A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 213 (Question 82 cont.)
SERMON CCXIII.
III. WE may now proceed to the Aſſertion it ſelf, which ſummarily aſſures us of Man's Incapacity of perfect Legal Obedience: And this is a Truth which we had need to Study, becauſe without a firm Belief of it, we ſhall never comply with the Goſpel way of Salvation: And our Natural Pride is very loth to give it Entertainment.
NOW this is in the Anſwer laid down hoth Negatively and Affirmatively, which renders it very Emphatical; we may therefore conſider them ſeverally.
Firſt. THEY are not able Perfectly to keep the Commands of God There is no need here to ſevive the Diſtinction between the Law conſidered as a Rule of Obedience, and as a covenant of Works; ſince the Difference conſiſts meerly with reſpect to the Sanctions: And it is certain, that the Goſpel Precept preſcribes perfect Conformity to the Moral Law, as a Rule for Chriſtians to aim at, and reſileſly to purſue; Mat. 5. ult Be ye therefore perfect, even as year Father which is in heaven is perfect. And it directs him in ſenſe of his own Imperfection, to renounce his own, and place his ſole reliance upon the Righteouſneſs of CHRIST; Phil. 3.9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteouſneſs, which is of the law, but that which is through the ſaith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs which is of God by ſaith.
BUT for the more diſtinct taking up the Truth before us, we muſt obſerve, that the Word of God points us to a double Perfection, viz. Legal & Evangelical. Touching the latter of theſe, viz. Evangelical, we often find the Scriptures to attribute Perfection to ſome Man; and that ſince the Fall, and in this Life. Thus we read concerning Job, Job 1.1. And of them, Luk. 1.6. Thus of Noah, Gen. 6.9. But this is to be underſtood according to the T…nour of the New-Covenant, in which God hath provided a Cover for the Imperfections of Believers. by caſting over them the Robe of CHRIST'S Righteouſneſs; and in Him accept of their Sincerity, according to that wonderful declaration, Numb. 23.21. Nevertheleſs, the Beſt of theſe have been charged with their Sinful Defects; as is evident in the Hiſtory, concerning every one of them. But as to the former, viz. Legal perfection, it conſiſts in an intire & in …f…ent …ſer mity to the whole revealed Will of God, and the whole duty which is therein preſcribed unto not. And this is the Perfection which is here denied, and now remains to be made evident from the Word of God. Now that no room may be left for any exception here, but the Univerſality of this Truth may appear, Two things may be obſerved,
1. THAT there is a Twofold Subject to which this may be applied, viz. The Unregenerate and the Regenerate.
2. THAT there is a Twofold Perfection, viz. Habitual & Actual. Each whereof may be conſidered, with reſpect to each of theſe Subjects ſeverally. Here then,
[1.] THERE …n is Habitual Perfection required in the Law, and is neceſſary to be ſound in the Man, who may be ſuppoſed able perfectly to keep the Commands of God. Habitual Perfection is an Inherent Principle, or Native Power in the Man, fitting him to keep the Law of God in the breadth of it, and diſpoſing him entirely there-unto. Now, not only is this neceſſary to the enabling of the Man actually to keep the law, as will after be conſidered, but doth it ſelf properly belong to the Man's conformity thereto: for this is the Perfect & Upright State in which Man was created at the firſt. Eccl. 7.29. And it was Man's Duty to maintain and preſerve it in him; and he could not loſe it without his own default, it being a Depoſitum which God committed to him: And this conſiſted in the Moral Image of God, which conſiſted in the Sanctification of Man's Nature, and was his Furniture for his Obedience. And therefore, unleſs he never loſt it, or hath totally …ered it again, he cannot anſwer the Rule, but is habitually defective in it: and that neither the one nor the other can thus anſwer the Rule, or plead this Perfection, may be conſidered in reſpect of both.
