OCR CONDITION IN purchase, nor of the invaluableprice he bath paid for us; yea, says, The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, I have a goodly heritage; which are the words of Christ concerning the church, which is his lot, and the portion of his inheritance, Psal. xvi. 6. Now, amongst many others, we shall consider but one way whereby we glorify the Lord Christ by our holy obe- dience, and whence also it will appear how much wedis- honour and reproach himwhen we come short thereof. Sect. 16. The Lord Christ coming into the world, as the Mediator between God and man, wrought and accomplished a mighty work amongst us. And what hedid may be referred to three heads: (1.) The life which he led. (2.) The doctrine which he taught. And, (3.) The death which he underwent. Concern- ing all these, there ever was a great contest in the world, and it is yet continued. And, on the part of the world, it is managed under a double appearance; for some o- penly have traduced his life as unholy, his doctrine as foolish, and his death as justly deserved; which was the sense of the Pagan world, and the apostate judaical church of old, as it is of many at this day. Others al- low them to pass with some approbation, pretending to own what is taught in the gospel concerning them, but in fact and practice deny any such power and efficacy in them as is pretended, and without which they are of no virtue, which Is the way of carnal gospellers, and all idolatrous superstitious worshippers among Christians. And, of late, there is risen up amongst us a generation, who esteem all that is spoken concerning hint to be a mere fable. In opposition hereunto, the Lord Christ calls all his true disciples, to bear witness and testimony unto the holiness of his life, the wisdom and purity of his doctrine, the efficacy of his death to expiate sin, to make atonement and peace with God, with the power of his whole mediation to renew the image of God in us, to restore us into his favour, and to bring us unto the enjoyment of him. This he calls all his disciples to avow unto and express in the world, and by their so doing is he glorified (and no otherwise) in a peculiar manner. A testimony is to be given unto and against the world, that his life was most holy, his doctrine most heavenly and pure, his death most precious and efficacious, and, consequently, that be was sent of God unto his great work, and was accepted of him therein. Now, all this is no otherwise done but by o- THIS WORLD. 385 bedience unto him in holiness, as it is visible and fruit- ful: For, Sect. 17.-0.) We are obliged to profess, that the life of Christ is our example. 'Phis, in the first place, are we called unto, and every Christian doth virtually make that profession. No man takes that holy name upon him, but the first thing he signifies thereby, is, that he makes the life of Christ his pattern, which it is his duty to,express in his own. And he who takes up Christianity on anyother terms, doth wofully deceive his own soul. How is it then that we may yield a re- venue of glory herein? How may we bear testimony unto theholiness of his life, against the blasphemies of the world, and the unbeliefof the most, who have no regard thereuntol Can this be any otherwise done but by holiness of heart and life, by conformity to God in our souls, and living unto God in fruitful obedience? Can men devise a more effectual expedient to cast re- proach upon him, than to live in sin, to follow divers lusts and pleasures, to prefer the world and present things before eternity; and, in the meantime, to profess, that the life of Christ is their example, as all unholy professors and Christians do? is not this to bear witness with the world against him, that indeed his life was un- holy? Surely it is high time for such persons to leave the name of Christians, or the life of sin. It is there- fore alone in conformity to him in the holiness we are pressing after, that we can give him any glory on the ac- count of his life being our example. Sect. 18. (2.) We can give. him no glory, unless we bear testimony unto his doctrine, that it is holy, hea- venly, filled with divine wisdom and grace, as we make it our rule. And there is no other way whereby this may be done, but by holy obedience, expressing the na- ture, end, and usefulness of it, Titus ü. 1l, 12. And indeed, the holy obedience of believers, as bath been declared at large before, is a thing quite of another kind than any thing in the world, which, by the rules, prin- ciples, and light of nature, we are directed unto, or in- structed in. It is spiritual, heavenly, mysterious, filled with principles and actings of the same kind with those whereby our communion with God in glory unto eter- nity shall be maintained. Now, although the life of e- vangelical holiness be, in its principle, form, and chief actings, secret and hidden, hidwith Christ in God front the eyes of the world, no that the men thereof neither
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