A Real Renouncing of our own worthiness of that §3Grace and Mercy which we need, and without which […] are most miserable; this being one Condition of ⟨p. 148⟩the Second Covenant of Grace made in Christ, whereby it's differenced from that of the Law made with Adam; Namely, That Holiness and Righteousness wherewith the Nature of man was beautified in Paradise, though it was not so natural as issuing out of1 the Principles, out of which he was compounded and made, yet by all Orthodox Divines it is in this sense judged natural2 in that in Gods wise Providence and righteous appointment, it was due to Nature; It being cross to the wise proceeding of the infinite wise God, to require Obedience from a Creature if he should not have given ability to the Creature to perform it: It Arguing weakness and unskilfulness at the least, in the Workman to make a thing for an End, and not make it able to attain the End […] which it was made: But in this Second Covenant of the Gospel, it is far otherwise; when we in our first […] had misspent the stock the Lord had bestowed upon us, we were unworthy to be betrusted with any more: and hence it comes to pass when the Lord will lay hold upon the proud heart of a Sinner and draw him to himself, he sinks his Spirit with the sense of his own wretchedness, so that he sees and confesseth freely that he is undone without Mercy, and yet conceives it's not possible that ever such a worthless worm should partake thereof, acknowledgeth it's just with God to deny to give, nay to offer Grace to him, that hath slighted, rejected, opposed Grace from day to day; He knows he cannot procure or Purchase Gods favour, challenge he dare not, without it he concludes he must perish, and yet deserves by his own confession ⟨p. 149⟩he should never obtain it; Dan. 9. 7, 8. O Lord, Righteousness belongs to thee, but unto us confusion of face, nothing but shame and confusion belongs to us, no mercy nor grace, Ezek. 36. 31, 32. They shall loath themselves in their own eyes; and not for your […] do I these things saith the Lord; be ashamed and confounded, O house of Israel. In a word, then is a man truly worthy that is fit to hear of, and to receive mercy, when he is rightly, really become […] of his own unworthiness.
A Real Renouncing of our own worthiness of that §3Grace and Mercy which we need, and without which 〈…〉 are most miserable; this being one Condition of ⟨p. 148⟩the Second Covenant of Grace made in Christ, wherby it's differenced from that of the Law made with Adam; Namely, That Holiness and Righteousnes wherewith the Nature of man was beautified in Paradice, though it was not so natural as issuing out of1 the Principles, out of which he was compounded and made, yet by all Orthodox Divines it is in this sense judged natural2 in that in Gods wise Providence and righteous appointment, it was due to Nature; It being cross to the wise proceeding of the infinite wise God, to require Obedience from a Creature if he should not have given ability to the Creature to perform it: It Arguing weakness and unskilfulness at the least, in the Workman to make a thing for an End, and not make it able to attain the End 〈…〉 which it was made: But in this Second Covenant of the Gospel, it is far otherwise; when we in our first 〈…〉 had mispent the stock the Lord had bestowed upon us, we were unworthy to be betrusted with any more: and hence it coms to pass when the Lord wil lay hold upon the proud heart of a Sinner and draw him to himself, he sinks his Spirit with the sence of his own wretchedness, so that he sees and confesseth freely that he is undone without Mercy, and yet conceives it's not possible that ever such a worthless worm should partake thereof, acknowledgeth it's just with God to deny to give, nay to offer Grace to him, that hath slighted, rejected, opposed Grace from day to day; He knowes he cannot procure or Purchase Gods favor, challenge he dare not, without it he concludes he must perish, and yet deserves by his own confession ⟨p. 149⟩he should never obtain it; Dan. 9. 7, 8. O Lord, Righteousness belongs to thee, but unto us confufion of face, nothing but shame and confusion belongs to us, no mercy nor grace, Ezek. 36. 31, 32. They shal loarh themselves in their own eyes; and not for your 〈…〉 do I these things saith the Lord; be ashamed and confounded, O house of Israel. In a word, then is a man truly worthy that is fit to hear of, and to receive mercy, when he is rightly, really become of his own unworthiness.
- 1Original is justitia & data fuit, & debita naturae Adami, in primo foedere. Ferrij vindiciae contr a Jesuitas.
- 2Non sic in foedere secundo. Data hic gratia, sed nullo modo debita.
