Newspaper Page Text
162
Denominational.
jusTi PIC ATION .
How shall sinful man be just with Godl is a question of the
most inlercstirig nature to every child of Adarn. A ques-ij
tion which, notwithstanding its infinite importance, could
never have been resolved by all the reason of men, nor by all
the penetration ot angels if the Lord of heaven and earth’ had’
not exercised and manifested reigning grace, toward his dis
obedient and rebellious creatures. But, with the Bible in his
hum), anil the gospel in view, the mere infant in religious
knowledge and in Christian experience is at no loss for on
answer: for the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err
therein. Nay, such is the pleasure of God, that lie frequent-j
Jy revenls this truth in its glory, to those who are esteemed
fools by the haughty sons of science, that no flesh might
have the least ground of boasting.
Justification is a forensic term, and signifies the declaring ,
or the pronouncing a person righleous according to law. J us
tification is not the making a person righteous, by a real, in
herent change from sin to holiness, iri yhich the nature of
sanctification consists; hut it is the net of a judge, pronounc
ing the party acquitted from all judicial charges. That the:
blessing of which wo Rneak does not consist in a real change
from sin to holiness, will further appear from considering,
that justification is diametrically opposite to condemnation. —
Now the sentence of condemation is never supposed to make
the person criminal on wliom it is pronounced. There is
no infusion of evil qualities into the culprit’s mind, nor is hej
made guilty, cither in the eye of the public, or in hisown es-;
t.imution. lint being arraigned as a criminal, and proved!
guilty of a capital offence, according to the tenor of that law
l>y which he is tried, ho is esteemed worthy of death, and;
condemned accordingly- So, in justification ; the subject
of it is pronounced righteous in thoeyeot the law, is deemed j
worthy to live, and his right to life is declared. Hence that
justification of which the scripture speaks, and is now tliej
subject of our inquiry, is called the justification of life. That
the words justify, justified, and justification are used by the’
sacred writers in a forensic sense, and ns opposed to the
words condemn, condemned, and condemnation, is muailest to
every attentive reader.
Justification, in a theological seUse, is either Vega/ or evan
gelical. If any pt-ssdn could be found that lias never bro
ken tiie divine law, he might lie justified bv it, in n manner
strictly legal. But in this way none ol the human raeecan
be justified, or stand acquitted before God. For all have
sinned: there is none righteous, no not one. The whole
world having transgressed, are guilty lefore tho eternal
Judge, and under the sentence of dt uth bvJbis righteous law.
On this ground, every offender is all lijJ
and abandoned to utter destruction.
iutcly perfect, is the only Righteousness
so punishment incoWiyabio, /
principally treat, and wJnohVeadlrsth^fc
not by a personal, but an imputed righk.dMPs rhZr
v ' ,lhma provided by g.ace Ami revealed in the
gospe!: for which reason, that obedience lv which a sinner
is justified,.and Ins justifiaation itself, arc called exmngelical
In Ins alfair there is the most wonderful display of divine
justice, and of honndless grace. Os divine justice, if we re
gard Hie meritorious cause and ground on which the iustifier
procceds m absolving the condemned sinner, and in pro m ,
oing him righteous. Os boundless grace, ifwc ceuilderTel
granted characler of those po'‘sons to whom the Messing is
JH®*' I ,°r T Y b f f,,n l' pr ‘Krtinguishod, as being either
a the bat of God, and in the court of’ conscience, or in the
Mgbt of tlto world, and before our fellow. creatures. The
f „’ r T r IS , >ym , C . rc f race lllro ;'gh faith, and the latter is bv 1
works. It is the former of these I shall now consider
which may be thus defined : Justification is a judicial but.
gracious act oj trod, by which a sinner is absolved from the
?wh of sm, is freed from condemnation, and has a right to
i/rrnal hjt adjudged merely J or the sake of our Lord's obe :
hence which is imputed to him, and received by faith,
1° justify, is evidently a divine prerogative. ltisGml
that just fie lli. That sovereign Being against whom w e have
>o gicatty offi-nded, whose law we have broken by ton thou
sand acts of rebellion against him, has, in the way. of his own
appointment, the sole right of acquitting the gu'iltv and of
pronouncing them righteous. J, hovah, whoso judgment is
always according to truth, is the Justifier of all that’ believe
m Jesus. Here grace reigns. For the infinitely wise God
appoints the way : the righteous and merciful God provides
.no means, and (let the sacred name bo repeatedly mention
ed-wtt li profound reverence,) the God of all grace imputes
the righteousness and pronounces the sinner acquitted, in nor I 1
feet agreement with the demand ol his violated law, and ,he
eights of Ins offended justice.
