NOw this regeneration, and incoate obedience being wrought in the faithfull by the Spirit of God, though it doe not wholly extirpate and root out sinne, yet it keepeth it so under that it reigneth not in them, and doth so revive them that they labour to resist sinne, and to live according to the Law of God; which obedience though it be (in it self) imperfect, yet it is accep∣ted of God by faith in Christ, in whose perfect righteousness•• whatsoever is imperfect in our obedience is perfected, and our imperfections pardoned.
Yet even in those regenerate ones the Law is impossible to be* 1.1 kept, in respect of that perfection which God requireth; and therefore the Prophet David saith, Psal. 143. 5. Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall none living be justified; the faithfull then, doe both imperfectly keep the Law, committing many things against it. 2. In those things wherein they doe keep the Law. They have some imperfection as the Pro∣phet Isaiah saith, Chap. 64. 6. All our righteousnesse are as a stained clout, with Deut. 27. 16. Mat. 5. 21, 22. 28. Act. 15. 10. Rom. 7. 8. 24. 25. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Jam. 2. 20.
But there is great difference betwixt the regenerate, and the* 1.2 unregenerate, even when they sin; 1. In that Gods purpose standeth to save the Elect, though they sometimes slip, but so it is not with the other. 2. Their repentance in the end is cortaine, so it is not in the unregenerate. 3. Even in the sins of the regene∣rate, there yet remaineth some seed of faith, which is not utterly extinguished, nor they wholly given over; but the wicked, and unregenerate, are wholly sold over unto sin, and their very con∣science is polluted, and defiled with it. 4. The glorious state of the Saints in the next life, their obedience shall be perfect, and they shall be wholly conformable to the Will of God, and then we shall be just, not only by the imputative Justice of Christ, but