The churches glory, or, The becoming ornament being a seasonable word, tending to the provoking, encouraging, and perfecting of holiness in believers ... : whereunto is added, A glasse for the unconverted ... as also, several articles of faith briefly laid down for the further establishment and confirming of the faithful / by Josias Bonham, sen. of Byfield in Northamptonshire.

CHAP. II. The Doctrine Propounded and Con∣firmed.

THe point of Doctrine, or Observati∣on, which doth offer it self to our Christian consideration from the words thus explicated, is briefly this:

Holiness is an Ornament ever becoming the people of God:

Or thus,

It ever becometh Gods people to be an Holy people.

This Doctrine is confirmed by such Scriptures as do shew the Grounds and Reasons why it ever becometh Gods peo∣ple to be an holy people: And the first ground I shall present to consideration, is this; because they do therein most re∣semble God their Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ their Elder Brother.

Paul to the Colossians gives this Exhor∣tation; Lye not one to another, seeing that ye

have put off the Old man with his deeds, and have put on the New man, which is renewed in knowledg after the Image of Him that Created him. The same Apostle in his E∣pistle to the Ephesians, gives the like Ex∣hortation; Put off saith he, concerning the former Conversation the Old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitful Lusts, and be renewed in the Spirit of your minde; and that ye put on the New man, which af∣ter God, is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness. In which words we may note:

First, That the Lord calls for a renew∣ed mind, and not only the mind, but also the whole man.

Secondly: The way in which this work of Renovation is wrought; and that is through a true and sanctified knowledge of God: Put on the New man which is renewed in Knowledge.

Thirdly: Here is the likeness or Image into which the New man is renewed, and that is after the Image of Him that Cre∣ated him after God, or the likeness of God.

Fourthly: Here is the particulars where∣in this Image or Resemblance of the New Creature unto the Creator, doth consist; and that is in Righteousness and true Ho∣liness.

Agreeable hereunto are the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians: But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord; So that Holiness doth most resemble the Image of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ; therefore it ever becometh the Lords people to be an holy people.

A second Ground and Reason why it e∣ver becometh Gods people to be an holy people, is, because God hath chosen them thereunto in Christ, before the foundati∣on of the world, as the Apostle teacheth the Ephesians; According (saith he) as he hath chosen us, in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and with∣out blame before him in Love. In this Scripture we may note these three parti∣culars.

First: God's choyce of his people.

Secondly: Upon what account this choyce is made; and that is, not our works foreseen, but Christ's merits, he hath chosen us in him.

Thirdly: To what end this choyce is made; and that is, that we should be ho∣ly, and without blame before him in Love. But if it be asked how hath God chosen

his people in his Son unto holiness before the foundation of the world? I Answer, God did from Eternity see the lost con∣dition of his people, through their trans∣gression of his Law; and their defaceing his Image of holiness, in which he did at first Create them: He also did foresee, and in himself purpose and decree a satis∣faction to his Justice, in and by Jesus Christ, his obedience to his just Law, which man had transgressed; and by his suffer∣ing death for sin in the same humane na∣ture that had sinned, that thereby a per∣fect Righteousness and Justification might be wrought for man-kinde, that all those who through grace, and the operations of the holy Spirit are in time brought over to believe in Jesus Christ, should be justi∣fied from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law, and sanctified to the obedience of Christ, and to acceptance with the Father through him. And so God beholding his people from Eternity, in that Righteousness that Christ by his perfect obedience to the Law, should in time obtain; and in that satisfaction which he should make to di∣vine Justice by his sufferings on the Cross: God also beholding his people in that work of Regeneration and Sanctification,

which in time Christ by his Spirit should work and effect in them, did accept and choose them in this means, to be a people to the praise and glory of his grace; in relation whereunto are these words of the Apostle to the Ephesians; For we are his Workmanship, saith he, Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be∣fore ordained that we should walk in them, Eph. 2.10. So that Gods people ought ever to be an holy people, because they are chosen thereunto from Eternity. And this is the second Reason.

A third Ground and Reason why it ever becometh God's people to be an holy peo∣ple, is, because they are called thereunto with an holy calling, as the Apostle to the Thessalonians saith; God hath not called us unto Ʋncleanness, but unto Holiness. The Apostle also writing to Timothy, speak∣ing in the words before of God, Who (saith he) hath saved us, and called us with an holy Calling, not according to our Works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. In these words we have the Lords act of saving his people, set forth unto us in two particulars: First, he Saved us. Secondly, he Called us; whereby the term Saved, I do apprehend that free and full

Redemption from Sin and the Wrath of God, due to man for sin, which Jesus Christ, the unspotted Lamb of God, hath by his perfect and unsinning obedience, wrought for Man-kind; for which obe∣dience sake, the Father doth give to his people a free and full Remission of their sins, with everlasting Salvation.

