118 The Sincere Convert. Mans per- , Thirdly, the underftandings Ohfcurity , or a`tion ft ignorance of the infinite exac`l:nefs glorious of imfeff. g tom} purity, and rbfolute perfection of the Law 3. Obfcu- of God : whence it cometh.to pat`s that this racy. burning lamp, or bright Sun of Gods Law, being fet and obfcured in their Minds, rotten glowworms of their ownrighteoufnefsg do- ing fcone things according to the Law ofGod, fhines and glitters glorioufly in their eyes, in the dark night time ofdifmal darknefs, by do- ing of which they think to pleafe God. and their ofates are verygood. Iwas alive, faith Paul, Rom. 7. g. without the law ; and he gives the reafonof it, becaufe fin did bit fleep lin him like a cut-throat in an houfe where all ') is quiet. Before the law came, he faw not that deadly fecret fcore of corruption, and that litter of rebellion that was lurking in his heart., and therefore thought highlyof him- felf forhis own righteoufnefs. The Go#el is a la s to Phew men the face o God in,Chrift, z Cor. t. a taw is t at +la s t at ew- et i a man i4 own face, an vv at . e urn elf is. Now ifthisglafs be taken away, andnot fet before a deformed heart, how can a man but think himfelf fair ? And this is the reafon why civil men, formalifts, almof} every one, think better of themfelves then indeed they are, becaufe they reckonwithout their hoft; Gods law that is, they judgeof the number nature, and a meats greatnefs of their fins b their own books for men y y fee their by their own reafon, they look not Gods debt own mite book, Gods exact Làrvs over and compare ry tn themfelves therewith ;if they did, it would amaze
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