Berm. LVI. in order tofuflification and Salvation. 39 from all thofe Texts, where this Change is expreft by our Repentance and Conver- fon, by our Regeneration and Renovation, by our Purification and Santlification, or by any other terms of the like importance. For under every one of there Notions, this Change is made the Condition of the forgivenefs of our Sins, and acceptance to the favour ofGod. Under theNotion of Repentance and Converfion, Alts 2. 38. Repent and be Bapti<,ed every one of you in the name of Jefus Chriil, for the remifion of fens, Aéts 3. 19. Repent, and be Converted, that yourfins may be blotted out. Upon the fame account, thepenitent acknowledgment of our Sins, which is an effential part of Repentance, is made a Condition of the forgivenefs of them, a john a. 9. If we confefe ourfins, he isfaithful and jail to forgive us our fns, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnefs. Under the notionof Regeneration and Renovation, 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any Man be in Chris'', that is, become a true Chriftian, which is all one with being in a juftified fiate ; he is a new Creature ; old things are pail away, be- hold all things are become new, Tit. 3.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. where the ApoRle declares at large, what Change is requir'd to put us into a juftified (late, and to entitle us to the inheritance of Eternal Life. For we our felves were afo fometimes foolifh, difobedient, deceived, ferving divers lufie and pleafures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindnfs and love ofGod our Sa- viour towards Man appeared, not by works of Righteoufnefs which we have done ; that is, not for any precedent Righteoufnefs of ours, for we were great Sinners, but according to his mercy hefaved us, by the wafbing of Regeneration, and the re- newing of the Holy Gho.fl, which he fhed on us abundantly through yefua Chrill our Sa- viour, that beingjuflified by his Grace, we fbould be made heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life. So that the Change of our former Temper, and Converfion, and Regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghotl, is antecedently neceffary to our Jutlification, that is, to the pardon of our Sins, and our reftitutínn to the favour of God, and the hope of Eternal Life. So likewife under the noti- on of Purification and Santlification, e Cor. 6. 9, TO, 1 I. where the ApoRle enu- merates feveral Sins and Vices ; which will certainly exclude Men from the Fa- vour and Kingdom of God, from which we mutt be cleanfed, before we can be juftified orfaved. Knowye not that the unrighteous (hall not inherit the Kingdom ofGod ? Be not deceived ; neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners fhall inherit the Kingdom ofGod. Andfuch wereforce ofyou : butye are wafhed, but ye are fan- (lifted, but ye arejuflfed, in the name of the Lord 7efus, and by the Spirit of our God, 2 Cor. 6. 57, 18. where the Aponte likewife makes our purification a Con- dition of our being received into the favour of God, and reckon'd into the number of his Children. Touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye ¡hall be my Sons and Daughters, faith the Lord Al- mighty. And that by not touching the unclean thing, is here certainly meant our SanEtification and Purification from Sin, is evident from what immediately fol- lows in the beginningof the next Chapter ; Having therefore thefe promifes, Dear- ly Beloved! let to cleanfe our felves from all filthinefs of the fte/h andfpirit, perfe- Fling holinefs in the fear ofGod ; that is, having this Encouragement, that up- on this Condition we fhall be received to the favour of God, let us purify our felves, that we may becapable of this great Bleffing. And our continuance in this ftateof grace and favour with God, depends up- on our perfeverance in Holinefs ; for if any man draw back, my Soul ¡hall have no pleafure in him. And Laftly, thisis alto the Condition of our final Juttification, and Abfoluti- on by the Sentence of the great Day, Mat. g. 8. Blfed are the pure in heart; for they (hallfee God, John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot fee the Kingdom ofGod, Heb. 12. 14. Follow holinefs, without which, no man (hall fee the Lord, e John 3. 3. The ApoRle there fpeaking of thebleffed fight and enjoy- ment of God, tells us what we mutt do, if ever we hope to be partakers of it ; Every man that bath this hope in him, purifteth himfelf, even as hek pure. And
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