256 0 Ephefrans, Chap. z. Vs x, 9, Doti. We have no- thing to boat} olas our own. Reafn. objeti'. Anfw. BoaRing two- fold. X. 2. VA. of Gods benefits, Gen. 32.1o. when they have cryed out, Whatflail they give to Godfir all hisbenefits ? Pfal. z r 6. i 2. There facrifice to their own net , derogare from the glory of Gods rich mercie and grace, from the all-fuf iciencie of Chrifts merits, blafphemoullyaf- firming they have deferved heaven,even thefulneffe ofall happineffe. The Apoftle here we fee fpeaketh to the Ephefransnow in Chrift, whocould not conceive that they might place any rejoycing in the fruitsof Gentilifine. Nay, even works of grace,the Apoftle doth fo forbid rejoycing even in them, that he doth transfer it wholly out of our felves, upon that which God hath done for us in Chrift. .Adam might notthus rejoyce, who yet might have rejoyced in works, had he flood; for worksofgrace cannot be rejoyced in, as any waypro- curingcaufes of falvation. Take no thought for falvation by works, learn tocart thy felfby Faith into the meritorious arms of Chrift thy Saviour, andagainft all con:radiótions of finand Satan (fuggefling thy own unworthineffe) cleave fait unto him as all- fufficient for thy falvation. Now followeth the end, why God hath placed the matter of mans falvation wholly in the free grace of God ; Le] any man (faith the Apoftle)/houldboafl himfeif. That nomanmight have any caufe to boaft. Obferve, That there is not left any thing inman, wherein hemay re. joyce, as deferving falvation: Rom.3.26,27. Having faid, that God is anda fulfiller ofhim thatis of thefaith oflefus : he addeth , Where is then the rejoycing? It is excluded. By what Law ? ofWorks? Nay, but by tl eLaw ofFaith. So, r Corintb.r,3 r. having filmed what rich treafures come by Chrift; he addeth upon it, that He that rejoyceth, let him rejoyce in the Lard : Whom belaying, we rejoyce with joyunf eak- able andglorious, r Pet. T. 8. We rejoyce under the hope oftheglory of God, Rom. s. 2. But there is nothing in man, which may makehim glory, as being a procurer and deferver of his falvation. Why fo! Becaufe whatfoever he is, or cando, it mutt be all reckoned as Io1Te in this bufrneffe; for this is the end of the whole myfterie of our falvation,that we might be all in God, out of our felves. But it may be objes led, that the Saints have boafted themfelves of their works before God. There is a double boafting, or rejoycing in works : the one, as in means ofprocuring ourfalvation ; theother, as in teflimosies of Faith and a good confcience, andofaperron tobe faved : TheSaints never rejoyced in the former, but in this latter kinde. Or thus, theone of reconciliation, and hope of life, which is grounded in Faith alone,Rom. 5. r,3. Beingjufiifsed by Faith, wehave peace with Gad, &c. we rejoyce in tribulation. The other, ofa good confcience, which is inworks ; for as the fruits do teftifieof the tree , that it is good or evil!, fo do works of the man. We fee thenwhat the Papifts are, and their Religion ; for they de- rogate as from Gods grace, fo from hisglory, to fet up boaftingof man; juft Pharifees. But ,
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