But be it his Word, never so plain; yet if they say It is not; but only Our Interpretation: That shall be their Warrant, to Reject it all; and cry, It is against Reason, and against Good Life: And therefore they are Wifer and Better, than to hear talk of it. When I thought, It had been good Reason to submit to God's Righteousness: Though it might seem a Disparagement to our Own : And not fet our Weak Reason to Brisk up it self, above his Revealed Pleasure. And I thought Good Life had been in no danger, by accounting his Righteousness Better, and fitter to be confided in, than our Own. But fome would make us think they are of opinion, That the Talk of a Good Life is all: When we can fee as little of it among them, as with other men. And most of their Zeal, (as far as they commonly make it appear,) is shew'd, To Fright men out of their Faith, and Submission to the Righteousness of God; And to Inveigh and Rally against the Believing in Jesus; though it be to the Saving of the Soul. But the Lord Fortifies his Faithful People against all such; Ifa. 51. 7, 8. Hearken to me, (and not to them;) Ye that know Righteousness; the people in whose heart is my Law: Fear ye not the Reproach of men: Neither be ye afraid of their Revilings: For the moth shall eat 'em up like a Garment ; and the Worm shall eat 'em like wooll: But my

Righteousness shall be for ever; and my Salvation from generation to generation. And Chap. 54. laft Ver. The Righteousness of my fervants is of me, faith the Lord: And if it be of God; It shall furely stand: Whoever go about to Disannull it : And if it be according to his Word; For certain, It is Holy, and tends to his Glory: Whoever spet their Venom, to Blaspheme it. They take the wrong way, to advance their Opinion, or their Reputation, with the Believers on Jefus: When they are for stifling Faith in Chrift; to make mention of their Own Righteousness, even their Own only.

But while others Run down Faith, to Exalt Good Life; We would not, (for Reprisals,) Throw down Good Life, to set up Faith. Therefore,

II. Let none count a Righteousness of their own needless to be Poffeffed of; Thơ' they have still need of another to Trust to. You must throw by your Righteousness; As no Foundation for you to Build upon : But never must you Throw it away, As the Garment which you are to be continually cloath'd withal. Tho' your Title to Heaven must not be laid all upon it: Yet there is no good Hoping for Heaven without it. No, nor any living upon Earth, But you'll Lofe your selves; and Expose the Faith of Chrift,

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by your means, to be evil spoken of. And dead Flies in the precious Oyntment, will give it an ill favour; and just Offence, to open the Blasphemers mouths. Here then must you be exceeding full of Care; To walk Circumspectly, as well as to Believe Assuredly; And to lead a Life becoming your Faith: That you may not only have the Witness in your selves; But may have others also abroad to Corroborate the Testimony: when they see the Fruits springing out of the Root in you; and from your Light shining before men, must be constrain'd to confess, you are Illuminated with the beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

I confefs, It is vain to talk of Driving some men out of their own Righteousness; That which indeed they never had: Bur such must rather be taught, That except they Repent, they shall perish : And that they must Turn, or Dye; as well as Believe and Live. For Faith is the Flight of a Convinced Sinner, to the Holy All-fufficient Saviour; Not only to be Justified, and preserv'd from Damnation; But also to be Sanctified, and made Meet for the Inheritance of God's Saints in the heavenly Glory. And I must tell you, That your Own Righteousness and Holiness is as neceffary, as your Salvation and everlasting Blessedness. For the Unrighteous shall not Inherit the Kingdom of God.

Cor. 6. 9. And without Holiness, no seeing the Lord. Heb. 12. 14. Converfion, and becoming New Creatures, and walking after the Spirit, and having the Conversation in Heaven; These are all such indispensible Qualifications; That a man must have a Faith against all the Word of God, who can make account to get to Heaven without 'em.

And I shall little regard the Peace of mind that any do arrive at, in an Idle, Prayerless, or Licentious way of Life. For thus men may snatch the Stolen Goods; which one day, they shall Answer and Smart for; And find all the fine Security turn'd into the shadow of Death; And by Grace or Hell, be Awakened into Lamentation, and weeping, and wo. They may so Bribe or Baffle Confcience for a while; even when the Wrath of God abides upon 'em. But though they cry Peace, and all Well; when they know nor, or mind not, what's amiss: He will bring them to another Reckoning: And not hold them Guiltless; that can so eafie Absolve themselves: And if there be not Grace and Holiness; there will be no Peace and Happiness. Though upon the Right Believing depends so much our Holy Living here, and our Eternal Life hereafter: yet, as we must secure our Salvation in the Hands of our Saviour: So must we Justifie and Adorn our Profession in the fight of every Obferver. However

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However true Piety, as well as Faith, Leans upon Christ alone: (For he is made unto us Sanctification, as well as Redemption :) Yet where-ever his Gospel in Power, is received by Faith; it will produce the Fruits of a Godly Life. So that they are no true Believers, but false hypocrites, who are wicked Livers. Nor are they found in the Faith, that abound not in its holy Fruits. For Christians are not to be diftinguish'd from Heathens, only by their Orthodox Opinions but also by their Exemplary Conversation. Else will they be found in worse case at last, even than those that were without Chrift.

To Contend for his Faith, is a duty: True, But it is not all. Nay to cry it up in Words; and dash it down in the Life: To Flatter his Perfon, and Trample his Commands; is not to Believe in him; but to Rebel against him. Believers are Created in Christ Jesus, to Good Works. Ephef. 2. 10. And the Myftery of Faith is to be held in a pure Conscience. 1 Tim. 3. 9. But Faith is Spurious; and none of that Justifying Faith we contend for: if it be not a Holy Faith; and fuch a Principle of Holiness, as Purifies the heart; and works by Love; and is Fruitful in Good works. To Christ indeed, and to him alone, belongs all the Honour of our Salvation: But then, we must keep up the Glory of his Grace, without overthrowing the authority

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