CX.

"And fuch were fome of you: but ye are washed, S ERM. but ye are fanctified, but ye are juftified, in the "name of the LORD JESUS, and by the SPIRIT of .66 our GOD." 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. where the apoftle likewise makes our purification a condition of our being received into the favour of GoD, and reckoned into the number of his children. Touch *not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye fhall be my fons and daughters, faith the LORD almighty." And that by "not touching the unclean ." thing," is here certainly meant our fanctification and purification from fin, is evident from what immediately follows in the beginning of the next chapter; "having therefore these promises, dearly beloved! let us cleanfe ourfelves from all filthi"nefs of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD;" that is, having this encouragement, that upon this condition we shall be received to the favour of GOD, let us purify ourselves, that we may be capable of this great bleffing.

And our continuance in this ftate of grace and favour with GOD, depends upon our perfeverance in holiness; for if any man draw back, my foul fhall have no pleasure in him."

And lastly, this is alfo the condition of our final juftification, and abfolution by the fentence of the great day, Matth. v. 8. " Bleffed are the pure in heart; for they fhall fee GOD." John iii. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot fee the "kingdom of GOD." Heb. xii. 14. "Follow holinefs, without which, no man fhall fee the "LORD."

Ff2

CX.

SERM. LORD." 1 John iii. 3. The apostle there speaking of the blessed fight and enjoyment of God, tells us what we must do, if ever we hope to be partakers of it; "every man that hath this hope in him, pu"rifieth himself, even as he is pure.'

And this condition here mentioned in the text, of our being "new creatures," is the fame in fenfe and substance with thofe expreffions which we find in the two parallel texts to this, where "faith "which is perfected by charity, and keeping the

commandments of GoD," are made the condition of our juftification and acceptance with GoD. Gal. v. 6. "In CHRIST JESUS neither circumci"fion availeth any thing, nor uncircumcifion; but "faith, which is confummate, or made perfect by

66

charity" and I Cor. vii. 19. "Circumcifion is nothing, and uncircumcifion is nothing; but "the keeping of the commandments of GOD." It is evident that the design and meaning of these three texts is the fame, and therefore these three expreflions of "the new creature," and of "faith perfected by charity, and of "keeping the com"mandments of GoD," do certainly fignify the fame thing. That" the new creature" fignifies the change of our state, from a state of disobedience and fin, to a state of obedience and holiness of life, I have fhewn at large; and the apostle explaining this new creation;" most exprefly tells us, Eph. ii. 10. "We are his workmanship, created "in CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which "GOD hath before ordained, that we fhould walk " in them;" and Coloff. iii. 10, 12, 13, 14. where

હૃદ

CX.

where the apostle tells them, that they ought to SERM. give teftimony of their renovation, and having put on," the new man," by all the fruits of obedience and goodness ; ye have put on the new "man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Put on there"fore as the elect of GoD, holy and beloved, "bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, "meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, "and forgiving one another; and above all these "things put on charity, which is the bond of per"fection." And the apostle St. Peter tells us, that our regeneration, which he calls "fanctifica"tion of the SPIRIT, is unto obedience," 1 Pet i. 2. So that our renovation confifteth in the principle and practice of obedience, and a good life; and what is this but faith perfected by charity?" and charity the apoftle tells us "is the fulfilling "of the law;" and what is "the fulfilling of the "law," but "keeping the commandments of GOD," And keeping the commandments of GOD," or at least a fincere refolution of obedience, when there is not time and opportunity for the trial of it, is in fcripture as exprefly made a condition both of our present and final justification and acceptance with GOD, as faith is, and in truth is the fame with a living and operative faith, and a faith that is confummate, and "made perfect by cha"rity." Acts x. 34, 35. "Of a truth I perceive (faith St. Peter) "that GOD is no respecter of "persons, but in every nation he that feareth "him, and worketh righteoufnefs, is accepted with "him"

"

Ff3

SERM" him," which fpeech does as plainly, as words

CX.

can do any thing, declare to us upon what terms all mankind, of what condition or nation foever, may find acceptance with Gop, Rom. ii. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. "Who will render to every man accord

ing to his deeds, to them who by patient con"tinuance in well-doing, feek for glory and ho "nour, and immortality, eternal life: but to them who are contentious and obey not the truth, but

obey unrighteoufnefs; indignation and wrath; "tribulation and anguifh upon every foul of man "that doth evil; of the Jew first, and also of Gen"tile: but glory, honour, and peace to every

man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and "alfo to the Gentile." As to our acceptance with GOD, and the rewards of another world, it matters not whether Jew or Gentile, circumcifed or uncircumcifed; that which maketh the difference, is

66

obeying the truth, or obeying unrighteousness; "working good, or doing evil," thefe are the things which will avail to our justification, or condemnation at the great day. To the fame purpose is that faying of the apoftle to the Hebrews, chap. v. "That CHRIST is the author of eternal falvation to them that obey him."

9.

I will conclude this matter with two remarkable fayings, the one towards the beginning, the other towards the end of the bible, to fatisfy us that this is the tenor of the holy-fcriptures, and the conftant doctrine of it from the beginning to the end, Gen. iv. 7. It is GoD's fpeech to Cain, "If thou doft well, fhalt thou not be accepted?”

And

CX.

And Rev. xxii. 14. "Bleffed are they who do hisS ERM. "commandments, that they may have right to the "tree of life, and may enter in through the gates "into the city."

And thus I have done with the fecond thing I propounded, which was to fhew that according to the terms of the gofpel, and the christian religion, the real renovation of our hearts and lives is the great condition of our juftification and acceptance with God, and that this in sense and substance is the fame with faith made perfect by charity, and keeping the commandments of GOD."

66

The third and laft particular remains to be spoken to, namely, that it is highly reasonable that this fhould be the condition of our juftification, and acceptance to the favour of GOD; and that upon these two accounts.

First, for the honour of GOD's holiness.

Secondly, in order to the qualifying of us for the favour of GOD, and the enjoyment of him, for the pardon of our fins, and the reward of eternal life.

Firft, for the honour of GOD's holiness. For fhould GOD have received men to his favour, and rewarded them with eternal glory and happiness, for the meer belief of the gofpel, or a confident perfuafion that CHRIST would fave them without any change of their hearts and lives, "without 66 repentance from dead works, and fruits meet for ડ repentance, and amendment of life;" he had not given fufficient teftimony to the world of his love to holiness and righteousness, and of his ha