And there are many who own Christ to be their Saviour, but then they join other Saviours with him, as if this Mighty Saviour were not able to save them himself alone Christ says in the Context before us; Isai. 63.3. I have trodden the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with me. They then who expect Salvation partly from Christ, and partly from something else, will be disappointed in their Expectation. Such Christians are too like the Samaritans of old, of whom it is said, that they Feared the ⟨p. 31⟩Lord, and served graven Images. All Papists are such. They pretend that they hope for Salvation by Christ, yet they Pray for Salvation to this and the other Saint, to the Virgin Mary, to Saint Peter or St. Paul, more often than they do to Christ Himself: nay, to fictitious Saints of their own making. The Pope will Canonize them, and the deluded People will Pray to them, though it may be they were wicked men, and their Souls now in Hell. Yea, they make a Crucifix their Saviour: They say of a Cross, Unica spes, salusque nostra, thou art our only hope & salvation. And among those that are called Protestants, many build their hopes of Salvation on other things besides Christ. It may be on some righteousness of their own. Nothing i• more natural nor more dangerous than to do so. Thus it was with Paul before his Conversion: He was touching the righteousness of the Law blameless. A Man Zealous for the Ceremonies of Moses Law, and free from any Scandalous Immorality, and those things ⟨p. 32⟩he accounted gain, Phil. 3.7. He made account that by this Righteousness he should gain Heaven. Is it not thus with many that go under the Name of Christians! Ask them a reason of their hope, they will presently say as the Pharisee did, I thank God I am not as many other men are, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers; and this Morality they depend upon for Salvation, especially if with a Sober Life they practise Religious Duties, they Pray and it may be Fast often; this form of Godliness they doubt not will save them. They Pray to God, they Read the Scripture, they Hear Sermons in Public Assemblies, they go to Private Meetings. All this is well done: But is Prayer, Christ? Is Reading & Hearing the Word, Christ? Are Private Meetings Christ? Again, some build their hopes of Salvation on those Spiritual Privileges which they are the Subjects of.
And there are many who own Christ to be their Saviour, but then they joyn other Saviours with him, as if this Mighty Saviour were not able to save them himself alone Christ sayes in the Context before us; Isai. 63.3. I have troden the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with me. They then who expect Salvation partly from Christ, and partly from something else, will be disappointed in their Expectation. Such Christians are too like the Samaritans of old, of whom it is said, that they Feared the ⟨p. 31⟩Lord, and served graven Images. All Papists are such. They pretend that they hope for Salvation by Christ, yet they Pray for Salvation to this and the other Saint, to the Virgin Mary, to Saint Peter or St. Paul, more often than they do to Christ Himself: nay, to fictitious Saints of their own making. The Pope will Canonize them, and the deluded People will Pray to them, though it may be they were wicked men, and their Souls now in Hell. Yea, they make a Crucifix their Saviour: They say of a Cross, Vnica spes, salusque nostra, thou art our only hope & salvation. And among those that are called Protestants, many build their hopes of Salvation on other things besides Christ. It may be on some righteousness of their own. Nothing i• more natural nor more dangerous than to do so. Thus it was with Paul before his Conversion: He was touching the righteousness of the Law blameless. A Man Zealous for the Ceremonies of Moses Law, and free from any Scandalous Immorality, and those things ⟨p. 32⟩he accounted gain, Phil. 3.7. He made account that by this Righteousness he should gain Heaven. Is it not thus with many that go under the Name of Christians! Ask them a reason of their hope, they will presently say as the Pharisee did, I thank God I am not as many other men are, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers; and this Morality they depend upon for Salvation, especially if with a Sober Life they practise Religious Duties, they Pray and it may be Fast often; this form of Godliness they doubt not will save them. They Pray to God, they Read the Scripture, they Hear Sermons in Publick Assemblies, they go to Private Meetings. All this is well done: But is Prayer, Christ? Is Reading & Hearing the Word, Christ? Are Private Meetings Christ? Again, some build their hopes of Salvation on those Spiritual Priviledges which they are the Subjects of.
