Michael Ivey, who I have been reviewing, relative to his book "A Welsh Succession of Primitive Baptist Faith and Practice," has argued that Benjamin Cox, one of the signers to the first London confession of faith, was a Hardshell and rejected those portions of the confession which taught means in regeneration, and the necessity of faith in the gospel for salvation. But, just like his false claims relative to John Clark and Obadiah Holmes, he is stating falsehood about Cox.
Ivey thinks that the addition of Cox's remarks on the confession show that he was Hardshell and did not agree with his London brethren on means in regeneration. But, let us look at some of Cox's statements from that addendum and see if Ivey is correct.
Cox wrote:
"We teach that they only do, or can believe in Jesus Christ, to whom it is given to believe in him by a special, gracious, and powerful work of his Spirit: and that this is (and shall be) given to the Elect in the time appointed of God for their effectual calling; and to none but the Elect: John. 6:64,65; Phil. 1:29; Jer. 31:33,34; Ezek. 36:26; Rom. 8:29,30; John. 10:26." (article for of his appendix)
Here Cox states that saving faith, or believing in Christ, is effectual and irresistible, as regeneration. Again, this is contrary to neo-Hardshellism. And what does he say is "given" to the elect, to all of them? Faith in Christ! He does not divorce saving faith in Christ from the experience of salvation, a salvation the elect are chosen to obtain.
Cox wrote:
"Though some of our opposers do affirm, that by this doctrine we leave no Gospel to be preached to sinners for their conversion; yet through the goodness of God we know and preach to sinners this precious Gospel; God so loved the World, (that is, hath been so loving to mankind) that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; John. 3:16; and this faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, That Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners, I Tim. 1:15; viz., all those sinners (how vile and grievous soever) not only which already do, but also which hereafter shall believe on him to life everlasting, I Tim. 1:16; and that to Christ all the Prophets give witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins, Acts 15:7. This is the Gospel which Christ and his Apostles preached, which we have received, and by which we have been converted unto Christ. And we desire to mind what Paul saith in Gal. 1:9: "If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be anathema." (article 6)
These words are a clear denial of hardshellism! It makes me think that the Hardshells are dishonest in affirming that Cox was a Hardshell, for surely they cannot be that ignorant as not to understand plain speech. Why does Cox preach to sinners? That they might be eternally saved and converted! He also says he believes that sinners "believe on him to life everlasting" per the words of Paul.
In the appendix Cox wrote:
"Though we confess that no man doth attain unto faith by his own good will, John. 1:13, yet we judge and know that the Spirit of God doth not compel a man to believe against his will, but doth powerfully and sweetly create in a man a new heart, and so make him to believe and obey willingly; Ezek. 36:26; Psalm. 110:3; God thus working in us both to will and to do, of his good pleasure; Phil.. 2:13." (article 7)
"Make him to believe and obey willingly"? Is this not contrary to many Hardshells today, like Hardshell apologist Jason Brown, who affirms that obedience is always the result of free will, and is never passive? Who affirm that obedience can never be effectually and irresistibly caused by God? Also, Cox puts coming to believe in Christ as the defining experience of those who are regenerated. The scriptures he refers to prove this. The "new heart" is a heart that believes in Jesus!
Cox wrote:
"Though all our workings for life be in vain, irregular, and not accepted of God, (Jesus Christ being our life, Who is freely given to us of God,) yet we believe and know that being made partakers of Jesus Christ, we do, and shall, and must, through Him, and walking in Him, bring forth the fruit of good works, serving God (in true obedience, and love, and thankfulness unto Him) in holiness and righteousness, being His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which He hath before ordained that we should walk in them; Eph. 2:10; Luke 1:74,75." (article 8)
This is a denial of neo-Hardshellism! Hardshells do not believe that Christian good works always follow the new birth. In fact, they believe that most of those who are "born again" never come to faith! But, how can one please God in good works apart from faith? (See Heb. 11: 6)
Cox wrote:
"As the preaching of the Gospel, both for the conversion of sinners, and the edifying of those that are converted; so also the right use of baptism, and the Lord's Supper, ought to be till the end of the world, Matt. 28:19,20; I Cor. 11:26." (article 18)
The preaching of the gospel is "for the conversion of sinners"? Does that not overthrow hardshellism? Also, in Cox's writings, he used the word "conversion" to denote "regeneration."
Cox wrote:
"A disciple gifted and enabled by the spirit of Christ to preach the Gospel, and stirred up to this service by the same spirit, bringing home to his soul the command of Christ in his word for the doing of this work, is a man authorized and sent by Christ to preach the Gospel, see Luke 19:12, &c. Mark 16:15, and Matt. 28:19, compared with Acts 8:4, Phil. 1:14; 3 John 7. And those gifted disciples which thus preach Jesus Christ Who came in the flesh, are to be looked upon as men sent and given of the Lord, I John 4:2; Romans 10:15; Eph. 4:11,12,13. And they which are converted from unbelief and false-worship, and so brought into Church-fellowship by which Preachers according to the will of Christ, are a seal of their ministry, I Cor. 9:2. And such preachers of the Gospel may not only lawfully administer Baptism unto believers, and guide the action of the Church in the use of the Supper, (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:5-12; I Cor. 10:16.) but may also call upon the Churches, and advise them to choose fit men for officers, and may settle such officers so chosen by a Church, in the places or offices to which they are chosen, by imposition of hands and prayer, Acts 6:3-6; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5." (article 19)
"Converted from unbelief" by preachers? Further, notice how Cox does not limit the duty of the great commission to only the ordained ministers, but to all disciples.
See here
What is interesting also about Cox is the fact that he was a leader among the Welsh Baptists of the Midland Association, the Association that Ivey says were Hardshells!
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