2. It is the evidence of things not feen, 2 Cor. iv. 18. Whether they be, 1. Paft, as the Flood, the Deftruction of Sodom, deliverance from Egypt, &c. Chrift's Paffion, Resurrection, Afcen fion. 2. Present, as all the Mysteries of our Religion, the Trinity, Chrift's Divine Nature, Interceffion, God's Omniprefence, Omnipotence, &c. 3. Future. As, The Refurrection. Judgment. Heaven, Mat. xxv. 46. Epb. vi. 16. 2 PET. i. S. Add to your faith virtue. Hat are we to understand by Virtue? What I. Virtue fignifies, 1. Probity or goodness of Manners in general, the whole Duty of Man, the Art of doing good and living well. Ars ipfa bene recteq; vivendi virtus a veteribus definita eft. Aug. So it is taken, Phil. iv. 8. So fome understand it here for Virtue in general, the particulars being after named. In this fenfe the word implies, 1. That to our Faith we must add good Works, do well as well as believe well. They They are good Works, Jam. ii. 14, 18. 2. That we do because commanded, 1 Sam. XV. 22. 3. That we do to the glory of GOD, Mat. vi. I. 1 Cor. X. 31. 2. That we content not our felves with fome few good Works now and then, Mark vi. 20. Ats xxvi. 28, 29.. 3. But that we do all manner of good Works that we are commanded, Pfal. cxix. 6. Col. i. 10. Luke i. 6. 1. There is the fame reason for all, that there is for one. 2. He that doth not do all, doth none, Fam. ii. 10. 3. The want of one will ruin you as well as the want of all, Ezek. xviii. 30. II. By Virtue is commonly understood the habit of doing good. 1. Wherein doth it confift? Whereby, 3. Take pleasure in the doing of it, Prov. 2. Why should we have this habit of Virtue? 1. The Word fhould be engrafted in us, Jam. i. 21. 2. We should put on the new Man, Col. iii. 10. 2 Cor. v. 17. 3. Be transformed into the Image of Chrift, Rom. xii. 2. and rife with him, Rom. vi. 5, 6. 4. Without the habit the act will foon VOL. I. 5. No 5. Nothing is good or acceptable unto GOD, but what proceeds from a good Heart, and fo from the habit of Grace and Virtue, Luke viii. 15. Mat. vii. 18. 3. What must we do to get this habit of doing good? III. 1. Keep up within your felves a deep and conftant sense of your own infirmity, and inability to do good, 2 Cor. iii. 5. 1 Cor. ii. 18. 2. Beg of GOD his affiftance of you, Fam. i. 5. 3. Believe and truft on Chrift for GOD's anfwering your Prayers, and for fuch fupplies of Grace from him as may habituate you to goodnefs, John i. 16. Phil. iv. 12, 13. 4. Exercise your felves conftantly in doing good, Tim. iv. 7. Ats xxiv. 16. I 2 PET. i. 5. Irtue is taken for Fortitude and Valour, for Courage and Refolution in the ways of GOD, and good Works, 'Av♪çíçede, ngalaiõde, í Cor. xvi. 13. 1. Wherein doth Virtue in this sense especially confift? 1. In undertaking and performing whatsoever 1. Notwithstanding any difficulties that may hinder us in performing our Duty, I Cor. xvi. 9. 2. Notwithstanding the uncertainty of fuccefs in what we undertake, Dan. i. 12, 13, 18. Dan. iii. 16, 17, 18. 2. In undergoing whatfoever is laid upon us, Heb. xi. 35, 36, 37. 2 Tim. ii, 1, 2, 4. 3. In doing and fuffering this for GOD and Goodness fake, 1 Pet. iii. 14 and iv. 14, 16. a. How may we attain to fuch Virtue and Courage? 1. Be fenfible of your own weakness and infirmity, Rom. v. 6. 2 Cor. iii. 5. 2. Confider that it is GOD that commands any Duty from you, or lays any affliction upon you; he requ reth Virtue and Valour from you, 1 Chron. xxviii 9, 10. 3. Truft on GOD for his affiftance of you, Eph. vi. 10. Phil. iv. 13. Pfal lxxiii. 26. 4. Stedfaftly believe that GOD will be prefent with you, and affift you in whatsoever he lays upon you, or requireth from you, Deut. xx. 3, 4. 2 Kings vi. 15,16, 17. Pfal. xxvii. 1. 5. Confider and firmly believe that Chrift hath already gotten the Victory for us, and that nothing is now required of us, but that believing and adhering to him we may be Victors too, John xvi. 33. Rom. viii. 17. 6. Look ftill to the Recompence of Reward, and the Glory that attends true Virtue, and fpiritual Courage and Refolution, Heb. xii. 2. 1 Cor. xv. 58. 2 PET. i 5. And to virtue, knowledge. I. What is here meant by Knowledge? A right understanding of the things that belong to our eternal Salvation. Here is, 1. The general Nature of it; it is a right underítanding. That is, 1. Clear and diftinct, Rom. i. 21. Jer. iv. 22 I Cor. xiv. 20. 2. Practical and Experimental, Heb. v. 14. Pfal. xxxiv. 8. 1 Pet. ii. 3. 3. Sound and Orthodox, contrary to that ψευδώνυμο γνῶσις, ο Tim, vi. 20. μόρο qwols & grásews, Rom. ii. 20. Such as the Jews, and Gnofticks, and Hereticks pretend to, jud. 3. 2 Pet. ii. 1. 2. The Object, things neceffary to our Salvation, Luke xix. 41, 42. 1. Negatively. 1. Not fuch things as GOD hath hid from us, Deut. xxix 29. Ats i. 6,7. 2. Not fuch things as only concern others, 1 Theff. iv. 11. 3. Not things impertinent and unneceffary, 2 Tim. ii. 23. Tit. iii. 9. 4. Not fuch things as are above our Capacities,as the Trinity,Incarnation,&c. of which it is fufficient that we know them to be revealed, and fo believe them. 2. Pofitively. We fhould know fuch things as are neceffary to make us holy and happy, 1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. |