CHAP..S. Epifileto the ?heffalonians. VW, 9, io. How forerun _then is the abufe of Chrifts death a- mongft oùr people, making it their greatcfl encourage- ment to liccntioufnefre 2 So that wee may trucly fay, the abufe of Chrifts Death damnes more, than the Death it felfe faues. S aith P E T ER, To you that beleeue, Chrift cru- cified is alione cleft and precious, but unto the dijobedient, d a !lone o f flumblotg,and rocke of o fence. A (lone of Plum- bling indeed, and a rocke of offence, efpecially through abufe of the meditation of hisDeath. The [ewes indeed (tumbled at ir, but by another occafion, and the Gentiles thought itfooli(hnefre : the one, expeíting a glorious ettate ofthe Mcfliah in the World ; the other deeming it a foolifh and abfurd thing to expect Life out of Death, Glory to Wile out offuch extreme Contempt. But our people, perfwaded (as they would kettle) of the validitie thereof, ro procure remiffion and faluation, ftrercht the venue of it farther than euer it was intended : in fuch fort, that the enforcement of holinefFe feemes abfurder from no ground than this; Becaufe Chriff deed for vs.Ra- ther fith Chrift died for vs, what needes fuch niceneffe Let vs feed ourfelues rritheut feare;our finnes are expiated by the Death ofChrift.To whom me thinkes,l may fay as Moles to 1 frael, a Do you that requite the Lord, O people foolilhand vnwifeî and proteft with Pd el to men of that fpirir, EChrif íhall profit them nothing. Let all Gods people be exhorted fo to vfe the Medi- tation of Chrifts Death, that it may bee to them an in- centiue to holinefFe. Jr is a bleifed Soule that fo vieth it,; and reapes as comfortable affurance as any can bee, that he hath (hare in the merit of ir, when the Medita tien is thus powerfull to a worke 1 1ortifcatione, and care to depart from euill. It is laid of Dauid, lice once, in an efftminate hu mour , longed to drinke Water of the Well of 'B t hleerm three of his Worthies breake thorow the hoati of Ph,- liftims, to fauc his longing. Put when it is brought; Ec4 bee
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