The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer

1. In sanctity: his was an holy life;¹ Which of you convinceth me of ⟨p. 276⟩§1sin? Though he was made sin, yet he knew no sin. The very devils acknowledged his holiness: we know thee who thou art, The holy One of God. Oh be like Christ; tread in his steps. In the Sacrament, we show forth the Lords death^*: And in an holy conversation we show forth his life. The holy oil, wherewith the Vessels of the Sanctuary were to be consecrated, was compounded of the purest ingredients^*, which was a Type and Emblem of that Sanctity which should rest upon the godly; their hearts and lives should be consecrated with the holy oil of the Spirit. How doth it discredit and as it were entomb the honour of religion when men profess they look for heaven, yet there is nothing of heaven in them; if there be light in the lantern, it will shine out: and if grace be in the heart, it will shine forth in the conversation. ⟨p. 277⟩It is a great sin in these times to be bewailed, the looseness of Professors: even those that we hope (by the rule of charity) have the sap of grace in their heart, yet do not give forth such a sweet savour in their lives: How many under the Notion of Christian Liberty, degenerate into Libertinism. The carriage of some that go for Saints is such, that it would make men afraid to embrace Religion. What Chrysostom saith of the Contentions of the Church in his time; (If, saith he, a Gentile should come and say, I would be made a Christian; yet when he sees such a spirit of Dissension among them; one of Paul, and another of Apollo, such are the diversity of opinions, that he knows not which to choose, but must return to his Gentilism again:) The same may I say of the looseness, if not scandals of some Professors; If a stranger ⟨p. 278⟩should come from beyond Sea, and see the miscarriages of many, their Covetousness, their Licentiousness; had he no other Bible to read in, but the lives of some Professors, he would turn back again, and resolve never to be made a Christian. Pudet haec opprobria nobis—. What a shame is this? Did Christ walk thus when he was upon earth? His life was a pattern of Sanctity! You that are Professors, your sins are sins of unkindness, they go nearest to Christs heart. Do you live as those who have hope of things to come? is Christ preparing Heaven for you, and are you preparing War against him? Is this your kindness to your friend?