Sin Discovered In Its Vileness Makes CHRIST To Be Desired In HIS Fullness!

The unchangeable method of GOD!

(Matthew Mead, "The Almost Christian" 1661)

"I have not come to call the righteous, 
but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32. 

That is--

such as see themselves as sinners, 

and thereby in a lost condition.

GOD will have the soul truly 

sensible of the bitterness of sin--

before it shall taste the sweetness 

of mercy. The plough of conviction 

must go deep, and make deep furrows 

in the heart, before GOD will sow 

the precious seed of grace there--

so that it may have depth 

of earth to grow in.

This is the unchangeable method 

of GOD in bestowing grace--

to begin with conviction of sin. 

  First to show man his sin--then his SAVIOR;

  first his danger--then his REDEEMER

  first his wound--then his cure;

  first his own vileness--

then CHRIST'S righteousness.

The sinner must see the worthlessness 

and vileness of his own righteousness--

before he can be saved by CHRIST'S 

righteousness.

The Israelites are first stung
with the fiery serpents--

and then the brazen serpent
is set up to heal them.

We must see the leprosy of our
righteousness, and be brought to cry
out,"Unclean, unclean!" 

We must mourn for HIM
whom we have pierced--

and then HE sets open for us 

"a fountain to cleanse us 
from all sin and impurity." 
Zechariah 12:10, 13:1

Be convinced of the evil of sin--
the filthy and heinous nature of it.
Sin is the greatest evil in the world--

  it wrongs GOD;

  it wounds CHRIST;

  it grieves the HOLY SPIRIT;

  it damns a precious soul!

All other evils cannot be compared with this.
Though to DO sin is the worst work--
yet to SEE sin is the best sight!

Sin discovered in its vileness--

makes CHRIST to be desired 

in HIS fullness! 

Alas!

it is CHRIST'S infinite righteousness 

which must atone for our sins--

for it is an infinite GOD whom we

have sinned against!

If ever your sin is pardoned--

it is CHRIST'S infinite mercy 

which must pardon it!

If ever you are reconciled to GOD--

it is CHRIST'S infinite merit 

which must do it!

If ever your heart is changed--

it is CHRIST'S infinite power 

which must effect it!

If ever your soul escapes Hell,

and is saved at last--

it is CHRIST'S infinite grace 

which must save it!

"For the SON of Man has come 
to seek and to save the lost." 
Luke 19:10

  
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GraceGems has published the puritan Thomas Vincent's insightful article, 
"Christ's Manifestation of Himself!"