The 'Preachersplea, righteouf efe,that re tofay,. charitywith the fruits thereof. So That we exclude, they, edablifh the mericofmans workes. Well eben , in this difference ofopini- on , there being learned men on both liides, and Scripture alleaged onboth fides, youdelire to knowwhich is the truth : bring them both to the touch.. done, and feewhich of the two maketh moftforthegloryofGod, and the matter willToone beeanfwered , the doubt will quickly bee cleared. Confi- der thereforehow cumthe ApotileTau( by this rule decideth this controuer- fie;Byrahaelaw (faithhen) that is , bywhat meanes offaluation, isaboafling excluded?. Not by the law of worker, bat by the lawoffaith. 'Hereuponhe con.. cludcth,tbereferes MOHmiufltfieadyfaith ,witbouttheworkesefaheLane0 And in. mRom. g.zy; deed the rearm', is excellent,£or ifmancould by anyofins owne doings,htrther hisowne faluation,orprocure theencreafe of glory in heaueir,he had then Come matter ofglorying , and might (as it were) account bimfelfe theleffe behol- denvnto God. But iuliification by faith onely, takethall vttedÿfromman, andafcribeth his wholefaluarion, the beginning,middle, and ending onto the Lord : Cohaue you both an exampleof this rule, andwarrant for it, bering' vfedby theApofile to decide fo great acontrouerfie r and I am fure that you (hallfindeitof very great vfein manymainepoints ofourreligion, Secondly, for the fecondbranchof the rule, which is about the comfortand reliefeofa didrelledand diftra5ted confcience; marke this particular for the manifefia- tionof theforce oftherule. It is taught andmaintained inour Church , that e Chrifliammanmay beevafalhib j certaine ofhiefalxatien in hie owne eonfeitacein Ale life, and that by an ordinaryandfpestallfaith. Others there are (bothPapills, and fume allo amgngff our(Clues) which hold that the certaintyof faluateon, which intbie lifecan beeattainedto , v only cnniefloraliandprobable , groundedenelyvpon likelihoods : and thincertenty they confelfe tobee vncertaiue, and fuels as ma- ny times dothdeceiue. Behold, hcere is a great contronerfre; and much is faid on either fide : now you that areaprivat man, would gladly know, towhich partyou may fufely enciiae5andwhat to redvpon, as the alone truth in this cafe. My aduice is therefore ; that for your full fattsfdionherein,you (can the matter by thisrule : fuppuIe a fpirit deepely wounded, a confciencelet as it wereupon theracke, feeing nothing inGodbut Lidice andMaieffy, and a confirming fier;findingnothing in itfelfe but finneand corruption , and infi- nite matter ofdefpaire, tothat by this meanes it is brought to fuch anexigent, that it knowethnot whichwayto turn,but is earnready to ctieout with Pan!, Who[halldehnerme n ?. Enquirenowwhic hof thole two doarinesdoth affoord nRom .ys4: thebed comfort in this woad' cafe, that will quickly appeare r for the onehol. deth theconfcience in a continualfufpence, rheotherlaboreth to fettle it in the firmeat(uranceofGodsvnchangeable loue in Chrili lefus : the one bringetka plailie,but much too littlefor the fore-; tellethofthe riches ofGods mercy, of thedepth ofhis lone, of thevnfearchablefnfficiency of Chrifis merit, but yet denieth the foule to bee allured ofa particular intereft into it , and by that -manes rather increafeth then releeueth the anguilb : the otherapplieth the medicine to euery part of the',wound, Iheweth Chrift, difcoucreth the <hes of Chrifi, andpotted the amazed heart intoa full allured' and comfor- table polfeflionof Chrid. So that whatfoeuer(hall bee argued to, the, con- trary, you maybee bold to build vpon that which bringer', the mod lop. full and welcomexidings to an affrighted confcience u that is bed agreeingto the (cope of theSéripture , that commeth neereCI to the nature of the Gofpell, Come now to the third branch, ,which is concerning the libertyof the fled, and let nice glue an inftance of that alto. There is at this day a do&rine(al_ mod openly tanght,orat lead tolleratedby many that should teachotherwife) namely, Thata man maydoe wellenough, withoutfomach preaching: that it/a NOa matter 547
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