2 zo· Conformity unt~ CIJrijl, I. An Oppojition unto all fin, in the root, principle and moil: fecret f~i)rings of it, or original cleavings unto our Na. ture-. He did nofin, neither was there any guile found in his mouth; fie was I-foly, . Harmelefr, ·. unde.filed, feparate from finners. He was the Lamb ofGod without fPot or blem– ifh; like unto us, yet without fin. Not the leafi tincture of fin did ever make an approach unto his Holy Nature. He was abfolutely free frorri every drop ofthatfomes which hath invaded us in our depraved condition. 'Vherefore to befreed from alljirJ, is the .firfi general part of an endeavour for Con– formity unto Chrift. And although we cannot perfeCl:ly at– tain hereunto in this life, as we have not already attained,. nor are already_perfell, yet he who groaneth not in himfelf after it, who cloth not loath every thing that is of the remain– der of fin in him, and himfelf for it, who cloth not labour after its aofolute and univerfal extirpation, hath no fincere defign ofCtmformity unto Chrifi·, nor can fo have. He who eqdeavours to be like him, muft purify himfelf, e·ven as he is pure. Thoughts of the Purity of Chri ft, in his abfolute freedom from the leaft tinCl:ure of fin, will not fi1ffer a Belie– ver to be negligent at any time, for the endeavouring the ut– ter ruine of that which makes himunlike unto him. And it is a bleifed advantage unto Faith in the work of Mortifi– cationoffin, that we have fuch a pattern continually before us. 2. The d'~1e Improvement of, andcoJttinu,al growth in e-very' Grace, is the other gen_eral part of this duty. In the exer– cife of his own All-fulnefs of Grace, both in moral Duties of Obedience, and the efpecial Duties of his Office,. did the' Glory of Chr~'1_ the Earthconfifl:. Wherefore toabound in !he exercite/ofeveryGrace, to grow in the root, and thrive m the fruit of them, is to beconformed unto the Image ofthe Son ofGod. · Secondly,
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