Ii The Covenant of Work! Chap.! o. Objea. 2. Anfr. f)d jea: 3: us not to that fell perfection, thofe degrees of inherent righteouf- nefie as to be raved by works. Secondly,This clotrine Jaye: man ad. low as a f ock orea f one,a dead carcaf e , nothing is done by him but what is done in him, and fo Lineeds be injurious to man. To this I anfwer. Firft, it layes him no lower then finne hath can him, makes him no worfe then fin bath made him, and tl Word ofGod doth difcover him, and that is dead till grace quic'ken and raife him. His heart of flone till grace take it from, hinny; and in enmity againfl God, till grace circumcife and work at change, to love the Lord with all the heart, &c. Secondly, this is not an abfolute death in which man is through fin, and I therefore the fimilitude holds not, that equals a flock, Hone, or dead carcafï'e with him; it is only a death refpe&ive, as to fpiritu -1 al obedience he is dead ; there is in him a life natural, .abler for t all actions and morions of the life of man as man, there is in him alto a moral life, able to improve naturals to a civilized conver- fation. That to which feare or hope can work a may, thither he may raife himfelf by the freedome of will, this., puts no new life into him, works no change of nature in him, He is able for thofe works which God fanctifies as his inftrument for the work of a fpiritual life, he can reade and heare the Word, bath power to know much in it and retaine it. Thirdly, he is a fubje& fufcep- tible, (lands in a capacity of a life of grace, of fpiritual actions . and motions; having an underftanding, will, affe &ions, wanting not any faculties in their fubflance. The new man hath no new I foul, but only renewed qualifications, which yet are of more glory then the faculties themfelves, carrying fuch a refemblance of God. Better know nothing then not know God, to delire no- thing then not to defire good. The want of this turned Angels j into devils, and fo man ftands in a vaft difference from flocks, Hones, and thofe to whom he is thus injurioufly compared. This do&rive is not injurious: to man as it is traduced. Thirdly, Some fay, This will render preaching vain, all mans paines for Conver foe of foules rrill then prove u¡eleffe, and to no pur- Ibispole ; We may let men alone till Cod zro- ?z, asd ashen be bath begun Work, they grill jet on avork ng. This indeed fpeaks hard to a fort of men in cur times, that deny any previous working in the I foul before regeneration, any preparatory work to converfion, fo
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=