2J8 f C EiY;f,^ians lifethew!? neble life, V./ . A .,i,riflians life the moft nób;e p:Eph,41i8, gtPet,1.4. Chriftian life honourable. I.Qvrgigall: CHAP. XXiII,. UthChrifl live in man ? Then the life ofa Chriiian is the moll noble and honourable if ofall others : the hie of f nfìble creatures is more excellent then the life of vegitive creatures; the life of reaf nable creatures is more excellent then the l.f: of fentible ; the lifeof man is more, noble then the life of beat}s ; but the life of' fpirituall and fans ified perlons is more excellent then the life of' reafo- nable creatures ;, the life of a true Christian furpafíeth the life ofman, as farre as the life of mart farp fleth the life of beafis. Saul was in feature head: andfheuldsrs abovethe rtfìdue of the people The lifeofgrace is head and (boul ders in dignity, worth and excellency above allother lives;, this.is the life of Chrift, a living of Chrift in min ; and as Chrift is infinitely more excellent thenman, fó loth this . life exceedingly tranfcend the life of' man, called the to life of God, in regard of the caufe efficient, God working it by his holy Spirit; in regard of precept, God commanding it' ;, in regard ofapprobation, God accepting and approving it; in regard of nobleneffe and dignity, as the life of God ts7 more excellent then the life of the creature, fo.is this life the mots honourable., fweeteft and choyfeft life communi- cable ro any creature ; and in regard oflikeneffewithGod, . holy and gracious- refeinblance ofGod»; he that lives the lifeof man is like man, participates of the nature of' man; he that lives the life of grace is like God, is made partaker, as S. Peter fpeaks, of the divine q nature, not in reffeet of efl:nce, but to refpeCt of' holy and gracious qualities : he that lives the lifè of grace commethnigheft unto God, par- ticipates moll ofCods firinefle, and bath neareft and fweeteft communion with Godofall perfons. And this life is indeed a veryhonourable andnoble hie. z. For the Originali ofit, it is not from nature,, but from grace, not from man, but from the Spirit, it is the Spi. - rit
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