sac r. V. of theNam Creature. 26 is grace in that foul worth ; and the reafon why graceis a more noble thing char] any other Creature, is, as Auftin faith well : Inillierantìtmrunt opera Dei; in Ni eft imagodei; look upon the glorious Sunne, in it is onely thework of God ; but look upon grace, and in it is the Image of God ; fo that as we fay, 0(94p/tell a- liquid efemeliw Dee, Nothing canbe better than God, fo neither can any thing be better thangrace the image of God. If therefore this be true, that this new crea- ture is more perfect thananyother Creature, nomarvail ifthe wife man fay, Riches and Pearls are not ro be compared to it ; And although this new Creature be an accident, andthe foul a fubftance, and to in modoefendi, in the manner of being, it is mote imperfe&than the foal ; yet becaufe it'san accident that floweth not from the foul, as an effect from the cattle, but is caufed by an efficient of a more eminent nature, thereforeit is more noble than the foul it felf. Asyou fee the light,though it bean accident, yet is more glorious than the aire in which it is, becaufe it cometh from the Sun a more glorious body than the aire : fo that the meafure of every things perfeftion, is the near or remoter participationof God, and this newCreature bringeth a man to the neareft participation of God of any Creature. We are not like God inbeing Rich, Great, Noble, Honoured, but in being holy ; and the perfeftion and noblenefsofthis Creature is herein unque(tion ably teen; becaufe the promife of falvation and eternal) life is made onely to this. An Angel hath not eternal) glory becaufe he is an Angel made of Inch aglorious nature, but becaufe he is holy. And'the foul of a man, though it be immaterial!, im- mortal,, and hath many perfeftions, yet falvationand happineffe (hall not begiven to it becaufeit is a foul : though itbe worthmore than a world,yet it is not worth an heaven, but becaufe it is found in thelife of thisnewCreature, though even it then be alto of grace; becaufe this newCreature is not made perfeft in this life. Again, this newCreature matt be more noble than any other Creature, becaufe it prepareth and fittethus for a more noble end and being (1 fpeaknot of merit, but of the orderGod hathappointed) fo that it depth not qualifie a man as a man ; in which fenfe Learning, Prudence, and other politicallabilities doe, but as one who by it mayenjoy and have Communion with God himfelf; but though is be thus excellent, wemolt not lift it fo high, as if thereby we werejuftifi.d andaccep tedof God throughany inherent worth thereof. Secondly, from this excellency cometh another quality, which is 7ìeauty and a. Deírabi, lovelinefe, to bedefined by all. Oh if thy eyes were' not blinded,thou wouldit fee beauty and every thing in the world tobe contemned, that thismaybe obtained. No wonder lovcliiaele. if the manin the Parable, fold all he bad to get rhi, Pearl: nowonder if Solomon, doth focommend this new Creature under the nameOf Wifdome, and exhorteeh to take painsfor this rather than for other things. Oh that the preaching about it might beget love in you to it, deliresafter it,faying, I take pains for wealth, co live in this world, but there is a more noble good than all thefe things below ; Let me not be fatisfied till Ibe made a newCreature. if duties doenot avail without this, can wealth or greatneffe profit without it? Shall the devil) think, thatthe (hewing of the glory of the world may tempt men to wor(hiphim; and (hall not the open- ing:of this glory make thee willing to worihip God ? Thirdly, TheneeeJTty ofthis :If thouare not a new Creature, thou art mifcrable 3 Necefiiiy, in all fulneffe. Thouartnot a wife man indeed till thou arc anew Creature. Hence the Scripture commends this under theTitleof Wifdome, and calls every wicked man a fool. Whatfoever parts and abilities thou main have,yet thouarc not wife til thou arc thus madenew:for áwife man,japiens fapitrerprourJunr,judgethof things as they are.The child thinkethCopperis Gold,and thus while thou artnot this new Creature, thou judge) earthly temporary comforts, whichare but for a feafon, which will dyewith thee, to be the onlygood;tobe laboured for. He is a wife marl that judgethearthly things asearthly., butefleemeth heavenly things asheavenly, Again, he is a wife man thatprevents after-wifhes. Nonpueabam, I did not think it, is theportion of a fool ; therefore God cannot repent, becaufe he fore leech Mm 1 alwayes
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