to do any part thereof sithence the fall of man and that Christ hath fully performed all to be performed in himself already to the full satisfaction of God for the justification peace and salvation of the elect so that they are justified before God and have peace with God as the Apostle saith being justified by his blood we shall be saved from Rom. 5. 9. his wrath through Christ. And Christ died for our sins and rose a-again for our justification therefore the elect are justified before they believe then when Christ rose again before God and God loved Iacob before he was born or had done good or evill before men therefore Jacob was justified before God before he was born for God could not love him being still the child of wrath wicked and unrighteous before him and God elected Paul and the rest in Christ before the world to be holy and without blame before him they could not have been holy and without blame before God which God elected them unto if they had not then been justified before God They could not be elected out of the children of wrath and be still 〈◊〉 children of wrath before God they could could not be elected to be holy and without blame before God and be wicked and unjustified before God still And when God predestinated those he pleased to eternall life he then called justified Rom. 8. 29 30. and glorified them before himself saith the Apostle How then can these hold forth that a man is justified and made righteous by faith that it is faith that doth him that good that there is no justification to man before faith And if they take it that Christ the gracious undertaker for the elect in the Evangelicall law or covenant of grace hath not only done the will of God and performed all to be performed in himself for the justification of the elect but also hath done doth and will do the will of Mod to the end in the elect in inlightening their dark hearts and souls by his spirit sent unto them and in manifesting and witnessing by his spirit to their hearts and soules that they are the children of God elected in Christ ordained to eternall life and justified before God by Christs performances and the free grace and love of God in Gods sight before the world and in giving understanding knowledge and believing to their dead hearts and souls of their justification and the rest wrought for them by Christ as David said Give me understanding and I shall Psal 119. 24. live that is I shall know that I live in Christ and that Christ liveth in me then they must needs take it that the performances of Christ in the elect are but the witnesses and manifestations of the performances of Christ in himself for the justification of his elect not their justifying Christ saith I am the vine and he saith to his elect you are the branches The fruit of the vine there bred is Iohn 15. 〈◊〉 conveighed by the spirits of the vine to the branches the branches bear the fruits of the vine and hold them forth as instruments prepared and fitted of the vine and spirits thereof The fruits that the branches bear and hold forth are not the fruits of the branches bred of the branches but the fruits of the vine so Christ called them Luke 22. 18. bred of the vine and conveighed by the spirits thereof to the branches to be born and held forth The branches cannot bear nor hold forth any good fruit without the vine and the spirits of the vine And the good fruits do shew and manifest the good vine whereof they are bred and that the branches that did bear them did abide in the vine So the fruits of the spirit as love joy peace faith c. are bred Gal. 5. 22. of Christ and conveighed by the spirit of Christ to the elect branches of the vine Christ and the elect as Christ pleaseth to do the will of God in them as his branches do bear and hold them forth But the fruits of the spirit are not bred of the elect but of Christ by his spirit conveighed to them and therefore called the fruits of the spirit to be born and held forth by them as fitted branches and instruments of Christ the vine and his spirit and the elect cannot beare them of themselves without Christ and his spirit breed them and conveigh them and therefore Christ faith VVithout me you can do nothing that is you cannot bear the fruits nor hold them forth without me and the fruits of the spirit born and held forth in man do witnesse and evidence Christ in him that bare them and do also witnesse that that man is elected in Christ and abideth in Christ the vine as the Apostle saith his spirit witnesses and faith is the evidence of things not seen Rom. 8. 16 Hâ—b 11. 1. All that which Christ doth of the will of God in the elect doth not justifie them or make them the children of God but onely doth witness and manifest to them that they are justified and made the children of God by the performances done in himself and that of grace by the imputation of his Righteousness and the Righteousness of his performances in himself to them they are made Righteous the children of God and saved As it is said Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for Righteousness It could not be Abraham's believing according to the Commandment of the law of Works that was imputed to him for Righteousness for Abraham no doubt was a corrupt sinful man as all the Elect are in themselves and and his believing was corrupt and sinful as himself was and God that did never call evil good did never impute sin for Righteoulness and if Abrahams Righteousness had been of his believing according to the Commandement then it had been of his works that he was justified contrary to the Scripture The faith and believing the fruit of the spirit of Christ that Abraham did bear as a branch of the Vine Christ did onely witness and manifest to him that he was justified by Christ and his performances they did not justifie him But Abraham being one of Gods Elect in Christ for whom Christ had undertaken and in himself performed all Righteousness before God it that is the Righteousness of Christs performances was imputed to him for Righteousness by grace The Elect in Christ the Adopted through Christ those who See Rom. 4. 5 6. are ordained to eternal life whose sins were laid upon Christ from the beginning which Christ hath performed all for in himself to the full satisfaction of God are justified before God before Faith before they believe of grace by the imputation of Christs Righteousness to them Their work of Faith cannot justifie them the grace of Faith wrought in them by the spirit of Christ doth not justifie them but witness andâ— manifest that they are justified by the Righteousness
THE VINDICATION OF CHRIST AND HIS ORDINANCES FROM The corrupt and false Glosses made thereon by the subtil Deceivers of these TIMES By Christopher Pooly Minister of the Word at great Missingham in Norfolk For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and Wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Mat. 24. 24. The Prophets prophecy falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means c. Jer. 5. 31. LONDON Printed for Henry Cripps and Lodowick Lloyd and are to be sold at their shop in Popes head Alley 1652. The Summary Heads Oâ— the ensuing DISCOURSE THe truth of Faith and Believing manifested Pag. 1. A Treatise of Self-Denyal 8 The Love and Free Grace of God in Christ the cause of all good unto man 26 Positions about the grounds of the Treatises and Meditations 37 Arguments made to uphold Inherent Holiness and Righteousness in Man by the Sanctification of the Spirit are answered 42 Of the Sanctification of the Spirit 51 Six sorts of men of different ways opinions or judgments touching their estates with God 49 The Errors of Universal Redemption discovered 65 A Catechistical Dialogue useful for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 74 Another Meditation of the Law 94 Snares of Popery discovered 103 104 Of the Law remaining and the Law ended in Christ to the Elect. 110 111 All Times Deeds and Things present in Gods sight from Eternity 126 Another Catechistical Dialogue resolving many subtil Questions raised and made by the Adversary c. 137 Rest to the Souls of Believers 165 Christs Government of his Church upon Earth 192 193 The right meaning and understanding of these words in Joh. 