Moreover, he telleth us, That it is most agreeable to [Object. 6] the Gospel-way of dispensation, that sinners as sinners. that is, that all sorts of sinners, should be received by Christ: whether they acknowledge their sins or no. And to prove this, he alledgeth those words of our Savi∣our, The whole have no need of the Physician, but the sick.* 1.1 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners unto Repen∣tance.
To this Obiection of his, I answer, [Answ.] that the righteous of whom our Saviour here speaketh, are not such as are perfectly righteous, and no sinners; for thus, as St. Paul telleth us, there are none righteous no not one.* 1.2 It were such justitiaries as the Scribes and Pharisees, that falsly suppo∣sed themselves to be righteous, whom our Saviour saith, that he came not to call: and yet such as these, Mr. S. will have to be the fittest of all other for Christ, and for his grace. Now in opposition unto these hypocritical righ∣teous ones, we are, by sinners, whom Christ professeth that he came to call, to understand contrite and broken hearted sinners, that being terrified with the judgements of the Law, do acknowlege, that they stand in great need of Christ the heavenly Physician, and of every drop his blood, which he shed for them. But of this I have spoken enough before.