336 NECESSITY OP It see, nor know, nor discern the spiritual life of a believer in its being, form, and power; yet thereare always such evident appearing fruits of it, as are sufficient for their conviction, that the rule of it, which is the doctrine of Christ alone, is holy, wise, and heavenly. And mul- titudes in all ages have been won over unto the obe- dience of the gospel, and faith in Christ Jesus, by the holy, fruitful, useful, conversation of such as have expressed the power and purity of his doctrine in this kind. Sect. 19. (3.) The power and efficacy of the death of Christ, as for other ends, so " to purify us from all iniquity, and to purge our consciences from dead " works, that we may serve the living God," is herein also required. The world, indeed, sometimes riseth unto that height of pride and contemptuous atheism, as to despise all appearance and profession of purity. But the truth is, if we are not cleansed from our sins in the blood of Christ, if we are not therebypurifiedfrom ini- quity, we are an abomination unto God, and shall be objects of his wrath for ever. However, the Lord -Christ requireth no moreof his disciples in this matter unto his glory, but that they profess that his blood clean- seth themfrom their sins, and evidence the truth of it by such ways and means as the gospel bath appointed unto that end. If their testimony herein unto the efficacyof his death be not received, be despisedby the world, and so at present no apparent glory redoundunto him there- by, he is satisfied with it, as knowing that the day is coming wherein he will call over these things again, when the rejecting of this testimony shall be an aggra- vation of condemnation unto the unbelieving world. Sect 20.-1 suppose the evidence of this lastargument is plain, and exposed unto all; it isbriefly this: Without the holiness prescribed in the gospel, we give nothing of that glory unto Jesus Christ which he indispensibly re- quireth. And if men will be so sottishly foolish as to expect the greatest benefits and advantages by the me- diation of Christ, namely, pardon of sin, salvation, life, and immortality, whilst they neglect and refuse to give him any revenue of glory for all he hath done for them, we may bewail their folly, but cannot prevent their ruin. He saves us freely by bis grace, but he requires that we should express a sense of it, in ascribing unto him the OLINESS raw glory that is his due. And let no mats think this is done in worthy expressions; it is no otherwise effected, but by the power of an holy conversation, showing " forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light." Nay, there is more in it also; if any one profess himself to be a Christian, that is, a disciple of Jesus Christ, to follow the example of his life, to obey his doctrine, to express the efficacy of his death, and continue in an unholy life; he is a false.trai- tor to him, and gives in his testimony on the side of the world, against him, and all that he bath done for us. And it is, indeed, the flagitious lives of professed Chris- tians that have brought the life, doctrine, and person of our Lord Jesus Christ into contempt in the world, And I advise all that read or hear of these things, dili- gently and carefully to study the gospel, that they may receive thence an evidence of the power, truth, glory, and beauty of Christ and his ways; for he that should consider the conversation of men for his guide, will be hardly able to determine which he should choose, whether to be a Pagan, a Mahometan, or a Christian. And shall such persons, by reason of whom the name of Christ is dishonoured and blasphemed continually, expect advantage by him, or mercy from him? Will men yet think to live insensuality, pride, ambition, co- vetousness, malice, revenge, hatred of all good men, and contempt of purity, and to enjoy life, immortality, and glory by Christ? Who can sufficiently bewail the dreadful effects of such an horrid infatuation! God teach us all duly to consider, that all theglory andhonour of Jesus Christ in the world, with respect untous, depends on our holiness, and not on any other thing either that we are, have, or may do! If therefore we have any love unto him, any spark of gratitude for his unspeaka- ble love, grace, condescension, sufferings, with theeter- nal fruits of them, any care about, or desire of his glory and honour in the world, if we would not be found the most hateful traitors at the last day unto Isis crown, ho- nour, and dignity, if we have any expectation of grace from him, or advantage by him, hereor hereafter, let us labour tobeholy inall manner ofconversation, that we may thereby adorn his doctrine, expresshis virtues and pral ses, and grow up into conformity and likeness unto him, who is the first-born and imageof the invisible God., MON 0.40 Osa PGTV íc{K
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