260 HOLINESS NECESSARY FROM justification and eternal life by them. But neither, on this account, can any suchargument be taken as those we inquire into: For by the deeds ofthe law no man can bejustified: If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Psal. cxxx. 8. So prays Da- vid, Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified, Peal. cxliii. 2. Rom. iii. 20. Gal. ii, 16. And if none can attain the eid of the command, as in this sense they cannot, what argument can we take from thence to prevail with them unto obedience? Whoever therefore presseth men unto holiness, merely on the commands of thelaw, and for the ends of it, Bothbut put them upon tormentingdisquiet- ments, and deceive their souls. However men are in- dispensibly obliged hereby, and must eternally perish for what the law so requires, who do not or will not, by faith, comply with the only remedy and provisions that God bath made in this case. And, for this reason, are we necessitated to deny a possibility of salvation unto all to whom the gospel is not preached, as well as unto those by whom it is refused: for they are left unto this law, whose precepts they cannot answer, and whose end they cannot attain. Sect. 6.It is otherwise on both these accounts with the commands of God, for holiness, under the new co- venant, or in the gospel: For, (1.) Although God, in them, requireth universalho- liness of us, yet he doth not do it in that strict and rigo- rous way as by the law, so as, that if we fail in any thing either as to the matter or manner of its perform- ance, in the substance of it, or as to the degrees of its perfection, that thereon both that, and all we dobesides, should be rejected. But he doth it with a contempera- tion of grace and mercy, so as that if there be an uni- versal sincerity, in a respect unto all his commands, he both pardoneth many sins, and accepts of what we do, though it come short of legal perfection, both on the account of the mediation of Christ. Yet this hindereth not, but that the law or command of the gospel doth still require universal holiness of us, and a perfection therein, which we are to do our utmost endeavours to comply withal, though we have a reliefprovided in sin- cerity on the one hand, and mercy on the other: for the commands of the gospel do still declare what God approves, and what he doth condemn, which is no less than all holiness on the one hand, and all sin on the other, as exactly and extensivelyas under the law. For this the very nature of God requireth, and the gospel is not the ministry of sin, so as to give an allowance or indulgence unto the least, although in it pardon bepro- videdfor a multitude of sins byJesus Christ. The obli- gation on us unto holiness is equal as unto what it was under the law, though a relief be provided where una- voidably we comeshort of it. There is therefore noticing more certain, than that there is no relaxation given us as unto any duty of holiness, by thegospel, nor any indul- gence unto the least sin. But yet, upon the supposition of the acceptance of sincerity, and a perfection of parts, iristead of degrees, with themercy provided for our fail- ings and sins, there is an argument to be taken from the command of it unto an indispensible necessity of holiness, including in it the highest encouragement to endeavour after ,it: for, together with the command, there is also grace administered, enabling us unto that obedience which God will accept. Nothing, therefore, can avoid or evacuate the power of this command and argument from it, but a stubborn contempt of God, a- rising from the love of sin. Sect. 7. (2.) The commands of the gospel do not require holiness, and the duties of righteousness of us, to the same end as the commands of the law did, name- ly, that thereby we might be justified in the sight of God: for, whereas God now accepts from us an holi- ness short of that which the law required, if he did it still for the same end, it would reflect dishonour upon his own righteousness, and the holiness of the gospel. For, (First,) If God can accept of a righteousness unto justification inferior unto, or short of what he re- quired by the law, how great severity must it be thought in him to bind his creatures unto such an exact obedi- ence and righteousness, at first, as he could and might have dispensed withal? Ifhe doth accept of sincere obe- dience now unto our justification, why did he not do so before, but obliged mankind unto absolute perfection, according to the law, for coming short, wherein, they all perished? Or, shall we say, that God path changed his mind in this matter, and that he doth not stand so much now on rigid and perfect obedience, for our justi- fication, as he did formerly? Where then is the glory of his immutability, of his essential holiness, of the ab- solute rectitude of his nature and will? Sect. 8. Besides, (Secondly,) What shall become
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