inCoutt íbírig ink etn't tebtaiptíßn 373 Holinefs is the chiefeft excellencyofman,hishigheft Chap. i 8. advantage above inferiour Beings. 'Tis the fupreme t. . Beautyof the Soul,the refemblance ofAngels,the Image I() of God Himfelf. In this the perfection of the reafona- ble Nature truly conflits, andGlory naturally refults from it. As a Diamond, when its earthy and colour- lefs parts are taken away, fhines forth in its luftre ; fo when the Soul is freed from its Impurities,and all terrene Affections, it will appear with a Divine Brightnefs. The Church ¡hall then be Glorious, when cleanfed from every fpot, and made compleat in Holinefs. To this I will on- ly add, that without Holinefs we cannot fee God, that is, delightfully enjoy Him. Suppofe the Law were dif- penft with, that forbids any unclean perfon to enter in- to the Holy :erufalem, the placecannot make himhap- py. For Happinefs confl is in the Fruition of an ob- ject that is fuitable and fatisfying to our defires. The Holy God cannot beour Felicity, without our partak- ing of his Nature. Imputed Righteoufnefs frees us fromHell, inherent makes us fit for Heaven. The fum is,jefus Chrift that he might be aperfect Saviour, fan- ïtifiesall whomHe juftifies ; for otherwife we couldnot be totally exempted from fuffering evil, nor capable of enjoying thefupreme Good,we could notbe happyhere nor hereafter. z. From hence it appears, that Saving Grace gives no encouragement to the practice of Sin. For the prin- cipal aimof our Redeemer's Love in dyingfor us, was tofanaifae and cleanfe sts, by the wafhingofwater and the Word. And accordingly all the Promifes ofPardon and Salvation are conditional. The holy Mercyof the Gof- pel offers Forgivenefs, only to Penitent Believers that return from Sinto Obedience : We are commanded to re- Aa, pent and beconverted, that our Sins may be blottedout, in the time ofrefrefhment,from the pretenceofthe Lord. And Heaven
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