Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of Gospel-Preaching.
TRUTH. GOspel-Preaching, is when the Messengers of Christ do publish to fallen Sinners, the good News of Salvation by Christ, to be obtained in the way which he hath appointed in his Word, freely offering Salvation on his Terms, earnestly persuading, and commanding Men in the Name of Christ, to comply with those Terms, as ever they would escape the Misery they are under, and possess the Benefits he hath purchased; directing all to look to him for Strength, and acknowledge him as the only Mediator, and his Obedience and Sufferings, as the sole Atonement for Sin, and meriting Cause of all Blessings; instructing them in all revealed Truth, and by Gospel Motives, urging them to obey the whole Will of God, as a Rule of Duty, but especially to be sincere and upright, pressing after Perfection.
ERROUR. Gospel-Preaching, is to teach Men they were as much pardoned, and as acceptable to God, always, as when they are regenerate; and while they were ungodly, they had the same Interest in God and Christ, as when they believe; neither can Sin any way hinder their Salvation, or their Peace; nor have they any thing to do to further either of them, Christ having done all for them, and given himself to them, before any holy Qualification or Endeavour.
Proved that this is Dr. Crisp's Opinion.
Page 159. The more the Light and Glory of he Gospel shineth in the true Intention of God tohis People, the more should they have Joy and Gladness. Why may not then a Believer say, The Lord hath been bountiful to me, God hath done every thing in Christ, and taken away all things that can disturb my Peace and Comfort? P. 186. Here is first Deliverance, then Service is the Fruit of Deliverance, not Deliverance the Fruit of Service. The Tenour of the Law runs thus, First do, then live: The Gospel saith, First live, then do, &c. Do not think God gives Christ upon Condition. P. 554. Man will be mincing of this Truth, and tell you, if you will keep close to God, and if you refrain from Sin, especially from gross Sins, God will love you, and then you may apply these and these Promises unto your selves; but God speaks plainly, before they had done Good or Evil, Jacob have I loved; the Grace of God is passed over to Men, as they are ungodly, &c. This is the Grace of God revealed, and he hath exhibited it thus freely to Men: Hath the Lord given us Commission to preach this Gospel? P. 124. The Free-man of Christ hath this Freedom; Christ doth all his Work for him, as well as in him, &c. Christ doth all for them, that God requires to be done: See more in the next Chapter. But most of these Heads I have proved to be his Opinion in several Chapters at large.
Wherein the Difference is not.
1. It is not whether we must reveal Christ in his Person, Natures, Offices, Sufferings, Intercession, and whatever describes his Glory, Suitableness, Use, &c. 2. Nor that we must teach that Christ hath purchased all saving Benefits, and that Men must look to him as the Author of Salvation, and Giver of that Grace whereby we obey the Terms of Life. 3. Nor that we must declare the free Grace of God in giving his Son for us, and his Spirit to call us, and all Benefits we do receive on our Obedience to that Call. 4. Nor that we must describe Salvation in all the Parts of it, for the Comfort of Saints, and Persuading of Sinners. 5. Nor that we must make Offers of Christ and his Benefits to the worst of Sinners on Gospel-Terms; assuring them, nothing shall hinder their happiness by him, but their refusal to accept of him in all his Offices. 6. Nor whether we should inform them, that God hath elected a certain Number, whose Obedience to the Terms of Life, our Lord hath undertaken for, and so the Gospel shall not be in vain to all. But yet, that the Case of no Hearer is made so desperate by this Election of some, as that if he do repent and believe, he shall not be saved, for God will judge all of us by his revealed Will, and not by his Decrees. 7. Nor, That we must teach the best Man to renounce all the Grace he hath, and Good he performs, as if being the least Atonement for Sin, or least Purchase of Life, or any Addition of Merit to a Christ, or sharing in what is peculiar to him. All these I affirm.
The Real Difference.
