Baynes - BS2695 B289 1643

DoFf. 3. d'fe t. Ephe{dans,Chap. r. V E to be our Father, and wehis children : That Chrift therefore, as man, or in regard ofhis extrinfick nature is the SonofGod,it commeth from the grace of predeffinarion ; Yet wemuff not think that this doth make in God the Father,a double generation ; for,as the refprt of Fatherhood isnot multiplied from hence, that his Son is now fingle, now married ; fo Gods generation is not multiplied, in regard that his Sonné fome- rime onely was in the nature of God, but now is married, byan in- diffoluble perfonall union, unto our nature. To come, unto the Do- Qrine. Ifwe fee Chrift to be the fountainofall ourhappine fe, how can we but bleffe himwhois the Fatherofhim ! We fee that all Generations call the Virgin bleffed, whofound Grace fo farreasto bearehim ; how much more therefore mutt our hearts be farre from neglecting toextol! him, whois theeternal! Father of our Lord ! Yea, the hearts which doe affect Chrift, doe bleffe thofe that publifh his name, and have any, though the leaftplaceabout him. Ifwe fee any whom we love and ad- mire for their excellencies, weaccount thofe bleffed who any waybe- long to them : Thus the Queenof Sheba accounted the fervantsofSo- domou, happymen : Nay there is nothingfo meane, which doth any wayenjoy this or that excellent thing, but we efteeme it bleffed. Da -', vid, admiring the beauty of Gods Tabernacle, didalmof emulate the happineffe of the Swallowes, who might yet make their nett near the Altar ; He counteth all that have acceffe to it, and that doore- keeper ', whodwelleth in it, exceeding happy. Again,wefee that ifanybe more wifdome, valour, favour, with their Prince, ifanybe a de- liverer ofhisCountryoppreffed, will not civil( men pronounce the Pa-; rents offuch children thrice happy We (hall therefore neither !hew our fe(ves to haveChrift in due admiration, neither tobe heavenly min ded, havingunderltandingof things heavenly; if we can think of the Father of Chrift without magnifyingofhim in this refpect. Whodoth notglorifie God in thathe is the Creator ofthis afpectable world,which we behold but inbeingthe Fatherofour Lordand Saviour,his honour is much more difplayed : the rather let us ftrive to magnifieGod in this refpect, becaufe we Thall then allure our hearts that we love andhonour our Lord and Saviour Jefus, and that we have Union and Communion with him, as head and members ; for where fellowfhip is, there is con - junction. Then (hall our praifes be diftinguifhed from Jewifh and Hea thenifh doxologies, which found notin thema fyllable of Chrift Jefas. If we look at God the Father, we havereafon to laud him in this regard; forit is the greateft manifeffed glory :" Ifwe confider Chrift, we arc bound to it ; for whocan thinkhonourablyofhim that is begotten, but will honour the begetter in regard ofhim ! Ifat our felves,we may ga- ther from that bathbeen fpoken, arguments enough, obliging usto this duty. I fpeak the more.to this point; for the love ofChrift Jefus is coo- led, yeaal molt extincî, even amongst Chriftians. Now followeth the fecond argument, from that which God hash, done by us in Chrift ; Wherefirst we are toconfidertheaEtion; ofGods bleffing.

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