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

2. Because of Christ's Purchase, they are bought at a dear Price; 1 Pet. 2.9. A purchased People, that is the marginal Reading. The Saints are valued, not from themselves so much as in Christ; he hath put Honour upon us, as Adam put a Disgrace upon us: Adam sold us for a Trifle, but Christ did not redeem us at so cheap a Rate; Ye are redeemed not with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, &c. but with the precious Blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. We prize that which cost dear; Christ was given in Ransom for us, therefore doth God prize us.

3. Because they are Vessels of the Spirit's forming. God delighted in all his Creatures, they were all good, the Product of the Spirit's Incubation; Gen. 1.2. The Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the Water. But much more doth he delight in the new Creature, his Workmanship in Christ, Eph. 2.10. Partly because there is more goes to form the new Creature than the old; and partly because their Being is more noble than the Beings of all other Creatures in this lower World.

(1.) There is more goes to form them; there is discovered more Wisdom, more Power, more Goodness: The new Creature discovers more of his Power than the old. It was a wonderful thing the making of the World, and disposing of the Creatures into so many several Forms and Ranks, a mighty Effect of God's Power: but as there was no Help, so there was no Let or Hindrance; nothing to oppose God's Work, as nothing to facilitate it. But when God comes to frame a new Creature, there's a Spirit of Rebellion and Opposition. Then more of his Wisdom: The Gospel is a better Theatre whereupon to see God than the World. In the World there is much of his Wisdom, but much more in the Mystery of Grace, and in all his Transactions to bring Man to a purified State; therefore here's his special Delight. Then for his Mercy, Goodness and Love. A great deal of Love God showed in making Angels out of nothing, but in some Sense there is more Love