DISC. lv..1 LAW AND THE GOSPEL. 183 And every man that bath this hope' in kim, pur eth him- selfeven as he is pure ; i Tim iv. 10. Therefore we both labour and S ufer reproach ; i. e. in doing the will of God ; because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviourof all men, especially of those that believe. The devils go on in sinning, because they despair ; but man bath hope set beforehim, that he may be encouraged to obedience, and allured to pursue holiness, from a prin- ciple of love and gratitude. If we are made new creatures, how can we choose but love and honour the law of God, who hath saved us by his gospel, and changed our unhappy state from sin and death, to hope and joy. Besides, it is the gospel that gives us " the sanctifying spirit," as I said before ; Gal. iii. 2, 14, and Heb. viii. 10. This is that ." new covenant," according to which " he writes his law in our hearts." 3. No faith in the grace of God will justify men, but that which worketh by love;. Gal. v. 6. And pro, duceth the good fruits of obedience. " Abrahamobeyed the call of God ;" James ii. 22, 26. And in this sense his works wrought together with his faith, towards hisjus- tification. Not that his imperfect works in themselves, did any thing to justify him, but his sincere imperfect works were the effect of his faith, and proved his faith to be alive, and true, and saving. Things are said to be done in:scripture, when they were declared or manifested to be done: So Abraham, " is said to be justified by works," when his works declared andmanifested his faith, whereby he was justified; James ii. 25, 26. David's faith in forgiveness was such, as was accompanied with sincerity and piety ; Ps. xxxii. 2. In whose spirit there is no guile. It requires confession of sin, repent- ance, humiliation, and new watchfulness ; ever. 5, 6, Gal. v. 6. It must be such ".a faith that purifieth the heart," and works obedience from a principle , of love ; Acts. xv. 9. Tit. iii. 5, 7, 8. They who believe in Christ Jesus must be careful to maintain good works, 4. Without repentance and a change, of heart, so as to love and to obey the law of God, we can never be fit for that happiness which God promises, and which the creature wants: Without holiness of heart we can never be prepared' for heaven, which consists in the blissful vision of God ;. nor indeed are we. capable of it. -. Blessedaro N 4
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