PROPOSITION VII. (continued 2)

and polluted in their Sins, lest their Hope prove that of the

Hypocrite

, which perisheth.

The

Hope

of the

Hypocrite

shall perish, but

Grace

is to the

Humble.

Neither let any foolishly imagine, that they can by their own Works, or by the Performance of any Ceremonies or Traditions, or by the Giving of Gold or Money, or by afflicting their Bodies in Will-worship and voluntary Humility, or foolishly striving to conform their Way to the outward Letter of the Law, flatter themselves that they merit before God, or draw a Debt upon him, or that any Man or Men have Power to make such Kind of Things effectual to their Justification, lest they be found

foolish Boasters

, and

Strangers

to

Christ

and his

Righteousness

indeed. But blessed for ever are they, that having truly had a Sense of their own Unworthiness and Sinfulness, and having seen all their own Endeavours and Performances fruitless and vain, and beheld their own Emptiness, and the Vanity of their vain Hopes, Faith and Confidence, while they remained inwardly struck, pursued, and

condemned

by

God’s holy Witness in their Hearts

, and so having applied themselves thereto, and suffered his

Grace

to work in them, are become

changed

and

renewed

in the Spirit of their Minds, passed from

Death

to

Life

, and know

Jesus

arisen in them,

working both the Will and the Deed

; and so having

put on the Lord Jesus Christ

, in Effect are clothed with him, and partake of his Righteousness and Nature; such can draw near to the Lord with Boldness, and know their Acceptance

in

and

by

him;

in whom

, and in as many as are found in him,

the Father is well pleased

.