-L- Ver. z4. the Epi Ile to the Rot:nanes. i>t ed in it a clofè obje &ion ; as thus : Bee and his feed ( hould embrace it by faith, it that the promife of being father of I M. What doth this them unto to? many Nations, and heire of the world, were given to Abraham,on condition of beleeving, yet to his feed it might be on condition of works : no, faith Paul, in no wife; the reafon is rendred in the next verfe,becaufe fo the promife of the inheritance and faith fhould be voyd and of no effeft. Till. What is meant here by the world, as you doe judge? S t L. Some fay the land ofCanaau,at leali typically and myfliczlly : forne by it underhand all the beleevers which are difperfed through the world,as is afore- laid : forme by it underhand all the crea- tures of the world,which are the inheri- tance of Abraham and every faithful' perfon :and I take it to be meant of the world to come,even of the poffeffion of falvation in heaven, of the celeff iall in- heritance.That this is the meaning,may appear by the whole former treadle of Juftihcation,alfo by the 14. vet', of this Chapter; wherein by hei re,none can be meant but the heirs of eternal] life:ifany thinke good to joyne this fenfe and that of Pareus and Bezel together as fubordi- nate one to the other, it is not amiffe. T t M. What learns yet hereby, that this inheritance of heaven, dependetb upon the promife of S I L. That beleevers may rarely look to have it in the end, becaufe the promife doth not deceive, feting it is his promife which cannot lye. Secondly, we learn, that it behoveth the faithful! to have an eye fill upon the promifes, and to have their refuge thither' when- they (hall be affaulted ; as a chafed Hart flies to the cold brooke, and the fearful' Coney to the rock or burrow; fo we being tempted runne to the promifes. T t at. Vpon what condition war this f ro mite given or madeof God to Abraham? St L.Not upon condition that he (hótsld fulfill the Law, becaufe the Law was S i L. The necelfìry of faith, in that we are not partakers of the promifes without it. Secondly, the excellency of faith, that to it the gréate(t promds are made. Lately, from hence we are ex- horted to labour and Drive to attaine the gift of faith,and to encreafe it if we have it, labouring againft hinderances. Let this be further noted, that though this promife given to Abraham be chiefly accomplifked -in the heavenly inheri- tance,yet it comprehends the Church of Chrilt over the world, as a fpirituall he- ritage; yea,and the right to temporali things in chic world, t Cor.3. a t. and all this through Chrilt the promifed feed DiALOauEVIII. Verte 4. For if they which be of the Lam be hires, then fr faith but vaine and the promife made of none of li,becaufe the Law coi- fed; wrath: for where no Law it, there is no tranfgrefflon. TIMOTHEUS. WHat is the drift of this Text ? 3 L. To prove that the inhe- ritance of heaven is not given on this condition, that the Law be fulfilled by its ; and therefore it is given on conditi- on of beteeving. This is proved by a reafon taken froth abfurdicies, or from contraries, which is thus;That if the in- heritancebegot by fetlfilling the Latin, then faith is void, and the promife of none effeEr.Or more plainly thus: If fal- vation be given on condition of wor- king or doing,then it mull needs be that faith which beleeves the promife is idle, and fo the promife is alto idle, and fru- firate; which were an abfurd ttringei- ther to think or fpeak fo, for God nei- ther doth or promifeth ought in vaine. Ti M. Hath thercafan good weight and publi(hedlong after the pronìife, and firmeneffe,ifit be framed from the lag of contrarres t" S t L. Yea, for to have falvation bjr merit of our workes,and to bels ve that it is given us by virtue ofa free promife; chefe therefore could be no condition therof; againe,none can poffibly keep the Law. But the promife was given upon condi- tion of beleeving .,namely, that Abraham 1
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