I am told lately, that some there are who affirm the Elect did not fall in Adam; but this I can't tell how to believe, why then did Christ die? Brethren, must Christ be offered to righteous ⟨p. 31⟩Persons, to justified Persons, or to Sinners condemned? or do any of us preach that which we believe not? do any preach thus, or have they any Authority so to do? viz. Sinners, if you are elected, you are in a good State, and are actually justified whether you believe or not, only you do not know it, or have not the evidence of it in your own Consciences. Or do we not all preach to all out of Christ as unto ungodly ones, to such that are under Wrath and Condemnation in their own Persons, and so remain until they believe or have Union with Christ. Our Lord came not to call the Righteous, as such, neither self-righteous ones, nor such who in a Gospel-Sense are righteous Persons, but Sinners to Repentance; to such that were really lost in the first Adam, and under the Bondage of Sin, and the Law. True, the Jews said indeed, that they were free, and never were in Bondage, &c. How sayest thou, 1ye shall be made free?—but what says our Blessed Lord, he that committeth Sin, 2is the Servant of Sin—If the Son therefore shall make you free, 3then are you free indeed. And doth Christ make any free until they are united to him, and so believe in him?
I am told lately, that some there are who affirm the Elect did not fall in Adam; but this I can't tell how to believe, why then did Christ die? Brethren, must Christ be offered to righteous ⟨p. 31⟩Persons, to justified Persons, or to Sinners condemned? or do any of us preach that which we believe not? do any preach thus, or have they any Authority so to do? viz. Sinners, if you are elected, you are in a good State, and are actually justified whether you believe or not, only you do not know it, or have not the evidence of it in your own Consciences. Or do we not all preach to all out of Christ as unto ungodly ones, to such that are under Wrath and Condemnation in their own Persons, and so remain until they believe or have Union with Christ. Our Lord came not to call the Righteous, as such, neither selfrighteous ones, nor such who in a Gospel-Sense are righteous Persons, but Sinners to Repentance; to such that were really lost in the first Adam, and under the Bondage of Sin, and the Law. True, the Jews said indeed, that they were free, and never were in Bondage, &c. How saist thou, 1ye shall be made free?—but what says our Blessed Lord, he that committeth Sin, 2is the Servant of Sin—If the Son therefore shall make you free, 3then are you free indeed. And doth Christ make any free until they are united to him, and so believe in him?
- 1Joh. 8.33,
- 235,
- 336.
