563 HOLINESS NEC the preservation and increase of it. God, who hath de- termined graciously togive us supplies thereof, bath also declared, that we are obliged unto our utmost diligence for the participation of them, and unto their dueexer- cise when received. This innumerable commandsand in- junctions give testimonyunto; but especially is the whole method of God's grace, and our duty herein, declared by the apostle Peter, 2 Epist. chap. i. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. whichdiscourse I have opened and impro- vedelsewhere. The sum is, that God creating in us a new spiritual nature, and there withal giving to us all things appertaining unto life and godliness, or a gracious a- bility for the duties of an holy, godly, spiritual life, we are obliged to use all means in the continual exercise of all grace, which will ascertain unto us our eternal election, with our effectual vocation, whereon we shall obtain an assured joyful entrance into the kingdom of glory. Sect. 24.-0.) This administration of graceand spirit- ual strength is not equally effectual at all times: there are seasons wherein to correct our, negligences ingiving place to our corruptionsand temptations, or, on other grounds, to discover unto us our own frailty and impotency, with other holy ends of his own, that God is pleased to withold the powerful influences of his grace, and to leave us unto ourselves. In such instances we shall assuredly come short of answering the command for universal holiness, one way or other. See Psal. xxx. 6, 7. But I speakof ordinary cases, and to prevent that slothfulness and ter- giversation unto this duty of complying with all the com- mands of God for holiness, which we are so obnoxious unto. Sect. 25. (4.) We donot say, that there is in the covenant of grace spiritual strength administered, so as that by virtue thereof we 'should yield sinless and abso- lutely perfect obedience unto God, or to render any one duty so absolutely perfect. If any such there are, or ever were, who maintain such an imputationof the right- eousness of Christ unto us, as should render our own personal obedience unnecessary, they do overthrow the truth and holiness of the gospel. And to say, that we have such supplies of internal strength, as to render the . imputation of the righteousness of Christ unto our jus- tification unnecessary, is to overthrow the grace of the gospel, and the new covenant itself. But this alone we say; there is grace administered by the promises of the. ESSARY FROM gospel, enabling us to perform the obedience of it in that way and manner as God will accept. And herein there are various degrees, whereof we ought constantly to aim at the most complete, and so to be perfectingho-- liness in thefear of the Lord. And where we signally come short of the best rules and examples, it is princi- pally from our neglect of those supplies of grace which are tendered in the promises. Sect. 26. (5.) There is a twofold gracious power ne- cessary to render the command for holiness and obedi- ence thereunto easy and pleasant. 1. That which is habitually resident in the hearts and souls of believers, whereby they are constantly inclined and disposed unto all the fruits of holiness. This the scripturecalls our life, a new principle of life, without which we are dead in trespasses and sins; where this is not, whatever arguments youconstrain andpress men withal to be holy, you do, as it were, but offer violence unto them, endeavouring to force them against the fixed bent and inclination of their minds. By them all you do but set up a dam against a stream of waters, which will not be permanent, nor tarn the course of the stream contrary to its natural inclination. Unto such the com- mand for holiness must needs be grievous and difficult. But such a disposition and inclination, or a principle so inclining and disposing of us unto duties of holiness, we have not in nor of ourselves by nature; nor is it to be raisedout of its ruins: for the carnal mind (which is in us all) is enmity against God, which carrieth in it an a- versstion unto every thing that is required of us in a way of obedience, as hath been proved at large: and yet, without this habitual principle, we can never, in a due manner, comply with any one command of God that we should be holy. Want hereof is that which renders obedience so grievous and burdensome unto many. They endure it for a season, and at length ei- ther violently or insensibly cast off its yoke. Light and conviction have compelled themto take it on themselves, and to attend unto the performanceof those duties which they dare not omit. But having no principle enabling or inclining them unto it, all they do, though they do much, and continue long therein, is against the grain with them, they find it difficult, uneasy, and wearisome. 'Wherein they can, by any pretences, countenance' themselves in a neglect of any part of it, cr bribe their consciences into a compliance with wha; is contrary
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