Chap. VIII. Of HEAVEN. the Charallers ~f Ignominy, and Foodleps of Death, are the Foun~ains of our Glory. His Abafement IS the caufe of our Exaltation. If it be faid, This feems to lelTen the freenefs of this Gift, The anfwer is clear : ou;r~ed~::o~u~n t~h<;h~~Y ~fto~~d~:~r~~~Y,~~~ tl~ee~~~ ~~~rftJso~t~f ~1 ~fsn~~o~: ncfs. / CHAP. VJII. The Gofpel requires 0J.alificatiom in all tlJat fhall obtain tf,e l(ingdom of Hea'l>en.' 7/ie rJ(e11o1>atio11 of Mall according to the likenefs of God, is indifpenfably requijite for the e>yoying of god. ~m wing Grace defcrib'd. 7/ie Wifdom and Juflice of God requires that Men be faiE!ijied before they are admitted into Hea'l>en. Without SanE!ijication, tbere is amoral incapacity of enjoying the 'Beatifick Vlfion. THE Means of our obtaining Heaven are to beconfidered. Thothe Divine Goodnefs be free in its A8s, and there can be nothing in the Creature of Merit, or Inducement to prevail upon God in the nature of a Caufe, yet he requires Q)!alifications in all rhofe who fhall enjoy that blelTed unchangeable Kingdom. The Apoftle expreily declares 'Tis not of him that >vt!ls, nor of lnm that runs, but of God that Jheweth Mercy Rom.' 9 . t6. But we muft d1ftjnguifh the EffeCts of ~his Mercy, which. are d1fp~nfed in that order the Gofpellays down. The firft Mercy IS the powerful calhn!> the Smner from his corrupt and wretched State ; a fecond Mercy is the pardoning his Sms; the !aft and moft eminent is the glorifying him in Heaven. Now 'tis clear, that in this place , ~;l;;:;ro 0\i~;ia: t~~fi~e~~: ~~~~~ti~g!V1~~eh~fIV~~.~~ ,S,~:~:~~d [~~~~d:~~~ Where 'tis evident that ]hewing Mer'Y. is oppos'd not t~ condemning but to hardning ; and confequently the intent of the words IS this, That D1ymeGrace overcomes the Rebellious Will, fofrens the ftiff and ftubborn Heart,. and makes 1t phant to Obedience; This flows ~~de~~~~~~~F08~f;;i'~:~.d Pi~~f~~; o~~!~10~~!~es~f~~~t~~~~~~~fre1~~~J~;~':;s i~ the Subjeas that receive them : for he pardons only penitent Believers, and glorifies none but perfevering Saints. To make this clear, 'tis worthy of Obfervation, The Gofpel has feveral Denominations. _'Tis called ttLaw, a Coven~nt, and aTejlament, Rom. 1· 27. 'Tis called the Law tof•j;;; ~~~t~;'"eft.~tfi;!,(r;~~~;;;;{~· of~~; ita~; til~a~~~~~a~,d~e~~r~i~~u:f.~t and fets before them Eternal Life as the Reward of Obedience, and Eternal Death th~ punif11mem of Difobedience. According to this the trial and decifion of Mens everlafting States fhall be, which is the Charaaer of a true Law. This Law of Grace is very different from the Law of Nature, that reqlllr'd mtlre Innocence, and for the leaft omiffion, or accufing AB:, paft an irrevocable Doom upon the Offenders; for that ftriB:nefs and feverity is mollified by tbe Gofpel, which accepts of fincere perfevering Obedience rho imperfeCt; accordingly 'tis called the Law of L1berty, James 2. But the Law of Fa~th IS unalterable, and admits of no Difpenfation from the Duties reqmre.d in order to our being everlaftingly happy. 2. The Gofpel is ftiled a Covenant, and that importsa reciprocal Engagement between Parties for the performance of the Matter contained in it. The Covenant of Grace in~ ~~:a~~s: ~~~:;;i~~f~~a:i~~l~l~h~~~t~~a~;f~r~~~cy ~~~~~cl;: f~ri~v~~~~~J:ed~~~~d~~~! ~~~fo,~~~~~~dien~et~vh~!:e HU:b~~~' H:O!t~ ~: o~~:PWa;h::,t ;;dm:f J,;a;ib;::f~o~~~~~ Darrs,hte:s ; but 'tis upon the terms of prtrifying our [elves from all pollutions of the F!ejh a!ld :Jpmt, and unfe1gned endeavours to perjefl Holtnefs in Ius Fear, 2 Cor. 7· 'Tis afioni01~ ing Goodnefs, that he is pleafed to condefcend to fuch a Treaty with fallen Creatures: ~y a voluntary Promife he encourages thet?; but tho moft fi·e~ in making, 'tis conditional 1n the performance. The confiancy of Ius Holy Nature obliges hilJl to fulfil his Word, Ttt 2 • but 497
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