1. If God teach us this in the Sacraments of the New-Testament, this shows that it lies much upon the heart of God to strengthen our Faith in this particular, that it is safe appearing before God in Christs Righteousness: this shows that God is very careful that we may believe in Christ, if we see a man promise another an Estate, make an instrument of conveyance, sets his hand, and adds his Seal to it, we conclude that he desires to give him all manner of assurance, and would leave no room for doubting: so when we see God sending his servants to witness in his Name, that there is salvation in Christ; that he gives it under his hand, has left it upon Record in his Word, and adds also sensible signs for the establishment of our Faith, we may conclude that God is very careful to leave no room for doubting in this particular: his design is to put the thing out of all question: and certainly God would never thus busy himself to delude us, nor take such care to satisfy us in this particular, but that this is the very way of Salvation.
2. If this be the thing that God teaches us in the Sacraments of the New-Testament, then there are solemn ⟨p. 147⟩Ordinances founded upon this Doctrine of Salvation through the blood of Christ: this Doctrine is the foundation that these Ordinances are built upon: the design of these holy Ordinances is to be witnesses to us of our Redemption and Salvation by the blood of Christ: and indeed the Ordinance of the Ministry is founded upon the same bottom: if this Doctrine were not true, there had been no occasion for these Ordinances; as it was with the Sacraments of the Old Testament, they were seals of the righteousness of Faith; so are the Sacraments of the New-Testament: and certain it is, that all the Ordinances of God are built upon realities: who can imagine that God would appoint any Ordinance, that should be like the stock, that is the graven Image, a Doctrine of Vanities, Jer. 10.8. God delights in no Worship but what has a good foundation; in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him, in a religious attendance upon him while he is teaching us this Doctrine of salvation by the righteousness and blood of Christ: in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him in a religious acknowledgement of the truth of this Doctrine; and this would never be if the Doctrine were not infallibly true:
1. If God teach us this in the Sacraments of the New-Testament, this shews that it lies much upon the heart of God to strengthen our Faith in this particular, that it is safe appearing before God in Christs Righteousness: this shews that God is very careful that we may believe in Christ, if we see a man promise another an Estate, make an instrument of conveyance, sets his hand, and adds his Seal to it, we conclude that he desires to give him all manner of assurance, and would leave no room for doubting: so when we see God sending his servants to witness in his Name, that there is salvation in Christ; that he gives it under his hand, has left it upon Record in his Word, and adds also sensible signs for the establishment of our Faith, we may conclude that God is very careful to leave no room for doubting in this particular: his design is to put the thing out of all question: and certainly God would never thus busie himself to delude us, nor take such care to satisfie us in this particular, but that this is the very way of Salvation.
2. If this be the thing that God teaches us in the Sacraments of the New-Testament, then there are solemn ⟨p. 147⟩Ordinances founded upon this Doctrine of Salvation through the blood of Christ: this Doctrine is the foundation that these Ordinances are built upon: the design of these holy Ordinances is to be witnesses to us of our Redemption and Salvation by the blood of Christ: and indeed the Ordinance of the Ministry is founded upon the same bottom: if this Doctrine were not true, there had been no occasion for these Ordinances; as it was with the Sacraments of the Old Testament, they were seals of the righteousness of Faith; so are the Sacraments of the New-Testament: and certain it is, that all the Ordinances of God are built upon realities: who can imagine that God would appoint any Ordinance, that should be like the stock, that is the graven Image, a Doctrine of Vanities, Jer. 10.8. God delights in no Worship but what has a good foundation; in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him, in a religious attendance upon him while he is teaching us this Doctrine of salvation by the righteousness and blood of Christ: in the Sacraments God requires us to worship him in a religious acknowledgment of the truth of this Doctrine; and this would never be if the Doctrine were not infallibly true:
