Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

Book IV. s A I N T s COMl'ARED TO K I N G s. 759 MET AP H 0 R. PAR ALL EL. as he fees occaflon, 10 his friends, and alfo 10 others, declaring his JZight to them,and fetting forth the Worth and Excellency of them. reveal, fhew, or make known his Saints to Angels and Men. Hence the Day of Chrifi's coming is called the Day of the Manifr.ftation of the Sons of God. 'Ihey jha/1 be mine, faith God. He will fay in that Day, Thefe are mine, thefe that you un· -godly Ones abufed, hat<·d, and perfecmeJ, and thought not worthy 10 live, but ac– counted the Ofl:fcouring of all Things, behold now what rare and lovely Ones they are I Thefe are the Del ight and Joy ot' my Heart, whom I vllue as my choiceft Trea– fltre, .and I will fpare them, whillt you fi1all bear the Fiercenels of my Wrath and Jn– aignation for ever. 'fhen jha/1 ye retum, and difcern between the Rigbteotts and the .Wicked, between him that fcrveth God and bim that fervetb him not, ,11ul. iii. u!t. D S P A R T Y. 1. 0 THER J ewels may be loft: But God will lofe none of his Jewels. !I. He that makes other Jewels may not be the proper Owner of them, nor wear them for an Ornament himfelf: But God, who makes all his fpiritua l Jewels, is the proper Owner of them: 'fbis People baw I formed for ~>l)jdf. They are alfo made for his own Gloty. · Ill. Other Jewels may be quite lpoiled, broke to pieces, and become good for no– thing; th~ belt and richdl Jewels !hall at !aft pais away, and pnifh for ever: But God's Jewels 01all never be utterly fp01kd; for though they mav receive lome Damage by Satan's Temptations, and the Pollution of Sin; yet GQd will perfect that which is wanting concerning tht'm, and make them at laft fo glorious, that they fhall he out of Danger, and !hall abide and fhine in Beauty and Glory to Eternity. N F E R E N C E ~ I. FROM hence we. may infer, what horrid lr.iquity the Enemies of God and his Church are guilty of, and what a dreadful Account they have to give for endea– voring, and with the greareft Rage and Malice, and unwearierl Attempts, contriving all w•ys imaginable to fpoil, break in pieces, and utterly deftroy all God's choice and precious Jewels, which he is as tender of as the Apple of his Eye; what will they do in the Day of Vengeance? 11. It fpeaks forth much Comfort to the Godly. 0 how are they efteemed, prized, and valued by the Almighty 1 They are his Jewds, his fpecial and peculiAr Treafure. Ill. This may inform all Men, what the Reafon is God is fo much concerned for the Good and Well. being of his own People, and fo often appears to vindicate their Innocency, and defend them from the Rage and Cruelty of wicked Men. IV. Let us enquire, whether we arc God's Jewels, or not. (1.) Are we regene– rated Ones? Have we the Pearl of Faith, Love, Humility? &c. (>.) Are we holy, fincere and fanhful in all Things to God? (3.) Do we excel others? Is there a real, -or only a feeming Worth 'and Excellency in us? What do we more than others? (4.) Do we grow in Grace? Doth the Work of God go on upon our Hearts? Are we more fit for Heaven To-day, than we were Yefterday? A Jewel in the Hand of a Jewe)ler is every Day nearer fini!hing. 'fhe Righteous}hall bold on his Wa)', and he that .bath dean Hands jha/1grow flronger and flronger. SAINTS COMPARED TO KIN G s. And hajl made us unto God Kings and Priejls, &c. Rev. v. to. THE Saints are in this Place and fome others called Kings, which is one of the . higheft Titles among Men. P A R · A L L ~ L ~ I. KINGS are ufually highly defcended, or are Sons of Nobles: So the Saints are . all highly defcended, they are born from above, born of God, and fo may be fa1d to be the OfEpring of Heaven : Behold what manner of l.ow tbe Father hatb be· jl"'t·ed

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