$ a C T. VII. The Counterfeit of Inherent Grace: abilities, yet as a meer Beggar, runs to Gods Grace for covering, left his nakednefs appear: So'that if our Graces , which yet are wrought in us by Gods Spirit, may have no confidence put in them ; much lefsmay thofe Civil Vernies: And for this reafon, fl:elfin puts thofe glorious Vertues in the Catalogue of Vices. Thofe vertues, faith he, which a man feemeth to him- felf to have, by which he bath power and dominion over vices, unlefs they be referred to God, they are vices rather then vertues; for although of fome they are then thought to be true and honett vertues , when they are referred to themfelves, and not delired for any thing elle, yet even then they are fwelling and proud , and therefore are not verrues but vices : For as that is not fiefh but above fleth, which makes Beth live, to that is not of a man , but above man which makes man to live happily : thus Muffin. So then this Civil verrue can make none godly , becaufe it makes a man flay in himfelf, and rat in thofe apprehended perfections, not at all going out to God ; whereas Grace in its proper effeds 11111 makes us to eye God, and look out to him. Fifthly GA's a Con /eciary from the former, therefore this Moral V rtue ie not godlinefs, becaufe it is not a life of faith Which yet is the foul 'andheart of all gadlincft. The jug Jball live by faith, Romans I. 17. Now this life of faith is not onely to Jufification, whereby we lay hold upon Clirifl for his Righteoufnefs, that fo Chrift may be all in all ; but alto in Sancíti- fication, whereby Chrift dwelling in our hearts, we receive power, Lif and Motion from him to walk in all godlinefs: Thus Ramari.rt t. By faith 1Ve fland as branches in the Olive Tree, and receive of its fatnçli'r The life of Grace in a godly man is not an entire independent and abfoluté life of it felf, but a partial dependent one, fuch as the branch is of a tree ; or a member of the body; or the childes life in the womb. As therefore when the root is withered, the branches muff ; or as tweet flowers, pulled off their root, prefently lofe their life and fragrancy ; foBoth a godly man, if he could be feparated fromChris : But civil vertue is not a life of faith, depending upon another; itsa life of works, wherein we are a kinde of abfoluce Lords, not fetching power fromwithout us. Hence it is, that chefe moralifis are never much in prayer, carnal in fupplications ; they sleale themfelves:with cuftoni and formality, and lace devotions, not feeling the conliant need of ChriS, and the daily fupply which they Ihould have from him; yea, they are whoilyi. (rangers to the life of faith, they know not what it means ; they have no ex- ercifesor temptations in it : Therefore do not thou judge of thy good condi- tion by thy Morality, by thy external Righteoufnefs, but by thy faith ;Doff thou know what it is to believe? to lie fucking at the breath of Gods pro - mife daily? to be drawing out of thewells of Salvation continually? This is the great part of Grace. Sixthly, This Moral life is not a gracious life, becaufe here isnothingofChriÌ? in it; who yetinableth onely to what is godly, and makes that godlinefs ac- ceptable : There in no other name to befaved by, but by Chrifi ; and oró other Way, but by faith in that Name, Alts 4.1x. Therefore Chris calls himfelf TheWay, theTruthand the Life,John 14.6. The way,fó that wharfoever glory and dig- nity any aSionmay have, yetifit be not throughhim, its out of the way;and thefaltera manruns, if it be out of the way, the greater lofs it is. Then he is the Truth, all allions not done in his name, are but lyes and vanities: Thy Religion is a lye, thyRighteoninefs is a lye, if it be not done in and through him. And thenhe is the Life, let thy converfationbe never fo refplendent, fo glorious, yet it is but a dead glory ; there is no fupernatural life ofgrace, but where Chris is. Now a Moral man, if a Chrillian, though he may in profef- lion acknowledge Chrift, yet he doth not live as one that daily receiceth fluente from him r Chrift is not really in his thoughts, in his duties, in his af- A a a feaction x 361
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