TIlE SAINT'S REST. 43 are arrived safe at the presence of Gad ? Now he cries to us, " Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow !(t) and we scarce regard the mournful voice, nor scarce turn aside to view the wounds. But then our perfected souls will feel, and flame in love for love. With what astonishing apprehensions will redeemed saints everlastingly behold their blessed Redeemer, the purchaser, and the price, together with the possession ! Neither will the view of his wounds of love renew our wounds of sorrow. He, whose first words after his resurrection, were to a great sinner, Woman wiiy weepest thou ?(u) knows how to raise love and joy, without any cloud of sorrow, or storm of tears. If any thing we enjoy was purchased with the life of our dearest friend, how highly should we value it ! If a dying friend deliver us but a token of his love, how carefully do we preserve it, and still remember him when we behold it, as if his own name were written on it ! And will not then the death and blood of our Lord everlastingly sweeten our possessed glory? As we write down the price our goods cost us ; so on our righteousness and glory, write down the price the precious blood of Christ. His sufferings were to satisfy the justice that required blood, and to bear what was due to sinners, and so to restore them to the life they lost, and happiness they fell from. The work of Christ's redemption so well pleased the Father, that he gave him power to advance his chosen, and give them the glory, which was given to himself; and all this according to his good pleasure, and the council of his own will.(w) ci 3. (2) Another pearl in the saint's diadem is, that it is a free gift. These two, purchased and free, are the chains of gold which make up the wreaths for the tops of the pillars in the temple of God.(x) It was dear to Christ but free to us. When Christ was to buy, silver and gold were nothing worth, prayers and (t) Lam, i. 12. (w) Ephes. i. 9, 11. (u) John xx. 15 (x) 1 Kings vii. 17
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