03.21. THE CONCLUSION.
THE CONCLUSION. That my reader may farther perceive that Mr. Fowler, even by the chief of the articles of the church of England, is adjudged erroneous; and besides the very fundamentals of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and that in those very principles that are in the main, I say, and that most immediately concern Christ, faith, and salvation, will be evident to them that compare his design of Christianity, with these articles hereunto recited. The Article [X.] concerning Free-will.
’The condition of man, after the fall of Adam, is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.’ The Article [XI.] concerning Justification.
’We are accounted righteous before God, ONLY for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith; and not for our own works, or deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith ONLY, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort,’ &c. The Article [XIII.] of Works before Justification.
’Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, for as much as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, - or deserve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the NATURE of sin.’
These articles, because they respect the points in controversy betwixt Mr. Fowler, and myself; and because they be also fundamental truths of the christian religion, as I do heartily believe, let all men know that I quarrel not with him, about things wherein I dissent from the church of England, but do contend for the truth contained, even in these very articles of theirs, from which he hath so deeply revolted, that he clasheth with every one of them, as may farther be shewn when he shall take heart to reply. But to wind up this unpleasant scribble, I shall have done when I have farther shewed, how he joineth with papist, and Quaker, against these wholesome, and fundamental articles.
Mr. Fowler’s Doctrine compared with Campaign the Jesuit, upon that question whether Faith only justifieth: saith Campaign,
1. Campaign. ’We [Papists] say, that as grace is put into us in justification, so also our righteousness is enlarged through good works, and is inherent in us; therefore it is not true that God doth justify by faith ONLY.’
Fowler (p. 221), ’Justifying faith is such a belief of the truth of the gospel, as includes a sincere resolution of obedience unto all its precepts: and that it justifieth as it doth so. - In short, is it possible that faith in Christ’s blood, for the forgiveness of sins, should be the only act which justifieth a sinner?’ (p. 224).
2. Campaign. ’So that faith is urged, but not faith ONLY; again, by faith is meant all Christianity, and the whole religion of Christians.’
Fowler (p. 222), ’For surely the faith which entitles the sinner to so high a privilege, as that of justification, must needs be such as complieth with all the purposes of Christ’s coming into the world; especially with his grand purpose, - as Lord, and that it is no less necessary that it should justify as it doth this.’
3. Campaign. ’Though works void of Christ are nothing; yet through grace they serve to justification.’
Fowler (p. 225,226), ’Of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, - this is the true explication; it consists in dealing with sincerely righteous persons: as if they were perfectly so, for the sake and upon the account of Christ’s righteousness. The grand intent of the gospel being to make us partakers of an inward and real righteousness; and it being but a secondary one, that we should be accepted, and rewarded, as if we were completely righteous.’
4. Campaign. ’Speaking of faith, hope, and charity, he confesseth; that faith in nature is before them, but it doth not justify before they come.’
Fowler (p. 223), ’What pretence can there be for thinking, that faith is the condition, or instrument of justification, as it complieth with only the precept of relying on Christ’s merits, for the obtaining of it: especially when it is no less manifest than the sun at noon-day, that obedience to the other precepts, [or works of love,] must go before obedience to this’ (p. 284).
5. Campaign. ’I deny [that faith ONLY doth justify] for you have not in all the word of God, that faith only doth justify.’
Fowler (p. 225), ’And for my part, I must confess, that I would not willingly be he that should undertake to encounter one of the champions of that foul cause, with the admission of this principle, that faith justifieth, only as it apprehendeth [resteth or relieth on (p. 224)] the merits, and righteousness of Jesus Christ, I must certainly have great luck, or my adversary but little cunning, if I were not forced to repent me of such an engagement.’
6. Campaign. ’Abraham being a just man, was made more just by a living faith.’
Fowler (p. 283), ’He only is a true child of Abraham, who in the purity of the heart obeyeth those substantial laws, that are imposed by God, upon him.’
7. Campaign. ’I say that charity and good works, are not excluded [in the causes of our justification].’
Fowler (p. 214,215), ’For we have shewn, not only that reformation of life from the practice, and purification of heart from the liking of sin, are as plainly as can be asserted in the gospel to be absolutely necessary to give men a right to the promises of it, but also that its great salvation doth even consist in it.’
Mr. Fowler’s Doctrine compared with William Penn the Quaker.
