the chiefeft good, and utmost end, by a right rule fet in the Word: and therefore often expreffed by Uprightness, and Sincerity. Every Soul that is clothed with the outward garment, the Garment of Righteoufnefs wrought for him; is alfo clothed with the inward Garment of Righteousness wrought in him; though all are not fo well clothed with it, as fome are; but in fome measure All are. For thefe two garments though they are diftinguished, yet they are always worn together, and never divided. Where Chrift is Righteoufnefs to the Soul, he hath wrought this Righteousness in the Soul. He that puts on Chrift, puts on The New Man, which after God, is created in righteousness, and true holiness, Eph. 4. 24. Hence it is, that when thofe, whofe Souls did profper, are faid to be righteous Persons, as Noah, Gen. 7. 1. Abel, Matth. 23. 35. Abraham, Ifa. 41. 2. Zachary and Elizabeth, Luk. 1. 6. And Lot, 2 Pet. 2. 8. his Soul is faid to be a righteous Soul. And when it is faid, That the righteous fhall fhine as the Sun in the firmament, Matth. 13. 43. And enter into Eternal Life, Matth. 25.46. We must understand it, that they were clothed with both these Garments, both that of Righteoufhefs wrought for them, and that of Righteoufnefs wrought in them. And whereas it is faid, 1 Cor. 6. 9, That no una P 2 righte

righteous perfon can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. We must understand it of those, who have not the double clothing of Righteousness: He that hath not both, hath neither And he that hath the one, hath the other. And fo far as a Man knows, that he is clothed with the One, fo far he knows that he is clothed with the Other: and he that questions either, will queftion both. He that is in doubt that he hath not the One, is in doubt that he hath not the Other. In the profecuting of this point, fomething had need to be faid to each of the four Particulars.

1. I shall shew what the garment of Righ teousness wrought in us, is; The materials whereof it is made.

2. I fhall fhew, that without this gar ment, whatever profeffion is made of intereft in that other Garment of Righteousness, which is wrought for us, the Soul cannot profper.

3. That the better the Soul is clothed with this garment, the more it doth, and the better it will profper.

4. Some Directions in reference to the clothing our felves with, and well using of this Garment.

(1.) What this Garment of Righteouf nefs wrought in us is, or the Materials whereof it is made. Ye may take this brief defcription of it.

It

It is that Heaven-born Principle of fpiritual life, which contains in it, the whole feed of God, the univerfal principle of godlinefs, enclining the heart ferioufly to endeavour, that every known truth may be heartily fubmitted unto; every gracious principle exercised, every corruption mortified, every duty performed, every infirmity bewailed, the converfation in all things rightly ordered, every Providence improved, and all as in the fight of God.

Ye fee this garment is made up of feveral pieces, I can do no lefs, and I fhall do more then fpeak a little to each of

them.

(1.) It is that Heaven-born principle of fpiritual life, which contains in it the univerfal principle of godlinefs. As Original fin is a univerfal principle of Corruption, levening throughout the whole lump of Man's nature: So this principle of Righteousness wrought in the Soul, graciously renews the whole Man, though not wholly, The new Creature is born at once, though it grows by steps and degrees: Therefore every one that thinks, or defires to be clothed with it, must put on the whole Armour of God, Eph. 6. 10. 2 Pet. 1. 5,6,7, Giving all diligence, add to your faith, vertue, &c. Col. 3. 12, 13, Put on as the elect of God,-bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meek

P 3

ness

nefs, long-fuffering, &c. That's health, when the whole Body thrives.

2. It is fuch a principle, as inclines the heart feriously to endeavour to fubmit to every known truth, though contrary to former apprehenfions, Act.11.18, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, &c. Joh. 1. 47,--Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Weigh it well, and I fuppofe you will find the reafon of it to be this, why Chrift so highly honours him. Philip came and told him, We have found the Meffiah. Nathaniel being poffeffed with prejudice, argues against it: Can any good thing come out of Galilee? Come, and fee, faith Philip; and he did fo. He took the right way to be informed: And notwithstanding his prejudice, is glad to find out the truth; and accordingly ac knowledged it. That Chrift indeed was the Meffiah. This was a Man in whom the Heaven-born principle wrought accor ding to its nature, endeavouring to fubmit to every known truth.

(3.) That every grace may be exercised in its feafon. Herein, as in all things else, it willingly complies with the whole Will of God, which when the principle is infufed, commands the exercife, Joh. 3. 23, And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jefus Chrift,

and

and love one another. It is the exercise of faith, and love that is there enjoyned.

(4.) Every Corruption mortified, Gal. 5. 24, They that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affection, and lusts. They are faid, To have done it, because it is part of their every days work.

(5.) Duties performed: Of our general Calling, what relates to the worship of God, fo as God may be served acceptably, Heb. 12. 28,-Let us have grace, whereby we may Serve God acceptably, with reverence, and godly fear. And Duties of our particular Calling, and that with diligence. The fame principle that inclines, To be fervent in Spirit, (in duties of worship) inclines not to be flothful in the bufinefs of our Calling, Rom. 12. 11. And not only with diligence, as fome are; They work hard, but do not pray hard. This is not diligence upon principles of Confcience. But this Heavenborn principle we are fpeaking of, inclines. to diligence, upon a Religious account, that we may abide with God, in our Calling, 1 Cor. 7. 24, Doing the work thereof heartily, as unto the Lord, Col. 3.23.

(6.) Conversation rightly ordered. When the root of it is in the heart, but the fruits of it are to be expreffed in our converfation, Phil. 1. 11, Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness, which are by Jefus Christ, P 4

&c.