Third. Its publicity,—known and read of all men. Ye who have been called out of darkness into marvellous light by our ministry, and show forth his praises who has called you by a separation from the world, by a change of principle and practice. You have been observed, and thousands have seen the change, and wondered at the cause; they knew what you once were; they see what you now are; they gaze, they are astonished, and obliged to acknowledge the change;—many hate it, though they cannot but own it is the finger of God. The Deist ridicules this work as enthusiasm;—the Libertine as mere bigotry;—he learned consider it as foolishness;—the Pharisee considers the principles which produce these effects as antinomian, though they have produced such glorious consequences and it is very remarkable that in all ages the great work of the Holy Ghost has been the subject of ridicule of its professed votaries. And even in the present day some have called it mental intoxication. But this work upon the soul produces in its happy possessor the faith of God’s elect; a good hope through grace,—fervent love to God,—unfeigned humility and gospel charity or love to the household of faith,—it reclaims it converts,—it turns a man’s feet to God’s testimonies enables him to deal justly with God, by making use of the work of Christ,—to deal justly with man in all his outward actions, and whilst his faith receives the Saviour’s obedience as the end of the law, he loves that law of Ten commandments after the inward man, (for by faith, love and obedience in the spirit every law of God is fulfilled in him), and by him receiving the atonement in his conscience, the ceremonial law is fulfilled in its design, embracing the obedience of Christ, the moral law is fulfilled in him; the laws of faith, love, liberty, kindness and peace are all manifested to him, and he loves them all. Great peace are they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. He feels himself bound by the law of love to walk in all holy obedience to the laws of Christ, even the preceptive parts of the New Testament; thus he loves and obeys every law of God, nor is he, nor can he be against one law of God that is revealed in God’s most holy word. This is the doctrine Paul preached, and these are the sentiments God has been pleased to reveal to my soul, and enabled me to preach constantly and faithfully, and this every real believer must confess, that ever heard me unprejudiced: does not this give the lye to all those preachers in Town and Country who have falsely reported that I am an antinomian in principle, and are continually maintaining antinomian sentiments; but I bless God none can prove me an antinomian, either in principle or practice; but it is a lamentable truth constantly seen, viz. that those who belie a man’s principles, will not scruple to belie a man’s practice. Mark this ye enemies in black; perhaps God has enable me to perform as many, and more good works, than those who oppose me, though they talk more about them than I do. Mr. Evans in his Sketch of all Denominations has given us an account of the sect called antinomians; but let any impartial Christian read that account and the above description of a believer, and then charge me with antinomianism if they dare. The best description I ever read of an antinomian, was written by the late Mr. Huntington, in his Sermon:—“Moses unveiled in the face of Christ;” which was afterwards printed in that best of Periodical Publications, the Gospel Magazine, for the Month of November 1798, and which I take the liberty to present to my readers.
Aging Journal
The Living Letter, written with the Pen of Truth — Part 4
2026-11-15 16:37:00 · Cedar Herald Index
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