And by the term Called, I understand the operating power of Christ's Spirit, bringing persons into the way of Salvati∣on, and investing them with the holy Calling, whereby they may receive the priviledges of the Gospel; that is, Adop∣tion, Sanctification, and Justification, as John 1.12. 1 Cor. 6.11. which the Spi∣rit of Christ doth work either immedi∣atly, as in the Apostles, or more ordinari∣ly in the Ministry of the Word, plainly and purely set forth to the understanding, to the producing Faith, Regeneration, and Sanctification, whereby the Creature is called forth to walk with God in that way whereunto it hath pleased the Father to annex the promise of salvation, according to those words of the Apostle to the Thes∣salonians; But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren, beloved of the Lord; because God hath from the Beginning, chosen you to Salvation,

through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth. Believers therefore are the persons that are saved and called, not according to their works, but accor∣ding to the purpose and grace of God, given in Christ Jesus before the world be∣gan; so that mans works are no ways me∣ritorious of Salvation, nor any original ground of Gods love to man; but Justifi∣cation, Sanctification, and Glorification, together with all the means appertaining thereunto, are God's free gift to man up∣on the account of Jesus Christ; to the end, that man in a diligent improvement of the same, might bring forth the fruit of holiness to the praise & glory of his name; God hath called his people unto holiness, with an holy calling, therefore it becom∣eth them always to be an holy people, su∣table to their Call. And this is the third Reason.

A fourth Ground and Reason, why it e∣ver becometh God's people to be an holy people, is, because God hath enjoyned holiness upon his people by special com∣mand: The Lord said to the Children of Israel, to whom he had given his Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances: Sanctifie your selves therefore, and be ye holy, for I am the Lord your God, and ye shall keep my Sta∣tutes,

and do them, I am the Lord which sanctified you. As if he should have said, I am the Lord your God which have chosen you unto my self, to be an holy people; and to that end, I have sanctified unto you the means of holiness, therefore sanctifie your selves through a careful and diligent im∣provement of the means that you may be holy.

So the Apostle Peter gives the like ex∣hortation by vertue of the same command: But as he which hath called you, is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation, be∣cause it is written, be ye holy, for, I am ho∣ly, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16. So that God's peo∣ple are to be an holy people, because they are enjoyned thereunto by special com∣mand. And this is the fourth Reason.

A fifth Ground and Reason why it ever becometh God's people to be an holy peo∣ple, may be taken from the consideration of the beautifulness of holiness: It doth beautifie and adorn the Christian, and the Christian-profession; or the profession of Christianity. It is of great excellency to the advancement of God's glory, to the promoting of the Gospel, and to make Christian performances in the way there∣of delightful in the sight of God; and therefore the spirit of God by the Psalmist

hath this exhortation unto the Sons and Daughters of men: Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty; give unto the Lord the glory and strength; give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, Psal. 96.

A sixth Ground and Reason why it ever becometh God's people to be an holy peo∣ple, is, because they are a people unto whom God hath made exceeding great and precious promises, 2 Pet. 1.4.

The Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, makeing a recital of many excellent pro∣mises which God hath made to his people, as to dwell in them, and walk in them, to be a God unto them, and to accept them as a people unto himself, repeats an ex∣hortation laid down by the Prophet Isaiah, to come out, to be separate, and not to touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters, saith the Lord Al∣mighty: As if the Lord should say, my Di∣vine power and providence shall be over them for their protection; my Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel shall be in them by its influences and operations, to instruct them in the way of Life; My mercy shall be exercised in remission of their sins: The experiences of my Love shall reple∣nish

their hearts with consolation and sup∣port in time of trouble; My Righteous∣ness shall plead their cause, and right their wrongs against all their Oppressors: As a Father will I take care of them in this their present Pilgrimage, and interest them in an Heavenly and Everlasting Inheri∣tance, that it may be well with them for ever. Upon these and the like considera∣tions the Apostle groundeth this Exhorta∣tion. Having these promises (dearly be∣loved) let us cleanse our selves from all fil∣thiness of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1.

So that God's people are a people unto whom God hath freely given exceeding great and precious Promises; therefore it becometh them to be an Holy people: And so I shall proceed to some Considera∣tions by way of Application; only make a brief recital of the six particulars laid down for the proof of the point; namely, It ever becometh God's people to be an Holy people; and to be found therein, is matter of great concernment.

First, Because they do therein most re∣semble God their Heavenly Father.

Secondly: Because they are thereunto Elected in Christ from Eternity.

3dly: Because they are thereunto called with an Holy means or calling.

Fourthly: Because God hath enjoyned holiness upon his people by special Com∣mand.

Fifthly: Because holiness is a beautify¦ing Ornament unto a Christian and Chri¦stianity.

Sixthly: Because they are a people un¦to whom God hath made exceeding grea•••• and precious promises.

Notes

• The Doctrine.
• The first Reason grounded on Col. 3.9, 10.
• Ephe. 4.22, 23, 24.
• 2 Cor. 3.18.
• The se∣cond Reason grounded on Ephe. 1.4.
• Act. 13.
• The third Reas n grounded on 1 Thes. 4 7. 2 Tim, 1.9.
• Rom. 3.24, 25. Ephes. 1.5, 6, 7, 8.
• 2 Thes. 2.13.
• The forth Reason grounded on Levit. 20.7, 8.
• The fifth Reason is grounded on Psal. 29.1, 2.
• The sixth Reason is grounded on 2 Cor. 7.1.
• Esa. 52.12. 2 Cor. 6.17, 18.