a man comes to be in Christ the love of Christ doth bridle corruption it puts a mighty stop to it 2 Sin is contrary to the work of God upon the heart of a poor creature when he converts him to Jesus Christ 3. All sin is a transgression of Gods holy Law 1 Joh. 3.4 and that is a great matter 4 Sin is contrary to one great end of Christs coming which was to destroy the Works of the devil 1 John 3.5 Eph. 5 25.26 Titus 2.14 5 Sins of Believers harden natural men and embolden them in their sins when they see them that have knowledge and profess Religion to do such things 6 Christ that is our head is holy that is one of the Apostles Arguments why we should be holy 1 John 3.5 in him saith he is no sin in Christ your head O strive to be like him 7 God dwels among his people in an intimate way of presence Num. 5.1,2,3 There shall no uyclean thing be fomnd among you because the Lord dwels in the midst of you This is a strong Argument the hearts of Believers are as it were the presence Chamber of the King of Glory and shall not they be swept and clean 8 Sin is contrary to the use that Believers are designed to in the world they are to be lights of the world sin makes them but dark Lanthorns they are to be the salt of the earth to keep the world from stinking and putifying 9 God hath glory from others by the holiness of his people when they see our good works they glorifie our Father which is in he aven 10 Sin darkens the soul and hinders it in its communion with God There are some corruptions in the hearts of Believers that do exceedingly dismay them as if they would never be subdued Sons of Anak indeed that we and all our graces look but like grashoppers in comparison of those great Goliabs but God that at first infused such gracious qualities and habits when we were stark dead in trespasses and sins how easily can he subdue the strongest corruptions in our hearts that believe God that first converted Paul when he was in his ful speed against Christ can pluck out the thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12.7,8,9 He tels him that his Grace was sufficient for him There are many things that Believers should have in their eye as to holiness as 1 to avoid Temptation 2 Get sound Repentance for former sins which may prevent much sin for the future 3 Take heed to the word as our Rule in all our walkings Psal 119. 4 Pray servently and importunately against every lust 5 But above all act faith put forth your faith upon the Lord Jesus for the subduing of corruption the heart and so also the life is purified by faith in him Act. 15.9 It is not a mans resolutions and vows against sin it is not the austerity of the Papists it is not the doing of so many outward things that will kill a corruption in the heart but Christ believed on in the heart For by faith 1 we are ingraffed into Christ as our stock that so we may grow upon a new root that by faith as John 15.1,2,3,4,5 we are implanted into Christ Now as the Branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can we except we abide in him 2 By faith we get some hope and courage against sin that it shall be subdued and are freed from those fears that cut off endeavours and sink the soul 3 By Faith a soul is enabled to apply pleade and argue the promises that are made against the prevailing of sin in Believers of which sort there are many in the word as Jer. 31.31,32 Ezek. 36.26,27 Rom. 6.14 4 By faith we receive the Spirit from Christ which is he that can mortifie the deeds of the flesh the strongest corruptions in the world 5 Yea if we have not so much holiness in the outward bulk yet it gives much comfort to a soul when it finds that the little holiness he hath doth flow from union with Christ and that such a corruption was mortifyed meerly by faith in Christ CHAP. XVI Of the gathering of Believers into Church-fellowship 1. THis thing hath been wofully mistaken and neglected that there is no difference in most places between within and without between the Church and the World 2. It is the duty of all that can to joyn themselves to some Church of Saints for communion as Paul when he was converted assayed to join himself to the Disciples Act. 9. 3. We are not to stay to be put into Church-order by the Laws of the Magistrate seeing Christ who is the Head of the Church hath appointed the order of his House the first Churches embodied and walked in Church-fellowship when the Magistrate was against them and persecuted them usually those that stay while the Magistrate settles things in the Church will submit to any thing right or wrong that the Magistrate shall appoint 4. There are many Priviledges of Believers joyned in Church fellowship enjoying the Ordinances in Christs way and watching over one another comforting one another yea such a presence of God as we seldom find out of it hence it is said that in his Temple that is in his Church every one speaks of his Glory Psalm 29.9 God is known in Sions Palaces for a Refuge Psalm 48.2,3 I am like a green Tree in the House of God which House is his Church Psalm 52.8 In Judah is God known his Name is great in Israel in Salem also is his Tabernacle his dwelling place in Sion Psalm 76.1,2 Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they will be still praising thee They shall meet with such blessed communion with God Psalm 84.4 However those that are in Church-fellowship may not find all this through the deadness and formality of their hearts yet all this provision is in Gods House 5. There is no Rule for partaking of the Lords Supper but in Church-fellowship the Lords Table is to stand in his House which is a Church of Saints 6. To find out the way of Church fellowship and Gospel-order the way is not to go unto Antiquity unless we go as high as the Apostles dayes though something may be gathered to clear the Congregational way from the first centuries but afterwards superstition and ignorance came in like a Flood it hath been the time of the Beasts Raign and Satans being loose to deceive the Nations and therefore say not The former days were better then these what a dark mid-night was it in Wickliffs time 1371 and in John Husse's time when he was condemned who would frame things now according to the way of the professing party of the world in those times and what were the Bishops times when we were so overspread with superstition that as a godly man saith the Table was an Altar the Minister was a Priest and the Sacrament was a Sacrifice and there wanted nothing to be added