and the Covenant o f °Grace. duty with Cods free gift of grace, if the gift were of grace with- out us, then there were force in the argument. This rigidly fol- lowed will diiingage man from all obedience to God, li:eing all power to obey is part of the purchafe of Chrift. ' Secondly, le cannot be made apparent, how any Inch conditional fli- pulation can be afcribed to God. 4lnlw. We finde fuck a one in Scripture afcribed to God, no condition can in plain termes be held out. In cafe we cannot fee how it can be, it were fafer to lay our hands on our mouches, and acknowledge our weaknefle, then to withftand fo clear evidence. He is pleafed to give his Reafons. Firff, faith he, It leaves, no proper place for the merit of Chrift. e slnfw. This reafon of his I can by no means reach. Chriff I may merit, and upon what termes he pleafes, conferre what he I bath merited ; duty in us excludes merit in Chrift, as well as,con- ditions impofed upon us. See Ball on the Covenant, page 133. Secondly, It is very improperly afcrihed to God, &c. Stipulation or engagements upon conditions that are properly fo,' do fuppofe him that mares the engagement, to be altogether uncertain of the event thereof, for tehich the authority of Lareyers is quoted. If conditions among men be of filch uncertainty, it doth not thence follow that it is fo in thofe conditions which God impo- feth, on performance of which he conferres the mercies which he gives in promife. If there be fo much difference between moral hope, and that Cbriffian grace wrought by the Spirit, that the one is only poflible, conjeaural, uncertain and doubtful, the o- ther affured and never failing, the one often ending in fhame, the other never making afhamed. Then there may be a like dif- ference in the conditions afíigned by man, and thofe atligned by God, men may be Rill uncertain, yet God may be affured, the e- vent being not left to contingency or the freedome of mans will, (which is fuppofed to (land in aquilibrio,) but determined by the a& of grace, which is not hid from him, whole hand works it in the'heartsof his people. This might teem to carry far ratherforce againff all conditions in the firft Covenant, (which is yet granted tobe conditional,) which for performance was meerly fufpended on mans will, but bath no colour againft the conditions of the fecond Covenant, which God works of grace as ht requires of lovereignty F Be:
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