scudderpage074

between you and God, Isa. lix. 2, causing him to withhold good things from you, Jer. v. 25, and to inflict evil upon you, even in this life. It defiles the whole man. Tit. i. 15, and every renewed act of sin does strengthen the body of sin, and works a decay of grace in you, though you be regenerate. And if it be gross iniquity, if it does not benumb and sear your conscience, yet it will wound it, and break the peace thereof, if it be tender; vexing it as motes do your eye, or thorns your feet, Psa. li. causing terrors and doubtings of salvation; God's withdrawing his favour and loving countenance from you; and, if you be not in Christ, it will in the end bring upon you everlasting damnation, Matt. xxv. 46. Rev. xxi. 8.

Sixthly, Consider the ransom for sin, who paid it, and what was paid; consider Christ Jesus, who he was, and what he did and suffered to take away your sin. He, the only Son of God, very God, did veil his glory for a time, and left heaven to dwell in the tabernacle of human flesh, taking upon him the estate of a servant, Phil. ii. 6 - 8; he was poor, despised of men, Isa. liii. 3; persecuted from the manger to the cross; made to shed tears abundantly; yea, so tormented with the sense of God's wrath for your sin, that for very anguish he did sweat as it were drops of blood, Luke xxii. 44. He was accused, condemned, spit upon, mocked, buffeted, and scourged by wicked men, Matt. xxvii. 1 - 31; made to bear his own cross, till for very faintness he could bear it no longer, Mark xv. 21; then he was crucified between thieves, dying the most accursed death, Gal. iii. 13; and, which to him was more than all the rest, he, in his human apprehension, was forsaken of God, crying out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matt. xxvii. 46.

Now you may be assured, that if the justice of God could have been satisfied, and your sin expiated and done away by a less price, Jesus Christ, his only Son, would never have been caused to pour out his soul a sacrifice for your sin, Isa. liii. 10, 12.

This looking (by the eyes of your faith) upon Christ whom you have pierced, Zech. xii. 10, will at once