I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Thirdly, If our acceptance of duty, do not come in by the door of performance, but by another door, and that door is Christ; then a Godly man, hath no reason to be discouraged, though there be many failings in his performance. Now, all our acceptance of duty, comes in by Christ, because our Sacrifices, are mingled with Christs perfumes, Revel. 8. vers. 4. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints, ascended up before God, out of the Angels hand. Our prayers go unto God the Father, through the hand of Christ; did our prayers go immediately out of our own hands into the Fathers hand, we might have caus• to fear, but it goes by the hand of Christ; Christ takes it, and hath it into the pre•ence of God the Father. As it is with your soul, or your body when you die; through your body be crooked, or deformed, and your soul defiled, yet when you die, Christ meets your soul, and invests it with Glory, and so brings it into the presence of God the Father; so it is with your duty, your duty, it may be, deformed, defiled, or a crooked duty, but Christ meets your duty, and he clothes it with his Glory, and so hath it into the presence of God the Father; and thus it is with all the Saints, and people of God; surely then, though they have cause to be afflicted, by reason of their failing in duty, yet they have no reason at all, why they should be discouraged.

Thirdly, If our acceptance of duty, do not come in by the door of performance, but by another door, and that door is Christ; then a Godly man, hath no reason to be discouraged, though there be many failings in his performance. Now, al our acceptance of duty, comes in by Christ, because our Sacrifices, are mingled with Christs perfumes, Revel. 8. vers. 4. And the smoak of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints, ascended up before God, out of the Angels hand. Our prayers go unto God the Father, through the hand of Christ; did our prayers go immediatly out of our own hands into the Fathers hand, we might have caus• to fear, but it goes by the hand of Christ; Christ takes it, and hath it into the pre•ence of God the Father. As it is with your soul, or your body when you die; through your body be crooked, or deformed, and your soul defiled, yet when you die, Christ meets your soul, and invests it with Glory, and so brings it into the presence of God the Father; so it is with your duty, your duty, it may be, deformd, defiled, or a crooked duty, but Christ meetes your duty, and he clothes it with his Glory, and so hath it into the presence of God the Father; and thus it is with al the Saints, and people of God; surely then, though they have cause to be afflicted, by reason of their failing in duty, yet they have no reason at al, why they should be discouraged.