on earth peace, and to men good will? And whether Faith, Hope, and Love, which ⟨p. 39⟩are the things which Christ will work on souls, be not more powerful to destroy your sins, than despair or discouragement of mind?
And because you complain so much of sin, I ask you, why doth not your conscience more accuse you of the sin of unthankful denying or extenuating the mercies of God, and no more magnifying them. And for overlooking so much the meritorious righteousness of Christ, while you complain for want of more of your own. I would not deceive you, by telling you that you need none in your self; and that all your righteousness is out of you in Christ: I know that your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, and that he that doth righteousness is righteous: But at what Bar or Tribunal? Only at that of Grace, which supposeth the Reconciling Pardoning Righteousness of Christ: it is not at the bar of Rigorous Justice, according to the Law, which requireth Innocence to Justification; there Christ only is your Righteousness; and you have none, and must dream of none but that which floweth from his, and stands in subordination to it, and is your title to it, and improvement of it, even your thankful accepting a free-given Saviour, Head and Lord, and Pardon and the Spirit to sanctify you more, and fit you for communion with God and for glory; esteem most, choose first, and seek most the love of God the Father, the Grace of Christ, and the Communion of the H. Ghost, and this subordinate righteousness will certainly prove the meritorious perfect righteousness of Christ to be for you, instead of a perfect righteousness ⟨p. 40⟩of your own. There is no defect in his Sacrifice or Merits; if you wanted a title to Christ, you were unjustified; but none wants that, who consenteth to his Covenant, as before: and that consent you cannot deny. Will you live like a forsaken Orphan exposed in a Wilderness, while Gods tender love is saving you, and Christ is glorying in you as the fruit of his blood, and the Angels of God are serving you, and rejoicing at your conversion? I entreat you think whether it be not the great work that God hath called you to, to honour his grace, and propagate to all about you, as you are able, a joyful, thankful, hoping and praising frame of soul; and to stir up all to the delightful praise of God?
on earth peace, and to men good will? And whether Fatih, Hope, and Love, which ⟨p. 39⟩are the things which Christ will work on souls, be not more powerful to destroy your sins, than despair or discouragement of mind?
And because you complain so much of sin, I ask you, why doth not your conscience more accuse you of the sin of unthankful denying or extenuating the mercies of God, and no more magnifying them. And for overlooking so much the meritorious righteousness of Christ, while you complain for want of more of your own. I would not deceive you, by telling you that you need none in your self; and that all your righteousness is out of you in Christ: I know that your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, and that he that doth righteousness is righteous: But at what Bar or Tribunal? Only at that of Grace, which supposeth the Reconciling Pardoning Righteousness of Christ: it is not at the bar of Rigorous Iustice, according to the Law, which requireth Innocence to Justification; there Christ only is your Righteousness; and you have none, and must dream of none but that which floweth from his, and stands in subordination to it, and is your title to it, and improvement of it, even your thankful accepting a free-given Saviour, Head and Lord, and Pardon and the Spirit to sanctifie you more, and fit you for communion with God and for glory; esteem most, chuse first, and seek most the love of God the Father, the Grace of Christ, and the Communion of the H. Ghost, and this subordinate righteousness will certainly prove the meritorious perfect righteousness of Christ to be for you, instead of a perfect righteousness ⟨p. 40⟩of your own. There is no defect in his Sacrisice or Merits; if you wanted a title to Christ, you were unjustified; but none wants that, who consenteth to his Covenant, as before: and that consent you cannot deny. Will you live like a forsaken Orphan exposed in a Wilderness, while Gods tender love is saving you, and Christ is glorying in you as the fruit of his blood, and the Angels of God are serving you, and rejoycing at your conversion? I entreat you think whether it be not the great work that God hath called you to, to honour his grace, and propagate to all about you, as you are able, a joyful, thankful, hoping and praising frame of soul; and to stir up all to the delightful praise of God?
