to the 'E~HESIAN S, SERMON XIX.' EPHES. 1.. 7· Tbat in the .Ages to come, be mtght {hew the exceedi1~ r]{iches of h~ Grace, in his Aindnefs tow11rds 11$ ill Chrift Jefm. THe Words that I have read to you (as I told you in the Jail Difcourfe)they ate the Conclufion both ofGod's Defign ofMan's Salvation,and ofall the contrivements ofthe execution ofit; ~nd they are the Conclufion alfo of the longeft continued Difcourfe that I know of, in the whole Book of God; the Apoftlehaving indeed begun at the 18th verfe of the firll Chapter, and not ended till now. And there are of thefe Words three Interpretations, where– oH mentioned two in the Jail Difcourfe : ail which I believe, will be fuiiy compre· bended in the intentoftheHoly·Ghollin them. The firll ofthem (which I then mentioned not) is general to the other two, and takes inall, and it is this ; That here the Apoille propounds the End of God in the SalvationofMen fimply, as itrefletls and refpetl:eth his own Glory, and efpeciaiiy ofhis Grace. He holds forth here the higheft End as it refpects the Glo· ry ofGod, which is, To fhew forth in the Ages to come the exceeding Riches ofhis Grace, inhis Kindnefs towards 11s through Chrift JeftH. That look now, as in the firfr Chapter, he had made this, as it were, the clofe and the burthen of ail [To the Glory ofhn Grace] thus ver. 6. having fpoken of Eletlion, he faith, To the prAife ofthe Glory ofhis Grace; having fpoken of the forgivenefs ofSins, ver.7. according tDihe RicheJOf his Grace. Having fpokenofFaith, and ofthe work of Faith, ver. 12. That we (who have Faith wrought in us) fhoHid be to the prAift of hwGlory. So Iikewife here ; only becaufe that this is tbe Clofe of all, when he meaneth to part with it, he adds an heightning Expreflion ; he rifeth in his Epithets of it, and he faith here; The exceeding Riches ofhis Grace. Now that whichconfirms this Interpretation (as I told you what proves the o· ther) they are thefe particulars. Firf/, That God's Glory made known is the fupream End ofall, and in God, the Gfory ofhis Grace ; and therefore feeing here he bringeth in a Clofe, a Con– clufion ofall about Man's Salvation, he lhould therefore intend this moll chiefly and principally; namely, that God's End was to manifell the Riches ofhis Grace, and the Glory ofhis Grace, as it refpectethhis own Glory. And this Secondly, cohereth with the Words which go before, and follow af– ter. He had !hewn in the Words before, the Caufes of our Salvation ; and he begins thus, God that wa~ rich in Mercy for the great Lo-ve wherewith he loved tn ; He mentioneth there Riches ofMercy in God, as the Caufe -aegwylsfM'"'• the in– ~ard Difpofition inclining him in his own Heart thereunto. Here now he men· ttoneth the final Caufe to be the making known of thofe Riches of Grace and Mercy laid up in himfelfunto Mankind, and that God being fo rich in his Na· ture, and fo full ofLove, bathcontrived all to !hew forth the Rich<!$ ofhis Grace to the uttermofi. ~I i And f"'U\..Fi Serm.XlX. ·~
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