The Subject of the ensuing Discourses is of that inestimable excellency and importance, that it deserves our deepest reflections, and care to consider and apply it: 'Tis the great Mystery of Godliness, the design of Eternal Wisdom, the chiefest of all Gods Works, that contains the Glorious Wonders of his Mercy and Power, wherein he renders himself most worthy of our Supreme Veneration and Affection. Our most raised Thoughts are ⟨image 3⟩infinitely beneath its Dignity. Although the Light of the Gospel hath clearly revealed so much of it as is requisite to be known in our earthly state, yet the sublimer parts are still secret, and reserved for a full discovery by the brightness of our Saviour's Appearance. Now if the Excellency of things excites our Spirits to be attentive in searching into their nature, this Divine Object should awaken all our Powers, and arrest our Minds, in the serious steady contemplation of it, being alone capable to satisfy their immortal appetite. The Importance of it is correspondent to its excellency: for 'tis no less than the recovery of us from extreme and eternal misery, and the Restoring of us to the enjoyment of the Blessed God, a felicity without comparison or end. If we have any regard to ⟨image 3⟩Salvation, (and who would be so unhappy as to neglect it for unconcerning frivolous Vanities) it will be delightful to know the means by which we may obtain it; and to employ the flying moments of our short time in those things that are profitable for our last End, that we may not lose Temporal and Eternal Life together.
THe Subject of the ensuing Discourses is of that inestimable excellency and importance, that it deserves our deepest reflections, and care to consider and apply it: 'Tis the great Mystery of Godliness, the design of Eternal Wisdom, the chiefest of all Gods Works, that contains the Glorious Wonders of his Mercy and Power, wherein he renders himself most worthy of our Supreme Veneration and Affection. Our most raised Thoughts are ⟨image 3⟩infinitely beneath its Dignity. Although the Light of the Gospel hath clearly reveal'd so much of it as is requisit to be known in our earthly state, yet the sublimer parts are still secret, and reserv'd for a full discovery by the brightness of our Saviour's Appearance. Now if the Excellency of things excites our Spirits to be attentive in searching into their nature, this Divine Object should awaken all our Powers, and arrest our Minds, in the serious steady contemplation of it, being alone capable to satisfy their immortal appetite. The Importance of it is correspondent to its excellency: for 'tis no less than the recovery of us from extream and eternal misery, and the Restoring of us to the enjoyment of the Blessed God, a felicity without comparison or end. If we have any regard to ⟨image 3⟩Salvation, (and who would be so unhappy as to neglect it for unconcerning frivolous Vanities) it will be delightful to know the means by which we may obtain it; and to employ the flying moments of our short time in those things that are profitable for our last End, that we may not lose Temporal and Eternal Life together.
