The Doctrines Of Christ

John Brine | Added: Apr 07, 2025 | Category: Theology

Never let us part with those things wherein is continuance, and by which we are to be saved, if saved we shall be, through the fawning and flatteries of professed friends, but secret enemies of the gospel of Christ. Nor let us ever be frighted out of our faith by the rage, contempt and scorn, that open adversaries pour upon us, because of our regard to the doctrines of God’s sovereign and distinguishing grace. 

Let us stand our ground, keep firm hold, and quit ourselves like men, in the defence of principles, which ought to be far dearer to us, than the most valuable privileges we can enjoy of a temporal nature, yea, than life itself. For if those truths are rent from us, from what can we derive peace in trouble; strength in weakness; joy in sorrow; light in darkness; comfort in life; or hope in death? And on what may we build an expectation of happiness hereafter, if the doctrines of the Reformation are wrested from us, which will not deceive us? On nothing, though multitudes now desert them, through one cause, or another.

These doctrines are: efficacious grace in the conversion of a poor sinner, communicated on the foundation of eternal predestination to everlasting life. Complete atonement for sin, by the death and sacrifice of Christ. Justification by His righteousness, without any works of our own, and received by faith, in order to our peace, joy, and hope of heaven, as our title to that state of happiness. Final perseverance in faith and holiness, what shocks soever we may meet with from sin, Satan, or the world.

These blessed truths are the only supports of a divine faith, and heavenly hope; and I am not afraid, or ashamed to say, that he is no Christian, who is ignorant of their sweetness, power, spirituality, and effectual influence to promote holiness in all its branches, let some clamour as long as they think proper, and charge these glorious truths with licentiousness. 

But I must acquaint them, that there is a time hastening, wherein they will be obliged to give an account to Him, whose these doctrines are, and whose glory is much concerned in them, for all their ungodly and hard speeches against them. They will do well to consider what defence for themselves, they shall be able to make. Reproach, slander, falsehood, and contumely will not be suffered at His tribunal, though now they are permitted to practise these abominable vices, to run down truth, and propagate destructive errors.

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