sufficiently commend it or set it forth For saith he the righteous one he made a sinner that hee might make the sinners righteous nay he speaketh not so sleightly neither but that which is farre more For he said not hee made him a sinner but sinne that we might be made he saith not righteous but righteousnesse yea and the righteousnesse of God For this is of God because it is not of workes For the former righteousnesse of good esteem in the Church was the righteousnesse of the Law and of works but this is the righteousnesse of God Because it is necessary that no spot bee found in it and from hence all sinne vanisheth away Thus hee teacheth the magnificence both of the gift and giver 3. Thirdly to look the better into the nature of this benefit we must consider deeply the excelent parts of this wonderfull benefit which are these two chiefly 1. First that this wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse doth though mystically that is above our reason sight sense and feeling that we may live by faith in the truth and power of God speaking and not by sight sense and feeling Rom. 4. 18 to 25. yet freely take away and truly abolish not out of our flesh 1 Iohn 1. 8. but utterly abolish from before God and out of Gods sight all our sinnes as these and such like Scriptures teach Iohn 1. 29. Behold the lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world For I not you but even I being Sol iustitiae the shining sunne of righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. will do away your iniquities like darknesse and abolish your sinnes like a mist Reioyce ye heavens for the Lord hath done it Shout ye lower parts of the earth break forth into praises O mountaines For thus hath the Lord redeemed Iacob and thus will he be glorified in Israel Esa 43. 25. and 44. 22 23. For by himself hath Christ purified and made us cleane from our sins and is set at the right hand of the highest Maiesty Heb. 1. 3 Because if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the uncleane sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himsellfe without spot to God purge purifie or make clean our consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9. 13 14. Therefore did hee now once in the end of the world appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to abolish to doe away or to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe Heb. 9. 26. For Iesus Christ is that faithfull witnesse and that first begotten of the dead and that Prince of the Kings of the earth who hath loved us and hath washed us from our sins in his owne blood Rev. 1. 5. whereby the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne of God doth make us cleane from all sinne 1 Ioh. 1. 7. Now the sonne having thus abolished our sinnes from before God or out of Gods sight Col. 1. 22. Hereupon doth the father pardon remit and forgive all the punishment and evill that is due to those sinnes which his sonne hath freely done away and truely abolished out of his fathers sight according to that testimony of David Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sinnes are covered Psal 32. 1. Hereupon is all the anger of the father and all his displeasure discontentment death and all other evils ceased upon the justified person before God the father And thus much briefly of the excellency of the first part of free justification 2. The excellency of the second part of free justification is That this wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse doth not only make us present us righteous in the sight of God but it also maketh us perfectly and completely and sufficiently holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely by faith onely without workes or without our perfect working Yea so sufficiently and completely and perfectly holy and righteous that though mystically yet wheresoever we sit or walk we shine gloriously holy and righteous in the sight of God freely as these and such like Scriptures teach Rom. 5. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one man shall many be made righteous whereby if by the offense of one death reigned by one much more they which receive the abundance of grace and that abundance of the gift of righteousnesse shall reigne in life through one even Iesus Christ Rom. 5. 17. Therefore did the Angel Gabriel prophesie to Daniel that after seventy weeks of yeares not onely sinne should be finished and transgression made an end of and reconciliation made for iniquity but also everlasting righteousnesse be brought in upon the faithfull Dan. 9. 24. Thus is this righteousnesse called not only an abundance of righteousnesse and an everlasting righteousnesse but also hence it is said to make us complete before God even complete in him which is the head of all principalities and powers Col. 2. 10. Hence it is said to make us perfect as with one sacrifice he hath made perfect for ever all them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. Hence it is said to make us and present us to God a glorious Church as he hath made us pure or clean by the washing of water through the word to make us to himselfe a glorious Church not having now at this present time as the Greek and Latine Participles signifie one spot or wrinckle of sinne or any such thing but to bee so holy that wee are unblameable or without blemish before God Eph. 27. Because in the body of his flesh through death he makes us or presents us so holy that we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without all blame and without all fault in Gods sight if we continue rooted and grounded in this faith upon which place Chrysostome saith He hath not only freed us from sin but also he hath made us honourable and glorious in Gods sight Hence it is that this wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse was signified by the vesture of the gold of Ophir that maketh the bride of Christ a Queen and all glorious within that is spiritually and mystically saying At thy right hand doth stand the Queene in a vesture of the gold of Ophir and shee is all glorious within Psalm 45. 9. Hence is the Church and every true beleever made that great wonder in heaven that is under the time and state of the Gospel called every where in the New Testament the Kingdome of heaven Matth. 11. 11 12. and chapter 13. But what is this wonder A woman that is in generall the whole Church but in particular every true beleeving soule which is as truely by faith married to Christ as any woman can be married to her husband Ephes 5. 30. But what of this woman Amicta sole cloathed with the sunne that shineth in
