Observe, Christians must ⟨p. 24⟩make God the pattern o• their holiness, and the Motive of their holiness; Holy as he is holy, there's our pattern; holy because he is holy, there's our motive; They must content themselves with no measure or degree of holiness, but forgetting the things that are behind, press still after further degrees of conformity unto God. These be not only Evangelical Counsels (as the Papists sottishly teach, that so upon this foundation they may build their Superstructure of merit and works of supererogation) but they be Evangelical precepts and commands, enjoined upon the great prerogative of divine filiation; and indeed flowing from it; 1that you may be the ⟨p. 25⟩children of your heavenly Father: there is no boasting of divine Son-ship, without conformity unto the divine nature: not that this conformity is the cause of our Son-ship, but the evidence, 2that you may be, i. e. that you may be known to be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: According to this tenor, run all the commands of the Gospel, perfect holiness in the fear of God: 3proving what that good and acceptable and derfect will of God is. Be perfect, 45be of good comfort, sincere without offence, filled with the fruits of righteousness. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest: 6whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, lovely, of good ⟨p. 26⟩report; if any virtue, if any praise, think on these things.
Observe, Christians must ⟨p. 24⟩make God the pattern o• their holiness, and the Motive of their holiness; Holy as he is holy, there's our pattern; holy because he is holy, ther's our motive; They must content themselves with no measure or degree of holiness, but forgetting the things that are behinde, presse still after further degrees of conformitie unto God. These be not onely Evangelicall Counsels (as the Papists sottishly teach, that so upon this foundation they may build their Superstructure of merit and works of supererrogation) but they be Evangelical precepts and commands, enjoyned upon the great prerogative of divine filiation; and indeed flowing from it; 1that you may be the ⟨p. 25⟩children of your heavenly Father: there is no boasting of divine Son-ship, without conformity unto the divine nature: not that this conformitie is the cause of our Son-ship, but the evidence, 2that you may be, i. e. that you may be known to be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: According to this tenor, run all the commands of the Gospel, perfect holiness in the fear of God: 3proving what that good and acceptable and derfect will of God is. Be perfect, 45be of good comfort, sincere without offence, filled with the fruits of righteousness. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest: 6whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, lovely, of good ⟨p. 26⟩report; if any vertue, if any praise, think on these things.
- 1Matth. 5.45.
- 2Tunc dicitur saepe aliquid esse quum esse intelligitur, Beza in loc.
- 32 Cor. 7.1
- 4Ro. 12.1, 2
- 52 Cor. 13.11. Phil. 1.10, 11.
- 6chap. 4.8.
