done but our daty, and are unprofitable servants"; and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirits; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment."

VI. Yet, notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in himnų; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight w; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.* to the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my 2. And enter not into judgment with goodness extendeth not to thee. Job thy servant: for in thy sight shall no xxii. 2. Can a man be porofitable unto man living be justified. Psal. cxxx. God, as he that is wise may be pro- 3. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark inifitable unto himself? Ver. 3. Is it any quiries, O Lord, who shall stand ? pleasure to the Almighty that thou art VI. u Eph. i. 6. To the praise of righteous? or is it gain to him that the glory of his grace, wherein he thou makest thy ways perfect? Job hath made us accepted in the Beloved. xxxv. 7. If thou be righteous, what 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, givest thou him? or what receiveth he are built up a spiritual house, an holy of thine hand? Ver. 8. Thy wicked. priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacriness may hurt a man as thou art, and fices, acceptable to God by Jesus thy righteousness may profit the sou Christ. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it shall of man.

be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron , Luke xyii 10. (See letter p in this may bear the iniquity of the holy Chapter.]

things, which the children of Israel i Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the shall hallow in all their holy gifts: and Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffer. it shall be always upon his forehead, ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, Ver. that they may be accepted before the 23. Meekness, temperance : against - Lord. Gen. iv. 4. And Abel, he also soch there is no law.

brought of the firstlings of his flock, t Isa. Ixiv. 6. But we are all as an and of the fat thereof; and the Lord unclean thing, and all our righteous. had respect unto Abel, and to his of. nesses are as filthy rags, and we all fering. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith de fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, Abel offered unto God a more excellike the wind, have taken us away. lent sacrifice than Cain, by which he Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against obtained witness that he was righthe Spirit, and the Spirit against the teous, God testifying of his gifts; and fesh: and these are contrary the one by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. to the other; so that ye cannot do the w Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, things that ye would. Rom. vii. 15. mine own mouth shall condemn me ; For that which I do, I allow not: for if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove what I wouid, that do I not; but what me perverse. Psal. cxliii. 2. And enI haie, that do I. Ver. 18. I know that ter not into judgment with thy serin me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth vant: for in thy sight shall no man liv. no good thing: for to will is present ing be justified. with me, but how to perform that x Heb. xiii. 20. Now, the God of which is good I find not. Psal. cxliii. peace, that brought again from the

VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith? ; vor are done in a right manner, according to the word " ; nor to a right end, the glory of Godb; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to redead our Lord Jesus, that great Shep- softly. Ver. 29. Seest thou how Anab herid of the sheep, through the blood humbleth himself before me ? because of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. he humbleth himself before me, I will Make you perfect in every good work not bring the evil in his days: but in to do his will

, working in you that his son's days will I bring the evil upon which is well-pleasing in his sight, his house. Phil. i. 15. Some indeed through Jesus Christ; to whom be preach Christ even of envy and strife; glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Cor. and some also of good will. Ver. 16. viii. 12. For if ihere be first a willing The one preach Christ of contention, mind, it is accepted according to that not sincerely, supposing to add afflic. a man hath, and not according to that tion to my bonds. Ver. 18. What then? he hath not. Heb. 10. For God is notwithstanding every way, whether not unrighteous, to forget your work in pretence or in truth, Christ is and labour of love, which ye have preached; and I therein do rejoice, shewed toward his name, in that ye yea, and will rejoice. have ministered to the saints, and do Gen. iv. 5. But unto Cain, and to minister. Matt. xxv. 21. His lord said his offering, he had not respect. And unto him, Well done, thou good and Cain was very wroth, and his coun. faithful servant; thou hast been faith- tenance fell. With Heb. xi. 4. By ful over a few things, I will make thee faith Abel offered unto God a more ruler over many things: enter thou in- excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which to the joy of thy lord. Ver. 23. His he obtained witness that he was righ, Jord said unto him, Well done, good teous, God testifying of his gifts; and and faithful servant; thou hast been by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. failhful over a few things, I will make Ver. 6. But without faith it is imposthee ruler over many things: enter sible to please him : for he that com. thou into the joy of thy lord.

eth to God must believe that he is, and VII. y 2 Kings x. 30. And the that he is a rewarder of them that diLord said unto Jehu, Becalise thou ligently seek him. hast done well in executing that which a 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I beis right in mine eyes, and hast done stow all my goods to feed the poor, unto the house of Ahab according to and though I give my body to be burnall that was in mine heart, thy chil. ed, and have not charity, it profiteth dren of the fourth generation sha!l sit me nothing. Isa. i. 12. When ye come on the throne of Israel. Ver. 31. But to appear before me, who hath requiJehu took no heed to walk in the law red this at your handtoiread mycourts? of the Lord God of Israel with all b Matt. vi. 2. Therefore, when thou his heart: for he deparied not from doest thine alms, do not sound a trum. the sins of Jerobnam, which made pet before thee, as the hypocrites do, Israel to sin. 1 Kings xxi. 27. And it in the synagogues, and in the stree's, came to pass, when Ahab heard those that they may have glory of men. words, that he rent his clothes, and Verily I say unto you, The;' have their put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fast. reward. Ver. 5. And when thou pray. ed, and lay in sackcloth, and went est, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites

ceive grace from God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.

