II. But how is this a gospel conscience ? What could the law re- quire more ?
Ans. 1. We consider this with respect to fallen man, who entereth upon this course of new obedience as one delivered and recovered by Christ, and put into a capacity again to obey and please God : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life ; ' and Eph. iv. 24, ' The new man is created after God in righteousness and true holiness.' We suppose him as redeemed by Christ, and renewed by his Holy Spirit. Take either expression ; the first, ' because we keep his commandments.' We receive these com- mandments out of the hand of a mediator, whose power and right to command is not de.structive of our former duty, but accumulative ; the debt of duty ceased not by man's sin, but will remain while there is a relation between the Creator and the creature ; but this is a power superadded to the former, and is more comfortable and beneficial to us, that Christ would set us in joint again, and put us into a capacity of obeying God. It is a blessed thing to take a law of duty out of the liand of a mediator; for he hath not only obliged us by his great love in dying for us, but provided both for our assistance and acceptance, whilst by the Spirit of Christ we have Christ to help us, and work all
206 SERMONS upox 1 JOHi^ iiL [Ser. XXIX.
our works for us and in ns, and orive ' Grace to serve God acceptabl\' with reverence and godly tear,' Heb. xii. 28. And the more we use this grace, the more it is increased upon us ; but we have also his right- • eousness, by virtue of which we are accepted with God : Eph. i. 6, ' Who hath accepted us in the Beloved.' God will help us in our duty, and will accept of it as we can perform it. For the second expression, ' And do the things that please him.' God is^rstplacandus then pla- cendiis, first appeased towards us and then pleased with us; appeased by the satisfaction of Christ, which is imputed to none but those that are converted and justified by faith : Eom. v. 8, ' They that are in the flesh cannot please God.' Till we have an interest in the great sin- offering which was offered for the whole congregation of the elect, God will not accept of a thank-ofiering at our hands, nor be pleased with anything we do in particularduties, while we neglect the general duty of returning to God by Christ : Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible to please God.' None can please God, then, but those that are regene- rated by the Spirit, and reconciled to him by Christ.
2. These duties are done in a gospel-like manner, out of love to God. or a sense of that wonderful grace which is showed us in Christ : 2 Cor. v. 14, 'The love of Christ constraineth us.' They are done as out of thankfulness and that great love which we owe to God ; the cord which binds our duty upon us is not terror but love. It is said, 1 John ii. 5, ' Whoso keepeth his commandments, in him verily is the love of God perfected;' that is, hath produced its proper effect. Faith is the means, love is the end, and obedience is the proper fruit and effect of love. Faith is physic, love is health, and the more perfect it is the sounder christians we are. Now the perfection and strength of love is seen in new obedience ; so that here is a gospel spirit, and a gospel good conscience, when we study and endeavour to please God.
3. This keeping the commandments and pleasing of God is accepted where there is a cordial and hearty endeavour to do so, though our success in every point be not answerable. It is not unsinning obedi- ence only which the new covenant accepteth, but sincere obedience ; by sin we are disabled from an exact keeping of the commandments, but by grace we are accepted, if there be an upright heart unfeignedly bent and heartily endeavouring to please God in all things. Grace doth not perfectly produce its acts, yet it doth produce them, and that in such a degree as hypocrites cannot attain to. It is their constant care to avoid all known sin, and allow themselves in the neglect of no duty ; now such are pardoned and aQcepted with God : Ps. xxxii. 1, 2, ' Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile,' And have all manner of blessings bestowed upon them : Prov. xi. 20, * Such as are upright in their way are his delight ; ' Ps. xviii. 25, ' With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright'
III. The reasons why this doth constitute a good and quiet con- science.
1. Because then our hearts will not disprove our confidence grounded on the new covenant, which accepteth the upright. Certainly the upright are within the compass of the blessing of the covenant. That