;58 Of COMMUNION with Lion of fin, is the only true and ufeful knowledge of ir. To look upon it, as that which God may exercife or forbear, make his juftice not a pro- perty of his nature, but a free adof his will, and a will to punifh, where one may do otherwife without injuffice, is rather ill-will, than juftice. (a. In the penalty inflifted on Chrift for fin, this juflice is far more glo- rìoufly manifefted than otherwife. To fee indeed a world made (a) good and beautiful, wrapt up in wrath and curies, cloathed with thorns and bri- ars, to fee the Whole beautiful creation, made fubjeft to vanity, given up to the bondage of corruption, to hear it groan in pain under that burthen; to confider legions of angels molt glorious and immortal creatures, caft down into hell, bound with chains of darknefs, and referved for a more dreadful judgment, for one fin; to view the ocean of the blood of fouls fpilt to eternity on this account, will give fome inlight into this thing. But what is all this to that view of it which may be had by a fpiritual eye in the Lord Chrift? all thefe things are worms, and of no value in comparifonof him. To fee him, who is the (b) wifdom of God, and the power of God, always (c) beloved of the father, to fee him Ifay fear, (el) and tremble, and bow, and fweat, and pray, and die; to fee him lifted up upon the crofs, the earth trembling under him, as if unable to bear his weight, and the heavens darkened over him, as if lhtit againft his cry, and himfelf hanging between both, as if refufed by both, and all this be- caufe our fins did (e) meet upon him; this of all things doth moft abun- dantly manifeft the f verity of God's vindiftive juflice. Here, or no where, is it tobe learned. a.) His patience, forbearance, and long-fuffering towards (inners: there are many glimpfes of the patience of God, &m ing out in the works of his providence ; but all exceedingly beneath that difcovery of it, which we have in Chrift, efpecially in thefe three things. (i. The manner of its difcovery; this indeed is evident to all that God doth not ordinarily, immediately punifh men upon their offen- ces; it may he learned from his confiant way in governing the world; notwithflanding all provocations; yet he doth (f) good to men, caufing his fun tofhineupon them, fending them rain and fruitful feafons, filling their hearts with food and gladnefs. Whence it was eafy for eitetn to con- clude, that there was in him abundance of goudnefs and forbearance, but all this is yet inmuch darknefs, being the exurgency of mens reafonings from their obfervations; yea the management of it bath been fuch, as that it bath proved a film almoft univerfally unto them towards whom it horn been exercifed, Ecclef. viii. Is. as well as temptation to them who have looked on, Yobxxi. 7. Pfal. lxxiii. a, 3, 4. &c. Prem. xii. n. Hab. i. 13. the difcovery of it in Chrift, is utterlyof another nature. In him the very nature of God is difcovered to be love and kindnefs, and that he . will exercife the fame to finners, he bath promifed, fworn, and folemnly ingaged himfelf by covenant. And that we may not hefitate about the aim which he bath herein, there is a fiable bottom and foundation of atling fuitably to thofe gracious properties of his nature, held forth, viz. the reconcilation and attonement that is made in the blood of Chrift What ever difcovery were made of the patience. and lenity of God unto us, yet if it were not withal revealed, "that the other properties of God, as his juflice and revenge for fin, had their aftings .alto afligned to them to the full, (a) Gen. tit. 27, 18, r9. c. viii. z r. Rom: Vitt. 21, 22. s Pet,ü. 4, s, 6. e. iii. 6. Jod. vi.7. (3) r Co!. i.3o. (c) Ma, iii. 4. (6) Mat. ',Ltd. 37, 38. Mark. xiv. 33. Lok. xxìi. 43, 44. Heb. v, 7. Mae.laith. 50. Mar,xY. 33, 34 (e) ila lib, 6. (f) Mae v. 45, Ad, xiv. 17, 18, there
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