5 6 The DoFrine of St. James- The Apoftle Imes on the other hand had no fuch (cope or defign, or any fuch occalion for what he wrote in this matter. He doth not enquire, or give intimation of any inch enquiry, he doth not Bate the Cafe how a guilty convinced Sinner whole mouth is flopped as unto any plea or excufe for him - felf, may come to be juftified in the fight of God, that is, receive the Pardon of fns,and the gift of Righteoufnef unto life. To refolve this queftion into our own Works, isto overthrow the whole Gofpel.. But he had in hand a bufinefs quite of another nature. For as we have Paid, there were many in thofe days who profeffed the Chrifliçtn Religion or Faith in the Gofpel,whereon they prefumed that as they were already juflified, fo that there was nothing more needful unto them that they might be faved. Ad-efirable eftate they thought they had attained, fuited ,unto all the interef of the Flefh, whereby they might live in. Sin, and negle& of all Duty of Obedience, and yet be eternally faved. Some fuppofe that this pernicious- conceit was imbibed by them from the poy- fonous Opinions that force had then divulged, ;according, as the Apoftle Paul foretold that it would cometo pars, 2 Tim... a, 2, 3. For it is generally conceived than Simon Magus and his followers had by _this:,time,infe &ed the minds; of many with their abominations, and amongft them this was one, and not the leaft pernicious, that by Faith, was intended a liber- ty from the Law, and unto Sin, or unto them that had it, the tatting away of all difference between good and evil, which was afterwards improved, by.Bafilides Valentino, , and the reft>af the, Gnofiic%s; Or it may be it was only the corruption of mens hearts and lives, that prompted them to: leek after filch a countenance unto Sin. And this latter I judg it was. There were then among profeflèd Chriftíans , fuch as the world now fwarms. withal ; who fuppofe that their Faith, or the Religion which they profefs, be it what it will, thall fave them, although they live, in flagitious wickednefs, and are utterly,
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