That thus secures from endless death Though well my black desert I know, was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. 7 Rom. vii. 24, 25. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chap. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before, a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. Ver. 15-17. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Hence my security from wrath As firmly stands on Jesus' death, t The sentence Heav'n did full pronounce, s1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us-righteousness—and redemption. 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iv. 11. And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Ver. 22-25. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. t Rom. v. 9. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. u Rom. v. 17-19. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Ver. 21. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. And ev'n from future crimes acquit, I'm always in a pardon'd state v Psalm ciii. 3. Bless the Lord, O my soul,—who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. 2 Cor. v. 19. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Ver. 21. See letter s above cited. Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. Isa. liv. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Heb. viii. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. w Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ver. 33-39. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor That vainly I presume not hence, I'm seldom pardon'd to my sense. Sin brings a vengeance on my head, height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. x Psalm xxv. 21. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. And li. 8, 9. Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice Hide thy face from my sins: and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with thy free spirit. y Psalm xcix. 8. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God; thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 1 Thess. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come. z Psalm xxxv. 3. O Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And lxxxv. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Matt. ix. 2. And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. Thus, though I need no pardon more, Lord, wash anew, and pardon me. SECTION XV. THE MYSTERY OF FAITH AND SIGHT, OF WHICH MORE, PART VI. CHAP. IV. STRANGE Contradictions me befall, I can't believe unless I see; a Yet never can believe at all, Till once I shut the seeing eye. b When sight of sweet experience Can give my faith no helping hand, c z Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John i. 7, 8. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. a John vi. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. b John xx. 29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. |