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CAP: X.
g,4,g
Ofthe Nature ofGofpell
Obedience
-
230 filled on,
for the promotion
of
this
Gorpell Obedience,
being
accufed and char-
ged
with the cleare
contrary tendency;
whereof,
(God
affrfling) we
(hall free
and difcharge it
in
the
progreffè
of
this Difcoufe.
S5:4.
I.
Firft
in
the
Nature
of
it
I
ihall confider only there
two things.
I.
The
Matter or
subf
ante
of
it
what it
is as
it
were compofed
of
and
wherein it
doth
confift.
2.
The
Forme
or
Manner
of
its
perfortnance;
whence
it
receives
itsdi-
flin&
being,as
fuch.
I.
The
Matter or
Subfiance
of
it containes thole things,or duties
to
God,
wherein
if
doth
confift.Now
it
confifling,asI laid before,in
Conformity
&snb-
otiffion
to
the Willthat
is,the
Commanding
revealed Will
of
God,the
matter
of
it
muff
lye
in the
performance
of
all
there
things,&
only
thof
e
things,which
God
requireth
of
Believers,
in
walking
before
him: I
fay,all
thofè
thingr,that
God com-
mandeth,
with
an
equal'refpe&
to
.all
his
Precepts
;
The
Authority
of'
God
theCommander and
Law
Giver,is
the
fame in every
command;
And
therefore
was
the Curie denounced unto
every one,
that
continued
not
in
all
thingswrit-
ten
in
the Law
to do
them;
and
the
Apoftle
tels
us,
that
in
the tranfgref
ion
of
any,
one
precept, there is
included the tranfgreffìon
of
the
whole
Law,
becaufe the
Authority
ofthe
Law giver,
both
in
the one,
and
the other,is
defpifed. fames
2.
10,1
1.
Whofoever(ball
&eepe
the
whole.
Law,
andyet
off
end
in
any one
peint,
he
is
guilty
of
all;
For
he
that,
faid
Do
not commit Adultery,
fail
alp) Do
not bill.
And
2.
I
fay,
it
is
only
to the
Cotrimand; for
in vaine
do men worfbip
him, tea
-
ching
for
Dolfrines the Traditions
of
men.
The
moil
fiupendious indeavours
of
men, the
melt
laborious
drudgery
of
their
foules
in
Duties
not commanded,
are
fo fa
r.from
Obedience,
that
they are
as
high
Rebellions
againft
God,as
they
can
poffibly
ingage themfelves into.
I might
farther
diflinguith
the
matter,
cr
fubìànce ofthis
Obedience,into
the
internal'
cliche
Au
of
oarfoules,
in
Faith, Love, and
the
like
Ails
of
morali,
and
everlafting Obedience,which are naturally,neceflàrily,and indifpenfably
required:
in
us,
upon the account
of
the
firfl Commandement,
and
the naturali
fubjeclion,wherein
we
ftand
untoGod,
as his
Creatures; improved and inlar-
ged by
the
new
Obligation put upon
us,
in
being
his
Redeemed
ones:
(where-
in indeed the
maine
of
our-Obedience
cloth
confifl) And
the
outward infIituted
Ditties
of
Religion,
which
God hath appointed for
those
former
Ails
of
Obedi-
ence
to
beexercifed in, and exerted
by But
the former defcription
of
it, with
the
Intimation
of
its
univerfality, may
fuflice.
4.5'
a. Secondly
the
Formality
(if
I
may
fo
fpeake)
of
this
Obedience,
or that
which makes
the performance
of
Duties commanded,
to
be
obedience,confift.r
in there
three
things.
a.
The
Principle
that
begins
it,and
Jets
it
on
worke immediately
in
us
:and
that
is
Faith;
without Faith
it
is
impoffible
topleafe
God.
Heb:
rr.
6..Could,
a
man doe
all
that
is
commanded, yet
if
he did it not
in
Faith
,
it would be
of
no
value5
hence
it
is
called
the.0livdience
of
F
aith. Rom.i.
5.
not
for
Obedience
to the
Faith,
but the
Obedience
of Faith, which
Faith bringeth
forth;
There-
fore are
Believers
called
Obedient Children.
I Pet.
I.
i4.&
we are
faid
to
purifie
ourfoules
in
Obedience to
the Truth
n.22.
Chri
fl
dwells
in
our
hearts
by
Faith,
and
without him
We
can do nothing
john
15..5.
All
that
we
do
is
no
better,
Peeing
we
can no way draw neare
unto God
with
a true
heart,
bist
in
full
Afiurance
of
Faith.
Heb. 10.
22.
2.
The
Manner
of
doing
it,
which
confifis in
a
due
Spirituals
regard
to
the
Will
ofGod,
in
thole
wayes,
whereby
he
calls men
out to
this
Obedience;
namely,in
his Trecepts,and Pronaifes;
There
is
no
Obedience
unto God,but that
which