Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Of Legal Preaching.
BEfore I proceed, let me inform thee, That Legal Preaching hath an uncertain Sound.
1. If by Legal, is meant the Precepts and Revelations of God in Christ, for the Conversion and Government of lost Man, under Gospel-Threats and Promises; then to be Legal Preachers, (as Preachers of this Law,) we account our Duty and Honour: All the Prophets, even Isaiah himself; yea, Christ, and his Apostles, were all Legal Preachers. The Law, in this sence, is that which Converts, Comforts, Healeth, Saveth, &c, Whatever is spoken in Praise of the Word, of the Truth, of the Commandments of God and Christ, are spoken of the Law, in this sence: And it is the same with the Gospel, as I have proved, chap. 20. And they are Enemies to Christ and Souls, that disdain to be such Legal Preachers. 2. But there is a Legal Preaching which is opposed to the Gospel; and this indeed is a Crime; the word being used as a Reproach, this must be intended, if Men understand what they speak of: And to that, this Chapter refers.
TRUTH. Legal Preaching, is to Preach the Law as a Covenant of Innocency, or Works; or to Preach the Mosaick or Jewish-Covenant of Peculiarity: But it is not Legal Preaching, to require and persuade to Faith, Holiness or Duties, by Promises and Threatnings, according to the Grace of the Gospel, and direct Men to fear and hope accordingly.
ERROUR. Legal Preaching, is to call People to act any Grace, or do any Duty, as a required Means of Salvation, or inward Peace; or to threaten them with Death, or any Affliction, to cause Fear, if they commit the grossest Sins, and backsside, and fall away; or to promise them any Blessing, upon their Obedience to the Commandments of Christ; or urge the Threatnings, to persuade Sinners to believe and repent.
Proved that this is Doctor Crisp's Opinion.
P. 616. If Persons are not united to Christ, and do not partake of Justification before they do believe, &c. then mark what will follow, That there will be bringing to life again the Covenant of Works, &c. Obj. How doth this follow? I Answer; Thus you must of necessity press upon your selves these Terms, or such like; I must do, that I may have Life in Christ; I must believe, there is no Life till I do believe. Now if their be Believing first, then there is Doing before Living. P. 561, 562. This likewise batters to the ground that way of urging Men to holiness which some hold forth, That if Men do not these and these good Works, and leave these and these Sins, then they must come under the wrath of God, &c. The Love of God constrains the Faithful, and not the Fear of Wrath; a sense of being delivered from it, not a fear of Wrath to come. P. 559, 560. Obj. Some will say, The Preaching of the Terrours of the Law, and the Wrath of God, and Damnation, and Hell-fire unto Men, is a safer way to take Men off from Sin, than to preach Gracc and Forgiveness before-hand, &c. A. I say, If we preach Wrath and Damnation, we must either make them believe they lyc under the Wrath, and that Wrath shall come; or we must make them believe, that though there be Wrath, yet it shall not fall upon them: Now, if we tell them of Wrath and Damnation, and say they are secure from them, and they belong not to them; to what purpose do we tell them of Wrath? we had as good hold our tongues, &c. And he shews how it's bringing back the Covenant of Works, to tell them, that God will be angry with them if they commit Sin, or do not such and such Duties.
Wherein the Difference is not.
