V E R. 6. Ephefians,Chap. r. I g in his difpenfation, that what his juftice doth, it is fuch,that inCome fort it hath arefpeét to, andis ferviceable to this mo(l fupreame end, this praife ofhis grace ; this is it, in whichhe moft delighteth : Even as ver- tuous Kings after the matters of God, affect above all things to be had inhonor for clemencie and bounty;fo it is with our God, KingofKings, all hedoth is to this end, that his grace may be mademanif, f, unto his greater glory. Men indeede may Tooke at praifeas a fpurre,but not drive at it,as their higheft end;nay,theymaynot feeke it,but for a furtherend, Gods glory , the good of others, their owne due encouragement: But Godmay feeke hisglory as his utmofl end, becaufe bee is notin danger ofPride, as man is, and there is nonehigher thenhimfelfe to whom he fhould have refpeél ; this maketh him when he fheweth himfelfe toMo- fes, proclaime this inhimfelfe without comparifon above others. See theplace. The ufeofthis is, firft, to (titre us up toglorifie him in regardofhis V.P.' grace to us : How will fervants who belong to bountifull Lords, com- mend them for their franke houfe-keeping, liberality to the poore, bounty to their followers C So fhould we never ceafe tohave this grace in our hearts and mouthes, tohisglory who hath (hewed it. Let us not be like thofe grounds,which fwallow Seede, and returne nothing to the Sower:Theyarenot the childrenofgrace, inwhornGod obtainethnot thisend ; for all fuchas belong tohis grace,he hathchofen them to this end, that his grace fhould be knowne, praifed,and magnifiedby them. Saint Paul ; I thankc Godin Chrift, Ponr.7. Prai f be to God in Chrifl,r Ger. 15. Bleffed be God, even the Father, r Pet. r. Ifthe light ofGods graces fhining in men, mull make us glorifie God in them ; how fhould this molt high grace ofGodbeforeall worlds thinkingon us for good; how I fay, fhould it be extolled ofuse When the love in agoodman mutt be glorious inour eyes; yea, feeinghis predeftination hath fo wrought, that all things (hall worke for our good;let us in evill,as well as in good praifehim ; he loves inevery thing love it felfe. Even as waters come from the fea, and returne againe to it: So from this Oceancommeth every ble(fing,and everybenefit fhould bypraifing this grace, be refol- ved to ir. This Dothine, bath Vfefor confutation : If this be thelaft end, and Vfz. the direEt and immediate end ofall God doth towardhis children, then itcannot be, that theirlife ofglory in the heavens fhould be given them from thehand of jultice :For ifthat fhould next of all and immediately be given them from juflice,then the laft things,to which Godspredefti- nation fhould come,is the glory ofGods difributive juftice.lfthey fay, God dothgiveit as ana.l ofgrace and juftice ;Ianfwere,then God bath y, rp>oximè. not done all in elehtion and predeftination to life, unto the glory ofhis & únmediate grace, but to the joynt glory ofhis grace and juftice. Againe ; it is im- poffihle that God fhould alike immediately give life joyntly from grace & juftice : For ifgracegive it freely, juftice cannot together giveit , as a matter due by meritorious purchafe. God may as poffibly condemne the fame man, both out ofrevenging juftice and mercy at once , as he can J
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=