SJS THE sACRIFtCE OF CHRIST. SECT. TV.--The Necessity of this Doctrine represented in the express Words of two learned Men of well-known Charity, and of a Catholic Spirit. But that I may not appear to stand alone in this sentiment, which may seem uncharitable, says Ferveutio, I would appeal to the late reverend and learned Doctor John Evans, who in a hook he wrote in express vindication of christian charity, en- titled, " A Second Letter to Mr. Cumming about Scripture Consequences," page SS, &c. expresses himself in such strong language as I would rehearse at large, that the forceofhis argu- ments may appear. I have transcribed it into a little pocket book to carry it always about me in these seasons of error and apostacy, that I might have it ready to spew upon every occasion, how zealous a defender of this doctrine he was, though we know he was a man of some latitude in other points of strict ortho- doxy, 00 There are some scripture passages, says he, which con- tain propositions that are declared in the passages themselves necessary to be bélived in order to salvation, as that " Jesus is the Messiah.; John viii. 24. " that he is come in the flesh," 2 John iv. 2 -6. This, says he, are the first sort of fundamentals or " necessary articles, because the Holy Ghost in scripture bath expressly made the belief of them terms of salvation." Then he adds secondly, " I think the Spirit of God may have signified the universal necessity of believing some truths, by ether ways of express declaration, which are as full and obliga- tory, as his saying in so many words, " that he that believes them shall be saved, or he that believes them not shall perish." As, When the revelation of a doctrine is very express and plain : When it is set in several lights, or expressed by several phiases, all pointing very, forcibly one and the same common sense : When the Spirit of God lays great stress upon it, either by mentioning it.at, every turn in the sacred writings, or by interweaving it with the main doctrines and institutions of christianity ; or by making the blessings, without which we cannot be saved, to depend upon it, and even upon the belief of it : or by representing it as the foundation of practical godliness. When, I say, I find these marks affixed to any doctrine of revelation in the revelation itself; I mean, all or most of them concurring; I apprehend them to be an express testimony of the Spirit of God, that such a truth is universally necessary, fully equivalent to the former. I shall only instance in one truth, which though it hath, as I have just observed, the former mark also of universal necessity, has these additional marks too, viz. " that Christ died a propiti- story sacrifice for our sins." I know no truth more plainly expressed, or more frequently inculcated in the scriptures, and this in a variety of phrases of obvious meaning, especially comparing the Old and NewTesta-
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