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing giveth light to the Truths in these Treatises 202 203. The truth of Faith AND Believing manifested BEcause the Apostle saith therfore we conclude that man is justified by faith without the works of the Rom. 3. 28 Rom. 5. 1. Law and the like otherwhere Some take it and hold forth that a man is justified and made righteous by his faith by believing That he was not before his faith righteous before God it is his faith that doth him that good to make him righteous with God before faith he is an unjust man a wicked and ungodly man and one of the children of wrath before God without mercy and forgivenesse of sin before faith and repentance performed of him There is no justification of man before God before Faith This taking and holding forth of this Scripture although it seem to these to be according to the history yet it is quite contrary to the mystery of faith and of Christ as the Apostle calleth it 1 Tim. 3. 9 For it crosseth all the most clear and comfortable Scriptures of Gods free grace and love in Christ to corrupt weak and sinfull Hos 14. 4. Isa 31. 3. Rom. 9. 11 13. man before the world As also the Scriptures of Gods everlasting love to those he pleased before the world and in continuance And the Scriptures of Gods election of those which he pleased and loved out of the company of the children of wrath before the foundations of the world in Gods sight to be holy and without blame before him for ever in love And the Scriptures of Gods Eph. 1. 4. See Eph. 1 4. 5. 6. Act. 13. 48. Rom. 8. 30. predestination to adoption through Christ and ordination to eternall blisse before the world of those which he elected in Christ before the world And further of his calling justifying and glorifying of those which he predestinated before himself before the world as the Scripture speaks And the Scripture of the Prophet Isa 53. 6. Esay that saith God hath laid the iniquities of us all upon Christ meaning of the Elect not that he will saith the Prophet but hath done it before the world when he loved elected and adopted his Elect c. And it crosseth the Scripture which saith that Christ justifieth Rom. 4. 5. the ungodly which must needs be understood of such as were ungodly the children of wrath by the first general sin who being elected before the world out of the same company to be holy and without blame before God in love ordained to eternal life and adopted Gods children are then justified before God although in themselves and before men they be still ungodly corrupt sinfull and carnall as Paul said he was in his best estate I am carnall Rom. 7. 14 sold under sin Paul could not be loved of God elected in Christ and adopted to be Gods child ordained to eternall life before the world and be the child of wrath and unjustified before God still although he did sin in the flesh before men And it crosseth the Scripture of the same place where it is said A man is justified by Faith without the works of the Law To Believe is a work of the Commandement of the Law as to love fear obey to be humble meek sober and temperate are works of the Commandements of the Law and Faith and Believing done then is the work of the Law as loving fearing obeying humiliation meeknesse sobernesse and temperance and the rest of that sort commanded to man in the law of works as Paul instances are all works of the law so that if a man be justified and made righteous before by his faith and believing commanded he is justified by the works of the law which the Apostle saith no man no flesh wall be justified by And here he saith A man is justified by faith without the works of the law The doers are justified Rom. 2. 13. Certainly no man is justified by any work of his own not because if he did the work commanded righteously the just God would not justifie him therefore but because no man doth or can do the work of the law commanded righteously therefore no man is justified saith the Apostle by the works of the Law But they say faith and repentance are works of the Evangelicall law and the commandements thereof are the commandements of the Evangelicall law to be performed of man Solut. if these take the Evangelicall law to command faith and repâ—ntance to believe and â—â—pent in the â—orm of the law and covenant of works to be performed of man before God then they are the works of the law by which no man can be justified before God But if they take this Evangelicall law as the term holds it forth indeed to be the law and commandement of the covenant of grace whereof Christ the gracious undertaker for the elect of God did undertake to do the whole will of God for them when he said Lo I come to do thy will O God And that Christ hath done doth and ever will do the same of the law commandement Heb. 10. 9. and covenant of grace for the elect of God which are not nor were ever able
so do without his holding and keeping you cast more folly and blasphemy upon Christ And you further teach all Nations that men that God hath had mercy on that Christ hath redeemed and bought that God hath given his grace unto and so he in the state of salvation may by their wilfull sinne fall away from grace mercy and the Love Heb. 12. 15 Rev. 2. 4 of God by forsaking their first Love and so become the children of wrath and destruction And by repentance may returne to God have mercy grace and love of God againe and be the children Ezech. 18 of God againe and may often rise and fall into these conditions which is not the teaching commanded of Christ It is Psa 12 1. 5 uncomfortable untrue and against the Scriptures of the Testament For there Christ is said to be the Keeper of his Israel which Joh. 18. 9 he bought and redeemed That hee loseth not one That none shall Joh. 13. 1 take them out of his hand That those that hee loveth hee loveth to the end and many like places 2 Tim. 2. 19 Heb. 6. Jer. 32. Indeed a man may fall away from grace and forsake his first Love that Christ hath redeemed before men in the sight of men and in the estimation of men c. but not before God in Gods Sight and estimation Gods Love is an everlasting Love to the end The foundation of God is sure the Lord knoweth who are his and Jesus Christ is the yesterday and to day And I will be their God and they shall be my people I will never forsake them and I will put such a feare into their Hearts that they shall never depart from mee Jerem. 32. 40. Another Meditation of the Law THe Law is good and holy and the use of the Law and Commandement appointed of God to be manifested and published to mee in the holy Scriptures is so evident both to the Reprobate 1 Tim. 1. 8 and to the Elect as the Apostle saith The Law is good to man if a man use it lawfully The reprobate and the Elect in their corrupted estate the one as the other hath remaining corrupted reason wisdome and knowledge of God in the corrupted nature of man whereby they have some corrupted sight of the righteousnesse of God in the common Law and the penalty of breaking thereof So the Apostle saith of the Church That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto Rom. 9. 