ee 342 HARMONY OF ALL RELIGIONS. the truemeaning of such texts of scripture,:so it must be granted that the scripture teaches us elsewhere to add also, that the constant and persevering endeavours of such penitents after obedience and holiness, shall be approved and even rewarded by grace, so far as finally to obtain heaven and complete sal- vation, through the meritorious undertaking of the Mediator. X. As this has been a matter of much controversy, let me endeavour to make it yet more plain to every reader. The best of men in this world have not a righteousness of works com. mensurate to any law of God whatsoever ; for their faith and re- pentance, and even their sincerity are all imperfect, and do not fully answer the demands of God under any dispensation : But we are saved by a humble and hearty acknowledgment of sin, with a perpetual trust or dependence on truegrace ; always sup- posing our faith to be attended with a return to God by repent-. ance and constant endeavours to please him. And though faith or trust in the mercy of God be in itself a work of righteousness, and though it be attended or followed by repentance and love, andworship andholy obedience, yet in the matter of our justifi- cation before God, it is not considered as a work ofrighteous- ness, or as fully answering the demands of any law of God what- soever, and thereby claimingjustification, by that law; but it is considered only as an act of the soul, whereby it humbles itself, empties itself, renounces itself and its own works as a sufficient ground for justification according to any law, and whereby it de- pends or trusts merely in the grace of God through a sense of its own guilt and imperfection. As when a son halls' grievously offended llis.father by breaking his righteous laws or commands, and'then throws himself down at his father's foot, and waits and hopes for pardon and acceptance, this hoping and waiting Both not justifyhim as a work of righteousness, but merely as re- nouncing all self- worthiness, and as a dependence on mercy; it is not considered so much as an obedience to his father's law, but as it is an acknowledgment of guilt, and trust in mere mercy. And this seems to be the true design of St. Paul, in the re- presentation lie makes of the matter, throughout the fourth chapter of Romans, which is the chief place in the bible, where this matter is most expressly and directly treated of, and argued. XI. Thus our acceptance with God arising from faith and not works, none have any reason to glory in the presence of God : Justification by faith cuts off all boasting. And indeed this seems to be one main designof the blessed God, in appoint - ing ourjustification under all the dispensations of the covenant of grace, to be obtained not by works but by faith, or trust iri free rtlercy, viz. that since pride and self-sufficiency was one great springof the first sin and ruin of mankind ; this pride of man tnigllt be humbled, that no fleshshould ever have the least ground
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