z86 ! Ephefranr,Chap0z. V E R, Iè , Redemption which could not be cffèéted, but bythe blood of Chrift, the Son of byf the blood God. Oh how deeply had we plunged our felves into a bortbmleffe ofCheitt. p p '. fea ofmifeeries , that nothing could pluck us out , but the death and bloodofJefus Chrift ! How fait did the filth of fin feize upon us, both inour bodies and fouls, that nothing could wafh us, and drank us from it, but the blood ofChrift ! How fearfully had we inthralled our felvesto death, hell, and deftruäion , that nothing could deliver and free us , but the bloodof Chrift a How infinitely hadweexpo- fed our fclves to the wrath and vengeance of God, that he being a God of compaffon, and of himfelf molt gracious, and ready to for- give; yet he could not be moved to have pity and companion uponus, but onely by the cruell and curfed death of the Lord Jefus The more difficult the work on his part, the greater was his love rous; and therefore the more thankfulneffe we are^ro render untohim. Thirdly, this Both let us fee the precioufneffc of thework of our redemption : Ifwe fhould tender a great maffe'of money, we would have it in efteem that cot us fodear; but this hath soft the veryblood of the Son of God himfelf. How highly did the Lord value our fouls , who was pleafed himfelf (that knew the worth ofeverything) to fet otir fouls at fuch an high rate, as the blood of:Chrifl t , How dearly did he rfteem,and love us, whenhewould come and purchafe thefepoor fouls of ours, and pay fo high a price for them e This doth fhew us how horrible fin is-, to ingender in us godly grief; fuch Epicurifmc, is inkm, that we count fin a light hurt,which any thing will falve. But who fo duly weigheth this,that fin, ereit could be done away and fatisfied , bath made the Lord of glory to empty himfelfof his Majeftie, to flied his precious blood; this will make his heart to melt and bleed within-him for his fins: 1 willpour (faith the Lord) Zacha a.1o. upon thehoufe of David, and upon the in- habitants ofterttfalera, the ffiirit ofgrace andcompa1Pion,and they 'halllook upon himwhom they havepierced,& c. Ifonce the Lord make us turn our eYes. to Chrift, and ro regard what he bath ¡Offered for our fins, nothing will more then that humble us with godly forrow,and barite our hearts for them. Laftly, it Both afire us ofGods love forthe time tocome : ifwhen wewere enemies, we were reconciled to Godby thedeathOf his Son, much morebeing reconciled,wefhalbefavedby hie li, fe,Rom.S. ro,Ifa manout ofhis lave hath fought the-frìendfliipof hisenemy,and ufed Means to be reconciled to him, is it not likely that he will be confiant in this love, and take all waycs to maintain it to the end e But howfoeverit fallout withman, who is variable; moll fare it is, that God, fince his love was fo wonderfull towards us whenwe were enemies, that he gave bis Son for us,to reconcile us tohim,will now much morefreely exercife his love toward us, and firmlyabidein hisgood will untous, that enmity being undone and diffolvcd. VERS. 54. For he is our peace, which bathmade of bothone, and bath broken the flopofthe partitionwall. Now vre31foa molt precious work. Seh4ce ap- pearech hai- nous. Visf; Hereby allia- ranceof Gods love. VERS, I4.
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