rich men and Rulers of the people see at large Micha 6. declaring the procuring cause of that Judgement of the good man perishing out of the earth such they were as that the good man being perished or taken away from among them the best of them was a Bryar and the most upright as a Thorn-hedge see Chap. 7. 3. 4 5. yea in Ezekiels time many of them did shew much love and respect to the Prophet while hee was among them and he was to them as a pleasant Song yet they would not regard his words to doe them or to suffer their saving operation in them for their heart went after their covetousnes and that is there given as the reason of the Judgement threatned in which they should know that a Prophet had been among them Ezek. 33. 30 33. 3 Others there are that through the knowledge of God in Christ have made some escape from them that live in errour and from the pollutions that are in the world through Lust and some of them have stood against many strong temptations and have tried those that say they are Apostles and are not and found them Lyars and yet after all this turn again with the Dogge to his vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire leaving their first love to that person and to the excellent knowledge of him Some with a more high hand then others turn from the holy Commandement after knowledge of the truth received and turning away their ears from the truth are turned aside to Fables even to such damnable Heresies as in which privily under pretence of magnifying him the Lord that bought them is denied by them others cleaving to and embracing this present world not continuing in but forsaking the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship not discerning or considering and remembring the excellency grace and vertue of the Lords Body that was broken for us and for such like iniquity God threatens the removing of their Candlestick Revel 2. 1 5. Now if yet we would judge our selves we should not be further judged of the Lord if when his hand is lifted up even to destroy and make an utter desolation yet if any take notice of it and say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited mee not then he is gracious and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit for I have found a ransome If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the bloud of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin but he that hideth his sin shall not prosper hee that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly fall and that without remedy and this leads us to the next Branch of instruction namely 2 That when God so strikes and yet none lay to heart or consider it it s an evidence of great hardnesse and wilful blindnesse in such a people and a sign and fore-runner of greater judgements The truth of this is evidenced in the fore-mentioned Scriptures yet for farther and more particular demonstration of it See also Isa 26. 9. Oh Lord when thine hand is lifted up they will not see it but they shall see and be ashamed c. Jer. 5. When God hath threatned and begun to make desolations as chap. â— Then he saith Run to and fro through the streets and broad places And see now if yee can finde a man if there be any that executeth judgement that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it And though they say The Lord liveth and swear by his Name surely they swear falsly O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return and in this also the poor and rich did agree to break the yoke and burst the bands as Psal 2. Therefore a Lion out of the Forrest shall slay them A Wolf of the Evenings that comes privily to devour like that spirit of Antichrist and ministers of Satan Prophesied of to abound in the last days that come with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish privily bringing in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them such an enemy shall spoyl and destroy them God shall send them strong delusions by giving permissive commission to Satan aâ— in the case of Ahah 1 King 22. 19 22. that they should beleeve a lye that they all might bee damned who beleeved not the truth but bad pleasure in unrighteousnesse Surely his soul shall be avenged on such a Nation as this See also Psal 78 64 65 c. What then shall wee say when in stead of laying it to heart and considering it and being grieved many rejoyce and sport themselves at such judgements as Micah 7. 8. Isa 57. 3 4. imagining they shall now have their desire and that the Righteous being taken away their name even the good name of God that was upon them shall perish as Psal 41. 5 6 7. and therefore encourage themselves in their evil wayes doctrines and practises faithful reprovers that were a terrour to them being ceased from them now they say as Psal 12. our tongues are our own who is Lord over us And now aâ— men delivered to do such abominations they speak vanity every one with his neighbour with a flattering lip and double heart thinking to prevail with their lip or doctrine now to root out the lip of knowledge encouraging themselves as if the foundations of the righteous were destroyed and therefore reproachfully saying to the poor that hath no helper but God and yet puts his trust in him where is now thy God thy hope thy confidence what can the righteous do Mic. 7. 