Romans 4:16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Few things are more dangerous to the anxious soul than the endeavors to get convictions, and terrors, and humiliations, as preliminaries to believing the gospel. Horatius Bonar
While it may be the case that Bonar is in a certain context, his own statement is actually quite dangerous. It would seem (at least from this immediate context) that Bonar thinks of believing the gospel as nothing more than believing some information. A heart that truly believes is a new heart or a regenerate heart. The older way of evangelism (Puritans and Edwards) focused on regeneration while Bonar is focused on an activity of the soul in believing. The older way thought that the way to faith was for the heart to be regenerated by grace. The way for a soul to seek regeneration by grace was to seek the Lord to give grace to it. The work of the Spirit is to convict, so how can it be dangerous to seek God for the conviction of the Spirit? It is the work of the Spirit to deliver the soul from pride as God gives grace to the humble, so how can it be dangerous for the soul to seek the Spirit to work humility in the soul? Bonar is confusing the idea that the sinner is to seek the Lord to work these things in the heart by grace with the sinner doing those things himself. But it is very dangerous to think that the heart can just live in sin which hardens the heart and then the next moment without a thought or concern simply believe.
They who would tell a sinner that the reason of his not finding peace is that he is not anxious enough, nor convicted enough, nor humble enough, are enemies to the cross of Christ. Horatius Bonar
This would make the Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, Nettleton, and many others enemies of the cross of Christ. Is it really beyond the Bible to think that a person is not convicted of sin and is not humbled enough to be converted? Is it really beyond the biblical teaching that sinners must be convicted of sin in order to know that they need a Savior from that sin? Christ came to save sinners, which means that He came to save those who know that they are sinners and know this from the depths of their soul. Why is it a fact that in the conversions recorded in Scripture men and women are convicted of sin and even cry out? Why is it so hard to believe that sinners born in pride and hardened in pride must be humbled from that pride as a means of grace that prepares them (prepared by grace) to be saved? According to Habakkuk 2:4, “as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.” Pride is opposite to faith. We are told by Jesus that “unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” What does becoming like a child mean if it does not include humility and lowliness? Was Jesus an enemy of the cross for teaching that?
The older way of looking at evangelism and preaching was far more consistent with the biblical teaching that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble and that He will dwell with the humble and contrite in spirit. It is not dangerous and it does not make one an enemy of the cross to tell people that they should seek God for humility and for conviction of sin. Instead of being dangerous, it is fully in line with the total inability of man in spiritual things and teaches men that all that they will receive from God regarding salvation at any point will be by grace alone. It is a simple matter of applying the means of grace.
The contrast between what is presented by Bonar in his writings in this location and the older writers is actually quite important. The older writers would see that God draws men to Himself through the conviction of sin and the humbling of the soul and that men should use the means of grace as they seek the Lord for those things. Bonar seems to think that those things are dangerous and that men should seek to believe. The older writers would say that no one will truly believe apart from being convicted of sin and humbled which are necessary for a person to be born again. The older writers would say that Bonar was dangerous in that he was skipping the way of grace in bringing men to Christ. The way of grace alone starts with grace and ends with grace but uses the means of grace. it teaches men that they should use the means of grace as they seek God for grace. It teaches men that nothing they are doing can possibly move God to save them or earn merit, but that God saves sinners in the way of the means of grace. The old way taught that Christ purchased grace for sinners and they are to seek it in the means of grace. In doing this, the Spirit delivers them from pride and gives grace to the humbled heart. That is not enmity to the cross.
God Loves... Himself 
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