of the PERSON Of CHRIST. 6i his perfon that their faith principally regarded. Thence were they filled withdelires and expeftations ofhis coming, or his exhibition and appearance in the flefh. With renewed promifes hereof did God continually refrefh thechurch in its straits and difficulties. And hereby did God call off the bodyof the people from truft in themfelves, or boafting in their prefent privileges, which they were exceedingly prone unto. In procefs oftime this faith which wrought effectually in the church of Ifrael, degenerated into a lifelefs opinion, that proved the ruinofit. Whilfl they really lived in the faith of him as thefaviour and rédeefner of the church from all its fpiritual adverfaries, as he who was to make an end of fin, andbring in everlaflingrighteoufüefs, unto whom all their prefent or= dinances were fubfervientand direftive; all grace, love, zeal and patient waiting for the accomplifhtihent of the promif , flourifhed among them. But in procefs of time growing carnal, crafting in their own righteoufnefs and the privileges which they had by the law, their faith concerning the perfonof Chrifl degenerated into a corrupt, obftinare opinion, that he fhould be only a temporal King and deliverer; but as to righteoufnefs and fal- vation they were to truft unto themfelvesand the law. And this prejudi- cate opinion being indeed a renunciation of all the grate of the promifes of God, proved their utter ruin. For when he came in the flefh, after fo many ages, filled up with continued expectations, they rejeftedand defpifed him as one that had neither formnor comelinefs for which hé fhould be de- fired. So doth it fall o it in other c'.asrc's*s. That whichwas faith truly fpi- ritual and evangelical in their firft planting, becomes a lifelefs opinion in fucceeding ages. The fame truths are fill profeffed, lint that profe(hon fprings not from the fame caufes, nor doth it produce the fain effeets in the hearts and lives Of men. Hence in procefsof time, fome churches con- tinue to have anappearance of the faine body which they were at firft, but being examined, are like a lifelefs, breatülefs carcafs; wherein the a- nimating fpirit of grace doth not dwell. Andthen is any churchas it was with that ofthe yews, nigh to deftrufion, when it corrupts formerly pro- feffed truths, to accommodate them unto the prefent lufts and inclinatscns of men, áçviéçváiéáévfvééáiáéiáfiëë'éféiéiGStvié WAN . a j:i ; .t'.. # AA#33AAAf.AA°iAAAA3R33AAf.lR1lAAARIJAAAItAAA CHAP. IX. Honour due to the PE tt s oN of CHRIST ; the Na- ture and Caufes of it. ANY other confideratioras of the fame nature with thofe fore- going, relating unto the glory and honour of the perfon of Chrifl, may be taken from all the fundamental principles of religion. And our duty it is in them all, to confider the a o /ille and highpriefl ofour profegon, the author andfiniflier of our faith. I fÏhall not infift on more, but proceed unto -thòfe principles of truth which are immediately direftive of our duty towards hini; without diligent
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