4 Serm.s, 92 ,SERMONS upon cannot fpeak of our Works, we may fpeak of our Intere r: Lord ! I am a Sinner, but I am thine, I am a poor Wretch, but I am one, that would not be his own, unlefs I am thine. Oh, but fays the poor Sóul, If I could fay, that I am thine, one that be- longeth to the Purpofes of thy Grace, there were forne Comfort ! Infra. It is fweer, when we can fay mutually, 1 am my Beloved's, and ray Beloved is mine : But are you not willing to chufe him, though you cannot fay he hath chofen you ? The choice of our Portion difcovereth our Interea. Cana thou in truth of Heart fay; Lord ! I have none in Heaven but thee, none upon Eartbthat I deftre in comparifon of thee ? Pfal. 73. 25. If you can, in the fincerity of your Hearts, call God to witnefs this, it is fweet Though thou cana not apply Chrift, canti thou refign thy Pelf? then we have the Fruit of Ele&ion, though we h* not the Senfe of it. God certainly hath chofen us, when by the Work of his Grace he maketh us chufe him. Fallen Man is not dainty in his choice, till a Work of Grace paffeth Upon him ; he turneth from the Creator to the Creature; he faith to the World, Would to God thou wert mine ! to Riches, Honours, Pomp, would thou wert mine ! Happy is the People that are in fch a Cafe It is Grace tnmeth us from the Creature back again toGods Grid is our Portion,becaufe we are his God cannot refute that Heart which he hath thus drawn to himfelf. 2. Obferve again, That none are given to Chrift, hot chofe that were fi'r's the Father 's. Thine they were ; he had chofen them in the Purpofes of his Grace, and difpofed them into Chria's Hands. Thine by Ele&ion,mine by Special Donation. The A &s of the three Perfons are commenfurable, of the fame Sphere and Latitude ; thofe whom the Fa- ther chufeth, the Son redeemeth, and the Spirit fandifieth. The Father loveth none, but thofe that are given to Chrift ; and Chrift taketh charge of none, but thofe that arelovéd of the Father. Your Election will be known by your Intereft in Chrift, and your Intereft in Chrift, by the San&ification of the Spirit.. All God's Flock are put into Chria's Hands, and Chrift leaveth them to the care of the Sprit, that they may be enlightned and fanaified. In looking after the Comfort of Ele&ion, you mud firft look inward to the Work of the Spirit on your Hearts, then outward to the Work of Chrift on the Crofs, then upward to the Heart of the Father in Heaven. r Pet. I. 2. Elect according to the foreknomledg of God the Father,. through fanaification of the Spirit, unto Obedience, and fprinhling of the Blood of 7efus Chrift. There is a Chain of Salvation, the Beginning is from the Father, the Difpenfation through the Son, the Application by the Spirit ; all cometh from God, and is conveyed to us through Chrift by the Spirit. Secondly, The Father's A& about Believers, Thou gaveft me them. How are they given to Chrift ? Things are given to Chrift two ways ; by way of Reward, or by way of Charge. r. By way of Reward. So all Nations are given to him by way of Reward. Pfd. 2.8. 's( o f me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance, and the uttermofJ parts of the Earth for thy Po /ilion. He is Lord of all, Ads 10.36. even of the Devils. All Fleth are thus given to him, to be ruled by him. This Donation is very large, and comprizeth Elea and Reprobates ; all Nations are Chriffs Heritage in this fence, as well as the Church : All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given to him, to difpofe of Elea and Reprobates according to his own Pleafure. Only in this giving by of Reward, there is a differences force are given to Chrift at large, to be difpofed of ac- cording to his Pleafure ; others are given to him for Come fpecial Minidry and Service, as Hypocrites in the Church : and fo Judas was given to him, as Chrift faith, Verf. 9. Of them which thou haft given me, I have loft none but the Son of perdition. Again, others are given to him by way of fpecial and peculiar Intereft, to be Members of his Body, Subjeas of his Kingdom, &c. So only the Elea are given to Chrift ; the great Bargain that Chrift drove with his Father, was an Intereft in Souls ; therefore it is faid, Ifa. 53. 10,1 I. When thou limit make his Soul an Offering for Sin, he (hall fee his Seed, he full prolong his days, and the Pleafure of the Lord fhall profper in his Hand. He fha!! fee of the travel of hit Sou!, and be fatisfsed. This was all the Gain that Chrift reckoned of. 2. By way of Charge. This again is proper to the Elea, who are redeemed, jufti- fied, Can &ified, glorified. The Elea are made over to Chrift, not by way of Alie- nation, but Oppignoration ; none of them who are given to Quilt by way of Charge can mifcarry. John 6.37..411 that the Father giveth me, fisa!l come to me; and he
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