~ Serm. X. ~ An Expo[ition of the Epiple SERMON X. E PH E S. ·,, ro. That in the difpenfation of the fulnefi of timer, he might gather together in one aiJ thingr in Chrift, both which are in Heaven, and which are on Earth , even in him. · THefe words contain the whole of God's everla!ling Purpofes of Grace, (fever them from thofe of Creation and Providence, ) toward all or any, either in Heaven or Earth, whom he regards or loves. This is his comprehenftve fcope, and that both the coherence of them with the former, and the matter itfelf (when opened)will difcover and declare. Fidt, the coherence thefe words have with the whole he had been difcouding of from Verfe j. until now, From Verfe >unto Verfe 7, he had been enumerating the paiticular purpofes of. Ood's grace to tts mm in Chrifi,, the things on Earth, how from evrla!lmg he had chofen, prede!lmated, and gracwufly accepted us in his Son Chrift And then from Verfe 7 to this, how he l1ad redeemed us,forgives us, and calls us according to the fame rich grace in Chrift. Which done, and faid of Vs mm, whom this Epi(l)e was wholly wrote to and concern'd, he then brings forth the whole of God's defign in the utmo!l extent of it, fo to glorifie this Grace, and this Chrift. [Togather ill him,] not us only; you and us men, the things on Earth, but all things that are in Heaven alfo, [In him I Jay;] and it's as if he had faid; For a conclufion of thefe particulars, I will give you the total [urn of all in comprehenfive words. . That particular account began concerning us mm, occafioncd and drew out this general Condufion and glorious CorotJis. The words immediately before [he pt~rpofod i1J himfelf,] there are two known variations of them; yet fo as either flream falls into this fcope; 1 . S?me Copie~, and thofe more ancient, have not that word [which;] they render tt not ( whzch hept~rpofedm htmfelf,) but Gmply thus, [he purpofod i1l him(dj:] And fo thofe words before them, verfe 9· (Havi11g made known the mJflery of his will, accordi11g to bir good pleafure,) they give a full Period to his former fentence, verfe 8. and then thefe words, He p~trpofod i11 himfeif,begin anew, and cl<> of right belong to this roth verfe; and are to be cut off from the 9th verfe. And fo the fcope runs naturally to lhew, (as bath been faid.) 1 , What was the whole, and all, and utmoft, of what he purpofed in himi'elf, namely this, to gather all in Chrifl; the good Angels, as well as us men, thereby to /hew the fulnefs of Chri!l's glory. . For, Secondly,if that word [which] prove robe that which fell from Pa11l's Pen (asmo!l Copies,) yet flill the Current empties it !elf into the f•me meaning: for whereas in the 9th verfe he had fer out the rich Grace of God,lhewn to the Ephtjians ; as alfo himfelf in particular, that he had called them unto Chri!l by the knowledge of his Will, milkmg kuown to them the mJ•flery of his wilt. Which Grace of gathering them perfonnl!y, fir!l, unto Chrifl, be attributes unto thegood pleafi<re of his will, as it follows ; .Accordhtg to hisgoodpteaftwt, Kct~ ,..~v ~!bxl.~Y,UY; that is, accordmg to that, even that fame good pleafure; which .Cor out of which)_ h~ had purpofed to gather univerfally all of them he loved m heaven or earth m btsoneChrzi1. So as com– fort your fclves, and adore that Grace which herein is the very fame unto you, which
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