For Motives.
1. Consider, how thankful Gods ancient People were for Temporal Salvation; what sweet Strains of grateful Hearts appear in those Songs of Praises which we find Recorded usually after any Deliverance. And have we not much more reason to be thankful for Eternal Salvation?
⟨p. 149⟩2. Consider what a comprehensive Blessing Salvation is, and take an Estimate thereof, by comparing it with the Temporal Deliverances of the Israelites: Those proceeded from a Common ordinary Love, these from a Peculiar distinguishing Affection. Their Deliverances were effected, not without the Hazard of of their Persons; our Salvation is Effected only by the Blood of Christ: The Issue of theirs was not much more than Civil Tranquility, sitting under their Vines and Fig trees; the Issue of ours is Grace, Glory, Joy, and those things that Eye has not seen, nor Ear heard, nor have entered into the Heart of Man to conceive.
3. This is the End of all God does in the World, even to Glorify himself; as Rom. 9. in showing the Exceeding Riches of his Grace, in his Kindness towards us through Jesus Christ: Now we have no other way to Glorify him, but by an active affectionate Acknowledgement of his Grace.
4. This is the Employment of glorified Spirits in Heaven, to Praise, Admire and ⟨p. 150⟩Adore this Grace: This is the Subject of those Seraphic Praises. The thoughts of this stupendous Love transports Angels and Men into an eternal Rapture. This is the way to be in Heaven upon Earth, to anticipate Glory, to enter into our Masters Joy before we come at it: Nay, this is the way by which our Masters Joy enters into us. Never are our Souls filled with such Ravishing Pleasures, as when we are taken up with such heavenly Employment. Never do we rise higher above the World, than when these Thoughts wing our Souls: Nay, sometimes they will steal into Heaven, as the Israelites Spies into Canaan, and bring from thence into our Souls, Grapes, and Figs, and Pomegranates, some taste of what we shall fully enjoy in the Land of Promise.
For Motives.
1. Consider, how thankfull Gods ancient People were for Temporal Salvation; what sweet Strains of gratefull Hearts appear in those Songs of Praises which we find Recorded usually after any Deliverance. And have we not much more reason to be thankfull for Eternal Salvation?
⟨p. 149⟩2. Consider what a comprehensive Blessing Salvation is, and take an Estimate thereof, by comparing it with the Temporal Deliverances of the Israelites: Those proceeded from a Common ordinary Love, these from a Peculiar distinguishing Affection. Their Deliverances were effected, not without the Hazard of of their Persons; our Salvation is Effected only by the Blood of Christ: The Issue of theirs was not much more than Civil Tranquility, sitting under their Vines and Figgtrees; the Issue of ours is Grace, Glory, Joy, and those things that Eye has not seen, nor Ear heard, nor have entred into the Heart of Man to conceive.
3. This is the End of all God does in the World, even to Glorifie himself; as Rom. 9. in showing the Exceeding Riches of his Grace, in his Kindness towards us through Jesus Christ: Now we have no other way to Glorifie him, but by an active affectionate Acknowledgment of his Grace.
4. This is the Employment of gloryfied Spirits in Heaven, to Praise, Admire and ⟨p. 150⟩Adore this Grace: This is the Subject of those Seraphick Praises. The thoughts of this stupendious Love transports Angels and Men into an eternal Rapture. This is the way to be in Heaven upon Earth, to anticipate Glory, to enter into our Masters Joy before we come at it: Nay, this is the way by which our Masters Joy enters into us. Never are our Souls filled with such Ravishing Pleasures, as when we are taken up with such heavenly Employment. Never do we rise higher above the World, than when these Thoughts wing our Souls: Nay, sometimes they will steal into Heaven, as the Israelites Spyes into Canaan, and bring from thence into our Souls, Grapes, and Figgs, and Pomgranates, some taste of what we shall fully enjoy in the Land of Promise.
