i 5oò Chri ji the ANthor, and Obedience the of his Intercefoít, is able to fave to the uttermofl all thofe that come to God by him, that is, who put up their Prayers to God in the alone Virtue of his Mediation. So that as there is noneed of any other, ifhis Intercejon be available to fave to the utter- moll: So there is great danger in applying to any other (whether Saint or Angel, or even the Blared Virgin) if the benefit of his lottercefon be limited to. thofe who come to God by him. And thus I have (hewnby what means Chrift is the Author of ow Salvation; which' was the firft thing I propoed to be confider'd, I proceed to the Second thing I propofed to enquire into namely, what Obedience theGofpel re- quires as a Condition, and is pleafed toaccept as a Qualification in thole who hope torEternalSalvation. And this t (hall explain, firft Negatively, and then Pofstively. r fl, Negatively; It is not a meer outward profefhonof theChri/tian Religion, and owningof Chrift for ourLord and Law-giver, that will be accepted in this cafe. Not every one that faithunto me, Lord, Lord (faith our Saviour ) (hall enter into the King- domof God. By which we may very reafonably underfloor!, all that profelìon of Religion, which falls (bort ofObedience and a Holy Life; as the profeffion of Faith in Chrift, being baptized into hisName andReligion, the mere belief of his Do&rine, and theowningof him for our Lord and Saviour ; no, nor the external Wor(hip of him, and profefiìon ofSubje&ion to him, by Prayer and hearinghis Word and com- municating in the Holy Sacrament. No, though this be let off in the molt glorious manner, by prophefying and working Miracles in hisName; for fo it follows in the next words, Many !hall fay to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have wenot prophefied in thy Name, and in thy Name have call out Devils, and in thy Name have done many wondrous works ? We have eat and drunk in thy prefence, and have heard theepreach in our Streets. But he tells us, that nothingof all this, without Obedience tohis Laws, will be fuflicient to gain us admiffion intoHeaven. 2dly, Pofitivelly That which God requires as a Condition, and will accept as a Qualification in thofe who hope for Eternal Life, is Faith inChrift, and a fincere and univerfal Obedience to the Preceptsof his Holy Gofpel. Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, !hall enter into the Kingdom of God : but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. And here in theText it is exprefly faid, That Chrifl is the Authour of Eternal Salvation to them that obey him, voes tbraxStmcsw dyzw ", to them that hearken to him; that is, to them that do fo hear and believe his Gofpel, as to obey it; to them, and no other, he is the Author of EternalSalvation. And that we may the more clearly and diftinftly underftand what Obedience it is, which the Gofpel exalts as ao indifpenfable Conditionof EternalSalvation, and a ne-- ceffary qualification in all thofe who hope to be made partakers of it; we may be pleafed to confider, that there is a virtual and an atlual Obedience to the Laws of God ; a perfect and a fincere Obedience to them the explication of thefe Terms, will give us a diftiné conception of the things we are fpeaking of. rft, There is a virtual, and there is an allual Obedience to the Laws ofGod. By An at1 al Obedience, I mean the.Pra&ice and Exercife of the feveral Graces and Virtues ofChriftianity, and the courfe and tenor of aHoly Life; when out of a good Conner- fation Men do thew forth their iforkr, and by the outward a&ions of their Lives do give real Teftimeanyoftheir Piety, Juftice, Sobriety, Humility, Meeknefs, and Cha- rity, and all other Chri[tian Graces and Virtues, as occafion is miniftred for the Pra- étice and Exercife of them. By a virtual Obedience, I mean a fincere belief of the Gofpel, of theHolinefs and Equity of its Precepts, of theTruth of its Promifes, and of theTerror of itsThreat- rriugs, and a true Repentance for all our Sins. This is obedience in theRoot and Principles for he who fincerely believes the Gofpel, and does truly repent of the Errorsand Mifcarriagesof hisLife, is firmly refolved to obeytheCommandments of God, and to walk before him, inHolinefs and Righteoufnefs all the days of hisLife; fo that there is nothing that prevents or hindersthis Man's allual Obedience to the Laws of God, in the courfe of aholy and goodLife, but only the want of timeand opportunity for it. And this was the cafe of thofe, who, upon-the hearing of the Golpe! when it was firft preached to them, ,did heartilyembrace it, and turn from their Sins, and the Worfhipof Idols, to the trueand living God, but perhaps were cut off Coon after; (as there were many who being but newly gained to Chriftianity, were prefently put to Death; and fuffee'd Martyrdom for thatProfeffion g ) There is no
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