29$ Of COMMUNZoN with to, Heb. v. 7, 8. A life of prayers, tears, fears, obedience, fuffering, and all this with chearfulnefs and delight, calling his employment his meat and drink, and hill profeffing that the law of this obedience waa in his (a) heart that he was content to do this will of God. He that will finely (b) revenge the leaft oppofrtion, that is or shallbe made to him by others, was content to undergo any thing all things for believers. (4.) He flays not here, but for the confummation of all that went be- fore, for their fakes he becomes obedient to death, the death of the crofs, fo he profeffeth to his father, `doh. xvii. 19. For their fakes Ilanaifie my felt; I dedicate my felf as an jering, as a facrifice to be killed and (lain. This was his aim in all the former, that he might die. He was born and lived that he might die. He valued then above his life. And if we might flay to confider a little what was in this death, that he underwent for them, we fhould perceivewhat a price indeed he put upon them. The (e) curfe of the law was in it, the (d) wrath of God was in it, the lofs of Gods (e) prefence was in it. It was a (f) fearful cup that he tabled of, and drank of, that theymight never tafte of it. A man would not for ten thoufand worldsbe willing to undergo, Quilt which eilt underwent for us in that one thing of defertion from God, were it attended with no more diftrefs, but what a mere creature might poffibly emerge from under. And what thoughts we fhould have of this, himfelf tells us; job. xv. 13. Greater love bath none than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. It is impoffible there fhould beany greater demonftration or evidence bf love than this; what can any one do more? And yet he tells us in another place, that it hath another aggravation and heightning, Rom. v. 8. God commendeth bis love to us, in that whilß wewereyet!inners Chrill diedfor us. When he did this for us we were finners, and enemies whom he mightjuft- ly have deftroyed. What can more be done? to die for us when we were finners? fuch a death, in fuch a manner, with fuch attendances of wrath and curfe; a death accompanied with the work that God had ever threat ned to fonera, argues as high a valuation of us, as the heart of Chrift himfelf was capable of. For one to part with his glory, his riches, his cafe, his life, his love from God, to undergo lofs, (ha:ne, wrath, curfe, death for another, is an evidence of a dear valuation, and that it was all on this account we are informed, Heb. xii. 2. Certainly Cheift had a dear efteemof them, that rather than they fhould perifh that they fhould not be his, and be made partakers of his glory, he would part with all hehad for their fakes, Epbef. v. 25. 26. There wouldbe no end fhould Igo through all the inftances of Chrift's valuation of believers in all their deliverances, affli&ions, in all conditions of finning and fuffering, what be hath done, what he doth in his interceffron, what he delivers them from, what he pro- cures for them; all telling out this one thing, they are the apikle of his eye, his jewel, his diadem, his crown. 2. In comparifon of others. All the world is nothing to him in compa- rifon of them. They are his garden; the reft of the world a wildernefs, Cant. iv. a2. A garden inclofed is my filler, my fpoufe, afpring fout up, a fountain fealed. They are his inheritance, the refi, his enemies of no re- gard with him. So Ifa. xliii. 3, 4. Iam the Lord thy God, the holy one of ¡tract, thy faviour ; I gave Egypt for thy ranfom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee; fine thou wall (g) precious in myfight, thou hail been honourable and I have loved thee, therefore will Igive men for thee, andpeople for thy life. (a) Heb. x.7 8. (6) Heb. ii. u. r4, r9. (e1 Gat. iii. ry (d) t Cor. v. zr. (e) Mat. xss. (f) Mat. xxri 39. (g) Amorem ilium non it ralgarem ottcndir, duns nosp etiofos efie dciy colt. ;n lie. The
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