An Apology for the True Christian Divinity. Robert Barclay

      The Eighth Proposition.

      Concerning Perfection.

      [13]In whom this holy and pure Birth is fully brought forth, the Body of Death and Sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their Hearts united and subjected unto the Truth, so as not to obey any Suggestion or Temptation of the Evil One, but to be free from actual sinning, and transgressing of the Law of God, and in that Respect perfect. Yet doth this Perfection still admit of a Growth; and there remaineth a Possibility of sinning, where the Mind doth not most diligently and watchfully attend unto the Lord.

[13] Rom. 6. 14.; Id. 8. 13.; Id. 6. 2. 18.; 1 John 3. 6.

      The Ninth Proposition.

      Concerning Perseverance, and the Possibility of Falling from Grace.

Although this Gift, and inward Grace of God, be sufficient to work out Salvation, yet in those in whom it is resisted it both may and doth become their Condemnation. Moreover, in whom it hath wrought in Part, to purify and sanctify them, in order to their further Perfection, by Disobedience such may fall from it, and turn it to Wantonness, making Shipwreck of Faith; and [14]after having tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and been made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, again fall away. Yet such an Increase and Stability in the Truth may in this Life be attained, from which there cannot be a total Apostasy.

[14] 1 Tim. 1. 6.; Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6.

      The Tenth Proposition.

      Concerning the Ministry.

As by this Gift, or Light of God, all true Knowledge in Things Spiritual is received and revealed; so by the same, as it is manifested and received in the Heart, by the Strength and Power thereof, every true Minister of the Gospel is ordained, prepared and supplied in the Work of the Ministry: And by the leading, moving, and drawing hereof, ought every Evangelist and Christian Pastor to be led and ordered in his Labour and Work of the Gospel, both as to the Place where, as to the Persons to whom, and as to the Times when he is to minister. Moreover, those who have this Authority may and ought to preach the Gospel, though without human Commission or Literature; as on the other Hand, those who want the Authority of this Divine Gift, however learned or authorized by the Commissions of Men and Churches, are to be esteemed but as Deceivers, and not true Ministers of the Gospel. Also, who have received this holy and unspotted Gift, [15]as they have freely received, so are they freely to give, without Hire or Bargaining, far less to use it as a Trade to get Money by it: Yet if God hath called any from their Employments, or Trades, by which they acquire their Livelihood, it may be lawful for such (according to the Liberty which they feel given them in the Lord) to receive such Temporals (to wit, what may be needful to them for Meat and Clothing) as are freely given them by those to whom they have communicated Spirituals.

[15] Mat. 10. 8.

      The Eleventh Proposition.

      Concerning Worship.

All true and acceptable Worship to God is offered in the inward and immediate moving and drawing of his own Spirit, which is neither limited to Places, Times, or Persons; for though we be to worship him always, in that we are to fear before him, yet as to the outward Signification thereof in Prayers, Praises, or Preachings, we ought not to do it where and when we will, but where and when we are moved thereunto by the secret Inspirations of his Spirit in our Hearts, which God heareth and accepteth of, and is never wanting to move us thereunto, when Need is, of which he himself is the alone proper Judge. [16]All other Worship then, both Praises, Prayers and Preachings, which Man sets about in his own Will, and at his own Appointment, which he can both begin and end at his Pleasure, do or leave undone as himself sees meet, whether they be a prescribed Form, as a Liturgy, or Prayers conceived extemporarily, by the natural Strength and Faculty of the Mind, they are all but Superstitions, Will-worship, and abominable Idolatry in the Sight of God; which are to be denied, rejected, and separated from, in this Day of his spiritual Arising: [17]However it might have pleased him (who winked at the Times of Ignorance, with Respect to the Simplicity and Integrity of some, and of his own innocent Seed, which lay as it were buried in the Hearts of Men, under the Mass of Superstition) to blow upon the dead and dry Bones, and to raise some Breathings, and answer them, and that until the Day should more clearly dawn and break forth.

[16] Ezek. 13., Mat. 10. 20., Acts 2. 4. & 18. 5.

[17] John 3. 6. & 4. 21., Jude 19., Acts 17. 23.