antecedent and fealing with his holy Spirit whereby is meant Assurance and Sanctification is by gracious necessity consequent and so they are related and as related they are by nature together without all possible Priority 8. According to James no ungodly and impenitent Person while such is capable of Pardon of Sin and Evangelical Justification it is a Contradiction to the eternal Nature of the holy just and good God to pardon and justify a Sinner in his Ungodliness and set his Conscience free from eternal Guilt and Condemnation before and without heavenly Repentance and there cannot be heavenly Repentance without Faith Hope Love and Participation of the Divine and Godly Nature For what Fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness And what Communion hath Light with Darkness And what Concord hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 15. The penitent Thief upon the Cross who was pardoned justified and saved as at the last Gasp yet was he not without good Works in the sight of God For together with Faith he had Hope Love filial Fear hatred of Sin godly Sorrow for it penitent Confession earnest Prayer giving Glory to Christ Meekness Patience holy Submission to God's Will compassionate wise and faithful Reproof towards the other Thief wise care for his own Soul and all other heavenly Graces and Vertues necessarily comprized in Regeneration and being a new Creature 9. According to Paul we must first receive from God before we can return any thing to him worthy his Acceptance For all