1. Whether the Gospel requires any Grace or Duty, in order to our actual Interest in saving Benefits? This the Doctor denies, and I affirm, and have proved in several Chapters. 2. Whether it's Gospel-Preaching, to tell Men that they had the same Interest in Christ; Pardon and Life, while most wicked, as any godly Man hath, and that their Happiness doth not at all depend on what Grace they act, or sin they commit? This the Doctor affirms, and I deny; being assured, whoever preacheth thus, opposeth the Gospel of Christ, and the plain Truth; as I have proved at large, Chap. 1. 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15. 3. Whether Christ doth do all for a Believer, that God requires of a Believer? This the Doctor affirms, and I deny; though I grant, he works all in us, or enables us to do what God requires. 4. Whether the main Scope of Gospel-preaching is in Christ's Name, to perswade, and with Authority require, Sinners to seek, and act those Graces which saving Benefits are promised to; assuring them of Salvation, if they comply, and declaring that it is impossible they can be saved; yea, that their Condemnation shall be aggravated, if they refuse? This I affirm, and the Doctor Denies.
The Truth Confirmed.
1. Christ doth not do all for a Believer as well as in him. He doth not repent for us, nor obey the Gospel Terms for us, nor accept of, or rely on himself as a Saviour for us. He never is said to do so, we are enabled and required to do these as our own personal Acts, or perish. It is impossible Christ should do these things, as being inconsistent with his Person. Can he change his Mind, come to himself, and turn to God whom he had left, alter his Purposes, and reform his Life? all which are included in Repenting Christ will save none, meerly as Christ, but as Christ believed on; Joh. 6. 52, 53, 54. Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life in you. Whoso eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, hath eternal Life. But, can Christ thus eat his own Flesh? Doth he mean, If I be not thus fed on by Men, they shall dye? That is, If I do not feed on my self. Christ will be saved for them, while themselves are damned, who trust to let Christ believe for them, whiles they continue in Unbelief. He doth all for us which belongs to him as Redeemer; but we must do all in his Strength, which he requires of the Redeemed.
2. Gospel-preaching is what I have described, and because the most Exception will lye against what I have said of the Conditional Proposals of Benefits on Terms of Duty, I shall prove that it's Gospel-preaching to call Men to believe and repent; and tell them, if they do so, God will, for Christ's Sake, forgive them; if they do not so, their Sin will remain. And also to perswade them, to love, fear, and obey God in true Holiness, when in a State of Pardon, and profess the Faith: And if they persevere in doing so, they shall be saved by Christ, and if they do the contrary, they shall be miserable.
I have proved that these are Gospel-Truths, and therefore to preach them, is to preach the Gospel. Some one part of the Gospel, being Gospel, doth not argue that other Parts are not so too. But I shall annex a few more Reasons.
1. Thus Christ and his Apostles appointed the Gospel to be preached. That the Spirit of Christ thus directed the Prophets in the Old Testament to preach, none can deny that use to read the Bible. Christ on Earth prescribed this way; Mar. 16. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the World, and preach the Gospel to every Creature; he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And as this Grace, under this Sanction of Life and Death was to be urged, so it's added, Mat. 28. 20. Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you. Among which, no doubt, is included what he told the Apostles, when first commissioned; Mat. 10. 14, 15. Whosoever shall not receive you, and hear your Words, when you depart out of that House, or City, shake off the Dust off your Feet: Verily, It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in that Day of Judgment, than for that City. Ver. 32, 33. Whosoever shall Confess me before Men, him will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before Men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven. Ver. 37. He that hath loved Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me. 38. He that taketh not his Cross and followeth me, is not worthy of me. 41. He That receiveth a righteous Man, in the Name of a righteous Man, shall receive a righteous Man's Reward. These are part of Christ's Speech to his Apostles, when he first sent them to preach; and so from Heaven he taught Paul to preach, Act. 26. 18. See how Paul instructs Timothy to preach. 1. He enumerates very many Duties, which he was to urge and exhort. 2. He frequently requires him to back these Exhortations with Promises, in case of Obedience, and Threatnings in case of Disobedience. I shall instance a few, 1 Tim. 4. 8, 9. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the Promises of this Life, and that which is to come: This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all Acceptation. What are the Promises of the Life to come to Godliness? Yea, though it's now with some no true Saying. Ver. 16. Take heed to thy self and thy Doctrine, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thy self, and them that hears thee. Here's pressing to doing with a Promise of Life. 1 Tim. 6. 6, 9. Godliness with Content, is great Gain. But they that will be Rich, fall into Temptation, and a Snare, and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts, which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition. Ver. 17. 18. Charge, &c. that they do Good, willing to Communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal Life. 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. It is a faithful Saying, for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him, if we suffer, we shall also regin with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us. Can any Man think, we ought not to plead with Men, and Preach as Christ and his Spirit charge us? Or would he appoint us to preach what is not his own Will or Gospel?
