8. But, let us not mistake the Apostle's meaning, and imagine them profitable unto us, with God; to our salvation, and acceptance with Him; This would be to renounce the Lord who bought us, to pretend that we have, whereof we may boast, even before God: and thus believing a lie, fall into the strong delusion. As a Friend to benevolence, equity, and peace amongst mankind; 1 should be glad to see those good works abound: and from a right principle, would encourage them with all my power. But, when men begin to speak of these things, and consider them as spiritual Good, as well-pleasing, and acceptable with God, as Righteousness, Holiness, or fruitfulness before Him; or, when making this their sanctification, they go about to prove their Faith thereby, inwardly respecting those motions, as Proofs, and Marks of their Grace, and Christianity: I say, when this is the case, with ardent zeal, tenfold more burning, than they can ever shew for the works of

their own hands, we will prove, all their righteousness to be filthy Rags: Dross, and Dung, exposing the pride, vain glory, hypocrisy, covetousness, self-love, &c. of all their Works, Words, and Thoughts, protesting with all our souls, against bringing the Blind and Lame into the House of the Lord: for as much as we conceive, that the honour of Jesus Christ, and the real happiness of mankind, is greatly concerned here. And, if for this, I am deemed an enemy unto good works, so be it. I will remember the word of the Lord, who said, the World cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil, John vii. 7. And, as to any conviction, received from the most upright amongst men, from their holy example, &c. the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, before whom I stand, knoweth that I lie not; when I declare: That there is but one Man,* amongst all the individuals of Adam's race, whose

The Man Christ Jesus.

example I admire and can perfectly approve of: by his example, I confess I am deeply convinced, not to envy, but to the most profound admiration! and, though I see that in Him, unto which I cannot attain, nay, it would be the highest arrogance in me, or any other mortal, to seek, or expect, by works of righteousness, imitations, &c. to attain unto his perfection; yet, I cannot despise, but must for ever reverence, admire, and wonder before Him. When I except this Man, I believe that word of the Lord applicable unto all the others, where he says, the best of them is as a Brier, the most upright is sharper than a Thorn Hedge. Micah, vii. 4. For every Brother will utterly supplant, and every Neighbour will walk with Slanders. Jer. ix. 4. Thus saith the Lord, and thus I think: and therefore cannot behold any man upon Earth, with an envious, or evil eye, on the account of his dazzling perfections; nor is it possible I should ever despise good works, on this account. But,

wherever I have spoken slightly of Human Goodness, it is because I am convinced it is not good; but a false shew, and lying vanity; and therefore as a falsehood, always to be opposed. Another reason, is, because these vain pretensions gaining ground amongst mankind, tends greatly to the dishonour of Jesus Christ, and his Gospel; and to make void the Grace of God. Again, it tends to distress the Soul, who is convinced of the weakness of Human Nature, according to the scriptures; and to keep him from the rest, that remaineth for the people of God: nor can any rejoice in it, but the deceived, who know not themselves, nor the scriptures, nor the Power of God.

Again, it encourages to party: its warmest Advocates, being of the number of those who separate themselves. And yet, nothing more fully establishes that exploded Maxim, Let us do evil, that good may come. It is this, which allows; yea even authorizes, one man, to think himself ho

lier than another, and consequently to say in his heart, stand by, come not near me, I am holier than thou. From hence, instead of loving his Brother, He takes an occasion to Judge Him, despise and hate him: yea, from this very principle, proceeds all the animosity, pride, backbitings, whisperings, contentions, &c. which abounds, amongst all the various sects of religious people: Yea, such is their zeal, for the Good as considered in the creature, that (least they should turn from it) they will not scruple to break any, yea every commandment, in the Book of God; and to run a Tilt, against the whole of the perfect example, which the holy Jesus hath exhibited; only to keep their votaries steady to their favoured plan. And, lest you should think my assertion too strong, you need only for your conviction, put your Head into some of those places, where Human Goodness, or inward holiness, or, that work of the Spirit upon the Heart, which opposes the free salvation of mankind by the