A Body of Practical Divinity

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!

Branch 2. Labour for this high Priviledge of Justification: There is Balm in Gilead, Christ hath laid down the Price of our Justification, viz. His Bloud, and he offers himself and all his Merits to us, to justifie; he invites us to come to him, he hath promised to give his Spirit, to inable us to do what is required. Why then Sinners will ye not look after this great Priviledge of Iustification? 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 Acknowledgment 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 Iustification 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 Iustification through Christ's Bloud!

Consider, 1. The necessity of being justified: If we are not justified, we cannot be glorified, Rom. 8.30. Whom he justified them he also glorified. He who is Outlawed, and all his Goods confiscated, must be brought into Favour with his Prince, before he can be restored to his former Rights and Liberties. So we must first have our Sins forgiven, and be brought into God's Favour by Justification, before we can be restored to the Liberty of the Sons of God, and have Right to that Happiness we forfeited in Adam.