the CoJPel-Offir. · ~97 But here it is neceifary, to remove the follo\ving objections. Obj.etlion 1. But Chrifi is now in heaven, and I hear no voice from thence : How then can I believe,. that h~ himfelf is .offering himfelf to me? Anfwer. Tho' Chrifi is in heaven, yet he is fpeaking from hea– ven to us ; howb€it not by a voice founcling thrO!..tglJ the clouds, yet by a voice founding i1,1 the gofpel. Heb. xii. 25: 'See that ye ref~fe not him that fPeak– eth that fpeaketh from heaven.' And not only i~ his voice in the word of the gofpel, but he himjelf by his Spirit is in it, as the Apofile teacheth, Rom. x. 6, 7, 8. /Thence it is, that it is a quickningword to dead fouls, John vi. 63. ' The word that 1 fpeak unto you,. they are Spirit, and they are life.' It is the lively feed, whereof t~e new creature is formed, · 1 Pet. i. 2] . . jefus Chrift did once, by a voice found– ing through the clouds, fpeak a word ofCQnvitfio"• Acts ix. 4, 5· But even in that cafe, the word pfthe offer of himfelf, was ' remitted to the preaching of the gofpel, by a meifenger thereto appointe_d. Verfe 6 11 And the voice of Ghrifi, founding in his wrhten f word, is more fore than a · voice founding throng}J the ~louds, 2Pet. i. 18, 19. This voice,. in the ·word, is the fiated ground of faith, with whichfaith muil: clofe for falvation, Rorn. i. 16.' The gofpel ofChrin, it is the power of God uhto falvation, · to every one that believeth. Verfe 17. For therein is therighteouf:. nefs of God revealed from faith to faith. • And there is no true faving faith, where it is not received as the voice of the Lord himfelf, I The£f. ii. 13. Therefore you mufi receive the word of the gofpel, ~s the word of Chr.~fl himfelf, as in very deed it is. Obje(l. 2. But Chrifi, in the word of the gofpei, doth not nam.e me : How then can I believe,- that he offereth himfelf, his righteoufi1efs and falvation, to me in particular?, Anjw.Neither cloth he name you in the word of the law, whether in the commands there ~ of,
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