774 Book. IV Part+ LsokJng unto:Jefu!. Chap. 2 :sea:. 3 ------------------------------ Rom.S,J .lay any thing to the charge &/_Gods El~El? it is God that jufhfieth; 3 34 who u he that condemneth.? u u Chrift that dyrd, yea r.zther that u rifen againe. Oh the fiings that many have, fayi ng, what fhall I do when I die, rtnd go down to the dufi ? may not the Lord have fomething againft me at the day of reckoning? why no poore foul, if thou art in Chrift, it is be that dyed, yea rather that is rifen agaiAe for thy jufl:ification ; by his refurrecrion he hath cleared all reckonings, fo that now who fhall condemne .2 not fin, Chrift hath cook it away; not the law, Chrift hath fulfilled it for us ; not Satan, for if the Judge acquit us, what can the Jaylor do? 0 my· foul, that thy portionmay be with theirs who hath right and title to this bleffed refurrecrion of Jefus Chrift; ·but thou fayefi againe; what is it to me if I be juftified in Chrifi, ·and yet my heart remaineunholy, and unfubdued to (hrift! it is true,thou findefi a woful, Gnful nature wi thin thee, croffe and contrary unto holineffe, and leading thee dayly into captivity·; yet remember it is Chrifi that dyed, yea rather that is rifen again, and b]' vertue ofhis-ref:me8:ion he hath given thee a new nature, another nature, which makes thee wraftle again!l: Gn, and fhall in time prevaile o.ver all fin. But thou fayft againe what if I be juftified, and fanclified, if after death I fhall not be raifed to life? wi1y feare not 0 my foul, for if Chrifi be rifen thou {halt rife, and rif~ to eternal life; I am the refurreElio» and the life, not only the refurrecrion, but life is in him orignally , as water is in the Joh . 1 ~. 19• fountaine, and from him it is derived to us, becaufe I li"'e, ye fha!t li·ve dfo. But thou fayfi againe, 0 thati wcre affured of this! many doubts and jealoufies are upon me from day to day. Sometimes.indeed I have a comfortable hope of my jufiification, fan· tl:ification , fal vation ; and fometimesagaine I e1m forced to cry, r:al,8 8. 14 . Lord why cvljhft thou bff my foul? why hideft thou thy {<tee from me? 0 confider of the ends of Chri!ls refurrecrion; was it not to give thee the fure mercyes of David? was it not to apply the merits ofChrifis acl:ive, and paffiveobedience , and to bring them home to thy foul? was it not to confirme, and ratifie thy faith, elfo were it in v.1ine ? 0 the perfon of Chrifi ! and 0 tse privi1 Cor.r 5· 17 ' ledges of Chrifi as being raifed from the dead ! 0 my foul, that thou wert on the wi ng in thy de!ires after Chrifi ! 0 that thy motions were as fwift as the Eagles that hafteth to eat ! 0 that feelingly thou kneweft him, and the power of his refurreetion ~ · · • that
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=