Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT770 .B39 1670

356 The Life of Foia. isRewardable.according to the tenour of that promrfc: And they thatdeny this, deny Gods Laws, and Government, and`, judgement, and his Covenant of Grace, and leave not them- hives one promife for faith to rat upon : So certainly would all there perlons be damned, if God in mercy did not keep them from digefiing their own errours, and bringing them into pra&icc. Errour 47. God ispleafed with us onlyfor the rigbteoufnc js of Cbrift, andnot for any tbing inour felves, Contr. This is lufticientiy anfwered belore.He blafphetneth God, who thinketh that he is no better pleafed with holinefs than with'wickednets; withwell doing, than with ill doing. 7bey that are in.tbe l'lefh cannot pleafe God, Rom. 8.6, 7. but the fpiritual and obedient may. Without faith it is impofble to, pliafe him, becaufe unbelievers think not that he is a Rewarder, and therefore will not jcrli,his reward aright : But they that will pieafe him, mull believe that'be is,and that be is a rewarder of them that diligentlyfeelfbina,Heb. rr.6: They forget notte dogood and dittribute, becaufe with fucb facrifrces God is well pleafed, Heb. 13. And in a word, it ís the work of all their lives to labour, that whether living or dying they may be accepted of him, 2 Cor. y, 8, g, and to be fuch, and-to do thofc things . as are pleating in hisfight. Nay, I will add, that as theglory of God, that is, the glorious demonftration or appearance of himfelf in bis works, is materially the ultimate cod of man ; fo the 'leafing ofbianfclf in 'this his glory thining in his Image and Works, is the very apex, or higheft formal notion of this ul- timate end of God and of man, as far as is within our reach. Nomans works pleafe God out ofChrilt, both becaufe they arc unfound and bad in the fpring and end, and becaufc their faultincfs is not pardoned. But in Chrifi, the perlons and duties ofthegodly are ?leafing to God, becaufe they have his Image, and arefrncerely good, and becaufe their former fins, and . prefent imperfcc`dions areforgiven for the fake ofChrift (who a:ever reconciled God to wickednefs. Errour q$. It ism rcenary to workfor a reward, andlegal tofit, men ondoingforfalvation. Contre. It is legal or foolifh to think of working for any reward,

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