oftht Cov~ntmt. 257 givenefs -offins, ACts v. 31~ He gives tl1~m· the fidt pardon, removing the gqil~ of revenging wrath, in . their jufiification ; and he gives them a]fo the fubfe– quent pardons, removing the guilt of fatqerly anger, upon their .renewing the a8:ings of faith and repen.– tance ; as ,wa~ obferved before. The Father having ~ .committed all judgment unto the Son,' ·he hath the difpenflrtg of heaven's. favours, according to the me~ thod and order of the covenant ; and they are not only conferred for his fake, but by his hand. Fifthly, He affords them tpe defence of the cove-:– n~nt, while in ·this life they· ar~ amongfr their ene• mies, Pfa)rh lxxxix. 18. ' For the Lord is our de- . fence ; and the holy One of lfrael is our King/' Sa"' ta.n is their ·enemy, a.malicious, fubtile, and power– ful enemy ; but Chriil: is their friend, and takes them under his ·protection. He loves them dearly, as the iurchafe of his own blood, the members of his own myfi~cal body, and bearing his Father's Jmage : he is .infinitely wife, and can outlboot the devil in hi~ own bow : and he is the f1ronger m~n, who c::J.n bin~ the jlrong man. The world joins i1fue with Satan, · in oppofi.gg ~hem; but fuall-not prevail .to ruin them, neither by force nor fraud. For 'greater i_s he, thall the god of this world and all hjs dominion, 1 John iv. 4· 'Ye are of God, and have overcome them_; b~caufe greater i$1 he that is in you, than he that is in' the world.' Their worfi enemies are within them,. namely, the ren:zains ofreception, which, in the depth of fovereign wifdom, are not expelled, dtuing thi~ life ; but left for th~ir exercife and trial, and for the difcov~ry . of the power of the grace of their K•rig. And he manifefis his power, in keeping alive in them the fpunk of holy fire, in the midfi of an ocean~ of corruption; and caufing.it to make head againfi thQ fame, until it quite dry up. Rom. vii. 24, 0 wretch– ed man that I am, who lball deliver me from the bo• <ly of this death! , V~r. 25. I tha~ God~through Je:'!' R ~ · fus
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