THE NATURE AND CAUSES. OF IT. application of the healing power of .Christ unto the mortification of sin. And they bywhom this means her soul, or her faith in him inparticular for that end. For at the same time many thronged uponhim in a press, so as his disciples marvelled he should ask who touch- edhisclothes, Mark v. 30, 31. yet was not any of them advantaged but the poor sick woman. A great emblem it is of common profession on the one hand, and especial faith on the other. Multitudespress and throng about Christ in a profession of faith and obedience, and in the real performance of many duties, but no virtue goeth forth from Christ to heal them. But when any one, tho' poor, though seemingly at a distance, gets but the least touch of him by especial faith, this soul is healed. This is our way with respect unto the mortification of sin. The scripture assures us, that there is virtue and efficacy in thedeath of Christ untothat end. Themeans whereby we derive this virtue from him, is by touching of him, that is, by acting faith on him in his death, for the death of sin. Sect. 86. But how will this effect it, how will sin be mortified hereby? I say, how, by what power and vir- tue were they healed in the wilderness, who looked unto the brazen serpent?' Was it not because it was an ordi- nance of God, which by his almighty power, he made effectual unto that purpose? The death of Christ being so as to the crucifying of sin, when ,it is looked on, or applied unto by faith, shall not divine virtue and power go forth unto that end? The scripture and experience of all believers give testimony unto the truth and reality thereof. Besides, faith itself as acted on the death of Christ, hath a peculiar efficacy unto the subduing of sin; for beholding him thereby, as in a glass, we are changed into the same image, 1 Cor. iii. 18. And that which we peculiarly behold, we are peculiarly trans- formed into the likeness of. And, moreover, it is the onlymeans whereby we actually derive from Christ the bepefits of our union with him;: from thencewe have all grace, or there is no such thing in the world. And the communication of it unto us, is in and by the actual exercise of faith principally. So it being act- ed with respect unto his death,. we have grace for the ,.. killing of sing and thereby become dead with him, crucified with him, buried with him, as in the testi. monies before produced.. This is that which we call the application of the death of Christ unto us, of our application of ourselves to the death of Christ for thereof is despised or neglected, who are ignorant of it, or doblaspheme it, must live under the power of sin, unto what inventions soever they may turn themselves for deliverance. According as we abide and abound herein, will be our success. Those who are careless and remiss in the exercise of faith, by prayer and medi- tation, in the way described, will find that sin will keep its ground, and maintain so much power in them as shall issue in their perpetual trouble. And men who are much conversant with the death of Christ, not in notions and lifeless speculations, not in natural or car- nal affections, like thosewhich are raised in weak per- sons by images and crucifixes, but by holy actings of faith, with respect unto what is declared in the scripture as to its power and efficacy, will be implanted into the ilikeness of it, and experience the death of sin in, them. continually. Sect. 37. (2.) Wedo it by love. Christs as cruci- fied, is the great object of our love, or should so be: for he is therein unto sinners altogether lovely. Hence one of the ancients cried out, i ¢4w, l,eos isaugarei; My love is eructed, and why do I stay behind? In the.death of Christ, do his love, his grace, his condescension, . most gloriously shine forth. We may therefore con- sider three things with respect unto this love: (I.) The object of it. (2.) The means of the representation of that object unto our minds and affections. (3.) The effects of it as to the case in.hand. The object of it is- Chrfst himself, in his unsearchable grace,, his unspeak- able love, his infinite condescension, his patient suffer- ing, and victorious power, in Isis death, or dying for us. It is nothis death absolutely, but himself, as all these graces conspicuously shine forth in his death, which is intended. And there are variousways where- by this may be represented unto our minds. Sect. SS.(I.) Men maydo it unto themselvesby their own imagination. They may frame and fancy dolorous things unto themselves about it, which is the way of per- sons under deep and devout superstitions.. But no love in sincerity will ever be ingenerated towards Jesus Christ hereby. (Q) It may be done by others, in pathetical and tragical declarationsof, the outward part of Christ's sufferings. ' Herein some have a great faculty to work upon the natural affections of their auditors; and great passions, accompanied with tears and vows, may be so.
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