5o6 The `Poffäbility an Necety of GofielObedience, Vol. j. a fitnefs of receiving a Rebel, being penitent and forty for what he hath done- though he cannot deferve a pardon, yet he may thereby be qualified and made meet to receive it; though Repentance do not make him worthy, yet it may make him capable of it, which an ob(tinate Rebel, and one that perfifis in his difoyaíty, is nor. This is a thing fo plain of it felf, that it would be wafte of time and words to infift longer upon the proof of it. Now the Necefliryof Obedience, in order to eternal Life and Happinefs, re- lies upon thefe three grounds. afl, Upon the Conftitution and Appointment of God. 20, The general Reafon of Rewards. gdly, Upon the particular Nature of that Reward; which God will confer up- onus for our Obedience. rff, The Conftitution and Appointment of God. Eternal Life it the Gift of God ; and he may do what he will with his own, he maydifpenfe his Gifts and Favours upon what Terms and Conditions he pleafth ; and therefore if he bath plainly declared, that to them who by patient continuance in weltdoing, fee( for Glo- ry, and Honour, and Immortality, he will give eternal Life; that without holinefr, no Man /hall fee the Lord ; but if we have one fruit unto holinefs, our End /hall be everlafling Life; who (hall refill his Will, or difpure his Pleafure? The Right and Authority of God in this matter is fo unqueftionable, that it admits of no conteft 5 and the Bleffìngs and Benefits propos'd, are fo infinitely great and unva- luable, that no condition of obtaining them, which is poffìble to be perform'd by us, can be thought hard and unequal; fo that we ought thankfully to receive fo great a favour, let the terms and conditions of it be what they will; and if there were no ocher reafon for the impofrng of thefe Conditions upon us, of Faith, and Repentance, and Obedience, but meetly the Will and Pleafure of God, this were enough to filence all Obje&ions againfi it. But ally, TheNeceflityof Obedience, inorder toeternal Life, is likewife found- ed in the Reafonof Rewards in general. For though the meafure and degreeof our Reward, fo infinitely beyond the proportion of our beft Duty and Service, as eternal Life and Happinefs is, I fay though the meafure and degree of this Re- ward be founded in the immenfe Bounty and Goodnefs of God; yet the Keaton of Reward in general, is neceffarily founded in our Obedience to God's Laws; for according to the true nature and reafon of things, nothing but Obedience is capable of Reward. For though Authority may pardon the breach and tranf- greffion of Laws, and remit the punifhment due thereto; yet to reward the con- tempt of Laws, and wilful difobedience to them, is direly contrary to the de- fign of Government, and does plainly overthrow the very Reafon and End of all Laws, and makes Obedience and Difobedience tobe all one, if fo be they are equal- ly capable of Reward; and therefore nothing can be more abfurd and fenflefs, than for any Man to hope tobe rewarded by God, whodoes not live in a frncere Obedience to his Laws. EveryMan that bath this hope in him, (that is, in Chrift Jefus, to be fav'd by him) purifieth himfelf, even as he it pure; that is, endeavours to be like him in the purity and obedience of his life; and nothing furely can be more unreafonable than to exile& to be rewarded by the great Governour and Judge of the World, if we be difobedient to his Laws; for where Obedience to Law is refuted, there all reafon and equity of Reward ceafeth. No wife Prince can think fit to reward Difloyalty and Contempt of his Laws; becaufe to reward it, would be to encourage it; much lefs will God, the great and infinitely wife. Governour ofthe World. idly, The neceflityof Obedience will yet more evidently appear, if we confider the particular Nature of that Reward, which God will confer upon us for our O- bedience. The happinefs ofHeaven, which is the Reward promifed in the Gofpel, is defcribed to us by the fightand enjoyment of God. Now to render us capable of this bleffed Reward, it is neceffary that we be like God; but nothing but Obedi- ence and Holinefs, and being renewed after the Image ofhim who, °created as in rights- oufnefr, can make us like to God. For he that would be like God mutt be holy, and juft, and good, and patient, and merciful, as God is; and this alone can make us capable of the bleffed fight and enjoyment ofGod ; for unlefs we be like him
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