;Ver.2I. the Epiftle to the Romans. 191 1 were free from that alfo(but the righte- oufnefs of workes, which is a quality infufed into the foule, to conforme or frame it after the will of God in their defires and a&`tions;and is is Gods image after which man was made in his creati- on, and reftored in his regeneration. TIM, Whit is it to he free from this in herent rigbteoufneffz? SI L. To be utterly without it, and voidof it, and a ftranger from it. As be- fore verle 17. to be free from fin, figni- ffunrese- firth a clean riddance and deliverance nerere men from all fin;touchi ng guiltines and ruL be free fromiu- of fin : fo here, to be free fròm righce- ft ce hVê oufneffe,is to want it, and to be with - no india- out it wholly; but yet not fo, asif un- Ition at all regenerate perlons had nokind of righ untoir,fa¢h g aeze. teoufneís, for they have a civil! righte- 1 oufne&, which confifis in outward workes before men. Thus we read of Pawl, that as touching the righteouf- nefs of the Law he was unblameable, even then when he was a Pharifee,Phil. 3. of which our Saviour faith in thefift Chapter of Mattbew,That except our rigb- teoufneffe exceed that which Pharifees have, we cannot enter into the Kingdome of hea- ven. The righteoufneffe then which un- regenerat: men are voidof,it isChriftian righteoufnefle,which is not in externall duties and obfervation before the world, but in pureneffe and cleanneffe of heart before God. T t ns.Whst it the inffrutfiont from hence? S I L. Firs, it teacheth a true cattle, why naturali men doefo greedily flrive for the fulfilling of the defires of finne : the caul is, for that they are utterly without righteoufneffe or grace, which fhould hinder or flop their fludyand courfe in finning. As an untamed Colt runnes headlong, having no Rider or Bridle to fray him; or asChildren grow rude and wanton, being with tutors or guides ; fo they which are free from righteoufneffe which fhould bridle their nature,muft needs finne lushly and hor ribly. Secondly, it fheweth the mifera- bie condition of natural! and unregene- rate perfons, in that they are ftript of all grace, and fo are wholly bound to fin, and kept under the heavy yoak of cor- rapt lut #s. The darkeíl night hath as much light as they have grace,the veri- efl vaffall and Gally -flave hail.' as much g'< freedome as the fel vants of finne have ; mata rat. which fhould brae_iin all naturali men,a ín G n ° fl trb°14 ona, qai< delïre to be out ot this e(tate;& a thank- ful flare in filch as are pulled out. (bird- "cbrR° -- z . ly, itfrvesto confute two forts cfmen: Firft, fuch as (land for liberty and free- h' "'"t'b°t-' , rarem rasp <_ dome of will without grace, becanfe we brtrm_d Wit, being before our regeneration altoge- therbondmen to fin : there cannot be therefore in us any freedome of will un- to goodneffe. Secondly, , fuch as holá works, preparative tu naturali men,dif. pofing them unto grace : whereas they being free from righteoufneffe, cannot do any workes but finfull; and finites (feting they meritdeath)can not difpofe them unto grace and lice. T I se. What is the other thing contained in this Text ? SI L. It is an argument to di(fwade and draw the godly from the fervice of finne,taken from the fruit of fin in this life, which is frame ; and from the end ofit after this life,which is eternal death. The argument may be thus framed ; all Chriftians (land bound to avoyd that which is filthy, bringing them fhame, and that which is harmefull, breeding their death;but fin if i t be ferved and o- beyed,itwillengender both frame and death;therefore the fervice of it is of all Chrillians to be carefully avoyded. T 1 M. What be the general! inffrudions from this s r.verfe ? S IL. Firft,w here fin goes before un- repented of, there ofnecefíìty by the or- dinance and luflice of God, (haute and death will follow after : thefe be the fruits which finners muff reape, even as they fow.Secondly,we are to learn from hence, that howloever men are nota- (hamed whiles they are in the aft of fin, yet afterward, though they have repen- ted,as thele Romans had, the memory of their fin doch breed Ihame and trou- ble of mind. Laftly,the children of God, becaufe they have much fiefh and cor. ruption remaining in them, had need to be awed and held to their duties, by fearful! tlsreatnings, whereof there is nfe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=