244 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. to God, and the mercies and deliverances that I have received, have been by this Author and Finisher ofour faith. Into his con- ducting hands I give my soul ; and into his preservinghands both soul and body and into his receiving hands I commendmy de- ,parting soul. V. Ver. 2. 'Bywhomwe ?lave access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand ;' that is into this state of blessed Christianity, peace with God, and the following blessings. As it isby marriage that a woman hath right to her husband's estate and honors, and by inheritance that achild comes tohis father's maintenance and land. This is no diminution to God's love. To say it is all by Christ, is not to take it as ever the less from God the Father. 'It is more to give us Christ, and life in him, than to have given us life without a Christ ; (John, iii. 16. 1 John v. 10-12.) as God is, never the less, the giver oflight to the earth, for giving it them by the sun. Second causes diminish not the honor of the first. VI. "And rejoice in hope of the glory of God." 1.' Thebea- tifical object " the glory of God." 2. The beatifical act re- joice." 3. Themediate, causing act " hope." All presuppos- ing faith and justification. The " glory of God" is that glorious appearance of God to man and angels, which makéth happy, (1.) the mind by beholding it, (2.) the will by loving it, .andreceiving the communications of love, (3.) the executive powers by joyful praise, &c. Though some foretastes are here, it is, yet saidto be hoped for ; and we hope for that whichis not seen: When faith is said to be that which we are justifiedor saved by, it includeth hope, though, moreprecisely taken, they are distinct. "We are saved by hope." The same word it oft translated ' trust' and ' hope ;' and faith is trust. To trust Christ for salvation, includeth hoping that he will save us. But hope is denominated from the good hoped for, and faith from the cause by which we hope to obtain it. Hope doth net necessarily imply either certainty or uncertainty. It may stand with both in various degrees. Rejoicing is made by God the very naturally- desired state ofthe soul. It 'is, when natural, the pleasant efflorescence of the spirits, or their state of health. It is pleasure that is the spring or poiseof all'motion sensitive in the world. Trahit sua quemque voluptas. Appetite, or will, is the active principle; and congruous good or delectable is the ob- ject. The world is undone by the seduction of false, deceitful pleasure; and though we that made not ourselves are not so made for ourselves, as that our pleasure or felicity in God should be so high in our desire as God himself, who is the ultimate object of our love; yet seeing such an object he, is, and the love of him
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