:288 An Expojition of the Epiftle -----:-c-:-----:------:--:------::-:--- - -- ----- - ------'-- ~life and bringing him to Glory, lhould as .infallibly be put forth in bringing therrt Ser.XXII. to Glory alfo. And fa now, this added to the former,it makes a man have firong ~Confolation. Do but fee all thefe three things put together, and what firong eonfidence mufi it needs work in a Chrifiian's heart! If he feeth the hope of his CaPi 11 g what grounds he hath that be is one to whom this !11herita11ct belongeth. 1i· he feeth Secondly, what t~e Gtor_r of. thi~ Inheritance is, a_nd bath mighty va(l and fiunning thouglm of 1t workmg m h1s hem. And Th1rdly, If he feeth the exceedi11ggreatnejs of that power that is engaged to keep the Soul, that for the prefent bath this intetefi to eternal life. Put all thefe together, what could be more prayed for? Therefore the Apofrle bringeth in that next, That you may k110W the exceedi11ggreattu[s of hispower,'i.§c, I Will give you a Scripttlre that agreeth with all thefe Scopes too, and menti– oneth the very f.1me things in the fame order, rPet.r. 3.only ther~ he mentionerh it by way blelling God, whereas he mentioneth it here by way of prayer to God; but he bringeth in all thr~e thmgs there in a way' of bleffin~. _that he cloth here in a way ol prayer, andm the fame orde~.Btejfed beGod (faith he) whohdth 6egottm U< 6y the Rejurref!ton of .7eftu Chrijl from the drt~d to _a !ivety hope, that is to have an aflurance and hope of Salvauon that putteth hfe mto a Man's Soul, ' Here is the Hope of their calting. 2 .. To an. i11herita11ct incorruptible and UIJdefited, a11d that fadeth 1101 away, rejrrved m Heavm foryou. Here is the Riches of the Glory of his i11heritancr defcribed, that is the fccond thing (you know) in the Text.. 3· Who a;t kept'· faith he, 6y the power of God fhrortgh Fatth tmto Salvattoll. Here IS the th1rd. Thatye may /mow (faith he here) what is the hope of your calti11g; That you may what is the riches of tht Glory of his i11heritmtce in the Saints; A nd that j•ou may know the exceedi11g ljreatnejs of that power that kerpethyott tht« to Satvati01t. So now you have the tull Scope and Coherence of thefe words in the general. The parts oi thcfe Words in the 19lh. verf. they are thefe Four. Here is Firfi, a more general Amplification or Defcription of the Pawn of Godas here it is fet forth. \· Here is in the Second place, the Perfons whom this power is ingaged to, to work their Salvation and their good; it is to tu that believe. Here is Thirdly, the things wherein this power is feen, both in Chrifi's Rcfur– reCl:ion and in working Faith, it is in them that believe, and in raifing them up at lafi to that Glory that Chrifi in Heaven bath. Fourthly, here is the ufe that the knowledge of this will be!Jf toaChrifiian; wherefore the Apo(\!e praycth they may know 1t. , To begin with the Firfi, he prayeth they may know What is the txceedi11g greatnejs of hu power to tu-ward.He defcribeth the power while he prayeth they may know it. Even jufi as before while he prayed that they might .know what Heaven's Glory is, he giveth the firongefi defcriptioq of it that could be, That y emay kltow what•u tht riches of the Glory of his inhtritance in the Saints, So here when he would have them know what the Power ofGod is,that is put forth to believers, he fetteth it forth in words, he wrnppeth in fuch a defcription of it in his prayer, that might open their eyes to fee what it was, What is tbuxceeJ– ing greatnefs of his power. Firfi the defcription of the Power of God here fet forth bath two parts in it I reduce it to two Heads. • · ' I. T he excellency and fublime greatnefs oftheP•wer ofGod iagaged to Believ• ers. He cal\eth not only great power, but greatliefs of power, and not content with that,. it is 71 ,lvmpC~"'""lJ<9&-, the exceeding, fuper,excellent, fublime overcoming, triumphing great11e[s of his power, ' 11. He defc.ribeth it by the infallible efficacy of this Power, that it will cer– tainly briog to pafs the thing which you believe and hope for, and which God hath intended to you. According (faith he) to the ejjef!ual power, for fo the Word fignifieth, ,,.7<1rol> i>ir:l'•••, the effectual working of the might of his flrength
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