the charge of God's Elect i.e. such of them that are called and are united to Jesus Christ for before that both Law and Justice could charge them It is God that justifieth who is he that shall condemn It is Christ that died Who can arrest impeach accuse find guilty and condemn such Object Perhaps some may say 1. The Devil may both accuse them and condemn them 2. Wicked Men may traduce and condemn them 3. And through Satan's Temptations such that are in Christ Jesus may accuse and condemn themselves Answ What of this For altho Satan wicked Men and their own Hearts may lay many things to their Charge and so pass a false Judgment upon them yet since God justifies them neither Law nor Justice can condemn them and none else can do it let all the Devils of Hell condemn them and all wicked Men on Earth nay tho many good Men should ignorantly accuse and condemn them as Job's three Friends dealt by him yet they stand justified Persons before God The Apostle doth not say there is no Sin in them which are in Christ Jesus nor any thing worthy or deserving Condemnation Nor doth he say there is no Affliction no Correction no fatherly Chastisements to them which are in Christ but there is no Condemnation 'T is one thing to be chastned and another to be condemned tho all Legal Guilt is for ever gone yet many Infirmities may attend such as are in Christ Jesus and tho God punisheth them not as an angry Judg yet he may correct them as an offended Father When we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World Tho God is not so severe and unjust to condemn them yet he is so wise so holy and so faithful as to correct them Now This Now refers as some think to what precedes others take it as an Adverb of Time i.e. in time past it was otherwise once they who are now in Christ Jesus were in the first Adam dead and condemned Adam and were under the Law and Children of Wrath by nature as others and so under the Sentence of Condemnation But now being transplanted into Jesus Christ or into the Second Adam they are actually freed and for ever acquitted and delivered from Condemnation as were all those also under the Law when they were in Christ which walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit These are the happy Persons and this is their Character that are in Christ Jesus Let me note here three things 1. Here is an account of their special Vocation They are in Christ Jesus 2. Here is implied their Justification There is now no Condemnation 3. Here is comprehended also their Sanctification who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Negatively They walk not after the Flesh they are not unsanctified or unholy Persons they lead not ungodly Lives they are not under the Power and Dominion of Sin nor carried away whither ever carnal Affections would lead them Affirmatively But after the Spirit they are influenced by the Holy Spirit they follow the Dictates of the Spirit tho there is Flesh in them much Corruption in them yet they walk not after the Flesh they resist Sin mortify Sin or have crucified Sin with the Affections and Lusts they walk in a holy course of Life and not as they did in times past they live according to the rule of the new Creature Note here by the way that negative Holiness is not enough we must not only forsake Sin but follow after Holiness and bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness not only cease from doing evil but learn to do well Therefore Wherefore look back to the precedent Chapters particularly to Chap. 7.25 I thank God through Jesus Christ tho I have a Body of Sin in me that makes me cry out and tho it be thus also with all Believers yet Christ hath delivered me and them from the Guilt the Power and Slavery thereof There is now therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not c. And as this therefore may look backward to what precedes so it may look forward to what succeeds ver 3. But first take notice of the 2d verse For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath delivered me from the Law of Sin and Death Brethren The Law of Sin and the Law of God are opposites now the remainders of Sin or indwelling Sin the Apostle calls in chap. 7. the Law of Sin and Death or the Law in the Members c. By the Law of Sin therefore is doubtless meant the Power and Rule of Sin God's Law is no where called the Law of Sin no God forbid The Law is holy just and good By the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ I understand the Root of all Grace in the Person of Christ which is made over to Believers by the Spirit in their mystical Union in which Sense Christ is not only made to us Wisdom and Righteousness but Sanctification also and Redemption Brethren of that fulness of Grace or of the Spirit which is in Christ we do not only all receive and Grace for Grace but the Grace and Spirit in him is ours as he is our Root or Head 'T is worthy to be noted that the Apostle brings in what he speaks in ver 2 and 3. to confirm what he speaks in ver 1. Yet I conclude what he speaks ver 2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus c. refers to what he speaks in the close of the 1st verse Who walk not after the Flesh c. And that in the 3d verse refers to the former part of the 1st verse For what the Law could not do c. The Law could not justify us acquit us discharge us from Condemnation but contrariwise through our inability to keep it that condemns us and so he illustrates and confirms his Consolatory Proposition of our free Discharge and Justification by Jesus Christ in ver 1. by that in ver 3. In the 2d verse the Spirit is set forth two ways 1. By the Subject in whom it is radically i.e. in Christ Jesus 2. By the Property i.e. it is the Spirit of Life which in our Union flows to us as Sap from the Root that so all the Branches in the True Olive might be made alive and bring forth Fruit to God or lead holy Lives So much as to the Parts Scope and Explanation of the Terms of our Text. From hence I shall observe this one Proposition viz. Doct. That all those that are in Christ Jesus or have obtained actual Vnion with him are justified Persons and for ever delivered from Condemnation In speaking to this Doctrine I shall I. By way of premise lay down four Propositions II. Shew you what it is to be in Christ or open the Nature of the Soul's Union with the Lord Jesus III.
