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BRETHREN, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God: as of the judge of the living, and the dead; nor should we think any less of our salvation.
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For if we think [*139:5] meanly of him, we shall hope only to receive some small things from him.
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And if we [*140:1] do so; we shall sin; not [*140:2] considering from whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what place; and how much Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer for our sakes.
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What recompense then shall we render unto him? Or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us?
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For indeed [*140:3] how great are those advantages which we owe to him in relation to our holiness? He has illuminated us: as a father, he has called us his children; he has saved us who were lost and undone.
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What praise shall we give to him? Or what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received?
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We were defective in our understandings; worshipping stones and wood; gold, and silver, and brass, the works of men's hands; and our whole life was nothing else but death.
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Wherefore being encompassed with darkness, and having such a mist before our eyes, we have looked up, and through his will have laid aside the cloud wherewith we were surrounded.
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For he had compassion upon us, and being moved in his bowels towards us, he saved us; having beheld in us much error, and destruction; and seen that we had no hope of salvation, but only through him.
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For he called us who were not; and was pleased from nothing to give us being.
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Footnotes ^139:5 Little things, or meanly.
^140:1 Hear as of little things.
^140:2 Knowing.
^140:3 How greatly holy things do we owe unto him.
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