Paul apprehended this to add a great deal of worth and esteem to the knowledge of Christ that he was Crucified it being of absolute necessity to Salvation that Christ must be apprehended and believed in under this notion and when he speaks of the Knowledge of Christ crucified he means not only the History of Christ Crucified that he suffered under Pontius Pilate c. but the mystery of the Cross the former many may know and yet be Ignorant of the latter but this is the life and excellency of this knowledge to know the Mystery c that is the Eternal Wisdom and Goodness of God in ordaining such a way for the Redemption of lost Man the great love of Christ the infinite satisfaction made the vertue of the death of Christ the glorious Conquest he made c. Some Observations I shall raise and touch at and pass by and then come to the main point to be insisted on From that word I determined observe that Doct. 1. A Minister of the Gospel ought to put on a fixed and setled Resolution to go through with his work of Preaching the Gospel be the work never so great difficulties many oppositions mighty he must resolve to go through with it 't is said of Ruth Chap. 1.18 She did stedfastly set her self c. or she strengthned her self a fixed Resolution is a strengthning and fortifying a man's self before hand against difficulties and oppositions the more Resolution the more strength for the work A Minister must imitate Christ his Master Luk. 9.51 He did stedfastly set his Face to go to Jerusalem I shall not insist on this only shew what is required to the making of a Resolution that it may be a strengthening to a Man 1. It must be a Resolution of Faith grounded on Faith 1. That God calls and sends a man Judg. 6.14 God says to Gideon go in thiâ— thy night have not I sent thee God's call and mission was his Strength upon this he may safely resolve and undertake the work and fear no terrors God's Mission is our might be assured of a divine Call and then you may resolve to undertake the work And 2. A continued dependance on God for strength God's sending at first is not enough to carry a man through but he must renew his strength rely on God for actual supplies and in this Faith fix a Resolution and say not by power or might but by the might of the Spirit of God going along and assisting in the work 2. It must be a Resolution of Sanctifying God's Name and Glorifying him This must be the aim and drift a Resolution to help to pluck Men out of the fire to build up the Spiritual House and inlarge Christ's Kingdom Use Proportionably hereto must fix your Resolutions to Hear Believe and Imbrace the Word you must determine to walk by it strengthen your selves with believing Resolutions 1 Laying hold on the strength of Christ to enable you to make good your Resolutions and say I can do nothing without strength from Christ I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me 2. The aim in your Resolutions must be to glorify God the end of Hearing of Worship and Profession must be to magnify Christ to hold out his Name and Honour in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation then resolve such Resolutions will be your strength you must not be half Perswaded with Agrippa but altogether resolved to be such as Paul a Zealous Doer and Patient Sufferer for Christ to follow Christ according to the Gospel as Ministers must have fixed Resolutions to Preach so you to live in the way of the Gospel Not to know any 1. Paul was not like some others who Preached with Excellency of Speech and Wisdom to publish their Gifts rather than to make known Christ but I determined not to know any thing save Jesus Christ and him Crucified Doct. 2. The aim of a Minister of Christ must not be to Preach himself or to purchase himself applause His aim must not be to bring himself but Christ into esteem with a People he must not make a vain ostentation of his own Gifts but hold out the Graces of Christ not his Wit but Christ's incomparable Worth not to magnify his own parts but the Power of Jesus Christ he must take Paul for his Pattern 2 Cor. 12.16 Not make a gain of the People but labour to gain them to Christ by shewing them that Christ is the greatest gain 2. He must spend himself for the Peoples Souls ver 15. I 'll gladly be sent for you the Greek is for your Souls his Peoples Souls must be more precious then his own Body 3. He must love abundantly though smal retribution for love though he be less loved because of the manifestation of his love v. 15. 4. He must bewail those that sin any do not repent v. 21. so that all must be to perswade a People over to Jesus Christ and to imbrace the Gospel proportionably must you carry your selves that is you must profess your Selves to be the Servants of Christ not to get esteem to your selves but to Christ that he may be magnified by you not that you may be like the Giants of old Men of Renown but that Christ may in and by you have greater Honour and Renown by your Holy Christian Conversateon and Godliness But Jesus Christ although the Preaching of the Cross was accounted foolishness Doct. 3. A Minister must resolve to Preach Christ although he be accounted a Fool for his labour He must account the Preaching of Christ a most precious Service although the World account it foolishness because 't is both the Wisdom of God which the World accounts foolishness and the Power of God which it judges weakness Proportionably