made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord Rom. 6. 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 â—6 17 18 19 20 21 â—2 23. Q. It would appear then that God requires of us to be perfect A. Be ye therefore Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Mat. 5. 48. Q. Is it then possible to keep the Commandments A. My Yoak is easie and my Burden is light Mat. 11. 30. For this is the Law of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Q. Is it necessary then for Salvation to keep the Commandments A. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22. 14. Q. Do you understand by this Perfection that any have so kept the Commandments as never to have sinned A. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his Word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 10. Q. Do you understand that those who are perfect may say they have no Sin or only that having sinned and so having Sin in respect they once sinned as the Apostle in the Passage cited mentions May they not withstanding thereof come to know Forgiveness for the Guilt but also Cleansing from the Filth A. If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 8. Q. That Scripture seems to be very plain being compared with the other before-mentioned But because some are apt to mistake and wrest the Words of that Apostle what saith he elsewhere Did he judge any could know God or be True Christians who keeped not the Commandments A. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him But whoso keepeth his Word in him verely is the Love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked Beloved now are we the Sons of God it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Whosoever committeth Sin transgresseth also the Law for Sin is the Transgression of the Law And ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sins and in him is no Sin Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let not man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 John 2. 1 3 4 5 6. and 3. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Q. It is very plain by these Passages that the Apostles were far of another Mind then those that plead for Sin during term of Life and much against the Deceit of those who will esteem themselves Good Christians while they live in their Sins A. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto the Wise Man which built his House upon a Rock Mat. 7. 21 24. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13. 17. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul further concerning the Needfulness of this thing A. Circumcision is nothing and Uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. Q. Was not this according to the Apostle Paul's Judgment the very Intention of Christ to have his Church and Children to be pure and without Spot A. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without Blame before him in Love Eph. 1. 4. Even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Q. Doth not Paul press the same thing further besides the other Passages above-mentioned A. Having therefore these Promises Dearly Beloved Let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Finally Brethren farewell be perfect 2 Cor. 13 11. Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. Labouring fervently for you in Prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. To the End he may establish your Hearts unblamable in Holiness before God 1 Thess. 3. 13. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be presented blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thess. 5. 23. Q. Is not this then the very End for which God appointed Teachers in his Church A. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. Q. Seeing this is so much pressed by the Holy Men doth not the Scripture which cannot lye give none of the Saints this Testimony as being free from Sin at sometimes and so not alwayes and daily sinning as is supposed A. Noah was a Just Man and Perfect in his Generations
as to the Word Is there any Scripture speaks of the Light 's being inward A. God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shin'd in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Q. But seeing it is also call'd the Seed of the Kingdom is the Kingdom of God also within A. The Kingdom of God comes not with Observation neither shall they say Lo here or Lo here for behold the Kingdom of God is within you Luke 17. 20 21. CHAP. VI. Concerning Faith Justification and VVorks Question VVHat is Faith A. Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. Q. Is Faith of absolute Necessity A. Without Faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Q. Are we justified by Faith A. Wherefore the Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith Gal. 3. 24. Q. What is the Nature of this Faith that availeth to Justification A. For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love Gal. 5. 6. Q. Are Works then necessary to Justification as well as Faith A. But wilt thou know O Vain Man that Faith without Works is dead Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works when he had offered Isaac his Son upon the Altar Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works and by Works was Faith made perfect And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for Righteousness He was called the Friend of God Ye see then how that by Works a man is justified not by Faith only Jam. 2. 20 21 22 23 24. Q. If then both be equally required in Justification what are these â—orks which the Apostle excludes so much A. By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified in his Sight Rom. 3. 20. Q. But though we be not justified by the Deeds of the Law is not thâ—s to exclude Boasting that the Grace of God may by exalted A. For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God not of Works left any man should boast for we are his VVork manship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Eph. 2. 8 9 10. Q. Are even the Works which are performed by Grace excluded are we never said to be saved or justified by them A. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour That being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life Tit. 3. 5 6 7. Q. I perceive then that to be justified by Grace is to be justified or saved by Regeneration which cannot exclude the Works wrought by Grace and by the Spirit How doth the Apostle add in the next Verse for the maintaining this against these that Cavil about the Law A. This is a Faithful Saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which believed in God might be careful to maintain good VVorks these things are good and profitable unto men But avoid Foolish Questions and Genealogies and Contentions and Strivings about the Law for they are unprofitable and vain Tit. 3. 8 9. Q. Doth the Apostle Paul that is so much against justification by the Works of the Law speak any where else of being justified by the Spirit A. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Q. But since the Law gives not Power nor Ability to obey and so falls short of Justification Is there no Power under the Gospel by which the Righteousness of the Law comes to be fulfilled inwardly A. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 3 4. Q. Seeing thâ—n there is Power in the Spirit is not Works through it a Condition upon which Life is proposed under the New Covenant A. For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 13. Q. Do not the Apostles then frequently propose Life to People upon Condition of Repentance and other Works A. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Acts 3. 19 And if Children then Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we also may be glorified together Rom. 8. 17. It is a faithful Saying For if we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a Vessel unto Honour sanctified and meet for the Master's Use and prepared unto every good Work 2 Tim. 2. 