Obj. 2. Holiness and walking in the way of holiness contributeth not one jot to Salvation, 1as causes, or as the way thereto, Christ hath done that perfectly. Ans. I pray you consider ⟨p. 143⟩three things here; 1. The Will of Gad to save; yea, and to justify the ungodly. 2. Jus, the Law right to righteousness and salvation. 3. Actual salvation;2 Christs merits are neither cause, nor motive, nor condition moving God to will, to choose, or ordain persons for glory, this is an act of eternal election to glory, which is not from Christs merits: nor doth any external work or condition, either good or evil in Jacob, or Esau, or in the surety Christ, move God to such an act of free liberty. Libertines are ignorant in so speaking; yea, faith is no condition, cause, or motive of such a will. 2. Christs merits, not faith, not holiness in us, must be the cause of our Law-right to righteousness and glory: Christ, his alone gave the price of Redemption for us, no Garments were rolled in blood for a patent and right to Heaven, but his only: his alone trod the Wine-press of Gods Wrath; in those two notions, works of holiness have no footing in the work. But 3. as touching actual salvation, the way to it is holiness, without which none can see God. Its expressly commanded, Be ye holy, as I am holy, 1 Pet. 1.19, 20. and Rom. 6.21. But being now made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit into holiness, and the end life everlasting, 2 Pet. 1.10. If ye do these things ye shall never fall, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, unto the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour ⟨p. 144⟩Jesus Christ, Rev. 2.7. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the Tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father on his Throne. They answer, overcoming is by faith. But I reply; Faith to Libertines is but a believing that Christ hath overcome in their person and place, for faith is no more to them a condition or way to salvation then good works: for Faith (say they) is not Christ; Christ only is the way to Heaven, but this were a vain promise, if overcoming were not: 1. A duty required of us in time, upon the performance whereof, we have an entrance made to life eternal. 2.
Obj. 2. Holinesse and walking in the way of holinesse contributeth not one jot to Salvation, 1as causes, or as the way thereto, Christ hath done that perfectly. Ans. I pray you consider ⟨p. 143⟩three things here; 1. The Will of Gad to save; yea, and to justifie the ungodly. 2. Ius, the Law right to righteousnesse and salvation. 3. Actuall salvation;2 Christs merits are neither cause, nor motive, nor condition moving God to will, to choose, or ordain persons for glory, this is an act of eternall election to glory, which is not from Christs merits: nor doth any externall work or condition, either good or evill in Iacob, or Esau, or in the surety Christ, move God to such an act of free libertie. Libertines are ignorant in so speaking; yea, faith is no condition, cause, or motive of such a will. 2. Christs merits, not faith, not holinesse in us, must be the cause of our Law-right to righteousnesse and glory: Christ, his alone gave the price of Redemption for us, no Garments were rolled in blood for a patent and right to Heaven, but his only: his alone trode the Wine-presse of Gods Wrath; in those two notions, works of holinesse have no footing in the work. But 3. as touching actuall salvation, the way to it is holinesse, without which none can see God. Its expresly commanded, Be ye holy, as I am holy, 1 Pet. 1.19, 20. and Rom. 6.21. But being now made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit into holinesse, and the end life everlasting, 2 Pet. 1.10. If ye doe these things ye shall never fall, for so an entrance shal be ministred unto you abundantly, unto the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour ⟨p. 144⟩Jesus Christ, Rev. 2.7. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the Tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradice of God, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh wil I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set downe with my father on his Throne. They answer, overcoming is by faith. But I reply; Faith to Libertines is but a believing that Christ hath overcome in their person and place, for faith is no more to them a condition or way to salvation then good works: for Faith (say they) is not Christ; Christ only is the way to Heaven, but this were a vain promise, if overcoming were not: 1. A duty required of us in time, upon the performance whereof, we have an entrance made to life eternall. 2.
- 1Obj. 2. How works of holiness conduce to Salvation.Obj. 2. How works of holinesse conduce to Salvation.
- 2Three things herein to be distinguished.