hereto Although the World may esteem diligence to hear the Word Preached Foolishness and a needless labour yet you must not be ashamed although the world may reproach you for preciseness in the ways of Christ and zeal in the cause of Christ yet after that way which they account foolishness you must Worship God and Honour Jesus Christ which is the way that leads to Life and Salvation Not to know c. knowing is put for making known that Paul accounts himself to know which he is careful to make known Doct. 4. Then a Man may be said truly to know Christ himself when he labours to make him known to others they are knowing Men that communicate what they know This were a Point very profitable to be handled but I shall have occasion to make use of it in the main point and so shall say the less of it now 1. God doth not account you to know what you do not communicate you are in his account ignorant Persons that labour not to Instruct the Ignorant in what you know for the Gift of Knowledge that you have is given to profit withal that you may be Eyes to the Blind Christ says that he knew not the
himself less than the least of Saints For the clearing this Point take these Considerations First The Judgment Saints should have of themselves should be a Judgment of Humility There should be a Judgment of Charity in relation to others so a Judgment of Humility towards themselves By the Judgment of Charity we think and speak the best of others by the Judgment of Humility the meanest of our selves which there is ground to do from the knowledge we have of our own hearts of our weakness corruptions c. and we may say truly of our selves what Eliab spake to David reproachfully I know the pride and naughtiness of thy Heart And this knowledge and experience should keep all humble 2. The carriage of one Saint toward another should be as of an Inferior towards his Superior so far should we be from slighting the least as we are from slighting Superiors Thus we are to understand these places Phi. 2.3 Let each man esteem others better then himself And Rom. 12.10 In honour preferring one another we should honour others and not our selves let another praise and honour thee and not thine own lips As there are Saints of different Ranks in Respect of their measures of Gifts and Graces received so those that have more should prefer those that have less and carry themselves as Inferiors to Superiors The Men in understanding should become as little Children in Humility And as there are Saints under several Forms and too much at a distance their forms being as a partition-wall between them so it were to be wished that the Saints of each form would esteem those of another better then themselves And as there are Saints of different degrees in their outward and worldly Estate there are high and low rich and poor so the high Saints should account themselves less than the poor Saints The rich Saints that have the Goodly Apparel should account themselves less then the least of the poor Saints which have but the vile Garment and rags Thus all should carry themselves with such respect to others as if they were Superiors and with as much care they do not offend them as men have that they do not offend their Superiors The best should account themselves less than the least Saint in that the best ought to become servants to the least Saints should serve one another in Love Gal. 5.13 and Luke 22.26.27 He that is greatest should be as the younger And he that is chief as he that doth serve Whether is greater he that serveth or he that is served Christ himself gave a glorious pattern of Humility in this I am among you as he that serveth and therefore Saints should not excercise Lordship but be amongst other Saints as those that serve Let all Saints then be convinced that it is their Duty to prefer other Saints they ought to be low and lowly in thought speech and behaviour And consider 1. This is not the least Evidence of true Grace when we can thus account of our selves less than the least of the Saints Paul says if we have not charity so may we also say if we have not Humility what are we more than the sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal 2. This is the Ornament of a Saint God's Glory is his highness Humility is the Saints Glory God's Glory is his loftiness Saints Glory is their lowliness Be cloathed with Humility 1 Pet. 5.5 This will be like the High Priest's Garment for Glory and Beauty And the more we receive from God the more humble we should be and when we are brought nigh to God when we come to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant to God the Judge of all when made Sons of God and Kings and Priests â—nto God say as David when he was brought to the Kingdom What am I that I should be brought hitherto CHAP. II. HEre we may consider 1. That the things of Christ are Riches or why so called 2. That there are unsearchable Riches in Christ and why unsearchable 3. What are these unsearchable Riches of Christ 1. Why the things of Christ are called Riches Fâ—â—st because the things of Christ are things of great worth Riches are things of worth which men esteem Now the things of Christ are of greatest worth which gives ground to call him the chiefest and altogether lovely In him are the best Treasures which should draw the hearts of men to them and make him most worthy to be called that which he shall be the desire of all