2. In this manner did Christ and his Apostles preach the Gospel. Read Christ's Sermon on the Mount, Mat. 5. Are not Graces urged by promised Blessings, and denounced Threatnings? the first none can doubt, the last is as evident. Ver. 13. Good for nothing, but to be cast out. 19. Least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Ver. 20. Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Ver. 22. In danger of Hell-Fire. 26. Thou shalt not come out thence. 30. If thy Right Eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, for it's profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish, and not that thy whole Body should be cast into Hell. See the Parable of the Seed, of the Talents, Virgins, Marriage Supper. Was it not he that declared, He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him. If you believe not, you shall dye in your Sins. If you repent not, you shall all likewise perish. Vain World! that think they can out-preach Christ, or that theirs is Gospel, which obstructs the very things that his Ministry was designed to. He that knew the Scheme of Truths, used his Satisfaction as the great Motive to Obedience; but not as what made it needless in its own place. The Apostles obeyed and imitated Christ. The first Sermon of Peter includes this, Act. 2. 38. 40. Repent and be baptized every one of you, for the Remission of Sins, &c. for the Promise is to you, and to your Children, and as many as the Lord shall call. And with many other Words did he testifie, and exhort, saying, Save your selves from this untoward Generation. Read his Epistles, and see how he moves by Threatnings and Promises, and preacheth Duties. The Apostle Paul giveth the Sum of his Ministry to the Ephesians, &c. Act. 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards the Lord Jesus. ver. 26, 27. I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. It's he that saith, If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be an Anathema, Maranatha. What a man soweth, that shall he reap, He will come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all that know not God, and obey not the Gospel. What he saith of FreeGrace, and Christ's Righteousness, in Opposition to Man's Merits, doth not clash with what he saith of the Necessity of Graces and Duties, as the required Terms of such Blessings as God promiseth to them. The Apostle James is as express as can be; read his Epistle and Doubt; and it seems to be written against some Libertines, who perverted the Doctrine of Grace delivered by Paul: And Peter expresly speaks of these Mens wresting Pauls Epistles in this very Point; as I could fully prove, 2 Pet. 3. 16. Read the Epistle of Jude, and he agrees with the rest in arguing for Holiness, from Threats and Promises.
3. When the Gospel is said to be preached, you'll find that then Graces and Duties were preached under a Gospel Sanction. Act. 15. 7. The Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel. What this was, see Act. 10. from ver. 34. to 44. Of a truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons; but in every Nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel, Preaching Peace by Jesus Christ, (He is Lord of all, &c.) he commanded us to preach unto the People,; and to testifie, That it is he which was ordained of God to be Judge of Quick and Dead: To him gave all the Prophets witness, That through his Name whoever believeth in him, shall have remission of sins. Rev. 14. 6, 7. I saw another Angel in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them, &c. saying with a loud Voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his indignation is come; and worship him that made Heaven and Earth. So Act. 147, 15, 17. There they preached the Gospel. See their Call to turn to God from Idols, as part of it.
4. The nature of the Gospel requires that the Ministry should include these things, and it be preached in this manner. It's the Gospel of the Kingdom, Luk. 9. 60. It's the Law of Christ, to whom all Judgment is committed. Gal. 6. 2. The Law of Liberty: The Law of Faith, &c. The great design of it, is, to destroy Satan's Empire, and recover lost Sinners to God. To this end, it reveals, that Salvation is to be had in Christ, if we come to God by him, though we be lost in our selves. And it is the Call of God in Christ, to come to him, and hear him: Nay, it's the Charge of Christ, who is, for dying, made Lord both of the dead and living. Now can any think, that many Duties must not be parts of the Gospel, as well as Believing? Or, That Christ hath not Arguments from Benefits and Dangers, from Promises and Threats, to strengthen his Charge? The Preceptive part of the whole Law is in his hand, and there is Authority in all his Injunctions and Calls: Else what means Obeying the Gospel, Subjection to the Gospel, Disobeying the Gospel? Obeyed the Truth, Obedience of Faith? and many such Expressions. And that there be Gospel-Threats and Promises annexed to his Precepts, I have fully proved. And I could easily shew, that the Substance of all Obedience, is said to be Obedience to the Law, Truth, and Word of Christ. If things be so, can we think that we preach not the Gospel, when we preach Duties? Or that we preach not the Gospel, when we urge Obedience to these Duties from Gospel-Promises and Threats? As if all Christ's Commands were mere Counsels. It's no Preaching with Authority, if we omit this: It's no answering the Eng of Gospel, if we wave this: There's no aptitude in the Ministry to draw Christ, without this. The Apostle gives us another Specimen, Col. 1. 28. whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every Man perfect in Christ. What's Snatching Men, as Brands out of the Burning? Compelling to come in? &c. What Pleas do the Apostles use? Rom. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 17, 18. 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12, 14, &c.
