Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

If we suppose that not only higher Degrees of Glory in Heaven, but Heaven it self, is in some Respect given in Reward for the Holiness, and good Works of the Saints, in this secondary and derivative Sense, it won't prejudice the Doctrine we have maintained 'Tis no Way impossible that God may bestow Heaven's Glory wholly out of Respect to Christ's Righteousness, and yet in Reward for Man's inherent Holiness, in different Respects, and different Ways It may be only Christ's Righteousness, that God has respect to, for its own Sake, the independent Acceptableness, and Dignity of it being sufficient of it self, to recommend all that believe in Christ, to a Title to this Glory; and so it may be only by this that Persons enter into a Title to Heaven, or have their prime Right to it: And yet God may also have Respect to the Saints own Holiness, for Christ's Sake, and as deriving a Value from Christ's Merit, which he may testify in bestowing Heaven upon them. The Saints being beheld as Members of Christ, their Obedience is looked upon by God, as something of Christ's, it being the Obedience of the Members of Christ; as the Sufferings of the Members of Christ, are looked upon, in some Respect, as the Sufferings of Christ. Hence the Apostle speaking of his Sufferings, says Col 1. 24. Who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh. To the same Purpose is Matth 25. 35, &c. I was an hungered, naked, sick, and in Prison, &c. And so that in Rev. 11. 8. And their dead Bodies shall lie in the Street of the great City, which spiritually is called Sodom, and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

If we suppose that not only higher Degrees of Glory in Heaven, but Heaven it self, is in some Respect given in Reward for the Holiness, and good Works of the Saints, in this secondary and derivative Sense, it won't prejudice the Doctrine we have maintain'd 'Tis no Way impossible that God may bestow Heaven's Glory wholly out of Respect to Christ's Righteousness, and yet in Reward for Man's inherent Holiness, in different Respects, and different Ways It may be only Christ's Righteousness, that God has respect to, for its own Sake, the independent Acceptableness, and Dignity of it being sufficient of it self, to recommend all that believe in Christ, to a Title to this Glory; and so it may be only by this that Persons enter into a Title to Heaven, or have their prime Right to it: And yet God may also have Respect to the Saints own Holiness, for Christ's Sake, and as deriving a Value from Christ's Merit, which he may testify in bestowing Heaven upon them. The Saints being beheld as Members of Christ, their Obedience is looked upon by God, as something of Christ's, it being the Obedience of the Members of Christ; as the Sufferings of the Members of Christ, are looked upon, in some Respect, as the Sufferings of Christ. Hence the Apostle speaking of his Sufferings, says Col 1. 24. Who now rejoyce in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh. To the same Purpose is