CONSIDERATION OF plywith it, and you destroy the nature of true holiness, and turn all the pretended duties of it into fruits and effects of spiritual pride and blind superstition. But we see the necessity of it, with respect unto God, bath other foundations suited unto, and consistent with the grace, and love, and mercy of the gospel. And we shall fully spew, in our progress, that there is not one motive unto it, that is of any real force or efficacy, but perfect- lycomplies with the whole doctrine of the free undeserv- ed grace of God towards us by Jesus Christ; nor is there any of them which gives the least countenance unto any thing of worth in ourselves, as from ourselves, or that should take us off from an absolute and univer- sal dependance on Christ for life and salvation. But yet such they are, as render it as necessary unto, us to be holy, that is, to be sanctified, as to be justified. He that thinks to please God, and to come to the enjoy- ment of him without holiness, makes him an unholy God, putting the highest indignity and dishonour ima ginable upon him. God deliver poor sinners from this deceit, There is no remedy; you must leave your sins, or your God. Youmay as easily reconcile heaven and hell, the one remaining heaven and the other hell, as easily take away all difference between light and dark- ness, good and evil, as procure acceptance for unholy persons with our God. Some live without God in the world; whether theyhave any notion of hisbeing or no, is not material: they live without anyregard unto him, either as unto hispresent rule over them, or his future disposal of them. It is no wonder if holiness, both name and thing, be universally despised by these per- sons; their design being to serve their lusts to the ut- most, and immerse, themselves in the pleasures of the world, without once taking God into -their thoughts, they can do no otherwise.. But for men, who live un- der some constant sense of God, and aneternal account- ableness unto him, and thereon do many things he re- quires, and abstain from many sins that their inclina- tions and opportunities would suggest andprompt them unto, not to endeavour after that universal holiness which alone will be accepted with him, is a deplorable t folly. Such men seem to worship an idol all their days:. for he that doth not endeavour to be like unto God doth u contrarily think, wickedly, that God is like unto him- t self. It is true, our interest in God is not built upon s our holiness; but, it is as true, that we have none with- o THE NATURE OF GOD, 341 out it. Were this principle once well fixed in the minds of men, that without holiness no man shall see God, and that, enforced from the consideration of the nature of God himself, it could not but influence them unto a greater diligence about it, than the most seem to be en- gaged in. Sect. I5,There is indeed amongst us a great plea for morality, or for moral virtue; I wish it be more out of love to virtue itself, and a convictionof its usefulness, . than out of a design to cast contempt on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel, as it is declared by the faithful dispensers of it. However, we are bound, . to believe the best of all men.. Where we see thosewho so plead for moral virtues, to be in their own persons, . and in their lives, modest, sober, humble, patient, self- denying, charitable, useful towards all,: we are obliged to believe, that their pleas for moral virtue proceed from a love and liking of it. But wheremen areproud, furi- ous, worldly, revengeful, profane, intemperate, covetous, ambitious, I cannot so well understand their declamations, about virtue. Only! would for the present inquire, what it is that they intend by their. morality? Is it the reno- vation of the image of God in us bygrace? Is it our con- formity from thence unto him -in his,holiness? Is it our being holy in all manner of holiness, because God is. holy? Is it the acting of our souls in all duties of obe- dience, from a principle of faith and love, according to. the will of God, wherebywe have communion with him. here, and are led towards the enjoyment of him? If these are the things which they intend, what is the mat- ter with them ? Why are they so afraid of the words and expressions of the scripture?: Why will they not . speak of the things of God in words that the Holy Ghost teaeheth? Men never dislike the words of God but when they dislike the things of God.. Is it because these expressions are not intelligible? People do not know what they mean; but this of moralvirtue theyun- derstand well enough.: We appeal to the experience of all that truly fear God in the world unto the contrary.. There is none of them, but the scripture expressionsof he causes, nature, work, and effects of holiness, do onvey a clear experimental apprehension of them nto their minds: whereas, by their moral virtue, nei- her themselves; nor-any else, -do know whatthey intend, ince they door most reject the common received notiou- f it, for honesty amongst men. If 'therefore they in
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