TheRighteous man fpoken of, who.Lek.t8. CAP. XV11. uponby thepower ofconvidion from theLaw ofGod, and enabled in fome 409 meafure With common guifts and Graces, do goe forth infuch a way to the performanceofthe command,ofGod, as to the fubftance, andmatter ofthem, (wherein allo they are not Hypocriticall in the and fence ofthe wordbut fincere) and foare called and counted righteous, comparatively fo, in refpe t of thofe, who live in openrebellion againftthe Lord and his wayes: And fuch as thefe theyfay, as they are often times ufefull in theirGenerations, and bringGlory to Godby their profeflion, fo (efpecially under the old legali difpenfation ofthe Covenant) they were rewarded in a plentiful) manner of God in this Life, in the enjoyment ofthe abundanceof all things in peace and quietneffe. Ofthis fort ofmen, that is men upright and righteous in their dealingswith men,and in the world, confcientiousin their truff, yeilding pro- feffed fubjedion to the judgementsand inítitutions ofGod, performingout- wardly all known duties ofReligious men,theyfay,that after they have made a profeffionof fome goodcontinuance,having never attainedunion with God in Chrift,nor beingbuilt on the rock,many do fall intoall manner offpirituall & fenfuall abominations,expofing themfelves to all the Judgements andVen- geanceofGod in this life,which allo under theoldTeftamentgenerally over- took them,Godbeing(as.here he pleades) righteous therein: In thisdefcripti- on of theRighteousperfonhere intended, there is no occafion in the leaftad- miniftred to Mr Goodwin to relieve himfelfe againft it, by that which in the dole ofthis Sellion heborrows from D. Prideaux,nia. - Thatifthe Righteous man, fheuld tornhimfelfe awayfrom his counterfeit andHypocritical' righteouf- neffe, hefhould rather live tban dye: For they fay not that this Righteoufneffe is Hypocricall or counterfeit, but trueand fincere in its kind; only theperfon himfelfe is fuppofed, not tobe partaker of the Righteoufneffe ofGod in Chrift,and a principle of life from him , which fhould alter his Obedience, render it fpirituall and acceptable to God in theSonneofhis Love. What more (ayes Mr Goodwin unto this expofition of the words ? With many fcornefull expreffions cart bothupon it (as by himfelfe ftated and lay'd downe) and theSynod ofDort, he tells you it was rejected by the Synod.That fome in the Synod looking on it perhaps under fach fence and apprehenfioti asMr G. propofeth it in, did notfee caufe todolewith it,may be true: Yet that it was rejected by the Synod,Mr Goodwincan by no meanes prove,what- everhe ispleafed to fay, and to infult thereon, upon the judgements ofvery learned men,whom he hath no reafonupon any account in the world,to def- pife: The labours ofverymanyofthem praifing them in the gatesofSyon, exceedingly above the cry and clamour ofall Reproaches whatever muttered to theirdifhonour. But to let paffe thofe poore contemptible wretches, let us feehow this Mafier in our ifrael, in his indignationdeales with this filly fhift, whereby poore men ftriveto avoidhis fury. Saies hethen. And indeed the whole feries and carriq«e of the Context from v. 20. to the 4. 14, end ofthe Chapter,demonfiratively evinceth, that by the Righteous manall along, kmeantfuch a man, as was or k truly righteous, and who, had he perfever'd in 'thatway ofRighteoufneffe, wherein he sometimes walked , fbould have worne the CrowneofRighteoufneffe, and receivedthe rewardofa Righteous man. As by the wicked manallalongoppofed tohim, is meant not a perfonfeemingly wicked,but truly and really fo ( asis acknowledged on allhands) fo that theAntitheIs or op- pofition between the righteous and the wicked, running fo vifibly quite through the bodyofthe Dircourfe, mull needs bediffolved, ifby the Righteous man fhould be meant, aPerfonfeemingy righteous only, he that is Righteous in thisfence be- ing trulyandreallywicked. Anf. The tyaineferies and contextofthe Chapter, without the leaft endea- G g g your,
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