The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

4. The Doctrine insisted on,¹ hath an effectual influence into the Obedience of the Saints, upon the account of giving it its proper place, and setting it aright upon its basis, carrying it on in due order; It neither puts upon it the fetters of the Law, nor turns it loose from the Holy and righteous Rule of it; Let men be as industrious as can be imagined, in the performance of all commanded duties, yet if they do it on legal motives, and for legal ends, all their performances are vitiated, and all their duties rejected; This the Apostle asserts against the Jews, Rom: 9. 31. They •ought for righteousness, but as it were by the works of the Law, and therefore he tells them Chap. 10. 3. That being ignorant of Gods Righteousness, and going about to establish their own Righteousness, they did not submit to the Righteousness of God; And the Papists will one day find a fire proceeding out of their Doctrine of merits, consuming all their good Works, as hay and stubble. There are also many other ways and principles, whereby Obedience is vitiated, and rendered an abomination instead of Sacrifice, wherein our Doctrine is no sharer; But this I must not enter into, because it would lead me into other Controversies, which with this I shall not intermix.

4. The Doctrine insisted on,¹ hath an effectuall influence into the Obedience of the Saints, upon the account of giving it its proper place, and setting it aright upon its basis, carrying it on in due order; It neither puts upon it the fetters of the Law, nor turnes it loose from the Holy and righteous Rule of it; Let men be as industrious as can be imagined, in the performance of all commanded duties, yet if they doe it on legall motives, and for legall ends, all their performances are vitiated, and all their duties rejected; This the Apostle asserts against the Jewes, Rom: 9. 31. They •ought for righteousnesse, but as it were by the workes of the Law, and therefore he tells them Chap. 10. 3. That being ignorant of Gods Righteousnesse, and going about to establish their own Righteousnesse, they did not submit to the Righteousnesse of God; And the Papists will one day find a fire proceeding out of their Doctrine of merits, consuming all their good Workes, as hay and stubble. There are also many other waies and principles, whereby Obedience is vitiated, and rendred an abomination instead of Sacrifice, wherein our Doctrine is no sharer; But this I must not enter into, because it would lead me into other Controversies, which with this I shall not intermixe.