past upon him as I have proved and upon all Men in him 2. An actual Curse or a Curse for all actual Sin which remains upon all whilst they abide under the Law for as many as are for the Works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them Thus by our actual Sins we were brought also under this Curse is evident Obj. But doth not Paul say Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law Ans 1. It appears such whom he hath redeemed c. were once under it and if they were delivered before they believed 't is necessary that such who assert that should assign the time when they were delivered Paul tells the Saints when they were delivered from Sin Guilt and the Curse being then made free from Sin Then when why when they believed and received Christ and his holy Doctrine and obeyed it from the Heart 2. It is evident that Paul speaks it of Believers even of such as had received the Spirit of Adoption and so could call God Father 3. The Price may be paid for the Redemption of Captives and yet they may not presently be delivered but may remain in Bondage in Slavery and lie in Chains A Surety may satisfy the Law for a Criminal or for a Debtor yea pay the utmost Farthing but he may notwithstanding lie under the Sentence of Death or remain in Prison for a time and not have his personal Discharge The Sacrifice may be offered up and an Atonement may be made but the Blood may not be sprinkled the slaying the Sacrifice is one thing and the sprinkling the Blood is another So the Atonement made for us by Jesus Christ which is the Price and meritorious Cause of our Redemption and Justification is one thing and our receiving the Atonement or the application of his Blood to our personal and actual discharge from Sin Guilt and Condemnation is another thing For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life We grant God was not only made reconcilable by the death of his Son but by his Death God was fully reconciled that is he received a full Satisfaction by that one Offering Faith adds nothing to the Merits of Christ's Blood or meritorious Sacrifice but it is by his Life by his Intercession that it is made effectual or efficacious unto us who pleads with God for the Spirit which he purchased also for his Elect that so the saving Benefits and Blessings might be applied to them And therefore the Apostle adds in the next verse And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement God hath as if Paul should have said through Christ's Intercession given us a free and personal Discharge purchased for us he hath given us Faith to receive the Atonement The particle Now hath its Emphasis denoting the Privilege of all such as believe and hence it is that we glory in Tribulation we are now actually acquitted and for ever delivered from Condemnation Sirs since the strict time of the laying down the Price of our Redemption was not the time when many of the Elect were actually acquitted and justified why should it be asserted to be the time when any of them were For those Believers that lived and died from Adam till Christ came were justified and went to Heaven before the Sacrifice was offered and the Atonement actually made the Father trusted the Son according to that holy Compact that was between them Christ covenanting and engaging that he would die for them And now as Adam received the Atonement when he believed and not till then so we when we are in Christ believe do receive the Atonement also and not before for at the same time and upon the same terms they under the Law received it we under the Gospel-Dispensation do receive it by Time I mean when they had and we have actual Union with Christ and believe or do receive the Spirit the Bonds of this Union Brethren tho all in the first Adam were fundamentally and representatively condemned in him his Sin being imputed so to all his Off-spring yet none are actually condemned until they actually exist and partake of his corrupt Nature So in the second Adam all the Elect were fundamentally and representatively justified in him his Righteousness being imputed so to all his Spiritual Seed or Off-spring yet none of them are actually and personally justified until they are united to him and partake of his Divine Nature Fifthly All Men the Elect as well as others are under Condemnation before Grrce or actual Union with Christ because it is positively said that he that believeth not is condemned and the Wrath of God abideth upon him The Law condemns him let him be who he will even every Soul that believes not savingly in Jesus Christ and it remains upon him because he believes not or because he continues in the first Adam in condemned Adam and is not transplanted into the second Adam Jesus Christ Nay and his Unbelief binds all his Sins and the Sentence upon him not believing is not the first Disease but it is the refusing the Remedy Those stung with fiery Serpents were mortally wounded that was their Disease and if any would not did not look up to the Brazen Serpent that was the reason they died in respect of their refusing the Remedy but their being stung was that which kill'd them So 't is Sin that is the breach of the Law of God which is the Disease and the Cause why Sinners perish all are condemned already and their refusing of Christ offered in the Gospel for their Cure aggravates their Sin and Condemnation and it leaves such that finally persist in Unbelief incurable for ever Sixthly All before they are in Christ are under Condemnation because the Holy Ghost frequently ascribes our actual or personal Justification to Faith and can't we read those Scriptures without offence or do any think they understand this Point better than Paul or the other Apostles Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God c. Therefore we conclude that a Man is justified by Faith c. Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ c. And again he saith That we might be justified by Faith In him all that believe are justified from all things c. He that believeth hath the Son and he that believeth not hath not the Son but the Wrath of God abideth on him Brethren Where is it said in the Scripture that any Person was justified that believed
