intended for the service of the church, and the honour of that religion which you profess. For these, Madam, are the ends to which his whole endeavours and studies were directed; and if he had not all the success therein which he himself might desire, he had at least the satisfaction of having done whatever was in his power towards the promotion of them. But I must not farther enlarge on this subject, how pleasing soever it may be to me, as being conscious to myself that I am in many other respects than that of relation unqualified for the discharge of it. An abler pen has undertaken it, (I mean that worthy gentleman's, to whose great care and pains in this edition I am so much indebted,) and will in the Life do justice to it. I shall therefore no longer detain you from the entertainment you will meet with in that and the following Sermons and other Discourses, than while I write myself, Madam, Your most obedient servant, And most obliged kinsman, ROBERT BULL. THE CONTENTS. THE necessity of works of righteousness in order to sal- vation; though the reward of them is only to be ex- Concerning the middle state of happiness or misery, al- lotted by God to every man presently after death, ac- The low and mean condition of the blessed Virgin consi- dered; as also the singular grace and favour of God vouchsafed to her; and that respect which is due to her For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: St. Paul's thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, sent to prevent his being exalted above measure, considered And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most The different degrees of bliss and glory in Christ's heavenly kingdom answer to the different degrees of grace here |