Lift óf 9racé. this is atruth concerns you in particular. Judge your !elves to far profited bythe Wordyou hear,as you can make good applicationof it to your own eftatëandco- dition. Whenfoever mencome tohear the Word, they come to hear fomewhat that concerns themfelves , therefore whatfoever we fay befals them that are in Chrift ; apply it toyourfelves, andmake account this ismy cafe; ifI be inChriff. Fourthly, hence we mightnote thus much alfo; that, When aman id inChrifl; there pt 4 real change. There is an evident change from what he was,beforehe was in ChriihFor fo the Apoftle reafons ; now you are in Chrift,there is fuch a changc,as from deathto life, there is a marvellousgreat change inyou. Ifthere benot this change in you, neither areyouinChrift ; and all the hopes you build on ofbeing in Chrift,they arewithout a foundation,they are upon animaginary Chrift,notupon Chrift that isyours indeed; If You be in Chrift, let it appearin a change ; let us fee how you are changed fince you were in Chrift, from that youwere before s for this make account of, con- clude thus much for yourfelves ; that all that are in Chriftare changed. Butfiftly,and laftly,he expreffeth wherein this change confifteth; and he makes choice of filch terms as are molt acquifite,and fit for his purpofe. He woitld exprefs this fpiritual change, and markwhatexpreffions he ufethtomanifeft it by ; no lèfs than life,and death. There is fuch achange when you are once inChrift,fromwhat you were befote ; as there is between a manthat wasdead, and is now alive ; or a man that was alive, and is nowdead ; and this is that, that I will infift now upon, wherein note their particulars Fir(t, the Analogy and proportion, theaptnefs, andfitnefsof the terms, wherein theApoftle expreficththe fpiritual changeof thofe that are in Chrift; how fitly they may bePaid tohe dead, and alive. Secondly,it is obfervable in.what order theApoftle expreffeth there firft dead,and then alive. Make account that the work ofGrace in the effèttual change in your hearts, it proceeds in this order. Firff you are dead, and thenalive; dead to fin firft; and then alive toGod. Thirdly, note the certain connexion of thefe two together; fo there is not only a certainty in the objed, but a Certainty in the fubje: too;' not only a certainty that thole that are inChrift (hall lived hut it is certain to you,make account of this, make this conclufión for your felves, build onit, know it for your felves, ashe laid to lob; it is certain ifyou be inChrift, you are dead with Corift, and you (hail livewith Chrift,make account of this. Lafily, theefficient caufe of this great change exprelt in thefe terms, it is lefuá Chrifdoar Lord : make account of this, if yoube in Chrift, there comet a vertue from Chtift,an effe£tual workingofChrift by his(pinit in your hearts;' fach a power- ful work as will conform you to Chrift dead,and to Chriftrifen ; that you (hallbe dead to fin, andalive to God : not by any ftrength in your felves, or anyexcellent endowment in your own natures, not by any natural inclination and ability, but through the vertue andpower of,yefaaCbriil dui- Lordworking in you. Thus you have the Text opened. We will fpeak firft ofthe Analogy and proportion, the agreement between the metaphors here ufed,andthe things exprcfbby them. Thatwhich the Apoftle would exprefs, is, that there is amarvellous fpiritual;real change, in all thofe that are in Chrift,from what they were before. Now fetus.feehow fitly itis!expreft in thefe words, that he faith, yeare dead to fin, andalive to god ; that he chufeth to exprefs it by life and death. Had it not been fit tohave faid thusmuch; youare changed in yourdifpolition, in yourinclinations, inyour intentions, in youra:ions ; youare changed in your converfations, youare other kind ofmen in the inclinationofyour hearts ;` youbringforth otherfruit, you leadother lives thanyou were wont to dó? But he expreffeth it here yet more fully ; thatis,lay thatthat includes aft thefe; and if there be any thing more maybe added, it includes that too, ye are deadandalive. Then we will confider; Fielt, ®bfervat, 4° Bohr. g. There is a change in all that ate in Chrift as flout death to life, r.The analogy between fpiti teal, andnatu.. sal lift and death.
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