19 them For the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and God head are seene by the Creation of the World being considered in his Workes to the intent that they should be withâ—â—t excuse which men though they know the Law of God how Vers 31. that they which commit such things are worthy of death yet not onely doe the same but also know them that doe them This righteous Law and command of God remaining in the corrupt Reason Wisdome Knowledge and Nature of men is called of the Ethnick Philosophers the Law of nature of the Lawyers the Law of Nations And of this Law the Law of Moses which temperate meeknesse was a plaine Exposition and manifestation of Yet this Law and righteousnesse of God remaining unto the corrupted nature of man was that which by Gods providence forced the Philosophers so called of the Ethincks to write many bookes of Ethicks to the people wherein wee see many notable Rules and directions for mans safety and society And likewise in the Lawes of Nations for civilizng and moralizing of men And no Nations of people that wee have heard of read of there are or have been but there have beene Rules and Lawes amongst themselves for some civility and morality according to their corrupt reason and understanding of God and God not to sanctâ—fie or justifie men before God for that is onely Christs Worke but to civilize and moralize them before men for the more safety of Gods Elect. And this was the use of the more cleare Exposition and manifestation of this Law of God remaining to man in his corrupt nature by a speciall providence of God written by Moses to the People of Israel and so remaining written to all people to whom it commeth as unto us to moralize and civilize men or as it may be said to sanctifie and justifie men before men in the sight of men in the estimation of men And that upon the proportionable temporall penalties to the breakers and like reward to the Keepers thereof for the good and society of men without which mans life would be miserable But not to justifie or sanctifie men before God by the worke thereof That being onely the work of Christ and onely in the power of Christ and his performance And the Acts 13. 39 Rom. 3. 20 Scriptures largely and plainly manifesteth that from all things which yee could not be justified by the Law of Moses by him that is Christ every one that believeth is justified By the worke Rom. 10. 6. of the Law shall no man be justified in his that is Gods sight saith Rom. 3. 24 the Apostle If it be of works it is no more of grace wee are justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Christ Jesus is 1 Cor. 1. 30 made unto us Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption The Law saith the Apostle came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ Joh. 1. 17 If any Law and the marke of any Law of Moses might sanctifie or justifie before God then the Leviticall or Ceremoniall Law and the workes thereof might have done that as the Offerings Sacrifices shedding of Bloud Purifyings Clensing and Washing Sprinklings and the like which all figured Christ and his performances But the Apostle saith that all these were nothing to purifie and sanctifie men before God but onely outwardly touching the flesh in the sight and estimation of men as Heb. 9. 13. for saith the Apostle It is impossible the Bloud oâ— Bulls and Goats should take away sinne and againe in burnt Offerings sin Offerings thou hadst no pleasure therein said I that is Christ Loâ— I come to Heb. 10. 4 do thy will O God Man is not justified sanctified or purified before God by any of mans workes of the Law of Moses no God Heb. 10. 6 7 hath no pleasure in them but onely in his Christ and his workes And yet God was pleafed his Law and Commandements should remaine to corrupt man even that that Moses Law the more cleare exposition of the Law of nature should be added because of transgression as the Apostle saith to shew sinne more cleerly to Gal. 3. 19 man and the righteousnesse of God in condemning The transgressions of his Law first and last and to abate and shake the current of corruption in the reprobate to the more safety of his Elect among them as Wolves to them and for the mortifying
of Christs performances for them in himself The Elect of God in Christ are justified by the imputation of Christs Righteousness to them of free grace and this is the blessedness Rom 4 6. of Faith the Prophets and Apostles held forth to them Ob. But the deceiving spirit and the deceived will object that these predecations and and openings of Faith are a great derogation and undervaluing of faith which in the history of the Scriptures is so highly extolled to have done and do great things for man and that man hath done great things by faith a man faith the Apostle is justified by faith Christ saith to the woman Thy faith hath saved thee by faith Peter walked upon the Sea untill Râ—â— 3. 2. 8 Lâ—ke 7. 50 Maâ— 14. 29 3â— Hâ—b 10. 38. Hâ—b 11 4. 5. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 20. 2â— 22. 23 29. he doubted by faith faith the Apostle the just shall live Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Jsaac Jacob Joseph Moses did great things by faith by faith the walls of Jericho were overthrowne and fell down An. All these and the rest spoken of the faith of Gods Elect in the Scriptures do not intend to shew that by the power of Faith these great things are or were done but to shew that these great things done of and by the power of our great God and his goodnesse were made known to them manifested evidenced and witnessed to them when they believed them so done of him Joshua and the Priests did believe the Walls of Jericho fell downe by the power of God the walls fell not downe by their believing although they were not down to them before they believed the same The woman believed that she was saved by the mercy and performance of Jesus Christ she was not saved by the power of her believing yet she knew not her self saved untill she believed it So a man that believeth that he is justified by Christ and the righteousnesse of his performance imputed to him is not justified to himself before his believing he knoweth not that he is justified untill he believeâ—h it His believing is the first Gospell Messenger that bringeth to him the glad tidings of his Justification by Christ and his righteousnesse yet not justified by his believing and this is the reason why Faith is so much extolled in the history of Scriptures If a man were in the prison of a dark dungeon and there should come a messenger to him and assure him of his inlargement and to be setled in a Kingdome would he not ever make much of and extol this messenger that brought him this first good tidings Faith is the first Messenger of Christ that he sendeth to poor corrupt man sitting in darknesse and the shadow of death of his inlargement of his Justification Adoption and Salvation in the heavenly Kingdom this Faith therefore must needs be highly extolled of all men and all the Penmen of Christ Yet it may not be Idolized set up above our God Christ nor equalized to or before Christ to justifie a man before God which 〈◊〉 Fhâ—s 2. is only in the power of Christ and the gracious work of Christ This is Antichrist the man of sin that doth this it is therefore the deceiving Spirit and those which are deceived that hold forth that it is faith that first justifieth a man and maketh a man righteous before God and that doth him that good Ob. But the deceiving Spirit and the deceived do further object By the grace of Christ by the help of Christ Christ strengthning me I am able to do the â—ommandement of the Law of God that commandeth me to believe to love to repent c. so Paul said Phil. 1. 13. say they I am able to do all things through the help of Christ that strengthneth me Ans Paul said the truth that he being a Branch of the Vine Christ was able by the help of Christ the Vine to bear and hold forth the fruit of the Spirit of Christ being strengthned by Christ as faith love repentance and the rest but not to be the worker and doer of the fruits of the Spirit faith love and repentance which belongeth to Christ and his Spirit only as the Apostle Heb. 12. 1. saith Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith and the rest that we bear and hold forth by his help and strengthning Paul said he was able to do all things by the help and strengthning of Christ belonging to the branch and instrument of Christ to bear and hold forth love faith repentance and the rest of the works of the will and commandement of God wrought up in him by Christ the undertaker and his Spirit to be born and held forth of him other branches these are the all things intended of Paul Man cannot do nor be a doer of the will and Commandement of God as to believe love repent and the rest by the help and strengthning of Christ for if he could and should do or be a doer of the work he should have wages and might challenge a debt of God a share in the work To him saith the Apostle that Rom. 4. 4. worketh the wages is not accounted off vor or grace but of debt Now the Apostle saith all the goodnesse of God to man is of grace not of debt for his work doing of the wil and Commandement of God we saith he are justified freely by his grace by the grace of God I am that I am saith Paul by Christs grace ye Rom. 3. 24 1 Cor. 15. 10. Epb. 2. 5. 8 are saved saith Paul And Paul said I find no means to perform that which is good that is no help no strengthning by Christ to perform the will and commandement of God which Christ hath undertaken to do and which only is able to do the same J am carnall sold under sin the good which I would do that J do not and Rom. 7. 18. the evill which J would not do that J do when J would do good evill is present with me saith Paul And further these saying that they are able to do the will and Commandement of God by the help of Christ c. do much exalt themselves and dishonor Christ and his undertaking of doing the whole will of God for poor corrupt and unable man for they make themselves the principal doers of the will and Commandement of God and Christ but their helper their auxiliary a helper is not the principall in any thing Thus they would make Christ a helper of their faith and believing of their justifying and saving but themselves the principall This is the man of sin the Antichrist exalting himself above our gracious undertaker and God Christ Babes keep your selves from Idolls The mystery of the Gospell of Faith and Christ is hid to none but those which are lost and to those which are lost it is hid A TREATISE OF Self-Deniall Luke 9. 23. And he said unto them all
Christ saith in earnest of himselfe and all Believers In many things we sin all and all the evill Jam. 3. 2 which I would not that I do meaning in the body And againe by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified by no works done in the body Rom. 7. 15 And againe the Law maketh nothing perfect meaning holy and righteous in the sight of God And again If perfection had been by the Rom. 3. 20 Law what need had there been of Christ saith the Apostle And so Heb. 7. 19. because from hence with the other forecited Scriptures It must necessarily follow that no man neither Believers nor Unbelievers Heb. 7. 11 shall be justified saved and inherit the Kingdome of Heaven Therefore they adde that God hath his Book wherein he hath the number of all the sins and good deeds of men as Job speakes Thou hast numbred my steps and dost not delay my sins And God hath the Job 14. 16. Ballance of his Sanctuary wherein he shall weigh the sins of men as he commanded the Prophet to cut off the numberlesse haires of his head signifying the sinnes of the People and weigh them in the Ballance And God charged Moses that hee should do justly in judgement Ezek. 5. 1. according to line weight and measure which no doubt he doth Lev. 19. 35 and will ever doe himself And God cried woe to the Scribes and Pharises for omitting the weighty matters of the Law whereby it appeareth that God weigheth and will weigh the workes of his Law done by Mat. 23. 23 men And as God shall finde at the time of his judgement the sinnes of men Believers or Unbelievers to be in his arithmeticall account more or lesse then his righteous and good deeds and in his geometricall account as he shall find his good deeds weighty or lighter then his evill done in the body so he shall give to every man as his worke shall be every man shall receive according to that he hath done in the body whether it be good or evill Yet say they It is the Justice of God which is alwayes mixt with mercy That to the man whose good deeds overcome his bad the good reward should be given unto him and that hee should receive the same which the Apostle proveth in plaine words say they To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradice of God See more Rev. 2. 17. and Rev. 2â— 7 3. 21. And therefore say they the Apostle adviseth Believers to provide that they may overcome when they are judged and to overcome evill with that goodnesse And this say they is according to Rom. 3. 4 Rom. 12. 2â— the proportion of Justice shewed of God to men and practized of the wisest To give the Crown and reward according to the greater voyce And likewise that the reward of evill should be given accordingly unto him whose evill deeds overcome his good in Gods said account And yet further they adde because the Apostle saith the unjust shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven That the man which overcometh in the number and weight of his good deeds because Rev. 14. 13 the works of every man followeth as the Apostle saith his works follow him They and their workes must before they shall inherit Heaven go through Purgatory The evill of the workes must be burnt and themselves purged with the fire of purgatory which 1 Cor. 3. 13. 15 they confirmed by the words of the Apostle It shall be revealed by fire The fire shall try every mans worke of what sort it is but hee shall be safe himselfe yet as it were by fire And they adde further that whereas some of the sinnes of Believers are not unto death called veniall sinnes which are to be prayed and offer pardon for upon repentance and for repentance thereof as the Apostle saith there is a sin which is not unto death for which let him aske and God shall give him Life for the sinnes which 1 Joh. 5. 16 are not unto death And there is a sinne unto death called mortall sinne I say not that thou shouldst pray for it for pardon or repentance All unrighteousnesse is sin but there is a sin not unto death They are For the veniall sins sins not unto death of Believers which they or other have prayed for and repented of Life is given already as purged those sinnes are done away and come not to account of number and weight But onely the mortall sinnes and the veniall sinnes of Believers unprayed for and unrepented of But I take it such as these erre not knowing the Scriptures unto whom the Gospell is hid For although all shall appeare before the judgement Seat give account and receive according to their workes done in the body good or evill yet all shall not appeare alike give account alike c. The Gospell is that believers shall appeare by and with their advocate 1 Joh. 2. 2. Jesus Christ the righteous we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. 2 Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins The Believers shall appeare as vessells of honour The Believers shall appeare in glory when Christ shall appeare wee shall also appeare in Rom. 9. 21 glory Collos 3. 4 Believers shall appeare with boldnesse as Lyons The righteous shall be bold as Lyons Pro. 28. 1. Christ is their Judge and Advocate and Mediator for their sinnes Eph. 3. 12 as he was the Sacrifice and Sacrifices None shall lay any thing to their charge for it is Christ their Judge that justifieth them 1 Joh. 2. 1. 2 But Unbelievers and Reprobates shall appeare naked clothed Rom 8. 33 with nothing but the Fig Leaves or the unavailable workes of the Law by themselves without any advocate to plead for them or Rev. 3. 17. maketheir peace As vessells of dishonour with shame and reproofe In feare and trembling having sinne the Law the Divell death and Isa 53. 6 Hell all against them laying those which they have done in the body to their charge So Believers shall give account by their undertaker their advocate Jesus Christ the righteous which is the propitiation for their Collos 2. 14 sinnes upon whom God hath laid all their iniquities and which hath taken their infirmities upon him which hath put out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against them he even tooke it out of the way and fastened it upon his Crosse of whose Soule God did see the travell and Esa 53. 11 was satisfied with it for their sins of his Elect to their justification for he shall beare their iniquities saith the Prophet is discharged and satisfied and nothing is to be â—aid 〈◊〉 the charge of Gods Elect Christ is the Account and the Accounter for Believers But infidels and reprobates must and shall account
