each PERSON diflinc`fly. 271 tranfgreffion and fin. To return then to this part of our demonftration In the knowledge of our felves in reference to our eternal condition, Both, much of our wifdom confift. There is not any thing wherein, in this de- praved condition of nature, we are more concerned, than fin, without a knowledge of that, we know not our felves, Fools make a mock offin. A true Paving knowledge of fin is to be had only in the Lord Chrift, in him may we fee thedefert of our iniquities, and their pollution which could not beborn, or expiated but by his blood, neither is there any wholfome, view of thefe but in Chrift, in him and his crofs is difcovered our univer- fal impotency either of attoningGod's juflice or living up to his will ; the death of fin is procured by, and difcovered in the death of Chrift ; as alfo the manifeftationof the riches of God's grace in the pardoningthereof, a real and experimental acquaintance as to our felves, with all which is our wif- dom, and it is that which is of more value, than all the wifdom of the world. [2.] Righteoufnefs is a fecond thing whereof the fpirit of Chrift con- vinces the world, and the main thing that it is our wifdom to be acquainted withal. This all menare perfuaded of; that God is a moflrighteous God; that is anatural notion of God whichAbraham mulled on, Gen. xviii. 35. Shall not the judge of all the worlddo right? They know that this is the judgment of God, that they who commit fuch things are worthy. of death, Rom. i. 32. that it is a righteous thing with bim to recompence tribulation un- to offenders, 2 Thefi. i. 6. He is a God ofpurer eyes than to behold iniquity, Hab. i. 13. and therefore the ungodly cannot ffand in judgment, Pfal. i. 5. Hence the great inquiry of every one (who lies in any meafure under the power of it) convincedof immortality, and thjudgment to come, is; con- cerning the righteoufnefs wherewith to appear in the prefence of this righ- teousGod, this more or lets they are folicitous about all their days; and fo as the apoftle (peaks, Heb. ii. 05. Thro' the fear of death they are fubjefl to bondage all their life. They are perplexed with fears about the iffue of their righteoufnefs; leafs it Should end indeath and deítruftion. a.) Unto men fet upon this inquiry, that which firít and naturally pre - Tents it felf, for their direftion and affiftance, affuredly promifing thetas a righteoufnefs that will abide the trial of God, provided they will follow its dire tion, is the law. The law hath many fair pleas to prevail with a foul to clofe with it for a righteoufnefs before God. It was given out from God himfelf for that end and purpofe; it contains the whole obedience that God requireii of any of the forms of men ; it hath the promifeof life annexed to it; Do this and live; the doers of the law are juflified; and If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments; yea it is moll certain that it mull be wholly fulfilled, if we ever think to ftand with boldnefs before God. This being fume part of the plea of the law, there is no man that Peeks after righteoufnefs, but doth one time or another attend to it, and at- tempt its direftion, many do it every day, who yet will not own that fo they do. This then they fet themfelves about; labouring to correct their lives, amend their ways, perform their duties required, and fo follow af- ter a righteoufnefs according to the prefcript of the law. And in this courfe do many men continue long withmuch perplexity ; fometimes hop- ing, oftener fearing, fometimes ready to givequite over, fometimes vowing to continue, (their confciences being no way fausfied; nor righteoufnefs in any meafure attained) all their days, after theyhad wearied themfelves, perhaps for a long feafon, in their largenefs of their ways, they come at length, with fear, trembling and difappoinemenr to that conclufion of the apoftle, By the works of the law no flefh'is juflified; and with dread cry,, that
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