11 12 21. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and Repent and do the first Works or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy Candle stick out of his place except thou Repent Rev. 2. 5. Q. It appears clearly by these Passages that the Apostle excludes only our Righteousness which he elsewhere explains as being the Righteousness of the Law from being necessary to Justification and not such Works as the Law of the Spirit of Life leads to and are not so much ours as Christ in us are not such good Works rewarded though they require no absolute Merit as being the Fruits of free Grace yet doth not God judge according to them and may they not be said to have a Reward A. But if a man be Just and do that which is Lawful and Right and hath not eaten upon the Mountains neither hath lift up his Eyes to the Idols of the House of Israel neither has defiled his Neighbour's Wife neither hath come near to a Menstruous Woman and hath not oppressed any but has restor'd to the Debtor his Pledge hath spoiled none by Violence hath given his Bread to the Hungry and hath covered the Naked with a Garment he that hath not given forth upon Usury neither hath taken any Increase that hath with drawn his Hand from Iniquity hath executed True Judgment between man and maâ— hath walked in my Statutes and hath kept my
Judgments to Deal Truly he is just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 surely Live saith the Lord God Ezek. 18. 5 6 7 8 9. For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall Reward every Man according to his Works Mat. 16. 27. Then Peter opened his Mouth and said Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Acts 10. 34 35. The Righteous Judgment of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds To them who by Patient Continuance in Well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality Eternal Life But Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh Good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2. 6 7 10. For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. VVhich is a manifest Token of the Righteous Judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 3 Thes. 1. 5. But who so looketh into the Perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful Hearer but a Doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his Deed James 1. 25. Cast not away therefore your Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Hebr. 10. 35. And if ye call on the Father who without Respect of Persons judgeth according to every man's Work pass the time of your sojourning here in Fear 1 Pâ—t 1. 17. And behold I come quickly and behold my Reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22. 12 14. Q. It should seem that the Purpose of God in sending his Son the Lord Jesus Christ was not simply to save Man by an Imputative Righteousness altogether without them but also by the Washing of Regeneration or any inward Righteousness What saith the Scripture further of this A. And thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. Looking for that Blessed Hope and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of Good Works Tit. 2. 13 14. CHAP. VII Concerning Perfection or Freedom from SIN Question I Perceive then by all these Scriptures afore-mentioned that Christ as well as he hath purchased Pardon for our Sins hath also obtained Power by which we may even here be cleansed from the Filth of them may we expect then in this Life to be freed from the Dominion of Sin A. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you Rom. 6. 14. Q. For what Reason A. For ye are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. Q. How cometh the Apostle then to cry out and complain of Sin saying Who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Doth he speak that as a Condition always permanent to him and other Saints or only that which he had passed through What saith he afterwards A. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famin or Nakedness or Peril or Sword as it is written For thy sake we are killed all the Day long we are accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 1 2 35 36 37 38 39. Q. What saith that Apostle then unto such who taking Occasion from his words should plead for Continuance in Sin for term of Life and think to be saved by the Imputative Righteousness of Christ as being under Grace A. What shall we say then shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2. VVhat then shall we Sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid Q. Is not the Apostle then so far from supposing that Condition of being alwayes under Sin to be his own constant Condition or that of all the Saints that he even supposes many of the then Church of Rome to whom he wrote to be free of it How bespeaketh he them as in relation to this Matter A. How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in Newnes of Life For if we have been planted together in the Likeness of his Death we shall be also in the Likeness of his Resurrection knowing this that our Old Man is crucified with him that the Body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin for he that is dead is freed from Sin Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not Sin therefore reign in your mortal Body that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof Neither yield ye your Members as Instruments of Unrighteousness unto Sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the Dead and your Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves Servants to obey his Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness But God be thanked that ye were the Servants of Sin but ye have Obeyed from the Heart that Form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you being then made free from Sin ye became the Servants of Righteousness I speak after the manner of men because of the Infirmity of your Flesh For as ye have yielded your Members Servants to Uncleanness to Iniquity unto Iniquity even so now yield your Members Servants to Righteousness unto Holiness For when ye were the Servants of Sin ye were free from Righteousness What Fruit had ye then in these things whereof ye are now ashamed for the End of these things is Death But now being
have Ears and hear not fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my Presence c. Jer. 5. 21 22. Q. Are then all God's Children Quakers and are we commanded to quake or tremble in order to our Salvation both under the Law and now under the Gospel A. Scrve the Lord with Fear and rejoyce with Trembling Psal. 2. 11. I make a Decree that in every Dominion of my Kingdom Men fear and tremble before the God of Daniel for he is the living God and stedfast forever Dan. 6. 26. Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. Q. What be the chief Commandments A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shale love thy Neighbour as thy self On these two Commandments hang all the Law and Prophets Mat. 22. 37 38 39 40. Q. What ought a Christian to seek after in the first Place A. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these Things shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 33. Q. How ought Christians to behave themselves in this World A. But this I say Brethren the Time is short It remaineth That both they that have Wives be as though they had none and they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it for the Fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul further as that which is fit for Christian Men and Women to be found in A. I will therefore that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands with out Wrath Doubting In like Manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefastness and Sobriety not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearles or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works 1 Tim. 2. 