THE reason of my addressing this discourse to the clergy, is not, because it treats of things not of common concern to all Christians, but chiefly to induce them, as far as I can, to the serious perusal of it; and because whatever is _essential_ to Christian salvation, if either neglected, or mistaken by them, is of the saddest consequence both to themselves, and the churches in which they minister. I say _essential_ to salvation, for I would not turn my own thoughts, or call the attention of Christians to any thing, but the _one thing_ needful, the one thing _essential_, and only _available_, to our rising out of our fallen state, and becoming, as we were at our creation, an holy offspring of God, and real partakers of ♦of the divine nature.
♦ duplicate word “of” removed
If it be asked, What this one thing is? It is the SPIRIT OF GOD ♦WORKING SPIRITUAL LIFE IN US. Nothing else is wanted by us, nothing else is intended for us by the law, the prophets, and the gospel. Nothing else is, or can be effectual, to the making sinful man become again a godly creature.
♦ “WOKKING” replaced with “WORKING”
Every thing else, however glorious and divine in outward appearance, every thing that angels, men, _churches_ or _reformations_, can do for us, is dead and helpless, but so far as it is, the _immediate work_ of the Spirit of God, breathing, and living in it.
All scripture bears full witness to this truth, and the design of all that is written, is only to call us back from the power of Satan, the flesh and the world, to be again under full dependance upon, and obedience to the Spirit of God. When this is done, all is done, that the scripture can do for us. Read what chapter, or doctrine of scripture you will, be ever so delighted with it, it will leave you as poor, as empty, and unreformed, as it found you, unless it be a delight that has turned you to the Spirit of God, and strengthened your union with, and dependance upon him. For if it be an immutable truth, that _no man can call Jesus, Lord, but by the Holy Ghost_, it must be a truth equally immutable, that no one can have any one _Christ-like_ temper, but so far as he is _immediately_ led, and governed by the Holy Spirit.
The reasons of which are as follow.
All possible goodness was in God from all eternity, and must to all eternity be _inseparable_ from him. As therefore before God created any thing, it was certainly true, that there was but _one that was good_; so it is just the same truth, after God had created innumerable hosts of blessed, holy, and heavenly beings, that there is but _one that is good_, and that is God.
All that can be called goodness, or holiness, in the creatures, is no more their own, or the growth of their created powers, than they were their own, before they were created. But all that is called goodness in the creature, is nothing else but the _one_ goodness of God manifesting itself in the creature, according as its created nature is fitted to receive it. This is the unalterable state between God and the creature: goodness, for ever and ever, can only belong to God, as _essential_ to him, and _inseparable_ from him.
God could not make the creature to be great and glorious _in itself_; this is as impossible, as for God to create beings into a state of _independance_ on himself. _The heavens_, saith _David_, _declare the glory of God_; and no creature, any more than the heavens can declare any other glory, but that of God. And as well might it be said, _that the firmament sheweth forth_ its own _handy-work_, as that a holy, divine, or heavenly creature, sheweth forth its own natural power.
But if all that is great, glorious, and happy, in the spirits, tempers, and enjoyments of the creature, is only so much of the greatness, glory, majesty, and blessedness of God, dwelling in it, and displaying his own triune _light_, _life_, and _love_, in and through the manifold forms, and capacities of the creature, then we may infallibly see the true ground and nature of all true religion. For the creatures true religion is its rendering to God all that is God’s, it is its continual acknowledging all that which it is, and has, and enjoys, in and from God. This is the one true religion of all intelligent creatures, whether in heaven, or on earth; for as they all have the _same relation_ to God, so though ever so different in their states, or offices, they all have but one and the same true religion, or right behaviour towards God. Now the one _religion_, between God and all intelligent creatures, is this, a _total, unalterable dependance upon God_, an _immediate, continual receiving of every kind, and degree of goodness, blessing, and happiness, that ever was, or can be found in them, from God alone_. The highest angel has nothing of its _own_, that it can offer to God, no more light, love, purity, perfection, that spring from itself, or its own powers, than the poorest creature upon earth.