Here the apostle teacheth us three things;

That, by reafon of our natural finfulness, the impoffi bility of any man's being juftified by the works of the law; is fo certain, that whofoever do feek juftification by the works of the law,are liable to the curfe of God for breaking of the law; For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curfe, faith he.

2. That unto the perfect fulfilling of the law, the keeping of one or two of the precepts, or doing of fome, or of all duties (if it were poffible) for a time, is not fufficient; for the law requireth, that a man continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

3. That, because no man come up to this perfection, every man by nature is under the curfe; for the law faith, Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

Now, to be under the curfe, comprehendeth all the dif pleafure of God, with the danger of the breaking forth more and more of his wrath upon foul and body, both in this life, and after death perpetually, if grace do no prevent the full ex, ecution thereof.

Hence let every man reason thus;

'Whosoever, according to the covenant of works, is liable to the curfe of God, for breaking the law, times and ways out of number, cannot be juftified,or find righteoufnefs by works "of the law.

But I (may every man fay) according to the covenant of works am liable to the curfe of God, for breaking the law, times and ways out of number.

"Therefore I cannot be justified, or have righteousness by the works of the law."

Thus may a man be convinced of righteousness, that it is not to be had by his own works, or by the law.

III. For convincing a man of judgment by the Law, confider 2 Theff. i, 7.

"HE Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels: Verfe 8. In faming fire, taking

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4 vengance on them that know not. God, and that obey "not the gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift: verfe. 9. Who fhall "be punished with everlasting destruction from the prefence " of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; verse 19. When he fhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be "admired in all them that believe.

!

Wherein we are taught, that our Lord Jefus, who now of fers to be mediator for them who believe in him fhall, at the last day, come armed with flaming fire, to judge, condemn and destroy all them who have not believed God, have not receiv ed the offer of grace made in the gospel, nor obeyed the doc trine thereof; but remain in their natural state, under the law or covenant of works,

Hence let every man reafon thus ;

What the righteous judge hath forwarned me, fhall be done at the last day, I am fure is just judgment, is

"But the righteous judge hath forewarned me, that if I do not believe God in time, and obey not the doctrine of the gofpel, I fhall be fecluded from his prefence and his glory, at the last Day, and be tormented in foul and body for ever.

Therefore I am convinced that this is a juft judgment. And I have reason to thank God heartily, who hath forewar ned me to flee from the wrath which is to come.'

Thus every man may be, by the Law or covenant of works, convinced of judgment, If he fhall continue under the cove nant of works, or fhall not obey the gofpel of our Lord Jefus.

IV. For convincing a Man of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment, by the Gospel,

A

S for convincing a man of fin, and righteoufnefs and Judgment by the gospel or covenant of grace; he must underftand three things; 1. That not believing in Jefus Chrift, or refufing of the covenant of grace offered in him is a grea ter and more dangerous Sin,then all other fins against the law; because the hearers. of the gofpel not believing in CHRIST do reject God's mercy in CHRIST, the only way of freedom from fin & wrath, and will not yield to be reconciled to GOD. 2. Next, he must understand, that perfect Re, miffion

miffion of fin, and true righteoufnefs, is to be had only by Faith in Jefus; because God requireth no other conditions but faith; and teftifies from Heaven, that he is well pleased to Justify Sinners upon this condition. 3. He must understand, that upon righteoufnefs received by faith, judgment fhalf follow on the one hand,to the destroying of the works of the devil in the Believer, and to the perfecting of the work of Sanctification in him, with power: And that, upon refusing to take righteousness by faith in Jefus Chrift, judgment fhall fol low, on the other hand, to the condemnation of the misbeliever and destroying of him with Satan and his fervants for ever.

For this end, let these paffage of Scripture, among many others, ferve to make the greatnefs of the Sin of not-believing in Chrift appear; or, to make the greatness of the Sin of refufing of the covenant of grace offered to us, in the offering of Christ unto us, let the fair Offer of grace be looked upon as it is made, Ifa. v. 2, Incline your ear, and come unto me, (faith the Lord) hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,even the fure mercies of David, That is, if ye will believe me, and be reconciled to me, I will by covenant, give unto you Chrift, and all faving graces in him repeated, Acts xiii. 34.

