THE COMMAND OF GOD, 371 Minds of some, that they have no need of respect unto the command, nor to thepromises and threatenings of it, but to obey merely from the power and guidance of an inward principle. Nay, some have supposed, that a respect unto the command would vitiate our obedience, rendering it legal and servile. But I hope, that dark- ness which hindered men from discerning the harmony and compliance which is between the principle of grace in us, and the authority of the command upon us, is much taken away from all sincere professors. It is a respect unto the command which gives the formal na- ture of obedience unto what we do: and without a due regard unto it, there is nothing of holiness in us. Some would make the light of nature to be their rule; some, in what they do, look no further for their measure than what carries the reputation of common honesty among men. He that would be holy indeed, must always mind the command of God, with that reverence and those af- fections which become him to whom God speaks imme- diately. And, that it may be effectual towards us, we may consider: Sect. 3k. (i.) HowGod bath multiplied his com- mands unto this purpose, to testify not only his own in- finite careof us, and love unto us, but also our eternal concernment in what he requires, He doth not give out unto us asingle command that we should be holy, (which yet were sufficient to oblige us for ever,) but he gives his commands unto that purpose, Line upon line, line up- on line, precept uponprecept, precept uponprecept. He that shall but look over the Bible, and see almost every page of it filled with commands, or directions, or in- structions for holiness, cannot but conclude, that the mind and will of God is very much in this matter, and that our concernment therein is inexpressible. Nor doth God content himself to multiply commands in general, that we should be holy, soas that ifwe have regard unto him, they may never be out of our remembrance, but there is not any particular dutyor instance of holiness, but he bath given us especial commands for that also. No man can instance in the least duty that belongs di rectly unto it, but it falls under some especial command of God. We are not only then under the command of God in general, and that often reiterated unto us, in an awful reverehce whereof we ought to walk, but, upon all occasions, whatever we have to do or avoid in follow- ing after holiness, is representedunto us in especial coin- 5 A mends to that purpose. And they are all of them a fruit of the love and care of God towards us, Is it not then our duty always to consider these commands, to bind them unto our hearts¡.and our hearts to them, that no- thing may separate them? Oh! that they may always dwell in our minds, to influence them unto an inward constant watch against the first disorders of our souls, that are unsuited to the inward holiness God requires, abide with us in our closets, and all our occasions for our good. Sect. 33.--(2.) We may do well to consider what various inforcements God is pleased to give unto those multiplied commands. He doth not remit us merely to their authority, but he applieth all other ways and means whereby they may be made effectual. Hence are they accompaniedwith exhortations, entreaties, reason- ings, expostulations, promises, threatenings, all madeuse of to fasten the command upon our minds and consciem ces. God knows how slow and backward we are to re- ceive due impressions from his authority; andhe knows by what ways and means the principles of our internal fa- culties are apt to bewrought upon, and therefore applies these engines to fix the power of the command upon us. Were these things to be treated of severally, it is mani- fest how great apart of thescripture were to be transcrib- ed. I shall therefore only take a little noticeof the re- inforcement of the command for holiness, by thoseespe- cial promises which are given unto it. 1 do not intend, now, the promises of the gospel in general, wherein, in its own way and place;. we are interested by holiness, but of such peculiar promises as God inforceth the com- mand by. It is not for nothing that it is said, that godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and " of that which is to come," ..1 Tim. iv. 8. There is in all the promises an especial respect unto it, and it gives them, in whom it is, an especial interest in all the pro- mises, Sect. 36. This is, as it were, the text which our Saviour preached his first sermon upon: for all the bles- sings which he pronounceth consist in giving particular instances of some partsof holiness, annexing an especial promise untoeach of them: Blessed, saith he, are the pure in heart; heart purity is the spring and life of all holiness; and why are such persons blessed? why, saith he, they shall see God; he appropriates the promise of the eternal enjoyment of God unto this qualification of 33
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