DIRECTION I.
EXPLICATION.

THIS Direction may serve instead of a Preface, to prepare the Understanding and Attention of the Reader for those that follow: And First, It acquainteth you with the Great End for which all those Means are designed, that are the principal Subject to be here treated of: the Scope of all is, To teach you how you may attain to that Practice and Manner of Life, which we call Holiness, Righteousness, or Godliness, Obedience, True Religion; and which God requireth of us in the Law, particularly in the Moral Law, Exod. 20. summed up in the Ten Commandments, and more briefly in those Two great Commandments, of Love to God and our Neighbour, Mat. 22.37, 39. and more large­ly explained throughout the Holy Scriptures. My work is to shew how the Duties of this Law may be done, when they are known: therefore, ex­pect not that I should delay my intent to help you to the knowledge of them, by any large Ex­position [Page 2]of them; which is a Work already per­formed in several Catechisms and Commentaries: yet, that you may not miss the Mark for want of discerning of it, take notice, in few words, that the Holiness which I would bring you to, is spiri­tual, Rom. 7.14. It consists not only in external Works of Piety and Charity, but in the Holy Thoughts, Imaginations, and Affections of the Soul, and chiefly in Love, from whence all o­ther Good Works must flow, or else they are not acceptable to God: not only in refraining the exe­cution of sinful Lusts, but in lusting and delight­ing to do the Will of God, and in a chearful O­bedience to God, without repining, fretting, grudg­ing at any Duty, as if it were a grievous Yoak and Burthen to you.

Take Notice further, That the Law, which is your Mark, is exceeding broad, Psal. 119.96. and yet not the more easie to be hit, because you must aim to hit it in every Duty of it, with a perfor­mance of equal breadth, or else you cannot hit it all, Isai. 2.10. The Lord is not at all loved with that Love that is due to him as Lord of all, if he be not loved with all our Heart, Spirit, and Might. We are to love every thing in him, his Justice, Holiness, Sovereign Authority, All-seeing Eye, and all his Decrees, Commands, Judgments, and all his Doings. We are to love him not only bet­ter than other things, but singly, as Only Good, the Fountain of all Goodness; and to reject all fleshly and worldly Enjoyments, even our own Lives, as if we hated them, when they stand in competition with our Enjoyment of him, or our Duty toward him. We must love him as to yield ourselves wholly up to his constant Service in all [Page 3]things, and to his disposal of us as our absolute Lord, whether it be for Prosperity or Adversity, Life or Death: and for his sake we are to love our Neighbour, even all Men, whether they be Friends or Foes to us, and so do to them in all things that concern their Honour, Life, Chastity, Worldly Wealth, Credit, and Content, whatever we would that Men should do to us in the like Condition, Mat. 7.12. This Spiritual Universal Obedience is the Great End, to the attainment whereof I am directing you. And that you may not reject mine Enterprize as impossible, observe that the most I promise, is no more than an acceptable per­formance of these Duties of the Law, such as our gracious merciful God will certainly delight in, and be pleas'd with, during our State of Imperfe­ction in this World, and such as will end in Per­fection of Holiness, and all Happiness in the World to come.

Before I proceed further, stay your thoughts a while, in the contemplation of the great Dignity and Excellency of these Duties of the Law, that you may aim at the performance of them as your End, with so high an esteem as may cast an amia­ble luster upon the ensuing discovery of the Means. The principal Duties of Love to God above all, and to each other for his sake, from whence all the other Duties flow, are so excellent, that I can­not imagine any more Noble Work for the Holy Angels in their glorious Sphere: They are the chief Works for which we were at first framed by the Image of God, engraven upon Man in the first Creation, and for which that beautiful Image is renewed upon us in our New Creation and San­ctification by Jesus Christ, and shall be perfected [Page 4]in our Glorification. They are Works which de­pend not meerly on the Sovereignty of the Will of God, to be commanded or forbidden, or left indifferent, or changed, or abolished at his plea­sure, as other Works that belong either to the Ju­dicial or Ceremonial Law, or to the means of Sal­vation prescribed by the Gospel; but they are in their own Nature holy, just, and good, Rom. 7.12. and meet for us to perform, because of our natu­ral relation to our Creator and Fellow-Creatures; so that they have an inseparable dependance upon the Holiness of the Will of God, and an indispen­sable Establishment thereby. They are Works suf­ficient to render the Performers holy in all manner of Conversation, by the Fruits which they bring forth, if no other Duties had ever been commanded, and by which the performance of all other Duties is sufficiently established as soon as they are com­manded; and without which there can be no Ho­liness of Heart and Life imagined, and to which it was one great Honour of Mosaical, and is now of Evangelical Ordinances, to be subservient, for the performance of them as Means which shall cease, when their End, this never-failing Charity is perfectly attained, 1 Cor. 13. They are Duties which we were naturally obliged to, by that Rea­son and Understanding which God gave to Man at his first Creation, to discern what was just and meet for him to do, and to which even Heathens are still obliged by the Light of Nature, without any written Law, or supernatural Revelation, Rom. 2.14.15. Therefore they are called Natural Re­ligion, and the Law that requireth them is called the Natural Law, and also the Moral Law, be­cause the Manners of all Men, Infidels as well as [Page 5]Christians, ought to be conformed to it (and if they had been fully conformable, they would not have come short of Eternal Happiness, Mat. 5.19. Luke 10, 27, 28.) under the penalty of the Wrath of God for the violation of it. This is the true Morality which God approveth of, consisting in conformity of all our Actions to the Moral Law; and if those that in these days contend so highly for Morality, do understand no other than this, I dare joyn with them in asserting, The greatest Saint is the greatest Mo­ralist. that the best morally honest Man is the greatest Saint, and that Morality is the principal part of true Religion, and the Test of all other parts, without which Faith is dead, and all other Religious Performances are a vain shew, and meer hypocrisie; for the faith­ful and true Witness hath testified concerning the two great Moral Commandments of Love to God, and our Neighbour, that there is none other Com­mandment greater than these, and that on them hang all the Law and the Prophets, Mar. 12.31. Mat. 22.40.

The Second thing contained in this Introductory Direction, is the necessity of learning the power­ful and effectual Means, whereby this great and excellent End may be accomplished, and of ma­king this the first Work to be done, before we can expect success in any attempt for the attain­ment of it.

This is an Advertisement very needful, because many are apt to skip over the Lesson concerning the Means (that will fill up this whole Treatise) as superfluous and useless. When once they know the Nature and Excellency of the Duties of the [Page 6]Law, they account nothing wanting but diligent performances; and they rush blindly upon imme­diate Practice, making more hast than good speed. They are quick in promising, Exod. 19.8. All that the Lord hath spoken we will do, without sitting down, and counting the cost. They look upon Holiness as only the Means of an End, Eternal Salvation, not as an End itself, requiring any great means to the attaining to the Practice of it. The enquiry of most, when they begin to have a sence of Religion, is, What good thing shall I do that I may have Eternal Life? (Mat. 19.16.) Not, How shall I be enabled to do any thing that is good? Yea, many that are accounted power­ful Preachers, spend all their Zeal in the earnest pressing the immediate Practice of the Law, with­out any discovery of the effectual means of per­formance; as if the Work of Righteousness were like those servile Employments, that need no skill and artifice at all, but industry and activity. That you may not stumble at the Threshold of a Reli­gious Life by this common oversight, I shall endea­vour to make you sensible, that it is not enough for you to know the matter and reason of your Duty, but that you are also to learn the powerful and effectual means of performance, before you can successfully apply yourselves to immediate Pra­ctice. And for this end I shall lay before you the Considerations following.

1. We are all by Nature void of all strength and ability to perform acceptably that Holiness and Righteousness which the Law requireth, and are dead in Trespasses and Sins, and Children of Wrath, by the Sin of our first Father Adam, as the Scripture witnesseth, Rom. 5.12, 15, 18, 19. [Page 7] Eph. 2. v. 1, 2, 3. Rom. 8.7, 8. This Doctrine of Original Sin, which Protestants generally profess, is a firm Basis and Ground-work to the assertion now to be proved, and to many other assertions in this whole Discourse. If we believe it to be true, we cannot rationally encourage ourselves to attempt an holy Practice, until we are acquainted with some powerful and effectual means to enable us for it. While Man continued upright in the Image of God, as he was at first created, Eccles. 7.29. Gen. 1.27. he could do the Will of God sin­cerely as soon as he knew it; but when he was fallen, he was quickly afraid, because of his Na­kedness, but could not help it at all, until God discovered to him the means of restoration, Gen. 3.10. Say to a strong healthy Servant, Go, and he goeth; Come, and he cometh; Do this, and he doth it; but a bedridden Servant must know first how he may be enabled. No doubt the fallen An­gels know the necessity of Holiness, and tremble at the guilt of their Sin; but they know of no means for them to attain to Holiness effectually, and so continue still in their wickedness. It was in vain for Sampson to say, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself, when he had sinned away his strength, Judges 16.20. Men shew them­selves strangely forgetful, or hypocritical in pro­fessing Original Sin, in their Prayers, Catechisms, and Confessions of Faith, and not urging upon themselves and others, the Practice of the Law, without the consideration of any strengthning, en­livening Means, as if there were no want of abi­lity, but only of activity.

2ly, Those that doubt of, or deny the Doctrine of Original Sin, may all of them know concern­ing themselves, (if their Consciences be not blind) that the exact Justice of God is against them, and they are under the Curse of God, and Sentence of Death for their actual sins, if God should enter into Judgment with them, Rom. 1.32. & 2.2. & 3.9. Gal. 3.10. Is it possible for a Man that knoweth this to be his Case, and hath not learned any means of getting out of it, to practise the Law immediately? To love God and every thing in him, his Justice, Holiness, Power, as well as his Mercy, and to yield himself willingly to the dispo­sal of God, though God should inflict sudden Death upon him? Is there no skill or artifice at all required in this Case, to encourage the fainting Soul to the Practice of Universal Obedience?

3ly, Tho' Heathens might know much of the Work of the Law by the common Light of Na­tural Reason and Understanding, Rom. 2.14. yet the effectual Means of performance cannot be dis­covered by that Light, and therefore are wholly to be learned by the teaching of supernatural Revela­lation. For what is our Natural Light, but some sparks and glimmerings of that which was in Adam before the Fall? And even then in its brightest Meridian, it was not sufficient to direct Adam how to recover ability to walk holily, if once he should lose it by sin; nor to assure him before­hand that God would vouchsafe to him any means of recovery: God had set nothing but Death be­fore his Eyes in case of Transgression, Gen. 2.17. and therefore he hid himself from God, when the shame of his Nakedness appeared, as expecting no favour from him. We are like Sheep gone astray, [Page 9]and know not which way to return, until we hear the Shepherd's Voice, Can these dry Bones live to God in holiness? O Lord thou knowest, and we cannot know it, except we learn it of thee.

4ly, Sanctification, whereby our Hearts and Lives are conformed to the Law, is a Grace of God communicated to us by means, as well as Justification, and by means of teaching and learn­ing something that we cannot see without the Word, Acts 26.17, 18. There are several things pertaining to Life and Godliness, that are given through knowledge, 2 Pet. 1.3. There is a form of Doctrine made use of by God to make People free from Sin, and Servants of Righteousness, Rom. 6. v. 17, 18. And there are several Pieces of the whole Armour of God necessary to be known, and put on, that we may stand against Sin and Satan in the evil day, Eph. 6.13. Shall we slight and overlook the way of Sanctification, when the learn­ing the way of Justification hath been counted worth so many elaborate Treatises.

5ly, God hath given in the Holy Scriptures by his inspiration, plentiful instruction in Righteous­ness, that we may be throughly furnished for every good work, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. especially since the day spring from an high hath visited us, by the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, to guide our feet in the way of peace, Luke 1.78, 79. If God condescend to us very low, to teach us this way in the Scriptures, and by Christ himself, it must needs be greatly necessary for us to sit down at his feet and learn it.

6ly, The way of attaining to Godliness is so far from being known without learning out of the Holy Scripture, that when it is here plainly revealed, we [Page 10]cannot learn it so easily as the Duties of the Law, which are known in part by the Light of Nature, and therefore more easily assented unto. It is the way whereby the Dead are brought to live unto God, and therefore doubtless it is far above all the thoughts and conjectures of human Wisdom. It is the way of Salvation, wherein God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent, by discovering things by his Spirit, that the natural Man receiveth not; for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 1.19.21. & 2.14. Without controversie, great is the mystery of godliness, 1 Tim. 3.16. The learning of it requireth double work; because we must unlearn many of our former deeply rooted Notions, and become fools that we may be wise. We must pray earnestly to the Lord, to teach us, as well as search the Scriptures, that we may get this knowledge. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it to the end, Psal. 119.5.33. Teach me to do thy will, Psal. 14.3, 10. The Lord direct your hearts unto the love of God, 2 Thess. 3.5. Surely these Saints did not so much want teaching and direction concerning the Duties of the Law to be done, as concerning the Way and Means whereby they might do them.

7ly, The certain knowledge of these powerful and effectual Means, is of greatest importance and necessity for our establishment in the true Faith, and avoiding Errors contrary thereunto: For we cannot rationally doubt, that the Moral Duties of Love to God and our Neighbour are absolutely necessary to true Religion, so that it [Page 11]cannot subsist without them. And from this Prin­ciple we may firmly conclude, that nothing re­pugnant to the practice of these holy Duties ought to be received as a Point of Faith delivered to us by the most holy God; and that whatsoever is truly necessary, powerful, and effectual to bring us to the practice of them, ought to be believed as proceeding from God, because it hath the Image of his Holiness and Righteousness engraven upon it. This is a sure Test and Touch-stone, which those that are seriously Religious will use to try Spirits and their Doctrines, whether they be of God or no: And they cannot rationally ap­prove any Doctrine as Religious, that is not ac­cording to Godliness, 1 Tim. 6.3. By this Touch­stone Christ proveth his Doctrine to be of God, because therein he seeketh the Glory of God, John 7.17, 18. And he teacheth us to know false Prophets by their fruits, Mat. 7. v. 15, 16. wherein the fruits which their Doctrine tendeth unto, are especially to be considered. Hence it appeareth, that until we know what are the effe­ctual Means of Holiness, and what not, we want a necessary Touch-stone of Divine Truth, and may be easily deceived by false Doctrine, or brought to live in meer suspence concerning the truth of any Religion, like the Seekers. And if you mistake those Means to be effectual that are not, and those that are effectual to be weak, or of a contrary effect, your Error in this will be a false Touch-stone to try other Doctrines, where­by you will readily approve of Errors, and refuse the Truth; which hath been a pernicious occasion of many Errors in Religion in late days: get but a true Touch-stone, by learning this Lesson, and [Page 12]you will be able to try the various Doctrines of Protestants, Papists, Arminians, Socinians, Antino­mians, Quakers, and to discover the Truth, and cleave to it, with much satisfaction to your Judgment, amongst all the Janglings and Contro­versies of these times. Hereby you may discover whether the Protestant Religion established a­mongst us have in it any Sinews of Antinomianism, whether it be guilty of any insufferable defect in Practical Principles, and deserves to be altered and turned almost upside down, with new Doctrines and Methods, as some learned Men in late time have judged by their Touchstones.

8ly, It is also of great importance and necessity for our establishment in holy practice: For we cannot apply ourselves to the Practice of Holiness with hope of success, except we have some Faith concerning the Divine assistance, which we have no ground to expect, if we use not such means as God hath appointed to work by. God meeteth them that remember him in his own ways, Isai. 64.5. And makes a breach upon them that seek him not af­ter the due order, 1 Chron. 15.13. He hath cho­sen and ordained such means of Sanctification and Salvation as are for his own Glory, and those on­ly he blesseth to us; and he crowneth no Man that striveth, except he strive lawfully, 2 Tim. 2.5. Experience sheweth plentifully both of Heathens and Christians, how pernicious Ignorance, or mi­staking of these effectual Means are to an holy practice. The Heathens generally fell short of an acceptable performance of those Duties of the Law which they knew, because of their ignorance in this point. Many Christians content them­selves with external performances, because they [Page 13]never knew how they might attain to Spiritual Service. And many reject the way of Holiness as austere and unpleasant, because they know not how to cut off a Right-hand, or pluck out a Right-eye, without intolerable pain; whereas they would find the ways of Wisdom (if they knew them) to be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths to be peace, Prov. 3.17. This occasion­eth the putting off Repentance from time to time, as an uncouth thing. Many others set upon the Practice of Holiness with a fervent Zeal, and run very fast, but tread not a step in the right way, and finding themselves frequently disappoint­ed and overcome by their Lusts, they at last give over the Work, and turn to wallow again in the Mire, which hath occasioned several Treatises, to shew how far a Reprobate may go in the way of Religion, whereby many weak Saints are discou­raged, accounting that these Reprobates have gone further than themselves; whereas most of them never knew the right way, nor trod one step aright in it, for few there be that find it, Mat. 7.14. Some of these ignorant Zealots do inhumanly macerate their Bodies with fasting, and other austerities to kill their Lusts, and when they see their Lusts are still to hard for them, they fall into despair, and are driven by horrour of Conscience to make away themselves wickedly, to the scandal of Religion. Peradventure God may bless my discovery of the powerful Means of Holiness, so far as to save some one or other from killing themselves; and such a Fruit as this would countervail my Labour; tho' I hope God will enlarge the Hearts of many by it, to run with great chearfulness, joy, and thanksgi­ving in the ways of his Commandments.

DIRECT. II.
EXPLICATION.

THose Means that are next to the attainment of the Great End aimed at, are first to be discovered, that we may learn how to get them by other means expressed in the following Dire­ctions: Therefore I have named here several Qualifications and Endowments that are necessary to make up that Holy Frame and State of the Soul, whereby it is furnished and enabled to pra­ctice the Law immediately, and that not only in the beginning, but in the continuation of that Pra­ctice: and therefore note diligently, that these En­dowments must continue in us during the present Life, or else our ability for an holy Life will be [Page 15]lost, and they must be before Practice, not in any distance of time, but only as the Cause is before the Effect. I do not say, that I have named par­ticularly all such necessary Qualifications; but thus much I dare say, that he that gaineth these, may by the same means gain any other that should be ranked with them. And this is a matter worthy of our serious consideration; for few understand that any special Endowments are required to fur­nish us for an holy Practice, more than for other voluntary Actions. The first Adam had excellent Endowments bestowed upon him for an holy Pra­ctice, when he was first created according to the Image of God; and the second Adam had Endow­ments more excellent to enable him for an harder Task of Obedience. And seeing Obedience is grown more difficult, by reason of the opposition and temptations that it meeteth with since the Fall of Adam, we that are to be Imitators of Christ, had need have very choice Endowments, as Christ had: at least as good, or something bet­ter than Adam had at first, as our Work is hard­er than his. What King going to make war a­gainst another king, sitteth not down first, and con­sulteth whether he be able with ten thousand, to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? And shall we dare to rush into Battel against all the Powers of Darkness, all Worldly Terrors and Al­lurements? and our own inbred domineering Corruptions, without considering whether we have sufficient Spiritual Furniture to stand in the Evil day? Yet many content themselves with such an ability to will and do their Duty, as they would have to be given to Men universally, where­by they are no better enabled for the Spiritual Bat­tel, [Page 16]than the generality of the World, that lie van­quished under the wicked One, and there­fore their standing is not at all secured by it. It is an hard matter to find what this universal ability is, that so many contend so earnestly for, of what it consisteth, by what means it is conveyed to us and maintained.

Bodily Ability hath Spirits, Nerves, Ligaments, Bones to subsist by; but this Spiritual Universal Ability seemeth to be some occult Quality, that no sufficient Account can be given how it is convey­ed, or of what it is constituted: That none may deceive themselves, and miscarry in their Enter­prizes for Holiness, by depending on such a weak occult Quality, I have here shewed four Endow­ments, of which a true ability for the Practice of Holiness must necessarily be constituted, and by which it must subsist and be maintained; intending to shew afterward, by what means they are given unto us, and whether the inclination or perswa­sion here mentioned be perfect or imperfect. And they are of such a mysterious nature, that such as own the necessity of Endowments to frame them for Holiness, are prone to think that less than these will serve, and that some of these frame us rather for Licentiousness than Holiness, as they are here placed before any actual performance of the Mo­ral Law; and that some things contrary to them would put us into a better frame for Holiness; a­gainst all such surmises I shall endeavour such a demonstration of these Endowments particularly, as may gain the assent of right Reason, insisting on them in the same order wherein I have placed them in the Direction.

In the first place, I assert that an Inclination and Propensity of the Heart to the Duties of the Law, is necessary to frame and enable us for the immediate Practice of them; and I mean not such a blind Propensity as inanimate Creatures and Brutes have to their natural Operations, but such an one as is meet for intelligent Creatures, where­by they are by the Conduct of Reason prone and bent to approve and chuse their Duty, and averse to the Practice of Sin: And therefore I have in­timated that the Three other Endowments men­tioned in the Direction, are subservient to this as the chief of all, which are sufficient to make it a rational Propensity. This is contrary to those that out of Zeal for Obedience according to Know­ledge, contend so earnestly for Free-will as a ne­cessary and sufficient Endowment to enable us to perform our Duty, when once we are convinc'd of it, and of our Obligation to it, and that extol this Endowment as the great Benefit that Univer­sal Redemption hath blessed all Mankind with, though they Consider this Free-will without any actual Inclination to Good; yea, they cannot but acknowledge that in most of Mankind that have it, it is encumbred with an actual Bent and Pro­pensity of the Heart altogether to evil. Such a Free-will as this is, can never free us from Slavery to Sin and Satan, and fit us for the Practice of the Law, and therefore is not worthy the pains of those that contend so hotly for it. Neither is the Will so free as is necessary for the Practice of Ho­liness, until it be endued with an inclination and Propensity thereunto, as may appear by the fol­low Arguments.

First, The Duties of the Law are of such a nature, that they cannot possibly be performed while there is wholly an aversness or mere indif­ferency of the Heart to the Performance of them, and no good Inclination and Propensity toward the Practice of them: Because the chief of all the Commandments, is to love the Lord with our whole Heart, Might and Soul, to love every thing that is in him, to love his Will and all his Ways, and to like them as good, and all Duties must be influenced in their Performance by this Love; we must delight to do the Will of God, it must be to us as our Meat and Drink, we must long and thirst for it, it must be sweeter to us than the ho­ney or honey comb, Psal. 40.8.30.4, 34. Psal. 63 1. and 119.20. and 19.10.

And this Love, Likeing, Delight, Longing, Thirsting, Sweet-relishing must be continued to the end; and the first indeliberate Motions of Lust must be regulated by Love to God and our Neighbour; and Sin must be lusted against, Gal. 5.17. and abhorred, Psal. 36.8. If it were true Obedience (as some would have it) to love our Duty only, as a Market-man loveth foul Ways to the Market, or as a Sick man loveth an unplea­sant medicinal Potion, or as a Captive Slave loveth his hard Work for fear of a greater Evil; then it might be performed with averseness of Inclination; but we must love it as the Market-man Gain, as the Sick man Health, as pleasant Meat and-Drink, as the Captive Liberty. Doubtless there can be no Power in the Will, for this kind of Service without an Agreeablene [...] of our Inclination to the Will of God, a Heart according to his own Heart, an Averseness of our Hearts from Sin, and a kind [Page 19]of Antipathy against Sin; for we know the Pro­verb, Like loveth like; there must be an Agree­ableness of the Person or thing beloved to the Disposition of the Lover. Love to God must flow from a clean heart, 1 Tim. 1.5. Cleansed from evil Propensities and Inclinations, and Reason will tell us, that the first Motions of Lust which fall not under our Choice and Deliberation, cannot be avoided without a fixed Propensity of the Heart to Holiness.

2ly. The Image of God (wherein God ac­cording to his infinite Wisdom judged it meet to frame the first Adam in righteousness, and true ho­liness, and uprightness, Gen. 1.27. Ephes. 4.24. Eccles. 7.29.) consisted in an actual Bent and Propensity of his Heart to the Practice of Holi­ness, not in a mere Power of Will to chuse Good or Evil: For this in it self is neither holy nor unholy, but only a Ground-work, on which ei­ther the Image of God or of Satan, may be drawn; nor in an indifference of Propensity to the choice of Sin or Duty, for this is a wicked Disposition in an intelligent Creature that knoweth his Duty, and fitteth us only to halt betwixt God and Baal. God set Adam's Soul at first wholly in a right Bent and Inclination, though Adam might act contrary to it if he would; as we may be pre­vailed upon to do some things contrary to our natural or rational Inclinations, and it is easie to fail of our Duty though great Preparation and Furniture be required for the Performance of it. The second Adam also, the Lord Jesus Christ, was born an holy thing, Luke 1 35. with an holy Dis­position of his Soul and Propensity to Goodness; and can we reasonably hope to arise to the Life [Page 20]of Holiness, from which the first Adam fell; or to be Imitators of Christ, since Duty is made so diffi­cult by the Fall, if we be not renewed in a mea­sure according to the same Image of God, and en­abled with such a Propensity and Inclination.

3ly, Original Corruption (whereby we are dead to God and Godliness from the Birth, and made willing Slaves to the performance of all actual Sins, until the Son of God make us free) con­fisteth in a Propensity and Inclination of the Heart to Sin, and Averseness to Holiness. With­out this Propensity to Sin, what can that Law of sin in our members be, that warreth against the law of our mind, and leadeth us captive to the service of sin? Rom. 7.23. What is that Poison in us, for which Men may be called serpents, vipers? What is that Spirit of whoredoms in men, by reason of which they will not frame their doings to turn to God? Hos. 5.4. How is the tree first corrupt, and then its fruit corrupt? Matth. 12.33. How can Man be said to be abominable and filthy, that drinketh ini­quity like water? Job 15.16. How should the mind of the flesh be continual enmity to the Law of God? Rom. 8.7. I know there is also a blindness of Understanding, and other things belonging to Original Corruption, which conduceth to this evil Propensity of the Will, but yet this Propensity it self is the great evil, the indwelling Sin which produceth all actual Sins, and must of necessity be removed or restrained, by restoring that con­trary Inclination, wherein the Image of God confisted, or else we shall be backward and repro­bate to every good work, and whatever Freedom the Will hath, shall be employed only in the ser­vice of Sin.

4ly, God restoreth his People to Holiness, by giving to them, a new heart, a new spirit, and ta­king away the heart of stone out of their flesh, and gi­ving them an heart of flesh, Ezek. 36.26, 27. And he circumciseth their heart to love him with their whole heart and Soul. And he requireth that we should be transformed in the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is his acceptable will, Rom. 12.2. And David prayeth for the same end, that God would create in him a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within him, Psal. 51.10. If any one can judge that this new, clean, circumcised Heart, this Heart of Flesh, this new right Spirit is such an one as hath no actual Inclination and Propensity to good, but only a Power to chuse good or evil, undeservedly call'd Free-will, with a present In­clination to evil, or an indifference of Propensity to both contraries, it will not be worth my la­bour to convince such a Judgment, only let him consider whether David could account such an Heart to be clean and right, when he prayeth, Psal. 119.36. Incline mine heart to thy testimonies, and not to coveteousness.

The second Endowment necessary to enable us for the immediate Practice of Holiness, and con­curring with the other two that follow, to work in us a rational Propensity to this Practice, is that we be well perswaded of our Reconciliation with God. We must reckon that the breach of Ami­ty which Sin hath made betwixt God and us, is made up by a firm Reconciliation to his Love and Favour; and herein I include the great Be­nefit of Justification, as the means whereby we are reconciled to God, which is described in Scri­pture, [Page 22]either by forgiving our Sins, or by the im­putation of Righteousness to us, Rom. 4.5, 6, 7. because both are contained in one and the same justifying Act; as one act of Illumination com­prehends expulsion of Darkness and introduction of Light, one act of Repentance containeth Mor­tification of Sin, and vivification to Righteous­ness, and every Motion from any thing to its con­trary, is but one and the same, though it may be expressed by divers Names, with respect to either of the two contrary terms, the one of which is abo­lished, the other introduced by it. This is a great Mystery (contrary to the Apprehensions, not only of the Vulgar, but of some learned Divines,) that we must be reconciled to God, and justified by the Remission of our Sins, and imputation of Righteousness before any sincere Obedience to the Law, that we may be enabled for the Practice of it. They account that this Doctrine tendeth to the Subversion of an holy Practice, and is a great Pillar of Antinemianism; and that the only way to establish sincere Obedience, is to make it rather a condition to be performed before our actual Justification and Reconciliation with God. Therefore some late Divines have thought sit to bring the Doctrine of former Protestants concern­ing Justification to their Anvil, and to hammer it into another form that it might be more free from Antinomianism, and effectual to secure an holy Practice; but their Labour is vain and pernicious, tending to Antinemian profaneness, or painted Hy­pocrisice at best; neither can the true Practice of Holiness be secure, except the Perswasion of our Justification and Reconciliation with God be first obtained without works of the law, that we may [Page 23]be enabled thereby to do them, as I shall now prove by several Arguments, intending also to shew in the following Directions, that such a Per­swasion of the Love of God, as God giveth to his People, tendeth only to Holiness, though a Mis­perswasion of it be in many an Occasion of Licen­ciousness.

First, When the first Adam was framed for the Practice of Holiness at his Creation, he was high­ly in the Favour of God, and had no Sin im­puted to him, and was accounted righteous in the sight of God, according to his present state, because he was made upright according to God's Image, and there is no reason to doubt but that these Qualifications were his advantage for an ho­ly Practice, and the Wisdom of God judged them good for that end, and as soon as he lost them, he became dead in sin. The second Adam also in our nature was the Beloved of the Father, ac­counted righteous in the sight of God, without the Imputation of any Sin to him, except what his Office was to bear on the behalf of others. And can we reasonably expect to be Imitators of Christ by performing more difficult Obedience than the first Adam's was before the Fall, except the like Advantages be given to us, by Reconciliation and Remission of Sins, and imputation of a Righ­teousness given by God to us when we have none of our own.

Secondly, Those that know that natural Dead­ness under the Power of Sin and Satan, are fully convinced, that if God leave them to their own Hearts, they can do nothing but Sin, and that they can do no good work except it please God of his great Love and Mercy to work it in [Page 24]them, Joh. 8.36. Philip. 2.13. Rom. 8.7, 8. Therefore that they may be encouraged and rati­onally enclined to Holiness, they must hope that God will work savingly in them. Now I leave it to considerate Men to judge, whether such an Hope can be well grounded without a good Per­swasion of such a Reconciliation and Saving-love of God to us, as dependeth not upon any prece­dent goodness of our Works, but is a cause suffi­cient to produce them effectually in us: Yea, we know further, if we know our selves sufficiently, that our Death in Sin proceeded from the Guilt of the first Sin of Adam, and the Sentence denounc­ed against it, Gen. 2.17. And that it is still main­tain'd in us by the Guilt of Sin, and the Curse of the Law, and that Spiritual Life will never be given us to free us from that Dominion, except this Guilt and Curse be removed from us, which is done by actual Justification, Gal. 3.13, 14. Rom. 6.14. And this is sufficient to make us de­spair of living to God in Holiness, while we ap­prehend our selves to be under the Curse and Wrath of God, by reason of our Transgressions and Sins still lying upon us, Ezek. 33.10.

Thirdly, The nature of Duties of the Law is such, as requireth an Apprehention of our Recon­ciliation with God, and his hearty Love and Fa­vour towards us for the doing of them. The great Duty is Love to God with our whole Heart, and not such a contemplative Love, as Philoso­phers may have to the Object of Sciences, which they are concern'd in no further than to please their Fancies in the knowledge of them; but a practical Love whereby we are willing that God should be absolute Lord and Governour of us and [Page 25]all the World, to dispose of us and all others ac­cording to his Will, as to our temporal and ever­lasting Condition, and that he should be the only Portion and Happiness of all those that are hap­py; a Love whereby we like every thing in him as he is our Lord, his Justice as well as any other Attribute, without wishing or desiring that he were better than he is, and whereby we desire that his Will may be done upon us and all others, whether for Prosperity or Adversity, Life or Death, and whereby we can heartily praise him for all things, and delight in our Obedience to him, in doing his Will, though we suffer that which is never so grie­vous to us, even present Death. Consider these things well and you may easily perceive that our Spirits are not in a fit frame for the doing of them, while we apprehend our selves under the Curse and Wrath of God, or while we are under pre­vailing Suspitions that God will prove an Enemy to us at last. Slavish Fear may extort some sla­vish hypocritical Performances from us, such as that of Pharaoh in letting the Israelites go sore against his Will; but the Duty of Love cannot be extorted and forced by Fear, but it must be won and sweetly allured by an Apprehension of God's Love and Goodness towards us, as that emi­nent, loving and beloved Disciple testifieth; 1 Job. 4.18, 19. There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast­eth out fear, because fear hath torment: He that feareth is not made perfect in love, we love him because he first loved us. Observe here that we cannot be be­fore hand with God in loving him before we ap­prehend his Love to us. And consult your own Experience, if you have any true Love to God, whether it were not wrought in you by a sense [Page 26]of God's Love first toward you. All the good­ness and excellency of God cannot render him an amiable Object to us, except we apprehend him an agreeable good to us. I question not but the Devils know the excellency of Gods Nature, as well as our greatest Metaphysical Speculators, and this doth but fill them the more with tor­menting horror and trembling that is contrary to Love, Ja. 2.19. The greater God's Excellency and Perfection is, the greater Evil he is to us if he hate us and curse us; and therefore the Princi­ple of Self-preservation deeply rooted in our na­tures, hindreth us from loving that which we ap­prehend as our own Destruction; if a Man be an Enemy to us, we can love him for the sake of our loving reconciled God, because his Love will make Man's Hatred to work for our good; but if God himself be our Enemy, for whose sake can we love him? Who is there that can free us from the evil of his Enemity and turn it to our Advan­tage, until he be pleased to reconcile himself to us?

Fourthly, Our Conscience must of necessity be first purged from dead works that we may serve the living God, and this is done by actual Remission of Sin, procured by the Blood of Christ and ma­nifested to our Consciences, as appeareth by Christ's dying for this end, Heb. 9.14, 15. and 10.1, 2. 4. 14, 17, 22. That Conscience whereby we judge our selves to be under the guilt of sin and wrath of God is accounted an evil Conscience in Scripture, though it perform its Office truly; be­cause it is caused by the evil of sin, and will it self be a cause of our committing more sin, until it can judge us to be justified from all sin, and re­ceived [Page 27]into the Favour of God. Love, which is the end of the Law, must proceed from a good Conscience, as well as from any other cleanness of Heart, 1 Tim. 1.5. David's Mouth could not be opened to shew forth the Praise of God, until he was delivered from Blood-guiltiness, Psal. 51.14, 15. This evil guilty Conscience, whereby we judge that God is our Enemy, and that his Ju­stice is against us to our everlasting Condemnati­on, by reason of our sins, doth strongly main­tain and increase the Dominion of Sin and Satan in us, and worketh most mischievous effects in the Soul against Godliness, even to bring the Soul to hate God, and to wish there were no God, no Heaven, no Hell, so we might escape the Pu­nishment due to us. It so disaffecteth People toward God, that they cannot endure to think, or speak or hear of him and his Law, but strive either to put him out of their minds by fleshly Pleasures and worldly Imployments, and thus they are alie­nated from all true Religion, only blinding it, and stopping the mouth of it. It produceth Zeal in many outside religious Performances, and also false Religion, Idolatry, and the most inhumane Superstitions in the World. I have often consi­dered by what manner of working any Sin could effectually destroy the whole Image of God in the first Adam, and I conclude it was by working first an evil guilty Conscience in him, whereby he judged that the just God was against him, and cursed him for that one Sin, and this was enough to work a shameful Nakedness by disorderly Lusts, a turning his Love wholly from God to the Crea­ture, and a desire to be hidden from the Presence of God, Gen. 3.8, 10. which was a total Destru­ction [Page 28]of the Image of God's Holiness. And we have cause to judge that from the same cause pro­ceedeth the continual Malice, Rancour, Rage, Blasphemy of the Devil, and many notorious wick­ed Men, against God and Godliness. Some may think Job uncharitable in suspecting not meerly, that his Sons had sinned, but that they had been so abominably wicked as to curse God in their Hearts, Job 1.5. but Job well understood that if the guilt of any ordinary Sin lie upon the Con­science, it will make the Soul to wish secretly that God were not, or that he was not so just a Judge, which is a secret Cursing of God, that can­not be avoided until our Consciences be purged from the guilt of Sin, by the offering of Christ for us, which was then figured out by the Burnt-offerings of Job for his Sons.

Fifthly, God hath abundantly discovered to us in his Word, that his method in bringing Men from Sin to Holiness of Life, is first to make them know that he loveth them, and that their Sins are blotted out. When he gave the Ten Com­mandments on Mount Sinai, he first discovered himself to be their God, that had given them a sure Pledge of his Salvation by their Delivery from Egypt, in the Preface, Exod. 20.2. And du­ring all the time of the Old Testament, God was pleased to make the entrance into Religion to be by Circumcision, which was not only a Sign, but also a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith, where­by God justifieth People, while they are consider­ed as ungodly, Rom. 4.11.5. and this Seal was administred to Children of eight Days old, before they could perform any Condition of sincere Obe­dience, for their Justification, that their Furniture for [Page 29]an holy Practice might be ready before hand. Fur­thermore in the time of the Old Testament, God appointed divers Washings, and the Blood of Bulls and Goats, and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean, to prepare and sanctifie them for other Parts of his Worship in his Tabernacle and Temple, to figure out his purging of their Con­sciences from dead works by the Blood of Christ, that they might serve the living God, Heb. 9.9, 10, 13, 14, 22. This I say was then figurative Sancti­fication, as the word Sanctification is taken in a large Sense, comprehending all things that prepare us for the Service of God, chiefly the Remission of Sin, Heb. 10.10, 14, 18. Though if it be taken in a strict sence, respecting only our Conformity to the Law, it must necessarily be placed after Ju­stification, according to the usual Method of Pro­testant Divines. God also minded them of the necessity of purging away their guilt first, that their Service might be acceptable, by command­ing them to offer the Sin-offering before the Burnt-offering, Levit. 5.8. and 16.3, 11. And least the guilt of their Sins should pollute the Service of God, notwithstanding all their particular Expia­tions, God was pleased to appoint a general Atone­ment for all their Sins one day every Year, where­in the Scape goat was to bear upon him all their Iniquities, unto a Land not inhabited, Levit. 16.22. 34. Under the New Testament God useth the same Method in loving us first, and washing us from our Sins by the Blood of Christ, that he may make us Priests to offer the Sacrifices of Praise and all good Works to God even the Father. He entreth us into his Service by washing away our sins in Baptism, he seedeth and strengtheneth us for [Page 30]his Service by Remission of Sins given to us in the Blood of Christ at the Lord's Supper, He exhort­eth us to obey him, because he hath already loved us, and our Sins are already pardoned. Forgive one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgi­ven you. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ hath loved us, Ephes. 4.32. and 5.1, 2. I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his name sake. Love not the world, neither the things of the world, 1 Jo. 2.12, 15. I might quote abun­dance of Texts of the same nature. We may clearly see by all this, that God hath accounted it a matter of great Importance, and hath condes­cended to take wonderful care in providing plen­tiful means both under the Old and New Testa­ment, that his People might be first cleansed from guilt, and reconciled to himself, to fit them for the acceptable Practice of Holiness. Away then with all the contrary Methods of the new Divi­nity.

The Third Endowment necessary to enable us for the Practice of Holiness, without which a Per­swasion of our Reconciliation with God, would be of little efficacy to work in us a rational Pro­pensity to it, is that we be perswaded of our fu­ture Enjoyment of the everlasting heavenly Hap­piness. This must precede our holy Practice as a cause disposing and alluring us to it. This Affer­tion hath several sorts of Adversaries to oppose it; some account that a Perswasion of our own future Happiness before we have persevered in sincere Obedience, tendeth to Licentiousness, and that the way to do good Works, is rather to make them a Condition necessary for the procuring of this [Page 31]Perswasion. Others condemn all Works, that we are allured or stirred up to by the future Enjoyment of the heavenly Happiness, as legal, mercenary, flowing from self-love, and not from any pure Love to God, and they figure out sincere Godliness by a Man bearing Fire in one hand to burn up Hea­ven, and Water in the other to quench Hell, inti­mating that the true Service of God must not pro­ceed at all from hope of Reward or sear of Pu­nishment, but only from Love. To establish the Truth asserted against these Errors that are so con­trary to it and to each other, I shall propose the ensuing Considerations.

First, The nature of the Duties of the Law is such, that they cannot be sincerely and universal­ly practiced without this Endowment. That this Endowment must be present in us is suffici­ciently proved already by all that I have said con­cerning the necessity of the Perswasion of our firm Reconciliation with God by our Justification, to prepare us for this Practice, because that inclu­deth a Perswasion of this future Happiness, or else it is of little worth. All that I have to add here is, that sincere Obedience cannot rationally sub­sist, except it be allured, encouraged, and sup­ported by this Perswasion. Let me therefore sup­pose a Sadducee believing no Happiness after this Life, and put the Question, Can such an one love God with his whole Heart, Might and Soul? Will he not think it reasonable rather to lessen and mo­derate his Love towards God, lest he should be overmuch troubled to part with him by Death? We account it most reasonable to sit loose in our Affections from things that we must part with. Can such an one be satisfied with the Enjoyment [Page 32]of God as his Happiness? Will he not rather ac­count that the Enjoyment of God and all religi­ous Duties are Vanities as well as other things, because in a little time we shall have no more Benefit by them than if they had never been? How can such an one be willing to lay down his Life for the sake of God, when by his Death he must part with God as well as with other things? How can he willingly chuse Afflictions rather than Sin, when he shall be more miserable in this Life for it, and not at all happy hereafter. I grant if Affliction come unavoidably upon such a Person, he may reasonably judge that Patience is better for him than Impatience; but it will dis­please him that he is forced to the use of such a Virtue, and he will be prone to fret and mur­mure at his Creator, and to wish he had never been, rather than to endure such miseries, and to be comforted only with vain transitory Enjoy­ments. I think I have said enough to shew how unfurnished such a Man is for Holiness; and he that will burn up Heaven and quench Hell that he may serve God out of Love, doth thereby leave himself [...] little better furnished than the Sadduce, the one denieth them, the other will not have them at all to be considered in this case.

Secondly, The sure Hope of the Glory of Hea­ven, is made use of ordinarily by God since the Fall of Adam for the Practice of Holiness, as the Scripture doth abundantly shew, Christ the great pattern of holiness for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, Heb. 12.2. And though I cannot say that the first Adam had such a sure Hope to preserve him in Innocency yet he had instead of it, the present Possession [Page 33]of an earthly Paradice and an happy Estate in it, which he knew would last if he continued in Holiness, or be changed into a better Happiness. The Apostles did not faint under Affliction be­cause they knew that it worked for them a more ex­ceeding eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.16, 17. The believing Hebrews took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods, knowing in themselves that they had an Heaven a better and more enduring Substance, Heb. 10.34. The Apostle Paul accounts all his Sufferings unprofitable were it not for a glorious Resurrection, and that Christians would be of all Men most miserable, and that the Doctrine of the Epicures were rather to be chosen, Let us eat and drmk, for to morrow we shall die. And he exhorts the Corinthians to be abundant in the work of the Lord, knowing that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. As worldly Hope keepeth the World at work in their various Employments; so God giveth his People the Hope of his Glory to keep them close to his Service, Heb. 6.11, 12. 1 Joh. 3.3. And it is such a sure Hope as shall never make them ashamed, Rom. 5.28. Those that think it below the excellency of their Love to work out of Hope of the Heavenly Reward, do thereby advance their Love beyond the Love of the Apostles and Primitive Saints, and even of Christ himself.

3dly, This perswasion of our future enjoyment of everlasting Happiness, cannot tend to Licenti­ousness, if we understand well that perfect Holiness is a necessary part of that Happiness, and that tho' we have a Title to that Happiness by free Justifi­cation and Adoption, yet we must go to the pos­session of it in a way of Heliness, 1 Jo. 3.1, 2, 3. [Page 34]Neither is it legal or mercenary to be moved by this Perswasion, seeing the Perswasion it self is not gotten by the Works of the Law, but by free Grace through Faith, Gal. 5.5. And if it be a working out of self-love; yet for certain it is not that car­nal self-love, which the Scripture condemneth as the Mother of Sinfulness, 2 Tim. 3.2. but an ho­ly self-love enclining us to prefer God above the Flesh and the World, such as God directeth us un­to, when he exhorteth us to save our selves, Acts 2.40. And it is so far from being contrary to the pure Love of God, that it brings us to love God more purely and entirely. The more good and beneficial we apprehend God to us to all Eterni­ty, doubtless the more lovely God will be to us, and our Affections will be the more enflamed to­wards him. God will not be loved as a barren Wilderness, a Land of Darkness to us, neither will he be served for nought, Jer. 2.31. Is. 45.19. He would think it a Dishonour to him to be owned by us as our God, if he had not pre­pared for us a City, Heb. 11.16. And he draw­eth us to love him by the Cords of a Man, such Cords as the Love of Men useth to be drawn by, even by his own Love to us, in laying his Bene­fits before us, Hos. 11.4. Therefore the way for us to keep our selves in the Love of God, is to look for his Mercy unto eternal Life, Jude. 21.

The last Endowment, for the same end as the former is, that we be well perswaded of suf­ficient Strength both to will and perform our Duty acceptably, until we come to the Enjoy­ment of the heavenly Happiness. This is con­trary to the Error of those that account it suf­ficient, [Page 35]if we have strength to practice Holiness, if we will, or to will it if we please, and this is the sufficient strength which they earnestly contend for, as a great Benefit bestowed on all Mankind by universal Redemption. It is also contrary to the Error of those that think the Pra­ctice of Godliness and Wickedness to be alike easie, excepting only some difficulty in the first Alterations of vicious Customs, and in bearing Persecutions, which they account to be a rare Case, since the Kingdoms of the World have been brought to the Profession of Christianity, or that think that God requireth of Men only to do their Endeavour, that is, what they can do, and it is nonsence to say they cannot do what they can do. According to their Judg­ment it is needless to concern our selves much about sufficient Strength for holy Practice. For the confirmation of the Assertion against these Errours take these Arguments.

First, We are by nature dead in Trespasses and Sins unable to will, or do any thing that is spi­ritually good, notwithstanding the Redemption that is by Christ, until we be actually quicken­ed by Christ, Ephes. 2.1 [...] Rom. 8.7, 8, 9. Those that are sufficiently enlightned and hum­bled, know themselves to be naturally in this Case; and that they do not want only executive Power to do good, but chiefly an Heart to will it, and to be pleased with it, and that if God work not in them both to will and to do, they shall neither will nor do any thing plea­sing to him, Phil. 2.13. And that if he leave them to their own Corruption after he hath be­gun [Page 36]the good Work, they shall certainly prove vile Apostates, and their latter end will be worse than their beginning. We may conclude from hence, that whosoever can couragiously attempt the Practice of the Law without being well per­swaded of a sufficient Power whereby he may be enabled to be heartily willing as well as to per­form when he is willing, until he hath gone through the whole Work of Obedience accepta­bly, such an one was never yet truly humbled and brought to know the Plague of his own Heart, neither doth he truly believe the Do­ctrine of Original Sin, whatever formal Profes­sion he makes of it.

Secondly, Those that think sincere Conformity to the Law in ordinary Cases to be so passing easie, shew that they neither know it nor them­selves. Is it an easie thing to wrestle, not against Flesh only, but against principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness in high Places? Ephes. 6.12. Is it an easie thing not to lust or covet according to the Tenth Commandment? The Apostle Paul found it so difficult to obey this Commandment, that his Concupiscence prevailed the more by occasion of the Commandment, Rom. 7.7, 8. Our work is not only to alter vicious Customs, but to mor­tisie corrupt natural Affections which bred those Customs, and not only to deny the fulfilling of sinful Lust, but to be full of holy Lust and De­sires, that even the restraining the execution of corrupt Lusts, and crossing them by contrary Actings, is in many cases like the cutting off of a right hand, and plucking out a right eye, Mat. 5.29, 30. If Obedience be so easie, how came it [Page 37]to pass that the Heathens generally did those things for which their own Consciences condemn­ed them as worthy of Death? Rom. 1.32. And many among us seek to enter into this strait gate, and are not able, Luke 13.24. And break so many vows and Purposes of Obedience, and fall back to the Practice of their Lusts, though in the mean time the Fears of eternal Damna­tion press hard upon their Consciences?

As to those that find Persecution for Religion to be so rare a thing in late days, they have cause to be suspected, that they are of the World, and therefore the World loveth his own, else they would find that national Profession of Religion will not secure those that are truly godly from several sorts of Persecutions. And suppose Men do not persecute us for Religion, yet there is great Difficulty in bearing great Injuries from Men on other Accounts, and Losses, Poverty, bodily Pains, long Diseases and untimely Deaths, from the ordinary Providence of God, with such hearty Love to God and to injurious Men for his sake, and such a patient acquiescence in his Will as the Law of God requireth. I acknow­ledge that the work of God is easie and plea­sant to those whom God rightly furnisheth with Endowments for it; but those that assert it to be easie to Men in their common Condition, shew their Imprudence in contradicting the general Experience of Heathens and Christians. Though many Duties do not require much labour of Bo­dy or Mind, and might be done with ease, if we were willing, yet it is easier to remove a Mountain, than to move and encline the Heart to will and affect the doing of them. I need [Page 38]not concern my self with those that account that all have sufficient Strength for an holy Practice, because they can do their endeavour, that is, what they can do; for God requireth actual sulfilling of his Commands. What if by our En­deavours we can do nothing in any measure ac­cording to the Rule, shall the Law be put off with no Performance? and shall such Endea­vours be accounted sufficient Holiness? And what if we cannot so much as endeavour in a right way? If Man's Ability were the measure of acceptable Duty, the Commands of the Law would signifie very little.

Thirdly, The Wisdom of God hath ever funish­ed People with a good Perswasion of a suffici­ent Strength, that they might be enabled both to will and do their Duty. The first Adam was furnished with such a Strenght, and we have no cause to think that he was ignorant of it, or that he needed to sear that he should be left to his own Corruptions, because he had no Corrupti­ons in him, until he had produced them in him­self by sinning against Strength, and when he had lost that Strength, he could not recover the Practice of Holiness, until he was acquainted with a better Strength, whereby the Head of Sa­tan should be bruised, Gen. 3.15. Our Lord Christ doubtless knew the insinite Power of his Diety to enable him for all that he was to do and suffer in our Nature. He knew the Lord God would help him, therefore he should not be con­founded. Is. 50.7. The Scripture sheweth what plentiful Assurance of Strength God gave to Mo­ses, Joshua, Gideon, when he called them to great [Page 39]Imployments, and to the Israelites when he called them to subdue the Land of Canaan. Christ would have the Sons of Zebedee to consider whether they were able to drink of his cup, and to be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with, Matth. 20.22. Paul encourageth Believers to the Life of Holiness, by perswading them that sin shall not prevail to get the Dominion over them, be­cause they are not under the law, but under grace, Rom. 6.13, 14. And he exhorteth them to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, that they might be able to stand against the wiles of the divel, Ephes. 6.10, 11. John exhorteth Believ­ers not to love the world, nor the things of the world, because they were strong and had overcome the wick­ed one, 1 Jo. 2.14, 15. They that were called of God heretofore to work Miracles, were first acquainted with the gift of Power to work them, and no wise Man will attempt to do them with­out knowledge of the Gift: Even so when Men that are dead in Sin are call'd to do the works of holy Life, which are in them great Miracles, God maketh a Discovery of the gift of Power unto them, that he may encourage them in a rational way to such a wonderful Enterprise.

DIRECT. III.
EXPLICATION.

HEre, as much as any where, we have great cause to acknowledge with the Apostle, that without Controversie great is the Mystery of God­liness, even so great that it could not have entred into the Heart of Man to conceive it, if God had not made it known in the Gospel by supernatural Revelation. Yea, tho' it be revealed clearly in the holy Scriptures, yet the Natural Man hath not Eyes to see it there, for it is foolishness to him; and if God express it never so plainly and properly, he will think that God is speaking Rid­dles and Parables. And I doubt not but it is still a Riddle and Parable even to many truly Godly, that have received an holy Nature in this way: For the Apostles themselves had the saving benefit of it before the Comforter discovered it clearly to [Page 41]them, John 14, 20. And they walked in Christ, as the way to the Father, before they clearly knew him to be the way, John 14.5. And the best of us know it but in part, and must wait for the perfect knowledge of it in another World. One great Mystery is, that the holy frame and disposition whereby our Souls are furnished and enabled for immediate Practice of the Law, must be gotten by receiving it out of Christ's fulness, as a thing already prepared and brought to an exist­ance for us in Christ, and treasured up in him; and that as we are justified by a righteousness wrought out in Christ, and imputed to us, so we are sanctified by such an holy frame and qualifi­cations, as are first wrought out, and compleated in Christ for us, and then imparted to us: and as our natural corruption was produced originally in the first Adam, and propagated from him to us; so our new nature and holiness is first produced in Christ, and derived from him to us, or as it were propagated. So that we are not at all to work to­gether with Christ, in making or producing that holy frame in us, but only to take it to ourselves, and use it in our holy Practice, as made ready to our hands. Thus we have fellowship with Christ in recovering that holy frame of Spirit that was originally in him: for fellowship is when several Persons have the same things in common, 1 Jo. 1. This Mystery is so great, that notwithstanding all the Light of the Gospel, we commonly think that we must get an holy frame by producing it a new in ourselves, and by forming and working it out of our own Hearts. Therefore many that are se­riously devout, take a great deal of pains to mor­tifie [Page 42]their corrupted Nature, and beget an holy frame of Heart in themselves, by striving earnestly to master their sinful lusts, and by pressing vehement­ly upon their Hearts many motives to Godliness, labouring importunately to squeeze good qualifica­tions out of them, as Oyl out of a Flint. They ac­count that tho' they be justified by a righteousness wrought out by Christ, yet they must be sanctifi'd by a holiness wrought out by themselves. And thô out of humility they are willing to call it infused Grace, yet they think they must get the infusion of it by the same manner of working, as if it were wholly acquired by their endeavours. On this account they acknowledge the entrance into a Godly Life to be harsh and unpleasing, because it costs so much strugling with their own Hearts and Affections to new frame them, if they knew that this way of entrance is not only harsh and unpleasant, but al­together impossible, and that the true way of mor­tifying sin, and quickning themselves to holiness, is by receiving a new nature out of the fulness of Christ, and that we do no more to the producti­on of a new nature, than of original sin, tho' we do more to the reception of it. If they knew this, they might save themselves many a bitter agony, and a great deal of mispent burdensome labour, and employ their endeavours to enter in at the strait Gate, in such a way as would be more plea­sant and successful.

