Excerpt from Checks to Antinomianism, Vol. 1 of 2

"He that now believes in Christ, with a loving, obedient heart.

"2. But who among those that never heard of Christ?

"He that feareth God, and worketh righteousness according to the light he has.

"3. Is this the same with, 'He that is sincere?

"Nearly, if not quite.

"4. Is not this 'salvation by works?"

"Not by the merit of works, but by works as a condition?

"5. What have we then been disputing about for these thirty years?

"I am afraid, about works.

"6. As to merit itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid: We are rewarded according to our works, yea, because of our works. How does this differ from, for the sake of our works? And how differs this from, secundum merita operum? 'As our works deserve?' Can you split this hair? I doubt, I cannot.

"7. The grand objection to one of the preceding propositions is drawn from matter of fact. God does in fact justify those who, by their own confession, neither feared God nor wrought righteousness. Is this an exception to the general rule?

"It is a doubt, whether God makes any exception at all. But how are we sure, that the person in question never did 'fear God and work righteousness?' His own saying so is not proof: For we know, how all that are convinced of sin undervalue themselves in every respect.

"8. Does not talking of a justified or a sanctified state, tend to mislead men? almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one moment? Whereas we are every hour and every moment pleasing or displeasing to God, according to our works, according to the whole of our inward tempers, and our outward behaviour."

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