238 The Lije of Faith. But ifyou lookat' the matter of obedience rather than the form, it fometime confilleth in troubleforne things, as fuffer. ing perfecution, &c. which is Ids defirable than the promifcd reward, which is but ?leafing God, and obeying him, in a more defirable and grateful matter, even in perfed Love for ever: And therefore the more defirable mull be confidered to draw us to the lets defirable ; and that confideration of the re- ward,(and not thepoffeffirg ofit)is the means to our obediences notfor the fake of the ungrateful matter, but of the form and end, Mat. 5.10,11,12, & 6. 1,4. & 10, 41,42. r Cor. g. 17,18. 1Tim. 5. 18.geb.13.6.&,o.35. &,1.26.Cot.3.24. Dire& 7. Remember how much Chriff kimfelf harp conde- fcended, to be made a Means or Mediatour toprocure our obedience to God. And Cutely that muff be an excellent end, which Chritt himfclfbecamea means to ! He came tofave hie people from theirfins, Mat. 1. 21. And to call limier: to repentance, Luke 5. 32. Mat. g. 13. is Chriff the Miniffer offin ? God forbid, Gal. 2. 17. For this end was he revealed, that he might deffray the works ofthe Devil, 1 John 3. 8. And he died to redeem and purifie to himfelf a peculiar people, zealous. of good works, Titus 2. 14.. Chrifl came as much to kill fin, as topardon it : Judge therefore of the worth of obedience by the nobis'ìeefs_and dignity of themeans. Dìreco.8. It.eme;ni er fill that the lame Lawwhich governeth . us,muft judge us: Let Faith fee thefore andclofe connexion between obedience and judgement. If Faith do butfpeakaloudto a. fluggith foul [Thoumuff be judged by the fame word which cornmandcth thee to watch and pray, and to walk in holinefs with God] it will much awaken the foul to duty: And if Faith do but fay aloud tea tempted (inner [The Judge is at the door, and thou mutt hear of this again, and review fin when it will have another countenance] it will do much to kill the forceof the tempta- tion, Rom. 14, 12. Phil. 4. 17. Heb., 3.17. Mat. iz. 36. 2 Pet. 3.11, 12. Dtre& 9. Be fure that your heart-fubjeíïion to Godbefixed, thatyou may live under the fenfeof his Authority. For as Gods Veracity is the fotmal objed of all Faith; fo Gods
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