CHAP. XVII, Of the Perseverance of the Saints.
HEY wi om God hath accepted in his Beloved, effec-

tually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

are ; for they love to pray standing in d Psal. xiv. 4 Have all the workers the synagogues, and in the corners of of iniquity no knowledge? who eat the streets, that they may be seen of up my people as they eat bread, and mer. Verily I say unto you, They call not upon the Lord. Psal. xxxvi. have their reward. Ver. 1o. More- 3. The words of his mouth are iniquiover, when ye fast, be not as the hypo- ty and deceit: he hath left off to be crites, of a sad countenance: for they wise, and to do good. Job xxi., 14. disfigure their faces, that they snay ap. Therefore they say unto God, Depart pear unto men to fast. Verily I say froni us; for we desire not the knowunto you, They have their reward.. ledge of thy waysVer. 15. What is

cliag. ii. 14. Then answered Hag- the Almighty, that we should serve gai, and said, So is this people, and him ? and what profit should we have so is this nation before me, saith the if we pray unto him ? Matt. xxv. 41. Lord; and so is every work of their Then shall he say also unto them on hands, and that which they offer there the left hand, Depart from me, ye is unclean. Tit. i. 15. Unid the pure cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared all things are pure: but unto them for the devil and his angels. Ver. 42. that are defiled and unbelieving is no. For I was an hungered, and ye gave thing pure ; but even their mind and me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye conscience is defiled. Amos v. 21.1 gave me no drink ; Ver. 43. I was a -hate, I despise your feast days, and I stranger, and ye took me not in ; 12will not smell in your solemn assem- ked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and blies. Ver. 22. Though ye offer me in prison, and ye visited me not. Ver. burnt-offerings, and your meat-offer- 45. Then shall he answer them, say. ings, I will not accept them; neither ing. Verily I say unto you, Inasaruch

1 will I regard the peace-offerings of as ye did it not to one of the least of your fat beasts. Hosea i. 4. And the these, ye did it not to me. Mátt. xxiii. Lord said unto him; Call his name 23. Woe unto you, scribes and Phari.. Jezreel ::forget a little while, and I sees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon mint, and anise, and cunimin, and the house of Jehu, and will cause to have omitted the weightier matcease the kingdom of the house of Is. ters of the law, judgment, mercy, and rael. Rom. ix. 16. So then, it is not faiib; these ought ye to have done, of him that willeth, nor of him that and not to leave the other undone. runneth, but of God that sheweth I. a Phil. i. 6: Being confident of inercy. Tit. iii. 5. Not by, works of this very thing, that he which hathi. righteousness which we have done, , begun a good work in you, will.per. , but according to his mercy he saved form it until the day of Jesus Chrise. us, by the washing of regeneration, 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rain.ero and renewing of the Holy Ghost. brethren, give diligence to make you: II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Fatherb; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christo; the abiding of the Spirit, and of the sced calling and election sure : for if ye do and calves, but by his own blood, he these things, ye shall never falt. John entered in once into the holy place, *. 28. And I give unto them eternal having obtained eternal redemption life, and they shall never perish, nei- for us. Ver. 13. For if the blood or ther shall any pluck them out of my bulls and of goats, and the ashes of hand. Ver. 29. My Father, which gave an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanc. them me, is greater than all : and none tifieth to the purifying of the flesh ; is able to pluck them out of my Fa. Ver. 14. How much more shall the ther's hand. 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever blood of Christ, who through the eteris born of God doth not commit sin; nal Spirit offered himself without spot for his seed remaineth in him: and he to God, purge your conscience from cannot sin, because he is born of God. dead works to serve the living God? 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the powe Ver. 15. And for this cause he is the er of God through faith unto salvation, Mediator of the new testament, that ready to be revealed in the last time. by means of death, for the redempVer. 9. Receiving the end of your faith, tion of the transgressions that were even the salvation of your souls. under the first testament, they which

