of the PE R S'ON Of C iI R I S T. inftance can be given 'of any who from the original of chriflian religi- on, rejec?ed the divine perfon of Chrift, and preferved any one evan- gelical truth befides pure and uncorrupted. And I do freely confefs, that all which we believe concerning the Holy Trinity, the eternal counfels of God, the efficacy of the mediation of Chrift, his fatisfaftion and merit, the way whichwe ownof the fanftification, juftìfication and falvation of of the church, are to be efteemed fables as the Socinians contend, if what we believe concerning the perfon of Chrift, be fo alfo. a. Hence it is that the knowledge and profefhon of the truth with many is fofruitlefs, ineffùacious and ufelefs. It is not known, it is not undcrftood nor believed in its relation unto Chrift, on which account alone it conveys either light or power to the foul. Men profefs they know the truth but they know it not in its proper order, in its harmony and ufe. It leads them not to Chrift, it brings not Chrift unto them; and fo is lifelefs and ufelefs. Hence of-times none are more eftranged from the life of God, than fuch as have mach notional knowledgeof the docîrines of the fcripture. For they are all of them ufelefs and fubje& to be abufed, if they are not improved to form Chrift in the foul;' and transform the whole perfon into his likenefs and image. This they will not effet where their relation un- to him is not underftdód, where they are not received and learned as a re- velation of him with the myflery of the will and wifdom of God in him. For whereas he is our life, and in our living unto God we do not fo much live as the liveth in us, and the life which we lead in the flehh is by the faith of him, fo that we have neither principle nor power of fpiritual life but in, by and from him, whatever knowledge we have of the truth, if it do not effee an union between him and our fouls, it will be lifelefs in us, and unprofitable unto us. It is learning the truth as it is in jefus which alone renevrcth the image of God in us, Ephef. iv. 21, 22, 23, 24. Where it is otherwife, where men have notions ofevangelical truths but knownot Chrift in theni whatever they proffs, when they come really to examine tiem- felves they will find them of no ufe unto them, but that all things between God and their fouls are flared on natural light and common prefumptions. 43 BW2MNEIVjfV: gq4fGIP.T3t1r 1ev CHAP. VII. Power and Efficacy communicated unto the Office of Cr-get isTIer the Salvation of the CH uRCHfrom his Perfon. 6.T T is by the exercife and difcharge ofthe o 're of CI ei as the y V King, Pr:eJl, and Prophet of the church, that we are redeem- ° ed, fanclified and faved. Thereby dotti he immediately commu- , nicate all Gofpel benefits unto us, gives us an accefs unto God here by grace, and in glory hereafter. For he faves us as lac is the inediator between' Ged and man. But hereon an enquiry may be made, whence
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