dead who was delivered to death for our sinnes to no other end than to abolish them from before his father Heb. 9. 26. whereby the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne of God doth make us clean from all sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7. And is risen againe for our full and perfect justification This is the true lively and justifying faith This faith makes us not bastardly children but the true kind proper and naturall children not of Abram but of Abraham This is the faith by which we are truly blessed and as truly saved as Abraham himself as Paul testifieth Gal. 3. 8. 9. saying The Scriptures that is the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures foreseeing that God would justifie the Heathen through faith preached the joyfull newes unto Abraham saying In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed So that they which be of this faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham And what can we desire more than to be blessed Now because this free justification or the having on this wedding garment cannot be beleeved and enjoyed by this justifying faith but by looking into the gaping wounds of Christ bleeding out his blood and life to effect this free justification upon the beleever Therefore onely this justifying faith smites the heart of the beleever with the true love of Christ and of God in Christ which reflecteth back from God generally upon all men as they bear the image of God yet resteth principally upon the Church and houshold of faith and maketh the true beleevers to abound in every good work doing good unto all men but especially unto the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 10. and that not of constraint corruptly and hypocritically but cheerfully sincerely and ioyfully because both Christ and the Kingdome of God and the Kingdome of heaven by this true lively iustifying faith is within us Luke 17. 21. Into which Kingdome of heaven no unclean thing can enter Rev. 21. 27. Because this Kingdome of heaven is righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And the more this faith of free Justification and of having on this wedding garment encreaseth the more this peace and joy in the holy Ghost encreaseth For the which it is called the garment of ioy and gladnesse Esa 61. 3. And the more this peace and joy encreaseth the more the foresaid love encreaseth and enflameth the heart to walk freely cheerfully and zealously in all Gods will and commandements declaratively to manward and to doe our vocatious and all good workes freely of meere love without hope of reward or fear of punishment which is true sanctification which causeth us to live here among men as Christ himselfe lived that is not onely doing all things but also cheerfully suffering all things to edifie one another in our most holy faith that onely saves us Iude 20. And to the glory of God our reconciled and well pleased father in Christ as St. Iohn 1. Epist chap. 2. vers 6. testifieth saying He that saith he abideth in Christ ought even so to walke as hee hath walked Thus much of the true saving faith Thirdly of this justifying faith that worketh by love there followes inseparably a true right Evangelicall zeale of Gods glory whereby we feeling how by our originall corruption and by breaking the tenth commandement and thereby the first commandement and all the rest in our best good works whereby that saying of Saint Iames is true in our best good works That whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all we finde both our selves and all our works and best actions to be so shut up under sin Gal. 3. 22. that being truly humbled with a vile esteem of our selves and all our best good works we do grant not with lip and tongue only as many bastard Protestants do but do feele in our hearts in deed and truth that all our righteousnesse even of sanctification is as foule stained filthy rags Esay 64. 6. Whereupon our hearts are so inflamed with such an high prizing and onely esteeming of the wedding garment of Christs obedience and righteousnesse perfectly iustifying us and all our works That not onely every true Minister of the Gospel but also every true Christian ceaseth all contention about works and is carried with a zealous affection to know nothing among Gods people save Iesus Christ and him crucified to iustifie them 1. Cor. 2. 2. by which they are made such true burning coals of Gods Altar so enflamed with this holy fire of Christs love from heaven that they cannot chuse but enflame and kindle all others that come neare them caring for nothing but to be found our selves and to cause others to be found in Christ that is not having our owne righteousnesse in esteeme which at the best is but mans glory before men only Rom. 4. 2. but in the most precious robes of Christs righteousnesse making both us and all our workes perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in Gods sight freely by faith onely without workes and so do truely know Christ and grace and faith and works rightly as these and such like Scriptures teach Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win or gain Christ and bee found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God through faith Phil. 3. 