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

and what easy terms are proposed to us, when the Death and Curse was only Christ's, and the sincere Obedience is all that is required to be ours? Doth it look up for the Spirit, the purchase of Christ's death? We well know where that is to be found: the more we walk in the holy Commands and ways of God, the more are we like to have of the gales and Divine comforts of it; while we are obeying and doing the Will of God, that Spirit will usher in assistances and Heavenly consolations upon us; to give us an experimental proof of that Promise, That the Holy Spirit is given to them that obey him: doth it look within the veil, to the Rivers of pleasures and plenitudes of joy in Heaven, where pious Souls see Truth in the original, and drink good at the Fountain head? Nothing is more obvious than this, that an holy Life is the true way thither; who can rationally think that he can carry the blots and turpitudes of an impure Life into such a place, or that any thing less than sincere Obedience can make him meet to enjoy God and holy Angels there? nothing can be more vain than such an imagination; as sure as Heaven is Heaven, an holy Life must be the way thither: Thus we see what a mighty influence Faith hath into Holiness; hence Ignatius saith, [Greek or Hebrew], Faith is the beginning of Life; ¹without Faith a Man cannot live an holy Life: And St. Austin calls Faith, Omnium Bonorum Fundamentum, ²The Foundation of all good things. So good a thing as an holy ⟨p. 404⟩Life cannot stand without it. A Fide (saith another) venitur ad bona opera; Unless we begin at Faith, we shall never come to an holy Life. To conclude this with that of the Apostle, Without Faith it is impossible to please God, Hebr. 11.6. Therefore without Faith it is impossible to lead an holy Life, which is very acceptable to him.

and what easie terms are proposed to us, when the Death and Curse was only Christ's, and the sincere Obedience is all that is required to be ours? Doth it look up for the Spirit, the purchase of Christ's death? We well know where that is to be found: the more we walk in the holy Commands and ways of God, the more are we like to have of the gales and Divine comforts of it; while we are obeying and doing the Will of God, that Spirit will usher in assistances and Heavenly consolations upon us; to give us an experimental proof of that Promise, That the Holy Spirit is given to them that obey him: doth it look within the vail, to the Rivers of pleasures and plenitudes of joy in Heaven, where pious Souls see Truth in the original, and drink good at the Fountain head? Nothing is more obvious than this, that an holy Life is the true way thither; who can rationally think that he can carry the blots and turpitudes of an impure Life into such a place, or that any thing less than sincere Obedience can make him meet to enjoy God and holy Angels there? nothing can be more vain than such an imagination; as sure as Heaven is Heaven, an holy Life must be the way thither: Thus we see what a mighty influence Faith hath into Holiness; hence Ignatius saith, , Faith is the beginning of Life;