° t Ioho 3.16, f Phil.t.z9. a Rom.8.i8. aCor.q.17. C H A Pd. 470 Exporition vpon the ficond V s R.5, 2 Ifthisgiuevs not fa lace fufficient; confider the fe. cond ground of Comfort : the end to which they are fub- ordinate : that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdome for whichyefirffer. The RomiflChurch is mad upon merit, rti?a jwgn "vac, in their Grecke, founds, to be made worthy by way of me- rit. Yet cannot the proudefl Li .guifl in Rome, not he who boafls he knowes more tongues then euer babh:d at Babel glue one inflance, from any Clafikall Author Diuine or Prophane, where á bv-figisif es other then divnari.In our Englifls to vouchfafe,ta account, efleeme,or accept as wor- thy. Will they, trow yce, here prattle, as in the queflton of luflification ? God counts nbne worthy,but thofe which are worthy, becaufe his ludgernent cannot be deceiued Ref/Y. t That is naught to the natiue fignification of the word. 2 and then farewell all their dodlrinc of fatisfaelo- rie Almes or penance; wherein none of them dares auow, the fatisfadlion to be equivalent to, the violation of Gods Maieflie: but are all forced to foie to Acceptation.God,for- footh,accepts it as full fatisfac`lion.As to the point in hand, their owne (as' etane renders as we; counted, not made worthy, led by that of the Apofile, Won font condigna paffiones huius vita, &c. And me thinkes, when we confi- der the many obligations we flancl bound in to our maker and Redeemer, wee fhould acknowledge as Saint John, e Martyrdome it felfe nothing beyond our debt. z Efpe- cially,fith our fortitude is E his gift. 3 The g fufferings fo farre inferiour to the glorie. 4 And our defects of faith and patience fo great, as Laurence himfelfe may not dare prefent to be fudged without mercie. Let it then be accounted or ei"leerned worthy ; or if mak- ing mull needs enter the Gloflè; let it be meet and fit one - ly, not worthy by way of merit ; at mofl,bur_ comparatiue_ ly, as Noah and fob are, in Aurlins apprehenfion, laid to be righteous in their generation ; that is, not abfolutely, but in comparifon to the wicked in their time. But, Me thinkes itlbould fu ffice vs to our comfort vnder the C'rolfe,to know that cod o f Isis Grace is pleafcd to e(leeme our women-
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