The Christian Life, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Concerning the militant or warfaring Part of the Christian Life, by which we are to acquire and perfect the heavenly Virtues; shewing how effectually all the Duties of it conduce thereunto.
HAVING in the former Chapter given a large Account of the heavenly Part of the Christian Life, and shewn how directly and immediately the Practice of all the Virtues that are comprehended in it tends to the heavenly State, and how naturally they all grow into eternal Happiness; I shall in the next Place endeavour to give some brief Account of that Part of the Christian Life which is purely militant, and which wholly consists of those instrumental Duties, by the Use of which we are to conquer the difficulties of those heavenly Virtues, and to acquire and perfect them. Which Difficulties, as I shewed before, Chap. 2. are the inbred Corruptions of our own Nature, together with those manifold Temptations from without, by which they are continually provoked and excited: and so to subdue and conquer these, as that they may neither take us off from nor clog and indispose us in the Exercise of the heavenly Virtues, is the great Design and Business of this warfaring Part of the Christian Life.
THAT I may therefore handle it distinctly, I shall divide it into three Parts, and endeavour with as much Brevity as I can; First, To explain the Duties of each Part, and to shew how they all conduce to our conquering the Difficulties of the heavenly Virtues, and to the acquiring and perfecting them; and, Secondly, To press the Duties of each Part with proper and suitable Arguments.
IN this part of our Christian Life therefore there is,
1. Our Beginning or Entrance into it, which is in Scripture called Repentance from dead works.
2. Our Course and Progress in it, and this is nothing but a holy Life.
3. Our Perfecting and Consummation of it, and this is final Perseverance in well doing. Each of which have their proper and peculiar Duties, which I shall endeavour in this Chapter to explain and inforce.