VsR,Z,3,q.: Epi/letothe HE n rt kws. i87 engaged in GOJßel falvation; andif that be defpifed, in vain thall men lòok for any ether. Neither, 3. Is thereany word fpokenconcerning any fuch. reliefor remedy for Goffelneglellers. Pardon being provided for tranfgrelfìons of the Law, inftantly it ispromifed, and the whole Scripture is written for the manifeftationof it ; butas for a provifton ofmercy for them that deJpife the Go#el, where is any one word recorded concerning it ? Nay doth not the Scripture in all places fully and plainly witnefs againft it ? He that believeth notAtilt be damned. There remains no more,facriftce for fin, lie that believeth not, the wrath ofGod abidethon him. And will men yet feed them- felves withhopes ofmercy whila they neglect the Gofpel ? Well fare them who being . not able to retrieve fecure linnets, agamlt this light and evidence of the'want of any reliefreielved for them, havecarried the whole matter behind the ctietain and in- vented a Purgatoryfor them to help them when they are gone from hence, and cannot return tocomplain of thembywhom they are deceived. But this alai as all other reliefs willprove abrokenreed to them that lean on it ; for they who negleei the Gofßel mutt perilli, and thateternally, for themouthofthe Lord hath fpoken it. Thirdly, Thenall hopes ofefcaping muff arife from hence, That he whofe right it is, and on whom. it is incumbent to take vengeance on them that mglell the GoJße1, will not be ablefo todo, or at leaf( not tofuch adegree, rtr to render itfofearful as is pretended. This need not much to be infilted on: It is God withwhom men have todo in this matter. And they who allowhis Being, cannot denyhim to be Omnipotentand Eternal. Now what cannot he do who is fo? It will at length be found to be a fearful thing tofall into thebands ofthe livingGod; There is untowicked men the fame everlalting caufe ofBeing and Punifhment. The fame hand that upholds them, (hall afiliet them, and thatfor ever. What his Righteoufnefs requires, his Power and Wrath,fhall execute unto the uttermoft, fo that there will benoefcaping: And thefe are the holy foun- dations on which all Goffel Threatnings and Comminations are built, which will all of ofthem take place and be accomplilhed, with nolefs certainty than the Promifcs themfelves. Nowfrom all that hath been fpoken unto this Prupofition wemay, learn, t: Toadmire the Riches of the Grace of, God, which bath provided fo greatfalvation for poor (inners, Such andfo great as it is, we flood in need ofit. Nothing could be abatedwithout our eternalruine. But when Divine Wifdom, Goodnefs, Love, Grace and Mercy (hall fet themfelves atwork,. what willthey not accomplifh ? And theof fedkof them doth the Scripture fet forth in thofe expreflions. So God loved the worlde God commendeth his love unto us ; Greater love bath none than this ; Riches ,of grace Treafures ofwifdom; Exceedinggreatnefl of Power; and the like. . In this will God be glorified and admited unto all Eternity. And in thecontemplation hereof are we tobe exercifed here and hereafter ; and thereby may we grow up into the image of God in.ChriJ{, z Cor. 3, 18. Which way foever we look, what ever we confider in it,. here is that which will entertain our foulswith delight and fatisfaiion. The Eternal CounfilofGod, the Perlon ofChrift, his Mediation and Grace, the Promifes of the Gofpel, the evil and wrath we are freedfrom, the Redemption and Glory purchafed for us, the Priviledges we are admitted unto a participation of, the Confolations and . Joys of the Spirit, the CommunionwithGod that we are called unto :, howglorie ous are they in the eyesof Believers ? or alfuredly at all times ought they fo to be. How can we enough bewail that Vanity whence it is, that the. mind fulfereth it fell to be poffeffed and filled withother things ? Alas, what are they ifcompared to the excellency of this Love of God in Chrilt Teals ? Here; lies oar treafure, here lies our inheritance, why thouldnot our hearts behere allo? Were our minds fixed on thefe. things as they ought, how would the glory of them cart out our cares, fubdue our fears, fweeten our affliétions andperfecutions, and take off our affections from the fading perifhing thingsof this world ? and make us in. every condition rejoyce, in the hope: of the glorythat Jhall be revealed: And indeed we lofe the fweetnefsof the life of faith, the benefit ofour profellion, the reward that is in believing, and ate made fromto the world, and a prey unto temptations, becaufe wedwell not enough. in the contemplationofthis greatfidvation. To flit us up thenhereunto we may confider, The excellencyofthe things themfelves that are propofed unto our meditations; they are theGreat, theDeep, thehidden things of the Wifdom and Grace ofGod. Men, juiifie themfelvesin fpending their time and fpeculationsabout the things of Nature ; and indeed the employment is better and more noble than what the generality of mendo exercife themfelves about. For fome feldom raife their thoughts above the dunghills whereon they live ; and Tome ftuff their minds; with fuch filthy imagi- H u u nations
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