332 The Counterfeit of' Inherent Grace. SECT.Iï. MAMAMAMAMAdAMAMAt SERMON LVII. Demonftratingthat turall P iety, Honefly and Sobriety, r hich is inHeathens or any others, isnot grace, obferv. R M. 2. I. Which declare the Law' of Godwritten in their heart,, ere. HisText ( as youheard) `was fruitfull in bringing forth twins, two pra- T&[call obfervations. The firfi, That Ged bathimplantedin mens hearts no. tiff/4y fame principles about a God,. and theapprobation of what h good, andalto the rejeaion of what is evil., bath at largebeen handled . Wecome to the lecond, which is,Tbat all the worth andexcelency whichmen by thele natural)prin. tiples, though improved to the utmofl, canattainunto', is not grace. The Scripture re- quiring Regeneration, and a newCreation, dotti Lull intend afurther excellency than natural) hanefly, or naturali devotioncancarry us unto ; for as we told you, thoughmen are herePaid by nature to have Gods Lawwritten in their hearts; yet that is far different from that gracious promile in `feremiah, whereGod is laid to write his Law,and put his fear Into theirhearts, ?er.3r. For that isa writing of the Law, after the naturali Ronineffe is takenaway, and a ténder fjcfilly plyable heart givenunto them ; fo that fhouldGod writeno more gracioully inus, than what is at firt naturally ingraven in us, it would argue no more that we had grace, than that the Devils and damned in hell have grace ; for you mull know thelé Detates about God, and aConfcience about evil., is fo infcparably ingraven in our hearts, thatit is not taken out, nonot from the damned in hell; but the great caufe of all their torment and milery is, becaufe that work of confcience is fo quick and fenfible in them, that being thegnawing worm which never dyeth : fo then how- loever theIal day,you heard the Heathens defcribed in their glory, and many ad- mirable thingsdone by them ; yet now you (ballhear their gloryRained, their Sun in anEclipfe, many dead flies that doe wholly marre their Box of oynrments. In- deed as Aufin obfetveth, Aman that readswhat excellent things they have done, cannot but havea kindof pity of them, and a fecret delire that they might be fa- 'ned, which (no queflion) were the grounds that made fome pofitively affect their falvation ; but in mattersof Religion , nothumanepity or affeetions, but divine Authority mull be the tier to guide us, and where we areunable to findout the juliice, or mercy of God, there yet toadore them, it being as impoffible for us to ncells,andwife purpoft ofmen things ome we co therefore to prove and illufirate our Dotirine,vit. That whatfoever goodnefe,devotion or honeft y, aman by naturaliprinciples abtai- netb, it ie net Grace. The
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=