An End to Discord, Introduction · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
The State of Truth and Error published in the Congregational Ministers Declaration against Antinomian Errors, about December 1698.
Error 1. THat the eternal Decree gives such an Existence to the Justification of the Elect, as makes their Estate whilst in Unbelief, to be the same as when they do believe, in all respects save only as to the Manifestation; and that there is no other Justification by Faith, but what is in their Consciences.
Error 2. That the Elect considered as in their natural Estate, or as in the first Adam, are not under the denunciation of Wrath by the Law, as well as other Unbelievers and impenitent Sinners.
Truth 1. That there is a difference between the state of the Elect whilst in Unbelief and when Believers, besides what is manifestative to their Consciences, p. 13.
Truth 2. That before they believe they are not personally and actually justified in the Court of Heaven, p. 13. and none may expect to be pardoned in a state of Unbelief and Impenitence, p. 47.
Error. 3. That pardoned Sin is no Sin, and therefore God cannot see Sin in his People to be displeased with them for their Sins; nor doth God express his Fatherly Displeasure against them by any Afflictions laid upon them.
Truth. That pardoned, yea mortified Sins are truly and properly Sins; and God seeth the Sins of his own People, and is displeased with them for their Sins.
Error 4. That Believers are not bound to confess or mourn over Sin, as committed by them, or pray for pardon of Sin, in making a daily acknowledgment of a need of it, because it was pardoned before committed; and pardoned Sin is no Sin.
Truth. That when Believers do sin, it is their Duty to humble themselves, confess their Sins, and pray for Pardon, p. 19.
Error 5. That Believers ought not to be afraid of committing Sin, because their Sins can do them no hurt.
Truth. The Sins of Believers do hurt them, and they should be afraid to commit them, seeing they impair their Graces and Comforts, harden their Hearts, wound their Consciences, hurt and scandalize others, grieve God's holy Spirit, expose to his Fatherly Displeasure, and bring temporal Judgments upon them, p. 22.
Error 6. That they must do no good Work or Duty for their own Benefit, or with an Eye to their own Salvation.
Truth. That Believers must do good Works, expecting Blessings in the performance thereof, p. 24.
Error 7. Believers not having in themselves an Ability to do good Works, are not bound to perform any good Duty, unless excited thereunto by a special motion of the Spirit.
Truth. Tho Believers Ability to do good Works is not at all in themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ, yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any Duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the Grace of God that is in them, p. 27.
Error 8. That Sanctification evidenced by the Spirit of God to their Consciences, is not a Sign, Mark, or Evidence of their Justification; and that Marks and Signs for the trial of a Believer's Faith are of no use: for Faith lying in a full perswasion and assurance that their Persons were actually justified and pardoned in Christ, it is a Sin to question, Whether they do savingly believe or no?
Truth. Saving Faith lieth not in a full perswasion and assurance that our Sins are actually pardoned; but Marks and Signs for the trial of our spiritual Estate are useful, and to be sought after; and Sanctification evidenced by the Spirit of God to our Consciences is a certain sign and mark of Sanctification, p. 28, 29.
Error 9. That Gospel Ministers are not to preach the Law in its Commands and Curses to convince Men of their need of Christ, nor are Believers obliged to regard the Law as delivered by Moses, nor as externally propounded; nor are they bound when they commit Sin to look to the Law for further Discoveries and Convictions of the remaining Corruptions that are in them, because by the Gospel its Obligations are dissolved.
Truth. That the Law delivered by Moses continues in its Commands and Curses undissolved; and it's still of use to convince of Sin, that we may see a need of Christ, and therefore is to be preached and externally propounded, and we are to look unto it, p. 36. And tho there is no Sin so small but it deserves Damnation, yet there is no Sin so great that it shall bring Damnation to them that truly repent, which makes the constant preaching of Repentance necessary.
Error 10. That Ministers of the Gospel ought not to propound the Offers of Salvation unto all those to whom God calls them to preach, seriously inviting them to improve the Means of Grace that they may be saved, and assuring them in the way of their Ministerial Duty, of the Salvation of all such as believe in Christ, because they want Ability to close with the Offer, and all shall not be saved.
Truth. That tho Men want Ability to believe savingly, yet it's the Duty of Gospel-Ministers to make the Offer, and testify unto them that whoever believes and repents shall be saved; and that it's the Peoples Duty to make use of their natural Faculties with such external Means and workings of the Spirit as God affords them, that they may believe, repent and be saved, p. 41, 42.
Error 11. That by God's laying our Sins upon Christ, he became every way as sinful as we, and we every way as righteous as he; and that therefore Persons may expect to be pardoned whilst they continue in a state of Unbelief and Impenitence; and that continued Repentance and Holiness are not in the nature of the thing, nor, by the Constitution of the Gospel, necessary to our being possessed of eternal Life.
Truth. Our Sins were not laid upon Christ so as to make him every way as sinful as we, and we are not every way as righteous as Christ; and none may expect to be pardoned in a state of Unbelief and Impenitence; and continued Repentance and Holiness are necessary to our possession of eternal Life, p. 46, 47, 48.