Giving him not only to die, but giving Him in the Divine Declarations to be believed on?

"It must be the very fame Thing which pla"cates divine Juftice, or which fully expreffes "the neceffary Oppofition of infinite Goodness "to Evil or Sin, that relieves the Sinner from "the Sentence of Condemnation, which is no "other than the Voice of God naturally refiding " in the Conscience."

Ibid.

As it would be very abfurd to suppose it placates the divine Justice without being confidered by that Juftice in the Behalf of the Tranfgreffor; so it feems to be equally abfurd, that it can "relieve "the guilty Conscience from the Sentence of "Condemnation," without being appropriated by that Conscience.

The Sentence of Condemnation, naturally refiding in the Confcience, requires a Revelation of Righteousness, that I may as really impute to myfelf, as the Sin that condemns me, or the Condemnation still remains untouched. A Poffibility, that I may be an Elect Person, cannot give Relief, because it may be ten to one it is not true. My Hope is only in Proportion, as I apprehend many, or few, to be elected; and after al!, it is not, in fact, Chrift's Righteousness that relieves me, but my conjectural or fond Hope of being one of the Elect.

Chrift did finish upon the Cross that Righteoufnefs "which placates the divine Juftice, or which

fully expreffes the neceffary Oppofition of in"finite Goodness to Evil, or Sin." That Righteoufness which alone can relieve the Sinner from eternal Death, entitle him to eternal Life, and bring Peace and Hope of everlasting Life to the moft guilty Conscience. At the fame Time, it would be abfurd to fay, Chrift finished on the Croís every Requifite or Commandment relative to this Righteoufnefs as preached or declared in the World. For Inftance: He hath commanded all Men every where to repent. Which I underftand a Repentance refpective of this Righteoufnefs, and the fame with the Commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ. Again, the Voice from Heaven, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleafed, was attended with a Commandment to hear Him, agreeable to I. li. 5. If it is again enquired, of what avail are these Commandments? It may be answered, as the Commandment to preach the Gofpel to every Creature, availed to be the Savour of Life unto Life in them that are faved, and of Death unto Death in them that perifh; fo the Commandment to believe on the Name of his Son Jefus Chrift, avails to encourage and warrant the Sinner, as fuch, to truft, believe in, or appropriate and enjoy that Righteoufnefs. I am perH 3 fuaded

fuaded Palamon will not fay, that Christ finished upon the Cross any of the Commandments abovementioned. As it may be affirmed on the other Hand, that the Obedience to these Commands, is no Part of that Righteoufnefs which procures Acceptance for, or gives Relief unto the, Confcience of the most prophane Wretch that lives. But Palamon's Reply is, That all Obedience to thefe Commands, fuppofe the Belief of the Gofpel Report. Be it fo, the Commandment fpeaks to them, not as to Believers, or to the diftinguifhed among Mankind, but as to Sinners or Children of Wrath, even as others. And is the divine Method of Grace in giving us a conscious Poffeflion or Enjoyment. Which Palamon feeks totally by Works.

"What is the turning Point from Defpair to "good Hope?" Ibid.

The finished Work of Chrift alone. How is that our Hope? As it is given for that Purpose to be the Hope of the Guilty.

"Afio's Faith refts, one Foot on the Work "of Chrift, and the other on human Efforts, or "the Motions of Man's Heart." Ibid.

Quite a Miftake. Afpafio's Faith is, that the Work of Chrift is given to him, on this he refts, and on no Motions of his Heart whatever.

"What gives Right to eternal Life? The "imputed Righteousness. What gives Right to

"that?

"that? The Work of Faith.

Who have a "Right to act Faith? Those who feel an Aver"fion to Sin, &c. p. 44.

This is alfo far from being Afpafio's View of the Matter: He fhould be reprefented thus ; What gives Right to eternal Life? The imputed Righteousness. What gives Right to that? The Declarations of the Gospel giving it freely to Sinners as fuch. Who have a Right to act Faith, or appropriate this Righteoufnefs? All the Ends of the Earth: As many as can be included in the Word whosoever. To any of all the Ends of the Earth were the Apoftles commiffioned to say, Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou shalt be faved. To exhort thus to a paffive involuntary Conviction would be very abfurd.

Afpafio's Obfervation is, the "Grant is made "to Sinners, in receiving the Grant we com« mence Believers" according to the above-men-tioned apoftolic Exhortation.

"But Afpafio will ftill infift, that these Quali"fications are by no Means the Ground of their "Right. Let us fee then, where the Ground ❝ of their Right lies? p. 46.

In the divine Declarations to Sinners as fuch. "I think the obvious Meaning of Afpafio's "Words is this: Thefe Perfons, so qualified, have the Right exclufive of unqualified Sinners. Ibid,

It is very obvious this is not his Meaning. "Where then can the Ground of this Right lie, but in the diftinguished Qualifications? It ❝cannot lie in any Thing common to both; for "in that Cafe, the unqualified would have as good a Right as the qualified." Ibid.

66

They have fo. These are Afpafio's real Sentiments, whatever Qualifications make a Difference between one Man and another, they confer no Right to the Kingdom of God, they confer no Right to the imputed Righteousness. For as all have finned, and come short of the Glory of God, they who are justified, are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption which is in Fefus Christ.

"They have nothing in the Heaven above, "nor in the Earth below, to keep their Hearts "from finking into utter Despair, but the bare "Propitiation. This, and this alone, encou"rages them to make their Addrefs to God." p. 48.

Can this encourage further than they fee their. Intereft in it, or Right to draw near to God thereby, in Virtue of his gracious Declarations? And how are they to addrefs God? As their Friend and Father, on Account of this Righteoufnefs? Then they, in Fact, appropriate it, and our Debate is at an End; we are agreed. Or, do they address God only as the Friend of fome who are to be known in Time by fuitable Qua

lifications?