Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BX9315 .O8 1721

each PERSON dytinffly. 339 3.) The benefit of all ; partly in keeping of judgments from the refiducof men, as ten good men would have preferved Sodam(a); partly by their real communicationof good to them, with whom they have to do in their ge- neration. Holinefs makes aman a good man, ufeful ro all, and others eat of the fruits of the Spirit, that he bringt forth continually. 4.) It is neceffary in refpe& of the Efate and condition of juflified per- fons ; and that whether you confider their relative ftate of acceptation, or their Sate of fan&ification. (t. They are accepted and received into friendlhip with an holy God ; A Godofpurer eyes than to behold iniquity; who hates every uncleanthing. And is it not neceflary, that they ihould be holy, who are admitted into his piefence, walk in his fight, yea ly in his bofom ? Should they not with all diligence cleanfe themfelves from all pollution of Sethand Spirit, and perfefl holinefs in the fear ofthe Lord (6) ? (a. In refpe& offan&ification; we have in us a new creature, a Cor. v. 17. this new creature is fed, cherilhed, nourifhed, kept alive by the fruits of holinefs, to what end bath God given us new hearts, and new natures? Is it that we fhould kill them, Sifle the creature that is found in us, in the womb? that we ihould give him to theold man to be devoured? 5.) It is neceifary in refpe& of the proper place of holinefs in the new covenant, and that is twofold. (r. Of the means unto the end; God hath appointed, thatholinefs, (hall be the means, the way, to thateternal life, which as in it felf and original- ly is his gift, by Jefus ChriS, fo with regard to his conflitution of, our o- bedience, as the means of attaining it, is a reward, and. God in bellowing of it a rewarder (c). Though it be neither the caufe, matter, nor conditi- on of our juftification, yet st is the way appointed of . God, for us to walk in, for obtaining of falvation ; and therefore he that bath hope of eternal life, purifies himfelf, as he is pure, and none shall ever come to that end, who walketh not in that way, For without holinefs it is impofble to fee God. (a. It is a tefimony' and pledge of acception ; a fign and evidence of grace, that is, of acceptation with God, and the whole exprefhon of our thankfulnefs. Now there is not one of all their caufes and reafons of the neceflity, the indifpenfable necefftty of our obedience, good works, and per- fonal righteoufnefs, but would require a more large difeourfe to unfold and explain, than I have allotted to the propofal of them all, and innumerable othersthere are of the fame import, that I cannot name. He that upon theft accounts doth not think univerfal holinefs and obedience to be of indifpen- fable neceflity, unlefs alfo it be exalted into the room ofthe obedience and righteoufnefs of ChriS, let him be filthy Sill. Thefe obje&ions being removed, and having at the entrance of this chap- ter, declared what is done on the part of ChriS, as to our fellowship with . him, in this purdsafed grace, as to our acceptation with God; it remains, (s.) That I now (hew, what alío is required and performed on our part, for the compleatingthereof, this then cones in the enfuing particulars. (t.] The Saints cordially approve of this righteoufnefs, as that alone which is abfolutely compleat, and able to make them acceptable before God. And this fuppofeth five things, (g) Gen.. xviii. 3 ;. as (b) 2-Cor. vii, t. (c) Rom, vi. 23. Heb. xi. 6. Gen, xv. xio. u. loin. lt. Mirth. v. 51. chap. x. 45. Nom, iv. g, Col. ii, 18. chap. iii. 14. H . o. 33 chap. xi, 26, z Pet. ii. 35, r.) Their

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