Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Unto men set upon this Inquiry, that which first and naturally presents it self, for their direction and assistance, assuredly promising them a Righteousness that will abide the trial of God, provided they will follow its direction, is the Law. The Law hath many fair pleas to prevail with a Soul to close with it for a Righteousness before God. It was given out from God himself for that end and purpose; it contains the whole obedience that God requireth of any of the sons of men; it hath the promise of life annexed to it; do this and live; the doers of the Law are justified; and if thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments; yea it is most certain that it must be wholly fulfilled, if we ever think to stand with boldness before God. This being some part of the plea of the Law, there is no man that seeks after Righteousness but doth one time or another attend to it, and attempt its direction: many do it every day, who yet will not own that so they do. This then they set themselves about; labouring to correct their lives, amend their ways, perform the duties required, and so follow after a Righteousness according to the prescript of the Law. And in this course do many men continue long with much perplexity; sometimes hoping, ⟨p. 114⟩oftener fearing, sometimes ready to give quite over, sometimes vowing to continue, (their Consciences being no way satisfied; nor Righteousness in any measure attained) all their days: After they have wearied themselves, perhaps for a long season, in the largeness of their ways, they come at length, with fear, trembling and disappointment to that conclusion of the Apostle, by the works of the Law no flesh is Justified; and with dread Cry, that if God mark what is done a miss, there is no standing before him. That they have this Issue the Apostle witnesseth; ^fRom. 9. 31, 32. Israel who followed after the Law of Righteousness, attained not to the Law of Righteousness, wherefore! because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law: it was not solely for want of endeavour in themselves that they were disappointed, for they earnestly followed after the Law of Righteousness, but from the nature of the thing it self, it would not bear it; Righteousness was not to be obtained that way:

Unto men set upon this Inquiry, that which first and naturally presents it selfe, for their direction and assistance, assuredly promising them a Righteousnesse that will abide the triall of God, provided they will follow its direction, is the Law. The Law hath many faire pleas to prevaile with a Soule to close with it for a Righteousnesse before God. It was given out from God himselfe for that end and purpose; it contains the whole obedience that God requireth of any of the sonnes of men; it hath the promise of life annexed to it; doe this and live; the doers of the Law are justified; and if thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements; yea it is most certaine that it must be wholly fullfilled, if we ever think to stand with boldnesse before God. This being some part of the plea of the Law, there is no man that seeks after Righteousnesse but doth one time or another attend to it, and attempt its direction: many do it every day, who yet will not own that so they doe. This then they set themselves about; labouring to correct their lives, amend their ways, performe the dutys required, and so follow after a Righteousnesse according to the prescript of the Law. And in this course doe many men continue long with much perplexity; sometimes hopeing,