promised Land: And if they may meet SERM, V. with tolerable Conveniencies to fubfift them in their Paffage, they need not defire more; more would be rather hurtful than useful,---would ferve only to detain or incumber them,---to entice them out of their right Way, or retard their Progrefs in it.

WHAT is really beneficial for his Children, as their heavenly Father most clearly dif cerns, fo will he moft tenderly provide. The Confideration of his infinite Power and Goodnefs will effectually prevent all doubtful Mifgivings within them. And so long

we may securely depend on obtaining what is needful, and very often observe, that much more is bestowed than bare Neceffaries, it is abfurd, as well as finful to employ all our Thoughts and our Days on the perishing Goods of this Life to the fhameful Neglect of what has an abundantly better Right to our warmest Application,---of fuch Goods, as fhall remain for

ever.

THESE are the peculiar Duties of the Sons of God, which most of all diftinguish them from the Children of this World and of the Evil One.

AND

SER M.
V.

AND to encourage us in a Behaviour in all Points anfwering to fo glorious a Title, I go on to observe the Privileges annexed

to it.

THE firft, in Order of Time and worthy of our Notice, is, that on our being made God's adopted Sons, and received into the Covenant of Grace by Baptifm, we obtain the Pardon of all our Sins, and being purged from them we are washed, we are fanctified in the Name of our Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God (k). Through the Laver of Regeneration we are tranflated from our natural State of Enmity with God to a spiritual State of Favour and Reconciliation with him,---we, who were afar off, are brought nigh and accepted in the Beloved (1),---are admitted into his Family, and treated as his Children.

BUT in this Affair it imports us, as much as the Value of the Privilege amounts to, to be convinced, that this Mercy of Adoption is not abfolute, but conditional: For. although the Grant be made, and the Contract executed on God's Part, yet is it without faving Effects on ours, unless we perform

(k) 1 Cor. vi. 11.

(1) Ephes, i. 6. ii. 13.

V

perform the appointed Conditions of Faith SERM. and Repentance, as far forth as we are capable of performing them. God, as he has made us, is ever ready to continue us Heirs to Salvation; however we may difinherit our felves: And we certainly forfeit our Title, if we do not fulfil the Terms, on which it is founded. They are, according to the Gospel-charter (and by no other can we fafely form our Judgments, or fquare our Actions) a right Belief of God's facred Word, and a penitent Renunciation of every evil Work.

BUT fhould any Man fet up other Evidences of Adoption, and amuse his Fancy with the Affurance of Forgiveness and Acceptance on imaginary Terms of his own framing, and not on a faithful Heart and an exemplary Life, by the one to fatisfy the World, by the other himself, he is blind in fpite of his bold Pretenfions to new Lights, and knows nothing of his Situation with a View to the Divine Favour, as he ought to know. To prove, that we enjoy the Sanctification of the Spirit, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (m) we must bring forth his proper Fruits, which are the Graces and N Virtues

(m) Gal. iv. 6.

SERM. Virtues of an holy Life: On thefe alone can V. we raise a well-grounded Hope, that God

will for Chrift's Sake forgive us all, that is paft; and it is the good Chriftian's fingular Prerogative to have by fpecial Covenant a Right to Sonship on thefe Conditions, tho' not through any Merit of his own. Performances, but through the all-fufficient Merits of a crucified Redeemer.

WHILST the rest of the World, who are not buried with Chrift by Baptism into Death, remain as Aliens and Strangers in their original forlorn Separation from God, are neither his adopted Children, nor the living Members of his Household, but must be left wholly to his uncovenanted Mercy. And fhould they discover, as they may, from the most obvious Notions of the Divine Attributes afforded them by the Dawnings of Reason, that they fhall receive no unjust, or unequal Treatment from God, it being the Dictate of Nature, that the Judge of all the Earth fhall do right; ftill what solid Comfort can this yield them? When they are at the fame Time confcious of many aggravated Offences, for which the Wrath of God is due, and the feverest of his Vengeance may be poured out: Nor are they apprized

apprized of any fure Method to reconcile SERM. their enraged Maker, and stay his uplifted V.

Arm.

THIS maft be the deplorable Cafe of fuch, as being Strangers to the Covenants and the Promises, either carelessly neglect, or perversely refuse to bear a true Faith, and stipulate a fuitable Obedience unto God,---either know nothing of the Conditions, or difdain to clofe with them, on which he has pronounced himself ready to be appeased, and willing to readmit Sinners to Mercy? And yet thefe Men must be fadly fenfible, on a very flight Reflection, that they are not without Tranfgreffion,---that they have not always, and in all Things walked according to the Light, they had, and discharged Obligations, they found themselves

the

under.

OR granting, that they were inclined to Repentance and Submiffion; yet if they prefumed on their own Works, rather than threw themselves on God's Mercy through Christ,---if they trusted in their own Expreffions of Duty without fuing out their Pardon in the established Form, instead of pacifying and making God their Friend, they N 2 would