people of Israel to be blessed of God Gods chosen people yet for wages and gain he would have done them any mischief he might The perishing and destruction of Corah was his slighting and gainsaying of the Ordinance of Christ in the Ministry and Ministers thereof called and sent by his Ordinance for the gain of honor and the rest to himself His woe was not against Cain Balaam and Corah but against those and such in the last days that walk in their ways who in pride and covetousness of the riches and honors of this world trample under foot the Son of God his Laws and Ordinances for the government of his Church upon Earth his worship and honor among men c. and for righteousness peace society and safety among men themselves Q. Is not this Law of Christ given to his Church of Gods chosen people Iustification before God and eternal Life to the keepers and doers of that Law and Commandment for or by the keeping and doing thereof before men and condemnation before God and eternal death to the neglecters and breakers thereof before men for neglecting and breaking the same A. No that cannot be so for the holy Scriptures shew plainly the contrary in many places First Paul saith of himself and all Gods chosen people He hath chosen us in Christ before the World to be holy and without blame before him in love which must needs be understood thus God foreseeing and foreknowing before the world all men to become the children of wrath by transgression he of love and free grace was pleased to chuse some of them then before himself to be his adopted children through Christ to be holy and without blame before him in love and being chosen are justified and have eternal life in Christ So the same Paul which saith God hath chosen us in Christ before the world c. saith We were all the children of wrath as well as others before God before that of Gods love and free grace we were chosen in Christ out of the general company of the children of wrath to be the children of God but now being chosen in Christ to be the children of God we are not nor can be the children of wrath again for Christ loseth none chosen in him none taketh them out of his hand that the Father hath given him Now to affirm and hold forth that Justification and eternal Life cometh to man for or by his keeping and doing of the Law and Commandment of Christ given to Gods people and in Tables of stone written long after Gods Election of them before the world manifested in the Scripture and that condemnation and eternal death cometh to them for the breaking and neglecting thereof before men is to disable dishonor and nullifie the gracious act of Gods Election in Christ of those he pleased before the world to be his loved children and to leave the rest in the condemnation of their own transgression Secondly The Apostle saith Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth them being chosen of God Rom. 8. 33 they are justified of God none after they are chosen of God shall or can lay any thing to their charge therefore their Justification before God or condemnation eternal life or eternal death doth not depend upon their keeping or breaking the Law of Christ given for the government of his Church upon Earth although indeed it may manifest the same Thirdly The Apostle saith If Iustification before God and eternal life be of the Works of the Law they are not of Grace But the Apostle affirmeth That Gods chosen are justified freely by grace and not by the Works of the Law Fourthly The Apostle citing other Scriptures saith Before Iacob and Esau were born and had done good or evil that the purpose of God might remain according to Election not by works but Rom. 9. 11 13 by him that calleth God loved Iacob and hated Esau It was because God of love and free grace had Elected Iacob in Christ before the world that God continued his love to Iacob and because Esau was left in the wrath of his transgression in Adam that God continued his wrath and hatred to Esau Fifthly If mans Justification before God should depend upon his keeping and doing of the Law and Commandment of Christ there were no man could be justified and saved for the Apostle saith In many things we offend all and his repentance that is finite and temporal could not satisfie the trespass done before and against the infinite God which it must do in justice if Christs Law were with condition of everlasting life and everlasting death for keeping and breaking of the Commandment Q. Is there no good nor benefit to Gods chosen people by keeping and doing the Law and Commandment of Christ carefully and in singleness of heart nor no damage nor danger to them by breaking and neglecting the same before men A. Yes Gods chosen people have two special benefits by the keeping and doing of the Law and commandment of Christ before men in singleness of heart and carefully First They have the temporal reward in the condition promised and held forth in the holy Scriptures In keeping of them there is Psa 19. 11 58. 11 great reward saith David And again Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous And they have much more then is manifested prepared of Christ for their reward of grace The things which eye hath not seen neither ear hath heard 1 Cor. 2. 9 neither came into mans heart hath Christ our God prepared for them that love him saith the Apostle Secondly They have the evidence of the Spirit of Christs work in their hearts for the carefulness and singleness of heart is the work and fruit of the Spirit which they as branches of the Vine Christ do onely bear and bring forth of grace as instruments wherewith the Spirit doth the work and imputeth it to them of grace as Paul said It was not I but the grace of God with me And the Spirit by 1 Cor. 15. 10 Rom. 8. 16 such evidence received doth witness to their Souls that they are Gods children And the damage and danger to Gods chosen people is great by breaking and neglecting this Law and command of Christ For first they lose the said reward of keeping and doing the same when they break it and neglect it they forsake their own mercies Secondly They are liable to the temporal penalties and are sure thereof without repentance of their offences before men And hereupon it is that Christ our God shaketh his rod of Judgments so often in the Scriptures against the chosen people of God which he knoweth in themselves are frail weak and subject to temptations to keep them from transgression and the danger thereof Q. What is the good and benefit of the Gospel and the preaching thereof unto Gods chosen people Is it beyond and more then the Law and
to be no more under the Covenant of Works but only under the Promise and Covenant of Grace And hereupon it is said by the Apostle of Christ touching the Elect Ye are no more under the Law but Rom 6. 14 Gal. 5. 1. Rom. 10. 4 3. 24 under Grace The Son of God hath made you free Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to those which believe We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus And this was not only the end of the Promise or Covenant of grace to justifie freely the Elect and to free them from the Covenant of Works before God and set them only under the Promise and Covenant of Grace Jesus Christ but also that the same Christ should Psa 121. 8 Joh. 17. 11 1 Thes 5. 23 1 Cor. 1 8 rule them preserve them and keep them by the power of his Spirit and present them blameless at his coming to Judgment For this cause is Christ said to have three offices of a King a Priest and a Prophet A King to rule govern and order his Elect as the Scripture saith The Government is upon his shoulders A Priest to pray and Isai 9. 6 Rom. 8 26 make request for them as it is said The Spirit maketh request for us A Prophet to teach them powerfully and effectually not as the Scribes and Pharisees as is said which taught but had no power upon their hearers further to their good as it is said They shall be all taught of God even to the forming of Jesus Christ in them as â—oâ— 6 45 Gal. 4. 