64 The Gofpe1- Myfterÿ Direft. irr perfuaded of our future enjoyment of the eVerlaft- iing happinefs, and of fuflicient ftrength both towill and to perform our duty acceptably, until we tome to that enjoyment. For the fpirit of adoption teacheth us to conclude, that, if we be the children of God, then we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrift ; and that the Iaw of the fpirit of life that is in Chrift Jefus, maketh us free from the law of fin and death ; and that nothing (hall be againft ùs, nothing (hail feparate us from the love of God in Chrift; but, in All oppofition and difficulties that we meet with, we (hail be at laft, " more than " conquerors through him that loved us, Rom. viii. t` 17, 23, 35, -37, 39." Furthermore, this coin- fortabie perfuafion of our juftification and future happinefs, and all faving privileges cannot tend to Iicentioufnefs, as it is given only in this way of union with Chrift. ; becaufe it is joined infeparably wirh the gift of fanaiification, by the Spirit of Chrift: fo that >e cannot have juftification, or any faving privilege in Chrift, except we receive Chrift himfelf, and his holinefs, As well as any other bene. fit; as the Scripture teftifieth, that, " There is nò " condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, s' who walk not after the fiefh, but after the Spirit, g' Rom. viii. i " Sixthly, Whereas it may be doubted, whether' the faints that lived before the coming of Chrift iii the flefh could poffibly be one flefh with him, and receive a new nature by union and fellowfhip with him, as prepared for them in his fulnefs ; we are to know, that the fame Chrift that took our" iii..fli, was before Abraham, John viii. 58. and was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, to be facrificed as a lamb without blemifh, that he might redeem us from all iniquity by his precious blood, i het. i. 13, 19, 20. and he had the fame Spirit then, which filled his human nature with all sts fulnefs afterwards, and raifed it from the dead,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=