SHALL say, the Lord is my God. Zech. xiii. 9. There's nothing almost more dangerous to Souls than this way, of fulfilling Conditions on our Part, that God may do his. It sets them so beside the way of Grace and free Promise for Righteousness and Strength, and leads them so naturally to the Bondage of the first Covenant, to seek Righteousness by the Works of the Law, as nothing can easily do it more. If there were no other Reason against the Use of the Word Condition, than that Frame of Spirit it tends to generate in Men, this were sufficient to lay it aside, at least as to a frequent Use.

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3. Directions for Conversion savour not of the Gospel, but have a disagreeable Sound They mean not, I presume, Directions for the Spirit of God to go by in converting Sinners: For he'll take his own Way, and perhaps not keep to their Directions. Do they mean then Directions for Sinners to convert themselves by? Is not this to take the Honour of that glorious Work from the Spirit, and to direct Men to take it into their own Hands. In Conversion the Spirit of God will lead Souls his Way, and bring the Blind by a Way they knew not, and lead them in Paths that they have not known, Isa. xlii. 16.; compare Jer: xxxi. 9. If it is only meant, Directions to Souls about Conversion, as, To wait for it under the Means, To pray for it in Christ's Name as a purchased Benefit for the Elect, To expect it to be altogether wrought upon and in them by the Holy Ghost. All this may be allowed. But Directions for Conversion is

for the Work itself.

Objection. This is to fall out about aWord, to contend about a Name. Answ. But that Name deceives Souls, and suggests Free-will and natural Power to their Minds. And when they read such Titles, they are ready to think, Here is some rare Expedient found, that they need continue unconverted no longer. It makes them seek to take the Work into their own Hands, which they should by Faith seek for from CHRIST and the Spirit. But let them know, The Work will not prosper till the Lord the Spirit has it in his Hand, and that Free Grace and Almighty Power must work all their Works in and for them (that they may come and bow thereto, and cast themselves thereon), which is hid from them by the Blind of the censured Phrase, Directions for Conversion. I have been longer in this Digres sion than I intended; therefore to conclude, and bring up all to my purpose, Tho' Exhortations may be stretched too far and mismanaged, and Motives too, ill chosen, and the like; yet this makes nothing against the Substance of the Doctrine before pleaded for, touching Exhortations to Sinners, and Motives proposed to them, in preaching the Gospel.

SECTION III. CHAP. I. Of the Extent of a Minister's Work in Preaching the Word.

THE

HE Doctrine of Christ Jesus the Lord holds the first Place, and is the Founda tion of all other Doctrines whatsoever. This is the Source and Foundation whence all the

Centre where all the
Yet this
Yet this very Thing
Variety of Truths to

Streams must flow; the Lines of Truth do meet. supposeth that there is a be insisted on. Howbeit, every Truth in the Place it holdeth in the Building and Harmony of Truths, growing up on the Foundation CHRIST. The Doctrine of the Person, Dispensation and Office of the Spirit the Comforter, holds the next Place to that of the Son, the Redeemer. The Grace and Love of the Spirit, and the Method he takes in his glorious Work, must be opened and set forth to Souls. Here now is a very large Field of DisCourse. Howbeit the Doctrine concerning Christ being that which the Spirit mainly worketh by, this is the Principal; whence we are called Ministers of Christ.

2. Again, When the Gospel hath been Preached, and a Number of Souls been brought to believe in any Place; the next Work in the Order of the Gospel to build an House for Jesus Christ, an Habitation for him by the Spirit to dwell in, even a Spiritual House, which is his People. Consequently, here is a large Field of Discourse again for the Ministers of the Word, to shew the Comings in, and goings out, the Form and Fashion, the Laws and Ordinances thereof, and how the several Members ought to walk therein towards God and Men, Ezek. xliii 11. And here,

3. The several Duties of Temperance, Righteousness, and Godliness, are to be explained and urged. Our Doctrinals must be accompanied and mixed with Practicals.

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Sometimes there may be Occasion to preach one Duty, and sometimes another.

4. Also to declare the righteous Judgment of God against Sin and Sinners, and to preach the Law for Gospel Ends is a Part of the Counsel of God that we are to make known. Divine Subjects that are to be handled by faithful Dispensers of the Word, who are willing to declare the whole Counsel of God, are very many. Acts xx. 20, 21. 27.

It is not my Design to prescribe unto or direct my Brethren in the Ministry, of whom I have more need to learn: But rather to make some People sensible, That the Compass of a Minister's Work is not so narrow as they are ready to take it; and that Ministers may not be beside their proper Work and Business, when they are not directly upon the Doctrine of the Person or Performances of Christ, so the Savour of CHRIST runs thro' their whole Doctrine. If indeed there are not some who make too great a Clamour even against a Necessary and Evangelical Preaching of Duty, and unduly censure those who run not in one single Strain according to their Fancy, then I confess I have spoken these Things into the Air. I know, there hath been too great an Occasion given to this Offence taken, which yet has on the other hand been carried too far.

It will be said, That Christ and Free Grace cannot be preached too much; and this Doctripe is more profitable than Preaching of Duty. I answer; When this is pressed to cry down or exclude the Doctrine of the Spirit and his Work; the Preaching of the Law in

subserviency to the Gospel; and of Duties to Believers; it is as if one should say, The Gos pel of John is so sweet and evangelical that a Man cannot read it too much. The Answer is, It is true, but a Man may read other Portions of Scripture too little. Neither can we preach Christ and free Grace too much, and it is this that brings Life and Refreshment to the Soul, and Strength for a spiritual Performance of Duty: Yet, I say, other Subjects are not to be neglected. We must fulfil (or make full Proof of our Ministry, in all the Parts of it, 2 Tim. iv. 5.

CHAP. II.

Of God's Eternal Love to, and Delight in, his Etect in Jesus Christ.

THE free Eternal Love of God is the first

Original and Well Head of our whole Salvation. He beheld his Elect in Christ with the highest Delight and Complacency from Everlasting. Howbeit, tho' his Good-will towards them, and his Delight in them, are not at all to be separated; yet perhaps they may be distinguished. His Delight then may be considered either in the Upper or Under-Fall way. In the First of these, They did not stand before him, such as they were in the First Adam, in a State of Innocency: But in Christ their Head, predestinated to the Adoption of Sons, and to a full Conformity unto the Son of God, even such as they shall be in the Heights of Glory, in the Kingdom of God All in All. Here were the Objects of God's