Objection. But here some may object; Will the Faith of Christ justify us. in such a manner, that there may be a Legality and Impunity for us to disobey the Will of his Father? God forbid. The Liberty of the Gospel allows not that; for it openly affirms, That they, who are justified by the Faith of Christ, walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. And to this ⟨p. 383⟩purpose our Lord himself speaks, though not in the same words; Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, 1shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the Will of my Father, which is in Heaven. For what is it to do the Will of the Father, (but as Paul expresses it) to walk, not after the flesh, but after the spirit? In which place a perfect obedience to the whole Law is not required to Justification; but the meaning of our Lord's words is this, that he requires a Faith which is not counterfeit, nor hypocritical, but upright and sincere; which doth not only outwardly and with the mouth, make mention of the name of the Lord, or the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, as the Pharisees and Hypocrites did of old, but heartily endeavours to walk in the fear of God; and though it cannot perform all things commanded in the Law, yet it strives, (as much as in it lies) to shun all things that are contrary to the Will of God, that, at least, sin may not have the dominion, if it cannot be wholly excluded or rooted out. Thus I understand these words of Christ, To do the Will of his Father, which is in Heaven: For God requires us to do his Will, 2but does not exact a complete perfection of Obedience in this Mortal Life. On the contrary, he that makes an outward show of Faith, and an external profession of the Name of Christ, whilst he takes ⟨p. 384⟩no care to lead a Life suitable to his profession, but runs on in sins against his Conscience, it is certain, that such a Faith, according to the saying of Christ, profits him nothing, though he boast in the Name of the Lord, as much as he will; not that Faith without Works doth not justify before God, provided it be true, and not counterfeit; that is, if it is received into a heart truly humbled, as seed into good ground; But because that Faith, which doth not provoke unto Love and good Works; though it may be boasted of at a high rate, yet in reality it is no Faith at all, but only a shadow, and 3false resemblance of Faith.
Objection. But here some may object; Will the Faith of Christ justifie us. in such a manner, that there may be a Legality and Impunity for us to disobey the Will of his Father? God forbid. The Liberty of the Gospel allows not that; for it openly affirms, That they, who are justified by the Faith of Christ, walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. And to this ⟨p. 383⟩purpose our Lord himself speaks, though not in the same words; Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, 1shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the Will of my Father, which is in Heaven. For what is it to do the Will of the Father, (but as Paul expresses it) to walk, not after the flesh, but after the spirit? In which place a perfect obedience to the whole Law is not required to Iustification; but the meaning of our Lord's words is this, that he requires a Faith which is not counterfeit, nor hypocritical, but upright and sincere; which doth not only outwardly and with the mouth, make mention of the name of the Lord, or the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, as the Pharisees and Hypocrites did of old, but heartily endeavours to walk in the fear of God; and though it cannot perform all things commanded in the Law, yet it strives, (as much as in it lies) to shun all things that are contrary to the Will of God, that, at least, sin may not have the dominion, if it cannot be wholly excluded or rooted out. Thus I understand these words of Christ, To do the Will of his Father, which is in Heaven: For God requires us to do his Will, 2but does not exact a compleat perfection of Obedience in this Mortal Life. On the contrary, he that makes an outward shew of Faith, and an external profession of the Name of Christ, whilst he takes ⟨p. 384⟩no care to lead a Life suitable to his profession, but runs on in sins against his Conscience, it is certain, that such a Faith, according to the saying of Christ, profits him nothing, though he boast in the Name of the Lord, as much as he will; not that Faith without Works doth not justifie before God, provided it be true, and not counterfeit; that is, if it is received into a heart truly humbled, as seed into good ground; But because that Faith, which doth not provoke unto Love and good Works; though it may be boasted of at a high rate, yet in reality it is no Faith at all, but only a shadow, and 3false resemblance of Faith.
