Teaching us
Not all men, to whom the Gospel appears in its outward ministry;
for there are many who externally receive the Gospel, and profess
it, who are never influentially taught by it to deny sin, or love
holiness of life; they profess in words to know it, but in works
deny it; they have a form of godliness, but deny its power: but
the persons effectually taught by the Gospel are the "us", to
whom it was come, not in word only, but in power; and so taught
them, not only doctrinally, but with efficacy, both negative and
positive holiness, as follows:
that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts;
all impiety, or sin more immediately against God; or which is a
violation of the first table of the law, as idolatry, will
worship, superstition, perjury, and the like; and all sinful
lusts, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the
pride of life; which fill the world, and are reigning lusts in
it, and which are common to the men of the world; and they are
under the power of: to "deny" these, is to abhor and detest them,
and to abstain from them, and have nothing to do with them: and
this lesson of self-denial, or of the denial of sinful self, the
Gospel teaches, and urges upon the most powerful motives and
arguments; and when attended by the Spirit of God, does it
effectually: so that
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this
present
world;
not, only "temperately", but wisely and prudently, as children of
the light, on whom, and into whom the Gospel has shined; and
"righteously" among men, giving to every man his due, and dealing
with all according to the rules of equity and justice; as being
made new men, created unto righteousness and true holiness; and
as being dead to sin, through the death of Christ, and so living
unto righteousness, or in a righteous manner; and as being
justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel:
and "godly"; in a godly manner, according to the Word of God, and
agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both
public and private, and to the glory of God: and that as long as
in this present world:
which lies in wickedness, and in which there are so many strong
temptations to a contrary way of living. The Gospel then is no
licentious doctrine; it is according to godliness, and teaches
and promotes it; it is an holy faith, yea, a most holy faith;
wherefore it is a vile slander to charge it with leading to
looseness of life and conversation.