to Mankind. He has already begun to impart this Happiness to the faithful Chriftian, by the wonderful Difcoveries he and his Apoftles have made to us of the Nature of God; and by the astonishing Inftances which they have revealed of the mighty Love of God, and his Care and Concern for Creatures fo low, fo wretched, and fo unworthy of his Love, as the finful Sons of Men.-That God the Father fhould adopt, God the Son redeem, and God the Holy Ghoft fanctify them, are Truths which can only be known to those to whom the Son fhall reveal them; and these Truths alone are fufficient to raife, fill, and tranfport the confiderate Mind with Admiration, Love, and Joy.—And if the Contemplation of these Truths contributes fo much even here to the inexpreffible Comforts of a well-difpofed Mind, how perfect must their Happiness of this Kind hereafter be, when their prefent partial Knowledge fhall fo far be done away, that they shall truly be faid to know, as they themselves are known?

Again; The Happiness purchased by our bleffed Saviour for the faithful Chriftian will therefore be perfect, because it will partly confift in being as like to God as an human Creature can be to the great Creator.-If he contains in himself the Spring and Source of all rational Blifs, every rational Creature then, which can attain to any Likeness of him, must in Proportion advance towards its own true Happiness;

123 Happiness; and this every Christian is taught, required, and qualified to be by the Gospel, and through the Merits and Interceffion of our Lord Chrift Jefus.-We cannot indeed at all resemble the Almighty in his Infinitude, his Self-fufficiency, or neceffary Existence; but we may attain to a faint Refemblance of him in his other Attributes, particularly in his Beneficence and Love to all his Creatures.-We may imitate his Goodness to innumerable Worlds, by doing all the little Good we can to all within our Reach, in that narrow Sphere to which our Actions are confined; and may thereby, in the Language of the Holy Scriptures, become perfect, even as our Father which is in Heaven is perfect.-We may extend our Benevolence beyond our Power of Action, and become like God himself, in an univerfal and generous Love for every Being which is the Workmanship of his Hands. We may extend our Affection to the utmoft Bounds of the Universe itself; may be delighted with, and rejoice in, the Welfare of every Creature ; and by rejoicing in their Blifs, may increase our own. And this unbounded Charity the Gospel commands; this the Spirit of God will begin here in the Minds of the Faithful, and complete hereafter in the Regions of Bliss; and thereby render that Salvation, which the Son of God has purchased for them, perfect. -When they fhall come to the heavenly fe rufalem, to an innumerable Multitude of Angels,

to

to God the Judge of all, to the Spirits of just Men made perfect, and to Jefus the Mediator of the New Covenant; they will enter thofe Regions where nought but Charity univerfal reigneth; where every Spirit will partake of each other's Happinefs, and where that Happinefs will be perfect; because every beatified Spirit will be as like to God himself in Love, as an human Soul can be like the great Crea

tor.

Once more; We may conclude, that the Salvation or the Happiness purchased by Chrift will be perfect, for this Reafon, because it will confist in enjoying as much of the Glory of God, as the Faculties of the most perfect human Soul will be able to bear.-What that Glory in itself is, we neither at prefent can conceive, nor is it at all neceffary that we should. -But this we know, that our blessed Lord is already entered into that Glory, and that the Faithful fhall reign with him in it. This we know, that as their corruptible Bodies fhall put on Incorruption, and their mortal Parts Immortality, fo their immortal Souls shall be refined and purified from all thofe Clouds, Clogs, and Hindrances, which darken their Understandings, and chain them down to earthly Things; and that as God will be their Object, they fhall fee him as he is.-Which can mean no lefs, than that their Minds fhall be irradiated and enlighten'd with as much of the Divine Glory, as they can bear; and that

these

these Emanations of Light will be accompanied with as great Emanations of Bliss, in Proportion to the Capacity and Perfection of each beatified Spirit. And whoever confiders this

can harbour no Doubt of the Perfection of that Salvation which the bleffed Jefus has purchafed; fince nothing can be wanting to those happy Souls, who fhall approach as near to God himself in Knowledge, in univerfal Love, and in Glory, as the Nature of an human Mind can poffibly admit of.

2. The fecond Particular before mention'd under this Head fhews us for whom he has obtained this Salvation; and that is, not for one Nation or Order of Men, but for all who believe in and obey him.-The Jewish Difpenfation was a National and Civil Law, as well as a Divine one; and was in a great measure confined to that one People.—But the Chriftian is more general, as well as more. beneficial; it is an univerfal Code of Laws, adapted to the Use, and defigned for the prefent Comfort and future Glory of all, who shall comply with the Terms of it.-It offers Comfort to all who fincerely defire and seek it; it promises Salvation to all who will be reformed and perfected by it.-It has broken down the Partition-Wall between Jew and Gentile, and fpeaks Peace and Joy to the Regenerate of whatever People or Nation, and Pardon and Forgiveness to the Penitent who embrace

I

embrace it.-It knows no Diftinction among Men, but that of Believers and Unbelievers, Penitent and Impenitent; for in Jefus Chrift neither Circumcifion availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcifion, but Faith, which worketh by Love.-Whoever does well, according to this Evangelical Rule, will be accepted; and whoever rejects it, Sin muft lye at his Door:-For there is no other authorized and accepted Mediator between God and us, but this Meffiah the Saviour, who was of the Jews; neither is there any other Name, or Means, whereby we may be faved, but that Atonement which he has made, and whereby he has brought us of the Gentiles near to God, who before were far off from him; and joined us with the believing Jews in one Sheepfold under him the only true Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls.—Which leads me to fhew,

3dly, That as to the Means whereby he has obtained this Salvation, it was by paying that Price which the Wisdom of God was pleased to ordain should be paid for the Redemption of Mankind from the Guilt and Punishment of Sin.

When Man had once difobeyed the Laws of his Maker, and by his Sin forfeited his Title to that Happiness for which he was created; it was that offended God only who could declare by what Means, and upon what Terms, this Sin fhould be blotted out, and

the