8 9. neither doe I passe of crosses and afflictions at all nor doe I count my life deare unto my selfe so that I may fulfill my course with ioy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospel that is the ioyfull newes of the grace of God Act. 20. 24. That I might be the Minister of Iesus Christ toward the Gentiles ministring as the worship of God the Gospell that is the ioyfull newes of God That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost So that from Ierusalem and round about unto Illiricum I have by Christ working in me caused to abound the Gospel that is the ioyfull newes of Christ Rom. 15. 16 19. Yea so I forced my self to preach this ioyfull newes not where Christ was named lest I should build upon another mans foundation But as it is written to whom hee was not spoken of they shall see and they that have not heard they shall understand vers 20 21. All which againe is as briefly as notably expressed by the established Doctrine of our Church out of Saint Basil saying thus This is a perfect and whole reioycing in God when a man advanceth not himselfe for his owne righteousnesse but acknowledgeth himselfe to lack true iustice and righteousnesse and to be iustified by onely faith in Christ And the Apostle Saint Paul saith he
sepulchre with their tongues they have used deceit the poyson of Asps is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse their feet are swift by anger and malice to shed blood destruction and misery are in their wayes and the way of peace they have not knowne there is no feare of God before their eyes And whereas the naturall man in the dead faith will by his civill honest and supposed sanctified life put all this away from himselfe to such as are profane and grosly wicked saying that this is spoken of them that are meerly and wholly in the estate of nature and that so peradventure he might have been such a one but now thanks be unto God he is not such a one yet the true sanctified children of God that are truly enlightned to see the spirituall meaning of the Law doe grant and truly feele that by their daily and continuall spirituall breaches of the Law they are truly such indeed as Paul here describeth so shut up under sin both they and all their best sanctified good works Gal. 3. 22. that there is not one that doth good no not one Whereby they feele that every mouth even of the most sanctified is stopped and all the world is found subject to the judgement of God A cleare example of the truth hereof is Paul himselfe who although he was one of the most sanctified amongst men yet he cried out saying The Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sinne for to will is present with me but I finde no meanes how to performe that which is good Rom. 7. 18. And thus feeling in himselfe with the Prophet Esay that all his righteousnesse of sanctification was as foule menstrous filthy rags Esay 64. 6. because in all his good works he brake the tenth Commandement and so as much as lay in him did destroy himselfe in all his good works Hosea 13. 9. Even death it selfe being in the pot of his most sanctified good works and best actions therefore hee cried out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. This is to bee slaine by the Law this is to understand the Law rightly especially the tenth Commandement And this is the first means to come out of this dead faith and to call others out of the same being throughly marked and deeply considered 2 The second meanes to come out of this dead faith and to call others out of the same is truly to understand and open unto others the excellency of free justification That as the spirit hath convinced us and all our best works of sinne by the looking-glasse of the Law so the spirit may also convince us of free given righteousnesse Joh. 16. 8 9 10. namely that wee and all our works are of unjust made just that is perfestly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely by faith only without works And mark how I say not simply free justification but the excellency of free Justification must be diligently looked into and deeply considered in foure principall respects 1 First in the most excellent and glorious causes of it being the glorious work of the whole Godhead wherein God the Father in giving his sonne and God the sonne in pouring forth his blood and life and God the holy Ghost in applying it to us and in cloathing though mystically yet truly our souls and bodies with this wedding garment and in creating the new eyes of faith to see these spirituall riches doe all work severally and wonderfully to effect the same upon us and that also freely onely by free grace that is God respectign no goodnesse or worthinesse in us to deserve the same but rather that we feele our wretched misery nor respecting no evils or unworthinesse in us to hinder the free taking of his rich grace That it might be to the praise of the glory of his free grace wherewith hee hath made us freely accepted in his beloved one Eph. 1. 6. And for this cause doth God bestow this benefit upon us that is upon the young children of Christian parents usually and ordinarily in our baptisme even when wee were little Infants God pitying our misery when we could not pitty our selves and washed us from the spirituall blood of our originall sinne Ezek. 16. 6 9. with the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost that we being iustified by his grace should be made heires of eternall life Tit. 3. 5 6 7. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having made us pure and clean by the washing of water through the word That hee might even when wee were little senselesse Infants and thereby as good as double dead to all sense and feeling in trespasses and sinnes and by nature the children of wrath make us to himselfe a glorious Church not having now at this present time as the Greeke and Latine participles signifie one spot or wrinkle of sinne or any such thing but are holy and without blame Ephes 5. 26 27. Because wee are made thus perfectly pure and clean before God not onely from that one offense of our originall sinne but also from all the many actuall sinnes of our whole life even in our baptisme even when we are Infants that is utterly helplesse in our selves that all this blessednesse may be the more freely upon us And that as Saint Paul saith Although the iudgment was by one offense unto condemnation yet the gift is not so but the free gift is of many offenses to iustification Rom. 5. 16. So that if by one mans offense death reigned by one much more they that receive that abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousnesse shall reigne in life by one that is Iesus Christ vers 17. And thus wee see that as there is no difference of young or old but all have sinned and are deprived and come short of the glory of God so all that receive this free gift of righteousnesse are justified freely by Gods grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 23 24. And thus much of the excellent causes of free justification briefly touched 2. Secondly wee must consider deeply the excellent nature it self of free iustification in that it is the head and chiefest benefit of the Gospel whereby by the power of Gods imputation we are so clothed with the wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse that of uniust we are made iust before God that is so perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sinne in the sight of God freely by faith alone without works That as St. Paul speaketh wee are made the righteousnesse of God in him that is in this faith in him The excellency of which benefit was so rightly marked and so diligently considered by Chrysostome that he thereupon breaketh out into these words of ioy and admiration of the same saying Qualis sermo what a saying is this what heart or understanding can
in the Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the heathen through faith preached before this joyfull newes of the Gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all the Gentiles bee blessed So that they that bee of this faith of free justification are blessed with faithfull Abraham Gal. 3. 8 9. And can our hearts wish or desire any more This is the royalty of having on the wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse freely given us to cleanse us from our secret sinnes and breaches of the tenth commandement unknown unto our selves Psal 19. 12. And to make us and all our works both naturall civill and religious pure clean perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sinne in the sight of God freely without workes or our perfect working of them as Saint Paul testifieth saying to the pure all things that is our naturall works and our civill works and our religious workes and all things are pure Tit. 1. 15. Thus onely by free justification hath Christ delivered us from this present evill world according to the will of God even our father Gal. 1. 4. Thus hath God made us meet to bee partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Because he hath thus delivered us from the power or kingdome of darknesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his deare sonne Col. 1. 12 13. Thus our righteousnesse exceeding the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees we are entred into the kingdom of heaven Matth. 5. 20. which kingdome of heaven is within us Luk. 17. 21. For the kingdome of heaven is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And thus if any man either Preacher or private Christian have some true touch first of the horrible filthinesse of the least sin in Gods sight and then of this glorious excellency of free justification thus perfectly healing us of it it will make us to say with Saint Paul Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledg sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I may make my gain of Christ and be found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God through faith Phil. 3. 8 9. which one Scripture I have now divers times alledged because it so fully describeth the markes or rather the very nature and essence of the true saving faith That whosoever doth in any measure of truth feele the same with Paul in his heart let him certainely know that he hath escaped out of the most dangerous dead Faith and hath Pauls faith that is the true lively and justifying faith which onely most certainly saveth him and glorifieth him For whom God justifieth them also hee glorifieth Rom. 8. 30. And thus much be spoken of the two main points of religion which being thus thorowly looked into and deeply considered are the effectuall means to deliver us out of the dead faith and to translate us into the true lively justifying and saving faith Now out of these two points thus thorowly looked into and deeply considered will infallibly flow a third thing which as St. Iohn teacheth in all his three Epistles is Love which Paul also very resolutely testifieth saying For in Christ Iesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which is effectuall operative or workfull by love For the true beleever having by this true faith a feeling of the true love of Christ toward him it onely and infallibly inflames his heart with the true love of Christ againe and of God in Christ and of his whole Church of every child of God in particular which true love constraineth the beleever 2 Cor. 5. 14. Not onely to doe his vocation diligently and so with David to serve his generation faithfully Act. 13. 36. as S. Paul likewise teacheth Gal. 5. 13. saying Brethren ye have been called unto liberty that is Now after that faith is come ye are no longer under the whipping Schoole-master Gal. 3. 25. Wherein though ye were heires yet being as little children ye differed nothing from servants Gal. 4. 1. Onely use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another but also it constraineth him to break off from and to mortifie all sinne and ungodly conversation and to walke freely cheerfully sincerely and zealously in all Gods will and commandements declaratively to manward which is true sanctification And thus it is most true which the established doctrine of our Church largely teacheth saying That this true faith of free justification is a thing of perfect vertue and wonderfull operation strength and power to bring forth all good motions and good works or else it is not the true lively justifying faith but the blind dead faith that leaves men in sin death and double damnation as these and such like Scriptures teach Titus 2. 11. to 15. For that grace of God namely of free justification bringeth salvation for nothing brings salvation upon men but onely the grace of free justification and therefore it is called the iustification of life Rom. 5. 18. hath appeared to all men and teacheth us dictamine charitatis by the instructing power and force of love to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world What is the moving or effecting cause hereof Because Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all our iniquities and purge or purifie or make us clean to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works vers 14. Thus Paul pithily expresseth also to the Ephesians chap. 2. 10. saying For wee are Gods workmanship namely by free justification created in Christ Iesus that is made by free Justification new creatures to Godward 2 Cor. 5. 17. 21. that is formed anew in Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 19. unto good workes that is to Sanctification Repentance Mortification Sincerity and Vniversall declarative obedience to all Gods will and commandements declaratively to man-ward Which God hath fore-ordained that we should walk in them Hence it is that Saint Iohn also so vehemently testifieth 1 Iohn 3. 6 9. saying whosoever is borne of God that is whosoever is iustified sinneth not that is sinneth not wittingly and willingly with free stream running to sinne as before his free iustification For Gods seed that is some true sight of Gods pure and righteous nature infinitely hating the creature defiled with the least sinne in his sight and some feeling of the infinite love of Christ bleeding out his bloud and life to iustifie him this seed remaineth in him and hee cannot sinne that is hee cannot lead so dissolute a conversation in sinne as he did before Because he is born of God that is Because of a wilde crab-tree he by free iustification is made a perfect good tree to
Godward Therefore hee cannot choose but bring forth the good fruit to man-ward of Sanctification This is largely taught in the whole fifth and sixth chapters of the Epistle to the Romanes where it is shewed that free justification as the cause and sanctification as the effect doe alwayes follow unseparably one the other Hence it is that S. Iames 2. 14. doth so sharply taunt carnall professors of free justification saying What doth it profit my brethren for a man to say hee hath faith and hath not works Can that faith save him No But shew me thy faith by thy works And here mark how he saith not shew God thy faith by thy works nor shew thy selfe thy faith by thy works but shew me that am thy Christian Minister that have the charge of thy soule and have the keyes given me of the Kingdom of heaven to binde thee and loose thee Matth. 16. 19. shew him thy faith by thy works or thy Christian neighbours that dwell round about thee and deale with thee shew them thy faith namely that it is true and sound by thy works that is by thy sanctified words and deeds that flow from love and a godly conversation For know O thou vaine man that faith without such works is dead Seest thou not that by the example of Abraham and Rahab that faith was effectuall operative and powerfull by works and by their works was their faith made perfect that is declared to bee sound and true But as the body without the spirit is dead so faith also without sanctified words and deeds flowing from true love is dead verse 26. This even Christ himselfe teacheth also Mat. 5. 16. saying Let your light namely of free Justification so shine before men how shine by sanctification that they may see the beames of your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven Thus a Christian as Saint Iames speaks is made perfect and entire lacking nothing why because he is pure as the Sunne to Godward by free Justification faire as the Moone to Manward by sanctification and terrible as an army with banners by zeale of Gods glory Cant. 6. 9. This is the established doctrine of our Church this is true Protestancy this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to goe with a right foot to the truth of the Gospel Gal. 2. 14. If any man can shew me a better way I will endeavour to run with him in it But if this be the old way that we bee commanded of God Ier. 6. 16. to ask after that old Abraham and all the ancient saved fathers walked in mentioned Heb. 11. And not only the old way but also the good way which only bringeth rest and peace unto our soules For being justified by faith wee have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. Then let us embrace one another in the truth of this way Let no man be so wilfull and obstinate to his owne damnation as to say with the stubborne lost Jewes Wee will not walk in it Ier. 6. 