U hat is here, ns well ns in several passages of soiipture
affirmed concerning God, considered essentially, is. m some
places of the infallible word, more particularly appropriated
personally to the Father. It i s manifest, however, that all
.be three divine persons ure concerned in this grand affair
and each performs a distinct part in this particular, as also in
.he whole economy of salvation. The eternal Father is re
presented as appointing.the way, and as giving his own Son
to |rform the conditions ot our acceptance before him.—i
J he divine Son, as engaging to ,sustain the curse,, and make’
-he atonement, to fulfil the terms and provide the righteous
less by which are justified. And the Holy Spirit, us reJ
vea tnsto sinners the perfection, suitableness, mid freeness!
of ibo Swviours work; enabling them to receive it; as exin-}
hned mthejjaape of sovereign grace, and testifying to their,
oonscicttoos ortinplete justdicatwa bv it in the court ofi hea I
ven. lit us the triune God justifies. And may we not ask,;
Stye
in the triumphant language of-Paul, Who shall condemn} —
If Jehovah pronounce the sinner acquitted, who, in earth or
hell; shall reverse ihi sentence? If the Most High entirely
justify, who shalDbring in a second charge? There is no
higher court to whjcli any appeal caw be made. There is no’
superior triburwat which a complaint can be lodged against
any of those happy souls whose invaluable privilege it is to
.be justified by the rternal God. When he acquits in judg
ment, he absolves from all guilt, he accepts as completely 1
righteous; otherwise, a person immediately after he is justi-,
fied, must he supposed to stand in need of a further justifica-.
tion, which is highly absurd. This divine sentence shall!
never be made void, by any unworthiness of him on whom it
is passed, nor by the accusations- of Satan, but shall stand
’ firmer than the everlasting hills—unshaken as the throne ofj
God. This sentence —(let my reader dwell on the ravishing:
truth—let his very soul feast on the precious doctrine) —this
sentence, beiiig the justification of life, is pregnant with all
the blessings of (to everlasting covenant —with all the felicity
oft he world of wry.— Booth.
[Fntmtlie Watchman Rrfector.]
THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT.
Messrs. Edita ls,—ln your excellent paper of the 15th
and 22d of MarcS T J noticed two articles on the Atonement of
Christ,one on it® jlieory and theother on its Two fold As
pect, over the siß.lture of “E. G.”
‘f'lie and irlorv of this doctrine cannot he too
highly it is one of the pillars on which the
whole of spiritual Christianity rests. All the
body now on earth, fix their
here, and all in heaven arc singing
unto the Lamb that was slain.
most’ bi-lievc to be
- re
ii: are -mni
v> '-
mils
I of the
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tie 1
:r
■ Ml writ’ i’
K : ■ f-'emin
■, i
osL t ffif f, j . f mil ~,.
An.l lie tnriln r ,-avs in the
’ 1 die
. “ “ ■'!;
heart's blood of the Son of (tod,
wa.-TOdesin fo|B.” A similar idea is doubtless implied
when lie says, Mood's ablibrrenc.e of sin is so strong that
even when seen of his love, he turned h face
away with loath® from it.
broni the abo Jquotalions. the writer takes it for granted
that * bn.st enduld the penality of that law (hr sinne'rs, that
Ins sulie-rings uci of precisely the same nature to the same
degree that sinnei actually suffer if incorrgibfe ; but where
I would ask, entile find in the Scriptures the proof for such
stater. ignts ? I clrtair.ly have not found ii, neither do I
think the writer cfc).- lie has not alluded to a single text for
preof. Besides, itch statements it seems to me,'cannot be
reconciled with other portion of divine truth. It is obvious’
think from the Bible, that one object of the mission of Christ
to tins world wa* to abridge or prevent those sutforings
which might acciie to the universe, by the introduction of
S,J !- But if the viftw taken by the writer'be correct, this
object is not attainA, but an object directly the reverse. The
sintering is augnJnted rather than diminished. 1 f Christ
endured the penaly of the law for our entire race, then if
all our race, were saved, there wonld nothing-gained. I's he
endured the penalty of-the law only for the elect or such as
will be saved, there is nothing gained. For as Christ sufi
-t-red, so those who are last will suffer in in their own persons
the condemnation due their transcr resMtnns. 4imin li'f’kei.,*
c.v/oc nn7 win mjntr hi in meirown persons
, jibe condemnation due their transgressions. Again, if Christ
endured the penalty of the law for all men, then if only a
• part were saved, the amount of sufferings is two-fold trea
ter m resqect to those who arc lost, asChrist endures the pen-’
|U ty of the law for them and they endure it far themselves.
Ihe view taken by “E. G.” of the atonement, brings the
” bole transaction dawn to the principles of private commer
j 5 ! 8 proceedings. Consequently there is not the resem
• ance of grace or compassion to be discovered in the heart
jor conduct of the Great Author of eternal salvation. Every
thing begins and proceeds so far as God is concerned, on the
principles of retributive justice.. Christ has endured the pen- {
-dty of the law, he Bas paid the debt owed by transgressors !
to retributive justiet, and on these principles they receivelj
t tei r discharge. And if it can be made to appear that;
Gbust made an atonement for th sins of the world, every
jSioner can demand |alvaiioo on the principles of retributive
1 justice. But the Scriptures speak a widely different lan
iguage from this. They teach, that salvation from the foun
dation to the top stone is altogether of grace- “God so loved
'the world that he gave his only begotien Son, that whosoev
er believeth on him might Dot perish but have everlasting life
“By grace are vou saved, through faith ; and that no* of
yourselves, it is the gift of God.” “Being justified freely
by his graec through the redemption there is in Christ Je
sus.”
The moral influence which this view of the atonement iw
adapted to exert, is very unlike the Spirit which the Gospel
; demands. To be convinced of this we need only recur to
the spirit and conduct of many of the Baptist churches in
.Great .Britain, during tiie life time of Andrew Fuller. An
tinornian pride and selfishness held almost an undisputed.
! sway over the ministers and laity who regarded the atone
ment as a kind, of commercial transaction, until the power
, fnt pen of this great and good’ man demolished the unscriptijp
ral dogma. I will now simply say in closing this article;
let Christians embrace in their understandings and hearts
right views of this all important doctrine, and we shall havo
an “earnest ministry and an earnest church.
A. J.
minister's D c p a r t in e- n t.
PASTORS DUTY WITH REFERENCE TO DISCIPLINE.
Great evils sometimes grow out of honest eflorts to exer
cise anil maintain discipline iti the Church of Christ. This,
in the minds of some is an argument against discipline; and
in many cases discipline is relaxed, through fear of what
evils might arise from its exercise, till it is next to impossiblo
to restore a healthy tone of order and purity.
Scripture and reason however both teach the necessity of
discipline; and the fact just stated, shows the necessity of
! having all things done “decently and in order.” Them
jmust certainly be a way ol accomplishing successfully all
[the divine precepts; the lack ot legislative wisdom which
leaves so many human law's in an impracticable form, never
(characterised the legislator fir the Christian Church. “In
i Him were hid ail the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
I The evil is not in the law, but in the manner of its applica
tion, or execution, or in the disposition of those to whom its
j execution is committed, when the order and harmony of a
chtttoh the process of discipline.
I The Pastor’s responsibility in this particular we consider
l to be very great, and we fearthere is often great delinquency;
we do not mean by design, but from want of consideration
I on his part.
Churches too are disposed inconsiderately often to put thei r
i Pastors in a position with reference to their discipline which
j will inevitably injure bis usefulness, and which often tends to
; a speedy dissolution of the pastoral relation. iSoine woultL
! him, and he is expected to commence a suit to
-arraign individuals and take's prominent part in the invest!-
jgation of offences. Others would make him the jurv and
.shrink from all the responsibility of the verdict by leaving it
witli the pastor to say guilty or not guilty. He will be ex
pected by others to become counsel for defence, or in some
way a partizau; then of course in case of oontfoversv ihcra
must be a party opposed to the Pastor; and human nature,
especially under the excitement of passion, i s hardly to bo
trusted in such ctreumstanees;. and we may reckon with
great certainly that the suitableness oftira Pastor will be the
next question, and many chances to one, though a meagre
minority rnay oommenco the agitation, live dissolution of The
relation will follow..”
i„ W.-m.0.-think that any scriptural allusion to pastoral
I , ru f or .'‘authority” will justify such an implication of
the J astorin the controversies and contests which may ariso
in church discipline ; indeed we regard this an entire depart
ure from the excellent system of government and discipline
commended m the New Testament. There we see the wi s .
dom and firithfulnessof the church exercised in the investiga
tion of offences-, and the authority and influence of the church
in the verdict; in other words, discipline is the function of thw
church, uotof the Pastor, nor Deacons, nor Committee : and
the nearerour practice conforms to tins theory the more sal
utary and safe will be its exercise,.
W herein, then, consists the special responsibility ofa Pas--
tor tn this matter? As we conceive, in expounding truly
and faubfully Christ’s laws.. “By the law is the knowledge
ot sin. i.hts is a general proposition. The Pastor’s of
•tce makes it incumbent upon him to teach the law—“all
things whatsoever Christ has commanded.”
I ll is not for him, nor for the church to make the law nor
to a ter the law, nor to question the expediency ofthe’law
but he is to know, and teach what Christ has made to be law’
and inculcate a due observance of it;. Confidence in Christ
as a legislator, and in the Scriptures as a complete summary
oi faith and practice, and acquiescence in Christ’s suprema
ev would greatly simplify the discipline of churches. It i 3
seldom that a protracted controversy is maintained upon tha
plain question of olfence but it is usually upon that which
men have no right to controvert—upon what Christ has al
ready settled bv statute ;. it is, though pet haps not expressed
in so many words, upon the justice or expediency of enforcing
Surely this betrays a lack of faithful prcachin'*; Christ’s
character, office and authority are not w-ell understood
The gospel fully and faithfully preached will effect a con
viction, which cannot be easily set aside, that Christ’s words
are law—that his laws must govern: the church, or it is no
longer his church—that this wiil secure an exact adminis
tration of justice, and leave no room for favoritism.
When this subject is well understood, (and upon it cer
tainly depends the purity and pence ofa church.) discipline
will bo indispensable;, na church will dare neglect it; tbs
[May