1. NO Natural Man can plead this Perfection, in that they have l…st this Image of God, and contracted a contrary Image which abides on them. The loſs of Original Righteouſneſs & Holineſs, and coming in of Unrighteouſneſs & Impurity, is every where celebrated in the Word of God; and this depravation in all the Faculties and Powers is every where aſſerted: and that Univerſally without Exception, a particular account whereof is given, Rom. 3.10. &c. And whatſoever diſtinction ſome uſe, to prove that there are ſome remains of this Image on fallen Man; which if granted, is yet far from proving Perfection, in that it pleads only for ſome Relicts, acknowledging that for the Subſtance it is gene: yet it is certain, if by the Image of God, we underſtand the Sanctification of Man's Nature, which they call the Moral Image, it is evident, that this is not only crazed, but ruined; not only wofully impared, but utterly lost. Hence that in, Rom. 7.18. In me (that is, in my fleſh) dwelleth no good thing. And Gen 6.5. And we are aſſured, that there is a Principle of Rebellion in the whole Man, and a Curſed Impotency and Enmity in it to that Obedience which is required in it. Rom. 8.7. The carnal mind is enmity againſt God: for it is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Two Things muſt be acknowleged concerning an Unregenerate Man. viz.
(1) THAT he hath in him a Natural Conſcience, which in many things, tells him, This is Duty, and that is Sin; and is made more or leſs to prompt him to Duty, and give him warning againſt Sin. And of theſe we are told, Rom. 2.14, 15. For then the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, theſe having not the law, are a law unto themſelves: Which ſhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conſcience alſo bearing witneſs, and their thoughts the mean while accuſing, or elſe excuſing one another. But tho' God reſerves this Dominion over the Conſciences of Men, and uſeth it for the common good of Mankind, in reſtraining Men's exorbitant Luſts, without which there would be no living: Yet the Conſciences of Men are deſiled, Tit. 1 15. And they are but ſome things in which they have reſentments of the Law, whilſt in others they bear no witneſs at all; and in theſe very things wherein they do bear witneſs, they take falſe meaſures, and the light that is in them is as…kneſs.
(2.) THAT he hath a power in him, to do the Material Part of many Duties. This alſo is evident by Experience; and we are acquainted that many Hypocrites do conform in ſeveral things; yea, ſo far as to obtain a Charitable Opinion of Men: And we have diverſe inſtances of this, in Jehu, Ama…iah, Her…d, and many others; of whom it is yet ſaid. That their Hearts was not right. Yea, Reaſon in the Man and Obſervation, pat a fair face on many Vortues, and ſuch an ugly Viſage ou ſome Vices, that they are in love with thoſe, and conceive an indignation at theſe, which pr…pts them to practice accordingly. But as this proceeds, not from Sanctification, and therefore both their … is Sin, and their Praying is an Ab… n…tt…n; ſo this cannot amount to Perfection, in caſe it were ſincere, which it is not, nor is there any true Aim at God's Glory in all this; for we are aſſured, Rom. 3.23. All have finned, and came …ort of the glory of God. In a word, they can neither know, nor love, nor chuſe the whole Will of God, having a rooted and reigning En may in them; from which that follows, Rom. 8.6. So then they that are in the fleſh, cannot pleaſe God.
2. NO Regenerate Man can challenge it, in that, altho' theſe are rene…ed in the Image of God, yet it is but in part. The Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 13.9. For we know in part, and we propheſie in part. And this is applicable to all the P…ers in them: There is indeed a vaſt difference between theſe & thoſe they have no good thing in them, but theſe have; they are wholly dead, but theſe are reſtored from Death to Laſe: Eph. 2.1. And you hath he quickned who were dead in treſpa…er and fiat. Theſe have a principle of ſincerity in them, from which their Obedience is influenced, they are under the law of Grace, but ſtill there is another law i… them, Rom 7.23. And the influence of it we are told of, v. 21. I find then a law, that when I would do good, …al is preſent with me. And this is an Habitual Imperfection which cleaves to them; this defect is not in their Actions, tho' it influenceth them, but it is rooted in their Powers. It is certain that their Hearts are impure by the taint of Original Sin, which hath made them an unclean thing; and tho' they are waſhed & ſanctified, yet impurity remains on them, and they are not rid of all this Uncleanneſs at once. Hence that challenge, Prov. 20.9. Who can ſay, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my ſin? As every Grace is Created and infuſed into them, ſo every Luſt of Concupiſcence remains in them, and theſe do allay one the other. Gal. 5.17. For the fleſh lucteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh: and theſe are contrary the one to the other; ſo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Theſe have in them a ſanctified Underſtanding; Matth. 13.16 But bleſſed are your eyes, for they ſee; and your cars, for they hear. Yet there be Scales on their Eyes; they do truly & ſincerely Love God, and can appeal to Him for the confirmation of this, as he, Joh. 21.17. He ſaith unto him the third time, Simon ſon of Jona…. loveſt thou me? Peter was grieved, becauſe he ſaid unto him the third time, Loveſt thou me? And he ſaid unto him, Lord, thou knoweſt all things; thou knoweſt that I love thee. But there are remaining prejudices in them: And this is that which every gracious Soul muſt needs ſubſcribe to the Truth of, on his own ſorrowful Experience, which maketh him to cry out as he, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death! And this is one principal reaſon of the Spiritual Warfare which every Child of God is engaged in, as long as he abides in this World.
[2.] THERE is alſo an Actual Perfection which the Law requires of us, the want whereof declares … it be ſhort-coming & imperfect. The Law requires, not only a pure Heart, but alſo clean Hands, Pſal 24.4. And without the ſ… mer, the latter cannot poſſibly be, becauſe the Heart muſt needs influence the Life. Now this Perfection conſiſts, In a Compleat, Pr…c…l conformity of the whole Man to the Precept revealing God's Pleaſure in the Duty of Man. Now this requires not only a conformity to every Command of the Law, (which we are …ld is exceeding broad, Pſal 119.96.) but that the whole Heart, Soul, and Mind he in it, as Ma…th. 22.37. Jeſ…s ſaid unto him, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all ſoul, and with all thy mind. So that the leaſt gradual Deficiency in this regard, will declare the Action to be imperfect, and the Man to fall under the Cenſure of the Law. And that neither the Regenerate nor Unregenerate are in this Life herein Perfect, will be evident by the former, for if the Power it ſelf for Obedience be deficient, all the Actions which derive from this Power muſt needs be ſo. Hence the direction given by our Saviour on this account in, Matth. 12.33. Make the tree good, and his fruit good. And this is a Truth,
1. WITH reſpect to the Unregenera…: If there be any Perfection in their Actions, it is perfect diſobedience or tranſgreſſion, becauſe they have no Seeds of Sanctification in them, from which every Theologically good Action muſt proceed: We are therefore told by Chriſt, what it is that only proceeds from the Hearts of all Men in their Natural State, Matth. 15.1…. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, … ders, adulteries, ſ…r…ications, theſis, falſe unneſt, blaſphemies. So that their Actions are not only Sinful. (for that is alſo true of the Godly, as will upon appear,) but they are truly Sins: and this is declared not only of their groſs Abominations, but alſo of their Civil and Religious Duties, Prov. 21.4.28.9.15.8. For altho' there may be the Matter of Duty in what they do, yet the Principle from which they proceed, and the End for which they are done, are Carnal and Corrupt; and this ſpells all, in regard of the Holineſs of the Law, by which they are to be meaſured.
2. WITH reſpect to the Regenerate. For tho they have that which is gracious and good in them, yet they have an Allay in them, and a mixture of the contrary, which affords ſufficient and indiſputable Conviction of their Imperfection, which will be more particularly laid forth in the next thing. Hence,
Secondly, THEY daily break theſe Commands in Thought, Word and Deed. This is the Af…rmative part of the Auſwer, and affords us further matter of Conſideration: It intimates, that there is not only Imperfection, but alſo that there is Exorbitancy in their whole Conduct of themſelves; and this is a proper and neceſſary Conſequent upon their Impotency: and this may be conſidered with reſpect to the Godly themſelves; for as to all others, the Caſe hath been already ſufficiently laid forth under the former. And we may take up a right State of this Affair in the following Con…ſtions.
