The Necefflty of Converfion. do "iYefl, Rom. I 3· 3, 4· He hamini/ter of God, a re. 'l)enger to execute.wrath on him tbat doth evil.. Now, fhould Chri11: favour the ungodly, (fo c-ontinuing,) and take.thofe to reign with him, that woti~d. non that he fhoutd· reigl:) over them, Lut I 9· '-7· this · were quite againft his office: He therefore' reigns, that he may put his ;enemies under his feet, I Cor. I 5'. 2. 5'. Now, lliould Ire lay them in his bofom, he. fhould crois the end of hii regal power~ .It belongs to Chrift, ~s.a King, to fubdue the hearts, and flay the lufts ofhts chofen, P(al. 45'. 5'. and 1 ro. 3. ·what king would take the reb.els, in open hoftility, into hisCourt? What were this, but to betray life, king.. dom, government, and all together? IfChrifl: bea King, he mull: have hotnage, honour, fubjeetion, . &c. Mal. r. 6. Now, to fave men while in theii· natur.al enn1ity, were toobfcure his dignity, lofehis aut~~rity, bring,contem;pt on.his government, 'lnd fell nts dear-bougnt.rights for nought. Again, As Chrift fhould not be a Prince, fo neither ·a Saviour; if he fhould do this; for his falva– tion is fpiritual: He is called·Jefus, be~aufe he faves his people from their fins, Mat. r. 2 r. fo that fhou1d he fave the1n in their fins~he ibould be neither Lord, nor Jefus. To fave men fron1 the puniibment, and not ti~om the power of fin, were to do his work by halves, and be an i1nperfetl: Saviour. Hisoffice, as the Deliverer, is, to turn a;'I!Jrty ungodli-nefs from Jacob, Rom 1 r. z.6. He u fent to ble{s men,' in turning th~n: . from their iniquities, Aet 3· 26. To make a·~ end of fin, · Dan. 9· 1.4. So that he iliould deftroy h1s own de· figns, and nullifie his offices, to fave men abiding in their unconverted eftate. . . Application, Arife then : What meanefr thou, 0 fleeper? Aw~ke, 0 fecure finner, left thou be con– fumed in thint! iniquiti~s. Say as the Le~ers?. !f w~ fitbere, we fhall d£~, 2. K1ng.7. 3,4. Veruy, lttsnot more •
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