Well, then, these are the general heads of christian duties, which they should seriously think upon, and propose them to themselves for the regulation of their conversations, that they might do nothing but what was agreeable to truth, equity, sobriety, exact justice, purity, chastity, and virtue. This for the first question.
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Secondly, In what manner Christianity doth enforce them. This is to be regarded, because there is a great deal of do about morality, which some press to the neglect of faith and the love of God. Some make their whole religion to be a mere morality, and so turn Chris- tianity into morality ; whereas a good christian turneth his morality into religion, all his second-table duties into first-table duties : Heb. xiii. 16, ' But to do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.' Sacrifice is a duty of the first table, yet alms is called a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God. But to make this more fully appear, let me show you —
1. That Christianity deriveth all good conversation from the highest fountain, the Spirit of God.
2. From the truest principles, faith in Christ and love to God.
3. It directeth it by the highest rule, the will of God.
4. And to the highest end, the glorifying and enjoying of God. All else is but bastard morality, apocryphal holiness, that is not thus deduced.
1. It deriveth all these things from the highest fountain, the Spirit of sanctification, by which we are fitted for all these duties : Eph. v. 9, ' For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth.' These commendable virtues are also in a christian, as the fruits of the Spirit: Gal. v. 22, ' But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' And till we live in the Spirit, we are altogether unfit to do anything acceptably to God. No virtue is truly saving and acceptable but what floweth from the grace of regeneration.
2. It maketh them to grow out of their proper principles, faith in Christ and love to God.
[1.] Faith in Christ. The apostle telleth us, Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible to please God.' Not only without the general faith of God's being'and bounty, but also without faith in Christ : Rom. vii. 4, ' We are married to Christ, that we may bring forth fruit unto God.' As the children that are born before marriage are illegitimate, so all that justice, temperance, and charity, which doth not flow from faith in Christ, is but mock grace and bastard holiness.
[2.] Love to God : Gal. v. 6, ' Faith worketh by love,' and therefore maketh us tender of doing anything that may displease or dishonour God : Titus ii. 11, 12, ' The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.' If you understand it of objective grace, then the gospel teaching is by way of instruction, as a man teacheth a learner ; or if of subjective grace, it is by way of persuasion and powerful excitement, or both ; that morality is not kindly unless founded on the gospel, and never so thoroughly promoted as by the principles laid down there. Now, no wonder they that never felt the force of faith in Christ and love to God upon their souls do so much cry up bare morality. Well, then, Christ healetli our souls by his Spirit, and the Spirit worketh by faith and love, which are the true principles of grace in the heart.
3. It directeth it by the highest rule, which is God's mind revealed in his word, the absolute rule of right and wrong. Alas ! what partial
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directions are there elsewhere ! but Ps. xix. 7, ' The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.' Others have, 6/370^ vofiov, 'The work of the law written in their liearts/ Rom. ii, 15. What cold enforcements ! Now they that cry up right reason in defiance of scripture, and would refer us to another rule, they are not thankful for this blessed revelation.
4. It is aimed at the highest end, the glorifying of God and the enjoying of God. The pleasing and glorifying of God : 1 Cor. x. 31, * Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ;' Phil. i. 11, 'Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, wliich are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.' And the enjoying of God: Acts xxiv. 14-16, ' But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both, of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.' They have a care of all this justice, charity, temperance, in order to the attainment of everlasting happiness in the vision and fruition of God. Others mind nothing but their interests in the world : Acts xxiv. 2.6, ' He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him : therefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him..'