erm.LXVIII. Condition ofSalvation. dot. no doubt to be made, but that in this cafe, a viirtua1Obedience was in fuchPerfons a fuflicient qualification for Eternal Life. t But where there is time andopportunity for the Exercifeof our Obedience, and the practice of the virtuesof a holy Life, there adua/Obedience to the Laws and Precepts of the Gofpel, is neceffary to qualify us for Eternal Happinefs ; fo that the,' a man do fincerely believe the Gofpël, and truly repent of his Sins, and refolve upon a better Life , j'et if he dónot afterwards irr the courfe of his Life put this refolution in pra- ttice, and bring forth fruits meet for Repentance, and amendmentof Life, and perfevere in a Holy Comte, his firft Refolution ofObedience, tho' it were fincere, will not a- vail him toSalvation. Nay, if he fhould continue for force time in the Refolution and Practice of a holy and virtuous Life, and afterwards fall off from it, and turn from the holy Commandmentdeliver'd untohim, his latter end would be werfe than his be- ginning; Zak righteoufnefs that he bath clone would not be remembred5 he fhoulddie in bic iniquity. For without holinefs no man Ilia fee the Lord. If any man draw back, God's Soul will have no pleafure in him. This is fo very clear and plain from Scrip- ture, that no Man can entertain a contrary perfuafion; without contradicting the whole tenor of the Bible. The Sumof what I have Paid is this, That a virtual Obedience, and fincere Faith andRepentance are fufficient where there is no time and opportunity for at&ssal Obe- dience and the prá&iceof a holy Life : but where there is opportunity for aiutal Obedience, and the continued practice of a good Life, and perfeverance therein; they are indifpenfably neceffary in order to our Eternal Salvation, and a well groun- ded hope and affurance of it. 2dly, There is a perfeiu, and there is a fincere Obedience. Perferu Obedience con- es in the exaâ Conformity of our hearts and lives to the Law of God, without the leaf imperfection, and without failing in any point or degree of our Duty. And this Obedience, as it is not confiftent with the frailty and infirmity of corrupt Na- ture, and the imperfe&ion of our prefent State, fo neither dothGod require it of us as aneceffary Condition of Eternal Life. We are indeed commanded to be perfect, as our Father which is in Heaven k perfel: But we are not to underhand this ftriftly and rigoroufly ; for that is not only impoflible to Men in this prefent State of Imperfetti- on, but abfolutely impoffible"to HumanNature, for. Men to be perfefi, asGod be perfeiu I but the plain meaningof this Precept is, that we fhould imitate thofeDivine Perfecti- ons ofGoodnefs, andMercy, and Patience, and Purity, and endeavour to be as like God in all thefe as we can, andbe Iä11 afpiring after a nearer refemblance of him, as may beevident to any one who confiders the connexion andoccafion of thefe words. By a fincere Obedience, I mean inch a conformity of our Lives and Altions to the Lawof God, as to the general courfe and tenor of them, that we do not live in the habitual praftice of any known An, or in the cuftomary neglect of any material or confiderable part of our knownDuty; and that we be not wilfully and deliberately guilty of the tingle Aft of heinous and notorious Sins, as I have formerly explain'd thisMatter more at large, in another Difcourfe. And thisObedience, even in the belt ofMen, is mixt with great Frailty and Imperfe&ion; but yet becaufe it is the utmolt that we can do in thisState of Infirmity and Imperfeftion, the Terms of the Gofpel are fo, merciful and gracious, as that God is pleafed for the fake of the meritorious Obedience andSufferings of ourBleffed Saviour, to accept this fincere, tho'imperfei Obedience, and to reward it withEternal Life. And this, I doubt not, after all the intricate Difputes, and infiniteControverfies about this bufinefs, is the true and clear Rate of this matter. And this fincere Obedience which the Gofpel`requires of us, as a Condition of our Happinefs, tho' it be fometímes call'd byDivines, Evangelical Perfeflion; yet it is but very improperly fo call'd ; for nothing isproperlyperfect towhich any thing is want- ing; andgreat Defects and imperfections mutt needs be acknowledged in the Obedi- enceof the belt and holieft Men uponEarth; and they who pretend toPerfeflion in this Life, do neither underhand the Law of God, nor themfelves, but (at St. pohn fays of fuch Perfons) theydeceive themfelves, and the truth is not in them; and betides other Imperfeetions, thefe two are evident in them, Ignoranceand Pride. And thus much may fuffice to have fpoken to this Second Particular, namely, What Obedience the Gofpel requires as a Condition, and is pleafed to accept as a Qualification for Eternal Life. S E R-
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