Recommended from Phil. 2. I z, I 3· 599. fnrther in this, on\y conclude this .An[wer with two practical things in reference to' this Outjlion. FirjJ,So work with that Earncftnefs, Conftancy and Unweariednefs in well do~ ing, as if thy Works alone were able ro )uftifie and fav.e th~e. .Look with what Affection a1~d Fervency vou would pray, 1f now God w1th a Vo1ce from Heaven JliDuld tell you, that far· the next Prayer you make, you fhould be either Saved or Damned. Look with what H.everence and Attention you would Hear, with what Spiritualncfsof Heart you would Meditate, if your eternal State and Condition, were to be determined a1~d fixed by the next of thofc Duties that in this kind you were to perform; with the fame Fervency, Affection and Spiritnalne'fs perform all the Obedience that you do. Why fhould you not do fo? Are not God's Commands as Peremptory and as Authoritative for Obedience under Covenant of Grace, as they were under the Covenant of Works? Is not Obedience of as abfolute neceffiry now as ever, though not to the fame end and _purpofe? And Gnce the t::nd ?f our Obedience is gracwu f\y changed, doth not th1s change lay a farther obhgauon of Gratitude upon us to obey God, Who requires it from us, not as Merit, but as Duty? Still there is as great an obligation to obey now under the condition of the Covenant of Grace, as ever there was while Mankind ftood under the tenour of the Covenant of \.Vorks. Certainly Chrift's Merit was never given to fiacken our Obedience, and it is the moft unworthy, nay, let me fay it is the moft accurfed ufe that any Chriftian can make of them, that from the Merit of Chrift he fhall take encouragemen~ to grow more remifs and ll1ck in Obedience. Would you not therefore turn the Grace of God into Wanconnefs? Would you not abufe the infinite Mercy of a Mediator? Think whh your felves, how would 1 ftrive and ftruggle were I to ftand or fall upon the account of my own Works and Duties; ufe the fame Dili~ gcnce, put forth _the fame Endeavours as indeed in that Cafe you would do. And, (z.) Stcondly, So abfolntely depend anp rely upon the alone Merits of Jefus Chrift for your Juftification and Salvation, as if you never had performed an ACt of Obedience in all your Life. This is the right Gofpel·frame of Obedience, fo to work as if you were only to be fa\·ed by your own Merits, and withal fo to reft on the Merits of Chrift as if you had never wrought any thing. lt is a diffiqllt thing to give to each of thefc its Due in our PraCtice. When we Work 1.we are too apt tO negleCt Chrift; and when we rely on Cbrift we are tgo apt to neglect Working: But that Chriftian hath got the r1ght skill and .:1rt of Obedience that can mingle rhefe two together, that no w.ith one Hand work tbe Works of God, and yet at the fame time with the other Hand lay faft hold on the Merits of ]efus Chrift. Let thistAminomian Principle be for ever rooted out of the Minds of Men, that our working is derogatory to Chrift's Work. Never more think Chrift bath done all your Work for you, for that is unbecoming the free Spirit of the Gofpel; but labour for that Salvation that he bath purchafed and merited. Could ever fuch fenfelefs ObjeEtiom prevail with thofe Men who ever ferioully re:1d that Scripture in 'Tit, 2- 14. Who g:we hi.m[tlf for PA that he mij;ht rtdeem U5 from all Iniquity, and purifY ro himfdf a ptcuiittr Propie z.taiotu of good Works? Were this place ferioufiy pondcr'd over by Men, they would be afhamed to Objtff any lo;1ger, that our Duties and Works are derogatory to the purchafe of Chrift, for ht gave himfdf for rhU tnd that he might Jurcha[t Juch a People thar might be uaJom of good Works. But truly when Sloth an Ignorance meet together, if you tell Men what Powers their Natures have to work, and how neceJfary Obedience is to Salvation._ that thereby we~night ex~ite a~d quicken t~eir Hea~ts to Qb_edience, they with ~he Sluggard fold theu· Arms 111. the1r Bofom domg noth10g, telhng us thefe DoCl:nnes are Armjniani[m and flat Popery; whereas in Deed and in Truth they are as far dirtant from either of them as Light is from Darknefs; it is their Ignorance and Slotb. only that makes them think fo. But deceive not your felves, this Do[Jrint is fuch that whether it take hold on your Judgments and Underftandings now, I know not; but this I know aJfuredly, it Ihall take hold of your Confciences, either here or here· after, and then it will not fuffice you to make this Excufe, either that you had no Power to do any thing, or that Chrift bath already done all Things for you. And fo much for the SecomJ ObjrCiion. Thirdly, Others may Objea, That this Duty of working out of our SRL'!Iation, U in-- Obj. 3·· conji{imt wsth, and prtjudsctd to, tht frunefs of God's Gract, by 1rhich alont JPe (lrt [tr;td. If
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