And thus doe they perish with the devout unbeleeving Iewes who although they had a blinde dead faith of righteousnesse life and blessednesse by the Messiah to come for they did all eat of the same spirituall meat and did all drinke of the same spirituall drinke that is by this generall dead faith in Christ to come for they dranke of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rocke was Christ But God was not well pleased with them in this dead faith and so they perished 1 Corinth 10. 3. to 6. And yet S. Paul saith of them that they followed after the Law of Righteousnesse but yet did not attaine to the Law of Righteousnesse Wherefore Because they sought the keeping and fulfilling of it not by faith but as it were by the workes of the Law and so stumbled at the stumbling stone Rom. 9. 31 32. Yea Saint Paul testifieth and beareth record of them that herein they had the zeale even of God but not according to knowledge of free justication Because being ignorant of the righteousnesse of God they went about to establish or to make as it were to stand upon its feet their owne righteousnesse and so did not submit themselves to the righteousnesse of God And thus they perished because they knew not that Christ was the fulfilling and end 2 Cor. 3. 7 8 11. 14. of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10. 2 3 4. And thus we see that such as are in this dead faith varnished and garnished and gilt over with this preposterous zeal of diligent keeping and carefull walking in all Gods commandements are ignorant of Christs righteousnesse the maine of their free-salvation are unbeleevers onely giving Christ and free justification a Judas his kisse whereby they goe about to stablish or set up as it were upon its feet their owne righteousnesse wish the Iewes and Pharisees and contemne and set light of free Grace are rebellious against God in not submitting themselves to the righteousnesse of God and miserably perish as I said in the deepe conceit of great holinesse and righteousnesse which doth so strongly bewitch the people with a faire glister and beautifull brightnesse of workes of righteousnesse that it cunningly creepes up into the Pulpits also and with her faire shew turneth the Ministers of Satan into the seeming Ministers of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. As Christ said to the Angel of the Church of Sardis Thou bearest a name that thou livest but thou art dead Rev. 3. 1. So that although both these sorts of the dead faith doe reject and set light of free justification and are both enemies to free grace the glory of Christ and to their own free salvation yet doth this second sort more subtilely deceive and more dangerously destroy And therefore the first sort of people in this dead faith are by the Lord of wisedome Jesus Christ likened to Hogs that having the pearle of the Gospel free justification cast before them to call them from their rooting in the earth and wallowing in the mire of sin although they contemptuously trample this onely saving pearle under the filthy feet of their carelesse and swinish affections Yet they commonly against their Ministers and them that wish them well do only give a hoggish grunt of contempt and away they goe to their rooting in their earth or to their wallowing in the mire and so are plainly discerned soon convinced and many of them easilier converted and saved But the second sort are likened to Dogs that greedily feeding upon the carrion of their good workes obedience and well-doings if any cast before these the precious pearles of Christs works and well-doings as sufficient perfectly to justifie them and freely and certainly to save them they do not only trample under the feet of their Pharisaicall affections the same precious pearls but also fall like Dogs abarking at them that wish them well with calumniations railings and slanderings Yea through a secret inbred delight and blinde zeal of esteem of the hidden vain glory of their own righteousness good works obedience and well-doings contrary to the Prophet Esay and Pauls affection that counted all the righteousnesse works and wel-doings of their sanctification but as filthy stained rags and would not bee found in them before God but esteemed them as dung that they might bee found in the righteousnesse of Christ only before God Phil. 3. 8 9. Through this secret lurking vain-glory I say of their owne holinesse and well-doings they will not stick to flye in the face of the Minister and Messenger of Christ that beseecheth them to be reconciled unto God by being made the righteousnesse of God through Christ only 2 Cor. 5. 20 21. but will teare out if they can his very throat because they feel themselves hindred from feeding upon the filthy pleasing carrion of the vaine glory in their owne works of righteousnesse and weldoings And therefore did the Apostle say to the true Christians Beware of Dogs Phil. 3. 2 3. because in stead of life and salvation which they seeme so strongly to aspire unto by works and keeping the Law they rush the more violently themselves and swiftly carry away others with them into beautifull abomination sinne death hell and everlasting damnation So greedily with Aesops dog as Doctor Luther saith snatching at the outward glittering shadow of righteousness of works that they lose the substance of Christ and his righteousnesse that is in their mouth Therefore happy is the man that in these last so dangerous dayes can overcome and escape this Dead Faith by getting on the white robe that he may be clothed and that his filthy nakednesse doe not appear and doth annoint his eyes with eye-salve that hee may see and so become zealous not with the foresaid blind legall zeale of his owne glory but with the true Evangelicall zeale of Christs glory and so amend by comming out of this Dead Faith into the true lively justifying faith For to him that overcommeth this Dead Faith saith Christ will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Revel 3 18. to 22. And for this cause have I penned this short and abrupt Treatise discovering this most dangerous Dead Faith in shewing how farre it will goe in the likenesse and appearance of true Christianity and true saving faith and yet how farre it comes short of the same because they doe not beleeve with the heart unto true righteousnesse and confesse the same with a thankfull and joyfull mouth unto salvation Rom. 10. 10. and so doe shew by their bragging Pharisaicall life that they perish with the Famine in their Hearts whilst the flesh of qauiles is in their mouths Psalm 78. 30 31. And hereunto I have adjoyned the shortest course that the Word of GOD and the established Doctrine of our Church
another being Gods whip of five strings with which he lasheth the children of men in one place or other daily and continually which are these five 1. First the curse of God Deut. 28. 15. to 20. If thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God namely which he spake in thundering and lightning and flaming fire but dost break his commandments that is dost do the least sin then all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee cursed shalt thou be in the town and cursed in the field cursed shall bee thy basket and thy store that is thy abundance that seemes to thee a blessing shall be to thee accursed cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land and the encrease of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep cursed shalt thou bee when thou comest in and cursed also when thou goest out The Lord shall send upon thee cursing vexation and trouble in all that thou settest thy hand to do c. 2. The second punishment is hardnesse of heart that is no spirituall sense or feeling but little caring for this curse of God upon us for sin and a sleight regarding of free justification which is the onely remedy and means that should heal us of this sinne and curse Matth. 13. 15. For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their ears are dull of hearing and with their eyes they have winked lest they should see with their eyes and heare with their eares and should understand with their hearts and should bee converted and I should heale them But my people would not heare my voice nor Israel would none of me So I gave them up to the hardnesse of their hearts and they have walked in their own counsell Psal 81. 11 12. whereby thou after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart heapest up like a treasure to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the just judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. 3. The third sort of punishment for sinne is all manner of miseries crosses and afflictions to body goods and name which are ready every moment to strike us but to what end to knock for us and give us warning to be sure that we bee freely justified and have on the wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse as it is expressed Iob 33. 19. to verse 26. A man is chastened with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong paine so that his life abhorreth bread and his soul dainty meats His flesh is consumed away and his bones that were not seen stick out his life draweth neare to the grave c. But if there be a messenger with him an interpreter one of a thousand to shew unto a man his righteousnesse that is his justifying righteousnesse by Christ then God is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down into the pit I have found a ransome 4. The fourth punishment of sinne is that uncertain death is ready every moment to strike us wee knowing neither the time when nor the place where nor the manner how death will strike us as God himself saith Deut. 28. 66. If thou breakest my Commandements and so dost sin thy life shall hang in doubt before thee c. Thou shalt have just cause to feare both night and day for thou shalt have no assurance of thy life For God said to the rich man Luke 12. 20. Thou fool this night will they that is the devils fetch away thy soule from thee and then whose shall these things bee which thou hast provided So is every man that is not rich in God that is which hath not on the wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse which only maketh us rich in God Pro. 8. 18. 5 The fifth and last punishment for sinne is when death which is so uncertain is come then follows the full execution of Gods justice in hell fire there to endure easlesse and endlesse torments for ever and ever Therefore saith Christ the Teacher of true wisedome I say unto you my friends be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that are not able to doe any more But I will forewarne you whom you shall feare Feare him which after he hath killed hath power also to cast into hell yea I say unto you feare him Luke 12. 4 5. for then he shall say Depart yee cursed which all are that are not justified into everlasting fire prepared for the devill and his angels and these shall goe away into everlasting paine but the righteous only that is only they that are made perfectly holy and righteous in the sight of God freely with Christs righteousnesse shall goe into life everlasting Mat. 25. 41 46. Thus ought these three maine things that the Law teacheth concerning sin to be daily and diligently pressed upon sleeping consciences secure in the least sin untill the most upright honest yea and most sanctified man in works may feele himselfe slaine by the Law especially by the tenth Commandement as Paul was Rom. 7. 9. saying For I once was alive without the Law but when the commandement thou shalt not lust or covet that is thou shalt not have the least motion to any sinne came that I understood it sinne revived that is I saw my best good works to be sinne which I took to be no sinne before but I died that is I saw my selfe lost and damned by that beautifull sinne which I took to be a good work before God and no sinne And the same Commandment which was by obeying it ordained unto life I found by breaking it in my best good works to be unto death For sinne that is originall corruption dwelling in me taking occasion or force by the commandement deceived me that is made my best good works as I did them sinne when I took them to be no sinne and by it that is by the commandement disobeyed and broken slew me that is made me to see and feele my selfe to be in my best and most sanctified good works a lost and damned creature Because sinne that is originall corruption dwelling in me that it might appeare sinne did work death in me by that which is good that is by that turning that into sinne by defect which was done by the good and holy Law of God that sinne by the commandement disobeyed might become out of measure or exceeding sinfull Hereupon and for this cause doth the most sanctified childe of God truly enlightened and slaine by the Law by this right understanding of this tenth commandement see and feele that which is spoken of by Paul Rom. 3. 9. to 19. to be most true in himselfe and in his best sanctified works namely That there is none righteous no not one there is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh God they are all gone out of the way they are altogether become abominable and unprofitable There is none that doth good no not one Their throat is an open
the firmament that is clothed with the glorious robes of Christs perfect righteousnesse making her wheresoever she sitteth or walketh to shine as glorious in Gods eyes as the sunne shineth glorious in our eyes when shee shineth in her brightest hue Thus hath Christ made his Church to himselfe a glorious Church Ephes 5. 27. And hath the moone under her feet that is the righteousnesse of the Law directing the feet of her walking and conversation here before men and shining by sanctification declaratively to man-ward Matth. 5. 16. as the moone shineth and giveth light that is man walking in the dark night of this world and yet hath this moone of sanctification on under her feet as of small esteeme in comparison of the glorious sunne of Christs perfect righteousnesse with which she is clothed Phil. 3. 8 9. And hath a Crowne of twelve stars upon her head that is hath the doctrine of the Gospel taught by the twelve Apostles and all faithfull Ministers likened to stars Rev. 1. 16 20. in highest esteem as her chiefest ornament or crowne And thus we see how Christ who knew no sin was made sinne for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God by true faith in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. And thus much bee briefly spoken of the excellency of the two parts of free iustification 4. Fourthly and lastly for the right understanding and powerfull laying forth of the excellency of free Justification we must deeply consider and diligently lay forth the excellent effects and precious fruits of free Justification which are briefly all needfull blessings both temporall and eternall but chiefly and especially these sixe following 1. First that by this free Justification we are reconciled to God and so restored into his love and favour again that all anger and displeasure of God being ceased and abolished towards us God is well pleased and at peace with us as it was notably prophesied by the Prophet saying I will heale their backslidings and I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him Hosea 14. 4. But how came wee to bee thus healed why Christ was wounded for our transgressions Christ was broken or bruised for our iniquity The chastisement of our peace was laid upon him and with his stripes we are healed Esay 53. 5. Therefore saith the Apostle being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 5. 1. 2 The second excellent effect is that by the very hearing meditating and reading to search into the truth and learning of this benefit of free Justification the holy Ghost is freely and experimentally given unto us to dwell in us and to take up our souls and bodies to be his blessed temples to dwell in us as these and such like Scriptures teach Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith that is of free Justification preached Gal. 3. 2. For whilst Peter was preaching of the death and resurrection of Christ justifying and freely saving Gods people even whilst he was speaking the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word Acts 10. 44. Therefore saith S. Paul Know you not that your bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost which is in you 1 Cor. 3. 16. and 6. 19. For if any man have not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his Rom. 8. 9. For when Paul preached the resurrection of Christ that from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses by Christs resurrection every one that beleeveth is justified Then the beleevers were filled with joy and with the holy Ghost Acts 13. 39. 52. 3. The third excellent effect of Free Justification is that the justified person is by the holy Ghost thus dwelling in him so united and truly married as a glorious Bride and Queene so effectually unto Christ that he is made a very member of Christ flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone Therefore did the Apostle say Know yee not that your bodies are the members of Christ Yea he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 15 17. For saith Paul As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of the body though they be many yet are but one body even so is Christ for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be bond or free and have beene all made to drink into one spirit 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. Now therefore ye are the body of Christ and members for your part vers 27. Yea I say so truly and effectually that wee are members of his body and of his flesh and of his bones Ephes 5. 30. Oh how truly doth the Apostle call these benefits thus freely wrought upon us by the blood of Christ unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. God make us to search into them deeper 4 The fourth excellent effect of our free Justification is that hereby we are adopted and made the true children even sonnes and daughters of the living God Therefore doth St. Iohn say As many as received him namely to justifie them by his blood and death to them he gave the prerogative or dignity to bee the sonnes of God For Christ hath redeemed us from under the Law that wee might receive the adoption of sonnes And because we are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirit of his sonne into our hearts to cry Abba father Gal. 4. 5 6. And therefore S. Iohn crying out in admiration of this great dignity said Behold what love the Father hath shewed toward us that wee things of nothing Psal 144. 4. should be called the sonnes of God And now we are the sonnes of God but it is not made manifest what wee shall be but wee know that when he which is the son shall appeare we shall be like him 1 Iohn 3. 1 2. 5 The fifth excellent effect of this free Justification is that by it wee are made assured heires of eternall glory For so saith S. Paul That we being justified by his free grace are made heires of eternall life Tit. 3. 7. For if we bee children we are also heires even heires of God and joint heires with Christ Rom. 8. 17. For whom God justifieth them he also glorifieth Rom. 8. 30. And therefore is free Justification called the justification of life Rom. 5. 18. Wherefore Paul testifieth thus I reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to bee compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8. 18. 6. The sixth excellent effect of free justification is that by it we are made as the upshot and fulnesse of all that our hearts can wish truly blessed For saith Saint Paul David pronounceth that man or that woman to be a blessed man or a blessed woman to whom the Lord imputeth righteousnesse without works Rom. 4. 6. whereof hee testifieth further to the Galathians saying The Scripture that is the Spirit of God speaking
of the Law Rom. 9. 31 32. that concerning the righteousnesse of the Law they were unblameable Phil. 3. 6. whereupon the Pharisee said I thank thee O God that concerning the second Table I am no extortioner nor unjust person nor adulterer nor as this Publican And in the first Table of the Law I am so zealous in thy worship that I fast twice in the weeke and so carefull to maintaine thy service and relief of the poore that I give tithe of all that I possess Luk. 18. 11 12. And by this opinion of righteousnesse and well-pleasing of God Paul being taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the Fathers was so zealous towards God as they were all at that time that hepersecuted the Christians unto death binding and delivering into prison both men and women Act. 22. 3 4. And after Paul was converted this devour blind keeping of the law stirred up the devout and honourable women and the chief men of the City and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled both them and Christ himself with them out of their coasts Acts 13. 15. Thus we see this first maine point proved how farre the Dead faith goeth in humiliation repentance and zealous keeping of the Law wherein they greatly appeare in outward profession to themselves and others to bee zealous Christians in the true faith of Christ whereas in this dead faith gilt and varnished over with a blind legall zeale of keeping all Gods will and commandements they are inwardly rather Jewes and devout zealous Pharisees than true saved Christians And thus much of the first point how farre the dead faith will goe in the profession of the Gospel and how like it is to the true saving faith 2. The second main point is that now we consider the plaine and evident marks whereby this dead faith may be discerned and whereby it discovereth it self to be naught in the three aforesaid parts and appearances of the true lively faith 1. First their foresaid great knowledge before described is but literall as is before described Rom. 2. 17. to 29. And they are so puffed up with their supposed great knowledge 1 Cor. 8. 1. that they thinke they understand and know as much as any true child of God can know inwardly and secretly abhorring to seem to learn any thing of any man and yet they know nothing neither the Law nor the Gospel neither faith nor works truely as Saint Paul testifieth saying Now if any man thinketh that hee knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as hee ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 2. For they being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is men meerly consisting of a naturall soule doe understand the benefits and mysteries of Christ after a carnall and humane-witted fashion of understanding and having not on the wedding garment do hang upon works stick fast in the religion of reason and in the light of nature described by the Apostle Rom. 2. 14 15. saying the Gentiles which have not the Law doe by nature the things contained in the Law which shew the workes and effect of the Law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing wtiness and their thoughts accusing them that is with fear of punishment when they doe evill and excusing them that is with hoping to speed well when they doe well here is the whole maine of their religion And doe thus draw others from faith Christ to hang upon works with themselves so make a number of sects schisms about works turning all Gospell it selfe into precept upon precept and line upon line Esay 28. 10. and being fleshly and sensuall not having the spirit Iud. 19. Though they talke and glory greatly of it yet they see not and discerne not the spirituall and invisible benefits wrought upon Gods Children by the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 9. but onely picarum instar after the manner of pies doe chatter of them All their seeming great knowledge being meerely blindnesse and darknesse yea which is wonderful none so blind as they as these such like Scriptures teach Hear ye deafe and regard ye blind that ye may see who is blind but my servant and deafe as my messenger that I send who is blind as the perfect Esay 42. 17 18. Whereupon the same Prophet saith Stay your selves and wonder they are blind and make you blind Therefore behold I will doe a marvellous work in this people even a marvellous work and a wonder For the wisdome of the wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall bee hid For the Lord hath covered you with a spirit of slumber and hath shut up your eyes the Prophets and your chiefe Seers hath he covered Esay 29. 9. 10. 14. The reason whereof is because they seeing doe not see and hearing they doe not understand Matth. 13. 13. whereby in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esay saying By hearing they shall heare that is they heare as they thinke perfectly but shall not understand and seeing ye shall see that is they shall see as they thinke excellently well but not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their eares are dull of hearing And with their eyes they have winked lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their eares and should understand with their hearts and should returne that I might heale them And yet they say are we blind also But Jesus said unto them If you were blind yee should in comparison have no sinne But now yee say We see therefore your sinne remaineth double For I am come unto judgement into this world that they which see not might see and that they which say they see might bee made blind John 9. 39 40 41. And yet by this blindnesse they calumniating the faith words and workes of the true beleevers are ever ready prest to call light darknesse and darknesse light good evil and evil good to put bitter for sweet and sweete for bitter Esa 5. 20. And thus much of their great knowledge that are in the dead faith being meer blindnesse as wee see 2. Secondly concerning their faith Although they seeme to have a strong faith in the mysteries of the Gospell and to preach eloquently the benefits of Christ yet they speake preposterously ignorantly and confusedly of them saying Sibboleth but cannot say Shibboleth And because when they speake of them they understand not what they speake all things in the plaine Gospel being unto them in Parables as Christ saith Marke 4. 11 12. therefore they will not onely in divers Sermons but often times in one and the same Sermon or conference if not in plaine words yet in plaine sense speake flat contraries in and to the workes of Christ and mysteries of the Gospel and so say and unsay saying one way and unsaying and denying the same things againe another way And thus doe see many things as the Prophet Esay 42. 20. saith but keepe not neither in
