Full purpose of new obedience implies, that the true penitent resolves to turn immediately to the practice of every known duty required of him by his Lord and Master, without gainsaying; and that he will serve him in spirit and in truth.-Ps. cxix. 6, and li. 6; Phil. iii. 3; Ps. cxix. 60.

But this is not all. There must be some evidence that the sinner acts according to his purpose; there must be an endeavour after new obedience. This, however, does not imply that the true penitent can perform the obedience required of him; but that he is not discouraged from making the attempt, seeing this is commanded, and is done by the children of God. The cause of a sinner's turning unto God, is his being turned by God; and if he performs the obedience required, it is in the strength of grace promised to him, by which he is encouraged to make the attempt.-Phil. iii. 14; 2 Cor. xii. 9; Deut. xxxiii. 25.

The obedience which follows true repentance is new obedience; and it is so called for the following reasons:-1. It proceeds from new principles,-faith in the authority of the Lawgiver, and love to his service.-John xiv. 15. 2. It is influenced by new motives, which are the grace of God, and the love of his Son; higher than which no motives can be named.-Tit. ii. 11, &c.; 2 Cor. v. 14, &c. 3. It is performed in a new manner. Formerly, the sinner trusted in himself for strength to perform obedience; now, he does all in the strength of Christ. Formerly, he had no dependence on the grace of the covenant; now, he rests upon the covenant, doing all things through Christ strengthening him. Formerly, his obedience was forced; now, he delights in the law of God after the inward man. Formerly, his heart was not placed upon God; now, he serves the Lord with his whole heart.-Ps. cxix. 69. 4. It is directed to a new end. Formerly, the sinner had not-could not have the glory of God in view; but now, the glory of God is the ultimate end of his new obedience.-1 Cor. x. 31.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. That salvation is by grace. 2. That all need repentance, but that it is not genuine in all. 3. That sin is the object of Heaven's abhorrence. 4. The necessity of prayer for the gift of repentance. 5. That repentance must be habitual and universal. 6. The danger of impenitence; that all who continue impenitent shall perish.-Luke xiii. 3, 5.

SECT. 3.-OF THE DILIGENT USE OF THE MEANS OF GRACE, VIZ. :THE WORD OF GOD, THE SACRAMENTS, AND PRAYER.

Q. 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption ?

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ

communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer, all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,

1. That there are certain means of grace to be observed by the people of God. Acts ii. 42. "They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in

prayers.

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2. That the means of grace have been appointed by Christ. Matt. xxviii. 20.-"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.'

3. That the benefits of redemption are communicated by the means of grace. Eph. iv. 11, 12.-"He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

4. That the Word of God is a special means of grace. John xx. 31.-"These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye might have life through his name."

5. That the sacraments are special mean of grace. 1 Cor. x. 16.-"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?"

6. That prayer is a special means of grace. Mark xi. 24.— "What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

7. That the means of grace are, by the Spirit, rendered effectual to the salvation of God's people. 1 Thess. i. 5.-"The gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.' See also 1 Tim. iv. 16.

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 296.-The outward and ordinary means of grace are the ordinances or institutions of Christ.

A means, in general, is something which goes before the end in view; which end cannot be obtained if this something be neglected. A means of salvation, then, is that through which salvation flows into the soul from the God of salvation. It is something in which God exhibits himself with all that he is, and all that he hath. It is something, if we may so speak, which comes between God and the soul, in which the best interests of the soul are exhibited, and by which that is conveyed to the soul which is necessary for grace and glory.

The means of salvation are, the ordinances or institutions of Divine appointment, by which Christ communicates to sinners the benefits of redemption; and they have been distinguished into outward and inward means of grace. The outward means are, the Word, the sacraments, and prayer; and the inward means are, faith and repentance, and such like, and particularly the inward and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit. And these are necessary to accompany the outward means in order to salvation, and are wrought by their instrumentality.-Heb. iv. 2; Rom. x. 17. We may here remark, that what makes an ordinance a means of salvation, is just the Divine warrant-the appointment of Christ the King and Head of the Church. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

The ordinances are called ordinary means, to distinguish them from any thing extraordinary which may be in the salvation of any; but which we have no reason to expect, because we have no promise of this, and, consequently, no foundation on which our faith may rest, that it shall be so with us; or, in other words, they are called ordinary, because they are the stated method by which Christ communicates the benefits of his purchase to sinners of mankind. Rom. x. 14, &c.

The means of grace are called Christ's ordinances, because they are all instituted by him as the Head of the Church, and the King of Zion; and, consequently, they are to be observed in the Church until the end of the world.

Obs. 297.-The special means of grace are, the Word, the sacraments, and prayers.