19 the Apostle speaketh And Christ doth not execute his Offices only in the universal Church of his Elect but also in the particular and every member thereof So that every of his Elect when how and where he pleaseth hath a better Governor in him then himself a better Orator a better Teacher and Directer then himself So that although as the Idolatrous Canaanite remained still in the Land when the Israelite had Ioshua 17. rule the flesh remaineth still in the Elect whil'st Christ hath the rule at his pleasure and although the flesh bringeth forth many transgressions yet Christ by his Spirit having the rule doth though not without resistance curb the flesh and bring it in subjection at his Gal. 5. 17 pleasure and maketh the corrupt members instruments of his service and therefore the Apostle saith Sin shall have no more dominion over you for you are no more under the Law but under grace meaning the Spirit of Christ that ruleth swayeth and doth all things Rom. 6. 14 in the Elect unto good where his Grace and Spirit is present fiting and making by his powerful and sanctifying Spirit all and any of 1 Cor. 15 his regenerate Electones to yield their members both of soul and body instruments of righteousness unto God that is instruments of the works of his righteous Spirit in them which he of his grace imputeth Rom 6 13 to them and calleth them their works although they be his only in truth as is manifested in the holy Scripture Christ told his Disciples that he sent forth to preach the Gospel That it was not they that did speak but the Spirit of the Father that did speak in them although it was spoken by the instruments of their mouth Mat. 10. 20 tongue and lips And Paul when he said that he had labored in the Ministry of the Gospel more then all the rest recalleth himself saying 1 Cor. 15. 10 Yet it was not I that labored so but the grace of God with me His instrument my self being only by the grace of God Jesus Christ fitted and made an instrument of that labor and work and of his grace only accounted my labor and work which is his work Thus we may see the end of the promise or Covenant of grace made of God to man in Christ to be that of the unsearchable love of God to the Elect through his grace in Jesus Christ his Elect in Christ before the foundation of the World was layd being of those which were faln into the misery and danger of everlasting death by their own transgression of the mutual Covenant of Works agreed upon and made betwixt God and mankind in the first Parents all of them then being and to be in the posterity of mankind to the end of the world after their Election are freed from the Covenant of Works the Law and commandment thereof before God and the penalty of the transgression of the Law and commandment thereof through the performance made of Jesus Christ their undertaker and to be preserved kept and ordered by the performance to be made in Psa 121. 5 Ioh. 17 11 15 1 Thes 5. 23 them by the Spirit of Christ until they be presented blameless at his coming to Judgment And as the Covenant of Works was manifested in Paradise in the time of mans innocency when man had full power and freedom of will to have performed all required and the same broken by man there being in his full power unto the tainture and corruption of all mankind then in Adams loyns So was the Promise called the Covenant of grace touching the Elect of God first manifested in Paradise unto man soon after the general Transgression Fall and corruption when God said The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head which seed was Jesus Christ born of the blessed Virgin Mary Mat. 2. 25 And as afterwards the Covenant of works in grace was manifested to many by the providence of God repeated and revealed in holy Scriptures to set forth the equity of Gods Justice in the death and misery of the reprobate still under the Law and curse of the first transgression of the Covenant of Works and the succeeding transgression thereof first especially commented opened and interpreted by Moses then by the Prophets and after by the Evangelists and the Apostles of Jesus Christ the penmen of the Holy Ghost and also that by the thunderings threatenings and terror of the penalties of the transgressions of the said Law the current and violence of the corruption of reprobate and carnal men might be hindered abated and bridled through fear to the more safety of Gods beloved ones which are amongst the reprobate as sheep among wolves as Christ himself said of his chosen ones I send you forth as sheep among wolves Mat. 10. 16 So the Promise or Covenant of Grace was after opened and manifested to many by the providence of God and specified and repeated in holy Scriptures by Gods penmen of the same to set forth the love compassion mercy and grace of God toward his Elect and the praise and glory of his grace for the same always to be published by those whose blinde eyes are opened to behold the misery bands and dâ—ath from which they are delivered and freed by the love of God in the
the company of the children of wrath were with God before the World out of which Paul was elected and chosen to be loved holy and without blame before God that is to be adopted one of Gods holy and blamlesse children through Christ Certainly after Paul was elected in Christ before the world to be holy and without blame before God and Eph. 1. 5. adopted one of Gods children through Christ Paul did not become the child of wrath againe by sinning nor was unholy and blamelesse before God after hee was elected of God in Christ to be holy and without blame before God in love and adopted one of Gods children but was still holy and without blame before God in Love although in the flesh he sinned he was still the child of God The Foundation of God is sure The gifts and calling of God are without repentance If Paul should have become the child of 1 Tim. 2. 19 Rom. 11. wrath before God by sinning after he was elected and adopted Gods child through Christ hee must have been often the child of wrath and the child of God and often none of the children of God and after elected and adopted which hath no testimony And if Paul was foreknowne of God and was so predestinate that he had the gift and calling of God before the World that he was actually elected and adopted with God and was ever after loved of God in Christ and holy and without blame before God No doubt but Paul was also justified and glorified in which and through Christ before God and with God before the world unto whom all is present although in respect of the creature and to the creature the same appeare and is manifested in appointed and fulnesse of time So the Apostle saith hee hath quickned and hath raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 2. 5. Jesus He doth not say he will quicken and will raise againe But saith those that he knew before he also hath quickned and hath Rom. 29. 30 raised up and predestinated to be made like to the Image of his Sone And whom hee predestinated them also hee called and whom he called those also hee justified and whom hee justified them also hee glorified he doth not say that those which God knew before the World and predestinated before the World he would call and justifie and glorifie afterward but he saith those that he knew before predestinate those also hee Called Justified and Glorified in present From this notion we may conclude that the World Adam Eve Elect and reprobate were with God in Gods Sight before the World was and Christ in manifestation of the creature and before Adam produced of the dust and Eve of the rib in manifestation to the creature Christ saith That which is of the flesh is flesh and that which is of the spirit is spirit And Paul saith of himselfe I am carnall sold Joh. 3. 6 Rom. 7. 14 under sinne And againe in me that is in my selfe dwelleth no good thing And the Prophet Esay saith of himselfe and others like Isa 64. 