each PERSON di/finaly. 299 The reafon of this dealing of Chrift with his church in parting with all others for them, is becaufe he loves her, the is precious and honourable in his fight, thence he puts this great elteem upon her. Indeed he difpof- ethof all nations and their intereft accordingas is for the good of believers, Amos ix. 9. In all the ffftnings of the nations, the eye of God is upon the häufe of Ifrael, not a grain of.thein (hall perifh. Look to heaven, angels are appointed to mini/ler for them, Heb.-i. 14. Look into the world ; the nations in general are either (a) bleffed for their fakes, or (b) deftroyed on their account ; preferved to try them, or rejelted for their cruelty towards them, and will receive from Chrift their (c) final doom according to their deportment towards thefe defpifed ones, on this account are the pillars of the earth born up, and patience is exercifed towards the perithing world. In a word there is not the meaneft, the weakeft, the pooreft believer on the `earth, but Chrift prizeth him more than all the world betides; were our hearts filled much with thoughts hereof, it would tend much to our con- Nation. To anfwer this, believers alto value Jefus Chrift; they have an efteem of him above all the world, and all things in the world. You have been in part acquainted with this before, in the account that was given of their delight in him, and enquiry after him. They fay of him in their hearts continually as David, Whom have I in heaven but thee, and whom in earth that I defzre bef:des thee, Pfal. lxxiii. 35. Neither heaven nor earth will yield them an objeft any way comparable to him, that they can de- light in. I. They value him above all other thingsand perlons, Mallem, faid one (d), mere cumChriflo, quam regnare cum Coefare. Pulchra terra, pulcbrum cce- lum,fed pulcherrimusdominus jefa:.- Chrift and a dungeon, Chrift and a crofs is infinitely fweeter than a crown, a fcepter, without him to their fouls. So was it withMofes, Heb. xi. 26. Hm e(leemed the reproach of Chrifl greater riches than the treafures of Egypt. The reproach of Chrift, is the worft confequent that the wickednefs of the world or malice of fatan can bring upon the followers of him. The treafures of Egypt were in thofe days the greateft in the world. Mofes defpifed the very heft of the world, for the worft of the crofs of Chrift. Indeedhimfelf hath told believers, that if they love any thing better than him, father or mother, they are not worthy of him. A defpifing ofall things fer Chrift, is the very firft lef- fon of the gofpel. Give away all, take up the crofs and followme, was the way whereby lae try'd his difciples of old, and if there be not the fame mind and heart in us, we are none ofhis. a. They value him above their lives, Aft. xx. x4. My life is not dear that I may perfef my courfe with joy, and the minifiry Ihave received of the Lord jefus. Let life and all go, fo that I may ferve him, and when all is done,:enjoy him, and be made like to him. It is known what is re- ported of (e) Ignatius when he was led to martyrdom, Let what will, faid he, come upon me, onlyfo Imay obtain jefus Chrifl. Hence they of old rejoiced when whipped, fcourged, put to fhame for his fake, AFf. v. 4e. Heb. xi. all is welcome that comes from him, or for him. The lives they have to live, the death thay have to die, is little, is light upon the thoughts of him, who is the flay of their lives and the end of their death. Were (a) Gen. xii. 3. Mich. v. 7, 8. (6) Ito. xxxiv. 8, 63,4. Ma. Ixxxi,. s6. (e) Match. xxiv. v. 35, 36, 37, 3a. (d,) (e) No, 4,003,0, ¢a,)), .t ,, x t, ,ív00 ,t, ó50µ(000 à3,rrvnñ, 7es TOP 1a¢a, Xeisir :v5p nt', wee),, 90gf¢, ny a¢'ó;s fsa¢c, rì vürMeer d)avn¢c5),, 4 r2s m o0 ws7& oorre.a52, /34. TV .Oßwv sic sµi tAOcri,. iv¢ Ivat, Xç,c,, dsmawan, vrd. itnar, it
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