8 9 10. Q. I observe the Apostle is much against the Vanity and Superfluity of Cloathes among Christians what saith Peter to this A. Whose Adorning let it not be that outward Adorning of plating the Hair of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel But let it be the hidden Men of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. Q. The Apostle is very plain there but what saith the Scripture as to Respect of Persons among Christians A. My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with Respect of persons for if there come unto your Assembly a Man with a Gold Ring in goodly Apparel and there come in also a poor Man in vile Rayment but ye have Respect to him that weareth the gay Clothing and say unto him sit thou here in a good Place and say to the poor stand thou there or sit here under my Foot-stool Are you not then partial in your selves and are become Judges of evil Thoughts hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him but ye have despised the poor Do not rich Men oppress you and draw you before the Judgment-Seat Do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by the which ye are called If ye fulfil the royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self ye do well but if we have Respect to Persons ye commit Sin and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors Jam. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Q. Though that be indeed sufficient to reprove the different Rancks among Christians upon the Account of Riches or Birth yet is there not a relative Respect among Christians as betwixt Master and Servant what Admonitions gives the Apostle in this Case A. Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the Flesh with Fear and Trembling in Singleness of your Heart as unto Christ not with Eye-Service as Men Pleasers but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God from the Heart with Good will doing Service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good Thing any Man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free And ye Masters do the same Things unto them forbearing Threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there Respect of Persons with him Ephes. 6. 5 6 7 8 9. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh not with Eye Service as Men-Pleasers but in Singleness of Heart fearing God And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ But he that doth Wrong shall receive for the Wrong which he hath done and there is no Respect of Persons Col. 3. 22 23 24 25. Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4. 1. Let as many Servants as are under the Yoak count their own Masters worthy of all Honour that the Name of God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed And they that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them Service because they are faithful and beloved Partakers of the Benefit these Things teach and exhort 1 Tim. 6. 1 2. Exhort Servants to be obedient unto their own Masters and to please them well in all Things not answering again not purloining but shewing all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God in all Things Tit. 2. 9 10. Servants be subject to your Masters with all Fear not only to the good and gentile but also to the froward for this is Thankâ—worthy if a Man for Conscience toward God endure Griefs suffering wrongfully For what Glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your Faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his Steps 1 Pet. 2. 18. 19 20 21. Q. What good Admonitions gives the Scripture as to the Relation betwixt Parents and Children A. Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou may'st live long on the Earth And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to Wrath but bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Ephes. 6. 1 2 3 4. Children obey
of one For by the exceding great and precious Promises that are given them they are made Partakers of the divine Nature Because for this Endprayed Christ that they all might be one as the Father is in him and he in the Father that they also might be one in them the Glory which he had gotten from the Father he gave them that they might be one even as the Father and he is one Christ in the Saints and the Father in Christ that they might be made perfect in one ARTICLE X. Concerning the Universal Love and Grace of God to all GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life And in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him So that if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World For by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man And gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due Time Willing all Men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved And Christ came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in Darkness Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life ARTICLE XI Concerning the Light that enlighteneth every Man THe Gospel was preached to every Creature under Heaven Which Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to them that believe And if it be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil And this was the true Light which lightneth every Man that cometh into the World By which all things that are reproveable are made manifest for whatsoever maketh manifest is Light Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they that walk in the Light as Christ is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Therefore ought we to believe in the Light while we have the Light that we may be the Children of the Light Therefore to Day if we will hear his Voice let us not harden our Hearts For Christ wept over Jerusalem saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the Things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes And he would often have gathered her Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but they would not for the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost And are of those that rebel against the Light Therefore God's Spirit will not alwayes strive with Man For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Because what is to be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World And this Word of his Grace is able to build up and give an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart This is that more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto we do well that we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in the Heart And this is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us for the Kingdom of God cometh not by Observation but is within us ARTICLE XII Concerning Faith and Justification FAith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen VVithout which is is impossible to please God Therefore we are justified by Faith which worketh by Love For Faith without Works being dead is by Works made perfect By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified Nor yet by the Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy we are saved by the VVashing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost For we are both washed sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God ARTICLE XIII Concerning Good Works IF we live after the Flesh we shall dye but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body we shall live For they which believe in God must be careful to maintain Good Works For God will render to every Man according to his Deeds according to his righteous Judgment to them who by patient Continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Eternal Life For such are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God And cast not away their Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Blessed then are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City ARTICLE XIV Concerning Perfection SIn shall not have Dominion over such as are not under the Law but under Grace For there is no Condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after