Gospel grounds and evidences of the faith of God's elect showingGospel grounds and evidences of the faith of God's elect shewing

HERE Unbelief hath prevailed with many in this latter Age to reject the Glory of God herein: But we have vindicated the Truth against them sufficiently elsewhere.

4. THERE are sundry things previously required, to give us a clear View of the Glory of God in this way of saving Sinners: Such are, a due Consideration of the Nature of the Fall of our first Parents, and of our Apostasy from God thereby. I may not stay here to show the Nature or Aggravations of them: Neither can we conceive them aright, much less express them. I only say, that unless we have due Apprehensions of the Dread and Terror of them, of the Invasion made on the Glory of God, and the Confusion brought on the Creation by them, we can never discern the Reason and Glory of rejecting the Way of Personal Righteousness, and the establishing this way of a Mediator for the saving of Sinners. A due Sense of our present infinite Distance from God, and the Impossibility that there is in our selves of making any Approaches unto him, is of the same Consideration; so likewise is that of our utter Disability to do any thing that may answer the Law, or the Holiness and Righteousness of God therein; of our universal Unconformity in our Natures, Hearts, and their Actings unto the Nature, Holiness and Will of God: Unless, I say, we have a sense of these things in our Minds, and upon our Consciences, we cannot believe aright, we cannot comprehend the Glory of this new way of Salvation. And whereas Mankind hath had a general Notion, though no distinct Apprehension of ⟨p. 10⟩these things, or of some of them, many amongst them have apprehended that there is a Necessity of some kind of Satisfaction or Atonement to be made, that Sinners may be freed from the Displeasure of God: But when God's way of it was proposed unto them, it was, and is generally rejected, because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God: But when these things are fixed on the Soul by sharp and durable Convictions, they will enlighten it with due Apprehensions of the Glory and Beauty of God's way of saving Sinners.

4. THERE are sundry things previously required, to give us a clear View of the Glory of God in this way of saving Sinners: Such are, a due Consideration of the Nature of the Fall of our first Parents, and of our Apostacy from God thereby. I may not stay here to shew the Nature or Aggravations of them: Neither can we conceive them aright, much less express them. I only say, that unless we have due Apprehensions of the Dread and Terrour of them, of the Invasion made on the Glory of God, and the Confusion brought on the Creation by them, we can never discern the Reason and Glory of rejecting the Way of Personal Righteousness, and the establishing this way of a Mediator for the saving of Sinners. A due Sense of our present infinite Distance from God, and the Impossibility that there is in our selves of making any Approaches unto him, is of the same Consideration; so likewise is that of our utter Disability to do any thing that may answer the Law, or the Holiness and Righteousness of God therein; of our universal Unconformity in our Natures, Hearts, and their Actings unto the Nature, Holiness and Will of God: Unless, I say, we have a sense of these things in our Minds, and upon our Consciences, we cannot believe aright, we cannot comprehend the Glory of this new way of Salvation. And whereas Mankind hath had a general Notion, though no distinct Apprehension of