Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 2 · Chapter 70
CHAP. LXX. Faith not the onelyonly worke of the Gospel, as Antinomians say.
Saltmarsh Free grace, pa. 192.LEt us also try Saltmarsh his reasons, to prove his short way to heaven, and that its the onelyonly Gospel-worke to beleeve.
Salvation (saith he) is not a businesse of our working and doing, it was done by Christ with the Father. All our worke is no worke of salvation, but in salvation. Wee here receive all, not by doing any thing, that we may receive more, but doing because we receive so much, because we doe not that wee may be saved. And yet we are to doe as much as if we were to be saved, by what we doe, because we should doe as much for what is done already for us, and to our hands, as if wee were to receive it for what we did our selves.
Answ. 1. Here is no Argument. Christ hath done all by way of merit, and purchase of a perfect redemption; therefore wee are not to worke out our salvation, in feare and trembling, it followeth not.
2. It is most false, That we are to doe nothing in the Gospel, that we may receive more; Doing, because Christ hath redeemed and saved, not contrary, but sweetly subordinate to doing that wee may be possessed in the purchased Redemption.or, that we may be saved, but because we are saved; for these are not contrary, but sweetly subordinate. We doe because we are saved, and because wee are Redeemed, by merit, and Gospel-right, by hope and begun possession; therefore we are not to sow to the Spirit, that we may reape life aG…lat. 6.everlasting, it followeth not. Wee both worke because we have a crop, and that we may receive a crop. Servants are to serve their Masters not with eye-service, both because they have a Master in heaven, who hath saved them, and also in hope, bCol. 3.….to receive the reward of inheritance. Elders are to feed the flocke, because they are redeemed, and cIoh. 21.17.love their Redeemer; and because d1 Pet. 5.4.when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare, they shall receive a crowne of glory that fadeth not away; and because we are redeemed, we are e2 Ioh. 8.to looke to our selves, that wee lose not these things that we have wrought for, but that wee may receive a full reward: so our worke is both a worke of salvation, and a worke in salvation.
3. There is nothing falser, then that Antinomians are to worke as much, as if they were to be saved, by their working: for their working is arbitrary, not obligatory by any commandement, nor doe they sinne in not working. Let them in their conscience say, if they sinne, or can sinne. 1. being once justified; for sin is as cleane removed, in its nature and being, from the beleever, as from Christ, say the Antinomians. 2. If they sin in doing nothing after they are justified, if the immediate acting of the Spirit of love stirre them not to it; and therefore it is false, that they should doe as much for what is done, as if they were to receive life for doing; because they should not, non debent, they are not obliged to doe, when they doe not, nor are under any guilt for not doing. By this way: for to Antinomians there is no obliging Law, but God immediatly by his Spirit acting them to good, is all their Law.
Object. 2. This short worke; beleeve, and be saved, Paul telleth you. Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend to heaven? that is, to bring Christ from above, &c. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, &c.
Answ. We would not willingly make the way to heaven longer then Christ hath made it: Paul speaketh, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. of a Law-way that is long, wearisome, unpassible, as who would strive to climbe up to heaven, or to goe downe to the grave to fetch Christ from either heaven or hell. The Gospel-way sure is a sweet, easie, passible way, Beleeve, and be saved. Yet must we not fancie that the way is shorter then Christ hath made it,How the way to heaven is sweet and easie, yet not so short as …ntinomians say. and that it is not a puzling worke to flesh and bloud. Saltmarsh with his Antinomians maketh it but one step, at the very next doore. I rather beleeve Christ, who saith, it is a way of many miles, strait, narrow, and thorny. The meritorious way to us is easie, beleeve by the grace of Christ, but the way of a Christian conversation, whether Antinomians will or no, lyeth through duties, doing the will of fMath 7.21. Ma…h. 12 50.God, its not words, Lord, Lord, but working, gPhil. 3 12, 13.sweating, h1 Cor. 9.23 24, 25, 26.running, iL…k 13.24. foreign.wrestling, k2 Tim. 4 7.fighting, Rev. 2.7.17.26.bleeding, Rev. 2 12.21. Rev. ….9.suffering nHebr. 12.4…abounding in the worke, oM…t. 16.24, 25. I…m. 1.12.Sowing, p1 Cor 15.58.Selling all the sweetest delights, qGal. 6.6.8.many tribulations, Math. 13. ver 4.…6. Acts 14.22.night-watching: which yet all are honyed and sugared with the love of Christ, so as his yoake sR…. 2.9 Act. 20.…9.is easie, and his tMath. 24…, 2.43, M…. 1….29.Commandements not grievous; yet not so easie, as that the onelyonly naked bare act of beleeving, should be the only Gospel-worke, and yee might lye in an yvory bed, and sleepe and be carried into an Antinomian fancied Paradice, being under no Law, no obligation of doing, no danger of sinning, and incurring the rodde of men, and the fatherly and sad displeasure of God for sinnes; no broken bones, no terrors, no sense of our sorrow for sinne, no progresse in personall repentance and mortification, no care of watchfull walking to perfect holinesse in the feare of God, no abstaining from worldly lusts, no strictnesse of blamelesnesse of conversation, for feare of sin, onelyonly beleeve, that as Christ hath suffered for all sinne, and so you are as cleane as Christ from all sinne, originall and actuall, and Christ hath done all these for you, and beleeve hee hath repented for you, mortified lusts for you, walked strictly and holily for you;u1 Ioh. 5.3. this is an easie worke, and no puzling businesse, and there is an end.
Object. 2. Saltmarsh, Its the Gospel-way of dispensation to assure and passe over salvation in Christ to any that will beleeve.Saltmarsh 194.
Answ. True. But wilt thou know, ô vaine man, xIam 2.20.that faith without works is dead; and faith is effectuall by love. See the Scriptures yIam 2 13, 14, 15. &c. 1 Ioh. 3.17. 1 Ioh. 2.9, 10, 11. Rom. 12.1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Thess. 4.…, 2 3, 4. Col 3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 &c. Ephes 5.1, 2 &c. Saltmarsh Free grace, 19 4.laying other Commandements on us under the Gospel, then beleeving onelyonly, and threatning disobeyers.
Object. 3. Saltm. There needs no more on our sides, to worke or warrant salvation to us; but to bee perswaded, that Jesus Christ dyed for us, because Christ hath suffered, and God is satisfied. Now suffering and satisfaction is that great worke of salvation.
Answ. Here is the worke of salvation abridged to a narrower compasse, to onelyonly suffering, at least Saltmarsh was wont to take in the actions of Christ, and to will us to beleeve that Christ beleeved, repented, and mortified sinne for us, and that is all our beliefe, repentance, mortification.
Object. 4.5. They onelyonly are justified who beleeve, Rom. 1.17. Acts 13.39. We are justified by grace, not of workes, Rom. 3.24.
Answ. And who denies that but Papists and Antinomians. Antinomians say, from eternity, and from the wombe wee are justified; and from Christs time of dying on the Crosse; and sure the date of our beleeving is not from eternitie, or from the wombe, or from 160. yeares agone, when Christ dyed then they onelyonly cannot bee justified who beleeve; for so thousands who beleeve not are justified. 2. Wee are justified by faith, without works. True. Ergo, Wee are carried to heaven being once justified under no comand of God, to doe good works, or to eschew evill, and so as wee cannot sinne; it followeth not.