-Serm..CLII. Of the Neceffity ofgood Works. us, that he came to call firmer: to repentance, that is, to reclam them to a better and more virtuous courfe of life; and Chap. 18. ri. The fin of man is come, to fave that which was lo/t, that is, to recover mankind from a frate of in and Mife- ry, to a fate of Holinefs and Happinefs. And St. Peter, exhorting the Jews to Repentance, ufeth this Argument, that for this very end.God fent him among them, Ails 3.26. Untoyoufr/t God fent him to blefsyou, in turning away every one ofyou frombis iniquity. Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the endof the world he bath appeared to abolifhfin, that is, to deftroy both the guilt and power of fin. a john 3. 5. Te know that he was manfefled to take army our fins. And ver. 8. For this purpofe thefon of Godwas manifèfled to deffray the works of the devil. 2. This likewife was the great defign of his Life, of his dwelling and conver- fing with us fo long, to teach us by his Doftrine in all Holinefs and Virtue; and to give us the perfe& pattern and example of it in his life. For his Doftrine; I have fpoke of that by tt felf: but befides that, one principal end of his living a- mongfr us, was that in the courfe of his life, and all the aftions of it, he might give us a perfe& and familiar example of all Holinefs andVirtue, and therefore- we are commanded to take him for our great Pattern. Learn of me, faith he, Jr i I ammeek and lowly of Spirit, Mattb. r I. 29. John 13.15. after that great infrante of his Humility, in wafhing his Difciples feet, he adds, For I have given you an example, that ye fhoulddo as Ihave done toyou. 3. This alto was the great defign of hisDeath and Sufferings. So the Apoftles every where teach, Gal. I. ¢. fpeaking of Chrift, Who gave himfelf for our fins, that he might deliver us from thisprefent evil world, that is, that he might refcue us from the vicious cúftoms and praftices of theWorld. a Pet. 1. ¡8. Forafmuch asye know, that ye-were not redeemed with corruptible things, as flyer and gold, fromyour vain connotation; but with the precious bloodof Chr, as of a lamb with- out blemifh and without fpot. The Death, and Sufferings of Chrift, did not only make expiation for our fins; but are propofed to us asaPattern ofmortification to fin, and Refurreftion to a new life, and a molt powerful Argument thereto. Rom. 6. 1, 2, 3, &c. And 2 Cor. 5. 4, 15. fpeaking of the love of Chrift in faxing down his life for us, For the love ofChrifi, faith he confrainetb us, becaufe'we thus judge ; that if one died for. all, thenwere all dead : And that he diedfor all, - that they which live, fhouldnot henceforth live unto themfelves, but unto himwhich died for them. From whence he infers, ver. t7. Therefore if any man be in Chrift; be is a new creature: old things are pall away; behold, all things are become new. And ver. 21. For be bath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we might be made the righteoufiefs of God in him, that is, he hath made him who was with- out fin, a Sacrifice for our fins, which fhould be a thong Motive and Argument to us, to endeavour after the righteoufnefs of God. II. As the whole difpenfation of the Gofpel tends to this end, fo more parti- cularly does the Doftrine of the Gofpel, and every part of it. Now the whole Doftrine of the Gofpel may be referr'd to thefe three heads. a. The things to be believed by us. 2. The Duties to be pra&ifed. And, 3. TheArguments and Encouragements to the praftice of thefe Duties: And all thefe have a moll dire& and proper tendency to reform Mankind, and effeftu- ally to engage us to the pra&ice of all Holinefs and Virtue. r. The matters of Faithpropofed in theGofpel have a direft tendency to a good life, and immediate influence upon it. All the Articles of our Creed, and what- ever the Chriftian Religion propofeth to our belief concerningGod the Father; the Creator and Governour of all things; and concerning Jefus Chrift our Lord And Saviour; and concerning the Holy Spirit of Grace ; the Catholick Church the Communion of Saints ; the Refurreftion of the Dead, and everlafting Life after Death; all and each of thefe are fo many Arguments and Reafons; Motives' and Encouragements to a good.Life. In general, our hearts are faid to be puri- fied by Faith, Ails 15. g. x Tim. 1. 5.. Faith is there reckoned among the princi- pal fources and fountains of a good Lift The end of the commandment, (the word 2 is 351
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