Antinomian heresy exploded: in an appeal to the Christian world; against the unscriptural doctrines, and licentious tenets of Mr. James Relly: advanced in his treatise of union, &c. By W. Mason:

CHAP. III.

The Antinomian Heresy of Christ's Faith being counted for Righteous|ness, refuted. The Scripture Doctrine of Justification by Faith, explained and desended. The Nature and Effects of a true Gosp•••• Faith in the Heart and Life of Christ's Members, proved from Scripture, in Opposition to loose and licentious Principles and Pro••|tices.

HAving in the last Chapter considered, and I hope refuted, th•••• unscriptural Position, that Unbelievers have eternal Life give•• them in Christ, as fully as those who believe. I would lay before m••

Reader another of this Author's Tenets, equally as absurd, ridiculous, ••••d unscriptural. Page 124, he asserts, that Believers are not ju|••••ified by Faith wrought in them, but by Christ's believing for them. Thus he says

"this Text, Rom. iv. 5. to him who worketh not, but be|••••veth on him that justifieth the Ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righ|••••••usness; "shews us, that Christ's Faith is counted for Righteousness, to all such, who working not, believeth on him as justifying the Ungodly."

Amazing Discovery indeed! Singular and unparallelled this Observation! According to this Gloss, here are two Believers in|tended by the Apostle, Christ and the Sinner, and Christ's Faith in|stead of Christ's Righteousness, counted for Justification. But can any Man of common Sense and Understanding, rather can any Christian who has been taught the Truth as it is in Jesus, receive and admit such strange and extravagant Flights of Fancy, for solid Scripture Truths? Surely not.

Christ's Faith counted for Righteousness! no more than the Crown of Thorns or purple Robe which was put on Jesus in the Day of his Humiliation and Suffering, is counted for Righteousness. Who is it that justifieth the Ungodly? it is GOD, saith St. Paul. What is the procuring Cause of Justification? the perfect Righteousness, and spotless Obedience of Jesus, who is the Surety for Sinners, and in their Nature, and on their Account, hath fulfilled all Righteousness, and yielded full Satisfaction to divine Justice, and this is reckoned, counted, and imputed to every convinced Sinner who believeth on Jesus with his Heart unto Righteousness, as the Scriptures testify, Rom. x. 10. Hence GOD is said to be just, and the Justifier (of whom?) of him who believes in Jesus, Rom. iii. 26. This is the plain Sense and Meaning of this Text. That the Phrase, his Faith, hath no other Antecedent, but him, of whom the Apostle saith, He worketh not, but believeth, is clear. And therefore this can have no Relation to Christ, but to him who believes, and works not to obtain Life: For this I appeal to every one who hath common Understanding to read.

This Author is pleased to tell us next,

"that Antichrist says you are justified by your own Faith, which will produce Righteousness in you to evidence it."

This is a bold Assertion indeed! A severe, if not a blasphemous Censure, not only levelled against the Writings of the inspired Penmen, but also falls upon the Person and Doctrine of the Lamb of GOD himself, who spake as never Man spake, who taught the Doctrines of Repentance, Faith and Holiness, as absolutely necessary to eternal Glory. Now Faith is spoken of and described in Scripture, not as any Work of Man, but as the Gift of GOD,

wrought in the Heart of a Sinner by the Grace and Power of his Spirit. And therefore, as the Sinner is the Subject who possesses it, and as the Heart is the Seat of it, so in this Sense, it may be called our own Faith: As any Gift, which is freely bestowed, may pro|perly be called, the ••••ceiver's own, both as to Propriety of Pos|session, as well as in the Use, Comfort and Advantage which arises from it.

Thus in Scripture, this Phrase, justified by Faith, frequently occurs, Rom. v. 1. Being justified by Faith, &c. chap. iii. 28. we conclude, a Man is justified by Faith, &c. Now I can't suppose my Reader to be so void of common Understanding, as to imagine that in these, or Scrip••ures of like Import, the Writers ever meant any Faith but what the Sinner partakes of, and possesses in his own Heart. O•• when we are said to be justified by Faith, it is meant, that we are justified for Faith, as though it was the meritorious or procuring Cause of Justification in the Sight of GOD. No, that is effected by the perfect Righteousness, Sacrifice and Blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus only: And this being revealed, published, and declared by the Gospel, as the only Refuge for lost and perishing Sinners to fly to. That ungodly Sinner, who is convinced of Sin, and is en|abled to have Recourse to this Method, who trusts in, relies upon, and by Faith receives, applies, and appropriates Jesus Christ to his Soul, is thereby enriched with all the Privileges of the Gospel; viz. Justification, Pardon, Peace, Holiness, and Salvation: just as a Person is enriched by receiving any valuable Gift. So this Gift of Righteousness, which is by Jesus Christ, is apprehended and received by Faith, and is unto all, and upon all them who believe: They are delivered from the Guilt of Sin, freed from the Condemnation of the Law, and Righteousness is imputed to them through Faith: And thus in a sound, Scripture Sense, Christ's People are actually justified by Faith, as respecting, looking to, and receiving the Righteousness of Christ Jesus. But every Soul who is destitute of this Faith in Jesus, is in a State of Wrath, and under the Sentence of Condemnation by the just and holy Law of GOD. And surely, that Soul who is possessed of this precious Faith, 2 Pet. i. 1. This Faith of GOD's Elect, can|not, will not, dare not depreciate or despise it, lest he should there|by only lightly esteem the Gift, and do Despite to the Author and Finisher of Faith, which is Jesus. But no Wonder, that through the Blindness of the Understanding, and the Hardness and Impenitence of the Heart; those who are Strangers to this heavenly Gift, should deny its Existence, and explode the holy and blessed Effects which

