284 / 504
C.X.4,3,
Generali
Obfetvations
228
mage,
from
Glory
to
Glory, even as
by
the
Spirit. ofthe Lord
5
By
apprehenfions
of
theglnrious
Truths
difcovered
it
the
glee
or
mirror
of
the
Gofpell we
arc
changed
and moulded
into
the frame and
Image
therein difcovered;
by the
power
of
the
spirit,
effetua11y
accompanying the
Word
in
the difpenfation
thereof;
And unlefle this
be
done, whatfoever
we may
pretend
,
we have not
received
anyTruth
of
the
Gofpell,
as
iris
in
7efus,in
the
power
of
it.Eph.4.
20
21,22,23,
24.
Te
have not
(faith the
Apoftle
)
fo:
learned
Ch.
ri.fl:
If
fo
be
that
ye
have heard him,
and
have
been
taught
by
him,
as
the
7rnth
is
in
7efus; 'That
ye
put
of,
as
concerning the
former
converfation, the
old
man,
which
n
corrupt ac-
cording
to
the
deceit
full
lu.
fls
:And
be
renewed
ns
the
fpirit
ofyourmind: and that
ye put,on the
new
man,
which
after
God is
created
in Righteoufnee
and
true
Ho-
linefè.
Whatfoever
men may profefle,
if
we
have learned
the
Truth
es
it
is
in
Jefus,
it
will have thefe
Effe
&s
in us,
even univerfall
relinquifhment, (as
to
finceritie)
of
all
ungodlineffe,
anda
through
change,
(both
as
to
principles,
and pra
&ices)
unto
Holineffe,
and to Righteoufneßè,
which
the
Gofpell
tea-
ches us,
which,if
we
have
not learned,
we have
not yet learn't
it,as
it
is
in
je-
fus:
Tit.
2.
I1,
12.
The Grace
of God,
that bringeth Salvation,
bath
appeared
to
all
men, teaching us,
that
denying ungodlineffe
and
worldly
lots,
we
fbould live
Soberly, Righteoufly,
andGodlily in
this
prefent
evill
world-
3.
Some
Truths
have
a
more immediate, dire
&,
and effectual
tendency
to
the promotion ofGodlineflè,and
Got-peg
Obedience
then others; This the
A=
poftle emphatically afcribes,
as
a
priviledge,
to that
D.
&rine, that
reveales
the
Love
of
Chrift unto
us.
2 Cor.
5.14.
the
Love
of
Chrift
conf
rains
us;
other
things
effectually
perfavade,
but the
Love
of
Chrift
conflraines us
to
live
to
him; it hath
an importunitywith
it, not
to
be
denied; an
efficacy
not to be put
off;
or
avoided; and what
is
in
the
things themfelves,
as
in
the
love
of
Chri(l,
that
is
in
its
manner,in
the
Word
of
Truth, whereby
it
is
revealed.
q..
That
there
is,
by
all
that
walke with
God,
great
weight
to
be laid on
thofe
Doctrines
of
Truth,
which
directly
and
effe&wally
tend'
to
the
promoti-
on
of
Faith,
Love, Feare, Reverence
ofGod, with
univerfall holinefe
in
their
hearts and waies: this being
that,
whereunto they are
called
, and whereby
God
is
glorified, Jefus.Chrift and
the
Gofpell
exalted,
whereih
his
Kingdome
in
them
confifts, on which
their
owne peace
in
their
owne bofomes; their
ufe-
fulneffe
unto
others
in
this
Word,
their being
made meet
for
the Inheritance
of
the
saints
of
Light,
doth
much
depend:
If
thefe things be
of
weight or mo-
ment unto them,
(as furely they
are
all,
that
is,
fo
to Believers) then
doubt.
Ieffe,
great valuation,
and deare efteeme will'
be entertained
of
thole
helps
and
Affrftances,
wich they have
,
leading and carrying them on
there-.
unto.
5.
That
a
judgement
of
what
Truths
and
Doctrines are peculiarly con-
ducing
unto the
promotion
of
Piety
and
Godlineffe,
is
not
to
be made.
Upon
the
Apprehenfions and reafonings
of
men, wrefted with
a
thoufand Corrup-
tions and prejudices,
full
ofdarkneffe and vanity,
but
according
to
what the
Scripture
it
felfe
holds
forth,
and
the nature
of
the
things themfelves,
(that
is,
the
Evidence andConfeáuence
that
is
between the
Truth
revealed,
and obedi-
ence)
doth require;
If
the
Teftimonies
ofthe
Sonnes
of
men mutt
be admitted
in this
cafe,
to determine
what
Doctrine
is
according
to
Godline,the
cry and
noyfe
of
them,
will be
found
fo
various, difcrepant
,
confided, and
direly
contradictory
to it
felfe,
that
none
will
ever
thereby
be
lead to etablifhment5
Then
Papifls
will
cry
out
for
their
Merits,
Penance,
Voaves,
Purgatory;
the
soci-
nians,
Familifls,
Formalifl.r, all
contend upon the foundation
of
their
own
perfwafions,
as
to
their tendency to
Godlineflè,
of
their
Abominations.
That
Do&rine,which hath no other proofe
of
its
Truth
and
worth,
but
that
men,
force