Nations 2. Because he hath things of greatest worth in greatest abundance For as he hath received the Spirit so Riches and not by measure They are counted Rich that have much of this World's goods Christ is most Rich having the fullness of the best things Secondly Why Unsearchable Riches Not because they may not be found for Christ saith I counsel thee to buy of me Gold white Raiment c. There is no Angel with a drawn Sword to keep the way of these Riches but every one that thirsts and covets may come and partake of them But they are unsearchable or untraceable as the word imports in that they are above men's understanding and beyond what men can ask or think they cannot be comprehended prized loved desired delighted in as they deserve but there is cause to say as the Apostle of the love of Christ they have length c. which passeth knowledge and as the same Apostle of the decrees of God Rom. 11.33 How unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out So how unsearchable are the Treasures of Christ and his Riches past finding out They are not past finding but past finding out They are not past knowledge but past knowing out and as the Psalmist says Those that go down into the deep c. So we may say Those that ascend up to this deep for this is a deep like the Waters above the Firmament There shall they see the Wonders of God CHAP. III. WHat these Unsearchable Riches of Christ are 1. There are the Riches of Love and Grace in Christ which may well be called Riches being of greatest worth of more value then the whole World and also being in greatest abundance The Sun is not so full of Light the Sea not so full of Water as Christ is of Love and Grace to his Spouse to his Redeemed and Sanctified ones over whom he Reigns and by the displaying the Banner of his Love Saints may see what they have in Christ to rejoyce in and live upon and sinners and worldlings and strangers from Christ may see what there is in Christ to allure them to him Consider these particulars 1. The Love of Christ is an abounding Love 1. It abounds beyond Sin where sin abounded Grace did superabound Rom. 5.20 that is the power of Grace to save a sinner is beyond the power of sin to destroy and when Grace undertakes this work sin shall not prevent it Sin hath the Law for its strength and that
also in you that believe IN this Chapter you may observe two things 1. Paul's Relation of the Story of his Preaching the Gospel to the Thessalonians which for the manner was done with boldness v. 2. and in sincerity not in guile v. 3. not out of covetousness v. 5. but his sincerity appeared in two things 1. Because his aim was to please God v. 4. as pleasing God A service is never pleasing to God unless it be our aim and desire above all to please him 2. In his most affectionate desire of the Thessalonians 7.8 that is that they might be won to Christ and be saved Aiming at pleasing God and a desire to win Souls to God are always joyned together Remember these two marks of sincerity 2. The success of his Preaching the Gospel the good it wrought for which he blesses God In the Text observe 1. The Apostles Thankfulness and Praise offered up unto God He doth not Sacrifice to his own Net but casts in his Net to catch Souls for Christ and blesses God for what is done by him The work is only God's to make his word effectual and all the Glory must be his For this cause thank we God 2. The matter of his Thanksgiving and the ground of his praise Because when ye received the word of God ye received as 't was in Truth i. e. as it ought to be received And therein observe further 1 The Divine Authority of the word asserted As it is in Truth the word of God 2. The manner how it must be received by men As the word of God himself 3. The way in which it comes to work effectually that is by believing it Doct. The word contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament is in Truth the word of God This is the first Stone that must be layed when you begin the work of saving your Souls this is the Foundation of Religion our Faith our Hope our Profession of Religion is all vain unless this Principle be rooted in our Hearts Heb. 5.12 I may say of some of you as the Apostle of some of them Ye have need that one teach you which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Now this is one of the first of those first Principles which that you may be instructed in Four Truths are to be shewn Truth 1. That word which is held forth as God's is so in Truth It hath God for its Author And if you ask as Christ concerning the Coin whose Image and Superscription hath it the Answer is God's give then to God the things that are God's You must not come with the Devil's Question no not in your hearts yea hath God said it But be like the Thessalonians here c. That there is a God that made the World and and all Creatures I hope is certain to you and that this God is to be worshipped There was a Law written in man's heart which did teach him how God was to be worshipped but Sin hath almost blotted out this Law so that there remains but here and there a Character of it and impossible it is that thereby we should come to a saving knowledge of the mind of God 'T is with us in respect of the things of God as with the Blind Man Mar. 8.24 Christ put his hands upon him and askt if he saw ought I see Men at Trees walking So we in our natural condition we see God as Man and as Trees