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SERMON X.

The Condition of the Gospel
Covenant, and the Merit of
Christ, confiftent.

Sermon
X.

The Fourth Sermon on this Text.

JOHN XX. 31.

But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his Name.

I

Have in my former Discourses on these words treated largely of the Nature of Chriftian Faith, particularly as it Sanctifies, Juftifies, and Saves men. All that I farther propose

is,

this

is, to make fome reflections upon Volume whole Difcourfe, particularly that XII. which relates to juftifying Faith, and then to apply all to our own Ufe.

I have already taken notice of two Objections, to which my Difcourfe may feem liable, and if yet there remain any prejudice upon any Man's Spirit againit this Doctrine, I would defire fuch calmly to confider it, and the agreeableness of it nor to the opinions of men, but to the Word of God, and the fuitableness of it to the great defign of Chriftian Religion, every where expreft in the Gospel, which is to bring men to Holiness and Obedience. And what Argument and confideration can be more powerful to take men off from fin, and to excite them to the practice of Holinefs, than this, that Repentance and Obedience are an indifpenfable Condition of our Juftification and Pardon? And this is the very point in difference, whether the Golpel do not make Repentance and Obedience conditions of our Pardon and Juftification, as well as an affent to the truth of the Gofpel, and a trust in Chrift

as

as the meritorious cause of our Salva

X.

tion. That they are,I have endeavour- Sermon
ed to prove from Scripture; and for
the farther clearing of it, I defire that
the Nature of the Gofpel-Covenant
may be well confider'd, which I take
to be this. On God's part there are
certain Benefits promised, Juftificati-
on, and Pardon of fin, and eternal
Life and Salvation. On our part there
are certain Conditions required before
we can be made partakers of those
Benefits; these are, to affent to the
truth of the Gofpel, trufting in Christ
as our only Saviour, Repentance from
dead works, and a fincere purpose and
refolution of Obedience, and a holy
life; these make up the whole and en-
tire Condition of the Gofpel, and are
often expreft by this one word, Faith,
which fignifies the whole duty of a
Christian; because he that truly be-
lieves the Gofpel, will do whatever
the Gofpel requires. And hence it is,
that to be a Chriftian, and to be a
Believer, are in the Phrafe of the
New Teftament all one. Now the
matter in controverfie is plainly this;
whether this whole Condition be
required of us in order to our Par-

don

1

don and Justification, as well as in Volume order to our Salvation. That RepenXII. tance, and Obedience, and Holiness of life, are Conditions of our Salvation, I think is univerfally agreed; I am fure it is clearly expreft in these two Texts, Christ is the author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. Without holiness no man fball fee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. And that the Condition of our Juftification and Salvation are the fame, I think is every whit as clear both from Scripture, and from the general acknowledgment of Divines by neceffary confequence. From Scripture, St. James fays, that the fame thing that juftifies us, faves us: for when he difputes, whether we are juftified by Faith only, or by Faith and Works, he hath this expreffion, What doth it profit, my brethren, tho' a man fay he hath Fah, and have not works, can faith fave him? From whence the inference is plain, that upon the very fame condition that we are juftified, we are faved. And 'tis evident by neceffary confequence from the general acknowledgment of Divines; for I think this is univerfally agreed by Divines,

that

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