I fhall now for application, infer two things. First, That we ought to be thankful to God, and to acknowledge him, for the gracious affiftance that he doth afford unto us: for this will be argument enough against us at the day of judgment, that we were admonished, exhorted, fhewn, taught; all which would have been in vain, if we were not able to hear God's voice, and to obey him. That is therefore the firft inference, that we do duly acknowledge God, and be thankful unto him for the gracious affiftance that he doth afford us.

The second is this, that we do make use of, and employ this divine affiftance; which is in the apoftle's language, 2 Cor. vi. I. Not to receive the grace of God in vain: And this we do, when the principle is without effect.

DISCOURSE XXII.

The EXERCISE and PROGRESS of a CHRISTIAN.

PHILIPPIANS iii. 12.

Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Chrift Fefus.

I

Obferve out of these words three things.

1. Where the apoftle profeffeth his faith, there

he

he teftifieth his humility. In the II verfe he did declare his faith and future expectation; If by any means I may attain to the refurrection of the dead. Here he declares his humility, not as tho' I had already attained, or were perfect, &c.

2. Where he doth testify his humility, there he doth engage himself to care and diligence. But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which alfo I am apprehended.

3. Where he doth engage himfelf to diligence, there he doth take notice of the grace of God. If that I may apprehend, &c. And fo you fee that his faith of the refurrection is accompanied with an humble sense of his own fhortness, and pursued with great activity, industry, care and diligence.

In pursuit of these propofitions, I say these three things.

I The faith of God, humility of fpirit, and active care and diligence in the affairs of our falvation, are things that are united in the common root of truth and goodnefs.

2. They do comply with each other in their nature and difpofition.

3. They mutually promote each other in their feveral operations.

If you ask, what are the great things in religion? I will refer you to three texts of fcripture: For that which is properly christian, Put on the Lord Jesus Chrift: Rom. xiii. 14. For that which is a proper creature-difpofition, Be cloathed with humility, I Pet. v. 5. For that which is our work and bufinefs in time, Work out your own falvation with fear

and

and diligence. Phil. ii. 12. He that puts on Chrift muft put off himfelf; for the image and form of Chrift is felf-denial; for Chrift put himself in the form of a servant, and a fervant parts with his own will. He that will be like unto Chrift, must live in entire self-surrender; and so faith the apostle, As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on humbleness of mind, meekness, long-fuffering, &c. Col. iii. 12. În lowlinefs of mind let each efteem other above himself, Phil. ii. 3. They that are Pharifaically conceited must be unbelievers; for do any of the Pharisees believe on him? John. vii. 48. For, as pride and conceit do ill affect the fubject in which it is, fo it doth alienate from God; For God refifteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, Jam. iv. 6. There is no better preparation for faith, than humility; for the humble he will teach, Pfal. xxv. 9. And the humble hath fubmitted himself to be a fool, that he may be wife, I Cor. iii. 18. But the proud is in an indifpofition, and horrid contradiction and oppofition to faith: For this is the proud man's fense and language, if I allude to the tree, Judges ix. 9. Shall I leave my fatness? So faith the proud man, fhall I relinquish all confidence in the good things of nature, my excellent gifts, my parts, my acquirements, improvements, my education, employment, my feveral virtues and great endowments, and various performances, my merit whereby I do transcend others; and shall I come to be beholden to any one? This was the temper of the proud Pharifee, this people that know not the law are curfed. John vii. 49. It doth not become fuch as

may

we

we are, to give up our confidence, and wholly to renounce and disclaim our felves. It is the humble, and modeft, and ingenuous fpirit that is the ready believer; and we have many teftimonies for this, Luke vii. faith our Saviour, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. Of whom doth our Saviour speak this? Look the beginning of the chapter, and you fhall find it of the centurion, whom the Jews reported to be worthy for whom he should do courtesy; he having done gallantly for their nation, and built them a fynagogue. But he faith, that he was not worthy that our Saviour should come under his roof. Of this man it is that our Saviour faith, that he had not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. I make this further out in two particulars.

1. They that are humble and modest, are in a due difpofition and fitnefs of mind for the belief of divine things; for the full foul loatheth the honeycomb, Prov. xxvii. 7. Thofe that are in a difpofition to come to our Saviour, are those that are weary and heavy laden, Matth. xi. 28.

2. These have the advantage of God's promife; for it is faid, That God will look to him that is of an humble and contrite fpirit, Ifa. lvii. 15. And these are the perfons that God will take care of, and inftruct. The humble he will lead in judgment, the meek he will teach his way, Pfa. xxv. 9. So that these, and these only are the children of promise. But thus much for explication.

To make fome improvement of this for the justification of religion, as the apoftle faith, Rom. iii. Let God be true, and every man a liar. Let not

4.

the

the unbelief of fome, make the faith of God of none effect fo in this case, let not the miscarriage of fome who pretend to believe, tend to the difcredit of our religion; but let us refolve that the troublefome, proud, and felf-conceited; that the wilful, boisterous, and tempestuous storming tempers be reputed false in their profeffion. For the chriftian temper and spirit is modest and humble, fenfible of its own fhortnefs and imperfections, and want of growth; and knows its own dependence upon God both for the grace of favour and acceptance, as also for the grace of aid and affiftance. Therefore, let every one that profeffeth his faith, give proof of his humility. By this means we shall discharge religion from all imputation: for if any one that profeffeth chriftianity, be of a proud, troublefome, haughty, infolent, contentious, quarrelfome and unquiet fpirit, let him be reputed false to his profesfion; but let religion be justified; for the christian spirit is modeft, humble, fenfible of its own wants and imperfections; it is a calm mind, a gentle and benign fpirit, and fo the scripture speaks of it; A good converfation with meekness of wisdom. Fam. iii. 13. and ver. 17. The wisdom that is from above, is pure and peaceable, gentle, eafy to be entreated, full of righteousness and good fruits. The fruit of the fpirit is love, joy, peace, long-fuffering, gentleness, goodness, meeknefs, &c. Gal. v. 22. With all lowlinefs and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love. Eph. iv. 2. I do wonder how any man that profeffeth himself a chriftian, can read these plain texts offcripture, and maintain himselfin felf-will, felf

conceit,