Doth God work Us for this thing ere he brings us to it? What hath God wrought hitherto upon Thee or Thee, in order to this end? 'Tis a blunt question, but the Text puts it in my mouth: How many Souls are there living in the profession of Christianity, that know not what this means, to have a work wrought on them (anew upon them) over and above what moral Honesty (which was Nature's portion) and the common profession of Christianity adds thereunto, by custom and mere Education. An honest Turk professing also and observing the Principles ⟨p. 343⟩of his Religion, upon the ground of his Education only (and a Religion every Man must have) will as soon go to Heaven as Thou; for all thy Religion is founded but upon the like Foundation that his is. I tell thee, that Christian Religion is not a thing so cheap; nor Salvation by Christ at so low a rate. Thou must have a Work upon thy Soul suited unto all the Truths, thus professed in the power and efficacy of them. They must enter thy Soul by a spiritual Faith and Frame, and mould it anew to a likeness to them. Carry home therefore the Caveat our Apostle hath put in ver. 3. If so be that being clothed, we be not founded naked of Grace and Holiness wrought, and Christ's Righteousness by spiritual efficacious Faith applied, (Faith in earnest) bowing the Soul to be obedient unto Christ, as heartily and as honestly, as it expects Salvation by Christ, as without which thou wilt never be saved. This is our Religion; and when at death thy Soul (thy poor lonesome Soul) being stripped of all things in this World; even the Body and all, shall come afore the great God, and Jesus Christ, what will the enquiry be? as Mat. 22. 11. When the King came in to see the Guests, he saw a Man had not the Wedding-garment; he spied him out: And ⟨p. 344⟩the Man was speechless, ver. 12. Take him and bind him, (says he) and cast him into utter darkness, ver. 13. The other that were clothed, were admitted unto the Marriage; and, (as the Psalmist, the words of which are here alluded unto) She was brought unto the King (the very Title which in both these places is given to Christ: see ver. 11.) in Raiment of Needle-work, and this clothing is of God's working; and so my Text falls in with both: There is no admission unto Christ without it—This the first Use.
Doth God work Us for this thing ere he brings us to it? What hath God wrought hitherto upon Thee or Thee, in order to this end? 'Tis a blunt question, but the Text puts it in my mouth: How many Souls are there living in the profession of Christianity, that know not what this means, to have a work wrought on them (anew upon them) over and above what moral Honesty (which was Nature's portion) and the common profession of Christianity adds thereunto, by custom and meer Education. An honest Turk professing also and observing the Principles ⟨p. 343⟩of his Religion, upon the ground of his Education onely (and a Religon every Man must have) will as soon go to Heaven as Thou; for all thy Religion is founded but upon the like Foundation that his is. I tell thee, that Christian Religion is not a thing so cheap; nor Salvation by Christ at so low a rate. Thou must have a Work upon thy Soul suited unto all the Truths, thus professed in the power and efficacy of them. They must enter thy Soul by a spiritual Faith and Frame, and mould it anew to a likeness to them. Carry home therefore the Caveat our Apostle hath put in ver. 3. If so be that being clothed, we be not founded naked of Grace and Holiness wrought, and Christ's Righteousness by spiritual efficacious Faith applied, (Faith in earnest) bowing the Soul to be obedient unto Christ, as heartily and as honestly, as it expects Salvation by Christ, as without which thou wilt never be saved. This is our Religion; and when at death thy Soul (thy poor lonesome Soul) being stript of all things in this World; even the Body and all, shall come afore the great God, and Jesus Christ, what will the enquiry be? as Mat. 22. 11. When the King came in to see the Guests, he saw a Man had not the Wedding-garment; he spied him out: And ⟨p. 344⟩the Man was speechless, ver. 12. Take him and bind him, (says he) and cast him into utter darkness, ver. 13. The other that were clothed, were admitted unto the Marriage; and, (as the Psalmist, the words of which are here alluded unto) She was brought unto the King (the very Title which in both these places is given to Christ: see ver. 11.) in Rayment of Needle-work, and this clothing is of God's working; and so my Text falls in with both: There is no admission unto Christ without it—This the first Ʋse.
