_ --- S a c r. VII. 7he G®unterfeitofInherent Grace. 335 much to Nature, to fay, Thai Heathens do by nature the things of, the Latb: but whenyou hear inwhat fenfc theyare faid to do it, you will quickly perceive that tobe no Inch great matter, as may plat them in a capacity of lilvation. I mnall not trouble you with the interpretationof Flaccine llttricus, much rollingabout the fenfe of this place, which makes fo dircttly againft his opinion about Original! fine. Laftly, This Natural honefly imprinted in mensconfciences, isdefcribedbySr) external effcft, TheyJew it, viz. in theanions of theirtiv s, abflaining fromwhore- dome,injnflice,andmarther. z. By Internal cff ns, The witnefs and workings of Confcience, fomecimes by accufation upon things ill done , fome times by excufe andapprobation , when well done. Interpreters finde fome difficulty about the Ionic of the greek words 6FdTTi;s.r, In the mean while accutrng,orexcufrog one another. Thais, asfome expound it,Tbty condemn oneand another, by reaton of the natural lightofconfcience left in them about ill doing, or well doing. Lire others , as it is in the Margent, render it between tbemfelves, in this !'elate, Every man batha court within in his ownheart, where there are aeculat ions or defences accordin totie nature ofthe works wedo, Every one bath a jadge in his htcatri and aTribunal or terrible Bar in his Confcience within, by which he is cotiderane:i or acq a:red. This expolition I like beft; onely I would render n se so- eween, or the mean while, but e/llternatim, Sy change andviciftnde, as the Greek word is fometimesufed: So that the Apoftles meaning is,That there is turn a Luxabout good andevil in mens hearts, appeareth, in that all Heath .ass have had their Confeieneesonewhile acculingthem, and atanother time exculei torn; one while they have been terrified and another time comforted and g.cicted ua eaeihConfeienees, according as they have deported themlélves. Now to the whole expolicion of this Text in the fenfe declared, may be objected all chore places of Scripture whichfay, Sete are dead fin: AndChap. 3.Ió, at,rz.tc. Chit long deferiptionof mans 2 ataral frlehine(s, where none, no not one is [did to underhand, or to be righteous; efpecially that famous place feems dire! ly to thwart this, where it is faid, That theemaginarions of the thoughts of a mans heart are only evil, and thatcontinually. But here may be eafily so happy ac- cord found our ; for thofe natural impreflions and inclinations', which are a- bout good and evil , are imperfel and infufficient to enable us to do that which is every way good is every circumftance; and it is onely of fome particular no- torious things, and it is onely for the matter done, not the manner of it. There- fore though Heathens havedone good things, yet they never did them well; and though they have abitained from fans, yet they never did it frompure and tight. grounds. Thus while they did the works of the Law and their Con- kiencies were thus bufie and a/tivewithin them, yet they were corrupted and defiled ; And therefore as the Apottleargueth , Their very missiles and Centel- emcee were defiledaifo,Tit. I. I5. This may fuffice for explication at this time; more maybeadded hereafter :for this Text doth contain admirable pranical matter,beingfruitful,and bearing twins as it were. Üf. t. r. That there is naturally implanted is mens confciences, Archcommon notions an$apprehenftors about god, dnd that which is good and evil; that thereby their eònj°ciences areveryalivewithin them ; and theyi forbearfomefins , anddofossegood things in their outwardcenverfatiore, a. Though thefe principles anddilutes ofconfcience within,carrymenout to miles obf z. fomatch natural honefly,yet it ianot grace. The works of the Law in I (hall begin with the firft : Andfut theunderftandingof it confider, That we mans confd- may speak ofthe work of the Law in a trans confcience,accordingco a mans three ence, maybe fold draw.. contidered ac- Firit, That ofPerftliatsandinuoceney, tobtreiu GodMade Adambe fore his Apo. mans chrec flacyt foldeitate.
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