Sermons preached

II. I exhort you to apply and improve it to your particular Comfort. I shall speak 1. To the Careless. 2. To the Sensible.

1. To the Careless, who do not give diligence to make their Interest clear, that they may be able to say, I know that my Redeemer liveth. Some are contented, so they may be well in the World, and live in Peace, Credit, and Mirth here, but never look after an Interest in the Redeemer, or to get a sure Hope of a Sentence of Absolution from him at the last Day. They content themselves with a general Belief that Christ died for Sinners, and only make use of it for the Increase of their carnal Security, and Boldness in sinning. We must not only consider what Christ hath done, but what we are to do, that we may be Partakers of the Benefits. The general Work of Redemption Christ hath performed for us, without any Consent on our part; he took our Nature, fulfilled the Law, satisfied the Justice of God, merited Grace; but we must thankfully receive him, live in him and to him, before this is applied to us, or we can have the Comfort of it, 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2 Cor. 13. 5. They content themselves to think and hope well, but do not make it sure upon good Grounds. And when Questions and Scruples are raised in their Hearts, there is not a full hearing of ⟨p. 228⟩the Matter, the Court is broken up ere things are well determined; and so they run the Hazard of Uncertainty, and live and die, venturing their Souls upon the bare possibility of being saved, never put it out of doubt, nor assure their Hearts before God. 1. Joh. 3. 19.

1. To the Careless, who do not give diligence to make their Interest clear, that they may be able to say, I know that my Redeemer liveth. Some are contented, so they may be well in the World, and live in Peace, Credit, and Mirth here, but never look after an Interest in the Redeemer, or to get a sure Hope of a Sentence of Absolution from him at the last Day. They content themselves with a general Belief that Christ died for Sinners, and only make use of it for the Increase of their carnal Security, and Boldness in sinning. We must not only consider what Christ hath done, but what we are to do, that we may be Partakers of the Benefits. The general Work of Redemption Christ hath performed for us, without any Consent on our part; he took our Nature, fulfilled the Law, satisfied the Justice of God, merited Grace; but we must thankfully receive him, live in him and to him, before this is applied to us, or we can have the Comfort of it,