A41331:222
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianism ... / by Giles Firmin ...The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianisme ... / by Giles Firmin ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1670
THE Real Christian, OR, A Treatise of Effectual Calling. › Chapter 3: Of Conviction.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
God hath convinced many of Sin where the Gospel was not known, or not understood. The Heathen had Convictions, Rom. 2.16. by a Law not written. But to have men convinced of Sin by the Gospel, where no Law was known, I wish Mr. Saltmarsh would tell us where those persons are: Tell men of the Son of God being incarnate, doing, suffering, dying, rising, interceding, and tell them of his righteousness, obedience and blood, what will you convince men of by this discourse alone, unless you first teach them the cause of all this? and then I am sure you must teach them the Law; and this being opened and set home, will soon teach them the meaning of the work of Christ in Redemption.
Fourthly, As the Gospel convinceth of Sin only by consequence, so only in general; but the Law convinceth of Sin directly and in particular.
When the Gospel is first preached, what particular Sin doth it convince a man of? how doth that make him appear to be guilty? but the Law will tell him his particular Sins, and this must be done, else men will hardly come to a thorough and saving Conviction that they are Sinners indeed. After men have had the Gospel preached, and refuse to embrace it, then there is a particular Sin against the Gospel, this is true; but I think never was it heard that any man was convinced of this Sin against the Gospel, who was not first convinced of Sin against the Law: what cares he for the Gospel, that seeth not himself in his sin and misery, and condemned under the Law? Grant it, that Repentance to life, and Faith in the Righteousness of Christ imputed to our justification, be not comprehended under the Law but the Gospel, so that impenitency and unbelief, opposite to that Faith, are Sins against the Gospel, not the Law [as a Covenant of works.] Yet before a man is convinced of his necessity of this justifying Faith and Repentance, he must be convinced he is a Sinner, and so need these; but this must be by the Law, which will convince him of his particular Sins.