Part 2
Third. Its publicity,—known and read of all men. Ye who have been called out of darkness into marvellous light by our ministry, and show forth his praises who has called you by a separation from the world, by a change of principle and practice. You have been observed, and thousands have seen the change, and wondered at the cause; they knew what you once were; they see what you now are; they gaze, they are astonished, and obliged to acknowledge the change;—many hate it, though they cannot but own it is the finger of God. The Deist ridicules this work as enthusiasm;—the Libertine as mere bigotry;—he learned consider it as foolishness;—the Pharisee considers the principles which produce these effects as antinomian, though they have produced such glorious consequences and it is very remarkable that in all ages the great work of the Holy Ghost has been the subject of ridicule of its professed votaries. And even in the present day some have called it mental intoxication. But this work upon the soul produces in its happy possessor the faith of God’s elect; a good hope through grace,—fervent love to God,—unfeigned humility and gospel charity or love to the household of faith,—it reclaims it converts,—it turns a man’s feet to God’s testimonies enables him to deal justly with God, by making use of the work of Christ,—to deal justly with man in all his outward actions, and whilst his faith receives the Saviour’s obedience as the end of the law, he loves that law of Ten commandments after the inward man, (for by faith, love and obedience in the spirit every law of God is fulfilled in him), and by him receiving the atonement in his conscience, the ceremonial law is fulfilled in its design, embracing the obedience of Christ, the moral law is fulfilled in him; the laws of faith, love, liberty, kindness and peace are all manifested to him, and he loves them all. Great peace are they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. He feels himself bound by the law of love to walk in all holy obedience to the laws of Christ, even the preceptive parts of the New Testament; thus he loves and obeys every law of God, nor is he, nor can he be against one law of God that is revealed in God’s most holy word. This is the doctrine Paul preached, and these are the sentiments God has been pleased to reveal to my soul, and enabled me to preach constantly and faithfully, and this every real believer must confess, that ever heard me unprejudiced: does not this give the lye to all those preachers in Town and Country who have falsely reported that I am an antinomian in principle, and are continually maintaining antinomian sentiments; but I bless God none can prove me an antinomian, either in principle or practice; but it is a lamentable truth constantly seen, viz. that those who belie a man’s principles, will not scruple to belie a man’s practice. Mark this ye enemies in black; perhaps God has enable me to perform as many, and more good works, than those who oppose me, though they talk more about them than I do. Mr. Evans in his Sketch of all Denominations has given us an account of the sect called antinomians; but let any impartial Christian read that account and the above description of a believer, and then charge me with antinomianism if they dare. The best description I ever read of an antinomian, was written by the late Mr. Huntington, in his Sermon:—“Moses unveiled in the face of Christ;” which was afterwards printed in that best of Periodical Publications, the Gospel Magazine, for the Month of November 1798, and which I take the liberty to present to my readers.
_A Description of an Antinomian_.
A real Antinomian in the sight of God, is one who _holds the truth in unrighteousness_, who has Gospel notions in his head but no grace in his heart: he is one that makes a profession of Christ Jesus, but was never purged by his blood, renewed by his spirit, nor saved by his power. With him _carnal ease_ passes for _Gospel peace_; _a natural assent_ of the mind for faith; _insensibility_ for _liberty_; and _daring presumption_ for the _grace of assurance_. He is alive without the law, the sentence of the _moral law_ having never been sent home to him. The _law_ of _faith_ was never sealed _on_ him; the _law_ of _truth_ was never received _by_ him; nor the _law_ of _liberty_ proclaimed _to_ him.—He was never arraigned at, nor taken from, the _throne_ of _judgment_—He was never justified at the _throne_ of _grace_, nor acquitted at the _bar_ of _equity_.—The tremendous attribute of righteousness was never _seen_ or felt _by_ him; the righteousness of the law was never fulfilled _in_ him; the righteousness of the law was never fulfilled _by_ him; the righteousness of faith was never imputed _to_ him; nor the _fruits_ of righteousness brought forth _by_ him. He is an enemy to the power of God, to the experience of the just and to every minister of the spirit; and is in union with none but hypocrites, whose uniting ties are _the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity_. He is one that often changes his opinions, but was never changed in heart; he turns to many sects and parties, but never turns to God. In word he is false to Satan, in _heart_ he is false to God: false to Satan by uttering truth, and false to God by a false profession. He is a false reprover in the world, and in the household of faith a false brother. He is a child of Satan in the congregation of dissemblers, and a bastard in the congregation of the righteous. By mouth he contends for a covenant that cannot save him, and in heart he hates the covenant that can. His head is at mount Calvary, his heart and soul at mount Sinia. He is a pharisee at Horeb, and a hypocrite in Zion; he is a transgressor of the law of works, and a rebel to the law of faith; a sinner by the ministry of the letter, and an unbeliever by the ministry of the spirit. As a _wicked servant_ he is _cursed_ by the _eternal law_; and as an _infidel_ he is _damned_ by the everlasting gospel: and this is a real antinomian in the sight of God.
“The Apostle of old was charged with saying let us do evil that good may come:” this he calls a slanderous report invented and circulated by those preachers and people who are all zealous for that law which forbids their lies. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” I thought it necessary to discuss this point, to contradict the fiery flying serpents of infamous lies, that many holy kind of people have industriously circulated with great care, pains, and expence; is not the accusation of worldly men, which they bring against professors too true? they will not swear it is true, but they will lie. The doctrines the Lord has taught me he has blessed with power to many souls; the change has been seen, nor could it be denied they have been read of others. The world has seen the glorious effects of sovereign grace; the church has admired and blessed God for it; angels have united in the joy. These letters have been read by ministers who have been obliged to acknowledge them genuine, even the writing of God’s Spirit; and in fact, none can read the hand writing on the wall of the heart, but spiritual Daniels; others see the effect only in the outward conduct, but these see the work itself.
“Great is the work, my neighbours cried, And owned the power divine, Great is the work, my heart replied, But be the glory thine.”
These letters will be read, in the last great day;—they will appear in his image;—awake up in his likeness, and be satisfied with his smiles. The image in which the person dies, he will rise in at the last great day,—whether the image of God or Satan; thousands will rise in the image of the devil, just as they died in a state of enmity against the Most High God;—these are the rest of the dead that lived not again till the thousand years are expired, then Satan and all the wicked will be released from their prison; come upon the breadth of the earth;—compass the beloved city, and foolishly suppose they can take possession of it. Satan who begun this work by deceiving, will end it in deceiving, and this will be the last act of his deception; the image of the devil will be found on all his children; an image God hates, will reject and punish but those who bear the image of the heavenly Adam; those who love this image, will be seen, known, and acknowledged;—the adorable Father will acknowledge the object of his choice, the Saviour;—the purchase of his own blood, the holy spirit;—the work of his own hand, the ministers of the gospel will see and rejoice in the characters they were useful to, the whole election of grace will be received with the joyful welcome, “Come ye blessed;” the ungodly will see them exalted, and be obliged to say, “Oh we fools:”—counted their life madness, and their end without honour. But now they are numbered with the saints, and their lot is with the children of God; thus they will be known and read of all men. Amen.
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_FINIS_.
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POSTSCRIPT.
_THE Author begs leave inform the Religious Public_, _that he is happy he has an opportunity of contradicting the_ (_Ipswich tidings_) _lately published in a scurrilous Pamphlet: as three respectable persons waited on the Accuser_, _and he promptly denied what had been published and widely insinuated_. _Shortly after_, _three other Gentlemen went to Ipswich_, _but could not see him_, _only_, _they were allowed to converse with him_, _through the medium of his Father_, _who shewed him what had been printed_; _and his last confession before the three last witnesses_: _when he_ DECLARED _that he knew nothing of the_ FORMER, _but that his_ LAST _confession was the_ TRUTH. _The Author laments that his former friends should be so imposed upon_,—_that so much discord_, _and a separation should take place_, _through artful and malicious characters_, _merely to gain an end_. _But such have their reward_. _Likewise it is necessary to declare_, _that the Gentlemen_, _before whom the former confession was made_, _were not the authors of that confession_, _as has been most grossly insinuated in the town where they reside_. _And as to an investigation_, _law-suits_, _and clearing up of characters_, _the accused has no objection to this_, _upon condition that every one of his opponents will first set him the_ EXAMPLE, _but till then_, _he shall certainly take the sacred scriptures for his rule of conduct_, _and pray for more of that charity which endureth all things_.
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B. Bennett, Printer, 23, Tichborne Street, Haymarket.