364 Chrigianitÿ doth not degray, &c. Vol.t and in refpeft of the Encouragements which it gives, and the Examples which it fets before us, and the powerful afíiftance which it offers to us, to enable us to cleanfe our felves from all filthinefs of Flefh and Spirit, and to perfel1 holinefs in the fear of God; What a fbame is this to us, who are under the power of thisexcellent Inftitution, if the temperof our Minds, and the tenorof our Con- verfation be not in fome meafure anfwerable to the Gofpel of Chrift ! Thegreater helps and advantages we have of being good, the greater things may jufily be expeéted from us ; for to whomfoevermuch is given, of himmuchmall be required. Chriftianity is the fulfilling of the Righteoufnefs of the Law, by walking not after the Flefh, but after the Spirit, by mortifying the deeds of the Flefh, and by bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, which are Love, goy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentlenefs, Goodnefs, Fidelity, Meeknefs, and Temperance. The Righteoufnefs of Faith Both not confift in a barren and ineffefkual belief of the Gofpel, in a nicer embracing of the Promifes of it, and relying upon Chrift for Salvation, in a Faith without works, which is dead ; but in a Faith which worketh by Love, in becoming newCreatures, and in keeping the Commandments of God. The Righte- oufnefs of Faith fpeaketh on this wife. This is his Commandment, that we fhould be- lieve on. the Name of his Son jefus Chrifi, and love one another, as he gave us Com- mandment, r John 3. 1.3. and this Commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, loveth his Brother alfo, I John 4. 2I. That we approve the things that are excellent, being fined with the fruits of Righteoufnefs, which areby Jefus Chrift to. the glory and the praife of God, Phil. e. co, re. Whatfoever things are true, what- foever things are honefi, whatfoever things are jufi, whatfoever things are pure, what- foever things are lovely, whatfoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praife, mind there things, Chap. 4: 8. And then confidering what abundant provifion the Gofpel hath made for our attainment of Everlafting Salvation, we are altogether without excufe, if we perifh. Since God bath raifid up fo mighty a Salvation for us ; how Phanwe efcape d If we die in our Sins, it is not becaufe God would not forgive them, but becaufe we would not Repent and be Saved ; the fault is all our own, and we owe it wholly to our felves, if we be loft and undone for ever. If when Life and Death, Heaven and Hell, are fo plainly fit before us, Eternal Mifery and Perdition fall to our Lot and Portion, it is not becaufe we were not warned of our Danger, or becaufe Happinefs and the things of our Peace were hid from our eyes, but becaufe we have made Death and Deftruûion our obftinate and final Choice. But, Beloved, I hope better things ofyou, and things which accompany Salvation, tho' I thus Break. Only let your Converfation be as becometh the Gofpel of Chrifl; and if we be careful to perform the Conditions which the Gofpel requires on our part, we (hall not fail tobe made Partakers of that Eternal. Life, which God, that cannot lie, bath promifid to us, for his Mercy'sfake in NosChriji. ET,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=