The Best Interest, Chapter 1 · Section
§. Imperfection in our obedience is conſiſtent with a ſaving interſt in Christ
Obj. I hope Chriſt is mine and I am his, but yet I have doubts and fears in this caſe, becauſe I come ſo ſhort in my obedience to Chriſt.
May Chriſt be ours, and yet the obedience that we yield, be but imperfect obedience.
A. 1. Obeying Chriſt is a ſure evidence of a ſaving intereſt in Chriſt, for he is the Author not only of Temporal but Eternal Salvation, not only to ſome, but to all them that obey him. Heb. 5.9. And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him.
2. Though you come ſhort in your obeying the Precepts of Chriſt, yet can't you ſay, you have ſought his Precepts? David concludes that he was the Lords, becauſe he had ſought his Precepts. Pſal. 119.94. I am thine, ſave me, for I have ſought thy Precepts. Now when may we be ſaid to have ſought Gods Precepts?
A. 1. When we are deſirous to know the Commandments of God, in order to doing them, and therefore when any doubtfull caſes occurr, we will do nothing raſhly, till we have conſidered whither it be agreeable to the Commandments of God, and when we can't find out what the Lord hath commanded, in this or the other thing, we go to God to diſcover his will to us; Pſal. 119.12, 19. Teach me thy Statutes— hide not thy Commandements from me. When we thus ſeek to God to teach and reveal his will to us, we may be ſaid to ſeek his Precepts.
2. We ſeek Gods Precepts, when we ſeek to him for grace to keep his Precepts, and ſay with David. Pſal. 119.5. Oh that my ways were directed, that I could keep thy Precepts. Pſal. 143.10. Teach me to do thy will.
3. It is an argument that we love Chriſt, and ſo conſequently that we have an intereſt in him, when we ſet his Commandements before us as our rule, and walk after them, though we be not able to walk up to them. 2 Ep. Joh. 6. And this is love that we walk after his Commandements.
4. Though you can't obey Chriſt perfectly, yet are you not willing and deſirous to obey Chriſt better, even to obey him in all things? It is an argument that a man hath a good Conſcience, and is in a good eſtate, when he is willing in all things to live Honeſtly. Heb. 13.18. We trust we have a good Conſcience in all things, willing to live honestly.
5. If our obedience be ſincere, though it be imperfect obedience, it is a ſign that we have a ſaving intereſt in Chriſt, and are his peculiar people. Exod. 19.5. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice in deed— then ye ſhall be a peculiar treaſure unto me above all people. Grace, that is the love of God, and all thoſe bleſſings which he is wont to give out of his love and free grace to the Children of men, ſhall be unto all them that love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity, although they do not love him in perfection. Eph. 6.24. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity. Grace be with all them, that is, ſhall be with them, and continue with them for ever.
See more in the laſt Chapter of this Treatiſe.