A57963:274
Christ Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself
Christ dying and drawing sinners to himself, or, A survey of our Saviour in his soul-suffering, his loveliness in his death, and the efficacy thereof in which some cases of soul-trouble in week believers ... are opened ... delivered in sermons on the Evangel according to S. John Chap. XII, vers. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 ... / by Samuel Rutherford.Christ dying and drawing sinners to himself, or, A survey of our Saviour in his soule-suffering, his lovelynesse in his death, and the efficacie thereof in which some cases of soule-trouble in weeke beleevers ... are opened ... delivered in sermons on the Evangel according to S. John Chap. XII, vers. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 ... / by Samuel Rutherford.
London: printed by J.D. for Andrew Crooke, 1647
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
and to come to the sense and knowledge of justification, which either was from eternity, as some say; or when Christ dyed on the Cross, as others; or when we first take life in the womb, as a third sort dream: And 3. to be assured of our justification, are all one. And so to be justified by faith, 1should be, to be justified by works, which they in their conscience know, we are as far against, as any men. But they should remember, that the peace and comfort that the Saints extract out of their holy walking, is a far other peace, then that peace which is the natural issue of justification, of which Paul saith, Rom. 5.1. Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace [Greek or Hebrew] with God through Jesus Christ our Lord; and the peace that issueth from our holy walking; or at least, if they be the same peace, it comes not one and the same way. For 1. Peace which is the fruit of justification, is a peace in the court of God, as the peace that a broken man hath in the court of justice, when he knoweth his Surety hath payed the debts; he dare look Justice in the face without any war, having assurance that war is removed, and enmity with God cried down, and all sins are freely pardoned; the peace that issues from our holy walking is in the court of conscience, and sense of sincerity, and straightness of walking; and is grounded on holy walking, as on a secondary help; and if there were not some confidence, that the sinfulness of these works, are freely pardoned, there should be little ⟨p. 111⟩peace at all. 2. The former peace is immediately from pardon, that is the true cause of peace; the latter from signs, which dwell as neighbours with pardon; and is only peace, as it hath a necessary relation to pardon; and is resolved in some promise of God, and not as it is a work of our own: as hungering for Christ, as its not the ground of pardon, so its not the ground of peace that issueth from pardon; yet it is the ground of a comfortable word of promise, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. And the like, I say, of assurance, comfort, joy, that result from holy walking, and from justifying faith; we never placed good works in so eminent a place, as to ascribe these same effects to them, and to faith in Christ.