244 Difference of the Covenant óf the Law and Gofpel: r. a. Errour of Pa- pi4sand Pcla- gians. Tir;z: u- Ephefr4ns, Chapa. V R.8. So that it is not any thing in us, but Gods favour which Both work all for us. And the better to fee this, we mun confider the difference betwixt the Covenant of the Law,andof the Gofpel. For the firft, there was the graceofGod in this,tbat he would con- trad a Covenant with map , ofRighteoufneffe and Life ;. when all that man could do , wereoffices due for that which he had already received in his creation. ,But firft, this Covenant was not firicken in a Mediator. Secondly, this Covenant was not to be performed for any other, but for the righteoufneffe which fhould have been found in our felves. Thirdly, we fhould in this Covenant have procured the bleffings ofGod unto, our felves : So that though there was grace io a large fenfc, that God would enter Covenant when he was not bound ; yet if we confider that in the gifts inherent in us by. creation, it was founded, that for our righteoufneffe and works we fhould havehad the things covenanted, applyed, that we fhould then our felves have procured there things; here is grace,that God entred Covenant. But not any rich grace; becaufe mm, if he had flood, might have chal- lenged his jollification and life, as due debt fox his worksanot as sneer gifts from grace. But now the Lord doth all of grace.. For firft, the foundation of our righteoufneffe and life, he bath made out of us, in his Sop Chrift Jefus. For his Chrift apprehended,he doth perform all, things,not for any thing in us, but for his Chrift; he doth not makeus procurers ofthofe things, but in Chrift doth himfclf prepare them for us, that our re. joyeing might be in him ; in this there is grace, and rich grace ofthe Gofpel, that God Bothcovenant in the Mediator, that he dothgive us Chrift, and reveal him in us, that he doth for Chrift make us par. takers of righteoufneffe and life, which isgrace ; the Law requiring, that for inherent righteoufneffe we fhould be juftified. Neither Pe- lagiaa, nor the Papifts know the grace of the Covenant, for this is not that rich grace ; becaufe Godhaving pardoned ourfin, dothgive us the graces of his fpirit, whereby we might be righteous, and live. For ifthis wereall, that we are Paved, and firft ofgrace, becaufe God undefervedly bath given us thofe vertues which make us righ- teous, and deferve falvation; for thus vidam ftanding, might bePaid to be faved bygrace, becaufe the merits (if he had any) were given him of the grace of God ; the perfeverance in the ufe of his free will, he could not have had it, unleffe he had received it from God. The point then is clear, that God himfelf, ingreat favour, and riches of merde Both juftifie'us, Thegrace of God bringing falvation unto all men hathappeared. So that the meet grace of God (not excited by any works , but working of itsown accord) bath the whole ftroke in our falvation. This is a truth whichwas well known in the time ofthe Old Teftament, By mere* and truth iniquityhall be forgiven, Prov. 16.6.
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