V s R. 7. Ephefianr,Chap.Z. I 233 whole earth is nothing to this gift of Chrift, in whomwe have God himfelf}andall that heaven isworth ,made fure to us. God hath made him a common conceptacle, and treafury of all Saving good to his Church ; This is my beloved Son inwhom I amwell pleatd. Wouldft thou know the love of. God t ineafure it not byany out- ward thing, by wealth, honour, or outwardprofpericy ; for this is common with Infidels and Rcpro'oares, whom the Lord abhorreth. No,there is no outward created comfort can fecure us of Gods fa- vour ; onely the having of Chrift, and the receiving of him by faith, as a gift from the Father; this onely is it which is the fpeciall pledge of Gods favour and love. What is all the wicked have, the dew of heaven, gladnelfeof heart, the Sun-thine t If they hive not the righ- teoufnefle of Chrift to cover them,the life of Chrift toquicken them, fuch things as eye never taw, their condition is wofull. This muff make us reff onely in Chrift, like Paul, caring w know nothing but him, counting all things but dungand drone in tom art an g % g Il p f ofhim. Through himwe have an entrance with boldneffe to the Father. Arc thou burthened with fin, and afraid to come before God t' Why, fet Chritt betwixt God and thee; he is a skrecn to keepoff the fire of Gods anger ; he is our Peace- maker, to make all whole again, afweet fmelling favour acceptable to Gad. In Chrift lc(us.] Obferve here,all Gods kindneffe,andall the fruits of his kindne e,muft come tous onely through Chrift. He bath ream- oiledall things to himfelf by lefas Chrif ; whom Godhathjet forth to-be a reconciliation, ¿yc. as a propitiatory facrifice, inwhich he would re- turn into favour with us. God was in Chrift reconciling the world to himfelf. Chrift immediatelyby himfelfloth procure us favour. And thiswas that which all the atonements made by propitiatory facrifi- ces did prefìgnifie untous; He is made unto us of God the Father,wifdom, righteoufneffe, (oaf cation, andredemption. This loth ferve to beat down thofe holds of Prefumption, which manynourifh todeftruEtion: for many think that they are in Gods fa- vour, and yet are fuch as have not Chrift , filch as have no portion in the benefits of Chrift, if theybeblef ed as well as others, with health, peace, wealth, it money come in apace, and that their condi. tion outwardly profper : when as in deed without Chrift (as all this may be, and is with nioft) theft are no other then common favours which he vouchfafeth to orangers, and fuch as are none of hishouf- hold; and therefore they build on a fäody foundation : Saul,and Efate, and every curled reprobate may partake hereof. Roman by any out. wardmatter can know himfelf to be loved or hated. Again, a fierydart may hence be quenched, which thedevil daft- eth againft beleevers in the confcience of fin; the confideration of their croffes fo manifold. Thou art continually followed with croffes and afílietions, poverty, fickneffe, and doothounot fee what Change advertirles do continually betide thee e and cants thou be perfwaded 1 that God loves thee ! It is impoffible, thoudoff but deceive thy felf. Thus math. 3.r7. Yft t. Examine thy interen in Christ. Yfe 2. Rest in him atone. Phil.;. 7,8. Ephef 3.12. Era. 9. o. Ephef S. s. Dodfr. All good comes by coil. ao. Rom. ;. 25. 2 Co" q. r8. I Cor. r.io. Ye ,. Preefnmption f st no, in Ecdef.9. z. Yfe 2. Once in fChrift,ever nR . agi all =tire annoyaances
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