A47601:122
A medium betwixt two extremes wherein it is proved that the whole first Adam…
A medium betwixt two extremes wherein it is proved that the whole first Adam was condemned and the whole second Adam justified : being a sermon lately preached on Rom. 8:1 and now published to prevent the further controversy (in one main point) about justification : to which are added reflections on some passages in Mr. Clark's new book called Scripture-Justification / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed for Andrew Bell, 1698
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.
2. Because such a Notion cannot tend to the Glory of God, nor the profit of any Person, either before or after they do believe. I challenge any to show what Glory it can bring to God, or benefit it can be to any Sinner, to hear he is justified or discharged from Wrath and Condemnation before he is in Christ; or that it can be of profit to him when he doth believe, to be told that his State was good before he did believe in Christ Jesus, tho he knew it not.
2. Because such a Notion cannot tend to the Glory of God, nor the profit of any Person, either before or after they do believe. I challenge any to shew what Glory it can bring to God, or benefit it can be to any Sinner, to hear he is justified or discharged from Wrath and Condemnation before he is in Christ; or that it can be of profit to him when he doth believe, to be told that his State was good before he did believe in Christ Jesus, tho he knew it not.
3. But contrariwise it may tend to encourage Unbelievers to conclude that their State is good, tho Swearers, Drunkards, and what not, and so harden them in their Sins, and to disbelieve or cast contempt upon what some faithful Ministers daily declare to the contrary.
4. It also clearly tends to lessen or extenuate the rich Grace of God, in giving his Spirit to regenerate the Soul, and to work Faith in us, if the relative and real change were not at one and the same time, which the Scripture doth affirm it is; But you are sanctified, but ye are justified, 1&c. Also then Grace received, could not be any sign of our being passed from a state of Death unto a state of Life, which the Apostle asserts it is, By this we know that we have passed from Death to Life, because we love the Brethren;