The Covenant of Grace, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
The fruits and end of our redemption, viz. the true worship of God in holinesse and righteousnesse.
… we shall abuse this great benefit of Redemption, if we have not respect to the end thereof; which is our sanctification. For else what can be the cause of such dissolute living, as is every where to be seen among those who professe themselves redeemed by Christ, but a foolish opinion, that Christ having freed them from their sins, they may sin the more freely, and that he having dyed for their sins, they need not to die to them, and so abuse the grace of God unto wantonnesse, Iude 4.
For if our sanctification be the end of our redemption, then do we abuse this great benefit of God, if we do not refer it to this end: yea rather, we deceive and abuse our selves with a vain opinion of our redemption. For if this be the end of our redemption, then those that live in sin, as the servants of sin, either are not redeemed (for whom Christ the Son maketh free, they are free indeed) or else they are redeemed in vain, for that is in vain which is frustrate of the end.
Now that sanctification is the end of our redemption, it may be proved by the testimonies of holy Scripture, and also by sound reasons drawn from thence. Tit. 2. 14. Christ hath given himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and that he might purifie or sanctifie to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27. Christ loved his Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctifie and cleanse in with the washing of water by th… Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious▪ Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or anys…ch th…ng, but that it should be h…ly and without blemish. Col. 1. 21, 22. You that were enemies Christ hath reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable in his sight, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Christ himself bare out sins in his own body, on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness.
The reason is evident. For that which is the end of all Gods blessings in this life, both spiritual and temporal, must needs be the end of our Redemption. But our sanctification is the end of all Gods blessings in this life, 1 Thes. 4. 3. This is the will of God even your sanctification; this is that which God willeth, and intendeth in bestowing his benefits upon us. He hath elected us, that we might be holy, Ephes. 1. 4. he created us after his own Image, that we might worship him in holinesse and righteousnesse, Eph. 4. 24. he hath called us to holinesse, 1 Thess. 4. 7. and we are called to be Saints, or Saints by calling, Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2. he doth regenerate us to the same end. For we are the workmanship of God creat…d in Iesus Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 2. 10. To the same end he hath planted us in his Church, that we might be called, trees of righteousness, bringing forth fruit to his glory E…ay 61. 3. and finally, to the same end he bestoweth his temporall benefits upon us: T…e Psalmist having in the 105. P…alme. recounted the manifold blessings of God bestowed upon the Israelites in the last verse he concludeth this to be the end of all, that they might observe hi… ▪ statutes, and … Lawes.
And as it is the end, so also the fruit of our redemption; as it is plainly delivered in thi… text, that he would give us, that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies, sho…ld worship him withou… fear in holiness… and, righteousnesse. More plainly, Rom. 6. 22. B…ng made free from sin, and become servants to▪ God, we have our fruit … holinesse, … the end everlasting life▪ And to the…e w… may add Hebr. 9. 13, 14. For if th… blood of buls and goats, and the ashes of an bey…er sprinckling the unclean, sanctifieth to the p… rifying of the fles… ▪ how much more shall the blood of Christ▪ who through the eternal S… rit offred himself without sp…t to God, … our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. And Tit. 2. 11, 12. The saving grace of G…d hath appeared to all (namely, both by deed …nd word: in deed by sending Christ to redeem us, 2 Tim. 1. 9, 10. 1 Ioh. 4. 9, IC. by word in publ…shing this benefit of redēption by preaching of the Gospel) the fruit wherof is this Teaching us, that we renouncing al ungodlinesse, and worl…ly lusts, should liv… s…orly and justly, and holily in this present world, expecting the h…ppy hope, that is, the happinesse hoped for &c.
Seeing then that holinesse of life is both the▪ end and fruit of our Redemption, and of all other the gifts of God, let us labor to attain to this end, and to bring forth this fruit: so s…all we shew our selves thankfull unto God for this and all other his benefits, and shall also …a…e, not only our justification and redemption, but also our calling and election sure.
But on the contrary, if professing our selves redeemed by Christ, we live in sin, as the ser…s of sinne, then are we most unthankfull unto God, this being the end of our Redemption, and the only fruit which he e… pecteth in lie… of this and all other his benefits; and most injurious to our selves, not only depriving our selves of al… assuran…e of our salvation, but also drawi…g upon our selve… most deserved damnation. And let us know, that the foundation of God which is sure, hath this seale: Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ, depart from iniquity. … T…m. 2. 19.
page missing fruit and … of our redemption, is here …o…ably described, by the parts and properties thereof. The parts are Hol…ness and Righte…usness. For by holiness, you are to understand the duties of the first Table, Viz. of piety and religion towards God: by righteousness, the duties of the second Table, which we owe unto men: And of these we are to speak, first, joyntly, of them both together, and then of either of them severally.
