Chap. 4.1 WHOM THIS REST IS DESIGNED. 57 made to abhor its object ; but when it would prevail against reason, and carry us to sin against God, instead of Scrip- ture being the rule, and reason the master, and sense the servant, this disorder and evil the will abhors. The misery also, which sin bath procured, is not only discerned, but bewailed. It is impossible that the soul should now look, either on its trespass against God, or yet on its own self- procured calamity, without some contrition. He that truly discerns that he hath killed Christ, and killed himself, will surely in some measure be pricked to the heart. If he cannot weep, he can heartily groan ; and his heart feels what his understanding sees. The creature is renounced as vanity, and turned out of the heart with disdain. Not that it is undervalued, or the use-of it declaimed.; but its idolatrous abuse, and its unjust usurpation. Can Christ be the way, where the creature is the end ? Can we seek Christ to reconcile us to God, while in our hearts we prefer the creature before him ? In the soul of everyunregenerate man, the creature is both God and Christ. As turning from the creature to God, and not by Christ, is no true turning; so believing in Christ, while the creature bath our hearts, is no true believing. Our aversion from sin, renouncing our idols, and our right receiving Christ, is all but one work, which God ever perfects where he begins. At the same time, the will cleaves to God the Father, and to Christ. Having been convinced that nothing else can be his happiness, the sinner now finds it is in God. Convinced also, that Christ alone is able and willing to make peace for him, he most affectionately accepts of Christ for Sa- vior and Lord. Paul's preaching was "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." And life eternal consists, first in" knowing the only trueGod ; and" then "Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent." To take the Lord for our God is the natural part of the covenant ; the super- natural part is, to take Christ for our Redeemer. The former is first necessary, and implied in the latter. To accept Christ without affection and love, is not justifying faith:: nor does love follow as a fruit, but immediately con- curs ; for faith is the receiving of Christ with the whole soul. " He that loveth father or mother more than Christ, is not worthy of him," nor is justified by him. Faith ac- cepts him for Savior and Lord : for in both relations will
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