and so fall to such gross Idolatries to worship stocks we look on evil as good on good as evil Now as Christ did put his hands the second time on the Blind Man and then he saw clearly so God must give his Law the second time and give us Eyes the second time and restore a divine and spiritual Light to us then we shall see the things of God clearly The former of these he hath done he lest his will upon Record in the word which in truth is his The latter we must desire him to do if he hath not done it already and as a means to further this I shall endeavour to prove it to you And here take Notice of three things as necessary to establish you in this Truth 1. There is the Spirit in Scripture giving Testimony to it as Christ says Though I bear witness of my self it is true John 8.14 So the Spirit in Scripture giving witness to it self is true John 3 33 34. Faith receives that Testimony 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scâ—ipture c. 2. Pet. 1.21 Holy Men speak c. Truth 2. There are Arguments to be drawn from the word it self to Evidence the Divine Authority As 1. The Power and Efficacy of the word The word is quick and powerful c. Heb. 4.12 There is a twofold word of God 1. There is the Eternally begotten word of God that is the Second Person John 1.1 this is most Powerful Omnipotent because he is God All the great works of God were done by this word v. 3. All things were made by him He is called the Word because begotten of the Divine understanding beholding the Divine Essence And as a word doth express and is the Image the Conceit of the mind so the Son is the express Image of the Father Now some understand that place of this word 2. There is the written word of God which may be called the word of the word of God Christ is the word of the Father This is the word of Christ Col. 3.16 He is the great Prophet that revealed this word Now as Christ is called the Power of God because by him all things were made so this word is the power of Christ 't is a powerful Instrument in his hand whereby he doth all great works Rom. 1.16 destroying Satan's Kingdom and setting up his own Kingdom converting Souls c and in this respect 't is said to be quick and powerful c. by this power Christ overcame the Devil Math. 4.4 7. ' Its written now the power of the word is seen 1. In conviction of the Conscience a wing and restraining mens Spirits How many proud Hearts have been made to stoop and fall down before the power of the word and to stand trembling before it as Act. 24.25 Felix trembled and said go thy way for this time c. he could not stand before the power of the word and experience tells us what a power the word hath in awakning sleepy Consciences in pricking Men at the Heart that they know not what to do in wounding Mens Spirits in such a manner as that the wise man says of it a wounded Spirit who can bear so as that the most exquisite torments of the body are not to be compared with it the scorching of Fire the dividing betwixt the Joynts and Marrow yea Death it self is nothing to it for would not a wounded Conscience choose Death to be freed from the torment thereof what a power is it that the word hath when Men have gone on in
your Salvation look that when God hath begun God should finish The words are a full answer to the Goaler's question What shall I do to be saved and being thus cleared offer several Propositions Sect. 2. From the first sense of those words work out i. e. make it evident get assurance Doct. 1. The great business that requires greatest diligence is making Salvation sure That which most nearly concerns Men to set about with all diligence is the working out their own Salvation the full assurance thereof in their own hearts your work should be to make Salvation sure Heaven sure God and his All sufficiency Christ and his fulness sure The Apostle says he that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel If it be so great a fault to be so negligent of making Provision for your Family Children c. then how great a fault must it be to neglect your own Salvation not to make provision for the Soul especially when great Salvation is offered when the way of Life is discovered when Christ is preached that he is willing and able to save them to the utmost This is a work you should set about with so much zeal as never to rest satisfied till the Spirit of God evidence it to your Spirits that you are the Children of God till you see your selves founded on that sure foundation Jesus Christ and till by Faith you can see Heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God making Intercession for you preparing Mansions for you so that you may say where Christ is I shall be what Christ is I shâ—ll see For the clearing of this point weigh seriously these particulars 1. Saâ—vation may be made sure Here consider First That for such as are ordain'd to Life or are Heirs of Salvation and have â—elieved in Christ their Salvation is a thing in it self most suâ—e Salvation is entail'd to them and this entail shall never be cut off they shall never be disinherited no Angel Principality nor Power c. shall be able to seperate from the Love of God in Christ 't is as sure as the whole Trinity can make it 1. On the Father's part sure He hath written their Names in the Book of Life And if God writes them who shall blot them out God the Father doth own them The Lord knows them that are his and this the