5o8 The Poffibility andNeceffity of GoJel_Obedience, y0 If ye know thefe things, happy are ÿe, ifye do them. In everyNation, he that feared God, and worketh righteoufnefs, is accepted of him.. In jefiss Chrifi neither Circumc- on availeth any thing, nor Vncircumcifion 5 but Faith, that is aEfed and infpired by Charity. And that the Apoflle here means, that Charity or Love, which is the fulfilling of the Lam, is evident from what he fays elfewhere; that neither Circumci- lion availeth any thing, nor Vncircumcifion; but the keeping of the Commandments 0f- God; In which Text it is plain, that the Apoftle fpeaks of the terms of our Jul. flification, and what is available with God to that purpofe. And St. James to the fame purpofe, tells us, that by the works of Obedience our Faith is made per lea, and that Faithwithout Works is dead ; and Curtly a dead Faith will neither ju_ ftifie nor fave any Man. St. john likewife very earnettly cautions us to take heed of any fuch Do&rine, as would take away the neceffity of Righteoufnefs and O bedience 5 LittleChildren ( lays he) let no man deceive you, he that cloth righteouf- nefs is righteous, as he is righteous. Toall which, I (hall only add the plain words of my Text, thatChri became the Author ofeternalSalvation to theca that obey him. So that no Man hath reafon to fear, that this Do&rine of the neceffity of Obe- dience to our Acceptance with God, and theobtaining of eternal life, fhould be anx ways prejudicial to the Law of Faith, and the Law of Grace. For fo long as thefe three things are but afferted and fecured, rfi, That Faith is the Root and Principle of Obedience and a holyLife, and that without it, it is impoffible to pleafe God. 2dly, That we (land continually in need of the Divine Grace and Affìftance to enable us to perform that Obedience which the Gofpel requires of us, and is plea- fed to accept in order to eternal life. And, idly. 'That the forgivenels of our Sins, and the Reward of eternal Life, are founded in the free Grace and Mercy of God, conferring thefe Bleffings upon us, not for the merit of our Obedience, butonly for the merit and fatisfa&ion of the Obedience and Sufferings of our Bleffed Saviour and Redeemer; I fay, fo long as we affert thefe three things, we give all that the Gofpel any where afcribes to Faith, and to the Grace of God revealed in the Gofpel. I have been careful to exprefs thefe things more fully and diftinfly, that no Man may imagine, that whilst we affert the Necefiity of Obedience and a Holy Life, we have any defign to derogate in the lean from the Faith and the Grace of God; but only to engage and encourage Men to Holínefs and a goodLife, by convincing them of theabfolute and indifpenfable neceffity of it, in order to eter- nal Salvation. For all that I have laid, is in plain Englifh no more but this, That it is neceffary for a Man to be a goodMan, that he may get to Leaven; and who- ever finds fault with this Dottrine, finds fault with the Gofpel it felt, and the main end and defign of the Grace of God therein revealed to Mankind, which of -. fersSalvation toMen upon no other terms then thefe which I have mention'd; and to preach and prefs this Doctrine, is certainly, if any thing in the World can be fo, to purfue the great End and Defign of theChriftian Religion, foplainly and exprefly declared by St. Paul, Tit. 2. I r, r 2. The grace of God that bringeth falvati- on, hatb appear'dto all men, teaching us, that denyingZingodlinefs and worldly Lulls, wejbould live foberly, righteoufly, andgodly in this prefent World. And if theGrace ofGod declared in theGofpel, have this effe& upon us, then we may withConfi- dence wait for the bleffed hope, and the glorious appearance of the great God, and our Saviour 7efus Chrifl, whogave himfelffor us, that he might redeem us fromall Iniquity, andpurifie to himfelf a peculiar People zealous ofgood works; and then he adds, theft things teach, and exhort, and rebuke with all Authority; that is, declare and incul- cate this dofirine, and rebuke feverely thofe who teach or pra&ice contrary to it. And he repeats it again with a more vehement Charge toTitus, to preis upon Men the neceffity of Obedience and goodWorks, Chap. 3. 8. This is a faithful laying, and thefe things I will that thouaffirm confiantly, that they whohave believed in God, be careful to maintaingood !'Works. All that now remains, is to make fome.ufeful Inferences from what bath been laid upon this Argument, and fo to conclude this Difcourfe. Fill of all, To convince us that an empty Profeffion of the Chriftian Religi- on,
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