.. 636 Book.IV.Part-3- Looking unto 1e(t~s. · C.hap.J. Setf 4 -· .. Heb. 6,x x, SEcT. 4· Vfhoping in [efm in that re[pefl. 4· L'Et us hope in. 'fefus, ca~rying on the great work of our falvatwn In hts fuffenngs and death. By thts hope I intend only that which the Apoftlc calls full affurance ofhope. The qJaine queftion is whether I have any part in Chrifls fujf'erings.? they are of excellent ufe, and of great value to beleevers, but what am I the betterfor them, if I have no part in them ? or ifi fay I hope well, oh but what grounds of that hope? it is not every hope that is a well-grounded hope; fullaffurance of hope is an high pitch of hope, and every Chriftian lhould ftrive and endeavour after it; now that we may do it, and rhat we may difcerne it that our hope is not bafe, but ri.ght-borne, that the grounds of o~r hope in Chrifts death are not falfe,but of the r-ight ftampe; I .fhalllay down thefe !ignes.-- 1: IfChriftsdeath be mine, then is Chrill:slife mine; and .converfe, ifChrifts death be mine, then is Chrifts life mine. -Chrill:s active, and paffive obedience ~annot .be fevered; Chri-ft is - not divided: w.e muft not feek one part ofoar righteoufneffe in bis birth, another in his hahitual holineffe, another in the integrity ofhis life, another in his obedience of death . They that endeavour to feparate Chrifis active and'paffive obedience, they do exceedingly derogate from Chrift, and make him but ha!fe a Saviour; was not Chrift our Ssmtl? Heb. 7· 22. and thereupon was he not bound to fulfil all righteoufneffe for us? ( i.) as to fuffer in our ftead , [o to obey in our il:ead? ·Oh take heed ofoppofing or feparating ChriHs'death, and,Chrills !ife ; either we have all Chrift, o~ we have no part in Chrift; now if rhefe two be concomitants, well may the one be as the figne of the . other; fearch then, and try 0 my foul, haft t!JOU any fhare in Chrifts life? canH thou make out Chrifts active obedience unto tl1y own foul ?ifherein thou art at a !land, perufe thofe characters layd down in the life ofChrifi; the many glorious effects fl owing out of Chrifts life into a beleevers foul we have difcovered , pefore. ;.. IfChrifis death be mine, then is that great end ofhis death · accom~ . \ ~'-""'--.......,..-~-=--· - ~- -- ~- .. ,
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