26c5 The Proud and Scornful S ER M. of the greateft eminency, that this was the X. very caufe of their infidelity, or rejeé}ing `."'"" his religion, which taught the profeffors of it to purfue fubflantial goodnefs and the ap- probaticin of God, not the efleem at the world ; for how, faith he, yohn v. 44, can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and Peek not the honour that cometh from God only. And yohn xii. 43. Some of the chief rulers believed in Chrsft, were convinced in their hearts that the do&rine he taught was true and divine, yet they did not own that convition, nor confefs him to be the true Meffiah, as they really believed he was, for they loved the praife of men more than the praife of God, and therefore would not ex- pofe themfelves to excommunication and the reproach of apoftacy, which at that time could not be avoided by any who woùld embrace the chriflian religion. The fame reafòn for which Chrift cru- cified, or the doctrine of the gofpel, was to the yews a flumblinb block, made it to the Greeks foolifhnefs. As the former proudly endeavouring to eflablifh a righteoufnefs of their own by their own performances, would not fubmit to the righteoufnefs, or the me- thod of juftification or acceptance with God, which is by faith. So to the other who valued
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