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230
Epheffan.r,
Chapa.
V
E
R,7,
with
patience, know
that
all
thefe
are
nothing
worthy
of
the
life
to
come. And
as
the
heir within
a
moneth
of
his
lands, taketh
fuch
a
delight
in
thought
thereof,
that
it furprifeth
all prefent extremities:
So
let the certainty and unfpeakable felicity
of
the
life
to
come
fo
Reel
thee throughout ,
that the frowning
of
all creatures may
be
fleighted
off
as
matters
of
nothing.
Yfe
4.
Pray
for the Spirit,
which teacheth
us
to know what
are
our
hopes
Keep this hope
kept for
us in
the
heavens
;
for where
a
mans hope is, thither
will
in light.
his foul
look
out,
and
be more
there,then
where
he
is
bodily
pre
-
t
Joh.33.
fens.
This
is
it which will
make
us ?Urge our
felves. It
is
the
fpur of
a
&ion
;
men
work cheerfully when they know
an
ample
reward
Luke tß.4e.
abideth
them: o
that
you
knew
(faith
Chrift)
the things
which
concern
Dm. t.
lo. your peace!
Prize the Gofpel,by
it
immortality
is
brought
to
light.called
riches
of
the
Go/fiel.
VERs.
7.
VERB.
7.
That
he
might
'hew
in
the
ages to come,
the
exceeding
riches
of
his
grace,
through
his
kindneffe towards
us
in Chrifi lefus.
The
end
followeth,
[That
he
?Wight
fhew
in
tomes to come,
8-c.]
We
mutt here confider,
r.
the time,
2.
the
grace
it
felt,
3.
wherein
it ftaadeth
;
in
kindneffe
manifefted
through Chrift.
The
times]
loth
note out
all
the time
infuing this
infant
wherein
the Apoftle
did
write ; but
efpecially thofe
times wherein
thefe
things which Chrift hath
purchafed
for
us, fhall
be applyed
in
us
:
fo
that taken thus,
it
doth
let
us
fee
a
great
difference
twixt
thefe
times
and
the former. Thefe
times which
are
to come,are
times
of
refrcfh
ing, the riches
of
Gods
mercie, and
Thall
be more and
more
mani-
c
Corinth. 6.z
felled:
thefe
are
the
dayes
of
falvation, the
acceptable
time;
now the
rt.z.tt.
grace
of
God
bath
appeared
;
now
that
love
of
God to
mankinde
hash
appeared
:
the
grace
of
God
was hid in
a
myfterie before.
The
Law
J
°h'
I'
17.
was
given
by
c
tofes,
but Grace
and
Truth
came
by
lefus Chrift.
Doff.
Obferve
barer,
that
the
dayes
finte Chrifl,
and
of
the
Geld,
are
the
Dayes
of
the
moll
glorious,.bleffed,
and
happy dayes
that did
ever
/hive
onto the
earth.
óofpel,
the
happielt dayes
Of
ail
that great body
of
time, which lyes between the
creation
and
the
end
of
the world,
this
is
the beft.
Time,
as
of
it
felf,is not
any
wayes
alive
or
produdlive
of
any
real!
effeas,
becaufe it
is
a
kinde
of
quantity ;
-fo neither
intrinfecally impreflioned with
difference,
or
degrees
of
excellencie
or
illneffe,
but according
to the
things
done
in
that
time, good or bad.
Theft
latter
times then,
that
are
crowned with
fo much
honour
and
bleffedneffe, are naturally no
better
then the
dayes
of
the
Pro-
phets, or the
darker times
of
Sacrifice and
Ceremony
; but it
is
the
more reali, adluall,
and vifible
opening
of
the
myfteries
of
Gods
rich
grace, which doth innoble,fweeten,
and glorifie
them.
Now
the
ex-
cellencie
of
this time
of
Chrift
is
magnified with many high
attribu-
tions every
where
in
the Prophets,
I
fa. 24.2
1,2
3.
chap.z
s.6,
&c.
Ifa.
6o.9.
and
62.3.
and 66.1
o,$tc.
But
of
this we Iball fpeakmore
when
we
come
to
the
r4,
and
r
ç
verfes.
Dort.
Again
,
confider the times to
come,
they
are
times wherein
this
fhall