íta Cnntríithig an'ß eb r ptíon.. 3ssr Security, as if they might be faved without hiving to Chap. i9, reach the higheff degrees of Obedience. 'Tis a weak pretence,that becaufe the confummate meafure of San- ¿ification canonly be attained in the next life, there- fore we fhouldnot endeavt II after it here. For by fin- cere and confiant endeavours we make nearer ap- proaches to it, and according to thedegrees of our pro - grefs fuch.are thofe ofour joy. As Nature bath pre- fcribed to all heavy Bodies their going to the Centre, and although nonecomes to it, and many are at a great difiance fromit, yet the ordination of Nature is not in vain; becaufe by virtue of it, every heavy Body is al- ways tending thither in motion or inclination : Soal- though we cannot reach to compleat Holinefs in thi,s imperfe t fiate, yet 'tis not in vain that the Gofpel pre- fcribes it, and infufes intoChriflians thofe difpofitions whereby they aregradually catried to the full accom- plifhment of it. Not to arrive to Perfe6tion is theweak- nefs of the Fla-,not to afpire after it is the fault ofthe Spirit. Toexcite us, it will be ofmoment to confider the great Obligations that the Gofpel lays upon Chri. flans to be holy. By that Covenant the Holy God is JoE,n, 3. I, pleafed to take them into the Relation ofhis Children; and as the nature ofSanaification, fo the motives of it are contained in that Title. For fo near an Alliance obliges them toa faithful obfervationofhis Commands, and to imitatehimwith the greatefi care, that the vein ofhis Spirit and the marks of his Blood may appear in all their actions. Whofoever is born of God doth not I Tot? 3 f commit fin: The allowed practice of it is incontinent with the qualityofa Son of God, 'tis contrary to the Gracec fhis Divine Birth. Nay, the omiffion ofGood, as well as the commiflion of Evil, is incontinent with that Relation. 'Tis for this reafon, that Holinefs is fo much the character ofa true Chriftian, that to be a Chriftian
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