338 Of Co;rtilvN4oN with i. r6. And Be ye perfea, that is, in doing good, as your heavenlyfather is perfe8, Matth. v. 48. in a likenefs and conformity to him, and herein is the image ofGod renewed, Ephef. iv. 73, 24. Therein we put on the new man, which after God s createdin righteoufnefs, and holinefs oftruth. This was that which originally was attended with power and dominion; is dill all that is beautiful or comely in the world; how it makes men honourable and precious in the fightof God, of angels, of men, how alone it is that which is not defpifed, which is of price before the Lord ; what contempt and fcorn he hath of them in whom it is not, in what abomination he hath them and all their ways, might eafily be evinced. a.) Peace; by it we have communion with God, wherein peace alone is 'to be enjoyed. Thecricked are likea troubledfea, that cannot reft, and there is no peace to themfaith my God, Ifa. xlviii. as. There is no peace, reit, or quietnefs, in a diftance, feparation, or alienationfrom God. He is the reff of our fouls, in the light of his countenance is life and peace. Now ifwe walk in the light, as he is light, we have fellowfhip one,with another, r 7oh. i. 7. And verily our fellowfhip is with the father, and with the fonYe- fees Chrifi, v. 3. he that walks in the light ofnew obedience, he hath com- munion with God, and in his prefence is fulnefs of joy for ever, without it there is nothing but darknefs, wandring, and confufion. 3.) lTfefulnefs; a manwithout holinefs is good for nothing, Ephraim, lays the prophet, is an empty vine, that brings forth fruit to it felf. And what is fuch a vine good for? Nothing, faith another prophet, a man can- not make a pin of it, fo much as to hang a veffel on, a barren tree is good for nothing, but to be cat down forthe fire. Notwithftanding the teeming ufefulnefs of men, who ferve the providence of God in their generations, I could eafily manifeft that the world and the churh might want them, and that indeed in themfelves theyare good-for nothing, only the holy man is commune bonum. [3.] Theend òf it in refpei of others, iu the world is manifold. t.) It fewer to the conviSion, and flopping the mouths of force of the enemies of God, both here and hereafter. Fir/t, Here, Per. iii. td. Keep- ing agood confczence, that wherein they freak again/I you as evil doers, they maybe afhamed, beholdingyour good converfation in Chei/l. Byour keeping of a good confcience men will be made al-flamed of their falfe accufations. That whereas their malice and hatred of the ways of God, hath provoked them to fpeak all manner of evil ofthe profeffion of them ; by the holinefs and righteoufnefs of the Saints, they are convinced, and made afhamed as a thief is when he is taken; and he driven to acknowledge that God is amongff them, and that they are wicked themfelves, Yoh. xvii. 23. Second- ly, Hereafter; it is laid that the Saints fhali judge the world, it is on this as well as upon other confiderations. Their good works, their righteoufnefs, their hòlinets íhall be brought forth, and manifefted to all the world, and the righteoufnefs of God's judgments againft wicked men, be thence evinc- ed; See, fays Chrift, there are they that I own, whom you fo defpifedand abhorred; and fee, their WAS following them, this and that they have done, when you wallowed in your abominations, Matth. xxv. +0, 43. 2.) The converfion of others, t Pet. ii. Y2. Havingyour converfation ho- neff among the gentiles; that wherein theyfpaie againflyeti as evil doers, be- holdingyourgood works, they may glorifyGod in the day ofvRation, Matth. v. 07. Even revilers, perfecutors, evil fpcakers, have been overcome by the conftant holy walking of Profeffors, and when their day of vititation bath come, have glorified God on that account, t Pet. iii. r, s. 3.) The
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