or your Redeemer? And whether you have forsaken your sins, and
returned from your evil ways, and answered the visitation of the love of
God in your souls? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to
seek and to save them that were lost? He is the Physician of value, that
was wounded to heal our wounds: "He was wounded for our transgressions,
bruised for our iniquities, and had the chastisement of our peace upon
him; that by his stripes we might be healed:" It is he alone that could
do this. Who is sufficient for these things? The Lord found out one that
is sufficient; he hath "laid help upon one that is mighty," that is
"able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him." God hath
given him the Spirit without measure, and filled him with grace and
truth, that of his fullness we might all receive, and grace for grace:
He is mighty to save the sons and daughters of men, and to give them
power to become the children of God.
This was testified of old, John i. 12. "But as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe
on his name." Men want power over their sins: When sin appears to be
exceeding sinful, they would overcome it, and be rid of it, when it is
troublesome: And when they are under a deep conviction of the evil of
it, and see the woful and miserable state that sin hath brought mankind
into how they have lost the image of God and the favour of God; they
then desire to be restored, and brought back again into their primitive
state. You that know the truth of God, see how the work goes on in your
hearts, see how the image of God is carrying on upon you. Consider, that
the Lord is a holy God, of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with
approbation: "There is no peace to the wicked," that walk in the broad
way, and grieve the Holy Spirit, and do not answer his divine call.
There is a two-fold call concerning man, a call to repentance, and a
call to judgment. The call to repentance is in this day of God's
visitation; they that receive it now, that are so wise, as to answer
God's call, and believe in the Son of God, and in his inward appearance,
that obey his voice, when they hear his call, saying, Come away, come
out of thy sins, come out of the wickedness, filthiness, and pollution
of the world; come into the divine nature of the Son of God; come into
his life: Into what life? Into the spiritual life, the divine life? Thou
hast been dead to God and alive
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