but, when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants r; and because, as they are good, they preceed from his Spirits; and, as they are wrougbt by us, they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment t.

VI. Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being aço cepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him v, not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable

and

which we have done, but according unclean thing, and all our righteto his mercy, he saved as by the oufnefs are as filthy rags, and we all washing of regeneration, and renew- do fade as a leaf, and our iniquiing of the Holy Gtoft: 5.6. Which ties, like the wind, have taken us be shed on us abandaotly, through away. Gal. 8. 17. For the flesh luftJefus Christ our Saviour. v.7. That eth againit the Spirit, and the Spibeing justified by his grace, we should rit againft the flcih :' and these are be made heirs, according to the hope contrary the one to the other; fo of eteroal life. Rom. viii. 18. For that ye cannot do the things that I reckon that the sufferings of this ye would. Rom. vii. 15. For that present time are not worthy to be which I do, I allow not: for what compared with the glory which fall I would, that do I not, but what I be revealed in ús. Pfal. xvi. 2. 0 hate, that do l. v. 18. 1. know, my soul, thou hast laid unto the that in me (that is, in my fielt') Lord, thou art my Lord: my dwelleth no good thing: for to will goodness extendeth not to thee. Job is present with me, but how to perxxii. 2. Can a man be profitable un- 'form that which is good, I find not. to himself? v. 3. Is it any pleasure Psal. cxliü. 2. And enter not into to the Almighty that thou art righ jodgment with thy fervant: for in teous ? or is it gain to him, that thy fight Mall no man living be justhou makelt thy ways perfect ? Job tified. Pfal. cxxx. 3. If thou, XXXT. 7. If thou be righteous, what Lord, shouldlt mark iniquities : givelt thou him? or what receiveth Lord, who fhall stand ? Le of thine hand ? v. 8. Thy wick. VI. v Eph. i. 6. To the praise of edoels may hurt a man as thou art, the glory of his grace, wherein lie and thy righteousness may profit the hath nrade us accepted in the Bèrop of man.

loved. - I Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as Luke xvii, 10. (See letter p in lively stones, are built up a spiritual this chapter.)

house, an holy priesthood, to offer Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the up spiritual facrifices, acceptable to Spirit is love, joy, peace, long fuf- God by Jesus Christ. Exod. xxviii. fering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 38. And it shall be upon Aaron's 1. 23. Meekncís, temperance: a. forehead, chat Aaron nay bear the gainlt such there is so law.

iniquity of the holy things, which | Ifa. Ixir, 6. But we are all as an the children of Israel saall hallow in

alt

9?

The Confeffion of Faith. Chap. XVI. aad unreproveable in God's sight w; but that he, looking upon them iy his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is fincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections x.

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 y: yet, because they

proceed

all their holy gifts ; and it shall be ed toward his name, in that ye have always upon his forehead, that they ministred to the saints, and do mimay be accepted before the Lord, nilter. Mat. xxv. 21. His lord said Gen. iv. 4. And Abel, he also unto him, Well done, thou good brought of the firstlings of his flock, and faithful servant; thou haft been and of the fac thereof; and the Lord faithful over a few things, I will had respect unto Abel, and to his make thee ruler over many things : offering. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Abel offered unto God a more ex- v. 23. His lord said unto him, Well cellent facrifice than Cain, by which done, good and faithful servant ; he obtained witness that he was thou haft been faithful over a few righteous, God testifying of his things, I will make thee ruler over gites : and by it, he being dead, yet many things : enter thou into the Speaketh,

joy of thy Lord, w Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, VU. y 2 Kings x. 30. And the my own mouth shall condemo me: Lord said unto Jehu, Because tbou If I say, I am perfe&, it shall also halt done well in executing that prove me perverse, Psal. cxliii. 2. which is right in mine eyes, and haft And enter not into judgment with done unto the bouse of Ahab acthy servant, for in thy fight ihail no cording to all that was in mine heart, man living he justified.

