Heaven Collection BV4831 .B4 1765

Who SHALL ENJOY THIS REST. 65 able burden upon him, and sees there is none but Christ can take it off. He perceives the law proclaims him a rebel, and none but Christ can make his peace. He is as a man pursued by a lion, that must perish, if he finds not a present sanctuary. He is now brought to this dilemma; either he must have Christ to justify him, or be eternally condemned ; have Christ to save him, or burn in hell for ever ; have Christ to bring him to God, or be shut out of his presence everlast- ingly. And no wonder if he cry, as the martyr, None but Christ, none but Chrfst." Not gold, but bread, will satisfy the hungry ; nor any thing but pardon will comfort the condemned. All things are counted but dung now, that he may win Christ ; and what was gain, he counts loss for Christ.(s) As the sinner sees his misery, and the inability of himself and all things to relieve him, so he perceives there is no saving mercy out of Christ. He sees, though the creature cannot, and himself cannot, yet Christ can. Though the fig - leaves of our own unrighteous righte- ousness are too short to cover our nakedness, yet the righteousness of Christ is large enough. Ours is dis- proportionate to the justice of the law, but Christ's extends to every tittle. If he intercede, there is no denial; such is the dignity of his person and the value of his merits, that the Father grants all he desires. Before, the sinner knew Christ's excellency, as a blind man knows the light of the sun ; but now, as one that beholds its glory. § 9. (5) After this deep conviction, the will disco- vers also its change. As for instance The sin which the understanding pronounces evil, the will turns from with abhorrence. Not that the sensitive appetite is changed, or any way made to abhor its object but when it would prevail against reason, and carry us to sin against God, instead of scripture being the rule, and reason the master, and sense the servant ; this disorder and evil the will abhors. The misery also 3 (s) Phil. iii. 7, 8.. I

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