Now is peace
come, now the face of heaven is altered. Behold, all things are
become new." Now the sinner can abide God's presence, yea, sees
unutterable glory and beauty in him; for here he sees justice smile.
While Jacob was afraid of Esau, how heavily did he drive, even
towards the promised land; but when killing thoughts were turned
into kissing, and the fears of the sword's point turned into
brotherly embraces, what says he? "I have seen thy face as though it
had been the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me."
So and far better is it with a poor distressed sinner, at the
revelation of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. "God was in
Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them." O, what work will such a word make upon a
wounded conscience, especially when the next words follow: "For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him."
Now the soul sees qualifications able to set him quiet in the sight
of God--qualifications prepared already. Prepared, I say, already,
and that by God through Christ; even such as can perfectly answer
the law. What doth the law require? If obedience, here it is; if
bloody sacrifice, here it is; if infinite righteousness, here it is.
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