THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 187
withstanding, this must be understood evangelically, ' I can do all things.' What ! legally, without a flaw ? No ; ' I can do all things' so far forth, as shall shew that I am a true Christian, and not an hypocrite ; so far as shall be beautiful in the eye of others, to allure them to the embracing of reli- gion ; so far as shall make base spirits to envy to see my even carriage, and to see the power of religion ; so far as shall put the world to silence for reproaching ; so far as I shall enjoy assurance of the truth of grace ; so far as Satan shall not get his will in every sin. Our obedience is evange- lical, and not legal.
Quest. Now, what is it to do all things evangelically ? To clear that point.
Ans. To do all things evangelically is, first of all, for a man to know that he is in the same state of grace, and that he hath his sins pardoned, and that he is accepted in Christ to life and salvation. That is the ground of all evangelical obedience. He must know that he is in the covenant of gi'ace ; that he hath the forgiveness of sins, and a right to life everlasting in Christ. And then comes obedience answerable to that condition ; that is, a desire to obey God in all things : a grief that he cannot do it so well as he would ; a prayer that he might do it so ; and an endeavour together with pra^-er that he may do so, and some strength likewise with endeavour. For a Christian, as I said before, he hath the Spirit of God, not only to set him to an endeavour, but to give him some strength. So there is a desire, and purpose, and prayer, and grief of heart, and endeavour, and likewise some strength in evangelical obedience.
A Christian then in the gospel can do all things when he hath his sins forgiven, and is accepted in Christ, when he can endeavour to do all, and desire to do all, and in some measure practise all duties in truth. For the gospel requires truth and not perfection. That is the perfection that brings us to heaven in Christ our Saviour. We have title to heaven ; in him is the ground, because forgiveness of sins is in him. Now a Christian's life is but to walk worthy of this, and to fit himself for that glorious condition that he hath title unto by Christ, to walk sincerely before God. Sincerity is the perfection of Christians. Let not Satan therefore abuse us. We do all things, when we endeavour to do all things, and purpose to do all things, and are grieved when we cannot do better. For mark, this goes with evangelical obedience always. God pardons that which is ill, for he is a Father, He hath bound himself to pardon, ' I will pity you as a father pitieth his child,' Ps. ciii. 13. From the very relation he hath took upon him, we may be assured he will pity and pardon us, and then he will accept of that which is good, because it is the work of his own Spirit, and will reward it. This in the covenant of grace he will do. A Christian can do all then ; and wherein he fails, God will pardon him. What is good, God vrill accept and reward ; and what is sick and weak in him, God will heal, till he have made him up in Christ.
Thus we see in what sense this is to be understood, a Christian can do all things through Christ. For as it is said of gold, the best gold you have hath allowance of such grains, so take the best Christian, you must have some allowance. Some imperfection cleaves to him. He cannot do all perfectly. For then what need the covenant of grace ? He can do all things so as he flies to the mercy of God in Christ for Hfe everlasting. He can do all things required of a Christian in the covenant of grace in regard of sincerity. These things must be well and soundly understood, and then we can take no oflfence at the doctrine.
188
THE AHT OF CONTENTMKNT.
Quest. What is tbo cause that a Christian fails then when he doth fail ?
Ans. 1, A Christian fails, rrhcii he doth not niulrrstdiid the promises of the new covenant of (j race, that God hath given not only promises of the pardon of sin, but of all kind of graces, a promise of the Spirit in general. He will give his Spirit to those that ask it, and a promise of every other particular grace : that he will write his law in our hearts, and he will teach us to love one another, and he will put his fear into our hearts. We have not a grace but cither there is a promise of it generally, or specially. Now when a Christian forgets this, he fails for want of understanding the privileges and promises.
Ans. 2. Again, he fails /o;- icnnt of ivisdom to plant himself in such helps, n-hcreby he viif/ht be able to do all things; for it is the folly sometimes of Christians to be rash in venturing upon occasions ; and then he hath no more strength than Samson had when bo adventured. He loseth his strength when he ventureth rashly. But if a Christian be wise to keep out of temptation, and to keep himself in good company and acquaintance, using holy means and helps to godliness, wherein the Spirit works, a wise Christian may perform all.