II. Together with this inward change of their persons, God changes also their state: For so soon as they are brought by faith into the covenant of grace, 1. He justifies them, by imputing unto them that perfect obedience which Christ gave to the law, and the satisfaction also which upon the cross, Christ gave unto justice in their name. 2. He reconciles them, and makes them friends to God, who were before enemies to God. 3. He adopts them, that they shall be no more children of Satan, but children of God, enriched with all the spiritual privileges of his sons. And, last of all, after their warfare in this life is ended, he perfects the holiness and blessedness, first of their souls at their death, and then both of their souls and their bodies, being joyfully joined together again in the resurrection, at the day of his glorious coming to judgment, when all the wicked shall be sent away to hell, with Satan whom they have served but Christ's own chosen and redeemed ones, true believers, students of holiness, shall remain with himself for ever, in the state of glorification.

:

THE

PRACTICAL USE

OF

SAVING KNOWLEDGE,

Contained in Scripture,

AND HELD FORTH BRIEFLY IN THE CONFESSION OF FAITH

AND CATECHISMS.

THE chief general use of Christian doctrine is, to convince a man of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, John xvi. 8. partly by the law or covenant of works, that he may be humbled and become penitent; and partly by the gospel, that he may become an unfeigned believer in Jesus Christ, and be strengthened in his faith upon solid grounds and warrants, and give evidence of the truth of his faith by good fruits, and so be saved.

The sum of the covenant of works, or of the law, is this: "If thou do all that is commanded, and not fail in any point, thou shalt be saved: but if thou fail, thou shalt Rom. x. 5. Gal. iii. 10, 12.

die."

The sum of the gospel, is this: "If thou flee from de"served wrath to the true Redeemer, Jesus Christ, (who is "able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through "him,) thou shalt not perish, but have eternal life." Rom. x. 8, 9, 11.

For convincing a man of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment by the law, or covenant of works, let these scriptures among many more be made use of.

I. For convincing a man of sin by the law, consider Jeremiah xvii. 9, 10.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who an know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Here the Lord teacheth these two things:

1. That the fountain of all our miscarriage, and actual sinning against God, is in the heart, which comprehendeth the mind, will, affections, and all the powers of the soul, as they are corrupted and defiled with original sin; the mind being not only ignorant and uncapable of saving truth, but also full of error and enmity against God, and the will and affections being obstinately disobedient unto all God's directions, and bent toward that only which is evil: "The "heart (saith he) is deceitful above all things, and despe"rately wicked;" yea, and unsearchably wicked, so that no man can know it. And Gen. vi. 5. Every imagination "of the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually,' saith the Lord, whose testimony we must trust in this and all other matters; and experience may also teach us, that, till God makes us deny ourselves, we never look to God in any thing, but fleshly self-interest alone doth rule us, and move all the wheels of our actions.

2. That the Lord bringeth our original sin, or wicked inclination, with all the actual fruits thereof, unto reckoning before his judgment-seat; "For he searcheth the heart, "and trieth the reins, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Hence let every man reason thus :

"What God and my guilty conscience beareth witness "of, I am convinced that it is true.

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"But God and my guilty conscience beareth witness, that my heart is deceitful above all things, and desperate"ly wicked; and that all the imaginations of my heart, by nature, are only evil continually.

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Therefore, I am convinced that this is true." Thus a man may be convinced of sin by the law.

II. For convincing a man of righteousness by the law, consider Gal. iii. 10.

As many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse : for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Here the apostle teacheth us three things:

1. That, by reason of our natural sinfulness, the impossibility of any man's being justified by the works of the law is so certain, that whosoever do seek justification by the works of the law, are liable to the curse of God for breaking of the law; "For as many as are of the works "of the law, are under the curse," saith he.

2. That, unto the perfect fulfilling of the law, the keeping of one or two of the precepts, or doing of some, or of all duties, (if it were possible,) for a time, is not sufficient; for the law requireth, that "a man continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

3. That, because no man can come up to this perfection, every man by nature is under the curse; for the law saith, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which *are written in the book of the law to do them."

Now, to be under the curse, comprehendeth all the displeasure of God, with the danger of the breaking forth more and more of his wrath upon soul and body, both in this life, and after death perpetually, if grace do not prevent the full execution thereof.

Hence let every man reason thus :

"Whosoever, according to the covenant of works, is liable to the curse of God, for breaking the law, times "and ways out of number, cannot be justified, or find right"eousness by works of the law.

"But I (may every man say) according to the covenant "of works, am liable to the curse of God, for breaking the law, times and ways out of number.

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Therefore, I cannot be justified, or have righteousness by the works of the law.'

Thus may a man be convinced of righteousness, that it is not to be had by his own works, or by the law.

III. For convincing a man of judgment by the law, consider 2 Thess. i. 7.

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, v. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: v. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; v. 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.

Wherein we are taught, that our Lord Jesus, who now offers to be Mediator for them who believe in him, shall, at the last day, come armed with flaming fire, to judge, condemn, and destroy all them who have not believed God, have not received the offer of grace made in the gospel, nor obeyed the doctrine thereof; but remain in their na tural state, under the law or covenant of works.

Hence let every man reason thus: