Chrift, fome the qualification of the perfon juftified, on the one hand; fome exclude all the neceffity of them, and turn the grace of God into lafcivioufnefs on the other. To debate thefe differences, is not my present bufinefs: only I fay, on this and other accounts, the right ftating of our obedience, is of great importance as to our walking with God.

2. We do by no means, affign the fame place, condition, state and use, to the obedience of Christ, imputed to us, and our obedience performed to God. If we did, they were really inconfiftent. And therefore thofe, who affirm that our obedience is the condition or caufe of our juftification, do all of them: deny, the imputation of the obedience of Christ unto us. The righteoufnefs of Chrift is imputed to us, as that on the account whereof we are accepred, and efteemed righteous before God; and arereally fo, though not inherently. We are as truly. righteous with the obedience of Chrift, imputed to us, as Adam was or could have been, by a compleat righteoufnefs of his own performance, fo Rom. v.18. by his obedience we are made righteous; made fo truly, and fo accepted, as by the difobedience of Adam we are truly made trefpaffors and fo accounted. And this is that which the apostle defires to be found in, in oppofition to his own righteoufnefs, Phil. iii. 9. but our own obedience is not the righteousness whereupon we are accepted and juftified before God; although it be acceptable to God, that we fhould abound therein. And this diftinction the apostle doth evidently deliver and confirm, fo as nothing can be more clearly revealed, Eph. ii. 8, 9, 10. For by grace we are faved through faith, and this not of ourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, leaft any man fhould boaft; for we are his workman

fhip, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them. We are faved, or juftified (for that it is whereof the apoftle treats) by grace through faith, which receives Jefus Chrift and his obedience: not of works leaft any man should boaft: but what works are they that the apoftle intends? The works of believers, as in the very beginning of the next words, is manifeft; for we are; we believers, with our obedience, and our works, of whom I fpeak: yea but what need then of works; need ftill. there is, we are the workmanship, &c.

Two things the apostle intimates in these words: 1. A reafon why we cannot be faved by works: namely because we do them not in, or by our own ftrength, which is neceffary we should do if we will be faved by them, or juftified by them: but this is not fo faith the apostle, for we are the workmanfhip of God, &c. all our works are wrought in us, by full and effectual undeferved grace.

2. An affertion of the neceffity of good works, notwithstanding that we are not faved by them,. and that is, that God has ordained that we fhall walk in them: which is a fufficient ground of our obe dience whatever be the use of it.

If you will fay then, what are the true and proper gofpel grounds, reafons, ufes, and motives of our obedience, whence the neceffity thereof may be demonftrated, and our fouls be stirred up, to abound and be fruitful therein? I fay they are fo many and lye fo deep in the mystery of the gofpel, and difpenfation of grace, fpread themselves fo throughout the whole revelation of the will of God unto us, that to handle them fully and diftinctly and to give them their due weight, is a thing tha

I cannot engage in, least I should be turned aside from what I principally intend. I fhall only give you fome brief heads of what might at large be infifted on.

1. Our univerfal obedience, and good works, are indifpenfably neceffary from the fovereign appointment and will of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.

1. In general: this is the will of God, even our fanctification, or holinefs, 1 Theff. iv. 3. this is that which God wills, which he requires of us, that we be holy, that we be obedient. That we do his will as the angels do in heaven: the equity, neceffity, profit and advantage of this ground of our obedience, might at large be infifted on. And were there no more, this might fuffice alone. If it be the will of God, it is our duty.

1. The Father hath ordained or appointed it: it is the will of the Father, Eph. ii. 10. the Father is fpoken of perfonally; Chrift being mentioned as Mediator.

2. The Son hath ordained and appointed it as Mediator, John xv. 16. I have ordained you that you should bring forth fruit, (of obedience) and that it fhould remain. And,

3. The Holy Ghost appoints and ordains believers to works of obedience and holinefs, and to work holinefs in others: fo in particular, Acts xiii. 2. he appoints and defigns men to the great work of obedience in preaching the gofpel, and in finning, men fin against him.

2. Our holiness, our obedience, work of righteoufnefs, is one eminent and efpecial end of the peculiar difpenfation of Father, Son, and Spirit in the business of exalting the glory of God in our

falvation of the electing love of the Father: the purchafing love of the Son: and the operative love of the Spirit.

1. It is a peculiar end of the electing love of the Father, Eph. i. 4. he hath chofen us that we should be holy and unblameable, fo Ifa. iv. 3, 4. His aim and defign in choofing of us was, that we fhould be holy, and unblameable before him in love. This he is to accomplish and will bring about in them that are his. He choofes us to falvation, through the fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 2 Theff. ii. 12. This the Father defigned as the firft and immediate end of electing love: and propofes the confideration of that love, as a motive to holinefs, John iv. 8, 9, 10.

2. It is fo alfo of the exceeding love of the Son, whereof the teftimonies are innumerable. I fhall give but one or two, Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. This was his aim, his defign in giving himfelf for us: as Eph. v. 26, 27. Christ loved the church gave himself for it, that he might fanctify and cleanfe it with the washing of water by the word: that he might prefent it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any fuch thing but that it fhould be holy and without blemish, 2 Cor. v. 15. Rom. vi. 5.

and

3. It is the very work of the love of the Holy Ghoft: his whole work upon us, in us, for us, confists in preparing of us for obedience, enabling of us thereunto, and bringing forth the fruits of it, in us: and this he doth in oppofition to a righteousness of our own, either before it, or to be made up by

it, Tit. iii. 5. I need not infift on this: the fruits of the Spirit in us are known, Gal. v. 22.

And thus have we a twofold bottom of the neceffity of our obedience, and personal holiness: God hath appointed it: he requires it. And it is an eminent immediate end of the diftinct difpenfation of Father, Son, and holy Ghoft, in the work of our falvation. If God's fovereignty over us is to be owned; if his love towards us be to be regarded, if the whole work of the ever bleffed Trinity, for us, in us, be of any moment, our obedience is neceffary.

3. It is neceffary in refpect of the end thereof: and that whether you confider God, ourselves, or the world.

1. The end of our obedience in respect of God, is his glory and honour, Mal. i. 6. this is God's honour. all that we give him. It is true, he will take his honour from the ftouteft and proudest rebel in the world: but all we give him, is in our obedience. The glorifying of God by our obedience, is all that we are or can be. Particularly,

1. It is the glory of the Father, Mat, v. 16. Let your light fo fbine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in beaven. By our walking in the light of faith, doth glory arise to the Father. The fruits of his love, of his grace, of his kindness, are feen upon us; and God is glorified in our behalf. And,

2. The Son is glorified thereby. It is the will of God, that as all men honour the Father, fo fhould they honour the Son, John v. 23. and how is this done, by believing in him, John xiv.obeying of him Hence, John xvii. 1o. He fays, he is glorified in believers: and prays for an increase of grace

and