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THE TOUCHSTONE OF SAVING FAITH

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THE TOUCHSTONE OF SAVING FAITH

3 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

(Continued)

Let us now attempt to bring ourselves to the touchstone of the sacred Scriptures, while we have laid before us the consideration of these two important queries; the former of which is of a very searching nature, and the latter of a very satisfying and consolatory nature.

To begin with the first:

How far may a person’s heart and ways be rectified, and he notwithstand be destitute of saving faith?

It is evident from Scripture and experience, that persons may come very near to the kingdom of God, and yet never actually enter into it. Permit me therefore to proceed in this inquiry step by step.

1. A person may be of a very good natural temper, and be endowed with many valuable qualifications, although destitute of saving faith. What is generally called good-nature, is a gift of Divine Providence, which is by no means peculiar to true believers. For those whose tempers are naturally rough, may be favoured with a principle of special grace, while persons of a sweet natural disposition may be total strangers to it. Although human nature is very degenerate and corrupt in all, yet we find sometimes many things very amiable in those that have no religion at all. There may be so much decency, sobriety, humanity, compassion, generosity, fidelity, and the like, in the natural dispositions of persons, as make them truly valuable, very agreeable, and really useful in life. Yea it is very difficult to say how far a sweetness of temper, cultivated by an education, may extend its influence to the regulation of the conduct. But, after all, nothing is more evident, than that all this may be where there is no saving faith; for even a heathen, that knows nothing of Christ or His gospel, may be possessed of such amiable qualifications. And among those that are favoured with the light of revelation, there are apparently some of a rugged natural disposition who have the true fear of God before their eyes; while others with all their qualifications, have no appearance of true religion. God is pleased to bestow his special blessings upon some of both sorts, on purpose to make us distinguish between good-nature and saving grace.

2. A person may be influenced by the principles of civility and morality, and yet be destitute of saving faith. He may see the necessity and propriety of doing justice and loving mercy; may see it to be his incumbant duty to do to others, as he would that others should do to him; and so become strict in his morals, upright in his conversation between man and man; may abhor lying, cheating, and all kinds of deceit; have a great regard for honesty, and integrity, for paying his just debts, speaking the truth to his neighbor, and would upon all occasions do him justice. In a word, he may have a conscientious regard to the duties of the second table, both with respect to himself and to his neighbor; and so be, what is generally called, a sober, virtuous, honest, temperate, useful person. All these things are doubtless very good in themselves; and where there is true religion, these things will be found. But let us not think them sufficient evidences of saving grace; for all these moral principles may be entertained and followed by a person that has never known, or perhaps heard of Christ. The young man in the gospel was evidently such a one, while a stranger both to the doctrine and to the experience of faith. Matt. XIX, 18-20.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 november 1935

The Banner of Truth | 6 Pagina's

THE TOUCHSTONE OF SAVING FAITH

Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 november 1935

The Banner of Truth | 6 Pagina's