265 / 808
V
E
R.S.
6phefians,
Çhap.2.
This
man makes
it
a fpeciall
part
of
his
Religion, to be talking
of
other
mens
bloody
fins
,
but cannot
abide
(with
the Stork) to
peck
his
own breaff, that
it may bleed afrefh
for
his
own
fins, and to
grieve
, and
complain
of
his
own
infirmities andwants.
Howfoever he
Poem
forward
in
religion,
and very precife
outward-
ly,
yet
he will have
an eye (till
to the
door,
and
to
inrich
himfelf
by
any unconfcionable cheat.
Laftly, outward
croffes in
the world
prejudicial)
to
his
Efate,
or
to
his
good
name,
makes him
in
the
end
to
renounce and
caft
away
all religion, and to curfe
himfelffor
all his
forwardneffe.
Tilde
and
the
like
Sympromes ahvay accompany
a
temporary Faith
:
the
prof-
fers
whereof
I
grant
are in
the beff, but ever encountred
and
oppofed
by
the
prowcffc and valiancie
of
the Spirit.
Here
is
rich
comfort
to every beleever, this
is a
happy priviledge
for
him
,
that
he
is
not liable
to
damnation
:
he
is juftified
in
Gods
court from
his
fins; for by
Faith he
is
made one
with Chrift,Ram.8.1.
Go
thy way, thy
faith
harh_aved
thee.
All
are hence
to
be admonifhed
;
firft,
to try
our Faith, bring it
to
the Touch-
flone.
We
would be loath to
take
a
peece
of
money that
were counterfeit
:
Oh
then take heed
the
devil cheat
us
not with
mock.
faiths
,
which profit nothing. Such
as
never
try their Faith,
it
is
a
figs they have not Faith
in
truth.
Secondly,
thou
muff
ufe
all
ende:ìvour
to come to Faith
; it
is
begotten
by
the
Word
preached,
as
the onely inftrumcnt,
Rom.
z.26.
Rom.1
0.14. True
Faith
is
begot-
ten
, and continually nourifhed
by the
Word
, it is
the
ayr
in
which
it breatheth.
Not
of your
(jives.]
Obferve
hence,
That
no
power
in
man doth
quicken
him,
nor
no
venue,
quality
or
dignity,
when he
u
now
quickned,
doth merit
his
fàlvation. Paulaccounted this inherent righteoufneffe
conformable
to the Law,
droffe
and
dung
in
this cafe.
Oh what
can
it
do, that
in
us
is as
water
in
a
muddy channel)
e
What
is
the power
of
ir,
to work
falvation
e
Which (if
the ftrength
of
God
fhould
not
for his mercie
fake
uphold) it would
be quenched unceffantly
:
What
can
our dignity
do
in
meriting
e
As Sons, we are intitled
to
the
in-
heritance
:
but the
claim
of
Sonfhip and Merit are
flat
contrary.
The
Papifts confeffe
that
life
is
merited by
Chrift,
and
is
made ours
by
the right
of
inheritance
:
So
far we go with them
;
yea, touching
works,
they hold
many things
with
us.
a.
That
no
works
of
themfelves can merit
life
everlafting.
2.
That
works done before converfion, can merit nothing
at
Gods
hand, much
le(fe life
everlafting.
3.
That
there
is
no merit at
Gods hand, without
his mercie,
no
exaft merit,
as
often there
is
amongft men. All there
are
true.
The
Point whereabout
we diffenr, is,
that with the
merit
of
Chrift,
and
free promife,
they
will have the merit
of
works joyned,
as
done by
them who
are
adopted children.
Now
that which dircttly
muff
be
oppofed unto this ,
is
, That gods
gracious promifing
,
and
giving
L
tt
I
249
s
6.
7.
Yfe
z.
Comfort
to
Beleevers.
Vfe3.
Two -told ad-
monition.
I.
a.
Dolt.
Nothing
of
our own me-
rits falvation.
Phil.
3.
7,
8.
Difference be-
tween
us
and
Pupils,
about
the merit
of
tooth,.
a.
3.