Senn. LXXXV. in the Redemption of Mankind: 635 (a,.) His Mercy. This Difpenfation is a great Demonftration of the Mercy; and Goodnefs, and Love of God, in fending his Son to die for Sinners, and in Paving au by devoting and facrificing him, John 3. i6. For Godfo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. Rom. g. 8. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that whilewe wereyet Sinners , Chrojl died for us. r John 4. 9, to. In this was manifejled the love of Godtowards us, becaufe Godfent his onlybegotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we lovedGod, but that he lovedau, and fens his Son to k the propitiation for our fins. Now this Reprefentation of God's Mercy and Love which the Gofpel makes, is of great Force and Efficacy to melt our Hearts into love to God. z. The Second Argument to Piety is Fear of Punifhment. The Gofpel hath revealed to us the Mifery of thole who continue in their Sin ; it hath made clear and terrible Difcoveries of thofeTorments which attend Sinners in another World, and hath open'd to us theTreafures of God's Wrath ; fo that now under the Go- fpel, hell is nakedbefore us, and defirutlion bath no covering; and this is one thing which makes the Gofpel fo powerful an Engine to deftroy fin, Rom. a. e6, r8. the Gofpel is the power ofGod untofalvation ; for therein is the wrath of Godrevealed from heaven againfl all ungodlinefs, andunri hteoufnefs of men. 3. Hopes of Pardon and Reward. And this , added to the former, renders the Gofpel the moft powerful Inftrument to take Men off from Sin , and engage them to Holinefs, that can be imagin'd. The Means to draw Men from Sin, when they are once awaken'd with the fear of Vengeance, is hopes of Pardon and Mercy ; and the way to encourage Obedience for the future, is Hopeof Re- ward. Now as an Argument to us to retreat and draw back from Sin, the Go- fpel promifes Pardon and Indemnity to us ; and as an incitement to Holinefs, the Gofpel opens Heaven to us, and fets before us everlafting Glory and Happinefs, and gives us the greateft affurance of it. This is the Firfl, TheDefign of the Gofpel is reafonable, in that it does emi- nently and direály ferve the ends of Piety and Religion. II. This Difpenfation ofGod is beneficialto us, and fatisfies our Intereft ; and thisadds to the Unreafonablenefs of our Unbelief,this Defign of God beingnot on- ly reafnable in itPelf, but deferable to us, that it fhould be fo ; becaufe of the emi- nent Advantages that redound to us by it. The Defign of the Gofpel is to de- liver from the Guilt and Dominion of Sin, and the Tyranny of Satan; to reftore us to the Image and Favour ofGod ; and by making us partakers of a Divine Na- ture, to bring us to Eternal Life. And is there any thingof real Advantagewhich is not comprehended in this? Is it not deferable to every Man, that there fhould be a way whereby our guilty Confciences may be quieted and appealed ; whereby we maybe delivered from the Fear of Death and Hell ? Is it not defirable tobe freed from the Slaveryof our Lufts, and refcued from the Tyranny and Power of the great Deftroyer of Souls? Is it not defirable to be like God, and tobe af- fured of his Love and Favour, who is the belt Friend , and the molt dangerous Enemy ; and to be fecur'd, that when we leave this World, we fhall be unfpeak- ably Happy for ever ? Now the Gofpel conveys thefe Benefits to us ; and if this be the Cafe of the Gofpel, and there be nothing in this Defign of our Redempti- on, but what is Wife and Reafonable, and exceedingly for our Benefit and Advan- tage ; why fhould any Man be fo averle to the Belief of it ? Why fhould Unbe- lief be counted a Piece of Wit? Is it Wit to Pet our felves againft Reafon, and to oppofe our belt Intereft ? 'Tis Wickednefs, and Prejudice, and Inconfideratenefs which disbelieves the Gofpel. Thofe who do confider Things, welcome this good News, and embrace thefe glad Tidings. Wifdom is fullifred of her Children, To them who are truly fenfible of their own Intereft, and willing to accept of rea- fonable Evidence, this is not only a true faying, but worthy of all acceptation; that Chriji came into the Worldto Pavefanners. Secondly, This doth convince Men of the Madnefs and Folly of Impenitency. Now the Wifdom of God bath contriv'd fuch a way of our Recovery, and by the Declaration of God's Wrath, and Difpleafure againft Sin, hath given us filch Arguments to Repentance, and bydifcovering a wayof Pardon andMercy, hath N n n n z given
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