The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Corollary 1.

* 1.1This shews in the first place, the incomparable excellency of the reformed Christian Religion, above all other Religions known to, or professed in the world. What other Religions seek, the Christian Religion only finds; even a solid foundation for true peace, and settlement of conscience. While the Iews seek it in vain, in the Law; the Mahumetan, in his external and ridicu∣lous observances; the Papist in his own merits; the Believer on∣ly finds it, in the blood of this great sacrifice: this, and nothing less than this, can pacifie a dis••••••••sed conscience, labouring under the weight of its own guilt. Conscience demands no less to satisfie it, than God demands to satisfie him. The grand inquest of consci∣ence is; Is God satisfied? If he be satisfied, I am satisfied. Woful is the state of that man, that feels the worm of conscience nibling on the most tender part of the soul, and hath no relief against it. That feels the intollerable scalding wrath of God, burning within, and hath nothing to cool it. Hear me, you that slight troubles of conscience; that call them fancies, and melan∣cholly whimsies; if you ever had had but one sick night for sin, if you had ever felt that shame, fear, horror, and despair which are the dismal effects of an accusing, and condemning conscience, you would account it an unspeakable mercy to hear of a way for the discharge of a poor sinner, from that guilt. You would kiss the feet of that messenger, that could bring you tydings of peace. You would call him blessed, that should direct you to an effectual remedy. Now, whoever thou art, that pinest away in thine iniquities; that droopest from day to day under the pre∣sent wounds, and dismal presages of conscience, know that thy soul and peace can never meet, till thou art perswaded to come to this blood of sprinkling.

The blood of this sacrifice, speaks better things than the blood of Abel. The blood of this sacrifice, is the blood of God. Act. 20.28. invaluably pretious blood. 1 Pet. 1.18. one drop of it infinitely excels the blood of all other creatures. Heb. 10.4, 5, 6. Such is the blood that must do thee good. Lord, I must have such blood (saith conscience) as is capable of giving thee full satisfaction, or it can give me no peace. The blood of all the Cattle upon a thousand Hills, cannot do this. What is the blood

of beasts, to God? The blood of all the men in the world, can do nothing in this case. What is our polluted blood worth? No no, it's the blood of God, that must satisfie both thee, and me.

Yea, Christs blood is not only the blood of God, but it's blood shed in thy stead, and in thy place and room. Gal. 3.13. He was made a curse for us. And so it becomes sin pardoning blood. Heb. 9.22. Eph. 1.7. Col. 1.14. Rom. 3.26. And consequent∣ly, conscience pacifying, and soul quieting blood. Col. 1.20. Eph. 2.13, 14. Rom. 3.26. O bless God, that ever the news of this blood came to thine ears. With hands and eyes lifted up to Heaven, admire that grace, that cast thy lot in a place where this joyful sound rings in the ears of poor sinners. What had thy case been, if thy mother had brought thee forth in the desarts of Ara∣bia, or in the wastes of America! or what if thou hadst been nur∣sed up by a Popish father, who could have told thee no other re∣medy when in distress for sin, but to go such a pilgrimage; to whip and lash thy self, to satisfie an angry God! Surely the pure light of the Gospel shining upon this generation, is a mercy never to be duly valued, never to be enough prized.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cor. 1.