Another greater mystery in the way of Sanctifica­tion, is the glorious manner of our Fellowship with Christ in receiving an holy frame of heart from him. It is by our being in Christ, and having Christ himself in us, and that not meerly by his [Page 43]universal presence, as he is God, but by such a close union as that we are one spirit, and one flesh with him, which is a priviledge peculiar to those that are truly sanctified. I may well call this a mystical union, because the Apostle calleth it a great mystery, in an Epistle full of Mysteries, Eph. 5.20. intimating, that it is great, eminently above many other Mysteries; it is one of the three My­stical Unions that are the chief Mysteries in Reli­gion: the other two are the Union of the Trinity of Persons in One Godhead, and the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in One Person, Jesus Christ, God and Man. Though we cannot frame an exact Idea of the manner of any of these Three Unions in our Imaginations, because the depth of these Mysteries is beyond our Compre­hension, yet we have cause to believe them all, because they are clearly revealed in Scripture, and are a necessary Foundation for other Points of Christian Doctrine, particularly this Union be­twixt Christ and Believers, is plainly in several places of Scripture, affirming that Christ is, and dwelleth in believers, and they in him, Joh. 6.56. and 14.20. And that they are so joyned together as to become one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. And that Believers are Members of Christ's Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bones; and they two, Christ and the Church, are one flesh, Eph. 5.30, 31. Furthermore, this Union is illustrated in Scripture by various resemblances, which would be very much unlike the things which they are made use of to resemble, and would rather seem to beguile us by obscuring the Truth, than instruct us by illustrating of it, if there were no true proper Union betwixt Christ and Believers. It is resem­bled [Page 44]by the Union betwixt God the Father and Christ, Jo. 14.20. and 17.21, 22, 23. betwixt the Vine and its Branches, Joh. 15.4, 5. betwixt the Head and Body, Ephes. 1.22.23. betwixt Bread and the Eater, Joh. 6.51, 53, 54. It is not only resembled but sealed in the Lords Supper, where neither the Popish Transubstantiati­on, nor the Lutherans Consubstantiation, nor the Protestants spiritual Presence of Christ's Body and Blood to the true Receivers can stand without it, and if we can imagine that Christ's Body and Blood are not truely eaten and drunk by Believ­ers either spiritually or corporally, we shall make the Bread and Wine joyned with the Words of Institution, not only naked Signs, but such Signs as are much more apt to breed false Notions in us, than to establish us in the Truth. And there is nothing in this Union so impossible or repug­nant to Reason, as may force us to depart from the plain and familiar sence of those Scriptures that express and illustrate it. Though Christ be in Heaven and we on Earth, yet he can joyn our Souls and Bodies to his at such a distance, with­out any substantial Change of either, by the same insinite Spirit dwelling in him and us, and so our Flesh will become his, when it is quickned by his Spirit, and his Flesh ours as truly as if we did eat his Flesh, and drink his Blood, and he will be in us himself by his Spirit who is one with him, and who can unite more closely to Christ than any material Substance can do, or who can make a more close and intimate Union be­twixt Christ and us. And it will not follow from hence that a Believer is one Person with Christ, any more than that Christ is one Person [Page 45]with the Father by that greater mystical Union. Neither will a Believer be hereby made God's, but only the Temple of God, as Christ's Body and Soul is, and the Spirits lively Instrument, ra­ther than the principal Cause? Neither will a Believer be necessarily perfectin Holiness here by, or Christ made a Sinner, for Christ know­eth how to dwell in a Believer by certain mea­sures and degrees, and to make them holy so far only as he dwelleth in them. And though this Union seem too high a Preferment for such un­worthy Creatures as we are, yet considering the preciousness of the Blood of God whereby we are redeemed, we should dishonour God if we should not expect a miraculous Advancement to the highest Dignity that Creatures are capable of through the Merits of that Blood. Neither is there any thing in this Union contrary to the Judgment of Sense, because the Bond of the Uni­on being Spiritual, falleth not at all under the Judgment of Sense.

Several learned Men of late acknowledge no other Union betwixt Christ and Believers, than such as persons or things wholly separated, may have by their mutual relations each to other, and accordingly they interpret the places of Scripture that speak of this Union. When Christ is called the Head of the Church, they account that a Po­litical Head or Governour is the thing meant when Christ is said to be in his People, and they in him, they think that the proper meaning is, that Christ's Law, Doctrine, Grace, Salvation, or that Godliness is in them, and embraced by them; so that Christ here must not be taken for [Page 46]Christ himself, but for some other thing wrought in them by Christ. When Christ and Believers are said to be one Spirit and one Flesh, they un­derstand it of the Agreement of their Minds and Affections, as if the greatness of the Mystery of this Union mentioned, Ephes. 5.32. consisted rather in a harsh Hope, or a dark improper Expression, than in the depth and abstruceness of the thing it self, and as if Christ and his Apo­stles had affected obscure intricate Expressions, when they speak to this Church of things very plain and easie to be understood. Thus that great Mystery the Union of Believers with Christ himself, which is the Glory of the Church, and hath been highly owned formerly both by the ancient Fathers, and many eminent Prote­stant Divines, particular Writers concerning the Doctrine of the Lord's Supper, and by a very general Consent of the Church in many Ages, is now exploded out of the new Model of Divinity. The Reason of exploding it, as I judge in Charity, is not because our late learned Refiners of Divinity think themselves less able to defend it than the other two mysterious Unions, and to si­lence the Objections of those proud Sophisters that will not believe what they cannot comprehend; but rather because they account it to be one of the Sinnews of Antinomianism that lay unobser­ved in the former usual Doctrine; that it tend­eth to puff up Men with a Perswasion that they are justified, and have eternal Life in them al­ready, and that they need not depend any long­er upon their uncertain Performances of the Condition of sincere Obedience for Salvation, where­by they account the very Foundation of a holy [Page 47]Practice to be subverted. But the Wisdom of God hath laid another manner of Foundation for an holy Practice than they imagine, of which this Union, (which the Builders refuse) is a principal stone next to the head of the corner. And in oppo­sition to their corrupt Glosses upon the Scriptures that prove it, I assert that our Union with Christ is the cause of our Subjection to Christ as a Political Head in all things, and of the abiding of his Law, Doctrine, Grace, Salvation, and all Godliness in us, and of our Agreement with him in our Minds and Affections, and therefore it cannot be altogether the same thing with them. And this Assertion is useful for a better Understanding of the Ex­cellency of this Union. It is not a Priviledge procured by our sincere Obedience and Holiness, as some may imagine, or a reward of good works reserved for us in another World; but it is a Priviledge bestowed upon Believers in their very first entrance into an holy state, on which all ability to do good works doth depend, and all sincere Obedience to the Law doth follow after it as Fruit produced by it.

Having thus far explained the Direction, I shall now shew, that though the Truth contained in it be above the Search of Natural Reason, yet it is evidently discovered to those that have their Un­derstandings opened to discern that supernatural Revelation of the mysterious way of Sanctificati­on which God hath given to us in the holy Scri­ptures.

First, There are several Places in Scripture that do plainly express it; some Texts shew th [...] all things pertaining to our salvation, are treasured [...] for us in Christ, and comprehended in his fulness, [...] that we must have them thence, or [...] at all Col. 1.19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. And in the same Epistle, Col. 2.11, 12, 13. The Apostle sheweth that the holy Nature whereby we live to God, was first produced in him by his death and resurrection, in whom also ye are circumcised in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, buried with him, quickened together with him when you were dead in your sins, Ephes. 1.3. Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. An holy Frame of Spi­rit with all its necessary Qualifications, must needs be comprehended here in all spiritual Blessings, and these are given us in Christ's Person in heaven­ly places, as prepared and treasured up in him for us while we are upon Earth, and therefore we must have our holy Endowments out of him, or not at all. In this Text some chuse rather to read heavenly things, as in the Margent, because nei­ther places nor things are expressed in the Ori­ginal; but the former textual reading is to be pre­ferred before the Marginals as being the proper Sense of the Original Greek Phrase, which is, and must necessarily be so rendred in two other Pla­ces of this same Epistle, Chap. 3.10. & 6.12. Another Text is 1 Cor. 1.30. which sheweth that Christ is of God made unto us Sanctification, by which we are able to walk holily as well as wisely, by the Wisdom of which we are savingly wise, and Righteousness by the Imputation of which we are justified, and Redemption whereby we are redeem­ed [Page 49]from all Misery, to the Enjoyment of his Glo­ry, as our Happiness in the heavenly Kingdom. Other Texts of Scripture shew plainly that we receive our Holiness out of his fulness by Fellow­ship with him, Joh. 1.16, 17. Of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace. And it is un­derstood of Grace answerable to the Law given by Moses, which must needs include the Grace of Sanctification, 1 Joh. 1.3, 5, 6, 7. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. God is Light, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another. Hence we may infer that our Fellowship with God and Christ doth include particularly our ha­ving Light, and walking in it holily and righte­ously. There are other Texts that reach the Proof of the whole Direction fully, shewing not only that our holy Endowments are made ready first in Christ for us, and receiv'd from, but that we receive them by Union with Christ, Col. 3.10, 11. Ye have put on the new man, which is renewed after the image of him that created him, where Christ is all and in all, 1 Cor. 6.17. He that is joyn­ed to the Lord is one Spirit, Gal. 2.20. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, 1 Joh. 5.11, 12. This is the recerd that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life. Can we desire that God should more clearly teach us, that all the fulness of the New Man is in Christ, and all that spiritual nature and Life whereby we live to God in Holiness, and that they are fixed in him so inseparably, that we can not have them except we be joyned to him, and have himself abiding in us? Take heed lest [Page 50]through Prejudice and Hardness of Heart, you be guilty of making God a Liar in not believing this eminent Record that God hath given to us of his Son.

Secondly, God is pleased to illustrate this my­sterious manner of our Sanctification by such variety of Similitudes and Resemblances, as may put us out of doubt that it is Truth, and such a Truth as we are highly concern'd to know and believe. I shall endeavour to contract the chief of these Resemblances, and the force of them, briefly into one Sentence, leaving it to those that are Spiritual to enlarge their Medi­tations upon them. We receive from Christ a new holy frame and nature, whereby we are en­abled for an holy Practice by union and fellow­ship with him, in like manner as Christ lived in our nature by the Father, Joh. 6.57. As we receive original sin and death propagated to us from the first Adam, Rom. 5.12, 14, 16, 17. as the natural Body receiveth Sense, Motion, Nourish­ment from the Head, Col. 2.19. As the Branch re­ceiveth its Sap, Juiceand fructifying Virtue from the Vine, Jo. 15.4, 5 As the Wife bringeth forth Fruit by Virtue of her Conjugal Union with her Husband, Rom. 7.4. As Stones become an holy Temple by being built upon the Foundation and joyned with the chief corner-stone, 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5, 6. As we receive the nourishing Virtue of Bread by eating it, and of Wine by drinking it, Joh. 6.51, 55, 57. Which last Resemblance is used to seal to us our Communion with Christ in the Lords Supper. Hear are seven Resem­blances instanced whereof some do illustrate the [Page 51]Mystery spoken of more fully than others, all of them do some way intimate that our New Life and Holy Nature is first in Christ, and then in us, by a true proper Union and Fellowship with him. If any should urge that the Similitude of Adam and his Seed, and of married Couples, do make rather for a Relative, than a real Union betwixt Christ and us; let them consider that all Nations are really made of one Blood which was first in Adam, Acts 17.26. and that the first Woman was made out of the Body of A­dam, and was really bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, and by this first married Couple the my­stical Union of Christ and his Church is emi­nently resembled, Gen. 2.22, 23, 24. with Ephes. 5.30, 31, 32. And yet it supposeth both these Re­semblances in the nearness and fulness of it, be­cause those that are joyned to the Lord are not only one Flesh, but one Spirit with him.

Thirdly, The end of Christ's Incarnation, Death and Resurrection, was to prepare and form an holy Nature and Frame for us in him­self, to be communicated to us by Union and Fellowship with him; and not to enable us to produce in our selves the first Original of such an holy Nature by our own Endeavours. By his Incarnation there was a Man created in a new holy Frame, after the Holiness of the first Adam's Frame had been marred and abolished by the first Transgression, and this new Frame was far more excellent than ever the first Adam's was; because Man was really joyned to God by a close inseparable Union of the divine and humane Nature in one Person of Christ, so that [Page 52]these Natures had Communion each with other in their Actings, and Christ was able to act in his humane Nature, by Power proper to the divine Nature, wherein he was one God with the Father. The words that he spake while he was upon Earth, he spoke not of himself by any meer humane Power, but the Father that dwelt in him, he did the Works, Joh. 14.10. Why was it that Christ set up the fallen Nature of Man in such a wonderful Frame of Holiness, in bringing of it to live and act by Communion with God living and acting in it? One great End was, that he might communicate this excellent Frame to his Seed that should be born of him and in him, by his Spirit as the last Adam, the quickning Spirit, that as we have born the Image of the earthly Man, so we might also bear the Image of the heavenly, 1 Cor. 15.45, 49. in Ho­liness here, and in Glory hereafter. Thus he was born Emanuel God with us, because the ful­ness of the Godhead with all Holiness did first dwell in him bodily, even in his humane Nature, that we might be filled up with that fulness in him, Mat. 1.23. Col. 2.9, 10. Thus he came down from Heaven as living Bread, that as he liveth by the Father, so those that eat him may live by him, Joh. 6.51, 56. By the same Life of God in them that was first in him.

By his Death he freed himself from the Guilt of our Sins imputed to him, and from all that innocent Weakness of his humane Nature, which he has born for a time for our sakes. And by freeing himself he prepared a Freedom for us from our whole natural Condition, which is both [Page 53]weak as his was, and also polluted with our Guilt and sinful Corruption. Thus the corrupt natu­ral State, which is called in Scripture the Old Man, was crucified together with Christ, that the Body of Sin might be destroyed. And it is de­stroyed in us, not by any Wounds that we our selves can give to it, but by our partaking of that Freedom from it and Death unto it, that is al­ready wrought out for us by the Death of Christ, as is signified by our Baptism, wherein we are buried with Christ by the Application of his Death to us, Rom. 6.2, 3, 4, 10, 11. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh for Sin, (or by a Sacrifice for Sin, as in the Mar­gent) condemned Sin in the Flesh, that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us that walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spi­rit, Rom. 8.3, 4. Observe here that though Christ died that we might be justified by the Righteous­ness of God and of Faith, not by our own Righteousness which is of the Law, Rom. 10.4, 5, 6. Phil. 3.9. yet he died also that the Righ­teousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, and that by walking after his Spirit, as those that are in Christ, Rom. ibid. He is resembled in his Death to a Corn of Wheat dying in the Earth, that it may propagate its own nature, by bring­ing forth much Fruit, Joh. 12.24. to the Pas­sover that was slain, that a Feast might be kept upon it, and to Bread broken, that it may be Nourishment to those that eat it, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. and 11.24. To the Rock smitten that Water may gush out of it for us to drink, 1 Cor. 10.4. He died that he might make of Jew and Gentile one New Man in himself, Ephes. 2.15. and that [Page 54]he might see his seed, i. e. such as derive their ho­ly Nature from him, Is. 53.10. Let these Scri­ptures be well observed, and they will sufficient­ly evidence that Christ died, not that we might be able to form an holy Nature in our selves, but that we might receive one ready prepared and formed in Christ for us by Union and Fellow­ship with him.

By his Resurrection he took Possession of Spiritual life for us, as now fully procured for us, and made to be our Right and Property, by the Merit of his Death, and therefore we are said to be quickned together with Christ, even when we were dead in sins, and to be raised up toge­ther, yea, and to be made to sit together in hea­venly Places in Christ Jesus as our Head, while we continue upon Earth in our own Persons, Ephes. 2.5, 6. His Resurrection was our Resur­rection to the Life of Holiness, as Adam's Fall was our Fall into spiritual Death; and we are not our selves the first makers and formers of our new holy Nature any more than of our Ori­ginal Corruption, but both are formed ready for us to partake of them. And by Union with Christ we partake of that spiritual Life that he took Possession of for us at his Resurrection, and thereby we are enabled to bring forth the Fruits of it, as the Scripture sheweth by the Similitude of a Marriage Union, Rom. 7.4. We are mar­ried to him that is risen from the Dead, that we might bring forth Fruit unto God. Baptism sig­nifieth the Application of Christ's Resurrection to us as well as his Death; we are raised up with him in it to newness of Life, as well as buried [Page 55]with him, and we are taught thereby that because he died unto sin once and liveth unto God, we should likewise reckon our selves to be dead in­deed unto Sin, and alive unto God through Je­sus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6.4, 5, 10, 11.

Fourthly, Our Sanctification is by the Holy Ghost, by whom we live and walk holily, Rom. 15.16. Gal. 5.25. Now the Holy Ghost first rested on Christ in all fulness that he might be communicated from him to us, as was signified to John the Baptist by the Similitude of the descend­ing of a Dove from the opened Heavens resting on Christ at his Baptism, Joh. 1.32.33. And when he sanctifieth us he baptizeth us into Christ, and joyneth us to Christ by himself, as the great Bond of Union, 1 Cor. 12.13. So that accord­ing to the Scriptural Phrase, it is all one to have Christ himself and to have the Spirit of Christ in us, Rom. 8.9, 10. He glorifieth Christ, for he receiveth those things that are Christ's, and shew­eth them to us, Joh. 16.14, 15. He giveth us an experimental Knowledge of those spiritual Blessings which he himself prepared for us by the Incarnation, Death and Resurrection of Christ.

Fifthly, The effectual Causes of those four prin­cipal Endowments, which in the foregoing Dire­ction were asserted, necessary to furnish us for the immediate Practice of Holiness, are comprehend­ed in the fulness of Christ, and treasured up for us in him; and the Endowment themselves, toge­ther with their Causes, are attained richly by U­nion and Fellowship with Christ. If we be joyn­ed to Christ, our Hearts will be no longer left un­der [Page 56]the Power of sinful Inclinations, or in a meer indifferency of Inclination to good or evil, but they will be powerfully endued, with a Power, Bent, and Propensity to the Practice of Holiness by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, and incli­ning us to mind spiritual things, and to lust against the Flesh, Rom. 8.1, 4, 5. Gal. 5.17. And we have in Christ a full Reconciliation with God, and an Advancement into higher Favour with him than the first Adam had in the State of Innocency, because the Righteousness that Christ wrought out for us by his Obedience unto Death, is imputed to us for our Justification, which is called the Righ­teousness of God, because it was wrought by one that is God as well as Man, and therefore it is of an infinite value to satisfie the Justice of God for all our sins, and to procure his Pardon and highest Favour for us, 2 Cor. 5.21. Rom. 1.19. And that we may be perswaded of this Reconcili­ation, we receive the Spirit of Adoption through Christ, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, Rom. 8.15. Hereby also we are perswaded of our future En­joyment, of the everlasting heavenly Happiness, and of sufficient Strength both to will and to per­form our Duty acceptably, until we come to that Enjoyment. For the Spirit of Adoption teach­eth us to conclude, that if we be the Children of God, then we are heirs of God, joynt-heirs with Christ. And that the Law of the Spirit of Life that is in Christ Jesus, maketh us free from the Law of Sin and Death, and that nothing shall be against us, nothing shall separate us from the Love of God in Christ, but in all opposition and difficulties that we meet with, we shall be at last more than conque­rours through him that loved us, Rom. 8.17.23, 35, [Page 57]37, 39. Furthermore this comfortable Perswasi­on of our Justification and future Happiness, and all saving Priviledges cannot tend to licentiousness, as it is given only in this way of Union with Christ, because it is joyned inseparably with the Gift of Sanctification, by the Spirit of Christ, so that we cannot have Justication, or any saving Priviledge in Christ, except we receive Christ himself, and his Holiness, as well as any other Benefit, as the Scripture testifieth that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not af­ter the flesh but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1.

Sixthly, Whereas it may be doubted, whether the Saints that lived before the coming of Christ in the Flesh, could possibly be one Flesh with him, and receive a new Nature by Union and Fellow­ship with him, as prepared for them in his fulness, we are to know that the same Christ that took our Flesh was before Abraham, Joh. 8.58. and was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World, to be sacrificed as a Lamb without blemish, that he might redeem us from all iniquity by his preci­ous Blood, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19, 20. and he had the same Spirit, then which filled his humane Nature with all its fulness afterwards, and raised it from the dead, and he gave that Spirit then to the Church, 1 Pet. 1.11. & 3.18, 19. Now this Spirit was able and effectual to unite those Saints to that Flesh which Christ was to take to himself in the fulness of Time, because he was the same in both, and to give out to them, that Grace with which Christ would afterwards fill his Flesh for their Salvation, as well as ours. Therefore David accounted Christ's Flesh to be his, and spake of Christ's Death and Resurrection, as his own before [Page 58]hand, as fully as any of us can do since their Ac­complishment. Psal. 16.9, 10, 11. My flesh also shall rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see cor­ruption, thou wilt shew me the path of life. Yea, and Saints before Davids time, did all eat of the same spiritual meat, and drink of the same spiritual drink, even of the same Christ as we do, and therefore were Partakers of the same Priviledge of Union and Fellowship with Christ, 1 Cor. 10.3, 4. And when Christ was manifested in the Flesh, in the fulness of time, all things in Heaven and on Earth, all the Saints departed whose Spirits were then made perfect in Heaven, as well as the Saints that then were, or should afterward be on Earth, were gathered together in one, and comprehended in Christ, as their Head, Ephes. 1.10. And he was the chief corner-stone in whom the building of the whole Church upon the foundation of the Prophets before, and the Apostles after his comming being fitly fromed toge­ther, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, Ephes. 2.20, 21. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever, Heb. 13.8. His incarnation, death, and resurrection were the cause of all the Holiness that ever was, or shall be given to Man, from the Fall of Adam to the end of the World, and that by the mighty Power of his Spirit whereby all Saints that ever were or shall be, are joyned toge­ther, to be Members of that one mystical Body whereof he is the Head.

DIRECT. IV.
EXPLICATION.

THAT which I asserted in the foregoing Direction, concerning the necessity of our being in Christ, and having Christ in us, by a mystical Union, to enable us for an holy Pra­ctice, might put us to a stand in our Endeavours for Holiness, because we cannot imagine how we should be able to raise our selves above our natu­ral Sphere, to his glorious Union and Fellowship, until God be pleased to make known to us, by supernatural revelation, the means whereby his [Page 60]Spirit maketh us Partakers of so high a Privi­lege. But God is pleased to help us at a stand to go on forward, by revealing two Means or Instruments, whereby his Spirit accomplisheth the mystical Union and Fellowship betwixt Christ and us, and whereby rational Creatures are capable of attaining thereunto, by his Spirit working in them. One of these Means is the Gospel of the Grace of God, wherein God doth make known to us the unsearchable Riches of Christ, and Christ in us the hope of Glory, Eph. 3.8. Col. 1.27. and doth also invite us, and command us to believe on Christ for his Salvation, and doth encourage us by a free Promise of that Salvation, to all that believe on him, Acts 16.31. Rom. 10.9, 11. This is God's own Instrument of Convey­ance, wherein he sendeth Christ to us, to bless us with his Salvation, Acts 3.26. It is the ministration of the spirit, and of righteousness, 2 Cor. 3.6, 8, 9. Faith cometh by the hearing of it, and therefore it is a great instrument whereby we are begotten in Christ, and Christ is formed in us, Rom. 10.16, 17. 1 Cor. 4.15. Gal. 4.19. There is no need for us to say in our Hearts, Who shall ascend into Heaven, to bring Christ down from above? Or, who shall de­scend into the deep, to bring up Christ from the dead, that we may be united, and have fellowship with him in his death and resurrection? For the word is nigh to us, the Gospel, the word of Faith, in which Christ himself graciously condescendeth to be nigh to us; so that we may come at him there, without going any fur­ther, if we desire to be joyned to him, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8.

The other of these means is Faith, that is wrought in us by the Gospel: This is our Instrument of Reception, whereby the Union [Page 61]betwixt Christ and us is accomplished on our part by our actual receiving of Christ himself, with all his Fulness, into our Hearts; which is the prin­cipal Subject of the present Explanation.

The Faith which Philosophers commonly treat of, is only an Habit of the Understanding, whereby we assent to a Testimony upon the Authority of the Testifier: Accordingly some would have Faith in Christ to be no more than a believing the truth of things in Religion, upon the authority of Christ testifying them; but the Apostle sheweth, that the Faith whereby we are justified, is Faith in Christ's Blood, Rom. 3.24, 25. not only in his Authority as a Testifier. And tho' a meer assent to a Testimony were sufficient Faith for knowledge of things, which the Phi­losophers aimed at, yet we are to consider, that the Design of Saving Faith is not only to know the Truth of Christ and his Salvation, testified and promised in the Gospel, but also to apprehend and receive Christ and his Salvation, as given by and with the Promise. Therefore Saving Faith must necessarily contain two Acts, believing the Truth of the Gospel, and believing on Christ, as promised freely to us in the Gospel for all Salvation. By the one it receiveth the Means wherein Christ is conveyed to us; by the other it receiveth Christ himself and his Salvation in the Means. As it's one act to receive the Breast or Cup wherein Milk or Wine are conveyed, and another act to suck the Milk in the Breast, and to drink the Wine in the Cup, and both these acts must be perform'd heartily with an unfeigned love to the Truth, and a desire of Christ and his Salva­tion above all things; this is our spiritual Ap­petite, [Page 62]which is necessary for our eating and drinking Christ, the Food of Life, as a natural Appetite is for Bodily Nourishment. Our assen­ting unto, or believing the Gospel, must not be forced by meer conviction of the Truth, such as wicked Men and Devils may be brought to, when they had rather it were false: Neither must our believing on Christ be only constrai­ned for fear of Damnation without any hearty Love and Desire towards the enjoyment of him, but we must receive the Love of the Truth, by relishing the Goodness and Excellency of it; and we must account all things loss for the excellen­cy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, and count them but dung, that we may win Christ, and be found in him, 2 Thess. 2.10. Phil. 3.8, 9. estee­ming Christ to be all our Salvation and Happiness, Col. 3.11. in whom all fulness doth dwell, Col. 1.19. And this Love must be to every part of Christ's Salvation, to Holiness as well as Forgiveness of Sins. We must desire earnestly, that God would create in us a clean Heart, and right Spirit, as well as hide his face from our sins, Psal. 51.9, 10. not like many, that care for nothing in Christ but only Deliverance from Hell. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled, Mat. 5.6. The former of these Acts doth not immediately unite us to Christ, because it is terminated only on the means of Conveyance, the Gospel, yet it is a saving Act, if it be rightly performed, because it enclineth and disposeth the Soul to the latter Act, whereby Christ himself is immediately received into the Heart. He that believeth the Gospel with hearty love and liking, as the most Excellent Truth, will certainly with [Page 63]the like heartiness believe on Christ for his Sal­vation. They that know the name of the Lord, will certainly put their trust in him, Psal. 9.10. Therefore in Scripture, Saving-Faith is sometimes described by the former of these Acts, as if it were a meer believing the Gospel; sometimes by the latter, as a believing on Christ or in Christ. Rom. 10.9. If thou believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be sa­ved. 11, the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1 John 5.1. Whoso­ever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. 13, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

For the better understanding of the nature of Faith, let it be further observed, that the Second and Principal of it, believing on Christ, includeth believing on God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, because they are one and the same infi­nite God, and they all concurr in our Salvation by Christ, as the only Mediator betwixt God and us, in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. By him, as mediator, we believe on God that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God, 1 Pet. 1.21. And it is the same thing with trust­ing on God or on the Lord, which is so highly commended in the whole Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, as may easily appear by con­sidering that it hath the same Causes, Effects, Objects, Adjuncts, Opposites, and all the same Circumstances, excepting only that it had a re­spect to Christ, as promised before his Coming, [Page 64]and now it respecteth him, as already come in the Flesh. Believing in the Lord, and trusting on his Salvation, are equivalent terms, that ex­plain one another, Psal. 78.22. I confess, that trusting on things seen or known by the meer Light of Reason, as on our own Wisdom, Power, Riches, on Princes, or any Arm of Flesh, may not so properly be called believing on them, but trusting on a Saviour, as discovered by a Testi­mony is properly believing on him. It is also the same thing that is expressed by the terms of rest­ing, relying, leaning, staying our selves on the Lord, because it is the Ground of that Expecta­tion that is the proper Act of Hope, though our Believing and Trusting be for the present as well as future benefit of this Salvation. The reason why it is so commonly expressed in the Scri­ptures of the New Testament, by the terms of believing on Christ, might be probably because when that part of Scripture was written, there was cause in a special manner to urge believing the Testimony that was then newly revealed by the Gospel.

Having thus explained the nature of Faith, I come now to assert its proper Use and Office in our Salvation, That it is the Means and Instru­ment whereby we receive Christ, and all his Fulness, actually into our Hearts. This excellent Use and Office of Faith is encountered by a multitude of Errors; men naturally esteem, that it is too small and slight a thing to produce so great effects; as Naaman thought washing in Jordan too small a matter for the cure of his Leprosie. They contemn the true means of entring in at [Page 65]the streight Gate, because they seem too easie for such purpose, and thereby they make the Entrance not only difficult, but impossible to themselves. Some will allow, that Faith is the sole Condition of our Justification, and the Instrument to receive it, according to the Doctrine maintai­ned formerly by the Protestants against the Pa­pists, but they account, that it is not sufficient or effectual to Sanctification, but that it rather tendeth to Licentiousness, if it be not joyned with some other means, that may be powerful and effectual to procure an holy Practice. They com­mend this great Doctrine of Protestants as a com­fortable Cordial for Persons upon their Death­beds, or in Agonies under Terrors of Conscience, but they account, that it is not good for ordina­ry Food, and that it is Wisdom in Ministers to preach it seldom and sparingly, and not without some Antidote or Corrective to prevent the li­centiousness to which it tendeth. Their com­mon Antidote or Corrective is, That Sanctifica­tion is necessary to Salvation as well as Justifica­tion, and that though we be justified by Faith, yet we are sanctified by our own performance of the Law; and so they set up Salvation by works, and make the Grace of Justification to be of none effect, and not at all comfortable. If it had indeed such a malignant influence upon Practice, it could not be owned as a Doctrine proceeding from the most holy God, and all the Comfort that it affords must needs be ungroun­ded and deceitful. This Consequence is well understood by some late Refiners of the Prote­stant Religion, and therefore they have thought fit to new-model this Doctrine, and to make [Page 66]Saving-Faith to be only a Condition to procure a Right and Title to our Justification by the Righteous­ness of Christ, which must be performed before we can lay any good claim to the enjoy­ment of it, and before we have any right to the actual receiving of it; and this they call an accepting of, or receiving Christ. And that they may the better secure the practice of Holiness by their Conditional Faith, they will not have trusting on God or Christ for Salvation to be accounted the principal Saving-act of it, be­cause as it seemeth to them, many loose wicked People trust on God and Christ for their Salva­tion, as much as others, and are by their Confi­dence hardened the more in their Wickedness: But they had rather it should be Obedience to all Christ's Laws, at least, in their Resolution, or a Consent that Christ should be their Lord, accepting of his terms of Salvation, and a resignation of them­selves to his Government in all things. It is a sign that the Scripture-form of Teaching is grown into disesteem with our great Masters of Reason, when trusting in the Lord, so much commended in Scripture, is accounted a mean and ordinary thing. They endeavour to affright us from owning Faith to be an Instrument of Justificati­on, by telling us, that thereby we that use the Instrument are made our own principal Justifiers to the dishonour of God; though it might be ea­sily answered, that we are made thereby only the principal receivers of our own Justification from God, the Giver of it, to whom all the Glory doth belong.

All these Errors will fall, if it can be proved, that such a Faith as I have described is an Instru­ment whereby we actually receive Christ him­self into our Hearts, and Holiness of Heart and Life, as well as Justification by Union and Fel­lowship with him. For the proof of it, I shall offer the following Arguments.

First, By Faith we have the actual enjoyment and possession of Christ himself, and not only of Remission of Sins, but of Life, and so of Ho­liness: Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith, Ephes. 3.17. We live to God, and yet not we, but Christ liveth in us by the Faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.19. 20. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the Son and everlasting life that is in him, 1 John 5.12, 13. John 3.36. He that heareth Christ's word, and believeth on him that sent Christ, hath everlasting life, and is passed from death unto life. These Texts express clearly such a Faith as I have described; therefore the efficiency or operation of Faith, in order to the enjoyment of Christ and his Fulness, cannot be the procure­ment of a bare Right or Title to this En­joyment, but rather it must be an entrance into it, and taking possession of it. We have our acc [...]ss and entrance by faith into that Grace of Christ wherein we stand, Rom. 5.2.

Secondly, The Scripture plainly ascribeth this effect to Faith, that by it we receive Christ, put him on, are rooted and grounded in him, and also that we receive the Spirit, remission of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified, John 1.2. Gal. 3.26, 27. Col. 2.6, 7. Gal. 3.14. [Page 68] Acts 26.18. And the Scripture illustrateth this Receiving by the Similitude of Eating and Drin­king; He that believeth on Christ, drinketh the living water of his spirit, John 7.37, 38, 39. Christ is the bread of life, his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; and the way to eat and drink it, is to believe in Christ, and by so doing we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us, and have everlasting Life, John 6.35, 47, 48, 54, 55, 56. How can it be taught more clearly, that we receive Christ himself properly into our Souls by Faith, as we do receive Food into our Bodies by eating and drinking, and that Christ is as truly united to us thereby as our Food when we eat or drink it? So that Faith cannot be a Condition to procure a meer Right or Title to Christ, no more than Ea­ting or Drinking procureth a meer Right or Title to our Food, but it is rather an Instrument to re­ceive it, as the Mouth that eateth and drinketh the Food.

Thirdly, Christ with all his Salvation is freely given by the Grace of God, to all that believe on him; for we are saved by Grace through Faith, and that not of our selves, it is the Gist of God, Eph. 2.8, 9. We are justified freely by his Grace, through Faith in his blood, Rom. 8.24. The Holy Ghost, who is the Bond of Union betwixt Christ and us, is a Gift, Acts 2.38. Now that which is a Gift of Grace must not be at all earned, pur­chased, or procured by any Work or Works per­formed as a Condition to get a right Title to it; and therefore Faith it self must not be accoun­ted such a Condition. If it be by Grace, it is no more of Works, otherwise Grace is no more [Page 69]Grace, Rom. 11.1. The Condition of a free Gift is only take and have; and in this sence we will readily acknowledge Faith to be a Con­dition, allowing a Liberty in Terms where we agree in the thing; but if you give a Pepper­corn to purchase a Title to it, then you spoil the freeness of the Gift. The free Offer of Christ to you is sufficient to conferr upon you a Right, yea, to make it your Duty to receive Christ and his Salvation as yours; and because we re­ceive Christ by Faith as a free Gift, there­fore we may account Faith to be the Instrument, and as it were the Hand whereby we receive him.

Fourthly, It hath been already proved, that all spiritual Life and Holiness is treasured up in the Fulness of Christ, and communicated to us by Union with him; therefore the accomplishing of Union with Christ is the first work of Saving Grace in our Hearts, and Faith itself, being an holy Grace, and part of spiritual Life, cannot be in us before the beginning of it, but rather it is given to us, and wrought in the very working of the Union. And the way wherein it condu­ceth to the Union, cannot be by procuring a meer Title to Christ as a Condition, because then it should be performed before the uniting Work be­ginneth; but rather by being an Instrument, whereby we may actively receive and embrace Christ, who is already come into the Soul to take possession of it his own Habitation.

True Saving-Faith, such as I have described, hath in its nature and manner of Operation a [Page 70]peculiar aptitude or fitness to receive Christ and his Salvation, and to unite our Souls unto him, and to furnish the Soul with a new holy Nature, and to bring forth an holy Practice by Union and Fellowship with him. God hath fitted na­tural Instruments for their Office, as the Hands, Feet, &c. so that we may know by their nature and natural manner of operation, for what use they are designed. In like manner we may know, that Faith is an Instrument formed on purpose for our Union with Christ, and Sanctifi­cation, if we consider what a peculiar fitness it hath for the Work. The discovery of this is of great use for the understanding of the mysterious manner of our receiving and practising all Holi­ness by Union and Fellowship with Christ. By this precions Grace of Faith, and to make you as it were to see with your Eyes, that it is such an Instrument as I have asserted it to be, I shall present it to your view in three particulars.

1st. The Grace of Faith is as well fitted for the Souls receiving of Christ and Union with him, as any Instrument of the Body is for receiving and closing with things needful for it. By the very act of hearty trusting or believing on Christ for all Salvation and Happiness, the Soul heaveth and putteth away from itself every thing that keepeth it at a distance from Christ, as all confi­dence in our own Strength, Endeavours, Works, Privileges, or in any Worldly Pleasures, Profits, Honours, or in any humane Helps and Succours for our Happiness and Salvation. Because such Confidences are inconsistent with our Confidence in Christ for all Salvation, Paul by his Confi­dence [Page 71]in Christ was taken off from all Considence in the Flesh; he suffer'd the loss of glorying in his Privileges, legal Righteousness, and counted all other Enjoyments in matters of the World or of Religion, to be but Dung, that he might win Christ, and be found in him, Phil. 3.3, 6, 7, 8, 9. the voice of Faith is, Ashur shall not save us, nei­ther will we ride upon Horses, neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ye are our God; for in thee the Fatherless find mercy, Hos. 14.3. We have no might against this great company of our spiritual Enemies; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee, 2 Chron. 20.12. I might multiply places of Scripture, to shew what a self emptying Grace Faith is, and how it casteth other Consi­dences out of the Soul, by getting above them to Christ, as the only Happiness and Salvation. The same act of trusting or believing on Christ, or on God, is the very manner of our Souls co­ming to Christ, Joh. 6.35. drawing near to the Lord, Psal. 73.28. fleeing unto the Lord to hide us, Psal. 143.9. making our resuge in the shadow of his wings, Psal. 57.1. staying our selves and our minds upon the Lord, Isa. 50.10. & 26.3. laying hold of eternal life, 1 Tim. 6.12. lifting up our selves to the Lord, Psal. 51.1, 2. rolling our way, and casting our burden upon the Lord, Psal. 37.5. & 55.22. and of our eating and drinking Christ, as hath already appeared. Let us consider, that Christ and his Salvation cannot be seen, or handled, or attained to by any bodily motion, but are revealed and promised to us in the Word. Now let any invent if they can, any way for the Soul to exercise any motion or activeness, in receiving of this unseen promised Salvation, besides believing the Word, [Page 72]and trusting on Christ for the Benefit promised. If Christ were to be earned by Works, or any other kind of Conditional Faith than this, yet a Faith must be instrumental to receive him. Some think Love as sit to be the uniting Grace, but I have shewed, that Love to Christ's Salvation is an Ingredient into Faith: And though Love be an Appetite unto Union, yet we have no other likely way to fill this Appetite, while we are in this World, besides trust on Christ for all his Benefits as he is promised in the Gospel.

2dly, There is in this Saving-Faith a natural Tendency, to furnish the Soul with an holy Frame and Nature, and all Endowments necessa­ry thereunto, out of the Fulness of Christ. An hearty affectionate trussing on Christ for all his Salvation, as freely promised to us, hath natural­ly enough to work in our Souls a rational bent, and inclination to, and ability for the Practise of all Holiness, because it comprehendeth in it a trusting that through Christ we are dead to sin and alive to God, and that our old man is crucified, Rom. 6.2, 6, 4. and that we live by the spirit, Gal. 5.25. and that we have forgiveness of sin; and that God is our God, Psal. 31.14. and that we have in the Lord righteousness and strength, whereby we are able to do all things, Isa. 45.24. Phil. 4.13. and that we shall be glortensly happy in the anjoyment of Christ to all eternity, Phil. 3.20, 21. When the Saints in Scri­pture speak so highly of such glorious spiritual Privileges as I have here named, they acquaint us with the familiar fence and language of their Faith, trusting on God and Christ, and they give us but an Explication of the nature and [Page 73]contents of it; and they speak of nothing more than what they receive out of the Fulness of Christ. And how can we otherwise judge, but that those that have an hearty Love to Christ, and can upon a good ground think and speak such high things concerning themselves, must needs be heartily disposed and mightily strengthened for the practice of Holiness?

3dly, Because Faith hath such a natural tenden­cy to dispose and strengthen the Soul for the pra­ctise of Holiness, we have cause to judge it a meet Instrument to accomplish every part of that Pra­ctice in an acceptable manner. Those that with a due affection believe stedfastly on Christ, for the free Gift of all his Salvation, may find by ex­perience, that they are carried forth by that Faith, according to the measure of its Strength or Weakness, to love God heartily, because God hath loved them; first, 1 Joh. 4.19. to praise him, to pray unto him in the name of Christ, Ephes. 5.26. John 16.26, 27. to be patient with cheerfulness under all afflictions, giving thanks to the Father, that hath called them to his heavenly inheri­tance, Col. 1.11, 12. to love all the children of God, out of love to their heavenly Father, 1 John 5.1. to walk as Christ walked, 1 John 2.6. and to give themselves up to live to Christ in all things, as constrained by his love in dying for them, 2 Cor. 5.14. We have a Cloud of Witnesses concerning the ex­cellent works that were produced by Faith, Heb. 11. And though trusting on Christ be ac­counted such a slight and contemptible thing, yet I know no Work of Obedience which it is not able to produce. And note the excellent manner [Page 74]of working by Faith; by it we live and act in all good Works, as People in Christ, as raised above our selves and our natural state, by parta­king of him and his Salvation; and we do all in his name, and on his account. This is the Pra­ctice of that mysterious manner of living to God in Holiness, which is peculiar to the Christian Religion, wherein we live, and yet not we, but Christ liveth in us, Gal. 2.20. And who can imagine any other way but this for such a Practice, while Christ and his Salvation is known to us only by the Gospel?

The explanation that I have made of the Na­ture and Office of true Faith, and of its Aptitude for its Office, is sufficient to evidence, that it is a most holy Faith, as it is called Jude 20. and that such a trusting on Christ, as I have described, in its own nature, cannot have any tendency to Li­centiousness, but only to Holiness; and that it rooteth and groundeth us in Holiness more than the meer accepting of any terms of Salvation, and consenting to have Christ for our Lord can do, and is more powerful to secure an holy Practice, than any of those Resolutions of Obedience or resignating Acts, that some would have to be the great conditions of our salvation, which are indeed no better than hypocritical Acts, if they be not produc'd by this Faith. There is indeed a counterfeit dead Faith, such as wicked men may have, and if that tend to Licentiousness, let not true Faith be bla­med, but rather mark the Description of it which I have given, that you may not be deceived with a counterfeit Faith instead of it. I shall add some­thing concerning the efficient cause of this excel­lent [Page 75]Grace, and of our Union with Christ by it, whereby it may appear, that it is not so slight and easie a way of Salvation as some may imagine. The Author and Finisher of our Faith and of our Union and Fellowship with Christ by Faith, is no less than the infinite Spirit of God, and God and Christ himself by the Spirit; for, by one Spi­rit we are all baptized into one body of Christ, and are all made to drink into one Spirit, 1 Cor, 12.12, 13. God granteth us, according to the Riches of his glory, to be strengthened with all might by his spirit, in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by Faith, Ephes. 3.16, 17. If we do but consider the great effect of Faith, that by it we are raised to live above our natural condition, by Christ and his Spirit living in us, we cannot rationally con­ceive that it should be within the power of Na­ture to do any thing that advanceth us so high. If God had done no more for us in our Sanctifi­cation, than to restore us to our first natural Ho­liness, yet this could not have been done without putting forth his own Almighty Power to quicken those that are dead in Sin. How much more is this Almighty Power needful to advance us to this wonderful new kind of Frame, wherein we live and act above all the power of Nature, by an higher Principle of Life than was given to Adam in Innocency, even by Christ and his Spi­rit, living and acting in us? The natural man bringeth forth his Off-spring according to his Image, by that natural Power of multiplying, with which God blessed him at his first Creation; but the second Adam bringeth forth his Off-spring new born, according to his Image only by the Spirit, Joh. 3.5. As many as receive him, even those that [Page 76]believe on his name, are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.12, 13. Christ took his own Humane Nature into personal Union with himself, in the Womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost coming upon her, and the power of the Highest overshadowing her, the same Power whereby the World was created, Luke 1.35. So He ta­keth us into mystical Union and Fellowship with himself, by no less than an Infinite Creating Power, For we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, Ephes. 2.10. And if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, 2 Cor. 5.17.

For the accomplishing of this great Work of our new Creation in Christ, the Spirit of God doth first work upon our Hearts by and with the Gospel, to produce in us the Grace of Faith; for, if the Gospel should come to us in Word only, and not in Power and in the Holy Ghost, Paul might labour to plant, and Apollos to water without any success, because we cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God; yea, we shall account them foolishness, until the Spirit of God enable us to discern them; 1 Thess. 1.5. 1 Cor. 3.6. & 2.14. We shall never come to Christ by any teaching of Man, except we also hear and learn of the Fa­ther, and be drawn to Christ by his spirit, John 6.44, 45. And when Saving Faith is wrought in us, the same Spirit giveth us fast hold of Christ by it: As he openeth the Mouth of Faith to receive Christ, so he filleth it with Christ, or else the acting of Faith would be like a Dream of one that thinketh that he eateth and drinketh, and when [Page 77]he awaketh he findeth himself empty. The same Spirit of God did both give that Faith whereby Miracles were wrought, and did work also the Miracles by it: So also the same Spirit of Christ doth work Saving Faith in us, and doth answer the aim and end of that Faith, by giving us Uni­on and Fellowship with Christ by it: So that none of the Glory of this Work belongeth to Faith, but only to Christ and his Spirit. And in­deed, Faith is of such an humble self-denying na­ture, that it ascribeth nothing that it receiveth to itself, but all to the Grace of God; and therefore God saveth us by Faith, that all the Glory may be ascribed to his Free-Grace, Rom. 4.16. If Adam had Strength enough in Innocency to per­form the Duty of Faith as well as we, yet it will not follow, that he had Strength enough to raise himself above his natural state, into Union with Christ, because Faith doth not unite us to Christ by its own Vertue, but by the Power of the Spirit working by it and with it. Thus we are first pas­sive and then active in this great work of mystical Union; we are first apprehended of Christ, and then we apprehend Christ; Christ entereth first into the Soul, to joyn himself to it, by giving it the Spirit of Faith, and so the Soul receiveth Christ and his Spirit by their own Power. As the Sun first enlighteneth our Eyes, and then we can see it by its own light. We may note further, to the Glory of the Grace of God, that this Union is fully accomplished by Christ, giving the Spirit of Faith to us, even before we act that Faith in the reception of him, because by this Grace or Spirit of Faith the Soul is enclined and disposed [Page 78]to an active receiving of Christ. And, no doubt, Christ is thus united to many Infants, who have the Spirit of Faith, and yet cannot act Faith, be­cause they are not come to the use of their Un­derstandings; but those of riper years, that are joyned passively to Christ by the Spirit of Faith, will also joyn themselves with him actively, by the Act of Faith, and until they act this Faith, they cannot know or enjoy their Union with Christ, and the Comfort of it, or make use of it in acting any other Duties of Holiness acceptably in this Life.

DIRECT. V.
EXPLICATION.

IT it evident all have not that precious Faith, whereby Christ dwelleth in our Hearts, yea, the number of those that have it is small, com­paratively to the whole World that lieth in Wickedness, 1 Joh. 5.19, 20. and many of those that at length attain unto it, do conti­nue without it for some considerable time. Ephes. 2.12. And though some may have the Spirit of Faith given to them from their Mothers Womb, (as John the Baptist, Luke, 1.15.44.) yet even in them there is a natural Being by Generation before there can be a Spiritual Be­ing by Regeneration, 1 Cor. 15.46. Hence ariseth the Consideration of two States or Con­ditions of the Children of Men, in Matters that appertain to God and Godliness, the one of which is vastly different from the other. Those that have the Happiness of a New-birth [Page 80]and Creation in Christ by Faith are thereby pla­ced in a very excellent State, consisting in the Enjoyment of the Righteousness of Christ, for their Justification, and of the Spirit of Christ to live by, in Holiness here, and Glory for ever, as hath already appeared. Those that are not in Christ by Faith, cannot be in a better State than that which they received together with their Na­ture from the first Adam, by being once born and created in him, or than they can attain to by the Power of that Nature, with any such help as God is pleased to afford to it. This latter I call a Natural State, because it consisteth in such things as we have either received by natural Ge­neration, or can attain to by natural Power through Divine Assistance; as the Scripture call­eth Man in this State the natural Man. 1. Cor. 2.14. The former I call a new State, because we enter into it by a new Birth in Christ, and I may call it a Spiritual State, according to the Scripture, because it received from Christ the quickening Spirit, and the Natural and Spiritual Man are opposed, 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. though some call both these States Spiritual, because the ever­lasting Weal or Woe of the Soul or Spirit of Man, is chiefly concerned in them. It is a common Error of those that are in a corrupt natural State that they seek to reform their Lives according to the Law, without any thoughts that their State must be changed before their Lives can be changed from Sin to Righteousness. The Hea­then that knew nothing of a new State in Christ, were urged by their own Consciences to practice several Duties of the Law according to the Knowledge they had by the Light of Nature, [Page 81] Rom. 2.14, 15. Israel according to the Flesh, had a Zeal of God and Godliness, and endea­voured to practice the written Law, at least in external Performances, while they were Enemies to the Faith of Christ, and Paul attainted so far, that he was blameless in these external Perfor­mances of the Righteousness of the Law, while he persecuted the Church of Christ, Phil. 3.6. Some are so near the Kingdom of God, while they continue in a Natural State, that they are convinced of the Spirituality of the Law, that it bindeth us principally to love God with all our Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength, and to love our Neighbour as our selves, and to perform uni­versal Obedience to God, in all our inward Thoughts and Affections, as well as in all our outward Actions, and to do all the Duties that we owe to our Neighbour, out of this hearty Love, Mark 12, 33, 34 And they struggle and la­bour with great earnestness to subdue their inward Thoughts and Affections, to the Law of God, and to abstain not only from some Sins, but from all known Sins, and to perform every known Duty of the Law, with their whole Heart and Soul as they think, and are so active and intent in their devout Practice, that they overwork their natural Strength, and so servent in their Zeal, that they are ready even to kill their Bodies with Fastings and other Macerations, that they may kill their sinful Lusts. They are strongly convinced, that Holiness is abso­lutely necessary to Salvation, and deeply affected with the Terrours of Damnation, and yet they were never so much enlightened in the Mystery of the Gospel, as to know that a new State in Christ is necessary to a new Life, therefore they labour [Page 82]in vain to reform their natural State instead of getting above it in Christ. And some of these, when they have mispent many Years in striving against the Stream of their Lusts without any Success, do at last fall miserably into Despair of ever attaining to Holiness, and turn to wallow­ing in the mire of their Lusts, or are fearfully swallowed up with horrour of Conscience. There are several false Opinions whereby such igno­rant Zealots encourage themselves in their fruit­less Endeavours. Some of them judge that they are able to practice Holiness, because they are not compelled to sin, and may abstain from it if they will. To this they add, That Christ by the Merit of his Death, hath restored that Free­dom of Will to good, which was lost by the Fall, and hath set Nature upon its Legs again, and that if they endeavour to do what lieth in them, Christ will do the rest, by assisting them with the Supplies of his saving Grace; so they trust upon the Grace of Christ to help them in their Endeavours. They plead further, That it would not consist with the Justice of God to punish them for Sin, if they could not avoid it, and that it would be in vain for the Mini­sters of the Gospel to preach to them, and exhort them to any saving Duty, if they can­not perform it. They produce Examples of I leathens, and of such as had the name of Chri­stians without any acquaintance with the Faith that I have described, who have attained to a great Excellency in religious Words and Works.

My Work at present is, to deliver those igno­rant Zealots from their fruitless tormenting La­bours, by bringing them to despair of the Attain­ment of Holiness in a natural State, that they may seek it only in a new State by Faith in Christ, where they may certainly find it with­out such tormenting Labour and Anxiety of Spirit. For this end I shall confirm the Truth asserted in the Direction, and fortifie it against the forementioned false Opinions by the ensuing Considerations.

First, The Foundation of this Assertion is firm­ly laid in the Directions already explained, and confirmed by many Places of Scripture: For if all Endowments necessary to enable us for an ho­ly Practice, be to be had only in a State of Union and Fellowship with Christ by Faith, and Faith it self not by the natural Power of Free-will, but by the Power of Christ, coming into the Soul by his Spirit, to unite us with himself, who see­eth not that the Attainment of true Holiness by any of our most vigorous Endeavours, while we continue in our natural Condition, is altogether hopeless? I need add no more were it not to shew more sully what abundance of Light the Scripture affordeth to guide us aright in this part of our way, that those that wander out of it, by following any false light of their own, or others corrupted Judgments, may find themselves the more inexcusable.

Secondly, It is evident that we cannot practice true Holiness, while we continue in a natural State, because we must be born again of water and [Page 84]of the Spirit, or else we cannot enter into the king­dom of God, Joh. 3.3, 5. And we are created in Christ Jesus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. If we could love God and our Neighbour as the Law requireth, without a New-birth and Creation, we might live without them; for Christ hath said, This do and thou shalt live, Luke 10.28. Now a New-birth and Creation, is more than a meer reforming and repairing our Natu­ral State. If we were put into a certain State and Condition by the first Birth and Greati­on, much more by the second: For the first pro­duceth the Substance of a Man as well as a State, the second hath nothing to produce, but a new State of the same Person. And note that we were first created and born in Adam the Natu­ral Man, but our New-birth and Creation is in Christ the Spiritual Man; and if any man be in Christ, he is in a new-state, far different from the State of Adam before the Fall, he is wholly a new creature, as it is written, old things are past away, behold all things are become new, 2. Cor. 5.17.

Thirdly, It is positively asserted by the Apostle Paul, that those that are in the flesh cannot please God, Rom. 8.8. Many are too overly and negligent in considering the Sense of this Gospel-phrase what it is to be in the flesh. They understand no more by it than to be sinful, or to be addicted inordinately to please the sensitive Appetite. They should consider that the Apostle speaketh here of being in the flesh, as the cause of Sinfulness, as in the next verse, he speaketh of being in the Spirit, as the cause of Holiness, and whatever cause it [Page 85]be, it must needs be distinct from its Effect. Sin is a Property of the Flesh, or something that dwelleth in the Flesh, Rom. 7.18. and therefore it is not the Flesh it self. The Flesh is that which lusteth against the Spirit, Gal. 5.17. and therefore it is not meerly sinful Lust. The true Interpre­tation, is, That by flesh is meant the Nature of Man, as it is corrupted by the Fall of Adam, and propagated from him to us, in that corrupt State by natural Generation, and to be in the flesh, is to be in a Natural State, as to be in the Spirit, is to be in a new State, by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, Rom. 8.9. The corrupt Nature is called Flesh, because it is received by carnal Generation, and the new Nature is call­ed Spirit, because it is received by Spiritual Re­generation. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit, John 3.6. So the Apostle, if he be rightly under­stood, hath said enough to make us despair ut­terly of attaining to true Holiness, while we continue in a Natural Sate.

Fourthly, The Apostle testifieth that those that have been taught as the truth is in Jesus, have learned to avoid the former sinful Conversation, by putting off the old-man, which is corrupt ac­cording to the deceitful lusts, and by putting on the new-man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, Ephes. 4.21.22, 24. Putting on the Old-man, and putting on the New-man is the same thing with not being in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, in the foregoing Testimony, that is putting off our natural State, and putting on a new State, by Union and Fellowship with [Page 86]Christ. The Apostle himself sheweth that by the new Man, is meant that excellent State where Christ is all and in all, Col. 3.11. Therefore by the old Man, must needs be meant the natural State of Man, wherein he is without the saving Enjoyment of Christ, which is called Old, because of the new State to which Believers are brought by their Regeneration in Christ. This is a man­ner of Expression peculiar to the Gospel as well as the former, and as slightly considered by those that think that the Apostles Meaning is only that they should put off Sinfulness, and put on Ho­liness in their Conversation, and so they think to become new Men, by turning a new Leaf in their Practice, and leading a new Life. Let them learn here, that the old and new Man, are two contrary States containing in them, not only Sin and Holiness, but all other things that dispose and incline us to the Practice of them; and that the old Man must be put off, as orucified with Christ, before we can be freed from the Practice of Sin, Rom. 6.6, 7. And therefore we cannot lead a new Life, until we have first gotten a new State by Faith in Christ. Let me add here, that the meaning of the Apostle is the same, Rom. 13.12, 13, 14. where he directeth us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, as the means whereby we may cast off the deeds of darkness, and walk honestly as in the day time, not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Fifthly, Our natural State hath several Proper­ties that wholly disable us for the Practice of Ho­liness, and inslaves us to the Practice of Sin, while we continue in it. Here I shall shew, that the old Man, the Flesh, or natural State, is not only Sin [Page 87]as some would have it, but it containeth in it se­veral things which I shall name, that make it to be sinful, besides several other things that make it miserable. I have shewed that in Christ we have all Endowments necessary to frame us for God­liness; so in our fleshly State we have all things contrary to that holy Frame. One thing belong­ing to our natural State, is the Guilt of Sin, even of Adam's first Sin, and of the sinful Depravation of our Nature, and of all our own actual Transgres­sions, and therefore we are by nature the children of wrath, Ephes. 2.3. Under the Curse of God, the Benefit of Remission of our Sins and Freedom from Condemnation, is not given to us in the Flesh, or in a natural State, but only in Christ, Rom. 8.1. Ephes. 1.7. And can we imagine that a Man should be able to prevail against Sin, while God is against him and curseth him? Another Property inseparable from the former, is an evil Conscience, which denounceth the Wrath of God against us for Sin, and inclineth us to abhor him as our Enemy, rather than to love him, as hath been shewed; or if it be a blind Conscience, it hardeneth us the more in our Sins. A third Property is an evil Inclination tending only to Sin, which there­fore is called Sin that dwelleth in us, and the law of sin in our members that powerfully subdueth and cap­tivateth us to the service of sin, Rom, 7.20, 23. It hath a fixed Propensity to lust against the Law without any Deliberation, and therefore its Lust­ings are not to be prevented by any Diligence or Watchfulness. The Mind of the Flesh is enmity against the Law of God, or it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be. How vain then is it to plead that they can do good if they [Page 88]will, when their Minds and Will it self is enslaved to Sin. A fourth Property is Subjection to the pow­er of the Devil, who is the God of this world, that hath blinded the minds of all that believe not, 2. Cor. 4.4. And will certainly conquer all that he sight­eth with upon his own Dunghill, that is in a natu­ral State. And from all these Properties we may well conclude that it hath the Property never to be good, to be stark dead in Sin, Ephes. 2.1. ac­cording to the Sentence denounced against the first Sin of Mankind in Adam, in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die, Gen. 2.17. For you can no more bring it to Holiness by any the most vehement Motives and Endeavours, then you can bring a dead Carcase to Life, by chaf­ing and rubbing it. You can stir up no strength or fortifying Grace in the natural Man by such Motives and Endeavours, because there is no Strength in him to be stirred up, Rom. 5.6. Tho' you do all that lieth in you to the utmost, while you are in this Flesh you can do nothing but sin; for there is no good lying in you, as the Apostle Paul sheweth by his own Experience, I know that in me, (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing, Rom. 7.18.

