Bates - BT775 B274 1675

inContthbing all ß lictemption 4 his own glorious Refurre&ion and the recoveryof lap- Chap IX. fedMan, that hefhould befhakenwithfear and oppref- fed with forrow at the firft approaches of it : howmany of the Martyrs have with an undifturbed courage em- braced a more cruel death ? but to them 'twas difarm'd, whereas our Saviour encountred it with all its formida- ble Pomp, with its Darts and Poifon. 3. The Wrath of Godwas inflamed againft him. For although he was perferrtly Innocent, and more diftant from fin than is from the Earth, yet by the or- dination of God, and his own confent being made ,our Sponfor, the Iniquity ofto all was laid upon him. He Ea. i3. fuffered as deeply as if he had been guilty. hindielive juftice was inexorable to his Prayers and Tears. Al- though he renewed his requeft with the greateft arden- cy, as 'tis faid by the Evangelift, that being in an Ago- ny he prayedmore earnefily, yet God would not (pare him. The Father of Mercies law his Son humbled in his prefence, proftrate on the Earth, yetdeals with him in extreme feverity. He was flricken, (mittenofGod, andafllieled. And who is able to conceive the weight of God's Hand when he punilhes fin according to its defert? who can underftand the degrees of thofe Suf- ferings when God exacts fatisfaaion from one that was obliged, and able tomake it ? how piercing were thofe forrows whereby Divine Juftice, infinitely incens'd, was to be appeal d? Who knows the confequence of thole words, My God, My God, why hat thouforfaken me? 'Tis impoffible to comprehend, or repreiènt that great and terrible Myftery. But thus much we mayun- derftand, That Holinefs and Glory being effential to the Deity, they are communicated to the Reafonable Nature when united to it But with this difference, that Holinefs neceflarily refults fromUnionwith God: For Sin being infinitely repugnant to His Nature, Y makes I6j

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