A26796:629
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The Gospel strictly commands Self-denial, when the Honour of God and Religion is concerned. Jesus tells his Disciples, If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, 1and take up his Cross and follow me. Life and all the endearments of it, Estates, Honours, Relations, Pleasures must be put under our feet, to take the first step with our Redeemer. This is absolutely necessary to the being of a Christian. In the preparation of his mind and the resolution of his will, he must live a Martyr, and whensoever ⟨p. 326⟩his duty requires, he must break all the Retinacula Vitae, the voluntary bands that fasten us to the World, and die a Martyr, rather than suffer a divorce to be made between his Heart and Christ. Whatsoever is most esteemed and loved in the world, must be parted with as a snare, if it tempts us from our Obedience; or offered up as a Sacrifice, when the Glory of God calls for it. And this command that appears so hard to sense, is most just and reasonable. For God hath by so many titles a right to us, that we ought to make an entire Dedication of our selves and our most valuable interests to him. Our Redeemer infinitely denied himself to save us, and 'tis most just we should in gratitude deny our selves to serve him. Besides, an infinite advantage redounds to us: for our Saviour assures us, that whosoever will save his life when 'tis inconsistent with the performance of his duty, 2shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for his sake, shall find it. Now what is more prudent, than of two evils that are propounded to choose the least? that is, Temporal Death, rather than Eternal; and of two goods that are offered to our choice, to prefer the greater, a Life in Heaven, before that on the Earth. Especially if we consider that we must shortly yield the present life to the infirmities of Nature, and 'tis the richest traffic to exchange that which is frail and mortal, for that which remains in its perfection for ever.
2. The Gospel strictly commands Self-denial, when the Honor of God and Religion is concern'd. Jesus tells his Disciples, If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, 1