would give unto them the spirit of wisedome and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eye of their understanding might bee more enlightned that they might know what the hope is of their calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in his Saints Ephes 17 18. Againe as the former blind and proud knowledge is but literall so this true knowledge is spirituall which by the spirit discerneth and seeth the spirituall things of God both of the Law and of the Gospel especially discerning and seeing the invisible benefits and unsearchable riches of the Gospel wrought upon us by the blood death and resurrection of Christ according as they are spoken Rom. 4. 18. being impossible to humane reason bodily sight sense and feeling as these and such like Scriptures teach The eye hath not seen nor the eares heard nor hath entred in the heart of man that is the naturall man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man that is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man save the spirit of God Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know or as the originall word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wee might see the things that are freely given to us of God 1 Cor. 2. 9. to 13. But contrariwise the naturall or the man of the meere humane soul receiveth not or perceiveth not or approveth not the things of the spirit of God as they are spoken by the spirit For they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spirituall discerneth all things vers 14 15. Againe hereupon did Paul say Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may gain Christ that I may be found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ even that which is of God through faith Phil. 3. 8 9. Thus the spirituall man discerneth seeth and onely esteemeth and highly prizeth onely spirituall things and invisible to the bodily eyes and so hath an eare to heare what the spirit saith whereof the Lord Christ so often speaketh saying Hee that hath eares to heare let him heare Matth. 13. 9. and that which is often repeated Rev. 2. 3. chapters saying He that hath an eare let him heare what the spirit saith unto the Churches And these and only these doe compare spirituall things with spirituall 1 Cor. 2. 13. And thus much of the true spirituall knowledge Secondly hereof ariseth the true lively and justifying faith which truly saveth us consisting in having on the wedding garment of Christs perfect holinesse and righteousnesse making us so perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sinne in the sight of God freely by faith onely without works that we feel true comfort peace with God in our hearts and joy in the Holy Ghost as these and such like Scriptures teach Esa 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord and my soul shall bee joyfull in my God why what is the matter what is the cause of such joy and great rejoycing why Hee hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation That is just matter indeed of great joy A man can wish no greater matter of joy than to be cloathed with the garment of salvation what is that garment of salvation why he hath covered me with the robes of righteousnesse as a Bridegroome decketh himselfe with his ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her jewels But the feast of the Gospel being furnished with guests both good and bad the King came in to see the guests and saw there a man that had not on this wedding garment And hee said unto him Friend how camest thou hither and hast not on the wedding garment and he was speechlesse Then said the King to the servants Bind him hand and foot take him away and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matth. 22. 10. to 14. Therefore get on the white robe that thou maist bee cloathed and thy filthy nakednesse doe not appeare Anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou maist see Rev. 3. 18. For all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God but are justified that is made righteous againe freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Rom. 3. 23 24. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many to the end of the world be made righteous Rom. 5. 19. That as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reigne by righteousnesse unto eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lord ver 21. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. And thus we are regenerated and freely made new creatures to Godward whereby we are made all new even the righteousnesse of God in this faith of Christ as Paul in spirit testified saying If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away Behold all things are become new and all things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ But how are all things become new why God hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin to what end that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him that is by this faith in him Thus are we become all new and so by relying and resting wholly and onely in these invisible riches wrought upon us by the blood of Christ impossible to our reason and contrary to our bodily sight sense and feeling we do so walke in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham as they are that we may not erre wander and go astray from them plainly described by Paul Rom. 4. 19. to 25. saying And he not weak in faith considered not his owne body now dead being almost an hundred yeares old nor yet the deadnesse of Sarahs womb neither did hee doubt of the promise of God concerning the justifying seed through unbelief But was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God being fully assured that hee which had promised would bee as good as his word though it seemed never so impossible to his present sent sense and feeling and was able to do it And it therfore was imputed to him for righteousnesse Now it was not written for Abrahams sake onely that it was imputed to him for righteousnesse but also for us to whom it shall bee imputed for righteousnesse which beleeve in him that raised up Iesus our Lord from the