[2dhj ] The conversion of others. 1 Pet. ii. 12, " Having your con- versation honest among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, Avhich they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation," Matt. v. 16. Even
186 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
levilers, persecutors, evil-speakers, have been overcome by the con- stant holy walking of professors; and when their day of visitation hath come, have glorified God on that account, 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2.
[3dlij.] The benefit of all; partly in keeping off" judgments from the residue of men, as ten good men would have preserved Sodom : ' partly by their real communication of good to them with whom they have to do in their generation. Holiness makes a man a good man, useful to all ; and others eat of the fruits of the Spirit that he brings forth continually.
l-4:thly.] It is necessary in respect of the state and condition of justified persons; and that whether you consider their relative state of acceptation, or their state of sanctification : —
First. They are accepted and received into friendship with a holy God,— a God of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, — who hates every unclean thing. And is it not necessary that the)^ should be holy who are admitted into his presence, walk in his sight, — yea, lie in his bosom? Should they not with all diligence cleanse themselves from all pollution of" flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord ?
Secondly. In respect of sanctification. We have in us a new crea- ture, 2 Cor. V. 17. This new creature is fed, cherished, nourished, kept alive, by the fruits of holiness. To what end hath God given us new hearts, and new natures ? Is it that we should kill them ? stifle the creature that is found in us in the womb ? that we should give him to the old man to be devoured ?
[pthly.^ It is necessary in respect of the proper place of holiness in the new covenant ; and that is twofold : —
First. Of the means unto the end. God hath appointed that holi- ness shall be the means, Hhe way to that eternal life, which, as in it- self and originally [it] is his gift by Jesus Christ, so, with regard to his constitution of our obedience, as the means of attaining it, [it] is a reward, and God in bestowing of it a rewarder. Though it be neither the cause, matter, nor condition of our justification, yet it is the way appointed of God for us to Avalk in for the obtaining of sal- vation. And therefore, he that hath hope of eternal life purifies him- self, as he is pure: and none shall ever come to that end who walketh not in that way; for without holiness it is impossible to see God.
Secondly. It is a testimony and pledge of adoption, — a sign and evidence of grace; that is, of acceptation with God. And, —
Thirdly. The whole expression of our thankfuhiess.
Now, there is not one of all these causes and reasons of the neces-
' Gen. xviii. 32. =2 Cor. vii. 1.
' Rom. vi. 23; Hob. xi. G; Gen. xvii. 1 ; Ps. xix. 1 1, Iviii. 1 1 ; :Matt. v. 12,x. 41 j Rom. iv. 4; Col. ii. 18, iii. 24; Heb. x. 35, xi. 2G; 2 Pet. ii. 13.
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sity, the indispensable necessity of our obedience, good works, and personal righteousness, but would require a more large discourse to unfold and explain than I have allotted to the proposal of them all ; and innumerable others there are of the same import, that I cannot name. He that upon these accounts doth not think universal holi- ness and obedience to be of indispensable necessity, unless also it be exalted into the room of the obedience and righteousness of Christ, let him be filthy still.
These objections being removed, and having, at the entrance of this chapter, declared what is done on the part of Christ, as to our fellow- ship with him in this purchased grace, as to our acceptation with God, it remains that I now show what also is required and performed on our part for the completing thereof This, then, consists in the ensuing particulars:—
1. The saints cordially approve of this righteousness, as that alone which is absolutely complete, and able to make them acceptable before God. And this supposeth six things : —
(1.) Their clear and full conviction of the necessity of a righteous- ness wherewith to appear before God. This is always in their thoughts; this in their whole lives they take for granted. Many men spend their days in obstinacy and hardness, adding drunkenness unto thirst, never once inquiring what their condition shall be when they enter into eternity; others trifle away their time and their souls, sowing the wind of empty hopes, and preparing to reap a whirlwind of wrath; but this lies at the bottom of all the saints' communion with Christ, — a deep, fixed, resolved persuasion of an absolute and indispensable necessity of a righteousness wherewith to appear before God. The holiness of God's nature, the righteousness of his govern- ment, the severity of his law, the terror of his wrath, are always before them. They have been all convinced of sin, and have looked on themselves as ready to sink under the vengeance due to it. They have all cried, " Men and brethren, what shall Ave do to be saved?" "Wherewith shall we come before God?" and have all concluded, that it is in vain to flatter themselves with hopes of escaping as they are by nature. If God be holy and righteous, and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, they must have a righteousness to stand before him ; and they know what will be the cry one day of those who now bear up themselves, as if they were otherwise minded, Isa. liii. 1-5 ; Mic. vi. 6, 7.