Sixthly, We have no good ground to trust on Christ, to help us to will or to do that which is ac­ceptable to him, while we continue in our natural State, or to imagine that Freedom of Will to Ho­liness, is restored to us by the Merit of his Death. For as it hath been already shewed, Christ aim­ed at an higher end in his Incarnation, Death and Resurrection, than the restoring the Decay and Ruins of our natural State: He aimed to ad­vance [Page 89]us to a new State more excellent than the State of Nature ever was, by Union and Fellow­ship with himself, that we might live to God, not by the Power of a natural Free-will, but by the Power of his Spirit living and acting in us. So we may conclude, that our natural State is irrecoverable and desperate, because Christ the only Saviour did not aim at the Recovery of it. It is neither holy nor happy, but subject to Sin, and to all Miseries as long as it remaineth. Even those that are in a new State in Christ, and do serve the Law of God with their Mind, do yet with their Flesh serve the Law of Sin, Rom. 7.25. As far as it remaineth in them it lusteth against the spirit, Gal. 5.17. And it remaineth dead because of sin, even when the spirit is life to them because of righteousness, Rom. 8.10. And must be wholly abolished by Death, before we can be perfected in that Holi­ness and Happiness that is by Faith in Christ. Af­ter God had promised Salvation by Christ, the Seed of the Woman, he placed Cherubims and a flaming Sword to keep Man out of Paradice, thereby teaching. him that his first State was lost without Hope, and that the Happiness intended for him was wholly new. Our old natural Man was not revived and reformed by the Death of Christ, but crucified together with him, and there­fore to be abolished and destroyed out of us by virtue of his Death, Rom. 6.6. It is like the part of a Garment infected with the Plague of Le­prosie, which was to be rent off as incurable, that the Garment might be clean, Levit. 13.56. If Christ be not in us we are reprobates, 2 Cor. 13.5. i. e. we are in a State which God hath re­jected from partaking of his Salvation, so that we [Page 90]are not to expect any Assistance from God to make us holy in it, but rather to deliver us from it.

Seventhly, This doth not at all discharge those that are in a natural State from Obligation to Holiness of Life, nor render them excusable for their Sins, at the Tribunal of God's Justice. For God hath made man upright, but they sought many inventions, Eccles. 7.29. Observe well the Words of this Text, and you will find that all they who have sought out many Inventions ra­ther than upright walking, are comprehended in Man that was at first made upright. And Man in the Text signifieth all Mankind, the first Adam was all Mankind, as Jacob and Esau were two nati­ons in the womb of Rebecca, Gen. 25.23. God made us all in our first Parents according to his own Image, able and inclined to do his Law, and in that pure Nature our Obligation to Obedience was first laid upon us, and the first wilful Trans­gression, whereby our first Parents bereaved themselves of the Image of God, and brought upon themselves the Sentence of Death, was our Sin as well as theirs, For in one man Adam, all have sinned, and so death is passed upon all, Rom. 5.12. Because all Mankind were in Adam's Loins, when the first Sin was committed, even as Levi may be said to have paid Tithes in Abraham before he was born, because when his Father Abraham paid Tithes to Melchizedeck, he was yet in his Loins, Heb. 7.9, 10. That Promise of God that he will not charge the Iniquities of Parents upon their Children, is a Promise belonging to the New Covenant confirmed in the Blood of Christ, and it is Yea and Amen to us only in Christ, in whom [Page 91]we have another Nature than that which our Pa­rents conveyed to us, so that we cannot justly claim the Benefit of it in our old natural State, Jer. 31.29, 30, 31. & 2 Cor. 1.20. Those that account their Impotency a sufficient Plea to ex­cuse them or others, shew that they were never truly humbled for that great wilful Transgres­sion of all Mankind in the Loins of Adam. Ina­bility to pay Debts excuseth not a Debtor that hath lavished away his Estate; neither doth Drunkenness excuse the mad Actings of a Drunk­ard, but rather aggravates his Sin. And our Im­potency consisteth not in a meer want of an exe­cutive Power, but in the want of a willing Mind to practice true Holiness and Righteousness. Na­turally we love it not, we like it not, but lust against it, Gal. 5.17. and hate the light, John 3.20. If Men in a natural State had an hearty Love and Likeing to true Holiness, and a desire and serious endeavour to practice it out of hearty Love, and yet failed in the event, then they might under some pretence plead for their Excuse (as some do for them) that they were compelled to sin by an inevitable Fate. But none have just cause to plead any such thing for their excuse, because none endeavour to practice true Holiness out of hearty Love to it, until the good Work be begun in their Souls, and when God hath begun he will perfect it, Phil. 1.6. And will in the mean time accept their ready Mind, though they fall short in Performance, 2 Cor. 8.12. How abo­minable then and filthy is man that drinketh up ini­quity us water, Job. 15.16. That cannot pra­ctise Holiness, because he will not. This is their just Condemnation, that they love darkness rather [Page 92]light. They deserve to be Partakers with the Di­vels in Torments, as they partake with them in evil Lusts, and their Inability to do Good will no more excuse them, than it excuseth the Di­vils.

Eighthly, Neither will this Assertion make it a vain thing to preach the Gospel to natural Peo­ple, and to exhort them to true Repentance and Faith in Christ, for their Conversion and Salva­tion. For the Design of our Preaching is not to bring them to Holiness in their natural State, but to raise them above it, and to present them per­fect in Christ, in the Performance of those Du­ties, Col. 1.28. And though they cannot per­form those Duties by their natural Strength, yet the Gospel is made effectual for their Conversion and Salvation, by the Power of the Holy Ghost, which accompanieth the Preaching of it, to quick­en those that are dead in Sin, and to create them a new in Christ, by giving to them Repentance unto Life, and a lively Faith in Christ. The Gos­pel cometh to the Elect of God, not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in such Assurance, that they receive it with joy of the Ho­ly Ghost, 1 Thess. 5.6. The Gospel is the ministra­tion of the Spirit that giveth life, 2. Cor. 3.6, 8. It is mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10.4. It depend­eth not at all upon the Power of our Free-will to make it successful for our Conversion; but it conveyeth into the Soul that Life and Power, whereby they receive and obey it, Christ can make those that are dead in Sin to hear his voice and live, John 5.25. Therefore he can speak to them by his Gospel, and Command them to re­pent [Page 93]and believe with good Success, as well as he could say to dead Carcases, Tabitha cumi, Mark 5.41. Lazarus come forth, John 11, 43, 44. And to the Sick of the Palsie, Arise, take up thy bed and go unto thine house, Matth. 9.6.

Ninthly, There is no reason that the Examples of Heathen Philosophers or any Jews or Christi­ans by outward Profession, that have lived with­out the saving Knowledge of God in Christ, should move us by their wise Sayings and re­nouned Attainments in the Practice of Devotion and Morality, to recede from this Truth that hath been so fully confirmed out of the holy Scri­ptures. Have we not cause to judge that the A­postle Paul, while he was a zealous Pharisee, and at least some few of the great. Multitude of the Jews in his time, that were zealous of the Law, and had the Instruction of the holy Scri­ptures, attained as near to that true Holiness, as the Heathen Philosophers, or any others in their natural State. Yet Paul, after he was enlightned with the saving Knowledge of Christ, judged himself the chief of sinners, in his highest former Attainments, though in the Judgment of others he was blameless touching the Righteousness which is in the Law, and he found it necessary to begin to live to God in a new way by Faith in Christ, and to suffer the loss of all his former Attainments, and to count them but dung that he might win Christ, 1 Tim. 1.15. Phil. 3.6, 7, 8.

And none of the great Multitude of Jews that followed after the Law of Righteousness did ever attain unto it, while they sought it not by faith [Page 94]in Christ, Rom. 9.31, 32. What Performances are greater in outward Appearance than for a Man to give all his goods to the poor, and to give his bo­dy to be burnt, and yet the Scripture alloweth us to suppose that this may be done without true Charity, and therefore without any true holiness of the heart and life, 1 Cor. 13.3. Men in a natu­ral State may have strong Convictions of the in­finite Power, Wisdom, Justice and Goodness of God, and of the Judgment to come, and the ever­lasting Happiness of the Godly, and Torments of the Wicked; and these Convictions may stir them up, not only to make an high Profession, and to utter rare Sayings concerning God and Godliness, but also to labour with great earnest­ness to avoid all known Sin, to subdue their Lusts, to perform universal Obedience to God in all known Duties, and to serve him with their Lives and Estates to the utmost, and to extort out of their Hearts some kind of Love to God and God­liness, that if possible they may escape the terri­ble Torments of Hell, and procure everlasting Happiness by their Endeavours. Yet all their Love to God is but forced and feigned, they have no hearty liking to God or his Service, they ac­count him an hard Master, and his Command­ments grievous, and they repine and fret inward­ly at the burden of them, and were it not for fear of everlasting Fire, they would little regard the Enjoyment of God in Heaven, and they would be glad if they might have the Liberty to enjoy their Lusts without danger of Damnation. The highest Preferment of those that are born only after the Flesh in Abraham's Family, is but to be children of the bond-woman, Gal. 4.23. And [Page 95]though they do more in God's Service than ma­ny of his dear Children, yet God accepteth not their Service, because their best Performances are slavish without any Child-like Affections towards God, and no better than glistering Sins, and yet these natural Men are not at all beholden to the goodness of their Natures for these coun­terfeit Shews of Holiness, or for the least ab­staining from the grossest Sin. If God should leave Men fully to their own natural Corrupti­ons and to the Power of Satan (as they deserve) all Shew of Religion and Morality would be quickly banished out of the World, and we should grow past feeling in Wickedness, and like to the Canibals, who are as good by Nature as our selves. But God that can restrain the Burning of the siery Furnace without quenching it, and the flow­ing of Water without changing its nature, doth also restrain the working of natural Corruption without mortifying it, and through the greatness of his Wisdom and Power, he maketh his enemies to yield feigned obedience to him, Psal. 66.3. And to do many things good for the matter of them, though they can do nothing in a right holy man­ner. He hath appointed several means to restrain our Corruptions as the Law, Terrors of Consci­ence, terrible Judgments, and Rewards in this Life, Magistrates, humane Laws, Labour for Ne­cessaries, Food and Raiment, and those Gospel means, that are effectual for Sanctification, serve also for Restraint of Sin. God hath gracious ends in this Restraint of Sin, that his Church may be preserved, and his Gospel preached in the World, and that these Natural Men may be in a better Capacity to receive the Instruction [Page 96]of the Gospel, and that such of them that are chosen, may in due time be converted, and that those of them that are not truly converted may enjoy more of the Goodness of God here, and suffer the less Torments hereafter. As vile and wicked as the World is, we have cause to praise and to magnifie the Free Goodness of God that it is no worse.

DIRECT. VI.
EXPLICATION.

FOR the understanding the terms of this Di­rection, note here, that I take Salvation as comprehending Justification, as well as other Sa­ving Benefits, and sincere Obedience, as compre­hending holy Resolutions, as well as the fulfilling of them. The worst of Men that have any Sense of Religion are prone to imagine, that the sure way to establish the Practice of Ho­liness and Righteousness, is to make it the Pro­curing Condition of the Favour of God, and [Page 98]all Happiness. This may appear by the vari­ous false Religions that have prevailed most in the World. In this way the Heathens were brought to their best Devotion and Morality, by the know­ledge of the Judgment of God, that those that violate several of the great Duties to God and their Neighbour are worthy of Death; and by their Consciences accusing or excusing them, according to the Practise of them, Rom. 1.32. & 2.14, 15. Our Consciences are informed by the common Light of Natural Reason, that it is just with God to require us to perform these Duties, that we may avoid his Wrath, and enjoy his Favour; and we cannot find any better way than this, to obtain Happiness, or to stir up our selves to Duty with­out divine Revelation. Yet because our own Consciences testifie, that we often fail in the per­formance of these Duties, we are enclined by Self-Love to perswade our selves, that our sincere Endeavours to do the best we can, shall be suffi­cient to procure the Favour of God, and Pardon for all our Failings. Thus we see, that the Per­swasion of Salvation, by the Condition of sincere Obedience, hath its original from our corrupt Natural Reason, and is part of the Wisdom of this World; it is none of the Wisdom of God in a Mystery, that hidden Wisdom, God ordained be­fore the World to our Glory; it is none of those things of the Spirit of God, which have not entred into the Heart of Man, and which the Natural man cannot receive, for they are foolish­ness to him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.6, 7, 9, 14. It is none of the foolishness of Preaching, whereby it pleased God to save them that believe, 1 Cor. [Page 99]10.21. And though we have a better way re­vealed to us in the Gospel, for the enjoyment of the Favour of God, and Holiness it self, and all Salvation, without any procuring Condition of Works, by the free Gift of God's Grace through Faith in Christ; yet it is very difficult to per­swade men out of a way that they are naturally addicted to, and that hath forestalled and capti­vated their Judgments, and is bred in their Bone, and therefore cannot easily be gotten out of the Flesh. Most of those that live under the hea­ring and profession of the Gospel, are not brought to hate Sin as Sin, and to love Godliness for itself, though they be convinced of the necessity of it to Salvation, and therefore they cannot love it heartily. The only means that they can take to bring themselves to it, is to stir up themselves to an Hypocritical Practice in their old natural way, that they may avoid Hell and get Heaven by their Works. And their own Con­sciences witness, that the Zeal and Love that they have for God and Godliness, their Self-de­nial, Sorrow for Sin, strictness of Life, are in a manner forced and extorted from them by sla­vish Fear and mercenary Hope; so that they are afraid, that if they should trust on Christ, for Salvation by Free-Grace without Works, the fire of their Zeal and Devotion would be quickly extinguished, and they should grow careless in Religion, and let loose the Reins to their Lusts, and bring certain Damnation upon themselves. This moveth them to account them the only Boanerges and powerful Preachers that preach lit­tle or none of the Doctrine of Free-Grace, but rather spend their Pains in rebuking Sin and ur­ging [Page 100]People to get Christ and his Salvation by their Works, and thundering Hell and Damnati­on against Sinners. It hath been farther obser­ved, that some that have contended much for Salvation by Free-Grace, without any Condition of Works, have fallen into Antinomian Opinions and licentious Practices. The Experience of these things hath much prevailed with some learned and zealous men of late amongst our selves, to re­cede from the Doctrine of Justification by Faith, without Works, formerly professed unanimously, and strongly defended by the Protestants, against the Papists, as a principal Article of true Reli­gion. They have perswaded themselves, that such a way of Justification is ineffectual, yea, de­structive to Sanctification, and that the practice of sincere Obedience cannot be established a­gainst Antinomian Dotages and prevailing Lusts, except it be made the necessary Condition of our Justification, and so of our eternal Salvation. Therefore they conclude, that God hath certainly made sincere Obedience to be the Condition of our Salvation. And they have en­deavoured to new-model the Protestant Doctrine, and to interpret the holy Scriptures in a way agreeable and subservient to this their only sure Foundation of Holiness.

But I hope to shew, that this their imagined sure Foundation of Holiness was never laid by the Holy God, but that it is rather an Errour in the Foundation, pernicious to the true Faith, and to Holiness of Life. I account it an Error espe­cially to be abhorred and detested, because we are so prone to be seduced by it, and because it is an Error whereby Satan transforming himself into an [Page 101]Angel of Light, and a Patron of Holiness, hath great­ly withstood the Gospel in the Apostles times, and stirred up men to persecute it, out of zeal for the Law, and hath since prevailed to set up and maintain Popery, whereby the Mystery of Iniquity worketh apace in these days, to corrupt the Purity of the Gospel amongst the Protestants, and to heal the deadly wound that was given to Popery by preaching the Doctrine of Justification by Faith without Works.

One thing asserted in the Direction against this fundamental Error, is, that it is a way of Salvation by the Works of the Law, and not by the Faith of Christ, as revealed in the Gospel. Though the maintainers of it would have us believe, that it is the only way of the Gospel, that so we may not doubt of its Power and Efficacy for our Justifica­tion, Sanctification, and our whole Salvation. Their Reasons are, because the Law, as a Cove­nant of Works, requireth us to do all its Com­mandments perfectly, that we may live; whereas they plead only for a milder Condition of sincere doing, that we may live. And they plead not for doing of Duties, as obliged thereunto by the Au­thority of the Law given of God by Moses, but on­ly in obedience to the Commands of Christ in the Gospel. Neither do they plead for Salvation by sincere Obedience without Christ, but only by Christ, and through his Merit and Righteousness; and they acknowledge, that both Salvation itself and sincere Obedience, are given to them freely, by the Grace of Christ, so that all is of Grace. They acknowledge also, that their Salvation is by Faith, because sincere Obedience is wrought in them by believing the Gospel, and is included in [Page 102]he nature of that Faith, which is the entire Con­dition of our Salvation: And some call it the re­signating Act of Faith; but all these Reasons are but a fallacious Vizard upon a legal way of Sal­vation, to make it look like pure Gospel; as I shall evince by the following particulars.

First, All that seek Salvation by the sincere per­formance of good Works, as the procuring Con­dition, are condemned by the Apostle Paul, for seeking Righteousness by the Works of the Law, and not by Faith, Rom. 9.32. and for seeking to be justified by the Law, and falling from the Grace of Christ, Gal. 5.4. This one Assertion, if it can be proved, is enough to pluck off the fal­lacious Vizard from the Condition of sincere Obedience, and to make men abhor it as a dam­ning legal Doctrine, that bereaveth its Followers of all Salvation by Christ. And the proof of it is not difficult to persons that warily consider a point of so great moment for their Salvation. The Jews and Judaizing Christians, against whom the Apostle chiefly disputeth in this whole Contro­versie, did not profess any hope of being justified by perfect Obedience, according to the rigour of the Law, but only by such Obedience as they ac­counted to be sincere, and not hypocritical. And we have no cause to doubt, but that the Judaizing Galatians had learned by the Gospel to distinguish sincere Obedience from Hypocrisie. The Jewish Religion bound all that professed it, to acknow­ledge themselves to be Sinners, as appeareth by their anniversary Humiliation at the day of atonement, and several other Rights of the Law, and many clear Testimonies in the Oracles of [Page 103]God, that were committed to them, Psal. 143.2. Prov. 10.9. Eccles. 7.20. Yet they knew they were bound to turn to the Lord with all their Hearts, in Sincerity and Uprightness, and that God would accept of sincere Obedience, for which Cause they might better put it for the Condition of the Law, than we can of the Gospel, Psal. 51.6, 10. Deut. 6.5. Deut. 30.10. So that if the Apostle had disputed against those that held only perfect Obedience to be the Con­dition of Justification, he had contended with his own shadow. And they might as readily judge sincere obedience to be the condition of Justification under the Law, as we can judge it to be the condition under the Gospel. Neither doth the Apostle con­demn them meerly for accounting sincere Obe­dience to the Law as given by Moses, to be the Condition of their Justification, but more gene­rally for seeking Salvation by their own Works. And he alledgeth against them, That Abrabam, who lived before the Law of Moses, was not ju­stified by any of his Works, though he did per­form sincere Obedience; and that David, who lived under the Law of Moses, was not justified by his Works, though he performed sincere Obe­dience, and was as much bound to obey the Law given by Moses, as we are to obey any Commands of Christ in the Gospel, Rom. 4.2, 3, 5, 6. Nei­ther doth he condemn them for seeking their Sal­vation only by Works, without respecting at all the Grace and Salvation that is by Christ; for the Judaizing Galatians were yet Professors of the Grace and Salvation of Christ, though they thought Obedience to the Law a necessary Con­dition for the partaking of it, as also many other [Page 104]Judaising Believers did: And doubtless they ac­counted themselves obliged thereunto, not only by the Authority of Moses, but of Christ also, whom they owned as their Lord and Saviour. And we may be sure it was no damning Error, to account Moses's Law obliging at that time, for many thou­sands of the Jews, that were sound Believers, held the Ceremonies of Moses to be in force at that time, and Paul was tender towards them in it, Acts 20.20, 21. Acts 15.5. And other Jews sought Justification not only by their sincere Works, but also by trusting on the Promise made to Abraham, and on their Priesthood and Sacrifi­ces, which were Types of Christ. And the most legal Pharisees would thank God for their good Works, as proceeding from his Grace, Luke 18.11. And they could as well acknowledge their Salva­tion to be by Faith, as the Assertors of Salvation by sincere Obedience can in these days; for they accounted, that their sincere Obedience was wrought in them by believing the Word of God, which contained Gospel as well as legal Doctrin in it; and therefore that it must be included in the na­ture of Faith, if Faith were taken for the Conditi­on of their whole Salvation. Let the Assertors of the Condition of sincere Obedience learn from hence, that they are building again that Judaism which the Apostle Paul destroyed, whereby the Jews stumbled at Christ, Rom. 9.32. And the Galatians were in danger of falling from Christ and Grace, Gal. 5.2, 4. And let them beware of falling un­der that Curse which he hath denounced on this very occasion, against any Man or Angel, that shall preach any other Gospel than that which he hath preached, Gal. 1.8, 9.

Secondly, The difference betwixt the Law and Gospel doth not at all consist in this, that the one requireth perfect doing, the other only sincere do­ing; but in this, that the one requireth doing, the other no doing, but believing for Life and Salva­tion. Their terms are different not only in de­gree, but in their whole nature.

The Apostle Paul opposeth the Believing requi­red in the Gospel to all doing for Life, as the Con­dition proper to the Law, Gal. 3.12. The Law is not of Faith, but the man that doth them shall live in them. Rom. 4.5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his Faith is counted for righteousness. If we seek Salva­tion by never so easie and mild a Condition of Works, we do thereby bring our selves under the Terms of the Law, and do become Debtors to fulfill the whole Law in perfection, though we intended to engage our selves only to fulsill it in part, Gal. 5.3. for the Law is a compleat Decla­ration of the only Terms whereby God will judge all that are not brought to despair of procuring Salvation by any of their own Works, and to re­ceive it as a Gift freely given to them by the Grace of God in Christ. So that all that seek Salvation right or wrong, knowingly or ignorantly, by any works, less or more, whether invented by their own Su­perstition, or commanded of God in the Old or New Testament, shall at last stand or fall, accor­ding to those Terms.

Thirdly, Sincere Obedience cannot be perfor­med to all the Commands of Christ in the Gospel, except it be also performed to the Moral Law, as given by Moses, and as obliging us by that autho­rity. Some Assertors of the Condition of Salvati­on [Page 106]by sincere Obedience to the Commands of Christ, would fain be free from the authority of the Law of Moses, because that justifieth none, but thundereth out a Curse against all those that seek Salvation by the Works of it, Gal. 3.10, 11. But if they were at all justified by sincere Works, their respect to Moses's Authority would not hinder their Success, for many that were good Christians ac­counted themselves bound to obey not only the moral but the ceremonial Law; and if they had sought Justification by any Works, they would have sought it by those Acts 20: 20, 21. They knew not of any Justification by sincere Works, as com­manded only in the Gospel; yet if they had erred in any thing absolutely necessary to Salvation, the Apostles would not have tolerated their weakness. And whether they will or no, they must seek their Salvation by the Works of the moral Law, as gi­ven by Moses, or else they can never get it by sin­cere Obedience to the Commands of Christ, Christ never loved their new Condition so well, as to abolish the Mosaical Autho­rity of the moral Law, for the establishment of it; he came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them in the Practice required by them, and hath declared, that those that break one of the least of these Commandments, and teach men so, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 5.17, 19. He commandeth us, to do to men whatsoever we would they should do to us, because this is the Law and the Prophets; which is sufficient to prove, that He would have us to account the Law authoritative to oblige us in this matter. He re­quireth [Page 107]his Disciples to observe and do whatsoever the Scribes and Pharisees bid them, because they sate in Moses's Seat, Mat. 23.23.

And to come to the point in hand, when Christ had occasion to answer the Questions of those that were guilty of the same Error that I am now dea­ling with, in seeking their Salvation by their own Works, He shewed them, that they must obey the Commands as they were already established by the Mosaical Authority in the Scripture of the Old Testament. What is written in the Law? how rea­dest thou? This do, and thou shalt live, Luke 10.26. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments, which are, Thou shalt do no Murder, Thou shalt not commit Adultery, &c.

In like manner the Apostles of Christ urged the performance of moral Duties upon Believers, by the authority of the Law given by Moses. The Apo­stle Paul exhorteth to love one another, because He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law, Rom. 13.8. and to honour our Father and Mother, which is the first Commandment with Promise, Ephes. 6.2. The Apostle John exhorteth to love others as no new, but an old Commandment. The A­postle James exhorteth to fulfill the royal law accor­ding to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self, and to keep all the Commands of the Law, one as well as another, because He that said, Do not commit Adultery, said also Do not kill, Jam. 2.8, 10, 11. Sound Protestants have accounted the denial of the Authority of the moral Law of Moses to be an Antinomian Error; tho' our late Prevari­cators against Antinomianism maintain this Error, yet they establish a worse Error of Justification by their sincere Gospel-works. I think the deno­mination [Page 108]of the Antinomians arose from this Error. The Law of Moses had its Authority at first from Christ, for Christ was the Lord God of Israel, that ordained the Law by Angels on Mount Sinai, in the hand of Moses a Mediator for the Israelites, who were then his only Church, and with whom we believing Gentiles are now joyned, as fellow-Members of one and the same Body, Eph. 3.6. And though Christ hath since abrogated some of the Commandments then given by Moses, concer­ning figurative Ceremonies and judicial Procee­dings, yet he hath not anulled the obligative Autho­rity of the moral Law, but hath left it in its full force, to oblige us in moral Duties, that are still to be practised; as, when some Acts of any Parliament are repealed, the Authority of the same Parlia­ment remaineth inviolable in other Acts that are not repealed. I know they object, that the Ten Commandments of the Moral Law, the Ministra­tion of Death, written and engraven on Stones, are also done away by Christ, 2 Cor. 3.7. but this maketh altogether against their Conditional Co­venant, for they are the ministration of Death, and done not as they commanded perfect Obe­dience, for even Christ himself commandeth us to be perfect, Mat. 5.48. but as they were Condi­tions for procuring Life and avoiding Death, esta­blished by promise of Life to the Doers, and a Curse to the Breakers of them, Gal. 3.10, 12. The Covenant made with Israel on Mount Sinai, is abolished by Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant, Heb. 8.8, 9, 13. And the Ten Com­mandments bind us not as they were words of that Covenant, Exod. 34.28. I mean, they bind us not as Conditions of that Covenant, except we seek [Page 109]to be justified by Works; for the Law, as a Cove­nant, doth still stand in force enough to curse those that seek Salvation by their own Works, Gal. 3.10. and if abolished, it is only to those that are in Christ by Faith, Gal. 2.19, 20. & 15.15. But the Ten Commandments bind us still, as they were then given to a People that were at that time under the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham, to shew them what Duties are holy, just, and good, well pleasing to God, and to be a Rule for their Con­versation. The result of all is, that we must still practise moral Duties, as commanded by Moses, but we must not seek to be justified by our Pra­ctice. If we use them as a Rule of Life, not as Conditions of Justification, they can be no mini­stration of Death, or killing Letter unto us; their Perfection indeed maketh them to be harder Terms to procure Life by, but a better Rule to dis­cover all Imperfections, and to guide us to that Perfection which we should aim at. And it will be our Wisdom not to part with the Authority of the Decalogue of Moses, until our new Divines can furnish us with another System of Morality as compleat as that, and as excellently composed and ordered by the Wisdom of God, and more au­thentick than that is.

4ly, Those that endeavour to procure Christ's Salvation by their sincere Obedience to all the Commands of Christ, do act contrary to that way of Salvation by Christ's Free-grace, and Faith discovered in the Gospel, though they own it in Profession never so highly. They act contrary to the way of Salvation by Christ, for they would heal themselves, and save themselves from the Power and Pollution of Sin, and prooure God's [Page 110]Favour by performing sincere Obedience before they are come to Christ the only Physician and Saviour. They lay their own Obedience lowest in the Foundation of their Salvation, and build the Enjoyment of Christ upon it, who ought to be the only Foundation. They would sanctifie themselves before they have a sure Interest in Christ, and going about to establish their own Righteousness, they do not submit themselves to the Righteousness of God in Christ, Rom. 10.3,4. Sometimes they will call the Righteousness of Christ, their Legal Righteousness, that they may make room for an Evangelical Righteousness of their own Works, to be the immediate procuring cause of their Justification by Christ, whereas the Apostle Paul knew no Evangelical Righteousness, but that of Christ, which he calleth the righte­ousness of faith without the law, Rom. 3.21, 22. and not of the law, Phil. 3.9. Thus they make void Christ's Salvation, while they pretend to own it, and Christ profiteth them nothing, Christ is become of none effect to them, while they would be justified by the Law, Gal. 5.2, 4. If we would be saved by Christ, we must own our selves dead, lost Sinners, that can have no Righteousness for Justification but his, no life or ability to do Good until God bring us to Union and Fellowship with him. They do also act contrary to Salvation by Grace, according to the true meaning of the Gospel. For we are not saved by Grace, as the supreme Cause of Salvation by the Interven­tion of Works given and accepted by Grace as the procuring Cause, in which sence we might be saved by Grace, though by a Covenant of Works. As a Servant that hath Monies given him by his [Page 111]Master to purchase an Annuity of his Master at a low rate, may profess that he had an Annuity, given him freely, and yet that he hath purchased it and may claim it as a due Debt. But we are saved by Grace, as the immediate and complete cause of our whole Salvation, excluding procure­ment of our Salvation by the condition of Works and claiming it by any Law as a due Debt. The Scripture teacheth us, that there is a perfect Op­position and utter Irreconcileableness betwixt Sal­vation by Grace and Works: If by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace; but if it be of works, then it is no more of grace, otherwise work is no more work, Rom. 11.6. So al­so there is an Opposition betwixt a Reward reck­oned of grace, and of debt, Rom. 4.4. Betwixt a Promise of Happiness by the law and by grace, Rom. 4.13.16. God is so jealous of the Glory of his Free-grace, that he will not save us by any Works though of his own working in us, lest any man should boast, Ephes. 2.9. He knoweth that when he healeth Men by Physick or maintaineth them by the Labour of their hands, they are prone to attribute the Glory, rather to the means they use, than to his sole Bounty and Goodness.

3dly, They do also act contrary to the way of Salvation by Faith: For, as I have shewed already, the Faith which is required for our Sal­vation in the Gospel is to be understood in a sense contrary to doing good Works, as a Condition to procure our Salvation, that so the true differ­ence between the Terms of the Law and of the Gospel may be maintain'd. Believing is opposed to all working for Salvation, and the Law of Works to the Law of Faith, Rom. 4.5, & 3.27. [...] [Page 116]against Antinomian Errours, by making it the pro­curing Condition of their Salvation, when after all this ado, the Remedy is found to be as bad as the Disease, equally unserviceable and destru­ctive to that great end for which they designed it, and that it hath an Antimonian Effect and Opera­tion contrary to the Power of Godliness. Much more might be said for the Confutation of this novel Doctrine, but if this one thing be well pro­ved it may be sufficient to make the zealous Con­trivers of it to be ashamed of their Crast, and an­gry with themselves, and sorry that they have ta­ken so much Pains and stretched their Wits to maintain such an unprofitable unsanctifying Opinion. It will be sufficient for the Proof of it, if I shew, that the practice of true holiness cannot pos­sibly be attain'd unto by seeking to be saved by the Works of the Law, because I have already proved that this Doctrine of Salvation by sincere Obedi­ence, is according to the Terms of the Law, and not of the Gospel. And hereby those also may see their Errour that ascribe Justification only to the Gospel, and Sanctification to the Law. Yet because those Assertors of the Condition of sincere Obedience, will hardly be perswaded by what hath been said, that it is the way of the Law of Works. I shall for their more full Conviction suffi­ciently manifest, that it is of no other nature and operation than any other Doctrine that is proper to the Law, and hath no better Fruit, as I proceed to prove by the following Arguments, that holiness cannot be attained by seeking it by the Law of Works, that so it may appear not worthy to be called Gospel Doctrine.

First, The way of Salvation by the Works of [Page 117]the Law is contrary and destructive to those ne­cessary means of an holy Practice, that have been laid down in the foregoing Directions, and manifestly proved out of the holy Scripture. I have made it appear, that a hearty Propensity to an holy Practice cannot be attained without some good Perswasion of our Reconciliation with God by Justification, and of our everlasting Happiness, and of sufficient strength both to will and to per­form our Duty; and that these, and all other En­dowments necessary to the same end, are to be had only in Christ, by Union and Fellowship with him, and that Christ himself with all his Fulness is united to us by Faith, which is not a Condition to procure a Right or Title to Christ, but an In­strument whereby we receive him actually into our Hearts by trusting on him for all Salvation freely promised to us in the Gospel. All these means of an holy Practice are things wherein our spiritual Life and Happiness doth consist, so that if we have them, everlasting Life is begun in us already, and because they are the necessary means of an holy Practice, therefore the beginning of everlasting Life in us, must not be placed after such a Practice, as the fruit and consequent of it, but must go be­fore it, as the Cause before the Effect. Now the Terms of the Law are directly contrary to this Method; they place the Practice of Holiness be­fore Life, and make it to be the means and pro­curing cause of Life, as Moses describeth them, Rom. 10.5. The man that doeth these things shall live by them. By these Terms you are first to do the holy Duties commanded before you have any In­terest in the Life promised, or any Right to lay hold of it as yours by Faith, and you must pra­ctice [Page 118]Holiness without the forementioned means, or else you can never attain to them. Thus the true means are turned out of their Office, and in­stead of being Causes, they are made to be Effects and Fruits of an holy Practice. And it will be in vain ever to expect such Effects and Fruits; for Holiness it self with all its Effects must needs be destroyed when its necessary Causes are taken a­way. Therefore the Apostle Paul testifieth, that the way of salvation by the works of the law maketh faith void, and promises of none effect. And frustrateth the grace of God, as if Christ died in vain, and ma­keth Christ to be of no profit and of none effect to us, as those that are fallen from grace, Rom. 4.14. Gal. 2.21. & 5.2, 4. Let us now examine the modern Doctrine of Salvation by the Condition of sincere Obedience to all the Commands of Christ, and we shall quickly find it to be a chip of the same block, with the former legal way of Salvation in the same manner destructive to the means of Holiness, and to Holiness it self. It requireth of us the Perfor­mance of sincere Obedience before we have the means necessary to produce it, by making it an­tecedent to our Justification and Perswasion of eternal Happiness, and our actual Enjoyment of Union and Fellowship with Christ and of that new Nature, which is to be had only in him by Faith. It destroyeth the nature of that saving Faith whereby we actually receive and enjoy Christ and all his Benefits, and knocketh off our Hands from laying hold of Christ and his Salvati­on, by telling us still, as Christ told the Legal­worker after all his Labour, that yet we lack something, Mat. 10.21. That it is Presumption to take him as our own until we have performed [Page 119]the Condition for our Right and Title to him, which is another kind of saving Faith, otherwise called sincere Obedience. By this devised condi­tional Faith Satan keepeth many poor Souls at a bay poreing upon their own Hearts for many years together, to find whether they have performed the Condition, and whether they have as yet any Right to Christ for their Salvation, not daring to venture to take him as their own. It is a strong Partition-wall that will certainly hinder the Soul from coming to Christ, until it be thrown down by the Knowledge of Salvation by grace, without any procuring Condition of Works. And though it be accounted but as the Payment of a Pepper­corn for a great Estate, yet it is enough to break the ablest Man in the World, because it debarreth him from laying hold of the only effectual means of Holiness, whereby that Pepper-corn may be ob­tained.

2dly, Those that seek Salvation by the Works of the Law, do therein act according to their natural State, they live and walk according to the Flesh, or Old-man, not according to the New-state by Christ living in them. I doubt not but several of them that live under the light of the Gospel are Partakers of a new State in Christ, and do walk holily in it; but the best in this World have in them Flesh as well as Spirit, and may act ac­cording to either State in some measure, and in this matter they do act only according to their carnal natural State. When the believing Galati­ans were seduced to a Legal way of Salvation, the Apostle Paul chargeth it upon them as their Fol­ly, that having begun in the spirit, they would now be made perfect in the flesh, Gal. 3.3. And he re­sembleth [Page 120]those that desire to be under the Law, to Abraham's Son born of Hagar the Bondwoman, to shew that such do walk as those that are born after the flesh not after the spirit, Gal. 4.19, 23, 29. The Law was first given to Adam in his pure na­tural State to prescribe Terms for his continuance in Happiness which he then enjoyed, and ever since that time, the Flesh or Natural-man is mar­ried to the Law, and the Law hath Dominion over a Man as long as he liveth, i. e. until he be dead to his fleshly State by the Body of Christ, and married to him that is risen from the dead, Rom. 7.1, 4. We are not at all under the Law as a Co­venant of Works according to our new State in Christ, as the Apostle testifieth, Rom. 6.14. Ye are not under the law, but under grace. And Gal. 3.18. If ye be led by the spirit ye are not under the law. From hence we may firmly conclude that none can possibly attain to true Godliness by acting ac­cording to Legal-terms, because I have fully pro­ved already, that it is impossible to be godly while we are in the flesh or in a natural State, and that as far as we act according to it, we can do nothing but sin. The Law is weak through the Flesh, that it cannot bring us to fulfil its own Righteousness, Rom. 8.3, 4. It is married to a cross piece of flesh that is Enmity to it, and can never be subject to it, Rom. 8.8. It sueth the Natural-man for an old Debt of Obedience that he is utterly unable to pay, since the Fall and the Success is according to the Proverb, Sue a beggar and catch a louse. Nei­ther do those take a better Course that would bring themselves to Holiness by making sincere Obedience to Christ's Commands, the Condition of their Salvation. Their way is the same for Sub­stance [Page 121]with that of the Calatians before mentio­ned, who would be made perfect in the Flesh, not by perfect Obedience, but sincere, as hath been shewed before. Their Eudeavours to pro­cure an Interest in Christ by their sincere Obedi­ence, do testifie against themselves, that they do not act as People that are in Christ, but rather as People that judge themselves to be without an In­terest in Christ, and to be yet to seek for it. And sincere Obedience is as impossible to be attained unto as perfect Obedience, if we act according to our dead natural State.

3dly, As the Law bereaveth of all strengthning means, that are to be had by Faith in Christ, and findeth us without strength in our natural State; so of it self it affordeth us no Strength to fulfil its own Commandments. If there had been a law gi­ven that could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law, Gal. 3.21. It doth not so much as promise us life until we have perfor­med the Obedience required by it, The man that doth these things shall live by them, Rom. 6.5. It is well called a voice of words, Heb. 12.19. because its high and big words are not acompanied with any enlivening Power; and the Doctrine of Life and Salvation by sincere Obedience is not better natur'd or more bountiful to us: For it exacteth of us the Performance of the Condition, before it alloweth us any Life or Salvation by Christ. Can any Man rationally expect strength to obey sin­cerely, by following a Doctrine that doth not so much as promise it. The true Gospel is of a more benign Nature, For it promiseth that God would pour out of his spirit upon all flesh, Acts 2.17. And will put his law in our mind, and write them in our bearts, [Page 122]Heb. 8.10. And will cause us to walk in his statutes that we shall keep his judgments, and do them, Ezeck. 36.27. This word of God's Grace, that requi­reth not Holiness of us as a Condition, but pro­miseth it to us as a Free-gift, must needs be the only Doctrine that is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified, Acts 20.32. Seeing it pleaseth God to bring us to Ho­liness by believing a Doctrine we may reasonably expect that God should work upon us suitably to the nature of the Doctrine which we believe, that he should give by a giving Doctrine, and exact by an exacting Doctrine.

4thly, The way of procuring Life and Happi­ness by the condition of perfect or sincere Works, is not a rational method for the Recovery of fallen Man, though it were good for the preserving of Life before the Fall, it prescribeth the immediate Practice of Holiness to recover a Man dead in Sin. As if one should say to the sick of the Palsie, Arise up and walk, and then you shall be whole and able to walk. We sometimes say jestingly to a Child that is fallen on the ground, Come hither, and I will help thee up; but if we should say to one that is cast on his Bed by a dead Palsie, we should be guilty of mocking and cruel insulting over the Afflicted. Those that are humbled and made sensible of their original Sin and natural Deadness, know that they must first live by the Spirit, before they can act holily, Gal, 5.25. They will enquire, How shall we have strength to perform the Duty required? If you answer that they must trust in God and Christ to help them, they may readily reply, They have no sure Ground to trust on God or Christ for any saving Grace, according to this Doctrine, before [Page 123]they have performed this Condition, at least in a sincere Resolution of Obedience, and that they are as unable to bring their Hearts to such a Resoluti­on, as a dead Man is to raise himself out of the Grave. Take another Instance, the method of the Doctrine of Works is, you must love God first, and then on that Condition he will love you again; whereas on the contrary, we love God because he loved us first, 1 Joh. 4.19. and if God suspend his Love to us upon any condition, our Love to him will not be absolute, but suspended upon the same condition, and no way contrary to an actual ha­ting of him.

5thly, The Law is so far from healing our sinful Corruption, that it proveth rather an Occasion of sinful motions and actings in those that seek Sal­vation by the Works of it. This cometh to pass by reason of the Power of our natural Corrupti­on, which is stirred up and rageth the more, when the holy and just Law of God is set in opposition against it, so that the fault is not in the Law, but in our own hearts. Those that find not this by their own Experience should believe the Apostle Paul, who teacheth it plainly, and that from his own Experience, Rom. 7.5. to the 14. He affirm­eth that there are motions of Sin by the Law in a fleshly State, and that Sin taketh occasion by the Commandment, Thou shalt not covet, wrought in him all manner of Concupiscence, deceived him, flew him, became exceeding sinful, and that with­out the Law he was alive and sin dead, but when the Commandment came, Sin revived and he died. He sheweth that the cause of this irreconcileable enmity and contrariety betwixt his sinful Nature and the Law; the law is spiritual, but I am carnal [Page 124]sold under sin. Take notice here that the Reason given by the Apostle that the Doctrine of Salva­tion by sincere Obedience will have the same e­vent. Corrupt Nature is contrary to sincere Obe­dience as well as perfect, and if we make it the condition of our Salvation, Sin will take the same occasion by it to become exceeding sinful in its motions and actings. The Success of legal Do­ctrine upon the natural Man is according to the Proverb, Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee, Prov. 9.8. Rebuking a mad Man is the way to enrage him, and such is the natural Man in spiritual things since he fell out of his right Mind by the Sin of Adam. We find by manifold Experience, that though Men be generally addicted to the Prin­ciple of Salvation by Works, yet multitudes of of them hate all strict Preachers and Professors of true Holiness, because they are a Torment to their Consciences. They endeavour to shelter them­selves in Ignorance of the Law, accounting that the less they know, the less they shall answer for, and therefore they would not have right things prophesied unto them, Is. 30.10. And they have prevailed generally in the World to darken the na­tural knowledge of moral Duties in such a Degree that there is a necessity of learning them by di­vine Revelation out of the Scriptures. We may find how prone Legal-writers are to corrupt the Sense of the Law, that they may leave starting holes for their Corruptions, by the corrupt Glos­ses of the Scribes and Pharisees from which Christ did vindicate it, Matth. 5. And as far as I have observed, none more endeavour to discover the Purity and Perfection of the Law, than those that seek Holiness and Salvation, without any Legal [Page 125]Condition by the meer Free grace of God in Christ. The Doctrine of Salvation by sincere Obedience, is but a mincing of the Perfection required in the Law, and yet how is this Doctrine minced again and again until it be come so small, that the Sub­stance of all true Obedience is lost, without any farther Practice of Holiness. A willingness to be saved according to Christ's terms, or a Consent that Christ should be our Lord, or a Resolution to obey his Commandments (which is little more than ignorant men trust on, when they say that they hope God will save them, because they have a good meaning, tho' they live in the neglect of all Religion) shall pass with many for enough sin­cere Obedience both to enter them into a State of Salvation, and to continue them in it, so that they shall never be accounted Breakers of the Gospel­covenant while so much can be pretended. The most that is made necessary for Salvation, shall be only to endeavour to do what we can to obey Christ's Commands, tho' all that the most can do is nothing that is truly good. Those that have a little more Zeal for their Salvation by Works, are prone to spend it in superstitious Observances, because they suit better with their carnal Nature than the spiritual Commands of God and Christ. I doubt not but this hath been one occasion of the prevailing of Heathenish, Jewish, and Popish Super­slitions in the World. We find by experience how Popery fell in several Nations in late years when the great Pillar of it, the Doctrine of Justification by Works, was overthrown by the Protestant Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone. If these Legal Zea­lots be forced by strong Conviction to endeavour the Practice of spiritual Duties for the quieting of [Page 126]their guilty Consciences, they may be brought to strive and labour earnestly, and even to macerate their Bodies with Fasting, that they may kill their Lusts, but still their Lusts are alive and as strong as ever they were, and do shew forth their Enmity a­gainst the Law of God by inward fretting, repining and grudging at it as a grievous Task-mastertho' a slavish Fear restrain their gross outward actings. And if once these Zealots be enlightned with the Knowledge of the Spiritual nature of the Law, to discern that God rejecteth all their slavish Ser­vice, and will not own it for sincere Obedience, then they fall into Despair of their Salvation, be­cause they see they have failed in their highest at­tempts to perform the Condition, and then they can easily discover themselves that their Hearts swell in Anger and manifest Hatred against the Law, yea, and against God and Christ for prescri­bing such hard Conditions of Salvation, which they cannot keep, and yet expect to be damned eter­nally for breaking of them. This filleth them with blasphemous thoughts against God and Christ, and they can hardly refrain from blaspheming with their tongues; and when they are brought to this horrible Condition, if God doth not in mercy dis­cover to them the way of Salvation by Free-grace, through Faith alone, they will endeavour if they can to sear their Consciences past feeling of Sin, and fully to abandon all Religion, which have pro­ved such an unsufferable Torment to them, or if they cannot sear their Consciences, some of them are easily prevailed over by Satan, rather to mur­der themselves than to live longer in the Hatred of God, the Spirit of Blasphemy and continual hor­ror of Conscience. This is the pestilent effect of [Page 127]Legal-Doctrine upon a carnal heart, that doth but rouse up and terribly enrage the sleeping Lion, our sinful Gorruption instead of killing of it, as is too evident by the sad Experience of many that have endeavoured with all their might to practice it, and by the Scripture that sheweth a sufficient cause why it cannot be otherwise. Therefore the Doctrine of Salvation by sincere Obedience, that was invented against Antinomianism, may well be ranked amongst the worst Antinomian Errors. For my part I hate it with perfect Hatred and count it mine Enemy, as I have found it to be, and I have found by some good Experience the Truth of the Lesson taught by the Apostle, that the way to be freed from the Mastery and Dominion of Sin, is not to be under the law, but under grace, Rom. 6.15.

6thly, The way of Salvation by works was blast­ed by the Curse denounced against the first Adam's Sin, so that now it cannot work Life in us or Ho­liness, but only Death: For the Law which requi­reth both sincere and perfect Obedience to God in all things, was made known to Adam at his first Creation, as the means of continuing the happy Life that was then bestowed upon him; and it would have been effectual for this end if he had not transgressed in the forbidden fruit, but when he had once brought himself and his Posterity under the terrible Sentence, Thou shalt surely die, Gen. 2.17. all that Knowledge of God or his Law that before wrought for continuance of Life, was turned by that cursing Sentence the contrary way to work for his death, even for the death of his Soul in sin, as well as for the death of his Body, and therefore it quickly moved him to hide himself from God as an enemy. It was as if God should say, All the light and knowledge that thou hast, shall not be able to conti­nue [Page 128]thy life or restore it, but it shall rather tend to thy death. Therefore while we continue in our Natu­ral state under the first Adam's Guilt and Curse, the knowledge of the Law, yea, and all such know­ledge of God and his Attributes as natural Men may attain to, must needs be in like manner accur­sed to us; and seeing Man did not use his natural Knowledge and Wisdom aright, God is resolved to revenge the abuse of it by giving us Salvation in a way contrary to it, that seemeth foolishness to the Natural man and wholly to abolish the way of li­ving by any of our works, or by any Wisdom or Knowledge that the Natural-man can attain unto; for it is written, I will destrey the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the pru­dent. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world: For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.19, 20, 21. Hence we may conclude, that no Truth known by the light of Nature can be an effectual Principle or Motive to work Holiness in us, and Gospel-princi­ples and Motives are but abused, when they are applied to a Legal-way of Salvation.

7thly, The end which God aimed at in giving the Law by Moses, was not that any should ever at­tain to Holiness or Salvation by the condition of perfect or sincere Obedience to it, tho' if there had been any such way of Salvation at that time, it must have consisted in the Performance of that Law which was then given to the Church to be a Rule of Life as well as a Covenant. There was another Covenant made before that time with Abraham, I­saac and Jacob, a Covenant of Grace promising all Blessings freely through Christ, the promised Seed, by which only they were to be saved, and the Co­venant [Page 129]of the Law was added that they might-see their sinfulness and subjection to death and wrath, and the impossibility of attaining to life or holiness by their works, and be forced to trust on the free Promise only for all their Salvation, and that Sin might be restrained by the Spirit of Bondage, until the coming of that promised Seed Jesus Christ, and the more plentiful pouring out of the sanctifying Spi­rit by him. This the Apostle Paul sheweth largely, Gal. 3.15 to 24. Rom. 5.20, 21. & Rom. 10.3, 4. None of the Israelites under the Old Testament were e­ver saved by the Sinai-Covenant, neither did any of them ever attain to Holiness by the terms of it. Some of them did indeed perform the Command­ments of it sincerely, tho' imperfectly, but those were first justified and made Partakers of Life and Holiness by virtue of that better Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which was the same in substance with the New-covenant or Testament, establish'd by the Blood of Christ. Had it not been for that better Covenant, the Sinai-covenant would have proved to them an occasion of no Happiness, but only of sin, Despair and Destruction. Of it self it was only a killing Letter, the ministration of death and condemnation, and therefore it is now aboli­shed, 2 Cor. 3.6, 8, 9, 11. We have cause to praise God for delivering his Church by the Blood of Christ from this Yoke of Bondage, and we have cause to abhor the Device of those that would lay upon us a more grievous and terrible Yoke, by turning our very New covenant into a Covenant of sincere works, and leaving us no such better Co­venant as the Israelites had under their Yoke, to re­lieve us in our Extremity.

DIRECTION VII
EXPLICATION.

WE are naturally so prone to ground our Sal­vation upon our own works, that if we cannot make them procuring Conditions and Cau­ses of our Salvation by Christ, yet we shall endea­vour at least to make them necessary Preparatives to fit us for receiving Christ and his Salvation by Faith. And Men are easily perswaded that this is not at all contrary to Salvation by Free-grace, be­cause all that is hereby ascribed to our works or good Qualifications, is only that they put usin a sit posture to receive a Free gift. If we were to go to a Prince for a Free gist, good Manners and due Reverence would teach us to trim our selves first and to change our slovenly Clothes as Joseph did when he came out of the Dungeon into the pre­sence of Pharaoh. It seemeth to be an impudent slighting and contemning the Justice and Holiness of God and Christ, and an insufferable affront and indignity offer'd to the divine Majesty, when any dare presume to approach into his Presence in the nasty pickle of his Sins, covered all over with pu­trifying Sores not at all clo'sd, boundeup or clean­sed; much more when they endeavour to receive [Page 131]the most holy One into such an abominable stink­ing Kennel, as a Sinners heart is before it be at all reformed. The Parable concerning the Man that was to be bound hand and foot and cast into out­er Darkness for coming to the Royal Wedding without a Wedding garment, seemeth to be intend­ed as a Warning against all such Presumption, Mat. 22.11, 13. Many that behold with terrour the abominable Filth of their own hearts are kept off from coming immediately to Christ by such Ima­ginations which Satan strongly maintaineth and increaseth in them by his Suggestions, so that they can by no means be perswaded out of them, until God teacheth them inwardly by the powerful Il­lumination of his Spirit; they delay the saving act of Faith, because they account that they are not yet duly prepared and qualified for it. On the same Account many weak Believers delay coming to the Lord's Supper for many Years together, even as long as they live in this World, and would be as likely to delay their Baptism, if they had not been baptized in Infancy. Against all such Imaginati­ons I shall propose the following Considerations.

First, This Error is pernicious to the Practice of Holiness, and to our whole Salvation, in the same manner with that treated of in the foregoing Direction, and may be confuted by the same Ar­guments, which are there produced; whether Ho­liness be made a procuring Condition of our Sal­vation through Christ, or only a Condition neces­sary to qualifie us for the Reception of Christ, we are equally brought under those Legal terms of do­ing first the Duties required in the Law, that so we may live. Therefore we are equally bereaved of the Assistance of those means of Holiness menti­oned [Page 132]in the foregoing Directions, as Union and Fellowship with Christ, and the Enjoyment of all his sanctifying Endowments by Faith, which should go before the Practice of Holiness, that they may enable us for it, and we are equally left to labour in vain for Holiness while we are in our cursed na­tural State, whereby our sinsul Corruption will be rather exasperated than mortified, so that we shall never be duly prepared for the reception of Christ, as long as we live in the world. Thus while we en­deavour to prepare our way to Christ by holy Qualifications, we do rather fill it with stumbling­blocks and deep pits, whereby our Souls are hinder­ed from ever attaining to the Salvation of Christ.

2dly, Any the least change of our hearts and lives from Sin to Holiness before our receiving of Christ and his Salvation by Faith, is not at all ne­cessary according to the Terms of the Gospel, nor required by any one Syllable in the Word of God. Christ would have the vilest Sinners come to him for Salvation immediately without delaying the time to prepare themselves for him. When the wicked Jaylor enquired, what he must do to be sa­ved, Paul directed him forthwith to believe on Christ, with a Promise that in so doing he should be saved, and straitway he and all his were bapti­zed, Acts 16.30, 33. Paul doth not tell him that he must reform his heart and life first, though he was in a very nasty pickle at that time, having but a little before fastened Paul and Silas in the Stocks, and newly attempted an horrid wilful self­murder. Those three thousand Jews that were converted by Peter's Preaching, and added the same day to the Church by Baptism, Acts 2.41. seemed to have as much need of some considerable [Page 133]time to prepare themselves for receiving of Christ as others, because they had but lately polluted themselves with the Murder of Christ himself, v. 23. Christ commands his Servants to go out quick­ly into the Streets and Lanes of the City and to bring in to his Feast, the poor and the maimed, and the halt and the blind, yea to go out into the high ways and to compel them to come in, with­out allowing them to tarry away until they had cleansed the sores and shifted off their filthy rags and swarms of lice. Christ would have us to be­lieve on him that justifieth the ungodly, and there­fore he doth not require us to be godly before we believe, Rom. 4.5. He came as a Physician for the Sick, and doth not expect that they should reco­ver their Health in the least degree before they come to him, Mat. 9.12. The vilest Sinners are fitly prepared and qualified for this Design, which is to shew forth the exceeding riches of Grace, par­doning our sins and saving us freely, Eph. 2.5. 7. For this end the Law of Moses entered, that the of­fence might abound, that so where sin abounded grace might much more abound, Rom. 5.20. He lo­ved us in our most loathsom sinful Pollution, so as to die for us, and much more will he love us in it, so as to receive us when we come to him for the purchased Salvation. He hath given full satisfacti­on to the Justice of God for sinners, that they might have all Righteousness, and Holiness, and all Salvation only by Fellowship with him through Faith; therefore it is no affront to Christ, or slight­ing and contemning of the Justice and Holiness of God to come to Christ, while we are polluted sin­ners; but rather it is an affronting and contemn­ing of the Saving-grace, Merit and Fulness of Christ, [Page 134]if we endeavour to make our selves righteous and holy before we receive Christ himself, and all Righ­teousness and Holiness in him by Faith. Christ loathed not to touch a Leper, and condescended to wash the feet of his Disciples, and did not expect that they should be washed and perfumed before hand, as some great ones of the World are said to do, when they wash the feet of Poor-men in imi­tating of Christ.

Thirdly, Those that receive Christ with an un­feigned Faith, shall never want a wedding garment to adorn them in the sight of God. Faith it self is very precious in the sight of God and most holy, 2 Pet. 1.1. Jude 20. God loveth it because it gi­veth the glory of our Salvation only to the Free-grace of God in Christ, Rom. 4.16. and renounc­eth all dependance on any conditions that we can perform to procure a Right to Christ, or to make our selves acceptable to him. It containeth in it an hearty Love to Christ as Saviour, and an hun­gring and thirsting Appetite for his Salvation: and it is the Mouth whereby the Soul feedeth hungri­ly upon him. What Wedding garment can sinners bring with them more delightful than this to their bountiful God, whose great Design is to manifest the abundant riches of his glorious Grace and Bounty in this Wedding feast? The Father himself loveth them, because they love Christ, and believe that he came out from God, Jo. 16.27. But yet we see that the Excellency of Faith lyeth in this that it accounteth not it self or any other work of ours, a sufficient Ornament to make us accepta­ble in the sight of God. It will not be our Wed­ding-garment it self, but it buyeth of Christ white raiment that we may be clothed, and that the [Page 135]shame of our nakedness may not appear, Rev. 3.18. Tho' it loveth and desireth the Free-gift of Holi­ness, yet it abandons all thoughts of practising Ho­liness immediately before we come to Christ for an holy nature. It putteth on Christ himself, and in him all things that pertain to life and godliness. Thus every true Believer is clothed with the Sun, Rev. 12.1. even with the Sun of Righteousness the Lord Jesus, who is pleased to be himself both our Wedding-garment and Feast, and all our spi­ritual and eternal Happiness. For the more full Satisfaction and Consolation of those distressed Souls that lye under the terrible apprehensions of their own sinfulness and the wrath of God, and dare not venture to trust stedfastly on Christ, for their Salvation, until they can find in themselves some change from Sin to Holiness. I shall mention particularly several of those things that such would find in themselves, and I shall shew that if some of them be not partly comprehended in Faith it self, they are fruits and consequences of Faith, and therefore they cannot be rationally expected before we trust on Christ for our Salvation.

First, They think it necessary to repent before they believe on Christ for their Salvation, because Repentance is absolutely necessary to Salvation, Luke 13.3. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish; and Christ placeth the Duty of Repentance before Faith, Mar. 1.15. Repent and believe the Gospel; but we are to know that Christ requireth Repent­ance first as the end to be aimed at, and Faith in the next place, as the only means of attaining to it; and tho' the end be first in intention, yet the means are first in Practice and Execution, tho' both be absolutely necessary to Salvation. For what [Page 136]is Repentance, but an hearty turning from sin to God and his Service? and what way is there to turn to God, but through Christ? who is the way, the truth and the life, without whom none cometh to the Father, Joh. 14.6. And what way is there of com­ing to Christ, but by Faith? therefore if we would turn to God in the right way, we must first come to Christ by Faith, and Faith must go before Re­pentance, as the great Instrument afforded us by the Grace of God for the effectual Performance of it. Repentance is indeed a Duty which sinners owe naturally to God; but the great Question is, how shall sinners be able to perform it? This Que­stion is resolved only by the Gospel of Christ, Re­pent and believe. The way to repent is to begin with believing. Therefore the great Doctrine of John in his Baptism of Repentance was, That they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus, Acts 19.4.

2dly Regeneration also is necessary to Salvation, Joh. 3 3. and therefore many would find it wrought in themselves, before they trust on Christ for Salva­tion; but consider what Regeneration is, It is a new begetting or creating us in Christ, 1 Cor. 4.15. Eph. 2.10. in whom we are Partakers of a divine na­ture far different from that which we received from the first Adam. Now Faith is the uniting Grace whereby Christ dwelleth in us, and we in him, as hath been shewed, and therefore it is the first Grace wrought in our Regeneration and the means of all the rest; when you truly believe, you are re­generated and not till then. Those that receive Christ by believing, and those only are the Sons of God, which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.12, 13.

3dly, They account it necessary to receive Christ as Lord and Law-giver by a sincere Resignation of themselves to his Government, and a Resolution to obey his Law, before they receive him as their Saviour. This is one principal Lesson of the new Divinity, and such a receiving Christ as Lord is made to be the great act of saving Faith, without which such Faith as I have described, whereby we trust on Christ for Salvation, is reckoned no bet­ter than gross Presumption. They teach that Christ will not bestow his Salvation on those that do not first yield their subjection to his Kingly Authority, but he calleth them his enemies, because they would not that he should reign over them, and requireth that they be brought and slain before him, Luke 19.27. And I own it as a certain truth, that Christ will save none but those that are brought to resign up themselves sincerely to the Obedience of his royal Authority and Laws. But yet we must ob­serve that they are not brought to this holy Resig­nation, or to any sincere purpose and resolution of Obedience before they receive his Salvation, but rather by receiving it. Men that were never through­ly sensible of their natural death in sin, do easily bring themselves to resolve universal Obedience to God when they are on their Death-beds, or in any eminent danger, or when they would prepare them­selves for the Lords Supper, that so they may make their Peace with God, and trust securely on Christ for his Salvation, but all Resolutions of that kind are vain and hypocritical, sooner broken than made. Those that know the Plague of their own hearts, do find that their mind is enmity unto the Law of God and Christ and cannot be subject un­to it, Rom. 8.7. and that they can as soon remove [Page 138]a mountain as give up themselves sincerely to O­bedience before they trust on Christ for his Salva­tion, and for the gift of a new heart, whereby they may be enabled both to will and to do any thing that is acceptable to God. We should have been sufficiently obliged to all obedient purposes, resolu­tions and resignations, if Christ had never come in­to the World to save us, but he knew that we could perform nothing holily, except he made us first Partakers of Salvation, and that we shall ne­ver obey him as Law-giver, until we receive him as Saviour. He is a saving Lord, trust on him first to save you from the guilt and power of sin [...] and dominion of Satan, and to give you a new spiritu­al Disposition, then and not till then, the Love of Christ will constrain you to resign up your self heartily to live to him that died for you, 2 Cor. 5.14. and you will be able to say with an unfeigned Resolution, O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid, thou hast loosed my bonds, Psal. 116.16.

4thly, It seemeth to them evident, that some good works are necessary before we can trust on Christ safely for the forgiveness of sins; because our Sa­viour teacheth us, that if we forgive not men their Trespasses, neither will our heavenly Father for­give our Trespasses, and directeth us to pray, For­give us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, Mat. 6.12, 15. Restitution also was to be made of things wrongfully gotten from others, before the Sacra­mental Atonement was made by the Trespass of­fering, Lev. 6.5, 7. This is sufficient to prove, that forgiving others, and Restitution according to our ability, or at least a sincere desire and purpose so to do, are very closely joyned with the forgiveness of [Page 139]our sins, and are very necessary to fit us for Pray­er and for Sacramental Applications of pardoning Grace to our selves. A lively Faith cannot be with­out these Fruits, and therefore we cannot pray or partake of Sacraments in Faith without them, but yet if we strive to do either of these before we trust on Christ for our Pardon and Salvation, we shall do them slavishly and hypocritically, not in any holy acceptable manner. Our forgiving others will not be accompanied with any hearty Love to them as to our selves for the sake of God; and our Restitution will be but a forced act, like Pharaoh's letting the Children of Israel go, or like Judas restoring the thirty pieces of Silver being compelled thereunto by terror of Spirit, and when the terror that forced us is removed, we shall be as ready to recal our Forgiveness and to wrong others again, as Pharaoh was to bring the Israelites again into bondage after he had let them go, Exod. 14.5. If you would forgive others heartily so as to love them again, you must first apprehend the love and mercy of God towards your selves by Faith in Christ, and then you will be able according to the Apostle's Instruction, to be kind, tender hearted, for­giving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you, Ephes. 4.32. The readiness of Zacche­us to make Restitution, followed upon a discovery of Christ's love to him, and his joyful receiving Christ into his house, was fruit whereby he did evi­dence the Truth of that Faith that was already wrought in his heart.

5thly, I shall reckon up together several other Qualifications, that distressed Souls would find in themselves, that they may be duly prepared to trust on Christ for their Salvation, and when they have [Page 140]laboured anxiously a long time and cannot get them, at last they lie down in sorrowful Despon­dence, not daring to apply the Consolations of the grace of God in Christ to their wounded Consci­ences. Let perplexed Souls mark the particulars and observe whether the condition of their own Souls be reached in any of them, O thou afflicted, tossed with tempests, and not comforted, what good Qualifications is it that thou wouldest have, that thou mayest be encouraged to lay hold on Christ for Salvation? It is likely thou wilt answer in the bitterness of thy Soul, O let me have first some love to God and Godliness in mine heart, and freedom from mine hateful heart-risings against him and his Service. Let me have some good thoughts of God, his Justice, Mercy, Holiness, that I may be able to justifie him tho' he damn me, and that I may not be filled with murmuring and hellish Blasphemies in my mind against him, let the rag­ing of my lusts be abated, and the stinking kennel of my wicked heart a little cleansed, let me have some holy reverential Fear of God, and not only a pannick tormenting horror. I would be more affe­cted with the wrath of God, and not be of a slight­ing heedless Spirit. I would be more humbled for Sin, loath it and be ashamed of it, and be sorry for it with a godly Sorrow, not meerly because of the Punishment, but because it grieveth and vexeth the holy Spirit of God, I would be able to make a wil­ling and ingenious Confession of sin, and to pour out my Soul to the Lord in lively affectionate Pray­er for Forgiveness, and to praise and glorifie him heartily, and not to be like a lifeless stone in the du­ty of Prayer as I am. Are these the things thou desi­rest, O poor distressed Soul? The best Reply I can [Page 141]make for thy speedy comfort, is to inform thee, that the things are good but thy desires are not well timed, it is unreasonable for thee to expect these holy Qualifications whilst thou art in thy natural State under the guilt of Sin and the appre­hension of the Wrath of God, before thou hast received the Atonement, and the new Spiritual Life that is by Christ through Faith in his Name, thou dost but exasperate thy Corruptions, and harden thy Heart, and make thy wounds to stink the more because of thy foolishness; such good Qualifications are included in the Nature of Faith, and for the most part they follow after it, so that they cannot possibly be obtained before thou trustest in Christ for thy Salvation, as I shall shew concerning them particularly in their Order. A love to the Salvation of God, and to the free Gift of Holiness is included in the Nature of Faith, so that it cannot be hearty without it. Act Faith first with this kind of Love, and the Appre­hension of God's Love to thy Soul will sweetly allure and constrain thee to love God and his Ser­vice universally: We love him because he loved us first, 1 Joh. 4.19. We cannot be before-hand with God in love, and we must perceive it to make us love him, for if we look upon him as a God contrary to us that hateth us and will damn us, our own innate Self-love will breed hatred and heart-risings against him, in spite of our Hearts, that love which is the end of the Law must flow from Faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5. And if Hatred work in thee more than Love, how canst thou ex­pect good thoughts of God, or any other than blaspheming, or at least murmuring thoughts of him, in this condition, ill-will never speaketh or [Page 142]thinketh well. The first right holy Thoughts thou canst have of God are thoughts of his Grace and Mercy to thy Soul in Christ, which are in­cluded in the Grace of Faith. Get these thoughts first by believing in Christ, and they will breed in thee love to God, and all good thoughts of him, and free thee from blasphemous and murmuring Thoughts by degrees, for love thinks no evil, 1 Cor. 13.9. Then wilt thou be able to account God just and merciful if he had damned thee and ex­tended his Grace to others; and thou wilt be able to think well of his Holiness, and of his Decrees which many cannot endure to hear of. The way to get rid of thy raging Lusts is by Faith, that pu­rifieth the Heart and worketh by Love, Act. 15.9. Gal. 5.6. The Soul must be brought to take pleasure in God and Christ by Faith, or else it will lust after fleshly and worldly Pleasures; and the more you strive against Lusts without Faith, the more they are stirred up, though you prevail so far as to restrain the fulfilling of them: beg a holy Fear of God, with fear of coming short of the promised Rest through unbelief, Heb. 4.1. Such a Fear is an Ingredient of Faith, and it will breed in us a reverential, yea, a Child-like fear of God and his Goodness, Heb. 12.28. Hos. 3.5. We must have Grace whereby we may serve God with Reverence, &c. It is in the Margent we must have or hold fast Grace, and there is no other way to hold fast Grace but by Faith, and this will quick­ly calm all pannick and tormenting Horror. And if you would be free from carelesness and slight­ning the Wrath of God, your way is first to avoid dispairing by believing; for People grow careless by dispairing, and for their own quiet they will [Page 143]endeavour to slight Evils which they have no hope to prevent, according to the Proverb, Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die, 1 Cor. 15.32. True Humiliation for Sin is either a part or fruit of Faith, for on our believing we shall remember our own evil ways and doings that were not good, and shall loath our selves in our own sight for all our Abominations, Ezek. 36.31. We shall also then willingly renounce our own Righteousness, and account it but dung, that we may win Christ by Faith, Phil. 3.7, 8. But Beggars will make the most of all their nasty Rags, till they be furnished with better Cloaths; and Cripples will not cast away their Crutches until they have a better sup­port to lean on. Godly Sorrow for Sin is wrought in us by believing the pardoning Grace of God, as it is found by experience, that a Pardon from a Prince will sometimes sooner draw tears from a stubborn Malefactor than the fear of a Halter will; thus the sinful Woman was brought to wash Christ's Feet with her Tears, Luke 7.37, 38. We are not like to be sorry for grieving God with our Sins while we look upon him, as an e­nemy that will ease himself well enough of his burthen, and right himself upon us by our ever­lasting destruction. The belief of God's pardoning and accepting Grace is a necessary means to bring us to an ingenuous Confession of Sins. The People freely confessed their sins when they were bapti­zed of John in Jordan for the remission of sins, Mark 1.4, 5. The Confession of Despairers is forced, like the extorted Confessions and Cryings out of Malefactors upon the Rack. A Pardon sooner o­peneth the Mouth to an ingenuous Confession, than confess and be hanged, or confess and be [Page 144]damned; therefore if you would freely confess your sins, believe first that God is faithful and just to forgive your sins through Christ, 1 Joh. 1.9. And if you would pray to God, or praise him with lively Affections, you must first believe that God will hear you, and give you what is best for you for Christ's sake, Joh. 16.23, 24. otherwise your praying will be only from the Teeth out­ward, for how shall you call on him on whom you have not believed, Rom. 10.14. You must come first to Christ, the Altar by Faith, that by him you may offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God continu­ally, Heb. 13.10, 15.

Finally, to pass from Particulars to the general Assertion laid down in the Direction, if you ask, What shall we do that we may work the Works of God, or get any saving Qualifications? I must direct you first to Faith, as the Work of Works, and the great saving Preparatory to all good Qualifica­tions, by answering in our Saviour's words, This is the Work of God, that ye believe in him whom he hath sent, Joh. 6.28, 29.

DIRECT. VIII.
EXPLICATION.

I Hope the Reader will observe warily in all these Directions, that the Holiness aimed at as the great End in the whole Discourse, consisteth not in the Grace or Act of Faith required pecu­liarly by the Gospel, which though it be a saving Gift of Christ, yet is here considered rather as a means precedent to the Reception of Christ and all his Salvation, then a part of his Salvation re­ceived. But the Holiness aimed at, consisteth in Conformity to the whole Moral Law, to which we are naturally obliged if their had never been any Gospel, or any such Duty as believing in Christ for Salvation.

Now in this Direction, three Things are con­tained that are very necessary to guide us to the attainment of this great End, and therefore wor­thy of our serious Consideration.

First, It is a Matter of high concern, to be ac­quainted with the due Place and Order, wherein God hath settled this holy Practice in the Myste­ry of our Salvation, and a great Point of Chri­stian Wisdom to seek it only in that order; we know that God is the God of Order, and that his infinite Wisdom hath appeared in appointing the Order of his Creatures, which we are for­ced to observe for attainment of our ends in worldly things; so also in Spiritual things God hath made an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure, 2 Sam. 23.5. the Benefits of it have an orderly dependence each upon other, as Links of the same golden Chain, though several of them, and a Title to them all are given to us at one and the same time; and I think enough hath been said already, to shew in what order God brings us to the Practice of the Moral Law, he maketh us first to be in Christ by Faith as Branches in the Vine, that we may bring forth much fruit, Joh. 15.5. He first purgeth our Con­sciences from dead Works by Justification, that we may serve the living God, Heb. 9.14. He ma­keth us first to live in the Spirit, and then to walk in the Spirit, Gal. 5.25. This is the Order pre­scribed in the Gospel, which is the Power of God unto Salvation; though the Law prescribeth a quite contrary Method, that we should first per­form its Commandements, that so we may be [Page 147]justified and live, and thereby it proveth a kil­ling Letter to us: Now mark well the great Ad­vantages you have for the Attainment of Holi­ness, by seeking it in a right Gospel-Order, you will have the Advantage of the Love of God manifested toward you in forgiving your Sins, receiving you into Favour, and giving you the Spirit of Adoption, and the Hope of his Glory freely through Christ, to perswade and constrain you by sweet allurements to love God again that hath so dearly loved you, and to love others for his sake, and to give up your selves to the Obedi­ence of all his Commandments out of hearty love to him, you will also enjoy the Help of the Spirit of God to incline you powerfully un­to Obedience, and to strengthen you for the Performance of it against all your Corruptions, and the Temptations of Satan, so that you will have both Wind and Tide to forward your Voy­age in the Practice of Holiness; contrariwise if you rush upon the immediate performance of the Law, without taking Christ's Righteousness and his Spirit in the way to it, you'll find both Wind Tide against you. Your guilty Conscience and cor­rupt dead Natures shall certainly defeat and frustrate all your Enterprizes and Attempts to love God, and serve him in Love, and you will but stir up sinful Lusts instead of stirring up your selves to true Obedience, or at best you will but attain to some slavish hypocritical Performances; Oh, that People would be perswaded to consider the due place of Holiness in the Mystery of Salva­tion, and to seek it only there where they have all the Advantage of Gospel-Grace to find it. Many miscarry in their zealous Enterprizes for [Page 148]Godliness, and after they have spent much La­bour in vain; God maketh a Breach upon them, even to their everlasting Destruction, as he did upon Uzzah to a Temporal destruction, because they sought him not after a due order, 2 Chron.

Secondly, We are to look upon Holiness as a very necessary part of that Salvation that is re­ceived by Faith in Christ; some are so drenched with a Covenant of Works, that they accuse us for making good Works needless to Salvation, if we will not acknowledge them to be necessary ei­ther as Conditions to procure an Interest in Christ, or as Preparatives to fit us for the re­ceiving of him by Faith; and others when they are taught by the Scriptures that we are saved by Faith, through Faith without Works, do begin to disregard all Obedience to the Law, as not at all necessary to Salvation, and do account them­selves obliged to it only in point of Gratitude; if it be wholly neglected, they doubt not but Free-grace will save them harmless; yea, some are gi­ven up to such strong Antinomian Delusions, that they account it a part of the Liberty from the Bondage of the Law purchased by the Blood of Christ, to make no Conscience of breaking the Law in their Conversation: One cause of these Errors that are so contrary one to the other is, that many are prone to imagine nothing else to be meant by Salvation, but to be delivered from Hell, and in heavenly Happiness and Glory; hence they conclude, that if good Works be a means of Glorification, and precedent to it, they must [Page 149]also be a precedent Means of our whole Salvati­on, and that if they be not a necessary Means of our whole Salvation, they are not at all ne­cessary to Glorification. But though Salva­tion be often taken in Scripture by way of Eminency, for its perfection in the State of heavenly Glory, yet according to its full and pro­per Signification, we are to understand by it all that freedom from the Evil of our Natural cor­rupt State, and all those holy and happy Enjoy­ments that we receive from Christ our Saviour, either in this World by Faith, or in the World to come by Glorification. Thus Justification, the Gift of the Spirit to dwell in us, the Priviledges of Adoption are parts of our Salvation which we partake of in this Life: Thus also the Con­formity of our Hearts to the Law of God, and the Fruit of our Righteousness with which we are filled by Jesus Christ in this Life, are a neces­sary part of our Salvation; God saveth us from our finful uncleanness here by the washing of Rege­neration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, as well as from Hell hereafter, Ezek. 36.29. Tit. 3.5. Christ was called Jesus, i.e. A Saviour, be­cause he saved his People from their Sins, Mat. 1.21. therefore it is part of our Salvation to deli­ver us from our Sins, which is begun in this Life by Justification and Sanctification, and perfected by Glorification in the Life to come. Can we rationally doubt whither it be any proper part of our Salvation by Christ to be quickned to live to God, when we were by nature dead in Tres­passes and Sins, and to have the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness restored to us [Page 150]which we lost by the Fall, and to be freed from a vile dishonourable Slavery to Satan and our own Lusts, and made the Servants of God, and to be honoured so highly as to walk by the Spirit, and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit: And what is all this but holiness in Heart and Life? Con­clude we then that Holiness in this Life is abso­lutely necessary to Salvation, not only as a Means to the end, but by a nobler kind of Ne­cessity, as part of the end it self. Though we are not saved by good Works as procuring Causes, yet we are saved to good Works as fruits and effects of Saving-grace, which God hath pre­pared that we should walk in them, Eph. 2.10. It is indeed one part of our Salvation to be de­livered from the Bondage of the Covenant of Works, but the end of this is, not that we may have liberty to sin (which is the worst of Slavery) but that we may fulfil the royal Law of Li­berty, and that we may serve in newness of Spi­rit, and not in the oldness of the Letter, Gal. 3.13, 14. Rom. 7.6. Yea Holiness in this Life is such a part of our Salvation, as is a neces­sary Means to make us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in heavenly Light and Glory, without Holiness we can never see God, Heb. 12.14. and are as unfit for the glorious Pre­sence, as Swine for the Presence-Chamber of an Earthly Prince. I confess some may be convert­ed when they are so near the point of Death, that they may have little time to practice Ho­liness in this World, but the Grace of the Spirit is active like fire, Mat. 3.11. And as soon as it is given it will immediately produce good in­ward [Page 151]Workings of Love to God, and Christ, and his People, which will be sufficient to manifest the righteous Judgment of God in sa­ving them at the great Day, when he shall judge every Man according to his Work, though some possibly may not have so much Time to discover their inward Grace in any outward good Works, as the Thief upon the Cross, Luke 23.40.43.

The third and last thing to be noted in this Di­rection, is that Holiness of heart and life is to be sought for earnestly by Faith, as a very necessary part of our Salvation. Great multitudes of ignorant People that live under the Gospel harden their hearts in sin, and ruine their Souls for ever by trusting on Christ, for such an imaginary Salva­tion as consisteth not at all in Holiness, but only in Forgiveness of Sin and Deliverance from ever­lasting Torments. They would be free from the Punishments due to Sin, but they love their Lusts so well that they hate Holiness, and would not be saved from the Service of Sin. The way to op­pose this pernicious Delusion, is not to deny, as some do, That trusting on Christ for Salvation is a saving Act of Faith, but rather to shew that none do or can trust on Christ for true Salvation, except they trust on him for Holiness, neither do they heartily desire true Salvation, if they do not desire to be made holy and righteous in their Hearts and Lives: if ever God and Christ, give you Salvation, Holiness will be one part of it, if Christ wash you not from the filth of your Sins, you have no part in him, Joh. 13.8. What a strange [Page 152]kind of Salvation do they desire, that care not for Holiness? They would be saved and yet be altogether dead in Sin, Aliens from the Life of God, bereft of the Image of God, deformed by the Image of Satan, his Slaves and Vassals to their own filthy Lusts, utterly unmeet for the Enjoy­ment of God in Glory. Such a Salvation as that was never purchased by the Blood of Christ, and those that seek it, abuse the Grace of God in Christ, and turn it into Lasciviousness. They would be saved by Christ, and yet out of Christ in a fleshly state, whereas God doth free none from Con­demnation, but those that are in Christ, that walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit; or else they would divide Christ, and take a part of his Salvation, and leave out the rest, but Christ is not divided, 1 Cor. 1.13. They would have their Sins forgiven, not that they may walk with God, in Love in time to come, but that they may pra­ctice their Enmity against him, without any Fear of Punishment; but let them not be deceived, God is not mocked, they understand not what true Salvation is, neither were they ever yet throughly sensible of their lost Estate, and of the great evil of Sin, and that which they trust on Christ for, is but an Imagination of their own Brains, and therefore their Trusting is gross Presumption. True Gospel Faith maketh us to come to Christ with a thirsty Appetite, that we may drink of living Water, even of his sanctifying Spi­rit, John 7.37, 38. And to cry out earnestly to save us not only from Hell, but from Sin; saying, Teach us to do thy will, thy spirit is good, Psal. 143.10. Turn thou me, and I shall be turn­ed, [Page 153]Jer. 31.18. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Psal. 51.10. This is the way whereby the Doctrine of Salvation by Grace, doth necessitate us to Ho­liness of Life, by constraining us to seek for it by Faith in Christ, as a substantial part of that Salvation, which is freely given to us through Christ.

DIRECT. IX.
EXPLICATION.

SInce Man fell from Obedience to God, which he was enabled and engaged to per­form by the Comforts of his first happy state in Paradice, God might have justly refused ever to give Man again any Comforts before-hand to encourage him to his Duty; that the way to Holiness being hedged up against him with the Thorns and Briars of Fear, Grief and De­spair, he might never be able to escape the Sentence of Death, which was denounced against his first Transgression. This Justice of God is manifest in the Method of the Legal Covenant, wherein God promiseth us no Life, Comfort or Happiness until we have through­ly performed his Law, and may be seen in the Mount Sinai Promulgation explicated Levit. 26. throughout, and we are by Nature so strong­ly addicted to this Legal Method of Salvation, that it is a hard matter to disswade those that live under the Light of the Gospel, from pla­cing [Page 155]the Duties of the Law before the Com­forts of the Gospel; if they cannot make Salva­tion it self, yet they will be sure to make all the Comforts of it to depend upon their own Works. They think it as unreasonable to ex­pect. Comfort before Duty, as Wages before Work, or the Fruits of the Earth before the Husband Man's Labour, 2 Tim. 2.6. They ac­count the only effectual way to secure the Obe­dience we owe to the Law of God, is to ground all our Comforts on the Performance of it, and that the contrary Doctrine strength­ens the Hands of the Wicked by prophesying Peace to them where there is no Peace, Ezek. 13.16, 22. And openeth the Flood-gates to all Licentiousness, therefore some Preachers will advise Men not to be sollicitous and hasty of getting of Comfort, but that they should rather exercise themselves diligently in the Perfor­mance of their Duty, and they tell them that in so doing, their Condition will be safe and happy at last, though they never enjoy any Comfort of their Salvation, as long as they live in this World.

That you may rightly understand what I have asserted in the Direction against such vulgar Er­rors, take notice. That I do not make the on­ly place of Gospel-comfort to be before the Duties of the Law, I acknowledge that God com­forteth his People on every side, Psal. 71.21. both before and after the Performance of their Duty, and that the greatest Consolations do fol­low after Duty, yet some Comforts God giveth to his People before hand, as Advance-money to furnish them for his Service, though most of [Page 156]the Pay comes in afterward. Neither do I hereby speak any Peace to those that continue in their sinful natural state, for the Comforts that I speak of cannot be received without re­jecting those false Confidences, whereby natu­ral Men harden themselves in Sin, and without that effectual working of the Spirit, whereby we are made good Trees that we may bring forth good Fruit. Though they are given before the sincere Practice of the Law, yet they are not given to us in our corrupt, sinful Nature, but in and with the new, holy Nature, which immediately produceth a holy Practice, though it must necessarily go before, as the Cause be­fore the Effect, and they are no other than Comforts of those spiritual Benefits by which our new Estate and Nature is produced, and of which it is constituted and made up, as the Com­forts of Redemption, Justification, Adoption, the Gift of the Spirit, and the like. Neither do I intend here any Transport or Ravishment of Joy and Delight, but only such manner of Comfort as rationally strengthens in some mea­sure against the Oppression of Fear, Grief and Despair which we are liable unto, by reason of our natural Sinfulness and Misery.

This Explanation of the Sense of my Asserti­on, is sufficient to answer some common Obje­ctions against it, and I hope the Truth of it will be fully evidenced by the following Arguments.

First, This Truth is a clear Consectary from those Principles of Holiness that have been al­ready confirmed. I have shewed that we must have a good Perswasion of our Reconciliation [Page 157]with God, and of our Happiness in Heaven, and of our sufficient Strength both to will and to do that which is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, that we may be rationally inclined and bent to the Practice of Holiness, and that these Endowments must be had, by receiving of Christ himself, with his Spirit and all his Fulness, by trusting on him for all his Salvati­on as he is freely promised to us in the Gos­pel; and that by this Faith we do as really re­ceive Christ, as our Food by eating and drink­ing. Now let right Reason judge, can we be perswaded of the Love of God, of our everlast­ing Happiness, and our Strength to serve God, and yet be without any Comforts: Can the glad Tidings of the Gospel of Peace be be­lieved, and Christ and his Spirit actually believ­ed into the Heart, without any Relief to the Soul from oppressing Fear, Grief Despair? Can the Salvation of Christ be comfortless, or the Bread and Water of Life, without any sweet Re­lish to those that feed on him with hungring and thirsting Appetites; God will not give such Benefits as these to those that do not desire and esteem them above the World, and certainly the very receiving of them will be comforta­ble to such, except they receive them blindfold, which they cannot do, when the very giving and bestowing of them openeth the Eyes of a Sinner, and turns him from Darkness to Light, whereby he doth, at least in some measure, see and perceive Spiritually the things that con­cern his present and future Peace, and reap some encouraging and strengthning Comfort thereby to the Practice of Holiness.

Secondly, Peace, Joy, Hope, are recommend­ed to us in Scripture, as the Spring of other holy Duties, and Fear and oppressing Grief forbidden, as Hinderances to true Religion, The peace of God keepeth our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, Phil. 4.7. Be ye not sorry for the joy of the Lord is your strength, Nehem. 8.10. Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure, 1 John 3.3. Fear hath torment, he that feareth is not made perfect in Love, 1 John 4.18. This is the Reason why the Apostle doubleth his Exhortation, to rejoyce in the Lord always, as a Duty of exceeding weight and necessity, Phil. 4.4. What are such Duties but Comfort it self, and can we think that these Duties are necessary to our continuance in an holy Practice, and yet not to the begin­ning of it where the Work is most difficult and Encouragement most needful? Therefore we must make haste in the first place to get a comfortable Frame of Spirit, if we would make hast [...] and not delay to keep Gods holy Commandments.

Thirdly, The usual Method of Gospel-Doctrine as it is delivered to us in the holy Scriptures, is first to comfort our Hearts, and thereby to establish us in every good Word and Work, 2 Thess. 2.17. And it appears how clearly this method is adjusted in several Epistles written by the Apostles, wherein they first acquaint the Churches with the rich Grace of God toward; them in Christ, and the spiritual Blessings which they are made Partakers of, for their strong [Page 159]Consolation, and then they exhort them to an holy Conversation answerable to such Priviledges, and it is not only the Method of whole Epi­stles, but of many particular Exhortations to Duty, wherein the comfortable Benefits of the Grace of God in Christ, are made use of as Arguments and Motives to stir up the Saints to a holy Practice; which comfortable Bene­fits must be first believed, and the Comfort of them applyed to our own Souls, or else they will not be forcible to engage us to the Pra­ctice for which they are intended. To give you a few Instances out of a Multitude that might be alledged, we are exhorted to practice holy Duties, because we are dead to sin, and alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6.11. And because sin shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under the law but under grace, Rom. 6.14. Because we are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, and God will quicken our mortal bodies by his spirit dwelling in us, Rom. 8.9.11, 12. Because our bodies are the members of Christ and the temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.15, 19. Because God hath made him sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.20, 21. And hath promised that he will dwell in us, and walk in us, and be to us a Father, and we shall be to him sons and daughters, 2 Cor. 7.1. Because God hath forgiven us for Ghrist's sake, and accounteth us his dear children, and Christ hath loved us and given himself for us, and we that were sometimes dark­ned are now lightened in the Lord, Ephes. 4.32. & 5.1, 2, 8. Because we are risen with Christ, and when Christ who is our Life shall appear, then [Page 160]we shall also appear with him in glory, Col. 3.1.4. Because God hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, Heb. 13.5. Because of the many promises made to us, 2 Cor. 7.1. Search the Scriptures and you may with delight see that is this the Vein that runneth through Gospel Exhortations, and you may find the like Vein of Comfort running through the Prophetical Exhortations in the Old Testament.

Some may object that the Apostles used this Method in their Writings to Saints, that had practised Holiness already, that so they might continue and increase therein. But to that I may easily reply, If it be a Method needful for grown Saints, much more then for Begin­ners that find the Work of Obedience most difficult, and have most need of strong Con­solation; and I hope to shew how we may be able to lay hold of these Consolations by Faith in the very first Beginning of a holy Life. Be­sides the Gospel proposeth Peace and Comfort freely to those that are not yet brought to Ho­liness, yet if they have Hearts to receive it, they may be converted from Sin to Righte­ness. When the Apostles entred into an House, they were first to say, Peace be to the house, Luke 10.5. At their very first Preaching to Sinners, they acquainted them with the glad Tidings of Salvation by Christ, for every one that would receive it as a Free-gift by Faith, Acts 3.26. & 13.26, 32, 38. & 16.30, 31. They assu­red them if they would but trust heartily on Christ for all his Salvation, they should have it although they were at present the chief of Sin­ners [Page 161]which was Comfort sufficient for all that duly esteem Spiritual Comfort, hungring and thirsting after it. And this is a Method agree­able to the Design of the Gospel, which is to advance the Riches of the Grace of God in all our Spiritual Enjoyments, God will give us his Consolations before our good Works as well as after them, that we may know that he giveth us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, and not through the Procurement of our Works. 2 Thess. 2.16.

Fourthly, The Nature of the Duties of the Law requireth a comfortable state of the Soul for the Performance of them. I have before proved sufficiently, that they require a Perswa­sion of our Reconciliation with God, and of our future Happiness, and Strength, whereby we may be able to walk in holy Obedience; Joshuah must be strong and very couragious, that he might observe to do according to the Law that Moses the Servant of the Lord com­manded him, Josh. 1.7. I shall instance briefly in the Comforts, without which seve­ral great Duties cannot be sincerely performed. Can we love God and delight in him above all, while we look upon him as our everlast­ing Enemy, and apprehend no Love and Mercy in him towards us, that may render him a suit­able Good for us, and lovely in our Eyes? What doleful Melody will the Heart make in the Duty of Praise, if we account that all those Perfections, for which we praise him, will rather aggravate our Misery, than make us [Page 162]happy? What a heartless Work will it be to pray to him, and to offer up our selves to his Service, if we have no comfortable Hope that he will accept us? Is it possible for us to free our selves from carking Cares, by casting our Care upon the Lord, if we do not apprehend that he careth for us? Can we be patient in Affliction with Chearfulness, and under Perse­cutions, except we have peace with God, and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. What Reason can perswade us to sub­mit willingly according to our Duty, to the Stroak of present Death, if God be pleased to lay it upon us, when we have no Comforts to relieve us against the horrible Fear of in­tollerable Torments in Hell for ever.

If we should be called to suffer Martyr­dom for the Protestant Religion, as our An­cestors in this Nation have done, we should find it necessary to abandon the late upstart Notions that have been bred in a time of Ease, and to embrace the comfortable Do­ctrine of former Protestants, which through the Grace of God made so many couragious and joyful Martyrs.

Fifthly, The state of those that are to be brought from Sin to Godliness, requires neces­sarily, that after they be convinced of the Vn­nity of their former false Confidences, and of their Deadness in Original-sin, and Subjection to the Wrath of God, they should have a Sup­ply of new Gospel Comforts afforded to en­courage their fainting Souls to holy Practices. [Page 163]How little do many Physicians of Souls con­sider the Condition of their unconverted Pa­tients, that are altogether without Spiritual Life and Strength, and are or must be convinced. He that prescribeth bodily Exercise to a Man lying Bed-ridden under a dead Palsie, be­fore any effectual means be used to strengthen him, deserveth the name of a merciless insult­ing Tormentor, rather than of a wise and ten­der-hearted Physician. How unreasonable is it to prescribe the immediate Practice of Love to God, and universal Obedience to him out of Love, as the means of Cure; for those that see nothing but Wrath and Enmity in God towards them in their present Condition, what is it but to require a Man to work without Strength, promising him that he shall have Strength when his Work is done; for Com­fort and Fortitude is so called, because it com­forteth and strengtheneth. True it is, That the Law which is the Ministration of Condemna­tion, obligeth them to Obedience; but our merciful God expecteth no sincere Performance of his Law, from such impotent miserable Wretch­es in order to their Salvation by Christ, till he hath first delivered them in some measure from those Discomforts, slavish Fears and Despondencies, that hold them captive under the Law of Sin and Death. We may require a strong healthy Person, first to work and then to expect Meat, Drink and Wages, but a fainting, famished Person, must first have Food, or a reviving Cordial to strengthen his Heart before he can work.

Sixthly, Both Scripture and Experience shew, That this is the Method whereby God bring­eth his People from Sin to Holiness, though some of them are brought under Terrours for a while, that Sin may be the more imbit­tered, and the Salvation of Christ rendred more precious and acceptable to them, yet such are again delivered from their Terrors by the Comfort of God's Salvation, that they may be fitted for Holiness; and generally a holy Life beginneth with Comfort, and is maintained by it. God gave to Adam at his first Creati­on the Comfort of his Love and Favour, and the Happiness of Paradise to encourage him to Obedience, and when he had left those Comforts by the Fall, he was no longer able to obey until he was restored by new Com­fort of the promised Seed. Christ the Second Adam set God always before his face, and he knew that because God was at his right hand, he should not be moved, therefore his heart was glad, and his glory rejoyced, Psal. 16.8, 9. This made him willing to bear his Agony and bloody Sweat, and to be obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross. God drew the Israelites to Obedience with the Cords of a Man, with the Bonds of Love, by taking off the Yoke on their Jaws, and laying Meat before them, Hos. 11.4. David telleth us for our Instru­ction, how he was brought to an holy Con­versation, Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth, Psal. 26.3. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done [Page 165]thy Commandements, Psal. 119.166. We have se­veral Examples in the New Testament of the Joy that Sinners had in the first receiving of Christ, Acts 2.41. And when the Gospel first came to the Thessalonians, they received the Word in much affliction with joy in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thess. 1.4, 5. When the Gentiles heard the Word of God they were glad, and as many as were or­dained to eternal Life believed. The Apostle Paul was constrained by the Love of Christ to give up himself to live to Christ, 2 Cor. 4.14, 15. I dare appeal to the Experience of any that o­bey God out of hearty Love, let them exa­mine themselves, and consider whither they were brought to give up themselves to serve God in love, without comfortable apprehensi­ons of the Love of God towards them, I dare say there are no such Prodigies in the new Birth.

Seventhly, What comfortless Religion do those make that allow People no comfort before hand to strengthen them for holy Performances that are very cross, displeasing and grievous to their natu­ral Inclinations, as the plucking out of a right Eye, cutting off of a right Hand, but would have them first to do such things with love and delight under all their present Fears, Despondencies, and corrupt Inclinations, and to hope that by doing the Work throughly and sincerely they shall at last attain to a more comfortable State. All true spiritual Comfort as well as Salvation is indeed quite banished out of the World if it be suspended upon the Condition of our good [Page 166]Works, which hath already appeared to be the Condition of the Law that worketh no Comfort but Wrath, Rom. 4.15. This makes the ways of Godliness odious to many, they think they shall never enjoy a pleasant hour in this World, if they walk in them, and they had rather comfort themselves with sinful Pleasures then have no Comfort at all. Others labour a while in such a comfortless Religion with inward fretting and re­pining at the Bondage of it, and at last grow wearry and throw of all Religion, because they know none better. They that bind such heavy burthens upon Men and grievous to be born will plead, that they are not to be blamed because they do but preach the Gospel of God and Christ, whereas indeed they preach a Gospel of Man's own forging contrary to the nature of the true Gospel of Christ, which is glad tidings of great joy to all People, Luk. 2.10. An uncomfortable Gospel cannot proceed from God the Father, who is the Father of Mercies and the God of all Com­fort, 2 Cor. 1.3. Nor from Christ who is the Con­solation of Israel, Luk. 2.25. nor from the Spirit who is the Comforter, Joh. 14.16, 17. God meeteth him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness, Isa. 64.5. He will be served with gladness and singing, as he shewed by the Type of variety of Musick, and great numbers of Musicians in the Temple, Christ speaks to us by his Gospel, that his joy may abide in us, and that our joy may be full, Job. 15.11. No sorrow is approved of by God, except Godly sorrow which can never be in us without some comfort of the Love of God to­wards [Page 167]us. They that are offended at the Un­comfortableness of a Religious Life, never yet knew the true way of Religion, else they would find that the ways of Wisdom ar [...] ways of pleasant­ness, and all her Paths peace, Prov 3.17.

DIRECT. X.
EXPLICATION.

IT is evident that these Comforts of the Gos­pel, that are necessary to an Holy Practice, cannot be truly received without some assurance of our Interest in Christ and his Salvation; for some of those Comforts consist in a good Per­swasion of our reconciliation with God, and of our future Heavenly Happiness, and of Strength both to will and to do that which is acceptable to God through Christ, as hath been before shewed: Hence it will clearly follow, that this assurance is very necessary to enable us for the [Page 169]Practice of Holiness, as those Comforts that must go before the Duties of the Law in order of na­ture, as the Cause goeth before the Effect, tho' not in any distance of time. My present work is to shew, what this assurance is that is so necessa­ry unto Holiness, and which I have here assert­ed, that we must act in that very Faith whereby we receive Christ himself into our Hearts, even in justifying saving Faith. This Doctrine seem­eth strange to many that profess themselves Pro­testants a late days, whereas it was formerly high­ly owned by the chief Protestants whom God made use of to restore the Purity of the Gospel, and to maintain it against the Papists for many Years, they commonly taught that Faith was a Perswasion or Considence of our own Salvation by Christ, and that we must be sure to apply Christ and his Salvation to our selves in believing; And this Doctrine was one of the great Engines whereby they prevailed to overthrow the Popish Superstition, whereto doubtfulness of Salvation is one of the principal Pillars. But many of the Successors of those Protestants have deserted them, and left their Writings to be shamefully in­sulted over by the Papists, and this innovation hath been of longer standing amongst us than several other parts of our new Divinity, and maintained by those that profess to abhor that corrupt Doctrine which the Papist have built up­on such Principles. Modern Divines may think they stand upon the Shoulders of their Predeces­sors, whose Labours they enjoy, and that they can see farther than they, as the School-men might have like thoughts of the ancient Fathers; [Page 170]but for all this they may not be able to see so far, if the eyes of their Predecessors were better en­lightned by the Spirit of God to understand the Mystery of the Gospel, and why may we not judge that it is so in the present Case? The Eyes of Men in these late Years have been blinded in this point of Assurance by many false Imagina­tions. They think that because Salvation is not promised to us absolutely, but upon condition of believing on Christ for it; therefore we must first believe directly on Christ for our Salvation, and after that we must reflect our Minds upon our Faith, and examine it by several Marks and Signs, especially by the Fruit of sincere Obedience; and if upon this examination we find out cer­tainly that it is true saving Faith, then and not before we may believe assuredly that we in par­ticular shall be saved: On this account they say that our Salvation is by the direct, and our assu­rance by the reflect act of Faith, and that many have true Faith, and shall be saved that never have any assurance of their Salvation as long as they live in this World, they find by Scripture and Experience, that many precious Saints of God are frequently troubled with doubtings, whither they shall be saved, and whither their Faith and Obedience be sincere, so that they can­not see assurance in themselves; therefore they conclude that Assurance must not be accounted absolutely necessary to justifying Faith and Sal­vation, lest we should make the Hearts of doubt­ing Saints sad and drive them to despair. They account that former Protestants were guilty of a manifest Absurdity, in making assurance to be [Page 171]of the Nature and Definition of Saving-Faith, because all that hear the Gospel are bound to Sa­ving-Faith, and yet they are not bound absolute­ly to believe that they themselves shall be saved, for then many of them would be bound to be­lieve that which is not declared in the Gospel concerning them in particular, yea that which is a plain lye, because the Gospel sheweth that ma­ny of those that are called are not chosen to Sal­vation, and that perish for ever, Mat. 20.16. No wonder if the appearance of so great an Absur­dity move many to imagine that Saving-Faith is a trusting or resting on Christ as the only suffi­cient means of Salvation without any assurance; or that it is a desiring and venturing to trust, or rely upon him in a mere State of Suspence and Uncertainty concerning our Salvation, or with a probable Opinion or conjectural Hope of it at best.

Another Objection against this Doctrine of Assurance is, that it destroyeth Self-examination, bringeth forth the evil Fruits of Pride and Arro­gancy, as if they knew their places in Heaven already before the Day of Judgment, causeth carelesness of Duty, carnal Security, all manner of Licentiousness. And this maketh them com­mend doubtfulness of our Salvation, as necessa­ry to maintain in us Humility, Religious Fear, Watchfulness, much searching and trying our spiritual State and Ways, diligence in good Works and all Deyotion.

Against all those contrary Imaginations, I shall endeavour to maintain this ancient Pro­testant Doctrine of assurance, as I have expres­sed in the Direction; and first I shall lay down some Observations for the right understanding of it, which will be sufficient to turn the edge of the strongest Objections that can be made a­gainst it.

First, Observe diligently that the Assurance directed unto, is not a Perswasion that we have already received Christ and his Salvation, or that we have been already brought in to a State of Grace, but only that God is pleased graci­ously to give Christ and his Salvation unto us, and to bring us into a State of Grace, though we have been altogether in a State of Sin and Death until this present time; so that this Do­ctrine doth not at all tend to breed Presumption in wicked and unregenerate Men, that their state is good already, but only encourageth them to come to Christ confidently for a good State. I acknowledge that we may, yea many must be taught to doubt whether their present State be good; and that it is Humility so to do, and that we must find out the Certainty and Sincerity of our Faith and Obedience by Self-examination, before we can have a well-grounded Assurance that we are in a State of Grace and Salvation al­ready, and that such an assurance belongeth to that which they call the reflect Act of Faith (if any act of Faith can be made of, it being spiritu­al Sence or feeling of what is in my self) and is not of the Essence of that Faith whereby we [Page 173]are justified and saved, and that many preci­ous Saints are without it, and subject to ma­ny Doubts that are contrary to it, so that they may not know at all that it shall go well with them at the Day of Judgment; and that it may be sometimes intermitted, if not wholly lost after it is gotten, and that we should strive to walk holily, that we may attain to it; because it is very useful for our growth and increase in Faith, and in all Ho­liness. Most Protestants amongst us, when they speak or write of Assurance, mean only, that which is by Reflection, and I have said enough briefly, to shew that what I assert, is consistent with the Doctrine which is common­ly received concerning it, and destructive to none of the good Fruits of it, therefore not guilty of those Evils that some falsly charge it with. This kind of Assurance which I speak of, answereth not the Question, Whither I am already in a state of Grace and Salvati­on? There is another great Question that the Soul must answer, that it may get into a state of Grace. Whether God be gracious­ly pleased now to bestow Christ and his Sal­vation upon me, though I have been hither­to a very wicked Creature? We must be sure to resolve this Question comfortably, by another kind of Assurance in the direct act of Faith, wherein we are to perswade our selves without reflecting upon any good Qualifica­tions in our selves: That God is ready gra­ciously to receive us into the Arms of his saving Mercy in Christ, notwithstanding all [Page 174]our former Wickedness, according to the gra­cious Promise, I will call them my people, which were not my people, and her beloved, which was not beloved, and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the chil­dren of the living God, Rom. 9.25, 26.

Secondly, The Assurance directed unto, is not a Perswasion of our Salvation, whatever we do, or however we live and walk; but only in a limited way through meer Free-grace in Christ, by partaking of Holiness as well as Forgiveness, and by walking in the way of Holiness to the Enjoyment of the Glory of God. We shall not heartily desire or endea­vour to assure our selves of such a Salvation as this, if we be not brought first to see our own Sinfulness, and Misery, and to despair of our own Righteousness and Strength, and to hunger and thirst for the sanctifying as well as justifying Grace of God in Christ, that so we may walk in the ways of Holi­ness to the Enjoyment of Heavenly Glory. The Faith whereby we receive Christ must have in it not only a Perswasion of Happi­ness, but these and the like good Qualifications that will make it a most holy Faith. Cer­tainly an Assurance thus qualified will not be­get any Pride in us, but rather Humility and self-loathing, except any account it Pride to rejoyce and glory in Christ, when we have no Confidence in the Flesh, Phil. 3.3. It will not destroy religious Fear, and breed [Page 175]carnal Security; but rather it will make us fear going aside from Christ our only Resuge and Security, and walking after the Flesh. Noah had cause to enter into the Ark, and to abide there with Assurance of his Preservati­on, yet he might well be afraid to venture out of the Ark, because he was perswaded that Continuance in the Ark was his only Safe­ry from perishing in the Flood. And how can a Perswasion of Salvation in a way of Holiness, breed Sloathfulness in Duty, Care­lesness and Licentiousness? It doth rather mightily allure us and stir us up to be always abounding in the Work of the Lord, for as much as we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.5. They that are per­swaded of the Free-grace of God toward them in Christ, are not indeed sollicitous about earning their Salvation by their own legal Works, and Satan is ready to suggest to them, that this is a sinful Carelesness, and tend­eth to Licenciousness; but they that will be­lieve this false Suggestion of Satan, shew plain­ly, that they do not yet know what it is to serve God in Love, and that they are held in to all their Obedience by the Bit and Bridle of slavish Fear, as the horse and mule that have no understanding, Psal. 32.9.

Thirdly, Beware of thinking so highly of this Assurance, as if it were inconsistent with any doubting in the same Soul. A great Reason why many Protestants have receded from the Doctrine of their Ancestors in this Point, is [Page 176]because they think, there can be no true As­surance of Salvation in any that are troubled with Doubtings, as they find many be, whom they cannot but own as true Believers and precious Saints of God. True indeed, this Assurance must be contrary to Doubtings in the nature of it, and so if it be perfect in the highest Degree it would exclude all Doubt­ing out of the Soul, and it doth now exclude in some Degree. But is there not Flesh as well as Spirit in the best Saints on Earth, Gal. 5.17. Is there not a law in their members warring against the law of their minds? Rom. 7.23. May not one that truly believeth, say, Lord, help my unbelief, Mark 9.24. Can any on Earth say, they have received any Grace in the highest Degree, and that they are whol­ly free from the contrary Corruption? Why then should we think that Assurance cannot be true, except it be perfect, and free the Soul from all Doubtings? The Apostle accounts it a great Blessing to the Thessalonians that they had much Assurance, intimating that some true Assurance might be in a less Degree, 1 Thess. 1.5. Peter had some good Assurance of Christ's Help when he walked on the Water at Christ's Command, and yet he had some Doubtfulness in him, as his Fear shewed when he saw the Wind boisterous. He had some Faith con­trary to doubting, though it were but little, as Christ's Words to him shew, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matth. 14.29, 30, 31. It is strange if the Flesh and the De­vil should never oppose a true Assurance and [Page 177]assault it with Doubtings. A Believer may be sometimes so overwhelmed with Doubtings, that he may not be able to perceive an As­surance in himself, he is so far from know­ing his Place in Heaven already, (as some scoffingly object) that he will say that he know­eth not any Assurance that he hath of being there, and needeth diligent self-examination to find it out; yet if at that time he can blame his Soul for doubting, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, why art thou disquieted with­in me? hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him, Psal. 42.11. If he can condemn his Doubt­ings as sinful, and say with himself, This is mine infirmity Psal. 77.10. These Doubtings are of the Flesh, and of the Devil; if he still en­deavour to call God Father, and complain to him that he doubteth whether he be his Fa­ther, and pray that God will give him the Assurance of his Fatherly Love which he is not sensible of, and dispel those Fears and Doubtings: I say that such an one hath some true Assurance, though he must strive to grow to a higher Degree; for if he were not perswaded of the Truth of the Love of God towards him, he could not rationally con­demn his Fears and Doubts concerning it as sinful, neither could he rationally pray to God as his Father, or that God would assure him of that Love that he doth not think to be true.

Do but grant that it is the Nature of saving Faith, thus to resist and struggle with slavish Fears of Wrath, and doubting of our own [Page]Salvation, and you grant in effect, that there is, and must be something of Assurance of our Salvation in Saving faith, whereby it resisteth Doubtings, and you are in effect of the same Judgment with me in the Assertion, however strange my Expressions seem to you. If this that I have said concerning our Imperfection in Assurance, as well as in other Graces, were well considered, this ancient Protestant Doctrine would be freed much from Prejudice, and gain more Esteem among us.

Fourthly, In the last place, let it be well observed, that the Reason why we are to as­sure our selves in our Faith, that God freely giveth Christ and his Salvation to us particu­larly is, not because it is a Truth before we believe it, but because it becometh a certain Truth when we believe it, and because it will never be true, except we do in some measure perswade and assure our selves that it is so. We have no absolute Promise or De­claration in Scripture, that God certainly will or doth, give Christ and his Salvation to any one of us in particular, neither do we know it to be true already by Scripture, or Sense, or Reason, before we assure our selves absolute­ly of it, yea, we are without Christ's Salva­tion at present in a state of Sin and Misery under the Curse and Wrath of God. Only I shall prove that we are bound by the Com­mand of God, thus to assure our selves, and the Scripture doth sufficiently warrant us that we shall not deceive our selves in believing a [Page 178]Lie, but according to our Faith so it shall be to us, Matth. 9.29. This is a strange kind of Assurance far different from other Or­dinary kinds, and therefore no Wonder, if it be found weak and imperfect, and difficult to be obtained, and it be assaulted with many Doubtings. We are constrained to believe other things on the clear Evidence we have that they are true, and would remain true, whether we believe them or no, so that we cannot deny our Assent without rebelling a­gainst the Light of our Sences, Reason or Con­science; but here our Assurance is not im­pressed on our Thoughts by any Evidence of the thing, but we must work it out in our selves by the Assistance of the Spirit of God, and thereby we bring our own Thoughts into Captivity to the Obedience of Christ. None but God can justly require of us this kind of Assurance, because he only calleth those things that are not as tho they were, Rom. 4.17. He only can give Existence to things that yet are not, and make a thing to be true upon our believing it, that was not true before. He only can make good that Promise, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, Mark 11.24. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord command­eth it not, Lament. 3.37. Therefore this Faith is due to God only, and greatly re­downdeth to his Glory. Men will often re­quire a Believing something like it, as when one says, I will forgive your Offence and be [Page]your Friend, if I can find that you believe it, and that you take me for a Friend; but their fallible Word is not sufficient ground to make us perswade our selves absolutely that we shall have their promised favour. The Faith of Miracles gives us some light in this matter; Christ assured them on whom they were wrought, and who had Power given them of working them, that the Miracles should be wrought, if they believed without doubting of the Event, Mark 11. And there is a Reason for this Resemblance because the end of working Miracles was to confirm the Doctrine of the Gospel of Salvation by Faith in Christ's Name, as the Scriptures clearly shew, and indeed the Salvation of a Sinner is a very great Miracle. It is reported that Wizards do often require those that come to them that they should believe that they shall obtain what they desire of them, or at least that they are able to fulfil their Desires, where­by the Devil, the Master of those Wizards sheweth himself to be God's Ape, and that he would fain have that Honour and Glo­ry ascribed to himself that is due to God alone.

Having thus explained the Nature of that Assurance which I have directed unto, I shall now produce several Arguments to prove, that there is, and must necessarily be such an Assu­rance or Perswasion of our Salvation in Saving-Faith it self.

