Serin:CXC. the Ghriflian Revelation: 593. SERMON CXC. TheExcellency andUniverfality oftheChriíítiànRe- velation, with the Sin and Danger ofrejeáing it St. jóù M. 19. And this is the Condemnation, that light iscome into the world ; andmen loved darknefs rather than lights becaufe their deeds were evil. IN difcourfing on thefeWords, I have already confder'd thefirH thing obfervable The secchi in them, viz. The Defcriptionwhich is here given of our Saviour and his Do- sermon in etrine ; they are call'd a Light. Light is come, that is, the Son ofGod, bringing'" Text; the Do&rine and Knowledge ofSalvation to the World ; it being one of the firft" and moil obvious Properties of Light, to difcover and make vifible it felfand other things. That which makes all things manifeH, is Light ; and accordingly I have obferv'd, that the Chriftian Religion bath made a clear difcovery to us of many great and important things, of which the World was either ignorant or doubtful before : and likewife that it brought great Evidencealong with it ofits own Divi- nity, and that it was fromGod. I proceed now to the ferond thing obfervable in the Text, viz. Theuniverfal Influence ofthis Light. Light is come into the world. The Do&rine of the Go- fpel was defigned for the illumination and inftruition, not of one particular place and Nation ; but of the wholeWorld. Thus our Saviour and his Do&rine are defcribed by old Simeon, Luke 2. 30, 3t, 32. For mine eyes have feen thy Salva- tion, which thoubait preparedbefore theface ofallpeople : Alight to lighten the Gen- tiles, and thegloryofthypeople Ifrael. To the Gentiles, who were before indark- nefs, he is faid to beaLight : but to the yews, who had the Light ofDivine Re- velatton infome degree before, he is faid to be aglory, that is, a brighter and more, glorious Light ; A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and theglory ofthy people Ifrael. And John 1. 9. he is called The true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into theWorld, that is, which was fens into the World for the illumination of all Mankind. And John 8. i 2. he fays of himfelf, Z am the Light of the World. Now that the Revelation of the Gofpel by Jefus Christ , was défigned for the whole World, for the Inftru&ion and Comfort and Benefit of all Mankind, Ihhall endeavour tò make out by thefe three flews. I. In that it is very credible, that God would forne time or other make fuck a Revelation of his Will, as might be fufficient to dire& and bring Mankind to Happinefs. II. That before the Revelation of the .Gofpel byJefus Chrifi, no fuck general and univerfal Declaration of God's Will hadbeen made to theWorld. III. That the Revelation of the Gofpel hath all theMarks andChaca&ers ofan Univerfal Revelation, and was certainly by God defigned for that purpofe. I. It is verycredible, that God would fometimeor other, when hisinfinite Wif- dom and Goodnefs fhould think it'moft fit and feafonable, make fuch a Revelation ofhisWill to the World, as might be fufficient to dire& and bring Mankind to Hap- pinefs. The Confideration ofthe Divine Goodnefs, is very apt to induce fuch a perfuafion : for what more reafonable tobelieve concerning God, than that hewho is good to all, andthe common Father of all Mankind, not the Godof theJews only, but.the God ofthe Gentiles alto , (as St. Paul argues to this purpofe, in his Epiftle to the Romans) should force time or other, in pity and compaflìon of the ignorant and degenerate and helplefs condition of Mankind, provide forceUniverfal Remedy, by fuck a general Revelation of his Will, as was everyway fitted and calculated to Gggg be
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