Doch. ofPerfof Sts its ufefulnesto promoteGof pe11Obedien'e. C.X.4:zo. the spirit, is no (mall par t, yea it is the greateft part ofthe workeofthe Mi- 243 nifiry, the greateft portion ofwhat is Doétrinall in the Word or Bookeof God, relating to thefe heads; And of this part of that Ordinance ofChrif1, the MinifiryoftheWord,the preffingofmen into a ftateofObedience,and toa poereffe in that eftate,by Prom;fer,Exhortations, & Threatnings,I (hall briéfely ,fpeake,either by wayofDemonfiration and proofe ofwhat lieth before me, or vindication ofwhat isaffirmed in the famekind , from the Objections and Exc eptions ofHim inparticular,with whom I have to doe i aiming Will at my former Affertion, that the Doctrine I have infìfted on , naturally and clearly clofeth with thofe Promifes and Exhortations , to help on their efficacy and energy for the accompli(hment ofthe work intended. For the flrft, let us take a tart ofthe Promifes, which are,as it were, the very ç:ao. life & beauty ofthe Covenant ofGrace, and the Gloryofthe Miniftrycom- mitted unto men: and they areoftwoforts, both ofwhichhave their effectu- all influenceinto the obedience ofSaints. I. Therearepromifes, which expreffe only the worke ofGods grace, and what he will freely doe,in,& upon the hearts ofhis thereby,as to the working Holineffe, and Obedience in them, asalto of his pardoningmercy in hisfree acceptanceofthem in Jefus Chrift: And thefeare in a peculiar manner, thofe better Prornifes ofthe Covenant of Grace, upon the account whereof, it is fo exceedingly exalted above that ofWorkes , which by finne was broken and difanulled. Heb:8.6,7,8,9,1o. 2. There are Promifesofwhat Good and greatthings, God will farther doe unto, and forthem whoobey him. Asthat he will keepe them, and pre- ferve them,that they (ball not be loft, that their labour and Obedience (hall Heb.9. to. end in the enjoymentofGod himfelfe, with an immortali Crowne ofGlory which (hall neverfade away. Now the Doctrine of theSaints Perfeverance, and the ftabilityofthe Love ofGod untothem, clofeth with the Promifes of both thefe forts,as to theend ofcarrying on, & increafng Obedience &Ho- lineffe in them; Take an inftance in the firfi. The Promifes ofthe worke of GodsGrace in us and towards us are effectual], as appointed to thisend; fo in that Great word Gen:17. r. which the Apoftlecalls the Promefe. Gal. 4. Iam God Almighty, I am foand will be fo tothee, and that for, and to all ends and purpofesofthe Covenant whatfoever. The inference is, walke before me and be thou perfect; Walkingwith God in uprightneffe and fincerity , is the proper fruit inus, of thePromifeofGod to us, tobe our allfifcient God in _Covenant. As Ier.3I. 33. our becoming the PeopleofGod , in walking with him in all waies ofObedience, is the effect of his Promife to beour God, and to write hisLaw inour hearts; not onlybecaufe by the Graceofthe : Promife, we arebrought intoa ftate ofAcceptance, and made the PeopleofGod , but alfoupon the account ofthe ingagement,that is put uponus, by that gracious Promife,to liveuntohim; Whence in the clofeit is affirmed, wefhall be his Pea. pie. Theword ofthe Gofpell,or the wordofFaith, lothmainly conlifi in this: And what the aimeofthat is,theApoftle declares. Titus 2.11,12. The Grace of God,which appeareth untous,teacheth us to denyall ungodlineffe andworldly lulls, and to live foberly, righteoufly, andGodly in this prefentworld. Which generali purport of the Promifes in this way, is farther afferted 2 Cor. 7. i. Having then, faith he, thefe Promifes, Let us cleanfe ourfelves from all filthineffeo f flefh andfpirit, perfectingHoline/fe in the ferreof theLord. And mofi eminently, is this Aligned to thePromifes ofthat fort, which we nowpeculiarly inlift up-. on, 2 Pet: I.3.4. To know the way, whereby thefe, or any other Promifes are effectuall to the end and purpofe intimated, two things are conliderable. Firfl, what isrequired to make them fo effectual], secondly, wherein , and I i 2 how
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=