6 himselfe All our righteousnesse is as filthy ragges Therefore Pauls and Isayes and such mens Faith Love Obedience Justice Repentance and the like is carnall corrupted and filthy and whose not And therefore might truly say wee are altogether corrupt That which is of the Spirit of Christ is Christs not mans as Spirituall Faith Love Obedience Righteousnesse Repentance all Fruits of the Spirit They are mans onely as man by grace is made the branch of the Vine Christ The instrument of the Spirit to beare and hold forth the Grapes and Fruits of the Spirit in manifestation and as they are imputed and accounted of grace to man Give unto Caesar that which is Caesars and to God that which is Gods Let us not rob God of his own Some say that although mans Prayers and Prayses be corrupted and Levened with sin yet by the grace of Christ they are made good pleasing and acceptable to God Sol. But I take it Christ covereth sin as David saith Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is covered And Christ came to take away sinne as the Apostle saith Christ appeared Psâ— 32. 1 2. that he might take away our sinnes and lose the workes of the Divell 1 Joh. 3. 5 8 And grace and mercy passeth by offences but Christ and grace doth not make evill good as hee doth not call evill good nor doth make sin righteousnesse the sin of the flesh being taken away covered and passed by in the prayers of the Elect of God The Rom. 8 27. Prayer of the Spirit which alwayes maketh request according to the Will of God That is good pleasing and acceptable to God Snares of Popery Discovered BEcause the Apostle saith wee shall or may all appeare before the 2 Cor. 5. 10 judgement Seat of Christ that every man may receive the things which are done in the body according to that he hath done whether it be good or evill And againe the Apostle in the Person of Christ speaketh I come Rev. 22. 1â— shortly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his worke shall be And againe the unjust man is abhomination to the Lord and shall Pro. 29. 27 1 Cor. 6. 9 on t inherit the Kingdome of Heaven And againe every one of us saith the Apostle shall give acconnt of himslefe to God Rom. 14. 12. First from these and like places of Scripture some say that Believers as Unbelievers shall all appear before the judgement Seat Secondly shall give account of all done in the body and by word or deed whether the same be good or evill Thirdly that the elected Believers have done and do in the body that is whilst they are in the Body evill in word and deed as also good and that Unbelievers and Reprobates do evil and good also Fourthly that Believers and Unbelievers elect and reprobate shall receive a reward proportionable to that they have done in the Body whether good or evill Fifthly that they which have been unjust in the Body in this Life that is have done evill although they be Believers are all abhomination to the Lord and shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven Sixtly That Christs undertaking and performance for the elect was to pay the debt for the generall fin of Adam onely for the which fault as the Apostle saith came on all men to condemnation And for the rest in this Life To give the grace of power to the Rom. 5. 18 elect to fuâ—fill the Law and do the commandement as man is obliged thereto by the Law of God for the justification and salvation at their own will and choise upon paine of receiving a just reward of God at the day of account for their failing Seventhly to make good their collection from these Scriptures in the Letter because the Apostle of
cause of the sending and giving of the Holy Spirit to Gods chosen people to act the same in them and thereby to evidence and witness to them that they are Gods chosen in Christ and his adopted children through Christ and that Christs performances in himself and in them are all imputed to them and made theirs by his grace of imputation therefore Austin said Do Lord that which thou commandest and command what thou wilt Q. Doth not mans performance of this Law as it is outward in righteousness before men please God and justisie the performers thereof before God A. No for then they that shew unto men that they do perform the duties of this Law as that they beleeve love pray give thanks repent shew mercy and forgive c. should all please God and be justified before God then the Scribes and Pharisees and other like hypocrites should have pleased God and been justified before God and Judas himself should be justified before God for although Judas did wickedly yet it is written that Judas repented himself before men to give satisfaction to men for his repentance therefore it is written he Mat. 27. 3 repented but this outward performance did not justifie any of these before God nor please God Q. Doth not the performance of this Law as it is inward and spiritual made by the Spirit of Christ in man called therefore spiritual gifts spiritual faith spiritual love spiritual repentance c. 1 Cor. 14. 1 12. justifie Gods chosen people before God A. No that cannot be for although the performance of the Spirit it self be righteous in the sight of God yet this performance being made with the instrument of corrupt man his corrupt heart soul or members the same cannot be pure as coming through corrupt man in the sight of God as pure water coming from a pure fountain through a defiled conduit or channel cannot be pure although serviceable someway in the end To this the Apostle saith By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified He doth not say by mans own works of the Law or by the outward works of the Law but by the works of the Law whatsoever they be outward or inward for indeed this Law was not given to justifie men before God by the performance thereof but for the government of Christs Church upon Earth and by the spiritual performance thereof to evidence and witness to Gods chosen people that they are the children of God for if they find in themselves the faithful performance thereof in singleness of heart they may thereby know that they have received the Spirit of Adoption and the same Spirit doth witness with their souls that they are the children of God saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 16 Q. We see that Christ in this his Law commandeth his people to perform the Law as it is spiritual to do the inward and spiritual work of his Law he requireth truth in the inward parts obedience and service in singleness of heart love without dissimulation prayer according to the will of God repentance from the bottom of the heart which man himself being carnal sold under sin and transgression as Paul was in his best estate although chosen of God cannot perform Why doth Christ command the chosen of God to do the same that he knoweth they cannot do and for the performance of which in them he promiseth sendeth and giveth his holy Spirit to them as he pleaseth A. Christs giving this his Command is like his sending of John Baptist John Baptist was sent to prepare the way of Christ not to do the work of Christ So the Commandment is given to prepare the way of the Spirit not to do the work of the Spirit John Baptist was sent for the bringing down of every mountain hill Luk. 3 4 5 for humbling of the proud carnal man of Gods people and this Command was given of Christ to them to humble the flesh which is contrary to the Spirit and in itself resisteth always that so the Gal. 5. 17 corrupt heart and members may be prepared and fitted instruments of the Spirit to the spiritual work And to this purpose is the word of the Apostle Give or yield your members weapons or instruments Rom. 6. 13 19. of righteousness unto God unto Gods holy Spirit that the Spirit may do the spiritual work in you Q. Hath the Command of Christ power to humble fit and prepare the carnal man of Gods chosen to the way and instrumental service of the Spirit in the spiritual work A. Yea that it hath for his Word is mighty in operation as the Heb. 4 12 Psa 148. 5 Apostle saith He commanded and all things were created said David The power of Christs Command is not shortened where it intendeth Q. Then the preaching and hearing of the whole Law of Christ is useful to Gods chosen people A. Yea that it is if it be preached and heard lawfully for the Apostle saith The Law is good if we use it lawfully The preaching 1 Tim. 1. 