Chap. 1'4. An Expofztionupon 'the BookofJo B Verf q. 573` are fometimes called bowlings ( Hof 7. ) fometimes bablings, (Mate) Their Payers at belt are but unouldings and wi/hings, or meer prefumings, fuch were Balaams ( Numb. 3 3. i o. ) they delire mercy more then grace, they will have the end,but care not to walk in the way. Now if theprayers of carnal menbe unclean, how unclean are their Oaths ? if their mercies be cruel, how mercilefs are their cruelties ? if their praifes ofGod be filthy, how filthy are their Prophanations, if the beft they can dobe bad, how bad is their -wont ? Secondly, The works of the regenerate are unclean alto. yob fpeaks his own cafe, he was a holy man by Godsown teffimony, yet he faith, who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? All our righteoufneffes are as filthy rags (Ifa. 64.6.) A regenerate man finsin all hedoth : we do not fay , all he doth is fin, as thePapists charge us ; The work of Gods Spirit upon us , and Mala mea the motions ofgrace in us are pure, yet , as clean water paffing pure mala through anunclean Pipe, receives a tincture of that uncleanneffe, fune, d" mea fo finfulneffe cleaves to our holiefi a&ions, we the inftrumentsfunt : bona being finful. autemmea Ifit be objec4ed, That which is finful is a tranfgreflion of the necpure bona Law, but good works are not a tranfgreffion of the Law, there-faint nec mea fore they are not finful. font. Hugo. I anfweer. Era, Sin is a tranfgreflion of the Law, but every thing which bath fin accompanying it, is not a tranfgreflion of the Law : We cannot argue from the ablra.`t to the concrete. Secondly, There is a twofold tranfgreifìon of the Law, Firfi, againft the matter ofanyduty required. Secondly Againfi the manner inwhich the Law requires that duty fhould be perform- ed ; In this latter fenfe there is a tranfgreihon in the beft works of Believers : Where is the Soul that is carriedout in Prayer,c. with that love and - delight, with that purity and fervency of Spirit , which the Spiritualneffe of the Law doth call` for ? If it be again Objected, that goodworks in the regenerate are the workof the Spirit ofGod in them, and therefore are not fin- ful. I anfwer. That which proceeds from the Spirit as the immediate and D d d 3 file
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