Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

ro Faith andhumilitie mull be joyned in our prayers. nie that great was her faith, confeffeth her felf to be but as a dog in comparifon ofthe Ifraelites,Mat. IS. . 7.The repenting prodigall received to favour con- fefieth himfelf unworthy to becalleda fon,Luke 15.2 1, z «fe 18.13. The Publicane who went home juffified, (hewed great fignes of humilitie. Let us therefore, avoiding the proud conceit of all Pharifaical & Popifh juífiti- aries, who are not afraid to prefent themfelves be- fore God fruiting in their ownmerits,follow the ad- vice of Paul,Rom.iz.i6.cn a sAos T s ,a7rdvois,that is,as fome expound it,togo the fame way with the humble: & fo we (hall come to the fame end ofthe way,which is the falvation of our fouls : the which unleffe we be humble even as children, we cannot attein ; But he that is humble as a child (hall be the greatefl in the kingdomeof heaven, Matth. 14.3,4. faith and Now thefe two graces whereof I have lafl fpo= humility ken, faith mí be aith and humilitie, muff necefï'arily go toge- joyned toge- ther.. For we muff not be fo humbled in regard of sha`' our unworthinefïe in our felves, but that notwith- ffanding we are to truff in Gods mercy accepting of us in Chrift;& we are fo to have affiance in themer- cies of God & merits of Chriff,that we difclaim all worthines in our felves. Here therefore they offend I. Who come to God in a Pharifaicall conceit of their own worthinefï'e, for which they prefume to object. be heard. If it be obieted, that the faithful! fome- times alledge their own pietie in their prayers as an argument to obtein their delires: as David, Pfal.86. rlnfw. 2. Hezekiah, Ifa.58.3. I anfwer; 1. They alledge their own pietie as a gift of God, and teffimonie of his favour, to confirm their faith, not afcribing it to their