V.ER. Epijileto the HÉB8E*s, t$3 work out. And how doth hedo it, by the mighty word ofhispower, as he made all things ofold ? No, this work is of another nature, and in another manner mutt be aceomphfhed. For, t. To this purpofe he muff be Incarnate, madefief's, Job. t. t4. made of aWoman, Gal.4.4. Thoughhe were in the form of God, and equal to God, yet he was to bumble andempty bimfelf untoand in the form of a man, Phil. z. 6, 7. This is that great myffery ofgodlinefl,Godmanifeftedin the fíefh, that the Angels defire tolookinto. That the Son Of God fhould take the Nature ofMan into fubfrflence with himfelf in the fame Perfon¡ which was neceffary for the effecting of this falvation, is a thing that the whole Creation mutt admire unto Eternity. And yet this is but an entrance into this work. For, 2. In this Nature he muff be made under the Law, Gal. 4.4. obnoxious to the com- mands ofit, and bound to theobedience which it required. It became him to fulfill all righteoufnefl, that he might beour Saviour t for though hewere a Son,yet he war to learn andyieldobedience. Without his perfedobedience unto the Law, our falvation could not be perfeóted. TheSon ofGod muff obey, that we may be accepted and crowned. The difficulties alto, temptationsand dangers that attended him in the courfe of his obedience are inexpedlible. And furelythis residers falvation by bim very great. But yet there is that remains which gives it another Exaltation. For, 3. This Son ofGod, after the courfeof his obedience to the whole will ofGod, waft die,find hisblood, and make his foul an offering for fin. And herein theglory of thisfalvation breaks forth like the Sun in its flrength. Obedient he mutt be unto death the death ofthe croft, Phil. 2. S. Ifbe will be a Captain offalvation to bring many forts to glory, he muff himfelfbe made perfeiï by fufrings, Pleb. 2. to. There were Law and Curie andWrath (landing in the way ofour falvation, all of them to be removed, all ofthem to be undergone, and that by the Son ofGod. For we were not redeemed with filver and gold, or corruptible things, but with theprecious blood of Cbriff, r Pet. r. 58. And therein Godredeemedhis Churchwith his own blared, All 26.28. And here... inaffuredly was the love of God manifeff; that be laid down his lifefor us, r J oh. 3. 16. This belongs unto the means whereby our falvationis procured. Nor yet is this all, for if Chrifl had onlydiedfor us, our faith inhim had been in vain, and we had been 1h11 inour fins. Wherefore,. 4. Tocarry on thefame work, he rotefrom the dead, andnow livesfor ever to make interceffonfor us, and Cofave unto the uttermoft them that come unto Godby him. By their means was the falvation preached in the Gofpel obtained, which furely ma- nifel it tobegreatfalvation. Would God have Cent his Son, his onlySon, and that in filch a manner, were it not for the accomplilhment ofa work as well great andglorious in it Pelf, as indifpenfibly neeefary with referenceunto its end ? Would the Son him- fell have foemptiedbimfelfofhis glory, condefcended to fo low a condition, wreffled with fuch difficulties, and undergone at lengthfilch a turfed and fhameful death, had not the work beengreat wherein hewas employed ? O the blindnefs hardnefs and ftupidity of the Cons ofmen ! they profefsthey believe theft things tobe true, at lealt they dare not deny them foto be ; but for the effeét of them, for thefalvation wrought by them, theyvalue it the.leaft ofall things that theyhave any acquaintance withal!. If this falvation thus procured dofeizeonthem in their deep, and fall upon them whe- ther they will or no, they will not much refft it, provided that it trots them in none oftheir tuffs purpofes or pleafures. But to fee the Excellency ofit, to put a valuation upon it according to the price whereby it is purchafed, that theyare utterly regard- lefsof: Ikar,ye defpiferr, wonder and periJI,. Shall the SonofGod fhed his blood in vain ? Shall he obey, and fuller, and bleed, and pray, and die, fora thing ofnought Is it nothingunto you that he (hould undergo all theft things ? Was there want of Wifdom inGod, or love untohis Son, fo to employ him, fo to ufe him, in a Winds which you effeem of fo very fmall concernment, as that you will fcarce turn afide to make enquiryafter it ? Affureyour felves there things are not fo, as you will one day findunto your eternal ruine. Thirdly, This falvation will appear tobe great, ifwe (hall confider what by itwe are deliveredfrom, and what we are intereftedin, or made partakers ofby vertue there- of. There altomay denominatefalvation to begreat, and they may therefore be con- fidered apart. Fitfl, What are wedelive,redfromby this falvation? In a word, Every thing that is evil in this world, or that which is to come. And all evil may be referred unto two heads.
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