A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

God's Gifts are like himself, suitable to his infinite Mercy, and eternal Duration; how likely is it, that God will once show himself like himself! And they are suitable to the Merit of Christ: Is God at such expense for Trifles? The Comforts of this World may be bought with Gold and Silver; but the Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, &c. but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish, and without spot. Why would God give so great a Price out of his own Treasury, but to take a Debt upon himself, and to oblige his Justice to be our Friend? If Christ can be in the Womb, and in the Grave, why may not we be in Heaven? It is more credible to believe that a Creature should be in Heaven, than a God should be in the Grave: and Christ's Abasement (which is first) is more than our Advancement. There is not so great a distance between us and Happiness, as between Christ and Misery. Men naturally being made capable of an higher Condition of Mind and Affections, to love and know God, Godliness must have a better Recompense than is to be had in the World. These are but the Offals of Providence enjoyed by God's Enemies, they have the greatest Share; Psal. 17.14. From Men of the World, which have their Portion in this Life. The wiser Men are, the more they contemn these things: Children are taken with Rattles. Grace cannot be satisfied with the World, without an higher Enjoyment of God. Pleasures are common to us with the Beasts; wicked Men flow in Ease and Plenty. A Reward there must be; it is impossible a Creature should rest in its own Action. We see that natural Actions that tend to maintain Life, have a Sweetness and Pleasure mingled with them, that we may not neglect them, or our own Preservation, as Eating and Drinking, and the like. Therefore virtuous Actions, much more such as are against the hair and bent of Nature, must have a Reward, a Reward better than the Work, or else it would be lost Labour. There is a disposition and instinct of Nature towards Eternal Happiness: Man's Soul, like a Sponge, is thirsty, and seeketh to be satisfied; Psal. 4.6. Who will show us any Good? And every Good will not serve their turn. Men at first take up with the Creature, because it is next at hand, but it satisfieth not; their Sore runneth till they come to enjoy God: