Ninthly and lastly: Their Evangelical keeping of all the commands of God consists in their sincere endeavour to keep them all; they put out themselves in all the ways and parts of obedience; they do not willingly and wittingly slight or neglect any Commandment, but are striving to conform themselves thereunto; as a Dutiful Son doth all his Fathers commands, at least in point of endeavour. So your sincere Christians make Conscience of keeping all the Commands of God, in respect of endeavours, Psal. 119. 59. I turned my feet unto thy Testimonies. God esteems of Evangelical Obedience, as perfect obedience; Zechariah had his failings, he did hesitate through unbelief, for which he was struck dumb; yet the Text tells you, That he walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless, Luk. 1. 6. Because he did cordially desire and endeavour to obey God in all things. Evangelical Obedience is true for the essence, though not perfect for the degree. A Child of God obeys all the Commands of God, in respect of his sincere desires, purposes, resolutions, and endeavours; and this God accepts in Christ for perfect and complete obedience. This is the glory of the Covenant of Grace, that God accepts and esteems of sincere obedience as perfect obedience. Such who sincerely endeavour to keep the whole Law of God, they do keep the whole Law of God in an Evangelical sense, though not in a legal sense. A sincere Christian is for the first Table as well as the second, and the second as well as the first; he doth not adhere to the first, and neglect the second, as Hypocrites do; neither doth he adhere to the second, and contemn the first, as profane men do. O Christians, for your support and comfort, know, that when your desires and endeavours are to do the Will of God entirely, as well in one thing as another, God will graciously pardon your failings, and pass by your imperfections. He will spare you as a man spareth his Son that serveth him, Mal. 3. 17. Though a Father see his Son to fail, and come short in many things which he enjoins him to do; yet knowing ⟨p. 54⟩that his desires and endeavours are to serve him, and please him to the full, he will not be rigid and severe with him, but will be indulgent to him, and will spare him, and pity him, and show all love and kindness to him. The Application is easy, &c.
Ninethly and lastly: Their Evangelical keeping of all the commands of God consists in their sincere endeavour to keep them all; they put out themselves in all the ways and parts of obedience; they do not willingly and wittingly slight or neglect any Commandement, but are striving to conform themselves thereunto; as a Dutiful Son doth all his Fathers commands, at least in point of endeavour. So your sincere Christians make Conscience of keeping all the Commands of God, in respect of endeavours, Psal. 119. 59. I turned my feet unto thy Testimonies. God esteems of Evangelical Obedience, as perfect obedience; Zacharias had his failings, he did hesitate through unbelief, for which he was struck dumb; yet the Text tells you, That he walked in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless, Luk. 1. 6. Because he did cordially desire and endeavour to obey God in all things. Evangelical Obedience is true for the essence, though not perfect for the degree. A Child of God obeys all the Commands of God, in respect of his sincere desires, purposes, resolutions, and endeavours; and this God accepts in Christ for perfect and compleat obedience. This is the glory of the Covenant of Grace, that God accepts and esteems of sincere obedience as perfect obedience. Such who sincerely endeavour to keep the whole Law of God, they do keep the whole Law of God in an Evangelical sense, though not in a legal sense. A sincere Christian is for the first Table as well as the second, and the second as well as the first; he doth not adhere to the first, and neglect the second, as Hypocrites do; neither doth he adhere to the second, and contemn the first, as prophane men do. O Christians, for your support and comfort, know, that when your desires and endeavours are to do the Will of God entirely, as well in one thing as another, God will graciously pardon your failings, and pass by your imperfections. He will spare you as a man spareth his Son that serveth him, Mal. 3. 17. Though a Father see his Son to fail, and come short in many things which he enjoyns him to do; yet knowing ⟨p. 54⟩that his desires and endeavours are to serve him, and please him to the full, he will not be rigid and severe with him, but will be indulgent to him, and will spare him, and pitty him, and shew all love and kindness to him. The Application is easie, &c.
