i, i tr.)! Ep f les (I'S. Paul, &c. and Tome Men in declaring this point of our Juftificaticnbe- fore God, Teems to be very oppofite and contrary. His whole difcourfe is concerning the Grace of God, the Death, Blood, and obedience of Chrift, as if he could never fuffici- ently fatisfie himfelf in the letting out, and declaration of them, without the leaft mention of any works or duties of our own, or the leaft intimation of any ufe that they are of herein. But all their pleas are for their own works and duties; and they have invented as many terms to let them out by, as the Holy Ghoft hath ufed for the exprefiion and declara- tion of the Grace of God. Inftead of the words of Wifdom before mentioned,which the Holy Ghoft hath taught,where- with he fills up his difcourfe, theirs are filled with conditions, preparatory difpofitions, merits, castles, and I know not what trappings for our own works. For my part I (hall chufe rather to learn of him, and accommodate my conceptions and ex- preflions of Gofpel Myfteries, and of this, in efpecial, con- cerning our Juftification, unto his who cannot deceive me ; than truft to any other conduét, how fpecious foever its pre- tences may be. 2. It is plain in this Verfe, that no more is required of any one unto Juftification, but that he receive the abundance of Grace, and the gift of Righteoufnefs. For this is the de- fcription that the Apoftle gives of thole that are juftified, as unto any thing that on their part is required. And as this excludes all Works of Righteoufnefs which we do; for by none of them do we receive the abundance of Grace, and the gift of Righteoufnej; fo it doth alío the imputation of Faith it felt unto our Jutlification, as it is an act and duty of our own : For Faith is that whereby we receive the gift of Righ- teoufnefs, by which we are juftified. For it will not be de- nied, but that we are juftified by the gift of Righteoufnefs, or the Righteoufnefs which is given unto us; for by it have we right and title unto life. But our Faith is not this gift, for 477
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