We find our Worthy and Honoured Brethren, who have been distinguished by the Name of Congregational, 1Expressly declaring, That the Elect, before they Believe, are not personally and Actually Justified in the ⟨image ?⟩Court of Heaven, but by Believing they are so Justified: That God seeth the Sins of His own People, and is Displeased with them for their Sins, and when Believers do Sin, it is their Duty to Humble themselves Confess their Sins, and Pray for Pardon: That since the Sins of Believers, do Impair their Graces, and Comforts, Harden their Hearts, wound their Consciences, Hurt and Scandalize others, Grieve Gods Holy Spirit, Expose to His Fatherly Displeasure, and bring Temporal Judgments upon them; their Sins Hurt them, and they should be afraid to Commit them: That Saving Faith lies not in a full Persuasion and Assurance, that our Sins are actually Pardoned; and Marks and Signs for the Trials of our Spiritual Estate are to be sought after: and Sanctification Evidenced by the Spirit of God, unto our Consciences, is a certain Sign and Mark of our Justification; That the Law, delivered by Moses, continues in its Commands and Curses, Undissolved; and still is of use, to convince of Sin, that we may see a need of Christ; and therefore is to be Preached; and we are to look unto it: That though men want Ability to Believe Savingly, yet its the Duty of Gospel Ministers, to make the Offer, and Testify unto them, that whoever Believes and Repents shall be Saved; and its the Peoples Duty, to make use of their Natural Faculties, with such External means and workings of the Spirit, as God affords them, that, they may Believe, and Repent, and be ⟨image ?⟩Saved: That our Sins were not so laid upon Christ, as to make Him every way as Sinful as we; and we are not every way as Righteous as Christ: And none may Expect to be Pardoned in a state of Unbelief and Impenitence; And continued Repentance with Holiness, are necessary to our possession of Eternal Life.
We find our Worthy and Honoured Brethren, who have been distinguished by the Name of Congregational, 1Expressly declaring, That the Elect, before they Believe, are not personally and Actually Justifyed in the ⟨image ?⟩Court of Heaven, but by Believing they are so Justifyed: That God seeth the Sins of His own People, and is Displeased with them for their Sins, and when Believers do Sin, it is their Duty to Humble themselves Confess their Sins, and Pray for Pardon: That since the Sins of Believers, do Impair their Graces, and Comforts, Harden their Hearts, wound their Consciences, Hurt and Scandalize others, Grieve Gods Holy Spirit, Expose to His Fatherly Displeasure, and bring Temporal Judgments upon them; their Sins Hurt them, and they should be afraid to Commit them: That Saving Faith lies not in a full Perswasion and Assurance, that our Sins are actually Pardoned; and Marks and Signs for the Trials of our Spiritual Estate are to be sought after: and Sanctification Evidenced by the Spirit of God, unto our Consciences, is a certain Sign and Mark of our Justification; That the Law, delivered by Moses, continues in its Commands and Curses, Ʋndissolv'd; and still is of use, to convince of Sin, that we may see a need of Christ; and therefore is to be Preached; and we are to look unto it: That though men want Ability to Believe Savingly, yet its the Duty of Gospel Ministers, to make the Offer, and Testify unto them, that whoever Believes and Repents shall be Saved; and its the Peoples Duty, to make use of their Natural Faculties, with such External means and workings of the Spirit, as God affords them, that, they may Believe, and Repent, and be ⟨image ?⟩Saved: That our Sins were not so laid upon Christ, as to make Him every way as Sinful as we; and we are not every way as Righteous as Christ: And none may Expect to be Pardoned in a state of Unbelief and Impenitence; And continued Repentance with Holiness, are necessary to our possession of Eternal Life.
- 1[See, the Declaration of the Congregational Ministers, in London, against Antinomian Errors: Printed, 1698.]
