An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

That it is a Christians duty not to separate from, or oppose the grace and ¹power of God to the duties and means he also hath required.

1. 1'Tis our duty not to separate Gods power and goodness from the means required.'Tis our duty not to separate Gods power and goodnesse from the means required.

Not to say, because it's Gods grace, and Gods work, therefore I will sit down and do nothing. Now on the other side, God commands me to pray, to work, therefore it is not the grace of God, but my duties that do justify and save me. You may read how happily the Apostle conjoineth them together, Phil. 2. 12, 13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do. It is true, the enemies of Gods grace, who detract from it in whole or in part, do gladly embrace this truth, and compel it to go two miles further than it would; They force it so much, that blood cometh out in stead of milk. As Austin, while he writeth against Manichees, Pelagians did take some expressions of his commending them exceedingly (as that all sin must be voluntary, else it could not be a sin, &c.) as if he had been on their party. Then on the other side, when he did valiantly write against the Pelagians, they branded him for a Manichee. So hard a matter is it to defend truth which lieth between two extremes; but while we set against one, we are thought to draw nigh to another. And thus it is in the Doctrine now observed, while we maintain the necessity of our duty, as well as Gods grace, we are thought to go into the Papists quarters. Again, while against them, we set up the grace and power of God, excluding, though not the duties and means God hath appointed, yet the merit and causality of them, we are thought to join with the Antinomians, whereas indeed we have no affinity with either.