340 Of COMMUNION with I.) Their clear and full conviftion of the neceffiity of a righteoufnefs, wherewith to appear before God. This is always in their thoughts This in their whole lives they take for granted. Many men fpend their days in obflinacy and hardnefs, adding drunkennefs unto thirfi, never once enqui- ring what their condition fhall he, when they enter into eternity. Others trifle away their times and their fouls, (owing the wind of empty hopes, and preparing to reap a whirlwind of wrath. But this liés at the bottom of all the Saints communion with Chrift. A deep fixed, refolved perfuafi- on, of an abfolute and indifpenfableneceflity ofa righteoufnefs, wherewith to appear before God. The holinefs of God's nature, the righteoufnefs of his government, the feverity of his law, the terrour ofhis wrath, are al- ways before them. They have been all convinced of fin, and have looked on themfelves, as ready to fink under the vengeance due to it. They have all cried, peen and brethren, what (Pall we de to be faved:e Wherewith Ihall we appear before God? And have all concluded, that it is in vain to flatter themfelves with hopes ofefcaping as they are by nature; if God be holy, and righteous, and ofpurer eyes than to behold iniquity, they have a righte- oufnefs to hand before him, and theyknow what will béthe cry one day, of thofe who now bear up themfelves, as if they were otherwife minded, Ifa. liii. 15. Mich. vii. 6, 7. a.) They weigh their own righteoufnefs in the balance, and find it want- ing. And this two ways, (r. In general, and upon the whole of the matter, at their firft fetting themfelves before God. When men are convinced of the neceflity of a righ- teoufnefs, they catch at every thing that prefents it felf to them tor. relief. Like men ready to fink in deep waters, catch at that that is next to fave them from drowning, which fometimes proves a rotten flick, that finks with them. So did the Jews, Rom. ix. 31, pa. they caught hold of the law, and it would not relieve them, and how they perifhed with it, the apollle declares, Chap. x. 14. The law put them upon fetting up a righte- oufnefs of their own, this kept them doing, and in hope, but kept them from fubmitting to the righteoufnefs of God. Here many perifh, and ne- ver get one ftep nearer God all their days. This the faints renounce. They have no confidence in the flefh, they know that all they can do ; all that the law can do, which is weak through the flefh, will not avail them. See what judgment Paul makes of all a man's own righteoufnefs, Phil. iii. 8, 10. This they bearin their minds daily, this they fill their thoughts withal, that upon the account of what they have done, can do, ever ihall do, they cannot be accepted with God, or juflified thereby. This keeps their fouls humble, full ofa fenfe of their own vilenefs all their days. (a. In particular; they daily weigh all their particular affirms in the balance, and find them wanting, as to any fuch compleatnefs, as.upon their own account to be accepted with God. Oh ! fays a faint, if I had nothing to commend me unto God, but this prayer, this duty, this conqueft of a temptation, wherein I my felf fee fo many failings, fo much imperfedíon, could I appear with any boldnefs before him ? Shall I then piece up a gar- ment of righteoufnefs out of my belt duties ; alt ! it is all ás a defiled cloth, Ifa. lxiv. 6. Thefe droughts accompany them in all their duties, in their belt and molt choice performances. Lord, what ato I in my belt elate ? How little fuitablet:efs unto thy holinefs is in my belt duties ? O (pare me ! in reference to the (a) heft thing that ever I did in my life. When a man (a) Neh. xl;i. la. who
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