300 THE ASSOLUTE 2. This dependence on Christ is, when acknowledging the suf- ficiency of his satisfaction, and his power and willingness to save all that receive him, manifested in his free, universal offer in the gospel, we do heartily accept him for our only Savior, and, ac- cordingly, renouncing all other, do wait upon him believingly for the benefits of his sufferings and office, and the performance of his faithful covenant to us, in restoring us to all the blessings which we lost, and advancing us to a far greater everlasting glory. 3. This affection to Christ is, when, in the knowledge and sense of his love to us, 'both common and especial, and of his own ex- cellency, and the blessedness of 'enjoying 'him, and the Father and Life by him, our hearts do choose him, and theFather.by him, as theonly happiness, and accordingly love him above all things in the world. As this threefold description containeth the sum of the gospel, so bath it nothing but what is of necessity to sound, Christianity. Ifany one of these three be not found in thy heart, either have I little skill in divinity, or thou hast no true Christianity, nor canst be saved in that condition. Object. But do not the Scriptures make believing the condi- tion of the covenant? But here is a great deal more than be- lieving. Ans. Sometimes faith is taken in a narrower sense, and then it is not made 'the sole condition of the new covenant ; but re- pentance, and forgiving others, are joined with it, as conditions of our forgiveness; and obedience and perseverance, as conditions_ of our continued justification and salvation. But when faith is made the sole condition of the covenant, then it comprëhendeth essentially, (not only supposeth as precedent or concomitant,) if not all three, yet at least the two first of the afore-described quali- fications, viz. dependence and subjection, which, if it were well understood, would much free the common sort of Christians from their soul-destroying mistakes, and the bodyof divinity from amul- titude of common errors, and our religion from much of that re- proach of Solifidianism which is cast upon it by the Papists.. 2. I must be as brief in opening the second thing, viz. What wrath it is that will thus kindle and consume them. What wrath is in God we need not here trouble ourselves to inquire, but only what is intimated in the threats or curses of the covenants. As there are two covenants, so each hath his proper penalty for its violation. . 1. Then, till men do come in and submit toChrist, they lie un- der the wrath of God for all their sins, as they are against the cove- nant of works, or they are liable to the curse of that covenant: Christ's death bath taken away the curse of that covenant ; not
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