Owen - BX9315 O81

THE COMMAN gospel, Eph. iv. 22, 23, 24. Titus ii. 11, 12. Hereof therefore there needeth no further confirmation by es- pecial testimonies. Sect. 2. Our inquiry must be, what force there is in this argument, or whence we do conclude unto a necessity of holiness from the command of God? To this end, the nature and proper adjuncts of these com- mands are to be considered, that is, we are to get our minds and consciences affected with them, so as to en- deavour after holiness on their account, or with respect unto them; for, whatever we may do, which seems to have the matter of holiness in it, if we do it not with respect unto God's command, it hath not the nature of holiness in it: for our holiness is our conformity and obedience to the will of God; and it is a respect unto a command which makes any to be obedience, or gives it the formal nature thereof. Wherefore, as God rejects that from any place in his fear, worship or service, which is resolved only into the doctrines or precepts of men, Isa. xxxix. Is, so, for men to pretend unto I know not what freedom, light, and readiness unto all holiness, from a principlewithin, without respect unto the commands of God without, as given in his word, is to make themselves their own God, and to despise obedience unto him who is over all, Godblessed tor ever, then are we the servants of God, then are we the disciples of Christ, when we do what is commanded us, and because it is commanded us. And what we are not influenced unto by the au- thority of God in his commands, we are not principled for by the Spirit of God administered in the promises. Whatever good any man doth in any kind, if the rea- son why he doth it be not God's command, it belongs neither to holiness nor obedience. Our inquiry there- fore is, after those things in the commands of God, which put such an indispensible obligation upon usunto holiness, as that whatever we may be, or we may have without it, will be of no use or advantage unto us, as unto eternal blessedness, or the enjoyment ofhim. Sect. 3. But, to make our way more clear and safe, one thing must be yet premised unto these considera- tions:. And this is, that God's commands for holiness, may be considered two ways: (1.) As they belong unto and are parts of the covenant of works. (2.) As they belong and are inseparably annexed, unto the covenant of grace. In both respects they arc materially and for. 4 X D5 OF GOD. 259 mally the same, that is, the same things are required in them, -and the same person requires them; and so their obligation is joint and equal. Not only the commands of the new covenant do oblige us unto holiness, but those of the old also, as to the matter and substance of them: but there is a great difference in the mannerand ends of these commands, as considered so distinctly.. For, (i.) The commands of God, as under the old covenant, do so require universalholiness of us, in all acts, duties, and degrees of them, that, upon the least failure in substance, circumstance, or degree, they allow of nothing else we do, but determine us transgres- sors ofthe whole law. For, with respect unto them, whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all, James ii. 10. Now, I ac- knowledge, that although there ariseth from hence an obligation unto holiness, to them who are under that covenant, and such a necessity -of it, as that without it they must certainly perish; yet no argument of the na- ture with those which I insist upon, can hencebe takers to press us unto it: for no arguments are forceable unto this purpose, but such as include encouragements in them unto what they urge. But that, this consideration of the command knoweth nothing of, seeing a compli- ance with it is in our lapsed condition absolutely impos- sible; and, for the things that are so, we can have no endeavours. And hence it is, that no man, influenced only by the commands of the law, or first covenant, ab- solutely considered, whatever in particular he might be forced or compelled unto, did ever sincerely aim or endeavour after universal holiness. Sect. 4. Men may be subdued by the power of the law, and compelled to habituate themselves unto a strict course of duty, and being advantaged therein, by a se- date natural constitution, desire of applause, self-righte- ousness, or superstition, may make a great appearance of holiness. But if the principle of what they do be only the commands of the law, they never tread one true step in the paths of it. Sect. 5. (2.) The end why these commands require all the duties ofholiness of us, is, that they may beour righteousness before God, or that we may be justified thereby. For Moses describeth the righteousness which.. is of the law, that the man which doeth these things shall live by them, Rom. x. 5. that is, it requires of us all duties of obedience unto this end, that we may have 33

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