~ Serm. Xll. ~ An Expofttion of the EpijUe SERMON X I I. 'l c. E pH B s. "· 4, 5, 6. 4· fJJut God who urich itz.:Mercy, for hu great Lo'Ve wherewith he lol>ed ~ I 5. Even wl>en we were dead u1 Sins, l>atb qtlick,ned M together witb Cbrifl ( by Grace ye are Jawd ) · ·' 6. .And hatlJ raifed M up together, atzd made M fit together i11 heawnly places ir1 [/JYifl Jefiu. THe Scope of the Apoftle in thefe words, as I have told nify the[e three Attributes in God, 5 Love, ( His L Mercy, S towards us. Grace, And thefe, as they are the caufes of our Salvation. In opening of thefe words, I have you, is to mag· 1. Shewn you the difference between Love and Mercy. 2 . Shewn you, why that the Apollle, when he would fpeak of the caufes of our Salvation, contented not himfelf to have faid, that God is rich ;, Mercy, but that he addeth, For the great Love wherewith he loved 111. 3. Shewn you likewife, that a great Love, and an aB: of Love, or a purpofe of Love, taken up towards us, it is the foundation of his !hewing Mercy to us; and that aB: of Love, it is efpecially that taken up from everlafling, which he took up to us before we were, and therefore prevented the Mifery we were fallen into; for he had engaged himfelf to us by fo great a Love, which fiirred up his Mercy. The next thing I came to, was this, the Greatnefs of this Love. I did profefs not to handle this Argument in the vafinefs of it, (which by the Grace of God might arife to a Volume, if it lhould be fo handled ) ; but fo far forth as the Text cloth give bottom to any thing about it, fo far I profefs'd to handle it, be· caufe I would explain the Text. Fir:ft, therefore, we confidered the Subject of this Love, who it is that loved us. It is God, whofe Love therefore is as great as himfelf; and if God will be in Love, how deep, how great will that Love be ! What a Love will they pof– fefs, with whom God profeffeth himfelf to be in love ! Love, it is of all Attri· butes the mofi commanding, it commandeth all in a Man, and it commandeth all in God. Seco11d/y ; We confidered, that this God, tho of a loving nature and difpo· fition, yet he took up an aB: of love : He loved, faith the Text. There arc two forts of AB:s of love , which God hath put forth to; Wards us : ~ J, That
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