A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect…

The second Use, Use 2 Is of Instruction how to make an holy use of all the gifts of Gods grace, and duties of Gods worship; this Doctrine will properly hold it forth: for here is as dangerous a rock for our souls to be split upon, as is among them: for we also may be subject to the like danger, in making our own righteousness our mediators, as they be in making their prayers, and merits of their Saints their Mediators: if we shall make any graces in our hearts the ground of our union with God, we have forgotten that Jesus Christ became God and man, and that he only is a fit person to remove all offence, and to communicate all good things from God unto us: if we shall say within our selves, Were I but thus and thus humbled, the Lord would accept me, and all the blessed promises would be mine: if I could but pray as such a Christian can, then I know the Lord would accept me. This may be a piece of refined Popery, but it is Popery at the very bottom: if we look unto our graces, or duties, to bring us unto union with Christ; or if we think that by the right of them, communion shall be maintained, we have forgotten our Mediator Jesus Christ, God and man; for if he be our Mediator, he doth work both these for us: these things cannot bring us unto Christ, for they all flow from him; if ⟨p. 243⟩therefore we have no other union with Christ, then that which flows from them; we are not united unto this very day. But you will say, Cannot our gifts, and works maintain this union when it is true? If they can uphold it, they are in part Mediators: that they do uphold it by merit, no Protestant will say: neither is there any right, or power in them to do this; and therefore to trust in them, is to put confidence in the arm of flesh: and though it be not so gross as Popery, yet it tends unto the like dishonour of Jesus Christ. It was a faithful saying of the Apostle Peter, and worthy of all acceptation, when they saw the people ready to attribute much unto their holiness, Acts 3.12. &c. Ye men of Israel, (saith Peter) why look ye so earnestly on us, as if we by our power, or holiness, had made this man to walk? the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, &c. so it is not in the power of the best spiritual gifts or works, to make a cripple go: much less is it in their power to make a feeble soul stand upright;

The second Use, Use 2 Is of Instruction how to make an holy use of all the gifts of Gods grace, and duties of Gods worship; this Doctrine will properly hold it forth: for here is as dangerous a rock for our souls to be split upon, as is among them: for we also may be subject to the like danger, in making our own righteousness our mediatours, as they be in making their prayers, and merits of their Saints their Mediatours: if we shall make any graces in our hearts the ground of our union with God, we have forgotten that Jesus Christ became God and man, and that he only is a fit person to remove all offence, and to communicate all good things from God unto us: if we shall say within our selves, Were I but thus and thus humbled, the Lord would accept me, and all the blessed promises would be mine: if I could but pray as such a Christian can, then I know the Lord would accept me. This may be a piece of refined Popery, but it is Popery at the very bottom: if we look unto our graces, or duties, to bring us unto union with Christ; or if we think that by the right of them, communion shall be maintained, we have forgotten our Mediatour Jesus Christ, God and man; for if he be our Mediatour, he doth work both these for us: these things cannot bring us unto Christ, for they all flow from him; if