C n P. jj, 266 An xpofition of the power ; and the more they cats off the thoughts ofit, the more they increafed their danger. Thiswas the eflate ofthe children, whole deliverancewas undertaken bythe Lord Chrill, the Captainoftheir falvation. And we mayhence obferve, that, All fences areJùbjea unto death, as it ispcenal. The firft fentence reacheth them all Gen. a. 17. And thence are they laid by nature to be childrenofwrath, Epbef. 2.3. ob- noxious unto death to be infli&ed in a way ofwrath and revengefor fin. This pafth uponall, in ar much as all havefinned, Rom. q. 12. . This all men fee and know; but alldo not fufficiently confider whatis contained in the fentenceof death, andvery fest how it maybe avoided. Molt men look on death as. the common lot and condition of mankind, upon the account oftheir.frail natural condition ; as though it belonged to the naturalcondition of the children, and not the moral ; and were a confequent of their being, andnot the demerit oftheir fin. They confider not, that although the principles ofour nature are in themfelves fubje& unto a diffolution, yet if we had kept the Lawofour Creation, it had been prevented by the power of God, engaged tocontinue life during our obedience. Life and obedience were to be commenfurate, until temporal obedience ended in life eternal. Death ispenal, and its being common untoall, hinders not but that it isthe punifhment ofevery one. How it is changed unto Believers by the death ofChrist, (hall be afterward declared: In the mean time all man- kind is condemned, as loon as born. Life isa reprieve, a fufpenfion of execution. If during that time a pardon be not effe&ually fued out, the fentence will be executed according to the feverity of juftice. Under this Law are men now born, thisyolte have they pulled on themfelvesby their apoftafie from God. Neither is it to anypurpofc to repine againfi it or toconfli&with it there is but one way ofdelivery. 2. Fearofdeath, as it is pcenal, is infeparablefromfin, before thefnner be delivered by -the death ofChriff. Theywere in fear of death. There isafear ofdeath that is natural, and infeparable from our prefent condition ; that is but natures averfationof its own diffolution. And this hath various degrees, occafioned by the differences ofwens na- tural conffitution, and other accidental occurrences and occafions : fo that fome feem tofeardeath too much, and others not at all ; I meanof thofewho are freed from it, as it is in thecurie and under the power of Sathan. But this difference is fromoccafons .forreignand accidental ; there is in all naturally the fame averfation of it. And this is a guiltleflinfirmity, likeour wearinefs, and ficknefs, infeparably annexed unto the condition ofmortality. But (inners in their naturalffate fear deathas it ispanal, as an iffue of the.curfe, as under the power of Sathan, as a dreadful entrance into eternal ruine.. There are indeed a thoufandways wherebythis fear is for a feafonRifled in the minds ofmen. Some live inbrutif3 ignorance, never receiving any full convi&ion of Sin, Judgment, or Eternity. . Some put offthe thoughts of their prefent and future eftate, refolving to[hut their eyes and rah into it, when as they can no longer avoid it. Fear prefentsit(elfunto them as the fore-runner ofdeath, but they avoid the en- counter, and leave themfelves to the power of death it (elf. Some pleafe themfelves with vain hopes ofdeliverance, though wellthey know not how, nor why they fhould bepartakers ofit. But let menfore-go thefe belplefifhifts and Coffer their own innate light to be excited with fuch means ofconvi&ion as they do enjoy, and they will quicklylnd what a judgment there is made in their own fouls concerning death to come, and what effe&s it will produce. They will.conclude that it is the judgment of God, that theywhich commit finare worthyofdeath, Rom. s. 3a. and then that their own confeiences do accule and condemn them, Rom. 2. 1.4., 15. Whence unavoidably fear, dread, and terrour will feize upon them. And then, 3. Fear of death, as panal, renders the minds of men obnoxious unto bondage í which what it is we have inpart before declared. It it a(late oftrouble, which men diflike, butcannot avoid. It is a panaldifquietment arifing from fence offuture mifery: fain would men quit themfelvesof it, but are not able; there is a chain ofGod in it, not to be broken; men maygall themfelves with it,but cannotremove it : and ifGod- take-it from them without granting thana lawfúl releafeand delivery, it is to their farther mifery. And this is in fome meafure or other the portion of every one that is ten- vinced of fin, before they are freed by the Gofpel. And tome have difputed .what- degrees ofit are neceffary before believing. But what is necrefary for anyone toattain unto, ishis duty. But this bondage can be the duty ofno man, becaufe it is involun- tary. It will follow convictionof fin, but it isno mans duty ; rather it is luch anOlt ofthe Lawas every one is to free himfelf from, fo loon as hemay, in a right way and manner. This eftate then befalls men whether they will or no. And this is lo, if ìvc
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