Secondly: Others think that our actual Reconciliation, is the next, and immediate effect of the Death of Christ. But this cannot be, for our Saviour tells us, That he which believeth not, abideth under wrath; The Wrath of God doth abide on him. Now if the Wrath of God do abide upon a man, so long as he abideth under Unbelief, then is he not reconciled to God actually, till he believeth. 2. When a man is actually reconciled to God, then he is justified; but we are justified by Faith, Rom. 5.1. and therefore a man is not actually reconciled till he doth believe actually. 3. Those that are without Christ, being Aliens from the Commonwealth ⟨p. 101⟩of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the World, cannot be actually reconciled to God; but so were the converted Ephesians before their Conversion, Ephes. 2.12. 4. The Apostle Paul saith expressly, that whilst the Corinthians were unrighteous, and wicked, they were not justified, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God; be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God; and such were some of you: but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, &c. therefore they were not justified, and so not actually reconciled unto God before their Conversion. 5. As Glorification follows our Justification, so our Justification follows our Vocation, Rom. 8.30. actual Reconciliation therefore, and Justification, is not the next effect of Christs Death.
Secondly: Others think that our actual Reconciliation, is the next, and immediate effect of the Death of Christ. But this cannot be, for our Savior tels us, That he which beleeveth not, abideth under wrath; The Wrath of God doth abide on him. Now if the Wrath of God do abide upon a man, so long as he abideth under Unbelief, then is he not reconciled to God actually, til he beleeveth. 2. When a man is actually reconciled to God, then he is justified; but we are justified by Faith, Rom. 5.1. and therefore a man is not actually reconciled til he doth beleeve actually. 3. Those that are without Christ, being Aliens from the Commonwealth ⟨p. 101⟩of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the World, cannot be actually reconciled to God; but so were the converted Ephesians before their Convertion, Ephes. 2.12. 4. The Apostle Paul saith expresly, that whilst the Corinthians were unrighteous, and wicked, they were not justified, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God; be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Theeves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God; and such were some of you: but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, &c. therefore they were not justified, and so not actually reconciled unto God before their Conversion. 5. As Glorification follows our Justification, so our Justification follows our Vocation, Rom. 8.30. actual Reconciliation therefore, and Justification, is not the next effect of Christs Death.
