168 Mc MineZtttlbuteZ, Chap. IX. highly eftimable, as when difpenc'd with Judgment and Counfel : becaufe they do not argue in the Giver fuch a true valuation, and fixed love of the Perlon that receives them. TheSpring-tide maybe followed by as low an Ebb; the BenefaCtour may repent of his fa- vours as fpent in vain : But our falvation by Chrift is the Produ& of God's Eternal thoughts, the Fruit of Alts ?ó23. Love that ever remains. He was delivered by the de- terminate Counfel, and foreknowledge of God, to fuf fer for us. Before the World began, we were before the Eyes, nay in the Heart of God. And yet the Con- tinuance of this love through infinite Ages paft, is lets than the degree of it. According to the rule of common efteem, a greater Love was expreft towretchedMan, than to Chrift him- felf: for we expend things lets valuable for thole that are more precious; fo that God in giving him to die for us, declar'd that our Salvation was more dear to him than the life of his onlySon. When no meaner Ranfom than the Blood royal of Heaven could pur- chafe our Redemption, God delighted in the expence bra. 53. of that facred Treafure for us. it pleafed theLord to hruife him. Though the Death of Chrift abfolutely con(ìder'd was the higheft provocationof God's dil pleafure , and brought the greateft guilt upon the 7ews, for which Wrath came upon them to the utter- ; yet in refpe& of the end, namely theSalvation of Men, 'twas the molt grateful. Offering to him, a Eph. 5. a. sacrifice of a Tweet fmelling favour. God repented that he made Man, but never that he redeem'd him. And as the Love of the Father, fo theLoveofChrift a1 pears ina fuperlative manner in dying for us. Great- John x5.8. er Love hath no Man than this, that a Man lay down his life for his ,Friend. There is no kind ofLove that exceeds the affection which is expreft in dying for ano- ther:
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