THE PREFACE. I. PER ERHAPS the General Prejudice against Christian Perfection (the Subject of Many of the following Verfes) may chiefly arise from a Mifapprehenfion of the Nature of it. We willingly allow, and continually declare, there is No fuch: Perfection, in this Life,, as implies either a Difpenfation from Doing. Good and attending all the Ordinances of GOD; or a Freedom from Ignorance, Mistake, Temptation, and a Thousand Infirmities neceffarily ⚫ connected with Flesh and Blood, 2. First, we not only allow, but earnestly contend, (as for the Faith once deliver'd to the Saints) That there is no Perfection in this Life which implies any Difpenfation from attending All the Ordinances of GOD, or from doing Good unto All Men, while we have Time, tho' Specially unto the Houshold of Ah 2 Faith Faith. And whofoever they are who have taught otherwife, we are convinced are not taught of God. We dare not receive them, neither bid them GOD fpeed, least we be Partakers of their evil Deeds. We believe that not only the Babes in CHRIST, who have newly found Redemption in His Blood, but those alfo who are grown up unto Perfect Men, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of CHRIST, are indifpenfably obliged (and that they are obliged thereto, is their Glory and Crown of Rejoicing) as oft as they have Opportunity to eat Bread and drink Wine, in Remembrance of Him; To fearch the Scriptures; By Fafting (as well as Temperance) to keep their Bodies under, and bring them into Subjection; And above all, to pour out their Souls in Prayer, both Secretly and in the Great Congregation. 3. We, Secondly, believe, and therefore fpeak, and that unto All Men, and with much Affurance, That there is no fuch Perfection in If this Life, as implies an Entire De liverance, either from Ignorance or Mistake, in Things not effential to Salvation, or from manifold Temptations, or from numberlefs Infirmities, wherewith the Corruptible Body, more or lefs, preffes down the Soul. This is the fame thing which we have spoken from the beginning, any teach otherwise, they are not of us. We cannot find any Ground in Scripture to fuppofe, That any Inhabitant of an Houfe of Clay, is.. wholly exempt either from Bodily Infirmities, or from Ignorance of many things; or to imagine Any is Incapable of Miftake, or of falling into divers Temptations. No; the Difciple is not above his Mafter, nor the Servant above his LORD. It is enough that every one who is Perfect, fhall be as his Mafter. 4. But what then, it may be afked, Do you mean by One that is Perfect, or, One that is as his Maf ter? We mean, One in whom is the Mind which was in CHRIST, and who fo walketh as He walked; a Man A 3 that 1 1 that hath clean Hands and a pure Heart; or that is cleanfed from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit: One in whom there is no Occafion of fumbling, and who accordingly, doth not commit Sin. To declare this a little more particularly, we underftand by that Scriptural Expreffion a Perfect Man, One in whom GOD hath fulfilled His faithful Word, From all your Filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you I will alfo fave you from All your Uncleannelles. We understand hereby, One whom God hath San&tified throughout, even in Body, Soul and Spirit One who walketh in the Light, as He is in the Light, in whom is no Darkness at all; the Blood of JESUS CHRIST His Son, having cleanfed bim from all Sin. 5. This Man can now Teftify to all Mankind, I am crucified with CHRIST; nevertheless I live; yet I live not, but CHRIST liveth in me. He is Holy, as GOD who called him is Holy, both in Life and in all' manner of Converfation. He loveth the LORD |