1. Penn’s Sandy Foundation (p. 19 [p. 16 ed. 1684]), ’Life and salvation is to them that follow Christ the light, in all his righteousness, which every man comes only to experiment, as he walks in a holy subjection to that measure of light and grace, wherewith the fulness hath enlightened him.’
Fowler (p. 8), ’That is, those which are of an indispensable, and eternal obligation, which were first written in men’s hearts, and originally dictates of human nature.’
2. Penn (p. 32 [p. 26 ed. 1684]), ’I really confess that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Father’s will, and offered up a most satisfactory sacrifice, but not to pay God, or help him [as otherways being unable] to save men.’
Fowler (p. 85), ’Christ was set forth to be a propitiatory sacrifice for sin; I will not say that his Father [who is perfectly sui juris] might be put by this means into a capacity of forgiving it.’
3. Penn (p. 16 [p. 14 ed. 1684]), ’God’s remission is grounded on man’s repentance, not that it is impossible for God to pardon without a plenary satisfaction.’
Fowler (p. 84), ’There are many that do not question but that God could have pardoned sin, without any other satisfaction, than the repentance of the sinner,’ &c.
4. Penn (p. 27 [p. 22 ed. 1684]), ’Justification doth not go before, but is subsequential to the mortification of lusts.’
Fowler (p. 14,15), ’This blessing of making men holy, was so much the design of Christ’s coming, that he had his very name from it’: observe the words are, ’He shall save his people from their sins’; not from the punishment of them. And that is the primary sense of them, which is most plainly expressed in them: ’That he shall save his people from the punishment of sin, is a true sense too; but it is secondary and implied only; as this latter is the never failing and necessary consequent of the former salvation.’
5. Penn (p. 25 [p. 21 ed. 1684]), ’Since therefore there can be no admittance had, without performing that righteous will, and doing those holy, and perfect sayings; alas! to what value will an imputative righteousness amount?’ &c.
Fowler (p. 16), ’Christ shall bring in an inward substantial, and everlasting righteousness, and by abrogating the outward [ceremonial] and establishing ONLY this righteousness, he should enlarge the Jewish Church, an accession of the Gentiles, being by that means made unto it.’
6. Penn (p. 24,25 [p. 20 ed. 1684]), ’Since God has prescribed an inoffensive life, as that which only can give acceptance with him; and on the contrary hath determined never to justify the wicked, &c. - Will not the abomination appear greatest of all, where God shall be found condemning the just, on purpose to justify the wicked; and that he is thereto compelled, or else no salvation, which is the tendency of their doctrine, who imagine the righteous, and merciful God to condemn and punish his [innocent righteous Son,] that he having satisfied for our sins, we might be justified [while unsanctified] by the imputation of his perfect righteousness. O why should this horrible thing be contended for by Christians!’
Fowler (p. 119), ’If it were possible [as it hath been proved it is not] that a wicked man should have God’s pardon, it would not make him cease to be miserable.’
Fowler (p. 120), ’Were it possible that Christ’s righteousness could be imputed to an unrighteous man, I dare boldly affirm it would signify as little to his happiness, as would a gorgeous and splendid garment, to one that is almost starved with hunger, or that lieth racked by the torturing diseases of the stone, or colic.’
Fowler (p. 130), ’To justify a wicked man, while he continueth so, if it were possible for God to do it, would far more disparage his justice, and holiness, than advance his grace and kindness.’
7. Penn (p. 26 [p. 22 ed. 1684]), ’Unless we be[come] doers of that law, which Christ came not to destroy, but as our example to fulfil, we can never be justified before God.’
Fowler (p. 296), ’It is impossible we should not have the design of Christianity accomplished in us, and therefore that we should be destitute of the power of it, if we make our Saviour’s most excellent life, the pattern of our lives. Those that sincerely, and industriously endeavour to imitate the holy Jesus in his spirit and actions, can never be ignorant what it is to be truly Christians, nor can they fail to be so.’
8. Penn (p. 26), ’Nor let any fancy that Christ hath so fulfilled it for them, as to exclude their obedience, from being requisite to their acceptance, but only as their pattern.’
Fowler (p. 148), ’This Son of God taught men their duty, by his own example, and did himself perform among them, what he required of them. Now that he should tread before us EVERY step of that way, which he hath told us leadeth to eternal happiness, and commend those duties which are most ungrateful to our corrupt inclinations, by his own practice; our having so brave an example is no small encouragement, to a cheerful performance of all that is commanded.’
Understandest thou what thou readest?