73+ s A I N T s COMPARED TO p I L G R I M s. Bo;:;k IV. SIMILE. fages to find, he rakes care there– ' fore to get a good and Ikilful ·Guide, left he 010uld lofe his Way. PARALLEL. t.he Way, another, That, Matt. xxiv. 23. Some bid him believe as the Church believes, and he !hall never go aftray. Others bid him conform to the L aws of Men, and do whatever the fupreme Authority of the Nation doth enjoin in Matters of Faith and Rdigion. Others call upon him to be led wholly by the Light of his Confcience~ and that will bring him unto the Land of Promife, the Place he longs for. And at lafr he meets with anorher, that teems yet to differ from them all, and greatly to fl ight and condemn one grand Fundamental God's vVord holds forth, unJer plaufible Pretences. He cries tlp Holi– Qefs, and juft"Living, which all confcfs is required; but in the mean Time ftrives to perlctade him to caft off the SatisfaCtion of Jefus Chrift, and rru[t to his own Righte– oufnefs, or to refined Morality, rendering Faith in Chrift crucified little more than a Fancy; and that the main Defign of Chritt in coming into the \ 'lo.rld was, only to be a Pattern of Holinels and Humility. But he perceiving the Danger great upon this Account, and that none of the[i: Pretenders could give any convincing Evidence why they fhould be believed, and thetr Counfel followed, above others, he rejeCted \Ill their DireCtions, and refolved to be led by none of them, fmther than their DnEtrine agreed with a certain DireCtory, which through the Grace of God he h.nh obtained, namely, the written Word of God; and that tells him plainly, 'The Wa)' is Chrifl, John xiv. 6. viz. Chrift, as a Prieft, dying for him, to appeafe the Wrath of God, and· make Atonement for his Sin, fulfilling the Law, and bringing in everlafting Righteoufnefs. Chrift, as a King, to fubdue h1s Sm, and to rule and reign over him, according to thofe bleffed and wholefome Laws, Ordinances, and !ntl:itutions, given forth by him, and left in his Word, Dan. ix. 24. Chrift, as a Prophet, to teach and intl:ruEt him. Chrift, as a holy Pattern and Example, to imitate and follow, fo far as by the help of Grace he is able. [See Suret)', Sin a Debt, the Word compared to Light, the Spirit to a 'Teacher and Guide.J He hath learned of Chrift to be holy, and is helped therein by the Holy Ghofl: to excel his Neighbor, and denies all his Ungodlinefs, and worldly Lufl:s; and yet cafts himfelf only on Chrift, relying upon his Merits, laboring to be like him in all Things, as the Apofl:le obferves: He that bath this Hope in him, puri– jieth himfelf even as he is pure, 1 John iii. 3· He lets his Sins go, nay, Ioaths that which is evil; he lives a mortified Life unto the World, and yet trufteth not to any Thing that he hath done, or can do, for eternal Life, knowing there is no Salvation· but by Chritl: alone, /18s iv. 12. He is as godly as any Socinian in the World, and yet magnifies the R iches of God's Grace, and Chrift's Merits, fo as not ro expeCt Juf– tification any other \\1ay. V. A Pilgrim often meers with Trouble, and great Difficulties in his Way, by Winds, Storms, and Tempells, hard Weather, Cold, Froft and Snow, deep and bad Ways, and many Dangers, which he narrowly efcapes. VI. A Pilgrim is a Stranger in the Country through which he paffeth; and being no~ known, he is much gazed on, and fOmerimes abufed by the rude Rabble; all which he takes with Patience, and makes no Relillance. V. So the fpiritual Pilgrim is alfo expofed tCl> many Difficulties in his Journey Heaven wards. Terrible Storms fometimes arife, Winds of Per– fecution and Temprarivn blow fo hard, that he is fcarce able to ftand upon his Legs. M)' Feet were aimoft gone, Ill)' Steps had well nigh ftipt, &c. PJal. lxxiii. 2. He is often befet with Crofles and Af– fliCtions, that he is as a Man in the Mire, and can hardly get our. VI. So the Godly are Strangers in rbis vVorld: -And wifejfed, that thf)' were Strangers and Pil– grims 011 the Earth, lleb. xi. 13. Davit! breaks forth, Hold not th)' Peace at my fears, for I am a Stranger with thee; and a Sojourner, as all "')' Fa– thers were, Pfal. xxxix. 12. H ence they are made oftentimes a Gazing-frock to Men, by Re– proaches and AffiiEtions, Heb. x. 33· And how grievouOy have they been abufed bv rhe wicked Rabble of the Earth, as Jefus Chritl: himfelf teftifieth : If )'e were of the Wvrld, the World would love its own ; but becaufe ;•e are not of the World, but I have chofen )'Ott out of the World,. therefore the World hateth )'OU. All thefe '[bi1Jgs will tbty do unto ;·ou, baaufe tbe)' know ltol bun that fen/ me, John xv. 19, 22. I VII. So
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