Holiness and righteousness as they are here joyned together by the Holy Ghost, so in practise they may not be severed. Those that are in Christ are new creatures, 2 Cor, 5. 17. renewed according to the Image of God in … holiness and righteousness, Ephes. 4. 74. And in this place the Lord hath promised to give to those that are redeemed, to worship him, not in holiness alone, nor in righteousness alone, but … holiness and righteousness. And therefore those things, which God hath …njoyned, let no man sever, for these two are so …onjoyned by God, that whosoever hath the one, hath the other; and whosoever hath not both, hath …ither of them in deed and in truth. He that loveth God, loveth his neighbour also, 1 Joh. 4. 21. neither can a man love God in truth, that loveth not his brother also, as S. Iohn argueth; If any man say I love God, & hateth … brother, …e is a lyar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? … Io…. 4. 20. for true is the old saying, in foreign, of seeing comes loving.
Neither can a man love his neighbour as he ought, but he wil love God much more; For our brother is to be loved in the Lord; and se… the Lord. And it was wel said of Bernard, Licet aliquid diligere preter Deum, …od… id diligamus propter Deum. Now it is a rule in Ph…losophy, foreign, for what any thing is, that is much more. Therefore if we love our brother for Gods sake, then do we love God much more.
Here therefore two sorts of men are to be reproved. The former is of those, who would seem to be forward professors of religion and piety towards God, that are very backward in the duties of charity and righteousness to their brethren: Such were the Pharisies, whom our Saviour called hypocrites, bidding us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisies, which is hypocrisie; For, saith he, unless your righteousnesse exceed the righteousness… of the Scribes and Pharisies, you shal… not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5. 20.
These man are wont to discover their hypocrisie, partly by their words, and partly by their works. By their words, being evil speakers, detracters & depravers of their brethren: who with the same tongue blesse God, and curse man, who is made after the similitude of God, Iam. 3. 9. But the said S. Iames, Ch. 1. 26. hath given his censure of these men.
For, saith he, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tong…, …ut de…veth his own heart, this mans religion is vain: By their works, cloaking under the shew of religion, hard dealing and deceipt; having Iacobs voice and Esau's stands, scandalizing the profession of r…ligion by their hypocrisie. The Holy Ghost therfore▪ to discover such hypocrites, when he would set down the marks and notes of men truly religious, describeth them commonly by the duties which they perform to their brethrens …aking them the touchstone, as it were, of their piety and religion towards God, R…al …5. and 24. Iam. 1. 27.
The other sort is of those, who pro…essing themselves to be Christians, are but … honest men, void of piety and religion towards God, I speak not against civ…ll honesty, which is very commendable and necessary; in so much as they who w…nt it, are worse then some of the heathen that know not God. For many of the Hea…hen were of a civill and honest conversation, yea, some of them excelled in morall vertues. But I would not have a Christian to rest, in a faire, outward, civill …onversation among men, as though … more were required of him. For if a men, professing himself a Christian, s…ll have … more in him then the Pagans who knew not God: can such a one be esteemed a sou…d Christian? Our love of men …st procee… from the love of God; the streames of ou… justice and charity towards men, must be derived from the fountain of piety toward… God, with… faith i… is impossible to please God. Hebr. 11. …. Without Faith, without piety, without the …ear of God, without r… pentance, the best actions of civil honest men, are but splendid… p…ccata. The chiefest care of a Christan must be to worship God, … …harity towards men.
But the meer civill honest man neith… worshipeth God in the duties of piety, … yet in the duties of righteousness…; which he perf…m…th as a meer natu…all ma…, without any respect or relation had … God: And therefore cannot be said in doing those … ties to serve God in righteousnesse, as no… … …bedience to God, or for Gods …
Now if they which w…nt either of thes… are not to be deemed sound Christians, what …hall we say of tho… which h…ve neither▪ yea, that not so much as seem to have either? prophane and wicked men, who professing themselves Christians, that is to say, men redeemed by Christ, turn the grace of God into …antonnesse, Jude 4. being in name Christians, in deed Atheists; professing themselves to know God, but in deed denying him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate.
Now we are to speak of either of them severally, but briefly, and in a word. For if I should treat of them at large; under the title of Holinesse, I should discourse of all the duties required in the first Table of the Decalogue; in all which we must think our selve… bound to worship God, if we wil worship …im in Holinesse. And under the name of Righteousness…, I should treat of all the duties of the second Table, all which we must endevour to perform to our neighbor in obedience to God, if we would be thought to worship or toserve him in righteousnesse.
