Section 977
II. Though such is the nature and tendency of the doctrine of grace
A charge is brought against it, as encouraging looseness of life, and opening a door to libertinism
And it is urged, that "if God has chosen some infallibly to salvation, and made a covenant with them in Christ, to give them grace and glory, in an absolute and unconditional way; if Christ has redeemed them by his blood, and they are justified alone by his righteousness, and being called by his grace shall never perish; then they may live as they list, and take their whole swing of sin, since their state is safe and unalterable." But this charge is no other than a suggestion of Satan; the reasoning is borrowed from him; the argument is an aping of him; it is shaped according to his plan; and perfectly agrees with what he said to our Lord; If thou he the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone; (Matthew 4:6) which is, as if he should ay, "if this is the case, thou mayest do what thou wilt with thyself, no damage can arise unto thee, no hurt can he done thee." Moreover, Satan never more transforms himself into an angel of light, than when he sets up for a preacher of holiness, in opposition to the doctrine of grace; nor do his ministers ever more act the same part, than when under the guise of ministers of righteousness, or preachers of good works, they endeavour to undermine and sap the foundation of gospel-doctrine. This charge springs from malice and ignorance; and it is hard to say which is the most predominant in it; the men that bring it, are, as concerning the gospel, enemies for our sake, (Romans 11:28) and do as Diotrephes did, prate against us with malicious words; (3 John 10) their carnal minds being enmity against God, and whatsoever is spiritually good; and being without any spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit of God, they pronounce them foolishness, and speak evil of the things they understand not. The charge is false and groundless, and to be treated as mere slander and calumny, and must he rejected with the utmost abhorrence and indignation; and ought to have no other answer than what the apostle gives; What shall we say then, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, lime any longer therein? (Romans 6:1, 2) However, this may serve somewhat to relieve and alleviate our minds under this horrid and heavy charge, that it is no other than what was leveled against Christ and his apostles. The spiteful and ignorant Jews charged our Lord with being an Antinomian, both in doctrine and practice; in doctrine, as appears from his vindication or himself; Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; am not come to destroy, but to fulfill: (Matthew 5:17) In practice, as is evident from those words of his; John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say he bath a devil; (Matthew 11:18, 19) he is an unsociable man, he will not he conversed with in any form: The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners; but, adds he, Wisdom is justified of her children. And that the apostles of Christ were treated after this manner, is plain front what the apostle Paul says; And not rather, as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say, Let us do evil that good may come, whose damnation is just. (Romans 3:8) All which should confirm us in the doctrine of grace we hold and maintain as true; since the same objections are made unto it, as were to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles.