(1st.) The Father hath ordained or appointed it. It is the -will of the Father, Eph. ii. 10. The Father is spoken of personally, Christ being mentioned as mediator.
{idly) The Son hath ordained and appouited it as mediator. John XV. 16, " 'I have ordained you, that ye should bring forth fruit' of obedience, and that it should remain." And, —
(Sdly.) The Holy Ghost ajipoints and ordains believers to works of obedience and holiness, and to work holiness in others. So, in parti- cular, Acts xiii. 2, he appoints and designs men to the gi'eat work of obedience in preaching the gospel. And in sinning, men sin against him.
2dli/. Our holiness, our obedience, work of righteousness, is one eminent and especial end of the peculiar dispensation of Father, Son, and Spirit, in the business of exalting the glory of God in our salva- tion,— of the electing love of the Father, the i)urchasing love of the Son, and the operative love of the Spirit: —
(l5^.) It is a peculiar end of the electing love of the Father, Eph.
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i. 4, " He hath chosen us, that we should be holy and without blame." So Isa. iv, 3, 4. His aim and design in choosing of us Avas, that we should be holy and unblamable before him in love. This he is to accomplish, and will bring about in them that are his. " He chooses us to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," 2 Thess. ii. 13. This the Father designed as the first and immediate end of electing love; and proposes the consideration of that love as a motive to holiness, 1 John iv. 8-10.
{2dly) It is so also of the exceeding love of the Son ; whereof the testimonies are innumerable. I shall give but one or two : — Tit. ii. 14, " Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." This was his aim, his design, in giving himself for us; as Eph. v. 25-27, "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word ; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish." 2 Cor. v. 15; Rom. vi. 11.
{Mly) It is the very work of the love of the Holy Ghost. His whole work upon us, in us, for us, consists in preparing of us for obedience ; enabling of us thereunto, and bringing forth the fruits of it in us. And this he doth in opposition to a righteousness of our own, either before it or to be made up by it. Tit. iii. 5. I need not insist on this. The fruits of the Spirit in us are known, Gal. v. 22, 23.
And thus have we a twofold bottom of the necessity of our obe- dience and personal holiness: — God hath appointed it, he requkes it; and it is an eminent immediate end of the distinct dispensation of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the work of our salvation. If God's sovereignty over us is to be owned, if his love towards us be to be regarded, if the whole work of the ever-blessed Tiinity, for us, in us, be of any moment, our obedience is necessary.
^dly. It is necessary in respect of the end thereof; and that whether you consider God, ourselves, or the world : —
(Is^.) The end of our obedience, in respect of God, is, his glory and honour, Mai. i. 6. This is God's honour, — all that we give him. It is true, he will take his honour from the stoutest and proudest rebel in the world ; but all w^e give him is in our obedience. The glorifying of God by our obedience is all that Ave are or can be. Particularly, —
[Is^.] It is the glory of the Father. Matt. v. J 6, " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." By our walking in the light of faith doth glory arise to the Father. The fruits of his love, of his grace, of his kindness, are seen upon us; and God is glorified in our behalf. And, —
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[2dJy.] The Son is glorified thereby. It is the will of God that as all men honour the Father, so should they honour the Son, John V. 23. And how is this done? By believing in him, John xiv. 1; obeying of him. Hence, John xvii. 10, he says he is glorified in be- lievers; and prays for an increase of grace and union for them, that he may yet be more glorified, and all might know that, as mediator, he was sent of God.
\Zdly.^ The Spirit is glorified also by it. He is grieved by our disobedience, Eph. iv. 30 ; and therefore his glory is in our bringing forth fruit. He dwells in us, as in his temple ; which 4s not to be defiled. Holiness becometh his habitation for ever.