pounded in the next words en omoiomati anthropon genomenos an expreffion nfed to fet out his incarnation, Rom. viii. 3. God fent him en omoiomati farkos amartias, in taking true flesh, he was in the likeness of finful flesh. Now in thus doing, it is faid eauton ekenofe, he humbled, emptied himself, made himself of no reputation. In the very taking of flesh, there was a condefcenfion, a debafing of the perfon of the Son of God: it could not be without it. If God humbled himfelf to behold the things that are in heaven and earth, Pfal. cxiii. 6. then certainly it was an inconceivable condefcenfion and abafement not only to behold, but take upon him, into perfonal union, our nature with himself. And though nothing could poffibly be taken off from the effential glory of the Deity, yet that perfon appearing in the fashion of a man, and form of a fervant, the glory of it as to the manifeftation was eclipfed; and he appeared quite another thing, than what indeed he was, and had been from eternity. Hence he prays, that his Father would glorify him, with the glory be had with him before the world was, John xvii. 3as to the manifeftation of it. And fo though the divine nature was not abafed, the perfon was. 3. For their fakes he fo humbled and emptied himself in taking flesh, as to become therein a fervant, in the eyes of the world of no efteem nor account, and a true and real fervant unto the Father; for their fakes he humbled himfelf and became obedient. All that he did and fuffered in his life, comes under this confideration. All which may be referred to thefe three heads. First, Fulfilling all righteouf nefs. Secondly, Enduring all manner of perfecutiens and hard hips. Thirdly, Doing all manner of good to men. He took on him for their falles a S 3 life life, and course pointed to, Heb. v. 7, 8. A life of prayers, tears, fears, obedience, fuffering, and all this with chearfulness and delight, calling his employment his meat and drink, and still profeffing that the law of this obedience was in his heart, that he was content to do this will of God. He that will forely revenge the leaft oppofition that is or fhall be made to him by others, was content to undergo any thing, all things for believers. 4. He ftays not here, but for the confummation of all that went before: for their fakes he becomes obedient to death, the death of the crofs, fo he profeffeth to his Father, John xvii. 19. For their fakes I fanctify myself; I dedicate myself as an offering, as a facrifice to be killed and flain. This was his aim in all the former, that he might die. He was born and lived that he might die. He valued them above his life. And if we might ftay to con fider a little what was in this death, that he under went for them, we fhould perceive what a price in deed he put upon them. The curfe of the law was in it, the wrath of God was in it, the lofs of God's prefence was in it. It was a fearful cup that he tafted of, and drank of, that they might never tafte of it. A man would not for ten thousand worlds. be willing to undergo, that which Chrift underwent for us in that one thing of defertion from God, were it attended with no more diftress,. but what a meer creature might poffibly emerge from under. And what thoughts we fhould have of this, himself tells us, John xv. 13. Greater love bath none than this, that one lay down his life for bis friends. It is impoffible there fhould be any greater demonstration or evidence of love than this; what can any one do more? And yet he tells us in another another place, that it hath another aggravation and heightning, Rom. v. 8. God commendeth his love to us in that whilft we were yet finners Chrift died for us. When he did this for us we were finners, and enemies whom he might juftly have destroyed. What can more be done? to die for us when we were finners? fuch a death, in fuch a manner, with fuch attendences of wrath and curfe; a death accompanied with the worst that God had ever threatned to finners, argues as high a valuation of us, as the heart of Chrift himfelf was capable of. For one to part with his glory, his riches, his ease, his life, his love from God, to undergo lofs, fhame, wrath, curfe, death for another, is an evidence of a dear valuation, and that it was all on this account we are informed, Heb. xii. 2. Certainly Chrift had a dear efteem of them, that rather than they should perish that they fhould not be his, and be made partakers of his glory, he would part with all he had for their fakes, Eph. v. 25, 26. There would be no end, fhould I go through all the inftances of Chrift's valuation of believers in all their deliverances, afflictions, in all conditions of finning and fuffering, what he hath done, what he doth in his interceffion, what he delivers them from, what he procures for them; all telling out this one thing, they are the apple of his eye, his jewel, his diadem, his crown. 2. In comparison of others. All the world is nothing to him in comparison of them. They are his garden; the reft of the world a wilderness, Cant. iv. 12. A garden inclofed is my fifter my fpoule, a fpring fhut up, a fountain sealed.' They are his inheritance, the reft, his enemies of no regard with him. So, Ifa. xliii. 3, 4. I am the Lord 6 "thy thy God, the holy One of Ifrael, thy Saviour; I gave Egypt for thy ranfom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee; fince thou waft precious in my fight, thou halt been honourable and I have loved thee, there'fore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.' The reason of this dealing of Chrift with his church in parting with all others for them, is because he loves her, fhe is precious and honourable in his fight, thence he puts this great esteem upon her. Indeed he disposeth of all nations and their interest according as is for the good of believers. Amos ix. 9. in all the fiftings of the nations, the eye of God is upon the house of Ifrael, not a grain of them shall perish. Look to heaven, angels are appointed to minifter for them, Heb. i. 14. Look into the world; the nations in general are either bleffed for their fakes, or deftroyed on their account; preferved to try them, or rejected for their cruelty towards them; and will receive from Chrift their final doom according to their deportment towards thefe defpifed ones; on this account are the pillars of the earth borne up, and patience is exercifed towards the perifhing world. In a word there is not the meanest, the weakeft, the pooreft believer on the earth but Chrift prizeth him more than all the world befides; were our hearts filled much with thoughts hereof, it would tend much to our confolation. 2. To answer this, believers alfo value Jefus Chrift; they have an efteem of him above all the world, and all things in the world. You have been in part acquainted with this before, in the account that was given of their delight in him, and enquiry after him. They fay of him in their hearts continually as David, