gentile_n come_v to_o be_v call_v the_o jew_n take_v offence_n at_o the_o gospel_n can_v not_o tell_v what_o to_o make_v of_o the_o righteousness_n of_o faith_n they_o be_v all_o for_o the_o righteousness_n of_o work_n but_o god_n reject_v both_o they_o and_o their_o work_n and_o call_v the_o gentile_n who_o live_v in_o profaneness_n and_o idolatry_n they_o follow_v not_o after_o righteousness_n of_o one_o sort_n or_o other_o they_o know_v neither_o law_n nor_o gospel_n do_v nothing_o by_o way_n of_o preparation_n to_o further_a their_o call_n but_o god_n of_o his_o mere_a good_a pleasure_n send_v the_o gospel_n among_o they_o and_o make_v the_o preach_a of_o it_o a_o effectual_a mean_n of_o their_o conversion_n to_o faith_n in_o christ._n christ_n in_o his_o doctrine_n of_o justification_n by_o faith_n and_o not_o by_o work_n be_v a_o stumble_v stone_n to_o the_o jew_n as_o he_o be_v to_o many_o nowadays_o upon_o the_o very_a same_o account_n it_o be_v what_o be_v foretell_v in_o 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in_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o roman_n there_o be_v that_o legal_a spirit_n in_o fall_v man_n that_o he_o still_o incline_v to_o the_o law_n of_o work_n he_o foolish_o think_v to_o be_v save_v by_o that_o law_n which_o have_v already_o condemn_v he_o it_o argue_v great_a infatuation_n in_o fallen_n man_n that_o he_o shall_v still_o desire_v to_o be_v under_o the_o law_n which_o have_v already_o conclude_v he_o under_o wrath_n and_o vet_z he_o hope_v for_o mercy_n from_o that_o law_n that_o never_o know_v what_o it_o be_v to_o show_v mercy_n because_o it_o be_v once_o the_o way_n of_o salvation_n for_o man_n in_o innocency_n therefore_o he_o think_v there_o may_v be_v some_o hope_n still_o alas_o this_o be_v like_o the_o cry_n of_o a_o condemn_a man_n upon_o who_o sentence_n of_o death_n be_v already_o pass_v his_o cry_n signify_v nothing_o he_o must_v away_o to_o execution_n 2._o if_o work_v alone_a will_v justify_v man_n will_v try_v what_o the_o work_n of_o the_o law_n and_o the_o 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grace_n in_o his_o kindness_n towards_o we_o through_o christ_n eph._n 2._o 7._o not_o according_a to_o our_o work_n as_o man_n be_v apt_a to_o think_v but_o according_a to_o his_o own_o purpose_n and_o grace_n 2_o tim._n 1._o 9_o man_n can_v say_v when_o he_o hear_v the_o gospel_n that_o he_o think_v beforehand_o that_o god_n will_v take_v this_o way_n no_o he_o be_v amaze_v at_o it_o astonish_v at_o it_o what_o manner_n of_o love_n be_v this_o here_o be_v a_o new_a thing_n create_v in_o the_o earth_n it_o be_v the_o glory_n of_o god_n to_o conceal_v a_o thing_n prov._n 25._o 2._o god_n never_o advise_v with_o angel_n or_o man_n about_o the_o way_n of_o a_o sinner_n salvation_n but_o from_o eternity_n contrive_v it_o in_o his_o own_o breast_n who_o have_v be_v his_o counsellor_n rom._n 11._o 34._o this_o secret_a of_o the_o lord_n be_v now_o reveal_v unto_o we_o in_o the_o gospel_n o_o how_o great_a be_v the_o mystery_n of_o godliness_n god_n manifest_a in_o the_o flesh_n the_o 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though_o the_o way_n of_o a_o sinner_n salvation_n by_o christ_n be_v above_o the_o capacity_n of_o a_o natural_a man_n to_o reach_v and_o take_v in_o yet_o god_n can_v give_v we_o a_o true_a discern_v of_o it_o and_o full_a saction_n about_o about_o it_o incline_v our_o heart_n ready_o to_o comply_v with_o it_o and_o acquiesce_v in_o it_o and_o this_o discern_a god_n give_v the_o saint_n by_o his_o spirit_n not_o in_o the_o light_n of_o humane_a reason_n but_o in_o the_o light_n of_o a_o divine_a faith_n ground_v upon_o the_o word_n of_o god_n faith_n see_v thing_n as_o they_o be_v in_o god_n in_o lumine_fw-la veritatis_fw-la prima_fw-la in_o the_o light_n of_o the_o first_o verity_n which_o be_v god_n himself_o all_o gospel-truth_n be_v copy_v out_o from_o that_o divine_a original_a and_o reveal_v to_o we_o in_o the_o scripture_n so_o much_o truth_n as_o we_o have_v in_o we_o so_o much_o of_o the_o image_n of_o god_n we_o have_v upon_o we_o and_o no_o more_o a_o enlighten_v mind_n 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gift_n of_o god_n the_o query_n be_v whether_o man_n without_o offer_v violence_n to_o the_o principle_n of_o his_o nature_n as_o a_o reasonable_a creature_n be_v capable_a of_o such_o a_o faith_n that_o lift_v he_o up_o above_o his_o reason_n and_o carry_v he_o out_o to_o those_o thing_n which_o a_o humane_a understanding_n conceive_v not_o this_o be_v the_o quere_z which_o i_o be_o to_o say_v something_o in_o answer_n to_o first_o god_n compel_v none_o to_o believe_v yet_o he_o make_v thing_n so_o clear_a to_o his_o saint_n that_o they_o can_v but_o believe_v though_o god_n give_v faith_n eph._n 2._o 8._o yet_o he_o force_v it_o upon_o none_o faith_n be_v voluntary_a a_o mind_n spiritual_o enlighten_v see_v sufficient_a ground_n of_o faith_n in_o christ_n himself_o and_o therefore_o out_o of_o choice_n and_o judgement_n rely_v upon_o he_o only_o reject_v all_o other_o confidence_n as_o vain_a second_o faith_n be_v either_o humane_a or_o divine_a we_o be_v natural_o capable_a of_o both_o but_o with_o this_o difference_n we_o may_v bring_v ourselves_o to_o a_o humame_n faith_n but_o not_o to_o a_o divine_a faith_n i._n e._n we_o may_v bring_v ourselves_o to_o a_o humane_a faith_n about_o thing_n we_o see_v hear_v and_o understand_v reason_n and_o common_a charity_n do_v this_o there_o be_v no_o man_n but_o believe_v something_o i_o be_o not_o now_o speak_v of_o a_o natural_a faculty_n of_o believe_v in_o a_o humane_a way_n all_o man_n as_o man_n have_v this_o but_o i_o be_o speak_v of_o a_o divine_a faith_n proper_a only_o to_o christian_n a_o faith_n in_o god_n and_o christ_n about_o those_o thing_n that_o transcend_v our_o reason_n i_o say_v no_o man_n can_v bring_v himself_o to_o such_o a_o faith_n he_o have_v no_o natural_a faculty_n or_o principle_n in_o he_o that_o lead_v he_o to_o such_o a_o faith_n it_o be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n that_o he_o believe_v in_o god_n i_o grant_v man_n as_o a_o rational_a creature_n be_v passive_o capable_a of_o a_o divine_a faith_n none_o else_o be_v but_o reasonabe_n creature_n and_o yet_o i_o must_v tell_v you_o nothing_o do_v more_o oppose_v faith_n than_o reason_n do_v you_o must_v know_v that_o this_o natural_a capacity_n that_o be_v in_o man_n for_o faith_n do_v arise_v from_o the_o necessary_a subjection_n of_o his_o mind_n to_o the_o create_a power_n of_o god_n they_o who_o will_v resist_v his_o will_n can_v resist_v his_o power_n else_o his_o power_n will_v be_v no_o power_n far_o from_o omnipotency_n if_o it_o can_v be_v resist_v by_o a_o creature_n therefore_o he_o must_v needs_o have_v a_o passive_a obediential_a capacity_n or_o receptivity_n of_o any_o high_a principle_n that_o god_n shall_v think_v fit_a to_o create_v in_o he_o he_o can_v refuse_v but_o must_v receive_v any_o further_a light_n that_o god_n shall_v let_v in_o upon_o he_o and_o set_v up_o by_o his_o almighty_a spirit_n as_o a_o stand_a supernatural_a principle_n to_o guide_v and_o direct_v he_o in_o all_o his_o way_n as_o it_o be_v in_o the_o first_o creation_n let_v there_o be_v light_n and_o there_o be_v light_a so_o it_o be_v in_o the_o second_o creation_n god_n command_v light_a to_o shine_v out_o of_o darkness_n else_o there_o will_v be_v no_o possibility_n of_o a_o sinner_n conversion_n for_o upon_o the_o principle_n he_o now_o go_v and_o the_o present_a light_n he_o walk_v by_o it_o be_v impossile_a to_o convert_v he_o but_o by_o put_v high_a principle_n and_o a_o high_a light_n into_o he_o he_o may_v be_v convert_v this_o god_n can_v do_v and_o none_o else_o who_o call_v thing_n that_o be_v not_o as_o though_o they_o be_v and_o give_v they_o a_o be_v he_o put_v a_o new_a supernatural_a light_n into_o
the_o heart_n of_o a_o man_n and_o then_o set_v christ_n before_o he_o and_o by_o this_o light_n by_o this_o new_a eye_n or_o principle_n of_o faith_n he_o see_v that_o in_o christ_n he_o never_o see_v before_o and_o willing_o receive_v he_o notwithstanding_o all_o the_o objection_n of_o flesh_n and_o blood_n to_o the_o contrary_n though_o faith_n be_v above_o reason_n yet_o faith_n have_v its_o reason_n and_o ground_n too_o but_o such_o as_o be_v not_o of_o our_o find_v out_o god_n show_v they_o to_o we_o in_o himself_o what_o good_a ground_n we_o have_v for_o our_o faith_n in_o he_o from_o his_o veracity_n and_o truth_n from_o his_o goodness_n and_o mercy_n his_o power_n and_o all-sufficiency_n his_o ability_n to_o save_v to_o the_o utmost_a though_o faith_n be_v above_o reason_n yet_o it_o be_v not_o against_o reason_n nay_o allow_v the_o first_o principle_n of_o religion_n viz._n that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n of_o infinite_a perfection_n power_n goodness_n and_o wisdom_n which_o may_v be_v discern_v in_o some_o measure_n even_o by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n it_o rational_o follow_v that_o omnipotency_n can_v do_v all_o thing_n that_o infinite_a wisdom_n understand_v that_o which_o finite_a creature_n can_v reach_v nor_o see_v any_o reason_n for_o so_o that_o though_o the_o deep_a thing_n of_o god_n speak_v of_o in_o scripture_n be_v above_o our_o reason_n yet_o still_o there_o be_v reason_n sufficient_a why_o we_o shall_v believe_v they_o as_o for_o instance_n that_o god_n shall_v become_v man_n be_v above_o reason_n but_o not_o against_o it_o that_o god_n shall_v assume_v the_o pure_a and_o perfect_a nature_n of_o man_n and_o give_v it_o a_o existence_n in_o the_o divine_a person_n of_o his_o son_n this_o be_v a_o great_a honour_n to_o man_n and_o in_o the_o consequence_n of_o it_o do_v much_o set_v forth_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n both_o of_o his_o justice_n and_o mercy_n god_n make_v man_n at_o first_o after_o his_o own_o image_n to_o show_v how_o near_o akin_a man_n be_v to_o god_n what_o a_o likeness_n and_o agreement_n there_o be_v between_o they_o now_o if_o god_n will_v veil_v himself_o and_o appear_v in_o this_o create_a image_n of_o himself_o to_o man_n that_o there_o may_v be_v a_o more_o familiar_a society_n and_o fellowship_n between_o they_o this_o be_v great_a condescension_n in_o god_n and_o argue_v much_o love_n to_o we_o and_o delight_n in_o the_o child_n of_o man_n if_o god_n will_v draw_v in_o the_o bright_a beam_n of_o his_o essential_a glory_n because_o it_o be_v too_o great_a a_o light_n too_o strong_a and_o dazzle_a for_o any_o mortal_a eye_n to_o look_v upon_o that_o we_o may_v have_v free_a access_n unto_o he_o behold_v his_o face_n and_o live_v shall_v this_o offend_v we_o the_o more_o god_n let_v we_o into_o himself_o the_o near_o he_o take_v we_o to_o himself_o the_o more_o shall_v we_o rejoice_v that_o we_o be_v admit_v into_o his_o presence_n and_o suffer_v to_o stand_v before_o so_o great_a a_o glory_n which_o shine_v out_o upon_o we_o here_o as_o we_o be_v able_a to_o bear_v it_o if_o there_o be_v not_o some_o distance_n between_o god_n and_o our_o faith_n in_o this_o state_n of_o absence_n we_o shall_v be_v quite_o swallow_v up_o of_o his_o glory_n we_o can_v now_o bear_v the_o conception_n of_o our_o faith_n which_o be_v as_o much_o as_o we_o can_v do_v though_o we_o can_v yet_o bear_v the_o vision_n of_o the_o thing_n themselves_o we_o shall_v be_v more_o strengthen_v more_o spiritualise_v in_o all_o our_o faculty_n in_o our_o body_n and_o soul_n when_o that_o day_n come_v now_o we_o have_v as_o much_o of_o god_n as_o be_v agreeable_a to_o this_o dispensation_n of_o faith_n under_o which_o we_o live_v we_o shall_v see_v more_o hereafter_o face_n to_o face_n thus_o much_o for_o that_o query_n let_v we_o now_o more_o particular_o consider_v what_o there_o be_v in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n that_o pose_n natural_a man_n that_o they_o take_v such_o offence_n at_o be_v such_o a_o stumbling-block_n in_o their_o way_n that_o they_o can_v get_v over_o they_o stumble_v at_o many_o thing_n in_o the_o gospel_n but_o more_o especial_o at_o the_o doctrine_n of_o justification_n by_o faith_n alone_o it_o be_v say_v vers_fw-la 32._o they_o stumble_v at_o that_o stumble_a stone_n more_o especial_o at_o that_o 1._o i_o have_v already_o tell_v you_o faith_n be_v not_o attainable_a by_o our_o own_o power_n we_o can_v persuade_v ourselves_o nor_o bring_v over_o our_o own_o mind_n to_o close_v in_o with_o gospel-truths_n and_o what_o be_v not_o in_o our_o power_n we_o be_v apt_a to_o think_v absolute_o impossible_a and_o shall_v think_v so_o till_o faith_n come_v i'faith_o when_o it_o come_v make_v we_o sensible_a of_o the_o power_n of_o god_n in_o work_v it_o and_o keep_v we_o ever_o after_o in_o a_o humble_a dependence_n upon_o god_n for_o all_o that_o he_o have_v promise_v nothing_o be_v more_o unintelligible_a to_o a_o natural_a man_n than_o this_o that_o he_o who_o believe_v in_o christ_n shall_v be_v save_v and_o therefore_o he_o count_v the_o doctrine_n of_o faith_n foolishness_n and_o reject_v the_o whole_a gospel_n or_o else_o the_o devil_n run_v he_o into_o presumption_n persuade_v he_o that_o be_v faith_n a_o false_a faith_n do_v the_o devil_n as_o much_o service_n as_o downright_a infidelity_n faith_n in_o christ_n be_v a_o strange_a doctrine_n to_o natural_a man_n act_n 17_o 18_o 19_o 20._o therefore_o they_o take_v offence_n at_o it_o 2._o the_o justification_n of_o a_o sinner_n by_o impute_v righteousness_n here_o they_o stumble_v again_o they_o can_v see_v how_o the_o righteousness_n of_o another_o shall_v become_v they_o by_o god_n act_n of_o imputation_n support_v in_o the_o equity_n of_o it_o by_o christ_n perfect_a obedience_n for_o we_o why_o shall_v it_o seem_v strange_a if_o that_o which_o christ_n out_o of_o mere_a love_n intend_v for_o we_o be_v gracious_o impute_v to_o we_o for_o our_o use_n and_o benefit_n certain_o the_o best_a and_o only_o plea_n for_o justification_n in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n be_v this_o that_o christ_n be_v our_o perfect_a righteousness_n the_o truth_n be_v it_o be_v the_o greatness_n of_o god_n grace_n that_o puzzle_v they_o they_o except_v against_o that_o which_o make_v most_o for_o they_o if_o they_o right_o consider_v their_o own_o case_n for_o there_o can_v be_v no_o justification_n of_o a_o sinner_n any_o other_o way_n according_a to_o law_n require_v personal_a perfect_a obedience_n it_o be_v impossible_a the_o soul_n that_o sin_n must_v die_v but_o the_o soul_n that_o sin_n may_v live_v say_v the_o gospel_n if_o he_o believe_v in_o christ_n with_o a_o serious_a purpose_n of_o turn_v to_o god_n and_o repent_v of_o all_o his_o sin_n which_o every_o true_a believer_n do_v and_o must_v do_v the_o justification_n of_o a_o sinner_n in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n be_v a_o strange_a paradox_n it_o sound_v very_o high_a a_o great_a deal_n high_o than_o the_o pardon_n of_o a_o sinner_n it_o imply_v the_o perfect_a righteousness_n of_o a_o sinner_n impute_v to_o he_o upon_o full_a satisfaction_n give_v to_o divine_a justice_n for_o all_o his_o offence_n the_o righteousness_n of_o the_o law_n call_v for_o it_o christ_n first_o deal_v with_o the_o offend_a justice_n of_o god_n prevent_v the_o threaten_a vengeance_n so_o make_v way_n for_o the_o grace_n and_o mercy_n of_o god_n to_o flow_v down_o upon_o we_o the_o righteousness_n upon_o the_o account_n of_o which_o a_o sinner_n be_v justify_v must_v needs_o be_v a_o impute_a righteousness_n derive_v from_o another_o for_o he_o have_v it_o not_o in_o himself_o he_o can_v not_o be_v a_o sinner_n if_o he_o have_v but_o all_o have_v sin_v and_o come_v short_a of_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n therefore_o all_o who_o be_v save_v must_v go_v out_o of_o themselves_o to_o christ_n for_o righteousness_n without_o which_o we_o can_v never_o be_v justify_v we_o be_v justify_v from_o sin_n not_o in_o it_o much_o less_o by_o it_o if_o our_o justification_n be_v not_o ground_v upon_o perfect_a righteousness_n it_o will_v look_v rather_o like_o a_o justification_n of_o sin_n than_o of_o a_o sinner_n from_o sin_n our_o great_a business_n be_v to_o understand_v by_o what_o righteousness_n we_o be_v justify_v a_o sinner_n have_v no_o righteousness_n in_o himself_o and_o we_o shall_v never_o be_v persuade_v that_o righteousness_n without_o work_n will_v be_v impute_v to_o we_o till_o god_n persuade_v we_o but_o shall_v still_o go_v about_o to_o establish_v our_o own_o righteousness_n till_o faith_n have_v better_a instruct_v we_o what_o be_v this_o faith_n what_o be_v this_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n to_o i_o say_v a_o sinner_n he_o be_v equal_o ignorant_a of_o both_o till_o faith_n come_v then_o the_o dispute_n be_v at_o a_o end_n