V11:R.z,;;q.. Épijiletothe Hia13ltÌws. be revealed; yet in the falvation that he bath purchafed for them there is provifien ofcomfort, with joy unfßeákable andfullof glory, even during their pilgrimage here be- low. Such joyindeed it is as the worldknowetb not, nor can know. The principles and caufes ofit, its Nature and Effects, areall hidden unto them. Yet fuch it is, that all the contentments and enjoyments ofthis world are no way tobe compared with it ; and fuchdo all that have tatted of it edamit tobe. Now this alfo is wrought in us and communicated unto us by the Gofßel. It is the Word of Promise whereby God gives Prong confolation unto the heirs offalvation, Heb. 6. 17; 18. And upon the re- ceiving of this Wordby faith it is,thatBelievers rejoyce with joy unffeakable andfrill ofglory. Not only fupportment and comfort in the bearing of troubles, but glorious Exulta.. tion and Extafies ofjoy areoft-timeswrought in the hearts of Believers by the Go- fpel. Now they canendure, now theycanfuffir, now they eau die; joy is upon their heads, and in theirhearts, andsorrow and fighingElie away. Here is Red, here is Peace, here are Refre(hments, here are Pleafures, here is Life to be defired. The good Lord fweeten and feafon all our hearts with all thefe Conflation; these- joys of his Kingdom, and that by the blelfed Wordofhis Grace. Laftly, to intance innomore particulars, the Gofpel is the Word of Salvation, and the inftrument in the hand Of God for the conferring of it upon Believers, becaufe they (hall be taken into the full poRion and enjoyment of it at the la(t day, by and according unto the Word and fentetice of it. It is the Symbol andTeffera that gives men final admiflion into glory. The fecrets dal/ hearts ¡ball be judged according to the Gofßel, ¡tom. a. 6. And by the word ofit ¡hallthe Elea receive their Crown. And in thefe refpec$s is the Gofel awordoffalvation. But fecondly, it is faid in our Prapofition asin the Text, to be greatfalvation. Now we have feen that the Gofpel is called falvation metonymically, the. Caufi being called by the name ofthe Effect. But in thisadjunt$ofGreat, fogreat, the Effeét it fclf, Sal- vation itPelf; preachedand tendredby the Gofpel is principally intended. That then in the next place we aré to declare, namely thatthis Salvationpreached in the Gofjel is greatfalvation. Neither is it abfolutely laid to be greatfalvation, butfuch; orfr great falvation. And it is ufüal in the Scripture, where it would (jigged unto our minds and thoughts an inconceivable greatttefl to ufe form fuch expregions as plainly intimate fo(bewhat more than can be exprefd. See 1 Pet. q.. 17, t8. Heb. io. 29. Job. 3. 16. So great, that isabfolutcly fo; and comparativeyfo, with refpe6t unto the benefits received by the Law ; and inconceivably fo; beyond what we can conceive or express. There oughtthen to be no expefkation that we should declarethe realgreatnrel of this fal- vatidn, which the Apottle intimates to be inexprerible ; we (hall onlypoint at force of thofe confiderations wherein the greatnefa of it dóth molt principally confit'r and.appeari Firff, it is great in the Eternalcentrivance of it. When fnhad defaced theglory of the tint Creation, and the Honour ofGod teemed to be at a Band, no way remain- ing to carry it on unto that End which all things at fir(( tended unto ;' all Crea- tures were, and for ever would have been ignòrant of a way for the retrievment of things into the former, or a better Order, or thebringing forth a falvation for that whichwas loft. For befides that there werefuch horrible confufons, and fuch inextri- cable intanglements brought upon the Creation and the several parts ofit, which none could difcern how they might be joynted and set in order again ; there appeared a repugnancy in the very properties oftheDivine Nature, unto any relief or falvation offinners. Letfinners befaved, and what (hall become of the Police; Holinefs, and Wrath ofGod, all which are engaged to fee a meet recompeneeofreward rendred unto every eranfgreffion ? And this wasenoughetern4 to fitence the whole Creation, by reafon ofthat indifpenfibie Obligation which is on them always, and in all things to prefer the Honour and Glory of their, Maker, before the Being or well-being of any creatures what ever. Should the holyAngels have fee upon a contrivance for the Salvation of (inners; upon the fitti difcovery that it would.interfere and clath with the Gloryof. God, (as every contrivance of Wifdom finite and limited would have done undoubtedly, yea rife up againft his very Bleffednefiand Being) they would inftantly havecati it from them as an abominable thing, and have retied eternally in theContemplation ofhis Excellencies, for which end they were created; Here there= fore infinite Wifdom, infinite Grace, infinite Goodness, and infinite Holinefs difcover themfelves:in that contrivance offalvation, which folvesall thofe difficulties and seem- ing contradictions, keepsentire the Glory ofGod's Attributes; repairs the Honour Ttt 2 . loft'
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