144 An Expofition upon S I L. That a mans life is a deare and precious thing : for feeing fo few are tound,that will give their life for righ- teous men ; this fheweth that men hold their lives in very great account. Ti M. What doth this put us in mind of ? S I L. Surely of thus much, that the charity ofthe heft men is faint and faul- ty, becaufe the Apoftle knew none whole love had carried them fo farre, as to dye for their brethren, whereas we ought to doe, t lohn 3.16, T 1 M. Canye tell us of none that have adventured their live, for others fake? S t L. Yea, the Apofle Paul, as hee witneffeth of hirnfelfe, a Corinth. 12.13. alío Aquila and Prifcilla, Rom. 16.4. and the Martyrs. This was great cha- rity, but yet not to be compared with the charity of Chrift, which he (hewed towards us. TIM. One would thinke that it did rather excede his love, for it sr a greater matter for a meere man to dye, then for him that is more this a man: Chrift could take up his life againe, and fo could not o- ther men refs-vine theirs? SI L. The charity of Chrift yet! far exceedeth that other: for firlt, Chrift is of more dignity by farre then any man,therfore his lifeby far more worth then ours. Secondly, the love towards linners is farre more, then that love which is towards good men ; for this is free from all felfe-refpe&, and therefore is the more pure love. TIM. What infiruEl ions gather ye from hence? S I L. That the love ofChrilt to his Church, far furmounteth all the love of all men towards men. T I ».What rife is to be made of this bis fengular love? S I L. Firft, it ferveth for confirma- don, that he will not cat+ out and con- demne fuch as he hash thus loved, as verfe t o. Secondly, it ferveth for imita- tion, for ifChrift fo loved us, weought alfo to love one another, lobs 15.12. I Iobn 3,16, This is the marke we muft aime at,and wherein we come (hors, we ought to be lorry and amend. Chapa. T t Nt. But when the Apoflle faith, Chrift died for us while we were yet finners: bath his death brought this to paffè, that we are nom no more finners? S I L. After wee beleeve that Chrift dyed for us, and are regenerate by his Spirit,we have finne ffill,but ice are not any longer to be called linners; becaufe that now our limes by forgiveneffe is blotted out, and that which remaineth hill in our nature raigneth not, and the denomination ofa perfon or thing,is e- ver from that which is more excellent and worthy. But here the Apofrle mea- neth by linners, loch as be tinder the guilt and dominion of finne, as all men are bef ore faith. T I What could God fee in ut then to move him to love us ? S I L. Firft, he law in us his owne creation,which he loved with agenerall love, as hee Both all the workes of his hands. Secondly, he law in us 'flinch mifery through finne, and this made him love us with a pitiful' love. Third- ly, he loved his ele& being yet finners, in that he purpofed in himfaife to call and juflifie themin due time. And now laftly,having graffed his cleft in his Son by faith,and juftified them, bee loveth them a&ually,having let his own image in them. T I M. T ou bold then that there are fcve- rall degrees of Gods love, even towards his eletl ? S r L. There bee fo, for hee cannot love his cleft with that degree and kind of love when they are finners,as he doth after they are now in his Sonne juftified and fanfificd: for now finne which bred hatred and enmity, is de- faced and caft out by remilfion ; and holinefle which God loveth, imprin- ted in them, and brought in by reno- vation. DIALOGUE VIII. Verfe 9,i0. Much more then being juflifsed by his blood, wee (hall bee faved from wrath through him. For if when we were ene- mies, we were reconciled ea God, by the death
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