2 E- Terms of Peace with God) Pial. I 3U, l'. dangers, iì:cKntftes, or upon the receipt of mercies ; but yet you find that you cannot come unto ftability or con(lancy in your courte; you break with God and your own Souls, which fills you with new difquietments, or elfe hardens you , and makes you fecure and negligent ; (ò that you return unto your purpofes no oftner, than your Convi Liens or Afióìions befall you anew. This condition is ruinous and pernitious, which nothing can deliver you from, bu`t this doling with fer- gìveneß. For, I. All that you do without this , however it may pleafe your minds or eafe your Confciences, is not at all accepted with God. Unlefs this foundation be laid, all that you do is loa. All your Prayers, all your Duties, all your amendments are an abomination unto the Lord. Until' peace is made with him, they are but the Aas of Enemies , which he defpifeth and abhorreth. You run it may be earnetlly, but you run out of the way ; you firive, but not laryfe4y, and (hall never rective the Crown. True Gofpel-obedience is the fruit of the Faith of Forgiveneß. Whatever you do without it, is but a building without a foundation; a Ca(íle in the ayre. You may tée the order of Gofpel Obedience, Eph. 2. 7, 8, g, I o. The founda- tion muti be laid in Grace; Riches of Grace by Chrifi, in the free pardon, and forgivenefs of fin. From hence mull theworks of obedience. proceed, if you would have them to be of Gods appointment, or finde acceptance with him. Without this God will fay of all your Services, Wor(hip, Obedience, as he did to the Ifraelites ofold ; Amos 5. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. I de- Pile' all, rejet it all it is not to him, nor to his Glory., Now if you are under convictions of any fort, there is nothing you more value, nothing you more place your confidence in, than your Duties; your Repentance, your Amendment, what you do, and what in good time you will be. Is it nothing unto you to lofe all your hopes, and all your Expe&ations which you have from hence ? To have no other Reception with God, than if all this while you had been wallowing in your fins and lulls ? Yet thus it is with you, if you have not begun with God on his own Terms, if you have not received the Atonement in the Blood ofbis Son } if you are not made parta- kers
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