A Medium betwixt two Extremes Wherein it is proved that the whole First Adam was condemned and the whole Second Adam justified Being a SERMON lately preached on Rom. 8.1 and now published to prevent the further Controversy in one main Point about Justification To which are added Reflections on some Passages in Mr. Clark's new Book called Scripture-Justification By BENJAMIN KEACH Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life LONDON Printed for Andrew Bell at the Cross-keys and Bible in Cornhill 1698. To the Reader MY preaching upon this Subject was occasioned by what I met with from a gracious Person 's mouth who is a Member of the Church under my charge who seemed very uneasy in her Communion because in my preaching she said tho I hold forth the Doctrine of free Grace and exalt Christ yet do positively maintain that the Elect are under Wrath or in a lamentable state before calling or before they are united to Christ by the Holy Spirit or are in a State of Vnion with him which might I fear be occasioned through a mistake of that Doctrine some in this City of late so much insist on viz. Justification and Vnion with Christ before the Spirit the bond of that Vnion is received not that any of our Brethren I hope that preach that Doctrine do believe that the Elect are not under the Sentence of Condemnation and Wrath while they abide in the first Adam tho I fear they do not so carefully distinguish as they ought between our Fundamental and Virtual Justification in Christ as our Head and Representative and our actual or Personal Justification when we are united to him And finding ill use made of that Doctrine I have been perswaded to publish the first Sermon I preached upon this occasion not knowing how far this Notion might spread amongst weak and unwary hearers and having some hope this may be through the Blessing of God a prevention of it One thing I cannot but bewail i.e. that because we may differ perhaps in some respect from that Doctrine before mentioned that we must therefore be charged with Arminianism which Error we abhor and any other that tends to becloud or darken the Doctrine of free Justification by Christ alone without Works or inherent Righteousness None have reason to think that I favour in the least the Arminian or Baxterian Errors considering what I have lately published on the great Doctrine of Justification in two Sermons on Rom. 4.5 which Doctrine I have farther confirmed in those Sermons preached from the Text this is grounded upon viz. Rom. 8.1 this being only the first in which the Nature of our mystical Vnion with Christ is opened and the sweet Consolation that flows therefrom to all Believers largly applied Reader just as this Sermon was going into the Press I met with Mr. Samuel Clark's new Book intituled Scripture-Justification and have made short Remarks on some things he hath said In a time of common Invasion every Man should take to his Arms they need not wait for Orders as one notes for by this Man's Doctrine all is struck at Some think the difference between us and others who are unjustly called Antinomians consists more in Words or Terms than otherwise and I hope it is so however if I differ from them in any thing I cannot help it I have here asserted what I in my Heart do believe and I shall leave it to the Censure of all my Brethren and others with my earnest Prayers that Love Vnion Humility and Charity may be more prest after which certainly is much wanting among us and remain thine to serve thee in the Gospel according to that small measure of Light and Ability received Horsly-down in Freemans-lane 〈…〉 Benja Keach SERMON I. ROM viii 1. There is now therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit IN this Epistle to the Romans the great Apostle of the Gentiles labours chiefly in the general to do two things First To establish the Saints to whom he wrote in the Doctrine of Justification by Christ alone Secondly To excite or stir up all justified Persons to Sanctification or Holiness of Life And That he might effectually do the first he in the three first Chapters discovers the dismal state of all both Jews and Gentiles as considered in the First Adam or the condition of every Soul by Nature and the weakness and insufficiency of the Law by reason of Man's Pravity to obtain Justification and eternal Life thereby insomuch that the Jews were in no better state than the Gentiles all being gone out of the way and the whole World become guilty before God But to revive their sinking Hopes he then displays the white Flag of Peace through the Free-Grace of God in Jesus Christ that tho the Law pronounces nothing but Wrath and Condemnation to every Soul of Man and also the remainders of Sin or the Law in our Members doth distress and sorely afflict Believers themselves yet he shews us that through Jesus Christ we have a blessed Victory over the Law of Sin and Death so that Sin cannot expose a true Believer to eternal Wrath and that the Law of God which holds all Unbelievers down under Guilt can no more oblige Believers to eternal Condemnation because Jesus Christ in our Nature hath answered all the Demands and born the Penalty thereof And from hence he brings in the Words of our Text as the profitable Use or Application of that Doctrine he had so well proved There is now therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit In my Text you have three Parts I. A Comfortable and Consolatory Proposition There is now no Condemnation c. II. A Description of the state of the Persons to whom this Cordial of Comfort belongs viz. To them which are in Christ Jesus III. The Character of the Persons or their Qualification or Property as to the frame of their Hearts and the course of their Lives viz. They walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Or you may consider the former part of the Text thus viz. I. The Subjects spoken of Them which are in Christ Jesus II. The Predicate or Privilege asserted viz. There is now no Condemnation We will consider the Terms There is no Condemnation i.e. no Sentence of Divine Wrath no eternal Punishment 1. God pronounceth them justified and acquitted and so for ever free from Condemnation 2. The Justice of God acquits them and hath nothing to lay to their charge they being in Christ Jesus 3. The Condemnation of the Law cannot reach them it can't hurt them because they are delivered from the Curse thereof None else have any Power Who shall lay any thing to