thy children of the fourth generati* Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of on th:ll fit on the throne of Israel. peace that brought again from the ♡. 31, But Jehu took no heed to dead our Lord Jefus, that great walk in the law of the Lord God of Shepherd of the sheep, through the lirael, with all his heart, for he deblood of the everlaiting covenant, parted not from the lins of Jeroboam, 8:21. Make you perfect in every which made Israel to lin. Kings good work to do his will, working xxi. 27. And it came to pass when in you that which is well-pleasing in Ahab heard these words that he rent his fighe, through Jesus Christ; to his cloaths and put fackcloth upon wbom be glory for ever and ever, his flesh, and faited, and Jay in fackAmeo, 2 Cor, viii. 12. For if there cloth, and went fof:ly. v. 29. Seest be first a willing mind, it is accepted thou how Ahab humbleth himself according to that a man hath, and before me, I will not bring the evil pot according to that he hath not. in his days: but in his fons days will Heb. vi. 10. For God is not unrigh. I bring the evil upon his house. Phil. ceous, to forget your work and la- i. 15. Some indeed preach Christ ebour of love, which ye have fhew- ven of envy and strife ; and some al.

fo

proceed not from an heart purified by faith z; nor are done in a righe nianner, according to the word a; nor to a right end, the glory of God b; they are therefore finful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God c. And

1 yet

men.

а

fo of good-will

. ¥. 16. The one gogues, and in the corners of the preach Christ of contention, not fin- itreets, that they may be seen of cerely, fuppoling to add amiction to Verily i say unto you, they my bonds. v. 18. What then? not- have their reward. v. 16. More withstanding every way, whether ever, when ye fast, be not as the hy. in pretence, or in truth, Christ is pocrites, of a sad counteoance : for preached; and therein do 1 rejoice, they disfigure their faces, that they yea, and will rejoice,

may appear unto men to fast. Ve.. * Gen. ir. 5. But unto Cain and rily I say unto you, they have their to Lis offering he had not respect. reward. And Cain was very wroth, and his c Hag. ii. 14. Then answered countenance fell. With Heb. xi. 4. Haggai, and said, So is this, people; By faith Abel offered unto God a and so is this pation before me, faith more excellent sacrifice țlian Cain, the Lord; and so is every work of by which he obtained witness that he their hands, and that which they was righteous, God testifying of his offer there is unclean. Tit, is gifts, and by it he being dead, yet 15. Unto the pure all things are pure; (peakath. Heb. xi. 6. But without but unto them that are defiled, avd faith it is impossible to please bim: unbelieving, is nothing pure, but e. for he shat cometh to God, must ven their mind and conscience is debelieve that he is, and that he is a filed. Amos. V. 21. I hate, f defpife rewarder of them that diligently your feaft-days, and I will not smell frek him.

in your solemn affemblies. v. 22. a i Cor, xiii. 3. And though I Though ye offer me burnt offerings, below all my goods io. feed the and your meat offerings, I will not poor, and though I give my body to accept them; neither will I regard be burned, and have not charity, it the peace offerings of your fat beasts. profitech me nothing. Ifa. i. 12. Hof. i. 4. And the Lord said unto Wben ye come to appear before me, him, call his name Jezreel; for get who hath required this at your hand, a little while, and I will avenge the to tread my courts?

blood of Jezreel upon the house of b Mat. vi. 2. Therefore, when Jehu, and will cause to cease: the thou dost thise alms, do not sound kingdom of the house of Irael. a trumpet before thee, as the hypo. Rom. ix. 16. So then it is not of crites do, in the syvagogues, and in him that willeth, nor of him that the itreets, that they may have glo- runneth, but of Godthat she weth merty of men. Verily, I say unto you, cy. Tit. iii.'5. Not by.works of riglia they have their reward. v. 5. And teousness, which we have done, but when thou prayelt, thou thalt not according to his mercy he saved us, be as the hypocrites are: for they by the washing of regeneration, and love to pray standing in the syna- renewing of the Holy Gholt. Il

& Pfals

: istvici

yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and difpleasing unto God d.

T

:

CHAP. XVII. Of the Perfeverence of the Saints.

. THEY whom God hath accepted in his heloved, effe&ually

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

il. This perseverance of the faints 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 Father b; upon the efficacy of the merit and interceflion of Je

1us & Pfal. xiv. 4. Hare all the work tier matters of the law, judgment, ers of iniquicy no knowledge ? who mercy and faith : these ought ye to cat up my people as they eat bread, have done, and not to leave the ori and call not upon the Lord. Pfal. ther undone. Xxxvi. 3. The words of his mouth I. a Phil. i. 6. Being confident of are iniquity and deceit: he hath left this very thing, that he who hath off to be wise and to do good. Job begun a good work in you, will xxi. 14. Therefore tbey say unto perform it until the day of Jesus God, depart from us, for we defore Christ. 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the not the kuowledge of thy ways. v. rather, brethren, give diligence to 15. What is the Almighty, that make your calling and election sure; we should serve him ? and 'wbat for if ye do these things, ye thall profit should we have, if we pray never fall. John X. 28. And I give unto him. Mat. xxv. 41. Then Malt unto then eternal life, and they he fay allo nnto them on the left all never perish, neither shall any hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, pluck them out of my hand. v. 29. into everlasting fire, prepared for My Father, who gave them me, is the devil and his angels, v. 42. For greater than all : and none is able I was an hungred, and ye gave me toʻpluck them out of my Father's no meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave hand. i John iii. 9. Whosoever is me no drink : v. 43. I was a stran- born of God, doth not commit fin; ger, and ye took me not in: naked, for his fced remaineth in bim: and and ye clothed me not : lick and in he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of prison, and ye visited me not. v. 45. God. 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kepe Then shall he answer them, saying, by the power of God through faith Verily, t say unto you, In as much unto salvation, ready to be revealed as ye did it nor to one of the least of in the last time. v. 9. Receiving these, ye did it not to me. Mar. the end of your faith, even the fala xxii. 2g. Wo onto you scribes and vation of your souls. Pharisees, bypocrites; for ye pay II. b 2 Tim. ii. 18. Who con. tithe of mint, and apnise, and cum cerning ihe truth have erred, faya min, and have omitted the weigh: ing, that the resurrection is part al

seady;

sus Christ c; the abiding of the Spirit and of the feed of God

within

ready; and overthrow the faith of transgressions that were under the fome. 9. 19. Nevertheless, the first celtament, they who are called foundation of God standeth fure, might receive the promise of eternal haring this seal, the Lord know. inheritance. Rom. viii. 33. Who ech them that are his. And, let shall lay any thing to the charge of every one that nameth the name of God's ele&t? It is God that juftifieth: Christ, depart from iniquity. Jer. v. 34. Who is he that condemneth ? xxxi. 3. The Lord hath appeared It is Christ chat died, yea rather of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have that is risenagain, who is even at loved thee with an everlasting love; the right hand of God, who also therefore with loving kindness have maketh intercellion for us.

V. 35. I drawn thee.

Who thall separate us from the love c Heb. X. 10. By the which will of Chrift? thall tribulation, or dif-: we are fanctified, through the offer- tress, or perfecution, or famine, or ing of the body of Jesus Chrilt once nakedness, or peril, or sword? .v. for all. v.14. For by one offering 36. (As it is written, for thy faks he hath perfected for ever them that we are killed all the day long; we are fanctified. Heb. xiii. 20, Now are counted as sheep for the laughthe God of peace, that brought a. ter.) v. 37. Nay, in all these things gain from the dead our Lord Jesus, we are more than conquerors thro' that great shepherd of the sheep, him that loved us. v.38. For I am through the blood of the everlasting perfuaded, thai neither death nor covenant. v. 21. Make you perfect life, nor angels, nor priacipalities, in every good work to do his will, uor powers, nor things present, nor working in you that which is well. things to come, v. 39. Nor height, pleasing in his fight, through Jesus nor depth, nor any other creature, Christ; to whom be glory for ever shall be able to separate us from the and evera

bmen. Heb. ix, 12. love of cod which is in Christ Jesus Neither by the blood of goats and our Lord. John xvii. 11. And now calves, but by his own blood he en. I am no more in the world, but tered in once into the holy place, these are in the world, and I come having obtained eternal redemption to thee. Holy Father, keep thro'

v. 13. For if the blood of thine own name, those whom thoubulls, and of goats, and the ashes of hast given me, that they may be an beifer sprinkling, the unclean, one, as we are. V. 24. Father, I. sanctifieth to the purifying of the will, that they also whom thou hatt flesh; v. 14. How much more shall given me, be with me where I am;. the blood of Christ, who through that they may behold my glory the eternal Spirit, uffered himself which thou hast given me; for thou without spot to God, purge your lovedst me before the foundation of conscience from dead works, to the world. Luke xxii. 32. But I serve the living God? y. 15. And have prayed for thee, that thy faith for this cause he is the mediator of fail not; and when thou art çone the new testament, that by means verted, strengthen thy brethrena of death, for the redemption of the Heb, vii. 25. Werefore he is able

for us.