An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

Or how could they be reckoned among those, that [Greek or Hebrew], seek out God, Heb. 11.6. Nature may grope after God, but it cannot indeed seek him out, as he is in his gracious Covenant without a Divine Call and Spirit: Or how could they be justified without Faith in a Messiah? By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, Isai. 53.11. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins, Act. 10.43. We see, without believing in him, there is no remission, no pleasing of God. And were Abel and Enoch without a promise; then they were in a mere Pagan state; and what that is, the Apostle tells us, Eph. 2.12. Having no hope, and without God in the world; and this because they were without Christ, and without the covenant of promise; as that place tells us. Now if Abel and Enoch were without God; then how could they be sincerely Religious, or do him any true service? And if they were without hope, ⟨p. 345⟩how could they look upon God as a rewarder of them that seek him? Indeed, there are some rudera imaginis Dei in us: A natural man hath some obscure notions of God, and his remunerating goodness, but in the Apostle, when God is said to be a rewarder, it is not to be taken Philosophicè, but Evangelicè; that is, that he is a rewarder of Believers in and through the Messiah; and the Promises of Grace, and eternal life made in him: Take away the word, and you take away justifying Faith: How shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? Rom. 10.14. If Abel and Enoch had only natural Faith, and that justifying, mere Pagans may have the same, who yet have not the name Jesus, the only name of Salvation, who never heard of the holy Ghost, the Fountain of all Holiness; who have not the Gospel, the Chariot of the holy Spirit; who know not what Grace is, in its supernatural nature, or in its centre; the glory of heaven; notwithstanding all this, they may have justifying Faith: Before the Author told us, That the Gospel is the fullness of Christ, the principle of a Divine Life, the Wisdom and Power of God; and yet without this Gospel a man by