SerM. 25. How are we compleat in Chriff ? 569 for fo force of no fmaU account render the following words , and ix All, as hash already been hinted. But more particularly, i, Chrift is All to fincere Chritians to free them from whatever might hinder their falvation. Salvation is not a meer negative thing, nor does it confit} in a bare exemption from , hell and wrath, but a tranflacion into heaven and glory ; but alas betwixt us and glory, there is vow- xigelke, a great Gul ph, many bars and impediments; aye but Chriq is All to deliver us from thefe ; and though our deliverance in this world is not cornpleat or perfect yet is it fo far compleat as co render our falvation undoubtfull if we be in the number of than to whom Chriít is here faid ro be AU. I. The wrath of an offended God, which like that flaming fword that kept our Apoflate Parents from returning into Paradife (out of which b.caufe of their Apo(lacy they had been eje &ed) would render our admiflion into heaven equally impofiible; but Chrift by bearing the wrath of God in his own perfon bath taken it off from ours ; and therefore he is faid to deliver as from the wrath to corne, z Theff. 1. i o. he who was the Son of Gods love, became the fub- j,& of his difpleafure, as appears by comparing MRtth. 3.17. with Ifa. 5 3.10. that we who were children of wrath, might become the objets of his favour, and however Chrili hacia no delivered be- leevers from the anger of God as a Father, yet from the anger of God as a Judge. There is an anger that proceeds from love, as the anger of a Parent towards that childe whofe good he delires ; and there is a vindi &ive anger : the former beleevers are neither freed Al a 2.6,7, from, nor would it indeed be their priviledge ; there is not a greater 8, &c. judgement can befall poor finfull creatures here on earth, than for God not to difcover himfelf angry with them for their fins, Ifa. 1.5. God then deals with men,as a skilful) Phylitian with an unruly Pa- Uagna ira eft tient whom he gives up as defperate, or as a tender Parent with a quando peccan -_ gracelefs child, whom he utterly rej:d s. In a word, what ever kind rróu ron rraf- of anger might tend to the prejudice of beleevers that they are micron. delivered from, but what is for their advantage that they arc fubje &i'eron. to. That Ch+ ill is All in delivering from the wrath of God may fur- ther be evidenced by thefe Confderacions : a. The ad:quate of Gods wrath is fn ; there is this difference 'twixt wrath and mercy in God ; that mercy flows (as I may fo, fpeak) naturally from God , and hath no other motive but onely the gracious and merciful! difpofition of God ; but wrath huh al -. ways its rife from us, and Nothing in us but -fin can draw down his. wrath,
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