in Contriving Man's Redemption. 201 nefs, and conceal our Shame, when we appear before God in Judgment. Not bur that~~ good Works are moO: pleal!ng to him, bur not for this end, to expilte Sin. We mufl: ap •5· diO:inguilh between their SubO:ance, and the qualitv that Error giveth them. The Opi- ~ nion of Merit changes their Nature, and turns Gold into Drofs. And if our real Righteoufnefs, how exaCt: foever, canpot abfolve us from the teart Guilt; much lefs can the performance of Come external ACtions, rho' fpecious in appearance, yet not commanded by God, and that have no moral value. All the Difcipliues and Severities whereby Men think to make fatisfatl:ion to the Law, are like a Crown of Straw, that ditlwnours the Head inO:ead of adorning it. Bur that Righteoufnefs which was acquired by the Obedience and meritorious Sufferings of ChriO:, and is imbroced by Faith is all-fufficient for our Jufl:ification. This is as pure as Innocence, to all the Effell:s of Pardon and Reconciliation; this alone [ecures us from the charge of the Law, and the challenge of Juflice. Being cloathed with this, w~ may enter into Heaven, and converfe with the pure Society of Angels withoutblulhing. The Saints who now reign in Glory, were not Men who lived in the Perfection ofHolinefs he're below; but repenting believing Sinners, who are walhed white in the Blood of the Lamb. 2. The moO: univerfal hindrance of Mens complying with the conditions of Pardon by Chrifl, is, the predominant Love of Come LuO:. Altho' Men \j'On ld entertain him as a Saviour to redeem them from Hell, yet they reject him as their Lord. Thofe in the Parable, (Luke 6. 14.) who faid, t¥e wiU n~t have this NI.an to reign over us, expreft the inward [enfe and filent thoughts of all carnal Men. Many would depend on his Sacrifice, yet will not fubmit to his Scepter; they would have ChriO: to pacify their Confciences, and the World to plea[e their Affections. Thus they divide between the Offices ofChrifl, his PrieO:ly and his Regal. They would have ChriO: to die for them, but not to live In them. They divide the Aas of the fame Office: They lean on his Crofs to [upport them from falling to Hell, but crucifie not one Lull on it. They are defirous he !hould reconcile them to God by his Sacrifice, but not to blefs them, ilz tuming them from their Iniquities, Acts. 3· 26. And thus in effect they abfolutely refufe him, and render his Death unavailable: For the receiving of ChriO: as Mediator in all his Offices, is the Condition indifpenfibly_requifite to _Parta~e of the Benefits of his Suff~ri~gs. The rel!gnmg up of our [elves to h1m as our Pnnce, IS as necetfary an all: Of Jufbfymg,Faith, as the apprehending the crucified Saviour. So that in every real ChriO:ian, Faith is the Principle of Obedience and Peace, and is as infeparable from Holinefs, as from Salvation. To conclude this Argument: From hence we may fee, how defperate the State is of impenitent Unbelievers. They are cutoff from any claim to the BenefitsofChriO:'s Death . The Law of Faith, like that of the Medesand Perjians, is unalterable, He that believeth not the Son, jhaU not fee Lift. ChriO: died not to expiate final Infidelity. This is the moral Sin, that actually damns. It charges all their Guilt upon Sinners : It renders the [offerings of ChriO: fruitle[s and ineffectual to them. For 'tis not the Preparation of a Sovereign Remedy that cures the Difeafe, but the applying it. As our Sins were imputed to him, upon the account of his Union with us in Nature, and his Confent to be our Surety; fo his Righteou[ne[s is meritorioufl; imputed to us, upon our Union with him by a lively Faith. The Man that look'd on the Rainbow, when he was ready to be drown'd, What relief was it to him, that God had promifed not to drown the World, when he ':luO: perilh in the Waters? So, though ChriO: bath purchafed Pardon for repenting Bel!evers, and a Rainbow eneompajfcs the Throne of God, Rev. 4· 3· the fign of ReconciliatiOn, What advantage is this to the Unbeliever, who dies in his Gns and drops into the Lake of Fire? Tis not from any defect of Mercy in God, or Righteoufnefs in Chrifr, but for the obO:inate refufal of it, that Men certainly perilh. This inhances their Guilt and Mifery. All the rich expence of Grace for their Redemption !hall be charged upon them. The Blood of ChriO:Ihall not be imputed for their Ran[om, but for their deeper Damnation : And inO:ead of [peaking better things than the Blood of Abet, !hall call louder for Vengeance againO: them, than that innocent Blood which reach'd Heaven with its Voice againO: the Murderer. Briefly, whom [o precious a Sacrifice cloth not redeem, t~ey are refer~ed intire VifJims,. whole Burnt-Offerings to Divine Ju((ice. Every impe~ n.tent Unbebever !hall be falted with Fire, Mark 9· 49· Dd CHAP.
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