Serm. XXXI, in the Incarnation of ChriJt. 2 2 5 2. Let us confider how much this Glorious and Excellent Perfon was abated in order to the effe&ing and accomplifhing of this Defign, which is here expreft, by fending him into the World ; . and this comprehends his Incarnation with all the mean and abating Circnmftances of it. This the Apoftle declares fully to us, Phil. 2. 6; 7. tho' he was in the Form of God, ( that is, truly and really God) yet he made himfelf of no Reputation, faul:v ee4V sae, he empty'd himfelf, was con- tented to be ftrangely leffen'd and diminifh'd, and took upon him the Form of a Servant, or Slave, and was made in the likenefs of Men; that is, did really af- fume Humane Nature. Here was an Abatement indeed, for God to become Man, for the only-begotten Sonof God to take upon him the Form of a Servant, and to become obedient to Death, even the Death of the Croft, which was the Death of Slaves, and famous Malefa&ours. Here was Love indeed, that God was willing that his own dear Son fhould be thus obfcured and diminifhed, and become fo mean and fo miferable for our fakes ; that he fhould not only ftoop to k made Man, and to dwell among us, but that he fhould likewife fubmit to the Infirmities of our Nature, and to be made in all things like unto us, Sin only excepted ; that he fhould be contented to bear fo many Affronts and Indigni- ties from perverfe and unthankful Men, and to endure fuch Contraditlionof Sin- ners again/l himfelf; that he who was the Brightnefs of his Father's Glory, fhould be defpifedand rejehiedof Men, a Man of Sorrows, and,acquainted with Griefs, and rather than we ihould perifh, fhould put himfelf into our Place, and be con- tented to fuffer and die for us ; and that God fhould be willing that all this fhould be done to his only Son, to faveSinners. What greater Teftimony could he give of his Love to us ! 3. Let us confider farther to whom he was fent, which is alto implyed in thefe Words, hePent his Son into the World ; into a wicked World, that was altogether unworthy of him ; and an Ungrateful World, that did molt unworthily ufe him. Firft, Into a Wicked World, that was altogether unworthy of him, that had deferved no fuch Kindnefs at his Hands. For what were we, that God fhould fend fuch a Perlon amongft us, that he fhould make his Son ftoop fo low, as to dwell in our Nature, and to become one of us ? We were Rebels and Enemies, Enemies to God by evil Works, up in Arms againft Heaven, and at open Defiance with God our Maker. When the World was in this Pofture of Enmity and Ho- ftility againft God ; then he fent his Son to treat with us, and to offer us Peace. What can more commend the Love of God, than this, that he fhould Phew fuch Kindnefs to us, when we were Sinners and Enemies ! Herein God bath commend- ed his Love totoards us; (fays the Apoftle, Rom. g. 8.) in ,that wbi we were yet Sinners, Chrift diedfor us. Secondly, Into an 'Ungrateful World, that did moft unworthily tile him, that gave no becoming Entertainment to him ( the Foxes had Holes, and the Birds of the Air hadNefls ; but the Son of Man had not where to lay his Head) that heap- ed all manner of Contumelies and Indignities upon him, that . perfecuted him all his Life, and at lait put him to a molt painful and fhameful Death ;, in a word, that was fo far from receiving him as the Son ofGod, that they did not treat him with common Humanity, and like one of theSons ofmen. 4. He did all this voluntarily and freely ; God felt his Son into the World, me- ro motu, of his own meer Grace and Goodnefs, moved by nothing but his own Bowels, and the Confideration of our Mifery ; not overpowered by any Force ; ( for what could offer Violence to him towhom all Power belongs ?) not conftrain'd by any Neceffity , for he had been Happy , tho' we had remained for ever Miferable ; he might have chofen other Objelts of his Love and Pity , and have left us involved in that Mifery, which we had wilfully brought upon our felves. Nor was he prevail'd upon by any Application from us, or importunity of ours to do this for us. Had we been left to have contrived the way of our Recovery; this which God bath done for us, could never have entered into the Heart of Man to have imagiu'd, much lefs to have defir''d it at his Hands. Gg If
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