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Ephefanf,Chap.3.,
V
is
R.
12.
as
in
all
of
us
by nature,
we
are aliens
from
God,
and
flrangers from
the
wombe,
and can never
come where
God
is.
Where
them
are imper-
fect,
as in
the regenerate, they
are
firangers
in
part, thoughof the
fame
nature.
If
we were perfectly holy and
like
God
in
our nature, and had
full and
petfet
acquaintance with
God,
had
never eftranged our
felves
from him by linne
,
then we
might
goe to God
of
our
felves
without
a
Mediatour to
take
us
by
the
hand. Againe
have we never
fo
much corruption
of
nature
,
if
there
be any
true grace
and
f
parke
of
Gods
nature and
life
in
us,
we
need
not
feare
and run away from
God,
as
long
as
we have
a
Mediatour to
take
us
by the hand
and lead
us,
that
will
not quench
the
fmoaking
flaxe,
nor break the
broiledreed;
but with
one
offering
bath
perfected
for
ever them
that
are
fanûified
in
any
fmal] mea.
lure:
though
we
daylydepart from God by
finne,
yet
if
there
be any
will and defire
of
repentance,
of
converfion and acquaintance
with
God,
we
are capable
of
a
Mediatour
to
bring
us
to perfeçt
fellowfhip
t
aohn
t:
s.
with
God.
God
in
himfelfe
is
a
fall
and
perfect
light,
and
in
him
is
no
Ephef.5.8.
darknefeat
all;
we
by
nature are nothing
but
darkneffe, and
have
no light
at all.
Now
comes
Chrift
a
Mediator between
us
both
,
that
becaufe
there
can be
no
communion between
light
and
darknes,
Chiift
the
middle
perfon
in
Trinity
comes
between God
and us,
between God that
fini-
pie lighr,and
us
that
are
nothing
but
darkneffe, and communicating
of
both
our natures,
and
taking upon
him all our (innes
,
brings
us
into
fellowfhip
with
God,
reconciling and killing
the enmity
of
our natures
in
juftification,&
then imputing Gods
nature to
us in
part,by fandihca.
Lion,
which
becaufe it
is
imperfedt,by
his
perfect
facrifice
&
intercef .
on & leading
us
to God
daily,he renewed)
& increafeth our fellowfhip
and
communion with
Gcd,
till we
be prefented perfect
in
Chrift
Iefus
to
God
his
Father: according therefore to our mixt condition
in
this
life,
oflight
and darknelfe, holineffe and corruption, we have
a
mixt
and
imperfe&&
acceffe
to God
and fellowfhip
with
him
which
is by
manuduétion
and Ieading
to God.
This doth
give
us
to confider,that
if
we be
in
our naturali
eftate,we
have no converte,
no
acquaintance
and familiar acceffe
to
God
;
nay
it
is
a
terrible thing
to
fee
God,
the countenance
of
the
Judge being
as
plcafant
to
malefaétors,as
Gods to u,,we
are like Haman
when
his
face
was
covered.
But men
will except againft this their
eftate,
that they
have good
confciences
to
plead
before
God,
that they delight
to
come to Church
where
God
is
prefent,
that they
find
no feare
with them.
But all
this
is
as
the theefe, who before
his conviction , though
bee
be
never
fo
bad,
will plead not
guilty, but
at
length
his
note changeth,
and his countenance
turneth,
yea hisjoynts
oft tremble:
fo thefe men
out
ofChrift,
till
God boldeth
his leffe and
greater
afhfes and awake
their confciences,they will
fpeak
farre
otherwife thenit
is.
And though
men may come
outwardly with
their lips,
yet
they
cannot
come
in
heart
and
truth
neare
him;
and
though
they have no feare , it
is
but
Belfhazzars
and
Felix
his
fecurity, which
fo Toone
as
God
(hall roufe
them
Eph.
a.
Match..
z.
Yf.
,.
object.
Wicked men
arc deceived
whoare per-
fwaded
of
their
fecuriry to
Godward.
Ant.