A Body of Practical Divinity

2. Use of Exhortation. Branch 1. Adore the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God to find out such a way to justify us, by rich Grace and precious Blood. We were all involved in Guilt, none of us could plead, Not Guilty; and being Guilty we lay under a Sentence of Death; now that the Judge himself should find out a way to justify us, and the Creditor himself contrive a way to have the Debt paid, and not distress the Debtor; this may fill us with Wonder and Love. The Angels admire the Mystery of Free-grace in this new way of Justifying and Saving lost Man, 1 Pet. 1.12. and should not we who are nearly concerned in it, and on whom the Benefit is devolved, cry out with the Apostle, [Greek or Hebrew], O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! &c.

2. Use of Exhortation. Branch 1. Adore the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God to find out such a way to justify us, by rich Grace and precious Bloud. We were all involved in Guilt, none of us could plead, Not Guilty; and being Guilty we lay under a Sentence of Death; now that the Judge himself should find out a way to justify us, and the Creditor himself contrive a way to have the Debt paid, and not distress the Debtor; this may fill us with Wonder and Love. The Angels admire the Mystery of Free-grace in this new way of Justifying and Saving lost Man, 1 Pet. 1.12. and should not we who are nearly concerned in it, and on whom the Benefit is devolved, cry out with the Apostle, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! &c.

Branch 2. Labour for this high Privilege of Justification: There is Balm in Gilead, Christ hath laid down the Price of our Justification, viz. His Blood, and he offers himself and all his Merits to us, to justify; he invites us to come to him, he hath promised to give his Spirit, to enable us to do what is required. Why then Sinners will ye not look after this great Privilege of Justification? Do not starve in the midst of Plenty; do not perish when there is a Remedy to save you. Would not he be thought to be distracted, if having a Pardon offered him only upon the Acknowledgement of his Fault, and promising Amendment, he should bid the Prince keep his Pardon to himself, for his part he was in love with his Chains and Fetters, and would dye? Thou who neglectest Justification offered thee freely by Christ in the Gospel, art this distracted Person. Is the Love of Christ to be slighted? Is thy Soul and Heaven worth nothing? O then look after Justification through Christ's Blood!