his own personal exercise of a gracious disposition; but the sentence of God, as Lawgiver pronouncing him just, and accepting him as a righteous man. It is not an acquittal of the charge of personal wickedness; for in the very act of justification, there is the strongest implication of that charge. Nor is it in any form, or degree, a vindication of the sinner's conduct, nor any excuse or palliation of it; but, on the other hand, a direct comdemnation of it, and in the most emphatic terms. It is God that justifieth.' It is the ACT of GOD, originating in his free, unmerited grace, whereby He judges the disobedient to the rewards of the just, securing to them all the positive blessings which his law secures to an unoffending and perfectly obedient subject. Be they adoption into the Divine family and all the privileges of the sons of God; be they the Divine guardianship and favour in time of trouble, and the Divine presence as they go down to the dark valley; be they 'the resurrection and the life' when they dwell in the dust, or the cheering sentence of approbation, when they stand at the bar of judgment; be they what they may, which the law secures to the sinless and obedient, the act of justification secures to the believer." Well writes B. Babington, "Therefore the work of Christ for us is most perfect, glorious and absolute. This giveth faith for fear, this giveth hope of safety from the power of all foes, from the strength of the law, from the sting of death, from the victory of the grave, and from the mainest might of all the kingdom of hell that can be raised against us. For we are justified, yea, fully justified, and who or what can now condemn us? We are sons, and who can make us again servants? We are friends, and who can make us foes? It is now my Father and your Father, my God and your God, and what strength of hells ten thousand can change this course? O, word of comfort then, commanded me by Christ to pray in the name of Father. Dear God, and sweet God, let our souls feel it. It is finished, and why are we feared? Were our sins as crimson, as scarlet, as blood, they are washed, they are wiped, they are gone. Were my wants the wants of the whole world, they are pardoned, they are forgiven, God is pleased, and is now my Father. O, Saviour sweet, make my thanks many; let my tongue, my voice, my heart, my soul, my whole man inward and outward resound thy lasting praise." TWELFTH ENQUIRY. Did Christ in His Word encourage us to exhibit a bitter spirit towards our enemies? And did he per mit us to anathematize or hate Christians who differ from us in their religious views ? No! For what says the Bible? It is written: "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU; THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: FOR HE MAKETH HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL, AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST. FOR IF YE LOVE THEM WHICH LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YE? DO NOT EVEN THE PUBLICANS THE SAME? AND IF YE SALUTE YOUR BRETHREN ONLY, WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS? DO NOT EVEN THE PUBLICANS SO? (Matt. v. 44-47.) "MASTER, WE SAW ONE CASTING OUT DEVILS IN THY NAME, AND HE FOLLOWETH NOT US: AND WE FORBAD HIM, BECAUSE HE FOLLOWETH NOT US: BUT JESUS SAID, FORBID HIM NOT: FOR HE THAT IS NOT AGAINST US IS ON OUR PART." (Mark ix. 38-40.) "LORD, WILT THOU THAT WE COMMAND FIRE TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND CONSUME THEM EVEN AS ELIAS DID? BUT HE TURNED, AND REBUKED THEM, AND SAID, YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF: FOR THE SON OF MAN IS NOT COME TO DESTROY MEN'S LIVES, BUT TO SAVE THEM." (Luke ix. 54–56.) “Beloved, let US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND EVERY ONE THAL LOVETH, IS BORN WAS MANIFESTED THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARD US, BE- Do the Romanists in their writings encourage us to exhibit a bitter spirit towards our enemies? And do they anathematize or hate Christians who differ from them in their religious views? Yes! for They have written : (The Pope Boniface sent the following Communication?) "By the authority of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; and of the holy Canons; and of the immaculate Virgin Mary, the mother and patroness of our Saviour; and of all the celestial virtues, angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, powers, cherubims, and seraphims; and of all the holy patriarchs and prophets; and of all the holy apostles and evangelists; and of the holy innocents, who in the sight of the Holy Lamb, are found worthy to sing the new song; of the holy martyrs and holy confessors; and of the holy virgins, and of all saints, together with all the holy elect of God, we excommunicate and anathematize this thief, or this malefactor, N-: and from the thresholds of the holy Church of Almighty God, we sequester him, that he may be tormented, and disposed, and delivered over, with Dathan and Abiram, and with those who say unto the Lord God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; and as fire is quenched with water, so let his light be put out for ever, unless he shall repent and make satisfaction. Amen. May God the Father, who created man, curse him, May God the Son who suffered for us, curse him. May the Holy Ghost, who was given to us in baptism curse him. May the holy cross, which Christ for our salvation triumphantly ascended, curse him. holy and eternal Virgin Mary curse him. Michael, the advocate of holy souls, curse him. May St. John, the chief forerunner and baptist of Christ, curse him. May St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Andrew, and all the other apostles of Christ, together with the rest of his disciples, and the four evangelists, curse him. May the holy and wonderful company of martyrs and confessors, who, by their holy works are found pleasing to God, curse him. May the holy choir of the holy virgins, who, for the honour of Christ, have depised the things of this world, curse him. May all the saints H May the May St. |