as the Scripture abundantly testify do flow from it. None but such Persons would dare to assert that

"Antichrist says, you are justi|fied by your own Faith, which will produce Righteousness in you to evidence it."

Sure I am, from the Word of GOD; that Faith which doth not produce any Fruits of Righteousness, and true Holi|••••s to evidence it, is not only an Antinomian Fancy, but an antichri|••••••an Delusion, begotten by Ignorance and Error, nourished and sup|ported by vain Confidence and Delusion, at the expence of Truth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perventing the Word of GOD. Wilt thou know, O vain Man, that Faith without Works is dead? James ii. 20.

Faith is described by St. Paul, as the Substance of Things hoped for, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Evidence of Things not seen, Heb. ii. 1. for it gives Subsistence to, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Reality in the Minds of Believers, of those Things which Unbe|••••••vers know nothing of: It is the Evidence to the Souls of the Faith|ful, of those Blessings and Comforts which he who believeth not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no Conception of: Such as the Pardon of Sin, the Love of GOD 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abroad in the Heart, Peace of Conscience, Joy in the Holy Ghost, &c. As the Love of GOD the Father is evidenced in the Gospel, by the Gift of his Son Jesus Christ, for the Salvation of lost S••••••ers; so the Evidence that any Sinner hath of this Love to his own Soul, is by Faith. Therefore it is said by St. Peter, to you who be|••••ve, Christ is precious, 1 Pet. ii. 7. For though Jesus is described 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Word, as altogether lovely in his Person, desirable in his Offices, and precious in his Work of Salvation; yet it is by Faith he is known and received, so as to be esteemed, loved and admired to the Saints Comfort, Justification and eternal Salvation. Hence, to as ••••ny as received him (saith St. John) to them gave he Power to become ••••e Sons of GOD, even to them who believe on his Name, John i. 12. ••nd that Sinners might believe in him, and receive Justification and ••ife through him, he again testifies, John xx. 31. These Things are ••••itten, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of GOD, ••••d that believing, ye might have Life through his Name. And our ••ord asserts, he that believeth, is passed from Death unto Life.

I have cited these few Passages from holy Writ, to shew the happy ••••te, and rich Privileges which Sinners are brought into, and invested ••ith through Faith. They are passed from Death to Life, enjoy the ••ower or Privilege of being the Sons of GOD, and receive Life from ••••sus. Whereas, before they have obtained precious Faith, and know ••e Truth, their State is described by the Apostle, as being without ••••rist, Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, having no Hope, and ••••••••out GOD in the World, Eph. ii. 12. And why is it that GOD's

People are thus highly favoured? but, because GOD, of his sove|reign Grace hath been pleased to connect their Holiness and Hap|piness with his own Glory: and it is through Faith these inestimable Blessings are communicated to the Soul; and therefore all those who are the Children of GOD by Faith in Christ Jesus, are called to serve GOD without Fear, in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the Days of their Life. They are concerned to glorify GOD in their Body and Spirit: And it is the Command of their Saviour that they should let their Light so shine before Men, that they may see their good Works and glorify their Father who is in Heaven, Matt. v. 16. Hope and Love are inseparable from true Faith. Who can love GOD, but those who believe the Love of GOD toward them in Christ Jesus•• We love GOD because he first loved us, 1 John iv. 19. And this is the Love of GOD, that we keep his Commandments, chap. v. iii. From Faith in Jesus springs Hope, the Hope of seeing and enjoying GOD, which hath a cleansing Efficacy: For, every one who hath this Hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure, 1 John iii. 3. Thus there is a sweet Connection between the Work of Faith, the Labour of Love, and the Patience of Hope. The Members of Jesus find it so. To him who believeth, all Things are possible. To him that loveth, all Things are easy, for GOD's Commandments are not grievous: A••d Hope is as an Anchor to the Soul, both sure and stedfast, whereby it is saved from splitting on the Rocks of unchristian Libertinism, pre|served from being swallowed up by the Quicksands of Antinomian Licentiousness; and by patient continuing in Well-doing, is look|ing for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus, unto eternal Life.

