Bates - BT775 B274 1675

bePatutottpOf Me Zí1jíne 2tttributeg, Chap. IX. And how confpicuous was his Love in this darkning< tfVL CondeCcenfion ? We know the Grace of the Lord 7efus cor. L 9. Chrift ; that though he roar rich, he becamepoor for our faltes. Hedid not affume that which was due to theex- cellency ofhis Nature, but what was convenient for our Redemption,which was to be accomplifht bySufferings. Where can be found an Example of fuck Love? Some have favourable Inclinations to help the diftref- fed, and will exprefs fo much Compafíion as is confiftent with their ftate and quality: But if in order to the re- lieving of the miferable, one mutt fubmit to what is fhameful, who hath an affe&ion fo ftrong andvehement as to purchafe his Brothers Redemption at the lofs of his own Honour ? Yet theSon of God deCcended from his Throne, and put on our vile Mortality : He parted . with his Glory that He might be qualified to part with his Life for our Salvation. How doth this exalt his Compafion tous! Add further, He took our Nature after it had loft' its Primitive Innocency. The natural diftancebetween God and the creature is infinite; the moral between God and the finful creature, if poffible, is more than nite : Yet the Mercy of our Redeemer overcame this diftance. What an ecftafe of Love tranfported the Son of God fo far as to efpoufe our Nature, afterit was depraved and difhonour'd with Sin ? . He was ef- Rom. 8. 3 fential Innocence and Purity, yet He came in thefmi- litudeof f nful flefh, which to outward view was not oit, 4.4 different fromwhat was really finful. He was the Ho- ly Lawgiver, yet He fubmitted to that Law, which made Him appear under the character anddifreputati- on of a Sinner. He paid the bloody Tribute of the Children of wrath , being Circumcifed as guilty of Adam's Sin; and . hewas Baptifedas guiltyofhis own. 2. The molt evident and fenfible proof ofthe great- nefs

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