(Si) were a wicked, rebellious fon, fuch as God commanded the Jews themfelves to put to death : And therefore he requireth his fon towalk obediently and lovingly,as the fonoffuch a Father fhould do, and not difhonour him, and then he will of fatherly love be- ftow on him the inheritance; but if he will not, he will difinherit him. Here the merit of the inheritance is no proper merit, but a Not-meriting to be deprived of it : but Rebellion is a proper me- rit of that privation. yet the nature of the work, which is the condition, is anfwerable to the Age and parts ofthe fon. Suppofe the fame father hath other fans, that be fome of them little chil- dren, that can but go, and fome lick in bed of hurts that they have catcht by their own folly , by falls, or burns, or cut:ing them,or the like : or fuppofe it poflible that the forementioned fon fhould fall back into fuch an infant condition upon his .difo- bedience ? Here now the Father hath Commands, Prornifes of Reward, with conditions and threatenings as well as to theother, but of a far different nature. For here the Father faith to the Fick or wounded Child, if thou wilt take this medicine , though it be better for thy own cure, .1 will love thee, and 'will give thee this or that ; and for prevention of more hurt , Ifyou will not cut you, orfall, or burnyou with thefire,or the like,1 will do this or that ' for you. Our meritingat Gods hands is no more properly called Merit, then this of the child by taking meat or medicine offered to cure its own fores, and by taking heed of fire and what elfe may endanger hereafter : and in fome refpeas it is yet lefs then this. But I perceive I have flood very long upon this term merit (the rather becaufe the Accufer faftneth fo much upon it) I will there- fore difpatch what I have to fay to the ref}, with more brevity. SECT, VII. 3. He third term that I would have explained, is, Worthy or worthineff,concerning which,my meaning may be gather- ed from what is Paid in the 'aft. I only adde tilde two Propofiti- ons, i. Being thephrafe of the Lord Jefus and his Apoftles, it is lawfull to fay that Believers and Obedient Chriftians are worthy of
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