A third means is when a man renounces as well his 1own righteousness as his sins. It is Christs righteousness that must make us righteous before God, that is our justification to eternal life. There is (to say the truth) no righteousness before a man comes to be in Christ, only 'tis called an outward righteousness, and is so taken before men; and therefore if thou wilt come to this faith, thou must cast off all, not conceit of righteousness, but thine own righteousness indeed; For that cannot further thee in this point, as thine own sins ⟨p. 175⟩cannot hinder thee. What hindered the Jews and Papist, and thousands of Protestants at this day from faith that should uphold their souls, but a conceit of their own righteousness? The Jews they would perform obedience to the law, and venture their salvation upon that righteousness, Rom. 10 2•. And therefore they could not believe. So the Papists now, they do still in part stick upon their own righteousness, whereas there is none in himself righteous but God alone Jehovah, who is righteousness, as he proclaims himself. We lost all in Adam, and recover all again in Christ. Many ignorant Protestants, and some that have knowledge also, will not stick to say, that if a man have a good meaning, dealing righteously, and serving God, he shall be accepted; all which is nothing without Christ: for the more a man goes on in good intentions, before he be in Christ by faith, all his performances are but cursed abominations, and so further off from faith, and that which God hath most severely punished, as he did Saul, his good intention without obedience unto him.
A third means is when a man renounces as well his 1own righteousness as his sinnes. It is Christs righteousness that must make us righteous before God, that is our justification to eternal life. There is (to say the truth) no righteousnesse before a man comes to be in Christ, onely 'tis call'd an outward righteousness, and is so taken before men; and therefore if thou wilt come to this faith, thou must cast off all, not conceit of righteousness, but thine own righteousness indeed; For that cannot further thee in this point, as thine own sins ⟨p. 175⟩cannot hinder thee. What hindred the Jewes and Papist, and thousands of Protestants at this day from faith that should uphold their souls, but a conceit of their own righteousness? The Jewes they would perform obedience to the law, and venture their salvation upon that righteousness, Rom. 10 2•. And therefore they could not believe. So the Papists now, they do still in part stick upon their own righteousness, whereas there is none in himself righteous but God alone Iehouah, who is righteousness, as he proclaims himself. We lost all in Adam, and recover all again in Christ. Many ignorant Protestants, and some that have knowledge also, will not stick to say, that if a man have a good meaning, dealing righteously, and serving God, he shall be accepted; all which is nothing without Christ: for the more a man goes on in good intentions, before he be in Christ by faith, all his performances are but cursed abominations, and so further off from faith, and that which God hath most severely punished, as he did Saul, his good intention without obedience unto him.
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