'Not according to faith or knowledge if they be void of the Fruits of Righteousness': Samuel Clarke on Christ the Judge

In his sermon 'Of a Future Judgement', Samuel Clarke gives voice to a significant concern in much preaching in the 18th century Church of England: that the New Testament declares the Last Judgement to be on the grounds of the fruits of righteousness in our lives. To dismiss this as 'moralism' - as 18th century revivalists did, followed by 19th century evangelicals and Tractarians, echoed by much contemporary commentary on 18th century Anglicanism - is to, at best, obscure the teaching of the New Testament and not least that of Our Lord:

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Clarke's critique of a reliance on "any unconditionate Decree", that is, on an assumed knowledge of the decree of predestination, likewise reflects wider concerns amongst 'Arminian' and 'Latitudinarian' thought. It also echoed the language of Jeremy Taylor in his Advent Sunday sermon:

The last Judgement shall bee transacted ... not by strange and secret propositions, or by the fancies of men, or by the subtleties of useless distinctions, or evil persuasions; not by the scruples of the credulous, or the interest of sects, nor the proverbs of prejudice.

Clarke, therefore, here articulates a solidly mainstream, indeed orthodox 18th century Anglican concern: that solafidianism, and particular accounts of the mystery of predestination, contradicted the clear teaching of holy Scripture that, on the last day, the Lord will judge according to "the Fruits of Righteousness".

He will judge in Righteousness. That is: Every man shall be rewarded, or punished, according to his Deserts; according to what he has done in the Flesh, whether it be good or evil. For the Judge of the whole Earth will do what is right, and with Equity shall he judge the Nations. And our Saviour himself Thus describes it, Rev. xxii. 12, Behold, I come quickly, and my Reward is with me, to give every man according as his Work shall be. Not therefore according to empty Notions and contentious Opinions, which foolish men earnestly dispute about: Not according to men's Faith or Knowledge, if they be void ofthe Fruits of Righteousness: Not according to men's Zeal in particular Parties and Factions, or in the bare outward Profession even of the true Religion itself : Not according to the uncharitable judgment, which rash men are apt to pass one upon another: Not according to any unconditionate Decree, or Fore- appointment of God: But according as men have lived in the ways of Piety, or Profaneness; in Sobriety, or Debauchery ; in the Practice of Righteousness, Goodness, and universal Charity ; or of Injustice, Iniquity, and Unrighteousness; according to This, shall the final Sentence pass.

Fatal therefore is the Mistake of all those, who expect to be judged by Any Other Measure. Who, without true Virtue, expect to be saved, by means of any thing they can possibly do for themselves, or that any other Person can do for them. Who hope to attain Salvation, either by any unconditionate Favour and Decree of God; when the Apostle expressly declares on the contrary, that God is no Respecter of Persons, and that he hath chosen men to Salvation through Belief of the Truth, and Sanctification of the Spirit. Or who rely on their zealous external Profession of the True Religion; when even to those who taught in his Streets, and in his Name had cast out Devils, and done many wonderful Works, yet our Saviour replies, I know ye not whence ye are, Depart from me, all ye Workers of Iniquity. Or who hope to be saved, by virtue of Any superstitious Commutations; As the Pharisees, who under Pretence of contributing to the Service of the Temple, excused men from relieving the Necessities even of their

Parents themselves, Matt. xv. 5. Nor is the Error of Those men at all less fatal, who depend that they shall be saved by their Faith; if thereby they mean any thing else than That Obedience of Faith, as the Apostle stile it, which is the Practice of Righteousness. Or that they shall be saved by the Merits of Christ; if thereby they mean any thing else, than the Terms of that Covenant for the Acceptation of Repentance, which is the Purchase of the Merits and Death of Christ. Or that they shall be saved by Grace; if by That Term they mean any thing else than the Gospel itself, even That Grace of God which bringeth Salvation, by Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present World, Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious Appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

(The photograph is of St. James's Piccadilly. Clarke was rector of the church from 1709 until his death in 1729.)