5. They do not preach the Gospel of Christ at all, who preach contrary to the scope of this Truth; no, nor they duly, who neglect to Preach according to it. Christ never sent such News to Sinners, That they were always Pardoned and Adopted; and they need only believe it, to know that it is so: He never told them, That they have nothing to do to the Participation of Saving Benefits; he hath Believed for them, and Repented for them, &c. Woe to them that will live as believing this! Christ knew how to support the Honour of his Grace, without overturning his Throne. To Preach at this rate, may excite the Affections of some; but, without a Miracle, will never Convert a Soul; and it needs an Antidote which, I hope, some of the Upholders of it have. It's the same with the Language of the Tempter, the Arguings of the Flesh, and the Conceits of presumptuous Sinners. Could they that knock'd at the door, Mat. 7. 21. be kept out? Or the five foolish Virgins be excluded, who went out to meet the Bridegroom, if this be true? Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, will be the Language of the Spirit to the Impenitent. Mat. 3. 7. He is my Brother (saith Christ,) that doth the Will of my Father. Mark 3. 35. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholsom words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, &c. 1 Tim. 6. 3, 4. He that talks of preaching Christ, without preaching his Laws, his Title to rule us, his Offers, his Method of Grace, and his Motives to urge Men; profaneth and plays with that sacred Name.
TESTIMONIES.
The Assembly and Elders at the Savoy have given us their Thoughts in what I have cited of the Conditionality of the Covenant; the Necessity of Faith to Union with Christ; and Justification, Free Offers of Christ to Sinners, and Necessity of Holiness. Consult the places. See Large Catech. Q. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his Wrath and Curse? A. He Requireth of us, Repentance towards God, Faith towards our Lord Jesus, and diligent Use of the Outward Means, &c. The Elders at the Savoy, Declar. ch. 20. a. 3. The Revelation of the Gospel unto Sinners, made in divers times, and by sundry parts, with the Addition of Promises and Precepts for the Obedience required thereto, &c. But I cannot enlarge, or I could shew how Doctor Owen pleads for this Gospel-Ordination, and shews there be Threats and Promises therein. See what the New-England Synod say on the former Heads: They cite, Errour 33. To act by Virtue, or in Obedience to a Command, is legal. They thus confute it; So is it also Evangelical: The Mystery of the Gospel is said to be revealed for the Obedience of Faith, … 16. 25. The Lord is Author of Eter… …alvation to all that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. &c. The 29th. Errour of Mrs. H. was, That such Exhortations as these, Work out your Salvation with Fear; Make your Calling and Election sure, are spoken to such as are under the Covenant of Works. Mr. Norton, Orth, Evang. p. 211. Believers obey the Gospel perfectly, with the Perfection of Parts: The Gospel is the Law in Christ: The Rule of Righteousness is the same in the Law, and in the Gospel, though the Manner and End of Obeying are changed. P. 105. The Obedience of good Men is rewarded by the Promise annexed to the Precept. See what all these say, in the Chap. of the Conditionality of the Govenant.
The Grounds of the Doctor's Mistake.
Because Christ's Sufferings procured Salvation and assure it to such as Obey the Gospel; therefore the Gospel enjoyneth nothing to be Obeyed. Because the Law enjoyned Doing, as the perfect Righteousness for which Life was a Debt; therefore the Gospel requireth nothing to be done, as the Means of Partaking of that Salvation which is merited by Christ. Because it's legal to Preach the Sanction of the Law of Innocency; therefore it's not Gospel, to press the Gospel-Sanction. The Reverend Mr. Cole affirms, There's Law enough in the Gospel: The Gospel holds, forth the Danger and Remedy too. See his Treat. of Regen. p. 101. Had Doctor Crisp noted this Truth, many Mistakes had been prevented.