A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Q Do you not see many true Christians that have true grace, and yet walk in much darkness, how then have they fellowship with God? Isa. 50.10. he that feareth the Lord, and hearkens to the voice of his Servants, that walks in darkness, and seeth no light, &c. which shows that a man may fear the Lord, and hearken to the voice of his Servants, and yet walk in darkness?

Q Do you not see many true Christians that have true grace, and yet walk in much darknesse, how then have they fellowship with God? Isa. 50.10. he that feareth the Lord, and hearkens to the voyce of his Servants, that walks in darknesse, and seeth no light, &c. which shews that a man may fear the Lord, and hearken to the voyce of his Servants, and yet walk in darknesse?

Ans. Such a one walks not in any gross ignorance, or error, and heresy, or in darkness of uncleanness, and profaneness, but he may walk in darkness of discomfort, and dishonour, and yet have true fellowship with God; no Christian walks more in light than they that walk most in darkness, those that walk most discouraged, they walk more carefully and fearfully, whereas many that walk in more comfort, walk more loosely, and scandalously.

Ans. Such a one walks not in any grosse ignorance, or error, and heresie, or in darnesse of uncleannesse, and prophanesse, but hee may walk in darknesse of discomfort, and dishonour, and yet have true fellowship with God; no Christian walks more in light than they that walk most in darknesse, those that walk most discouraged, they walk more carefully and fearfully, whereas many that walk in more comfort, walk more loosely, and scandalously.

Q. What need they walk in discomfort if they walk in the light? doth not all discomfort arise from ignorance, that they do not know their own estate, and Gods nature and love towards them, &c?

Use 1. Of refutation of the Papists, that say we deny Works, and maintain the Doctrine of the Solifidians.

Ʋse 1. Of refutation of the Papists, that say we deny Works, and maintain the Doctrin of the Solifidians.

Answ. We disclaim all Works as any cause or merit of Justification, ⟨p. 31⟩Psalm 130.3. but we do not disclaim good Works in themselves, we do not discourage any from good Works, but encourage them thereunto; is this no encouragement to walk in the light, when we say such shall have fellowship with God, and be cleansed by the blood of Christ? these are strong motives to good works; we maintain good works (as the Apostle saith) for necessary uses, Tit. 3.13. What are these necessary uses?

Answ. We disclaime all Works as any cause or merit of Justification, ⟨p. 31⟩Psalm 130.3. but we do not disclaim good Works in themselves, we do not discourage any from good Works, but encourage them thereunto; is this no encouragement to walk in the light, when we say such shall have fellowship with God, and be cleansed by the blood of Christ? these are strong motives to good works; we maintain good works (as the Apostle saith) for necessary uses, Tit. 3.13. What are these necessary uses?

1 For our own parts, that we may have fellowship with God.

2 To glorify God, Matthew 5.16. Let your Works so shine before men, &c.

2 To glorifie God, Matthew 5.16. Let your Works so shine before men, &c.

3 To stop slanders of vain men, 2 Pet. 2.5.

4 That by our good Works others may be led on to a Christian course; a good conversation is a good means of the conversion of others.

4 That by our good Works others may bee led on to a Christian course; a good conversation is a good means of the conversion of others.

We further say, That good Works justify us, in St. James his sense, Jam. 2 14. There is a double Justification.

We further say, That good Works justifie us, in St. James his sense, Jam. 2 14. There is a double Justification.

1 A justification of a man from sin in the sight of God.

2 Of a Christian from Hypocrisy in the sight of both God and Man; the first way a man is justified only by the blood of Christ; the second way by good Works; for we must know a mans Conscience hath two burdens.

2 Of a Christian from Hypocrisie in the sight of both God and Man; the first way a man is justified onely by the blood of Christ; the second way by good Works; for we must know a mans Conscience hath two burthens.

1 My Sins are great, and liable to Damnation, how shall I be acquit of that? From this our own works cannot justify us, it is done only by the blood of Christ.

1 My Sins are great, and liable to Damnation, how shall I be acquit of that? From this our own works cannot justifie us, it is done onely by the blood of Christ.

2 I, but the blood of Christ cleanseth only true Christians that are in Christ, and have true grace, but you are an Hypocrite, how shall I now be quit from the imputation of Hypocrisy? In that I am justified by my works let it appear to my self and others, that I have lived in all uprightness, 2 Cor. 1.12. so that justification from Hypocrisy before God an Man, is from the witness of my upright and unblameable life, so that I am justified from a double accusation, from the one by one way, from the other by another way. I am a sinner, that I cannot deny, my best works are sinful, therefore from that I am justified only by the blood of Christ.

2 I, but the blood of Christ cleanseth only true Christians that are in Christ, and have true grace, but you are an Hypocrite, how shall I now be quit from the imputation of Hypocrisie? In that I am justified by my works let it appear to my self and others, that I have lived in all uprightnesse, 2 Cor. 1.12. so that justification from Hypocrisie before God an Man, is from the witnesse of my upright and unblameable life, so that I am justified from a double accusation, from the one by one way, from the other by another way. I am a sinner, that I cannot deny, my best works are sinful, therefore from that I am justified only by the blood of Christ.

But Christs blood belongs not to you, you are an Hypocrite, now how shall I know the sincerity of Faith but from the fruits, which is an holy and righteous life, so that if I walk so, I justify my self from that imputation. How doth Hezekiah help himself, when God spake bitter things? Remember how I have waled before thee with an upright heart, 2 Joh. 3. Isa. 53.11. how do I know that I know him? Why if I keep his Commandments; therefore we say, that an holy life is an evident sign of our fellowship with God, it glorifies God, it stops slanders, and brings on others; and besides all this, a godly life will justify us from hypocrisy.

But Christs blood belongs not to you, you are an Hypocrite, now how shall I know the sincerity of Faith but from the fruits, which is an holy and righteous life, so that if I walk so, I justifie my self from that imputation. How doth Hezekiah help himself, when God spake bitter things? Remember how I have waled before thee with an upright heart, 2 Joh. 3. Isa. 53.11. how do I know that I know him? Why if I keep his Commandments; therefore we say, that an holy life is an evident sign of our fellowship with God, it glorifies God, it stops slanders, and brings on others; and besides all this, a godly life will justifie us from hypocrisie.