514 The nature of yuflífication, as declared force time had believed and made Profeffion of the Golpel. The anfwer given unto the queftion, is both Negative and Pofitive, both afferted with the higheft affurance, and as the common faith of all Chriftians, but only thole who had been carried afide from it by Seducers. He afferts, that this What not, this cannot be by the Works of the Law. is in- tended by the Law in thefe difputations of the Apoftle, bath been before declared and evinced. The Law of Mofes is fometimes fignally intended; not abfolutely, but as it was the prefent ¡nuance of Mens cleaving unto the Law of Right(oulnels, and not fubmittingthemfelves thereon unto the Righteoufìefs of God. But that the confederation of the Moral Law, arid the duties of it, is in this Argument any where excepted by him, is a weak imagination; yea, it would except the Ceremonial Lam it Pelf; for the obferva- tion of it, whileft it was in force, was a duty of the Moral Law. And the Works of the Law, are the Works and Duties of Obedience which this Law of God requires, performed in the manner that it prefcribes, namely, in Faith, and out of lov- unto God above all, as bath been proved. To lay, that the Apoftle excludeth only Works abfolutely perfeït, which none ever did, or could perform fince the entrance of fin, is to fuppofe him to difpute with great earneftnefs, and many Arguments againft that which no Man afferted, and which he doth not once mention in all his difcourfe. Nor can he be Paid to exclude only Works that are looked on as merito- rious, teeing he excludeth all Works that there may be no place for merit in cur Juftifcation , as bath alto been pro- ved. Nor did thole Galatians, whom he writes unto, and convinceth them of their error, look for Juftification from any Work9, but fuch as they performed then, when they were Believers. So that all forts of Works are excluded from
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=