Whether the Existence of a Holy Disposition of Heart is Necessary to Believing, by Andrew Fuller. скачать в хорошем качестве

Whether the Existence of a Holy Disposition of Heart is Necessary to Believing, by Andrew Fuller.

Whether the Existence of a Holy Disposition of Heart is Necessary to Believing, by Andrew Fuller. The following contains the Appendix of his work, "The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation." Published in Philadelphia in 1805. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. — Hebrews 10:39 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. — Galatians 2:16 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. — Galatians 3:22 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. — Ephesians 2:10 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. — Jeremiah 24:7 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. — Romans 12:1-2 Whether the existence of a holy disposition of heart is necessary to believing. It is not from a fondness for controversy that I am induced to offer my sentiments on this subject. I feel myself called upon to do so on two accounts. First, The leading principle in the foregoing treatise is implicated in the decision of it. If no holy disposition of heart is presupposed or included in believing, it has nothing holy in it; and if it has nothing holy in it, it is absurd to plead for its being a duty. God requires nothing as a duty which is merely natural, or intellectual, or in which the will has no concern. Secondly, Mr. Mc’Lean, in a Second Edition of his treatise on The Commission of Christ, has published several pages of animadversions 108 on what I have advanced on this subject, and has charged me with very serious consequences; consequences which, if substantiated, will go to prove that I have subverted the great doctrine of Justification By Grace Alone, without the works of the law.109 It is true he has made no mention of my name; owing, I suppose, to what I had written as contained in two private letters, one of which was addressed to him. I certainly had no expectation when I wrote those letters that what I advanced would have been publicly answered. I do not pretend to understand so much of the etiquette of writing, as to decide whether this conduct was proper. But if it were, some people may be tempted to think that it is rather dangerous corresponding with authors. I have no desire, however, to complain on this account, nor indeed on any other, except that my sentiments are very partially stated, and things introduced so much out of their connection, that it is impossible for the reader to form any judgment concerning them. I have the pleasure to agree with Mr. M. in considering the belief of the gospel as a saving faith. Our disagreement on this subject is confined to the question, What does the belief of the gospel include? Mr. M. explains it so carefully as to exclude every exercise of the heart or will, as either being included in it, or having any influence upon it. Whatever of this exists in a believer, he considers as belonging to the effects of faith, rather than to faith itself. If I understand him, he pleads for such a belief of the gospel that it has nothing in it of a holy nature, nothing of conformity to the moral law “in heart or life;” a passive reception of the truth, in which the will has no concern; and this is because it is opposed to the works of the law in the article of justification. On this ground, he accounts for the apostle’s language in Romans 4.5. To him that does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly; understanding by the terms, he that does not work, one who has done nothing yet which is pleasing to God; and by the term ungodly, one who is actually an enemy to God. He does not suppose that God justifies unbelievers. If therefore He justifies sinners, while in a state of enmity against him, there can be nothing in the nature of faith but what may consist with it. And it is true, if faith has nothing in it of a holy nature, nothing of conformity to the divine law“in heart or life,” nothing of the exercise of any holy disposition of heart, it cannot designate the subjects of it as godly. https://takeupcross.com takeupcross