Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But withal you must know that by the strength of this Inward man you do not please God by the way of merit: for so Christ only, and none but Christ pleased God. But when you strengthen the Inward man you please God by way of object: you choose grace and favour and holiness above all things; Merit was the Argument that Christ useth unto his Father to glorify him, John 17. Father I ¹have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work, therefore glorify me: That is I have merited this at thy hand that thou shouldst glorify me because I have perfectly ⟨p. 64⟩pleased thee in doing thy will. Again it is the Argument that Christ useth to his Disciples in John 14. Herein is my Father glorified, in that you bring forth much fruit: That ²is when you grow strong in the Inward man, and can bring forth fruit according to his will, you please God, and therefore it is that the Scripture sets forth the members of Christ by the Olive tree, and to sweet oil, the one full of fatness, the other full of sweetness, so the Inward man makes a man fat, that is rich in grace, and like oil, as the nature of it is to cheer, and beautify the countenance: so doth grace, it sweeteneth the soul, and makes it beautiful unto God, therefore let this move you to strengthen the Inward man, that thereby you may please God.

But withall you must know that by the strength of this Inward man you do not please God by the way of merit: for so Christ onely, and none but Christ pleased God. But when you strengthen the Inward man you please God by way of object: you chuse grace and favour and holiness above all things; Merit was the Argument that Christ useth unto his Father to glorifie him, Iohn 17. Father I ¹have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work, therefore glorifie me: That is I have merited this at thy hand that thou shouldst glorifie me because I have perfectly