The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.

Answer.

Briefly by these two things.

1. When the Spirit of the Lord doth convince a Soul of righteousness in order to Salvation, it doth (as you heard) take a Soul clear off from its own righteousness, and not only so, but it leads the Soul to follow after Righteousness still, after our own righteousness too. This is the work of the Spirit, the Evangelical work of the Spirit to take a Soul off from its own righte∣ousness and cause it to lean only upon Christs righteousness, and yet to follow hard after its own righteousness; it is a mystery to the World; ay, but the Spirit of the Lord doth lead a Soul in this way, whereas now one that hath but a notional conviction of the righteousness of Christ, and that his own righteousness cannot save him, alas! he will be ready to be formal and slighty in looking after his own righteousness, he will be formal and careless in duties and ordinances, — or else he will be ready to neglect them; he thinks under a notion of Christs righteousness, that he shall be saved by the righteousness of Christ, and so he neglects following hard after his own righteous∣ness. Brethren, this is that the Spirit of the Lord doth, when he convinces a Soul of the righteous∣ness of Christ in order to Salvation, it still causes the Soul to follow hard after its own righteous∣ness, though not to be accepted of God for it, not to be saved by it, but for such ends as I told you of before. This is the way now that the Spirit of the Lord doth work upon the Soul in, in order to its salvation. And then

2. Again, this also the Spirit is wont to do, when he convinces of righteousness, he doth con∣vince effectually and powerfully, (as I told you)

he doth so convince the soul of the Righteousness of Christ, as to perswade the soul to venture to lean its everlasting condition upon it, to lean there, to rest there; I say, this is the work of the Spirit. And let us consider with our selves, I pray, whether the Spirit hath been thus at work upon our hearts in order to salvation.

Well, to conclude and take my Farewel of you; As we desire to obtain life and salvation through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, take but only these three words which I shall leave with you and so have done. 'Tis a matter of everlasting concernment, closing with this Righteousness of Christ, fall short of the Righteousness of Christ but a hairs breadth, and you fall short of eternal life and salvation: for, There is no Name under Heaven, whereby you can be saved, but by Christ, and his Righteousness; this is the new way of the Covenant of Grace, to be saved for righte∣ousness indeed, and a perfect Righteousness too (as perfect as ever Adams was) but not for our own, but for the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ: therefore I say, let me com∣mend but three Words to you, and so I have done.

First, Study earnestly and diligently to under∣stand this Righteousness of Christ; though possibly you may think you do understand it in some measure, yet there is a great deal more of it to be understood, it is a great Deep, a great Mystery, therefore still let us be much in the study of this Righteousness of Christ.

Secondly, Beg and pray earnestly for the Spi∣rit to be given out unto you to convince you

of this Righteousness more and more, to con∣vince you effectually and powerfully, so as to enable your souls to venture to lean upon it.

Thirdly, And then indeavour every day fre∣quently to be exercising your selves in leaning and resting the weight of your Souls upon this Righteousness of Jesus Christ; do not only beg for the Spirit to convince us of this, but let us be indeavouring to exercise our selves fre∣quently in leaning the weight of our Souls up∣on the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, to be ac∣cepted of God to eternal life.

I will repeat them agai••, and then have done.

First, Be very diligent in stud••ing to under∣stand what the Righteousness of Christ is: Our eternal life is in it; as Moses said, Set your heart to this Word, for it is your Life. So I say, this is your life, this Righteousness of Christ, therefore set your heart to study it, make it your work and business to study to understand still more and more of this Righteousness of Christ.

Secondly, Beg earnestly for the Spirit of Con∣viction, that Christ would send down his Spi∣rit to convince us of this Righteousness, to con∣vince us effectually and powerfully of it, so as to be enabled to rest upon it.

Thirdly, Let us be exercising our selves fre∣quently in leaning, and resting the weight of our Souls upon this Righteousness, giving up our selves frequently, day by day, to lean and

rest the weight of our Souls upon the Righte∣ousness of Christ for acceptance with God to eter∣nal life and salvation.

Well I have done, only this Word I shall add in a Word, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.