I Verf. 31,3 2. the Eple tatbe Romans. a atl. S I L. Yes, even this : that the pro- vidence ofGod is wonderful,beftowing righteoufneffe and eternal life upon his ele& ones.The reafon hereofis, becaufe he beftows it on fuch as never intended it : and kept it from fuch as much la- bouredfor it. T i M. What ufe ofthis point ? Vfe. S s L. It ferves exceedingly to extol the grace of God, of which alone it cometh that men are juftified and fa- ved. Secondly, it greatly humbles the pride ofmans heart, by thinking that whatfoever they do for their own fal- vation,yet nothing is to be attributed unto their own deeds. T s M. Yet are nor all men bound to do what lies in them,toget righteoufneffe and life ? S r L. Yes verily : both for the com- mandement fake that bids them {}rive, and for the prom ife fake which is made to feekers and knockers. Thirdly, be- eaufe this is enough to condemn a man, if he fail of doing his own part in pro- curing his own Calvation. And laftly, becaufe God doth not ufually bellow his grace and Spirit upon the fecure fnorting and idle, but upon the painful and careful Chriftian; as he gives his earthly blefíing to the diligent hand, and not to the flothful. Notwithftan- dingall this,God is not moved by any thing that we do to call and juftifie us : but it is only out of his own good plea- fure and mercy:and therefore none have caufe to glory or rejoyce, fave only in this, that they know him to be their merciful Fa ther,Jer.9. a.and that them- (elves when they have done al they can, are unworthy ofany thing. Luk. x7.10. T s M. What it it to feekrighteoufnefe by faith ? 3 Doe. S i L. To ftudy and delire to become righteous by beleeving in Chrift.- T s M. What it our Doarine from hence? S s L. That the only way to finde righteoufneffe, is to leek it by faith : the reafons be; firft, the commande- ment of God. Secondly, his promife, The jußl (hall live by faith, Rom. I. 17. Thirdly,becaufe the perfe& righteou f- neffe of the Law is not to be found out .ofChrift,and he is not otherwilg to be Keafon. A doubt. Solution. 373 had then by fàith,by which he dwels in our hearts, Ephef. 3. 17. Fourthly, no man can liveand do fo righteoufly, but that he mull need remi(iìon of fins, be- caufe there Rill will be fomething un- perfe& ; and all Scriptures teach, that forgivenefle of fin is not to be had, but by faith, AU. so. 4.3. Therefore faith only is that which juft fies the cleft fin - nersbefore God, as charity doth it be- fore men. T s M. What ufo of thispoint ? S s L. It reproves fuck as diflike the do&rine of righteoufneffe by faith on- ly,direttly,or i ndire&ly,fayingit is much taught,and that the teaching ofit doth much hurt : there be ignorant fpeeches. Secondly, it teacheth us the high and ready way how to feek righ- teoufneffe, (namely) by beleeving that we are unrighteous in our (elves, and no righteoufneffe to be found but in Chrift, and in comparifon of him, to judge all our works to be dung, Phil. 3 8. That therefore every Chriftians duty is as hedefires to be righteous and to be, faved, that he get this precious gift of faith,without the which, no juftificati- on nor lifecan be had. T s M. What is meant by the works of the Law ? S s L.The merit and defert of works, as in all places where works are Pet again{} faith,orgrace,or Chrift ; there they frgnifienterit, and not barely the doing ofagood work,as a fruit of faith. T s M:What it our Doiïrine from hence? S s r. That our own works do not merit righteoufitelli 'arid eternal' life. This is true,as well ofthofe works weh are done of grace, as thofe which are done of natural ftrength. For of all works the Apo ftle affirms, that he that Peeks righteoufneffe by them, can never have it. Again, even thefe Jews did not divide works from grace : as In the ex- ample of the Pharifee,'who confeffeth his works to come of Gods grace, and yet could not be juftified by his own works. For finners are firff juffified, be- fore they can do any thing pleafing to God. Good works follow a perfon al- ready juffified,but they go not afore, as a caufe ofjuftification. D r- 4 Doll. Reafon:
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