578 The DoElrine of St. James; which he makes manifeft in the reiterated propofition of it, and the (cope of the places, matter of fait, with its circum fiances which he refers unto, and takes his proof from, ande they were plainly thefe and no other. Abraham had been long a juftified believer, for there were Thirty years or therea- bout, between the Teftimony given thereunto, Gen. 15. and the ftory of Sacrificing his Son related, Gen. 22. All this while he walked with God,and was upright in a court of holy fruitful Obedience. Yet it pleafed God to put his Faith af- ter many others, unto a new, his greateft, his last Trial. And it is the way of God in the Covenant of Grace, to try the Faith of them that believe by fuch ways as teem meet unto him. Hereby he manifefts how precious it is ( the trial of Faith making it appear to be more precious than Gold, z Pet. r. 7.) and raifeth up Glory unto himfelf, which is in the nature of Faith to give unto him, Rom. 4. 20. And this is the flare of the cafe as propofèd by the Apoftle ; namely , how it may be tried whether the Faith which men profefs be genuine precious, more precio.r than Gold,, of the right na- ture with that whereunto the Gofpel promife of _ Salvation is annexed. 2. This trial was made by Works or by one fgnal Dirty of Obedience prefcribed unto him for that very end and purpofe. For Abrahamnwas to be propo(ed as a Pattern unto all that fhould afterwards believe. And God provided a rgnal way for the trial of his Faith 5 namely, by an aer of Obedience, which was fo far: from being, enjoyned by the moral Law that it teemed contrary unto it. And if he be propofed unto us as a Pattern of Juffification by Works in the fight of God, it muff be by fuch Works as God bath not required in the moral; Law, but fuch as teem to be contrary. thereunto. Nor can any man receive any incouragement to expe&f Juftification by Works, by telling him that Abraham xis jnflired by Works, when he offered up his only. Son. to God, for
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