yet in the midst of all their prosperity, they move to that Hell which is the centre of their iniquity. The good are sinners, and so have some afflictions to purge out the relics of sin; yet in the midst of their troubles they pass on to that Heaven which is the centre of their sanctity. If the wicked should have nothing but adversity, it would look as if there were no judgment to come, no after-reckoning for their iniquity. If the good should have nothing but prosperity, it would seem to hint, as if their reward were only here; as if there were no such things as Heaven and Life-eternal reserved for them. The wicked prosper that we might not set too high a rate or value upon those outward things, which the vilest and basest of men enjoy. The good are afflicted, that the Crowns and Recompenses of Holiness might appear to lye, not in this vale of tears, but in that Region where there is perfect blessedness. But, pretermitting all these, we have an eminent solution of this scruple in our Lord Christ; What an excellent one was he? ⟨p. 189⟩What a pure innocent lamb! how meek, humble, holy, harmless, merciful, zealous, heavenly, obedient, patient was he! how fair and lovely in all Graces was he? what a divine light and lustre did his Virtues cast forth into the World! how attractive and ravishing were the Perfections shining out in him! What Sermons did he preach! What Cures did he do! What was his life but a continual doing of good! Who, where is the man that ever was so profitable to Mankind, or so obliged the World as he did! And yet how was he used! What entertainment did he meet withal here! He was despised, rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with griefs; extreme poor, not having where to lay his head: at last he was arraigned, falsely accused, unjustly condemned, spit upon, buffeted, mocked, nailed to a tormenting Cross, there to breathe out his last. Never did Innocency so suffer as here, and yet never did Providence show it self in such glory, in and by the sufferings of this Holy One; the great work of Redemption was accomplished; his Stripes were healing ones; his Blood a laver to wash sinners; his Cross was a triumphant conquest over Death and Hell; his Sacrifice made a perfect atonement; his Sufferings answered for the sin and suffering of a World. His sorrows made way for good tidings; his shame procured glory for us;
yet in the midst of all their prosperity, they move to that Hell which is the center of their iniquity. The good are sinners, and so have some afflictions to purge out the reliques of sin; yet in the midst of their troubles they pass on to that Heaven which is the center of their fanctity. If the wicked should have nothing but adversity, it would look as if there were no judgment to come, no after-reckoning for their iniquity. If the good should have nothing but prosperity, it would seem to hint, as if their reward were only here; as if there were no such things as Heaven and Life-eternal reserved for them. The wicked prosper that we might not set too high a rate or value upon those outward things, which the vilest and basest of men enjoy. The good are afflicted, that the Crowns and Recompences of Holiness might appear to lye, not in this vale of tears, but in that Region where there is perfect blessedness. But, pretermitting all these, we have an eminent solution of this scruple in our Lord Christ; What an excellent one was he? ⟨p. 189⟩What a pure innocent lamb! how meek, humble, holy, harmless, merciful, zealous, heavenly, obedient, patient was he! how fair and lovely in all Graces was he? what a divine light and lustre did his Virtues cast forth into the World! how attractive and ravishing were the Perfections shining out in him! What Sermons did he preach! What Cures did he do! What was his life but a continual doing of good! Who, where is the man that ever was so profitable to Mankind, or so obliged the World as he did! And yet how was he used! What entertainment did he meet withal here! He was despised, rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with griefs; extreme poor, not having where to lay his head: at last he was arraigned, falsly accused, unjustly condemned, spit upon, buffeted, mocked, nailed to a tormenting Cross, there to breathe out his last. Never did Innocency so suffer as here, and yet never did Providence shew it self in such glory, in and by the sufferings of this Holy One; the great work of Redemption was accomplished; his Stripes were healing ones; his Blood a laver to wash sinners; his Cross was a triumphant conquest over Death and Hell; his Sacrifice made a perfect atonement; his Sufferings answered for the sin and suffering of a World. His sorrows made way for good tydings; his shame procured glory for us;
