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left him, and travelled a little farther into the town, being told that several persons lived not far off, who were thought to be sound Christians.

CHAPTER IX.

Godliness encounters a Man of strange Countenance, whom it appears was an Antinomian.*

As Godliness passed on from the house of this self-righteous professor, he was accosted by a haughty looking person, who seemed greatly disposed to dispute upon religion.

The subject of good works was soon broached; and with no small self confidence he rattled over his threadbare arguments.

Godliness. I am afraid you are not sound. Pray, friend, what do you believe about justification?

Antinomian. I believe all the elect are personally and actually justified from eternity, and beloved by the Lord with a love of com

*An Antinomian is one who maintains that the law of God is not now binding, and of course holds good works in light esteem. Depending unrighteously on the doctrine of election, he of course neglects, to a great degree, what are called means of grace, and declines exhorting sinners to repent and believe. Ed.

placency, before they believe, even as they are after being called and sanctified.*

Godli. You certainly are very corrupt in your judgment, and hold a doctrine Jesus Christ abhors. Besides, you talk as if you understand not common sense; can any be actually and personally justified before they actually and personally exist?

Anti. I believe the elect were all actually justified from eternity.

Godli. What, actually and personally justified, and yet actually and personally condemned, at one and the same time! This is strange. Adam, for his first sin, fell under wrath and condemnation, and being a public person, all partake of his corrupt nature; and thus are children of wrath, as well as by their own actual transgressions, and so abide until they are transplanted out of that dead root, and are implanted into Jesus Christ, and partake of a vital union with him, John iii. 18, 36. Can righteousness be imputed, and sin charged, upon a person at the same time? Or are un

* The Antinomians lose sight of the distinction which should be made between the secret determination of God to bring sinners to repentance, and so forgive their sins, and his actually doing so. This subject is here perspicuously treated. Ed.

believers, justified persons? To justify or acquit a sinner, implies he was before guilty and condemned; and thus it was with all believ ers, before they were united to Christ, as the word of God testifieth, and so doth the Holy Ghost also, by conviction, when it first works upon the hearts and consciences of sinners; therefore your notion charges the Holy Ghost with being a liar.

Anti. I tell you I like you not, nor do I regard what you say. I am for free grace; God sees no sin, nor ever did, in his elect, nor need they mourn for sin, nor indulge any doubt; nay, though they are ungodly, their state is good.

Godli. Ah! my friend, such as you expose me to reproach. Your doctrine, alas, tends to looseness and ungodliness. I hear that your preachers never pray for pardon of sin, nor exhort sinners to come to Christ; and confine their preaching to those whom they suppose are the elect; and also tolerate ignorant people to rend themselves from the true churches of Christ, and will hardly allow any to be true ministers but themselves. Those of your communion I see are like the church of Laodicea ; that is, "increased in goods, and have need of nothing," in their own sight, instead of be

ing, as they ought, poor in spirit. This is manifest, because your haughty preachers are so full, that they need not confess their sins, nor ask pardon of God.

The case of this man was so hopeless, that Godliness would not stand to dispute with him, and therefore passed on.

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