The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

Trusting to ones own righteousness, and committing iniquity are couples, Ezek. 33.13. Nor do I hereby run into the trenches of that wretched generation of the Familists, denying all inherent graces, evidence of favour from any Christian obedience, or sanctification in holy duties; or that a Christian should profanely cast off all duties, because they cannot save themselves by them; No, no, the Lord will search with candles one day for such sons of darkness, and exclude such foolish virgins that have neither oil in their vessels nor light in their lamps: I only speak of that good, that righteousness which is rested in without Christ, and lifts up men above Christ, which in deed & in truth is not true righteousness, but only a true shadow of it. And therefore as Beza well observes from Rom. 9.32. Why did not Israel, that followed after righteousness attain it? Because they sought it not by faith, but as ⟨p. 146⟩it were by the works of the Law: they were not fruits of sincere obedience to the Law, but as it were the works of the Law; now this, saith the Apostle, verse 33. is the stumbling stone in Zion. Christ will have all flesh veil, and be stripped naked, and made nothing before him, before they shall ever be built upon him; now this men stumble at, they must bring something to him, they will not be vile, emptiness, and nothingness, that he may be all to them; verily observe your selves & you shall find, if there be little humiliation, there is little of Christ; if much humiliation, much of Christ; if unconstant humiliation, uncertain fruition of Christ; if real humiliation, real possession of Christ; if false humiliation, imaginary fruition of Christ. Know it, you cannot perish if you fall not short here, you must perish if you do.

Trusting to ones owne righteousnesse, and committing iniquity are couples, Ezek. 33.13. Nor doe I hereby run into the trenches of that wretched generation of the Familists, denying all inherent graces, evidence of favour from any Christian obedience, or sanctification in holy duties; or that a Christian should profanely cast off all duties, because they cannot save themselves by them; No, no, the Lord will search with candles one day for such sonnes of darknesse, and exclude such foolish virgins that have neither oyle in their vessels nor light in their lamps: I onely speak of that good, that righteousnesse which is rested in without Christ, and lifts up men above Christ, which in deed & in truth is not true righteousnesse, but only a true shadow of it. And therefore as Beza well observes from