Applicationof Manifrlfe to Cbriflt. ample of men, a follower of the lufis of men, a fervant of corruption ; but being crucified to thefe, he lives to the will of God, receiving all direction from it, every way obfcduious to it , wholly applying himfelfe to this one thing, even topleafcGod : Self -denyall takes a man offfrom hirof lfe and the world, and puts him wholly under God, and fets him fully and efle tually upon the worke ofGod : 1 his is fometimes termed a b yeelding up of ourfelvesto god, b Rom.I z.I. as a facrifice to be wholly ípent in the Lords fervice ; fometimes giving ofour 'elves to the Lord, as a wife ives a z Cor.8.3. her felfe to the husband ; and fometimes a livingmute d z Cor.5.1 s aryl, and a e bringingforth offruit unto the Lord; and all , e tkom.7.4. this is to exprcffe their full application of themfelves unto Í Chrift, who truly deny themíelves ; and this is thatwhich Chrift cals a ffollolving ofhim, and makes it a concomitant f 11Mat.i6.z4: offelf- denyall, to follow him in his doctrine as a Difci- plc, in his precepts as a fervant, in his promifes as a bclee- ver, in his fufferings as an imitator : Self-denyall makes a man embrace Chrift , as the Pilate to guide him , as the King to command him, as the rock¿; to fuffaine him , and only fountain to minifter all fulneffe to him ; and caufes a man alfo to apply himfelfe againe wholly toChrift,to the wifedome of Chrifi to be guided by it , to the authority of Chrift to obey him , to the truth of Chrift to beleeve in him, to the alfuficiency ofClarift to be filled with all fpi- rituall and heavenly fnlneffe. He applyes himfelfe to Chrift in his under.fíanding, to know Chrift , in his will to chufe and embrace Chrift, in his thoughts to meditate upon Chrift, in his feare to ferve and honour Chrift, in his faith to truft and depend upon Chrift , in his love to affect Chrift , in his icy to delight in Chrift, in his defirei to long after Chrift, in his endeavours to exalt Chrift, in all his pofelli- oars, abilities , and endowments to make them ferviceable unto Chrift ; he applyes himfelfe to the ordinances ofChrift, as to a light guiding, food feeding, and phyficke healing his foule to the precept! of Chrift as to the rule direding him , and to the promifes of Chrift as to the ftaff fuftai- tting him. Mans full application of himfelfeto Chrift,doth P minifter 157
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