5!S6 Spiritual PerfeClion. that it only belongs to the Minifiers of the Word to fiudy the Myfteries of Religion: But 'tis of infinite confequence, they foou/d he wife to Salv atron. Our Saviour rc l!s us, ThU is Life Eurn~l, to k~ow thtt to be the _o11/y true God, And ~t/tM Ch_rijlJVhom thou haft fent. The drfpcnfauon of the Gofpel IS a fiate of Pcr fca10n: '1rs the full and final declaration of God's Will, in order to our future Blelfednefs: 'Tis not a provi!t· onal eflabhfhment as the Levitical Law : There is no other alliance ro be made between God and Men; no other Sacrifice to be offered for Sin: .~11 the Types and Prophc!tes are cornplearly fulfilled in Chrifi. Now forne underfiand more clearly and di~inaly the comrivance ~nd parts of our myflerious_Redemption_; and arc compa· rauvely perfect. All the freafures of the World are rn real val ue rnfimtely inferiour to faviog_ Truths. There may be Knowledge_ without faving Grace: brit no faving Grace without Knowledge. The Underflandrng rs the leadrng Faculty: Converlion begins in the renewed Mind ; Te wtre d4rknefs, noJV Jt are light in t}Je Lord. The Gofpel cannot be profitable for our Holinefs and Comtorr, but by the intervening of the inlighmed applicative Underllanding; the Confcience, that difcovers tbe Will of God to us, from whence our immediate obligation arifes to obey ir. 'Tis true, fomc Doctrines of the Gofpel are fundamental, and fame are perfeaive: Some are not of that confequence and clearnefs as others ; and the ignorance of them is not damning, nor the Knowledge of them faving. But every Divine Truth is won by of our attentive Confideration, according to our Capacity; for they contribute to our Perfection. We fhould firive to advance in I\oowledge; that as the Sun gradually afcends the Horizon, till it gives Light to the Day, and Day to the World; fo our !mowledge of Chrifl !bould be more clear and exten!tve, till we are compleatly tranf. formed into his glorious Image: When we fba!/ /u bini M he u, we fba!/ be intirely like him. 2. As our Knowledge is more vital, affe£1:ive and practical, 'tis more perfective of us. Divine Truths have a Goodnefs in them, and are not duly known, without a llcdfafi belief of their Truth, and a jull valuation of their Goodnefs; when the con· viction of the Mind, and the coofent of the Will, is inAuentia! upon our Lives. The knowledge of fame things is merely fpecu!ative: One knows that the Eclipfe of the Sun is from the interpofing of the Moon between that globe of Light and our fight, and the Mind acquiefces in the Theory; for 'tis of no practical ufe: But the knowledge that Sin feparates between God and us, and intercepts the Light of his Countenance from fhining upon us, is infinitely profitable to make us fearful to offend him, that wo may not be deprived of the joyful fenfe of his Love. Spiritual Knowledge includes a correfpondeot permanent impreffion upon the Heart, and in the Life to the nature of fanctifying Truths. In civil matters there is a knowledge of difcourfe and direaion, and a lmowledge of performance: And in holy things there is a knowledge of appre· hen!ton and in words, and a knowledge that orders the Convtr{ation aright. The firlt is not only fruitlefs, but accidentally pernicious ; according to Solomon's Expreffion, '" that incrufes knorvltdge increafes Sorrow. A fmaller degree of knowledge of God and Chrifi that is produCtive of Love and Obedience, is far more valuable than a more large and accurate knowledge of the divine Attributes, of the union of the Natures and Offices of Chrifi, that is not fruitful in good Worl<S: as a lpot of Ground Cultivated according to its quality, is more profitable than a large Field that lies Walte. 2 Moral Perfection is evident by a Threefold Comparifon. I. Of the Saints with vili ble Sinners. 2. Of the Sain,ts among themfelves. J. Of fame eminent aas of Grace with lower acts in the fame kind. " The Comparifon of Saints with vifible Sinners, makes them appear as perfea. 'Tis true there is a mixture of Principles in the bell here, of Fle!h and Spirit, inherent Corruption, and infus'd Grace, and the operations Aowing from them accordingly are mixt. But as one who has not the brightefi Colours of white and red in the Corn· plexion, appears an Excellent Beauty, fet off by the prefence of a Blackmore, fo the Beauty of Holinefs in a Saint, though mixt with blemi!bes, appears complere, whe_n compar'd with the foul deformity of Sinners. Thus the oppofitioo between them IS Job 9 . , . exprefs'd, Ht dejlroys the perfec1 and the wtcked. 'Tis Recorded of No•h, that he rw • Gllll. 6 juft and ptrftll man in hH gmeration: in an Age when \Vickednefs reign'd,, when C~ llity was expell'd from the number of Vertues, and Modefiy was cenfurd as a Vrcc, when Impiety was arriv'd at the highefi pitch, and the Deluge was necelfary to purge the World from fucll Sinners: then the fdnctity and piety of No.h fhin'd as bn&ht· nefs iffue~ from the ~ tars . He appear'd perfectly good, compar'd with the prodrgt· ouny bad. a. In.
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