16. FINIS Abrahams Stepps of Faith The two maine saving points of Religion the deep consideration by Gods holy spirit and thorough marking whereof causeth our true conversion peace of conscience and assurance of free salvation by Iesus Christ Being the expresse word of God and the established Doctrine of our Church at the restoring of the pure Gospel of Christ into this land enjoyned to the Ministers of England by the godly authority and publick consent of Parliamēt to be taught to the people for suppression of Errours and Popery for the quieting of consciences in the matters of religion for the beating down of sin and all vitiousness of life out of the Land consisting of these two main points mentioned Iohn 17. 3. This is eternall life to know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent FIrst that the filthinesse of sinne is such to Gods infinite pure and righteous nature that God cannot but detest curse and abhor the creature that hath any sin in his sight as these and such like Scriptures teach Esay 59. 2. Deut. 27. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Rom. 5. 12. Deut. 28. 15. to 20. Because sin being spirituall high Treason against the highest Majesty 1 Sam. 15. 23. and the Image of the Devill doth make the creature spiritually foule filthy loathsome and abominable in Gods sight though no curse and punishment should follow upon the same as these and such like Scriptures teach Iob 15. 15 16. Hab. 1. 13. Mark 7. 20. to 25. Yea and makes the best good works of the most sanctified children of God to be sin and all their righteousnesse of sanctification to be as soule filthy menstruous rags as these and such like Scriptures teach Rom. 7. 18. Esay 64. 6. Rom. 4. 5. Gal. 3. 22. And we must look so deepely into the truth of this first point that wee bee throughly affected with the same as the Prophet Esay was chap. 6. 5. the neglect whereof is the main cause that the huge multitude yea of many zealous workers doe perish in the dead Faith Because they know not God that is his righteousnesse that is his holy and righteous nature where in we were most blinded by the fall of Adam Esay 46. 12. 13. this is the first point The second point is that by the power of Gods imputation we are so clothed with the wedding-garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse that all our sinnes being done away and abolished out of Gods sight we and all our works are freely made of unjust just before God that is perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely by faith only without works as these and such like Scriptures doe teach Dan. 9. 24. Esay 45. 24 25. Esay 53. 11. Rom. 5. 16 17 18. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Rom. 5. 19. Rom. 3. 23 24 28. Tit. 1. 15. Hereby we may see that the parts of free Justification are two First that by the blood and wedding-garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse all our sins are done away abolished not out of us 1 Iohn 1. 8. that we may live by faith Gal. 2. 20. but from before God or out of Gods sight 1 Col. 2. 22. and we and all our works are made pure and cleane from all sin freely in the sight of God as these and such like Scriptures teach Esay 44. 22. Iohn 1. 29. Esay 43. 25. 1 Iohn 1. 7. Revel 1. 5 6. Heb. 9. 26. Act. 10. 15. Act. 15. 8 9. Heb. 1. 3. and 9. 13 14. Col. 1. 22. And this was the Prophet Esay's remedy against the filthinesse of his sin in Gods sight chap. 6. 6 7. Secondly that the same wedding-garmēt of Christs perfect righteousnesse doth also make us and all our works of unjust just before God that is perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely without our perfect workings as these and such like Scriptures teach Esay 61. 10. Rom. 3. 21 22. Eph. 5.
26 27. Rom. 5. 17 19. Rev. 3. 18. Col. 1. 22. 2. 10. Rom. 8. 4. 9. 30. Heb. 10. 14. And mark how I say not only we our persons but also all our works both naturall civill and religious and all our sanctified actions which by their imperfections are in themselves foule and filthy are by free Justification made so pure and clean yea so perfectly holy and righteous and thereby so acceptable and perfectly well-pleasing to God that they are all as I said both naturall civill and religious actions like the excellent sacrifice of righteous Abel and works of Enoch Noah Abraham as these and such like Scriptures teach Heb. 11. 4 5 6 7 c. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 16. Act. 15. 9. Hos 14. 2. Heb. 13. 15. Phil. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 20 21. This is the Kingdom of heaven set up here on earth by Christ so much spoken of in the Gospel Matth. 11. 11 12. Matth. 6. 33. Rom. 4. 17 18. this is to know Jesus Christ whom the Father hath sent Iohn 17. 3. Now God will have this benefit of Christs righteousnesse justifying both our persons and works to be received and enjoyed by faith only for divers Reasons First that it may be free only for taking it by faith Secondly that it may be to the praise and glory of his grace Eph. 1. 4 5 6. Thirdly that he that glorieth may glory only in the Lord Christ Esay 45. 25. 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Fourthly that none may boast but be humbled in his best works of sanctification Eph. 2. 9. Rom. 7. 24. Fifthly that the promise of inheritance of Righteousnesse and Life might be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. Sixthly and especially because none shall be saved but the true children of Abraham as these Scriptures teach Rom. 2. 28 29. Rom 4. 11 12 16. Gal. 3. 16. 29. But none are the true children of Abraham but such as walk in the steps of the faith of their father Abraham Rom. 4. 12. Therefore it is exceeding needfull yea only necessary to know what those steps are hereof the Apostle doth diligently describe unto us the justifying faith of Abraham Rom. 4. 