3. Consider the suitableness of this object; Christ's life, and the virtue of it, is most suitable to our condition. Thus I might apply Christ to every condition; if thou art sick, he is a Physician; if thou fearest death, he is the way, the truth, and the life; if thou art hungry, he is the bread of Life; if thou art thirsty, he is the water of Life: But not to insist on these words. It is the daily complaint of the best of Saints, O my sins! I had thought these sins had been wholly subdued, but now I feel they return upon me again; now I feel the springs in the bottom fill up my soul again; Oh I am weary of my self, and weary of my life, Oh what will become of me? In this case now Christ's life is most suitable, his righteousness is a continual righteousness; it is not a Cistern,1 but Fountain open for thee to wash in; as sin abounds, so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more. Christ's life in this respect, is compared to changes of Garments: Thou criest, O what shall become of me? Oh I feel new sins, and old sins committed afresh; why but these changes of garments will hide all thy sins:2 if thou art but clothed with the robes of Christ's righteousness, there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards thee of casting thee off, or of taking revenge upon any new occasion or fall into sin. Why here is the blessedness of all those that believe. Oh then believe! Say not, would Christ be incarnate for me? would he lead such a life on earth for my soul? Why yes, for thy soul: never speak of thy sins, as if they should be any hinderance of thy Faith. If the wicked that apply this righteousness presumptuously, can say, Let us sin that grace may abound, and so they make no other use of Grace, but to run in debt, and to sin with a licence; how much rather mayest thou say on good ground, Oh let me believe! Oh let me own my portion in this righteousness of Christ! that as my sins have abounded, so my love may abound; that as my sins have been exceeding great, so the Lord may be exceeding sweet; that as my sins continue and increase, so my thankfulness to Christ, and glory in God, and triumph over sin, death, and the grave, may also increase. Why thus be encouraged to believe thy part in the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Consider the suitableness of this object; Christ's life, and the virtue of it, is most suitable to our condition. Thus I might apply Christ to every condition; if thou art sick, he is a Physitian; if thou fearest death, he is the way, the truth, and the life; if thou art hungry, he is the bread of Life; if thou art thirsty, he is the water of Life: But not to insist on these words. It is the daily complaint of the best of Saints, O my sins! I had thought these sins had been wholly subdued, but now I feel they return upon me again; now I feel the springs in the bottom fill up my soul again; Oh I am weary of my self, and weary of my life, Oh what will become of me? In this case now Christ's life is most sutable, his righteousness is a continual righteousness; it is not a Cistern,1 but Fountain open for thee to wash in; as sin abounds, so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more. Christ's life in this respect, is compared to changes of Garments: Thou criest, O what shall become of me? Oh I feel new sins, and old sins committed afresh; why but these changes of garments will hide all thy sins:2 if thou art but cloathed with the robes of Christ's righteousness, there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards thee of casting thee off, or of taking revenge upon any new occasion or fall into sin. Why here is the blessedness of all those that believe. Oh then believe! Say not, would Christ be incarnate for me? would he lead such a life on earth for my soul? Why yes, for thy soul: never speak of thy sins, as if they should be any hinderance of thy Faith. If the wicked that apply this righteousness presumptiously, can say, Let us sin that grace may abound, and so they make no other use of Grace, but to run in debt, and to sin with a licence; how much rather mayest thou say on good ground, Oh let me believe! Oh let me own my portion in this righteousness of Christ! that as my sins have abounded, so my love may abound; that as my sins have been exceeding great, so the Lord may be exceeding sweet; that as my sins continue and encrease, so my thankfulness to Christ, and glory in God, and triumph over sin, death, and the grave, may also encrease. Why thus be encouraged to believe thy part in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1Zech. 13.1.
- 2Zech. 3.4.
