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of his Father's Perfon. The Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily. The great Myftery of Godliness, God manifefted in the flesh. The things of God, Revealed by his Spirit. God fhining in our Hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of his Glory, in the Face of Jefus Chrift. The holy Scriptures being able to make one Wife to Salvation, through Faith which is in Chrift Jefus. The Father's Chufing us in Chrift, before the foundations of the world; (not because we were, but) that we should be, Holy, and without blame before him in Leve. God's Saving us, and calling us with a holy Calling; Not according to our Works; but according to his own Purpose and Grace, given us in Chrift Jefus, before the World began. The Righteousness of God without the Law, by the Faith of Jefus Chrift. Being deliver'd from the Law, to ferve in Newness of Spirit. Chrift being made a curfe for us, to Redeem us from the Curse of the Law. God Juftifying the Believers on Jefus. Counting Faith for Righteousness, to him that Worketh not. Laying no Foundation, but Jesus Christ. Rifing from the dead, that Chrift may give us Light. Being in the Spirit: In Christ Jesus. And Chrift being Formed, and Living, in us; and Dwelling by Faith in our hearts. Having Redemption, and being Juftified, through his Blood. Accepted in the Beloved. Having Boldness, and access with confidence, through the Faith of him. Being faved by Grace, Through

Through Faith; and not of our selves, but the Gift of God: Not of Works, left any man fhould boaft. ]

When they fee him fo full of this (to them) Wild Enthusiasm; and running o're with fuch Sublime Nonfenfe: Do not our Solid Reafoners (as they would be counted,) think, the man's Loft: His Converfion has poil'd him; and turn'd the mighty Scholar into an Egregious Babbler? Yea, are they not ready to fay to him, as Feftus, when he gave the account of his Converfion; Acts 26. 24. Paul, thou art Befide thy felf? Whatever may be their Compliment to St. Paul; If they do not, (with the angry Jefuit,) call him Lutheran, and Heretick: or charge him for talking like a Phanatick: Such, I am perfuaded, would be their Senfe and Treatment of another; and · fo bold would they make with any elfe, that speaks in his Language.

But this wonderful Convert himself was very far from being of their mind. And how does he applaud his Change? And how does he Defpife all his highest Attainments before that? 3. Phil. 7, 7, 8, 9. What things were Gain to me, thofe Icounted Lofs for Chrift. Yea doubtlefs, and I count all things but Lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chrift Fefus my Lord: For whom I have fuffer'd the Lofs of all things: and do count them but Dung, that I may win Chrift; and

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and be found in him; Not having my own Righteoufnefs, which is of the Law: But that which is through the Faith of Chrift; the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith. And what his own Eyes were now opened to fee, He labours fo much to make all men elfe, Understand, and Believe, and Own. And fuch as are yet in the dark about it, He expreffes his forrowful Heart for 'em; and ufes his endeavours, and takes a great Particudeal of pains, to undeceive 'em. larly in this place; they being Ignorant of God's Righteoufness, &c.

God's Righteousness here, What is it? "Tis not his own Effential Rectitude; by which he is a Righteous God: And by which, infus'd into us, (according to Ofiander's wild Sentiment,) he makes us alfo Effentially Righteous, as himself. But 'tis either his Vindictive Juftice; whereby he will take Vengeance on all Sinners, that fall under the Curfe of the Law: If they make not their use and Benefit of the Help and Remedy, which he has provided for 'em, in the Gospel. Or 'tis the Righteoufnefs, which he requires of us, and works in us: Not only all outward Regularity, but that Heart-Purity, which the Superficial Pharifees feemed not to understand; and therefore plac'd their Righteousness so much, (if not all,) in Rites and Forms. Or rather, God's.

Righteoufnefs here, is the Righteousness which God bestows upon us; and which his Chrift has wrought for us: And that Juftification of a Sinner, which comes by the Faith of Jefus; The Faith in his Blood. (Which is the Notion by which I fhall abide.) For fo indeed, the Apoftle himself expounds it; that Phil. 3. 9. The Righteoufnefs which is through the Faith of Chrift; the Righteoufnefs, which is of God by Faith. And Rom. 3. 21, 22. He calls it the Righteousness of God without the Law,and by Faith of Jefus Chrift. i e. a Righteousness not obtained by our perfect fulfilling of the Law in our own perfons: But by our Believing. and relying on the Son of God, fulfilling all Righteoufnefs for us: Which, through a merciful Indulgence, now under the Gofpel Covenant, is Imputed to us, as if it had been wrought by us.

Now of this Righteousness the Jews did not think: And fuch a Righteousness how many Learned knowing men even among Chriftians, feem ftill at a Lofs to Comprehend? [And going about to establish their own Righteoufnefs;] They would fet up in its ftead, fomewhat which they take to be, not only as Good; but more Real, and much Better: Somewhat which they work out of the Strength of Nature; By Exercifing themselves in Virtuous ways: Somewhat that is Inherent in themselves; which

they

they attain to, by obferving the Law: And therefore he calls it the Righteousness of the Law; and their Own: As not made over to them by Imputation from Chrift: In whom Believers are faid to be the Righteoufness of God. 2 Cor. 5. laft Ver.

And let not any imagine, That by their Own Righteoufnefs here, is meant only fuch a Righteoufnefs, as confifts in works of the Ceremonial Law; Or Hypocritical works; and fuch as are done before Faith and Grace. For 'tis the Righteousness of fuch a Law, the Apoftle fpeaks of, By which is the Knowledge of Sin: and that fays, Thou shalt not covet. Rom. 7. 7. A Law that Juftifies the Doers of it. Rom. z. 23. A Law, which if a man do the things enjoined in it, he shall live by 'em. Rom. 10.

A Law which is Eftablished by Faith; and not to be Abolish'd. Rom. 3. laft Ver. And none of all this can be affirm'd of the Ceremonial Law. Yea it is a Law of Righteoufuefs. Rom. 9. 31. A Law that is Holy, Fuft, and Good, Chap. 7. 12. ALaw, that condemns all Counterfeit Performances; (Drawing nigh to God with the mouth, and Honouring him with the Lips: when the Heart is removed far from him. Ifa. 29. 13.) A Law, that was the whole Rule of Obedience to the Church of old: and that takes hold of the very Heart; Requiring to Love the Lord our God with all the Heart and Soul and

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