Maugre all that they can say or do, Whoever would have Peace, and Hope,and Solid Confolation; muft Center only in the Saviour; and look to be fuftified by Faith alone; and the Grace of God, Through the RedemptiIon that is in Jefus Chrift.

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For they being Ignorant of God's Righteoufnefs, and going about to Eftablish their own Righteoufnefs, have not Submitted themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of God.

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HE grand Enquiry that moft of all concerns every Sinful man, is How he fhall come off, and obtain Peace and Acceptance, with the Holy Offended God. Though Secure Sinners trouble not their heads about fuch matters; But feem to be in more care, How they fhall keep Confcience Asleep; than what they fhall Anfwer, when brought into Judgment: Or they take up with fome Random Hopes of the Divine Mercy; without confulting

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the Divine Revelation, to inform themselves upon what Terms that Mercy will be Dispensed: Yet whoever is not Stupid and Dead in Sin, but Awaken'd and Confcious of his Guilt; muft needs have a Thoughtful Heart, Wherewithal to Appear before the Lord; What to Plead, and how to Bear up, at the Righteous Tribunal of the Judge Eternal.

'Tis not to turn the Head another way; or put the Evil day far from us 'Tis not to Hide in the Thickets of Worldly Concerns and Fruitions: Much lefs, to go and indulge to vain Pleasure, and get into Jolly Company; and there think to Eat and Drink, and Sport and Rant it away. Ah Lord, What Phyfick is this for the Afflicted Confcience of a Sinner? The poor Disquieted Soul is not fo to be still'd with idle Diverfions. But when the great Trial is yet to come; The great Care is, What Defence then to make; and How to Escape?

That Righteoufnefs is Needful for the purpose, I take all to be agreed. But what Righteoufnefs will ferve the turn, and which Sort we had best Trust to; The feveral Pretenders to Righte oufnels cannot fo eafily hit it off. Now one of the best Teachers, from whom we may learn the certain Truth, I think I have here fix'd upon: S. Paul, who fo ftudiously Difcuffes this Point; and to the good Satisfaction of all, but his Natural man; with whom it fticks fo hard, he cannot Swallow that doctrine of Faith, upon which the Gospel of our Lord hangs so much,

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as even the whole of our Title to the Kingdom of Heaven: Nay, he applauds himself in it, That fuch Camels will not down with him; As that Jefus is the only Begotten Son of God; And that Believing, we may have Life through his Name. The Righteoufnels of Works, that he understands well enough: But this Righteoufnefs of Faith, he knows not what to make of: Nor will he ever be perfuaded, to go out of Himfelf, and Depend upon Another: which he counts fo much Below him; and such a Stoop and Condefcention, as he cannot away with. And of the very fame Temper and Stiffnefs ftill, even to this day, are multitudes called Chriftians, as well as the Jews, whom the Apostle here cenfures; They being Ignorant of God's Righteoufnefs, &c.

He fhew'd the mighty Concern that he had for this People, his Countrey-men, ver. 1. Brethren, my hearts defire and Prayer to God for Ifrael is, that they might be Saved. Their Salvation lay very near his Heart: And he was afraid they should Mifs it; by taking the Wrong way; and building all their Happiness upon fuch a Bottom, as would never bear the Fabrick; but utterly Fail 'em. Nay he feems to make the faddeft Imprecation upon himself, for their fakes. Chap, 9.3. I could wish that my self were Accurfed from Chrift for my Brethren, my Kinsmen according to the flesh. Why, what was the matter with 'em? And where was the Danger, that fo Threaten'd them? Were they fuch Wicked Li

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vers, as to be notoriously guilty of Scandalous. Immorality? No, it fhould feem the quite contrary; That they were fuch as took care of their Souls; and minded, and followed the Service of God. For, (faith he, ver. next before,) I bear them Record, that they have a Zeal of God. They are for his Worship and Glory: Nay, they Stickle for Obedience to his Law; and with good Intention, and upright Conscience, they defend Probity and Piety. And what then would you have more? Suppofe, they labour under fome Mistakes, and thofe in Fundamental Points of Faith; (as you account 'em ;) Yet why cannot you let them alone; When they be Sober, Honeft, and Religious men; that Seek after God, and have a Zeal for him? Yet this would not Satisfy the Apostle: He could not think it yet Enough: when he knew them fo to Err in the Principle; as was enough to fet them out all the way: And that they oppos'd the Honour of God, to the Son of God; and oppos'd the Ob fervation of the Law, to the Faith of Chrift.

Whence I fhall take up this Note by the way, That we ought to be Concern'd for our Friends and Neighbours, who lye under Damnable Errors; Though they may be men of Good Carriage, and commendable Converfation. (However, our great care muft be, To Convince and Reclaim the Vicious and Ungodly; let them be never fo Orthodox, and Sound in their Opinions: Because the Right Thinking will never bring a man to Heaven, without Holy Li