Such are the natural Fruits, such the genuine Effects, such the certain Evidence of a vital, operative, victorious Faith in Christ. Say ye Happy, because believing Members of Christ; ye, who rely on the Atonement of his Blood, for the Pardon of your Sins, and con|side in the Righteousness of Jesus for your Justification, say, doth not this Belief excite the most irreconcileable Abhorrence of all Un|godliness? Doth not this Faith most powerfully incite to evangelical Obedience, to all Holiness of Life and Practice?—As in the la•••• Days Scoffers will come, saith the Apostle, walking after their own Lusts, I would stir up your pure Minds by way of Remembrance; for Beloved,

Hath GOD from the Beginning chosen you to Salvation? it i•• through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth, 2 Thes ii. 13.

Are ye called in Time? it is with a holy Calling, that as he which hath called you is holy, so should ye be holy in all Manner of Conversation, 1 Pet. i. 15.

Hath Christ given himself for you? it was that he might redeem you from all Iniquity, and also purify you unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works, Titus ii. 14. that ye being dead to Sin, should live unto Righteousness.

Are you GOD's Workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus? it is unto good Works, which GOD hath before ordained that you should walk in them, Eph. ii. 10.

Do you know the Gospel of the Grace of GOD in Truth? it teacheth you to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present World, Titus. ii. 12.

Hath GOD given unto you exceeding great and precious Promises? it is, that you should c••••a••se yourselves from all Fil••hiness of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holiness in the Fear of GOD, 2 Cor. vii. 1.

Are you united to Jesus, and become one with him as the Branch is with the Vine? herein is your heavenly Father glorified, that ye bear much Fruit, John xv. 8.

Do you abide in Christ as Members of his mystical Body? He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk even as Christ also walked, 1 John ii. 6. The Head, JESUS, hath left his Members an Example that they should follow his Steps.

Are you become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ, and are you married to Jesus by Faith? it is to this very End that ye should bring forth Fruit unto GOD, Rom. vii. 4. Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ; Fruit unto Holiness, and your End shall be everlasting Life.

Thus is Jesus glorified in his believing Members. His Gospel is adorned by them. Gratitude to GOD for his Grace, is expressed. fellow Creatures and fellow Christians are profited. And thus, a holy, precious Faith in the Hearts of GOD's Elect, is proved to be an operative Grace, is attended with the Fruits of Righteousness, evi|denced by good Works, and made perfect b•• them, James ii. 22. in Contradistinction to unfruitful Notions in the Head; meer carnal and unscriptural Ideas of Union, the Creature of Fancy, or the Whim of the Imagination, which leaves its Professors in the Possession of a Dead Faith, productive of no Fruit to the Glory of GOD, no Good ••o Man, nor to those who rest in it is it of any avail, unless to ••••ar the Conscience, and lull it into a fatal Security; nor can it •••• attended with any Advantage, but, with an awful Disappoint|ment

to such who are satisfied with it, in that Day when GOD shall judge the Secrets of all Hearts by Jesus Christ.—But there is not wanting a Cloud of Witnesses, as an incontestible Proof of the Nature and Evidences of a true Faith, and that by it, the Worthies of Old wrought Righteousness, &c. their Names and their Works stand on Record in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews, as a stimulating Example to all succeeding Believers, and as a Contrast to all carnal, dissolute and licentious Professors of the Religion of the Bible.

Thus in full Contradiction to this Author's whimsieal Notion of Union, the Scriptures abundantly shew and declare, what is the Nature of a real, vital Union of Christ with Believers, by the Fruits and Ef|fects which result from it. And thereby fully refute the hardned impious Assertions of those, who count it Antichristian to insist on the Fruits of Faith. And surely, before any Person can imbibe this Author's Principles, he must attain some of his jesuitical Cunning, in cor|rupting the plain Sense of Scripture, in wresting and perverting the obvious Meaning of the Word of GOD, in order to support un|scriptural and unchristian Positions; and to the encouraging Licen|tiousness of Life and Conversation. St. Paul describes such Persons, as those who walk in the Vanity of their Minds, having the Under|standing darkened, being alienated from the Life of GOD, through the Ignorance that is in them, because of the Blindness of their Hearts; who being past Feeling, have given themselves over to work all Uncleanness with Greediness, Eph. iv. 18, 19. But of the real Members of Christ, true Believers, the Apostle gives a very different Description. But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be ye that have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jesus; that ye put off, concerning the former Conversation, the old Man, which is corrupt according to the de|ceitful Lusts; and be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind; and that ye put on the new Man which after GOD is created in Righteousness and true Holiness. ver. 20, &c.