Presbyterian Church -- Sermons; Sermons, English; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 17th century
strange, that men are taken up with other petty inconsiderable things, and
yet neglect to know what this is, to be in Jesus Christ, upon which their
salvation depends.
Faith in Jesus Christ is the soul’s flight into the city of refuge. Now
none flieth but when they apprehend danger, or are pursued. This danger
that a soul apprehends, is perishing and condemnation for ever. The
pursuer is the law of God, and his justice, these have a sword in their
hand, the curse of God, and the sentence of condemnation. God erects a
tribunal in his word, wherein he judgeth men. Whosoever he hath a purpose
of good-will unto, he makes the law to enter into their consciences, that
the offence might abound. He sends out some messenger of affliction, or
conviction, to bring them before the judgment seat, and hear their
accusation read unto them. There the soul stands trembling, and the
conscience witnesseth and approveth all that the word challengeth of, so
that the sinner’s mouth is stopped, and can have no excuse to this
accusation. Then the judge pronounces the sentence upon the guilty person,
“Cursed is every one that abideth not in all things, &c.” The soul cries,
Guilty, O Lord, guilty, I deserve the curse indeed. Oh! “what shall I do
to be saved?” Then the soul looks about on the right hand, and on the left
hand, to seek some refuge, but there is none. Whither shall he go from
him? He looks within himself, and beholds nothing within, but the accusing
witnessing conscience becomes a tormentor. The fire is kindled within,
which feeds upon the fuel of innumerable sins. Now the soul is almost
overwhelmed, and spies if there be any place to flee to from itself, and
from that wrath, and behold the Lord discovers a city of refuge near hand,
where no condemnation is, even Christ Jesus, who hath sustained the curse,
that he might redeem us from it. The vision of peace is here, and thither
the soul flies out of itself, and from justice, into that discovered
righteousness of Christ, and so the more that the offence abounded, now
the more hath grace super-abounded, so that there is now no more
condemnation to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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