An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

But these men defy you, ¹if you charge them with destroying the necessity of an holy life; for they tell us, Tat this universal Obedience and good Works (a suspicious word) are indispensably necessary, from the sovereign appointment and Will of God; this is the Will of ⟨p. 145⟩God, even our Sanctification: It is the Will of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost; it is the end of their Dispensation in the business of Salvation; it is the end of the Father's electing Love, Eph. 1.2. of the Son's redeeming Love, Tit. 2. and of the Spirit's sanctifying Love; it is necessary to the glory of them all: And are not these men mightily injured? Is it not great pity they should be so abused? But the truth is, all this is not one syllable to the purpose; for the Question was about its necessity to salvation; and if we be justified and saved without it, all this cannot prove any necessary obligation on us to the practice of it: God hath commanded Obedience, but where is the Sanction of this Law? Will he damn those who do not obey, for their disobedience, and save those who do, for their obedience? Not a word of this, for this destroys our Justification by Christ's Righteousness only; if after all those commands, God hath left it indifferent, whether we obey or not, Obedience is not necessary. And will the Father elect, and the Son redeem none but those who are holy, and reprobate all others? If we be elected and redeemed without any regard to our being holy, our Election and Redemption is secure, whether we be ⟨p. 146⟩holy or not; and so this cannot make holiness necessary on our part, though it may be necessary on God's to make us holy; but that is not our care; and how is Obedience for the glory of the Father, Son, and holy Spirit, when the necessity of holiness is destructive to free Grace, which is the only glory God designs by Christ.

But these men defie you, ¹if you charge them with destroying the necessity of an holy life; for they tell us, Tat this universal Obedience and good Works (a suspicious word) are indispensibly necessary, from the sovereign appointment and Will of God; this is the Will of