Leokingtmto Je[u1, - Book. IV. 4 25 a finners converfion would have been attributed to the p0wer 11nd efficacy of the Angel, but to prevent this, and to preferve tb;'! glory of his power and grace,_ ~t:nfl: takes. t~1e trcafure, and he puts it into earthen veifels,; _1t 1s 1n the Ong1nal ~~e{fe!s of fot!l, as precious pearles are found 111 fhells, fo the pearle 1s the Gofpel, and the fhell or mother of pearle are the .'\ pofiles and Pafiors . ' it is true they are veilels of fmall price, and fubject to many knocks and falls, yet in them is the moil excellent treafures of the wifdome ofGod, and of the Gofpel ofChrift. And it is in them on purpofe, that the excellency may reflect on God, and not on them. 2. In refpect of the melT age; 0 the unfearchable riches of Chriil ! what is the meilage of tbefe men? what is the treafure they bring, but the blood of Chriil, the ~rorniles ofthe Gofpel, the Word ofgrace? r might fumme up alltn one word, they ?niniT unto men an invitationfrom hraven, -to heaven; obferve it Chriftf: ans . the Gofpel is a rneifage, the Lord fends his Sonne up and dow~, carries him from place to place; he is fet forth before mens eyes, he comes, and ftands, and calls, and knocks at their dores, and befeecheth them to be reconciled : 0 the free grace of God ! 0 that mercy, pardon, preferment, eternal life and falvation fhould go a begging, and fu ing for acceptance ' 0 the love offinne, and rnadneife of folly in wicked men, to trample on fuch pearles, and to neglect fo great falvation when it is tendered unto them! 0 what a heavy charge will it be for men at the !all: day, to have the mercy ofGod, the humility of.Chrift, tbeen~ treaties of the Spirit, the proclamations ofpardon,the approaches of fal va tion, the daies, the years, the ages of peace, the minifiry of the Word, the Book ofGod, the great miniftry ofgodlinefs, to rife up in judgement, and to tefiifie againfi their fouls ? 0 the condefcentiGns ofChrift ! who are ye that the Lord !hould fend after you? what need hath God ofyou? fuppofeyou ihould go on in the wayesof death, and periih everlafiingly, what ihall God lofe by it ? Chrift might fay, ifyou will go on, go o/11 and perifo ; if you love (info well, tak,ryour p/elljure in it, and be damned evermore. Ah no, faith the mercy ofGod, and the mercy of Chriil, before that be, melfage after melfage, precept upon pre- I fa. :.8! 10~ cept, precep_t upon precept; line upon line, line upon fine. here a little, nnd there a little. This was the defigne of' 'Chriils · 1 i i chofing
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