to the EPHESIANS. 11 e[ftowards UJ•thro11gh ChriJf 'jefll.!. But there words in this 4th verre, they come f'-l')(""' in caufally, they come in as they are the motive in God whic~1 moved him toquic- ~ ken us. And therefore that of the demonfl:ranon of the R1ches of Mercy m the Effects, that lliall come in in the 7th verre, for there it is mofl: proper. Here are three things which I lliall handle in there words for the opening of them. I. That Mercy is a peculiar Excellency in God, and he is therefore raid to be rich in Mercy. This I lliall fpeak to in general, and you {hall fee it will natural– ly arife from thepbrafe in the Text. 2 , I {hall open .the abundance ofthe Riches of Mercy that are in God fub– jeCtively. 3· I lliall fhe;v you what Riche• of Mercy (as the caufe of our Salvation) are in God, and do lie by him. Goil who is rii:h in Mercy, faith he, for his great Love • 1 vherewith he luved ""' even when''" were dead in Sins, hath he q~tick_ned w, 6-c. And to handle them thus it is proper; all this is natural, it is ·not to go out ofthe Text, it is but to open it : for we mufl: not fetch in all that can be faid ofMercy when we come to expt:mnd Scriptures, which is the work we have now in hand. Firfl:, I fay, Mercy is a peculiar Excellency in God ; he reckons this of all o– ther ; he reckons this ofall other Excellencies the highefl: and greatefi. You fhall find this amongfi Men, tho they poffefs many Excellencies, yet they are (~id to be rich only in what is eminently excellent; they .are Caid to be rich only in relpetl: oflomething they poffefs in a more peculiar manner, whether Riches be applied to inward Excellencies of the Mind, or to outward. If to inward Excellencies, let a Man have never fo much Wildom, yet his Riches lie in Faith, Rich in Faith, faith the Apoflle; it cloth not lie in his human Prudence or Wildom, but in his Faith, for Faith is the fuperior and !upream Excellency in him, in ;elpeCl: ofwhich he is faid to be rich ; and which makes a Man differ from other Men, even as Rea– fon makes a Man differ from a Beafi. Ifyou attribute Riches to outward things, a Man is faid to be rich only in that which is mofi eminently excellent; as Abrah•m, Gen. I3. 2. is faid to be rich in Silver and in Gold : Therefore you know Gold and Silver, and Precious Stones are in an eminent manner counted Riches,or that which will procure them ; Mo11ey, f.1ith Solomon, anfwereth all things, Ecclef.IO. I 9· And in Ecclef 2. 9· !peaking of himlelf ?S being a King; C1ith he, I gathered me Silver and Gold, and the peculiar Treajitre of ICing1. It was the manner of Kings then,and fo is now ; and ifyou travel into Foreign parts you {hall fee it ufed-more than with us; they have all the Rarities of what kind foever, which they referve in a Treafury, in a Clofet or Study, great Pearls and precious Stones, and other Rarities; thefe are the peculiar T reafure of Kings. So it is here, God tho he bath other Excellencies in him; and all Excellencies •nd Perfections, yet notwith– flanding-he is pleafc/1 to fiile himfeff(\ich in-a peculiar manner in refpeCl: ofMer– cy~ this is the peculiar Trcafure ofthe King of Kings. AsSolomon gathered him Silver and Gold, nnd the peculia'l'Treafure of Kings : lo tho God bath Jufl:ice and Powcir,and all thele things inhim,yet that which he peculiarly aocoumeth theTrea– ofGod himfelf, is his Mercy; God rvho·is >·ich in Mercy, faith the Text. · You fhall not read in all the Scripture, that I know of, that God is f.1id to be rich in Wrath, or rich in Jufiice, ()r rich in Power, tho all thele are inward Perfections in him. Indeed you fhall find this, that what is the object of his Wrath, he reckons a Trealury for him too, but it is not afcribed to the Attribute it felf; Dent. 32· 33>34· Is not this laid up in ftore withme, and foaled up amongmj Ti·eafom? But what fpeaks he of? He fpeaks of Mens Sins, as in the verles be– fore, Their Vine is the Vine ofSodom, and oft-he Fields of Gomorrah; their Grapes are Grayes ofGall, their Ciufteu are. bitter, thtir Wine i< the Poyfon ofDragoi1J, and the. (r~tf Ve11omuj AjjJJ.· Is not thH(faith he) laidup in ftore with me?&c. He fpeaks ofith_cfe bu~a£ofoutward Riches r6·him, which will indeed one day brin~; in a &dwml.le·of Glo•y t(j his Jufiitd-f THercfore you fee he ufeth thofC Phrafes that belong· te exterrla<l tqings, l•id'itp inftorewiih me, lai:th he, dnd ji,,led up awong my ~hafor•~: Se tliafindee<;l the Sinher is rathe~ laid to trealure tip Wrath than God; Rroll).2·.] .A[te>' thy.Mrdneft Allil'i!Npenitent heart th01t troajitrejlllp •mto thy Jilfwrath 'J Ja · • agaiflfl
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