m in their due order. There is much
miscarrying in both these, if they are either separated or misplaced. But
the truth is, they cannot really be, except they be jointly. Yet, often it
falls out, that in men's apprehensions and endeavours, they are disjoined.
This, then, were the argument of a living, and believing Christian,--to
join the study of holiness, with the exercise of faith in Christ, for
remission of sin and righteousness; and not only to join it, but also to
derive it from that principle. There is both an union between these and an
order established in Scripture. The most part of those that profess the
gospel are of two sorts; they do either divide holiness from imputed
righteousness, or Christ's righteousness from holiness. I do not say, that
any man truly seeks to be covered with the righteousness of Jesus Christ,
and to have his sins freely pardoned, but he will also study to walk
before God in all well-pleasing. But the truth is, many do pretend and
profess to seek salvation and forgiveness in Christ's blood, and have the
mercy of God, and merits of Christ always in their mouth, who yet declare
by their conversation that they do not so much as desire or propose to
seek after holiness. I do not speak of those who are Antinomians in
profession, but of a great multitude in the visible church, who are really
more Antinomians, to wit, in practice, than most part of our professed
Antinomians. You hear all of free grace, and free redemption in Jesus
Christ, of tender and enduring mercies in God, and this you take for the
whole gospel; and presently, upon the notion of mercy and grace, you
conclude unto yourselves, not only immunity and freedom from all the
threatenings of the word, and from hell, but likewise ye proclaim secretly
in your own hearts, a liberty to sin so much the more securely. The door
of mercy cast open in the gospel, and the free access to Christ manifested
therein, through the corruption that is within us, proves the very
occasion of many's giving indulgence to their lusts--of delaying
reformation, and turning to God. You all profess, that you seek to be
justified and saved by Jesus Christ; yea, you persuade yourselves to have
escaped condemnation by Christ. Now then, conjoin that profession and
persuasion with your walk, and O how contrary you may find them to one
another! "Your faith is vain," for "ye are yet in your sins," 1 Cor. xv.
17. The grace of God appearing to some men, effectually tea