this last duty seems to be required in order to the former and both in respect of the promises For the second particular the act here required 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not onely to go about a thing Luke 13.32 and to execute it 2 Cor. 8.6,11 but to finish and to adde the end to the beginning Phil. 1.6 And so here the Participle here used signifieth a profection with a tendency to a perfection As for the word perfection it is variously used and there is a manifold perfection spoken of among men one of profession and outward state among the Papists and so they will have their religious men especially those in orders to be termed perfect men if any will indulge them that honor and dignity and another of the inward state which we are here to understand that again is manifold one of sincerity and uprightness So King Hezekiah pleads for himself That he had walked before the Lord in truth and with a perfect heart Isai 38.3 But this perfection is not sufficient or always to be rested in 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned or sincere love of the Brethren See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently See 1 Thes 3.12 A second perfection there is of parts when all the several graces of Gods sanctifying spirit are found in a man This is conceived to be in every Convert or Believer But the truth thereof may be justly questioned for some want humility some meekness some patience and the like And why doth St. Peter command us to adde to our Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledge to Knowledge Temperance to Temperance Patience to Patience Godliness to Godliness Brotherly kindness to Brotherly kindness Love If we have all these at our first conversion 2 Pet. 1.5,6,7 A third is the perfection of degrees when holiness in a full degree is by us attained answerable to the Law of God And this is threefold according to a threefold estate or dispensation The first is of love to God above all and to our Neighbor as to our selves which is the sum and fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets to the putting down of all contrary dispositions This is a perfection enjoyned by the Apostle Col 3.14 and above all put on Love which is the Bond of perfection 1 Pet. 4.8 This is called perfectio viae and allowed of by all the Schoolmen The second is a greater perfection and power in all love and goodness when Christ in the power of his Resurrection ariseth in the Saints after they are wholly dead with him to sin Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted into Christ with the likeness of his death we shall also in the likeness of his Resurrection This is that which Paul saith he had not attained unto when he wrote to the Philippiane Chap. 3.11,12 And yet even then he was able to do all things viz. that were commanded through Christ which strengthens him Chap. 4.12,13 Howbeit he hoped for the other even while he was viator or in the body The third is perfectio patriae the highest perfection of the Saints of which the Apostle speaketh Heb. 12.23 And to the spirits of just men made perfect Here in the Text we understand the first of these three last named which is an imperfect estate gradually in comparison of the second as the second is being parallel'd with the third yet some there be who in this Text understand the second also which without doubt we should both hope for and pray for preparing our selves thereunto By the first perfection and by both the former we should seek after the third in all which the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled through Christ but according to several dispensations and degrees For in the first we have communion with Christ according to the flesh or in a lower and weaker way In the second with Christ according to the Spirit in a more lively and powerful way in the similitude of his Resurrection wherein he walked with his Disciples forty days upon Earth And in the third with Christ after his Ascension and Glorification yet the least of these is an holy Perfection For the persons to be engaged they are all those that have not yet attained to that state for he that made us without our selves will not save us without our best endeavors and concurrences we have also had a hand in fulfilling the measure of our disobedience and depravation and the Lord may justly engage us in the work of new obedience and the renewing of his Image and Kingdom in us as he doth here and elswhere frequently The whole Proposition or Doctrine then is this That those who would be made heirs and partakers of the Divine Promises must perfect the race of holy Obedience set before them and the holy Image of God which is to be renewed in them or they must put on that love which is the Bond of perfection and the fulfilling of the Law as hath been said Nor is our Apostle herein singular and precise above other his Fellow-ministers the Messengers of God nor goeth he higher then Christ himself did in his express Commands For as Moses witnesseth the Lord required this of Abraham the Father of the Believers Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared unto Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk thou before me and be persect And Deut. 10.12 Moses himself requireth as much of all Israel And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul And Levit 19.18 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self I am the Lord. And Deut. 18.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God So our Apostle 2 Cor. 13.9 And this we wish even your perfection Yea he injoyneth perfection unto them in his farewel Verse 11. Finally Brethren farewel Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you So Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection Jam. 1.4 But let patience have her perfect work in you that ye may be perfect and intire wanting nothing Chap. 2.8 If ye shall fulfil the Royal Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self you do well Yea Christ himself doth not onely commend love to God and men unto us as the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets Matth. 22.36,37,38,39 but he expresly commands us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Matth. 5.48 Nor is there less reason or equity for this part of the Charge and Condition then there was for the former For first God who is holy and love it self and perfect in
them that go backward rather then forward Revel 2.4,5 Nevertheless I have something against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art faln and do thy first works or I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Fourthly They are here condemned who expect the blessings of Gods Promises and Covenants and yet are so far from perfecting their Obedience and Sanctification that they never as yet did set one foot forward in that way to those the Lord speaketh Psal 50.16 What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behinde thee These although they haply call Christ their Lord and Saviour and plead that they have eaten and drank at his Table and that he hath taught in their streets yea that they have prophesied in his Name will have this answer returned by him Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know or own you not Matth. 7.24,25 Luke 13.26,27 For unto â—hose that are contentious and do not obey the â—ruth and obey unrighteousness shall be indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish upon overy soul that doth evil upon the Jew first and also upon the Gentile Rom. 2.8,9 Lastly This sharply smites all those of Michals spirit who was a mocker at Perfection as the name fignifieth viz. Who is perfect For she not onely despised David in her heart for wearing the embleme of Righteousness but for dancing and rejoycing before the Ark wherefore she is punished with barrenness as all they shall be with sterility of Grace who remain such scoffers of goodness and mockers of perfection see 2 Sam. 6.20,21,22,23 In the fourth place this Doctrine may serve for Exhortation First To those who have made some beginnings of progress towards Perfection that they be careful to proceed on in that way even unto Perfection Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection Moses witnesseth that the work of the Lord is perfect Deut. 32.4 And we are commanded to be perfect as he is perfect Matth. 5.48 The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 Wherefore let all that have obtained like precious Faith with the Apostle and Saints of God giving all diligence to add to their Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledge and to Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness Brotherly kindness and to Brotherly kindness Love for if these things be in you and abound they shall make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ See Revel 22.11 He that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy holy still Phil. 2.12 Wherefore my Beloved as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence onely but now much more in my absence work out your salvation with fear and trembling Heb. 6.11,12 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope unto the end That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Secondly To excite those who never yet begun any advance towards holiness to consider these things First Whether the Jewels held forth in the precedent Promises be not rich and precious merchandise and secondly at what price they must be purchased and had if we will have them for the Lord will speak here unto us as he did unto the Jews Zach. 11.12 If ye think good give me my price if not forbear And as the Lord did speak to some Matth. 20.6 Why stand ye here idle all the day So will he say to those Awake to righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Confider I pray you what a deal of business you have to do ere you can enjoy the Promises and how little time some of you may have to do it in And therefore pray with David Psal 39.13 O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more And with Moses Psal 90.12 So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Is it a time to receive money and to receive Garments and Olive-yards and Vineyards and Sheep and Oxen and Men-servants and Maid-servants 2 King 5.16 Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.14,15,16,17 Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor devise nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous as he is righteous he that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinned from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the work of the Devil 1 John 3.7,8 This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minde having their understanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them through the hardness of their hearts who being past feeling have given over themselves unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Christ That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old-man which is corrupt or destroying according to the deceitful lusts and be ye renewed in the spirit of your minde and that ye put on the new man which is created after the Image of God in righteousness and holiness of truth Ephes 4.17,18,19,20,21,22 In the last place This may serve for the comfort and encouragement of those that desire to obtain the Promises and apply themselves with all diligence to fulfil the Conditions of the same For first it is certain That the Conditions are feasible otherwise the Promises were made void Secondly Christ hath promised two things unto us of the greatest consequence and encouragemenâ—… First That if we finde our selves weary with striving against sin and heavy laden therewith that he will ease us by helping us to shake it off and remove it Secondly That we shall finde his yoke easie and his burden light onely he requireth of us That we should learn of him that he is lowly and meek and then we
holiness and love hath predestinated us to be made conformable unto the Image of his Son Rom. 8.29 Who is the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his person Heb. 1.3 And the genuine Son of the Father in Truth and Love 2 Epist John 3. Secondly He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1.4 Thirdly This holiness in love is that whereunto we are called 1 Thes 4.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness Col. 3.14 1 Pet. 4.8 Fourthly Holy love to God and men is that which we ow to him for his love unto us in Christ Psal 31.23 116.1 I love the Lord c. 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead 1 John 3. to 16. Fifthly It is through holiness and love that all sin must be overcome and buried in us Rom. 12.21 Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good 1 Pet. 4.8 And above all things have fervent love among your selves for love shall cover the multitude of sins yea all sins whatsoever as Solomon testifieth in these words Prov. 10.12 Hatred stirreth up strife but love covereth all sin and that in a burying way first or in mortification Sixthly The Law of God whose fulfiling and accomplishment standeth in love is established in Heaven for ever Psal 78.5,6,7,8 119.89 insomuch That Heaven and Earth shall sooner pass away then one jot or tittle of the Law shall go unfulfilled Matth. 5.18 Which fulfilling must be accomplished not onely by Christ for us but by him and us joyntly Also Matth. 3.15 For he saith unto John Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness Seventhly There is no other way left unto us in Christ that leadeth to life but the keeping of the Commandments through his grace and help Matth. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven Matth. 19,17 But if thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and enter through the Gates into the City Eightly God hath not left us destitute either of outward or inward means for the fulfilling and accomplishment of the Law and the love holiness and righteousness which it requireth For first as to outward means the Apostle speaks thus 2 Tim. 3.16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for redargution for correction and for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfected and throughly furnished unto all good works Eph. 4.11,12,13 And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ Till we all come in the unity of the Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And for inward means Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 And that as otherwife so that through his Grace and Spirit the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8,4 Ninthly God hath not onely promised to put his Law into our inward parts and to write it in our hearts Jere. 31.33,34 Ezek 36.25,26,27 but hath expresly engaged himself to work so much love in us as the Law any where requireth Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God shall circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou maist live Tenthly God is willing and ready to perfect his work unto the end Phil. 1.6,7 Eleventhly Christ hath not onely taught us to pray for a perfect obedience to Gods will in this Petition Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven but he himself who in all things was heard of his Father hath prayed for our perfection in love John 17.20,21,22,23 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us That the world may believe that thou hast sent me and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Lastly The work which God hath given us to do must be perfected and finished in this life See Eccles 9.10 Tit. 2.12 That we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed Hope c. Much more might be alleadged upon this accompt Sed Vivitur exigno si quis bene noverit uti Come we then to the Transposition and Application of this Proposition where first by way of Information we may learn these Consequents 1. That as the Spiritual Promises aforesaid are precious and sweet-conditioned Covenants so they are to flesh and blood without assisting Grace difficult and hard-conditioned Promises But our blessed Saviour told us aforehand Matth. 7.14 That strait is the way and narrow is the Gate which leadeth unto life and that there be few that enter in thereat as did also his Apostle Peter who saith 1 Pet. 4.18 That the righteous shall scarcely that is with much difficulty be saved where then shall the ungodly and sinner appear 2. We may observe what need we have of a Saviour that should be God as well as Man and that as in other regards so to redeem us from all iniquity and purifie or renew us unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 See also the end for which he gave himself not onely to sanctifie and wash us with water through the Word but also that he might present us to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrincle but that we should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Hence it is that Moses speaks thus Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the sheild of thine help and who is the sword of thine excellency Secondly By way of Redargution this first serves to controul their mistake who conceive that it is sufficient unto Salvation for us to be holy and religious with any kinde or in any degree of holiness For Paul speaks thus Gal. 3.3 Are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit are ye made perfect in