But first, we are to speak of Holiness; because that is the first and the gre…test Commandement, Mat. 22. 38.
That holiness is a f…it of our redemption, the Holy Ghost doth plainly testifie, Rom. 6. …2. Being freed from sin, and made serv…nts to God, you hav… your fruit unt… holinesse, and the end everlasting life. And that … also the end of our redemption. S. Paul witnesseth, Ephes. 5. 27. Col. 1. 22. And as it is the fruit and end of our redemption and justification in part; so is it also a necess…ry forerunner of glorification. And therefore if we shall truly worship the Lord in holiness▪ we may be assured, that the Lord hath redee…d us; and consequently, as we have the fruit of our redemption in holiness; so shall we h…ve the end thereof, which is the salvation of our soules, R…m. 6. 22. Apoc. …0. 6. But contratiwise, if our conversation be unholy and unp…re, as we want the fruit of our redemption, so shall we never attain to the end thereof, which is everlasting life. For as the Holy Ghost witnesseth, Heb. 12. 14. … holinesse no … shall s…e God.
Righteousnesse also, as hath been said, is in part the fruit and end of our redemption, for being fr…d from sin, we become the se…vant… of righteousnesse, Rom. 6. 18. And therefore did our Savlour in his body on the tree bear our sinnes, that we dying to sinne, might live unt… righteousnesse, 1 Pet. 2. 34.
But h…re some may object, if righteousnes… contain the duties Wth we owe to man, whether our brethren or our selves; how is it here said, that we are to worship or serve God in righteousnesse? Answ. This teacheth us that page missing page missing must also, and that principally be carefull to worship him in holinesse. And this is to be understood of civill callings. But as touching the Ministers of Gods word, this may further be added for their comfort, that so many of them as with good conscience take pains in their function, whether in their private studies, or in their publique ministery, seeking to glorifie God in the edification of the Church, or the members thereof; they do worship God both in holinesse and in righteousnesse.
By this which hath been said it plainly appeareth, that howsoever we are freed from the curse, the rigor, the terror, & irritation of the Law; yet we are not freed from the obedience of the Law Morall. For freedom from obedience and righteousnesse, is the servitude of sin. But we are freed from the bondage of sin, that we may be enabled with upright hearts & willing minds to worship the Lord in holiness and rigteousness. And therefore, howsoever carnall gospellers and Libertines, …buse the liberty which Christ hath purchased, as an occasion to the flesh, turning the grace of God into wantonness, to their own perdition: Yet devillish is the slander of the Papists, who calumniate the doctrine of the Gospell, as if we taught thereby that*Bellor…. Iustif. …ib. 4. tap. 5. men are freed from obedience to all Lawes wha… soever, of God and man, yea, from the D… calogue it self. But this needeth no answer▪ it being evident to all the world, that we do urge the obedience of the Law Morall as w… as they do, and by better arguments and reasons, then they do. For their chief reasons are taken from the fals…ly supposed benefits of good works, that they satisfie for sin, justifie before God, and merit eternall life. But by these reasons they teach men to marre good works, and not to do them; for a good work done with the opinion of satisfaction, justification, or merit, is so far from being a good work, that it is odious and abominable in the fight of God; as being derogatory to the most perfect satisfaction, and all-sufficient merit of Christ our Saviour.
But we among other arguments, take some from this text: Because our new obedience or practise of good workes is the fruit and end of our redemption. 2. Because it is an unseparable companion of our redemption and justification. 3. Because God hath sworn that he will give to them that are redeemed, grace to worship him in holiness and righteousness, and therfore, that works in them that are redeemed or justified, do follow nec…ssarily by necessity of infallibility. And therfore it is impossible, the oath of the Lord being …ue (which cannot possibly be untrue) that a man should be actually redeemed or justified, and yet have no care to practise good works, that is to say, to perform the duties of holiness and righteousness. But in other respects also, we do urge the necessity of good works, which we prove to be necessary also, necessitate pr…cepti, and so by nec…ssity of Duty, which we owe, 1. unto God, to shew our selves obedient and thankfull unto him, and studious of his glory; 2. to our neighbour, and 3. to our selves: likewise necessitat… signi, not only as they are the testimonies and tokens whereby we are to make our callings and election sure: But also, as they are the evidence according to which our Saviour will judge us at the last day. And lastly, necessitate m…di…: for although we are not justified by them, nor saved for them, yet they are the way wherein we are to walk toward our heavenly country; as Bernard w…ll said, that they be, via regni the way to the kingdom, though not causaregnandi, the cause of obtaining the kingdom. For as the Apostle saith, Ephel. 2. 10. we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Iesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them, as in the way which leadeth to eternal life. This is the way, let us walk in it, Esay 30. 21.