Bates - BT775 B274 1675

294 TOepanuottp of Mee Zibine tt tbnt Chap. r 6. ver of Pardon, and to the quality of the Ble(fing it felf. /y The other Qualification is Faith, towhich _I-unification is in a fpecial manner attributed; not in refpeEt ofEf- ficiency or Merit,for the Mercy ofGodupon the account of Chrìfl's Satisfaó}ion is the fole Caufe of our Pardon ; but as a moral infiruinent, that is the Condition upon whichGod abfolves Man from his guilt. And this Grace of Faith as it refpeóls entire Chrift in all his Offices, fo it contains theSeed andfirfl Life of Evangelical Obedi- ence. It crucifies. our Lufls, overcomes the World, works byLove, as well as juflifies the perfon by relying on theMerits ofChrifl for Salvation. 2. Adoption into God's Family (the purchafe of Chrifl'sMeritorious Sufferings, who redeemed us from Gal. 1.7' the Servitude ofSin and Death) is conferr'd upon us in Regeneration. For this Prerogativeconfifls not mealy in an Extrinfick Relation to God, and a title to the E- ternal Inheritance; but inour participation of the Di- vine Nature,whereby we are the living Images ofGod's Holinefs. Civil Adoption gives the title, but not the reality ofa Son ; but the Divine is efficacious, and changes us into the real likenefs of our Heavenly Fa- ther. We cannot enter into this Elate ofFavour, butup- / Cor. 6. 7. on our cleanfing from all Impurity : Be feparatefrom the pollutions oftheprophane World, and I will receive -you,and will be a Father unto you, and ye fhall be my Sons and .Daughters,faith the LordAlmighty. Thefe are the indi- fpenfable terms upon which we are received into that honourable Alliance. None can enjoy thePriviledg,but thofe that yield the ObedienceofChildren. 3. Holinefs is the Condition on which our future Bleffednefs depends. EleEling MercyBoth not produce. our Glorification immediately, but begins in our Voca. tion and Juflification,which are the intermediate Links in the Chainof Salvation : as Natural Caufes work on

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