another better foundation be laid For by the works of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight As hath been shewed No no mans Righteousness will not no less than this Righteousness of God can be a sure foundation to build upon for Justification in his sight and for Eternal Life 2 Consid. The building must be uniform and answerable to the foundation in all parts of it and bear a true proportion to and agreement with the foundation to the very topstone that the beholders may cry Grace Grace to it and that with shoutings as Zech. 4 7. There is a blessed harmony in the Gospel and all Gods attributes do harmonize and shine forth in a joynt lustre and glory in Jesus Christ. So all mans duty is consistent with this principle of the Righteousness of God and doth sweetly flow from it Grace is manifested and yet the Law is established and not made void by it Gods Justice is fully satisfied his wrath is pacified the Gospel is glad tydings Peace on Earth and good will to men the Enmity is slain and the hand-writing of Ordidinances that was against us is nailed to the Cross and taken out of the way all good works are established upon better Principles and Man's duty encouraged and rewarded And if once you that are Ministers have obtained this Key of Knowledge the whole Mystery of God of the Father and of Christ will be opened unto you and your Preaching will be clear uniform and harmonious so that you will never contradict your selves in whatever Point you Preach upon and the Faith of them that hear you will be clear and sound but if you fail here and through ignorance of this Righteousness of God go about to establish your own or Man's Righteousness your Preaching will be confused and you will contradict your selves at one time in what you Preach or Print at another and your Hearers will be of doubtful minds and wavering betwixt Works and Grace betwixt the Law and Faith Thus you will build again at one time or other what you have sometimes destroyed and so make your selves transgressors as Gal. 2.17 18. And foâ— want of a clear light in the knowledge of this Righteâ—â— of God some though otherwise men of eminent Learning Zeal and personal Holiness have most shamefully contradicted themselves and exposed their labours to that just censure and scorn even of adversaries and the sorrow and shame of their friends Whilst their hearers and admirers are unstable and wavering and so in danger after some time to fall into error And how far the Church of God may be prejudiced thereby time will show For this one Article is Articulus Stantis cadentis Ecclesiae The Church of God Stands or Falls Lives or Dies as this one Article of Justification by Faith in Christ and this Righteousness of God standeth or falleth amongst men And Lastly That it is greatly the duty and interest of Ministers to Declare and Preach this Righteousness of God appeareth from this one consideration Namely That they cannot Preach savingly without it If they have all the Wisdom and Learning of this World and have Tongues of men and Angels and draw multitudes of Admirers and Followers after them Yet this I say from the word of God that whilst they do not know or knowing do not Preach this Righteousness of God their Ministry cannot be powerful to the saving of their own Souls or the Souls of those that hear them For the Apostle doth assure us Rom. 1.16 17. The Gospel of Christ is â—o nomine and upon that account The Power of God unto Salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek as it doth Reveal and Declare this Righteousness of God For I am not ashamed c. For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed as it is written the just shall live by Faith i. e. Faith in this Righteousness of God And take away this Righteousness of God out of the Gospel it would be no Gospel nor could it be unto Salvation And take away this Righteousness of God out of your Ministry and it will be no Gospel Ministry nor can it be a Saving Ministry to your selves or them that hear you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR A DISCOURSE Of or Concerning The Time and Season wherein God doth Justifie his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures WHEREIN I. The Doctrine of Justification from all Eternity II. The Doctrine of Justification from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection Are fairly and truly tried and confuted III. The true time searched out and stated according to Scripture By THO. TAYLOR Searching what and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie 1 Pet. 1.11 The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his Field But while men slept his Enemy came and sowed Tares and went his way Mat. 13.24 25. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch 1693. Rom. 8.30 And whom he called them he also justified HAving already opened and explained this Justification wherewith God doth justifie them whom he calleth in the nature of it we now proceed to speak of and open and explain the same as to the time of it because not only the things themselves but the time or times are to be searched into when and wherein the things are and are to be ministred unto us 1 Pet. 1.11 12. Searching what or what manner of times the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie And concerâ—ing this enquiry or search there are and have been of late two several Doctrines or Opinions greaâ—lâ— cried up and as confidently affirmed by some and violently imposed upon their unwaâ—y hearers and with the same Spirit of violence as furiously contended for by them who are so imposed upon As the Ephesian worshipers of Diana contended for her Goddess ship as the Image that fell down from Jupiter out of Heaven Acts 19.27 28 34 35. 1. The first Doctrine and Opinion so cried up and contended for is The Doctrine of Justification from Eternity Or that Gods Elect were justified from all Eternity 2. The second is like unto it Which at least must be admitted without the least scruple or question Justification from the time of Christ Death or Resurrection or that all Gods Elect were and are justified from the time of Christs Death or Resurrection because the price was then paid by Jesus Christ and he as Head of the Church discharged by his Resurrection according to the Interpretation they give of Rom. 4. ult Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our Justification Which they suppose and take for granted must needs imply the time as well as the thing of Believers Justification We shall therefore fairly and truly try both these Doctrines by the Holy Scriptures according to what we are commanded 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirit whether they be of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the World And we shall first try the first of these Doctrines As
namely Quest. 1. Whether Gods Elect or any sort of men were justified from all Eternity as some do say and affirm And unto this we answer affirmatively in two things Namely 1. That there is and was a gracious purpose which God had purposed in himself from all Eternity to Justifie and save his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ Ephes. 1.9 According to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself And again 2 Tim. 1.9 But according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began And the Apostle in the Context doth not only plainly imply but expresly declare the same when he saith Rom. 8.28 To them who are the called according to his purpose and then ver 30. Whom he called them he also justified Therefore there is and was such a purpose in God before the World began to call and justifie them 2. That all that have been are now or hereafter shall be justified through Faith in Jesus Christ from the Foundation of the World to the end thereof have been are now and shall be Justified according to this Purpose which God hath Purposed in himself before the World began and no otherwise as Ephes. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance And this Inheritance cannot be obtained without free Justification by Grace as Tit. 3 7. Being Predestinated according to the Purpose of him who worketh all things after or according to the Counsel of his own Will For in that he saith all things 't is manifest that he worketh this one thing amongst all the rest even his Justifying his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ after or according to this Counsel of his own Will and Ephes. 1.3 4. Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ Amongst which Spiritual Blessings that of Justification must be acknowledged to be one and none of the least or last of those blessings It followeth ver 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World And again 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and graee which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began And this also is plainly declared in the Context Rom 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he called them he also Justified And if you will ask how The answer is According to his Purpose as ver 28. According to this Purpose he calleth them and according to this Purpose he justifieth them So that thus far we do consent and agree 1. That there is and was a purpose in God from all Eternity to Justifie his Elect through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ And 2. That all that are justified are justified according to this Purpose which God had purposed in himself But then we distinguish betwixt being under a purpose of Grace from all Eternity to be justified And being Justified from all Eternity and therefore though we grant and affirm the former yet we deny the latter Namely Neg. That Gods Elect or any person in this World are or is or ever were or was justified from all Eternity This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity I say we truly reject disown and deny as a false and unsound Doctrine and contrary to the Holy Scriptures all which will more than sufficiently appear in these following Particulars Part. 1. This Doctrine in the consequent of it doth deny destroy and overthrow the truth and true Doctrine of Gods Election and Predestination which the Holy Scriptures do establish and which is one fundamental point of the true Christian Faith and from whence doth spring as from a Fountain all the parts of our Salvation This is called The Foundation of God which standeth sure 2 Tim. 2.19 And this is that from whence as from a Fountain all the parts of our Salvation do spring and proceed Ephes. 1.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. There are two parts of this Election of God namely foreknowledge and predestination Rom. 8.29 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate Now there neither is nor can be any foreknowledge or fore-ordaining of that which is from Eternity for nothing can be said to be before Eternity And foreknowledge and predestination must be before the things foreknown and predestinated and therefore if Justification were from Eternity there could be no foreknowledge or predestination thereof To speak with a holy reverence God cannot be said to foreknow himself or to fore-ordain his own blessedness and enjoyment of himself alone 't is true the blessedness of God doth consist in that knowledge and injoyment of himself which he hath in and of himself eternally But he could not fore-know himself or fore-ordain himself this blessedness because he hath and had this eternally and nothing can precede or be before eternity Even so God could not be said to foreknow and predestinate his Elect to Justification and Salvation through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ if they were Jâ—stified from all Eternity And besides it is â—ritten Gal. 3.8 For the Scripture foreseeing thaâ— God would justifie the Heathen through Fâ—â—â—h preached the Gospel before-hand to Abraham saying in thee shall all the Nations be blessed Now the Scripture could not foresee that which was from Eternity the Scripture may and doth declare that which was from Eternity as John 1.1 2. and 1 John 1.2 3. but the Scripture cannot be said to foresee that which was from Eternity yet the Scripture did foresee that God would justifie these elect Heathen through Faith therefore these Heathen were not Justified from Eternity though they were elected from eternity he therefore that saith he was justified from eternity and doth teach men so doth by consequence overthrow the Foundation of Gods Election and deny that himself and those he so teacheth were either fore-known or predestinated of God to Justification and Salvation through Faith in Christ. Part. 2. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity doth by necessary consequences destroy and overthrow the Doctrine and Faith of reconciliation which is also another fundamental point of the Christian Faith Reconciliation must go before Justification at least in the order of Nature though not of time God must be first reconciled to that person in Christ whom he justifieth in Christ as 2 Cor. 5.18 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself and then their justification follows not imputing to them their trespasses Reconciliation must be first and then Justification follows for God Justifies a sinner upon the account of the price paid and satisfaction made by Jesus Christ as Rom. 5.10 If when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son c. Now reconciliation was not nor could be from Eternity
before the new Therefore Justification and Life through Faith in Christ was not from Eternity but in Time though these things were laid in the purpose and counsel of God from Eternity yet they were not nor could be but in time And if any will say God calleth things that are not as if they were 't is most true but let such consider that all those things are still things that are not till God brings them forth in time Thus have we tryed this Doctrine and find it most contrary to the holy Scriptures As the Apostle Paul â—ryed the Doctrine of them who denied the Resurrection under pretence that it was past a ready whom he convinceth and confuâ—eth by the necessary consequences of their Doctrine as 1 Cor. 15 12 20. And having finished the tryal of the first opinion or doctrine of Justification from Eternity we now proceed to the second namely 2. Doctrine That they that are Christs were all justified in Christ their head from the time of Christs Death or Resurrection when the price was paid and satisfaction made by Christ and he as head was justified and discharged by his Resurrection the question therefore is Quest. Whether the Church of Gods Elect were Justified at from or in the time of Christs Death and Resurrection Or whether Believers may and ought to dteâ—he time of their Justification from the time of Christs Death and Resurrection Answ. To this we answer by distinguishing and that truly betwixt the Time and the Thing it selfe and accordingly 1. We do affirm and conclude and that most surely according to the Scriptures that all that are Christs the whole Church of Gods Elect are â—ustified from by through and upon the satisfaction Merit Virtue and Efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection as Rom. 3.24 25 26. and again Ephes. 1.7 Rom. 4 ult and Rom. 5.8 9. and Luke 24.46 47. Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day that repentance and remission of sins should be Preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem And this is certain that Remission of Sins or Justification cannot be preached to any but upon the account of Christs Death and Resurrection viz. The satisfaction merit and efficacy of his Death manifested and declared by his Resurrection according to Rom. 1.4 and 1 Tim. 3.16 Manifested in the Flesh Justified in the Spirit 2. We do also affirm and conclude according to the Scriptures that all that have been are now or shall hereafter be Justified from the beginning of the World to the end thereof have been are now and shall hereafter be Justified by the same satisfaction vertue merit and efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection and no otherways as Heb. 13.7 8. Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 'T is evident from the context that he setteth before them the doctrine and example the faith and conversation of such as had spoken the Word of God to them in which expression he comprehendeth all the Holy Prophets under the Old Testament and those Holy Servants of God whom he had mentioned chap. 11. particularly and then more generally referred them to ch 12.1 as so great a Cloud of Witnesses I say all these of the Old Testament as well as the Apostles under the New Testament together with their present Ministers when he saith Remember them which have Rule over you or which are the guides and so rule by way of conduct for other rule the Servants of God have none or ever had who have spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever by yesterday is meant all the time that is past by to day the present time and by forever is all the time yet to come from the foundation of the World to the end of it And if so the same Christ Jesus was promised prophesied and preached to them as truly as unto us and was believed on by them as well as by us and by the same Faith which they had in this Jesus Christ they were justified and saved and became the Heirs of the same Righteousness of Faith as well as we Heb. 11.1 This Faith is described and then Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Sarah Isaac and Jacob the heirs with Abraham of the same promise and the promise was Christ Justification and Salvation in Christ with Eternal Glory and then mentioning Joseph Moses Rahab also a Heathen And then Gideon Barak Sampson Jeptha David and Samuel the Prophet with others Men and Women tells you These all obtained a good report through Faith before Christ the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham and David promised was come in the Flesh or Humane nature before his Death and Resurrection and yet believed on Christ embraced him and were justified and saved by Faith in him all along as well as we are now Christ is come hath died and rose again so Rom. 4.23 24 25. So that 't is most plain Christ is the same yesterday as he is to day and so forever i. e. in all Ages and Generations yet to come as John 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one This shall believe on me reacheth to the end of the World so long as Christ shall be Preached and men shall believe on him through their word of whom Christ saith Mat. ult ult and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the World So that Christ Jesus is the same yesterday and to day and forever And all that are justified to day as well as all that were justified yesterday and all that shall be justified for ever i. e to the end of the World have been are and shall be still justified by the satisfaction merit vertue and efficacy of Christs Death declared by his Resurrection who was the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13 8. as all the sacrifices types and prophecies did there concerning him that he should be slain and riâ—e again and in that respect was both the Goat for our Sin Offering or Sacrifice and likewise our Scape-goat let go and escaped from Death when he had born our Sins I say let go and escaped by a glorious Resurrection and so as the Lamb of God did bear away or take away the Sins of World John 1.29 Did bear or carry them away into a Land of forgetfulness i. e. where none of them shall be remembred And thus far we do affirm and consent concerning the justification of the whole Church of Gods Elect from the death of Christ i. e. from and upon the satisfaction merit virtue and efficacy of his death and that none are justified or have redemption but through his blood and faith
therefore both Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin and Condemnation and that by the law The Gentiles by the light and law of nature and the work of it written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15 16. And the Jews by the law written in tables of Stone by Gods own hand and given unto them by Moses at mount Sinai which law was added by reason of Sin and Sin in the Jews taking occasion by the commandment became exceedingly more Sinful in them who were Jews by nature than in the Gentiles as being against more clear light and greater Obligations than the poor Gentiles were indulged with And thus is fulfilled the design of God by Moses in giving the law which was not that any Man should be justified and obtain righteousness and life thereby but that the offence against it might so much the more abound and be made to appear And Man be instructed from the desperateness of his case and the utter impossibility ever to get righteousness and life by works and the law to seek it only by Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ as Rom. 5.20 21. This position being already proved that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin Rom. 3.9 the Apostle doth further confirm by a text out of the old Testament Rom. 3. 19. where he concludes that quotation Now we know that whatsoever the law saith it saith to them that are under the law intimating that the Jews must needs be concerned in this charge as well as the Gentiles And that the Prophets of the old Testament did plainly declare and confirm this truth that by the works of the law no flesh should be justified For both David and Esaias whose words these are if they would have understood them in saying there is none righteous no not one there is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God they are all gone out of the way they are together become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one c. do both testifie from God by whose Spirit they speak that in the sight of God all Men are Sinners and transgressors by the law both Jews and Gentiles and that there is not one righteous Man by the works of the law in the whole World for Jew and Gentile comprehended the whole world And if so and this be true that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin and that there is not one righteous Man by the works of the law in Gods sight then it follows as a necessary consequence that by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified Therefore we conclude c. And thus I have done with the context In the text it self we have a great foundation truth or point of Doctrin ready prepared to our Hand in words which the Holy Ghost teacheth together with the reason of it And therefore we shall take the point as it lieth in the Text c. That by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God The truth of this doctrin is expresly testified also Psal. 143.2 For in thy sight shall no Man living be justified i. e. by his own works and righteousness for otherwise there were then and are now many Men justified in Gods sight by the free Grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ. And again Gal. 2.16 Knowing c. For the opening this position or point of Doctrin we shall take it into parts and Enquire 1 Who or what is meant by Flesh. 2 What is meant by Justified 3 What is mean by the works of the law 1 What is meant Or What we are to understand by Flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not any Flesh or as it is Translated no Flesh. In answer whereunto Flesh is sometimes taken in Scripture for the Human Nature separate from the sinfulness thereof so John 1.14 And the word was made flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flesh is here put for the Human Nature seperate from Sin as Adam had it in the state of innocency And Christ the second Adam took it in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and Heb. 10.20 Through the vail i. e. his Flesh put for the whole Human Nature which was a vail to his Godhead and which he offered upon the Cross for our Sins and so consecrated a new and living way for us into the Holiest i. e. Heaven it self And though in propriety of Speech the Flesh or Body is but a part of the Human Nature the Spirit or Soul being the other and more noble part yet is by a figure Synechdoche put for the whole as 1 Peter 2.24 where Christ is said to have born our sins in his own body on the tree Body is there put for the whole Human Nature and so the Soul or Spirit is also sometimes put as Isa. 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an offering for Sin yet 't is manifest both Soul and Body were offered for Sin and the Soul of Christ is there put for both but in this sense of the Human Nature separate from Sin the word Flesh is not to be understood in this Text And therefore 2. Flesh is also and indeed most frequently put for the Human Nature as it is corrupt and depraved by Sin since the fall of the first Adam and so Rom. 8.3 where the law is said to become weak through the Flesh i. e. Mans Nature now corrupted by Sin and so not able to rise up unto that true and perfect holiness which the law doth require And in this sense the word Flesh is to be taken and understood in the text Shall not any flesh or shall no flesh be justified i. e. no Man that is a Sinner and corrupted by Sin as all Men now are by Nature And there is a kind of vehemency in the expression The Holy Ghost thereby casting a holy contempt upon Man that is called Flesh i. e. an unclean and a corrupt thing so Eliphas in Job 15.14 15 16. What is Man tha◠that he should be clean c. And thus shall n◠flesh be justified i. e. no Man no Person of Mankind Man Woman nor Child 2ly What it s meant And what i◠to be understood by the word justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall no Flesh be justified In answer hereto 1. To be justified in the proper significancy and notion thereof is to be made righteous to become righteous or to stand righteous before God justificari is justum fieri to be justified is to be made or to become righteous and so to stand a righteous Person in Gods sight It is a foreinsick term and here is an allusion to courts of Judicature amongst Men wherein the person arraigned is in the issue of the Plea either Condemned i. e. found Guilty and then we say such a Man is cast that is in his Plea or else is acquited and discharged and so justified in the sight of the Court as an Innocent and righteous person and so he is said to stand as
fit them to destruction And after the hardness and impenitency of their hearts to treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God as Rom. 2.5 6. And thus have we done with the Doctrinal Part I proceed to the Application Use 1. Hence we may infer and be informed that no Man can be justified by the light within him and by his obedience to that light there hath been a Generation of Men amongst us that have made a greater noise about the light within and which they say is in ever Man in its measure and degree and that by harkening to the light within and obeying the same a Man may be righteous yea become perfect and as they have affirmed to be without Sin but let us a little examine the matter and we shall quickly find the falshood of this boasting and confidence for this light as they call it is either true or false if false and not warranted by the Holy Scriptures then it is not light but darkness and as our Lord saith Mat. 6.23 If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness But we will suppose that this light which they speak of and affirm to be in every Man be true light in its measure and degree and if it be so then at best it can be but the light of Gods Holy law as the works of it is written in the Conscience of a Man It can pretend no higher and then no Man that can pretend to the highest degree of that light and of obedience thereunto can possibly become righteous and be justified in the sight of God thereby For then a Man might be justified by works of the law contrary to the clear light of the Holy Scriptures But forasmuch as no Man shall or can be righteous and justified before God by the law and the deeds or works thereof in whatsoever manner or degree they can be performed by him It is most clear certain and plain that no Man can be justified in the sight of God by the light within nor by all his obedience thereunto 2. Hence we may also infer and be certainly â—formed that no Mâ—n can be justified in the sight of God by Morality or Moral Vertue Morality or Moral Vertue is nothing else but obedience and conformity to the Moral law contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments though generally it is restrained to the Duties of the Second Table And many of the Heathens who knew nothing of instituted Religion and Worship which depend only upon Divine Revelation have attained unto divers Moral Vertues and have therein excelled many called Christians and many amongst the professors of Christianity have made little pretence unto or Conscience of instituted worship further than the bare name of Religion yet have been found amongst Men more Morally honest and vertuous than some others that have had a greater name fame for Religion and thereby have attained more reputation and esteem amongst Men than multitudes of loose pretenders to instituted Religion Yet when all due encourgement and praise is given and allowed to Moral Virtue and Honesty where-ever it is found It must be affirmed and is certainly true that no man under the Heavens can be Justified in the sight of God by Moral vertue for then a man might be justified by the deeds of the Law and that by the deeds of the Law in one part of it only i. e. by the deeds of the second Table when the deeds of the first are omitted But for as much as by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified in his sight it followeth as a necessary and undeniable consequence that moral vertue cannot justifie a man nor that any man can be justified by moral vertue in the sight of God and although there have not been wanting amongst the Philosophers of old and amongst false Christians of latter times who have by Disputing Preaching and Printing both with their Tongues and Pens endeavoured to exalt magnifie and cry up Morality against the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the righteousness of Faith yet have not been able to prevail in that attempt 3 dly Hence also we may as certainly infer and be informed that those that are justified in the sight of God are not justified by inherent grace and sanctification 'T is a great and a blessed truth that all that are justified are also sanctified as Titus 2.11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World We will suppose that the Grace of God is taken for the Doctrine of the Grace of God in Christ which hath appeared to all men i. e. to Jew and Gentile by the Gospel that bringeth Salvation i. e. the glad tidings of Salvation and Salvation it self when it is believed and embraced in the heart of any man by Faith Now this grace of God doth teach us 1 st Doctrinally when it is received only by a common and not saving Faith as Historical or Temporary Faith is such Faith as Devils and wicked Men and Hypocrites may have as James 2.19 20. Mat. 13.20 21 22. When it is thus received it teacheth us Doctrinally i. e. the Light of the Gospel of the Grace of God that teacheth men the Doctrine of Salvation the righteousness of Gods Justification by Faith in Christ teacheth us also To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Which particulars do expresly contain the whole and compleat Sanctification of the Heart and of the Life i. e. in Mortification of Sin and all manner of Holy and Godly walking conversation amongst men in this World So that if any person pretending to this Doctrin of Justification righteousness by faith in Christ be otherwise than a Truly Holy Mortified and Sanctified person he is self-convict and left without excuse as the Gentiles were by sinning against and walking contrary to the light of Nature So these loose Christians by sinning against and walking contrary to the Light of Grace the fault is not in the Grace of God but in their own selves who hereby proclaim to all the World that they have received this Grace or Doctrine of the Grace of God in vain 2 dly But then when this Doctrine of the Grace of God is imbraced sincerely and with a saving Faith such as is the Faith of the operation of God as Col. 2.12 And the Faith of Gods Elect as Tit. 1.1 And Like pretious Faith 2 Pet. 1.1 Then it doth effectually teach and certainly work by the same Faith all that Sanctification and Holiness of Heart and Life here mentioned And so again 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and
or accept them in their Worshiping of him A guilty Conscience and an unsanctified Heart is always hypocritical and playeth false and loose in worshiping God hence Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water and the heart must first be sprinkled from an evil Conscience and body washed with pure water by the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ before any Man can worship God in Spirit and in Truth and I do and dare too affirm it from the Word of God that there is not a true and spiritual Worshipper of God in all the World but such as are so inwardly sprinkled and washed with the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ all others do worship God carnally and hypocritically not in Spirit and in Truth not sincerely and inwardly Oh therefore you that are in Christ see look to it that you worship God in the Spirit and in Truth for else there is none in all the World to do it 3. To worship God in the Spirit is to worship him in and according to his own holy Institutions Ordinances and Appointments and not according to Humane Inventions not according to Mens Traditions there is neither Spirit nor Truth in that Worship that hath not the stamp of Divine Authority upon it Voluntary Humility and Will-worship and all things of mans devising in the Worship of God and that hold not the Head Christ Jesus can minister no grace or spiritual nourishment to the Members and Joynts of the Body Eph. 4.16 compared with Col. 2.18 19 20 21 22 23. A little Leaven will leaven the whole lump and a little Superstition and Will-worship after thâ— Doctrines and Commandments of Men 〈◊〉 render the whole Worship vain and fruitleâ—â— to your selves as well as displeasing provokeâ—ing and unacceptable to God and so wheâ—â— all the ends of Worship are lost it becomâ— altogether vain as Mat. 15.9 But in vaâ—â— they do worship me teaching for Doctrine tâ—â— Commandments of men and who hath â—â—â—quired these things at your hands will 〈◊〉 day dash in pieces the confidence of all sucâ— Worshippers and evidence the vanity as weâ—â— as the impiety of all such Worship Humanâ— Traditions and Impositions of Men undeâ— what name or pretence soever whether of Eâ—â—clesiastical or of holy learned and judicioâ— persons or the Authority of the Civil Magistrate are not sufficient to warrant us iâ— our worshiping of God No no we muâ—â— to the Law and to the Testimony and iâ— they speak not according to this Word therâ— is no light or morning in them And wheâ—â— men have once rejected the Word of thâ— Lord what Wisdom is in them yea whaâ— Holiness is in them what Learning is in them yea professing themselves to be wise they are become fools and why then should you that are in Christ follow them or be led by them wherein they do not follow Christ or are led by his Word and Spirit 'T is time for us to leave them who have left the Head Jesus Christ and have gone a whoring from under their Gods What though all the World wander after and worship the Beast yet those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life must not comply with them Rev. 13.7 8. Ye that are in Christ are the Temple of the Living God for God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. And again Rev. 18 4. And having therefore dearly Beloved these promises viz. of God's receiving us and of being a Father to us and our being his Sons and his Daughters as before Let us cleanse our selvet from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And let it be considered by you that if you be rejected of the World for not worshiping with them after their Rudiments ye shall be received of God in Christ as the true Worshippers that worship him in spirit and truth i. e. that worship him in Christ sincerely and according to his own Institution and whether it is better to please God or Men to be rejected of Men and to be received of God or to be received of Men and rejected of God judge ye for to be jâ—stified by Works and our own Righteousness and to worship God by Humane Inventions are equally hateful and abominable with God tho' highly esteemed amongst Men Jer. 44.4 Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate And Luk. 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God And for us to think within our selves that we can be justified in the sight of God by our own Works or Righteousness or that we can worship God by Humane Inventions or Mens Traditions is to think that God is altogether such an one as our selves for which certainly he will reprove us Psal. 50.21 22. And there is a secret yet strong connexion betwixt these two grand Errours viz. to be justified by Works and to worship God by and after our own Inventions for they commonly go together and stand and fall together And those that are corrupt or loose in the Doctrine of Justification are accordingly as corrupt and loose in Worship And therefore when a Professing People grow loose in the Worship of God 't is an ill Omen and just ground of godly jealousie and fear that such are unsound and loose in the Point of Justification Hence Gal. 4.8 9 10 11. And that they are not fast knit by a sincere Faith unto Christ the Head Col. 2.19 20 21 22. Let us therefore as many as are perfect be thus minded to rejoyce in Christ Jesus have no confidence in the flesh and worship God in the Spirit then and not till then are we the tâ—ue Circumcision then and not till then do we walk after the spirit and not after the flesh As therefore ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him And the God of Peace shalâ— be with you Amen The Second Part of the True Light Shining in Darkness To give to us the knowledge of Salvation to guide our feet into the way of Peace OR The Righteousness of God Manifested opened and declared as the True and only Matter of our Justification before GOD through Faith in Jesus Christ. Being one Sermon or Doctrine of five more remaining upon Rom. 3.21 22. But now the Righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference Preached first in and about the City