Blake - Houston-Packer Collection BT155 .B53 1653

Chap. 3. and the Covenant of Garce. 9t I anfwer, it profited all thofe , and only thofe in each age to whom it was revealed, and by whom it was applied and not thofe that have no intereft in him. Over and above the Decree of God for mans falvation, there was a neccflìcy of the death of Chrift for our redemption, which Chrift in the fuineffe of time paid on the Croffe. And over and above the death of Chrift, there is a like neceffity of the application of it to our fouls for life ; Z he work of redemption was finifhed on the Croffe when Chrift triumphed over principalities and powers. But much of the work of our falvation was behind e; Election did not overthrow Chrifts redemption, but did èflablifh it ; redemption doth not o- verthrow our application, but doth eftablifh it likewife. There is a farther work of Chrifis to be done, his interceßion in heaven 'being one part of his Priefthood, which he is gone to difcharge as the High Prieft into the holieft of hohes; A farther work to be done by man through beleeving. Not to have intereft in Chrifts death, is all one as though he bad not died ; He that be- leeves in him fhall not perifh, See Baxter of ?uftification, Apho- rifine 15. `l'avenant de marte Chrifti, cap. S. pag. 58. &c. Laffly, It is faid by another, If Faith be a condition of the Co- venant of Grace, then it can be no infirument of our juftification ; if it be a condition in this Covenant, it juftifaes as a condition and then it cannot jufii fie as an infirument, and fo 1 pull dolt": what 1 build, and run upon contradiE ions. I anfwer, I fhould rather judge on the contrary, that becaufe it is a condition of the Covenant in the way as it is before expreft, that it is therefore an inftrument in our ¡unification; God tenders the gift of righteoufneffe to be received by Faith. He covenants for this Faith, for acceptation of it. By beleeving then we keep Covenant and receive Chrift for ;unification, we as well do what God requires, as receive What he tenders3 we do our duty, and take Gods gift, and thereby keep Covenant, and receive life, and fo Faith is both a condition and an inftrument. Here i might by way of juft corollary infer that a;uftified man reconciled to God in Chrift, is a man fitted for every duty unto which God calls, which he is pleafed to require ; Faith is his ju- ftification,the inflrumental work of his reconciliation to God ; and all things are poffible to him that beleevett, (Mark_ 9, 23, There is not a duty commanded, but a beleeving man through N 2 Chrift Anfzv, Objebf. An vs. A juftifiedman is fitted for e- very duty, to v, filch Goa is pleated for to to calf,

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=