SERMON X. The Condition of the Gospel Sermon The Fourth Sermon on this Text. JOHN XX. 31. But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his Name. I Have in my former Difcourfes on thefe words treated largely of the Nature of Chriftian Faith, particularly as it Sanctifies, Juftifies, and Saves men. All that I farther propose this is, to make fome reflections upon Volume whole Difcourfe, particularly that XII. which relates to juftifying Faith, and then to apply all to our own Ufe. I have already taken notice of two Objections, to which my Discourse may feem liable, and if yet there remain any prejudice upon any Man's Spirit againit this Doctrine, I would defire fuch calmly to confider it, and the agreeableness of it not to the opinions of men, but to the Word of God, and the fuitableness of it to the great defign of Chriftian Religion, every where expreft in the Gospel, which is to bring men to Holiness and Obedience. And what Argument and confideration can be more powerful to take men off from fin, and to excite them to the practice of Holinefs, than this, that Repentance and Obedience are an indifpenfable Condition of our Juftification and Pardon? And this is the very point in difference, whether the Gospel do not make Repentance and Obedience conditions of our Pardon and Juftificati on, as well as an affent to the truth of the Gofpel, and a trust in Chrift as as the meritorious cause of our Salvation. That they are,I have endeavoured to prove from Scripture; and for the farther clearing of it, I defire that the Nature of the Gofpel-Covenant may be well confider'd, which I take to be this. On God's part there are certain Benefits promifed, Juftification, and Pardon of fin, and eternal Life and Salvation. On our part there are certain Conditions required before we can be made partakers of those Benefits; these are, to affent to the truth of the Gospel, trufting in Christ as our only Saviour, Repentance from dead works, and a fincere purpose and refolution of Obedience, and a holy life; these make up the whole and entire Condition of the Gofpel, and are often expreft by this one word, Faith, which fignifies the whole duty of a Chriftian; because he that truly believes the Gospel, will do whatever the Gospel requires. And hence it is, that to be a Chriftian, and to be a Believer, are in the Phrafe of the New Teftament all one. Now the matter in controverfie is plainly this; whether this whole Condition be required of us in order to our Par don Sermon X. don and Juftification, as well as in Volume order to our Salvation. That RepenXII. tance, and Obedience, and Holiness of life, are Conditions of our Salvation, I think is univerfally agreed; I am fure it is clearly expreft in these two Texts, Chrift is the author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. Without holiness no man Shall fee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. And that the Condition of our Juftification and Salvation are the fame, I think is every whit as clear both from Scripture, and from the general acknowledgment of Divines by neceffary confequence. From Scripture, St. James fays, that the fame thing that juftifies us, faves us: for when he difputes, whether we are juftified by Faith only, or by Faith and Works, he hath this expreffion, What doth it profit, my brethren, tho' a man fay he hath Faith, and have not works, can faith fave him? From whence the inference is plain, that upon the very fame condition that we are juftified, we are faved. And 'tis evident by neceffary confequence from the general acknowledgment of Divines; for I think this is univerfally agreed by Divines, that |