Neonomianism Unmasked, To the reader 1
Some of the Paradoxes contained in the Neonomian Scheme.
1. SINS of the Elect are not forgiven immediately upon, nor meerly by Chriſt's Enduring Sufferings, but there were by Divine Appointment to interpoſe a Goſpel Promiſe, of Pardon, the Work of the Spirit, for a Conformity to the Rule of the Promiſe in the Perſon to be pardoned, and a Judicial Act of Pardon by that Promiſe on the Perſon thus conformed to the Rule thereof.
2. The Goſpel hath another Sanction to the Preceptive Part of the Law, than the Covenant of Works had: Though nothing be abated in the Rule of Sin and Duty, yet Bleſſings are Promiſed to Lower Degrees of Duty, and a continuance in a ſtate of Death with a Barr to the Bleſſing, are not threatned againſt every Degree of Sin as the Covenant of Works did.
3. This Change of the Sanction ſuppoſeth the Death of Chriſt, and his honouring the Law by his perfect Obedience, wherein God hath provided for his own Glory, while he promiſeth Life by Forgiveneſs to Imperfect Man, and yet inſiſts on ſome Degrees of Obedience, to which of his meer Grace he enableth us.
4. The [Degrees of Obedience] the Covenant of Redemption ſecures to the Elect, tho' the Grant therein is pleadable only by Chriſt as the ſtipulating Party for us; and our Perſonal Claim depends upon the Goſpel Covenant, whereof Chriſt is Mediator.
5. The Goſpel-Sanction determins as certain a Rule of Happineſs and Miſery as the Law of Works did, tho' it be not the ſame; for while it promiſeth a Pardon to all believing repenting Sinners, and declares a Barr to Pardon to the Impenitent Rejecters of Chriſt and Goſpel-Grace, it fixeth true Repentance and Faith unfeigned to be the Terms of Pardon.
6. When it promiſeth Heaven to the ſincerely holy perſevering Believer, it fixeth ſincere Holineſs and Perſeverance in Faith as the Terms of poſſeſſing Heaven.
7. Hence the uſe of Faith and Holineſs as to thoſe Benefits is not fron the Conformity to the Precept, but their Conformity to the Rule of the Promiſe.
8. Our applying Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and relying on it, would no more Juſtifie us, than our Holineſs would Save us, were it not for the Goſpel-Promiſe, God will juſtifie for Chriſt's ſake all ſuch as believe.
9. God in diſpenſing Goſpel-promiſed Bleſſings, doth judicially determine a Conformity to this Rule of the Promiſe. When he forgives, he judicially declares a Man hath true Faith; when he admits to Heoven, he judicially declares a Man ſincerely holy and perſevering.
10. The Wedding-Garment, Matth. 22.11. is true uniting Faith.
11. Forgiving, Adopting, Glorifying, and Conveyance of every Goſpel-Benefit given on God's Terms, are Judicial Acts of God as a Rector; if not, he doth blindly and promiſcuouſly diſpenſe them, without any regard to our being Believers.
12. With reſpect to what is declared, the Goſpel is a Law of Faith, and it eſpecially inſiſts on that Sincerity of Grace and Holineſs, which the Rule of the Promiſe makes neceſſary in it's Deſcription of the Perſon whom it makes Partaker of it's included Benefits.
13. The Merits of Chriſt are the Cauſe of this Goſpel-Ordination, his Righteouſneſs Imputed is the Cauſe for which we are Juſtified and Saved, when we do anſwer the Rule of the Goſpel.
14. The Righteouſneſs of God, Phil. 3.9. principally intends the Goſpel Holineſs of a Perſon juſtified by Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, both which by Faith in Chriſt all his Members ſhall be perfect in.
15. The Grace of God is hereby ſtated as free as is Conſiſtent with his Government and judicial rectoral Diſtribution of Rewards and Puniſhments.