ín cC ntríbíng an's .ebennptíonó 369 the memory ofwhat he hath done:' But howmuch more Chap, 18. ifhis Friend would fuffer for him thepains and infamy of his flaveryeif any fpark of Humanity remain in him, can heever delight himfelfin thofe Actions, which made fuch a benefit neceffary to him e Now we were not re- r Pet.1.18,t4, deemedwith Corruptible things,as Silver and Gold,from our vain Converfation, (the molt fordid and deplorable Captivity) but with the precious BloodofChrifl,as a Lamb without blemifhand withoutfpot. And is it poffible for a Chriftian to live in thofe Sins for which Chrift died e Will not Love caufe an humble fear, left he fhould fruftrate the great Defign, and make void the molt blef- fed effect of his terrible Sufferings,: why didhe redeem Lüke I. 74. us with fo excellent a price from our cruel Bondage, but to reftoreus to hisfree Service e why did he vindi- cate us from thepower ofthe Ufurper towhomwe were captives, but to make us Subjects to our Natural Prince ? Why did he purifie us with his molt precious Blood fromour deadly Defilements, but that we might be intirely confe- crated to his Glory, and be fervent in good works e What can work up- on an ingenious Perfon more than fenfe ofKindnefs e What canoblige more ftrongly to duty than Gratitude :' What more powerful attrattive to Obedience than Love e This pure Loveconfirms the GlorifiedSaints for ever in Ho- linefs. For they are not Holy to obtain Heaven be- caufe they arepoffeft ofit, nor topreferve their Blef- fednefs becaufe they are part all hazard oflofing it; but from the molt lively and permanent fenfe oftheir Obli- gations, becaufe theyhave obtained that incomparable Felicity by a Gift never to be reverit, and by a Mercy tranfcendently great. And the fame Love toGod that is in the Saints above in thehigheft degree of perfection, Bbb and 91; Ergo tedignùm gere tali pretio, ne veniat Chrirtus qui te mundaiit, quite redemir, & fi re in peccato invenerit, dicat tibi; qaxutilitas in fngùinc meo? quid profeti tibi dum defcendi in cor.- ruptionem ? .4mb. de Virginit. p. 3.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=