First, This Assurance of Salvation is im­plyed in the Description before given of that Faith whereby we receive Christ and his Sal­vation into our Hearts. I described Faith to be a Grace of the Spirit, whereby we hearti­ly believe the Gospel, and also believe on Christ as he is revealed and freely promised to us therein for all his Salvation, and I shew­ed in the Explanation, that believing on Christ, is the same with resting, relying, leaning, stay­ing our selves on Christ, or God through Christ, for our Salvation. It may be some will like that Description the better, because Faith was there described by Terms that are or­dinarily used, even by those that deny the ne­cessity of Assurance; but those ordinary Terms do sufficiently include Assurance in the nature of Faith, and they cannot stand without it, and this sheweth that many hold the Doctrine of Assurance implicitly, and profess it, though they think the contrary. Believing on Christ for Salvation as freely promised to us, must needs include a Dependance on Christ with a Perswasion, that Salvation shall be freely gi­ven, as it is freely promised to us. Believ­ing with a divine Faith grounded on the in­fallible Truth of the Free-promise, if it did not in some measure exclude a mere Suspence and wavering Opinion or Conjecture, were not worthy to be so called. Some may be so ab­surd as to say, that Faith is only a believ­ing that we shall be saved by Christ if we perform such Conditions as he requireth, and [Page]then indeed it will leave us where it found us as to any certainty of Salvation until those Conditions be performed; but I have already prevented such an Absurdity, by shewing that this believing on Christ, is it self not only the Condition of our Salvation, but also the Instrument whereby we actually receive it. Believing being the proper Act of Faith, must needs have the same contraries to it, as staggering, Rom. 4.20. Wavering, Heb. 10.29. Doubting, Matth. 14.31. Fear, Mark 5.36. These contraries do much illu­strate the nature of Faith, and do shew that believing must have some Confidence in it, else it would have doubting in the very na­ture of it: for what Man that understandeth the Preciousness of his immortal Soul, and his Danger of loosing it, can ever avoid Fear, Doubting and Trouble of Heart, by any be­lieving whereby he doth not at all assure him­self of his Salvation? The other Terms of trusting and resting on Jesus Christ, &c. where­by Faith is often described by orthodox Teach­ers, must include Assurance of Salvation, be­cause they signifie the same thing with be­lieving on Christ; the Soul must have its suf­ficient Support to beat it up against Oppres­sing Fears, Troubles, Cares, Despair, that it may thus trust and rest. The right manner of trusting and hoping in the Lord is by as­suring our selves against all Fears and Doubt­ings, That the Lord is our God, and he is be­come our Salvation. I trusted on thee, O Lord, I said thou art my God, Psal. 31.14. The Lord [Page 180]is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my strength, in whom I will trust, Psal. 18.2. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, Isa. 12.2. O my soul hope thou in God, who is the health of my countenance and my God, Psal. 42.16. True hope is grounded on God only, that he will bless us, that it may be an anchor for the soul, sure and stedfast, Heb. 6.17.18, 19. If you trust, relie, and stay your selves on Christ, or hope in him, without assuring your selves at all of Salvation by him, you make no better use of him, than if he were a broken reed; and if you would stay your selves on the Lord, you must look on him as your God, as the Prophet teacheth, Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God, Isai. 50. 10. If you will rest in the Lord you must believe that he dealeth bountifully with you, Psal. 116.7. or else for ought you know you make your Bed in Hell; and you will shew little regard of Christ and of your own Soul, if you dare to rest under the Wrath of God without any Perswasion of a sure Inter­est in Christ. People may please themselves with such a trusting or resting, &c. when they are at ease, but in time of Temptation it va­nisheth away, and appeareth to be no true Faith, but is turned into Shame. The Soul that liveth in such wavering and doubting concern­ing Salvation, doth not stay it self nor rest at all, but is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the Wind, and tossed, he is a double minded man, un­stable in all his ways, Jam. 1.6. If you conti­nue in meer Suspence and Doubtfulness of [Page]Salvation by Christ; your Desire to trust, is but a lazy woulding without any fixed Reso­lution, and you dare not yet venture to trust on him stedfastly. If you call it only your desire to trust and relie on Jesus Christ, I may answer that you cannot do thus much in a right manner except you desire and ven­ture to perswade and assure your selves of your Salvation by Christ, notwithstanding all the Causes that you have to doubt and fear the contrary. If it be objected that we may trust on Christ only as a sufficient means of Sal­vation, without any Assurance of the Effect. I shall acknowledge that the sufficiency of God and Christ is a good ground for us to rest on, but we must understand by it, not only a sufficiency of Power, but also of Good-will and Mercy towards us: For what have we to do more with the Sufficiency of God's and Christ's Power than fallen Angels, without his Good-will towards us? and if this be tru­ly believed, it will exclude Doubtfulness con­cerning your Salvation.

Secondly, Several places of Scripture declare positively and expresly, that we are to be as­sured of our Salvation in that Faith, where­by we are justified and saved. I shall produce some Instances. We are exhorted, to draw near to God with full assurance of faith, Heb. 10.22. Many apply this Text to that which they call, the reflect Act of Faith, because they imagine that all Assurance must needs be by Reflection; but the Words of the Text do [Page 181]clearly teach us to understand it of that Act of Faith, whereby we draw near to God, that is the direct Act, and it is that very Faith whereby the Just do live, even justify­ing, saving Faith, verse 38. And this Assu­rance must be full, at least in the true and proper Nature of it, in Opposition unto mere Doubtfulness and Uncertainty, though we are yet further to labour for that which is full in the highest Degree of Perfection. And the same Faith whereby we are exhorted to draw nigh unto God, and whereby the Just liveth, is a little after, Chap. 11.1. affirmed to be the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Why should saving Faith have these high Titles and Attributes given to it, if it did not contain in it a sure Per­swasion of the great things of our Salvation hoped for, which maketh them to be evi­dent to the Eyes of our Mind, as if they were already present in their Substance, though yet not visible to our bodily Eyes; that Faith whereby we are made Partakers of Christ, and to be Christ's House, must be worthy to be called Confidence, and accompanied with reioycing Hope, Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of the hope, firm unto the end, Heb. 3.6.14. What is Con­fidence concerning any thing, but trusting con­cerning it with a firm Perswasion of the Truth of it? If we have only a strong Opinion concerning a thing, without any absolute cer­tainty, we use to say that we are not alto­gether confident of it. The Faith whereby [Page]we are justified, must be in a measure like to the Faith whereby Abraham against Hope be­lieved in Hope, that his Seed should certain­ly; be multiplyed according to the Promise of God, though by reason of the Deadness of his own Body; and of Sarah's Womb, he could have no Evidence from his own Qualificati­ons to assure himself of it, but all Appearan­ces were rather to the contrary, as the Apo­stle teacheth clearly Rom. 4.18, 19, 23.24. As absolute as this Promise was thus made Abraham, yet it was not to be fulfilled with­out this Assurance of Faith, and by the like Faith the free Promises of Salvation by Christ, will be absolutely fulfilled to us. The Apo­stle James expresly requireth that we should ask good things of God in Faith, nothing doubting, which includeth Assurance manifest­ly; and he telleth us plainly, that without it a Man ought not to think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord; therefore we may firmly conclude, that without it we shall not receive the Salvation of Christ, James 1.6. 7. And that which the Apostle James re­quireth us not to doubt of is, the obtaining the things that we ask, as we may learn from an Instruction to the same purpose given to us by Christ himself, What things soever ye de­sire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, Mark 11.24. More pla­ces of Scripture might be alledged to the same purpose; but these are sufficient to e­vince that we are bound to assure our selves of our Salvation in Faith it self, or else we [Page 182]are never likely to enjoy it, and that it is not Humility, but rather proud Disobedience to live in a state of mere Suspense and Doubt­fulness concerning our Salvation; and that this Assurance must be in the direct Act of Faith whereby we are justified and saved: For as for that which is called the Reflect Act of Faith, it is a certain Truth and generally owned, that it is not absolutely necessary to Salvation to any, and that it is sinful and pernicious to many to believe that they are already entred into a state of Grace and Salvation.

Thirdly, God giveth us sufficient ground in Scripture to come to Christ with confident Faith, at the very first, trusting assuredly that Christ and his Salvation shall be given to us without any Failing and Delay, however vile and sinful our Condition hath been hitherto. The Scripture speaketh to the vilest Sinners in such a manner as if it were framed on pur­pose to beget Assurance of Salvation in them immediately, Acts 2.39. Chap. 3.26. This Promise is unversal, That whosoever believeth on Christ shall not be ashamed, without making a Difference between Jew and Greek, Rom. 10.11, 12. And this Promise is confirmed by the Blood of Christ, who was given for the World, and lifted up upon the Cross for this very end, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3.14, 15, 16. His Invitation is free to any, If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink, and this Drink is promised to every one that be­lieveth, John 7.37. 39. The Command of be­lieving [Page]is propounded not only in general, but in particular, and the Promise of Salvation up­on believing, is also applyed personally, and that to such as have been hitherto in a state of Sin and Wrath; as to the wicked persecu­ting self-murdering Jaylor, Acts 16.31. Be­lieve on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved and thine house. God commanded them that walked altogether in Sin hitherto, to call him their own Father in their very first returning, Jer. 3.4. So Hos. 2.23. God saith, he will say, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art my God, confidently averring their perso­nal Interest in him. God hath joyned Con­fidence and Salvation inseparably together, In returning and rest ye shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, Isai. 30.15. What a poor slender Use and Improve­ment do many make of these Discoveries of the rich Grace of God towards Sinners, who say that if we see that we have performed the Condition of believing, then we may take Christ confidently as our own; they skip over the first and principal Use they ought to make of them; the very Performance of the Condition is to take Christ as our own imme­diately, and to eat him and drink him, by be­lieving consiently on him for our Salvation. If an honest rich Man say to a poor Woman, I promise to be thy Husband if thou wilt have me, say but the Word and I am thine; may not she presently answer confidently, Then thou art my Husband and I claim thee for my Husband; and should she not rather say so, then [Page 183]say, I believe not what thou sayest. If an ho­nest Man say, Do but take this Gift and it is your own, do but eat and drink and you are freely welcome, may not I take the Gift, and eat and drink at first without any further ado, and with Assurance that it is mine freely; if I do it doubtingly, I disparage the Honesty and Credit of the Donor, as if he were not a Man of his Word. In like manner, if, fear­ing to be too confident, least we should believe a lie, we should come to Christ doubtingly, and in mere Suspense, whether we shall be freely entertained after all Gods free Invita­tions and Promises, should we not disparage the Faithfulness of God? and should we not be guilty of making God a Liar? as the Apo­stle John teacheth, because of our not believ­ing the Record which God gave of his Son, and this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son, 1 John 5.10, 11. And what if the Salvation pro­mised be not absolutely intended for all to whom the Gospel cometh? it is enough that God giveth us his faithful Word, that they that believe, shall have it, and none else, and hath absolutely intended to fulfill his Word, that none shall find it to be a lie to them, and hath joyned Believing and Salvation toge­ther inseparably. On this ground God may justly cause the Promise of this Salvation to be published to all, and may justly require all to believe on him assuredly for their own Salvation, that so it may appear whether they will give him the Glory of his Truth, and [Page]if they will not, he may justly reject them, and punish them severely for dishonouring him by their Unbelief: in this Case we must not look to the secret Decrees of God, but to his revealed Promises and Command. Thus God promised to the Israelites in the Wilder­ness, that he would give them the Land of Canaan, and would fight for them against their Enemies, and required them not to fear or be discouraged, that so the Promise might be fulfilled to them, yet God never absolutely decreed or intended that those Israelites should enter in, as the Event did quickly manifest, Deut. 1.20, 21, 29.30. Yet were they not bound in this case to trust confidently in God to give them Victory over their Enemies, and to give them the Possession of the Land? had they not sufficient ground for such a Faith? was it not just with God to consume them in the Wilderness for their Unbelief? Let us therefore fear, least a Promise being made of entring into this everlasting Rest through Christ, we should come short of it, and fall af­ter the same Example of Unbelief, Heb. 4.1, 11.

Fourthly, The Professors of true Godliness that we read of through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament did commonly pro­fess their Assurance and Perswasion of their Interest in God and his Salvation, and were directed by the word of God so to do, and true Saints had still some true Assurance of it, and we have no cause to judge that this [Page 184]Assurance was grounded on the certainty of their own good Qualifications, but rather on the Promises of God by the direct. Act of Faith. We may judge of the ordinary Profession of the Frame of Spirit that was in Saints, by some Instances. I shall begin with the Pro­fession that the Church made when it was very corrupt, at its first coming out of Egypt, when few of them could assure themselves by their own good Qualifications that they were in a state of Grace already, which many now imagine to be the only way of Assurance. Even in that corrupt Time the Children of Israel sung that triuphant Song of Moses, The Lord is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation, he is my God, &c. Exod. 15.2. Moses taught them in this Song to assure them­selves of their own personal Interest in the Salvation, and he guided them to the Pra­ctice of their Duty, and they did not find fault with Moses as some do with Ministers in these Days, for putting them to express more Confidence in their Song than they could find ground for in their Qualifications, but they applied themselves to the exercise of their Faith agreeably to the Song, and doubt­less this Faith was unfeigned in some sew of them, though but feigned in others, for it is testifi­ed of them, that then they believed his Words they sang his Praise, Psal. 106.12. Several other Psalms and Songs that were by divine Appointment in common Use under the Old Testament, are as clear an Evidence as we can desire of that Assurance of Faith that [Page]was commonly professed, and that People were generally bound to, under the Old Te­stament, as Psal. 23. & 27. & 46. Many other Psalms or Expressions in Psalms might be alledged. The Spirits of few in compa­rison, could have throughly complyed with such Psalms though they were true Believers, if all the Assurance of the Love of God must altogether depend upon the certain Knowledge of the sincerity of their own Hearts. We have a great Cloud of Witnesses gathered out of the whole History of the Old Testament, Heb. 11. who did, and suffered, and obtained great things by Faith, whose Examples are produ­ced on purpose that we may follow them in believing to the saving of our Souls, Heb. 10.39. And if we consider these Examples particularly, we shall find that many of them do evidently guide us to such a saving Faith, as hath an Assurance of the Effect contain­ed in the nature of it. I confess we read several times of the Fears and Doubtings of the Saints under the Old Testament; but we read also how their Faith opposed such Fears and Doubts, and how they themselves con­demned them as contrary to Faith, as in the Psalms, Psal. 42.11. Psal. 31.22. & 77.7, 10. The most mournful Psalm in Scripture begins with an Expression of some Assurance, Psal. 88.1. And we may note that the Doubt­ings that we meet with of the Saints of old, were commonly occasioned by some Extraor­dinary Affliction, or some hainous Transgres­sion, not by common Failings, or the com­mon [Page 185]Original Depravation of Nature, or the Uncertainty of their Election, or any Thought that it is Humility to doubt, and that they were not bound to be confident of Gods Salvation, because then many might be bound to believe a Lie. It is hard to find any of these Occasions of doubting under the Old Testament, though they are grown so rise amongst us now under the New Testament. In the time of the Apostles we may well expect that the Assurance of Faith grew high­er, because the Salvation of Christ was re­vealed, and the Spirit of Adoption poured forth plentifully, and the Church made free from its former Bondage under the terrifying Legal Covenant. Paul could prove to primi­tive Christians, by Appeals to their own Ex­perience, that they were the Children and Heirs of God, because they had not receiv­ed the Spirit of Bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of Adoption, whereby they cry, Abba, father, the Spirit it self bearing witness with our spirits (or beareth our spirits witness as the Syriaok and vulgar Latin render it, and as the like Greek Phrase is rendred, Rom. 9.1.) That we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs, Rom. 8.15, 16. Gal. 4.6. And the Apostle tells the Ephesi­ans, that after they believed, they were seal­ed with the Holy Spirit, which was the Earn­est of their Inheritance, Eph. 1.13, 14. i. e. They were sealed from the same time that they believed, for the original Words are in the same Tense. If this Witness, Seal and Earn­est [Page]of the Spirit had not been Ordinary to Believers, it would not have been sufficient to prove that they were the Children of God, and such manner of arguing might have dri­ven some to despair, that wanted this Witness, Seal and Earnest. Let us enquire now whe­ther the Spirit beareth witness that we are the Children of God, and enables us to cry Abba, Father, by the direct Act, or by that which they call the Reflect Act of Faith; for we must not think that it is done by an Enthusiasm, without any ordinary means; nor can we reasonably imagine, that no true Be­lievers can call God Father, by the Guid­ance of the Spirit, but only those few that are so sure of their own Sincerity, that by reflecting upon it, they can ground an Act of Faith concerning their own Interest in Christ; no surely, therefore we may judge rather that the Spirit worketh this in us by giving us saving Faith it self, whereby all true Believers are enabled to trust assuredly on Christ for the Enjoyment of the Adoption of Children and all his Salvation, according to the Free Promise of God, and to call God Father, without reflecting on any good Qua­lifications in our selves, and by the direct Act of it: For the Spirit is received by the di­rect Act of Faith, Gal. 3.2. And so he is the Spirit of Adoption, and Comfort to all that receive him. They that assert that the Spirit witnesseth our Adoption, only by assuring us of the Sincerity of our Faith, Love, and other gracious Qualifications, and by the re­flect [Page 186]Act of Faith, do teach also commonly, that you must again try whether the Spirit thus witnessing, be the Spirit of Truth, or of Delusion, by searching narrowly whether our inward Grace be sincere or counterfeit, so that hereby the Testimony of the Spirit is rendred so hard to be discerned, that it stand­eth us in no stead, but all our Assurance is made at last to depend on our own certain Know­ledge of our own Sincerity. There are se­veral other Evidences to shew, That Believ­ers generally were perswaded of their Salva­tion in the Apostles times, they loved and waited for the coming of Christ to judge the World, 1 Cor. 1.7. 2 Tim. 4.8. They lo­ved all the Saints for the Hope that was laid up for them in Heaven, Col. 1.3, 4. The Corinthians that were very carnal, and but Babes in Christ, were perswaded that they should judge the World, and Angels, and that their Bodies were Members of Christ, and the Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3, 15, 19. The very first coming of the Gospel to the Thessalonians, was in the Holy Ghost, and much Assurance, so that they re­ceived it with much Affliction with Joy of the Holy Ghost, when as yet they had no Considerable time to get Assurance, by refle­cting on their good Qualifications, 1 Thess. 1.5, 6. Likewise the believing Hebrews when they were illuminated at their first Conver­sion, took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods, knowing that they had in Heaven, a better and more enduring Substance, and this was [Page]their Confidence, which they were not to cast off, because the Just liveth by Faith, and therefore it appeareth that this Confidence be­longed necessarily to justifying, saving Faith, Heb. 10, 32, 34, 35, 38. Now let those that alledge the Examples or Experiences of many modern Christians to disprove all that I have asserted, and consider well whether these are fit to be laid in the Ballance against all the Scripture Examples and Experiences that I have produced out of the Old and New Testament. I confess that Assurance of Sal­vation is more rarely professed by Christians in these times than formerly, and we may thank some Teachers for it, that have deser­ted the Doctrine of former Protestants in this Point, and vented against it several Errors, such as have been already named, and now would take Advantage to confirm the Truth of their Doctrines from those Doubtings in Christians, that have been chiefly occasioned by it. But however the nature of saving Faith is still the same, and I assert that in these Days as well as formerly, it always hath in it some Assurance of Salvation by Christ, which doth and will appear, at least in re­sisting and condemning all Doubtings, and praying against them, and endeavouring to trust assuredly, and to call God Father, ex­cept in extraordinary Desertions, by which our Gase must not be tried. We are not to trust the Judgment of many concerning themselves, they will judge falsly, that they have no Assurance at all, because they know [Page 187]not yet by Marks and Signs that they are in a state of Grace already, or because they think that there is no Assurance when there are many Doubtings, and because it is so weak and so much oppressed with Doubting, that it can hardly be discerned, as Life in a fainting Fit; but if their Judgments be better informed, they may be brought to discern some Assurance in themselves: We are also to take heed of mistaking those for true Believers that are not so, and of judging this Point by their Experiences, which is a vulgar Error. The blind Charity of some moveth them to take all for true Believers, which are full of Doubts and Troubles concerning their Salvation, though it may be they only be convinced of Sin, and brought to some Zeal of God that is not according to the Knowledge of the way of Salvation by Christ, and they think it Duty to comfort such Ignorant Per­sons, by perswading of them that their state is good, and their Faith right, though they have no Assurance of Salvation. Thus they are brought to judge falsly concerning the nature of Faith, out of their blind Chari­ty to such as are yet in Ignorance and Un­belief, and instead of comforting such, they ra­ther take the direct way to harden them in their natural state, and to divert them from seeking Consolation by Saving Faith in Christ, and to ruine their Souls for ever.

Fifthly, The chief Office of this Faith in its direct saving Act, is to receive Christ and his Salvation actually into our Hearts, as hath been proved, which Office cannot be ratio­nally performed, except we do in some mea­sure perswade our Hearts, and assure our selves of the Enjoyment of him, as the Bo­dy receiveth things into it self by the Hands and Mouth: So the Soul receiveth these things to it self, and layeth actual Hold on them by the Faculty of the Will, making choice of them and embracing them in a way of present Enjoyment and Possession, as it doth by the Faculty of the Understanding see and apprehend them; thus the Soul receiveth Comfort from outward things. As a righte­ous Person cannot receive inward Comfort from outward things, as from worldly Estate, Wife, Husband, Friends, &c. except it chuse them as good and count them his own by a Right and Title. This is the only ra­tional way whereby the Soul can actively lay hold on Christ, and take actual Posses­sion of him and his Salvation, as he is free­ly offered and promised to us in the Gos­pel, by the Grace of Faith, which God hath appointed to be our great Instrument for the receiving of him, and closing with him. If we do not make choice of Christ as our only Salvation, and Happiness, or if we be alto­gether in a slate of Suspence, and doubting whether God will be pleased to give Christ [Page 188]to us or no, it is evident that our Souls are quite loose from Christ, and have no Hold­fast or Enjoyment of him. They do not so much as pretend to any actual receiving or laying hold or choosing of him, neither are they fully satisfied that it is lawful for them so to do, but rather they are yet to seek whether they have any good Ground and Right to lay hold on him or no. Let any rational; Man judge, whether the Soul doth, or can put forth any sufficient Act for the Reception and Enjoyment of Christ as our Saviour, Head, or Husband, while it is yet in Doubt, whether it be the Will of Christ to be joyned with us in such a near Relation; can a Woman honestly receive a­ny one as her Husband without being as­sured that he is fully willing to be her Hus­band? The same may be said concerning the several Parts of Christ's Salvation which are to be received by Faith. It is evident that we do not aright receive the Benefit of Remission of Sins, for the purging of our Consciences from that Guilt that lyeth up­on them, unless we have an assured Per­swasion of God's forgiving them; we do not actually receive into our Hearts our Reconciliation with God, and Adoption of Children, and the Title to an everlasting Inheritance, until we can assure our selves that God is graciously pleased to be our God and Father, and take us to be his Children and Heirs. We do not actually receive any [Page]sufficient Strength to encourage our Hearts to Holiness in all Difficulties, until we can stedfastly believe that God is with us, and will not fail nor forsake us.

Hence then we may firmly conclude, that whoso seeketh to be saved by Faith, and doth not seek to have Assurance or Confi­dence of his own Salvation doth but de­ceive himself, and delude his Soul with a mere Fansie instead of saving Faith, and doth in effect seek to be saved in his cor­rupt Natural state, without receiving and lay­ing actual hold of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Salvation.

Sixthly, It is also a great and necessary Of­fice of Saving Faith, to purifie the Heart, and to enable us to live and walk in the Pra­ctice of all holy Duties, by the Grace of Christ, and by Christ himself living in us, as hath been shewed before, which Office Faith is not able to perform, except some Assurance of our own Interest in Christ and his Sal­vation be comprehended in the nature of it. If we would live to God, not our selves, but by Christ living in us, according to Paul ▪s Example, we must be able to assure our selves as he did, Christ loved me and gave himself for me, Gal. 2.20. We are taught, that if we live in the Spirit, we shall walk in the Spi­rit, Gal. 5.25. It would be high Presum­ption if we should endeavour to walk above our natural Strength and Power by the Spi­rit, [Page 189]before we have made sure of our living by the Spirit. I have shewed that we can­not make Use of the comfortable Benefits of the Saving Grace of Christ, whereby the Gospel doth engage and encourage us to an ho­ly Practice, except we have some Confidence of our own Interest in those saving Benefits. If we do not assuredly believe that we are dead to Sin, and alive to God through Christ, and risen with Christ, and not under the Law, but under Grace, and Members of Christ's Body, the Temple of his Spirit, the dear Children of God, it would be Hypo­crisie to serve God upon the Account of such Priviledges as if we reckoned our selves to be Partakers of them; he that thinks he should doubt of his Salvation is not a fit Disciple for this manner of Doctrine, and he may reply to the Preachers of the Gospel, if you would bring me to Holiness, you must make Use of other more essectual Arguments, for I cannot practice upon these Principles, because I have not Faith enough to believe that I have any Interest in them: some Arguments taken from the Justice and Wrath of God against Sinners, and his Mercy to­wards those that perform the Condition of sincere Obedience, would work more pow­erfully upon me. O what a miserable worth­less kind of saving Faith is this? that cannot fit a Believer to practice in a Gospel man­ner upon the most pure and powerful Prin­ciples of Grace, but rather leaveth him to [Page]work upon Legal Principles, which can ne­ver bring him to serve God acceptably out of Love, and as such a Faith faileth whol­ly in the right manner of obeying upon Gospel Principles, so it faileth also in the very matter of some great Duties, which are of such a nature that they include Assu­rance of God's Love in the right Perfor­mance of them, such are those great Duties of Peace with God, rejoycing in the Lord always, Hope that maketh not ashamed, own­ing the Lord as our God and our Saviour, praying to him as our Father in Heaven, of­fering up Body and Soul as an acceptable Sacrifice to him, casting all our Cares of Bo­dy and Soul upon him, Contentment and hearty Thanksgiving in every Condition, ma­king our Boast in the Lord, triumphing in his Praise, rejoycing in Tribulation, putting on Christ in our Baptism, receiving Christ's Body as broken for us, and his Blood as shed for us in the Lord's Supper, commit­ting our Souls willingly to God as our Re­deemer when ever he shall be pleased to call for us, loving Christ's Second Appearance, and looking for it as that blessed Hope: when we fall into any sudden Doubting whether we are in a state of Grace already when we are called to any present Undertaking, as to partake of the Lord's Supper, or any Duty that requires Assurance, to the right Performance of chem; we must relieve our selves by trusting confidently in Christ for [Page 190]the present Gift of his Salvation, or else we shall be driven to omit the Duty, or not to perform it rightly or sincerely; can we judge our selves already in a state of Grace by the reflect Act of Faith, if we do not find that we perform these Duties, at least several of them sincerely, or if we do not find that we have such a holy Faith as doth enable or incline us to the Performance of them? And can we be thus enabled and inclined by any Faith that is without some true Assurance of our Salvation? Therefore I conclude, that we must necessarily have some Assurance of our Salvation in the di­rect Act of Faith, whereby we are justi­fied, sanctified, and saved, before we can upon any good ground assure our selves that we are already in a state of Salvation by that which they call the Reflect Act. Give me such a saving Faith as will produce such Fruits as these. No other Faith will work by Love, and therefore will not avail to Salvation in Christ, Gal. 5.6. The Apostle James putteth thee upon shewing thy Faith by thy Works, James 2.18. And in this Trial this Faith of Assurance cometh off with high Praise and Honour: When God calleth his People to work outward Miracles by it, all things have been possible to them, and it hath frequently brought forth such Works of Righteousness, as may be deserved­ly esteemed great Spiritual Miracles; from hence hath proceeded that Heroick Forti­tude [Page]of the People of God, whereby their absolute Obedience to God hath shined forth in doing and suffering those great things which are recorded in the holy Scriptures and in the Histories of the Church. And if we be ever called to the fiery Trial as Pro­testants formerly were, we shall find their Do­ctrine of Assurance, to encourage us in suffer­ing for the sake of Christ.

Seventhly, The contrary Doctrine which excludeth Assurance out of the Nature of Saving Faith bringeth forth many evil Fruits; it tendeth to bereave our Souls of all Assu­rance of our Salvation and solid Comfort which is the Life of Religion, by placing it after sincere universal Obedience, where­as if we have them not first, we can ne­ver attain to this Obedience and to any As­surance that dependeth on it, as hath been proved, and this as far as it prevails makes us subject to continual Doubtings concerning our Salvation, and to tormenting Fears of Wrath, which casteth out true Love to God, and can produce no better than slavish hy­pocritical Service. It is one of the principal Pillars whereby manifold Superstitions in Po­pery are supported, as their Monkish Or­ders, their Satisfactions for Sin by Works, of Penance, Bodily Macerations, Whippings, Pilgrimages, Indulgences, trusting on the Me­rits of Saints, &c. When once Men have lost the Knowledge of the right way to as­sure [Page 191]themselves of Salvation, they will catch at any Straw to avoid Drowning in the Gulph of Despair.

There is no way to administer any solid Comfort to the wounded Spirits of those that see themselves void of all Holiness, under the Wrath and Curse of God, dead in Sin, not able so much as to think a good Thought; you do but increase their Terror and Anguish if you tell them they must first get Faith and Obedience, and when they find they have done that, they may perswade themselves, that God will receive them into his Grace and Favour. Alass they know that they cannot believe nor obey, except God prevent them with his Grace and Favour, and what if they be even at the Point of Death, strug­ling with Death's Pangs, so that they have no time or leisure to get good Qualifica­tions, and examine the Goodness of them, you must have a more speedy way to com­fort such by discovering to them the Free-Promises of Salvation to the worst of Sinners by Faith in Christ, and by exhorting them to apply those Promises and trust on Christ confidently for Remission of Sins, Holiness and Glory, assuring them also that God will help them to believe sincerely on Christ, if they desire it with all their Hearts, and that it is their Duty to believe, because God com­mands it.

Several other Evils are occasioned by the same Doctrine, Men are unwilling to know the worst of themselves, and prone to think their Qualifications better than they are, that they may avoid Despair; others please and content themselves without any Assurance of their Interest in Christ, because they think that is not necessary to Salvation, and that but few attain to it, and in this they shew little Love to Christ, or to their own Souls, some foster Doubtings of Salvation as Signs of Hu­mility, though they will hypocritically com­plain of them; many mispend their time in poring upon their own Hearts, to find out some Evidence of their Interest in Christ, when they should rather be imployed in re­ceiving Christ, and walking in him by a con­fident Faith.

Some are troubled with Doubts whether they should call God Father, and what Ap­prehensions they should have of him in Pray­er, and are offended at Ministers, that in their Publick Prayers use any Expressions that the People cannot joyn in, as if they do own God as their God and Father, and Christ as their Saviour; and upon the same Account they are offended at the Publick sing­ing of many of David's Psalms, and avoid partaking of the Lord's Supper, because they are not satisfied about their Interest in Christ.

Though true Believers have some Assurance of Salvation in Saving Faith it self, yet it is much weakned in many by this contrary Doctrine, and assaulted with many Doubt­ings, and then other good Qualifications must needs be low and weak together with it, and so obscure that it is very hard to dis­cern them; how hard a thing then will it be for true Believers to assure themselves, by the certain Knowledge of their own Sinceri­ty, that they are in a state of Grace already, which is the only Assurance of Faith? Some prescribe Marks and Signs to distinguish Sin­cerity from Hypocrisie, that Believers cannot sufficiently try themselves by them, except they have more Knowledge and Experience than Ordinary.

Thus many Believers walk heavily in the Bitterness of their Souls, conflicting with Fears and Doubtings all their Days, and this is the Cause that they have so little Courage and Fervency of Spirit in the ways of God, and that they so much mind earthly things, and are so afraid of Sufferings and Death. And if they get some Assurance by the Reflect Act of Faith, they often soon lose it again by Sins and Temptations. The way to avoid these Evils is to get your Assurance, and to main­tain it, and renew it upon all Occasions by the direct Act of Faith, by trusting assuredly on the Name of the Lord, and staying your [Page]self upon your God, when you walk in Dark­ness and see no light in any of your own Qualifications, Isa. 50.10. I doubt not but the Ex­perience of many choice Christians will bear witness to this Truth.

DIRECT. XI.
EXPLICATION.

HAving already discovered to you the power­ful and effectual means of an holy practice, my remaining work is to lead you to the actual Exercise and Improvement of them, for the im­mediate attainment of the End; and I think it may be clearly perceived by the foregoing Directi­ons, That Faith in Christ is the Duty with which a holy Life is to begin, and by which the Founda­tion of all other holy Duties is laid in the Soul. It is before sufficiently proved, That Christ him­self, with all Endowments necessary to enable us to an holy practice, is received actually into our hearts by Faith. This is the uniting Grace, where­by the Spirit of God knitteth the knot of mysti­cal Marriage betwixt Christ and us, and maketh us Branches of that noble Vine, Members of that Body joyned to that excellent Head, living Stones [Page 194]of the spiritual Temple, built upon the precious living Corner-stone and sure Foundation, par­takers of the Bread and Drink that came down from Heaven and giveth Life to the World. This is the Grace whereby we pass from our corrupt natural State, to a new holy State in Christ, also from Death in Sin to Life in Righteousness, and whereby we are comforted, that so we may be established in every good Word and Work. If we put the Question, what must we do that we may work the works of God? Christ resolveth it, That we believe on him whom he hath sent, Joh. 6.28, 29. He putteth us first upon the work of believing, which is the work of God by way of eminence, the work of works, because all other good works proceed from it. The scope of the present Direction, is to put you upon the performance of this great work of believing on Christ, and to guide you therein; for which end, you are to consider di­stinctly, four things contained in it.

1. The first is, you are to make it your diligent endeavour to perform the great work of Believing on Christ. Many make little Conscience of this Duty. It is not known by Natural Light, as many moral Duties are, but only by supernatural Re­velation in the Gospel, and it is foolishness to the natural Man. These are sometimes terrified with apprehensions of other sins, and will examine themselves concerning them; and it may be, will write them down to help their Memories and De­votion; but the great sin of not believing on Christ, is seldom thought of in their self-exami­nations, or registred in the large Catalogues of their sins; and even those who are convinced that Believing on Christ is a Duty necessary to Salva­tion, [Page 195]do neglect all diligent endeavours to per­form it. Either because they account, that it is a motion of the heart which may be easily performed at any time without any labour or diligent endea­vour; or on the contrary, because they account it as difficult as all the works of the Law, and utter­ly impossible for them to perform by their most diligent endeavours, except the Spirit of God work it in them by its mighty power. And that there­fore it is in vain for them to work, until they feel this working of the Spirit in their Hearts: Or because they account it a Duty so peculiar to the Elect, that it would be presumption for them to endeavour the performance of it, until they know themselves to be elected to Eternal Life through Christ. I shall urge you to a diligent performance of this Duty, notwithstanding all these Impedi­ments, by the following consideration: It is wor­thy of our best endeavours, as appeareth by the preciousness, excellency, and necessity of it al­ready discovered.

If the Light of Nature were not darkned in the matters of Salvation, then it would shew us, that we cannot of our selves find out the way of Salva­tion, and would condemn those that despise that Revelation of the way of Salvation that God hath given us in the Gospel, declared in all the holy Scriptures. The great end of Preaching the Go­spel, is for the Obedience of Faith, Rom. 1.5. that so we may be brought to Christ, and all other Obedience; yea, the great end of all revealed Doctrines in the whole Scriptures, is to make us wise to Salvation by Faith that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor. 3.15. The end of the Law given by Moses, was for Righteousness to every one that believeth, [Page 196] Rom. 10.4. and Christ was that end for Righte­ousness. The moral Law it self was revealed in order to our Salvation, by believing on Christ, or else the knowledge of it had nothing availed fallen Man, that was unable to perform it. Therefore they that slight the Duty of Believing, and count it foolishness, do thereby slight, despise, and vil­lisie the whole Counsel of God revealed in the Scripture: The Law and the Gospel, and Christ himself, are become of none effect to the Salvati­on of such; the only fruit that such an one can at­tain to, of all the saving Doctrines of the Scrip­ture, is only some hypocritical moral Duties and slavish performances, which will be as filthy rags in the sight of God in the great day. However, many mind not the sin of unbelief in their self-examinations, and write it not in their Scrouls, yet let them know, that this is the most pernici­ous sin of all: All the sins in their Scrouls would not prevail to their Condemnation, yea, they would not prevail in their Conversation, were it not for their unbelief. This one sin prevailing, maketh it impossible for them to please God in any. Duty whatsoever, Heb. 11.6. If you will not mind this one main sin now, God will at last mind you of it with a Vengeance: For, He that believeth not on the Son shall not see Life, but the wrath of God abideth on him, Joh. 3.36. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, taking Vengeance on those that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thes. 1.5.

2. Believing on Christ, is a work that will require diligent endeavour and labour for the performance of it; we must labour to enter into that rest, lest any man fall by unbelief, Heb. 4.11. we must shew diligence [Page 197]to the full assurance of hope to the end, that we may be followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherited the promises, Heb. 6.11, 12. It is a work that requireth the exercise of Might and Power, and therefore we have need to be strengthned with might by the Spirit in the inward Man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by Faith, Eph. 3.16, 17. I confess it is easie, plea­sant and delicious in its own nature, because it is a motion of the heart without any cumbersome bodily Labour; and it is a taking Christ and his Salvation as our own, which is very comfortable and delightful; and the Soul is carried forth in this by Love to Christ and his happiness, which is an Affection which maketh even hard works easie and pleasant; yet it is made difficult to us, by reason of the opposition that it meeteth withall from our own inward Corruptions, and from Sa­tans temptations. It is no easie matter to receive Christ as our happiness and true Salvation, with true confidence and lively affection, when the guilt of sin lyeth heavily upon the Conscience, and the wrath of God manifested by the Word, and ter­rible Judgments, especially when we have been long accustomed to seek Salvation by the procure­ment of our own works; and to account the way of Salvation by Free Grace, foolish and pernici­ous, when our Lusts encline us strongly to the things of the flesh and the World, when Satan doth his utmost by his own suggestions, and by false Teachers, and by worldly Allurements and Terrors to hinder the sincere performance of this Duty. Many works that are easie in their own nature, prove difficult for us to perform in our Circumstances: To forgive our enemies, and to [Page 198]love them as our selves, is but a motion of the mind, easie to be performed in its own nature; and yet many that are convinced of their Duty, find it a hard matter to bring their hearts to the performance of it. It is but a motion of the mind to cast our Care upon God for worldly things, and rich Men may think that they can do it easily; but poor Men that have great Families, find it a hard matter. That easie comfortable Duty which Moses exhorted the Israelites to, when Pharoah with his Chariot and Horse-men overtook them at the Red Sea, Be ye not afraid, stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord, which he will shew you this day, Exod. 14.13. was not easily performed. The very easiness of some Duties makes their perfor­mance difficult, as Naaman the Assyrian was hardly brought, to wash and be clean, because he thought it to be too slight and easie a Remedy for the Cure of his Leprosie, 2 Kings 5.12, 13. even in this very case, people are offended at the Duty of Believ­ing on Christ, as too slight and easie a remedy to Cure the Leprosie of the Soul, they would have some harder thing enjoyned them to the at­tainment of so great an end as this everlasting Salvation. The performance of all the moral Law, is not accounted work enough for this end, Mat. 19.17, 20. However easie the work of Be­lieving seemeth to many, yet common Experience hath shewed, that Men are more easily brought to the most burdensome, unreasonable, and inhu­mane Observations, as the Jows and Christian Ga­latians were more easily brought to take upon their Necks the Yoke of Moses's La w, which none were able to bear, Acts 15.10. The Heathens were more easily brought to burn their Sons and [Page 199]their Daughters in the Fire to their Gods, Deut. 12.31. The Papists are brought more easily to the Vows of Chastity and Poverty, and Obedi­ence to the most rigorous rules of Monastick Dis­cipline, to macerate and torture their Bodies with Fastings, Scourgings, and Pilgrimages, and to bear all the excessive Tyranny of the Papal Hie­rarchy, in a multitude of burdensome superstiti­ous and ridiculous Devotions. They that slight the work of Faith for its easiness, shew that they were never yet made sensible of innumerable sins, and terrible Curse of the Law, and Wrath of God that they lye under; and of the darkness and vanity of their Minds, the corruption and hard­ness of their Hearts, and their bondage under the power of Sin and Satan, and have not bin truly humbled, without which they can't Believe in a right manner. Many sound Believers have found by experience, that it hath bin a very hard mat­ter to bring their Hearts to the Duty of Believing; it hath cost them vigorous struggles, and sharp conflicts with their own Corruptions, and Satans Temptations. It is so difficult a work, that we can't perform it without the mighty working of the Spirit of God in our Hearts, who only can make it to be absolutely easie to us, and doth make it easie, or suffer it to be difficult, according as he is pleased to communicate his Grace in vari­ous degrees unto our Souls.

3. Tho we cannot possibly perform this great work in a right manner, until the Spirit of God work Faith in our Hearts by his mighty Power, yet it is necessary that we should endeavour. And that before we can find the Spirit of God work­ing Faith effectually in us, or giving strength to [Page 200]Believe. We can perform no holy Duty accepta­bly, except the Spirit of God work it in us; and yet we are not hereby excused from working our selves, but we are the rather stirred up to the greater diligence; Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2.12, 13. The way whereby the Spirit works Faith in the Elect, is by stirring them up to endeavour to Be­lieve, and this is a way suitable to the means that the Spirit useth, i. e. The Exhortations, Com­mands and Invitations of the Gospel, which would be of no force, if we were not to obey them, until we find Faith already wrought in us. Nei­ther can we possibly find, that the Spirit of God doth effectually work Faith, or give strength to Believe, until we Act it; for all inward Graces, as well as all other inward Habits, are discerned by their Acts, as Seed in the Ground by its Springing. We cannot see any such thing as Love to God or Man in our Hearts before we Act it: Children know not their Ability to stand upon their Feet, until they have made trial, by endeavouring so to do; so we know not our spiritual Strength, until we have learned by Experience from the use and exercise of it; neither can we know, or assure our seives absolutely, that the Spirit of God will give us Strength to Believe before we Act Faith; for such a Knowledge and Assurance if it be right, is saving Faith it self in part; and whosoever trusteth on Christ assuredly for strength to believe by his Spirit, doth in effect trust on Christ for his own Salvation, which is inseparably joyned with the Grace of saving Faith. Tho the Spirit worketh other Duties in us by Faith, yet he [Page 201]worketh Faith in us immediately by hearing, knowing and understanding the Word; Faith cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10.13. And in the Word he makes no ab­solute Promise or Declaration, that he will work Faith in this or that unbelieving Heart, or that he will give strength to Believe to any one in par­ticular, or begin the work of Believing in Christ. for Faith it self is the first Grace whereby we have a particular Interest in any saving Promise. It is a thing hidden in the secret Counsel and Pur­pose of God concerning us, whether he will give us his Spirit and saving Faith, until our Election be discovered by our Believing actually. There­fore as soon as we know the Duty of Believing, we are to apply our selves immediately to the vi­gorous performance of the Duty, and in so doing, we shall find that the Spirit of Christ hath strength­ned us to Believe, tho we knew not certainly that it would do it before-hand. The Spirit cometh undiscernably upon the Elect, to work Faith with­in them, like the Wind that bloweth where it lists, and none knoweth whence it cometh, and whither it goeth, but only we hear the sound of it, and thereby know it when it is past and gone, Joh. 3.8. we must therefore begin the work, be­fore we know that the Spirit doth or will work in us savingly: And we shall be willing to set upon the work if we Believe; for thy People shall be willing in the day of thy Power, Psal. 110.3. It is enough that God discovereth to us before-hand in the Gospel, what Faith is, and the ground we have to Believe on Christ for our own Salvation; and that God requireth this Duty of us, and will help us in the performance of it, if we apply [Page 202]our selves heartily thereunto: Fear not, I command thee to be strong, and of good courage, Josh. 1. Arise and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee, 1 Chron. 22.16. Therefore whoso receiveth this Gospel-discovery as the Word of God in hearty Love, is taught by the Spirit, and will certainly come to Christ by Believing, Joh. 6.45. Every one that receiveth it not despiseth God, maketh him a lyar, and deserveth justly to perish for his Unbelief.

4. Tho the Spirit worketh saving Faith only in the Elect, and others believe not, because they are not of Christ's Sheep, Joh. 10.26. and on that account its called the Faith of Gods Elect, Tit. 1.1. yet all that hear the Gospel are obliged to the Duty of Believing, as well as to all the Duties of the moral Law, and that before they know their own particular Election; and they are lyable to Condemnation for Unbelief, as well as for any other sin: He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the Navie of the only begotten Son of God, Joh. 3.18. The Apostle Paul sheweth, That the Elect Israelites obtained Salva­tion, and the rest that were not Elected were blind­ed, and yet even these were broken off from the good Olive-tree because of their Unbelief, Rom. 11.7, 20. We cannot have a certain knowledge of our Election to Eternal Life before we do Be­lieve; it is a thing hidden in the unsearchable Counsel of God, until it be manifest by our effe­ctual Calling and Believing on Christ. The Apo­stle knew the Election of the Thessalonians, by sind­ing the evidence of their Faith, that the Gospel came to them, not in Word only, but also in Power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much Assurance; and [Page 203]that they had received the Word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thes. 1.4, 5, 6. We are to see our Calling, if we would find out that God hath chosen us, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27. therefore we must Believe on Christ before we know our Electi­on, or else we shall never know it, and shall ne­ver Believe; and it is no presumption for us to trust confidently on Christ for Everlasting Life, before we have any good evidence of our Election, because God that cannot Lye, hath made a ge­neral promise, That whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, without making the least diffe­rence among them that perform this Duty, Rom. 10.11, 12. The Promise is as firm and sure to be fulfilled, as any of Gods Decrees and Purposes; and therefore it is a good and sufficient ground for our Confidence. It is certain, that all that the Father hath given to Christ by the Decrees of Eter­nal Election, shall come to Christ. And it is as re­ally certain, that Christ will in no wise cast out any that cometh to him, whosoever he be, Joh. 6.37. And we need not fear that we shall infringe God's Decree of Election, by Believing on Christ confidently for our Salvation, before we know what God hath decreed concerning us. For if we Believe, we shall at last be found among the num­ber of the Elect. And if we refuse to Believe, we shall thereby wilfully sort our selves among the Reprobates, that stumble at the Word, being dis­obedient, whereunto also they are appointed, 1 Pet. 2.8. I shall add further, that tho we have no Evidence of our particular Election, before we Believe, yet we are to trust on Christ assuredly, to make it evident to us, by giving us that Sal­vation which is the peculiar Portion of the Elect [Page 204]only: All spiritual saving Blessings wherewith God blesseth his People in Christ, are the peculiar Portion of them whom God hath chosen in Christ before the foundation of the World, Eph. 1.3, 4. yet we must necessarily trust on Christ for those sa­ving Blessings, or have none at all: We are to pray in Faith nothing doubting, that God will re­member us with the favour that he beareth to his People, that we may see the good of his Chosen, and glory with his Inheritance, Psal. 106.4, 5. therefore we are to trust assuredly on God, that he will deal with us as his Chosen People. Thus it appeareth, that it is not presumption, but your bounden Duty, to apply your selves to the great work of Believing on Christ for Salvation, with­out questioning at all before-hand, whether you are Elected or no: Secret things belong to God, but those things that are revealed belong unto us, that we may do them, Deut. 29.29.

The second thing directed to, is, that you should endeavour for a right manner of performing this Duty. This is a point of great concernment, because the want of it will render your Faith in­effectual to Sanctification and Salvation. The great Duty of Love, which is the end of the Law, and the principal fruit of Sanctification must flow from Faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1.5. There is a feigned Faith, that doth not really receive Christ into the Heart, and will not produce Love, or any true Obedience; such as Simon Magus had Acts 8.13.23. for notwithstanding his Faith, he was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. And such as those Jews had, to whom Christ would not commit himself, who did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue, Joh. 2.23. [Page 205]and 12.42. and such as the Apostle James speak of, What doth it profit you, my Brethren, if a man say he have Faith, and have not Works? Can that Faith save him? The Devils also believe and trem­ble, Jam. 2.14, 19. Take heed therefore lest you deceive your Souls with a counterfeit Faith, in­stead of the precious Faith of God's Elect. The way to distinguish the one from the other, is by considering well what is the right manner of that Believing which is effectaal to Salvation: Hypo­crites may perform the same Works for the mat­ter, with true Saints; but they are defective in the manner of performance, wherein the excellency of the Work doth chiefly consist. One great reason why many strive to enter in at the strait Gate, and are not able, is because they are ignorant and defective in the right manner of Acting this Faith whereby they are to enter. Now I confess, that God only is able to guide us effectually in the right way of Believing; and we have this great Consolation, when we see our own folly and proneness to mi­stake our way, that if we heartily desire and en­deavour to Believe on Christ aright, we may con­sidently trust on Christ to guide us. God hath pro­mised that the wayfaring Men, tho Fools, shall not err in the way of Holiness; and that he will teach sinners in the way; the Meek will he guide in Judgment, and the Meek will he teach his way, Psal. 25.8, 9. and he commandeth them that lack Wisdom, to ask it of God in Faith, no­thing doubting, Jam. 1.5, 6. But however, we are to know, that God guideth us only accord­ing to the rule of his Word; and we must endea­vour to learn the right way of Believing out of the Word, or else we are not able so much as to [Page 206]trust rightly on God for guidance and direction in this great Work. To help you herein, I have given you before in this Treatise, a Description of saving Faith; and have shewed that it con­taineth two Acts in it; the one is Believing the Truth of the Gospel; the other is Believing on Christ as revealed, and freely promised to us in the Gospel for all his Salvation. Now your great endeavour must be, to perform both these Acts in a right manner, as I shall shew concerning each of them in particular.

In the first place, you are highly concerned to endeavour for a right belief of the Truth of the Gospel of Christ, that so you may be well fur­nished, disposed and encouraged to Believe on Christ as revealed and promised in the Gospel; hereby you are to remove all discomfortable thoughts and objections of Satan and your own Conscience, and to overcome all corrupt Inclina­tions that hinder a chearful embracing of Christ and his Salvation. It is found by experience, that when any fail in the second Act of Faith, the reason of the failing is commonly some defect in this first Act. There is some false imagination or other in them, contrary to the belief of the Truth of the Gospel; which is a strong hold of Sin and Satan, that must be pulled down before they can receive Christ into their Hearts by Believing on him. If they knew the Name of Christ as he is discovered in the Gospel, and judged aright of the Truth and Excellency of it, they would not fail to put their Trust in him. And we are in great danger of entertaining such false Imagina­tions, and to account many Truths of the Gospel strange Paradoxes, yea foolish and pernicious, be­cause [Page 207]of our Ignorance, Self-conceitedness, guilty Consciences, corrupt Affections, and manifold Errors wherewith our Judgments are prepossessed in matters of Salvation; and because Satan la­boureth to beguil us, as he did Eve, through his subtilty to corrupt our minds from the simplicity of the Gospel that is in Christ, 2 Cor. 11.3. I shall therefore give you some particular Instructi­ons, that are of greatest moment to prevent such defects as we are most lyable to in the first Act of our Faith.

1. You must Believe with a full perswasion, that you are a Child of Wrath by Nature, as well as others, fallen from God by the sin of the first Adam; dead in Trespasses and Sins, subject to the Curse of the Law of God, and to the power of Satan, and to insupportable misery to all Eterni­ty: And that you cannot possibly procure your reconciliation with God, or any spiritual Life and Strength to do any good work, by any endea­vouring to get Salvation according to the terms of the Legal Covenant, and that you cannot find any way to escape out of this sinful and miserable Condition by your own Reason and Understand­ing, without supernatural Revelation, nor be freed from it, except by that infinite power that raiseth the Dead. We must not be afraid as some are, to know our own vileness and sinfulness, nei­ther must we be willing to think our selves better than we are, but must be heartily desirous and glad to know the worst of our own Condition; yea, when we have found out the worst that we can of our selves. Yea, we must be willing to be­lieve that our Hearts are deceitful, and desperately wicked, beyond all that we can know and find [Page 208]out, Jer. 17.9. This is all necessary to work in us true Humiliation, Self-despair, and Self-loath­ing, that we may highly esteem, and earnestly seek the Salvation of Christ, as the one thing ne­cessary. It maketh us sick of sin, and sensible of our need of the great Physician, and willing to be ordered according to any of his prescriptions, whatsoever we suffer, rather than to follow our own Wisdom, Mat. 9.12. It was for want of this Humiliation that the Scribes and Pharisees were not so forward to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, as the Publicans and Harlots, Mat. 21.31.

2. You are to believe assuredly, That there is no way to be saved without receiving all the sa­ving benesits of Christ, his Spirit as well as his Merits, Sanctification as well as remission of sins by Faith. It is the ruin of many Souls, that they trust on Christ for remission of sins without any regard to Holiness, whenas these two Benefits are inseparably joyned in Christ. So that none are freed from Condemnation by Christ, but those that are enabled to walk holily, i. e. not after the flesh, but after the spirit, Rom. 8.1. It is also the ruin of Souls to seek only remission of sins by Faith in Christ, and Holiness by our endeavours, according to the terms of the Law, whereas we can never live to God in Holiness, except we be dead to the Law, and live only by Christ living in us by Faith: That Faith that receiveth not ho­liness as well as remission of sins from Christ, will never sanctifie us, and therefore it will never bring us to heavenly Glory, Heb. 12.14.

3. You are to be fully persuaded of the All­sufficiency of Christ for the Salvation of your self, [Page 209]and of all that believe on him, that his blood cleans­eth from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. tho our sins be never so great and horrible, and continued in never so long, yet he is able to deliver us from the body of Death, and mortifie our Corruptions be they never so strong: We find in Scripture, that abominable wicked persons have bin saved by him, Idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate, Cove­tous, Drunkards, Extortioners, &c. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Such as have sinned against the Light of Na­ture, as the Heathen, and the Light of Scripture, as the Jews; such as have denied Christ, as Peter, and persecuted and blasphamed him, as Paul; many that have fallen into great sins are ruined for ever, because they do not account the Grace of Christ sufficient for their Pardon and Sanctifi­cation; when they think they are gone and past all hope of recovery, that their sins are upon them, and they pine away in them, and how shall they live, Ezek. 33.10. This despair works secretly in many Souls, without much trouble and horror, and maketh them careless of their Souls, and true Religion. The Devil sills some with horrid, fil­thy, blasphemous thoughts, on purpose that they may think their sins too great to be forgiven, tho commonly such thoughts are the least of the sins of those that are pestered with them, and ra­ther the Devils sin than theirs, because they are hurried into them sore against their wills; but if their Hearts be somewhat polluted with them, Christ testifieth, that all manner of sin and blasphe­my shall be forgiven, besides blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Mat. 10.31. And as for those that are guilty of Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, the reason why they are never forgiven, is not [Page 210]because of any want of sufficiency in the Blood of Christ, or in the pardoning mercy of God, but because they never repent of that sin, and never seek to God for mercy through Christ, but continue obstinate until Death; for the Scripture testifieth, that it is impossible to renew them again by Repentance, Heb. 6.5, 6. So that the Merits of Christ are sufficient for all that seek to him for mercy by Believing: There are others that despair of ever getting any Victory over their Lusts, because they have formerly made many Vows and Resolutions, and have used many vigo­rous Endeavours against them in vain: such are to persuade themselves, that the Grace of Christ is sufficient for them, when all other means have failed; as the Woman that had the Issue of Blood, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse by any Remedies that Physicians could prescribe; yet persuadeth her self, that if she might but touch the Cloths of Christ, she should be whole, Mar. 5.25, 28. Those that despair by reason of the greatness of their Guilt and Corrup­tion, do greatly dishonour and undervalue the Grace of God, his infinite mercy, and the infi­nite merits of Christ's Blood, and power of his Spirit, and deserve to perish with Cain and Judas: Abundance of People that give up themselves to all Licentiousness in this wicked Generation, lye under secret Despair, which maketh them so des­perate in Swearing, Blaspheming, Whoring, Drunkenness, and all manner of Wickedness. How horrid and hainous soever our sins and cor­ruptions have bin, we should learn to account them a small matter in comparison to the Grace of Christ, who is God as well as Man, and offer­ed [Page 211]himself, by the Eternal Spirit, as a Sacrifice of an infinite Value, for our Salvation; and can create anew as easily as he created the World, by a word speaking.

4. You are to be fully perswaded of the Truth of the General Free Promise in your own particular case, that if you believe on Christ sin­cerely, you shall have everlasting Life, as well as any other in the World, without performing any condition of Works to procure an Interest in Christ: For the Promise is Universal, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashanted, Rom. 9.32. without any Exception, and if God exclude you not, you must not exclude your selves, but rather conclude peremptorily, that how Vile, Wicked and Unworthy soever you be; yet if you come you shall be accepted as well as any other in the World; you are to believe the great Article of the Creed, the Remission of Sins in your own case, when you are principally concerned, or else it will little profit you to believe it in the case of others. This is that which hinders many broken wounded Spirits from coming to the great Physician, when they are convinced of the abominable Filthiness of their Hearts, that they are dead in Sin with­out the least spark of true Grace and Holiness in them, they think that it is in vain for such as they are, to trust on Christ for Salvation, and that Christ will never save such as they are; why so? They can be but lost Creatures at worst, and Christ came to seek and save those that are lost. If they that are Dead in Sin cannot be saved, then all must Despair and Perish, for none have any Spiritual Life, until they receive it by Believing on Christ. Some think themselves to be worse [Page 212]than any others, and that none have such wicked Hearts as they; and tho others be accepted, yet they shall be rejected; but they should know that Christ came to save the Chiefest of Sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. and that the design of God is to shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace in our Salvation, Eph. 2.7. which is most glorified by pardoning the greatest Sinners, and it is but our ignorance to think our selves like no Body; for all others, as well as we, are naturally Dead in Trespasses and Sins, their Mind is Enmity to God, and is not subject to his Law, nor can be, Rom. 8.8. and every Imagination of the Thoughts of their Hearts are only evil and continually so, Gen. 6.5. they have all the same corrupt Fountain of all Abominations in their Hearts, tho we may have ex­ceeded many others in several actual Sins. Others think that they have out-staid their time, and therefore now they should find no place for Repen­tance, tho they should seek it carefully with Tears, Heb. 12. but Behold, now is [...] accepted time; now the day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6. [...]. even as long as God calleth upon you by the Gospel▪ And altho Esau was rejected, that sought rather the Earthly than Spiritual Blessings of the Birth-right, yet they shall not be rejected that seek the Enjoy­ment of Christ and his Salvation, as their only Happiness. If you come into Christ's Vinyard at the eleventh Hour of the day, you shall have your Penny as well as those that come early in the Morning, because the Reward is of Grace and not of Merit, Matt. 20.9, 10. and here you must be sure to believe stedfastly, that Christ and all his Salvation is bestowed as a Free Gift upon those that do not work to procure any Right or [Page 213]Title to him, or meetness or worthiness to re­ceive him, but only believe on him that justifieth the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. if you put any condition of Works or good Qualifications betwixt your selves and Christ, it will be a Partition wall that you can never climb over.

5. You are to believe assuredly, that it is the Will of God that you should Believe in Christ, and have Eternal Life by him as well as any other; and that your Believing is a Duty very acceptable to God, and that he will help you as well as any other in this work, because he calleth and com­mandeth you by the Gospel to Believe in Christ. This maketh us to set carefully upon the work of Believing; as when Jesus commanded the blind Man to be called, they said unto him, Be of good comfort and rise, he calleth thee, Mat. 10.29. A Command of Christ made Peter to walk upon the Water, Mat. 14.29. And here we are not to meddle with Gods secret of Predestination, or the purpose of his Will to give the Grace of Faith to some rather than others; but only with his re­vealed Will in his gracious Invitations and Com­mands, by which we are required to Believe on Christ. This Will of God is confirmed by his Oath, As I live saith the Lord God, I have no plea­sure in the death of a sinner, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel, Ezek. 33.11. Christ testifieth, that he would often have gathered the Children of Jerusalem as a hen, &c. and they would not, Mat. 23.37. And the Apostle Paul testifieth, that God will have all men to be saved, &c. 1 Tim. 1.4. you are to reject and abandon all thoughts that are contrary to this [Page 214]persuasion. What if few be saved? Thy Salva­tion will not make the number too great; for few will follow thee in the Duty of Believing. What if the Wrath of God be revealed from Heaven against thee in many terrible Judgments, and the Word and thine own Conscience condemn thee, and Christ seem to reckon thee no better than a Dog, as he did the Woman of Canaan, Mat. 15.26. Thou art to make a good inter­pretation of all these things, that the end of them is, to drive thee to Christ, as this was the End of the Curses of the Law, and all the terri­ble Dispensations of them, Rom. 10.4. If a Prophet, or Angel from Heaven sent of God on purpose to declare, that the Sentence of Everlasting Damnation is declared against thee, it would be thy Duty to believe, that God sent him to give thee timely warning, for this very end, that thou mightest Believe, and turn to God by Faith and Repen­tance. Jeremiah prophesied against the Jews, that God would pluck them up, pull them down, and de­stroy them for their sins; yet he himself taught them, If they turned from their evil ways, God would repent of the evil, Jer. 18.7, 8, 11. Jonah preached nothing but certain Destruction of Ni­neveh, to be executed upon them within 40 days, Chap. 3.4. yet the intent of that terrible message was, that those Heathenish People might escape Destruction by Repentance. The most absolute and peremptory denunciations of Divine Ven­geance against us while we are in this World, must be always understood with a secret reserve of Salvation for us, upon our Faith and Repen­tance. And we are to account, that the reason why God doth so terribly denounce his Judgments [Page 215]against us by his Word is, that we may escape them, by flying for Refuge to his free Mercy in Christ▪ Take heed of fostering any thoughts, that God hath absolutely decreed to shew no saving Mercy to you, or that you have already committed the unpardonable sin; or that it is in vain for you to attempt the work of Believing, because God will not help you in it. If such thoughts pre­vail in your hearts, they will do you more hurt than the worst blasphemous thoughts that terrifie you, or any of the grossest Abominations that ever you were guilty of; because they obstruct your Believing on Christ for Salvation. The Spi­rit and the Bride say, Come; Christ saith, Whoso­ever will, let him take of the water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. Therefore we are to abandon all thoughts that hinder our coming to Christ, as very sinful and pernicious, arising in us from our own Cor­ruptions, and Satan's Delusions, and utterly op­posite to the mind of Christ, and teachings of the Spirit; and what ground can we have to enter­tain such unbelieving thoughts? Hath God made us of his Privy-Council, that we should be able to know that God hath decreed us to Damnation, before it be manifest by our final unbelief and im­penitence? As for the unpardonable sin, it consist­eth in renouncing the way of Salvation by Christ with the whole heart, after we have attained to the knowledge of it, and are convinced of the Truth of it by the Gospel. Its the sin that the Christian Hebrews would have bin guilty of, if they had revolted from Christianity to the Reli­gion of the unbelieving Jews, that accounted Christ to be an Impostor, and were most ranco­rous persecutors of him and his ways, Heb. 6.4, [Page 216]5. They that have committed that sin continue implacable, malicious Enemies to Christ and his ways to the end, without any repentance: There­fore if you can but find, that you desire seriously to get an interest in Christ, and to be better Christians than you are; if you be troubled and grieved that your Hearts and Lives are so wicked, and that you want Faith, Love, and true Obe­dience; yea, if your Hearts be not maliciously bent to persecute the Gospel, and prefer Atheism, Licentiousness, or any false Religion before it, you have no cause to suspect your selves to be guilty of this unpardonable sin.

6. Add to all these, a full persuasion of the incomparable glorious Excellency of Christ, and of the way of Salvation by him. You are to esteem the enjoyment of Christ as the only Salva­tion and true happiness, and such an happiness as hath in it unsearchable Riches of Glory, and will make our Cup to run over with exceeding abundance of Peace and Joy, and full of Glory to all Eternity. We must account all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, &c. Phil. 3.8. Incline your Wills and Affections to choose and embrace Christ as the Chief Good, and never to rest satisfied with­out the Enjoyment of him; and to reject every thing that stands in Competition with him, or the Enjoyment of him. Christ is precious in the esteem of all true Believers, 1 Pet. 2.7. Their high esteem of his incomparable preciousness and excellency, induceth them to sell all, that they may buy this Pearl of great price, Mat. 13.46. this maketh them to say, Lord evermore give us of this Bread, that cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life [Page 217]to the World: Lord, to whom shall we go; thou hast the Words of Eternal Life, Joh. 6.32, 33, 68. be­cause of the savour of his good Ointments, his Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love him, Cant. 1.3. They are sick of love to him, because he is in their Eyes the chiefest of ten thousand, Cant. 5.8, 10. As the Glory of God that appeared in the wonderful Beauty of the Temple, and in the Wisdom and Glory of So­lomon, drew Worshipers to God from the utmost parts of the Earth, so the unparallel'd excellency of Christ which was prefigured by the Glory of Solomon and the Temple, doth more powerfully draw Believers in these Gospel-days. The Devil, who is the God of this World, knows how necessary it is for our Salvation, to discern all the Glory and Excellency of Christ; and therefore where the Go­spel is preached, he maketh it his great work, to Eclypse the Glory of Christ in the Ministry, and to blind the minds of the People, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them, 2 Cor. 4.4. One that is convinced of the truth of the Gospel may be averse to the embra­cing of it, until he see also the goodness of it, that Christ is altogether lovely and excellent.

I come now to the second principal Act of Faith, whereby Christ himself, and his Spirit, and all his saving Benefits are actually received into the Heart; which is, Believing on Christ as revealed, and freely promised to us in the Gospel for all his Salvation. The Spirit of God doth habi­tually dispose and encline our Hearts to a right performance of this act, by enabling us to per­form the first Act according to the former in­structions, by believing assuredly those great [Page 218]things of the Gospel, whereby we are delivered into a form of doctrine, Rom. 6.17. which we are to obey from our hearts, and to follow as our pattern in the manner of our Acting Faith in Christ for Salvation. Therefore I need only to exhort you briefly to Act your Faith in Christ, ac­cording to that form and pattern in which you have bin already so largely instructed. You are to believe in Christ as alone sufficient, and all-suf­ficient for your Happiness and Salvation; despair­ing altogether of any attainment of Happiness by your own Wisdom, Strength, works of Righte­ousness, or any fleshly worldly Confidences what­soever: We must be as dead People to all other Confidences, and account them to be loss for Christ, according to the example of the blessed Apostle, Phil. 3.3, 7, 8. We must not be grieved that we have nothing to trust upon besides Christ, for our Salvation, but rather, we are to rejoyce that we need nothing else, and that we have a sure foun­dation to rely upon, incomparably better than any other that can be imagined: And we must resolve to cast the burden of our Souls wholly on Christ, and to seek Salvation no other way, whatsoever becomes of us. If the Cripple lay not the whole weight of his Body upon a strong Staff, but part of it on a rotten one, he is like to receive a fall. If the Swimmer will not commit his Body wholly to the Water to bear him up, but catch at Weeds, or struggle to feel out Ground, he may sink to the bottom. Christ will be all our Salvation, or nothing; if we seek to be saved by any other ways, as the Galatians did by Circumcision, Christ will profit us nothing, Gal. 5.2. You are also to re­ceive Christ meerly as a free-gift, given to the [Page 219]Chief of sinners, resolving that you will not per­form any Conditions to procure your selves a right and title to him: But that you will come to him as a lost sinner, an ungodly Creature, trusting on him that Justifieth the ungodly; and that you will buy him without mony, and without any price whatsoever, Rom. 4.5. Isa. 55.2. Look not on your own Faith or Love, or any good Qualifications in your selves, as the ground of your trusting in Christ, but only to the free Grace and loving-kindness of God in Christ. How ex­cellent is thy loving-kindness O God! therefore the Chil­dren of men put their trust under the shadow of thy Wings, Psal. 30.7. For if you make your Faith, Love, or good Qualifications to be your first and principal Foundation, and you build Christ upon them, instead of building all upon Christ, you invert the order of the Gospel, and Christ will profit you nothing.

Another thing to be observed diligently is, that you must come to Christ for a new holy Heart and Life, and all things necessary thereunto, as well as for deliverance from the wrath of God, and the torments of Hell. You must also come to him with an ardent Love and Affection to him, and esteem him better than a thousand Worlds, and the only excellent Portion, loathing and ab­horring your self as a vile, sinful, and miserable Creature, and accounting all things Dung in com­parison of his Excellency, that you may be able to say from the bottom of your Heart, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? &c. Psal. 73.23.

Lastly, You must endeavour to draw near with full assurance of Faith, Heb. 10.22. trusting on Christ confidently for your own particular Salva­tion, [Page 220]upon the account of that general promise, That whosoever believeth on Christ shall not be asha­med, Rom. 9.33. You must check your selves for all doubtings, fears, staggerings concerning your own Salvation by Christ, saying with the Psalmist, Why art thou cast down O my Soul, &c. Psal. 42.11.

The third thing contained in the direction is; The avoiding of all delay in the performance of this great work of Believing in Christ. Until we have performed it, we continue under the power of Sin and Satan, and under the wrath of God, and there is nothing betwixt Hell and us, besides the Breath of our Nostrils. Its dangerous for Lot to linger in Sodom, lest Fire and Brimstone come down from Heaven upon him. The Man­slayer must flee with all haste to the City of refuge, lest the avenger of blood pursue him while his Heart is hot, and slay him, Deut. 19.5, 6. We should make haste, and not delay, to keep Gods Command­ments, Psal. 119.60. and flee for refuge to the hope set before us, Heb. 6.18. And God commandeth us to flee thus by Faith, without which it is im­possible to please God in other Duties. The work is of such a nature, that it may be performed as soon as you hear the Gospel. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me, Psal, 18.44. As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her Children, Isa. 66.8. We have many examples of those that received the Word by Faith at the first hearing of it. Three Thousand were added to the Church on the very same day wherein Peter first publish­ed the Gospel in Jerusalem, Acts 2.41. so, many Jews and Gentiles were converted at the first hear­ing of the Apostle Paul at Antioch, Acts 13.43. [Page 221]The Jaylor, with all his house believed, and were baptized the same Night wherein Paul first preach­ed to them, Acts 16.33, 34. The Gospel came at first to the Thessalonians, not in Word only, but in Power, and in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thes. 1.5, 6. If God open the Hearts of his People to attend diligently, they may be instructed in the know­ledge of the Gospel by one brief Sermon, suffi­ciently to begin the practice of saving Faith; and when they know their Duty, God requireth im­mediate performance, without allowing us the least respit in the state of Unbelief. When Satan cannot prevail with People, to reject wholly the Duty of Believing, his next attempt for the ruin of their Souls is, to prevail with them at least, to delay and shift off the performance of it from time to time, by several false reasonings and imagina­tions which he putteth into their minds; the most ignorant and sensual are easily prevailed with to defer this Duty, until they have taken their fill of the pleasures, profits, and honours of this World; and are summoned to prepare for ano­ther World, by Infirmities, Age, Sickness▪ pray­ing and hoping, that a large time of Repentance will be granted unto them before they dye. But such delays shew, that they are really unwilling to Repent and Believe, until they are forced by necessity; and that they prefer the pleasures, pro­sits and honours of the World, above God and Christ, and their own Souls. Thus they unfit themselves more and more for this great Duty, by their customary walking in sin, and by mis­spending the precious time of their Health and Strength, which is most meet for the performance of this great Work. They highly provoke God [Page 222]never to give them Time, or Grace to Repent hereafter. Others imagine, that after they have heard the Gospel of Salvation by Christ, they may lawfully defer the Believing of it, until they have sufficiently examined the Truth of some other different Doctrin, or until God be pleased to afford them some other means, to assure them fully of the Truth of the Gospel. Thus they that are called Seekers, mis-spend the day of Grace, ever learning, but never coming to the knowledg of the Truth, 2 Tim. 3.7. But the Truth of the Gospel doth so clearly evidence its self by its own Light, That if People do not wilfully shut their Eyes, or blind themselves by their own Pride, and love of their Lusts, they would easily perceive that it is the Truth of God, because the Image of his Grace, Mercy, Power, Justice and Holiness, appears manifestly engraven upon it. It is a sign People are Proud, when they consent not to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness, 1 Tim. 6.3. If they were humble, and sincerely inclined to do the Will of God, they would know whether the Doctrine be of God or no, Joh. 7.17. They would quickly be persuaded of the Truth (by Moses and the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles) spo­ken to them in the Scripture; and if they will not hear them, neither will they not be persuaded tho one rose from the dead; or whatever other Miracle be wrought to confirm the Divine Authority of the Gospel, Luke 16.31. Another sort of People there are, that delay the great work of Believ­ing, to the ruin of their Souls, upon the outward means of Grace and Salvation, instead of any en­deavours to receive Christ by Faith, tho they be [Page 223]convinced of the Truth of the Gospel: This they call waiting upon God at the doors of his Grace and Salvation, in the use of Means appointed by him, and sitting under the droppings of the Sanctuary. But let them know, that this is not the right waiting on God required in Scripture; it is rather disobedience to God, and to the Name of his appointment, which requires, that we should be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving our selves, Jam. 1.22. and that we should come in to the spiritual Feast, Luke 14.23. and not only stand at the door, or sit under the droppings of the House of God, lest Christ re­pute us no better than eve-droppers. That holy waiting on the Lord commended to us in Scrip­ture, is ever accompanied with Believing and Hoping in the Lord, and dependeth thereon. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living, Psal. 23.13, 14. It is good that a Man should both hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord, Lam. 3.26. What is it that these deluded ones wait for, before they perform the Duty of Believing? Is it for more knowledge of the Gospel? The way to encrease thy Knowledge as well as any other Talent, is to make use of what thou hast received already; Believe heartily on Christ for all thy Salvation, according to that little knowledge of the Gospel which thou hast, and thou wilt have an interest in the promise of knowledge contained in the New Covenant, They shall all know me from the least to the greatest of them, saith the Lord, Jer. 31.34. Is it for the appointed time of thy Conversion that thou waitest? then thou waitest as those impotent folk lay at the Pool of Bethesda, waiting for the Season when [Page 224]the Angel would come down and move the Water; know then that if thou enter into Christ now by Faith, thou shalt find in him Waters of Life, and the Spirit moving them for the Healing and Quickning of thy Soul. God hath appointed by his Word, that it shall be thy Duty to endeavour that the present time should be the time of thy Conversion, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if thou wilt hear his Voice, harden not thy Heart, Heb. 3.7, 8. and thou shalt never know at what time God hath purposed in his Secret Counsel to give Faith to thee, until thou dost actually believe. Dost thou wait for any Mani­festations or Flowings in of Gods saving Love to thy Soul? Then the way to obtain it is, to be­lieve that the God of Peace may sill thee with all Joy and Peace in Believing, Rom. 15.13. Thou hast sufficient Manifestation of Gods Love to thy Soul, by the free Promises of Life and Salvation by Christ; do but trust on the Name of the Lord, and stay upon thy God, when thou walkest in Darkness and seest no Light of sen­sible Comforts any other way. Otherwise thou waitest for Comfort in vain, and this thou shalt have at the Lords hand, thou shalt lye down in Sorrow, Isa. 50.10, 11. Dost thou wait for any Qualifications to prepare thee for the work of Believing? If they be good and Holy Qualifica­tions, thou canst not have them before Faith; but they are either included in the Nature of Faith, or they are Fruits of it, as hath been largely proved. If they be bad and Sinful, it's strange that any should wait for them, and yet no more strange than true: Some foolishly wait to be terrified with the Sense of Gods Wrath, [Page 225]and despairing Thoughts; and these they call the Pangs of the New Birth, tho in their own Nature they are rather the Pangs of the Spiritual Death, and bring forth Hatred to God rather than Holi­ness, and therefore we should strive to prevent them, by believing Gods Love in Christ, rather than to wait for them: It is true that God maketh these despairing Thoughts as well as other Sins, work for good to them that are deli­vered from them by Faith in Christ, they are moved thereby to hate Sin, and to prize Christ the more, and the Comforts of his Gospel, and to loath and abhor themselves, yet many are brought to Christ without them, by Gods giving them the knowledge of their own Sins, and of Christ's Salvation together; several Examples of these were above mentioned, who received the Word with Joy at the first hearing of it: And we must not desire or wait for any evil of Sin, such as these despairing thoughts are, that good may come of it: Neither should we expect to be worse before we be better, when we may and ought to be better presently by believing on Christ.

4. In the direction it is, that we should continue and increase in the most Holy Faith; and that we may, we must not think that when we have once attained to the Grace of saving Faith, and thereby are begotten anew in Christ, our Names are up in Heaven and perfect, we may lye in Bed till Noon; but as long as we continue in this Life, we must endeavour to continue in the Faith grounded and setled, not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, Col. 1.23. and to hold the beginning of our Confidence, and the [Page 226]rejoycing of hope stedfast to the end, Heb. 6.14. and build up our selves in the most Holy Faith, Jude 20. abounding therein with Thanksgiving, Col. 2.7. Tho we receive Christ freely by Faith, yet we are but Babes in Christ, 1 Cor. 3.1. and we must not account, that we have already at­tained or are made perfect, Phil. 3.12, 13. but we must strive to be more rooted and built up in him, until we come to the perfect Man, to the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ, Eph. 4.13. If the new Nature be really in us by Regeneration, it will have an Appetite to its own continuance and Increase, until it come to Perfection as the New Born Babe, 1 Pet. 2.2. And we are not only to receive Christ and a new Holy Nature by Faith, but also to live and walk by it, and to resist the Devil, and to quench all his fiery Darts by it, and also to grow in Grace and to perfect Holiness in the fear of God, for we are kept by the mighty Power of God through Faith unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. as all our Christian Warfare is the good Fight of Faith. 1 Tim. 6.12. All Spiritual Life and Holiness continue, grow or decay in us, accord­ing as Faith continueth, groweth or decayeth in Vigour; but when this Faith beginneth to sink by Fears and Doubtings, the Man himself be­ginneth to sink together with it, Matt. 14.29, 31. Faith is like the Hand of Moses, while it is held up Israel prevails, when it is let down Amaleck prevails, Exod. 17.11. this continuance and growth in Faith will require our Labour and Industry as well as the beginning, tho we [...]e to ascribe the Glory of all to the Grace of God in Christ, who is the Finisher as well as the [Page 227]Author of it, Heb. 12.2. The Church meeteth with great Difficulties in her marching through the Wilderness of this World to the Heavenly Canaan, as well as in her first Deliverance from Egyptian Bondage; yea, we often meet with greater Difficulties in going to Perfection, than we did in the beginning of the Good Work. The Wisdom and Mercy of God so ordering it, that we shall be exercised with the sharpest Dis­pensations of Providence, and the fiercest Assaults of our own Corruptions and Satans Temptations, after we have Grace given us to stand in the Evil Day. You must therefore endeavour to continue and go on in the same [...]ight manner as I have taught you, to begin this great Work of Believing in Christ, that your Faith may be of the same Na­ture from the Beginning to the End, though it increase in Degrees; for our Faith is imperfect and joyned with much Unbelief in this World, and we had need to pray still, Lord I believe, help my Ʋn­belief, Mar. 9.24. and therefore we have need to strive for more Faith, that we may receive Christ in greater Perfection. If you find your Faith hath produced good Works, you should thereby in­crease your Confidence in Christ for Salvation by his meer Grace: But take heed of changing the nature of your Faith, from trusting on the Grace and Merits of Christ, to trusting on your own Works, according to the Popish Doctrin, that our first Justification is by Grace and Faith only, but our second Justification is also by Works. Beware also of trusting on Faith it self as a work of Righteousness, instead of trusting on Christ by Faith: If you do not find that your Believing in such a right manner as I have described, doth [Page 228]produce such Fruits of Holiness as you desire, you ought not to diminish, but rather to increase your Confidence in Christ, knowing that the weakness of your Faith hindereth its Fruitfulness; and the greater your Confidence is concerning the Love of God to you in Christ, the greater will be your Love to God and to his Service. If you fall into any gross Sin after the work is begun in you, as David and Peter did, think not that you must cast away your Confidence and expect nothing but Wrath from God and Christ, and that you must refuse to be comforted by the Grace of Christ, at least for some time; for thus you would be the more weak and prone to fall into other Sins; but rather strivo to believe more confidently that you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; and that he is the Propitiation for our Sins, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. and let not the guilt of Sin stay at all upon your Conscience, but wash it away with all speed, in the Fountain of Christs Blood which is opened for us, that it may be ready for our use on all such incident Occasions; that so you may be humbled for your Sins in a Gospel way, and may hate your own Sinfulness, and be sorry for it with Godly Sorrow out of Love to God. Peter might have been ruined for ever by denying of Christ, as Judas was by betraying him, if Peter's Faith had not been upheld by the Prayer of Christ, Luke 22.32. If a Clould be cast over all your inward Qualifications, so that you can see no Grace at all in your selves, yet still trust on him that justifyeth the Ungodly, and came to seek and to save them that are lost. If God seem to deal with you as an Enemy, by bringing on you some horrible Affliction, as he did upon Job, beware of [Page 229]demning your Faith and its Fruits, as if they were not acceptable to God, but rather say with holy Job, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Strive to keep and to increase Faith by Faith; i. e. by acting Faith frequently, by trusting on God to keep and increase it, being confident that he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.6.

DIRECT. XII.
EXPLICATION.

HEre I am guiding you to the manner of Prac­tice, wherein you are to make use of Faith [Page 230]and of all other effectual means of Holyness before treated of, which Faith layeth hold on, for the im­mediate Performance of the Law, which is the great end aimed at in this whole Treatise: And therefore this deserveth to be diligently consider­ed as the principal Direction, to which all the foregoing and following, are subservient. As for the meaning of it, I have already shewed that our old natural State, is that which we derive from the first Adam by natural Generation, and it is called in the Scripture the Old Man, and while we be in it, we are said to be in the Flesh; and our new State is that which we receive from the second Adam Jesus Christ, being new born in U­nion and Fellowship with him through Faith: And it is called in Scripture, the New Man, and when we are in it, we are said to be in the Spirit. The Principles and Means of Practice belonging to a Na­tural State, are such as Persons do or may attain to and make use of, before they are in Christ by Faith. Such as belong properly to the New-State, are the manifold holy Endowments, Privi­ledges and Enjoyments which we partake of in Christ by Faith, such as have already appeared to be the only effectual means of a Holy Life. We are said to walk according to either of these States, or to the Principles or Means that belong to ei­ther of them, when we are moved and guided by Vertue of them, to such actings as are agreeable to them. Thus Kings act according to their State, in commanding Authoritatively, and in magnifici­cent Bounty; poor Men in the way of Service and Obedience; and Children indiscreetly, Hester 1.7. Prov. 18.23. 1 Cor. 13.11. So the Manner of Practice here directed to, consists in moving and [Page 231]guiding our selves in the Performance of the Works of the Law by Gospel Principles and Means: This is the rare and excellent Art of God­liness, in which, every Christian should strive to be skilful and expert. The reason why many come off with shame and Confusion, after they have a long time laboured with much Zeal and In­dustry for the Attainment of true Godliness, is because they were never acquainted with this holy Art, and never endeavoured to practise in a right Gospel way. Some worldly Arts are called My­steries, but above all, this Spiritual Art of Godli­ness, is without Controversie a great Mystery, 1 Tim. 3.16. because the Means that are to be made use of in it, are deeply Mysterious, as hath been shewed, and you are not a skilful Artist till you know them, and can reduce them to Practice. It is a manner of Practice far above the Sphere of Natural Ability, such as would never have entred into the Hearts of the Wisest in the World, if it had not been Revealed to us in the Scriptures; and when it is there most plainly Revealed, con­tinueth a dark Riddle to those that are not inward­ly Inlightned and Taught by the Holy Spirit: Such, as many Godly Persons guided by the Spirit and do in some measure walk in, yet do but obscure­ly discern, that they can hardly perceive their own Knowledge of it, and can hardly give any Ac­count to others of the way wherein they walk. As the Disciples that walked in Christ the way to the Father, and yet perceived not that Knowledge in themselves, Lord we know not whether thou goest, and how can we know the way? Joh. 14.5. This is the reason why many poor Believers are so weak in Christ, and attain to so small a Degree of Holi­ness [Page 232]and Righteousness. Therefore that you may the better be acquainted with a Mystery of so high Concernment, I shall shew in the first place, that the Holy Scriptures do direct you to this manner of Practice, as only effectual for the Performance of Holy Duties; and then I shall lay before you some necessary Instructions, that you may under­stand how to walk aright in it, and continue and go forward therein, till you be made perfect in Christ.

For the first of these, the Holy Scriptures are very large and clear, in directing us to this man­ner of Practice, and to Continuance and Growth therein. And here it is useful for us to observe the great Variety of peculiar Words and Phraises, whereby the Holy Ghost teacheth this Mystery, which many that frequently read the Scriptures, yea that pretend to be Preachers of the Gospel, do little understand or regard, shewing thereby that the things of the Spirit of God are Foolish­ness to them, and that they are not yet acquaint­ed with the form of sound Words, and are strang­ers to the very Language of the Gospel which they profess and pretend to preach. I shall therefore present to your View several of those particular Words and Phrases whereby this mysterious man­ner of Practice is express'd in the Holy Scriptures, and commended to you as the only way for the sure Attainment of all Holiness in Heart and Life. I shall rank such of them together as agree in Sense, that the Multitude of them may not breed Confusion in your Thoughts.

1. This is the manner of Practice in Scripture, which is expressed by living by Faith Hab. 2.4. Gal. 2.20. Heb. 10.38. Walking by Faith. 2 Cor. [Page 233]5.7. Faith working by Love. Gal. 5.6. Overcoming the World by Faith, 1 Joh. 5.4. Quenching all the fiery Darts of the Wicked, by the Shield of Faith, Eph. 6.19, 20. Some make no more of living and walking by Faith, than meerly a stirring up, and en­couraging our selves to our Duty by such Princi­ples as we believe. Thus the Jews might account that they believed by Faith, because they professed and assented unto the Doctrin of Moses and the Prophets, and were moved thereby to a Zeal of God, though they sought righteousness not by Faith, but as it were, by the Works of the Law, Rom. 3.32. Thus Paul might think he lived by Faith while he was a zealous Pharisee, but afterwards he knew, that the life of Faith consisted in dying to the Law and living to God; and that not himself, but Chrish, lived in him, Gal. 2.19. as it is one and the same thing to be justifyed by Faith, and Christ believed on, Rom. 5.1. so to live, walk and work by Faith, is all one with living, walking, working by means of Christ and his saving Endowments which we re­ceive and make use of by Faith, to guide and move our selves to the Practice of Holiness.

2. The same thing is commended to us by the Terms of walking, rooted and built up in Christ, Col. 2.6. living to God as not to live to our selves, but to have Christ living in us, Gal. 2.19, 20. Good Con­versation in Christ, 1 Pet. 3.16. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may walk honestly as in the day, Rom. 13.13, 14. Being strong in the Lord and the power of his might, Eph. 6.10.11. Doing all things in the name of Christ, Col. 3.17. walking up and down in the name of the Lord, Zech. 10.12. going in the strength of the Lord, as to make mention of his Righte­ousness, even of his only, Psal. 71.16. These [Page 234]phrases are frequent, and do sufficiently explain one another; and do shew, that we are to pra­ctise Holiness, not only by vertue of Christs Au­thority; but also of his strengthning Endow­ments moving us and encouraging us thereunto.

3. It is also signified by the phrases of being, strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 2.1. having your Conversation in the World not with fleshly Wisdom, but by the Grace of God, 2 Cor. 1.12. having, or holding fast Grace, that we may serve God acceptably, labouring abundantly in such a man­ner, as that the whole work is not performed by us, but by the Grace of God that is with us, 1 Cor. 15.10. By Grace therefore, we may well under­stand the priviledges of our new state given to us in Christ, whereby we ought to be influenced and guided in the performance of holy Duties.

4. It is also signified when we are to put off the old, and put on the new Man; yea, to continue in so doing, tho we have done it in a measure already, and that we avoid our former sinful Conversation, Ephes. 4.21, 22, 24. and to avoid sin, because we have put off the old, and put on the new Man, Col. 3.9, 10, 11. I have already shewed, that by this twofold man, is not meant merely sin and holiness: but by the former meant our natural Estate, with all its Endow­ments, whereby we are furnished only to the pra­ctice of sin; and by the later, or new Estate in Christ, that whereby we are furnished with all means necessary for the practice of Holiness.

5. We are to understand the same thing, when we are taught, not to walk after the Flesh, but after the Spirit, that we may be free from the Law of sin, and that the righteousness of the Law may be fulfilled in us, Rom. 8.1, 2, 3. and through the Spirit to mortifie [Page 235]the deeds of the body, and to be led by the Spirit, because we live by the Spirit, and have cruci­fied the flesh with the affections and lusts, Gal. 5.24. The Apostle doth shew by these expressions, not only that we are to practise holiness, but also by what means we may do it effectually. By the Flesh is meant, our old Nature derived from the first Adam: And by the Spirit, is meant the Spirit of Christ, and that new Nature which we have by him dwelling in us. We are said to walk after either of these Natures, when we make the Pro­perties or Qualifications of either of them to be the principles of our Practice. So when we are taught to serve in newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the Letter, that so we may bring forth fruits unto God: The meaning is, that we must endeavour to bring forth the fruits of holiness, not by vertue of the Law, that killing Letter, to which the Flesh is married, and by which the motions of sin are in us; but by vertue of the Spirit, and his manifold Riches which we partake of in our new state, by a mystical marriage with Christ, Rom. 7.4, 5, 6. and by vertue of such Principles as belong to the New State, de­clared in the Gospel, whereby the holy spirit is mi­nistred to us.

6. This is the manner of walking which the Apostle Paul directeth us unto, when he teacheth us by his own Example, That the continual work of our lives should be to know Christ, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable to his Death, if by any means we may attain to the Resurrection of the dead, and to encrease and press forward in this kind of knowledge, Phil. 3.10, 11, 12, 15. Certainly he meaneth such an ex­perimental [Page 236]knowledge of Christ, and his Death and Resurrection, as effectually makes us con­formable thereunto in dying to sin, and living to God. And he would hereby guide us to make use of Christ and his Death and Resurrection, by Faith, as the powerful means of all Holiness in Heart and Life; and to encrease in this manner of walk­ing, until we attain unto perfection in Christ.

2. The second thing proposed, was, to lay be­fore you some necessary Instructions, that your steps may be guided aright, to continue and go forward in this way of Holiness, until you be made perfect in Christ. And seeing we are natu­rally prone to mistake this way, and are utterly unable to find it out, or discern it by our own Reason and Understanding, we should the more diligently attend to these Instructions taken out of the Holy Scriptures. And we should pray ear­nestly, that God would give unto us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, that we may discern the way of Holiness thereby, and walk aright in it, ac­cording to that gracious promise, The wayfaring men, tho Fools, shall not err therein, Isa. 35.8.

1. Observe and consider diligently in our whole Conversation, That tho you are partakers of a new holy state by Faith in Christ, yet our natu­ral state doth remain, in a measure, with all its corrupt Principles and Properties; as long as we live in this present World, our apprehension of Christ and his perfection in this Life is only by Faith, whereas by Sense and Reason we may ap­prehend much in our selves contrary to Christ; and this Faith is imperfect: So that true Believers have cause to pray to God to help their Unbe­lief, Mar. 9.24. Therefore, tho we receive per­fect [Page 237]Christ by Faith, yet the measure and degree of enjoying him is imperfect, and we hope still, so long as we are in this World, to enjoy him in a higher degree of perfection than we have done; we are yet but weak in Christ, 2 Cor. 13.4. Chil­dren in comparison to the perfection we expect in another World, 1 Cor. 13.10, 11. and we must grow still, till we come to the perfect man, Eph. 4.13. and some are less Babes than others, and have received Christ in so small a measure, that they may be accounted carnal rather than spiritual, 1 Cor. 3.1. And because all the Blessings and Perfections of our new state, as Justification, the gift of the Spirit, and of the holy Nature, and the Adoption of Children, are seated and trea­sured up in Christ, and joyned with him insepa­rably, we can receive them no further than we receive Christ himself by Faith, which we do in an imperfect measure and degree in this Life. The Apostle Paul proposeth himself as a pattern for all those that are perfect in the truth of Grace, to imitate. And yet he professeth, That he was not yet made so perfect in the degree or measure of saving Endowments, but that he did still press forward towards the mark of the prize of the high­calling of God in Christ Jesus, labouring still to apprehend and win Christ more perfectly; and to be found in him, not having his own Righteousness, but that which is of God by Faith; and to gain more experimental knowledge of Christ, and of the fellow­ship of his sufferings, and the power of his Resurrecti­on, being made conformable thereunto, Phil 3.8, 10. Believers are Justified already, yet wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith, i. e. for the full enjoyment of the Righteousness of Christ, Gal. 5.5. [Page 238]They have received but the first-fruits of the spirit, and must wait for a more full enjoyment of it. The Spirit witnesseth now to them, that they are the Children of God; and yet they groan within themselves, waiting for more full enjoyment of Adop­tion, Rom. 8.23. Now seeing the degree and measure of our Reception and Enjoyment of Christ, with all the Blessings of our new state in him in this Life is imperfect, it followeth clearly, that our contrary natural state with its Proper­ties remaineth still in us in some degree, and is not perfectly abolished; so that all Believers in this World, do in some degree partake of these two contrary states. Believers have indeed put off the old man, and put on the new man, where Christ is all, and in all, Col. 3.10, 11. yet they are to put the old Man off, and the new Man on more and more, because the old Man remaineth still in a measure. They are said to be, not in the flesh, but in the spirit; because their being in the Spirit is their best and lasting state, as denominations are usually taken from the better part, but yet the Flesh is in them, and they find work enough to mortify the deeds of it, Rom. 8.9.13. There­fore several things which are contrary to each o­ther, are frequently attributed to Believers in the Scripture, with respect to these two contrary States, wherein one place seems to contradict an­other, and yet both are true in divers respects: Thus holy Paul saith truly of himself, I live, yet not I; Gal. 2.20. because he did live to God by Christ living in him; and yet in another respect according to his natural State, he did not live to God. Again, he professeth that he was carnal, sold under Sin, and yet on the contrary, that he [Page 239]allowed not Sin but hated it; he sheweth how both these were true concerning himself: In di­verse respects he saith, in me, that is, in my Flesh dwelleth no good thing. And I delight to do the Will of God according to the Inner-Man: With my Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with my Flesh, the Law of Sin, Rom. 7.14.15. John saith, He that saith he hath no sin, deceiveth himself and is a Lyar, 1 Joh. 1. and also that it's true that whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin, for his Seed, i. e. Christ's the new spiritual Nature remaineth in him, and he can't sin because he is born of God, 1 Joh. 3.9. It is true that we are weak and nothing, and yet strong and able to do all things, 2. Cor. 12.10, 11. Phil. 4.13. It's true that Believers are dead because of Sin, but alive because of Righteousness, Rom. 8.10. and that when they dye by a natural Death, they shall never dye, Joh. 11.25, 26. They are Sons that have the Inheritance by their Birth-right, and yet in some respects may differ nothing from Ser­vants, and so they may be under the Law in a sense, and yet under Grace, and Heirs according to the free Promise at the same time, Gal 4.1, 2. They are redeemed from the Curse of the Law, and have forgiveness of Sins, and a Promise that God will never be wroth with them, nor rebuke them any more, Gal. 3.13. Eph. 1.7. Isa. 54.9. And yet on the contrary, the Curse written in the Law, is sometimes poured out upon them, Dan. 9, 11. and they have need still to pray that God would deliver them from their Guiltiness, and forgive their Debts, Psal. 51.14. Mat. 6.12. and they may expect that God will punish them for all ther Iniquities, Amos 3.2. These contra­ry [Page 240]things asserted concerning Believers in Scrip­ture, do sufficiently manifest that they partake of two contrary States in this Life; and this is a plain, and easie and ready way to reconcile these seeming Contradictions, whatever other ways may be used to reconcile some of them. And what reason is there to question that the old Sate remain­eth in Believers in some degrees, seeing all sound Protestants acknowledge that the sinful Deprava­tion and Pollution of our Natures, commonly called Original Sin, which is one principal part of this old State, doth remain in all as long as they live in this World? Now though some penal Evils may be said to remain in us, yet we can't suppose that this original Pollution is continued in us, and considered in Christ. But as considered in our old State derived from the first Adam, therefore the first sin of Adam is imputed in some respect, even to those that are justifyed by Faith, and they remain in a measure as aforesaid, under the Punishment and Curse denounced, Gen. 2.17. in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye; and on this account the same original Guilt and Pollution is propagated to the Children of believing Parents, as well as others by natural Generation; and if such a great and funda­mental part of the natural State continue in Be­lievers as subjection to the Guilt of the first Sin and original Corruption, which is one great part of the Punishment and Death threatned, and by which we are prone and inclined to all actual Sins, why should we not judge that other parts of the same State, do likewise continue in them as well as the guilt of their own actual Sins, and subjecti­on to the Wrath of God and the Curses and Pu­nishments denounced against them in the Law? [Page 241]and why should we not judge that all the Miseries of this Life, and Death it self, are inslicted upon Believers, at least in some respect, as Punishments of Sin? It may be objected that this Doctrin of a twofold State of Believers in this Life, doth much derogate from the Perfection of our Justification by Christ, and from the fulness of all the Grace and spiritual Blessings of Christ, and from the Merits of his Death and the power of his Spirit; and that it greatly diminisheth the Consolation of Believers in Christ. But it may be easily vindi­cated from this Objection, if we understand it rightly; for notwithstanding this twofold State, it still holdeth true, that Believers while they are on Earth, have all Perfection of spiritual Blessings, Justification, Adoption, the Gift of the Spirit, Ho­liness, Eternal Life and Glory, in and with Christ, Eph. 1.3. in the person of Christ who is now in Heaven, the Old Man is perfectly crucifyed; they are dead to Sin and to the Law and its Curse, and they are quickned together with him, and raised up with him, and made to sit in heavenly Places, in Christ Jesus, Eph. 2.6, 7. and Believers do in their own persons, receive and enjoy by Faith, all these perfect, spiritual Blessings of Christ, as far as they receive and enjoy Christ himself dwelling in them, and no further. Thus far they are in a new State free from the Guilt, Pollution and Pu­nishment of Sin, and so from the Wrath of God and all Miseries, and Death it self, while they are in this World: Yea, all the Guilt, Pollution and Punishments of Sin and all Evils whatsoever, which they are subject to according to their natural State, do them no harm according to this new State, but work for their good, and are no Evils, but [Page 242]rather Advantages to them, tending to the De­struction only of the Flesh, and to the Perfection of the New Man in Christ. Yet it holdeth true also that our reception and enjoyment of Christ himself and all his Perfections, is but in an imper­fect measure and degree, until Faith be turned into heavenly Vision and Fruition of Christ; and therefore our old sinful State with the Evils there­of, is not perfectly abolished during this Life. The Kingdom of Heaven, or the Grace of Christ within us, is like leaven in Meal, and doth not unite it self perfectly to the Meal in an Instant, but by degrees, until the whole be leavened, Mat. 13.35. or like the morning Light that expelleth Darkness by degrees, shining more and more un­to a perfect day, Prov. 4.18. This cannot be justly accounted any derogation to the Merits of Christ's Death, or to the power of his Spirit, seeing Christ never intended to bring to pass by his Death, or by the power of his Spirit, that we should enjoy his spiritual Blessings any further than we are in him, and enjoy him by Faith; or that we should be made holy or happy according to the Flesh, by a Reformation of our natural State, as hath been shewed: Neither doth this diminish the Consolation of Believers in Christ, for thereby they may know that they have the Perfection of Grace and Happiness in Christ, and that they enjoy it in this World, as far as they enjoy Christ himself by Faith; and that they shall enjoy it in a perfect measure, and be fully freed from their old Sins and miserable State, when that frame of Nature which they received from the first Adam, is dissolved by Death. This In­struction is very useful to frame our Souls aright [Page 243]for the practising of Holiness, only by those Go­spel Principles and Means that belong to our new State, which we are Partakers of by Faith in Christ. And thus it is easily vindicated from another great Objection, wherein the Papists and Quakers do much Triumph. They appeal to Mens Conscience to answer this Question, which Doctrin is most likely to bring People to the practice of true Godliness, theirs which teacheth, That perfect Holiness may be attained in this Life, or ours which teacheth, That it is impossible for us to keep the Law perfectly, and to purge our selves from all Sin as long as we live in this World, though we use our best Endeavours? They think that common Reason will make the Verdict pass for them against our Doctrin, as that which discourageth all En­deavours for Perfection, and hardneth the Hearts of People to allow themselves in Sin because they cannot avoid it. But on the contrary, the Doct­rine of Perfection hardens People to allow them­selves in Sin, and to call Evil Good, as the Papists account, That the Concupiscence of the Flesh against the Spirit is no Sin, but rather good matter for the Exercise of their Vertues, because the most perfect in this Life, are not without it: It also discourageth those that labour to get Holiness in the right way, by Faith in Christ, and maketh them to think that they labour in vain, because they find themselves still sinful, and far from Perfection, when they have done their best to attain it. It hindereth our Diligence in seeking Holiness, by these Principles and Means, whereby only it can be found: For who will be Diligent and Watch­ful to avoid walking according to his own carnal Principles, if he think that his own carnal State [Page 244]with it's Principles, is quite abolished, and is out of him, so that at present he is in no danger of walking according to them? Whatsoever good works the Doctrin of the Perfectionists may serve to promote, I am sure it hindereth a great part of that work which Christ would have us to be employed in as long as we live in this World; we must know that our old State with its evil Principles, continueth still in a measure, or else we shall not be sit for the great Duties of confes­ing of Sins, loathing our selves for them, praying earnestly for the Pardon of them, a just sorrowing for them with a Godly Sorrow, accepting the Punishment of our Sins, and giving God the glory of his Justice, and offering to him the Sacrifice of a broken and contrite Spirit, being poor in Spirit, working out our Salvation with fear and tremb­ling. Some have doubted how it can consist with our Justification by Christ, that we should be still lyable to be punished for our Sins, and obliged to pray for the Pardon of them, because they have not well considered the twofold State of Believers in this Life; and except we know this and keep it in Mind, we shall never be sit to practise con­tinually the great Duties that tend to the putting off the Old Man and putting on the New Man, and mortifying the Deeds of the Body by the Spirit, praying continually that God would renew a right Spirit in us and sanctify us throughout; pressing forward to Perfection, desiring the sincere Milk of the Word and the Enjoyment of other Ordi­nances. Christ hath appointed that his Church on Earth, should be employed in such works; and Perfectionists either do, or sain would account them needless for them, and that they have no [Page 245]longer need of Christ himself, to be their spiritual Physician and Advocate with the Father, and Propitiation for their Sins: Therefore they are not fit to be Members of the Church on Earth, and are never likely to be Members of the Church in Heaven, except they can make a Ladder and climb up thither before their time.

2. Despair of purging the Flesh or Natural Man of its sinful Lusts and Inclinations, and of practising Holiness, by your willing and resolving to do the best that lyeth in your own Power, and trusting on the Grace of God and Christ to help you in such Resolutions and Endeavours; rather resolve to trust on Christ to work in you to will and to do by his own power, according to his own good Pleasure. They that are convinced of their own Sin and Misery, do commonly first think to tame the Flesh, and to subdue and root out its Lusts, and to make their corrupt Nature to be better na­tured, and inclined to Holiness by their strugling and wrestling with it: And if they can but bring their Hearts to a full purpose and resolution to do the best that lyeth in them, they hope that by such a Resolution, they shall be able to atchieve great Enterprizes in the Conquest of their Lusts, and performance of the most difficult Duties. It is the great work of some zealous Divines, in their Preaching and Writings, to stir up People to this Resolution, wherein they place the chief­est turning Point from Sin to Godliness. And they think that this is not contrary to the life of Faith, because they trust on the Grace of God through Christ, to help them in all such Resolu­tions and Endeavours. Thus they endeavour to reform their old State, and to be made perfect in [Page 246]the Flesh, instead of putting it off, and walking according to the new State in Christ. They trust on low, carnal things for Holiness, and upon the acts of their own Will, their Purposes, Resoluti­ons and Endeavours, instead of Christ; and they trust to Christ to help them in this carnal way, whereas true Faith would teach them that they are nothing, and that they do but labour in vain. They may as well wash a Blackamoor white, as purge the Flesh or Natural Man from its evil Lusts, and make it pure and holy. It is despe­rately wicked, past all cure: It will unavoidably lust against the Spirit of God, even in the best Saints on Earth, Gal. 17. its mind is enmity to the Law of God, and neither is, nor can be subject to it, Rom. 8.7. They that would cure it and make it holy by their own Resolutions and Endeavours, do act quite contrary to the design of Christ's Death, for he dyed not that the Flesh, or Old Na­tural Man might be made holy, but that it might be crucifyed and destroyed out of us, Rom. 6.6. and that we might live to God, not to our selves, or by any natural power of our own Resolutions or Endeavours, but by Christ living in us, and by his Spirit bringing forth the fruits of Righteous­ness in us, Gal. 2.20. and 5.24, 25. Therefore we must be content to leave the Natural Man vile and wicked, as we found it, until it be utterly abolished by Death, though we must not allow its Wickedness, but rather groan to be delivered from the Body of this Death, thanking God that there is a Deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our way to mortify sinful Affections and Lusts, must be not by purging them out of the Flesh, but by putting off the Flesh it self, and get­ing [Page 247]above into Christ by Faith, and walking in that new Nature that is by him; thus the way of Life is above to the Wise, that he may depart from Hell beneath, Prov. 15.24. Our willing, re­solving and endeavouring, must be to do the best, not that lyeth in our selves, or in our own power, but that Christ and the power of his Spirit shall be pleased to work in us, for in us i. e. in our Flesh there dwelleth no good thing, Rom. 7.18. we have no ground to trust in God and Christ for help in such Resolutions and Endeavours, as in things that are agreeable to the design of Christ in our Re­demption as to the way of acting and living by Faith. It is likely that Peter sincerely resolved to dye with Christ, rather than to deny him, and to do all that he could by his own power for that end; but Christ made him quickly to see the Weakness and Vanity of such Resolutions, and we see by Experience, what many Resolutions made in Sickness and other Dangers mostly come to. It is not enough for us to trust on Christ to help us to act and endeavour so far only as Crea­tures, for so the worst of Men are helped; he is the Jehovah in whom they Live, Move, and have their Being; Act. 17.28. and it's likely the Pharisee would trust on God to help him in Duty, as he would thank God for the performance of Duty, Luk. 18.11. and this is all the Faith that many make use of to a holy Practice: But we must trust on Christ to enable us above the strength of our own natural power, by vertue of the new Nature which we have in Christ, and by his Spirit dwell­ing and working in us; or else our best endea­vours will be altogether sinful, and meer Hypocri­sie, notwithstanding all the help for which we trust [Page 248]upon him. We must also take heed of depending for Holiness upon any Resolutions to walk in Christ, or on any written Covenants or any Holi­ness that we have already received; for we must know that the Vertue of these things, continue no longer than we continue walking in Christ and Christ in us: They must be kept up by the continu­al Presence of Christ in us, as Light is maintained by the presence of the Sun, and cannot subsist without it.

3. You must not seek to procure forgiveness of sins, the favour of God, a new holy Nature, Life, and Happiness, by any works of the Moral Law, or by any Rites and Ceremonies whatever; but rather, you must work as those that have all these things already according to your new state in Christ; as such who are only to receive them more and more by Faith, as they are ready prepared and treasured up for you, and freely given to you by your spiritual head, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we walk as those that are yet wholly to seek for the procurement of such en­joyments as these, it is a manifest sign, that at present, we judge our selves to be without them, and without Christ himself; in whose fulness they are all contained: And therefore we walk accord­ing to our own Natural State, as those that are yet in the Flesh, and that would get Salvation in it, and by our carnal Works and Observances, instead of living altogether on Christ by Faith. This practice is according to the tenour of the Cove­nant of Works, as I have before shewed. And we have no ground to trust on Christ and his Spi­rit to work Holiness in us this way; for we are dead to the Legal Covenant by the Body of Christ, [Page 249]Rom. 7. And if we be led by the Spirit, we are not under the Law, Gal. 5.18. When the Galatians were seduced by false Teachers, to seek the pro­curement of Justification and Life by Circumcision, and other works of the Mosaical Law, the Apo­stle Paul rebuketh them for seeking to be made per­fect in the flesh, directly contrary to their good begin­ning in the Spirit, for rendring Christ of none effect to them, and for falling from Grace, Gal. 3.3. and 5.4. And when some of the Colossians sought perfection in the like manner, by observation of Circumci­sion, holy-meats, holy-times, and other Rudi­ments of the World; The same Apostle blameth them for not holding the Head Jesus Christ, and as such as were not dead and risen with Christ, but living merely in the World, Col. 2.19, 20. and 3.1. He clearly sheweth, that those who seek any sa­ving enjoyments in such a way, do walk accord­ing to their own Natural State: And that the true manner of living by Faith in Christ, is to walk as those that have all fulness and perfection of Spiritual Blessings in Christ by Faith, and need not seek for them any other way to procure them for themselves. In this sense it is a true saying, That Believers should not act for Life, but from Life. They must act as those that are not pro­curing Life by their Works, but as such who have already received and derived Life from Christ, and act from the Power and Vertue received from him. And hereby it appears, that the Papists, and all others that think to Justifie, Purisie, Sanctifie, and save themselves by any of their own Works, Rites or Ceremonies whatever, do walk in a carnal way, as those that are without any present interest in Christ, and shall never attain unto Holiness or [Page 250]Happiness, until they learn a better way of Re­ligion.

4. Think not that you can effectually encline your Heart to the immediate practice of Holiness, by any such practical Principles, as do only serve to bind, press and urge you to the performance of holy Duties: But rather let such Principles stir you up to go to Christ first by Faith, that you may be effectually enclined to the immediate practice of Holiness in him by Gospel Principles, that strengthen and enable you, as well as oblige you thereunto. There are some practical Principles, that do only bind, press, and urge us to holy Duties, by shewing the reasonableness, equity, and necessity of our Obedience, without shewing at all, how we that are by Nature dead in sin, un­der the wrath of God, may have any Strength and Ability for the performance of them. As for In­stance, the Authority of God the Law-giver; our absolute dependance on him as our Creator, Preserver, Governour, in whose hand is our Life, Breath, and all our Happiness here and for ever. His All-feeing Eye, that searcheth our Heart, discerneth our very Thoughts and secret Purposes, his exact Justice, in rendring to all according to their works; his Almighty and Eternal Power to reward those that Obey him, and to punish transgressors for ever, The unspeakable Joy of Heaven, and ter­rible Damnation of Hell. Such Principles as these do bind our Consciences very strictly, and do work very strongly upon the prevalent Affections of Hope and Fear, to pross and urge our Hearts to the performance of holy Duties, if we believe them assuredly, and work them earnestly upon our Hearts, by frequent, serious, lively Medita­tion: [Page 251]And therefore some account them most for­cible and effectual means to form any Vertue in the Soul, and to bring it to immediate perfor­mance of any Duty, tho never so difficult; and that the Life of Faith consisteth principally in our living to God in Holiness, by a constant Belief and Meditation on them. And they account those things that serve to mind them of such Principles very effectual for Holiness, as looking on the Pi­cture of Death, or on a Deaths-head, keeping a Coffin by them ready made, walking about among the Graves, &c. But this is not that manner of living to God, whereof the Apostle speaketh, when he saith, I live, yet not I, but Christ that liveth in me; and the Life that I live in the Flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. If a Man make use of these obliging Principles, to stir him to go to Christ for Strength to Act holily, he walketh like one that hath received Christ as his only Life by Faith, otherwise he walketh like other Natural Men. For the Natural Man may be brought to Act by these Principles, partly by Natural Light, and more fully by Scripture-Light, without any true knowledge of the way of Salvation by Christ, and as if Christ had never come into the World. And he may be strictly bound by them, and vehe­mently urged and pressed to holy Duties; and yet all this while is left to his own Natural Strength or Weakness, being not assured by any of these Principles, that God will give him Strength to help him in the performance of these Duties; and can do nothing aright, until he get new Life and Strength in Christ by a more precious saving Faith. There would be no need of a new Life [Page 252]and Strength by Christ, if these Principles were sufficient to bring us to a holy Conversation. Therefore this manner of practice is no better than walking after the flesh, according to our cor­rupt state, and a seeking to be made perfect in the flesh. No question but Paul was very diligent in it while he was a blind Pharisee. Yea, the Heathen Philosophers might attain to it in some measure by the Light of Common Reason. The Devils have such Principles, as they do believe assuredly, yet they are never the better for them. Its a part of that Natural Wisdom whereby the world knew not God; not that Wisdom of God in a Mystery discovered in the Gospel, which is the only sanctifying Wisdom and Power of God unto Salvation. VVhat can you produce but cor­ruption, by pressing with Motives to Holiness, one that hath no soundness in him, from the sole of the foot even to the head, only wounds and bruises, and putrified sores. He that is made truly sensible of his own vileness and deadness by Nature, will despair of ever bringing himself to Holiness by Principles that afford him no Life and Strength, but only lay an Obligation upon him, and urge and press him to Duty. What are meer Obligations to one that is dead in sin? While the Soul is without spiritual Life, sin is the more moved and enraged, by pressing and urging upon the Soul the Obligations of the Law, and its Commands. The motions of sin are by the Law, and sin taking oc­casion by the Commandment, worketh in us all manner of Concupiscence, Rom. 7.5, 7, 8. And yet these obliging Principles are very good and ex­cellent in this right Gospel use of them, as the Apostle saith of the Law, that it is good, if it be [Page 253]used lawfully, 1 Tim. 1.7. The humbled sinner knoweth well his Obligations; but it is Life and Strength that he wanteth, and despaireth of walk­ing according to such Obligations, until he get this Life and Strength by Faith in Christ: There­fore these obliging Principles do move him to go in the first place to Christ, that so he may be en­abled to answer their End, by the strengthning and enlivening Principles of Gods Grace in Christ. Some there are, that make use of Gospel-Princi­ples only to oblige and urge to Duty, without affording any Life and Strength for the perfor­mance, as they that think, that Christ dyed and rose again to establish a New Covenant of Works for our Salvation, and to give us a pattern of Good Works by his own Obedience, rather than to purchase Life, Obedience, and good Works for us. Such as these do not understand, and receive the Prin­ciples of the Gospel rightly; but they pervert and abuse them, contrary to their true Nature and Design; and thereby they render them as ineffe­ctual for their Sanctification, as any other natu­ral or legal Principles.

