in ConttíbíngCOAttl 3aebtinption. 375 fecurely: What an unexpreffible indignity is it to make chap. .9. And this abufe ofGrace is pernicious tomen. Ifthe Antidote be turned into Poifon, and the Remedy che- rifh the Difeafe,the cafe is defperate. The 1lpoflle tells us, Thofe that do evil thatgood may come thereby, their damnation isjufl. Suppofe aprefuming Sinner were af- Lured, that after he had gratifiedhis carnal' viledefires, . he fhouldrepent and be pardoned;yet 'twere an unreafo- nable defeRof Self-love to do fo. What Ifraelite was fo fool-hardy as to provoke a fiery Serpent to bite him, though he knew he fhouldbe healed by the brazen Ser- pent r But 'tis adegree beyond madnefs,for Men to live ina courfe ofSin upon the hopes of Salvation, making the Mercyof God to be his bondage, as ifhe could not rertrst. be happy without them. An unrenewed Sinner may be the objet of God's Compaffion, but while he remains fo, he is uncapable ofCommunion with himhere, much more hereafter. Under the Law the Lepers were ex- cluded the Camp ofIfrael,. where the prefence ofGod was in a fpecial manner; much more (hall thofe who are covered withmoralPollutions, be kept outfromthe habitation ofhis Holinefs. 'Tis a mortal Delufion for any to pretend that electing Mercy will bring them to Glory,. or that the allfufficient Sacrificeof Chrift will a- toneGod's difpleafure towards them, although they in Bulge themfelves in a courfe ofSin. The BookofLife is fecret;only the Lamb with whofe Blood the names of the Elea arewritten there, can open thefealsofit. But theGofpel that is a lower Book of Life,tells us thequa- lifications oftholewho are veflels ofMercy, theyare by Grace prepared forGlory; and that there canbe no bene- fit by the Death of Chrift without conformity to his Life. Thofe who abufe Mercy now, fhall have. Ju- ilice for ever. 3, From amonfirous alliance betweenChrift and Bella' '
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