Epifgleofs. Paulto ritma. CHAP. 3.3. nets, fwearers,raylers,and other fwarmes offueh frnners, all whom the 603 Apofllehashbarred from anyportion inheauen;and after our lifting vp s.cor.s.a. ofour voices like trumpets again(' them no reformation (hould follow? But what a wofull deceit it is appeareth, Deur. 29. 20. Ifany man Thall bleffehimfelfe and fay, I (hall haue peace , and yet walketh in the flub- borneneffeofhisowne heart TheLord willnot be merciful1 to that man, bar the wrath of the Lord, and his tealoufe(hall fmoake out againt him, and euerie carfe that to written in thisbooke(lull lightvpon him. And fo theLord in the forenamed Prophet bath threatned, that whereas they thirke to lie dole fromveder his eye, who hash put a darke cloud be- tween himfelfe and them,yet hewill fearch as with lights, fuch frozen Zaph,r,ts, fellowes, tobring fpoyle upon them, and to lay their houles defolate: Confider this all yetthat forget God , leaf' he cease you in peices, and uouel Pf3t.5o32. (hall refcue. A fecund and as fearful' deceit as the former , is that protide conceit I I ofakind ofinbred and inherent righteoufneffeof many reputed Chri- flians,but indeedof fuch as wanting Chrifts righteoufheffe, feeke to few their owne figleaues together. The Pharifes in their time thanked God that they werenot as other men ; they were whole and needed no Phyfitian. TheLaodiceans tooke themfelues tobe rich and encreafed, and flood in need of nothing; but weredeceiued, and fawe not them- eoa s n' (clues in a true glaffe,which would haue (hewed rhblindnes,& naked- nes , andpouerty. Sohow many ciuill, iufl dealing, and harmlcs men, euery where are there at this day, who ouerthrow themfelues w ich this deceit ? which arifeth fomecimes by meafuring themfelues with them- a.coraoas. feluer;as the proud preachers ofCorinth, feemed tomewhat comparing themfelues with themfelues : and otherwhiles comparing themfelues with others,whom they take greater (inners then chéfelues, as thePha- rifes did: but efpecially through ignorance,or a dead knowledg of the righteoufnes ofthe law, they fee notwhat ftri61 righteoufnes God re- quired:, not theirowne corruption boyling within thern,and fo negledì all the fence of their fecretlufts rifing vp again(' the loue of God or man, and that ince(fautly in them. Paul himfelfe without the law was al iue,and fo are thefe in ail vncot.fcionable wayes,without feareofdam- nation,without trouble ofconfcience,and fence offearefull firmes, be- caufe-rheywant the true knowledge of the law to worke vpon them; while they look at themfelues,they fee chéfelues liue ftrialy according to humane laws , they keep their words, are good to the poore , iollie houfekeepers,hold them toold rents without racking,their ten"acs pray for them, they are well thought ofin their country, and what need of further righteoufnes? while they looke at others , they fee Tome adul- terers,.l
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=