212 THE SCALE OF EL$.SSSDAÉS9. [SEEM, Rrr,. rash champions, those rude and bloody ministers* of providence ? Or can we think that St. Paul, the great- est of the apostles, who laboured more than they, all, and was in sufferings more abundant than the rest; who spent a long life in daily services and deaths for the sake of Christ, is not fitted for, and advanced to a rank of blessedness superior to that of the crucified thief; who became a christian but a few moments, at the end of a life of impiety and plunder ? Can I persuade myself; that a holy man, who has known much of God in this world, and spent his age on earth in contemplation of the divine excellencies, who has acquired a great degree of nearness to God in devotion, and has served him, and suffered for him, even to old age and martyrdom, with a sprightly and faithful zeal: can I believe that this, man, who has been trained up all his life to converse with God, and is fitted to receive divine communications above his fellows, shall dwell no nearer to -God here- after, and share no larger a degree of blessedness, than the little babe whojust entered into this world to die out of it, and who is saved, so far as we know, merely -by the spreading veil of the covenant of grace, drawn over it by the hand of the parent's faith? Can it be, that the great judge who cometh, and his reward is with him, to render to every one according to his works, will make no distinction between Moses and Sampson, between the apostle and the thief; between the aged martyr and the infant, in the world to come ? And"yet after all it may be matter ofenquiry, whether the meanest saint among the sons of Adam, has not soné sort of privilege above any rank ofangels, by being of a kindred-nature to our Emmanuel, to Jesus the Son of God ? But this leads me to 'the Fourth degree of BLESSEDNESS. IV. Let us stand still again, ,and wonder yet more at * These expressions may be sufficiently justified, if we consider Jep- thah's rash vow of sacrifice, which fell upon his only child; and'Samp- soh's rude or unbecoming conduct in his amours with the Philistinewoman Timnah, the harlot at Gaza, and his Delilah at Sorek, his bloody quarrels, and his manner of life: The learned and pious Dr. Owen, as f have been often informed by his intimate friend Sir John Hartopp, called him arude believer. Ile might have a strong faith of Miracles; lieb. xi. 32. but a small share of that faithwhich purifies theheart.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=