354 Q f theNeee ty ofgoodWorks. Vol. II. pofition that can be raifed againfl it. So St.ohn affures us, that we have God on our fide, and the powerful Affiance of his Holy Spirit, and therefore are fure of Vi&ory in this conflict, a John 4. 4. Te are of God, little Children, and have over- come; becatfe greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. If the Spirit of God be more powerful than the Devil, we are of the flronger fide ; and we have no juft caufe to complain of our inábility and weaknefs to do the Will of God, fince that ftrength and of iftance, which we may have for alking, is to all effe&s and purpofes our own power. And therefore St. Paul made no fcruple to call it fo, and to fay, he was able to do all things, I am able to do all things through Chrifl which /lrengtheneth me. 3. The promife Of eternal life; and this is the great promife of the Gofpel, and the Crown of all the ref,, iYohn 2. 25. This is the promife that he bath promifed us, even eternal life. And this is a reward fo great and glorious, and fo infinitely beyond the portion of our fervice and obedience, that nothing can be more encouraging. What fhould not Men do in hopes of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, bath promfed to us? The expelation of fuch a reward, fo well affur'd to us, is fufficient to encourage us to do our utmoft, and to ftrain all our powers for the fecuring and attaining of it, which we cannot do without Holinefs and Obedience of life; for without holinefs no man pallfee theLord. So that all the promifes of the Gofpel are to encourage and flrengthen us in well- doing, to make its partakers of the divine nature, that we fhould cleanfe our felves from all filehinefe, and perfee2 holinefs in the fear of God. Thus you fee that the whole difpenfationof the Gofpel,andtheDo&rinesof it, and every part of them, are all calculated to reform the minds and manners ofMen. This is the great deûgn of the Chriftian Religion, and all the parts and powers of it, to clear and confirm and perfe& the natural Law, to reinforce the obligati- on of moral Duties bySeverer threatnings and greater promifes, and to offer Men more powerful grace and Affiance to the pra&ice of all goodnefs andVirtue ; and they do,not underftand the Chriftian Religion, who imagine any other end and defrg i of it. There is nothing that our Saviour and his Apoftles do every where more vehemently declare, than that hearing and believing the Dolrine of Chrift fignifies nothing, without the real Virtues of a good life. .Know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead, faith St. James. For Men to think that .the mere belief of the Gofpel, without the Fruits and Effe&s of a good life, Will fave them, is a very fond and vain imagination. And thus much may fuffice to have fpoken concerning the point. SER-
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