Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 1 · Chapter 11 · Conclusion 8 – Conclusion 9
8. Conclusion.
Antinomians hold aTowne all. 7… ▪ 77, 78.that a justified man is perfect and free from sin both in person and works, as if he were bSaltmarsh. free grace. 140.in heaven, and that the cEaton honey combe. …. 11.322.323.324. &c.naturall, civill, and religious works of beleevers are made perfect in the sight of God. Then must they perfectly keep the Law, and Christ must make our good works exactly conforme to the Law, what can hinder us then to be justified by works? Randal the Antinomian and Familist, said dRandel Preface to the Bright-star. Lu…her never dreamed beleevers to bee perfect as Antinomians think.These are ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth, who say, That perfection is not attainable in this life ▪ So Bullinger l. 1. c. 8. tells of the fourth sort of Anabaptists in his time, that said they could not sinne, and the Church was without spot and wrinckle, they left out in the Lords prayer, Forgive us our sinnes: and said we are justified by workes, and could keep the Law perfectly. Sure Luther denyes the beleevers to be perfect in this life.
eLuth. tom. 1. f. 65.Say not, I am perfect, I cannot fall, but be humble and fear, thou▪ that stands to day, mayst fall to morrow.
fLuth tom 4. f. 343.Luther So is the life of a Christian, that he who hath begun, may seem to have nothing; therefore Paul saith, I beleeve not that I have apprehended, Phil. 3. because nothing is more pernitious to a faithfull man, then that presumption as if he had apprehended it, and there were no need to seeke; so many make defection, and whether through security and negligence. So Bernard, to stand in the way of God is to goe backe, then to him that is be-back, then to him that is begun to be a Christian, this remaineth, to esteem himself, not a Christian, but to seek to be a Christian. A Christian is not at his end, but in his way, that he may glory with Paul, I am not, but I desire to be, and as many of us as are perfect, let us remaine in this rule, — then he that is a Christian, is no Christian, that is, he that beleeveth he is made a Christian▪ when he is to be made a Christian — we endevour toward heaven, we are not in heaven: so he is already in heaven who indevours toward heaven, because God counts him to be in heaven. — woe to him that is wholly renewed that is, who beleeveth he is renewed. Then woe to Towne, Saltm…rsh, for these, that are as free from sin as Christ, must be perfect.
gLuther to. 3. in Gen. f. 2. in c. 25. Patience required that sin dwell in us.Luther, The minde of man, when it is in temptation and danger, with difficulty rests on this consolation, for thus it doth perpetually complaine: What shall be done? when shall it be done? where shall it be done? I answer then, wait on, wait on, if it be longer deferred, and the mind ask againe, when shall it be? say thou, I have no other advice, but that thou indure and wait on longer, one, two, three years, he that commeth will come, and will not …arry.
eLuth. tom. 1. f. 65.Luther. Ne dicas ego perfectus sum, non possum labi, sed humiliare, et time: ne hodie stans, cras cadas.
fLuth tom 4. f. 343.Luther. Sic est vita Christiana, ut qui caeperit, sibi videatur nihil habere, sed tendit & pergit ut apprehendat: unde Paulus: non arbitror me apprehendisse Phil. 3. quia re vera nihil pernitiosius est homini fideli quā ista praesumptio, quasi apprehenderit, & opus quaerendi non sit, hinc etiam multi relabuntur & marcessunt securitate & ignavia. Sic Bernardus: Stare in viâ Dei est retrogredi, quare qui caepit esse Christianus, hoc restat, ut cogites, so nondum esse Christianum, sed quaerere, ut fiat Christianus, ut cum Paulo possit gloriari: non sum, sed cupio esse—Christianus, non est in facto▪ sed in fieri— igitur qui Christianus est, non Christianus est, hoc est, qui se putat Christianum factum, cum sit tantum facien…us Christianus — tendin…us in coelum, non sumus in coelo. — Vae illi qui jam totus renovatus est, id est qui putat sese esse renovatum, ille absque dubio non caepit renovari, nec unquā gustavit quid sit esse Christianum, &c.
