" And then, O poor soul, if thou comest but hither,
thou wilt never have an itching ear after another gospel.
If thou wouldst be faithful to do that work that God has allotted
thee to do in this world for his name labor to live in the savor and
sense of thy freedom and liberty by Jesus Christ; that is, keep
this, if possible, ever before thee--that thou art a redeemed one,
taken out of this world and from under the curse of the law, out of
the power of the devil, and placed in a kingdom of grace and
forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake.
This is of absolute use in this matter; yea, so absolute that it is
impossible for any Christian to do his work christianly, without
some enjoyment of it.
The first thing of which the soul is sick, and by which the
conscience receiveth wounding, is the GUILT of sin and fear of the
curse of God for it; for which are provided the wounds and precious
blood of Christ, which flesh and blood, if the soul eat thereof by
faith, give deliverance therefrom. Upon this FILTH of sin appears
most odious; for that it hath not only at present defiled the soul,
but because it keeps it from doing those duties of love which by the
love of Christ it is constrained to endeavor the perfecting of. For
filth appears filth, that is, irksome and odious to a contrary
principle now implanted in the soul; which principle had its
conveyance thither by faith in the sacrifice and death of Christ
going before.
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