^ Interesting notices of all these in Clarke, as before, ml nominibus. — G.
Chap. II.] a cabinet of jewels. 349
Sixthly, No terrors, no threats, no reproaches, no afflictions, no op- positions, no persecutions, no bonds, no banishments, no dangers, no deaths, shall deter them or affright them from their obedience, as will evi- dently appear by comparing of these scriptures together, Ps. xliv. 1 6-21 ; Acts XX. 23, 24, xxi. 12, 13, and xxiv. 14 ; Dan. iii. 14-19 ; Rev. xii. 11. This is most evident in the histories of the ten persecutions, and in all other histories, both of a former and a later date, &c.
Physicians observe a difference betwixt the natural and preternatural heat in men's bodies. The preternatural heat, which ariseth from dis- temper, may be more for the present; but as it exceeds for measure, so it aljates for time, because the natural heat is a more^equal, and mode- rate, and durable heat ; every part hath an equal share, and it is not extreme, and yet it continues. Thus it is with hypocrites and uprioht persons in the matter of obedience. The hypocrite may, in a kind of preternatural heat, in a hot fit, in a present heat, fall upon hearing, and reading, and praying, and reforming of his family, and upon leaving of this sin and that, and upon casting off this vain company and that, and upon associating of himself with this good company and that. But this hot fit does not last ; the cold fit takes him again, and then he shakes hands with all his duties, and loses all his good inclinations, and lays aside all his warm resolutions. Will the hypocrite pray always ? Job xxvii. 8, 9. Ephraim's goodness was as a morning cloud, which soon vanisheth, and as the early dew, which is soon dried up by the sunbeams, Hosea vi. 4. They were both false and fickle, unsteady and unstable, constant only in inconstancy ; their hearts were never rio-ht with God, for they were not stedfast in his covenant, Ps. Ixxviii. 36, 37. There are four times wherein an hypocrite may express a great readi- ness and forwardness to religious duties :
(1.) First, When he is under terrors and distress of conscience. Oh, now for a little ease, a little rest, a little quiet, a little comfort, what won't the hypocrite do ! &c.
(2.) Secondly, When he is under sore and heavy afflictions. Hosea v. 15, ' In their affliction they will seek me early ;' Isa. xxvi. 16, ' Lord, in trouble have they visited thee ; they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them ;' Ps. Ixxviii. 34, ' When he slew them, then they sought him.' It is a reproach to some : No penny, no paternoster. And it is a shame to others : No plague, no paternoster; no punish- ment, no prayer, &c. So Pharaoh and Ahab, &c.
(8.) Thirdly, When religion is in fashion, tuhen it is a credit to be a professor, and when profession is the highivay to j^rofit and prefer- tnent. In the warm summer of prosperity, when there is no hazard, no danger, no loss to be a Christian, who then so forward in religious duties as the hypocrite ? but when the sun of persecution is up, then he falls away. Mat. xiii. 5, 6.
(4.) Fourthly, When others p)resence, counsel, and exaniiiles have an influence upon them. Oh, now they keep close duties ! Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest ; but when Jehoiada was dead, Joash serves groves and idols, and turns a deaf ear to those prophets that testified against him, and gives Zechariah the son of Jehoiada his passport out of the world for inveighing against his evil manners, and the wicked courses of his
350 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. II.
princes and people, 2 Chron. xxiv. 2, 17-23. Whilst the good judges lived, the Israelites kept close to the service of God : Judges ii. 7, 'And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel.' But when the good judges were dead, the Israelites did what v.\as right in their own eyes : every man's lust was his law, Judges xvii. 6, and chap. xxi. 2.5. Whilst Moses was pre- sent, there was no talking of a golden calf, but no sooner was his back turned but the Israelites make a golden calf, and worship it when they had done, Exod. xxxii. 1-9, &c.
Bat now mark, that obedience that springs from faitb, that is a con- stant obedience, that is constant in opposition to fits and starts, and imports the course and bent of a Christian's life, which is always to walk with God, to cleave to God, to follow God, and to obey God. But, [7.] Seventhly and lastly, Thx.d obedience that springs from faith, is directed to right enxls. Gospel obedience has always gospel ends attending of it. Quest. What are they f Ans. They are these nine.
(1.) First, To testify our thankfulness to the Lord for all his favours and benefits that we have received from him, Ps. ciii. 1-4; cxvi. 12, &c.
(2.) Secondly, To- recover the vmage of God again, to the height of what we are able. The first Adam lost the image of God by his dis- obedience. Now, this image of God we recover again in Christ our second Adam ; but so as that the more enlightened, the more holy, the more humble, the more heavenly, the more righteous, the moi-e gracious, and the more obedient we are, the more we recover of this image of God, which consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Eph. iv. 24. Now, saith the believer, my intent is to recover that pre- cious image of God which I lust in the first Adam, and therefore do I labour to come up to the highest pitches of obedience, because the higher I rise in my obedience, the more I shall recover of the lost image of God. I know that I lost this image by partaking of the disobedience and pollution of the first Adam ; and I know that I have recovered in part the same image by partaking of the obedience and holi- ness of the second Adam ; and I yet further know that the more holy and obedient I am, the more I shall be like to that God that is holiness itself, and the more I shall recover of that blessed image which consists in perfect holiness.
(3.) Thirdly, Not for the justification of their i^ersons, for that is only by Christ's complete obedience, wltich is nuide theirs by faith, 1 Cor. i. 30, Colos. ii. 10 ; but for the testification of their justifying foMh, according to that of the apostle, James ii. 17, 18, 26, &c.