508 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV.
consists in conformity thereunto, under tliis consideration, that it is the word and doctrine of Christ. Notliino- belons^eth unto holiness materially but what the gospel requireth; and nothing is so in us formally but what we do because the gospel requireth it. And it is the instrument of it, because God maketh use of it alone as an exter- nal means for the communicating of it unto us, or the ingenerating of it in us. Principles of natural light, with the guidance of an awakened conscience, do direct unto, and exact the performance of, many material duties of obedience; the written law requireth of us all duties of original obedience; and God doth use these things vari- ously for the preparing of our souls unto a right receiving of the gospel : but there are some graces, some duties, belonging unto evangelical holiness, which the law knows nothing of; such are the mortification of sin, godly sorrow, daily cleansing of our hearts and minds; — not to mention the more sublime and spiritual acts of com- munion with God by Christ, with all that faith and love which are required in us towards him; for although these things may be con- tained in the law radically, as it requires universal obedience unto God, yet are they not so formally. And it is not used as the means to beget faith and holiness in us; this is the effect of the gospel only. Hence it is said to be "the power of God unto salvation," Rom. i. 16, or that whereby God puts forth the greatness of his power unto that purpose; — "the word of his grace, which is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance among all them which are sanctified," Acts xx. 32. It is that by whose jDreaching faith cometh, Rom. X. 17; and by the hearing whereof we receive the Spirit, Gal. iii. 2. It is that whereby we are begotten in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. iv. 15; James i. 18; 1 Pet. i. 23-25. And all that is required of us, in the way of external obedience, is but that our conversation be such as becometh the gospel.
And this is a proper touchstone for our holiness, to try whether it be genuine, and of the right kind or no. If it be, it is nothing but the seed of the gospel quickened in our hearts, and bearing fruit in our lives. It is the delivery up of our souls into the mould of the doctrine of it, so as that our minds and the word should answer one another, as face doth unto face in water. And we may know whe- ther it be so with us or no two ways; for, — 1st. If it be so, none of the commands of the gospel will be grievous unto us, but easy and pleasant. A prmciple Suited unto them all, inclining unto them all, connatural unto them, as proceeding from them, being implanted in our minds and hearts, it renders the commands themselves so suited unto us, so useful, and the matter of them so desirable, that obedience is made pleasant thereby. Hence is that satisfaction of mind, with rest and joy, which believers have in gospel duties, yea.
CHAP. VI.l IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 509
the most difficult of them; with that trouble and sorrow which ensue upon their neglect, omission, or then- being dei^rived of oppor- tunities for them. But in the strictest course of duties that pro- ceedeth from any other principle, the precepts of the gospel, or at least some of them, on account of their spirituality or simplicity, are either esteemed grievous or despised, 'idly. None of the truths of the gospel will seem strange unto us. This makes up the evidence of a genuine principle of gospel holiness, when the commands of it are not grievous, nor the truths of it strange or uncouth. The mind so prepared receives every truth, as the eye doth every increase of light, naturally and pleasantly, until it come unto its proper measure. There is a measure of light which is suited unto our visive faculty ; what exceeds it dazzles and amazes, rather than enlightens, but every degree of light which tends unto it is connatural and pleasant to the eye. So is it with the sanctified mind and spiritual truth. There is a measure of light issuing from spiritual truths that our minds are capable of: what is beyond this measure belongs to glory, and the gazing after it will rather dazzle than enlighten us ; and such is the issue of overstrained speculations when the mind endeavours an excess as to its measure. But all light from truth which tends to the filling up of that measure is pleasant and natural to the sanctified mind. It sees wisdom, glory, beauty, and usefulness, in the most spiritual, sublime, and mysterious truths that are revealed in and by the word, labouring more and more to comprehend them, because of their excellency. For want hereof, we know how the truths of the gosj)el are by many despised, reproached, scorned, as those which are no less foolishness unto them to be believed than the precejDts of it are grievous to be obeyed.
[4.] He is so as he is the exemplary cause of our holiness. The design of God in working grace and holiness in us is, that " we may be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he may be the first- born among many brethren," Rom. viii. 29 ; and our design in the attaining of it is, first that we may be like him, and then that we may express or " show forth the virtues of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light," unto his glory and honour, 1 Pet. ii. 9. To this end is he proposed, in the purity of his natures, the holiness of his person, the gioiy of his graces, the innocency and usefulness of his conversation in the world, as the great idea and exemplar, which in all things we ought to conform ourselves unto. And as the nature of evangelical holiness consists herein, — namely, in a uni- versal conformity unto him as he is the image of the invisible God, — so the proposal of his example unto us is an effectual means of in- generating and increasing it in us.