Apostle calls a Foundation that stands sure God's knowing is chusing in his eternal Decree that is of ordering to Salvation That 's a sure Foundation nothing shall make it void 2 Tim. 2.19 And the Father hath covenanted with Believers to bestow Salvation and Liâ—e upon them and for the making good his Covenant hath given his Word and Oath Heb. 6.18 The Salvation of Believers depends on immutable causes so is most certain If Believers should perish God should break his Word and Oath now 't is impossible for God to lye so that â—â—om this place you may gather that 't is now as impossible that a true Believer should come short of Glory and eternal Life as it is that God should Sin So that we may argue thus God can't sin so a Believer can't dye Were a Man nder a legal condition under a Covenant oâ— woâ—ks he might argue thus concerning himselâ— I have sinned so ought to dye I have broken the â—â—w so the Law curses and condemns me and that justly But a Believer in a Gospel estate under the Covenant of Grace may argue thus God canâ—ot sin so I shall be saved God cannot lye so I shall never dye A Believer slips sometimes and may sin out of infirmity but the comfort iâ— though he may sin yet God cannot sin And 't is not a Believers not-sinning that is the Foundâ—tion on which Salvation is built but on the impossibility of God's sinning this is the sure Foundâ—â—ion 2. O Christ's part most sure He hath undertaken to â—ave that is mighty to save that is able to save to tâ—e utmâ—st 1. He is able to conquer the Enemies of Salvation 1. The Law that 's an Enemy to the Salvation of Sinners Those that are Enemies to it it says Curse And it hath dominion over men that are under it Christ was made under the Law who was above the Law he obeyed the Law being Lord of the Law So hath fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law which it required of men and undergone the Curse due to Sinners as Sinners and conquered the dominion and killing power of the Law so that the Law is not against the Promises against the Salvation of such for whom Christ is made a Curse so that there 's no power in the Law to kill a Believer 2. Sin Christ was made Sin it being imputed to him he dyed under the Sin of the Elect underwent punishment and being an innocent and infinite and most Glorious Person he suffered as much punishment as Sin deserved so Believers Sins shall never be punished on them And Christ dying under Sin he now undertakes to be the destroyer of Sin there may be motions of Sin but motions of Sin in Believers are but Sin 's death-pangs Christ hath given Sin a deadly wound Our Old Man is Crucified with Christ Rom. 6.6 Christ dyed for the Sins of Believers Christ will be the death of Sin in them This is a sure Foundation so they shall not dye 3. Satan Christ ascended and led captivity captive He hath taken the Devil captive that had the Elect in captivity Satan seeks to devour but shall but seek to devour the Elect. Christ is conqueror of Satan the Lord shall tread Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 and Christ shall make them his foot-stool Thus amidst the many Enemies of Salvation Christ shall keep Believers to Salvation 2. Christ is able to make meet for Salvation Col. 1.12 Know ye not that no unrighteous Person c. shall enter c. 1 Cor. 6.11 into the new Jerusalem c. Now Christ can Wash Sanctify Justify his obedience is more able to make Righteous then Adam's disobedience to make Sinners his Righteousness is infinite perfect immutable Rom. 5.15 17. The Justification of Believers depends on a sure Foundation Adam's Righteousness is a slippery Foundation Christ's a sure Foundation No unclean thing shall enter but Christ of unclean can make clean 3. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever so that still Salvation depends on immutable Causes and an immutable God and an immutable Christ His Righteousness is the same sufficient to cover all Sin His Power is the same his Love is the same ground not so much your hope of Salvation on your selves on your abstinâ—nce from Sin or activity in Duties there is a great deal of change yesterday haply lively and quick in Duties to day dead let an immutable Christ Christ the same yesterday to day c. be in you the hope of Glory so your Peace Joy and assurance shall be the same 3. On the Spirit 's part sure The
suffer Death for them the Spirit works to will and to do to consent to be saved by Christ to take Christ for Saviour and Lord and to believe in him as the Author of and to follow him as the Câ—â—tain of Salvation 2. There 's a most glorious manifestation of God in this work All God's works are God's manifestations they are his visible appearances and out-goings The Creation was the first manifestation of God The Heavens declare his Glory and ths Firmament shew his handy work Psa 19 1. Rom. 1. His eternal Power and Godhead is seen by the things that are made as 't is said of Christ Joh. 2.11 This beginning of Miracles he did and manifested forth his Glory The most glorious manifestation of God is in Christ the Word being made Flesh the fulness of the Godhead in him being made Flesh made Lord and King He has Love Power and Wisdom to set up his Kingdom and to make his Enemies his Foot-stool This is the greatness of Gods works Godman being made by this work that is the Union of God and Man in one Person the effect of this work The second Glorious Manifestation