C H A P. 2.3. the Exceptions of yohn Goodwine. 3o 7 eufnefs , be a mans own work, yet it is fo by the meer gift of God Ephef. 2: S. phil. i :29. z Cor. 2: 12. & 3: 6. and this cutteth off all groud of boaßing`, i. Cor. 4: "7. Anf. (i) Though there be no true ground of boatting of that, which is freely given; yet the flesh can take occafion therefrom to boaft , as the Pharifeedid Luk. it S. when yet he acknowledged all to be givet9 , for he thanked God for what he was not, & for what he did, &foacknow- ledged all to be given , and all to be given freely.. (2) The Aponte faith ex- prefly , that boatttng is not excluded by the Law of works Rpm. 3: 27. and yet all works are given , & are not abfolutely of & from our felves. (3) Saith not the Apostle exprefly. Rpm. 4: 2. If Abraharn were jufli fled by works , he bath to glory : And yet I hope , Abraham did acknowledge , that all thefe works of his were of grace, & of God's free gift , and not abfolutly & eve- ry way his own. (4) The works , required in the old Covenant of works , were not abfolutely Adattn's own , but were in fome fenfe alto given of God; yet by that way of 'unification , there had been ground of boafting. (ç) Though now there should be no ground of boating before God ; ( as neither would there have been ground of boaí}ing before him , by the way of works; for the Apoftle addeth Rom. 4: z. but not before God ) yet there is ground laid for boafting before men, when our Beleeving is made our Righteoufnefs, upon the account of which we are juf ifiei & pronunced righteous in order to Abfolution from what was brought in againft us. (6) Therefore is the way of Juftification now focontrived , that man. should have ground or colours of ground of boafting , even before men : for all that Righteoufnefs , which is required unto Juflification, as that Righteoufnefs upon the account of which they are to be juftified , and by which only they are to be declared & pronunced Righteous is not in them ; but in another and imputed unto them ; it is the Righteoufnefs of Chrift made over unto them of God's free grace, & received by Faith , which receiving hand is alfo given : lo that the Righteoufnefs, upon which all are jut1ified , is one & the fame, & is a Righteoufnefs without them; & therefore the flesh hath no feemingocca- fan of boafling in this matter. He excepteth 2. Suppofe the ail of belceving were from a mans [elf, yet there were no caufe of boafiing ; becaufe that weight of glory is not given to faith for any worth in it > but by the mofi free gracious d? good pleajure of God. If a king for taping a Pin of a Mans ficeve should raife his hou fè, make him honourable in the State, were st not a ridiculous thing for fuch a man to brag of the Pin of his flee - vel7c. Anf. (r) Can we think, that thofe, againft whom the Apoftledif- puted , in this matter , did think, that there was worth & excellency in all their works, to merite the exceeding great & eternal weight of glory'? did Abraham think fo. And yet though we cannot fay , that he thought fo,Paul notwithflanding denieth, that he was juflified by his works. (2,) If the ad of Beleeving were from a Mans felf, &madeall that Righteoufnefs, which"he is conceived to have when juftifred , & upon the account of which he is )u- nified , he should not only have occafion , but even caufe of boafting before men , notwithftanding of the difproportion betwixt faith & the weight o ,glory for it might then be faid , that he had made himfelfco differ.; & that P he i.
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