Baxter - BX5207 B3 A2 1696

4 Elifha'.g C K Y have to do with ; the fame Apoille thews us, Chap. iii.a. ---5. Where he alfo Mews his own evident Accomplilhments, Exercifes,nod Experience, Yerf. to. -- rz. See'alfa Chap. iv.i:-- -$, ( 3.) The Unconquerablenefs of Sannifyed Refolution, Col. i. 29. 2 Cor. xiì. 7. tt." Rom., viii. 31.---39, Nothing could daunt this Prophet; no man, nor thing fubdued his Spirit. He well confider'd the God that fent him, the Perfons he was fent unto, theWork he was feat about, and the Divine Hand that would attend him ; and having the grateful profpen of what comfortable things would end and crown his faithful Conitancy, he valued nothing that couldany way en- counter or'refilthim in hisUndertaking. This fixedand admirable Spirit we find Exemplifyed and aggrandized in that Great Apoitle of the Gentiles, in Aas xx ; xxi. r3. 2Tim.i. 7.---12. Holy Men of God, and perfons feat a- bout his Work and Embaflies, look not at things that are feen, but at things that are not Peen; and taking things into their intimate, comparative, and impartial thoughts, they quickly fee what's fit toturn the ballance; and what is molt wor- thy of their Vigorous (though perhaps very coftly) profecution; and therefore arethey the more' reconcil'd to all their determined pifficulties; becaufeof their promis'd andexpelledRecompenfe of Reward. IL His Perfonal Trainlation therefore, both in Soul and Bodyunto Heaven,was his glorious end and recompense; 2. King. ii. i i. Angels conveyed the inure Man, Soul and Body, to hisGod. This was miraculous indeed; a molt initrutt-' ive laitance of Majeftick Providence every way. It isappointed for all men once to die. And had that Sentence had it's Execution according to it's initituted Courfe, the Prophet'sSoul and Body muff have parted; but he that binds usunto this Punifhment by Law, will not yet part with his Prerogative. He that deter- mineswhat's our due, when we tranfgrefs his Laws, does not, de nomine, abfolute- ly bind hinfelfto execute that threatening, wherewith he guards his Law. The Law-giver thinks it not his wifdom to multiply difpenfings with the determined punilhment, though now and then he may pals by a few ( as here hedid excufe this Prophet, as he had done Enoch before him ) from undergoing Death. And the Tranflationof this Prophet hence, manifelts and imports fuch things as theft to us. ( 1.) That we have no continuing City here, Heh. xiii. 14. t Cor. vii. 29--31- 'tis but a Pilgrimage that we are in; aHowling Wildernefs, a Theatre ofAgonies, and of Succeffive Exercifes, and Appearances, to. entertain Beholders with various Scenes of Spirits, Anions, and Conclufions ; and neither Reft, nor Troubles, Eafe norPains, Sorrows nor Joys, Fulnefs nor Emptinefs, can be long-liv'd. Eliab's Courfe was fill'd'with divers and formidable turns of Providence : But now the tædioufnefs of his Work and Perfecutions , is all over. He bath left theft Stor- my Regions ; and he is no more tobe as the Toit Ship upon the proud Surgesof a broken Sm: Nor has he any Tempeltnous Weather to work in. We fee, in bon, that whatever this World may exercife, or vex us with at prefent; that cannot affen us when remov'd elfewhere. We leave all this behind, when we go hence; and the Tranflationof this Prophet exalted him above the reach of Va- nityand Rage: all that could trouble him is now below him. ( z.) There's another State of things andbeings better than this, Heh. xi. 16. For who can think that Elijah was thus fetcht away to be deftroyed by Miracle; or to be Ihamed by a defeated expenation of a more Glorious State ? He was taken from theft courfe, inconitant, and dilturbed Regions, with great Solemnity and State ; and carry'd to far better Manfions, Company, and Employments. And he is now placed where God his God, isall in all ; and where Theocracy is molt compleat, molt evident, and illultrious, and delightful. There's a vait difference betwixt Heaven and Earth ; and, what annoy'd him here, he meets with nothingof above : There are nodark, confufed,miítaken apprehenfions no deceitful repre- fentations of what concerns him and becomes him; no fordid fpirits, no dillblute and courfe tempers, no bruitifh Appetites, no worldly principles andpropenfions, no vile defigns, and no unworthy ends and aims e Nothing but regent wifdom, holinefs and joy. All there isorderly, fuitable, and to great fatisfanion; verry expreftve

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