Bible Discussion Thread

2 of 2 Chap 18

and accepted of God, because the root is so: But whatsoever works are brought forth by any creature, though the same in appearance which are accepted of God from another, yet not being moved unto, nor guided in by the Spirit of the Father, but brought forth in the will and wisdom of the creature, which is from below, and acted in imitation from the Saints words; these works are not accepted and well pleasing unto God, but is offence unto him, and sin against him, even the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto him, and if a man come before the Lord with thousands of Rams, and ten thousand of Rivers of Oils, and if he give the fruit of his body for the sin of the soul, and cover the Altar with tears, and is not led with a measure of Gods Spirit, none of all these works are accepted; nor his preaching, praying baptism, nor breaking of bread, nor any other observances towards God whatsoever, are not good in his sight but evil, and to be contented, and the root from whence they spring; because man is in the enmity against him, and not changed out of the old root, nor in that state is not led with the holy Spirit of the Father; and the root being bad, the branches are evil, and none are accepted of God in any thing which they perform towards him, but such as are in Christ Jesus, the second Adam, and such are new creatures, so that it is not for the creatures sake that any work is accepted of, or offence against God, but only for his Name sake, and because of being guided, or not of being guided with the measure of Gods pure Spirit: Therefore is man and his works good and accepted; or evil and not regarded, but condemned of God.