Page:Harmony of the divine attributes displayed in the redemption and salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ.pdf/21

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the conscience, Heb. ix.' 14. And the blood of sprinkling, wherewith the conscience is purged from dead works to serve the living God, doth put forth its purgative power and virtue by a certain internal speech; and what doth it speak in the conscience ? It speaks better things than the blood of Abel, that speaks vengeance, but this speaks Mercy and Peace, in conjunction with Truth, Righteousness, and justice; For wherever justice satisfying blood cries for Mercy and Peace, there Mercy and Truth Righteousness and Peacemeet and embrace each other. This blood is the cement whereby they are joined together: before this blood be applied, the conscience of the convinced sinner is all in a flame like mount Sinai; Thunder and lightning, and smoke and darkness and the fear of hell and vengeance, compassing the soul about while it is arraigned at the instance Of the fiery law, to pay the double, debt to the mandatory and minatory part of the law,that is perfect obedience upon the pain of eternal death and damnation. The sinner finds himself lost and undone for ever by the law : but then, when ever the blood of sprinkling comes in, and appears at the bar of conscience it speaks better things; it is a better speaker than the law And what says it? Why, the language of it is, with your leave, O law, you have nothing to crave, for Christ the Son of God was arraigned at the instance of divine justice, to pay all this debt, because he was the sinners surety and substance, and he actually paid it, by obeying the command, and undergoing the penalty of the law ; and for this I produce the ancient records of God, In the volume of his book, it is written of Christ that when sacrifice and offering would not. He said, Lo,I come, I delight to do thy will: and that the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. That he was made a curse for us, yea, that he was made sin for us even he who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in him : And therefore, O law, though thou hast; truth and Righteousness on thy side, yet Truth and righteousness have met with Mercy and Peace, and they have concerted matters and agreed harmoniously, and kissed one another, in token of their full agreement in Christ, so that in Christ all charges are answered, and