1. THAT the Love as it is a Rule, is preſcribed unto the whole Man. Man conſiſts of Two Conſtituent Parts, a Soul and a Body, both of which go in to the Conſtitution of Now, as to that kind or order of Being which be is of. It was not to this or that Power. in the Man, but to the Man himſelf, that the Command was given: Hence that, in Job 2….28. And unto man be ſaid, Behold, the four of the Lord, that is wiſdom, and to depart from …il is underſtanding. It is the whole Man which is purchaſed by the Redemption of Chriſt, which ſtands as a potent Obligation to him to devote the whole to His Service, 1 Cor. 6.20. For ye are bought with aprice: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your ſp…rit, which are God's. The Sanctification of the Spirit, by which we are furnished for New-Obedience, is of the whole Man, 1 Theſ. 5 23. And we find that the glorious Reward which God hath proceiſed to beſtow upon thoſe who are found Obedient to His Precept, is engaged to the whole Man: Soul and Body are made the Subjects of Glory.
2. HENCE this Rule comprehend the There, Words, and External Actions under it's Govern…. The Thoughts property refer to the …, and are clicited by it, as its Internal Mi…s; whereas the Words & Deeds are exerted by the Body, or outward Man, which is the Inſtrument by which the Soul performs its Imperate Actions. This is the Prerogative of the Devine Law, that it not only governs the outward Actions, (which is the furtheſt that Remove Laws can reach to) but it preſeribes the very motions & ſtirrings of the Heart within it. This is therefore attributed to the Word of God, as it contains Man's Rule under which he is, Heb. 4.12. The word of God is a diſerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And this is comprehended under thoſe ſecret things, Eccl. 12. …it. God is therefore ſaid to take Cognizance of the Thoughts, Pſal. 94.11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are …ity. And for this reaſon Expoſtulates with them, Jer. 4.14. How long ſhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? And of Men's Words we are aſſured, that they are to be accounted for, every one of them in the Day of Reckoning, Matth. 12 36, 37. I ſay unto you, That every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be comdemned. And it is noted as a Mark of horrid Impudence for Men to challenge an Immunity of their Words from the Divine Govemment, Pſal. 12.4. Who have ſaid, With our tongue we will prevail, …rlips are our own: who is lord over or? And as to Men's Works, we are aſſured, that they ſhall receive according to all of them, when Chriſt ſhall come to Judgment; 2 Cor. 5 10. — That every one may receive the things dace in but body, according to that is hath do…, whether it be good or bod.
3. HENCE it follows, That any Deſ…cy, in any …ne of theſe, is to be account to a bre… upon this Holy Law. It was the Vanity of the Ser… and Ph…ſees in their gloſtes upon the Law of God, that they only broke the Law, when they practiſed according to their inward Thoughts; which our Saviour Corrects in Matth. 5. They ſuppoſed, that if a Man dallied in his Heart with ſinful Objects, yet if they did not do the Act with their ourward Man, they did not make themſelves Obnoxious to the Law, but kept it well eno': But herein they groſly miſtook themſelves. If a Man have but a Thought of Sin, altho' it end in the Thought, and he Do not the thing which he Thought of, yet in this very Tho'… be violates the Law which is Spiritual: Hence that, Matth. 5.28. I ſay unto you, That whoſoever looketh on a women to l…ſt after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his hath. And it is the Wiſe Man's Obſervation, Prov. 24.9 The thought of for…ſhneſs is Sin. Words alſo, tho' Men count them but Wind, and little to be regarded by them; yet they will be found Tranſgreſſions, and will be charged another Day with Severity. Jude 15. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all them ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all them hard ſpeethes, which ungodly fawners have ſpoken againſt him. Hence that, Matth. 5.22. For this reaſon the Pſalmiſt Prays to God for a right Regulation both of his Words and Thoughts, Pſal. 9.14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acco…table in thy ſight. O Lord my ſtrength and my red…mer. And it was a ſolemn Advice given him by the Apoſtle, Acts 8.22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. And as to Deeds, there is no Queſtion about theſe, for every Man's Natural Conſcience will Charge theſe upon him, as Sins which are not only conceived, but finiſhed: Hence that, Rom. 1.32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they who do ſuch-things are worthy of death. And herein are we acquainted with the vaſt Latitude of the Law of God, and how many ways it may be broken.