1. It is not: Whether it is Legal Preaching, to preach Duties or Holiness; as if Men must perfectly believe and obey, or they shall unavoidably perish. 2. Nor, That it's Legal Preaching, to denounce Wrath and Hell as Miseries from which there is no relief by Christ, in the way of the Gospel. 3. Nor, That it is Legal Preaching, to press Men to Faith, Repentance, and other Duties, as if they were to be performed in their own strength, without the Grace of Christ, and Influences of the Spirit. 4. Nor, That it is Legal Preaching, to promise Salvation to any Action, if the Performer thereof be Unregenerate, Unbelieving, and Impenitent. 5. Nor, That it is too much Legal Preaching, to be always pressing the Duties of the Law of Nature, but to neglect Preaching Faith in Christ, and Repentance, Regeneration, &c. and so to neglect to make the Person, Offices, Sufferings and Intercession of Christ; as also our Relation to him, and Dependance on him as Mediatour, with other Gospel-Mysteries known to their Hearers. 6. Nor, That it's Legal Preaching, to preach that our Faith Holiness, or Good Works, stand in the same place now, as Perfect Obedience did under the Law, viz. To render the Reward to be of Debt, or be the Meritorious Righteousness for which we are Justified. 7. Or, That it is Legal to preach, that our best Obedience doth not deserve Wrath by the Law, as a Rule of Misery and Happiness: Or, That it doth not need Forgiveness, or is any Supplement of Christ's Righteousness; yea, or to neglect to call Men to renounce all in themselves, as any Atonement for Sin, or Cause of Pardon; and to look to Christ as the only Propitiation, Purchaser of all our Blessings, and Cause of the Acceptance of our Persons and Performances. 8. Nor, That it is Legal Preaching, to omit to urge Men to Obedience by Gospel Motives; as, what Christ Suffered, the Love of God in him, the Benefits afforded by him, the Helps he vouchsafes, the Relations he admits us to, and the like. 9. Nor, That it is Legal, to shew Men their Misery and Sinfulness, and not to inform them of the Gospelway of Salvation, 10. Nor, That it is too Legal, to neglect to improve holy Souls to an ingenuous Obedience, from Love to God, as well as a holy Fear. 11. Nor that it is Legal, to encourage such Fear as imports a Life of Torment destructive to our Hopes and Joy: Or, as if every Miscarriage should over-turn Assurance, though the dominion of Sin be not justly suspected. 12. Nor that it is Legal Preaching, to assert Judaism, or the Mosaic Pedagogie; viz. to press Circumcision, Sacrifices, a Covenant of Peculiarity, Jewish Priesthood, Sabbath, or an Abuse of the Law, in Opposition to Christ our Saviour, who is the End of all Types, &c. All these I affirm. These indeed make up that Preaching of the Law which is opposed to Christ, to Grace, and to the Gospel.
The real Difference.
1. Whether it's Legal Preaching, to require People to Repent and Believe, that their Iniquities may be forgiven for Christ's sake. This I deny, and the Doctor affirms against the scope of the Gospel; as I have proved, chap. 8. 10, 12, 20, &c. 2. Whether it be Legal Preaching, to press Holiness, and Gospel Obedience, as necessary to the Salvation of a Justified Person. This the Doctor affirms, and I deny, upon Reasons given, chap. 8. 13. 17. 3. Whether it be Legal, to threaten such Penalties as are short of Damnation, against such Offences as are consistent with Sincerity, and yet avoidable by serious care and diligence. This the Doctor affirms, and I deny; for which see chap. 13, &c. 4. Whether it be Legal, to preach Wrath and Damnation against prevailing Infidelity, Impenitency, Ungodliness, Enmity against God, Profaneness, Apostacy, and utter neglect of Good Works; so that Wrath be urged as a motive to Acceptance of Christ, and sincere Subjection to him; and the Gospel-way of escaping these, be discovered, and persuaded to. This the Doctor affirms, and I deny; being well assured that Christ and his Apostles preached thus; and these Threatnings of God used since the Fall, are otherwise vain; as I have proved, chap. 13, 10, &c. 5. Whether it's Legal Preaching, to excite good Men to an holy Fear of threatned Evils, as far as they find just Cause to suspect the Dominion of Sin, or Danger of Apostacy, or the Power of Carnal Security. This the Doctor affirms, and I deny.
The Truth Confirmed.
Consult the 20th. Chap. and those beforementioned, and thou wilt find, that what the Doctor calls Legal Preaching, is the Tenor of the Gospel, and the Truth according to Jesus: It's what the Assembly affirm to be the Grace of the New Covenant, and not the Covenant of Works: It's the method appointed to recover apostate Sinners, and not to govern innocent Man. I have nothing left to do, except to vindicate, That it's the Will of God, that we should excite a holy Fear of threatned Evils; and this in good Men as well as bad, during their Pilgrimage.
