Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

First, An Holy Life-issues out of Faith; an holy Life is virtually in Faith, and proceeds actually from it; Faith sees the commands of God to be, as they are, richly Engraven with the Stamps and Signatures of Divine purity and equity; such as Proclaim that God is in them of a truth, and that they are the very Counterpains of his Heart; and from hence ⟨p. 402⟩it presses the Believer unto obedience, and secretly dictates, that these are the very Will of God, and must be done; Thy word is very pure, therefore thy Servant loveth it: Saith David, Psal. 119.140. The Emphatical [therefore] in the Text cannot be practically understood by any thing but Faith; the Carnal Mind, which is enmity to God, would argue from the purity of the command to the hatred of it; but Faith, such is its Divine Genius, argues from thence to Love and Obedience. It doth not only point out the Divine Authority which is stamped upon the command, but show the purity and rectitude which is there to attract us into our duty; and that we may do it in a free filial manner. Faith derives a free Spirit from Christ to make obedience easy and natural to us; a Man with his old Heart drudges in the ways of God, and brings forth duties as the Bond-woman did her Son, in a dead Servile manner; but when Faith comes, the commands are easy; and the Will is upon the Wheel, ready to move sweetly and strongly in compliance thereunto: The Believer is Spirited and new Natured for Obedience; his Heart is in a posture to do the Will of God; every where Faith finds Arguments and Impulsives for it: Doth it look upon the Life of Christ? it immediately concludes, these are the steps of our dear Lord, and shall we not follow him? After whom shall we walk if not after him? It's true he walked in pure sinless perfection, such as we cannot reach; but the gracious Covenant hath stooped to our frailty, and made us sure that sincerity will be accepted, and how can we deny it, or refuse to comply with such condescending Grace? Doth it look upon Christs wounds and bloody Death? ⟨p. 403⟩these will cast shame and confusion upon an unholy life: May any one imagine that our Saviour bore the Curse and Wrath of God, that we might provoke it; or expiated our sins at so dear a rate, as his own Blood and Life, that we might indulge them? who sees not now that Sin is bloody, and holiness amiable?