GenerallOblervations- ofGofpell-:T`Puthes. For the making our way cleare to the demonf-ration of that influence, 227 which the Do&rine of the Perfeveraeceofthe ,Saints bath into their Obed ence, andclofe -walking with God, and fo to manifef-, what weight is to be lay'd upon it, on. that Confideration;I than give forteprLvieusobjérvations, which may direct, and give us light in our paffage, both concerning Gofpell Truths, Gojell Obedience, and Gofpell Motives thereunto; I hope it will not be thought atniffe, ifI loóke a little backwards to fortify and cleare this part ofour progrefle; there being no concernement ofour Do&rine, that is more clamoured by the Adverfaries ofit; nor can any refpeftof it, or anyTruth of God, more caufelefsly meet with fuck entertainement; as I hope will abun- dantly (inthe progreffe ofour bufineffe) be evinced; to the confciences of all, who know indeed, what it is to walke beforeGod, in a courfe of Gof- pell Obedience, and who have their communion with the Father, and his SonneJefus Chrif-. For the firft . t. Every Truthrevealed fromGod is to be received not only with Faith, and Love, but with equal! Reverence toany that is revealed, thoughw8 are not able todifcerne fuch an immediate tendency unto ufefullneftè in our Communion with him,as in forte others wenay;The formall Reafon,where- untoour Faith, Love, and Reverenceunto the Wordof God isreftblved, is, that it is His: Now this iscommon to the whole, for lie is the Author ofeve ry part, and portion a like; And though perhaps we may want forte part of it, ata leffe fatal! price then forte other, yet to reject any one title orjot of it, as that which is revealedofGod, is a fufficient demonftration, that no one jot or title ofit,is received, as it ougght;upon whatever thisTitle & Infcription is Verbum Phew, there mutt we ffoope and bow downe our foulesbefore it and captivate ourVnderfandings to theobedience ofFaith; Whatfoever then may hereafter be fpoken,concerning theufefulneffe oftheTruth underConfi- deration, andthat comparative regard, which, in refpeEt ofothers, ought on that account to be had thereunto, doth not in the leaf- exalt it ( as it is.init felfe, in refpe t ofFaith and Reverence due thereunto )aboveany other Truth whatfoever,that is in Scripture revealed. 2' That next to the.RevelationofGod, his Will, and his Grace, the grand immediate tendency ofthe whole Scripture-is, to worke them, towhom the Revelation ismade, into a conformity to hiimfelfe, and to mould them into his owne Image: All Scripture, (the Apoftletells us. 2 71112.3.16.) is given by ivfpiration ofGod, and is profitable forDot` rive, for reproofe, for correction, for infiruCtion in righteoufne/fe, that the man ofGod `G may be perfell, thronghly fug'- nifhedunto all Good worlkes; Hereunto allScripture tends, and is offull & pro- fitable for this end; And the Gofpell is called the Truth, that is, according, to Godlineffé. Titus ist. Artheend'ofthe faro is Charity out ofa pure heart, and a Faithunfained,s 5.That which in refpec`t of the prime Author ofit, is x6y0- oeg the WordofGod, 1 Thef2 13. and in refpe t ofthe principal! matter ofit, is 6 Aye- á wvt' the Word of the CrWITC I Cor. t. 18. in refpe& of its end and tendency towards us,is x6 & iv-a:ßc+us the word, or Truth, that isaccording toGodlineffe. The Word is that revealed Will ofGod, which. is Our San- htification. I Theft4.3. and the Inf-rument whereby he workes our Holinefl'e, according tothat prayer ofour Saviour. San&ifie them by thy Word, thy Word is Truth.7ohn 17.19. And that, which when we arecat- into the mould of, ourObedience is in forte meafitrewrought. Roeis6.17 the fubf-ance alto or matterbeingwritten in our hearts, is the Grace, and Holineffe promifed untous in the Covenant. ere.3s.33. And that this is the Improvement,which ought to bemade byBelievers, ofeveryGofpell Truth; or rather that it bath anEfficacy to thispurpofe, the Apof-le tells us 2 Cor.3. 18, Weall with open face beholding as in aglop the Glory o f theLord, are changed into thefame I- G g 2 mage
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