Again, Confider, that this general offer in fubftance is equi valent to a special Offer made to every one in particular, as appeareth by the Apostles making ufe of it, Acts xvi. 31. Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift and thou shalt be saved and thy Houfe. The reafon of which offer is given, John iii. 16, For God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten fon, that whofgever believeth in him, should not perish, but have ever, lafting Life. Seeing then this great falvation is offered in the Lord Jefus, whofoever believeth not in him, but looks for happinefs fome other way, What doth he elfe but obferve lying vanities, and for fake his own mercy, which he might have had in Chrift? Jonah ii. 8. 9. What doth he elfe but blafphame God in his heart? as it is faid, 1 John v. 10. He that believ eth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the Record that God hath given of his Son: and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this is life in his Sen. And that no Sin against the law is Like unto this Sin,Christ teftifies, John xv. 22. If I had not come and Spoken to them, they had not had fin; but now they have no cloke for their fin. This

may

may convince a man of the greatness of this fin of not-believing in Christ,

For convincing a man of Righteousness to be had only by faith in Jefus Chrift, confider how Rom. x. 3, 4.

IT

T is faid, that the Jews, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not fubmitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (and fo they perished) for Chrift is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. And Acts xiii. 39. By Christ Jefus all that believe are juftified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Mofes. And. 1. John 7. The blood of Jefus Chrift, his Son, cleanfeth us from all fin.

For convincing a man of judgment, if a man embrace this righteousness: Confider, 1 John iii. 8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifefted, that he might deftroy the works of the devil. And, Heb. 9. 14. How much more fhall the blood of Chrift who,through the eternal spirit, offered himself without fpot to God,purge your confcience from dead works, to ferve the living God?

But, if a nn embrace not this righteoufnefs, his doom is pronounced, John iii. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only be gotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,

Hence let the penitent, defiring to believe, reafon thus; "What doth fuffice to convince all the elect in the world of "the greatnefs of the fin of not-believing in Chrift, or refusing to flee to him for relief from fins done against the law, and "from wrath due thereto; and what fufficeth to convince "them, that righteoufnefs and eternal life is to be had "by faith in Jefus Chrift, or by confenting to the covenant "of Grace in him; and what fufficeth to convince them of "judgment to be exercifed by Chrift, for deftroying the "works of the devil in a man, and fanctifying and faving all that believe in him, may fuffice to convince me alfo. "But what the spirit hath faid, in these or other like fcrip

1

"tures

tures, fufficeth to convince the elect world of the forefaid fin ⚫ and righteousness, and judgment.

'Therefore what the fpirit hath faid, in these and other like fcriptures, ferveth to convince me therefore alfo.'

Whereupon let the penitent, defiring to believe, take with him words, and fay heartily to the Lord, feeing thou fayeft, Seek ye my face, My foul anfwereth unto thee, Thy face Lord will I feek: I have hearkened unto the offer of an everlasting covenant of all faving mercies to be had in Chrift, and I do heartily embrace thy offer. Lord, let it be a bargain, Lord I believe, help my unbelief: Behold I give myself to thee, to serve thee in all things for ever; and I hope, thy right-hand shall fave me; the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me; thy mercy, O Lord endureth for ever; forfake not the works of thine own bands.

Thus may a man be made an unfeigned believer in Christ.

For ftrengthening the man's faith, who hath agreed unto the covenant of Grace,

Ecaufe many true believers are weak, and do much doubt

Becaufe year befure of the Soundnefs of their own Faith

and effectual calling, or made certain of their juftification and falvation, when they fee that many who profefs Faith, are found to deceive themfelves; let us fee how every believer may be made ftrong in the faith, and fure of his own election and falvation upon folid grounds, by fure warrands, and true evidances of faith. To this end, among many other fcriptures,' take these following.

1. For laying folid grounds of faith, confider 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give diligence to make fure, your calling and ellection: For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

In which words, the apoftle teacheth us these four things, for help and direction, how to be made strong in the Faith;

1: That fuch as believe in Chrift Jefus, and are fled to him for relief from fin and wrath, albeit they be weak in Faith, yet they are indeed Children of the fame Father with

the