Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

If the avenging Law pursue him, he flies to Christ as a City of refuge, and there hides himself in the clefts of the rock, in the bleeding wounds of his Redeemer: here is faiths anchorhold, here he ventures his soul against all the curses of the Law. Deny himself to be a sinner, that he cannot, for his conscience is a thousand witnesses: oppose the cursing Law, that he dares not, for it is backed by an infinite justice; but he ventures all upon the merit and satisfaction of Christ: though in the night of desertion he may lye in a piteous condition, as the Levites Concubine, forced, and as it were dead with legal terrors; yet still his hand like hers, will be upon the threshold, upon Christ the door of salvation, till free-grace dawn and break in upon him: ⟨p. 101⟩without this resignation the soul can have no peace. Gardiner himself, being ready to dye, was willing to hear of a justification in the blood of Christ, nothing else could expiate the guilt of sin.

If the avenging Law pursue him, he slies to Christ as a City of refuge, and there hides himself in the clefts of the rock, in the bleeding wounds of his Redeemer: here is faiths anchorhold, here he ventures his soul against all the curses of the Law. Deny himself to be a sinner, that he cannot, for his conscience is a thousand witnesses: oppose the cursing Law, that he dares not, for it is backed by an infinite justice; but he ventures all upon the merit and satisfaction of Christ: though in the night of desertion he may lye in a piteous condition, as the Levites Concubine, forced, and as it were dead with legal terrors; yet still his hand like hers, will be upon the threshold, upon Christ the door of salvation, till free-grace dawn and break in upon him: ⟨p. 101⟩without this resignation the soul can have no peace. Gardiner himself, being ready to dye, was willing to hear of a justification in the blood of Christ, nothing else could expiate the guilt of sin.

Secondly, In and through the Mediator, this resignation is made unto God; It is God that justifieth. God as supreme Law-giver; the believer wraps up himself in the blood and righteousness of Christ, and so yields up himself unto God to be pardoned and justified. And in this resignation, the great attribute he leans on, is Gods grace: God is gracious, nay he hath riches of grace, such as no unworthiness of ours can exhaust; he hath glory of grace, such as no sinfulness can eclipse; he can abundantly pardon, or as it is in the Original, multiply to pardon,