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FIRST then, I am to explain the word perfec

tion:

*

This word, when applied to a race, engagement, work, or building, means the finishing, or end of a thing. Thus Paul counted his life not dear unto himself if he might but finish bis course with joy; and when he was ready to be offered up, he said, I bave finished, that is, perfected my courfe + :Thus CHRIST also, a little before he fuffered, faith to the FATHER, I have finished the work which thou gaveft me to do:-And Mofes, fpeaking of the falvation of GOD, faith; his work is perfect: For, as Solomon teftifies, Whatfoever God doth shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor can any thing be taken from it: For that which is properly and abfolutely perfect, admits of no addition whatfoever. Therefore when CHRIST upon the cross had received the vinegar that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, he said it is finished, and bowing his head he gave up the Ghoft: And thus likewife in the days of the feventh angel's founding, he affures us, that the mystery of God fhall be finished.

But this word is not only used in a good but alfo in a bad fenfe, for that which is finifhed is perfect; whether it be of fin unto death, or of obedience unto life: When the iniquity of the Amorites was full, they were given up to destruction and when the Jews had filled up the measure of their fin, they were deftroyed without mercy: In which

τετέλεκα. + Compare Acts xx. 24. with 2 Tim. iv. 7.

which fenfe the Apoftle James affures us, that fin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Therefore perfection is fo far from meaning a finiefs ftate that it fometimes means the very reverfe of it; because it is the fulness or end of any thing whatfoever.. Sometimes this word is applied to feeds or plants growing in the earth; and then it denotes a full growth, or ripeness: Thus the hufbandman is faid immediately to put in his fickle to the corn when it is fully ripe; which ripenefs is its perfection:Hence the feed which fell among thorns, being choaked, brought forth no fruit unto perfection.

The Greek word for perfection in fome paffages of Scripture, means the orderly difpofition, fitting, or arrangement of parts, members, or perfons, in their proper place, ftate, and condition: Thus when the feveral members of one body, (whether in the body natural, in civil focieties, or in the Church of CHRIST) continue in their proper ftate and place, duly and severally performing their respective offices, for the mutual benefit and good of the whole, unto the edifying of itself in love; fuch a body is faid to be perfect: Or, when any one member is broken or disjointed, the reftoring of it to its natural state and office is its perfection. This is a perfection of parts; in which fenfe the man of GOD, that is a minifter of CHRIST, when he is completely furnished with gifts and qualifications both to teach, reprove, and exhort others, and to be an example to them in all things according to godlinefs,

See 1 Cor. i. 10, 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Gal. vi. 1. Eph. iv.12.

godliness, he is then faid to be perfed, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. This is a minifter's compleatnefs or perfection, for the thorough performance of the work of the miniftry in all things unto the glory of GOD; and the falvation of them that hear him: And the fpecial means of his being furnished with this grace and knowledge, is by diligently fearching and regarding the pure word of God; for this man fhall be bleffed in his deed.-The fame word is alfo ufed to denote the complete fitting up, or uniting together of the veffels of wrath prepared for deftrullion, as of feveral members compacted together, and fitly placed in one body: For verily they go hand in hand in iniquity, and are confederate together against GOD and his CHRIST; and therefore it is meet that they fhould be punished, and perifh together, for God is juft.

SECONDLY; I propofed to fhew wherein the perfection of a Chriftian, that is, of each believer in particular as a member of CHRIST, doth properly con fift.

From the Scripture I think it plainly appears that a Chriftian is therein faid to be perfect in three respects:

1. He is perfect in fincerity:

2. He is perfect in parts -And,

3. He is perfect in degree

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And

z Tim. iii. 17.

+ Rom. ix. 22.

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And, 1. It appears from Scripture that Sincerity in believers is a perfection: For the Hebrew, which correfponds with the Greek word for perfection, # muft in divers places be thus understood; there fore the tranflators have rendered it fincerity and integrity, hence an upright and a perfect heart | are one and the fame thing: In all thefe Scriptures, perfection as it means fincerity or uprightness, ftands opposed to deceit, guile, and hypocrify; or a real truth of grace, to a mere fhew of it. Thus a fincere believer is perfect, when oppofed to one that pretends to be a Chriftian, or is fo in appearance only. In like manner, the true Golpel of CHRIST is called the fincere milk of the word; as diftinguished from that which is adulterated with the falfe and corrupt gloffes of men.

-There is

then a perfection in fincerity, as it is diftinguished from, and opposed unto diffimulation and hypocrify; and this plainly fhews that the heart of every true believer is wholly upright, in whose spirit there is no guile: Sincerity therefore is a kind of perfection, which grace is in every one that is born of GOD. But,

2. The Chriftian hath a perfection of parts. He is a new creature, having no part or member lacking: Every Chriftian, as fuch, hath spiritual eyes to fee, and ears to hear, and feet to walk; as well

as

ΕΠΙ | τελειος. • Jos. xxiv. 14. + Gen. xx. 5, 6.
Kings ix. 4-1 Kings xv. 14.- -Ifa. xxxviii. 3.-
Prov. xi, 3.-Pfal, xviii. 23. xix. 13. xxxvii. 37.

as a heart to understand, and favour the things of GOD. The new man is not born blind, nor maimed; he is deficient in no one member whatsoever. Thus he is begotten of GOD by the word of truth, thro' the regenerating power of the HOLY GHOST; and is as to parts a perfect man: For, as Adum loft all God's moral image in his foul at once; fo to God's elect it is reftored in their fouls by regeneration at one and the fame inftant of time: and as the whole of the first Adam's likenefs is tranfmitted to his natural offspring at one and the fame, time; fo the spiritual likeness of CHRIST is at once formed in our fouls. The old man, is that which we receive from Adam, by natural generation and the new man, is that which we receive from CHRIST, by Spiritual regeneration: By the former, we bear the image of the earthly; and by the latter, the image of the heavenly. The perfon is the fame in both ftates; but the condition of the perfon is quite changed: The former fubjects us to the curfe and wrath of GOD; but by the latter, we become the fons of GOD, and are made meet for heaven. And that this change of fpirit, heart, and mind, is made at once, complete and perfect in every part, tho not in degree, is from Scripture abundantly manifeft. Thus every feed fown in the earth brings forth its entire nature and likeness, at one and the fame time; and by this means it continues to advance, and grów up together in every part, unto its full growth, maturity, and perfection: And thus it is with every Christian; M m 2

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