that do not expect it, nor make any Provifion for it. And it will be too late to confider what we have done, when we are brought into Judgment for it: And therefore let us take heed, watch and pray; for we know not when the time is, but in fuch an hour as we think not, the Son of man cometh, Mar. xiii. 33. Matth. xxiv. 44. Thirdly, THE Belief of the laft Judgment fhould deter us from cenfuring and judging others. There is one Judge of all, to whom every one of us fhall give an account. And it is a dangerous Prefumption in us to ufurp his Office, and judge our Brethren. Though we may reprove Men for their Sins, and account thofe that are guilty of open Crimes evil Perfons; yet we muft not aggravate any Man's Offences above his demerit, nor may we take things doubtful in the worft fenfe. And much lefs muft we fentence any to deftruction. For what power have we (faith St. Paul) to judge our brethren? or why should we fet at nought our brother? We shall all stand before the judgment feat of Chrift, Rom. xiv. 1o. Therefore let us judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifeft the counfels of the hearts, 1 Cor. iv. 5. Fourthly, THE Belief of the last Judgment may adminifter Hope and Comfort to the Righteous. For there is no condemnation to them who are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. viii. 1. Chrift himfelf, who fhall be our Judge, will be our Advocate to plead for us. And if he that redeemed us fhall juftifie us, who fhall lay any thing to our Charge? If he that intcrcedes for us fhall judge us, who fhail condemn us? For Chrift will not condemn thofe in the Day of Judgment, whom he hath already in the Gofpel abfolved. But they that believe in Chrift, and obey his Laws, have everlasting life, and fhall not come into condemnation, but are paffed from death unto life, Joh. v. 24. For as Chrift was once offered to bear the fins of many fo he shall appear the Second time unto the falvation of thofe that look for him, and are prepared for his coming. And therefore let us endeavour to pafs the time of our fojourning here in the Fear of God, that we may be counted worthy to escape the Wrath to come, and to ftand before the Son of Man. * T * CHAP. XX. HUS far of Chrift the Mediator of the New Covenant: Now follow the Benefits which Chrift hath procured by his Merits and Mediation; and those Benefits may be reduced to these Eight. I. Vocation. II. Juftification. III. Sanctification. IV. Chriftian Liberty. V. Perfeverence. VI. Affurance of Salvation. VII. Refurrection of the Dead. VIII. Life eternal. THE first Benefit which Chrift hath procured for us, is Vocation; which is a gracious Act of God, whereby he inviteth and exciteth us by his Word and T 3 Holy Holy Spirit to turn from our Sins unto him. The Caufe moving God to call us out of the State of Sin unto Holiness, is his free Mercy and good Pleafure in Chrift. For God hath faved us and called us with an holy Calling, not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpose and Grace, which was given us in Chrift Jefus before the World began; that is, he hath delivered us out of the Power of Satan, and from our vicious Courses, and called us unto Sanctity; not because we had deferved his Favour, but of his meer Mercy and Goodness defigned us in Chrift, 2 Tim. i. 10. There is nothing in us when we are holy that can merit any Bleffing from God; and much less could we oblige him, by any Act of ours, to beftow his Grace on us, when we were dead in Trefpaffes and Sins. But of his undeferved Kindnefs he affordeth us fufficient Means of Grace to convert us without any Condition pre-required on our Part. For we cannot will, nor do any good, until God calleth us by his Grace, and reformeth our Hearts. And confequently it is not any good thing in us, but the free Mercy of God in Chrift, which moveth him to call us out of Darkness into Light. THE Means whereby God calleth us unto Holiness are the Miniftry of his Word, and temporal Bleffings and Afflictions: For the Word of God is able to make us wife unto Salvation. And when this Word, by preaching, is rightly di vided, and preffed upon the Confcience, it is mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the ftrong Holds of Sin: And all faving Virtues are ordinarily wrought in us by the Word preached. And with the Word of God temporal Bleffings are Motives and Encouragements to Piety and Virtue; ་ Virtue: And every Affliction which we fuffer is a warning given us to repent. And by thefe external Means of Vocation, the Holy Spirit worketh in us that which is good, and turneth us from the Power of Satan unto God. The external Means are not fufficient of themselves to convert us without the Grace of God working with them. Nor are we able by the help of thefe Means to turn from our Sins unto God, unless he enableth us by his Grace. For our Will by Nature is corrupt, and free only unto Evil. And we cannot come unto Chrift, except the Father, which bath fent him, draw us, Joh. vi. 44. But the fift Grace whereby we are converted, is wholly God's Work in us. For it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleafuré, Phil. ii. 13. The Internal Grace, as well as the External Means of Vocation, are afforded unto all within the Church. For fince God hath made a gracious Covenant with us in Chrift, and requires Obedience from us, which we our felves are unable to perform, he hath freely engaged himself to afford us Grace neceffary to do what he commands, unless we thro' our own Default do forfeit this Favour. And 'tis certain that we have not forfeited the Grace adminiftred under the Gospel, by finning in Adam against the Old Law: For the Gospel was established, and a new Adminiftration of Grace was purchased by Chrift, fince the Old Law was tranfgreffed. And furely the Grace adminiftred under the Gofpel could not be forfeited by any Tranfgreffion committed before it was enacted. But God is ready to give to all of us Grace fufficient to keep the Covenant of the Gospel, unless we reject his Grace. For as T 4 God God will have all men to be faved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth: So he affordeth to all that know the Truth fufficient Means to obey it, * that they may be faved. And when Men are backward to feek their own Happiness; yet God defireth their Good, and exhorteth them to repent, and waiteth for their Amendment. And confequently he is willing to afford them Grace to amend. For without Grace there is no Poffibility for Sinners to repent and change the Course of their Lives. And 'tis not only a vain thing, but a moft cruel kind of Infultation to exhort those to forfake their Sins, who are no more able to do it, than one that is bound Hand and Foot can arife and walk, And fure 'tis far from the Nature and Goodness of God to require Men to do what is abfolutely impoffible, under Pain of Damnation, or to upbraid them for what they cannot help. But whom God exhorteth to Repentance, to those he offereth Grace fufficient to enable them to repent. And because God hath no pleafure in the death of him that dieth, but would have the wicked turn from his way and live, it must needs follow that God is ready to allow the Wicked all things neceflary to amend his Ways, that he may not die in them; fo that none is left under an abfolute Neceffity of perifhing. But tho' God giveth fome Men more Grace than others; yet he af fordeth to all fuch a Measure of Grace, as would enable them to do their Duty, if they were diligent to improve it. And the only Caufe why God denieth fome Men Grace, is becaufe they have abused what they have received, and continued ftill obftinate in their Sins. Bur when God calleth us by outward Means, and affordeth us inward Grace, fufficient to con |