And this word only works a right Reformation: For this reforms truly and indeed; all other power reforms but in appearance. So that there is no true reformation of any thing but what is wrought by the word: but what ever evil is reformed, and not by the power of the word, it is not truly reformed; it is only reformed in the flesh, and not in the fpirit: it is only fufpended in the outward operation of it, but the feed and nature of it ftill remains in the heart, to grow up and work again,as opportunity ferves. And therefore what ever evil or corruption is reformed in thee, fee it be reformed by the power of the word: if the word hath killed it in thee, it is killed indeed; if not, it is alive in thee, though it feem to be dead. The outward power of the world may fet up an image of Reformation, but it is the word only can work true Reformation.

And therefore let us learn to rely on the word for the Reformation of the Church.

For this is much for the honour of the word (which God hath magnified above all his Name) when we can neglect the power of the world, and leave the whole work of Reformation to the power, working, and efficacy of the word alone, which is Almighty, and able to bring off the heart from all things to God. As on the contrary, it is a great difhonour to God and his word, when men dare not rely on the word alone to reform the Church, though it be stronger then men and Angels and all the creatures; but will needs be calling in the power of the world, and reft and rely on that, for this work, as if the power of the word were not fufficient. But let fuch men know, that if the power of the word, will not reform men, all the power of the world will never do it. And therefore well faid Luther pra

dicare,

dicare, annuntiare, fcribere volo; neminem autem vi adigam. I will preach, and Teach, and write, but I will conftraia no body.

Oh therefore that our Civil and Ecclefiaftical powers would fo much honour Chrifts word, as to truft the reformation of his Kingdom with it; and that, as it is fufficient to reform the Church, fo you would be pleafed to think it fufficient; and thus fhall you give Chrift and his word due honour, as well as declare your own faith.

And if you would commit this work to the power of the word, to which only it belongs, you should foon fee what the word would do. There is no fuch glorious fight under heaven as to fee the word, in the fpirit and power of it, come in to an unreformed world, and to obferve the changes and alterations it makes there.

And thus you fee that one means that Christ ufeth for the Reformation of his Church, is the word.

The Gospel But here I muft further declare to you that Reforms this word by which Chrift reforms the Church, is not the word of the Law; for the Law made nothing perfect, but the word of the Gofpel; This, this, is the only word, that works Refor

I. Works Faith.

mation,

For first,

1. This word works faith; and therefore it is called the word of faith, becaufe faith comes by hearing of this word, Rom. 10. ver. 8. and ver, 17. Now as the word works faith, fo faith apprehends the word, even that word that was with God and was God; this living and eternal word, dwels in our hearts by faith, as the Apoftle faith, That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith: And this word dwelling in us by faith, changeth us into it it's own likeness, as fire chan

geth

geth the iron into it's own likeness, and takes us up into all it's own vertues.

And fo the word dwelling in the flesh, reforms the flesh, and it dwells in us through faith, and faith is wrought by the Gospel.

So that the word whereby Chrift reforms, is not the word without us, as the word of the Law is; but the word within us, as it is written, The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; and this is the word of Faith: If thou live under the word many years, and if it come not into thy Heart, it will never change thee, nor reform thee. And therefore the reforming word is the word within us, and the word within us is the word of faith.

2. The Gospel reforms, because it doth not 2. only reveale Chrifts righteousness, as it is writ- Communiten, the Righteoufness of God is revealed from Faith cates Righto Faith; but also it communicates it to us; And teousness. therefore it is called the word of righteoufnefs, because it works righteousness. So that Chrift, the righteousness of God, is conveyed to us through this word of righteoufnefs. And when the righteoufnefs of God, revealed in the Go-fpel, comes and dwells in us, what Reformation of fin doth this work? all fin perifheth, at the rebuke of his countenance: For the righteoufness of God will endure no fin in us; And fo the Gospel reforms by working righteousness in us.

3.

3. The Gospel reforms, because it fhews us Chrift; and by fhewing us him, it changeth us Shews into his Image; the more we fee Chrift in the Chrift, Gospel, the more are we made like unto him, that as we have born the Image of the earthly, fo we may bear the Image of the Heavenly Adam.

2.

The Second

means

Chrift useth to reform the Church withal.

2. Yea the Gospel fhews us God in Chrift in all his glory, and changeth us into that glory of God which is fhewen us; we all faith Paul, with open face, beholding as in a glafs (and this glass is the Gospel) the glory, of the Lord, are changed into the fame Image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: fo that the Gospel by fhewing us God, changeth us into the Image of God ; and God through the Gospel, arifeth on us, till his glory be feen upon us.

And thus you fee the grounds of the Gospels Reformation.

So that now the word of the Gospel, is the only Reforming word: and if there be never fo much preaching, if it be but Legal, it will reform no body aright; because there can be no working Faith, nor communicating righteousness, nor changing men into Gods Image, and fo there can be no true Reformation.

And thus much for the first Means of Reformation which Chrift ufeth, which is the word, and this word the Gospel.

2. Means, the Spirit.

For the Spirit accompanies the Word in the Ministry of the Gospel; and therefore the Gospel is called the Miniftration of the Spirit, that is, the Word and Spirit in union and operation. In the Law, there was the Letter without the Spirit, and fo that could do nothing, but in the Gospel, the Word and the Spirit are always joyned; and therefore, faith Chrift, The words that 1 fpeak are Spirit and Life; that is, they come from the Spirit, and carry Spirit with them.

And this Spirit that is prefent in the word of the Gospel, and works in it, and is given by it, reforms mightily; and therefore it is called the Spirit of judgment and burning: And the Lord looking to this time of Reformation, promifed

long

long before to pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh, and fo to reform all Flesh.

Now the Spirit poured forth upon the Flesh, reforms it two ways.

1. By taking away all evil out of the flesh. 2. By changing the flesh into its own likeness. 1. The Spirit poured forth upon the flesh, reforms it all, by taking all evil out of the flesh; as first, all Sin and Corruption, faith Paul, If you mortifie the deeds of the Flesh by the Spirit, ye fhall live; the deeds of the flesh are not to be mortified by any power, but by the Spirit; all pride and envy, and Luft and covetousness, and carnal mindedness, and all other evils of the flesh, are reformed by the prefence of the Spirit in it, and no other way.

2.

2. The Spirit reforms not only all Sins in the Church, but all Errors, and Herefies, and falfe Do- AllErrors. ctrines, as is evident by that of Paul, 1 Cor. 3. 12. If any man, build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every mans work fhall be made manifeft; for the day fhall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire fhall try every mans work of what fort it is, &c.

So that a Man may lay Chrift for a Foundation, and yet build wood, hay, and ftubble upon him, that is, Humane Doctrines, and the inventions of Men, and falfe and wicked Opinions.

2. The deftructiou of this hay, wood, and ftubble, that is, Error, Herefie, and Humane Do&trines in the Church of God, that is, the People built on Chrift, fhall not be by Laws of States, or Conftitutions of Councels, but by the Holy Spirit which is as fire.

The Spirit hall come into the Saints, and burn up all that corrupt and falfe Doctrine that will not indure the Spirit; and Error fhall never be deftroyed, but by the Spirit of Truth. So that the Spirit reforms all Error, as well as all Corruptions in the Faithful.

2. The