10. Psal 11. But our God who is our rock and foundation is in his holy Temple in his Son our very present help and strong Tower of defence to save us The Lords throne is in Heaven from whence his eyes behold his eye lids trye the children of men hee is a God by whom actions are weighed in an even ballance and though hee do not speedily execute judgement against evil works because hee delights in mercy and would not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance such his gracious affection towards sinners even rebellious ones in this day of his grace and patience yet all these things are laid up in store with him sealed up among his treasures and shall be brought forth when every secret thing shall bee brought to light and God shall manifest the counsels of the heart then no more patience or forbearance to bee exercised towards rebels the Lord shall laugh then at their calamity and mock when their fear commeth yea the Lord himself shall come and ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed
righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth these things shall live by them according to which rule there shal no man be justified in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge of sin yea it concludes under the Curse Every â—â—â— that continueth not in all that is written in the book of the Law to doe it Gal. 3. 10 11 12. so that whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point Jam. 2. 10. and there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. yea la many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wife Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead it sets not men a work to enquire how these things she ll bee wrought for them in Christ or to fancy or seek for an accomplishment of them over again in them But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even that preaching of peace by Jesus Christ declaring all this freely done and finished for us by God in the Person of Christ without any thought motion or desire of ours This word of Reconciliation is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart even this word of faith which wee preach declaring the ground of Faith prepared and true in him and thence instructing and perswading to beleeve it This is made nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed that by its owne light and power it might bee acknowledged and beleeved that if according as in this nigh coming of the Word light and power comes with it instructing moving and strengthening the heart thou shalt confess with thy mouth and beleeve in thine heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness c. Rom. 9. 30-33 10. 1-11 therefore also this Prophet Isaiah interprets the true followers after righteousness to bee they that seek the Lord for righteousness and strength that on the report of his righteousness being near in Christ in whom he hath caused his Judgement to rest for a light to the people doe beleeve that report and entertaine in their heart that his Law or Doctrine Isa 51. 1-7 45. 22-25 53. 1. Those that in the light and power of Gods testimony concerning Christ in the opening of it to them as therein it is made nigh them fall down in the sence and acknowledgement of their owne sinfulness and vileness and the unprofitableness of all their owne works to help them and seek righteousness in Christ even by faith in him in what hee hath done and is become for sinners that through the knowledge and faith of him they may bee found in him clothed with his Righteousness and not that of their own Phil. 3 8 9 10. 1 Job 5. 20. These are the righteous and so of the righteous Nation that learneth and keepeth the truth as it is in Jesus these are the righteous spoken of in this text and therefore truly so called 1 Because herein they doe Righteousness or Justice they are doers or workers of good Rom. 2. 10. Acts 10. 35. 43. 1 Joh. 2. 18 29. 3. 6. 2 Joh. 9. 3. Joh. 11. For 1 In this they doe nothing in any light wisdome or strength of theirs as of them in or by which no man can understand the things of the Spirit or come to Christ or doe good but as knowing their strength is to sit still in this respect letting their imaginations fall and every high thing that exalts it self against the obedience of Christ they by him do beleeve in God they through Grace beleeve and that not of themselves but of the gift of God they come in his drawings see light not in their own but in his light beleeve in the evidence and demonstration of his Spirit and by the power thereof coming along to them in his words and works so that their faith is of the operation of God who of the discovery of his owne good will in Christ through the word of truth begets them they are in this not their owne but his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus who of God is made to them Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and so doe work the work of God not only which hee requires of them but which himself is working in them Joh. 6. 29. for they are born to this beleeving on his name not of bloud nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1. 12 13. 1 Jâ—h 5. 1. Jam. 1. 18 19. 1 Cor. 1. 29 30. Eph. 2. 10. and yet this is graciously imputed or counted to them for righteousness though it is the powerful operation of the grace of God in them through his name As on the other hand that which is in Scripture called Vnbelief that is to reject when men hear is truly charged on men as their owne proper sin disobedience and unrighteousness even wilfully committed against the light and power of Gods grace bringing Salvation for though men have neither light of understanding nor freedome or inclination of will in themselves as of themselves yet while he is calling hee is certainly putting forth his hand drawing with the cords of love and the bands of a man the demonstrations of his love evidenced in the lifting up the Son of Man and lifting up the yoke of thraldome on the Jews setting meat before them so that his goodness not only hath tendency but sutable operation in it It doth lead men to repentance though they draw back and harden their hearts again so that he that despiseth despiseth not man only but God who hath also given them of his holy Spirit to instruct and reprove them they harden their hearts against the word spoken in his Spirit in the light and power of that by his Prophets Isa 65. 1 2. Hâ—s 11. 2-7 Rom. 2. 4 5. Nehem. 9. 20. 26. Zach. 9. 11 12. 1 Thess 4. 8. and so are fighters against God closing their eyes and stopping their ears and hardening their hearts when hee is opening and working upon them lest they should be converted and hee should heal them Mat. 13. 15. 2 They doe in this beleeving on his name doe nothing but what they have good reason and substantial ground for in what he hath done and is become for them as declared in his testi-Mony and what they are thence obliged to as their reasonable service there being a righteous ground and foundation of faith prepared and laid for us in Christ as declared in the Gospel whether men beleeve and so come and be built upon it or no for God hath made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that wee might hee made the righteousness of God in him Whence also the Holy Ghost reproves the world of
sin because they beleeve not on Christ and evidences it to be great unrighteousness from the consideration of what great things he hath done for them as also from the faithful evidences thereof to them instructing and moving to it as their reasonable service so that indeed they render him hatred for his love and evil for his good will and are without cause his adversaries yea against and contrary to all right reason or cause They not regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands which was true in him for and towards them that through him they might have beleeved Joh. 16. 8. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Psal 68. 18-21 2 Corinth 5. 11-21 6. 1 2. Psal 28. 5. 109. 4 5. 3 This work of faith in Jesus is a righteous work directed in truth as may be seen in every act or branch of this faith of the operation of God For 1 Such it is as in which they acknowledge God to be true in his testimony concerning Christ which is the great things of his Law and in all the instructions and sayings thereof and therein acknowledge and disown themselves and all their own imaginations and the traditions of men as discovered and detected in the light of Gods testimony to be vanity and lyes he that hath received his testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true whereas on the other hand hee that beleeveth not God hath made him that is the God Fountain of all truth a Lyar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son even this record that God hath given us eternal life in his Son so as to bee received in receiving him in his testimony c. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12 What greater unrighteousness than to make God a Lyar and yet this is done by all that when they hear beleeve not the record of God concerning Christ but in the faith of Gods operation God is acknowledged to be true and every man a lyar his Word received as his and reverenced and preferred before all the Traditions or Precepts of men if never so many and those never so learned or holy 2 Such it is as in which they ascribe righteousness to their Maker and make their boast of his righteousness and of his only Job 36. 2 3. Psal 71 15 16. As that in which Law is answered Truth fulfilled a Door of approach to God opened and without which they must have been for ever cast out as an uncleane thing so as in this they acknowledge their owne sinfulness and vileness as therein evidenced They are the true confessors of sins that doe in the belief of that testimony of God concerning Christ owne them as theirs according to the discoveries of the true Light and so confess and disowne and give them up as filthy as thereby detected to be purged and such confession and acknowledgement of our owne vileness is certainly included in this faith of the operation of God If a man with the heart beleeve Gods testimony concerning Christ then doth he therein beleeve what it faith concerning himself or concerning Sin or Righteousness to bee true and so beleeving ownes its reproofs whence the Apostle John faith If we any of those great Apostles and so consequently any beleever in this life say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 8. 10. If any object against the righteousness of this act of faith That it is affirmed of Zacharias and Elizabeth that they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless to this we answer This confirms what we have already said for if they walked in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless then they walked in this of confessing our sins always acknowledging our owne vileness and wretchedness And truly this was contained in all those Commandements and Ordinances of the Law under which he served in the Priests Office for in those Sacrifices there was a remembrance againe of sins every year Heb. 10. 3. yea the High Priest himself ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sin 8 Heb. 5. 3. And now the prefect Sacrifice is offered and the Purgation for all Sins compleatly made in the vertue of the bloud of Christ men are in the testimony of this Foâ—untainepened discovered to be sinners and all their righteousness as filthy raggs and so their owne vileness and the need of coming to this Fountains for washing always shewed in the opening of it so that he that walks not in the confession or acknowledgement of his sinfulness vileness and wretchedness as there discovered ascribing righteousness only to his Maker he doth not righteousness hee makes God a Lyar the truth is not in him hee walks not blameless for by the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified as blameless in the sight of God for all have sinned and are sinners have Sin in them as well as Death upon them while in this mortal body rendring it vile and wretched Phil. 3. last Rom. 7. 18-24 And for a sinner to hide his sin is most worthy of blame the just are they that live by faith in the righteousness of another even of Jesus Christ the just and righteous one Behold his Soul which is lefted up is not upright in him Galath 3. 11 12. Rom. 1. 16 17. Hab. 2. 4. Hence the confessing of our sins answers to and is put for the walking in the light as he is in the light 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. and good reason for God is always in the discovery and demonstration of Christ the true light discovering our sinfulness and vileness that we may not trust in our selves but receive the sentence of Death there that we may learn in the beleife and mindfulness of his testimony concerning Christ to trust in him that raiseth the dead So that if we bee walking in the light beleeving and acknowledging Christ in his testimony we must needs be found in the beleeving view and remembrance of what he hath done and is become for us and Gods glory in him confessing our sins and so he that is borne of God that is led of the Spirit of God that always leads into and in Christ for all righteousness and life though he have sin in him for which simply God holds no man underblame or Condemnation by Christ yet so farre forth as he is born of God that is as he abideth in Christ he sinneth not hee doth not commit or serve sin no not in hiding his sins which is the first step of making provision for it which who so doth shall not prosper truly he should sin with a very high hand even to the making God a Lyar if he should say that hee had no sin in him warring and moveing for service or that he had not sinned yea
doubtless in any thing wherein his heart is departing from his refuge or his eye wandring into corners the immortal Seed the Word of God not retained in his heart in beleeving mindfulness Sin gets the advantage of him and his readiness to halt appears and so in many things we offend all and are therein of Satan not of God 1 Joh. 3. 5 8-10 Psal 38. 17 18. Prov. 28. 13 14 Psa 19. 12 13. 119. 8. 11. 133. 176. 51. 1-7 3 Such also is this beleeving with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the Dead that in it the Lord himself becomes the Beleevers hope his expectation of all further grace and glory is in him begot and strengthened from the infinite grace of God to man ward commended in this that while we were sinners and enemies in due time Christ dyed for us and the infinite vertue of his Bloud in which the peace and attonement was made with God for us while we were yet enemies This grace in Christ beleeved renders him precious fills the heart with high esteeme of the greatness and truth of Gods love in him and of the infinite and abiding vertue of his Bloud and his fitness and faithfulness throught it to perfect what concerns them So that in this faith of Gods operation their expectation and hope is not grounded either on a peremptory conclusion that they cannot fall or miscarry or on their act of beleeving or faithfulness and resolutions of constancy and abiding nor are they left to draw up their consolation and hope by way of Argument from their being such or in such a state as to which such Promises are made but the grace in Christ understood and beleeved the heart being exercised in the hearty beleef and mindfulness of him what he hath done and is become for sinners and his office faithfulness and readiness to help teach and draw them and to accept all commers without upbraiding and to give them through his name in the vertues and openings of it forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the knowledge and faith of it and first fruites of the Spirit now and in the hope of the Harvest in due time I say the heart and mind being exercised in the hearty belief and mindfulness of this grace in Christ and so stayed on his name is not then left to reflect back into it self to draw up its consolation and hope from its being such a beleever but is filled with strong consolation and hope through the grace understood and perceived in Christ while the heart is only minding him that is the ground and object of hope the hope is begot and strengthened in a Divine and Spiritual way through the opening of that name and shedding abroad his love in the heart therein so that Jesus Christ received by faith in his testimony and not their receit of him is unto them and in their hearts the hope of glory the ground and foundation of it and he from whom viewed it springs and in whom it iâ— And that after the same consideration of him as hee is in the Gospel preached to every man He that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things See Rom. 5. 