letípuO aíts 266 holy reftraints nails him to the Crofs, that un- lefs in a Humber of Faith, he cannot move or flit himfelf, but dies away by little and little. As the light of Nature, being imprifonedin un- righteoufiefr, as the Apoftle( peaks, Rom. r.i8, is every day exhaufled and weakned ; fo the corruption of Nature being thus reftrained by Faith, gradually lofes its life and vigor. Mar- sinus Polonus tels of a terrible Dragon at Rome, who killed many daily with his poyfonous breath, but was at Taft fruit up with Brafen gates through the Prayers of Sylvefier Bifhop, there. Were this Fable true, Faith doth a no- bler work in reftraining the inward Serpent of corruption, whole deadly poyfon bath fpread it felt over all Men,and is eternally fatal to all but Believers. To conclude; In all this, Faith applies it felt to a Crucified Chrift, from thence it fetches its pattern : As the pure flesh of Chrifl, upon which, as an expiatory Sacrifice, the Sin of the World was laid, fuffexed on the Cross ; fo the corrupt flesh of Man, unto which, as the uni- verfal Seminary, the Sin of the World may be juflly imputed, mutt fuffer alfo : Hence Saint Peter, i Pet. 4. r. From the fuffering of Chrift in the flefh, exhorts Believers to suffer in their cor- rupt flesh, ceafing from Sin ; and from thence it derives a 1pirit for the work. Chrift offered himfelf through the eternal Spirit on the Cross; 4nd the Believer through the Spirit of Chrift, offers up his corrupt fell to be crucified.Hence t.,Paul, Rom. 6. 6, faith, Our old man its crg- cifred
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=