Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That meere moral and eiuilvertue r are to be contemned. g; miflead,euen to their vtterruine and deflrudlion; imagining that becaufe they excel' the offcourings of the world, defpe- rate Atheifls,and prophane ruffians, in morali and ciuill ver- tue,and be louers of iuflice, fidelitie, honeflie, temperance, and the like, that they may hereby bee approved ofGod in this life, and that after they may fetue as a ladder, whereby they may afcend into heauen.In the meane time contenting themfelues to be without all fanólifying graces, as the true knowledge of God,faith,repentance and thelike. But that all fuch may ceafe to bee proud of thefe good 44Sca.2. parts,to let their hearts vpon thcm,to ouerualue them aboue What isrcqui- Gods caning graces, and ro place in them theirchiefe hap_ red toaverrue pineffe, as though they were fiuffcient for theirfaluatiou;oraíüon that it and contrariwife, that they may lcarne to contcmne and may Y Y good and cep- bafely to'efleeme of them, in comparifon of Chrifl and his rable, t. that the righteoufrres applied by faith: let them know that though perfonberege- nerate their vertues,duties,and aólions be glorious in the fight of xton- men,yet they are not acceptablevnto God,nor fufficient for Cbriß. the fauingoftheir foules.Yea and that they are fo farre from that high degree ofexcellencie which they dreatne of, that they deferue not die name ofgood.For that averrue,dutie, or aólion maybe truly good, it is required, that it be good Bona opera non not only for the matter and fubllance ofit, but alto that it ca nominibua, be well done : for, as Auflinefaith, a man may doe a good fed ex aduer- thing,and not doewell in doing it,becaufe he faileth in his bÿ; iuditanda end and manner of doing. Now that it may be thus well roan 10ct fuís done there are diners conditions required. And thefe either bonren opuo fa- refpeól the perlons indued with thefe vertues, and doing cit,& non benè thefe duties, or the ground and foundation whereon theyfacir,tum non are built, and the fountaine whence they flow, or elk the eft bonumopns, ends which are chiefly and mainly propounded ' to them. Chemnit.loc. Firfl for the perfon it is required,that he who is to do a good C:om.par, ;, paó,4b a &ion beingrafted into Chrifl Iefus,and be a true and fine- ly member of his bodie;for vnleflè we be in him, we cannot bring foorth anyfruites of vertue or Chriflian duties; as himfelfe plainly teileth vs : e4bide (faith he) in me and I in Ioh.t 5.4.5. you : as the branch cannot beare fruite of it f lfe,except it abide in the vine,no more canye,exceptye abide in me. I am the vine, E 3 Ye