But to proceed:-To the promife of God, that he will accept of our repentance, instead of a finlefs obedience, there is this condition added,* If ye forgive men their trefpaffes, your heavenly Father will forgive you your trefpaffes. But if ye forgive not men their trefpaffes, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trefpaffes.

Now, this is fo far from being a burthenfome condition, that it is certainly one of the most comfortable claufes that could have been added to the article of repentance. For if I fincerely forgive others, I may plead with God for the pardon of my own fins which I have repented of, and very fecurely depend upon his word and promife. Thus you fee how neceffary, and how reasonable it is, that we should repent, as we hope for the favour of God.

The next condition of our peace is faith, by which we receive the conditions of our falvation offered us by Jefus Chrift; believing him to be fent from God for that very end; confidently relying upon all that he hath revealed to us, without queftioning his authority, or disputing his commands.

Now, whoever has this faith will foon find himself obliged to do what God has commanded, in order to his peace and happiness. For inftance:-If he really believes, that God has in his holy word fet down the terms of falvation, he will not hope for falvation on any other terms. If he believes, that without

* Matth. 6. 15,

bolinefs

holiness no man fhall fee the Lord, he will think himself certainly obliged to purify himself from all filthiness of flesh and fpirit. If he believes, that God will give his Holy Spirit to them that afk him, as he will find reafon, fo he will not fail to pray for, the comfort and affistance of that bleffed guide. If he believes a judgment to come, he will take care to examine and to judge himself, that he may not be condemned of the Lord when he cometh to judge the world in righteousness.

Lastly, if he believes the everlasting rewards and punishments of the life to come, he cannot be indifferent which of these may be his own portion.

From all which it appears, that faith, as it is a condition of our peace, is a real principle of obedience; not only discovering to us where we are to look for happiness, but also engaging us to do what we believe we ought to do in order to attain it.

And this brings us to confider the last condition of our peace with God, a fincere obedience. He that doeth the will of my Father, faith Jefus Chrift,' (and he only) shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. And what the will of God is, the apoftle tells us:" This is the will of God, the great defign of the gospel, even your fanctification; that is, that we be renewed in our nature, freed from the tyranny of fin, and fo far in the way of perfection,

1 Matth. vii. 21. m I Theff. iv. 3.

perfection, as to be always making fome progrefs towards it.

And why is this fo neceffary an article of our peace? Why; because this is the wedding garment, without which no man fhall ever be admitted into heaven: for without

holiness no man fhall fee the Lord.

See the goodness of God.- He does indeed pofitively require our obedience to certain laws he hath given us; but then this is to the end that by obeying the truth, we may purify our fouls," and qualify ourselves for heaven, where no impure thing can enter.

But how hall we know the laws he has given us for this purpofe? Would to God that were the only thing that is wanting to make our obedience perfect! He that endeavours to live up to that measure of knowledge he has already, and is ready to do the will of God at all times when he knows it, he fhall (as our Saviour faith) know of the doctrine whether it be of God.

Thus I have laid before you the nature and the conditions of a peace better than any the world can give; the effect of a conqueft greater than those the world fo much magnifies. It is Solomon's affertion," not mine, He that ruleth his fpirit, is better than he that taketh a city.

What hinders us then from obtaining this peace? Do we think it will be time enough

Pet. i. 21.

• Prov. xvi. 32.

hereafter?

hereafter? When, pray? When we come to die? Perhaps that may be too late.

To be plain, God has fixed the time:-Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. And he who will not take this time may, too likely, never embrace another.

But, perhaps, I am perfuading you to feek for that peace which most men think they are poffeffed of. We may eafily know that, by confidering seriously whether we observe the conditions before-mentioned.

A fign of true repentance (for instance) is amendment of life: A fign of true faith is, our living as if the things we profess to believe were true:-A fign of true obedience is, having respect unto all God's command

ments.

Verily, if we have not this testimony of our peace with God, we have no manner of reason to be eafy with our condition; it is a falfe peace we are poffeffed of, which will ftand us in no ftead at the hour of death, (when we fhall have most need of it) nor in the day of judgment. He that shall not have made his peace with God before he goes hence, (and how foon that may be, God only knows) he will have God for his enemy, and for his portion eternal mifery.

But God forbid that we should let fo great a concern continue in fo great uncertainty. Is the peace of God of fo little value? Is the peace of confcience, grounded upon God's word,

VOL. II.

G

word, not worth our striving for? Is the love of God, which is better than life itself, a favour fit to be despised? And yet do not we plainly despise him and his offers of mercy, when we despise the means laid down for our falvation?

The gospel is, with great reason, ftiled the Gofpel of Peace; because the terms of peace and falvation are contained in it. And yet, it seems, these terms may be hid, or cannot be perceived by fome. But who are they? Why, only fuch as are loft-loft to all concern for themselves, all gratitude to God, all fense of virtue. As to all others, who have the eyes of their understanding enlightened, they see the reasonableness, the exceeding mercy, of the terms of reconciliation propofed in the gofpel: they find by experience, that the work of righteousness (as the prophet Isaiah fpeaks') is peace; and that the effect of righteoufnefs, is quietness and affurance for ever.

Having therefore made their peace with God by a fincere repentance; having received the gofpel with a full refolution to be governed by its laws; and laftly, being intent to fubdue their wills and affections to the will of God; having thefe teftimonies of their repentance, faith, and obedience, they find themfelves upon good grounds eafy; being truly freed from the tyranny of their corruptions, from the prevailing power of the devil, from the terrors of an evil confcience, from the wrath • Chap. xxxii. 17.