CHAP. IV.] god's sending JESUS CHEIST. 637
operation on the minds of men, that commonly they are delighted in by the most profligate and obstinate sinners ; as is the preaching of them who act in the same spirit and from the same principles.
[3.] Whereas the last thing considerable in those whose instruc- tions we should choose to give up ourselves unto is their mithoriti/, that must be left without farther plea to the consciences of all men, whether they have the higher esteem of the authority of Christ the Son of God, or of those others whom they do admire ; and let them freely take their choice, so they will ingenuously acknowledge what they do.
Whereas, therefore, the great end of the prophetical office of Christ, in the revelation he made of the will of God in the Scriptures, in his personal ministry, and in the dispensation of his word and Spirit con- tinued in the church, is our holiness and obedience unto God, I could not but remark upon the atheism, pride, and folly of those " modern heathens," who really, or in pretence, betake themselves to the light of nature and philosophical maxims for their guidance and direction, rather than to him who is designed of God to be the great teacher of the church. I deny not but that in the ancient moralists there are found many excellent documents concerning virtue and vice ; but yet, having been, it may be, more conversant in their writings than most of those who pretend so highly unto their veneration, I fear not to affirm that as their sayings may be of use for illustration of the truth, which is infallibly learned another way, so take them alone, [and] they will sooner delight the minds and fancies of men than benefit or profit them as to the true ends of morality or virtue.
Thirdly, This, also, is one great end of the kingly poioer of Christ; for as such doth he subdue our enemies and preserve our souls from ruin. And those are our adversaries which fight against our spiritual condition and safety ; such principally are our lusts, our sins, and our temptations, wherewith they are accompanied. These doth our Lord Christ subdue by his kingly power, quickening and strengthening in us, by his aids and supplies of grace, all principles of holy obedience. In brief, the work of Christ as a king may be reduced unto these heads: — 1. To make his subjects/ree; 2. To preserve them in safety, delivering their souls from deceit and violence ; 3. In giving them prosperity, and increasing their wealth; 4. In establishing assured jjeace for them; 5. In giving them love among themselves; 6. In placing the interest and welfare of his kingdom in all their affec- tions; 7. In eternally retvarding their obedience. And all these he doth principally by working grace and holiness in them, as might be easily demonstrated. I suppose none question but that the prin- cipal work of Christ towards us as our head and king is in making and preserving of us holy; I shall not, therefore, farther insist thereon.
638 NECESSITY OF HOLINESS FEOM [BOOK V.
It remains that we improve these considerations unto the confir- mation of our present argument concerning the necessity of hohness.
And, first, it is hence evident how vain and fond a thing it is for any persons continuing in an unholy condition to imagine that they have any interest in Christ, or shall have any benefit by him. This is the great deceit whereby Satan, that enemy of the common salva- tion, hath ruined the generality of mankind who profess the Christian religion. The gospel openly declares a way of life and salvation by Jesus Christ. This is thus far admitted by all who are called Chris- tians, that they will allow of no other way for the same end unto competition with it; for I speak not of them who, being profligate and hardened in sins, are regardless of all future concernments, but I intend only such as in general have a desire to escape the damna- tion of hell, and to attain immortality and glory. And this they at least profess to do by Jesus Christ, as supposing that the things to this purpose mentioned in the gospel do belong unto them as well as unto others, because they also are Christians. But they consider not that there are certain ways and means whereby the virtue and benefit of all that the Lord Christ hath done for us are conveyed to the souls of men, whereby they are made partakers of them. With- out these we have no concernment in what Christ hath done or de- clared in the gospel. If we expect to be saved by Christ, it must be by what he doth and hath done for us, as a priest, a prophet, and a king. But one of the principal ends of what he doth in all these is to make us holy; and if these be not effected in us, we can have no eternal benefit by any thing that Christ hath doae or continueth to do as the mediator of the church.
Hence the miserable condition of the generality of those who are called Christians, who live in sin, and yet hope to be saved by the gospel, is greatly to be bewailed. They contract to themselves the guilt of the two greatest evils that any reasonable creatures are liable unto in this world ; for, — 1. They wofully deceive and ruin their own souls. Their whole profession of the gospel is but a crying, " Peace, peace," when sudden destruction lies at the door. They " deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." They are bought and vindicated into the knowledge and profession of the truth, but in their works they deny him whom in words they own, — "whose damnation slumbereth not." For men to live in covet- ousness, sensuality, pride, ambition, pleasures, hatred of the pow^ of godliness, and yet to hope for salvation by the gospel, is the most infallible way to hasten and secure their own eternal ruin. And, 2. They cast the greatest dishonour on Christ and the gospel that any persons are capable of casting on them. Those by whom the Lord Christ is rejected as a seducer and the gospel as a fable do