SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST. 307 I beseech you cozen not your souls with shows and formalities. If ever you be saved without this subjection, it mustbe without Christ's merits or mercy. It must be in a way that Scripture revealeth not;` nay, it must be in despite of God his truth must be falsified, and his power must be mastered, before the disobedient can be ,saved from his wrath. 2. Examine, also, your dependenceon Christ, whether you kiss his hand as well as his feet. Do you understand that you are all by nature condemned men, and liable to the everlasting wrath of God;: that Christ bath interposed and paid this debt, and bought us as his own by the satisfaction of that justice ; that all things are now delivered into his hands, (John xiii. 3.) and he is made head over all things tó his church? Eph, i. 21, 22. Dost thou take him for thy only Savior, and believe the history of his life and passion, the truth of his divine and human nature, his resurrection, his office, and his approaching judgment? Dost thou see that all thy supposed, righteousness is but vanity and sin, and that thyself art unable to make the least satisfaction to the law by thy works or sufferings, and if his blood do not wash thee, and his righteous- nessjustify thee, thou must certainly be damned yet, and perish forever? Dost thou, therefore, cast thyself into his arms, and ven- ture thyeverlasting state upon him, and trust him with thy soul, and fetch all thyhelp and healing from him ? When sin is remembered, and thy conscience troubled; and the forethoughtsof judgment do amaze thy soul, dost thou then fetch thy comfort from the views of his blood, and the thoughts of the freeness and fullness of his satisfaction, his love, and gospel offers and promises ? Dost thou so build upon his promise of ahappiness hereafter, thatthou cant let go all thy happiness here, and drink of his cup, and be bap- tized with his baptism, and, lose thy life upon his promise that thou shalt save it ? Canst thou part with goods and friends, and all that thou hast, in hope of a promised glory which thou never sawest ? If thou canst thus drink with him of the brook in the way, thou shalt also with him lift up the head; Psalm cx. 7. Dost thou perceive a Mediator as well as a God in all thy mer- cies, both special and common, and tastehis blood in all that thou receivest, and wait upon his hand for thy future supplies? Why, this is kissing the hand of Christ, and depending upon him. O, how contrary is the caseof the world, whose confidence is like the Samaritan's worship : they trust God, and their wits, and labors, . Christ and their supposed merits; I would I might not say Christ and deceit, and wicked contrivances. O blasphemous ! joining of heaven and hell to make up one foundation of their trust ! 3. Examine a little also your love to Christ. Do you thus kiss the Son ? Do your souls cleave to him, and embrace him" with
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