shall finde rest unto our souls See Matth. 11.28,29,30 Whereunto his beloved Disciple bears witness out of his own experience saying For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ 1 John 5.3,4,5 There is then no bar or let to the keeping of Gods Commandments but the wicked world of sin which may be overcome by Faith in the Son of God and then Gods Commandments shall not be grievous but delightful unto us For what is easier or more delightful then to love and therefore this burden of Christs which he lays upon us is both light and sweet in general Psal 19.10 also 119.103 There is nothing that unites us more closely to God then love Rom. 8.35,36,37,38 Nothing is stronger and more victorious Cant. 8.6,7 Nothing is crowned with more vertues nor more omnipotent in the Lord see 1 Cor. 13. throughout Thus of the Duty to be done Perfecting holiness now concerning the way wherein it is to be accomplished or acquired 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the fear of God Which words may be three ways understood First Of that Obedience to Gods Commandments which is commonly called The fear of God Psal 111.10 112.1 Eccles 12.13 In which way the Lord hath promised to make us an holy people Deut. 26.17,18,19 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his ways and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his Judgments and to hearken to his voice And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldst keep all his Commandments and to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made in praise in name and in honor that thou maist be an holy people unto the Lord thy God as he hath spoken Secondly The fear of God may be understood of a reverend and awful fear of Gods Righteousness and Judgments And so it is the posture we should always stand in while we are in our Christian race towards Perfection Phil. 2.12 Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Which fear when perfect love is come is set aside 1 Joh. 4.17,18 For perfect love casteth out fear Thirdly It may be taken for a filial or conjugal fear of God and his goodness Hos 3.5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days And this fear as it is love in some good measure and degree so it is the way to that perfect love which is the fulfiling of the Law For the beginning augmenting and perfecting whereof I crave leave to speak a word or two to my Reverend Brethren of the Ministry by way of Avisa from this Proviso And I hope that I may say with Paul That I my self also am perswaded of you my Brethren that ye also are full of goodness filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another Nevertheless I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort as putting you in minde because of the Grace that is given to me of God Rom. 15.14,15 It is not unknown to you how Phineas the son of Eleazer that is as the name imports Confidence of face in or from Gods help obtained the Covenant of Peace and of the Everlasting Priesthood to wit by slaying Cozbi the lie or lying nature of Sin and Zimri or that disposition that rejoyceth therein Num. 25.6,7 Psal 106.30,31 Nor that if we will be Gods mouth we must take away the precious from the vile Jere. 15.19 Nor that we must stand in the Council of the Lord ere we can practise and hear his words Jere. 23.18 and much more before we can turn men from the evil way and from the evil of their doings Verse 22. Yea that the Law of Truth was in Levi's mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips and that he walked with God in peace and equity when he turned many away from iniquity Mal. 2.6 Onely mine earnest Prayer to God for my self and you is That whereas the Spies and Searchers out of the promised Land were of different mindes and did in conclusion run two contrary courses Joshuah and Caleb following the Lord fully as himself testifieth Numb 14.24 and encouraging the people to obey the Lord to stand firm in the Faith and so to set upon their enemies with courage and hope of victory but the other ten degenerating from the Faith and Obedience of God and drawing thousands after them by their pretence of difficulties yea of impossibility to subdue the Canaanites and to take possession of the promised Inheritance That none of us may be found in the number of the last named but all of us in the first though the smalest number for our Saviour saith That little of this Faith that God will avenge his elect on their spiritual enemies shall be found upon the Earth at his coming Luke 18.6,7,8 And mine humble suit unto you all is first That seeing God giveth some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ that none of us discourage or retard the Saints in their progress by any pretended impossibility as those formerly did Eph. 4.10,11,12 Secondly Whereas Verse 14. the Apostle henceforth would have no men and muchless us to be children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the cunning craftiness of men whereby they lie in wait to deceive That we take heed that we suffer not the Authors whom we read to impose upon us in this or any other kinde To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to that it is because there is no light nor morning in them Isai 8.20 Thirdly To remember that the Apostle willeth that we speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ from whom the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body to the edifying of it self in love Ephes 4.15,16 For the end of the Law and Commandments is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and of faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.15 Fourthly That with St Paul we preach Christ in the Saints the Hope of Glory warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Colos 1.27,28 Fifthly That we pray earnestly under Hope for the perfecting of the Saints as the Apostles and holy Ministers of Christ did Eph. 3.14,21 Phil. 1.10 Colos 4.12 1 Thes 5.23 1 Pet. 5.10 Sixthly That neither the weak Brother may judge the strong nor the strong may despise the weak seeing we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 Finally Let us all follow the counsel of St. Peter 1 Pet. 5.1,2,3,4 and pray for one another as the Apostle doth Heb. 13.20,21 for there are many Adversaries FINIS