Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The…

So the scripture every where represents concerning Christ, as tho' the great things that he did and suffered, were in the most direct and proper sense, from exceeding love to us; and not as one may show kindness to a person, •o whose interest, simply and in itself considered, he is entirely indifferent, only as it may be a means of promoting the interest ⟨p. 88⟩of another (that is indeed directly regarded) which is connected with it. Thus the apostle Paul represents the matter, Gal. 2. 20. "Who loved me, and gave himself for me". Eph. 5. 25. "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it". And Christ himself, Joh. 17. 19, "For their sakes I sanctify myself". And the scripture represents Christ as resting in the salvation and glory of his people, when obtained, as in what he ultimately sought, as having therein reached the goal at the end of his race; obtained the prize he aimed at; enjoying the travail of his soul, in which he is satisfied, as the recompense of his labours and extreme agonies. Isai. 53. 10, 11. "When thou shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities". He sees the travail of his soul, in seeing his seed, the children brought forth in the issue of his travail. This implies that Christ has his delight, most truly and properly, in obtaining the salvation of his church, not merely as a means conducing to the thing which terminates his delight and joy; but as what he rejoices and is satisfied in, most directly and properly: as do those scriptures, which represent him as rejoicing in his obtaining this fruit of his labour and purchase, as the bridegroom, when he obtains his bride. Isai. 62. 5. "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee". And how emphatical and strong to the purpose, are the expressions in