Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT770 .B39 1670

The Life of Faith. 235. toanothers ? And why fhould any other! be bound to ufè Jo- flice or Charity to you any more than you to them ? There is no member of the body politick or eccleiiaftiek, which will not receive more good ro it fell, by the Laws of Communion, iftrulypraótifed, than it can do to others. For you are but one whoarebound to be charitable and do good to others, and that but according to Your own ability : But it may be hundreds or tlì®ufands who may be all bound to do good to you. You have the vital influences, and aflihonccs of all the parts : you have the prayers of all the Chr,flians in the world. Suppofe that the Laws were made to fecure your felves of your ettate and lives; but to h ave the effares and lives of your children to the will cf any or.e that bath a will to wrong them; would you be content with Etch kind of Laws as theft ? And why fhould not others good b: fecund, as well as your poftettties? I Cor I2.I2,I4,20, &C.Ko 02.4,5 & Ió. 2, I Cor. t0. 17,33.F.phef4.3,1I,12,14,15,16. Di ec` . 4. Thechirf worm, of Faith rs to m, k,ç the obedience of Gods Commands to he [weer and pleafant to us, by feting ffill that intrinfecalgoodnefs, and the extrinjecal motives, and the eter- nal rewards, which maycaufe the foul to imirace themwith the 'deareff love, They are much miflaken, who know no ufe for Faith but to comfort them, and fave them fromHell ; the great work of Faith is to bring up the foul to Obedience, Thankfulnrff and Love. Therefore ü hash to do with the Precepts; as well as with the Prontifes ; and with the,Prcmijes to fweeten the Pre- cepts to us. Believers are not called to the obedience offlavts; nor to be abed only by the fear ofpain; but to the obedience of redeemed ones and Sons; that Faith may caufe. them to obey in Love; and the effential at of Love is complacency : Therefore it is the work of Faith, to caule us to obey God with pleafurè and do- light. Forced motives endure not long : They are accompanied withunwibingne(land wearinefl, which at lafl will fit down, when the fears do by diflance, delay or duinefs, abate. Love is our Nature ä but Fear is only a fer- vant to watch for us while we do the work of Leve. As many at are ledby the Spirit of God, are the Sorts ofGod (and there- G g fore

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