Page:Saints' duty in evil times (1).pdf/12

 we told you, that it would come more fitly in the second Head; yet, to make way for it, we proceed forward unto the third thing in the words. And now, having touched that a little, we return again, as we told you we purposed to do, and shall (as the Lord will enable) open the Second Head, further declaring, who are his people: to wit, 

These, as we were saying, who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice, to be accepted only thro’ the sacrifice of his Son, and who sacrifice away themselves unto him. In a word it is these who are righteous, and who live righteously. These who are righteous, are these who are fled unto Christ for his righteousness, and have gotten themselves clothed therewith. But that ye may the more clearly take up, who these are who come unto Christ; before we give you some marks of them, and some rules how to apply these marks, we shall so declare who it is that come not.

First, These come not unto Christ, who come not from all sin, Ezek. xviii. 21. ‘But if the wicked will turn from all sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die;’ Ye see the condition, it is if ye will turn from all sin, both omission and commission; from all sin, unto all duty; leaving all sin, and taking up all Christian duty. Therefore remember, if ye entertain any one idol that will keep Christ out. Many say of some idol sin, that they do not quit, as Lot said of Zoar, ‘It is a little one, therefore let me brook it,’ but remember what David says, ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart,’ the Lord will not hear me, Psal. lxvi. 18. Remember this, and destroy not yourselves, ye who follow not gross swearing, drinking or whoring, and the like, yet cleave unto your petty mincht oaths, and your idle vain discourse, and your light conversation. O remember ber