THE CO1HilTAND OF G019. $65 on the earth. Remember, that it isyour especial temp- tation to do otherwise. And ifyou do yet abhor those, who, by this means, are come to be sons of Bella!, or such as have altogether broken the yoke, and run up and down the world in the pursuitof their lusts, saying, Our lips are our own, and who is lord over us? ,Be you watchful against the least beginnings or entrances of it in yourselves. Sect. 17. (2.) In general; let us all endeavour to carry a constant regard unto the authority of God in his commands, into all those seasons, places, societies, occasions, wherein we are apt to be surprised in any sin, or a neglect of duty. And I may reduce this instruc- tion, or point it unto 'threeheads or occasions, namely, secresy, businesses, and societies: (1.) Carry this along with you into your secret retirements and enjoyments. Neglect hereof is the next cause of those secret actual provoking sins which the world swarms with. When no eye sees but theeye of God, men think themselves secure. Hereby have many been surprised into folly, which bath proved the beginning of a total apostacy. An awe from the authority of God in the command upon the heart, will equally secure us in all places, and on all occasions. (2.) Let us carry it into our busi nesses, and the exerciseof our trades or callings. Most men, in these things, are very apt to be intent on pre- sent occasions, and having a certain end before them, do habituate themselves unto the ways ofits attainment. And whilst they are so engaged, many things occur which are apt to divert them from the rule of holiness. Whenever therefore you enter into your occasions, wherein you may suppose that temptations will arise, call to mind the greatness, power, and authority over you, of him who bath commanded you in all things to be holy. Upon every entrance of a surprisal, make your retreat unto such thoughts which will prove your relief. (3.) Carry it with you into your companies and societies: for many have frequent occasions of engaging in such societies, as wherein the least for- getfulness of the sovereign authority of God, will betray them unto profuseness in vanity and corrupt communication, until they do with delight, and .hear with pleasure, such things as wherewith the Holy Spirit of God is grieved, their own consciences are defiled, and the honour of profession is cast to the ground. Sect. 18.(Secondly,) The command of God that we should be holy, is not to be considered only as an effect of power and authoritywhich we must submit unto, but as a fruit of infinite wisdom and goodness also, which it is our highest advantageand interest to com- ply withal. And this introduceth a peculiar necessity of holiness, from the consideration of what is equal, reasonable, ingenuous; the contrary whereunto is fool- ish, perverse, ungrateful, every way unbecoming ra- tional creatures. Where nothing can be discerned in commands, but mereauthority, will, and pleasure, they are looked on as merely respecting the good of them that command, and not at all theirs who are to obey, which disheartens and weakens the principle of obedi- ence. Now, though God, because his dominion over us is sovereign' and absolute, might have justly left unto us no other reason or motive of our obedience, and it may be did so deal with the church of old as to some particular temporary ceremonial institutions; yet he doth not, nor ever did so, as to the main of their obedience. But, as he proposeth his law as an effect of infinite wisdom, love, and goodness, so he declares and pleads, that all his commands are just and equal in themselves, good, and useful unto us, and that our compliance with them, is our present, as well as it will be our future happiness. And that this is so, that the command of God requiring that we should be holy, as a fruit of wisdom and goodness, is equal and advanta- geous unto ourselves, appears from all the considera- tions of it. Sect. 19.First, Look upon it formally, as a law prescribed unto us; and it is so, because the obedience in holiness, which it requires, is proportioned unto the strength and power which we have to obey, which de- clares it equal unto us, and an effect of infinite wisdom and goodness in God. The command, as we shewed before, may be considered either as it belonged unto the old covenant, or as it is annexed unto, and so is a part of the new. In the first way, as it belonged unto the old covenant, the strength of grace, which we had originally from God under the law of creation, was sufficient to enable us unto all that holy obedience which was-required therein; and our not doing so, was from wilful rebellion, and not from any impotency or weakness in us. We fell not from our first estate, for want of power to obey, but by the neglect of the exer- cise of that power which we had. Godmadeus upright,
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