188 An Expofition -upon Chap.& immortali feed, I Pet. I.23. The favour of life, 2 Cor.2.16. The power of God to falvation, Rom.2.16. A forme or a mould in this Text fitly. For, as a mould or forme ufeth to leave behind it fuch a print or image as it felf hath up- on fuch thingsat are put upon it, or in- to it ; fo doth the Gofpel, it altereth the minds and hearts of men, and niaketh them like it felfe, that is tofay,full of heavenly wifdome and holinefs. And herein confifts the difference between the Do&rine of the Law, and the Do- ¿trine of the Gofpel.The Do &rine of the Law forbiddeth usevill, and command- eth us good , but putteth no kind of frength in us to forbear the one, or to doe the other ; and therefore it is called the Miniftery of the letter : whereas the Doarine of the Gofpell teacheth us Faith, Love, Hope, Repentance, Pad - enee, &c. and withal' imprinteth the fell fame graces in us ; giving us power to be that which it would have us to be. Therefore it is tearmed the Minifery of the Spirit, and of righteoufnefs, 2 Cor. 3.839. TIM. What are we to learn by this, where it is faid [that wee are delivered into this forme ?] S I L. Two things : Firf, that in our converfion and freedome from fin, we our (elves do nothing towards it at all, but fuller God to work upon us ; as the wax or clay receiveth the print of the Peal or mould,themfelves doing nothing but (offering the imprellìon onely of the Seal or mould. Secondly,we have a con- tinuall need to have the tamp of hea- venly doEtrine put upon our foules be- caufe the image or form of godlineffe which we have from that doarine, re- ceives continual' decay by our own neg- ligence,anci Satans malice. Hence it is, that the Apofle fpeaking here of the godly Romans,faith in the prefent time that they are delivered ; os teach , that the work ofour fan &ification, is not a work of a day orayeer, or to bee per - feaed by one or two,or a few Sermons, nor till death come. T i 11. What may tbit put us in mind of that the DoUrine of the Gofpell it the ejeelu- all infirument, both so begin, and to perfefi our deliverance from fin? S r L. It ferves co fir up a great love unto the dofìrine,of theGofpell, firing it is the means of our converfion. Se- condly,it thews of what great efficacie that Do&rine is : when God is pleafed to work by it,it can pul our hearts from fin,and knit it unto God; and can make us be like unto God,who before did bear the image of Satan. Thirdly, we ought to have thofewhich bring this do&rine in reverence and love, acknowledging thene,and havingthem in fingular repu- tation for their work fake, i Thelf. 5. 13.Their feet (even their bafef and fou- lef parts)ought to be beautifull unto us, Rom. ro. 15. What is the eflate then, or what will be the end of fuch as hate and rife up againft Levi, defpifing pro - phefie ? TIM. What manner of obedience is this that theGofpen ufetb to world? S I L. It is from the heart, that is to fay, fuch as is both voluntary and un- feigned,n ot conapulfory and hypocriti- call. And this is a fpeciall mark where- by to try the truth of our converfion, when we can find that we can willingly, and in a good uprighteneffe, apply our (elves to doe thofethings which be com- manded in his word, being contrary to our Infs. This alto muff encourage all men which be converted, to flick to the fervice ofChrif,without looking back, feting they willinglyput themfelves into it, being by his grace of unwilling evade willing. DIALOOÑLXI. Verte 18, 19. Being then made free from fen, yee are made the fervants ofrighteoufneffe : I fpeak af- ter the manner of men, becaufe of she inftr. mitt' ofyour flefh; for at y ee bave given your members, &c. Ti MOTH US. \Hat dotb this Text contain? S I L. Three new reafons to diffwade from living in the fervice of finne. atinseamemmumumimemonstamommimmosmiim Trx.
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