Obj. The Doctor allows a Fear of Reveverence towards God, from the infinite distance between him and Creatures. A. He doth so, but it's no more than will be in Heaven it self. And therefore I add, that we ought to preach so, as to beget a fear of Caution, and from the due Sense of Danger; not indeed so as to extinguish just Hopes or Joy, not to exclude Love, or introduce a Spirit of Bondage, or tormenting Amazement; but to prevent Security, and awaken Diligence, till our Danger is past, and our VVarfare be accomplished. For.
1. Such Fear is our Duty by Gospel-Precept; Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear, least a Promise being left us of entring into his Rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. It's an Evil is to be feared here, and Sense of Danger awakens it. See Ver. 11. Least any Man fall after the same Example of Unbelief. Mar. 13. 5. Take heed, least any Man deceive you. This Duty is annexed, when the Safety and Comfort of our present State is most represented; Heb. 12. 15. Looking diligently, least any Man fail of the Grace of God. And when he had finished the peculiar Liberties of the New Testament-Time, he adds, Ver. 25. See that you refuse not him that speaketh, for if they escaped not, who refused him that spake from Earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven. Ver. 28, 29. Whereby we may serve God acceptably, with Reverence and Godly Fear; for our God is a consuming Fire. Here is Awe impressed by Danger; much more shall not we escape, if, &c. say not the Saints shall not turn away, for yet here's an Awful Threat if he do, and his Fear is the Means here intended to keep him from turning away: Phil. 2. 12. Work out your Salvation with Trembling and with Fear. Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded, but fear. Joh. 5. 14. Sin no more, least a worse thing do befall thee.
2. Without this Fear in sence of Danger, many of the great Duties of Religion are excluded. What's a Tender Heart, but a Heart impressed by a Mixture of Fear and Love? Who is Contrite? but he that trembleth at my Word? Isa. 66. 2. Are not taking heed, solicitous Cares, and holy Watchfulness, great Duties? But if you exclude Fear of Danger, are these possible? Nay, VVhen God calls us to these, he doth it by representing Danger as what is to be dreaded, and thereby begetting Fear. Mar. 13. 5, 35, 36. Take heed, least any Man deceive you, for many shall come in my Name, &c. Watch ye therefore, &c. least coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. Luk. 21. 34, 35, 36. Take heed to your selves, least at any time your Hearts be overcharged, &c. and so that Day come upon you unawares, for as a Snare it shall come, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Heb. 3. 12. 13. Take heed, least there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God, &c. Least any of you be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin. Rom. 11. 21. If God spared not the natural Branches, take heed, least he spare not thee. Jam. 5. 9. Grudge not one against another, least ye be condemned; behold the Judge standeth before the Door. Are not all these intended to beget Fear? Are not the Motives from things that must strike an awe of Danger? The Lord argues to a Fear of Apostacy, Unpreparedness, being rejected at Christ's coming, being cut off and condemned; and God is represented, not only as great above us, but as our Judge, as a consuming Fire.
3. This Fear is entertained by, and approved of in the best Men. 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep my Body under, least that by any means, when I have preached to others, I my self should be a Castaway. Was here no Fear in Sense of Danger? Noah, moved with Fear, prepared an Ark, Heb. 11. 7. David tells us, Psal. 119, 120. My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee, I am afraid of thy Judgments. Prov. 28. 13. Happy is he that feareth always. It was the want of this that's branded in the Virgins; They all slumbered and slept. Habakkuck's Tremblings and Faith were consistent, Chap. 3. 16, 17.
