est. He was upon any good before, though but apparent, and at best but external; Psal. iv. 6. Many say, who will shew us any good?" but now his interest and business is, how to “be found in Christ," in that day, Philip.iii. 9. or how to be forth-coming to him, and" walk before him in the light of the living," Psal. Ivi. 13. which he would choose among all the mercies that fill this earth; Psal. cxix. 64. "The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy, teach me thy statutes," The interest of Christ also becometh the man's interest, as appeareth in the song of Hannah, 1 Sam. ii. and in the song of Mary, Luke i. It is strange to see people newly converted, and having reached but the beginnings of knowledge, concern and interest themselves in the public matters of Christ's kingdom, so desirous to have him riding prosperously, and subduing the people under him.

2dly. The man that is in Christ, is renewed in the way of his worship. He was wont to "serve God in the oldness of the letter," for the fashion, answering the letter of the command in the outside of duty, which one in whom the old man hath absolute dominion can do ; but now he worshippeth God in newness of spirit, Rom. vii. 6. in a new way, wherein he is "helped by the spirit of God," Rom. viii. 26. beyond the reach of flesh and blood. He serveth now the true and living God," 1 Thess. 1. 9. "in spirit and in truth," John iv. 24. Having spiritual apprehensions of God, and engaged in his very soul in that work, doing and saying truly, and not feignedly when he worshippeth; still

desiring to approach unto him as a living God," who heareth and seeth him and can accept his service, Psal. xlii. 1, 2. I grant he fails of this many times; yet I may say, such worship he intendeth, and sometimes overtaketh, and doth not much reckon that worship which is not so performed unto God; and the iniquity of his holy things is not the least part of his burden and exercise. Such a worship natural men are strangers unto, whilst they babble out their vain glorious boastings, like the Pharisee, Luke xviii. 11, 12, "to an unknown God," Acts xviii. 23.

3dly. The man that is in Christ is renewed in the way of his outward calling and employment in the world; he now resolveth to be about it, because God hath commanded so; "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," Rom. xii. 11.; and to eye God in it as the last end, "doing it to his glory," 1 Cor. x. 31. and studieth to keep some intercourse with God in the exercise of his outward employments, as Jacob doth in his latter will. Gen. xlix. 18. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord;" and as Nehemiah did, Neh. ii. 4. "Then the king said unto me, for what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven;" so as the man resolveth to walk with God, and "set him always before him," Psal. xvi. 8. wherein I deny not he faileth often.

4thly. He becometh new in the way of his relations; he becometh a more dutiful husband, father, brother, master, servant, neighbour, &c. "Herein doth he exercise himself to keep a conscience void of offence towards men as well as

towards God," Acts xxiv. 16. "becoming all things to all men," 1 Cor. ix. 22.

5thly. He becometh new in the way of lawful liberties; he studieth to make use of meat, drink, sleep, recreations, apparel, with an eye to God, labouring not to come under the power of any lawful thing, 1 Cor. vi. 12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be, brought under the power of any ;' any;" nor to give offence to others in the use of these things, Rom. xiv. 20, 21. "For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offerce. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." Rom. xv. 2. "Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification; not using liberty as an occasion to the flesh," Gal. v. 13. Yea, he laboureth to use all these things as a stranger on earth, so as his moderation may appear, Philip. iv. 5. "Let your moderation be known unto all men." And some way he doth eye God as the last end in these things; 1 Cor. x. 31. doing all to the glory of God:" so as we may say of that man, "Old things are much passed away, all things are," in some measure, "become new," 2 Cor. v. 17. He that is so a new creature, is undoubtedly in Christ.

This renovation of a man in all manner of conversation, and this being under law to God in all things, is that "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," Heb. xii. 14. Men may fancy things to themselves, but unless they study

to approve themselves unto God in all wellpleasing, and reach some inward testimony of sincerity that way, they shall not assure their hearts before him. "The testimony of men's conscience is their rejoicing," 2 Cor. i. 12. "By this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments,' 1 John ii. 3, " and hereby

we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God," 1 John iii. 19, 20, 21. No confidence if the heart condemn. This is the new creature, having a principle of new spiritual live infused by God into the heart, whereby it becometh new, and putteth forth acts of new life throughout the whole man, as we have said, so as he pointeth towards the whole law. Towards these commands which forbid sin; so he resolveth to set against secret sins," not to lay a stumbling block before the blind," Lev. xix. 14. little sins, which are judged so by many, the least things of the law, Matth. v. 19. "Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:" spiritual sins, filthiness of the spirit; 2 Cor. vii. Î." Having therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Sins of omission as well as of commission, since men are to be judged by these, Matth. xxv. 41-45. "Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, depart

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from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink," &c. Yea, sins that are inbred into his natural humour and constitu tion, and so are as "a right eye or hand” to him; Matth. 5. 29. "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, &c. This new principle of life, by the good hand of God, maketh the man set against every known sin so far as not to allow peaceable abode to any known darkness; 2 Cor. vi. 14. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness ?" 2. As also he pointeth towards those commands which relate to duty, and the quickening of grace in man: it maketh a man "respect all God's known commands," Psal. cxix. 6.; to live godly, rightcously, and soberly," Titus ii. 12. yea, and to study a right and sincere way and manner of doing things, resolving not to give over this study of conformity to God's will, whilst he liveth on earth, but still to "press forward toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," Philip. iii. 13, 14. This is true holiness, very becoming all those who pretend to be heirs of that holy habitation, in the immediate company and fellowship of a holy God: 1 John iii. 3. "We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him.”

Some may think these things high attainments, and very hard to be attained: I grant it is true. But first, remember that there is a very large allowance in the covenant, promised to his peo