!Looking unto ']Je(uS'. Book IV. 461 any Mould content themfdves with a prefentflock of grac~ ;_ Chrift is not as a ftream· tl~;, fails or as a channel that runs dry; Chrift ts not as water 1n adttch, wluch hath no llv– in~ fpringro feed it. no, 110; Cbrif!:isthefoumainoflife, be isthe chief ordinance of life tlJat ever Gbd fe; up. I know there are other means of Chrifls appointment, but if thou wilt Jive at the fpring, and drink in there, yea drink abundantly accor~ing to the overflowings ofthis fountain , 0 the life, and growth oflifethat would come m1 Oh tho venue of Chrilt's refurret'tion tbat ( Chrifi's Spirit meeting and afillling) would flow in– to thy foul for thy vi vificarion. Thus for directions . now forthe encouragemems of our faith to believe in Chri11:'l refurret'tion. ' · 1 • Conlider the excellency of this object. A fight ofChrifl iu bis beauty and glory would ravdh fouls, and draw them to run after him: the wife Merchant would not buy the pearl, till he knew it to be of excellent price; great thing> are eagerly fou~ht for; Chrill: raifed, ehrill: glvrified, is an excellent objet't; 0 w1JO would not fell all to buy this peul? who would not believe ? 2. conlider ofrhe power, venue, and influence Of this objet't into all that golden chaio ofpriviledges; ;fChrifl be not raifed, yot• areyet in your fins ; then they alfo which are fallen ajlecp in Chrift :m perij~ed. From the refur>et'tion of Chrift flows all tbofe pri- t Cor, 1 i· '78 vilcdges, even frvm juftification to falvation. The firft is clear, and therefore all 1 ' the reft. 3. Con!JJer that Chrif!"s refurret'tion and the effect> ofit are nothing unto us,. if w~ ·do not believe; ir isfaith that urings down the particular fweernefs and comforts of Chrift's refurre<'tion unto our fouls : it is faith that puts us in the actual poffefilon of Chrift's refurred ion ; wbatfoever Chrift is to us before fuirh, yet really we l1ave no benefit by·it unti.l we believe; it is faith that takes hold of all that Chrift bath done for us, and gives us the aL'I:ua\ enjoyment of it, oh let not the work ftick in us! what, is Chri\l rifen from rhe dead? and !hall we not eye this Chrilt, and rake him home to our h. , felves by faith? rhe Apo\He tells us that he that believed not, hath made God a lyer, be- 1 ]o · >• to.; ca~t{ehebe/ievtth not the rff:ord that God hathfiven of hi< Son: Unbelief bel yes God in all that he lmb done for us. 0 rake heed o this, without faith what are we better for Chrilt's rcfurret'tion. · 4, Confider of the tenders, offers, apparitions that Chrift raifed makes ofhimfelf to our fouls? when firlt he arofe (to confinn the faith of his Difciples be offers himfelf, and appears to Mary Magd•!en, to the other women, ro Peter, Thom&, and all the reft ; and all thofe apparitions were on this account that they might believe, ]oh. >9; 3<· thefe thmgs arcwritrm that ye might believ_e. I_n. like manner Chrift ar this day otrers htmfelf mrhe Gofpel of grace; and by );us Spmt he appears to fouls. Methinks we lhould nor hear a Sermon of Chrift's refurrection, but we fl10uld imagine as if we . faw him, whofe head and haires are whitelik<WQO/, M white M [now, whofe eyes are M ll.ev, 1 • 14 , 1 s. a flame of fi" ; whofe feet arc lik.e /Into fine brafs, M ifthey burned in a.furnace ; whofe voyce i< M thefonnd of many watcts: or if we are d-azled with his glory, rnethinks at lealt we 010uld hear his voy<:.e, as if he faid, fear not, I am the firfl and the l.jf, I am he that livctf,, and\\"as dead; and behold I a~ alivt for evermore. .Amen. q.d. Come 8 call: your fouls on me ; it isI that have conqilered lin, death, and hell for yoo. it is i ver.x 7 ' 1 ' that l»ve broke the ferpents bead, that have took away the fting of death, that have cancelled 1 be bond of the hand writing againft you, that have in "'Y hands a general acqumance and pardon of your fins; come, take it, take me, and rake all with me; fee your names wri:ten in t]Je aquittance, that I tender ; rake out the copy of it in yow: own hearts; only believe in him who is rifen again for :your juflificarion.-0 my foul what fayll rhou to this fiill fweet voyce of Cbri(l ? !hall he who is the Saviour of men, and glory of Angel< defire thee to believe, and wilt tb.ou not fay .Amen to lt? Oh how lhould I blame thee for thy unbelief? what afperfions doth tt calt on Chn:1? he barb done all things well, he hatb farisfied wrath, fullfilled the law, a.nd God lmh acc~tuttcd him, pronouncod him ju\l:, rairH is contented, he can defire no more ; but thou fay\l: by unbelief that Chrifl bath done nothing at all, unbelief pro- ~effeth ~bnft IS not dead, or at leaft not rifen from the dead; unbelief profeffeth that .JU!l:!Ce IS not farisfied, that no juflification is procured, that the wrath of God is now as ' open to de\l:•oy us 35 ever it was. Oh that Chrifr lhould be crucified again in our hearts by our unbelief ; con,e take Ch.rifl uoon his tenders and offers embrace him with both arrne;. ' • • ' B b b 2 SEC}.
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