gLuther to. 3. in Gen. f. 2. in c. 25. Patience required that sin dwell in us.Luther, Animus humanus quando est in tentatione & periculo, difficulter hâc consolatione acquiescit: sic enim perpetuo a… gi & quaeri solet. Quid fiet? Quando fiet? Vbi fiet? Respondeo igitur: exspecta, exspecta. Quodsi longius differtur & rursus quaerit, non habeo aliud, quod consula…, inquies quam ut …era… et exspectes amplius annum unum, duos tres, veniens, veni… & non tardabet.
hSaltm. …re grace 140.Saltmarsh and ITowne asser. gr. 15….157▪ 158.159.Town, teach contrary to this, a beleever wanteth nothing (say they) of heaven in this life, but beleeve he is in heaven, and he is not saved by hope, but hath heaven already in this life.
kLuther tom. 4 f. 63.Luther, Grace doth not so change the godly, that it maketh them in all things new and perfect. Many things are purged, especially the very head of the Serpent, unbeliefe▪ ignorance of God is loved, but the scally body, and the reliques of sin remaine in us.
mLuther tom▪ 2. f. 432. Sin rageth more in the godly then in the wicked.Luther, Sin in the Saints not onelyonly hath being, life, will, operation, fighting, but also it robs and leads captive, yea, (which is a greater wonder) it rages like a madde man, more in the godly, then in the wicked.
nLuth. tom 2▪ f. 434. How sin pardoned is no sin.Luther, It is one thing to speak of God incarnate, or man made God, and another thing of God and man simply, so sin out of the element of grace is one thing, and sin in grace another, as you may imagine, grace, or the gift of God made sinlesse, and sin graced, so long as we are here, so that because of grace sin shall not be sin.
kLuther tom. 4 f. 63.Luther, Gratia non …ic mutat pios, ut per omnia reddat novos & perfectos. Multa quidem purgantur, praecip… autem ipsum caput serpentis, i… credulitas & ignorantia Dei praeciditur & conteritur, sed squamosum corpus & reliquia pec…ati manent in nobis.
mLuther tom▪ 2. f. 432. Sin rageth more in the godly then in the wicked.Luther, Peccatum in sanctis non solum est, non solum vivit, non solum vult, non solum operatur, non solum repugnat▪ sed etiam furit, & captivat: Imo quod mireris, in impiis non sic furit.
nLuth. tom 2▪ f. 434. How sin pardoned is no sin.Luther, Aliud est de Deo incarnato, vel homine Deifica…o loqui, & aliud de Deo & homine simpliciter. Ita aliud est peccatum extra gratiam, aliud in gratia, ut possis imaginari gratiam …eu donum Dei esse impeccatificatum, & peccatum gratificatum, quamdi… hic sumus, ut propter donum & gratiam, peccatum, jam non peccatum sit.
If Antinomians would learn: Luther hath a necessary mystery in this, for he meaneth, that sin is exceeding sinfull in its own element, in a wicked man, being not pardoned in Christ, in him sin is sin, but sin in a beleever, though it keep still the nature of sin, (justification destroyeth not, nor removeth (as Antinomian, ignorantly dream) sin in its nature: but onelyonly in its guilt, or actuall condemnation) yet in a beleever, sin is made as it were sinlesse or no sin, in regard that sin in them is lustered and graced with pardon, and so leaveth off to be sin-condemning, and cursing, as it is in the wicked.
oLuther to. 4. f 173.Luther, Libenter (in credente) Spiritus vellet totus esse purus: sed caro conjuncta illi non permittit.
pLuth. tom. r. in Gen. c. 3. f 57Frustrà exspec…amus in hâc vitâ perfectionem hanc, ut toti justi simus, ut Deum perfectè diligamus, &c.
qLuther to. 4. f 404·Luther, David fatetur Spiritum sanctum se habere, sed nondum perfectè aut totum, sunt enim tantum primitiae Spiritus.
rLuther to. 4. in Gen. c. 42. f. 96.Luther, Haec propria scientia Christianorum est, scire …se in peccatis natum esse, idque in carne haerere usque ad mortem, nec posse nos ab eo perfectè liberari & mundari nisi per mortem, vermes & ignem extremum.
oLuther to. 4. f 173.Luther, Gladly would the Spirit in the beleever be wholly pure, but the flesh conjoyned therewith will not permit it.
pLuth. tom. r. in Gen. c. 3. f 57In vain look we for perfection in this life, that we should be all just and love God perfectly, and our neighbour as our self.
qLuther to. 4. f 404·Luther, David acknowledgeth that he hath the holy Spirit, but not perfectly: or in whole, for they be but the first fruits of the Spirit.
rLuther to. 4. in Gen. c. 42. f. 96.This is the proper knowledge of Christians to know that they are borne in sin, and that it sticks in the flesh to death, and that we cannot be freed and purged perfectly therefrom, but by death, the worms and the last fire.
Luther taught that the Jewes were iustified by faith as wee are, the Antinomians say the contrary.9 Conclusion.
Luther is farre from denying remission of sins, and that compleat and actuall to the Jews under the Law, or any way of Justification to them by the Law, but by faith in Christ, as we are justified and saved.
sLuth. tom. 2▪ …5.Luther, ipse Moses & qui sub eo fuerunt, non sunt justificati ex lege: JustiJustitia enim non est facere legem, sed credere pr…mittenti Deo.
tLuther to. … ▪397.Luther Peccatorum remissio omnibus …aeculis fuit eadem; Christus autem heri & hodie idem est etiam in saecula: illi igitur fiduciâ Christi venturi, nos fiduciâ Christi exhibiti, passi glorificati salvamur, & remissionem peccatorum consequimur.
wLuther to. …, 413.Holaca…s…a in lege a sanctis & justis exhibita eo sine off…rebantur: non ut justificarentur per ea, sed ut testarerentur se accepisse misericordiam — sic bos immolatus est testis gratiae, seu ut ita dicam, operaria vox gratitudinis, seu gratitudo manualis, quâ manus effundit gratitudinem, tanquam realibus vocabulis.
Christum illi crediderunt futurum, nos scimus eum exhibitum & abiisse ad patrem ut pararet nobis mansiones, &c.
yLuther tom. … ▪ in Gen. c. 13▪ f. 35.Vidit Abraham diem Christi, Joh. 8. sed vidit in fide & Spiritu tantum.
zLuther …. … ▪ 523.Idem Christus eademque fides ab Habel ad finem mundi per varia …aecula regnavit in electis.
sLuth. tom. 2▪ …5.Luther, Moses himselfe, and those that were under him, were not justified by the Law, for righteousnesse is not to doe the Law, but to beleeve God promising.
tLuther to. … ▪ 397.There was the same Remission of sins in all ages. Christ is the same to day, yesterday, and the same for ever, they were saved and justified by faith in Christ to come, we by faith in Christ come, suffering, glorified.
Luther saith, tom. 1. p. 529. Non facta sed fidem patrum imitemur, let us follow not the deeds, but the faith of the Fathers.
wLuther to. …, 413.Luther, burnt offerings were not for justification, but a sacrificed Oxe was a witnesse of grace, and to speak so a working voyce of thankfulnesse, or an handy or manuall gratitude, by which the hand powred out thankfulnesse by reall words.
They beleeved in Christ to come, we know he is come, and gone to the father to prepare dwelling places for us.
yLuther tom. … ▪ in Gen. c. 13▪ f. 35.Luther; Abraham saw Christs day in faith, and the spirit onelyonly.
zLuther …. … ▪ 523.Luther, the same Christ, the same faith from Ab…l to the end of the world, and did reigne in divers ages of the world.
Antinomians, as Den, Crisp, Saltmarsh, Del, deny any heart-Reformation▪ true conversion to God, actuall remission of sins, and of all sins, or free justification by free grace in a Gospel-way, to the Jews under Moses, as we are justified, and saved under the Messiah, and make the promises and covenant of grace, with Papists, and S…inians, to differ in substance and nature from our Gospel-promises and free covenant, as if their law tutory, Gal. 4. had varied the way of Justification and salvation to them, and to us.