288 TOe av ronpof tje Bbítte 2itttfbutez Chap. 15. Now the Gofpel, toeradicate this difpofition which is ío natural and ftrong in fain Man, is in nothing more clear and exprefs than in declaring, that by the deeds of Rom. 3. to. the Law there'hall noflefh bejuflifaedin Gods fight. The Apofile afferts without diftinction, that by the Works of 3 I I the Law quJlification cannot be obtained : whether they GA proceed from the power ofNature, or the Graceof the Rom. 3. zy, Spirit. For he argues againft the merit of Works to Juftification,not againfl theprinciple from whence they proceed. And where he molt affectionately declares his efteemofChrift, andhisRighteoufnefs, as the foie meritorious caufeof his Juftification,he exprefl3r rejefts Phil. 3.9. his own Righteoufneff, which is ofthe Law. By his own Righteoufnefs hecomprehends all the works of the re- newed,as well as natural fiate for they are performed by Man, and areacts of Obedience to the Law, which commands perfeét Love to God.Thefe are flight wither- ing leaves that cannot hide our nakednefs, and conceal our fhame, when we appear before God in Judgment. Not but that goodWorks are molt pleating to him,but not for this end, to expiateSin. We muff diftinguifh between their fubftance,and the quality that errour giv- eth them. The opinion ofmerit changes their nature, and turns Gold into Drofs. And ifour real Righteouf. nefs, howexact foever, cannot abfolve us from the leaft guilt; much lets can the performanceof fome external aélions, though fpecious inappearance, yet not com- manded by God, and that have nomoral value. All the Difciplinesand Severities whereby men think to make Satisfaction to the Law, are like a Crown of Straw,that difhonours the Head infteadof adorning it. But that Righteoufnefs which was acquiredby the Obedience and Meritorious Sufferings ofChrift, and is imbraced by Faith, isalfucient for our Juftification. This is as pure as Innocence, to all the effects of Pardon and Re- conciliation ;
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