I 42 (.-4' 'Declaration of the Glorious M Y STER Y Original condition of mankind in general. But man forfeited the domini- on and inheritance that he was entrufted withal and Cod fetleth it anew, folely in the man Chrift Jefus. So the apoftle adds, We fee not ail things pu iabder him, but we fee it all accomplifhed in Jets, ver. 9. But as all other inheritances do defcend with theirs, fo did this unto him with its burdeh. There was a great debt upon it, the debt of fin. This he was to undergo, to make payment of, or fatisfa &ionfor, or he couldnot right- 1ÿ enter upon the inheritance. This could no otherwife be done but by his fuffering in our nature, as bathbeen declared. He whowas theheir ofall, was in himfelf tò purge our fins. Herein did the infinite wifdom of God nianifeft it felf, in that he conveyed the inheritance of all things unto him, whowas meet and able fo toenter upon it, fo to enjoy and poffefs it, as that no detriment òt damage might arife unto the riches, the revenue, the glory of God, from the waffe made by the formerpoffeffor. q. Mankind was to be recovered unto faith and truth in God, as alfo unto tlfe love of him above all. All thefe things had utterly forfaken our na- ture i and the reduction ofthem into it, is a work of tite greateft difficulty. We had fo provoked God, he had given fuch evidences ofhis wrath and difpieafureagainff us, and our minds thereon were fo alienated from lait; as we flood in need of the ftrongeft motives, and higheft encouragements once to attempt to return unto him, fo as to place all our faith and truft in him, and all our love uponhim. Sinners generally live in a neglef and contempt of God, in an enmityagainft Itim. But whenever they are con- vinced of a neceffity to endeavour a return unto him, the firth thing they have to conflif withal, is fear. Beginning to underffand who and what he is, as alfo how things Rand between him and them, they are afraid to have any thing todo with him, and judge it impoffible that they fhould find acceptancewith him. This was the fenfe that Adam himfelf had upon his fin, when he was afraid and hid himfelf. And the fenfe of other finners is frequently expreffed unto the fame purpofe in the fcripture. See Ifa. xxxiii. 14. Mach. vi. 6, 7. All tlaefe difcouragements are abfolutely provided againf in that way of our recoverywhich infinitewifdom Rath found out. Itwere thing delightful to dwell on the fecurities given us therein, as unto our acceptance inall thofe principles, alts and duties wherein the renovation of the image ofGod loth confill. I mutt contraft my meditations, and Gall therefore inflance in fosse few things only unto thatpurpofe. r.) Faith is not capable of greater encouragement or confirmation than lyeth in this one confideration, that what we are to believe unto this end, is delivered unto us by God himfelf in our nature. What could confirm our faith and hope in God, what could encourage us to expel acceptance 'with God, like this ineffable teftimony of Isisgood will unto us. The na- tureof things is not capable of greater aflurance, feeing the divine nature is capable of no greater condefcenfion. This the fcripture propofeth as that which gives a jutexpe&ation,thatagainfl all fearsand oppofitions we fhould clofe with divine calls and invitations to return unto God. Loft ofall he fette unto them bis Son, faying, They will reverence my Son, Motels. xxi. 37. they will believe the ineffoge which I fend by him. He bath fpoken unto us by his Son who is the brighttiefs of his glory, and the exprofs image ofhis perfon,' Heb. i. r, 2, 3. 'the confideration hereof is fulhcient to difpel als, that darknefs and confufton, which fear, dread and guilt do bring on the minds of menwhen they are invited to return unto God. That, that God againft whom wehave finned, fhould fpeak unto us and treat with us its ourown nature,' about a return unto himfelf,.is thnutntoft that divine ex-. cellencies
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