Imatges de pàgina
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It was a noble Proof of Divine Lovero form us out of Nothing, and place us in a State of Felicity; but to redeem us after we had received a happy Exiftence from him, and made ourfelves unworthy of fo much Kindness, is a Proof of Divine Lové more noble than that. For though before we had a Being, there could be nothing done that might deferve God's Love, yet there alfo could be nothing done which might deferve his Hatred or Angers · Whereas our Redemption fuppofes that we had incurr'd his heavy Difpleafure, and provok'd his Anger to wax hot againft us, for tranfgreffing the Command he had given us to obferve: And certainly to rea ftore us to a State of Blifs after we had loft it, by provoking and affronting him, argues a much greater Degree of Love, than to place us in fuch a State, before we had provoked or affronted him at alk One of thefe Acts of Love was exercised before we had deferved God's Favour; but the other after we had ungratefully abused it: One of them was fhown when we only wanted fomewhat to be reckon'd his Friends, the other after we had actually made ourselves his Enemies. And therefore St Paul, in Rom. v. 8. takes efpecial Notice of this; That God commendeth his

Love towards us, in that, while we were get Sinners CHRIST died for us: And at the 10th Verfe of the fame Chapter, he obferves 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

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

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Laftly, The Love of God may well be faid to be manifefted towards us in accomplishing our Redemption, because '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 hath 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 him, and to ransom him! And for the Sons of C 35

Man,

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

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

By the Other firft: Man therefore fall fnd Grace,

The Other none.

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

Milton in his Paradice Loft. Book 3.

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

But Mercy first and last shall 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 deserved; 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 Forgiveness: Without thefewe had been undone for ever too.

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have we bebeld what manner of Love the Father bath beftow'd upon us, in fending his only-begotten Son to redeem us. how furely 'tis but natural, in the

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Fourth and laft Place, That we make the Apostle's Inference: Beloved, if God fo loved us, we ought alfo 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

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another? He never doth us any Injury; and fhall we mutually bite and devour our jelves? The Overflowings of his Lovingkindness 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 caretul 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 whilt we commemorate the Coming of his only begotten Son in great Humility to be our Saviour; we Thall go a good Way in preparing our

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