17. to 22. that we may not be ignorant except wee will be wilfull in our owne just damnation what those steps of Abrahams faith were which were these foure The first step is the foundation and ground of Abrahams faith namely that he beleeved in him that quickens the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were verse 17. that is he makes the things that be not to have as true a being before himselfe by his call or as he cals them as if they had a visible being to our eyes and so faith is a true substance and being of things that are not seen Heb. 11. 1. This is the first Step. The second Step is the battell of his faith namely that Abraham against or contrary to hope beleeved under hope according as it was spoken So shall thy seed be verse 18. that is contrary to all hope of what he saw and felt in himselfe in that he was as good as dead to the having of children and yet he beleeved under hope of Gods word according as it was spoken not that hee notwithstanding his deadnesse to children should yet have three or four children but thou art so fruitfull before me that thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude In this was the battell of his faith in that against hope he beleeved under hope The third step is the victory of his faith namely that he not weake in faith considered not but pulled back his eyes from his own body now dead and thereby impossible to reason to have children and also considered not the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe who was more unlikely to have children than he neither did he doubt of the promise of God by unbeliefe but was strengthened in faith and thus got the victory in his faith verse 19. The fourth step is the triumph of faith namely that he gave glory to God that is confessed in his heart the truth of God speaking though he spake impossible things to reason and present sense and feeling and also glorified the power of God as all-sufficient to doe impossible things as hee had spoken it Being fully assured that hee which had spoken though it seemed never so impossible must needs be true of his word and also was able to doe it Because hee hath power enough to do all impossible things to reason and so gave glory to God vers 20 21. and therfore it was imputed unto him for righteousnes vers 22. Now this was not written for Abraham onely that it was imputed unto him for righteousnesse vers 23. but also for us to whom it shall be imputed for righteousnesse that trust in the death of Christ for the abolishing of our sins and in his resurrection for our free and full iustification whereby as the true sonnes and daughters of Abraham wee do imitate in our free iustification Abrahams faith and so doe walke in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham thus or after this manner First is the foundation and ground of our faith of free iustification namely to beleeve in God that by imputing his sons righteousnesse quickens them that are dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 5. How by making us that are not iust and righteous to be by his call as truly and perfectly iust and righteous in Gods sight as he calls us as if we did see and feele our selves perfectly holy and righteous in outward sense and feeling and this is the foundation and ground of our free iustification which causeth the substance and very being of free iustification to be in us Rom. 3. 26. though we doe see no such things with bodily eyes Heb. 11. 1. 3. Secondly followes the battel in our faith of free iustification that wee contrary to all hope of what we see and feel in our selvs whereby we see and feel our own righteousnesse to be as filthy menstruous rags Esa 64. 6. do yet beleeve under hope of Christs righteousnesse that we of uniust are made iust before God that is our bodies and souls are made perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely without works according to that which is spoken As by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 5. 19. according as it is spoken The bloud of Iesus Christ the Son of God doth make us clean from all sin 1 Ioh. 1. 7. this is the battell in the faith of our free iustification that against hope we beleeve under hope Thirdly followes the victory that we not weak in faith doe not consider but pull back our eyes from the free consideration of our bodies which we feel dead in sinne Rom. 7. 24. nor yet consider the deadnesse of our natures by
originall corruption dwelling in us like Sarahs unfruitfull wombe neither will wee doubt of this iustifying promise by unbelief but be strengthened in faith that our bodies and soules are made perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely And thus we get with Abraham the victory in our faith of free iustification Fourthly follows the triumph of faith of free iustification that wee give glory to God being fully assured that he which hath spoken it that by his Sons bloud he hath made us pure and clean yea perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in his own sight freely Heb. 10. 14. Col. 1. 22. must needs be true of his word and also able to doe it because hee is almighty and hath power sufficient to doe all things to reason sense and feeling impossible Matth. 19. 26. Luk. 1. 37. and so gives glory to God which is the Religion of Religions the worship of worships the service of services the sacrifice of sacrifices the wisdome of wisdomes the righteousnesse of righteousnesses without which all other service and worship are sinne and abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16. 15. Heb. 10. 38 39. Thus we walking by free justification in the steps of our father Abraham there follow thereof these two great and excellent effects First perfect reconciliation and peace with God for being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1 And all evils and punishments for sin being done away that we may serve God without fear Luk. 1. 