In what refpet /elf nattfl be denyed. 69 the world. And therefore no wonder if Inch a nature of en- mity can find matter of quarrel with the very Scripture it fell, and with an holy life, yea_with God himfelf; for it is him efpecially that the enmity is againfi. 2. Moreover Pelf is a party, and therefore an incompetent judge. It is Pelf that the Scripture principally fpeaks All over the Gofpel there are the words of difgrace, and the arrows of death direeted againft the very heart of Carnal [elf. God there proclaimeth and manageth an open warr againft it. And fhall a party be the judge ? than the traiterous delinquent be tife Judge ? A child will hardly fpeak well of the rod, what- ever he do by the Corre&or but its not to be expeeled that a thief fhould love the halter or the gallows. Gods word is the weapon that fell mull be flair by ; and therefore Pelf is an in competent judge of it. 3. Moreover felf is quite blind in the mattersof God : the natural man difcerneth them not, nor can do, kecatefe they are fpiritually difcerued, i Cor.a.I4. And the ignorant and blind are incompetent judges. 4. And the felfifh man is no goodjisident in the Laws ofGod; even when he readeth the letter, he dothnot mind or favour the spirit of them. Rom. 8 5. l For they that are after the flefh, do mind the things of the fiefh : but they that are after the fptrit, the things of the [pint.' A fair world it would be, if every Col- liar fhould Judge the privy Council and the Judges of the Land ! or if every thief fhould fit upon his accufer and his Judge , and every traitor fhould Judge the Prince. And a thoufand.fold more infufficient is f elf to judge the Word of God. And vet as infufficient as it is, it is exceeding arrogant, and fieps up into the judgement feat at every Chapter that is reador heard : and if this blind andmalicious Judge be unfatis- fled, forfooth the Scripture mull be darkor contrad,Ctory, or what he pleafes. This horrible prefumptuous arrogancy of feif is it that hath opened fo many mouths againft the bleffed dothineof falvation, and made fo many wretched Apollates in the world, and can. fo many others into doubtings of that word by which at tail they mull be judged, and which fhould K 3 have
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