4. THAT this Law requires Conſtancy, or indeſcribable Perſeverance, in all theſe things. It is not enough that the Man doth this or that particular Act in conformity to the Precept; but the Man is ever under the Government of the Law, and owes the Regulation of his whole Life to it, in every Action that he doth.
AND there are Two things here to be remarked;
(1.) HE muſt be Conſtand in this; be muſt purſue it to the end. Hence that. Rev 2.10. he thou faithful unto death, and I will give the… a crown of Life. It is not enough to Begin, but he muſt Hold on without fainting; it is the Apoſtle's Objurgation of thoſe, Gul. 5.7. Ye did run well, who and hinder you, that ye ſhould not obey the truth? If in his whole courſe, from the beginning to the end, he takes but one wry ſtep; if he entertains but one vain and fooliſh thought as long as he lives, he is therein a Law-breaker, and expoſed: And we are told, Jam. 2 10. For whoſoever ſhall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one punt, he is guilty of all. One Paſhonate Word lays the Man under guilt; and if he do not continue in all that is required, he is expoſed to the Curſe of the Law, if he be under it as a Convenant, Gal 3.10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curſe: for it is written. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. And that ſaith, that be thing it ſelf is a Sin, and that nothing but the Blood of CHRIST can waſh away the guilt of it.
(2.) HE muſt be Indefectible in this Perſeverance of his. He muſt not only do the thing, but he muſt ſo do it as that no failing in at may be charged u… him; he may do the Duty ſincerely, and … …ccepted according to the Grace of the New-Covenant; but if he doth it not entirely, it will not bear the tryal of the Law: One wandring Thought in a Duty, the looſt ſhort coming as to the intenſeneſs of the Soul in the Duty, renders it maimed, and claims a Sacrifice to Atone God on account of it; and if more be any ſuch defect in any one Duty that ever he doth, the Man is imperfect; and tho' his Duty is not reckoned a Sin, yet muſt he confeſſed Sinful, as is intimated in the fore-cited, Gal. 3.10.
5. THAT this Law is broken, either by O…ſion or Commiſſion. We formerly obſerved that there is an Affirmative and Negative in every Precept; ſomething Commanded, and ſomething Forbidden, and the Law hath an equal reſpect to both; ſo that if the Man do not the thing Forbidden, yet if he neglects to do the thing Commanded, he is ſtill a tranſgreſſour, and ſo comes under the righteous imputation of Sin. And indeed, Active Obedience to the Law, is the great thing required of us. And tho' in a Theological ſenſe, avoiding the things Prohibited, belongs to Active Obedience; yet the doing of the things Commanded, is more peculiarly ſo, in that it refers to the Affirmative part of Duty, tho' that cannot be done without a due regard to the Negative. And we find that the Phariſee's Religion is ſet forth in his Negatives, Luk 18.11. And it is certain, that there can be no Omiſſion, but there muſt alſo be a Commiſſion; for it the Man do abſtain from ſuch Actions forbidden, yet if he do alſo withdraw from the doing of ſuch as are required, he therein refuſeth the Obedience damanded of him: Happineſs therefore is promiſed to the doing, Joh. 18.17. And therefore our Saviour gives a reaſon of the Condemnation of the great Day, becauſe of the Omiſſions of Duty. Matth. 25.45.
