An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Fourthly, To be a Saint is a denomination from our conformity to the will of God, as a rule of our lives. So that if you ask, What is it to be a Saint? It is ¹to be one born again by the Spirit of God, making the word of God to be the rule of all his actions. So that Gods Word must try, whether thou art a Saint, or no? not thy own thoughts, or the applause of others can make thee a Saint, but thy life regulated by Gods Word. The Papists cry up their Saint Francis, whom they equalize to Christ in many things; but his Saintship must be tried, not by his voluntary poverty, or strict observance of humane traditions, but by a consonancy to Gods Word. Thus who ever is cried up for a Saint, still we must examine, How doth the Word, and his life agree? Is he as it were a walking Bible? Doth he will what that wills, and nill what that nilleth? And this further also may inform us, That we are not to make a man a Saint, because of a particular opinion, in some way of Church-Government; as if none could be Saints, but of such an opinion. For the word Saint denoteth, One made holy by the Image of God restored in him; though he may differ from another Saint in a Church-way. For although it be our duty to study out the mind and will of Christ concerning Church-order, and with his Institutions only we may expect his gracious presence, yet such is the corruption and weakness upon the understandings of the best, that though Gods Spirit will lead them into all necessary truth, yet they may fail in some accessories, and so one Saint may differ from another, yea and write against another; though such things do prove, as Calvin said of Melanchthon's difference from him, Pessimi exempli, of very evil example, and confirm the adversaries of godliness in their dangerous prejudices against it.

Fourthly, To be a Saint is a denomination from our conformity to the will of God, as a rule of our lives. So that if you ask, What is it to be a Saint? It is ¹to be one born again by the Spirit of God, making the word of God to be the rule of all his actions. So that Gods Word must try, whether thou art a Saint, or no? not thy own thoughts, or the applause of others can make thee a Saint, but thy life regulated by Gods Word. The Papists cry up their Saint Francis, whom they equallize to Christ in many things; but his Saintship must be tried, not by his voluntary poverty, or strict observance of humane traditions, but by a consonancy to Gods Word. Thus who ever is cried up for a Saint, still we must examine, How doth the Word, and his life agree? Is he as it were a walking Bible? Doth he will what that wils, and nill what that nilleth? And this further also may inform us, That we are not to make a man a Saint, because of a particular opinion, in some way of Church-Government; as if none could be Saints, but of such an opinion. For the word Saint denoteth, One made holy by the Image of God restored in him; though he may differ from another Saint in a Church-way. For although it be our duty to study out the mind and will of Christ concerning Church-order, and with his Institutions only we may expect his gracious presence, yet such is the corruption and weakness upon the understandings of the best, that though Gods Spirit will lead them into all necessary truth, yet they may fail in some accessories, and so one Saint may differ from another, yea and write against another; though such things do prove, as Calvin said of Melancihons difference from him, Pessimi exempli, of very evil example, and confirm the adversaries of godliness in their dangerous prejudices against it.