Which yet whilst a Christian pursues with all zealous fervency and intention, he must withal be acquainted with the Root from whence all his Holiness must spring. Good Works are dangerous, if they be made the Foundation in the great point of Justification by Faith; but if they be used in the superstruction, then they are very useful. We cannot have children from Christ, except we be first married to Christ: No works of Sanctification, before Union with Christ. Many cry out for Obedience and good Works, yet are profane, because they go not to Christ for these; You will not come to me, that you might have life, saith our Saviour: Except we do all for and from Christ, our Lusts will not be mortified, our Duties not accepted, our Consciences not purified; we shall not be strengthened against crosses, neither shall we go on cheerfully, nor persevere: The foolish proud heart of man is loth to be so much beholding to Jesus Christ, as to receive Salvation from him altogether, but something it will do, and something Christ must do; yet it leans much, if not most upon it self, only it will take in Christ to make more sure work. There is a sturdy stoutness and unyieldingness of Spirit in men, against the blessed Truths of the ⟨image 3⟩Gospel made known unto them; they must have Peace, Comfort, Assurance, their own way, or else reject all; they would find a principle of life and power within themselves, and not go to Christ for it; they would bring something to Christ, and not fetch all from Christ; not knowing that the way which all true Believers have gone (after much wearying of themselves to find something in themselves) hath been at the last to roll themselves wholly upon the Free-grace of God through Jesus Christ, seeing nothing in themselves, yet giving glory to God by believing; and if they could bring their hearts so disposed and qualified, yet they see the danger of resting in what they are, have and do. And if want of such and such conditions and qualifications had ground enough to keep from Christ, it might have hindered any that ever did cast themselves upon the Free-grace of God, because they would still have been at a loss, finding a defect in them.
Which yet whilest a Christian pursues with all zealous fervency and intention, he must withal be acquainted with the Root from whence all his Holiness must spring. Good Works are dangerous, if they be made the Foundation in the great point of Justification by Faith; but if they be used in the superstruction, then they are very useful. We cannot have children from Christ, except we be first married to Christ: No works of Sanctification, before Vnion with Christ. Many cry out for Obedience and good Works, yet are profane, because they go not to Christ for these; You will not come to me, that you might have life, saith our Savior: Except we do all for and from Christ, our Lusts will not be mortified, our Duties not accepted, our Consciences not purified; we shall not be strengthned against crosses, neither shall we go on chearfully, nor persevere: The foolish proud heart of man is loth to be so much beholding to Iesus Christ, as to receive Salvation from him altogether, but something it will do, and something Christ must do; yet it leans much, if not most upon it self, onely it will take in Christ to make more sure work. There is a sturdy stoutness and unyieldingness of Spirit in men, against the blessed Truths of the ⟨image 3⟩Gospel made known unto them; they must have Peace, Comfort, Assurance, their own way, or else reject all; they would finde a principle of life and power within themselves, and not go to Christ for it; they would bring something to Christ, and not fetch all from Christ; not knowing that the way which all true Believers have gone (after much wearying of themselves to finde something in themselves) hath been at the last to rowl themselves wholly upon the Free-grace of God through Iesus Christ, seeing nothing in themselves, yet giving glory to God by believing; and if they could bring their hearts so disposed and qualified, yet they see the danger of resting in what they are, have and do. And if want of such and such conditions and qualifications had ground enough to keep from Christ, it might have hindred any that ever did cast themselves upon the Free-grace of God, because they would still have been at a loss, finding a defect in them.