4. This fear is absolutely necessary to Saints in their Pilgrimage. What Men should we be, if Fear were extinct? What would our Remains of Corruption, our great Snares, Heaps of earthly Diversions, while eternal things are invisible, reduce us to without Fear? Would Back-sliders recover themselves without fear? or Men in Difficulties hold out? God knew our Frame, when he saith, 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call upon the Father, who without respect of Persons, judgeth accordingly every Man's Work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. This Text ill agrees with the Doctor's Notion: We have no Work to do for Eternity, as if the Judgment-Day were past; away with Fear of VVrath or Danger, as if we were in Heaven already. Good Men may fancy an ingenuous Life of Love exclusive of all Fear, in this VVorld; but though they could be safe and vigorous thereby, it follows not that all other good Men can, and we must preach the Mind of Christ to them. But I fear they know not, or observe not their own Hearts, who pretend to this, and if they fall into many gross Sins and Neglects, and keep up to this Rule, God calls them to fear their State. 2 Pet. 3. 17. Seeing you know these things, beware lest you also being led away with the Errour of the Wicked, fall from your own Stedfastness. He will most safely walk in Love, and maintain Assurance, that is, in awe, as his Sins grow strong, and his Graces decline. I might shew that all God's Threats are despised, if without this Fear; yea, his being our future Judge is slighted, his wise Methods of Government are dis-regarded, and one great help to our Salvation lost, by opposing this Fear. Fear him that can cast Soul and Body into Hell, is Christ's Charge, Luke 12. 5. And if thou do that which is Evil, be afraid, Rom. 13. 4. And if we must fear the Magistrate as the Minister of God's VVrath here, much more eternal VVrath; if we sin our selves into such Symptoms as the Gospel declares a Danger of eternal Damnation by; for though the Gospel doth not say as the Law, that all Sinners shall be damned; yet it saith, that all impenitent Sinners shall be damned. And this we are bound to preach, and not gratifie the Devil to the Ruine of Souls. But they are in danger who are above this kind of Preaching; and Security, Libertinism, and Stops to the Conversion of Sinners, will prevail as this Preaching grows unfashionable. Nay, let me hear a Man of this Opinion preach a few Sermons, and I'll demonstrate he'll give the Lie to his own Principle, by urging Fear by some Arguments from Danger; or he'll expose himself to the Contempt of all, when-ever he disswades from Sin.
TESTIMONIES.
I have recited so much belonging to this Head, Chap. 1, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20. that I need only add to the last Chapter. New-England Synod condemns, as Errour 32. After the Revelation of the Spirit, neither Devil nor Sin can make the Soul to doubt Errour 48. Condional Promises are legal. Errour 52. It's legal to say, we act in the Strength of Christ. Errour 56. A Man is not effectually converted till he hath full Assurance. Errour 57. To take delight in the holy Service of God, is to go a whoring from God. Errour 59. A Man may not be exhorted to any Duty, because he hath no power to do it. Errour 70. Frequency, or length of holy Duties, or Trouble of Conscience for the Neglect thereof, are all Signs of one under a Covenant of VVorks Errour 68. Faith justifies an Unbeliever, that is, that Faith that is in Christ, justifieth me that have no Faith in my self. Errour 76. The Devil and Nature may be the cause of a gracious Work. All these that Synod confutes, as also that Speech, if Christ will let me sin, let him look to it, upon his Honour be it. With these Notions, so exclusive of Fear and Care were they pester'd. Doctor Owen, Of Justif. P. 52. assures us, he had written very much of the Nature and Use of Threatnings under the Gospel, and the Fear that ought to be ingenerated by them in the Hearts of Men.
The Grounds of the Doctor's Mistake.
Because the Law of Works made Life to be of Debt for perfect doing; therefore its legal to call Men to do what Christ commands, in order to any Benefit, which he promiseth by the Grace of the New Covenant to bestow on such as shall so obey him. Because it's legal to denounce Wrath as unavoidable, therefore it's legal to denounce VVrath that it may be avoided. Because God is not angry with his People for Sin, when he hath forgiven them it upon Repentance; therefore they should not be called to fear his Anger, as a disswasive from Sin, or Motive to Repentance when they have sinned. Because we cannot say the Elect shall at last be damned, being that God will bring them to Faith and Repentance, that they may be saved; therefore it's legal to tell them, they shall be damned unless they believe and repent, though Christ oft tells them so. Because the Believer is not in a state of Wrath; therefore it's Legal to warn him against Apostacy, from the Terrour of that VVrath which Apostacy would bring him under: And Note, Reader, That all awful Expressions against Apostacy, are especially directed to true Believers. Because we should not destroy the Hope or Joy of an humble, watchful Christian; therefore it's legal to allarm and awaken the drowsie, careless, backsliding Christian.