Ver.><. the 17th Chapter of Si-.J O H N, 35 the Truth, and the Truth fhall make ye free, from the Bondage of Sin, the Devil, and Death. A wicked Man cannot have an abfolute affurance of the Truth of the Word, he hath no feeling of the Power of it. There is a great deal of Do; How do yoú prove the Scriptures to be the Word of God ? A Believer hath the Teftimony in his own Heart. 1 John 5. lo. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the Tefiimony in him- felf. His Confcience and Heart are fet at liberty by Water and Blood. This made the Apoftles bold, and fhould make Minifters fo. Rom. r. 16. I am not afhamed of the Gofpel of Chrifi, for it iJ the Power of God unto Salvation. We fhould not be afhamed td preach it, and you fhould not be albamed to profefs it; it is the Power of God. God will not affociate and join the powerful Operation of his Spirit with any other Doûrine. So David, when: he commendeth the Law, by which he doth not mead the Decalogue, but the wholeWord of God ; Pfal. tg. 7, 8, g. The Law of the Lord is perfeet, converting the Soul ; the Teftimony of the' Lord is fire, malting wife the Simple. The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejòycing the Soul ; the Commandment of the Lord ii pure, enlightning the Eyes. The Fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever ; the judg- ments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. He had fpoken before of the Ex- cellency of the Sun, now of the Word, intimating, that the Word of God is as necef- Tary for the Heart, as the Sun is for the World ì We can as well be without the Sun, as without the Bible. But how doth he evidence it ? From the Effeâs upoii the Heart and Confcience ; Comfort and Grace are two great Evidences of the Perfeltion of the Word. No Doûrine in the World, fave this Divine Truth fet down in Scrip- ture, is able to difcover the Sin and Mifery of Man; the Remedy and Relief of it in Chrift. No Dodvine fave this alone, can effeaually humble a Soul, and convert it to God, make it fenfible of the Lofs by Sin, and reftore it to à better Condition. II. It is more fuitable to Man's Nature. The Word Is more morally accommodated to work upon theHeart of Man, than any other Inftrument, Means, or Doûrine in the World. r. The Precepts of it. It is the Copy of God's Holinefs, the Light by which we fee every thing in its own Colours. The Light of Nature is tipÿes vote, the Work of the Law, Rom. 2. 14,15. It taketh notice ofgrofs Alts of Sin, and the oútward Work of Duty ; they made Confcience to abftain from grofs AfIs of Sin, and to perform outward Ads of Piety and Devotion, as offering Sacrifices and Prayers. But now there is an excellent Spirit of Holinefs that breatheth in the Word, and all matters of Duty are advanced to their greateft perfe&ion. Pfal. 1 59. 96. Thy Commandment is exceeding broad; of a vaft extent and latitude, comprizing every Motion, Thought, and Circumftance in Duties ; not only the Ad is required, but the Frame of Heart is regarded; not only Sins, but Lulls are forbidden. If ever there were an Inftrument fitted to do a thing, the Word is fitted to promote Holinefs, the true Purity that is pleafing to God. 2. The Paterns and Examples of the Word. We mil arty by low Examples, and learn Loofenefs and Carelefnels one by another. Therefore the Word of God, to ele- vate Holinefs to the higheft extent, preffeth not only the Examples of the Saints, whole Memorials are left upon record in the Word, but the Holinefs of the Angels, yea, the Holinefs of God himfelf. The highelt Aim doth no hurt; he will (hoot further who aimeth et a Star, than he that aimeth at a Shrub. Be ye Followers of them, who through Faith and `Patience have inherited the Promifes. Heb. 6. 12. Thy Will be done on Earth, at ii is done in Heaven. Mat. 6. io. Be ye holy, as I am holy. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Communion begets Conformity. We need all kinds of Examples; high Examples, that we may not reft in any low degrees and beginnings of Holinefs; low Examples, that we may thinkit potfible. We are not Angels, but Men and Women, ötiòiomrmiObs, of like Af feaions, that have the fame natural Interefts, = natural Wants with others. It is a trod den Path ; in the Way to Heaven you may fee the Footfteps of the Saints. 3. Excellent Rewards, and fit Arguments to induce us to the Pra &ice of Holinefs. 'a Cor. 7. 1. Hazing thefe Promifes, dearly Beloved, let us cleanfe our feiere from all the Fil- thiseefs of Flefh and Spirit, perfeiling Holinefs in the Fear of God. 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great andgrecioua Promifes, that by chef ye might be Partalters of the. Divine Nature, having efcaped the Corruption that it in the World through Luft, God covenants with us, as if we were free -darn ; to intereft our {Hearts in the Love and Praftice of Holinefs, we have as much propounded as we can with for, nay, and more. 1 Cor. 2. g. Eye bath not Peen, nor Ear heard, neither have entred into *helicon GggS a of
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