1. The Word read and preached is a special means of salvation. Salvation must be heard of before it can be embraced; and in whatever way we hear of it, that way is doubtless a means of salvation. And if it be read or preached, the same blessings are exhibited; and the same God addresses us, and beseeches us to receive Christ for all the purposes of eternal life.-John xx. 31; 1 Pet. i. 23; John v. 39; Deut. xvii. 18-20; Acts xv. 21; Tim. iv. 2; James i. 21; Ácts x. 33. The reading of the Word is an ordinance of Divine institution which is most shamefully neglected, both in private and in public; notwithstanding that God has promised to accompany the reading of it with his blessing. How small a portion of the Scriptures is read in the course of a year, in most places of public worship! No wonder that so little good is done in the present time, when the divinely-inspired and life-giving oracles are thus neglected!

2. The sacraments, baptism and the Lord's supper, are special means of salvation. It must, however, be remembered, that they are not converting, but confirming and sealing ordinances. They represent to our senses what the Word represents to our faith; and they are designed to confirm and strengthen

our faith and the other graces of the Spirit. And they to whom they are administered (we speak particularly of the Lord's Supper) are supposed to have felt the powerful efficacy of the former means of salvation, viz., the reading and preaching of the Word. 3. Prayer is a special means of salvation. This is a peculiar mode of communion between Christ and the soul; and it brings home to one's self all the good which the Word exhibits, and which the sacraments represent.-Matt. xi. 24. Every one that is at all concerned about his best interests, will use this means, and that for ever,-not only until he know in whom he has believed, but until he actually come and appear before his God in his holy habitation.

Obs. 298.-The means of salvation instituted by Christ are made effectual to all the people of God.

The ordinances are made effectual to the elect for salvation.Acts ii. 47, and xiii. 48. That they are not made effectual to all for salvation, is evident both from the Word of God and from observation. The complaint of the ancient prophet (Isa. liii. 1), "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" was likewise made by Christ in the days of his flesh, and by the Apostle Paul, expressive of their sense of the disregard which is generally manifested to the means of salvation. And it has been the uniform complaint of the faithful im all ages, that the report of the servants of Christ has not been believed; the greater part walking in their own ways, unmindful of their best interests. But, although multitudes reject Christ, and finally neglect his great salvation, yet they have the offer of it, to show the infinite value of Christ's satisfaction-that in it there is enough for all, and that none are excluded who do not exclude themselves; and, at the same time, to render those the more inexcusable, who slight the precious privileges that are conferred upon them.

It must ever be remembered, that the ordinances of Christ's appointment have no efficacy in themselves. It is the divine Ulessing alone that can make them effectual to salvation. Without this, any heavenly institution would be but a dead letter, sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal. This happens in the case of too many, who rest merely in the form, without seeking after the power of godliness.

Obs. 299.-By the ordinances of his own appointment, Christ communicates to sinners the benefits of redemption.

By the benefits of redemption we are to understand all the blessings of Christ's purchase, which may be summed up in grace here and glory hereafter.-Ps. lxxxiv. 11. And, agreeably to Scripture, the communication of the benefits of redemption is here ascribed to Christ, who has every thing of this nature wholly at his own disposal; according to what he himself saith,—Luke Bb

xxii. 29, and Matt. xxviii. 18. This power Christ does not usurp; for of right it belongs to him, and that in consequence of the gift of the Father, John iii. 35; and also in consequence of his own purchase; and hence the benefits of redemption are called a purchased possession.-Eph. i. 14.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. How comfortless they are who have not the means of salvation; and that it is our duty to send these means where they are not. 2. That, as there are degrees of favour, so there will also be degrees of punishment. 3. The necessity of observing the ordinances of Christ, without which we cannot expect salvation. 4. That they who despise them are not in the way of salvation. 5. The peculiar importance of having them purely dispensed. 6. That something more is necessary than a mere formal observance of them.

DIV. 1.-OF THE WORD OF GOD AS A MEANS OF GRACE.

Effects of the Word of God.

Q, 89.—How is the Word made effectual tó Salvation? The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That the Holy Spirit alone makes the Word effectual to salvation. 1 Pet. i. 22.-"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit." See also 2 Cor. iii. 18.

2. That the reading of the Word is made an effectual means of convincing sinners. 2 Kings xxii. 10, 11.-"Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes."

3. That the reading of the Word is made an effectual means of converting sinners. Ps. xix. 7.-" The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."

4. That the reading of the Word is an effectual means of building up God's people in holiness. Acts xx. 32.-"I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified."

5. That the reading of the Word is an effectual means of comforting God's people. Rom. xv. 4.-" Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope."