494 The nature of 7uflifi cation, 'as declared This ruined the yews, and will be the ruine of all that fhall follow their example in feeking after juflification ; yet is it not ealle for Men to take any other way, or to be taken off from this. So the Apoftle intimates 'in that expreffion, They fubmitted not themfelves unto the Righteoufne f of God. This Righteoufnefs of God is of that nature, that the proud mind of Man is altogether unwilling to bow and it felt unto; yet can it no otherwife be attained, but by fuch a firbinrgion orfsbje Jion of mind, as contains in it a total Re- nuntiation of any Righteoufnefs of our Men. And thofe who reproach others for affirming, That Men indea-voring after Morality or Moral Righteoufnef, and refting therein, are in no good way for the participation of the Grace of God by jefus Chri-ft, do exprefly deride the DoOrine of the Apoftle, that is, of the Holy Ghoft hiinfelf. Wherefore, the plain defign of the Apoftle is to declare, that not only Faith, and the Righteoufnefs of it, and a Righ- teoufnefs of our own by Works are inconfiftent, ` that is, as unto our juftification before God ; but ado that the inter- mixture of our own Works, in feeking after Righteoufnefs, as the means thereof doth wholly divert us from the accept- ance of, orfubmion unto the 'Righteoufnefs of God. For the Righteoufnefs which is of Faith, is not our own, it is the Righteoufnefs of God,that which he imputes unto us.But the Righteoufnefs of Works is our own, that which is wrought in us, and by us. And as Works have no aptitude nor meet - nefs in themfelves to attain or receive `a Righteoufnef , which becaufe it is not our own is imputed unto us, but are repug- nant unto it, as that which will call them down from their legal dignity of being our Righteoufnefs : So Faith bath no aptitude nor meetnefs in it felf, to be an Inherent Righteouf- nefs, or fo to be efteemed, or as fuch to be imputed un- to us, feeing its principal faculty and efficacy confits in fixing all the trait, confidence, and expectation of the
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