A Confession of Evangelical Principles

A Confession of Evangelical Principles - in a letter to a friend

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you, of the common Salvation; it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints. Jude 3. As you have solicited me to vindicate myself from the things laid to my charge, I take this opportunity of making public the sentiments I hold; and I will answer the rest of the charges at the close of my confession of faith. The charges brought against me, are these four; First, That I hold and propogate Antinomian sentiments. Secondly, That I create divisions wherever I preach. Thirdly, That after People come to hear me preach, they cannot with pleasure hear their own Ministers again. And, Fourthly, That I do not preach to Sinners. These are heavy charges indeed! With respect to the first, as my sentiments are deemed Antinomian, I think it my duty to make them public: the rest of the charges are not worth an answer. But, I can assure you, Sir, that the leading doctrines I preach, are in harmony with the Word of God, which is the only rule of faith and practice: I embrace and propogate no other doctrines than these, set forth in the doctrinal Articles of the Church of England; the Westminster Confession of Faith; and what your own Ministers, who belong to the Associations, generally hold, as appears upon their circular letters; namely, receiving the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as their only guide in faith and practice; and thence deriving their belief, in the important doctrines of three equal Persons, in one divine essence; Eternal and personal Election; Original Sin; Justification, by the imputed righteousness p. 4of Christ; Efficacious Grace in Regeneration; the final perseverance of Believers to eternal Glory; the resurrection of the Dead; the last Judgment; the everlasting happiness of the Righteous; and the punishment of the Impenitent. These, Sir, are the leading doctrines I preach, and they stand in no need of an apology: but, as I am set for the defence of that gospel I have felt and enjoyed, I am not ashamed of one of its glorious doctrines; nor did I ever intentionally deviate from them in one sentence I ever pronounced, since I have felt their power, seen their beauty, and have been enabled to declare them; and that good hand that instructed me in them, and has owned and blest them, by me, as an instrument, I trust, will enable me to maintain them to the close of life; then, I hope to feel them supporting my soul, comforting my heart, and giving me a sweet assurance of an entrance into that kingdom, that cannot be moved. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 58492
Author: Church, J. (John)
Release Date: Dec 18, 2018
Format: eBook
Language: English