Therefore (to conclude) get your hearts and consciences distinctly and particularly satisfied in the all-sufficiency of worth and merit which is in the satisfaction that Christ hath made. As it is a fault and defect in humiliation, that men content themselves with a general apprehension and notion that they are sinners, and so never become throughly humbled; so is it a defect in their faith, that they content themselves with a superficial and general conceit, that Christ dyed for sinners; their hearts not being particularly satisfied about the transcendent all-sufficiency of his death. And thence it is, that in time of tentation, when their abounding sinfulness comes distinctly to be discovered to them, and charged upon them, they are then amazed, and their faith non-plust, as not seeing that in Christ, which might answer to all that sinfulness: But as God saw that in Christs death which satisfied him; so you should endeavour by faith to see that ⟨p. 41⟩worth in it which may satisfy God, and then your faith will sit down as satisfied also. If a man were to dispute for his life some hard and difficult controversy, wherein are many great and strong objections to be taken away; he would be sure to view, and study, and ponder all that might be said on that other part which he were to hold, in way of answer to them, and to get such a clear and convincing light, as might make the truth of his Position apparent and manifest through those clouds of objections that hang in the way. Now you will all be thus called one day, to dispute for your souls, (sooner or later) and therefore such skill you should endeavour to get, in Christs righteousness, how in its fullness and perfection it answereth to all your sinfulness; that your hearts may be able to oppose it against all that may be said of any particular, in or about your sins; that in all the conflicts of your spirits, you may see that in it, which could clear your whole score; and that if God would but be pleased to impute it to you, you might say, I durst presently come to an account with him, and cut scores with his Law and Justice.
Therefore (to conclude) get your hearts and consciences distinctly and particularly satisfied in the all-sufficiencie of worth and merit which is in the satisfaction that Christ hath made. As it is a fault and defect in humiliation, that men content themselves with a generall apprehension and notion that they are sinners, and so never become throughly humbled; so is it a defect in their faith, that they content themselves with a superficiall and generall conceit, that Christ dyed for sinners; their hearts not being particularly satisfied about the transcendent all-sufficiencie of his death. And thence it is, that in time of tentation, when their abounding sinfulnesse comes distinctly to be discovered to them, and charged upon them, they are then amazed, and their faith non-plust, as not seeing that in Christ, which might answer to all that sinfulnesse: But as God saw that in Christs death which satisfied him; so you should endeavour by faith to see that ⟨p. 41⟩worth in it which may satisfie God, and then your faith will sit down as satisfied also. If a man were to dispute for his life some hard and difficult controversie, wherein are many great and strong objections to be taken away; he would be sure to view, and study, and ponder all that might be said on that other part which he were to hold, in way of answer to them, and to get such a clear and convincing light, as might make the truth of his Position apparent and manifest through those clouds of objections that hang in the way. Now you will all be thus called one day, to dispute for your soules, (sooner or later) and therefore such skill you should endeavour to get, in Christs righteousnesse, how in its fulnesse and perfection it answereth to all your sinfulnesse; that your hearts may be able to oppose it against all that may be said of any particular, in or about your sins; that in all the conflicts of your spirits, you may see that in it, which could cleare your whole score; and that if God would but be pleased to impute it to you, you might say, I durst presently come to an account with him, and cut scores with his Law and Justice.