8 and hearing of the Law as it is outward and spiritual iâ— good if the preaching and hearing thereof be to the preparing of the way to the Spirit to do the spiritual work of the Command of Christ the Undertaker that Christ may have all the honor praise and glory of the work But for man to preach and hold forth the Law and Command of Christ that man himself can and must do the spiritual work which Christ only can do to please God to be in acceptance with God to obtain Gods goodness as to beleeve and by his beleeving to be justified by his obedience and endeavoring to do duties to please God and to be accepted with God by and for his repentance to have mercy and forgiveness and recovery of life and all lost by sin this is Robbery and Idolatry It is Robbery because they take away that which is only Christs to themselves to do the spiritual work to please God to make acceptance with God to obtain Gods goodness by their performance and mercy and forgiveness by their repentance And it is Idolatry because they they praise set up and esteem highly of their own work their beleeving or faith their prayers their doing of duties and the like who although they thank God for it as the Pharisee did yet they listen after their own praise and reputation for the same despising others He that climbeth up to the sheepfold another way then by me Iohn 10. 2 is a Thief and a Robber saith Christ He that sacrificeth to his own nets is an Idolater Hab. 1. 16 Q. Was this Law of Christ written in tables of stone and given in grace to his Church of Israel the chosen people of God for the Government of that his Church given before that to his Church he had upon Earth the chosen people of God as to his Church in Adams family in Noahs family Abrahams Lots and the
rest noted in the Scriptures to be Gods chosen people A. Yes it was given of Christ to his Church upon Earth in all generations although not so gloriously as when it was written of him to them in tables of stone but it was written in their hearts by Christ or otherwise as he pleased for the Government of his Church was ever upon his shoulders and he as a King governed not without a Law And this his Law and Government among Isal 9. 6. them appeareth plainly in that they brought offerings to the Lord as Abel the best of his flock and for that it is said Noah and Lot preached righteousness repentance mercy and forgiveness upon repentance in that it is said Abraham taught his family Q. Had not the Gentiles which were not Gods chosen people this Law of Christ written in their hearts which he writ in tables of stone to his Church of Israel for the Apostle saith Although they had not the Law written in tables of stone yet they did by nature the things contained therein before men although not all things so shewing the effect of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. 14 15. A. The Law and righteousness of the Law of Works made of God to man in power is corruptly remaining in the hearts of the Gentiles being not Gods chosen which is partly in this Law of Christ given to his Church of Gods chosen in grace but as it is the Law of Christ in grace it is not written in the hearts of the Gentiles Therefore David said Neither have the Heathen knowledg of his Ps â—47 â—0 Laws His Law or Commandment of Faith in Christ of Self-denyal of Repentance unto mercy and forgiveness and of mercy and forgiveness one to another upon Repentance was not written in their hearts Q. Do all the chosen people of God having corrupt reason understanding and will left them of doing the Law of Christ as it is outward in appearance to men perform the same in righteousness before men in the power that they have left A. No For first we see recorded in holy Scripture One to have gone beyond another therein Secondly We see recorded in holy Scripture The best in appearance of Gods chosen ones to have transgressed and committed the contrary to that holy Law before men much more we must think omitted the performance thereof in righteousness before men Sometimes we read of Noahs drunkenness of Lots drunkenness and incest of Abrahams teaching his wife Sarah to dissemble to call her self his sister not his wife of Jacobs dissembling with his blinde father Isaac saying that he was Esau the Patriarchs transgression Aarons and Moses and Davids transgression Solomons closing with Idolaters Ezechia's Josia's Manasses transgression yea Peters lying swearing and forswearing all contrary to the Law of Christ in appearance before men and what can we think of our own and the rest the incumbrances ignorance blindness and frailties of the flesh The tempters and temptations to the chosen of God are such and so many that the performance of this holy Law of Christ as it is outward in appearance before men hath been and is in all not without transgression as the Apostle saith in many things we offend all James 3. 2 Q. What is the danger of this transgression of Gods chosen people A. Temporal proportionable punishment before men an eye for an eye tooth for tooth breach for breach measure for measure These David call'd troubles and punishments these the Apostles call'd afflictions corrections and chastisements Q. Is there no way provided of Christ for Gods chosen people having so transgressed this his Law to escape the proportionable punishment A. Yes in great grace he hath provided and granted Repentance to be their refuge for mercy and forgiveness before him their Head King and Magistrate or Governor and before one another And therefore he saith At what time soever a sinner repent from the bottom of his heart he will put all his wickedness out of his remembrance Ezek. 18 And again If thy brother sin against thee seven times yea seventy times seven times and saith It repenteth me forgive him Mat. 18 21 22 Q. Is there no difference of the outward performance of this Law of Christ in Gods chosen people and in Hypocrites in appearance to men A. Yes there is much difference in appearance to men For first the chosen of God have the work of the Spirit in their souls and hearts when it pleaseth the Lord Jesus Christ sanctifying and sweetening the outward performance with humbleness meekness and otherwise in appearance to men Secondly They do it simply in submission and obedience to the command accounting the same good and fit to be â—one before men without the command pressed Thirdly They do not think that the doing of the work of this Command of Christ before men reacheth unto God to please God to move and pacifie God as David said My well-doing extendeth not to thee O Lord but to the Saints upon the earth for their good and profit that they seeing the same may glorifie their Father in Heaven Psal 16. 3 before men Fourthly They do it not for their own profit glory and reputation among men as a merit of their worl in their own esteem but they wait and rest upon the promise of the reward in his Law made to the conscionable performers thereof in the gracious judgment of Jesus Christ before men giving Christ the Commander and Law-giver King and Governor of his Church the honor of all their performance But the performance of hypocrites first have not the face of the sanctifying and sweetening Spirit in humbleness and meekness self-denyal and otherwise for although the Pharisee went up into the Temple to pray yet his performance had the face of pride and self-conceit not of true humbleness and self-denyal Secondly They do it but not simply in submission to the Command as good and worthy to be done without the former Command but they do it being commanded for company formality and avoyding of penalty and other danger Thirdly Hypocrites do the work of the Command often zealously herein thinking in their hearts that their performances thereof reach unto God to please God to pacifie and move God thereby to do them and others good which is onely the work of Christ to Gods chosen ones wherein they would convey the honor of Christ to their performances Fourthly Hypocrites are strict and precise in this as it is outward none going beyond theâ—â— therein not for the honor of Christ the Lawgiver but for their own honor and reputation among men for their own ends for their own gain profit and advantages seeking the same often unjustly to the damage of one for the benefit of another to their own praise and glory among men Q. May not Gods chosen people neglect and omit the outward performance of this Law of Christ before men A. No for Christ hath given it to them