5 16 Book IV. jL,rolung unto 'jcfnEi. Chap.2.Sect 5: _:.__ _ ~-v-id_e_n-ce_s_m_u_ft-no_t_b_e_fi_r_pa_r_a-te-d,--,-m-u-c-:h-:l:-e-::fs_m_u_fl=-.-o-n-e7 b-c-p7 ie-a-:d-ed:--to-t-:-h_e_n-eg-l~ reft; as the work within us is not the fidhefl1mony, but • fecondary confirming tefti– mony, fo doth it not make the firfl unnecelfary or void< belides that, by the external teflimony we muft conviJJCe Other men, which by the wimefs within us we cannot do. But this only by the way. :1. For the encouragement of our faith to believe in Chrifl as in reference to his Af-· cenfion, ·Seffion and Million of his Spirit. 1 . ConfJder of the excellency of this Object; what i3it but Chrifl? Chrifl in his afcendant, culmin~nt,. regnant power? Chrifl in ~is marc!1ing, conquering, trium– phing poflurcs? 111 h1s free, and large•. and magmficent g1fts? When he afcended on high, h;le4capttvttycaptwe, an_dga•oe gifts unto men. . 0 the glory, 0 the excellency of Clmft 111 thefe refpccts! vwly they are enough to tire out men and Angels with the only ~et of wo~dc;ring a~d furveying of their vaftnefs. Here is Gofpel work for ail eternny, to d1g Into thl~ Gold-mme, to. roul and turn this foul-delighting precious Stone, to behold, enqmre, and ~earch tnto thefe depths and heights of Chri(! ex, alted : and I belteve thts IS the _fattety, the top, and prime of Heavens glory , to fee and wo.nder at the vermes oflum that lies on the.Throne, at the right hand of God; to be filled, but never fattate wnh the glory of Chr1fl. What? Chrifl: afcended? Chrifl: fer down in glo.ry? and Chriftfendirigdown his holy Spirit i here's a i:ompendiJtmof aH glones: here 1s one for an heart to be taken w1th, made up of nothing but of feveral myfleries of glory. 2. Confiderthe power, venue, and influence of this Object into our foulsfalvation . oh what a fta:eiyTower have we_hereer_eded to fee H~aven en? faith m~y ftand ( 05 it were) onthts Mount, and fee1t felf 1nglory; ohtheflowtngs, the nchemanatioos of grace and glory that come from hence! come, let us draw, the Well is deep· all the drops and dewings that fall on Men or Angels are but as chips in comparifon of that huge and boundlefs body of the fulnefs of grace that is in Chrift; one Lilly is nothing to a boundlefs and broad field of Lillies; Chrift is in rhefe refpects the Mountain of Rofes. oh how high, how capacious, how full, how beautiful, how green? could we but fmeff him who feeds among the Lil/ies, till the day break_, and the jhadows fly away; could we but dive into the golden veins of chefe Unfearchable riches of Jefus Chrift,we fl1ould fay, It is good to be here, oh it's good ro gather up th~ fragments that fall from Cbrill; his Crown lhin~s with Diamonds and Pearls ; oh why do we toy! our [elves in gathering fticks, when to morrow we lhall be out of this world, and go to Chrifl ? come, where is our mouth of faith? let u!lay it eo here, let us fuck_and be Jatujied with thefe breaft• of confolation, let U<milk... oJ<t, a~tdbe delighted with the abundance of hi& glory. 3. Confider of the fuitablenefs of thefe Objectsto our fcveral conditions, you may remember thefirfi cry, Wa&it not love enough for Chrijf to come down, and tovijit 1t8 here; but that he muft go up and tak! m with him .< no, no, his love was fo great and vafl, thador our fakes he moves up and down; this ravilhed the Spoufe, Beholdhe comes leapC•nt. 2. 8. ing ~tponthe mountains, 11na skipping upon thehilts, Cant. 2.8. Gregoryrhar meafured his leaps, rhus givJ<rhem; he firflleaps from his Fathers Manfion to his Mothers Womb-#. from her Womb to his Cratch ; from his Cratch to his Crofs; from his Crofs to his Grave; from his Grave up again to Heaven; great leaps indeed, that lhewed both his readinefs to love, and willingnefs to fave: infinite love can never be aut-tired with great– eft actions. Bur another cries, how fl10uld I believe chatChrift is exalted, and thar .by venue thereof I lhaU be exalted, when I fee my felf in a forlorn condition, forfaken of rfal. 6 ,. 9 _ God, an abject amongflmen; .Alas! man at hi& b<ft is altogethervat~ity, yea, men .lif lowdegree are vanity, and men of high degree are11 lye; to be laid in the ha/lance I amt~ltogtther lighterthan vanity ; howthen fhould I believe~ny JHch a condition .< is a w•rm_" fo or a capable fubjeft to weara crown .< Yes, the l.ord IS great, and he can do great thmgs: He raifeth "P the poor out of the duft, and lifteth up the Beggar from th< dut~gh•l, to Jet 1 Sam. 2 • 8,9•themmnong Princes, t>nd to mak! them inherit the Throne of glory ; for the Pillars of the· e11rth are th< Lords, ·and he hath .(et the world ~tpon them; he will k!ep the feet of h'! St>ints.---Why there- is my fadnefs, cry~s a~other; He will k!ep the feet of .hz< s~ints ; if llVcre but" Sttint, I could believethis potrer; but ala; ! I am unholy, an un· Janefijicdpiecc of claj; I am a (innet, a jinner of the Gentiles,chief of ftnners,I defervetD be thrown do1vn to hell, rt<ther than to be invefted with.glory,and to fit ill heaven; True, but yet the holy Ghofl is given to make thee holy; of thy felf thou art ,vile, an~ ?JOlt vtle ; but bath not the holy Ghoft enrred in, and rook polfeffion of thy Sptrtr.i' bath ltr
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=