586 TheExcellency andUniverfalityof Vol, II, S E R M O N CLXXXIX. The ExcellencyandUniverfality ofthe ChrifiianRe- velation, with the Sin and Danger of rejeding it. JOHN III. ig: And this is theCondemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darknefs rather than light, becaufe their deeds were evil. The Ferft / T the 16th Verfe of this Chapter our Saviour declares to Nicodemur (who Sermon on 1 1 was already convinc'd by his Miracles, that he was a teacher comefromGod,) this Text. the greatlove and goodnefs' of God to Mankind in fending him into the World , to be the Saviour of it, God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perifh, but have everlafling Life. Con- fidering the great Wickednefs of Mankind, it might juftly have been feared and expe&ed, that God fhould have fent hisSon into the world upon a different Errand, to have punifht the Wickednefs of Men, and to have deftroyed them from off the face of the earth ; but he tells us at the 17thVerfe, that God Pent not his fon into the world to condemn the world, but that through him the world might be faved and that the only way to avoid this Condemnation, and to obtain that Salvation whichGod defigned for us, is to believe onhim, whomGodhathPent: Verfe 18. He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but be that believeth not, is condemned al- ready, becaufe he bath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son ofGod. He is condemned by this very a& of reje&ing the Son of God, becaufe he reje&s the only way whereby Salvation is to be had : and to aggravate, the Condemnation of fuch perfons, our Saviour here in theText reprefents himfelf and his Do&rine, as . a light come into the world, on purpofe to difcover to us our finfuI and miferable Condition , and the way of our Recovery out of it , and Salvation from it ; and thofe that believe not on him, who do not entertain and welcome this clear and gracious difçovery of God's love and goodnefs to . Mankind , as doing the abfurdeft thing imaginable, andmaking the molt prepoflerous Choice, preferring darknefs before light ; This is is the condemnation, that light is come into the world , and men loved darknefs rather than light, becaufe their deeds were evil. In which words there are thefe Six things obfervable. Firft, The Defcription which is here given of our. Saviour and his Do&rine, they are celled a light. Light is come, that is, the Son ofGod preaching the Do- &rine of Life and Salvation to Merl. Secondly, The univerfal influence of this light, light is come into the world. It is defign'd forIllumination and Inftru&ion, not only of a particular place and Na- tion, but of a whole World. Thirdly, The Excellency and Advantages of this Do&rine above any other Do- &rive or Inftitution, even that of the 7eivifh Religion, which was likewife immedi- ately from God ; they are all but darknefs in comparifon of it, Light is come into the world, and men loved darknefs rather than light. Fourthly, The Abfurdity and Unreafonablenefs of reje&ing the Do&rine of the Gofpel 5 'tisa preferring darknefs before light, men loved darknefs rather than light; that is, they chofe rather to continue in their former ignorance, than to-entertain this clear and molt perfe&Difcovery of God's Will to Mankind. Fifthly, The true Reafon and Account of this abfurd Choice, men loved darknefs rather than light, becaufe their deeds were evil. Sixthly
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