glory of God, as it is reprefented unto us in this truth; therefore we find the apoftles frequently representing the fuitableness of what they require in Chrift's name unto this truth. And if we look to the great gofpel-commandments of " self-denial," and "bearing the cross, love to enemies, "love to one another, as Chrift has loved us," &c. we may eafily fee how they all relate to this truth; and therefore they that are of the truth, must hear his voice in them. The things that he forbids are the iniquities that he suffered for in his death; and that which he requires is, that we should follow him in that wherein he is our righteoufnefs; and his threatenings are all to move us to cleave faft to this truth, and walk fuitably to it; and they will be accomplished on them that flight this truth, and them that are not of it.

1

3. The most excellent motives unto the obedience that Chrift requires, are fetched from this truth, and are contained in it. See 2 Cor. v. 14. 15. "For the love of Christ "constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died "for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that "they which live, fhould not henceforth live to themselves, "but unto him which died for them, and rofe again." We fee motives brought from this truth to influence us to our duty in the relations wherein we are placed in the world. See, for inftance, Eph. v. 25." Hufbands, love your wives, even as Chrift alfo loved the church, and gave himself for "it." We may also take notice how ftrongly the Apostle preffes charity, and rich liberality to the poor, by this truth, 2 Cor. viii. 9. 66 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jefus "Chrift, that though he was rich, yet for your fakes he be"came poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." If we fpeak of the exceeding finfulness of fin, and of the ho. linefs of God, and his wrath due to fin, as a motive to obedience, it is no where to be seen unto fuch advantage as in this truth; and if we fpeak of the hope of acceptance with God, and of a reward to encourage us under all the fears and difficulties that may caft up to us about ferving God and obeying him, this is no where to be found in the world but in this truth; and if we fpeak of the pleasure and delight that is to be found in the way of duty, whence flows all that joy but from this truth? or can they that take not rest in this truth, find "Chrift's yoke easy, and his burden light?" Motives brought from this truth are the most powerful; for the revelation of this truth is the great contrivance of infinite wisdom for bringing finful men to obedience; and therefore

therefore it must be effectual in all them who are of this truth. And all other motives without this will be of no force to engage us to do the things that Chrift says.

4. In this truth is found a deliverance from, and the victory over every thing that stands in the way to hinder their keep. ing the commandments of Jefus Chrift, who are of the truth: 1 John v. 3.-6. "For this is the love of God, that we keep "his commandments: and his commandments are not grie

vous. For whatfoever is born of God, overcometh the "world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, " even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, "but he that believeth that Jefus is the Son of God?

This "is he that came by water and blood, even Jefus Chrift; "not by water only, but by water and blood." In believing this truth, we see a complete victory obtained by Jefus Christ, in his death, over the prince of this world, over all the power of fin, and of the luft of the world, within us, and over all the power of temptation. So that however great and terrible this power of the prince of the world may be to us, and however impoffible-like the keeping of the commandments may seem to us thereby; yet, in believing this victory that Christ hath already won, we are partakers with him in it, ac cording to the measure of faith; and fo we overcome the power of the world, that ftands against the keeping of the commandments of God, and find his "commandments not "grievous." There are many vain pretences unto striving a gainst fin; but "this is the victory over the world, even our "faith" and who is he that overcometh, but he that belie veth? The true fight against fin is the fight of faith. The power of the prince of this world is too ftrong a party for us to contend with, and all our labour against it is but the washing of the Ethiopian; yea, we are not at all ftriving against it, but labouring to wreath the yoke fafter about our own necks, by all our natural efforts after deliverance. But Jefus Chrift, by redeeming us from the curfe in his death, hath effectually broken the power of the prince of this world, and caft him out. "For the ftrength of fin is the curfe of the "law;" and he hath effectually done away that in his death. Now, when we find ourselves preffed hard, and ready to be overwhelmed with the power of the world, we overcome in the belief of this truth. For here we fee all this alpower ready broken and completely vanquished, and we are parta kers of the victory in believing. And further, we find in this truth all the power of God reconciled, and engaged, by the

crofs

cross of Christ, for them that believe. And thus faith overcomes the power of the world. This is the good fight of faith. Thus we overcome by the blood of the Lamb.

Our Lord bids them that would bear his yoke and burden, first take reft to their confciences in him, and then take on his yoke For it will be infupportable to them that take not reft by faith in that redemption which is already wrought by his blood but unto all them that are of this truth, and find reft in believing, it will be eafy and light, and they will find his commandments not grievous: Matth. xi. 28. 29. 30. "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and "I will give you reft. Take my yoke upon you, and learn " of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall "find reft unto your fouls. For my yoke is eafy, and my "burden is light."

