TaE BREAST-PLATE_oF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Book IV. 3· It is the Deflgn of God in all his Ordinances. The Word of God is both Seed to beget, and Food to nourifh Holinefs begotten in the Heart. Every Parr of it con· tributes to this Defign abundantly. The precepuve Part affords a peridt Rule ofHo– linef.<; the Promifes prdent us with admirable Encouragements, ro entice and allure \lS thereunto; the Threatenings, are to deter and keep back from that which is contrary to it. 4• It is the Delign of God in all his Providences, ro make his People more holy. The AffiiC\ions he brings upon them, are to refine and purify them: 'Ibis is tbe Fruit of all, the taking away cfyour Sin. See Refiner. 5· Saints are called God's Wimcffes; they fhould from hence endeavor to fhine fonh in their Teltunony for him. What he fpeaks in his Word, touching hisJuflice,Ho– linefs, and utter Hatred of Sin and U ngodlinefs, they ought not only with their Lips, but aliO w1th their Lives, t•) bear witnefs unto. Secondly., ln regard of Satan, whole great Defign is againfl the Holinefs of the Saints. How doth it behove them to walk with all Circumfpec'tion, fince they are continually bef1eged and affaulted bv fo flrung an Enemy? As God's great Defign is ro further and prompt to Holinefs ; fo Satan's great Ddig n is to hinder and obltruEt it: And what fhould be our chief Care to defend, but that which our Adverfary's Thoughts and Plots are malt la1d to afTault and !torm ? 'lhirdly, Saints fhnuld labor to have this Brealt-plate on, viz. be holy, in regard of the World: re are the Light of the fVorld. L~t ycur good Works fo Jbine before Mm, &c. Matt. v. q, 14. 1. If rhefe Lights become Darknefs, or are darkened, no marvel if Men !tumble : Wo untq the World becaufe of Offences; but rather wo to bim by whom the Offence cometh. re are the Salt of the Earth: Bur if this Salr have loft its Saver, it is no wonder if the ·world ftink and be unfavory. 2. Wicked Men, taith a worthy Minilter, know not the Princi ple by which you walk, they cannot poflibly difcern the Excellency of that Way and Religion which you profets; but they can ddcern and make fame Judgment of your Converl>nions; nay, and their Eyes are upon you, they watch to fee your Failings. Spots art: foon efpied in your Coats; for thoe1gh they love nut H olinefs themfelve,, yet they expet1 that thofe that profefs themttlves to be Saints fhould be holy. H ow fhould this tcacl' you to get on this Breaft-plate? 3· This may greatly work upon the Ungodly, with whom you live and daily converfe; nay, thole that will not be won by the Word, po!libly may, and many Times have been won and convened this way, 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. 4· This will however convince rhem, that you are the Servants of God, and Hea– ..-en-born Souls; it will filencc them, and ftop the if Mouths: '!hat whereas theyJpeak evil ofyou, they may be ajhamed tbat fa!fely accv.feyour good Converfation in Cbrifl, 1 Pet< i1i. 16. 5· This will leave the World wid10ut excufe in the Great Day. Fourthly, You fhould labor after Holinefs, in regard of the Gofpel itfelf which you profefs. That will this way gain much Credit in the World. < Nothing brings Religion into· greater Contempt, or caufeth it to be more Oighted by the Ungodly, than the loofe, carnal, and unholy Lives of thofe who profefs it. Fifthly, You ought to labor after a godly Life, in regard of the fincere and holy Minit\ers of the Gofpd, and other faithful Saints and Sold iers of Chrilt. What can comfort and delight their Souls more than the holy, humble, and fruirr.ul Lives of Be– lievers? The Saints, thofe excellent ones, were all Da'l{id's Delight, Pfal. xvi. 3· and Paul accounted them his Joy and Crown. But if they be proud, peevifh, covetous, carnal, and walk lik~ other Gentiles, what wounds and grieves them mort! This mede David weep, yea, Rivers of Water to run down his Eyes; and Jeremiah ro wijh his Head were fVater, and his E)'eS a Fountain of 'Iears, that he might weep Day and Night, ]er. ix. 1. Many walk, faith Paul, of whom Jbavetoldyouoften, and now tell you weeping, '[he;• are Enemies to tbe Croft of Cbrifl ; whofe e!ld is Dejlruflion, wbujeGul is their Belly, u·hofe Glor)' is in tbeir Shame, who mind earthly 7"bings, Pbi/. iii 18, t9. Sixth/y, Chrifbans, in regard of themfelves, ought to labor after Righ[coulndS, and true Hohnefs; for this only will be the bel1: Evidence to them of the Truth of Grace received, and of their lnterelt in Jefus<Chrilt. 'vVhat will all other Attain· ments and Pnvileges fignify, if they be not holy ? 1. By thio Means they will be able to hold up their Heads in the Day of Tr al: For o11r rejoicing is this, the 'Iejlimony of our Conjcience, that in SiiJtpliciiJ and god'J .Einaril)·~
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