190 An Expofition ofthe CH AP. II: riot from above we (hall not attainunto. This then in thefirf place is tobe fought after; this arewe to abide in; contlantPrayers and fupplications for the teaching; intlruéting, revealing, enlightningWork andEfficacy of this Spirit; that we maybe enabled to look into thefe deep things ofGod> that we may in fonte meafure with all Saints comprehend them, and grow wifè in the Myfterie of falvation. Solomon tells us how this wifdom is tobe obtained; Prov. y. 3, 4,5. If thou eryeft after knowledge, and li teff up thy voyce for underianding, ifthou feekeltfor her arforflver, and fearche/t for heras or hi treafures, then (ball thou. underftand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God; It is by praying, crying, Cupplications, with diligence, and perfeveranee, that we attain this Wifdom; abide herein, or all otherattempts will prove but vain. How many poor fouls otherwife weak and limpie, have by this means grownexceed- ing wife in the Myflerie of God ? And how many more, we in this world, through the negleét of it, dowalk in darknefs all their dayes ? Secondly, Diligent Jiudy of the Word .wherein this Mylierie of God is declared and propofedunto oar faith, and holy contemplation; but this bath been fpoken unto in part already, and mutt again be confidered, and fo need not here to be in- liftedon. Thirdly, Sincere love unto, anddelight in the things thatare by the Spirit of God revealed unto us, is another part of this duty. Herein our Apofiledeclares what was his frameof heart, Phil.;.$, How doth his heart triumph in, and rejoyce over the knowledge he had obtained of Jefus Chrift ? and then indeed do weknow any thing of the Graceof God aright, when our heartsareof icedwith what we know. Peter tells us, that the Saints of old, ,ice theirbelieving, rejoyced with joy unffreakable andfull of glory, 1 Sp. r.$. They difcovered that in Chrift which made their hearts leap withinthem, and all their affcétions ro overflow with delight and joy. And this is anEffenrial part of this Holy. Admiration, which dittinguifheth is from that barren, fruitlefs, notional.ffeculationof it, which Comeare contented withal'. This are we to flit up our hearts unto in all our Meditations of the Grace ofGod ,. and not to rat until' we find them affeéted, fatisfied and filledwith an holy complacency, which is the Moil eminent evidence of our intereff in, and Union unto the things thataremade known untous. Fourthly, All thefe things are tobe attended with thankful4 and praife. This the Apottle was full of, and brake forth Into, when he entred upon the defcription of this Grace, Epb. t. 3, 4. and this will be the frameof his heart, who is exerctfed un- to an holy admiration of ir. When our Lord Jefus Chrift confidered the Graceof God in revealing the myfteries of this falvation unto his Difciples, it is faid of him, that hereioyced in Spirit, Luke to. 21. 41,,ameeCtreero his Spirit leapedin bim ; and hebreaks forthinto a folemnDoxologie, givingPraife and Glory unto God. And is itnot their duty to whom they are revealed, to do that, which out of love unto them, ourLord Chrift Jefusdid on their behalf ? Tbankfulnefl for the things themfelves, rhankfulneffor the Revelationof them, rhankfulneßfor the Love ofGod, and the Grace ofJefrts Chrift in the one and the other, is a great part ofthis duty. Secondly, This will teach us, what efteemwe ought to have of the Word of the Gofe by which alone this great falvation is revealedand exhibited unto us ; the great means and itdtrument which God is pleafed to ufe in bringing us unto a participation of it. This one confederation is enough to inftruét us unto what valuationwe ought to make of it, whatprice we fhould fee upon it, fetingwe cannot have the pearl with- out the purchafe ofthisField. Some negleet it foule defpife it, tome perfecute it, forte look uponit as foolifhneß, Rime' as weaknefs, but unto them that believe, it if the power ofGod, and thewifdom ofGod. To furtherus in this duty, I (hall take upCome of thofe confiderations,which the words we infift upondo offer unto tas, and thereby alfo, pals through what yet remains for our inftruétioninthem. And we may con- fider, ,a. TheExcellency andPrebemittence ofthe Gofpel,which arifeth from the firft Reveal- er, that is, the Lord'Chrift the Son ofGod. It was begun to be ffoken unto us by the Lord; Herein theApolile prefers it before the Law. It is thatWord, which the Son came to reveal and declare from the bofime of the Father > and furely he deferves to be attend- ed, unto ; Hence it is fo oftencalled the Word of Chrift,andthe Goffel ofChrifl, not on- lybecaufe it treateth of him, but becaufe it proceedeth from him, and on that ac- count is worthy of all Acceptation. And ( a. )To nett[? the Goffel is to negleil and deihife'the. Son ofGodwho was the Author of it, and'cotifequently the-Love and'Graceof God
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