2 5 0 The Suferings of Chrifi conlider'd, Vol. II. Wit to comprehend it, and declare it to others ; but Honefty and Integrity of Mind, Zeal and Indu(try to promote it; in which Qualities the Apoftles ex- celYd the Philofophers, and belt Learned Perfons in the World; and provided an Inftrument be fufficient and competent for its End, it matters not how plain and unpoli(h'd it be; for Inftruments are not intended for Ornaments, but for tire. Now the Apoftles of our Saviour, though they were illiterate and unbred, were as competent Witneffesof Matter ofFa &, as any other Perfons : For there is no Wit and Learning required, to relate what a Man hath feen and heard. Nay, the morePimple and plain, the lefs Eloquent and Artificial any Relation is the more likely 'it is to be true, and to gain Belief. Thus you fee, that notwithftanding the feeming Unreafonablenefs and Abfur- dityof the Do&rine of the Gofpel, it is a molt wife and effe&ual Contrivance for the reforming and Pavingof Mankind. But unto them that are called, both Yews and Gentiles, Chrift the Power of God, and the Wifdom ofGod. The proper Inference fromall this is to ftir us up to a thankful Acknowledgment and Admiration of the Witdom and Goodnefs of God, in the Salvation of Men by 7efus Chrifl. We are molt apt to admire that Wifdom which finds out fuch Means to an End, as humaneWifdom would have been leaft apt to devife and hit upon ; and yet the more we confider them, the more we mutt approve their Fitnefs. Such is the Defign of the Recovery and Redemptionof Mankind, by the Death and Sufferings of the Son of God. However it may appear to rafh and inconfiderate Men, who judge fuperficially, and according to the uppermoft Appearances of Things, to be a very unlikely and improbable Defign ; yet upon a through and impartial Examination of Things, we (hall find, that God's Way is the wirer, and that in the Management of this Defign, he hath out- done the uttroit Prudence and Wifdom of Men, and bath ordered Things to infinitely more Advantage than they would have been, in any of thofe Me- thods which the fhort and imperfe& Wifdom of carnal Men would have been molt apt to pitch upon. Ignorant, and conceited, and prejudiced Men, may cenfure it for Folly; but the Angels, more intelligent and difcerning Creatures than we are, and of a deeper Reach, do look upon it with Wonder, and Aflonilhment. So the Apoftle tells us, I Pet. I. I2. where fpeakingof the Gof- pel, he calls it aThingwhich the Angels defi're to look into. An Allufion to the Che- rubims, who looked earneftly upon the Mercy Seat whichwas over the Ark, as if they would pry into it. And then let us acknowledge the infinite Goodnefs of God, in Paving us by the Death and Sufferings of his Son, us vile and miferable Sinners. Had we been the molt innocent and righteous, and the dearth Friends to him in the World, what could he have done more? How could he poffibly have teftified greater Love to us, than to give his Sonto diefor us ? Here is Goodnefs without Bounds, Love without Parallel and Example ; for greater Love than this hath no Man, that a Man fhould lay down his Lifefor his Friend. This is the higheft Pitch that Hu- mane Affet-tion ever attained to, to die for one's Friend: But herein hath God commended his Love to us, that while we were Enemies, he gave his Son to die for us. This is that which we are to commemorate at this Seafon, and by theCom- memoration thereof, to prepare our felves for the receiving of the Bleffed Sa- crament of his Body and Blood, whichwas broken and (bed for us, The Confi. deration whereof, as it (hould excite in usahearty Sorrow and Repentance forSin, fo fhould it alfoinflame us withLove toChrift,who by fuffering fuch Things for ùs, bath laid upon us an eternal Obligation of Love and Obedience to him. The Remembrance of whofe Death (hould not only put us into a prefent Fit and Paillon of Grief and Love, but fhould be the Ground of biting Affe&Rions and Refolutions the Thoughts of what he hath done and fuffered for us, (honld make us ambitious to do or fuller any Thing for him. What fhould not webe willing to part with for him, who did not think his own Life, and his Glory dear to him for our fakes? Did he die for us ? and (hall we think much to live to him ? Dici he becomemiferable for our fakes? and (hall we think much to be- come holy and happy his fakeand for our own ? Such
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