Love towards us, in that, while we were yet Sinners CHRIST died for us: And at the 10th Verfe of the fame Chapter, he observes to us, that while we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son.

Which fuggefts to us another Confideration that greatly enhances this Love of God towards us. For God fo loved

the World, that he fent no less a Person than his own Son, and fo well-beloved by him as bis only-begotten Son, to accomplifh our Redemption: And therefore the heighth of his Love muft neceffarily be very much encreased, in proportion to the Deepness of that Abafement which it caused a Person of his infinite Dignity to fumbit unto.

Lafly, The Love of God may well be faid to be manifefted towards us in accomplishing our Redemption, becaufe 'twas a Favour denied to others, who were in like Circumstances with ourselves. The Angels which kept not their frit Eftate; but left their own abitation, be bath reJerved in everlafting Chains of darkness, unto the Judgment of the Great Day: How great Love then mult he have for fall'n Man, to be thus mindful of bim, and to ransom him! And for the Sons of Man,

C 35

Man, that he fhould thus graciouffy vifit them! If we enquire into the Reafons of fuch a diftinguifhing Difpenfation of Divine Grace, a very good one, I conceive is, becaufe the Angels fell of their own Malice, being not deluded by any Temp ter beides themselves; whereas Man was drawn to tranfgrefs by their deceitful Sollicitations. This is ingenioufly taken Notice of by an excellent English Poet; where he introduces the Almighty, declari ing his Purpofe finally to reject the fall'n Angels, and to restore Man to his Favour. His Words are as follow.

The firft fort by their own Suggeftion fell Self-tempted, Jelf-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd

By the Other fift: Man therefore fall fnd Grace,

The Other none.

But notwithstanding all this, it must be fill acknowledg'd owing to God's pecu tar Love, that fuch a Difference thould be made between us and them: As may alfo be hinted in the Lines immediately following thofe that I have quoted; in which he continues the Almighty's Speech in this manner:

Milton in bis Paradice Loft. Book 3.

In Vercy and fuftice both, Through Heaven and Earth, fo fhall my Glory excel;

But Mercy first and last fall brighteft Shine.

And indeed, this has the greatest Reason to fupport it; for we find as well as they, and though the Strength of out Temptation might in fome measure extenuate our Crime, and the Punishment it deferved; yet it could not fully excufe either. And therefore to the Question, Why God fhould have Pity upon us, and Ruin them forever? The best Answer we can give, is, Grace, Mercy, and Forgive nefs; free Grace, unoblig'd Mercy, and undeferv'd Forgivenefs: Without thefewe had been undone for ever too. Thus have we bebeld what manner of Love the Father bath bestow'd upon us, in fending bis only-begotten Son to redeem us. now furely 'tis but natural, in the

And

Fourth and laft Place, That we make the Apostle's Inference: Beloved, if God fo loved us, we ought also to love one another. Of to great Value were we in his Sight, that the Blood of his only begotten Son was not counted too dear for our Ranfom Shall we then undervalue and defpife one

another

another? He never doth us any Injury; and fhall we mutually bite and devour our jelves? The Overflowings of his Lovingkindnefs are frequently defcending upon the World; and thall we neglet being beneficial to it when we have Opportunity? He delights in pardoning our Offences; and fhall we be unfatisfied except we avenge ourselves? No, these are not Effects of Love, but of Hatred, and very ill become those who pretend to be Difciples of a Saviour. It is neceffary, that we fhould imitate God's Goodness, by exercifing fuch Acts of Love as he doth: This is what his Love deferves; This is what his Love expects.

Be it therefore our conftant Care and Concern to fhew our Love to one another, in putting forth the genuine Fruits of it: In effeeming each other's Per ons: In abfaining from offering Injuries: In doing Kindness, and forgiving Wrongs.

If we are careful to love one another in this manner; we fhall therein offer to God an acceptable Sacrifice of Thankf giving for his exceedingly great Love to wards us: And whilst we commemorate the Coming of his only begotten Son in great Humility to be our Saviour; we hall go a good Way in preparing our

felves to meet him with Joy, when he cometh with great Glory to be our Judge.

SERMON ii.

Acts ii. 32.

This Jefus bath Cod raised up whereof we all are Witnesses.

HE Refurrection of CHRIST

T Jesus, as it is a principal Article

of our Belief, to 'tis the Foundation upon which our whole Religion ftandeth, take away TIS and it all falls to the Ground, For, as St Paul argues, if CHRIST be not rifen, then is our Preaching vain, and our Faith is alfo vain. So that unlefs this Point be true, the Doctrine of Christianity muft needs be falfe; all its Proposals must be empty and fictitious, and we by hoping in CH IST may of all Men be most miferable. But, bleffed be God, the Foundation of our Religion is not fo fandy: It remaineth firm and immoveable as a Rock; nothing, being

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