o8 The right manner ofdrawing nigh 1 thouhaft to reit upon ; Let the duties ofWorthipbe performed never fo well ; Suppofe we did fanaifie gods Name to the ut- termoft that is poflible for any creature to do in this world, yet i;fuch duties are not to be refted upon :Abraham, Ifaac, and7a. cob, and the Apoftles, the molt holy men that ever did perform duties in themolt holy manner, yet wo to them if they have no- thing to reit upon but their duties ; Confider therfore of this, That what thoumuff reit upon for acceptation to Eternal life, it mutt be that which muff have fo much worth in it, as muff fa. tisfie for all thy fins that formerly thou haft committed, yea, and for all the fins that ever thou thalt commit. Now I appeal unto any ones confcience, Is that which thou performeft, is Prayer,or receiving theSacrament,or hearing of the Word, fuch a work as in thy confcience thou canft think, it bath fo nch worth in it, as to fatifiegod for all the fins that ever thou did- eft or fink commit I am perfwaded ifpeople that have refteci uponduties heretofore, would but ferioufly have this thought in their minds, That I mutt reft upon nothing for my accepta- tion for life and falvation, but that that muff have fuch worth in it, as to fatisfie god for all my fins that ever have been corn. mitted, or fhall be committed; this would take them off for ever from reft ing in duties. Yee,and it mutt be fuchas mutt be the objeaof the infinite holinefs of god to take content in, Surely the duties chat we perform are no fuch duties to reft upon the truth is, Uwe would ferioufly confider what they are, as theycome from us, we would even abhor our felves is duff and aihes,and account of them as the Prophet speaks of his own righteouinefs,, as menftruous cloaths, they are fuch as if Clod fhould deal withus,as juftly he maydo,hemight caft them and us co the dogs, for they are (as the Prophet faith ) torn andrentfacrificer ; now if a man in the time of the Law fhould bring to the Lorda Sacrifice that was all torn and rent before he brought it, would fuch a factifica have been accepted ? All theduties we pet form as they come from us they are fuch ; we wide in Exod. 22. 3 I. concerning fuch things as were tornand rentl, that they should call them to the clogs,l'epallbe holy men stratame (faith he, verf ult ) neither Thalye eat any flefh that is spa: ofkali: ira thefield,yePalicat it to the dogesbecatefeye are bo4, )1701,41.
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