DireCI. VL i7f Sanfii tcation. r5) contrary to fincere obedience, as well as perfe T1 ; and, if we make it the condition of cup falvation, firs will take the fame occafion by it, to become ex- ceeding finful in its motions and aaings. The fuc- cefs of legal doctrine upon the natural man is ac- cording to the proverb, " Reprove not a fcorner, left he hate thee," Prov. ix. 8. Rebuking a madam], is the way to enrage him ; and fuch is the natural man in fpiritual things, lince be fell out of his right mind by the fn Qf Adam We find, by manifold experience, that though men be generally addicted to the principle of falvation by weals; yet multitudes of them hate all ftrici preachers and profeffors of true holinefs, becaufe they are a torment to their confciences. They endeavour to fhelter themfelves in ignorance of the law ; accounting, that the lefs they know, the lefs they (ball anfwer for; and there- fore they would not have right things prophefed unto them, I. xxx. io. And they have prevailed generally in the world, to darken the natural know- ledge of moral duties, in fuch a degree, that there is a necellfity of learning them by divine revelation out of the Scriptures. We may find how prone legal writers are to corrupt the fenfe of the law, that they may leave starting holes for their corruptions, by the corrupt gloffes of the Scribes and Pharifees, from which Chrift did vindicate it, Matth. v.' And as far as I have obferved, none more endeavour to difcover the purity and perfection cf the law, than thofe that feek holinefs and falvation, without any legal condi- tion, by the mere free grace of God in Chrift. The doctrine of falvation by fincere obedience, is but .a mincing the perfection required in the law: and yet how is this doctrine minced again and again, unril it is become fo fmall, that the fubftance of all true obedience is loft ? A willingnefs to be faved accord- ing to Chrilt's terms, or a confent that Chrift fbould be our Lord, or a refolution to obey his command. meats (which is little more than ignorant men tuft
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