ii. b 2 Tim. ii. 18. Who concerning are called might receive the promise the truth have crred, saying that the of eternal inheritance. Rom. viii. 33. resurrection is past already; and over. Who shall lay any thing to the charge throw the faith of some. Ver. 19. of God's elect? It is God that justifNevertheless, the foundation of God eth: Ver. 34. Who is he that condem. standeth sure, having this seal, The neth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, Lord knoweth them that are his. And, that is risen again, who is even at the Let every one ihat nameth the name right hand of God, who also maketh of Christ depart from iniquity. Jer. intercession for us. Ver. 35. Who shall xxxi. S. The Lord hath appeared of separare us from the love of Christ? old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved shall tribulation, or distress, or persethee with an everlasting love : there. cution, or famine, or nakedness, or fore with loving-kindness have I peril, or sword? Ver: 36. (As it is drawn thee.

written, For thy sake we are killed c Heb. x. 10. By the which will we all the day long; we are accounted as are sanctified, through the offering of sheep for the slaughter.) Ver. 37. the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Nay, in all these things we are more Ver. 14. For by one offering he hath than conquerors, through him that perfected for ever them that are sanc- loved us. Ver. 38. For I am persuaded, tified. Heb. xiii. 20. Now, the God that neither death, nor life, nor angels, of peace, that brought again from the nor principalities, nor powers, nor d'ead our Lord Jesus, that great Shep- things present, nor things to come, berd of the sheep, through the blood Ver. 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. any other creature, shall be able to seMake you perfect in every good work, parate us from the love of God, which 10 do his will, working in you that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John which is well-pleasing in his sight, . xvii. 11. And now I am no more in through Jesus Christ; to whom be the world; but these are in the world, glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb. and I come to thee. . Holy Father,

12. Neither by the blood of goats keep through thine own name those

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of God within them ;d and the nature of the covenant of grace : € from all which ariseth also the certainty and infal. libility thereof. f

HÍ. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of iheir preservation, fall into grievous sins ; 5 and for a time continue therein: b whereby they incur God's displeasure, i and grieve whom thou hast given me, that they of my hand. 2 Thess. iii. 3. But the may be one, as we are. Ver. 24. Fa- Lord is faithful, who shall stablish ther, I will that they also, whom thou you, and keep you from evil. 1 John hast given me, be with me where I ii. 19. They went out from us, but am; that they may behold my glory they were not of us : for if they had which thou hast given me: for thou been of us, they would no doubt have lovedst me before the foundation of continued with us : but they went out, the world. Luke xxii. 32. But I that they might be made manifest that have prayed for thee, that thy faith they were not all of us. fail not; and when thou art convert- III. g Matth. xxvi. 70. But he de. ed, strengthen thy brethren. Heb. vii. nied before them all, saying, I know 25. Wherefore he is able also to save not what thou sayest. Ver. 72. And them to the uttermost that come unto again he denied with an oath, I do not God by him, seeing he ever liveth lo know the man. Ver. 74. Then began make intercession for them.

he to curse and to swear, sayin", I d John xiv. 16. And I will pray the know not the man. And immediate. Father, and he shall give you another ly the cock crew. Comforter, that he may abide with b Psal. li. [the title. To the chief you for ever; Ver. 17. Even the Spi- musician, a psalm of David, when rit of truth, whom the world cannot Nathan the prophet came unto him, receive, because it seeth him not, nei. after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. ther knoweth him: but ye know him, Ver. 14. Deliver me from blood-guil. for he dwelleth with you, and shall be tiness, O God, thou God of my salvain you. 1 John ii. 27. But the anoint. tion : and my tongue shall sing aloud ing which ye have received of him an of thy righteousness. bideth in you; and ye need not that i Isa. Ixiv. 5. Thon meetest him any man teach you; but, as the same that rejoiceth and worketh righteous. anointing teacherh you of all things, ness, those that remember thee in thy and is truth, and is no lie ; and even ways: behold, thou art wroth, for we as it haih taught you, ye shall abide have sinned : in those is continuance, in him. 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is, and we shall be saved. Ver. 7. Ard born of God doth not commit sin ; there is none that calleth upon thy 'for his seed remaineth in him: and he name, that stirreth up himself to take cannot sin, because he is born of God. hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy

e Jer. xxxij. 40. And I will make face from us, and hast consumed us, an everlasting covenant with them, because of our iniquities. Ver. 9. Be that I will not turn away from them not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither to do them good ; but I will put my remember iniquity for ever: behold, fear in their hearts, that they shall see, we beseech thee, we are all thy not depart from me.

people, 2 Sam. xi. 27. And when John x. 28. And I give onto them the mourning was past, David sent eternal life, and they shall never pe- and fetched her to his house, and she sish, neither shall any pluck them out became his wife, and bare him a son:

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