For the condition, that Christians are made partakers of by peace, is called _life_ in respect of that inward and permanent principle of the most perfect operations, wherein consists mans felicity, which is given unto all the faithfull. And it is called _glory_ in respect of the compleat happinesse, which flowes from that principle, and shall in its due time also appeare with outward splendour. _Use_ 1. This may serve to informe and instruct us, not to think meanely or contemptibly of the condition of faithfull Christians, but to judge aright according to the nature of the thing, _viz._ that the only life and chiefest glory is proper to them. 2. To exhort us, to preserve faith, grace, and Christian peace before all worldly things, yea, before this present life it selfe, and the glory thereof, because by our faith we shall obtaine a farre more perfect life and glory, according to that of Christ, _He that loseth his life, shall finde and obtaine a farre better life._ Doctrine 2. _Christian grace brings with it godlinesse and vertue._ For the same thing is called grace, which is the effect of Gods favour; it is called _godlinesse_, as it hath God for its object: and it is called _vertue_, as it perfects a man in operation. _Use_ 1. This may serve to instruct us, not to boast of the grace of God, unlesse we shew it by our godlinesse and vertue. 2. To reprove and condemne those, that either out of presumption or feined simulation, do either separate grace from godlinesse or grace from vertue, or vertue from either. Doctrine 3. _All things necessary unto life and godlinesse are given by God unto the faithfull._ Now to make a gift perfect 3 things are required. 1. That the gift which is given be made the receivers, or his to whom it is said to be given; for otherwise it is not a gift, or a thing actually given, but potentially only. 2. That it be made his absolutely or irrevocably, not conditionally, that the gift it selfe should depend upon a condition. 3. That the giver be moved for no other cause to give, but to shew and exercise his bounty and liberality: the more perfectly and purely these conditions are found in any gift, the more perfect and pure is the gift. Now all these do most exactly agree to those gifts of God, which pertaine unto life and godlinesse. As for example, Christ is said to be given for us, and also given unto us: the holy Ghost hath that name as it were appropriated unto him, that he is the gift of God: faith and repentance are expresly called the gift of God. _Vse_ 1. This may serve to instruct us, against the error of those, that will not take such like good things as a gift, but teach us that we must seeke for them by our own merits; for as the Apostle saith, _If of grace, then not by workes, for otherwise grace were not grace_: so may we also say; if of gift, then not by workes, for otherwise the gift would be no gift.