P. If this be Gods Word, and Christs own Law and Doctrine, then you infer that Christ taketh down himself, and his own righteousness, and sets up man and humane merits. But give me leave to tell you, that if you deny [the Reward of Evangelical duty, and the Rewardableness or Worthiness (or Merit) of such duty, as it is but our Merit or Worthiness of the free Gift of Christ and Life, given by Paternal Love and Justice, to believing Penitent accepters, according to the tenor of the Covenant of Grace,] 1. You do contradict so much of the most express Texts of Scripture, as alloweth us to suspect that really you believe not the Scripture to be true, or that it is not it, but your own contradicting fancy, that is the measure of your belief; and you may on such terms hold the vilest absurdities, even what you list, as in despite of Scripture, while you pretend that it is for you.
2. You will deny the honour of Gods Image on man, and the work of the Holy Ghost, and the design of Christ, who came to destroy the works of the Devil, and save his people from their sins, and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.
3. You will disgrace the Church of God, which Christ washeth and sanctifieth, and render it too like to the unsanctified world.
4. You will leave man no ground for true assurance of Justification or Salvation, while the difference between the worthy and unworthy is taken away.
5. You will harden the wicked in their false presumptuous hopes, and teach them to say, We are but unworthy, and so are all.
6. You will destroy the comfort of well doing, by denying the reward, and making it seem to be in vain.
7. Hereby you will take down all holy diligence in our Christian race and warfare, while you deny the prize, and recompense of reward, Heb. 11. 26. We run for an incorruptible Crown, 1 Cor. 9. 25. Phil. 3. 14.
8. You will strengthen all Temptations, while you take down that which should be set against them. See Luke 12. 4. Heb. 4. 1. & 12. 28, 29. Matth. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20, &c. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12.
9. You will disgrace the Word and Ministry and all Means, if after all we are never the more accepted.
10. In a word, you deny Gods Government, in denying his Governing Justice and Judgements, and that is to deny God to be our God:
P. If this be Gods Word, and Christs own Law and Doctrine, then you inferr that Christ taketh down himself, and his own righteousness, and sets up man and humane merits. But give me leave to tell you, that if you deny [the Reward of Evangelical duty, and the Rewardableness or Worthiness (or Merit) of such duty, as it is but our Merit or Worthiness of the free Gift of Christ and Life, given by Paternal Love and Justice, to believing Penitent accepters, according to the tenour of the Covenant of Grace,] 1. You do contradict so much of the most express Texts of Scripture, as alloweth us to suspect that really you believe not the Scripture to be true, or that it is not it, but your own contradicting fancy, that is the measure of your belief; and you may on such terms hold the vilest absurdities, even what you list, as in despight of Scripture, while you pretend that it is for you.
2. You will deny the honour of Gods Image on man, and the work of the Holy Ghost, and the design of Christ, who came to destroy the works of the Devil, and save his people from their sins, and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.
3. You will disgrace the Church of God, which Christ washeth and sanctifieth, and render it too like to the unsanctified world.
4. You will leave man no ground for true assurance of Justification or Salvation, while the difference between the worthy and unworthy is taken away.
5. You will harden the wicked in their false presumptuous hopes, and teach them to say, We are but unworthy, and so are all.
6. You will destroy the comfort of well doing, by denying the reward, and making it seem to be in vain.
7. Hereby you will take down all holy diligence in our Christian race and warfare, while you deny the prize, and recompence of reward, Heb. 11. 26. We run for an incorruptible Crown, 1 Cor. 9. 25. Phil. 3. 14.
8. You will strengthen all Temptations, while you take down that which should be set against them. See Luke 12. 4. Heb. 4. 1. & 12. 28, 29. Matth. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20, &c. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12.
9. You will disgrace the Word and Ministry and all Means, if after all we are never the more accepted.
10. In a word, you deny Gods Government, in denying his Governing Justice and Judgements, and that is to deny God to be our God:
