AND SUBJECT OF soil may be well with it at the last gay. And here.lia the springs or foundations of all ' he moral differences that.we see amongst mankind. Some give themselves up unto all abominations, lasciviousness, uncleanness, drunkenness, frauds, oppressions, blasphemies, perse- cutions, as having no bounds fixed unto their lusts, but what are given them by their own impotency, or dread of human laws. Others endeavour to be sober, tem- perate, just, honest, and upright in their dealings, with a sedulous performance of religious duties. This differ- ence ariseth from the different power and efficacy of le- gal convictions upon the minds of .men. And these convictions are in many variously improved according to the light they receive in the means of knowledge which, they do enjoy, or the errors and superstitions which they are misguided unto. For, on this latter account, do they grow up in some, into penances, vows, uncommanded abstinences, and variousself. macerations; with other painful and costly duties; where the light they receive is, in the general, according unto truth, there it will engage men into reformation of life, a mul- tiplication of duties, abstinence from sin, profession, zeal, and a cordial engagement into one way or other in religion. Such persons may have good hopes them. selves that they are holy; they may appear to the world so to be, and be accepted in the church of God as such, and yet really be utter strangers from true gospel-holi- ness. And the reason is, because they have missed it in the foundation; and not having, in the first place, obtained an interest in Christ, have built their house on the sand, whence it will fall in the time of trouble. If it be said, that all those who come up unto the du- ties mentioned are to be esteemed believers, if there- with they make professionof the true faith of the gos- pel, I willingly grant it. But if it be said, that neces- sarily they are so indeed, and in the sight of God, and therefore are also sanctified and holy, I most say the contrary is expressly declared in the gospel,and especial instances given thereof. Wherefore let them wisely consider these things who have any conviction of the necessityof holiness. It may be, they have done much in the pursuit of it, and have laboured in theduties that materially belong unto it. Many things they have done, and many things forborne, upon the account of it; and still continue so to do. It may be, they think that for all the world they would GOSPEL - IiQLINESS. i45 not befound among the number of unholy persons at the last day. This may be the condition of some, per- haps of many, who arebut yet young, and but newly engaged into these ways upon their convictions. It may be so with them, who for many days and years have been so following after a righteousness in a way of duty. But yet they meet with these two evils in their ways: (t.) That duties of obedience seldom or never prove more easy, familiar, or pleasant unto them, than they did at first, but rather are more grievous and bur- 1 densome every day. (2.) That they never come up un- to a satisfaction in what they do, but still find that there is somewhat wanting. These make all they do burden- some and unpleasant unto them, which, at length, will . betray them into backsliding- and apostacy. But yet there is somewhat worse behind; all they have done, or are ever able to do, on the bottom upon which they stand, will come to no account, but perish with them at the great day. Would we prevent all these fatal evils, would we engage in a real, thriving, everlasting holiness, let our first business be to secure a relation unto Jesus Christ, without which nothing of it will ever be attained. To close this discourse, I shall only from it obviate a putid calumny cast by the Papists, Quakers, and o- thers of the same confederacy, against the grace of God, upon the doctrine of the free justification of a sinner, through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, For, with a shameless impudence, they clamour on all by whom it is asserted, as those who maintain salvation to be attained through a mere external imputation of righteousness, whilst those so saved are unclean and unholy, as the Quaker, or negligent of the duties of righteousness and obedience, as the Papists arid others slanderously report. For the frontless impudence of this calumny is sufficiently evident from hence, that as we assert sanctification and holiness to be peculiar only unto believing justified persons; that is, that faith and holiness are inseparable habitually or actually, or in both regards; so, in like manner, that all such persons are infallibly sanctified and made holy. Sect. 7. All believers, and only believers, being sanctified and made holy, what it is that is sanctified in them, or what is the proper seat and subject of this work, is, in the next place, to be declared. For it is not a mere external denomination, as things were cal-
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