IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 2.l'S (e.) That God is well pleased with this atonement, and them; so all the faculties of it being now renewed, and his will is that we should accept of it, and acquiesce inwardly changed, it can no more refrain from the love in it, 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. Ise. lüi. i I, 12. Rom. v. 10, 11. of holiness, and from an engagement into a watchful (6.) It is proposed and promised, that through and course of universal obedience unto God, by such free upon their believing, that i , on Christ, as proposed in actings as are proper unto it, than onethat is new born the gospel for the only way of redemption and salva- can refrain from all acts of life natural, in motion, de- tion, convinced sinners shall be pardoned, justified, and sire of food, and the like. Vain and foolish therefore acquitted before God, discharged of the law against are the reproaches of some, who, in an high course of them, through the imputation unto them of what the aworldly and profane life, do charge others with preach- Lord Christ hath done for them, and suffered in their ing a justification by faith alone in Christ Jesus, unto stead, Rom. viii. 3. and. and x. 3, 4. 1 Cor. i. 30, 31. a neglect of holiness, righteousness, and obedience to 2 Cor. v. 21. Eph. ii. 8, 9, 10.. God, which such scoffersand fierce despisers of all that (7.) To prevail with, and win over the souls of men are good do so earnestly plead for. Those whom they unto a consent to receive Christ on the terms wherein he openly reflect upon do unanimously teach, that the is proposed; that is, to believe in him, and trust unto faith which doth not purify the heart, and reform the him, to what he is, hath done and suffered, and con- life, which is not fruitful in good works, which is not tinueth to do, for pardon of sin, life, and salvation, the an effectual cause and means of repentance and newness gospel is filled with arguments, invitations, encourage- of life, is not genuine, nor pleadable unto justification, ments, exhortations, promises, all of them designed to but empty, dead, and that which, if trusted unto, will explain and declare the love, grace, faithfulness, and eternally deceive the souls ofmen. They do all of them good-will of God herein. In the due management and presstheindispensible necessityof universalholiness,god= improvement of these parts of the gospel, consists the liness, righteousness, or obedience to all the commands of principal wisdom and skill of the ministers of the New God, on surerprinciples, with more cogent arguments, in Testament. more clear compliance with the will, grace, and love of (8.) Among these various ways or means of the de- God in Christ, than any they pretend unto, who igno- claration of himself and his will, God frequently causeth rantly and falsely traduce them, as those who regard some especial word, promise, or passage, to fix itselfon them not. And as they urge an obediential holiness, the mind of a sinner, as we saw it in the instance before which is not defective in any duty either towards God insisted on. Hereby the soul is first excited to exert or man, which they either plead for or pretend unto; and act the faith wherewith it is endued, by the effect- so it contains that in it which is more sublime, spiritual, ual working of the Spirit of God beforedescribed. And and heavenly, than what they are either acquainted by this means are men directed unto rest, peace, and with, or do regard; which, in its proper place, shall consolation, in that variety of degrees wherein God is be made more fully to appear. pleased to communicate them. Sect. 38. (l0.) Those who were thus converted un- (9.) This acting of faith on Christ, through the pro- to God in the primitive times of the church, were, upon mise of the gospel, for pardon, righteousness, and salva- their confession or profession hereof, admitted into Lion, is inseparably accompanied with, and that faith is church- society, and a participation of all the mysteries the root and infallible cause of an universal engagement thereof. And this being the common way whereby any of heart unto all holy obedience to God in Christ, with were added unto the fellowship of the faithful, it was an a relinquishment ofall known sin, necessarilyproducing effectual means of intense love, without dissimulation, a thorough change and reformation of life, and fruitful- among them all, on the account of theirjoint interest in Tien in obedience. For, as upon a discovery of the the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I shall shut love of God in Christ, the promises whereby it is ex- up this discourse with one instance hereof, given us by hibited untous being mixed with faith, the soul of a Austin, in the conversion and admission into church - poor sinner will be filled with godly sorrow and shame society, ofVictorious, a Platonical philosopher; as he for its former sins, and will be deeply humbled for received the story from Simplicianus, by whom he was
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