5-10 8. 32. Col. 1. 26 27. Gal. 2. 20. Joh. 6. 51. And such is the truth and excellency of this name of God in Christ that they that kâ—â—w it will trust in it if any man whatever did know own listen and seek to it according to the discoveries of it brought him it would beget trust and hope of which he should not be ashamed it quickens to new and living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Again in this faith of the operation of God their expectation is so in him even of all things pertaining to life and godliness to be now given with him not without him or in any other way but through the knowledge of him whom he spared not but delivered up for us all that even that hope retained in them purifies their hearts from ways of iniquity in which presumptuously growing careless or wandering from him they might miscarry and fayl of the grace of God so as they are instructed and admonished by it to give diligence and attend always to read the vision of God as written in the face of Christ that so they may be strengthened to run and kept through faith to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Yea such it is as from the excellency and grace in the ground of it as also in the way in which it is to be met with rather to bee chosen then any other way or rule and the excellent glory of the end of it as strengthens them to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness and as those that beleeve in him and look for such things not to make hast to fancy an accomplishment of the great things hoped for in this day or to bring about the accomplishment of Gods promises he that beleeves makes not hast Behold his soul that is lifted up either above the reading of the Vision of God in Christ in his testimony given for guiding his feet in the way of peace that he may run with patience the race set before him as Heb. 12 1 2. or to imagine and boast of an enjoyment of the Vision so as by seeing and possessing the great things the glory in the hope of which we are called by the Gospel or to put to his hand in striving and fighting for the hasting or bringing forth of Gods righteousness in the things behind His soul is not upright in him but the just shall live by faith In all which considerations it appears they are in this beleâ—ving through his name workers of righteousness doers of the truth and therefore truly called The righteous As well as also 2 Because they are herein justified in the sight of God imputed accounted and accepted righteous in that perfect righteousness Christ hath wrought and is become for them with which faith closeth By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified in the sight of God but now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus that is by the Preaching or Doctrine of Jesus So now manifested unto all and upon all them that beleeve unto all by way of redundancy tender and manifestation but upon all that beleeve even by way of imputation of it to them and acceptation of them in it so in the next Chapter God is said to impute righteousness without works unto them to accept their persons into delightful favour and fellowship by and in the vertue of that perfect righteousness which they have by faith accepted and so they are made accepted in the Beloved they are made or pronounced and presented good just righteous in the sight of God
being found in him and so it is upon all them that beleeve for there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus That vers 24. answers to and shews the reason of both the former branches viz. That the righteousness of God is unto all and upon all them that beleeve though all have sinned c. and so is to be understood in a two-fold sence 1 The whole Nature is justified in the second man Christ Jesus that stood for all to bear their sins in which all have already sinned and with which the whole Nature is thence polluted in that he is justified for them from the sins imputed to him in his Resurrection and this is freely by his grace through the Redemption in Jesus 2. All that beleeve every one of them beleeving what he hath done and is become for sinners and so through his Name beleeving on him are in their particular persons justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in him God accepts them in his Son and remembers not nor doth impute to them their former wickedness or present unprofitableness but imputeth to them righteousness without works as in Acts 10. 35. 43. that saying That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him vers 35. is thus explicated as fulfilled among those where the Gospel comes That through his name whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive the forgiveness of sins vers 43. So Acts 13. 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses they are delivered from under the condemnation of the wrath which in respect of the execution of it is yet to come under which they all abide that on hearing beleeve not on the Son of God 1 Thes 1. 10. Joh. 3. 18. 36. He justifieth even the ungodly beleeving and so coming to and being found in the righteous one that being justified freely by his grace they might be more and more made heirs according to the hope of eternal life given us in Christ that through the righteousness of God and our Saviour they might be made to be meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Rom. 3. 20-22-24 25 26. 4. 3 4 5. Tit. 3. 4-7 And so 3 Therefore also are such beleevers on his name called The righteous because the end and fruit of this righteousness of God and our Saviour in which beleeving they are accepted is also that through the knowledge and faith thereof the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them even the righteous affections and services the Law required but gave no strength to bring forth as well as the life and peace it was ordained to but could not give that the beleever might bee filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ Rom. 8. 2 3 4. Phil. 1. 10 11. even the fruites of the Spirit whose evidence and demonstration is of Christ in his testimony bringing forth in the beleeving receiver love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance And they that are Christs have in the light and strength of the Lord crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts That henceforth they should not serve sin Rom. 6. Gal. 5. They beleeving with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead doe through the grace and power of that beleeved and beleeved in receive in a first fruits of the Spirit the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness in this sence also Giving all diligence through the knowledge of him they adde to or in their faith vertue his goodnesse compassions holinesse c. as manifested in Christ frames to some likenesse or conformity to him in like love bowels mercies holinesse c. And so in their vertue they adde or proceed to further knowledge tastes and proof of his graciousnesse and therein temperance and so godlinesse brotherly kindness charity Hence it is the Apostles would have these things namely the righteousnesse of God and our Saviour through which they were made partakers of such precious and operative faith to bee always bad in remembrance seeing hereby they were saved if they kept in memory 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 c. this word of faith and so this faith that is of the operation of God is not without its works It works through love as from the consideration of Gods love in Christ as the foundation and fountaine of it whence it hath all its fresh Springs so in a channel of love towards God and man It favours therefore of ignorance of the righteousness of God and our Saviour and of the preciousnesse of this faith of Gods operation through it when any say to us That it is not enough for us with the heart to beleeve and close with Gods testimony concerning Christ but we must also look for the work of the Spirit inwardly to quicken save and sanctifie us such sayings at least signifie that the work of the Spirit for quickning saving and sanctifying the soul is another thing besides and divided from this testimony and not certainly met with in this way of beleeving and having the heart and minde exercised and stayed on that name and grace of his beleeved so that a man may with his heart beleeve and confesse that God hath raised Christ from the dead and yet not therein experiment the quickning and saving work of the Spirit contrary to Rom. 10. 9 10. 1 Cor. 15. and so doe indeed lead beleevers having begun in the Spirit to seek to bee made perfect by the flesh True it is a man may say he hath faith when yet his faith hath no works nor spirit left in it only an empty and idle opinionating such a thing or professing to beleeve it as true without any hearty mindfulnesse of the importance or grace of the truth he pretends to cleeve And of such a faith James saith Can it save faith if it have no works is dead a spiritlesse and unprofitable thing being alone yea even that faith is signified by him to be nothing else but a dead Carcasse pretence outside profession or shew of that which indeed is not or not with the heart not kept in beleeving remembrance and mindfulnesse for even there he signifies that if it were unfeigned or with the heart according to the discoveries given lesse or more it would work savingly like as the same Propositions beleeved to be true by the Devils works horror because they speak as much against them as they doe for man even so man any of mankind beleeving with the heart it would be unto righteousnesse Let God bee true and every man a lyar if any say hee stedfastly and with his heart beleeves the truth and greatnesse of Gods love to man ward as
manifested in Christ and yet perceives no such preciousnesse in Christ and his testimony as to move him according to his measure to count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ but easily listens to and admires the pretended excellencies of other spirits that lift not up the Son of Man according to the Apostles Doctrine but privily some other thing or work in his stead or embraces and cleaves to the things of this present world nor is moved with like love and compassion towards men from the grace in Christ beleeved nor united in heart with them that fear his Name and call upon him in truth to know and own them as brethren and strive together with them for the faith of the Gospel but hath left his first Love or else hath not yet so received the love of the truth as to save him let us not acknowledge his sayings to bee true that he