324 Arguments for5uflification by the' d ifpleafure. But none ever made this Plea before God, for the abfoïute Juflification of their perlons. So Nehemiah in that great conteft which he had about the worfhip of God, and the fervice of his houle,pleads the Remembrance of it be fore God, in his Juflification againfl his Adverfaries, but re- folves his own perfonal acceptance with God into pardoning mercy, and fare me according unto the multitude of thy mercies, Chap. 13.2 2. Another Teflimony we have unto the fame purpofe, in the Prophet Ifaiah, fpeaking in the name of the Church, Cap. 64. 6. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our Righted sufnefés are as filthy Rags. It is true the Prophet doth in this place make a deep confefhon of the fins of the people, But yet withal he joyns him( if with them, and afferts the efpecial Intereft of thofe concerning whom he (peaks by .Adoption ; that God was their Father, and they his people, Chap. 63. 16. Chap. 64. 8, 9, And the Righteoufneflés, of all that are the Children. of God are of the fame kind; how- ever they may differ in Degrees, and lone of them may be more Righteous than others. But it is all of it defcribed to be fuch, as that we cannot I think juflly, expeec Juflification in the fight of God, upon the account of it. But whereas the confideration of the nature of our inherent Righteouf- nefs belongs unto the fecond way of the confirmation of our prefent.Argument, I (hall not farther here infifl on this Tefti- mony. Many others -alto unto, the fame purpofe, I (hall wholly omit ;, namely, all thole wherein the Saints of God, or the Church, in an humble acknowledgment and confeffion of their own .fins do.betakethemfelves unto the Mercy and Grace of God alone, as difpenfed through the Mediation and Blood of Chrifl; and, all thofe wherein God promifeeth to pardon and blot out our. Iniquities for his oroiz fake, for his names fake ; to irlef thy. people not for any good that was in .them, nor for their.;
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