next to this is in saving Sinners by Christ He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that bâ—lieve A Manifestation of Power exceeding greatness of Power As great a work to save a Sinner as to raise Christ from the dead Of Wisdom in finding out a way to save Sinners so as that Justice might be satisfied and love be abundantly discovered an infinite Satisfaction an infinite Obedience and an infinite price to be paid Where should such be found Men were not able to give it Angels could not bring it The Son of God became Man and Mediator an infinite Person undertakes to lay â—down his Life and to yield Obedience and so an infinite Price is paid and infinite Obedience is yielded c. Here the Wisdom of God is most clearly seen And Lastly Here 's a most glorious discovery of Mercy and Grace he makes known the Riches of his Grace on the Vessels of Mercy When Sinners aâ—e Enemies and nothing lovely God loves the Elect so as to give Christ to taste Death for them and Christ loves not his Life to Death He that was in the form of God humbles himself and puts himself into the miserable condition of Sinners that he might translate them into his own Glorious Estate whom he will make like to himself and partakers with him of the Divine Nature and of all his Glorious Priviledges 3. This Glorious manifestation of God in the Soul cannot but work fear and trembling in it Fear will be the effect of the discoveries of God to the Creature There is so much Majesty Glory and Greatness in it that will awe the Heart of the Creature When God appears in the Glory of his Justice and Almighty Power Then the wicked shall fear The Kings and Captains c. shall cry to the Mountains to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. And the discovery of the infinite goodness of God will work fear in the Hearts of the Saints they shall fear the Lord and his Goodness because his goodness is the goodness of God that is infinite and exceeding great goodness to sinful nothing Creatures The apprehension of this should work fear Hos 3.5 Section 12. Now this fear consists 1. In admiration of this Glory reveal'd Such Wisdom and Grace that if it be apprehended will raise the Soul in holy admiration of God David said he was fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139.14 In respect of the excellent frame of the Body such variety of parts and so fitly composed therein may be seen so much of the Wisdom and Power of God as may make the Heart wonder and fear that God that made him so Persons that are sav'd are fearfully and wonderfully sav'd if it be reveal'd in the Soul how this work is undertaken and carried by the Trinity The Father loving from Eternity Christ dying in the fulness of time and the Spirit living and acting in the Soul making it his own Habitation Sinners become the Apple of God's Eye precious c. Christ's Members Joynt Heirs with Christ Sinners having access to God and are partakers of the Divine Nature What a fearful and wonderful thing is this So much favour shewn by God to a Sinner when there is so vast a disproportion betwixt him and God may well beget admiration When Saul said he would give David his Daughter to Wife 1 Sam. 18.18 He replys What am I What is my Life or my Father's Family in Israel that I should be Son in Law to the King The apprehension of the great disproportion betwixt him and Saul was the cause of his so much admiring at the favour that was shewn him so there is the greatest disproportion betwixt God and Sinners As Men and as Sinners As Men they are not so much as a drop to the Ocean And as Sinners as great as is between Light and Darkness c. That such Creatures should be comprehended in love and brought near to God c. What am I and what is my Life that I should be brought hitherto Deut. 28.58 Thou shalt fear this great and dreadful name the Lord thy God God that is Infinite Thy God that art a poor and inconsiderable Creature God that is so holy thy God that art so unholy God that is Just and will not clear the Guilty thy God that hasâ— so much abounded with Sin clearing thee of Guilt that hast so much abounded with Guilt This Name This is dreadful this is a wonderful and dreadful Manifestation of God As the Psalmist says They that know thy Name they will put their trust in thee So they that know this Name The Lord thy God will fear and tremble They cannot but admire at such Infinite Grace when the Son of God was made Man the Word made Flesh and Crown'd c. This was a dreadful Manifestation of God! There 's cause to admire at the Grace that was shewn to the humane Nature of Christ whence as the Apostle says Heb. 2.6 One testifies What is Man that thou art mindful of him c. Thou Crownest him with Glory and Honour And Christ himself is said to fear as Man So as Man he is most deeply sensible of and affected with the Grace shewn to the humane nature So a Believer may say What am I that God should be so mindful of me That he should visit me with Salvation-love That I that am the lowest and worst of Creatures fit for Hell and to be a Companion for Devils should be Co-Heir with Christ and partaker with him of all his Glory 2. In Humility The discovery of such Grace and Goodness will bring down high Imaginations and beget lowliness of Mind it will convince the Creature of its own emptiness and nothingness This hath been the effect of the appearance of God both to Men and Angels Isa 6.2 The