doth so unfeignedly beleeve the truth as it is in Jesus for so we shall render God a Lyar and his Word without effect but let God be true and every man a Lyar for that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men teacheth us That denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mighty God and our Saviour Let none of us therefore be moved to mean thoughts of the efficacy of the word of faith because we or others prove it not while we think and say we beleeve that thence we should slight that as vain and run to some other way to wait for the Spirit or for perfecting what was begun by the Spirit in the hearing of faith but let us judge our selves of wavering unconstancy or double mindednesse and of neglect of that so great Salvation and having itching ears after something sutable to our divers lusts and let us suffer our hearts by the grace of God while yet admonishing and striving with us to be more fixed trusting in the Lord without guile or waveringnesse seeking righteousnesse in Jesus through the knowledge and faith of him through which he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Let us give more earnest heed to the things we have heard in the word of the truth of the Gospel least at any time we let them slip Consider that love of God to manward appearing in and through Christ saved the Apostles and so and therein they had the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ and that Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that beleeveth for therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith And to this answers the other descriptions of the righteous ones in this text They are merciful men or men of kindnesse or godlinesse Men filled and seasoned with the apprehension and perswasion of the mercies compassions and kindnesse of God to sinners to the unkind and evil and of that as discovered in the face of Christ where he is to be truly known and worshipped And so of his good will in Christ begotten through the word of truth to their faith and hope in him and joy in hope of the glory to bee revealed and patience in tribulations and thence moved and filled with bowels and mercies compassions and kindnesse answerable to that they beleeve and perceive to be in God towards others even towards all in blindnesse and distresse yea to the unkind and evil the love of Christ constraining them to perswade them to be reconciled to God in Christ and to seek â—heir good by all means within their capacity and with all earnestnesse knowing also the â—errour of the Lord because they thus judge That if one dyed for all then were all dead and that be dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him this dyed for them and rose again yea hence also they are filled with delightful love of and desire of fellowship with those that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart and with bowels of mercies humblenesse of mind meeknesse and goodnesseone towards another and towards all men answerable to the kindnesse and mercies of God in Christ And so if we read it men of godlinesse it will come to the same for they are the right and true worshippers of God who worship the Father in spirit and truth and such the Father seeks to worship him they worship adore honour magnifie beleeve and trust in him in the Spirit that is in the light and power of and according to the testimony of Jesus and of Gods glory as shined in his face which testimony the Holy Ghost hath given and in it his evidence and demonstration of Christ and of the Father is And therefore when we are called upon to godlinesse or to worship God that testimony of Jesus is said to be the spirit of Prophecy in and according to which we are to worship Rev. 19. 10. and so they in that light and strength of the Spirit have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus The truth And have no confidence in the flesh Joh. 4. 23 24. 5. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. and in this true worship and fear of the Lord they are made partakers of the Divine Nature in interest in it union or fellowship with it conforming to it so as by Christ through faith so as thereby they goe on purging themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of the Lord 2 Corinth 6. 16-18 7. 1. purifying their hearts through beleef of the truth and retaining the hope of it in them to unfeigned love of the brethren and to more freedome from the intanglements and cares of this world as those that are pressing after the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus which pure religion and undefiled brings forth its fruit in their visiting the Sick the Widdows and fatherlesse in their affliction and keeping themselves unspotted in the world so as they walking in the Spirit though they have flesh warring in them are by the light and power of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and so preserved blamelesse unto the day of Christ Rom. â— 8. 1-13 Gal. 5. And to this agrees that two-fold description of the Persons that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in his holy place Psal 24. 3 4 6. The first is He that hath clean hands and a pure hears that hath not lift up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully for though there is none righteous no not one but all have sinned and are wholly polluted and unclean yet this truth remains for ever Without holiness no man shall see the Lord so that if there be