36 / 808
DoFf.
3.
d'fe
t.
Ephe{dans,Chap.
r.
V
E
to be our
Father, and we
his
children
:
That
Chrift
therefore,
as
man,
or
in
regard
of
his
extrinfick nature
is
the Son
of
God,it commeth
from the
grace
of
predeffinarion
;
Yet we
muff
not think that this
doth
make
in
God the Father,
a
double generation
;
for,
as
the
refprt
of
Fatherhood
is
not
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, by
an
in-
diffoluble perfonall
union, unto our nature.
To
come,
unto the Do-
Qrine.
Ifwe
fee
Chrift to be the
fountain
of
all
our
happine
fe,
how
can we
but
bleffe him
whois the Father
of
him
!
We
fee
that
all Generations
call
the
Virgin bleffed,
who
found Grace fo farre
as
to beare
him
;
how
much more therefore mutt our hearts be farre from neglecting
to
extol!
him,
who
is
the
eternal!
Father of our Lord
!
Yea,
the
hearts which doe
affect
Chrift,
doe
bleffe
thofe that
publifh
his
name,
and have any,
though the
leaftplace
about him.
If
we
fee
any
whom
we
love
and ad-
mire
for their excellencies, weaccount thofe
bleffed
who
any
way
be-
long to them
:
Thus the Queen
of
Sheba
accounted the fervants
of
So-
domou,
happy
men
:
Nay
there
is
nothing
fo meane,
which doth
any
way
enjoy
this
or
that excellent thing, but
we efteeme
it bleffed.
Da
-',
vid,
admiring the beauty
of
Gods
Tabernacle,
did
almof
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,we
fee
that ifanybe
more
wifdome,
valour, favour, with
their
Prince,
if
any
be
a
de-
liverer
of
his
Country
oppreffed, will not
civil(
men pronounce
the Pa
-;
rents
of
fuch
children thrice happy
We
(hall
therefore neither
!hew
our
fe(ves
to haveChrift
in due
admiration, neither to
be heavenly
min
ded, havingunderltanding
of
things heavenly
;
if
we can think
of
the
Father
of
Chrift
without magnifying
of
him
in
this refpect.
Who
doth
notglorifie
God
in
that
he
is
the Creator
of
this afpectable
world,which
we
behold but
in
being
the Father
of
our
Lord
and Saviour,his honour
is
much more difplayed
:
the rather
let
us
ftrive to magnifie
God
in this
refpect, becaufe we
Thall
then allure our hearts that
we love
and
honour
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
not
in
them
a
fyllable
of
Chrift
Jefas.
If
we look at God the Father, we havereafon to
laud him
in
this regard;
for
it
is
the greateft
manifeffed
glory
:"
If
we confider
Chrift,
we
arc
bound
to it
;
for who
can
think
honourably
of
him
that
is
begotten,
but
will
honour the begetter
in
regard
of
him
!
If
at our felves,we may ga-
ther from that bath
been
fpoken, arguments enough, obliging
us
to this
duty.
I
fpeak
the more.to
this
point;
for
the
love
of
Chrift
Jefus
is
coo-
led, yea
al
molt extincî,
even
amongst Chriftians.
Now
followeth the
fecond
argument,
from
that
which
God
hash,
done by
us in
Chrift
;
Where
first
we are
toconfider
the
aEtion;
of
Gods
bleffing.