o8 Foundationand spiritual Building, mec. Pfal.i 3 o. to do but to lay the foundation ? yes, all our daies we are to build upon it when it is freely and firmly laid. And thefe are the means and waits of our Edification. This then is the foul to do who would corne to peace and fettiement. Let it 1et go all former endeavours if it have been engaged untoanyof that kind. And let it alone receive,admit of,and adhere to mar Grace, mercy and pardon,with a full fenfe that in its felfit bath nothing for which it thould havean intereil in them,but that all is ofweer Grace through Jefus Chri(i. Other foundation can no man Iay.Dcpart not hence until this work be well over.Surceafe not an earnett endeavour with your ownhearts to acquiefce in this Righteoufnefs ofGod, and to bring your fouls unto a com- fortable perfwafion that God for Chrifl his fake bath freely for- given you all yourfins. Stir not hence untill this be effec ed. If you have been engaged in another way, that is, to leek for an intereft in the pardon of fin by fome endeavours ofyour own, it is not unlikely but that you are filled with the fruit of your own doings; that is, that you go on with all kind ofuncer- tainties, and without any kind of conftant peace. Return then again hither; bring this inundation workto a blefred iffue in the blood of Chrift, and when that is donc, up and be doing. You know how fatal and ruinous it is for fouls to abufe the Graceof God, and the Apprehention of the pardon of fins in the courfeoftheir obedience, to countenance themfelves in fin, or thenegligence of any duty ; this is to turn theGrace ofGatlin- t,2 wantonnefs, as we have elfcwhere at large declared. And it is no lets pernicious tobring the duties of our obedience, any re- ferves for them, any hopes about them, intothe matter of pardon and [orgivenefs, as we are to receive the' from God.. But thefe things, as they are diftin6t in themfelves ; fo they. mutt be ditl,ndlymanaged in the foul; and the confounding of them, is that whichditiurbs thePeace, and weakens theObe- dience of many. In.a. confuted manner they labour to keepup a life ofGrace and Duty, which will be in their places conjoyned,, but not mixedor compounded. Firfl, To take upMercy, Pardon and Forgivencfs abfolutely on the account of Chrifl, and then to yield aUobedience in the strength ofChrift, and for the Love ©f.Chritf, is the life of a Aclirver, Ephef, 2. 8, 9, io... R 1.1.LE
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