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Confidence In Christ Should Not Blind Us To The Need For Self-Examination
George Bull (1634-1710)
George Bull's opinions were controversial, and he was accused of Arminianism: Jacob Arminius (1560-1609) was a vigorous opponent of Calvinism, believing that freewill is compatible with God's grace, and rejecting Calvin's doctrine of Predestination. William Laud and especially John Wesley were enthusiastic Arminians. Bull's very real concern was that many demonstrably bad people are utterly convinced of their forthcoming salvation: but there has to be some relationship between behaviour and God's commendation of us.
Confidence in Christ, whether conditional or absolute, little signifies, is common to the good and the bad, so that, if this be the last step and perfection of justifying faith, certainly every wicked man may boast of his salvation. For it is, alas, too well known, that the greatest part of those who call themselves Christians, secure of the mercy of God, the merits of Christ, and of their own salvation, pass their days without the least anxiety, being at the same time very far short of a true Christian life. Their good works, which they never perform, they renounce, acknowledge themselves the worst of sinners, and then tranquilly depend on Christ, the Mediator, to obtain salvation for them. You may persuade them to do this without any difficulty; they rush on headlong into this confidence. Those who have the cure of souls find no difficulty so great as the convincing unhappy men of this error, deluded by which they carelessly give up all care of their souls.
But, you will say, they are not sincere. This confidence is greatly different from that which is peculiar to the justified. How, I pray, do they pretend a confidence which they have not? You will never persuade them so. They both know and congratulate themselves, that they truly, and unfeignedly trust in the merits of Christ. This facts prove, for in this confidence they live and are ready to die; nay, too often really do so die. They therefore truly trust in Christ, but not as they ought, because they do it without any grounds. They depend on the merits of Christ, but despise His commands; they eagerly embrace the promises of the Gospel, but care nothing for its precepts. This is the only difference between the confidence of the good and the wicked. It is in vain to seek any other.
Lastly, St. John clearly informs us what is true and Christian confidence: "And hereby we know (i.e., by love) that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." For surely a secure confidence of mind is the daughter of a good conscience and arises from good works, so far is it from being of any profit without good works.
More: George Bull, Predestination, Liberty, General, Sermons
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