300 THE POSITIVE WORK OP THE SPIRIT with God for us, bath all stores of grace to give its sup - -beget faith and holiness in us: this is the ctrect of the plies from gospel wily. Hence it is said to be the power of God Sect. 52. (3.) He is so, because the rule and mea- unto salvation, "tom. i. 16. or that whereby God puts sure of holiness unto us, the instrument of working it in forth the greatness ofhis power unto that purpose; the us, is his word and doctrine, which he taught the church " word of his grace, which is able to build us up, and as the great prophet of it. Thelawwas given by Moses, " give usan inheritance amongthem that aresanctified," but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The inbred Acts xx. 30. It is that by whose preaching faith com- dictates of the light and law of nature, in their greatest eth, Rom. x. 17. and by the hearing whereof we re- purity, are not the rule or measure of this holiness, much ceive the Spirit, Gal. iii. 2. It is that whereby we are less are these rules and maxims which mendeduce, part- begotten in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. iv. 15. James i. 17. 1 ly right, and partly wrong, from them, of any such use. Peter i. 23, 25, 23. And all that is required of us, in Nor is the written law itself so. It is the rule of original the way of external obedience, is but that our conversa- holiness, but not the adequate rule of that holiness don be such as becometh the gospel. whereunto we are restored by Christ. Neither are both Sect. 53. And this is a proper touch-stone for our these in conjunction, the dictates of nature and the law holiness, to try whether it be genuine, and of the right written, the instrument of workingholiness in us; but kind or no. If it be, it is nothing but the seed of the it is the doctrine of the gospel which is the adequate gospel quickened in our hearts, and bearingfruit in our rule and immediate instrument of it. My meaning is, lives. It is the delivery up of our souls into the mould that the word, the gospel, the doctrine of Christ, in the of the doctrine of it, so as that our minds and the word preceptive part ofit, is so the rule of allour obedience and should answer one another, as face doth unto face in holiness, as that all which it requireth belonged] there- water. And we may know whether it be so with us or unto, and nothing else but what it requireth doth so; and no, two ways: For, (1.) If it be so, none of the com- the formal reason of our holiness consists in conformity mands of the gospel will be grievous unto us, but easy thereunto, under this consideration, that it is the word and pleasant. A principle suited unto them all, in- and doctrine of Christ. Nothing belongeth unto holi- dining unto them all, connatural unto them, as pro- ness, materially, but what the gospel requireth; and no- ceeding from them, being implanted in our minds and thing is so in us, formally, but what we do, because the hearts, it renders the commands themselves so suited gospel requireth it. And it is the instrument of it, be- unto us, so useful, and the matter of them so desire- cause Geil maketh use of it alone as an external means able, that obedience is made pleasant thereby. Hence for the communicating of it unto us, or the ingenerating is that satisfaction of mind, with rest and joy, which be- of it in us. Principles of natural light, with the guid- lievers have in gospel- duties, yea, the most difficult of ances of an awakened conscience, do direct unto, and them, with that trouble and sorrowwhich ensiles upon exact the performance of many material duties of obe- their neglect, omission, or their being deprived of op- dience. The written law requireth of us all duties of portunities for them. But, in the strictest course of du- original obedience; and God cloth use these things va- ties that proceedeth from any other principle, the pre- ciously, for the preparing of our souls unto a right re- cepts of the gospel, or at least some of them, on the as ceiving of the gospel. But there are some graces, some count of their spirituality, or simplicity, are either es- duties, belonging unto evangelical holiness, which the teemed grievous, or despised. (2.) None of the truths law knows nothing of: such are the mortification of sin, of the gospel will seem strange unto us. This makes godly sorrow, daily cleansing of our hearts and minds; up the evidence of a genuine principle of gospel-holi- not to mention the more sublime and spiritual acts of nest, when the commands of it are not grievous, nor communion with God by Christ, with all that faith and the truths of it strange or uncouth. The mind, so pre- love which is required in us towards him: for, although pared, receives every truth, as the eye doth every in- these things may be contained in the law, radically, as crease of light, naturally and pleasantly, until it come it requires universal obedience unto God, yet are they unto its proper measure. There is a measure of light not so, formally. And it is not used as the means to . which is suited unto our visive faculty, what exceeds it,
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