Queflions, andCafesofCanscience Chap. 34 digal ( by whom is meant a childe of God, who fell after repentance , and obedi- ence ) upon his purpofe to return, as pardoned. So Cor.5.2o. 1?atel prayes the lapfed Corinthians to be reconciled to God. 2. Affure fuch that upon their repentance , they fhall be pardoned. weft. But I am troubledfor want ofgrace inmy heart, andobedience in my life, what mu3b l doe ? Anfw. This is common to all Gods Children, more, or lets, at one time or other : Sowas Paul troubled, Rom. 7.23. Now there are many grounds of corn- fort whereby the heart may be ftiyed in this forrow, that at be not immode- rate : which are First, Remember that itsGods will thatthy fandrification should be impeded in this life. This is manifedboth by the word ofGod, and daily experience : and God will have it fo, r. BecaufeGod gives grace according to the meafure and manner of our re- ceivingofit, which in this life is imperfect} Indeed remiflïon offins, and judi5- cationby Chrifis obedienceare ours by imputation, and fo are perfe& ; but fin- eîification, regeneration, the loveof and man are put into us. Yet before we have them, we mutt receive them, and the means whereby we receive them is faith, which becaufe it is weak, and imperfect} in this life , therefore the gifts which we receive thereby are imperfect al fo. z. Ifanv were abfolurely perfea in this life, then he should fulfill the Moral Law, and fo be a Saviour.unrohimfelf, and by the tenor ofthe Lawhave life, and fo Chrifl shouldnot be aSaviour properly, but only asan infirumertCO difpofe us to the keepingof the Law, whereby we might Cave our felves : But Chriti is the only Allfutficient Saviour, and the accomplishment ofour falvation isfrom him alone. 3 . Its Godswill that his children should be brought to nothing in themfelves, that they might be all in all out of themfelves in Chiifi : But if our fanEtificat:on were perfefi here, we should refs contented in our own goodnefs : that Paul might not do fo, he was buffeted, a C'or.r x.7. Secondly, Confider what makes thee accepted with God , and how much thy felf mud do for this end : which is t. Thou mud heartily bewail thy fins both of heart and Iife, and if thou renewed thy fins, thou mull by renewing thy repentance recover thy former etlate. 2. In regardof thy former fins, thoumuff red on Godsmercy alone, flying to the throne ofgrace to obtain pardon ofthem. 3. Thou mud endeavour for the future to perform obedience to God in all his commandments, that thereby we may (hew our gratitude to him for his mercy, and profit in our obedience. Objea. I endeavour todo thefe thins : But alas ! in farrow forfin I am troubled with hardnefs of heart :myfaith ismixedwithdoubtings, and my obedience with many flips, andfalls : what fhall I thereforedoe ? Anfw. Remember thefe rules. a. Ifthou halfa minde and purpofe not tofin, and a delire topleafe God , and endeavoured toperform both ; God in mercy accepts this for obedience it felf : Oct ipitfuum,. (l' remittit mum. He accepts that which is his and forgives that which is thine. His is thegrace which puts us upon these delires, and endeavours : Ours are the wants and weaknefs in performance : the firff he accepts, the latter he forgives. ueff.But can God accept our works which are imperfetl ? Anfw. As our obedience is in truth, fo far its his work , and therefore he accepts it; as its ours fo he pardons it, becaufewe are in Chrifl. Ip Secondly, cant} thou fay with Paul, Rom. 7.19. Thegood which l would doe,! do l
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