5. It informs us, how much Christians are to blame, that they improve their Christianity no more, to get Power and Strength against Sin. Christ, consider him as a Prophet, Priest, or King, doth still discover himself to be one that came to take away Sin. As a Prophet, he hath given us such a Doctrine as is fit for such an use. Joh. 17. 17. His Word is the best Glass wherein to see Corruption. The highest Motives in the World are propounded to purge it out. His Calls, Promises, and Threats are all to take away Sin. And as a Priest, he hath paid the Price that was necessary to preserve the Honour of God's Justice, that there might be no stop in the way of that abundant Grace, and that we may have the Gift of the Spirit, 1 Joh. 1. 7. Because his Blood was that meritorious Price, that was shed that we might be turned from Sin; and this Blood is pleaded before God, He lives for ever to make Intercession for you, that in all your Conflicts and Temptations you may have necessary strength against Sin. As a King, he doth powerfully by his Spirit maintain his Interest against the Devil, World, and Flesh, and helps you to overcome Sin. He is the Captain of your Salvation. Yet lamentable it is to see what a poor cowardly Spirit is in most Christians, how soon captivated with every slender Assault, and petty Temptation, and their Resolutions so soon shaken, not so much for want of Strength, as Sluggishness and Cowardice, and ⟨p. 64⟩want of Care. Men spare their pains, and then cry out they are impotent, when there is such Grace provided in the Redeemer. Like lazy Beggars, that personate and act Diseases because they would not work; they are not able to stand before the slightest Motions of Sin, because they do not stir up themselves and improve the Grace they have, or might have by Christ. Certainly idle Complaints of Sin will not become those that profess an Interest in Christ, for his main great Undertaking, which is by all Methods carried on still, is the taking away Sin. So much for the Information.
5. It informs us, how much Christians are to blame, that they improve their Christianity no more, to get Power and Strength against Sin. Christ, consider him as a Prophet, Priest, or King, doth still discover himself to be one that came to take away Sin. As a Prophet, he hath given us such a Doctrine as is fit for such an use. Ioh. 17. 17. His Word is the best Glass wherein to see Corruption. The highest Motives in the World are propounded to purge it out. His Calls, Promises, and Threats are all to take away Sin. And as a Priest, he hath paid the Price that was necessary to preserve the Honour of God's Justice, that there might be no stop in the way of that abundant Grace, and that we may have the Gift of the Spirit, 1 Ioh. 1. 7. Because his Blood was that meritorious Price, that was shed that we might be turned from Sin; and this Blood is pleaded before God, He lives for ever to make Intercession for you, that in all your Conflicts and Temptations you may have necessary strength against Sin. As a King, he doth powerfully by his Spirit maintain his Interest against the Devil, World, and Flesh, and helps you to overcome Sin. He is the Captain of your Salvation. Yet lamentable it is to see what a poor cowardly Spirit is in most Christians, how soon captivated with every slender Assault, and petty Temptation, and their Resolutions so soon shaken, not so much for want of Strength, as Sluggishness and Cowardise, and ⟨p. 64⟩want of Care. Men spare their pains, and then cry out they are impotent, when there is such Grace provided in the Redeemer. Like lazy Beggars, that personate and act Diseases because they would not work; they are not able to stand before the slightest Motions of Sin, because they do not stir up themselves and improve the Grace they have, or might have by Christ. Certainly idle Complaints of Sin will not become those that profess an Interest in Christ, for his main great Undertaking, which is by all Methods carried on still, is the taking away Sin. So much for the Information.
