The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-05-20


scripture calls holiness, righteousness, godlness,
obedi,ncc true religion, attained by your most
resolved ende aSours butts given Though the knowl
edge OF him that has called US 20 glory and virtue
p No man can love God, till ne knows him, nor
Till he knows him 10 be his everlasting friend.
Therefore the spring of true holiness. is 4 we'll
grounded p'rsuasion Of our reconciliation with God,
and OF our future enjoy Of The everlasting heav
eniy happiness, and OF sufficient strength given In
him for all he calls us unto.
8 These endovments. sonecessay to the obedi-
ence OF love, are contained in the funess Of Christ
and are enjoyed onl, by union and fellowship w,hhim
y = The means or instruments whereby the Spirit Of
God Accomplishment our Gnion with Christ, and our
fellows ship with him in all holiness, are the gospel
waereby Christ ensereth into our hearts, Legetting
Us ~ the faith whereby We actually receive Christ
himself, with ali his funess, unto the hope of eler-
nal life BY him. And thus, BY the Influence OF the
spirit OF truth, We uneignedly believe the gospel
and also believe on Christ, ne is revealed and
scely promised TO ms 'herein, for ali his salvation.
5 The practice oftrue holiness is not attained by
any endeayors OF out natural state, but is blessing
OF that new state given in Jesus Christ and par,ook
OF BY union and fellowship with Christ through faith
Those that endeavor To perform sincere obedi-
ence to all the commands of Christ, the condition
whereby they are to procure for themselves right
and title 10 salvation, and good ground trust
him for the same, do seek their salvation by the works
OF the law, and not by the faith Of Christ he is
veaied IN the gosl. and they shall never be able to
perform sincerely any true holy obedience by all
such sndeayors
4 We are not to imagine. that our hearts and lives
must DC changed from sin to holiness. in any mea-
sure before We may safely venture Christ for the
sure enjoyment OF himself and his salvation
True holiaess Of heart and life, hath its due
der where God hath placed it; that is after union
with Christ Justification, and the gift Of the Holy
Ghost. II is not, therefore, to be expected but in
that order. as what accompanies salvation
II IS only tho comforts Of the gospel, revealing
ajust God and Savior, that God works in us to
will and to do his good pleasure.
10 The comforts of the Gospel necessary to
Christian obedience, contain sufficient grounds ofas
surance OF our salvation, not because we believe,
but in way Of f'immedatc trust and confidence.
Therefore, instead of seeking other methods ofpesce
and holiness, we must endeavour to believe or trust
on Christ confidently persuadihg and assuring our
selves, according to the divine declarations, that
God freely gives 10 us an interest in Christ and his
salvation, according TO his gracious promise.
III. tits therefore belonging TO the practical part
of the Christian life, to maintsin the immediate
trust and confidence in dependence on the divine
fathiulness, not to suffer TO be confounded that
So our enjoyment of Christ. union and Fellowship
with him, and all holiness by him, may be continued
and increased in US
ID. The scripture calls upon christians to walk no
longer according to the principles or means Of prac-
ticr thst belong unto the natural original state Of
man, but only according TO the new state given in
Christ which receive by faith, and the principles
and means OF practice that properly belong thcreun-
to and to strive TO continue end increase in such
manner OF practice. rs
l3 All ordinances OF divine appointment, For the
establishment and increase Of faith and love,
TO be considered only in this way Of believing in
Christ, aE walking 10 him according TO this new
ID That we may be confirmed in holiness. only
by believing in Christ, and walking in him by faith,
according 70 the former assertions, We may take en-
coufagement from the great adv sntagcs Of this way
and excellent properties oft
will conclude this address in the words Of Her.
mans sWisius.--I.es no one, OF however great names
by bis authority, bind the free consciencas of the
faithful: But IS Clemens RomRnus once said, Let
the truth be taken from the scriptures themselves !"
by these alone il bhould stand fall in religious af
FAIRS by these alone are all contovcrcies 10 be set
tied An! twas by the sacred and undeflcd gospels
OF our Lord Jesus Christ that the ancient councils
were influenced, nevertheless let not any incon-
sidermely on this pretence, withhold hIs assent to.
such forms OF expression whichare taken from the
word of God, and are agreeable to the scriptures,
are the bond Of church union, the marks Of ortho-
doxy the bars Of heresy, and the limits Of wanton
wits as though they the remains at the Baby
ionish tower, which obliged men to speak and think
alike in religion.
Let no one chuse for himself guide out Of the
modern divnes; all whose dictates he is determined
30 receive and defend as celestial oracles, as one
who is given teicher and light OF the world,
the anciehrs said Of Basiius and in comparison
Of whom, all others appear as little children or
dwarfs, whsn he himself perhaps, protests that he
would NOT be thought the author Of any thing new,
and made the head Of sect On the other hand,
let no one despise such man, if nothing true or
good, nothing useful to the understanding Of the
the scriptures could he learned from him for God
has not put into the heart Of any pious persons TO
search the scriptures night and day, without opening
to them those treasure Of his sacred wi.dom.
Let us preach'the good tidings Of Tie gospel--let
us congratulate the church on account of them and
make the best use of them ourselves can. Let
who has in general expressed the truth IN ell
oqucnt language, be hcinously censured on account
6 an improper word OF harsh expression, which has
slipped from his pen "Poson does not lie hid in
syables nor does truth consist in souns but IN the
intention nor goodness in the tipkling of brass, but
in the meaning Of tho things sign6ed" Let as All
-ndcavor 10 express ourselves accurate as posi-
bic and not take inon us TO de(cnd what has been