We
who have had a due sense of sins, and of the nature of the justice
of God, know that no remission of the guilt of any one can be, but
by atonement made by blood. Heb. 9:22.
We also know that where faith in Jesus Christ is wanting, there can
be neither good principle, nor good endeavor; for faith is the first
of all graces, and without it there is nothing but sin. Rom. 14:23.
We know also that faith, as a grace in us, severed from the
righteousness of Christ, is only a beholder of things, but not a
justifier of persons; and that if it lay not hold of and applieth
not that righteousness which is in Christ, it carries us no further
than to the devils.
We know that this doctrine killeth sin, and curseth it at the very
roots: I say, we know it, who have mourned over him whom we have
pierced, and who have been confounded to see that God by his blood
should be pacified towards us for all the wickedness we have done.
Yea, we have a double motive to be holy and humble before him: one,
because he died for us on earth; another, because he now appears for
us in heaven, there sprinkling for us the mercy-seat with his blood,
there ever living to make intercession for them that come unto God
by him. "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins.
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