(2.) Secondly, Another is evangelical, which is such a walking in all the statutes of God, and such a keeping of all the commands of God, as is in Christ accepted of, and accounted ofas if we did keep them all. This walking in all God's statutes, and keeping of all his commandments, and doing of them all, is not only possible, but it is also actual in every believer, in every sincere Christian, and it consists in these particulars : —
[1.] First, In the approbation of all the statutes and coramxindments of God. Kom. vii. 12, ' The commandment is holy, and just, and good.' Ver. 16, ' I consent unto the law that it is good.' There is both assent and consent. Ps. cxix. 128, ' I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right.' A sincere Christian approves of all divine commands, though he cannot perfectly keep all divine com- mands. But,
[2.] Secondly, It consists in a conscientious submission unto the authority of all the statutes of God. Every command of God hath an authority within his heart, and over his heart. Ps. cxix. 161, * My heart standeth in awe of thy word.' A sincere Christian stands in awe of every known command of God, and hath a spiritual regard unto them all. Ps. cxix. 6, ' I have respect unto all thy commandments.' But,
[3.] Thirdly, It consists in a cordial willingness and a cordial desire to walk in all the statutes of God, and to obey all the commands of God. Rom. vii. 18, ' For to will is present with me.' Ps. cxix. 5, '0 that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes !' Ver. 8, ' I will keep thy statutes.' But,
[4.] Fourthly, It consists in a sweet complacency in all God's com- mands. Ps. cxix. 47, ' I will delight myself in thy commandment jA'hich I have loved.' Rom. vii. 22, ' I delight in the law of God after the inward man.' But,
[5.] Fifthly, He who obeys sincerely obeys universally. Though not in regard of practice, which is impossible, yet in regard of affec- tion, he loves all the commands of God, yea, he dearly loves those very commands of God that he cannot obey, by reason of the infirmity of the flesh, by reason of that body of sin and death that he bears about with him. Ponder upon that : Ps. cxix. 97, ' 0 how I love thy law!' Such a pang of love he felt, as could not otherwise be vented, but by this pathetical exclamation, ' 0 how I love thy law,' vers. 113, 163, 127, 159, 167. Ponder upon all these verses. But,
[6.] Sixthly, A sincere Christian obeys all the commands of God ; he is universal in his obedience, in respect of valuation or esteem. He highly values all the commands of God ; he highly prizes all the com- mands of God ; as you may clearly see by comparing these scrip- tures together, Ps. cxix. 72, 127, 128, xix. 8-11 ; Job xxiii. 12. But,
[7.] Seventhly, A sincere Christian is universal in his obedience, in respect of his purpose and resolution ; he purposes and resolves, by divine assistance, to obey all, to keep all. Ps. cxix. 106, * I have
48 SERIOUS AND WEIGHTY QUESTIONS
sworn, and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments,' Ps. xvii. 3, * I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. But,
[8.] Eighthly, A sincere Christian is universal in his obedience, in respect of his indiTiation ; he has an habitual inclination in him to keep all the commands of God, 1 Kings viii. 57, 58 ; 2 Chron. xxx. 17-20 ; Ps. cxix. 112, 'I have inclined my heart to perform thy sta- tutes always, even to the end.' But,
[9.] Ninthly and lastly, Their evangelical keeping of all the com- mands of God consists in their sincere endeavour to keep them all ; they put out themselves in all the ways and parts of obedience ; they do not willingly and wittingly slight or neglect any commandment, but are striving to conform themselves thereunto. As a dutiful son doth all his father's commands, at least in point of endeavour, so your sincere Christians make conscience of keeping all the commands of God in respect of endeavours. Ps. cxix. 59, ' I turned my feet unto thy testimonies.' God esteems of evangelical obedience as perfect obedience. Zacharias had his failings, he did hesitate through unbe- lief, for which he was struck dumb ; yet the text tells you, ' That he walked in all the commandments of the Lord blameless,' Luke i. 6, because he did cordially desire and endeavour to obey God in all things. Evangelical obedience is true for the essence, though not perfect for the degree. A child of God obeys all the commands of God, in respect of all his sincere desires, purposes, resolutions, and endeavours ; and this God accepts in Christ for perfect and complete obedience. This is the glory of the covenant of grace, that God accepts and esteems of sincere obedience as perfect obedience. Such who sincerely endeavour to keep the whole law of God, they do keep the whole law of God in an evangelical sense, though not in a legal sense, A sincere Christian is for the first table as well as the second, and the second as weU as the first ; he doth not adhere to the first and neglect the second, as hypocrites do ; neither doth he adhere to the second and contemn the first, as profane men do. 0 Christians, for your support and comfort, know that when your desires and endea- vours are to do the will of God entirely, as well in one thing as an- other, God will graciously pardon your failings, and pass by your imperfections. ' He will spare you as a man spareth his son that serveth him,' Mai. iii. 17. Though a father see his son to fail, and come short in many things which he enjoins him to do, yet knowing that his desires and endeavours are to serve him, and please him to the full, he will not be rigid and severe with him, but will be indulgent to him, and will spare him, and pity him, and shew all love and kind- ness to him. The application is easy, &c.
CLEARLY AND SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED. 49
The second question or case is this, viz., What is that faith that gives a man an interest in Christ, and in all those blessed benefits and favours that come by Christ ? or lohether that person that experiences tliefolloioing particulars, may not safely, groundedly, and comfortably conclude tlmt his faith is a true, justifying, saving faith, the faith of God's elect, and such a faith as clearly evidences a gracious estate, and will certainly bring the soid to heaven ? Now, in answer to this im- portant question, we may suppose the poor believer is ready to express himself thus : —
[1.] First, Upon search and sad experience, I find myself a poor, lost, miserable, and undone creature, as the Scriptures everywhere do evidence, Eph. ii. 1, 2, 5, 12 ; Col. ii. 13 ; Rom. viii. 7 ; Luke xix. 10.
[2.] Secondly, I am convinced tlmt it is not in myself to deliver myself out of this lost, miserable, and forlorn estate. Could I make as many prayers as might be piled up between heaven and earth, and weep as much blood as there is water in the sea, yet all this could not procure the pardon of one sin, nor one smile from God, &c.