74. we are truly blessed for as many as are of faith of free iustification are blessed with faithful Abraham Gal. 38. 9. and together with faithfull Abraham are made sufficiently rich with all temporall riches Gen. 13. 2 5 6. and also spirituall and eternall riches which Abraham chiefly rejoyced in Ioh. 8. 56. 2. Cor. 8. 9. Heb. 11. 9 10. yea heirs of the whole world onely by this righteousnesse of faith for saith Paul the promise that Abraham should be the heire of the world was not given unto Abraham or to his seed through the Law but through the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4. 13. 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. For if they that are of the Law be heires faith is made void and the promise is made of none effect vers 14. Therefore it is of faith that it may come by grace and the promise might be sure to all the seed not to that only which is of the Law that is to the Jewes onely but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham that is to the Gentiles also who is the father of us all vers 16. The second effect is that this faith of free justification and this walking in the steps of our father Abraham causeth us infallibly to walke in the steps of the works of our father Abraham whereby like Abraham without the Law of the ten Commandements we walk holily soberly and righteously in all Gods Commandements declaratively to manward being zealous of good workes Tit. 2. 11 12 13. c. By all this it is clear that the practice and preachings and bookes of such Ministers are exceeding bad and dangerous as by a preposterous zeale of works and well-doings speake little or nothing of faith of free justification thinking by the dead faith it is an easie matter to walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham but that all the hardnesse lyeth in workings and well-doings and therfore do call for a good life and the doing of all holy duties zealously but preposterously before people be sure by comfort and joy of free iustification that they walke in the steps of the faith our father Abraham such Ministers I say in stead of making people the true children of Abraham of the free woman Sarah do make them bastard children of the bond-woman Hagar that must be cast out of the inheritance Gal. 4. 21. In stead of making them the children of the promise they make them children that will be under the Law and workes Gal. 4. 21. In stead of making them children of faith and of the blessing they make them the children of workes and of the curse Gal. 3. 10. In stead of working peace with God in their consciences they worke unquietnesse fears and troubles of conscience about workes In stead of making the inheritance of righteousnesse and life to come by grace and the promise to be sure to all the seed they make it to come as it were by working and the promise to be unsure and doubtfull to all the seed In stead of making them heires of all blessings temporall and eternall with faithfull Abraham they make them as much as in them lyeth heires of all evils and punishments with the deceitfull workmen mentioned 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. In stead of making them to walke in the true good workes of Abraham they make them at the best but to walk in the seeming good works of the devouter sort of Scribes and Pharisees that is in a legall bastard sanctification which is of high esteem and beauty amongst men but is filthy abomination in the sight of God Luk. 18. 19. Rom. 10. 2 3. Luk. 18. 19. 11. 12. Act. 22. 3 4. 26. 5 7. 13. 50. The true Treasure of the Heart Matth. 6. 21. FOr where your treasure is there will your hearts be also so that if the wedding garment of Christs perfect righteousnesse making us perfectly holy and righteous from all spot of sin in the sight of God freely by faith onely without works and working be our treasure there will be our hearts and tongues also and then our hearts stand right to Christ and our tongues to make others chast virgins to Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2 3. and true children of Abraham and of that Jerusalem which is above the mother of us all and we shall never bee cast out as bastard children Gal. 1. 21 to 31. Col. 1. 28 29 21 22. chap. 2. 10. Heb. 10. 14. Rom. 5. 10 21. Col. 1. 12 13. Because wee bring forth a true godly life only for and by the joy and excellency of Free Iustification not carnally but rightly understood and embraced Tit. 2. 11 12 13 14. But if Sanctification repentance humiliation mortification universall obedience holy righteous walking in all Gods commandements sincerity and new life and such like works bee our treasure and diamond then there will be our hearts and tongues also to extoll dignifie and extort the same whereby producing by legall arguments but a false bastard sanctification Phil. 3. 6. our hearts stand adulterously to Christ and all such preaching and holinesse produced thereby is but idolatry and unbelief 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. and such Preachers by misunderstanding and darkning Free Iustification do ipso facto stand accursed by S. Paul and excommunicated though in all other gifts and graces they bee like Angels from heaven Gal. 1. 8 9. and ever in danger of sudden death Rev. 3. 13. Gal. 5. 12. Therefore beware of the dead Faith which being varnished and gilt over with a preposterous zeal and opinion of holinesse and righteousnesse before God by walking in all Gods commandements doth give Christ and Free Iustification a Iudas his kisse Rom. 10. 3. And yet such Preachers tremble not as they go up into the Pulpits although their preachings be both idolatrous and trayterous Here is life and death who hath an ear to regard it FINIS