Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

508 Zach. I 3· J. Z.ach. 3· 4· Book. IV. Lookinguntofe{us. Cbap.5. Sett.5 cut out ofthe Sun, and put upon us, how glorious lhould we be? 0 but the righteoufneffe- ofChrif1: is much more o!orious. no wonder if the Church cloathed with the Sun tread rh~ mocne ~nder her fw (i .) iflhe trample on all fublunary things, which are ·uncerraioe and changeable as the ~oone.; I count all things but dung ((a1th Ptutl) that I may wm Cbrifl; and be found in him not ha-ving my own righteou{ntjfe which is ofthe law, but that which it through t/;e j,1ith of Chrifl, tf.,e rigktfeufmiJe which is of God bj filith. When Paul compares Chrifis righteoufneife with tbe glory of the world, then is the world but dung' 0 the glory ! 0 ,the excelkncy of the righteoufnetfe of (_ hrifll 3. Confider the fuit)lblenctfe of this objet!· ; Chrifis life, and the venue of it, is moft fuitable to our condiC:on ; Thus I might apply Chrifl,co every c~ndition, if thou art fick he is a Phyfitian; if thou fearcft death ,he 1~ the way, the truth, at~d thelife; if thou art hungry, he is the bread of life; if thou art thirfiy, he is the water oflife; but not to infift on thefe words. It is the dayly complaint of the' bef1: ofSaints, 0 my Jinnes ! I had thought thefe fi'nnes had been wholly fubdued, but now I fee!e they returne upon me againe, now I feele the fprings in the bottome fill up my foul againe, Oh I am weary ofmyJrlfe, and weary o(my life, oh wh11t will become ofme ? in this cafe now Chrifis life is mo£1: fuitable, his righteoufnetfe, is a continual righteou(neff<'; it is not a cefterne; but, fountaine open for thee to wafo in; M (inne (I bounds, fo grace in this guift of righteoufneife tlbounds much more. Chrifts life in this · refpeCl: is compared to changn of garments, thou crye£1:, 0 what foa/t become ofme ? ('}hI feele new finnes, and oldjinnes committed a · frefo ; why but thefe changes of garments will hide all thy fins:· · if thou art but cloathed with the rubes of Chrifts righteoufnetfe, there {hall never enter into the Lords heart, one hard thought towards thee ofcafiing thee off, or of taking revenge upon any new ocofion or fall into fin .. Why, here is the bletfedneiTe of all thofe that beleeve. Oh then beleeve; fay not would Chrifi be inc.1rnate fir me? would heie~de fMch a life on e~trth for my foul? why yes for thy foul never fpeak of thy fins, as if they fhould be any l1inderance ofthv faitl1; if the wicked that apply this righteoufneffe prdumreoufly can fay, let tu fin that grace may abGund, ~.nd fo they make no other ufe of grace but to run in debt, and to fin

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