A47381:111
The articles of the faith of the Church of Christ
The articles of the faith of the Church of Christ, or, Congregation meeting at Horsley-down Benjamin Keach, pastor, as asserted this 10th of the 6th month, 1697.
London : s.n., 1697
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.
1. Formal, of all their Sins past, removing their legal Guilt.
2. Virtual, of all their Sins to come, preventing their legal Guilt. Dr. Ames speaks to the same purpose, and many others. I cannot see how a Believer should be for ever formally justified from all Sins past, present, and to come, and yet not formally pardoned.
This Author which I have lately met with, distinguisheth well between Legal Guilt and Gospel Guilt; the first obliging to Divine Wrath, or eternal Punishment; the latter, i. e. Gospel Guilt, obliging to Gospel, or Fatherly Chastisement for Gospel-Sins.1 Now I see not but that as soon as a Believer is personally justified, all his Sins, tho not yet committed, as to legal Guilt, or vindictive Wrath, i. e. that Guilt that obliges to eternal Condemnation, are pardoned, for the reason before.
- 1Dr. Ames saith, that not only the Sins of a justif••• Person that are past are remitted, but also in some sort these to come, Num. 23.25. Joh. 5.24. yet he distinguishes between a formal and virtual Pardon: Sins past, says he, are remitted to themselves, Sins to come, in the Subject or Person sinning.