Head II. l~fe~encei. :2 27 maker nothing perfell. The law Jays o_pen the wound, . but it is the gofpel that heals. The la,w flrips q,man, rwo~nd.r him, and leaves him ~a if dead; the gofpel binds up l.Ji.r · 'IJJoundJ, pouring in "JJine and oil. to heal them By . the Jaw we are broken off; but, i,t is hy the gofpel we are taken tip, and implanted in . Chrill. 1 ' 3· If pny man have not the Spirit ~(Chrifi, he iJ none if his~ Rom. viii. 9· \Ve are tolci of a monlter in nature, having two bodies different1y animated, as appeared from contrary . affeClions at one and the fame time; but fo united, that . t~ey were ferved with the felf·fame legs. Even fo, however men may cle:~ve to Chri(t, ca!i the·m.felves ofthe holy city, and.jlay themjelveJ upon the God of l.frael, I fa xlvii . 2. and they may be bound up as brancheJ in him, J oho,xv'. 2 . by the outward– ties of facraments; yet, if the fpirit that dwells in Chril(, dwell not in them, they are not one with him. There is a great difference betwixt' adhefion and ingrafting. The ivy clafps a~d twifis itfelf about the oak: but it is not one with it, for it !till grows on its own roo~; fo , t~ allude to lja .iv. I. many profelfors take hold of Chrill:, and eat (heir own hr ead, and wear their own apparel., only they are calledby hi.r' n.ame. They fiay themfelves upon him~ and grow upon their own root; they tak<;! him to fupport their hopes, but fhfi~ ., delights are elfewhere. , ' · 4· The union benyi_xt Chrill and his myll:ical members, is firm and im::lifioluble. \Vere it fo that the believ~r only. apprehended Chrifl, but ChriH apprehenqed not him, we could promife little on the fia.btlity of fuch an union ; it might quickly be diffolved; but, ~s the believer apprehends Chrifi by faith ; fo Chri!l: apprehends him by his Spirit', and none fhall pluck him out of hiJ hand. · Did the child only keep hold of the nnrfe, it might at length weary and let go its hold, ' and fo fall away: but if !he have her arms1 about the ,child, it is in no hazard of falling away, even tho'' it be not atl:ually holding by her ; fo, whatever finful iritermi.ffi– ons may ·happen in the exerc,ife of.faith, yet the union. re– mains lure, by reafon of the coo!lant indwelling of the Spirit. Bleffed Jefus !· All his faintJ are in thy hand, Deut. xxxiii. 3. It is obfdved by fpme, that the word Abba is · the fame whether yoll read it fonvard 'or backward: what- ~ · ever
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