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A53733 Truth and innocence vindicated in a survey of a discourse concerning ecclesiastical polity, and the authority of the civil magistrate over the consciences of subjects in matters of religion. Owen, John, 1616-1683. 1669 (1669) Wing O817; ESTC R14775 171,951 414

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this is unquestionably of the highest nature if true and such as might justly render the whole Profession of those who are guilty of it suspected And this is again renewed by our Author who to charge home upon the Non-Conformists reports the saying of Fl●ius Ilyricus a Lutheran who dyed an hundred ye●rs ago namely that bona opera sunt pernitiosa ad salutem though I do not remember that any such thing was maintained by Illyricus though it was so by Amsdorsius against Georgius Major But is it not strange how any man can assume to himself and swallow so much confidence as is needful to the mannagement of this charge The Books and Treatises published by men of the perswasion traduced their daily preaching witnessed unto by multitudes of all sorts of people the open avowing of their duty in this matter their principles concerning sin duty holiness vertue righteousness and honesty do all of them proclaim the blackness of this calumny and sink it with those who have taken or are able to take any sober cognizance of these things utterly beneath all Consideration Moral duties they do esteem commend count as necessary in Religion as any men that live under Heaven It is true they say that on a supposition of that performance whereof they are capable without the assistance of the Grace and Spirit of God though they may be good in their own nature and useful to mankind yet they are not available unto the salvation of the souls of men and herein they can prove that they have the concurrent suffrage of all known Churches in the world both those of old and these at present They say moreover that for men to rest upon their performances of these moral duties for their Justification before God is but to set up their own Righteousness through an Ignorance of the Righteousness of God for we are justified freely by his Grace neither yet are they sensible of any opposition to this Assertion For their own discharge of the Work of the Ministry they endeavour to take their rule pattern and instruction from the precepts directions and examples of them who were first commissionated unto that work even the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Scripture that they might be used and improved unto that end By them are they taught to endeavour the declaring unto men all the Counsel of God concerning his Grace their Obedience and Salvation and having the word of Reconciliation committed unto them they do pray their hearers in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God to this end do they declare the unsearchable riches of Christ and comparatively determine to know nothing in this world but Christ and him crufied whereby their preaching becometh principally the word or Doctrine of the Cross which by experience they find to be a stumbling block unto some and foolishness unto others by all means endeavouring to make known what is the riches of the glory of the mysterie of God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself praying withal for their Hearers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory would give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of their understanding being enlightned they may learn to know what is the hope of his Calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his inheritance in the Saints and in these things are they not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation By this Dispensation of the Gospel do they endeavour to ingenerate in the hearts and souls of men Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. To prepare them also hereunto they cease not by the preaching of the Law to make known to men the Terror of the Lord to convince them of the nature of sin of their own lost and ruined condition by reason of it through its guilt as both Original in their Natures and Actual in their lives that they may be stirred up to fly from the wrath to come and to lay hold on eternal life and thus as God is pleased to succeed them do they endeavour to lay the great Foundation Jesus Christ in the hearts of their Hearers and to bring them to an interest in him by believing In the farther pursuit of the work committed unto them they endeavour more and more to declare unto and instruct their Hearers in all the Mysteries and saving Truths of the Gospel to the end that by the knowledge of them they may be wrought unto Obedience and brought to Conformity to Christ which is the end of their Declaration and in the pursuit of their duty there is nothing more that they insist upon as far as ever I could observe than an endeavour to convince men that that Faith or Profession that doth not manifest it self which is not justified by works which doth not purifie the heart within that is not fruitful in universal Obedience to all the Commands of God is vain and unprofitable letting them know that though we are saved by Grace yet we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus to good works which he hath ordained for us to walk in them a neglect whereof doth uncontrollably evict men of Hypocrisie and falseness in their Profession that therefore these things in those that are Adult are indispensably necessary to salvation Hence do they esteem it their Duty continually to press upon their Hearers the constant observance and doing of whatsover things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are comely whatsoever things are of good report letting them know that those who are called to a participation of the Grace of the Gospel have more higher stronger obligations upon them to Righteousness Integrity Honesty usefulness amongst men in all moral duties throughout all Relations Conditions and Capacities than any others whatever For any man to pretend to write plead that this they do not but indeed do discountenance Morality and the Duties of it is to take a liberty of saying what he pleases for his own purpose when thousands are ready from the highest experience to contradict him And if this false supposition should prove the soul that animates any Discourses let men never so passionately admire them and expatiate in the commendation of them I know some that will not be their Rivals in their Extasies For the other things which those Books are mostly filled withal setting aside frivolous trifling exceptions about Modes of Carriage and common phrases of speech altogether unworthy the review or perusal of a serious Person they consist of such exceptions against expressions sayings occasional reflections on Texts of Scripture Invectives and impertinent calling over of things past and by-gone as the merit of the Cause under contest is no way concerned in And if any one would engage in so unhandsome an employment as to collect such fond speeches futilous expressions ridiculous expositions of