5. It is by this truth that we are fanctified, and so powerfully inclined and enabled to hear Chrift's voice: John xvii. 17. 19. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is "truth. And for their fakes I fanctify myfelf, that they al"fo might be fanctified through the truth." Compare Heb. x. 10. 14. "By the which will we are fanctified, through the "offering of the body of Jefus Chrift once for all. For "by one offering, he hath for ever perfected them that are "fanctified." It is the God of peace, God reconciled by the death of Chrift, that fanctifies us: 1 Theff. v. 23. "And the, "very God of peace fanctify you wholly." And therefore, when the Apostle tells us, "that every man that is in Christ " is a new creature," he declares, that all the things of this new creation" are of God, who hath reconciled us to him"felf by Jefus Chrift; making him to be fin for us, who "knew no fin, that we might be made the righteousness of "God in him," 2 Cor. v. 17. 18-21. And when he prays that Chrift's people may be made perfect in every good work, he prays thus, Heb. xiii. 20. 21. "The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, that great "fhepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting "covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his " will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, "through Jefus Chrift."

We receive the fpirit of fanctification from the flain Lamb, and by the hearing of faith; and that faith whereby we are fanctified, is "faith in the blood of Jefus ;" that faith whereby we get an inheritance among them that are fanctified, is the very fame faith whereby we receive remission of

fins;

fins; the power that fanctifies us is no other power but the power of the cross of Chrift; and the glory to which we are conformed by the Spirit in beholding it, is the glory that fhines in Christ crucified; and we are raised up to walk in newness of life, no otherwife but together with Chrift, and by the power of his refurrection, "who was delivered for our "offences, and raised for our juftification," and by that blood of the everlasting covenant, by virtue of which he came again from the dead and therefore they feek fanctification where it is not to be found, who feek it not in this truth; and they feek it in vain, who seek it not by that belief of this truth, whereby we receive the remiffion of fins, and are juftified. But every one that is of this truth is fanctified by it, and fo inclined to hear Chrift's voice.

:

6. In this truth we have fet before us the most powerful and engaging pattern of obedience. There have been many flourishing difcourses about the example of Chrift, and about following him as a pattern; and, no doubt, he is every where fet before us in the gofpel to be imitated, and copied after by us: but we cannot look upon his example unto any advan. tage, if we do not view it, as it lies in this truth; and if it be fet up any way unto the difparagement of this truth, the glory of it is deftroyed. There are thefe two things that they would do well to advert to in the example of Christ, who are in good earnest to copy after it. 1. They must look up. on the man Chrift Jefus, who was obedient uuto the death, as a truly divine perfon, and behold his glory, as the glory of God manifeft in the flesh: fo they will find him an unerring pattern, and have confidence to follow him abfolutely with out any fear of idolatry. 2. They must look upon his obedience unto the death, as that very righteousness, whereby they are to be juftified in the fight of God, and intitled to the inheritance of children; and fo they will find themselves under the influence of his redeeming love, and the power of his crofs, to engage them to copy after him, and will find the greateft encouragement and liberty in following him. It will be no bondage nor flavish task for them to follow him in his obedience to the death, who have this view of it. The Apoftle Peter fets it before us in this view, Pet. ii. 21. 24. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suf"fered for us, leaving us an example, that ye fhould follow "his fteps - Who his own felf bare our fins in his own "body on the tree, that we being dead to fin, should live unto righteousness: by whofe ftripes ye were healed.”

Thus

W

Thus Chrift's example is fet before us in the truth, to which he bears witnefs; and thus it is powerful to conform us unto itfelf: "For we all with open face, beholding (in the "gofpel) the glory of the Lord Chrift, are changed into the "fame image, by the Spirit of the Lord;" even that fame Spirit that dwells in him, and furnished him in his whole obedience unto the death. He makes us partakers of the grace of the man Chrift Jefus; and being thus partakers in his grace, we copy after him in his obedience. For the like grace produces the like obedience. So we, beholding the glory of the Word made flesh, full of grace, do all receive of his fullness, grace, answerable to the grace that is in him; which makes our obedience answerable to his, according to the measure of grace received from him. And we beholding the glory of his obedience and fufferings, "are changed from "glory to glory, by the Spirit of glory" that refted upon him, in his obedience, and through which he offered up himself; and this according to the measure of our beholding his glory.

Chriftians cannot but acknowledge, there is a beauty and glory in his obedience. But do we fee no glory in his fufferings, which accompanied his obedience from firft to laft? And is there no beauty, no glory, in being conformed to him in his fufferings, and in his being defpifed and rejected of men," a man of forrow and acquainted with grief," in his poverty and want, his fhame and difgrace, and his painful and shameful death, and in his patient enduring the cross, and defpifing the fhame? Is not that fuitable language for Chriftians, God forbid that I should glory, fave in the cross of "6 Our Lord Jefus, by whom the world is crucified to me, "and I to the world. It became him, for whom are all "things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many fons "unto glory, to make the captain of their falvation perfect through fufferings?" And it well becomes them who are led to glory by him, to go forth unto him bearing his reproach, and to follow their crucified captain, bearing the crofs; which is the good old way of following him, that had a certain iffue in eternal glory. And whatever the men of this world may think, it is the greatest glory we are capable of in this world, the greatest privilege we can be admitted to, to be conformed unto Chrift in his fufferings. And "every "one that is of the truth," will, according to his measure, breathe after it; and be fomething of Paul's mind, when he

T 2

fays,