" \^dly.^ 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, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation,' Matt. v. 16. Even revilers, 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.
" \^dly^ 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.
" [4^A^j/.] It is necessary in respect of the state and condition of justified jyersons; 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 they 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. 1 7. This new creature is fed, cherished, nourished, kept aUve, 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 ? tliat we should give him to the old man to be devoured ?
" [pthlyi] It is necessary m 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, ^the way to that eternal life, which, as in it-
' Gen. xviii. 32. = 2 Cor. vii. 1.
'Rom. vi. 23; Heb. xi. 6; Gen. xvii. 1; Ps. xix. 1 1, Iviii. H; Matt. v. I2,x. 41; Rom. iv. 4; Col. ii. 18, iii. 24; Heb. x. 35, xi. 26; 2 Pet. ii. 13.
S20 A VINDICATION OF
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 walk 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 thankfulness.
" Now, there is not one of all these causes and reasons of the ne- cessity, 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 Christy let him be filthy still."
I confess this whole discourse proceedeth on the supposition of the imputation of the righteousness of Christ unto us for our justifica- tion. And herein I have as good company as the prelacy and whole church of England can afford; sundry from among them having "\mtten large discourses in its confirmation, and the rest having, till of late, approved of it in others. I wish this man, or any of his companions in design, would undertake the answering of Bishop Downham on this subject. No man ever carried this matter higher than Luther; nor did he, in all his writings, more positively and plainly contend for it than in his comment on the Epistle to the Galatians ; — yet was that book translated into English by the ai:)probation of the then bishop of London, who also prefixed himself a commendatory epistle unto it. The judgment of Hooker we have heard before. But what need I mention in particular any of the rest of those gTcat and learned names who have made famous the profession of the church of Eng- land by their writings throughout the world? Had this man, in their days, treated this doctrine with his present scofiing petulancy, he had scarce been rector of St George, Botolph Lane, much less filled with such hopes and expectations of future advancements, as it is not impossible that he is now possessed with, upon his memorable achieve- ments. But, on this supposition, I do, first, appeal to the judgment of the church of England itself as to the truth of the doctrine deli- vered in my discourse, and the principles which this man proceedeth on in his exceptions against it. 2. Though it be but a part of a