toCoutribiu an'.5 c8cui ti n. 173 This is fufficient for the Mercy of Man, but not for Chap. X. the Love of' God: He pardons and prefers theguilty, He refcues us fromHell, and raiCes us to Glory; He beftowes Eternity upon thole who were unworthy of Life. The excellencyof our condition under theGot= pel will be let off, by comparing it with that-of inno- cent Man in Paraclife.. 'Tis true, he was then in a Rate of blinds and, Honour, and in perfect poffeffion of that B1effednefs which was fuitable to his Nature; yet in many refpeIs our laft,{late tranfcends our firft, and. redeeming Love exceeds creating. If Man had been only reftor'd to his forfeited, Rights, to the enjoyment of the fame Happinefs which was loft; his fir - -ft ftate were moll defirable; And it had been greater Goodnels to have preferved him innocent, than to recover him from ruine. As he that preferves his Friend from falling into the hands of the Enemy, by interpofing between him and danger, in the midft of the Combat, delivers him in a more noble manner, thanby paying a Ranfom for him after many days fpent in woful Captivity. And that Phyfician is more excel- lent in his Art, who prevents Difeafes, and keeps the Body in health and vigour, than another that expele them by (harp Remedies. But theGrace of the Goff, el hath fo much mended our condition, that if it were of er'd toour choice, either to enjoy the innocentBate of Adam, orthe renewed byChrifi., it were folly like that of our firfi Parents, to prefer the former before the latter. The :ubilee of the Lau' reftor'd to the fame Inheritance ; but the yubilee of theGofpel gives us the Invefkiture of that which is tranfcendently betted than what we at firft pof eft. Since The Day.-fpring from on High hath vijited am in tender mercy,, we are - enricht with higherPrerogatives, and are underr abet- ter Covenant, and entitled to a more glorious Re- ward,
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