Are you polluted? I offer him to you, as made unto you sanctification. Are you miserable and forlorn? I offer him to you, as made of God unto you complete redemption. Are you hard-hearted ? I offer him in that promise, I will take away the heart of stone. Are you content that he break your hard heart, according to his promise, Come then, put your hard heart in his hands. Are you a wretched backslider, that has back-slidden an hundred times, a thousand times more than an hundred? I offer him in that promise, I will heal your backslidings. Are your corruptions strong and prevalent ? I offer him in that promise, I will subdue your iniquities. Are you pleased that he do so? Are you afraid, that you revolt more and more? I offer him in that promise, I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. I will put my fear in your heart, and you shall not depart from me. Are you afraid you were never elected? Meddle not with that secret; but according to the revealed will of God, I offer God’s chief Elect to you, in whom his soul is well pleased; and if your heart go in to the offer, and you make him your Elect too, by choosing him, then your election is sure. Are you afraid you have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost? I tell you, that as your fear of that says you were never guilty of it, so I offer the Man that is God’s Fellow; and if you be content to have him, you shall never be guilty of it. Are you full of enmity against God? I offer him as a Saviour that can kill your enmity: Do you consent that he do so? Are you an impenitent creature, destitute of repentance? I offer him as a Prince and a Saviour, exalted to give repentance and remission of sin. Do you consent? Have you received him formerly? I offer him anew, that you may receive him again, and take a more larger armful of him than ever.
Ralph Erskine | “The Sword of Justice Awakened Against God’s Fellow” in The Practical Works of Ralph Erskine, vol. 1 (William Smith, 1878), 79–80.
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Tony Phelps
Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Living Hope (OPC). Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.
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Wonderful!