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Man feeking to afcend procur'd our fall,
God yielding to defcend remov'd our thrall:
The judge was calt, the guilty to acquit,
The Sun defac'd to lend the fhades the light.

SECT. III. The Redeemer's Work.

OR,

Christ all in all, and our complete Redemption.

A Gofpel Catechifin for young Chriflians.

QUESTION.

KIND teacher, may I come to learn
In this abrupt addrefs,

By framing questions that concern
My endless happiness ?

Anf. Yea, child; but if you'd learn to run

The great falvation race,

Know that the name of Chrift alone

Can answer ev'ry cafe.

Q. By fin, my God and all is loft,
O where may God be found?
A. In Chrift; for fo the Holy Ghost
Shews by the joyful found.

Q. But how will God with finful me
Again be reconcil'd?

A. In Chrift, in whom his grace to thee
And favour is reveal'd.

Q. O how fhall I a fharer prove,
And fee his glorious grace?
A. In Chrift the image of his love,
And brightness of his face.

Q. Where fhall I feek all divine store,
And without fail obtain ?

A. In Chrift, in whom for ever more
His fulness doth remain.

Q. But how fhall I escape and flee
Th' avenging wrath of God?
A. In Chrift, who bore upon the tree
That whole amazing load.

Q. Alas! I'm daily apt to ftray,
How fhall I heav'n-ward make?
A. Through Chrift the confecrated way,
Defign'd for thee to take.

Q. Ah! where's my title, right, or claim
To that eternal blifs?

A. In Chrift alone, that glorious name,
The Lord our righteousness.

Q. But who unfit can enter there,
Or with fuch nafty feet?

4. Chrift by his blood presents thee fair, His Spirit makes thee meet.

Q. But may'nt my fpirit, weak as grafs,
Fail ere it reach the length?

A. Jefus, the Lord thy righteoufnefs,
Will be the Lord thy ftrength.

Q. May'nt hellifh hofts, and wicked foes,
Sore by the way molest?

A. Christ is a friend to bridle those,
And give the weary rest.

Q. May'nt guilty confcience loudly brand,
And all my comfort chase?

A. Christ with a pardon in his hand
Can fhew his fmiling face.

Q. But how can divine mercy vent,
Where fins are great and throng?
A. Chrift is the channel with defcent
That mercy runs along.

Q. But may not justice interpofe,
And ftand in mercy's way?

A. Jefus did all the debt thou owes
To divine juftice pay.

Y

Q. Where fhall mine eyes the pardon fpy,
Unto my faving good?

A. In Chrift's free promise fee it lie,
In his atoning blood.

Q. What ground have I to trust and say,
The promise is not vain ?

A. In Chrift the promises are Yea,
In him they are Amen.

Q. But where is Chrift himself, O where
With promifes so sweet?

A. Chrift's in the promises, and there
Thy faith and he may meet.

Q. Is Chrift in them, and they in Christ?
How fhall I this defcry?

A. His blood and Spirit therein lift
To feal and to apply.

Q. 'Gainft legal fiery threats of wrath,
Pray, what defence is beft?

A. Chrift's full obedience ey'd by faith;
There should the guilty reft.

Q. But how fhall faith be had? Alas!
I find I can't believe.

A. Chrift is the author of that grace,
And faith is his to give.

Q. Ah! when may faithlefs I expec
He'll fuch a blifs bequeath?
A. He will of unbelief convict,
And pave the way for faith.

Q. Repentance must attend, but whence
Shall I this grace receive?
A. Chrift is exalted as a prince
All needful grace to give.

Q. How can fo vile a lump of duft
Heart-holinefs expect?

A. Chrift by his holy Spirit must
This gradual change effect.

Q. How fhall I do the works aright
I'm daily bound unto?

A. Chrift in thee, by his Spirit's might,
Works both to will and do.

Q. How fhall my maladies be heal'd,
So fore molefting me?

A. Chrift is the great Phyfician seal'd
The Lord that healeth thee.

Q. By prayer I ought to feek his face,
This courfe how fhall I drive?

A. 'Tis Chrift alone that has the grace
And fp'rit of prayer to give.

Q. Salvation-work is great and high,
Alas! what fhall I do?

A. Chrift as the Alpha thereof eye,
And the Omega too.

Q. What pillar then is moft fecure
To build my hope upon ?

A. Chrift only the foundation sure,
The living corner stone.

Q. When I'm with black pollution ftain'd,

How fhall I cleanfed be?

A. Chrift is a fountain for that end
Set open wide for thee.

Q. What shall I do when plagues abound,
With forrows, griefs, and fears?

A. Christ has a balfam for thy wounds,
A bottle for thy tears.

Q. But is there any help for one

That utterly is loft?

A. Chrift faves from fin, and he alone,

Ev'n to the uttermoft.

Q. But where fhall I be fafe at last
From hell and endless death?
A. Chrift is a refuge from the blast
Of everlasting wrath.

Q. But mayn't ev'n natural death to me
Become a dreadful thing?

A. Chrift by his death in love to thee
Did every death unfting.

Q. Why, Sir, is Chrift the whole you say?
No answer elfe I find.

A. Because, were Chrift our all away,
There's nothing left behind.

Q. How can he answer every case,
And help in every thrall?

A. Because he is the Lord of
Jehovah, all in all.

grace,

Q. How is he present to fupply,

And to relieve us thus ?

A. Because his glorious name is nigh,
Immanuel, God with us.

Q. Has he alone all power to fave,
Is nothing left to man?

A. Yea, without Chrift we nothing have,
Without him nothing can.

Q. Mayn't fome from hence take latitude
And room their lufts to please ;

If Chrift do all, then very good,

Let us take carnal eafe?

A. Chrift will in flaming vengeance come,
With fury in his face,

To damn his foes that dare prefume,

And thus abuse his grace.

SECT. IV. Faith and Works both excluded from the matter of juftification before God, that redemption may appear to be only in Chrift.

WHO dare an holy God addrefs,
With an unholy righteoufnefs?
Who can endure his awful probe,
Without perfection for their robe?

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