to the EPHESIANS. It is but couched in the Text, and therefore I will but briefly fpeak to it and fo f'-"XV1 proceed. ~ My Brethren, when the Scripture would fet out the Love of God to us, it fpeaks not much of it, but the chief and eminent thing it holds forth is this, that God gave his Son, and gave his Son to Death for us. You have it in R.om. S· 8. God commendeth hi< Love towards m (or as the Word !igntfies, he makes It noble and illu!hious) i11 that while we wereSinners, Chrift died for 111. It is not only that when we were Sinners, he loved us, or quickned us when we were dead,but that he gave his Son todye for us, to effect this, there lies the EmphaGs, that is more than quickning, and more than all the Benefits we have by Chrifi. You have the like in I Joh. 4· 9· In this w.u manifejled the Love ofGod towards 11<, becaltfethat God fent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live tl,.o11gh bim; we had ne– ver had any ofthis Spiritual Life elfe. And here;,, is Love ( C1ith he iler. 1o.) that is !et out by two things, not that we loved God, b1tt that he loved'" ; Co that God loved us from everlafiing, and began to love us firfi ; and then it follows, and[e11t his Son to be the propitiatio11 for o11r Sim. Herein is Love : that is, in this is the highefi manifefiation of the Love ofGod; it is fuch a Phrafe as that in Rev.14.12. Here is the patience ofthe Saints, that is, here it is tryed, here it is feen. You know it was the highefi trial ofAbraham's Love to God, that he had a Heart to give his Sonforhim; Nowlfznow (faith God, Gen. 22. 12.) that thou fearejl God (that Word Fear is put for LQve, and for all Religion, according to the Language ofthe Old Te!l:amem) feeing thou haft not withheld thy So11, thifle only Son fi·om me; you fee how God was taken with it, though it was but in the pUI·po(e of.Abrahanls Heart to do it. But how much more is it for God actual!y to give us his Son ! In Job. 3, I 6. it is [aid, God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begottw Son : Still you fee the Scripture runs upon it. He loved, and he gave for Love prefently thinks ofgiving, and ifit be a great Love, it will exprefs it !Hf by Gifrs an!\ver– able: Now God had a Son, and he fo loved the World, that he gave thisSon. The truih is that God himfelfcould not do a greater Act, nor give a greater Gift. I may fay of this Act, as it is faid, in Heb. 6. '3· that When God made 'Promife to Abraham, becaufe he couldfwear by nog>·eater, hefware by hinifelf; [o becaufe he could manifell his Love no greater nor higher way, he gave his Son, and his only begot– ten Son: you fee there is a [So] put upon it, h< fo liY'.;ed the World, that is, his Elelhn the World (for fo I take it, it is meant.) Such Expre!Iions have an import in them ofunexpre!Iiblenefs; as, So great Salvatio,, Heb. 2. 3· and, Such contradl– llion ofSinners, Heb. 12. 3· lfSatan C1y, thou hafifofinned, reply again, God bath fo loved the World, that he gave his Son for""· The Apofile putteth an unex– pre!Iiblemisupon the Love·ofGod, in making of us hisSons, I Joh. •· 1. Behold ;what manner ofLcve tbe Fatherbath bejl01ved11po" UJ,that weJbould be called the Som of God? What mannerofLovethen isthis,that God bath given us his only Son? You have it again, in RM,, 8. 32· emphatit:ally mentioned, where the Apofi!e (peaks with an amazement; as ifhe had even run himftlfout ofBreath: Wbat Jball we then Joy to theft thing!? (having fpoken ofthe Love of God) fuch a Sea of Lol't~ came upon him, as overcame him : And what follows? He that JPared not his ow" Son, but delivered him 11p for "" all, howJba/1 he 11ot with /Jim alfo, freely give 111 ail things? Do but con!ider the Words a little. He fpared not his Son, the Word implies, that God was fenlible enough what itnvas to give fuch a Son, it implies the greatefi tendernefs; he felt every blow, yet he g•ve the blows himfelf: Even as when ofloving Parents;tis faid they do nm [pare their Children,when out ofthe greatefr tendernefs they do correct them. And he is C1id not to fpare hi1 own Son, who 1S more his own.s'o,,than our Sons ~an be, which arc differing from our fdves, but Chnfi ofthe fame Subfiance wtth hrmfelf. And the truth is, none knows how to value the Gift, but God himfelf that gave him, and Chrifi himfdf that was gi– ve,n. And he drd do It freely too; the Word that is ufed l<!"E.l"'T<X' imports it, with him he !hall graciou!1y give us; he gives Chrifi and all things elfe fi-eely with him, therefore it implies, that he gave him up freely alfo. .Abr•ham gave his Son, but he was commanded to do it; but God gave hisSon freely, and it pleafed the I:ord'to br11ife him. And to !hew that this was the greatd1 Gift that God could gtve, ?r had to give; what follows? Now he had givel'i us his Son, takt! all things elfe fatth he: I do not value Heaven, now I have given my Son for you, therefore * B b rake
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=