SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 431 directly by his bloodshed. 3. And he will justifryou at judgment its King and Judge, and not as Satisfier or sanctifier. But the condition, on your part, ofobtaining, interest in Christ and his bene- fits, is that one faith which accepteth him ip all these respects, (both as King, Priest and Teacher,) and to all these ends conjunctly. But then, ii. The condition and worthiness required to the con- tinuation and consummation of your pardon, justificatiop, and right to glory, is both the continuance of your faith, and your sincere obedience, even your Beeping the baptismal covenant that you made with Christ by your parents, and the covenant which you m your own person made with him in your first true believing. These indeed are called Wotthiness and Righteousness frequently in the gospel. But it is no worthiness consisting in any suchworks, which make the reward to be of debt, and not of grace, (of which Paul speaks,) but only in faith, and such gospel-works as James speaks of, which make the reward to be wholly of grace, and notdebt. Now, ifyou say you are unworthy in this evangelical sense, then you must mean, (if ybu know what you say,) that you are an infi- del or unbeliever, or an impenitent, obstinate rebel, that would not have Christ to reign over him; for the gospel calleth none unwor- thy, (as nonsperformers of its conditions,)'but only these. But I hope you dare not charge yourself with such infidelity and willful rebellion. Doubt 12. ' Though God bath kept me from gross sins, yet I find such searedness of donscience, and so little averseness from sin in my mind, that I fear I should commit it if I lay under tempta- tions ; and also that I should not hold out in trial ifI were called tosuffer death, or any grievous calamity. And that obedience which endureth merely for want of a temptation, is no true obedience.' Ánsw. 1. I have fully answered this before. If you can over- come the temptations of prosperity, you have no cause to doubt, distrustfully,Whether you shall overcome the temptation of adver- sity. And if God give you grace to avoid temptations to sin, and flee occasionsas much as you can, and to overcome them where you cannot avoid them, you have little reason to distrust his preserva- tion of you, and your steadfastness thereby, if you should be cast upon greater temptations. Indeed, ifyou feel not such a belief of the evil and danger ofsinning, as to possess you with some sensible hatred of it, you have need to look to your heartfor the strength- ening of that belief and hatred; and fear your heart with a godly, preserving jealousy, but not with tormenting, disquieting doubts. Whatever your passionate hatred be, if you have a settled, well- grounded resolution to walk in obedience to the death; you may confidently and comfortably trust him for your preservation, who gave you those resolutions.
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