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

Mr. Shepherd saith, ¹That true Faith is the coming of the Soul, not unto duties of Holiness (which is obedience properly) but unto Christ, Which notion of our union to Christ is such, that according to it, wicked men, who live in sin, may be united to Christ: But the Scripture places the formal nature of ⟨p. 500⟩our union to Christ in a subjection to his Authority, and obedience to his Laws; an holy life must not only follow our union to Christ, as an effect of it; but must at least in order of nature go before it; because by this we are united to Christ: We are not real members of Christ, till we sincerely obey him, till our minds are transformed into his Image. Our union to Christ is more or less perfect according to our attainments in true Piety and Virtue: The first and lowest degree of Union to Christ, is a belief of his Gospel, which in order of Nature must go before Obedience to it: But yet it includes a purpose of obeying it; and in this sense we must be united to Christ before we can be holy, because this belief of his Gospel is the great principle of Obedience, as our Saviour tells his Disciples: Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bring forth fruit of it self, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me, Joh. 15.4. But then our Union is not perfected without Obedience: This makes us the true Disciples of Christ, when we are fruitful in good works, as he adds in vers. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bring forth much fruit, so shall you be my Disciples; A belief of the Gospel, and a ⟨p. 501⟩purpose of Obedience is all can be expected from beginners; but this doth not give an actual title to all the promises of the Gospel, unless we actually obey it: But when in the strength of this Faith, we conquer the world and the flesh, and improve all opportunities of doing good: This makes us the Disciples of Christ indeed, and heirs of Glory. Nothing can be a greater dishonour to our Saviour, nor a greater contradiction to his Gospel, than to affirm, that wicked men, while they continue such, are actually united to Christ, and thereby have an actual right to pardon and eternal life: St. John understood not this Doctrine, when he told us: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all: If we say, we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness (live in any sin) we lye and do not the truth: