I42 Of .7ufl cation by Faith. S E R M. but it does not terminate wholly in their de- VI liverance from punifhment, nor is the defign anfwered on their part by bare believing,' for it teaches us, that denying all ungodlinefs, and worldly lu/ls, we Jhould live foberly, righteoufly and godly : And this as the only foundation, upon which we can look for the bleed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jefus Chrift : No man can read the New Tefiament with any degree of attention, without being convinced that its principal fcope is, to teach and urge men to goodnefs, righteoufnefs, temperance, and patience, by the firongeit motives, and particularly by the hope of acquittal in the day of judgment, and of obtaining eternal life; if, I fay, we confider it in this light, there can remain no doubt but that, tho' by the works of the law, as fet againft faith, a man cannot be juftified, yet that, the works and obedience of which faith is the great ani- mating principle, are, in conjunction with it, the condition of our acceptance. All this is farther confirmed by the example of Abraham, and the method of his juftifica- tion, which St. Paul reprefents as a prece- dent to all after ages, and argues from it. He afferts that Abraham was accounted righteous
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