6. THAT there is no Saint on Earth, but who doth too frequently come ſhort Actually, in regard of each of theſe Two, is to the Matter. In the conſideration of the Rule of Obedience, there are Two things to be obſerved, if we would judge of Men's Perfection or Imperfection with regard to the Law: There is the Matter, or the thing it ſelf which is required of us by the Precept; and there is the Manner which is preſcribed to us in the doing of it. Now if the Man fall ſhort in the Firſt of theſe, he muſt needs do ſo in the Latter; for tho' he may do the thing, yet not ſo do it as is requiſite. But as to the Matter itſelf, it is undeniable, that the Beſt of Men upon Record, have had their manifold Defects in this regard, of which we have manifold Inſtance in the Word of God, in reſpect of thoſe that are there moſt Celebrated for their Holineſs: A Sinleſs Perfection is there denied to all of Adam's natural Progeny: It is therefore aſſerted, Eccl. 7.20. There is not a juſt man upon earth that doeth good, and finneth not. And for a Man to preſume and brag of his being without Sin, is there declared to be a ſure Note of one that is void of true Grace, 1 Joh. 1.8. If we ſay that we have no ſin, we deceive our ſelves, and the truth is not in us. A Quaker cannot be a Chriſtian. It is an Aſſertion laid down by the Apoſtle in, Jam. 3.2. In many things we offend all. And the Pſalmuſt declares it as an Univerſal Truth, that none can ſtand a Legal Trial, Pſal 130.3 If thou Lord ſhouldſt mark imquities: O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? And for that reaſon he deprecates it, Pſal. 143.2. And enter not into judgment with thy ſervant: for in thy ſight ſhall no man living be juſtified. How many obſervable Omiſſions muſt we needs be acquainted with in our ſelves, if we lay our ſelves by the Rule in our Recognition of our Lives. Sometimes thro' Fear, ſometimes by reaſon of the Reluctances of ſome Luſt in us, we break the Command; and this and that is leſt undone, and we muſt be excuſed. How do Worldly encumbrances ſhut out Duties of Worſhip, and Pleas of Inability make us excuſe our ſelves from that which we know is required? And as to Tranſgreſſions; how many fooliſh Thoughts, vain Words, impertinent Actions? Nay, how often are we drawn into bold Sins? For what reaſon are Noab's Drunkenneſs, Abrebam's Denying his Wife, Lot's Inceſt, Elies fond Indulgence, David's Murder & Adultery, Solomon's Idolatry, and many other leſt upon Record? but to let us know that a pretence of ſinful Perfection is a vain Brag. And if good Men diſcover ſo much to the World, what then may we ſuppoſe there is with in their Thoughts, which are equally obvious to the All-ſeeing God, with thoſe that are dote in the cleareſt Light?
7. THAT there is no one Action done by the moſt Holy Man here, that can bear the exact Scrutiny of this Rule. If there were but now and then an Error, a Failure in them, yet that were enough to eſtabliſh the Truth in hand; but this gives abundance more of Light to it, viz That there is not one Duty that can be called out among all which the Believer ever did from his Converſion till his Diſſolution, that will bear the try…l of the Rule, ſo as to be found without defe… and ſure, if he never did one thing Perfect, it muſt be a contradiction to ſuppoſe that he can perfectly keep all the Commands: and this more peculiarly reſpects the Manner of the doing it, tho' it doth not exclude the Matter about which he may in ſomething be miſtaken. The Action may in the ſubſtance be right, as to the Matter, and yet fail in ſome Circumſtance of it; and as to the Manner, if it be not exactly ſquared to the time or ſeaſon, the entireneſs of th… Grace in exerciſe, the degree of intenſeneſs, th… ſingleneſs of the end, or aim in it, in each of theſe there is a fault: his heart may be right with God, as to ſincerity, and he do it by the influence of Grace receiv'd, and the Aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit and with a real … at the Glory of God: and this will render it acceptable to God, thro' Chriſt, according to the Covenant of Grace. But we muſt remember, that as long as we are in the Body, we carry in us a Body of Death, which will not …e wholly put off, till this Corruptible, ſhall put … Incorruptibility: and this remaining Concepiſcence in us, will put in to ſtop, impede, and defile the moſt holy Action, that we do; and the effect of it will be, that we cannot do the things that we would, Gal. 5.17. And this is the very thing which Paul makes ſuch a … about, Rom. 7. Not as if he led a wicked Life, but that he could not do what he aſpired after, ſo as he aſpired to; ſo that he is fain in the up-ſhot, to reduce his beſt to that Concluſion, v. 25. So then with the mind I my ſelf ſerve the law of God; but with the fleſh the law of ſin. Let the beſt Chriſtian reſolve his beſt Dury, and he will …nd it muſt come to this … the reſult. In ſuch a Prayer, he was carried forth with a holy fervour, but how many wandring thoughts, how much unbelief, what …iſter aims, what ignorance, what miſtakes, what flatneſs of mind, &c. muſt his own heart condemn him of? How much more may God, whole Alſeeing Eye penetrates much further 1 Joh. 3.20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Let him examine his Hearing; he found his heart raiſed, and carried forth abundantly towards God; but how many aliene thoughts darted in, what unbelief, what prejudices, &c. And if it be ſo with the Beſt, what then muſt it be, when he was indiſpoſed, as very often he finds and complains of: Certainly he is but little acquainted at home, who doth not readily ſubſcribe upon his ſorrowful Experience to the truth of this.
USE, I. THIS ſhews us how impoſſible it is, for: our own Perſonal Obedience, ſhould be the Matter of our Juſtification before God. How much this Opinion is defended at this day, is well known, and is no ſmall diſcovery of the Apoſtacy of the Times. The falſehood whereof is herein detected; for, the Juſtice of God requires that there be a Perſed Righteouſneſs, every way adequate to the Law, which was given as a Rule of Relative Juſtice. For theſe two muſt go together, Rom. 3.26. To declare, I ſay, at this time his righteouſneſs: that he might be juſt, and the juſtifie… of him which believeth in Jeſus. Now it fallen Man had been capable of offering ſuch a Righteouſneſs of his own, Perſonal, that of CHRIST had been ſuperfluous: but the Truth before us makes it evident, that there is no ſuch to be found among meer Men in this Life; whereas the Trial is to paſs according to what is d…ne here, 2 Cor. 5.10. This being the Time of Probation, and afterwards is the Time of Recompence. for the CHRIST's Righteouſneſs be imputed to us of meer Grace, yet ſuch an one there muſt be, elſe the Law muſt not be fulfilled, but annulled; contrary to, Matth. 5.18. Well therefore did the Apoſtle reach after the obtaining of this as his Sheet Anchor Phil. 3 9. And be ſound in him, not having mine … righteouſneſs, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith.
USE, II. THIS then may direct us how to make a right & proper uſe of the Law. That it is revived to us under the Goſpel, we are aſſured; but we muſt beware how we apply and improve it, leaſt we get hurt inſtead of benefit by it. It is true, it ſtands as a Rule according to which we ought to level our thoughts, words, and actions: but one main uſe that we ſhould make of it is to convince us of our Imperfection, and ſo to drive us out of all our proud expectation of obtaining Happineſs by our exacteſt conformity to it; and to ſhew us the worth of a Saviour, and drive us to ſee after the ſecuring of a true intereſt in Him: To make us utterly to deſpair of obtaining Bleſſedneſs in any other way, but by a ſaving Faith in Him, who alone muſt be our Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, &c. if ever we be ſaved. Let us then be much in ſtudying the Law, and ſearching after the Spiritual Nature, and the vaſt Latitude of it; and withal impartialy comparing of our ſelves with it as to our thoughts, words, and deeds, and that as to the Matter, Manner, End of our performing them; that ſo we may find that our help is not in our own hands, but that we are to find it in Him: And let this make Him precious to us, and the diſcoveries which are made to us in and by the Goſpel, of a CHRIST, and the way of Salvation by Him, to …e Faithful ſayings, and worthy of all Acceptation; that ſo, waiting upon Him alone for, we may ſee his Salvation.
JULY, 23. 1706