Ver; 4. the 17th Cheiptër of St. J OH Ñ. 4 Innocence continued, had been a great benefit, but now it is more gracious and free and it is not the greatnefs of a Benefit that worketh on Gratitude; fo much as the gra- cioufnefs and freeness of it. Our Heaven cofteth a greater price, and it is not giieti to God's Friends, but thole that were once his Enemies. [ On Earth.] This Phrafe fignifieth, that Chrift did not increase God's Effential Glory, for that is uncapable of any addition, his Nature is infinite, and cannot be made moreglorious and excellent; but only that Chrift manifefted his Glory More fully to the World. Obferve ; Chrift came down from Heaven, to make Men glorify God. We had Lefîoti enough before us in Creation and Providence,but Men were {cupid. Things to which we are accuftomed, do not work upon us; in the Gape], God would let his Praire to a new Tune. God needeth us not, and our Refpe&s are due; and yet at . what colt iá God to purchafe the Praife of the Creature ? Blind and unthankful Men ! to dethrone the great God, and let up every paltry Creature. Therefore God tent his Son to re- vive the Notions of the Godhead, and to give us further manifeftations of his Glory. That was ChrifYs Errand, to glorify him on the Earth. [ I have finiflied the Work] Chrills Work was, to manifeft the Gofpel, and to re- deemSinners 5 and how can he fay, I have ftníflied the Work, teeing the chief Work of Redemption was yet to come, the offering up himfelf to Divine Juftice upon the Crofs ? I Anfwer, He had determined to undergo Death, and it was now at hand in the confent and full determination of his Will it was done. So upon the Crofs, juft before his Death, he crieth, It was ftnifhed, John 59. 3o: It implieth 5 t. The Submifiion, Faithfulnefs, and Diligence of Chrift : he never left doing of his Father's Work, till he had brought it to force Iffue and Period, and doth net fue out his own Glory, till our Redemption was firft finifbed. Phil. a. 7. He became obe- dient unto Death, even the Death of the Croft, the accurfed Death of the Crofs. Chrift carried Sinners in his Heart to his dying day, he never repented of his Bargain; John t 3. t. Having loved his own, that were in the World, he loved them unto the end. When he had molt caute to loath Sinners, then he loved them; in his bitter Agonies,and the Horrors of his Crofs, Chrift did not repent of his part. Plead the Eternal Covenant, you have God's Oath, that he will never repent of Salvation this way. Plal. Ho. 4- The Lord bath (worn, and will not repent. Thou art a Prieft for ever, after the Order of Melchifedeck. ' Chrift was not weary of fuffering for Sinners, and God will not be weary of pardoning them. Again, Chrift was faithful in the days of his Flefh,he bath loft nothing by going to Heaven, he will finifh what he hath begun. t Thefl. 5.241 Faithful is he that bath called you, who alfa mill do it. This fmoaking Flax will be blown up. into a Flame : There Infant - Delires are Buds of Glory 9 this decay of Sin, will crone to an utter extinction. s. It noteth the compleatnefs of our Redemption, All it frniflied. When he had let all things at rights, then he departed. Chrift hath not left the Work imperfe&, to be fupplied by the Merit of our own Allions; we are not half purchafed. Heb. to. r 4. By one Of ring he bath perfetled fir ever them that are fanlüied. Chrift would not have died, if the Work had not been done; and if there were any thing yet to do, he would die again. But Chrift hath no more Offering to make, nor Suffering td endure, but only to behold the Fruit of his Suffering. He hath not purchafed a pot frble Salvation, whore efficacy dependeth on the Will of the Creature, nor the Remrra fion of force Sins, and left others upon our (core; nor made purchafe of Grace for a fmall time, but perfetled for ever them that are faniiifred. Popifh Satisfaetion; the loofe, pofíible, pendulous Salvation of Arminian,- ; and the Do&rine of the Apoftacy_of the Saints, are all Doltrines prejudicial to the full Merit of Chrift. It is all finned, there is enough done to glorify God, and lave the Creature; Juflice could demand no more for all.Engagenrents. Chrift is not afhamed to plead his Right at the Bar of Juftice; and to avouch his Work before the Tribunal of God. This, it is frniflied; is like Chrifts Seal to the Charter of Grace. Now take it, and much good may it do you, Oh that we could reit fatisfied with the Merit of Chrift, as Divine Jditice is fatisfied What should trouble the Creature, when Chrift haft entred his Plea, Father, it it f- niflied, there is enough done ? Chrif hash no mar` to do, but to fit at the right Hand,
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