In The Master's Service

THE OLD BAPTIST TEST

Elder John M. Watson

The Hidden Wisdom that God ordained for the glory of His people prevailed over their former wisdom - the wisdom of the world - by which none, not even the wisest, could know God. Their righteousness, which was by faith, was full and complete, and infinitely above any of their own, having been wrought by Christ, and imputed to them, without works of that kind on their part. A sanctification of the spirit took the place of mere moral ability. Who will compare a sanctification of the spirit, with Arminian moral ability? or Redemption by Christ to the works of the creature? All this is done in the light of that Hidden Wisdom, which God ordained to this end.

Thus we see Beauty is given for ashes. Well might the Apostle say to these Corinthians: “In every thing ye are enriched by HIM.” And may not all such in their religious retrospect ascribe all their good works to these sublime adaptations of the heart to Christian duties, and fruits of righteousness of all kinds. In this merciful and sure way, these "other sheep" brought in from among the Corinthians, became the worshippers of the True God instead of idols; the followers of Christ, instead of idol priests; the examplars of Christian piety, instead of leaders in heathen vices.

Well may grace claim all the praise and glory of the good works of these once lewd idolatrous Greeks; and in its majesty ask, who hath made thee to differ from other Corinthians; and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Here we again have a confirmation of the doctrine of the Saviour. Make the tree good and the fruit will be good; in this instance bad as it was.

Be assured the doctrine of grace does not exclude good works, but embraces them, and without them, grace could not prove its existence in the soul. So the greater degree of grace in the soul, the greater will be the manifestation of its presence by good works. “Grace for grace” all the while, is the doctrine, and not grace for works; but the proof of the gift of grace by works. “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.” Does not this doctrine exempt us from the slanderous charge of preaching a doctrine which does not include good works? The holy guidance of the revealed word, the divine leading of the Holy Spirit, acting on the renewed heart, do not admit of men folding up their arms, and saying, that nothing is required of them, and that they have no disposition to work for the Lord; but on the contrary they say, Lord what wilt thou have us to do? And the reply, Nothing, cannot be found in the Bible. The soul which has been justified by the Lord is always zealous of good works; and without this zeal for good works, there can be no purification; for both the spirit and the word connect them together in the purified heart. Titus ii, 14.

Then, Arminian reader, why say that the Old Order of Baptists preach a doctrine which is incompatible with Christian works; that we have no use for them in our system; and that if they believed as we do they would feel exempted from them: as well as many other similar sayings so disparaging to grace and the purification of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. When grace saves, it also prepares the heart for obedience and not for disobedience; not an obedience which saves, but which accompanies the work of saving. While the real Christian discerns these important distinctions, we fear there are many pretenders who have neither eyes to see them nor hearts to understand and appreciate them. Grace never deceives, but works do. All hypocrisy is inclined to deceive by means of good works. Satan may transform himself, in that way, into an angel of light, and so may his followers. In this instance works are wrought from bad motives; but observe, the works of grace are always done from good motives. Christ presides over the latter, and Satan over the former. So works without grace in the heart, are dangerous things, let them appear comely as they may!