2dly. Declarative Glory, that consists in the Operation and Influence of God's Perfections, and in the humble and thankful Adoration of them by intelligent Creatures. Some Divine Attributes are more eminently the Glory of God: as they are more declarative of his Perfections, and more sensibly and powerfully affect the Minds and Hearts of Men. In this respect Mercy, as 'tis the most benign and comfortable, so 'tis the brightest Light in all the Constellation of ⟨p. 332⟩the Divine Attributes; 'tis our Happiness we are under it Aspects and Influences. The other essential Excellencies of God are regarded as the Qualities of our Sovereign infinitely above us, with most humble Fear and respectful Admiration: But his Mercy represents him as our Father and Friend, and engages our Affections entirely to him. When Moses desired to see God's Glory, he told him, his Goodness should pass before him. Now Mercy is the most excellent Degree of Goodness. 'Tis Goodness primarily excited and active from it self, and takes occasion from the Misery of the Creature to be beneficent. 'Tis observable, when he was proclaimed in his glorious Titles, The Lord, the Lord God, Merciful and Gracious; next to the Deity, Mercy is placed as his dearest Attribute: and of the thirteen Titles of Honour attributed to him, nine belong to Mercy, to ⟨p. 333⟩signify the advantage it has above Justice. Mercy is his peculiar Treasure: 'tis said he is rich in Mercy, not in Possessions, tho the Earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof: his Riches are not without himself, but in his own Perfections. Now 'tis the great Design of God to glorify this Attribute in the Salvation of the Lost and Miserable. Adam had sufficient Grace to stand, but was free to fall, and by the Fraud of Satan joined with his own Folly, was seduced from his Duty, and involved himself and all his Progeny in utter Ruin. It was very becoming God that his Enemy should not obtain his End, that Mankind should not be the eternal Trophy of the Tempter, and so noble a part of the Creation be as it were abolished for ever. From hence the Mercy of God took its Rise, and most apparently and eminently declared it self, in sending his Son the ⟨p. 334⟩Heir of his Love and Glory, to be the Redeemer and Ransom of the Lost and Miserable.
2dly. Declarative Glory, that consists in the Operation and Influence of God's Perfections, and in the humble and thankful Adoration of them by intelligent Creatures. Some Divine Attributes are more eminently the Glory of God: as they are more declarative of his Perfections, and more sensibly and powerfully affect the Minds and Hearts of Men. In this respect Mercy, as 'tis the most benign and comfortable, so 'tis the brightest Light in all the Constellation of ⟨p. 332⟩the Divine Attributes; 'tis our Happiness we are under it Aspects and Influences. The other essential Excellencies of God are regarded as the Qualities of our Soveraign infinitely above us, with most humble Fear and respectful Admiration: But his Mercy represents him as our Father and Friend, and engages our Affections entirely to him. When Moses desir'd to see God's Glory, he told him, his Goodness should pass before him. Now Mercy is the most excellent Degree of Goodness. 'Tis Goodness primarily excited and active from it self, and takes occasion from the Misery of the Creature to be beneficent. 'Tis observable, when he was proclaimed in his glorious Titles, The Lord, the Lord God, Merciful and Gracious; next to the Deity, Mercy is plac'd as his dearest Attribute: and of the thirteen Titles of Honour attributed to him, nine belong to Mercy, to ⟨p. 333⟩signify the advantage it has above Justice. Mercy is his peculiar Treasure: 'tis said he is rich in Mercy, not in Possessions, tho the Earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: his Riches are not without himself, but in his own Perfections. Now 'tis the great Design of God to glorify this Attribute in the Salvation of the Lost and Miserable. Adam had sufficient Grace to stand, but was free to fall, and by the Fraud of Satan join'd with his own Folly, was seduc'd from his Duty, and involv'd himself and all his Progeny in utter Ruin. It was very becoming God that his Enemy should not obtain his End, that Mankind should not be the eternal Trophy of the Tempter, and so noble a part of the Creation be as it were abolish'd for ever. From hence the Mercy of God took its Rise, and most apparently and eminently declar'd it self, in sending his Son the ⟨p. 334⟩Heir of his Love and Glory, to be the Redeemer and Ransom of the Lost and Miserable.
