P SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 261 sense, it was impossible, till Christ made it possible by his satis- faction. 2. Nay, though you were yet graceless, you have now this com- fort, that your salvation is probable as well as possible. You are very fair for it. The terms are not hard in themselves, on which it is tendered. For Christ's yoke is easy, and his burden is light and his commands are not grievous. " The word is nigh you," even the offer of grace. You need not say,." Who shall ascend to heaven, or go down to hell?" Rom. x. But this will appear in the next? 3. Yea, this exceeding comfort there is, even for them that are graceless, that their salvation is conditionally certain, and the,con- dition is but their own willingness. Theymay all have Christ and life if they will. Now I desireyou in all .your doubts, that you will well consider and improve this one truth and ground of comfort. Would you, in the midst of your groans, and complaints, and fears, take it for a small mercy;to be certain that you shall have Christ if you will ? When youare praying for Christ in fear and anguish of spirit, if an angel or voice from heaven should say'to you, ' It shall be unto thee according to thy will ; if thou wilt have Christ and live in him, thou shalt;' would this be no comfort to you? Would it not revive you and overcome your fears? By this time, I hope you see what abundance of comfort gene- ral mercy or grace may afford the soul, before it perceive (yea, or receive) any special grace; though few of those that receive not special grace can make useof general, yet it is propounded to them as well as others. 1. All the terrifying temptations which are grounded on misrep- resentations of God, as ifhe were a cruel destroyer to be fled from, are dispelled by the due consideration of his goodness, and the deep-settled apprehensions of his gracious, merciful, lovely nature, <which indeed is the first work of true religion, and the very master radical act of true grace, and the chief maintainer of spiritual life and motion.) 2. All these temptations are yet more effectually dispelled, by considering this merciful divine' nature dwelling in flesh, becoming man, by condescending to the, assumption of our human. nature ; and so come near us, and assuming the office of being the Media- tor, the Redeemer, the Savior of the world. 3. All your doubts and fears that proceed from your former sins, Whether of youth or of age, of ignorance or of knowledge; and those which proceed from your legal unworthiness, have all a present remedy in the fullness and sufficiency of Christ's satisfaction, even for all the world ; so- that no sin (except the excepted sin) is so great, but it is fully 'satisfied for; and though you are unworthy,
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