5. Stir up and strengthen your self to perform the Duties of Holiness, by a firm perswasion of your enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and all spiritual and everlasting Benefits through him. Set not your selves upon the performance of the Law with any prevailing thoughts or apprehensions, that you are yet without an Interest in Christ, and the love of God through him, under the Curse of the Law, the power of Sin and Satan, having no better Portion than this present World; no bet­ter strength, than that which is in the purposes and resolutions of your own Free-will. While [Page 254]such thoughts as these prevail, and influence your Actings, its evident that you walk according to the Principles and Practices of your old natural state; and you will be moved thereby to yield to the Dominion of Sin and Satan, to withdraw your selves from God and Godliness, as Adam was moved from the sight of his own Nakedness, to hide himself from God, Gen. 3.10. Therefore your way to a holy practice, is first to conquer and spoil such unbelieving thoughts, by trusting con­fidently on Christ, and persuading your selves by Faith, that his Righteousness, Spirit, Glory, and all his spiritual Benefits are yours, and he dwelleth in you, and you in him. In the might of this Con­fidence you should go forth to the performance of the Law; and you will be strong against Sin and Satan, and able to do all things through Christ that strengthens you. This consident perswasion is of great necessity to the right framing and disposing our Hearts to walk according to our new state in Christ. The Life of Faith principally consisteth in it. And herein it eminently appeareth, that Faith is an Hand not only to receive Christ, but also to work by him; and that it cannot be effectual for our Sanctification, except it contain in it some Assurance of our Interest in Christ, as hath bin shewed. Thus we act as those that are above the Sphear of Nature, advanced to Union and Fellow­ship with Christ. The Apostle maintained in his Heart, a perswasion that Christ had loved him, and given himself for him; and hereby he was ena­bled to live to God in Holiness, through Christ living in him by Faith. He teacheth us also, that we must maintain the like perswasion, if we would walk holily in Christ. We must know, that our old man [Page 255]is crucified with him; and we must reckon our selves dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6.6. This is the means whereby we may be filled with the Spirit, strong in the Lord, and the power of his might; which God would not require of us, if he had not appointed the means, Eph. 6. Christ himself walked in a constant perswasion of his excellent state; he set the Lord always before him, and was perswaded, that because God was at his right hand, he should not he moved, Psal 16.8. How should it be rati­onally expected, that a Man should Act according to this new state, without Assurance that he is in it? Its a rule of Common Prudence in all world­ly Callings and Conditions, that every one must know and consider well his own State, lest he should act proudly above it, or sordidly below it; and it is a hard thing to bring some to a right esti­mate of their own worldly Conditions. If the same rule were observed in Spiritual things, doubt­less the knowledg and perswasion of the Glory and Excellency of our new state in Christ, would more elevate the hearts of Believers above all sor­did Salvery to their Lusts, and enlarge them to run chearfully the ways of Gods Commandments: If Christians knew their own Strength better, they would enterprize greater things for the Glory of God. This Knowledge is difficultly attained, it is only by Faith and spiritual Illumination; the best know but in part, and hence it is that the Conversation of Believers, falleth so much below their holy and heavenly Calling.

6. Consider what Endowments, Priviledges or Properties of your new State are most meet, and forcible to incline and strengthen your Heart to [Page 256]love God above all, and to renounce all Sin, and to give up your self to Universal Obedience to his Commands, and strive to walk in the per­suasion of them, that you may attain to the Practice of these great Duties [...] I may well joyn these together, because to love the Lord with all our Hearts, Might and Soul, is the first and great Commandment which influenceth us to all Obedi­ence, with a hatred and detestation of all Sin as it's contrary and hateful to God. The same ef­fectual means that produceth the one, will also produce the other, and Holiness chiefly consisteth in these. So the chief Blessings of our holy State are most meet and forcible to enable us for the im­mediate performance of them, and are to be made use of to this end by Faith. Particularly you must be­lieve stedfastly that all your Sins are blotted out, and that you are reconciled to God, and have ac­cess into his Favour by the Blood of Christ, and that he is your God and Father, and altogether Love to you, and your all-sufficient everlasting Portion and Happiness through Christ. Such Ap­prehensions as these, do present God as a very lovely Object to our Hearts, and do thereby allure and win our Affections that cannot be forced by Com­mands or Threatnings, but must be sweetly won and drawn by Allurements. We must not har­bour any Suspicions that God will prove a terrible, everlasting Enemy to us, if we would love him; for there is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casteth out Fear, because Fear hath Torment; he that feareth is not made perfect in Love, we love him because he first loved us, 1 Joh. 4.18, 19. David loved the Lord because he was persuaded that he was his Strength, Rock, Fortress, his God [Page 257] and the horn of his salvation, Psal. 18.1, 2. Love that causeth Obedience unto the Law, must pro­ceed from a good Conscience, purged from sin; and this good Conscience must proceed from Faith unfeigned, whereby we apprehend the remission of our sins, our Reconciliation with God by the merits of the blood of Christ, 1 Tim. 1.5. with Heb. 9.14. For the same end that your Hearts may be rightly fitted and framed for the performance of these principal Duties, the Holy Scripture directeth you to walk in the perswasion of other principal Endowments of your new state: As, that you have fellowship with the Father and the Son, 1 Joh. 1.3. That you are the Temple of the living God, 2 Cor. 6.16. That you live by the Spirit, Gal. 5.25. That you are called to Holiness, and created in Christ Jesus unto good works: That God will san­ctisie you wholly, and make you perfect in holiness at the last, 1 Thes. 5.23, 24. Eph. 2.10. That your old man is crucified with Christ; and through him you are dead unto sin, and alive unto God; and being made free from sin, you are become the Servants of Righte­ousness, and have your Fruit unto Holiness, and the End Everlasting Life, Rom. 6.6, 22. You are Dead, and your Life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is your Life shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.3, 4. Such perswasions as these, when they are deeply rooted, and con­stantly maintained in our Hearts, do strongly Arm and Encourage us to practise Universal Obedience in opposition to every sinful Lust: Because we look upon it not only as our Duty, but our great Priviledge, to do all things through Christ strength­ning of us; and God doth certainly work in us both to will and to do by these Principles, because [Page 258]they properly belong to the Gospel, or New Te­stament, which is the Ministration of the Spirit, and the Power of God unto Salvation, 2 Cor. 3.6, 8. Rom. 1.16.

7. For the performance of other Duties of the Law, you are to consider not only these Endow­ments, Priviledges and Properties of their new State, which are meet and forcible, to enable you to the Love of God, and Universal Obedience, but also those that have a peculiar force and aptitude suitable to the special Nature of such Duties: And you must endeavour to assure your selves of them by Faith, that you may be encouraged and strengthned to perform the Duties. I shall give you some instances of this manner of practice in several Duties, whereby you may the better understand how to guide your selves in the rest. And as to the Du­ties of the first Table, if you would draw near to God in a Duty of his Worship with a true Heart, you must do it in full assurance of Faith concern­ing your enjoyment of Christ, and his Salvation. And would you perform the great Duty of trust­ing on the Lord with all your Heart, easting your Care upon him, and committing the disposal of your self to him in all your Concerns? Perswade your self through Christ, that God, according to his Promise, will never fail you, nor forsake you; that he taketh a Fatherly Care of you, that he will with-hold no good thing from you, and will make all things to work for your Good: And thus you will be strong and couragious in the practice of this Duty: Whereas, if you live in a meer suspence concerning your Interest in the Priviledges, you will be subject to carnal fears, carping cares, in despite of your Heart, and you willbe prone to trust on the Arm of [Page 259]Flesh, tho your Conscience tell you plainly, that in so doing you incur the hainous guilt of Idola­try. Would you be strengthned to submit to the hand of God with a chearful Patience, in bearing any Affliction, and Death it self? The way to for­tifie your selves, is to Believe assuredly, that your Afflictions that are but for a moment, do work for you a far more exceeding eternal weight of Glory; that Christ is your gain in death and life; that his Grace is sufficient for you; and his strength made perfect in your weakness; and that he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; and will at last make you more than Conquerours over all evil. Until you attain to such perswasions as these, you will be prone to fret, and murmur under the burden of Affliction, and to use indirect means to deliver your selves, notwithstanding the clearest Convi­ctions to the contrary. Would you limit your selves to the Observation of Gods own Instituti­ons in his Worship? Believe that you are com­pleat in Christ, and have all perfection of spiritual Blessings in him; and that God will build you up in Christ by the Ordinances of his own Appoint­ment. This will make you account his Ordinances sufficient, and Mens Traditions, and Inventions, needless in the Worship of God: Whereas if you do not apprehend all fulness in Christ, you will be like the Papists, prone to catch at every Straw, and to multiply Superstitious Observati­ons without end, for the supply of your spiritual Wants. Would you confess your sins to God, pray to him, and praise him heartily for his Be­nefits? Would you praise him for Afflictions as well as Prosperity? Believe assuredly that God is Faithful and Just to forgive your sin through Christ, [Page 260]that you are made an Holy Priesthood, to offer spiritual Sacrisices of Prayer and Praises, that are acceptable to God through Christ; and that God heareth your Prayers, and will fulfill them so far as they are good for you; and that all Gods ways are Mercy and Truth toward you, whether he prosper or afflict you in this life. If you be altoge­ther in doubt, or otherwise perswaded concern­ing these Priviledges, all your Confessions, Pray­ers and Praises, will be but heartless, Lip-labours, Slavish or Pharisaical Works. In like manner you will be enabled to hear and receive the Word as the Word of God, and to meditate on it with de­light, and you will be willing to know the strict­ness and spirituality of the Commands of God, and to try and examine your ways impartially by them, if you believe assuredly that the Word is the Power of God to Salvation; and that Christ is your great Physician, willing and able to heal you, be the case never so bad: And where your sin abounds, his Grace towards you doth so much the more abound: Whereas, without these Comfortable Apprehensions, all the works of Hearing, Medi­tation, Self-examination, will be but uncouth heartless Works, and they will be performed negligently, and by halves, or hypocritically, and out of slavish Fear, with much reluctancy, without any good will, or readiness of mind. So also for the right receiv­ing of the Sacraments, you will find your selves much strengthned by Believing, that you may have Communion with God and Christ in them, and that you have a great High-Priest to bear the Iniquity of your holy things, and to make you for ever accepted before the Lord. In the same way [Page 261]you are to apply your selves to all Duties towards your Neighbour, required in the second Table of the Law, by Acting in a perswasion of such priviledges of your new Estate, as have a peculiar force to encourage and strengthen you for the performance of them. That you may love your Neighbour as your self, and do to him in all things as you would he should do to you, without partiality and self-seeking; that you may give him his due Honour, and abstain from injuring him in his Life, Chastity, worldly Estate, good Name, or from Coveting any thing that is his, according to the several Commands in the second Table of the Decalogue: You must walk in a perswa­sion, not only that these things are just and equi­table toward your Fellow-Creatures, and that you are strictly bound to the performance of them, but that they are the will of your heavenly Father, that hath begotten you according to his own Image in Righteousness and true Holiness, and hath given you his Spirit, that you may be like-minded to him in all things: And that they are the mind of Christ who dwelleth in you, and you in him: That God and Christ are kind, tender-hearted, long-suffering, full of goodness to Men, whether good or bad, Friends or Enemies, Poor or Rich; and that Christ came into the World, not to destroy, but to save; and that you are of the same Spirit; that the Injuries done to you by your Neighbours can do you no harm: And you need not seek any good for your selves by injuring them, because you have all desirable happiness in Christ; and all things, tho intended by your Enemies for your hurt, cer­tainly work for your good through Christ: Such apprehensions as these, wrought in us by the Spi­rit of Faith, do certainly beget in us a right frame [Page 262]of Spirit, throughly furnished for every good work towards our Neighbour. Likewise, your Hearts will be purified to unfeigned love of the Bre­thren in Christ, and you will walk toward them with all lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another in Love, if you maintain a stedfast belief and perswasion of those manifold Bonds of Love where­by you are inseparably joyned with them through Christ; as particularly, that there is one Body, and one Spirit, one hope of your Calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Finally, you will be able to abstain from all fleshly and worldly Lusts, that war against the Soul, and hinder all Godliness, by an assured perswasion; not meerly that Gluttony, Drunk­enness, Letchery, are filthy Swinish Abominations; And that the pleasures, profits, and honours of the World are vain, empty things; but that you are Crucified to the Flesh, and the World, and quickned, raised and set in heavenly places through Christ; and that you have pleasures, profits, honours in Christ, to which the best things in the World are not worthy to be compared: And that you are Members of Christ, the Temple of his Spirit, Citizens of Heaven, Children of the Day, not of the Night, nor of Darkness. So that 'tis below your State and Dignity to practise deeds of darkness, and mind fleshly worldly things. Thus I have given Instances enough to stir you up to acquaint your selves with the manifold endow­ments, priviledges, properties of your New State in Christ, as they are discovered in the Gospel of your Salvation, whereby the new Nature is fitted for holy Operations; as the common Nature of Man is furnished with the Endowments necessary for those Functions and Operations to which it [Page 263]is designed; and also to stir you up to make use of them by Faith, as they serve to strengthen you either for Universal Obedience, or for par­ticular Duties: And by this manner of Walking, your Hearts will be comforted and established in every good Word and Work, and you will grow in Holiness, until you attain to Perfecti­on in Jesus Christ.

8. If you endeavour to grow in Grace and in all Holiness, trust assuredly that God will enable you by this manner of Walking, to do every thing that is necessary for his Glory and your own ever­lasting Salvation, and that he will graciously ac­cept of that Obedience through Christ, which you are enabled to perform according to the measure of your Faith, and pardon your Failings, though you offend in many things, and fall short of many others, as to degrees of Holiness and high Acts of Obedience. And therefore attempt not the per­formance of Duty in any other way, though you cannot yet attain to do so much as you would in this way. This is a necessary Instruction to establish us in the life of Faith, that the sense of our mani­fold Failings and Defects, may not move us ei­their to Despair, or to return to the use of carnal Principles and Means, for help against our Cor­ruptions, as accounting this way of living and acting by Faith, to be in-sufficient for our Sancti­fication and Salvation. The Apostle Paul, exhorts the Galatians to walk in the Spirit; though the flesh lusts against the spirit, so that they cannot do the things that they would, Gal. 5 10, 17. We are to know that though the Law requireth of us the utmost perfection of Holiness, yet the Gospel maketh an allowance for our Weakness, and Christ is so meek [Page 264]and lowly in heart, that he accepteth of that which our weak Faith can attain to by his Grace, and doth not exact or expect any more of us for his Glory and our Salvation, until we grow stronger in Grace. God shewed his great Indulgence to his People under the Old Testament, that Moses the Law-giver suffered them, because of the hardness of their hearts to put away their Wives: Though from the beginning it was not so, Mat. 19.8. and also in tolerating the customary practice of Polygamy; tho Christ will not tolerate the continuance of such Practices in his Church, since his Spirit is more plentifully poured forth under the Gospel: Yet he is as forward as ever, to bear with the Failings of his weak Saints that desire to obey him sincerely. We have another Instance of God's Indulgence, more full to our present purpose, in his commanding that the fearful and faint-heart­ed, should not be forced to enter into the Battel against their Enemies, but suffered to return home to their Houses: Though sighting in Battel against Enemies, without Fear and Faint-heartedness, was a Duty that God did much exercise his People in, at that time, Deut. 20.3, 8. So un­der the Gospel, though it be an eminent part of Christ's Service, to endure the greatest Fight of Afflictions and Death it self, courageously for his Name sake, yet if any be so weak in Faith that they have not sufficient Courage to venture into the Battel, no doubt but Christ alloweth them to make use of any honest means, whereby they may escape the hands of Persecutors with safety to their holy Profession: He will accept them in this weaker kind of Service, and will ap­prove of them better than if they should hazard [Page 265]a denial of his Name, by venturing themselves upon the Tryal of Martyrdom, when they might have escaped it. Peter came off with Sin and Shame, by venturing beyond the measure of his Faith, into the hands of his Persecutors, when he went after Christ to the High Priest's Hall; whereas he should rather have made use of that indulgent Dismission that Christ gave to him and the rest of his Disciples: Let these go their way, Joh. 18.8. Christ dealeth with his People as a good careful Shepherd, that will not over-drive his Sheep: He gathereth his Lambs with his Arms, and carrieth them in his Bosom, and will gently lead those that are with young, Isa. 40.11. He would not have his Dis­ciples urged rigorously upon the Duty of Fasting, when their Spirits were unfit for it, because he knew that imposing Duties above their Strength, is like putting a piece of new Cloath into an old Gar­ment, and new Wine into old Bottles; which spoyl­eth all at last, Mat. 9.14, 17. That Precept of Solomon, Be not righteous overmuch, Prov. 7.10. is very useful and necessary, if rightly understood. We are to beware of being too rigorous in exact­ing Righteousness, of our selves and others be­yond the measure of Faith and Grace. Overdoing commonly proveth undoing. Children that ven­ture on their Feet beyond their Strength, have many a Fall; and so have Babes in Christ, when they venture unnecessarily upon such Duties as are beyond the strength of their Faith. We should be content at present to do the best that we can according to the measure of the gift of Christ, though we know that others are enabled to do much better; and we are not to despise the day of small things, but to praise God that [Page 266]he worketh in us any thing that is well-pleasing in his sight, hoping that he will sanctify us throughout, and bring us at last to perfection of Holiness through Jesus Christ our Lord. And we should carefully observe in all things, that good Lesson of the Apostle, not to think of our selves more highly than we ought to think, but to think sober­ly, according as God hath dealt to every Man the measure of Faith, Rom. 12.3.

DIRECT. XIII.
EXPLICATION.

THis might have been added to the Instructi­ons in the Explication of the former Di­rection, because its Use is the same to guide us in the mysterious manner of practising Holiness in Christ, by the life of Faith; but the weight and comprehensiveness of it, maketh it worthy to be treated of by it self, as a distinct Direction. Two things are observable in it: First, That though all Holiness be effectually attained unto [Page 267]by the life of Faith in Christ, yet the use of any means appointed in the Word for attaining and promoting Holiness, is not hereby made void, but rather established. This is needful to be observed against the Pride and Ignorance of some carnal Gospellers, that being puft up with a Conceit of their feigned Faith, imagine themselves to be in such a state of Perfection, that they are a­bove all Ordinances, except singing Halelujahs: And also against the Papists that run into the contrary Extream, by heaping together a mul­tiude of means of Holiness which God never commanded, neither ever came they into his Heart; and that Slander the Protestant Doctrin of Faith and Free Grace, as if it tended to destroy all diligent use of the means of Holiness and Salvation, and to breed up a company of lazy Solifidians. We do indeed assert and profess that a true and lively Faith in Christ, is alone sufficient and effectual through the Grace of God, to receive Christ and all his Fulness, so far as is necessary in this Life for our Justification, Sancti­fication and eternal Salvation: But yet we also assert and profess, that several means are ap­pointed of God, for the Begetting, Maintaining and Increasing of this Faith, and the Acting and Exercising of it, in order to the attainment of its End; and that these means are to be used di­ligently which are mention'd in the Sequel. True Believers find by Experience, that their Faith needeth such Helps, and they that think them­selves above any need of them, do reject the Counsel of God against themselves, like to those Prond Pharisees and Lawyers, that thought it a thing beneath them, and refused to be baptized of [Page 268]John, Luk. 7.30. yet we account no means neces­sary or lawful to be used for the attainment of Holiness, besides they that are appointed by God in his Word. We know that Holiness is a Part of our Salvation, and therefore they that think that Men may, or can invent any means effectual for the attainment of it, do ascribe their Salvati­on partly to Men, and rob God of his Glory, in being our only Saviour; and they do thereby plainly shew, That though they draw nigh unto God with their mouth and honour him with their lips, yet their hearts are far from him; and in vain do they worship him, teaching for Doctrins, the command­ments of men, Mat. 15.7, 8, 9.

The Second thing observable and principally design'd in this Direction, is the right manner of using all the means of Holiness, for the obtain­ing and practising of it in no other way, besides that of believing in Christ, and walking in him accord­ing to our new State by Faith, which hath been already demonstrated to be the only way where­by we may effectually attain to this great End. We must use them as helps to the life of Faith, in its Beginning, Continuance and Growth; and as Instruments subservient to Faith, the principal Instrument in all its Acts and Exercises whereby the Soul receiveth Christ, and walketh in all Holiness, by him. We must beware lest we use them rather in Opposition, than in Subordi­nation to the way of Sanctification and Salvation by Free Grace in Christ, through Faith; and lest by our Abuse of them, they be made rather Hindrances, than Helps to our Faith. We must not Idolize any of the means, and put them into the place of Christ, as the Papists do by trusting [Page 269]in them; as if they were effectual to conferr Grace to the Soul, by the work that is done in the use of them. Neither may we use them as works of Righteousness, to be performed as Conditions for the procuring of the Favour of God, and the Salvation of Christ: Neither must they be accounted so absolutely necessary to Salva­tion, as if a true Faith were void and of none effect, when we are debarred from the Enjoyment of several of them. The holy Scrip­tures with all the means of Grace appointed there­in, are able to make us wise unto Salvation, no other way than by faith in Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 3.18. and therefore our wise Endeavour must be, not to use [...]hem in any opposition to the Grace of God in Christ. For God's Ordinances are like the Cherubims of Glory, made with their Faces looking towards the Mercy-Seat: They are made to guid us to Christ for Salvation by Faith alone. If any turn them to another use, it is a great Violation of divine Institutions, as if any Sacri­legious Person had presumed to turn the Faces of the Cherubims from the Mercy-Seat some o­ther way. This right use of the means of Grace, is a Point wherein many are Ignorant, that use them with great Zeal and Diligence, and thereby they do not only lose their Labour and the be­nefit of the means, but also they wrest and per­vert them to their own Destruction. The Jews under the Law of Moses, enjoyed many more Ordinances of divine Worship than we do un­der the Gospel; but their Table became their Snare, and they fell miserably from God and Christ, because the Veil of Ignorance was upon [Page 270]their Hearts that they could not look to the end of those Ordinances, even to the Lord Jesus Christ; And they sought not salvation by faith, but by the ordinances as works of righteousness, and by other works of the law; for they stumbled at the stumbling stone, Rom. 9.31, 32; and 10.4, 5. 2 Cor. 3.13, 14. That you may not stumble and fall by the same pernicious Error, I shall shew particular­ly, how several of the principal means of Holi­ness appointed in the Word of God, are to be made use of in that right manner expressed in the Direction.

1. We must endeavour diligently to know the Word of God contained in the Holy Scripture, and to improve it to this end, That we may be made wise unto Salvation through saith, which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 3.15. Other means of Salvation are necessary to the more abundant well-being of our Faith, and of our new State in Christ; but this is absolutely necessary to the very being there of; because Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God, and receiveth Christ as manifested by the Word, as I have before proved. Raab the Canaanite was justifyed by Faith, before she had any visible Commuion with the Church in any of God's Ordinances; yet not without the Word of God, even the same Word for Substance, which was written in the Scriptures, and was then extant in the Books of Moses: Though that Word was not brought to her by any Book of Holy Scripture, nor by the Preaching of any Holy Minister, but by the Report of the Heathens, Josh. 2.9, 11. But here our great work must be to get such a Know­ledge of the Word, as is necessary and sufficient [Page 271]to guide us in receiving of Christ, and walking in him by Faith. You must not be of their Minds that think the Knowledge of the Ten Commandments, to be sufficient to Salvation, or that would have Mysteries to remain hidden from the Understanding of the Vulgar, and nothing to be Preached to them but that they can readily assent to, and receive by the Light that is in all Men; of which Mind it may be some Mini­sters are, who unwitingly agree with the Quakers in a Fundamental of their Heresie. But you must endeavour chiefly to know the My­stery of the Father and the Son, as it is discovered in the Gospel, Wherein are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2.2, 3. Which to know is life eternal, and the ignorance of it, is death eternal, Joh. 17.3. 2 Cor. 4.3. You must know that Christ is the end of the law, Rom. 10.4. and therefore you must endeavour to know the Commands of the Law, not that you may be enabled by that Knowledge to practife them immediately, and so to procure Salvation by your Works; but ra­ther by your Knowledge of them, you may be made sensible of your Inablility to perform them, and of the Enmity that is in your Heart against them, and the Wrath that you are under for breaking of them, and the Impossibility of being saved by your own Works, that so you may flee to Christ for Refuge, and trust only to the Free Grace of God for Justification and Strength, to fulfill the Law acceptably through Christ in your Conversation. And for this end you must endeavour to learn the utmost Strictness of the Commands, the exact Perfection and spiritual Purity which they require, that you may be the [Page 272]more convinced of Sin, and stired up to seek un­to Christ for Remission of Sin, for Purity of Heart, and spiritual Obedience, and be brought nearer to the Enjoyment of him. As Christ testified that the Scribel, who understood the greatness of that Command of Loving the Lord with all the Heart and Soul, was not far from the Kingdom of God, Mar. 12.34. the most effectual Knowledge for your Salvation, is to understand these Two Points. The desperate Sinfulness and Misery of your own natural Condition, and the alone Sufficiency of the Grace of God in Christ for your Salvation, that you may be abased as to the Flesh, and exalted in Christ alone. And for the better understanding of these Two main Points, you should learn how the first Adam was the figure of the second, Rom. 5.14. How Sin and Death came upon all the natural Seed of the first Adam, by his Disobedience in eating the for­bidden Fruit, and how Righteousness and Ever­lasting Life come upon all the spiritual Seed of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, by his Obedi­ence unto Death, even the death of the Cross. You also should learn the true difference betwixt the Two Covenants, the Old and the New, or the Law and the Gospel; that the former shutteth us up un­der the Guilt and Power of Sin, and the Wrath of God and his Curse, by its rigorons Terms, Do all the Commandments and live, and cursed are you if you do them not, and fail in the least Point. The latter openeth the gates of righteousness, and life to all Believers, (i. e. the New Covenant) by its gracious Terms, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and live, i. e. All your Sins shall be forgiven, and Holiness and Glory shall be given to you freely by his [Page 273]Merit and Spirit. Furthermore, you should learn the Gospel Principles that you are to walk by, for the attainment of Holiness in Christ. And here I shall mind you particularly that you would be a good Proficient in Christian Learning, if you get a good Understanding of the 6th. and 7th. Chapters of the Apostle Paul to the Romans, where the powerful Principles of Sanctification are purposely treated of, and differenced from those weak and ineffectual Principles, which we are most naturally prone to walk by: I need not particularly commend any other Points of Re­ligion to your Learning; for if you get the Knowledge of these principal Points which I have mentioned, and improve it to a right end, which is to Live and Walk by Faith in Christ, your own renewed Mind will covet the Knowledge of all other things that appertain to Life and Godliness; And if in any thing you be otherwise minded than is according to saving Truth, God shall reveal even this unto you, Phil. 3.15. Yet let me caution you, lest instead of gaining Christ by your Knowledge, you rather lose him by putting your Knowledge in the place of Christ, and trusting on it for your Salvation. One cause of the Jews perishing was, that they rested in a form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law, Rom. 2.20. and doubtless, all that many Christians will gain by their Knowledge in the end, will only be to be beaten with more Stripes, because they place their Religion and Salvation, chiefly in the Knowledge of their Lords Will, and in their Ability to Talk and Dispute of it, though it may be for the most part, at the Tavern or Ale-Bench, without preparing themselves to do ac­cording [Page 274]thereunto, Luk. 12.47. much less are you to place your Religion and hope of Salvation, in a daily Task of reading Chapters, or repeat­ing Sermons, without understanding more than the Papists do their Lessons in the Latin Mass, and Canonical Hours; as sad Experience shew­eth that many seemingly Devout and frequent Hearers of the Word, do notwithstanding remain in lamentable and wonderful Ignorance of the sa­ving Truth; and in them is fulfilled the Prophecy of Isaias, That in hearing they shall hear and not under­stand, and in seeing they shall see, &c. Mat. 13.14, 15.

2. Another means to be used diligently for the promoting of the Life of Faith, is Examinati­on of our State and Ways according to the Word, whether we be at present in a State of Sin and Wrath, or of Grace and Salvation; that if we be in a State of Sin, we may know our Sickness, and come to the great Physician, while it is called to day: And if we be in a State of Grace, ws may know that we are of the truth, and assure our hearts before God, with the greater confidence, by the testimony of a good conscience, 1 Joh. 3.19, 21. that so our Hearts may be more strongly comfort­ed by Faith, and established in every good work; and that if our ways be evil, we may turn from them to the Lord our God through Christ, without whom none cometh to the Father, Lam. 3.40. Joh. 14.6. But your great care in this work of Self-exami­nation, must be to perform it in such a manner, that it may not hinder and destroy the Life of Faith, as it doth in many, instead of promoting it. Therefore beware lest you trust upon your Self-exa­mination, rather than upon Christ: As some do that think they have made their Peace with God, meerly [Page 275]because they have examined themselves upon their Sick-Bed, or before the Receiving of the Lords Supper, though they have found themselves Stark Naught, and do not depend on Christ to make them better; but on their own deceitful Purposes and Resolutions. Think not that you must begin this Work with doubting whether God will extend Mercy to you, and save you, and that you must leave this, a Question wholly un­der debate until you have found out how to resolve it by Self-examination. This is a common and very pernicious Error in the very foundation of this Work, which is hereby laid in the great Sin of Unbelief, which as soon as it prevaileth, doth by its great Influence, Dash and Obscure all inward gracious Qualifications of Peace, Hope, Joy, Love to God and his People, before they be at all tryed whether they can give any good Evidence for their Salvation. And it makes People willing to think their own Qualifications better than they are, lest they should fall into an utter Despair of their Salvation; and thus it wholly marreth the good work of Self-examination, and maketh it de­structive to our Souls; For to them that are defiled and unbelieving, there is nothing pure, Tit. 1.15. You should rather begin the work with much assurance of Faith, that though you find your Heart never so wicked and reprobate at present, (as many of God's choicest Servants do often find) yet the Door of Mercy is open for you, and that God will certainly save you for ever, if you put your trust in his Grace through Christ. I have formerly shewed that this confident Persua­sion, is of the nature of saving Faith, and that we have sufficient Ground for it in the Free Pro­mises [Page 276]of the Gospel; when we walk in Darkness and can see no Light shining forth in our graci­ous Qualifications. If we begin the work with this Confidence, it will make us impartial and not afraid to find out the worst by our selves, and willing to judge that our hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked beyond what we can find out, Jer. 17.9. And if we have any holy Qualifications, this Confidence will preserve them in their Vigour and Brightness, that they may be able to give clear Evidence, that we are at present in a State of Grace. Mark well the differ­ence betwixt these Two Questions, whether God will graciously accept and save me, though a vile Sin­ner through Christ, as before was said, and whe­ther I am already brought into a State of Salva­tion? The former of these I say, is to be resolved affirmatively by a confident Faith in Christ; the latter only is to be inquired into by Self-exami­nation. Mis-spend not your time as many do, in poring upon your Hearts, to find whether you be good enough to trust on Christ for your Salvati­on, nor to find whether you have any Faith, be­fore you dare be so bold as to act Faith in Christ. But know that though you cannot find that you have any Faith or Holiness, yet if you will now believe-on him that justifyeth the ungodly, it shall be accounted to you for righteousness, Rom. 4.5. And if you love Christ and your own Soul, mis-spend not your time in examining whether you have committed the unpardonable Sin against the Ho­ly Ghost, except it be with a full Purpose to assure your self more and more, that you are not guilty thereof; for any Doubtfulness in this Point, will but harden you in Unbelief. Re­member [Page 277]well that the Question to be resolved, is, Whether you be at present in a state of Grace? and to resolve it, you must be willing to know the best by your self as well as the worst: And you must not think that Humility bindeth you to overlook your good Qualifications, and to take notice only of your Corruptions. But your great work must be, to find whether there be not some Drop of saving Grace in the Ocean of your Corruption? And it will consist well with Hu­mility to take notice of, and own any Spark of true Holiness that is in you, because the Praise and Glory of it belongeth not to you, but to God, Phil. 1.11. And you must try inherent Grace by the Touch-stone, not by the Measure; by its Nature, not its Degree; not denying any Lust­ings of the Spirit in you, because of the strong Lustings of the Flesh against the Spirit; nor de­nying that you are Spiritual in some degree, and Babes in Christ; because you find your selves car­nal in a more prevailing degree, and the old man bigger than the new, Gal. 5.17. 1 Cor. 3.1. Especially you are to examine and prove whe­ther you be in the Faith; for if you make sure of this, you make sure of all the things that pertain to Life and Godliness; and if you doubt of this, you will certainly doubt of the Truth of any other Qualifi­cations, and will suspect them to be meerly Carnal and Counterfeit; because it is a known Truth, that to the Ʋnbelieving there is nothing pure, and that all that have not truly received Christ by Faith, are at present in an unregenerate State, though they seem never so Pure and Godly, 2 Cor. 13.5. Tit. 1.15. And let not the Issue of this Tryal depend at all upon your Knowledge of the time [Page 278]when, or of the Sermon, Conference, or Place of Scripture, by which you were first converted to the Faith; though that is good to know too, if it may be. And some who have formerly lived in gross Ignorance, or in a manifest Oppositi­on to true Faith and Holiness, may know such Circumstances of their Conversion, and may re­flect upon them comfortably, as the Apostle Paul did, who was turned of a suddain from his Per­secuting Rage, to be a Disciple and an Apostle of Christ; yet others, sincere Believers, may be wholly Ignorant of them, as John the Baptist, who was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mothers Womb, Luk. 1.15. and they that have been train­ed up religiously, and known the Holy Scripture from their Childhood, as Timothy, 2. Tim. 3.15. Yea, and many that are first turned from gross Ignorance and Profaneness, to some external Re­formation, and then in process of time, brought nearer to the Kingdom of Heaven, by insensible Degrees, before they be really new begotten by the Spirit of Faith. There are also some that deceive their Souls, by imagining that they know at what time, and by what Text of Scripture they were converted; and can make large Dis­courses of the workings of God upon their Hearts, and are prone to talk unseasonably with Vain-glorying of their own Experiences, when at last, all their Experiences are not sufficient to evidence that they ever attained to the least measure of true saving Faith. Therefore that we may not unjustly condemn or justify our Faith, by pro­ceeding on in-sufficient Evidences in its Tryal, our best way, is to examine it by the inseparable Proper­ties of a true saving Faith, by putting to our selves [Page 279]such Questions as these; Are we made throughly sensible of our Sinfulness, and of the Deadness and Misery of our natural State, so as to despair absolutely of ever attaining to any Righteousness, Holyness or true Happiness while we continue in it? Are the Eyes of our Understandings enlight­ned to see the Excellency of Christ, and the a­lone Sufficiency and All-sufficiency of his Grace for our Salvation? Do we prefer the Enjoyment of him above all things, and desire it with our whole Heart, as our only Happiness, whatsoever we may suffer for his sake? Do we desire with our whole Heart to be delivered from the Power and Practice of Sin, as well as from the Wrath of God and the Pains of Hell? Do our Hearts come to Christ and lay hold on him for Salvation, by trusting him only, and endeavouring to trust on him confidently notwithstanding all Fears and Doubts that assault us? If you find in your self a Faith that hath these Properties, though as small as a Grain of Mustard-Seed, and opposed with much Unbelief and manifold Corruptions in your Soul, you may conclude that you are in a state of Salvation at present, and that your re­maining work is to continue and grow in it more and more, and to walk worthy of it; you should also examine the Fruits of your Faith, and try whether you can shew your Faith by your works, as you are taught, Jam. 2.18. that you may be sure not to be deceived in your Judgment con­cerning it. And though it be true as I have noted, that Doubts concerning your Faith will breed doubting concerning the Sincerity of other Qualifications that are Fruits thereof, yet possib­ly you may get such clear Evidences of your [Page 280]Sincerity, as may overcome and expell all your Doubts. And here you are not only to enquire whether your Inclinations, Purposes, Affections and Actions be materially good and holy, but also by what Principles they are bred and in­fluenced? Whether it be by slavish fears of Hell, and mercenary hopes of getting Heaven by your Works, which are legal and carnal Prin­ciples, that can never breed true Holiness; or by Gospel Principles as by love to God, be­cause God hath loved you first, and to Christ, because he hath dyed; and by the hope of eter­nal Life, as the free Gift of God through Christ, and dependance on God to sanctify you by his Spirit according to his Promises. Remember that the New Testament is the ministration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.6. and the Spirit will sanctify us, not by legal, but by Gospel Principles. Take notice further, that you need not trouble your self to find out a multitude of Marks and Signs of true Grace, if you can find a few good ones: Particularly you may know, That you are passed from death to life, if you love the brethren, 1 Joh. 3.14. i. e. if you love all whom you can in Charity, judge to be true Believers, and that be­cause they are true Believers, and for the Truth Sake that dwelleth in them. As Solomon discerned the true Mother of the Child, by her Affection towards her Child; so the Mother Grace of Faith, may be discerned by the Love that it breeds in us, toward all true Believers. To conclude this Point, Happy are you if you can find so much Evidence of the Fruits of your Faith, as may enable you to express your Sincerity in these moderate Terms, Pray for us, for we trust we have a good [Page 281]conscience in all things, willing to live honestly, Heb. 13.18.

3. Meditation on the Word of God is of very great use and advantage, for the attainment and practice of Holiness through Faith in Christ. It is a Duty whereby the Soul doth Feed and Rumi­nate upon the Word as its Spiritual Food, and digesteth it, and turneth it into Nourishment, whereby we are strengthned for every good Work. Our Souls are satisfied therewith, as with marrow and fatness: When we remember God up­on our Beds, and meditate on him in the Night­watches, Psal. 68.5, 6. The new Nature may well be called the Mind, Rom. 7.25. because it liveth and acteth, by minding of, and meditating on spi­ritual things. Therefore it is a Duty to be pra­ctised, not only at some limited times, but all the day, Psal. 119.97. yea, day and night, Psal. 1.2. even in our ordinary Employments at home and abroad. An habitual knowledge of the Word will not profit us, without an active minding it by frequent Meditation. Some think, that much Preaching of the Word is not needful, where a People are already brought to the knowledge of those things that are necessary to Salvation. But they that are regenerated by the Word, find by Experience; that their Spiritual Life is maintained and encreased by often minding the same Word: And therefore as new born Babes, they desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. and would by the Preach­ers, be put often in remembrance of the same things, that they may feed upon them by Medi­tation, tho they know them already, and are established in the present Truth, 2 Pet. 1.12. [Page 282]But here our greatest Skill, and chiefest Concern­ment lies, in practising this Duty in such a man­ner, as that it may be subservient, and not at all opposite to the Life of Faith. We must not rely upon the performance of a daily task of Medita­tion; as a work of Righteousness for the pro­curement of the Favour of God, instead of rely­ing on the Righteousness of Christ, as indeed we are prone to do, to catch at any Straw rather than to trust only on the Free Grace of God in Christ for our Salvation. And the end of our Meditation must not be meer Speculation and Knowledge of the Truth, but rather the vigorous pressing it upon our Consciences, and the stir­ring up our Hearts and Affections to the Practice of it: And in stirring up our selves to holy Practice, we must warily observe how far the several parts of the Truth of God are powerful and effectual for the attainment of this End, that we may make use of them accordingly. We must not imagine as too many do, yea, and some great Masters in the Art of Meditation, that we can bring our Hearts effectually to the Love of God and Holiness, and can work strange Metamorphoses, and work or frame in our Hearts any holy Qualifications or Vertue, meerly by working in our selves strong Apprehensions of God's eternal Power and God-head, his sove­raign Authority, Omniscience, perfect Holiness, exact Justice, the equity of his Law, and reason­ableness of our Obedience to it; the unspeakable Happiness prepared for the Godly, and Misery for the Wicked to all Eternity. Meditation on such things as these, is indeed very useful to press upon our Consciences the Strictness of our Ob­ligation [Page 283]to holy Duties, and to move us to go by Faith to Christ, for Life and Strength to perform them. But that we may receive this Life and Strength whereby we are enabled for immediate performance, we must meditate be­lievingly on Christ's saving Benefits, as they are discovered in the Gospel, which is the only Doctrin which is the Power of God to our Salva­tion, and whereby the quickning Spirit is mini­stred to us, and that is able to build us up, and give us an inheritance among all them which are sanctifyed, Rom. 1.16. 2 Cor. 3.6. Act. 20.32. You must take special care to act Faith in your Meditation, mix the Word of God's Grace with it, or else it will not profit you, Heb. 4.2. and if you set the loving kindness of God frequently before your eyes, by meditating on it believingly, you will be strengthned to walk in the truth, Psal. 26.2. and by beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, you will be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.18. This kind of Meditation is sweet and delightful to those that are guided to it by the Spirit of Faith, and it needs not the help of such artificial-Methods as the Vulgar cannot easily learn: You may let your Thoughts run in it at liberty, with­out confining them to any rules of Method; you will find your Souls much enlivened by it, and enriched with the Grace of God, which cannot be effected by any other kind of Meditation, though it be never so methodical, and curiously framed according to the Rules of Art.

4. The Sacrament of Baptism must needs be of great use to promote the Life of Faith, if it be made use of according to its Nature and In­stitution, [Page 284] because it is a seal of the righteousness of faith, as circumcision was formerly, Rom. 4.11. But then we must take heed of making it a Seal of the contrary Righteousness of Works, as the carnal Jews did, that sought to be justified by the Law of Moses, and as many Christians do, that transform the New Covenant into a Covenant of Works, requiring sincere Obedience to all the Laws of Christ, as the condition of our Justification; into which new devised Covenant, they think them­selves to be entred by their Baptism. I may say of Baptism thus perverted and abused, as the Apostle saith of Circumcision. Baptism verily pro­fiteth if thou keep the Law, but if thou be a Breaker of the Law, thy Baptism is made no Baptism, Rom. 2.26. If thou be Baptised, so long as thou continuest in the abuse of that holy Ordinance, Christ shall profit you nothing; Christ is become of no effect to you; Ye are all fallen from grace, Gal. 3.2.4. Beware also of ma­king an Idol of Baptism, and putting it in the place of Christ, as the Papists do, who hold that it conferreth Grace by the very work that is per­formed in the Administration of it. And as ma­ny Ignorant People do, that trust rather on their Baptism, than on Christ; like to the Pharisees, who placed their Confidence on Circumcision, and other external Privileges, Phil. 3.4, 5. We are to know that God is not well pleased with many that are Baptised, 1 Cor. 10.2, 5. and the time will come when he will punish the Baptised with the Unbaptised, as well as the cir­cumcised with the uncircumcised, Jer. 9.25. Be­ware also of advancing Baptism to an equal Partnership with Faith in your Salvation, as some [Page 285]do, who account all Baptism null and void, be­sides that which is administred to persons grown up to years of Discretion, and they that refuse to be re-baptized at those years, are to be ac­counted Aliens from the true Church, from Christ and his Salvation, notwithstanding all their Faith in Christ. If the Baptism of Infants were null and void, yet the want of true Baptism would be no Damning matter to those that are otherwise perswaded. Circumcision was as necessary as Bap­tism in its time, and yet the Israelites omitted it for the space of forty years in the Wilderness, without fearing that any would fall short of Salva­tion for want of it, John 5.6, 7. Many precious Saints in the Primitive times of Persecution, have gone to Heaven through a Baptism of Suffering for the Name of Christ, before they had oppor­tunity to be Baptized with Water: And in those ancient Times, when the Custom of deferring Baptism too much prevailed, we are not to think, that none were in a state of Salvation by Faith in Christ, that deferred that Ordinance, or neglect­ed it. Take notice further, that it is not suffici­ent to avoid the pernicious Errors of those that pervert Baptism, contrary to its Institution; but you must be also diligent in the improving of it to the ends for which it was instituted. And here let me desire you to put the Question seriously to your Souls, What good use you do make of your Baptism? How often, or seldom do you think upon it? The vulgar sort of Christians, yea it may be feared, many sincere Converts, do so lit­tle think upon their own Baptism, and study to make a due improvement of it, that its of no more profit to their Souls, than if they never had [Page 286]bin Baptized; yea, their sin is the more aggra­vated by rendring such an Ordinance of none effect to their Souls, through their own gross neglect. Tho Baptism be administred to us but once in our Lives, yet we ought frequently to reflect upon it, and upon all Occasions to put the Question to our selves, Into what were we Bap­tized? Acts 19.2. What this Ordinance Seals? What did it engage us to? And accordingly, we must stir up and strengthen our selves by our Bap­tism, to lay hold on the Grace which it seals to us, and to fulfil its Engagements. We should often remember, that we are made Christs Disci­ples by Baptism, and engaged to hear him ra­ther than Moses, and to Believe on him for our Salvation; as John baptized with the Baptism of Repentance, saying to the People, That they should believe on him that should come after him, i. e. on Christ Jesus. We should remember, that our Baptism sealed our putting on of Christ, and our being the Children of God by Faith in Christ, and our being no longer under the former School­master the Law, Gal. 3.25, 26, 27. And that it sealed to us the putting off the body of sin, and our Burial and Resurrection with Christ by Faith, and the forgiving of our trespasses, Col. 2.12, 13. Our being made Members of one Body of Christ, and to drink into one Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.12, 13. We may find by such things as these which are more fully discovered in the Gospel, that it is the pro­per nature and tendency of Baptism, to guide us to Faith in Christ alone for remission of Sins, Ho­liness, and all Salvation, by Union and Fellowship with him, and that a diligent improvement of this [Page 287]Ordinance, must needs be of great advantage to the Life of Faith.

5. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is as a spiritual Feast to nourish our Faith, and to strengthen us to walk in all Holiness by Christ living and working in us; if it be used according to the Patern which Christ gave us in its first In­stitution, recorded by Three Evangelists, Mat. 26.26. Mar. 14.22, 24. Luk. 22.19, 20. and was extrordinarily revealed from Heaven by Christ himself to the Apostle Paul, 1 Cor. 11.23, 25. that we might be the more obliged and stirred up to the exact Observation of it. Its end is not only that we may remember Christs Death in the History, but in the Mystery of it; as that his Body was broken for us, that his Blood is the Blood of the New Testament or Cove­nant, shed for us and for many for the remission of Sins, that so we may receive and enjoy all the Promises of the New Covenant which are record­ed, Heb. 8.12. Its end is to mind us that Christs Body and Blood are Bread and Drink, even all­sufficient Food to nourish our Souls to everlasting Life, and that we ought to take, and eat, and drink him by Faith, and to assure us that when we truly believe on him, he is as really and closely u­nited to us by his Spirit, as the Food which we eat and drink is united to our Bodies. Christ himself Joh. 6. doth more fully explain this Mystery. Furthermore, this Sacrament doth not only put us in mind of the spiritual Blessings, wherewith we are Blessed in Christ and our Enjoyment of them by Faith, but also it is a Mean and Instru­ment, whereby God doth really exhibit and give forth Christ and his Salvation to true Believers, [Page 288]and whereby he doth stir up, and strengthen Be­lievers to receive and feed upon Christ by pre­sent actings of Faith, while they partake of the outward Elements. When Christ saith eat, drink, this is my body, this is my blood, no less can be meant, than that Christ doth as truly give his Body and Blood to true Believers in that Ordi­nance, as the Bread and Cup; and they do as truly receive it by Faith. As if a Prince invest a Subject in some Honourable Office, by delivering to him a Staff, Sword or Signet, and say to him, take this Staff, Sword or Signet, this is such an Office or Preferment; or if a Father should deliver a Deed for Conveyance of Land to his Son, and say, take it as thine own, this is such a Farm or Mannor, how can such Expressions import any less in com­mon Senfe and Reason, than a Present, Gift and Conveyance of the Offices, Preferments and Lands, by, and with those outward Signs. There­fore the Apostle Paul asserteth, that the bread in the Lords supper, is the communion of the body of Christ, and the cup is the communion of his blood, 1 Cor. 10.16. which sheweth that Christ's Body and Blood, are really communicated to us, and we do really partake of them, as well as of the Bread and Cup. The chief Excellency and Advantage of this Ordinance is, That it is not only a Figure and Resemblance of our living upon a crucified Savi­our, but also a precious Instrument, whereby Christ the Bread and Drink of Life, is really conveyed to us, and received by us through Faith. This makes it to be a Love-Token, worthy of that ardent Affection toward us, which filled Christ's Heart at the time when he instituted it, when he was on the point of finishing of his [Page 289]greatest work of Love, by laying down his Life for us, 1 Cor. 11.23. And this is diligently to be observed, that we may make a right improvement of this Ordinance, and receive the saving Bene­sits of it. One reason why many do little esteem, and seldom or never partake of this Ordinance, and do find little benefit by it is, because they falsly imagine, that God in it only holds forth naked signs and resemblances of Christ and his Salvation, which they account to be held forth so plainly in Scripture, that they need not the help of such a sign: Whereas, if they under­stood, that God doth really give Christ himself to their Faith, by and with those Signs and Resem­blances, they would prize it as the most delicious Feast, and be desirous to partake of it on all op­portunities, Acts 2.42. and 20.7. Another rea­son why many partake seldom or never of this Ordinance, and know little of the benefit of it, is, because they think themselves brought by it into great danger of eating and drinking their own Damnation, according to those terrifying words of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11.29. therefore they ac­count it the safest way wholly to abstain from such a dangerous Ordinance; or at least, that once a year is enough to run so great a Hazard. And if they be brought to it sometimes by constraint of Conscience, their slavish Fears bereave them of all comfortable Fruit of it. So that instead of striving to receive Christ and his Salvation there­in, they account themselves to have succeeded well, if they come off without the Sentence of Damnation. As the Jewish Rabbies write, that the High-Priests Life was so eminently hazarded by his entring once a year into the Holy of Holies, [Page 290]that he stayed there as little time as he could, lest the People should think him to be struck dead by the Hand of God: And when he was come forth alive, he usually made a Feast of Thanksgiving for Joy of so great a Deliverance. But there is no rea­son why we should be so much terrified by those words of the Apostle, for they were darted against such a gross prophanation of the Lords Supper amongst the Corinthians as we may easily avoid, by observing the Institution of it, which the Apostle proposeth to them as a sufficient remedy against the gross abuse, in not discerning or diffe­rencing the Lords Body from other bodily Food, and partaking of it as their own Supper, with such dis­order, that one was Hungry, and another Drun­ken. Besides, that terrifying word Damnation, may be rendred more mildly Judgment, as it is in the Margent; yea the Apostle himself, Ver. 32. doth interpret it of a merciful, temporal Judgment, whereby we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World. We are indeed prone to sin in receiving this Ordinance unworthily, and so we are also to pollute more or less, all other holy things that we meddle with. So that the consideration of our danger might sill us with slavish fear in the use of all other means of Grace as well as of this, were it not that we have a great High-Priest, to bear this Iniquity of our holy things, Exod. 28.38. under the Covert of whose Righteousness we are to draw near unto God, without slavish fear in the full assurance of Faith, in this as well as in other holy Ordinances; and we are to rejoyce in the Lord in this spiritual Feast, as the Jews were bound to do in their solemn Feasts, Deut. 16.14, 15. There are other Abuses [Page 291]of this Ordinance like to those of Baptism forementioned, whereby it is rendred op­posite, rather than subservient to the Life of Faith. Some put it in the place of Christ by trusting on it as a work of Righteousness, for the procuring of Gods Favour, or an Ordinance sufficient to confer Grace to the Soul by the very work wrought. Others make it so necessary, that they account that Faith is not sufficient without it; and there­fore they will partake of it if they can possibly, tho it be in a disorderly manner upon their sick-Beds, when they are in fear of Death, as their Viaticum. The Papists do horribly Idolize it by their figment of Transubstantiation, and the Adoration of their Breaden God, and their Sacrifice of the Mass for the sins of the Quick and the Dead. We ought warily to conceive, that the true Body and Blood of Christ are given to us, with the Bread and Wine, in a spiritual mysterious manner, by the un­searchable Operation of the Holy Spirit, uniting Christ and us together by Faith, without any Tran­substantiation in the outward Elements.

6. Prayer is to be made use of, as a means of living by Faith in Christ, according to the New Man. And it is the making our Requests with Supplication and Thankfgiving: That it is to be used so, as an eminent Means appears, because God requireth it, 1 Thess. 5.17. Rom. 12.12. It is our priestly Work, 1 Pet. 2.5. compared with Psal. 141.2. and the property of Saints, 1 Cor. 1.2. and God is a God, hearing Prayer, Psal. 65.2. God will be prayed to by his People for the benefit that he is minded to bestow upon them when once he hath enabled them to pray; though at first he is found of them that seek him not, [Page 292] Ezek. 36.27, 37. Phil. 1.19, 20. that he may pre­pare them for Thanksgiving, and make Benefits double Benefits to them, Psal. 66.16, 18, 19. and 50.15. 2 Cor. 1.10. 11. Though his Will be not changed by this means; yet it is accomplished or­dinarily, and his Purpose is to accomplish it this way. And therefore trusting assuredly should not make us neglect, but rather perform this Duty, 2 Sam. 7.27. Christ the Mediator of the new Cove­nant by which Justification and Sanctification are promised, is also the Mediator for Acceptance of our Prayers, Heb. 4.15, 16. The Spirit that sancti­fieth us, begette [...]h us in Chist, sheweth the things of Christ to us, is a Spirit of Prayer, Zech. 12.10. Gal. 4.6. He is as Fire inslaming the Soul, and making it to mount upward in Prayer to God. Prayerless People are dead to God. If they are Children of Sion; yet they are but still-born, dead Children that cry not, Acts 9.11. not written among the living in Jerusalem: Heathens in Na­ture, though Christians in Name, Jer. 10.25. It is a Duty so great, that it is put for all the Service of God, as a fundamental Duty, which if it be done, the rest will be done well, and not without it; and other Ordinances of Worship are Helps to it, Isa. 56.7. It is the great means whereby Faith doth expert it self to perform its whole Work, and poureth it self forth in all holy De­sires and Affections, Psal: 62, 8. and so yeilds a sweet savour as Mary's Box of precious Spicknard, Mark 14.3. John 12.3. And so the same Promises are made to Faith and Prayer, Rom. 10.11, 12, 13. It is our continual Incense and Sacrifice, whereby we offer our selves, Hearts, Assections and Lives to God, Psal. 141.2. We act all Grace in it, [Page 293]and must act it this way, or else we are not like­ly to act it any other way. And as we act Grace so we obtain Grace by it, and all Holiness, Psal. 138.3. Luk. 11.13. Heb. 4.16. Psal. 81.10. Our Riches come in by it. Israel prevails while Moses holds up his Hands, Exod. 17. By Prayer Hannah is strengthened against her Sorrows, 1 Sam. 1.15, 18. Peace is continued, Phil. 4.6, 7. the disordered Soul set in order by it as Hannah, 1 Sam. 1. Psal. 32.1, 5. Incense was still burnt while the Lamps were dressed, Exod. 30.7, 8. It is added to the Spiritual Armoury, not as a particular piece of it, but as a means of putting on all, and making use of all aright, that we may stand in the evil Day, Eph. 6.18. It is a means of transfigur­ing us into the likeness of Christ in Holiness, and making our spiritual Faces to shine, as Christ was transfigured bodily whilst he prayed, Luk. 9.29. and Moses his Face shone whilst he talk'd with God, Exod. 34.29. Hence the frequent use of this Duty is commended to us, Eph. 6.18. [...] on all Seasons and Opportunities, and by the example of the Saints in publick with the Con­gregation, Acts 2.42. & 10.30, 31. Solemn continued Acts of Prayer should be, Mat. 6.1. Yea, several times, as Morning and Evening Sacri­fice, Dan. 6.10. Psal. 92.2. or Thrice, Psal. 55.17. besides special Occasions, Jam. 5.13. and brief Ejaculations, that hinder not other business, Psal. 129.8. 2 Sam. 15.31. Nch. 2.4. Prayers should be solemn in our Closets, Mat. 6.6. in Families, Acts 10.30, 31. And as Sacrifices were multiply­ed on the Sabbath-days, and days of Atonement, and at other appointed seasons, Numb [...] the continual burnt-offering, so ought [...] [Page 294]In a word, a Christian ought to give up himself eminently to this Duty, Psal. 109.4. without limits, Psal. 119.164. But the great work is, to pra­ctise this Duty rightly for Holiness, only by Faith in Christ. Here we had need say, Lord teach us to pray, Luke 11.1. and that not only as to the matter, but as to the manner, both which are taught by Christ in some measure, in that brief patern of Prayer which he taught his Disciples. But for the understanding of it, we must consult the whole Word, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. And we have need of the Spirit of Christ to guide us in the Duty; and therefore we are taught to pray by the Spirit, i. e. the Holy Ghost, Jude 20. Eph. 2.18. the Spirit of God only guideth and enableth our Souls to Pray aright; and that you may do so, take these Rules:

1. You must pray with your Hearts and Spirits, Isa. 26.9. Joh. 4.24. where the Spirit of Christ, and of Prayer, principally resides, Gal. 4.6. Eph. 1.17. with Ʋnderstanding, 1 Cor. 14.15, 16. for we are renewed in Knowledg, Col. 3.10. 2 Pet. 1.3. so that praying in Ignorance cannot Sanctifie. And it must be with sincere hearty desire of the good things we ask in Prayer: For God seeth the Heart, Psal. 62.8. Prayer is chiefly a heart-work, Psal. 27.8. God heareth the Heart without the Mouth, but never heareth the Mouth acceptably without the Heart, 1 Sam. 1.13. Your Prayer is odious Hypocrisie, mocking of God, and taking his Name in vain, when you utter Petitions for the coming of his Kingdom, and doing of his Will, and yet hate Godliness in your Heart. This is Lying to God, and slattering with your Lips, but no true Prayer; and so God takes it, Psal. 78.36. [Page 295]and you must have a sense of your wants and ne­cessities, and that God only can supply, 2 Chron. 20.12. And fervency in those desires is required, Jam. 5.16. And you must pray with attention, minding your selves what you pray, or else you cannot expect that God should mind it, 1 Pet. 4.7. Watch to it, Dan. 9.3. Set your selves to this Duty intently. God seeth where your Heart is wandring, when you pray without attention, Ezek. 33.31. When you say never so many prayers without Understanding, Attention, Affection, it is not praying at all, but sinning and playing the Hypocrite, as Papists mumble over their Latin Prayers upon the Beads by Tale, prating like Parrots, what they cannot understand. And thus ignorant People say over their Forms of English Prayers, and account they have well-discharged their Duty, tho their Heart prayed not at all, and were minding other things. This is a meer Lip-labour and bodily Exercise, offering a dead Carcass to God, plain deceit, Mal. 1.13, 14. a form of Godliness, with denying the Power, 2 Tim. 3.5. whereby Popery hath cheated the World of the Power of this, and all other Holy Ordinances. They say, God minds and knows what they speak, and approves it. I answer, He doth so as to Judg them for Hypocrites and profane per­sons, for not knowing, minding and approving what they utter themselves: He hath no pleasure in Fools, Eccles. 5.1, 2. They would not deal so with an Earthly Prince.

2. You must pray in the Name of Christ; for the Spirit glorifies Christ, Joh. 16. and leadeth us to God through Christ, Eph. 2.18. As I have shewed that walking in the Spirit and walking in Christ, [Page 296]is all one, so praying in the Spirit, and by, and through Christ: And as we are to walk in the Name of the Lord, and to do all things in his Name, as is commanded, Joh. 14.13, 14. It is not enough to conclude our Prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord, but we must come for Blessings in the Garments of our elder Brother, and must depend upon his Worthyness and Strength for all. So also we must praise God for all things in his Name, as things received for his sake, and by him, Eph. 5.20. We must lay hold on his Strength only, and plead nothing, and own nothing for our Acceptance but him. We must not plead our own works arrogantly, like the proud Pharisee, Luk. 18.11.12. except only as Fruits of Grace, and Rewards of Grace, Isa. 38.1, 2. Praying in the Spirit is upon Gospel, not legal Principles, Rom. 7.6. with 2 Cor. 6.3. with great Humilia­tion, and sense of Unworthyness, Psal. 51. with a broken Spirit, with Despair of Acceptance, o­therwise than upon Christ's Account, Dan. 9.18. If your Enlargements, Struglings, Meltings, have been never so great, yet without this, all is Abominable.

3. Hence you must not think to be accepted for the Goodness of your Prayers, and trust on them as works of Righteousness, which is making Idols of your Prayers, and putting them into the place of Christ, quite contrary to praying in the Name of Christ. Thus Papists hope to be sav'd by saying their Tale of Prayers upon their Bead-Rows; and they have Indulgences granted upon their saying so many Prayers, and of such a sort. Yea, some ignorant Protestants, trust on their Prayer as Duties of Righteousness; and they [Page 297]think one Prayer to be more acceptable than ano­ther, by reason of the Holiness of the Form, if it were made by Holy Men; especially the Lords Pray­er, which they use to help them in any Exigence or Danger; how little soever they can apply it to their own Case, they make an Idol of it. And some use it and other places of Scriptures, as a Spell or Charm, to drive away the Devil: And others think their Prayers more acceptable in one place than in another, by reason of the Ho­liness of the place, Joh. 4.21, 24.1 Tim. 2.8. Others trust on their much speaking, Mat. 6. which they call the enlarging of their Hearts. They think to put off God, and stop the Mouth of Con­science with a few Prayers, and so to live as they list.

4. Pray to God as your Father, through Christ as your Saviour, in Faith of Remission of Sins, and your acceptance with God, and the ob­taing of all other things which you desire of him, as far as is necessary for your Salvation, Jam. 1.5, 6, 7. ch. 5.15. 1 Joh. 5.14, 15. Mar. 11.24. Heb. 10.24. and Psal. 62.8. and 86.7. and 55.16. and 57.1, 2. and 17.6. This is praying in Christ, Eph. 3.12. and by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.16. Gal. 4.6. Without this, Prayer is Lifeless and Heartless, and but a dead Carcass, Rom. 10.14. Psal. 77.4. By this you may judge whether you have prayed rightly, more than by your melting Affection, or large­ness in Expression. Though you be not assured that you shall have every thing that you ask, yet every thing that is good. This Faith you must endeavour to act; and therefore if any Sin lye on [Page 298]Conscience, you must strive first to get the Pardon of it, Psal. 32.1.5. and 51.14, 15. and Purisi­cation from it by Faith, that you may lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting, 1 Tim. 2.8. The sin of wrath there is especially mentioned, because that is contrary to Love and forgiving others. Here lyes the Strength, Life and Powerfulness of Prayer: Set Faith on work, and you will be powerful and prevail.

5. You must strive in Prayer to stir up, and act every other sanctifying Grace through Faith, moving you thereunto. Thus your Spikenards will yield their Smell, as godly sorrow, Psal. 38.18. peace, Isa. 27.8. joy, Psal. 105.3. hope, Psal. 71.5. desire and love to God, Psal. 4.6. and love to all his commands, Psal. 119.4, 5. and to his people out of love to him, Psal. 122. you must seek the Spirit it self in the first place, Luk. 11.13. Psal. 37.5. and all spiritual things, Mat. 6.33. Praying only for carnal things, shews a carnal Heart, and leaves it carnal, Pray for faith, Mar. 9.24. and for such things as may serve most for the glori­fying God, 2 Chron. 1.11, 12. and for outward things, you must act in submission to his Will; and thus Prayer sets you in a holy frame, Mat. 26.42. Luk. 22.42, 43. Hallowing Gods Name, must be your aim, Mat. 6. not your Lusts, Jam. 4.3.

6. Strive to bring your Soul into order by this Duty, however disordered by Guilt, Anguish, inordinate Cares or Fears, Psal. 32.1, 5. and 55.16, 17, 20, 22. and 69.32. Phil. 4.6, 7.1 Sam. 1. A Watch must be often wound up; you must wrestle in Prayer against your Unbelief, Doubting, Fears, Cares, Reluctancy of the Flesh, to that which is good, against all Evil, Lusts and [Page 299]Desires; Coldness of Affection, Impatience, trou­ble of Spirit, every thing that's contrary to an Holy Life, and the Graces and holy Desires to be acted for your selves or others, Col. 4.12. Rom. 15.30. Stir up your selves to the Duty, Col. 2.1, 2. Isa. 64.7. Though the Flesh be cross and reluctant, we must not yield, but resist by the Spirit, Mat. 26.41. And thus we shall find the Spirit helping our Infirmities, Rom. 8.26, 27. Though God seem to defer long, we must not faint or be discouraged, Luk. 18.1, 7. The greater our Agonies be, the more earnestly we are to pray, Psal. 22.1, 2. Luk. 22.42. This is [...] Rom. 12.12. Eph. 6.18. Thus you will find Prayer a great Heart-work, and not such a thing as may be done while you think on other things, and that it requireth all the Strength of Faith and Affection, that you can possibly stir up: Thus you may get a holy Frame.

7. You must make a good use of the whole matter, and all the manner of Prayer, as ordinary and extraordinary Exigencies may require to stir up Grace in you, by wrestling, and to bring your Hearts into a holy Frame. As in Confession, you must condemn your self according to the Flesh, but not as you are in Christ. You must not deny that Grace that you have, as if you were only wicked hitherto, and now to begin again, which hinders Praise for Grace received in those that are already converted. In Supplication you must endeavour to work up your Heart to a godly Sor­row, Psal. 38.18. and a holy sense of your own Sin and Misery, and lay before you the Aggrava­tions thereof, Psal. 51.3. Psal. 102. Complaint and Lamentation are one great part of Prayer, [Page 300]as Lamentations of Jeremiah. And you must add pleading to your Petitions, with such Arguments as may serve to strengthen Faith, and to stir up, and kindle Affection, Job 23.4. which pleadings are taken from Attributes, Num. 14.17, 18. Pro­mises, 2 Sam. 7.27, 28, &c. Gen. 32.9, 12. the equity of our cause, Psal. 17.2, 3. the advantage and benefit of the thing to the glory of God and our comfort, Psal. 115.1, 2. Psal. 79.9.10, 13. Naked Petitions are not sufficient, when the Soul findeth special cause of strugling and wrestling against Corruptions and Dangers, and for Mer­cies. Christs large Prayer is made up, Joh. 17. of pleading, and very few Petitions. And we must make use also of Praise and Thanksgiving, for to stir up Peace, Joy, Love, &c. Gen. 33.10. Psal. 18.1, 2, 3. and 33.1. and 74.14. and 104.34. Especially be much in praising God for Mercies of the new State in Christ, Eph. 1.3. and then you will the better give thanks for all benefits on his account, Eph. 5.20. 1 Thess. 5.18. and plead those Benefits to stir up to Faith and Duty. That brief Eja­culation, Lord have mercy on me, is very good to be used; but it will not answer the end and use of the whole Duty of Prayer, as some lazy carnal People would have it, and so harden themselves in the neglect of the Duty. Though the large Improve­ment and use of all the matter of Prayer at all times, is not required, but only as ordinary, or extraordinary Occasions may require.

8. You must not confine and limit your Prayers by any prescribed Form, seeing it is impossible that any such Forms should be contrived, as should answer and fit, all the various Conditions and Necessities of the Soul at all times: I do not con­demn [Page 301]all Forms, as that made by Christ, the Lords Prayer; though it were easie to shew that Christ never intended it for a Form of Prayer, so as to bind any to the precise Form of Words; and it's plain the Spirit of God hath expressed it in different Words, Mat. 6. Luk. 11. But better to pray by that Form or other Forms, than not at all. It is uncharitable to take away Crutches, or Woodden Leggs from lame People, yet none will look upon them but as dead helps. I say it is utterly unlawful to bind our selves to any Form, be­cause none can answer the Duty fitly, and suitably to particular occasions, Eph. 6.18. Phil. 4.6. Joh. 15.7. 1 Thess. 5.18. Eph. 5.20. You must make the whole Scripture your Common-Prayer-Book, as the Primitive Church did, being the Language of the Spirit reaching all Occasions and Conditions, and sittest to speak to God in. And if you use a Form, you must follow it by the Spirit, further than the Form goes, according as he shall guide you by the Word, or else you quench the Spirit, 1 Thess. 5.19. If you know the Principles of Prayer, and have a lively sense of your Necessities, and hearty Desires of Gods Grace and Mercies, you will be able to pray without Forms, and your Affections will bring forth words out of the fulness of your Heart. And you need not be over-solicitous and timorous about words; for doubtless, the Spi­rit who is the help to us in speaking to Men, will also much more help us to speak to God, if we desire it, 1 Cor. 1.5. Mar. 13.11. Luk. 12.12. And God regards not eloquent Words, nor artifi­cial Composure, neither need we regard it in pri­vate Prayer, Isa. 38.14. If you limit your self to Forms, you will thereby grow formal, and li­mit the Spirit.

7. Another means appointed of God, is Singing of Psalms, i. e. Songs of any sacred Subject composed to a Tune, are Hymns or Songs of Praise, and spiritual Songs, of any sublime spiritual Matter, as Psal. 45. and the Song of Solomon. God hath commanded it, Col. 3.16. Eph. 5.19. in the New Testament. Though now in these days, many question whether it be an Ordinance or no; and there were many Commands for it under the Old Testament, Psal. 149.2, 3. and 96.1. and 100. Moses and the Children of Israel sang before David's time, Exod. 15. David composed Psalms by the Spirit to be sung publickly, 2 Sam. 23.1, 2. yea, privately too, Psal. 40.3. 2 Chron. 29.30. Psal. 105.2. Other Songs also were made upon several Occasions, and used whether they were parts of the Scripture or no; as Solomon made, 1005. 1 King. 4.32. And they made Songs upon occasion, which teacheth that it is lawful for us to do so, so they be according to the Word, Isa. 38.9, 14. The matter of Scripture may be sung, Psal. 119.54. Christ and his Disciples sang a Hymn, Mat. 26.30. supposed to be one of Da­vid's Psalms; and they were written for our In­struction, as well as other parts of Scripture, Rom. 15. and so to be used now in singing. They speak of the things of the New Testament, either figuratively or clearly; and we may understand them better now, than the Jews could under the Old Testament, 2 Cor. 3.16. Col. 2.7. Christi­ans heretofore practised this Duty as well as Jews, Act. 16.25. Hence their Antelucani Hymni were noted by Pliny a Heathen. These Songs or Hymns may be used at all times, especially for holy Mirth or Rejoycing, Jam. 5.13. But is not [Page 303]to be taken exclusively in Singing, any more than in Prayer, Psal. 38.18. 2 Chron. 35.25.

But the right manner of this Duty is chiefly to be noted, and here 1. Trust not upon the Melody of the Voice, as if that pleased God, who delight­eth only in the Melody of the Heart, Col. 3.16. Neither let the recreating your Senses be your end, which is but a carnal work, Non Musica Chordula, sed Cor. This spiritual Musick was ty­pifyed by musical Instruments of old. 2. You must use it for the same end as Meditation and Prayer, according to the nature of what is sung, i. e. to quicken Faith, 2 Chron. 20.21, 22. Act. 16.25, 26. and joy and delight in the Lord, glo­rying in him, Psal. 104.33, 34. and 105.3. and 149.1, 2. and 33.1, 2, 3. You are never right until you can be heartily merry in the Lord, to act Joy and Mirth holily, Jam. 5.13. Eph. 5.19. and also to get more Knowledge and Instruction in heavenly Mysteries, and in your Duty, teaching and admonishing, Col. 3.16. Many Psalms are Maschills (as their Title is) i. e. Psalms of In­struction; thus we are to sing such Psalms as speak in the first Person, though we cannot apply them to our selves as words uttered by our selves concerning our selves: And in this we do not lye. David speaks of Christ as of himself, as a Patern of Affliction and Vertue to instruct others; and we sing such Psalms not as our words, but words fo [...] our Instruction; and therein we do not lye an [...] more, than the Levites, the Sons of Corah, or J [...] ­duthun, or other Musicians bound to sing the [...] Psal. 5. and 39. and 42. Though it be good personate all good that we can, yet we have much liberty in the use of Psalms, that tho [...] [Page 304]we cannot apply all to our selves, as speaking and thinking the same, yet we shall answer the end, if we sing for our Instruction, as in Psal. 6. & 26. & 46. & 101. & 131. And Psalms have a peculiar fitness for teaching and instructing, because the pleasantness of Metre said or sung, is very help­ful to the memory. See Deut. 31.19, 21. And there is a Variety of curious Artifice in the placing of words in the Psalms upon this Account; and there are some Alphabetical Psalms, as Psal. 25. & 34. & 37. & 111. & 112. & 119. & 145. And by the Melody of the Sound, the Instruction comes in with delight, as a Physical Dose sugar'd; and Sorrow is naturally allay'd, to fit the mind for spiritual Joy, and distemper'd Passions ap­peased, 2 Kings 3.15. 1 Sam. 16.14, 15, 16. So that Orpheus, Amphion and others, were famous for Civilizing rude barbarous People by Musick.

8. Fasting is also an Ordinance of God to be used for the same purpose and end, and is com­mended to us under the New Testament, Mat. 9.15. and 17.21. 1 Cor. 7.5. And we have Exam­ples of it, Acts 13.2, 3. and 14.23. Under the Old Testament, there were frequent Commands for it, and Examples, chiefly upon occasion of extraordinary Afflictions, 1 Sam. 7.6. Neh. 9.1. Dan. 9.3. and 10.2, 3. 2 Sam. 12.16. Psal. 35.13. 2 Sam. 3.31. Joel 2.13. beside the Anniver­sary great day of Atonement, Lev. 16.29, 31. when every one was to Fast on pain of cutting off. There is a Prophecy of the same for the times of the New Testament, Zech. 12.12. It was used most on extraordinary occasions, and it is a help to Holiness by Faith, because it is a meet [Page 305]help for extraordinary Prayer and Humiliation, Joel 1.14. and 2.12.

But the great matter is, to use it rightly as fol­loweth.

1. Trust not in it as Meriting or Satisfying, as Papists and Pharisees do, Luke 18.11. putting it in the place of Christ; or as a means of its self conferring Grace, and mortifying Lusts, as many do, who may sooner kill their Bodies than their Lusts, or any purifying Rite; yea, or in or for it self acceptable to God, 1 Tim. 4.8. Heb. 12.9. Col. 2.16, 17, 20, 23. Imagine not that Prayer is not acceptable without it, for this is against Faith. Fasts as well as Feasts are no substantial parts of Worship, because not Spiritual, but Bo­dily. Tho under the Old Testament they were parts as instituted Rites, figurative and teaching; but that Use is now ceased; as that on the day of Atonement, and so many significative Rites adjoyned to Fasting, as Sackcloth, Ashes, Rending Garments, pouring out Water, lying on the Earth; the Kingdom of God consists not in these things, Rom. 14. the Soul is hardned by trusting in them, Isa. 58.3, 6. Zech. 7.5, 10.

2. Use them as helps to extraordinary Prayer and Humiliation, that the mind-may not be un­suited for it, by Eating, Drinking, or bodily Pleasures, Joel 2.13. Isa. 22.12-13. Zech. 12.10, 14. It is good only as a help to the Soul, re­moving Impediments. The best Fast is, when the Mind is taken off from delights, as in John the Baptists Case, Mat. 3.4. when Heaven and God­ly Sorrow takes off the Soul, Zach. 12.10, 14.

3. Use it in such a measure as may be proper for its End, without which its worth nothing. [Page 306]If Abstinence divert your mind, by reason of a gnawing Appetite, then you had better eat spa­ringly, as Daniel in his great Fast, ch. 10. Some have not enough of spiritual-mindedness to give up themselves to Fasting and Prayer, without greater distraction; and such had better eat, than go beyond their strength in a thing not absolute­ly necessary, which produceth only a slavish Act, as in the Case of Virginity, 1 Cor. 7.7, 8, 9, 34, 35, 36. Christ would not have his weak Disciples necessitated to the Duty, Mat. 9.14, 15. In the mean time, such should strive to be sensible of the weakness and carnality that hinders their use of this excellent Help.

4. You may expect here something to be spo­ken of Vows, but I shall only say this of them, Think not to bring your selves to good by Vows and Promises, as if the strength of your own Law could do it, when the strength of Gods Law doth it not. We bring Children to make promises of amendment, but we know how well they keep them. The Devil will urge to Vow, and then to break, that he may perplex your Conscience the more.

8ly. Another great means is Fellowship and Com­munion with the Saints, Acts 2.42.

1. This means must be used diligently: Whom­soever God saveth should be added to some Visible Church, and come into Communion of other Saints; and if they have not opportunity for it, their Heart should be bent towards it. Some­times the Church is in the Wilderness, and hin­dred from Visible Communion and Ordinances: But they that Believe in Christ are always willing and desirous so to add and joyn themselves, Acts [Page 307]2.41, 44, 47. and they continued stedfastly in fel­lowship, 1 Joh. 2.19. And God binds his People to leave the Fellowship and Society of the wicked as much as may be, 2 Cor. 6.17. And so far as we are necessitated to accompany with them, we ought to shew Charity to their Souls and Bodies, 1 Cor. 5.9. This Communion with Saints is to be exercised in private Converse, Psal. 101.4, 5, 6, 7. and in publick Assemblies, Heb. 10.25. Zach. 14.16, 17.

And doubtless it ought to be used for the At­tainment of Holiness, as may be proved First in General:

Because God communicates all Salvation to a People ordinarily by, or in a Church, either by taking them into Fellowship, or holding forth the Light of Truth by his Churches to the World. A Church is the Temple of God, where God dwells, 1 Tim. 3.15. He hath placed his Name and Sal­vation there, as in Jerusalem of old, Joel 2.32. 2 Chron. 6.5, 6. He hath given to his Churches those Officers and Ordinances whereby he Converts others, 1 Cor. 12.28. His Springs are there, Psal. 87. He makes the several Members of a Church, Instruments for the Conveyance of his Grace and Fulness from one to another, as the Members of the Natural Body convey to each other the fulness of the Head, Eph. 4.16. All the New-born are brought forth and nourished by the Church, Isa. 66.8, 10. ch. 49.20. & 60.4. And therefore all that would be saved should joyn to a Church: They shall prosper that love the Church, so as to stand in its Gates, and unite as Members, Brethren and Companions, Psal. 122.2, 4, 6. And wrath is de­nounced against those that are not Members of it, [Page 308]at least of the mystical Body; They cannot have God for their Father, that have not That for their Mother, Can. 1.7, 8. This maketh those that desire Fellowship with God, to take hold of the Skirts of his People, Zech. 8.23.

2. In particular, Fellowship with the Saints, conduceth to Holiness many ways.

1. By manifold helps to Holiness which are received thereby. As 1. The Word and Sacra­ments, Act. 2.42. Isa. 2.3. Mat. 28.19, 20. And all the Ministerial Office and Labour in watching over Souls, Heb. 13.17. 1 Thess. 5.12, 13. Isa. 25.6. None of these Helps can be enjoyed without Fellowship of Saints, each with other; and if Believers had been to have stood single by themselves, and not maintained Fellowship with each other, for mutual Assistance and common Good, none of these things could have continued, neither could any Believer been ex­tant at this day, in an ordinary way, but even the very Name of Believers had been Abolish­ed.

2. Mutual Prayer, which is the more forcible when all pray together, Mat. 18.19, 20. 2 Cor. 1.10, 11. Jam. 5.16. Rom. 15.30.

3. Mutual Admonition, Instruction, Consola­tion to help each other when they are ready to fall, and to promote the good work in each o­ther, 1 Thess. 5.14. He that walketh with the wise shall be wise, Prov. 13.20. Wo to him that is alone when he falleth. See Eccl. 4.9, 12. In Church-Fellowship there are many Helpers, many to watch: Soldiers have their Security in Company, and the Church is compared to an Army with Banners, Cant. 6.10. So for quickning Affections, Iron [Page 309]sharpneth Iron, Prov. 27.17. Likewise the counsel of a friend, like ointment and perfume, rejoyceth the heart, Prov. 27.9. Yea, the Wounds and Re­proofs of the Righteous, are as precious Balm, Psal. 141.5.

4. External Supports which mitigate Afflictions, and are to be communicated mutually, Eph. 4.28. 1 Pet. 4.9, 10. The Affliction is increased, when none careth for our Souls, Psal. 142.4.

5. Excommunication when Offences are exceed­ing hainous, or Men obstinate in sin. This Or­dinance is appointed for the destruction of the Flesh, that the Spirit may be saved, 1 Cor. 5.5. Better and more hopeful it is, to be cast out by the Church for a persons amendment, than to be wholly without the Church at all times; and bet­ter to be a lost Sheep, than a Goat or Swine. For Excommunication cuts off Actual Communion only, until Repentance be evident, and not abso­lutely abolisheth the Title and Relation of a Brother and Church-member, tho it judgeth one to be an unnatural Brother, and a pernicious rot­ten Member at present, not fit for Acts of Com­munion. Besides, Admonition, which is still to be afforded, 2 Thes. 3.15. and any means is to be used, that may serve to Cure and restore him; the Church reacheth forth a Hand to help such a person, tho they do not joyn Hands in Fellowship with him; or it communicateth to him, not with him. Yet if he have not so much Grace as to Re­pent, it were better he had never known the way of Righteousness, 2 Pet. 2.21.

6. The lively Examples of Saints are before our Eyes in Church-fellowship, to teach and en­courage, Phil. 3.17. ch. 4.9. 2 Tim. 3.10, 11. 2 Cor. 9.2.

2ly. By those holy Duties that are required, and do appertain to this Fellowship and Commu­nion; all Acts that belong to this Fellowship are Holy, as Hearing, receiving the Sacraments, Pray­er, mutual Admonitions, &c. I shall consider some such holy Acts, whereby we are rather doers than receivers, and which we perform towards others. As 1. Godly Discourse, Teaching, Ad­monishing, Comforting others in Christ; which we cannot so perform towards others, as towards those we have strict Fellowship with in Christ. Others like Swine, trample these Jewels under Foot; and Saints therefore are forced to refrain from Godly Discourse in their Company, Amos 5.10, 13, 16. and 6.10. But holy Discourse is most acceptable to the Saints, and to be practised with them, Mal. 3.16. and is greatly to the ad­vantage of Holiness, Prov. 11.25.

2. In helping, succouring, and conversing with Christ in his Members, we do good to Christ in his Members in Church-fellowship; and we our selves as Members of Christ, Act as well from Christ as towards Christ; whereas if we do good to others without, we do good only for Christs sake, but not to Christ, Mat. 25.35, 49. Psal. 16.2, 3. We have advantage in general, to do all Duties that belong to us as Members of Christ to Fellow-members, which we cannot do if sepa­rate from them; as a Natural Member cannot perform its Office to other Members if separate from them.

2ly. The means must be used rightly, for the attaining of Holiness only in Christ.

1. One Rule is, Do not trust on Church-mem­bership, or on Churches, as if this or that rela­tion [Page 311]in Fellowship, commended you to God of it self; whereas, a Church-way is but a help to Fellowship with Christ, and walking in the Duties of that Fellowship. The Israelites stumbled at Christ by trusting on their Carnal Priviledges, and set them in opposition to Christ; whereas they should have only made them subservient to Christ: Confidence in them should have bin abandoned, as Pauls example teacheth, Phil. 3.3, 4, 5. &c. We must not Glory in Paul, Apollos, Cephas, but in Christ, else we Glory in the Flesh, and in Men, 1 Cor. 1.12, 13. & 3.21. Trusting on Church-priviledges, is an inlett to Formality and Licen­tiousness, Jer. 7.4, 8, 9, 10. and thence the Cor­ruption of Churches, Isa. 1.10. 2 Tim. 2.20.

2. Follow no Church any further than you may follow it in the way of Christ; and keep Fellow­ship with it only upon the Account of Christ, because it follows Christ, and hath Fellowship with Christ, 1 Joh. 1.3. Zech. 8.23. If a Church re­volt from Christ, we must not follow it how an­cient soever it be, as the Israelitish Church was not to be followed when it persecuted Christ and his Apostles; and many by adhering to that Church fell from Christ, Phil. 3.6. Acts 6.13, 14. & 21.28. We are indeed to hear the Church, but not every one that calls it self so, nor none, any sur­ther than it speaketh as a true Church, according to the Voice of the Shepherd, Joh. 10.27. We must subject our selves to Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of his Mysteries, 1 Cor. 4.1. But must give up your selves first to Christ absolutely, and to the Church according to the Will of Christ, 2 Cor. 8.5. Our Fear must not be taught by the Precepts of Men, Mat. 15. The Doctrins of any [Page 312]Men are to be tryed by Scripture, whatever Au­thority they pretend to, Acts 17.11. An unlimi­ted following Church-guides, brought the Church into Babylon, and into all manner of spiritual Whoredoms and Abominations. You are not Bap­tized into the Name of the Church, but into the Name of Christ, 1 Cor. 1.13.

3. Do not think that you must attain this or that Degree of Grace, before you joyn your self in full Communion with a Church of Christ in all Ordinances; but when you have given up your self to Christ and learn't the Duty of Com­munion, give up your self unto a Church of Christ, though you find much Weakness and In­ability. For Church Ordinances of special Com­munion, serve to strengthen you, and how can you get Heat being alone? The Disciples as soon as converted, embraced all Fellowship, Act. 2.42. And Churches, that they may forward Holiness in themselves and others, must be willing to receive Christs weak ones, and to feed his Lambs as well as better grown Sheep, and bear them on their sides, Isa. 66.12. how else shall Christs weak ones grow strong by that Nourishment that other parts sup­ply? They are very unreasonable that expect that Christians should grow out of Church Fellow­ship, to as high a Degree of Grace, as those that are in those Pastures of tender Grass, and are un­willing to receive any that they are like to have occasion to bear with; whereas bearing and long­suffering, are great Duties of Church-Fellowship, Eph. 4.2, 3. Rom. 14.1. The Weakest have most need to be strengthened by Church-Commu­nion; and we are bound to receive them, as Christ hath received us, Rom. 15.7. We do not reject [Page 313]or separate the weaker parts of the Body, 1 Cor. 12.23, 24. but put more Honour and Comliness on them. Admission into the Churches in the Apostolick times, was gained upon Profession, with a shew of Seriousness, though Tares got in a­mongst the Wheat, and many Scandals arose to the Reproach of the ways of Christ, and the great­est Strictness will not keep out all Hypocrites; yet the best care must be taken so far, as not to hin­der any that have the least truth of Grace.

4. Keep Communion with a Church, for the sake of Communion with Christ, 1 Joh. 1.3. Zech. 8.23. Therefore you must keep Communion in Christs pure ways only, and in them seek Christ by Faith, that in the Enjoyment of those Advan­tages, you may receive, and act the Godliness and Holiness formentioned, and aim at spiritual Flourish­ing and Growth in Grace: Chuse therefore Fel­lowship with the most spiritual Churches; judge of Churches and Men, according to the rule of the new creature, 2 Cor. 5.16, 17. and try them, Rev. 2.2. and 3.9. otherwise a Church may cor­rupt ye. See that thy Communion answer its end, tend to thy Edification, not to Destruction; which you ought to take all the Advantages of, not only in the Church where you are a Member, but by Communion with other Churches, as occasionally Providence casts you among them. For your Com­munion with a particular Church, obligeth to Communion with all Churches of Christ in his ways, as you are called thereto, 1 Cor. 10.17. And it's an Abuse to say we are Members of a Church in London, and therefore refuse Fellow­ship with a Church in the Country; seeing if we are Members of Christ, we are Members of one an­other, [Page 314]whether single Persons or Churches. And endeavour to joyn in Fellowship with the Godly of the place where you live, that you may have the more sequent and constant Communion. Onesimus, though converted at Rome, must be one of the Church of the Colossians, because he lived there, Col. 4.9. compare with Philemon, 10. The Union of the Saints together in distinct Societies, according to the places where they lived, was the Apostolick Practice, and can't be violated with­out Sin. Such can best Watch over one another, Admonish, Comfort, and Edify each other, which is the benefit of Communion; and they indeed de­stroy Communion, that seek a Communion where they can't have this Benefit. I only add to this Head, That Church-Fellowship without practising the ways of Christ, is but a Conspiracy to take his Name in vain, and a counterfeit Church-Fellow­ship of Hypocrites; it is Impudency for such to invite others to their Communion, Tyranny to compell them. Every Christian is bound to seek a better Church-Fellowship by Reformation; and those that do so, are the best Sons of Christ's Church, who enquire, Is this the way to enjoy Christ, a Church-way being appointed to enjoy Christ therein.

5. Especially leave not the Church in Persecu­tion, when you need its Help most, and are then most tryed whether you will cleave to it: This is a sign of Apostasie, Heb. 10.25, 26. Mat. 24.9.10, 12, 13. We should cleave to one another as one Flesh, even to Prisons and Death; or else we deny Christ in his Members, Mat. 25.43.

DIRECT. XIV.
EXPLANATION.

THis Direction may serve as an Epilogue or Conclusion, by stirring us up unto a lively and chearful Imbracing these Gospel Rules fore­mentioned by several weighty Motives. As many are kept from seeking Godliness because they know not the way to it, or the way that they think of, seems Uncouth, Unpleasant, Disadvantageous and full of Discouragement; like the way through the Wilderness to Canaan, which wearied the Isra­lites, and occasioned their many murmurings, Num. 21.4.

But this is a way so good and excellent, that those that have the true Knowledge of it, and de­sire heartily to be Godly, can't dislike it. I shall shew the Excellency of it in several Particulars; but you should first call to mind what is the way that I have taught, viz. Union and Fellowship with Christ, and by Faith in Christ, as discovered in the Gospel; not by the Law, or in a natural Con­dition, or by thinking to get it before we come to Christ, to procure Christ by it, which is stri­ving [Page 316]against the Stream: But that we must first apply Christ and his Salvation to our selves for our Comfort, and that by confident Faith, and then walk by that Faith according to the New Man in Christ, and not as in a natural Conditi­on, and use all means of Holiness rightly for this end. Now that this is an excellent advan­tageous way, appears by the following desirable Properties of it.

1. It hath this Property, that it tends to the Abasement of all Flesh, and Exaltation of God only in his Grace and Power through Christ; and so it is agreeable to Gods design in all his Works, and the end that he aimeth at, Rom. 11.6. Isa. 2.17. Ezek. 36.21, 22.31.32. Psal. 145.4. and a fit means for the attaining the end that we ought to aim at in the first place, which is the Hallowing, Sanctifying and Glorifying Gods Name in all things; and is the first and chief Petition, Mat. 6. and is the end of all our Actings, 1 Cor. 10.31. was the end of giving the Law, Rom. 3.19, 20. God made all things for Christ, and would have him have the Preheminence in all, Col. 1.17, 18. That the Father may be glorified in the Son, Joh. 14.13. And this Property of it, is a great Ar­gument to prove that it is the way of God, and hath the Character of his Image stamped upon it; we may say that it is like him, and a way accord­ing to his Heart, as Christ proveth his Doctrin to be of God by this Argument, Joh. 7.18. And Paul proveth the Doctrin of Justification, and of Sanctification, and Salvation by Grace through Faith to be of God, because it excludes all boast­ings of the Creature, Rom. 3.27, 28. 1 Cor. 1.29.30, 31. Eph. 3.8, 9. This Property appears [Page 317]evidently in the Mystery of Sanctification by Christ in us through Faith. For first, It sheweth that we can do nothing by our natural Will, or any Power of the Flesh; and that God will not enable us to do any thing that way, Rom. 7.18. however Nature be stirred up by the Law or na­tural Helps, Col. 3.21. And so it serveth to work Self-loathing and Abasement, and to make us look upon Nature, as desperately wicked and past cure, and to be put off; not reformed by putting on Christ: It remains wicked, and only wicked, after we have put on Christ.

2. It sheweth that all our good Works and living to God, are not by our own Power and Strength at all; but by the Power of Christ, liv­ing in us by Faith, and that God enableth us to act, not meerly according to our natural Power, as he enableth carnal Men and all other Creatures, but above our own Power by Christ united to us and in us through the Spirit: All Men live, move, and have their Being in him, and by his universal Support and Maintenance of Nature; in its Being and Activity they act, Heb. 1.3. So that the Glo­ry of their Acting as Creatures belongs to God, but God acts more immediately in his People, who are one Flesh and Spirit with Christ, and act not by their own Power, but by the Power of the Spirit of Christ in them, as closely united to him, and being the living Temple of his Spirit; so that Christ is the immediate principal Agent of all their good Works, and they are Christs Works properly, who works all our Works in us and for us, and yet they are the Saints Works by Fellow­ship with Christ, by whose Light and Power the Faculties of the Saints do act and are acted, [Page 318] Gal. 2.20. Eph. 3.16, 17. Colos. 1.1. so we are to ascribe all our works to God in Christ, and thank him for them as free Gifts, 1 Cor. 15.10. Phil. 1.11. God inableth us to act not by our selves, as he doth others but by him­self. The Wicked are supported in acting only according to their own Nature; so they act wick­edly: Thus all are said to live, move, and have their being in God, Acts 17.27. But God ena­bleth us to conquer Sin, not by our selves, but by himself, Hos. 1.7. and the Glory of inabling us, doth not only belong to him which the Pharisee could not but ascribe to him, Luk. 18.11. but al­so the Glory of doing all in us; and yet we work as one with Christ, even as he works as one with the Father, by the Father working in him: We act as Branches by the Juice of the Vine, as mem­bers by the animal Spirits of the Head, and bring forth Fruit by Marriage to him as our Hus­band, and Work in the Strength of him as the liv­ing Bread that we feed on, he is all in the new Man, Colos. 3.11. and all the Promises are made good in him, 2 Cor. 1.20.

2. It hath this Property, that it consisteth well with other Doctrins of the Gospel, which con­trary Errors do not, and hence this is the way to confirm us in many other Points of the Gospel, and therefore appears to be true by its Harmony with other truths, and sit linking with them in the same golden Chain of the mystery of Godli­ness, and evidenceth them to be true by their Harmony with it. I have shewed that mens mi­staking the true Way of Sanctification, is the cause of perverting the Scripture in other Points of Faith, and of declining from the Truth to Popish [Page 319]Socinian and Arminian Tenents: Because Men cannot seriously take that for truth, which they judge not to be according to Godliness. But this Way of Holiness will evidence that those Gospel Doctrins which they refuse, are according to Godliness, and that those Tenents which a blind Zeal for Holiness moveth them to embrace, are indeed contrary to Holiness. However Satan appeareth to their natural Understandings as an Angel of light in such Tenents: Whatever Men say, its certain that Legalists are indeed the Anti­nomians.

I shall instance in some Truths confirmed by it.

1. The Doctrin of original Sin, viz. Not on­ly the Guilt of Adam's Sin, and a corrupt Nature, but utter Impotency to do spiritual good, and Proneness to Sin, which is Death to God in all People according to nature, Psal. 51.5. Rom. 5.12. There is an utter Inability to keep the Law tru­ly in any Point. Many deny this Doctrin because they think that if People believe this, they will ex­cuse their Sins by it, and be apt to despair of all striving to do good Works, and leave off all En­deavours, and grow licentious; and they think it will be more conducing to Godliness, to hold and teach either, that there is no original Sin or Cor­ruption derived from Adam, or at least it is done away, either in the World, by universal Redemp­tion; or in the Church by Baptism; and that there is free-will restored, whereby People are a­ble to encline themselves to do good, that Men may be more encouraged to set upon good Works, and their Neglect made inexcusable. All this is indeed forcible against seeking and endeavouring [Page 320]for Holiness, by the free-will and power of Na­ture, which is the way of endeavouring, which I directed you to avoid, and if there were no new Way to Holiness since the fall, original Sin might make us despair; but there is a new Birth, a new Heart, a new Creature, and therefore we have directed to seeking of Holiness by the Spirit of Christ, and willing good freely by a spiritual Power as new Creatures, partakers of a divine Nature in Christ. Yea, its necessary to know the first Adam, that we may know the second, Rom. 5.12. To believe the fall and original Sin, that we may be stirred up to fly to Christ by Faith for Ho­liness by free Gift, knowing that we cannot at­tain it by our own Power and Free Will, 2 Cor. 1.9. Mat. 9.12, 13. Rom. 7.24, 25. 2 Cor. 3.5. Eph. 5.14. There were no need of a new Man or a new Creation, if the old were not without strength and Life, Joh 3.5, 6, Eph. 2.8. But original Deadness cannot hinder Gods working Faith and Hungrings and Thirstings after Christ, by the Spirit, through the Gospel, in those that God chooseth to walk holily and blamelessly be­fore him in Love, 1 Thes. 1.4, 5. Act. 26.18. And so we are made alive in a new Head, and be­come Branches of another Vine, living to God by the Spirit, not by Nature.

2. It confirms us in the Doctrin of Predestina­tion, which many deny, because they say it takes Men off from Endeavours as fruitless, by telling Men that all Events are predetermined. This Ar­gument would be more forcible against Endea­vours, by the power of our own Free Will, but not at all against Endeavours for Holiness, by the Operation of God, giving us Faith and all Holi­ness [Page 321]by his own Spirit, working in us through Christ, we are to trust on Christ for the Grace of the Elect, and Gods good Will towards Men, Matt. 3.17. Luke 2.14. Psal. 106.4, 5. Election by Grace destroys seeking by Works, but not by Grace, Rom. 11.5, 6. And we are here taught to seek for Salvation only in the way of the Elect; and we may conclude that Holiness is to be had by Gods Will, and not by our own; and it may move us to desire Holiness by the Will of God, Rom. 9.16. Psal. 109.32. And seeing it appears by this Doctrin of Sanctification through Christ, that we are Gods Workmanship as to all the good wrought in us, Phil. 2.12, 13. Eph. 2.10. We may well admit that he hath appointed his Plea­sure from Eternity, without infringing the Na­tural Liberty of our corrupt Wills, which reacheth not unto good Works, Acts 15.18. compare with 30. Mans Natural Free Will may well consist with Gods Decree as in Paradise, Decretum radii contingentia.

3. It confirms us in the true Doctrin of Justifi­cation and Reconciliation with God by Faith, re­lying on the Merits of Christs Blood, without any Works of our own, and without considering Faith as a Work to procure Favour by the Righte­ousness of the Act, but only as a Hand to receive the Gift, or rather as the very Eating and Drink­ing of Christ actually, than any kind of Condi­tion intitling us to him as our Food. This great Doctrin of the Gospel many hate, as breaking the strongest Bonds of Holiness, and opening a way to all Licentiousness; for they reckon that the Conditionality of Works, to attain Gods Favour, and avoid his Wrath, and the necessity of them [Page 322]to Salvation, are the most necessary and effectual Impulsives to all Holiness; and they account that the other Doctrin opens the Flood-gates to Licen­tiousness. And truly this Consideration would be of some weight, if People were to be brought to Holiness by Moral Suasion, and their natural En­deavours stirred up by the Terms of the Law, and by slavish Fears, and Mercenary Hopes; for the Force of these Motives would be altogether enervated by the Doctrin of Justification by Free Grace; but I have already shewed, that a Man being a guilty dead Creature, cannot be brought to serve God out of love, by force of any of these Motives, and that we are not sanctified by any of our own Endeavours, to work Holiness in our selves, but rather by Faith in Christ's Death and Resurrection, even the same whereby we are ju­stified; and that the urging of the Law stirs up Sin; and that Freedom from it is necessary to all Holiness, as the Apostle teacheth, Rom. 6.11, 14. and 7.4, 5. And this way of Sanctification con­firms the Doctrin of Justification by Faith, as the Apostle informeth, Rom. 8.1. For if we are San­ctified, and so restored to the Image of God and Life by the Spirit through Faith, it is evident that God hath taken us into his Favour, and pardoned our Sins by the same Faith, without the Law, or else we should not have the Fruits and Effects of his Favour thereby to our eternal Salvation, Rom. 8.2. Yea, his Justice would not admit his giving Life without Works, if we were not made Righteous in Christ by the same Faith. And we cannot trust to have Holiness freely given us by Christ upon any rational Ground; except we can also trust on the same Christ for free Recon­ciliation, [Page 323]and Forgiveness of Sins for our Justifi­cation. Neither can guilty cursed Creatures, that cannot work by reason of their Deadness under the Curse, be brought to a rational love of God, except they apprehend his loving them first freely without Works, 1 John 4.19. The great Ob­jection and Reason of so many Controversies and Books written about it is, because they think that Men will trust to be saved however they live: But Sanctification is an Effect of Justification, and floweth from the same Grace; and we trust for them both by the same Faith, and for the former in order to the latter: And such a Faith, be it never so confident, tendeth not to Licentiousness, but Holiness. And we grant that Justification by Grace destroys Holiness by legal Endeavours, but not by Grace: So that there is no need to live a Papist and die an Antinomian.

4. It confirms us in the Doctrin of Real Union with Christ, so plentifully held forth in Scripture, which Doctrin some count a vain Notion, and cannot endure it, because they think it worketh not Holiness, but Presumption; whereas I have shewed that it is absolutely necessary for the En­joyment of Spiritual Life and Holiness, which is treasured up in Christ, and that so inseparably, that we cannot have it without a real Union with him, 2 Cor. 13.5. 1 John 5.12. John 6.53. ch. 15.5. 1 Cor. 1.30. Col. 3.11. The Members and Branches cannot live without Union with the Vine and Head; nor the Stones be part of the living Temple, except they be really joyned mediately or immediately to the Corner-stone.

5. In the Doctrin of certain final Perseverance of the Saints, John 3.36. c. 6.37. & 5.24. 1 John 3.9. 1 Thess. 5.24. Phil. 1.6. John 10.23, 29. c. 4.14. They think this Doctrin maketh People careless of good Works. I answer, It maketh Peo­ple careless of seeking them by their own Natu­ral Strength, and in a way of slavish Fear; but careful and couragious in trusting on the Grace of God for them, when they are brought by Rege­neration heartily to desire them, Rom. 6.14. Numb. 13.30. setting upon the doing of them in that Grace, 1 Thess. 5.8, 11. And I have shewed that all fears of Damnation will never bring Per­sons to work out of love; and that nothing will do it, but a comfortable Doctrin.

3ly. It hath this excellent Property, that it is a Never-failing, effectually powerful, alone Suffi­cient, and sure way to attain to true Holiness: They that have the Truth in them, find it, and the truly humbled find it: People strive in vain, when they seek it any other way; therefore ven­ture with the Lepers, else you die, 2 Kings 7. Isa. 55.2, 3, 7. All other ways either stir up Sin, or increase Despair in you; as seeking Holiness by the Law, and working under the Curse doth; and breeds but Slavish and Hypocritical Obedience at best, and restrains Sin only instead of mortifying it, Gal. 4.25. The Jews sought another way and could not attain it, Rom. 9. And all that seek it another way shall lye down in Sorrow, Isa. 50.11. And that 1. Because as we are under the Law in our Natural Estate, we are Dead and Children of Wrath, Eph. 2.1, 3. And the Law curseth us in­stead of helping us, Gal. 3.10. and giveth no Life by its Obligation, Gal. 3.21. And we cannot [Page 325]work Holiness in our selves, Rom. 5.6. So that an humbled Person finds it in vain, to seek Holi­ness by the Law or his own Strength; for the Law is weak through our Flesh; seeking a pure Life, without a pure Nature, is building without a Foundation; and no seeking a new Nature from the Law, for it bids make Brick without Straw; and saith to the Cripple Walk, without giving any Strength. 2. In this way only God is recon­ciled to us, even in Christ, 2 Cor. 5.19. Eph. 1.7. And so he loves us, and is a fit Object of our Love, 1 John 4.19. And so in this way only we have a new and Divine Nature by the Spirit of Christ in us, effectually carrying us forth to Holiness with Life and Love, Rom. 8.5. Gal. 5.17. 2 Pet. 1.3, 4 and have new Hearts according to the Law, so that we serve God heartily according to the new Nature, and cannot but serve him, 1 John 3.9. So that here is a sure Foundation for Godliness and love to God, with all our Heart, Might and Soul; and Sin is not only restrained but mortified; and not only the outside made clean, but the in­side, and the Image of God renewed, and Holy Actings surely follow: We Sin not according to the new Nature, though we are not perfect in degree, because of the old Nature.

4ly. It is a most pleasant way to those that are in it, Prov. 3.17. and that in several re­spects.

1. It is a most plain way, easie to be found, to one that seeth his own Deadness under the Law, and is so renewed in the Spirit of his Mind, as to know and be perswaded of the Truth of the Gospel; though such may be trou­bled [Page 326]and pestered with many legal Thoughts and Workings; yet when they seriously consi­der things, the way is so plain, that they think it Folly and Madness to go any other way: So that the wayfaring Man, though a Fool, doth do not err therein, Isa. 35.8. Prov. 8.9. The enlightned Soul cannot think of another way when truly humbled, Prov. 1.8. And when we are in Christ, we have his Spirit to be our Guide in this way, 1 John 2.27. John 16.13. So that we need not be filled with such di­stracting Thoughts about knowledge of our way, as legal Spirits are about Thousands of Cases of Conscience, which do so multiply upon them, that they despair of finding out the way of Religion, by reason of so various Doubts and manifold Intricacies. Here we may be sure that God will so far teach us our Duties, as that we shall not be misled with Error, so as to continue in it to Destruction, Psalm 25.8, 9, 14. What a trouble is it to a Tra­veller to be doubtful of his way, and without a Guide, when his Business is of great Impor­tance, upon Life and Death, it is even an Heart-breaking: But those that are in this way, may be sure, that though they sometime err, yet they shall not err destructively, but shall discern their way again, Gal. 4.7, 10.

2. It is easie to those that walk in it by the Spirit, though it be difficult to get into it by reason of the Opposition of the Flesh or Devil scaring us, or seducing us from it. Here you have Holiness as a Free Gift received by Faith, an Act of the Mind and Soul; whosoever [Page 327]will, may come, take it and drink freely, and no­thing is required but a willing mind, Joh. 7.38. Isa. 55. 1. Rev. 22.17. But the Law is an into­lerable Burden, Mat. 23.4. Acts 15.10. if Duty be laid on by its Terms. We are not left in this way to conquer Lusts by our Endeavours, which is a successless Work, but what is Duty is given, and the Law is turned into Promises, Heb. 8. Ezek. 36.25, 26. Jer. 31.33. & 32.40. We have all now in Christ, Col. 3.11. and 2.9, 10, 15.17. This is a Catholick Medicine instead of a Thousand. How pleasant would this Free-gift Holiness be to us, if we knew our own Wants, and Inabilities and Sinfulness? How ready are some to Toyle continually, and macerate their Bodies in a me­lancholy legal way, to get Holiness rather than perish for ever? and therefore how ready should we be, when it is only Take and Have, Believe and be Sanctifyed and Saved, 2 Kings 5.13. Christs burden is light by his Spirit bearing, Mat. 11.30. No weariness, but renewing of strength, Isa. 40 31.

3. It is a way of Peace, Prov. 3.17. free from Fears and Terrors of Conscience, that those meet with unavoidably that seek Salvation by Works; for the Law worketh wrath, Rom. 4.15. It is not the way of Mount Sinai, but of Jerusalem, Heb. 12.18, 22. The Doubts of Salvation that People meet with, arise from putting some condition of Works betwixt Christ and themselves, as hath appeared in this Discourse; but our walking in this way, is by Ftith, which rejects such Fears and Doubtings, Joh. 14.1. Mar. 5.36. Heb. 10.19, 22. It's free from Fears of Satan or any [Page 328]Evil, Rom. 8.31, 32. And free from slavish Fears of perishing by our Sins, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Phil. 4.6, 7. it laying hold on infinite Grace, Mercy and Pow­er to secure us: The Lord is the Keeper and Shade on the right hand, Psal. 121.5. Free and powerful Grace answers all Objections.

4. It is a way that is paved with Love, like Solo­mons Chariot, Cant. 3.10. We are to set Gods loving-kindness, and all the gifts of his Love, still before our eyes, Psal. 26.2. Christs Death, Re­surrection, Intercession before our eyes; which breed Peace, Joy, Hope, Love, Rom. 15.13. Isa. 35.10. You must Believe for your Justification, Adoption, the Gift of the Spirit, and a future Inheritance; your Death and Resurrection with Christ: In Believing for these things, your whole way is adorned with Flowers, and hath these Fruits growing on each side; so that it's through the Garden of Eden, rather than the Wilderness of Sinai, Act. 9.31. It is the Office of the Spirit our Guide, to be our Comforter, and not a Spirit of bondage, Rom. 8.15. Peace and Joy are great Duties in this way, Phil. 4.4, 5, 6. God doth not drive us on with Whips and Terrors, and by the Rod of the Schoolmaster of the Law; but leads us and wins us to walk in his ways, by Allurements, Cant. 1.3. Hos. 11.4. See such Alurements, 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. c. 7.1. Rom. 12.1.

5. Our very Moving, Acting, Walking in this way, is a Pleasure and Delight; every good Work is done with Pleasure, the very Labour of the way is pleasant. Carnal Men wish Duties were not necessary, and they are burthensome to them; but they are pleasant to us, because we do not [Page 329]gain Holiness by our own carnal Wrestling with our Lusts, and crossing them out of carnal Fear, with Regret and Grief, and setting Conscience and the Law against them, to hinder their Act­ings, but we act naturally, according to the New Nature, and perform our own New spiritual De­sires and Lusts, by walking in the ways of God through Christ: And our Lusts and Pleasures in Sin, are not only restrained, but taken away in Christ; and Pleasures in Holiness, freely given us and implanted in us, Rom. 8.5. Gal. 5.17, 24. Joh. 4.34. Psal. 40.8. Psal. 119.14, 16, 20. We have a new Taste and Savour, Love, Lust and Liking by the Spirit of Christ, and look on the Law, not as a Burden, but as our Priviledge in Christ.

6. It is a high exalted way above all other ways: Unto this way the Prophet Habbakuk is exalted, when upon the Failure of all visible Helps and Supports, he resolves to rejoyce in the Lord, and joy in the God of his Salvation; and making God his Strength by Faith, his Feet should be as Hinds Feet, and should walk upon his high places, Hab. 3.18, 19. These are the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that God hath set us in, being quickned and raised up toge­ther with him, Eph. 2.5, 6.

1. We live high here, for we live not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, and Christ in us, with all his fullness, Rom. 8.1, 2. Gal. 2.20. c. 5.25. We walk in Fellowship with God, dwelling in us, and walking about in us, 2 Cor. 6.18. And therefore our Works are of higher Price and Excellency, than the Works of others, because they are wrought in God, Joh. 3.21. And are the Fruits of Gods [Page 330]Spirit, Gal. 5. Phil. 1.11. And we may know that they are accepted and good, by our Gospel Principles which others have not, Rom. 7.6.

2. We are inabled to the most difficult Duties, Phil. 4.1, 3. and nothing is too hard for us. See the great Works done by Faith, Heb. 11. Mar. 9.23. Works that carnal Men think! Folly and Madness to venture upon, (they are so great) and honourable Atchievements, in doing and suffer­ing for Christ.

3. We walk in an honourable State with God, and on honourable Terms; not as guilty Creatures to get our Pardon by Works, nor as Bond-Ser­vants, to earn our Meat and Drink; but as Sons and Heirs, walking towards the full Possession of that Happiness to which we have a Title, and so we have much boldness in Gods Presence, Gal. 4.6, 7. We can approach nearer to God than o­thers, and walk before him considently without slavish Fear; not as Strangers, but as such who are of his own Family, Eph. 2.19, 20. And this prompts us to doing greater things than others; walking as free Men, Rom. 6.17, 18. Joh. 8.35, 36. It is a Kingly way; the Law to us, is a Royal Law, a Law of Liberty and our Priviledge, not a Bond and Yoak of Compulsion.

4. It is the way only of those that are Honour­able and Precious in the eyes of the Lord, even his Elect and Redeemed ones, whose special Pri­viledge it is, to walk therein; No unclean Beast goeth there, Jer. 35.8, 9. No carnal Man can walk in this way, but only those that are taught of God, Joh. 6.44, 45, 46. Nor would it have come into our Hearts, without Divine Revelation.

5. The preparing this way, cost Christ very dear; it is a costly way, Heb. 10.19, 20. 1 Pet. 3.18.

6. It is a good old way, wherein thou mayest follow the Footsteps of all the Flock.

7. It's the way to Perfection, it leads to such Holiness, which shall in a while, be absolutely perfect: It differs only in the degree and manner of Manifestation from the Holiness of Heaven; there the Saints live by the same Spirit, and the same God in all, 1 Cor. 15.28. Joh. 4.14. And have the Image of the same spiritual Man, 1 Cor. 15.49. Only here we have but the first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8.23. And live by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor. 5.7. And are not full grown in Christ, Eph. 4.13. Sanctification in Christ, is Glorification begun, as Glorification is Sanctification perfect­ed.