2. The Counterfeit of Inherent Grace. S e c T. VII. feftiöns; he doth not pathetically and heartily, cry out , How vain are all thefe dutieswithout Chrift? How undone were 1, if not for Chrift? Seventhly, ThinMoralVenue is not a life of Grace, becaufe irismany timer a dreadful oppofer,anda carfedenemy to it. Thofe Stoicks, which were the chiefeft of Heathens , and had the fublimeff notions about verrue, That would noc have a man love verrue, not for the fweetnefs and delight it brings, they thought that too bare, and an unworthy refpeft, but onely for vertrtee fake; yet howdefperately did they let againft Tani, Afts 17.18.like loves its like; and therefore if Moral vertue were grace, it would love, refpeft and honor is wherefoever it findes it : Thole onely fhouldbe chief in our affelions, who are in piety. But youmay fay.,w;rat?is there no difference then to be made betweena vicious man, anda eivilsacd man ; between theft oatwardvertuous aflionr, andgrofrprophanenefi? Yes,- very much; for Firff, God bath commanded the prophane, grols man, to be call out of the Church Affemblies, till he be reformed : Ifone that is a brother, be afornicator, drunkard, &c. not to eat With finch an one ; and cefi outfrom among you that Wickd perfon, r Cor. y. loch g'rofs finners are no more to be fuffered inholy Affemblies, then Swine in yourgarden, then Toades in your ditties, then dead Flies in a box of ointment' but a Chriftìan civilized, though nor regenerated, bath no fuch cenfure to- be inflicted upon him ; and although this Morality be noqualification for heaven, yet it keeps men from being (pots and blemilbes, reproaches and fcandals to that holy name which is called upon by us : Therefore great matter f praife and blefiingof God, if thefe reftraints are put upon ien, and they do not like Swine wallow in all mire and filth. a. This Moral vertue is profitable both to others, and to rhemfelves allo. To others; Thus the Rigbteoufnefs,Fortitude, and other noble Qualifications a- mong the Romans, were a great advantage to the publique, andwhile thofe humanevenues flourilhed, Rome was the Queen and Head of theworld but (as their own Authors obferve) when that ffriftnefsand ¡office wasdiffolved, and in the room thereof Avarice, Pleafures, and all corrupt adminiftrations, then the became fo fick, that fhe could neither indure her difeafes, nor yet . her remedies: And then they are profitable to thofe that do them, portly be- caufe their condemnation will be letter, their punifhments more mitigated ; and partly becaufe GodBothbellow many outward temporal 'rewards upon them. nAbab for external humiliation, had the.publique judgements of the Land removed for thatfeafon; and induftry, frugality and righteous dealings, have temporal bleffings following them. Vfe. To inform how far they are off from all grace, and fo all hopes of- glory, who live in grofs and prophane ways : What? if fuch Righteoulnefs Both not avail? fhállthy unrighteoufnefs? If fed 'temperance and fobriety? (hall thy voluptuous and unclean cantles ? If copper benoc found to be gold? (hall dungbe thought to be gold? Therefore lee fuch be afhamed and con- founded, and neveropen their mouthes with any confidence. But a. This fhéweth the excellency of the wordof God, whichdifcovers thole things as contemptible and unworthy, whichamong menare foadmired : What is more amiable ? then to fee a man of a.fober, temperate, ,chaft and juft con- ver(ation? yet the Scripture fheweth a more excellent way ; not that it takes thefe away, but lifts them up toan higher nature. It makes a mango further, anddo' thole things upon fpiritnal and fupernatural grounds, which were done upon humane and inferior motives before. 11 SECT.
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