Against Duty-Faith: God's Operation of Grace But No Offers of His Grace by Joseph Hussey (1707)

Feb 27, 2010

God's Operation of Grace But No Offers of His Grace by Joseph Hussey (1707)

[below is a quote from the book]

1. We must preach the Gospel, as it agrees with the reconciliation of God to sinners and sinners to God, through the gift by grace, in the imputation of the righteousness of God in Christ to them.

2. We must preach the Gospel, as the Gospel is the way or means of God’s bestowing the Holy Spirit on the elect, and the only way and means of exalting the gift of God. God’s gift of the Spirit must be exalted, but an offer exalts not the gift of God’s Spirit, the gift bestowed.

3. We must preach the Gospel as it is most fitted to the display of effectual grace. To offer God's grace is to steal: God saith, Thou shalt not steal.

4. We must preach the Gospel evangelically, so as, if possible, to stain the pride of all glory in the creature; we are to preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord.

5. We must preach the Gospel depending on the operations of the Spirit to beat down the practical Arminianism of our natures ... Arminianism is the universal nature of mankind.

6. We ought to preach the Gospel discriminately, so as in the light of the Lord to define when Christ and salvation are effectually given, where, and in whose hands, the gift lies.

7. We must so preach the Gospel as to take special care that we distinguish the Spirit’s work from the creature’s acts, in the practical truths we preach.

8. We ought to preach the Gospel in the way of Christ's institution. The command runs thus, Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, &c., 2 Tim. iv. 2. But there is no command for offers.

9. We ought to preach the Gospel as it has a special promise of success.

10. We should preach the Gospel so that the Gospel may justify itself: for the Gospel being but of one piece of grace, through all parts of it, is fitted so to do.

11. We should preach the Gospel, because it is sure as to individual persons, or particular interests, me or thee. But offers are all indeterminate as to anybody and so indeed are fixed on nobody.

12. We should preach the Gospel as it is discovered to be an admirable contrivance of way and means to effect salvation.

13. We ought to preach the Gospel so as to exalt it higher than any unconverted man in the world can by his fleshly arm receive it, or carry it in the pulpit to offer it to others in such a way.

14. We should preach the Gospel singularly; so the greatest part of professing ministers do not preach it.

15. We ought to preach the Gospel in sincerity and truth, which if we do, it will not give that open offence to such as are taught by God the Spirit respecting his own work, which offers do.

16. We ought to preach the Gospel in the encouragements of it unto salvation. But offers are no encouragements to salvation.... Encouragements are God’s operations of his grace.

17. We ought to preach the Gospel spiritually and discerningly, that the more our preaching is examined, cavilled at, despised, struck at and hated, the more it should discover ... how sweetly it accords with the Spirit’s work.

18. We ought to preach the Gospel so as Christ may see in it the travail of his soul and be satisfied.

19. We should preach the Gospel so as the ministers of Satan do not, nay, cannot; we should exalt free operations, which have from God an irresistible influence to overpower our corruptions, and free our wills of slavery and bondage to sin.

20. We are to preach the Gospel with confidence in Christ, and fear as to ourselves that we do not lay any stress upon the creature. Offers rob the Gospel of its properties, privileges and glory.

-Ibid, pp. 203 ff.

Against Duty-Faith

Translate

Feb 27, 2010

God's Operation of Grace But No Offers of His Grace by Joseph Hussey (1707)

Duty-faith Expositions

Free Grace Expositions

Topics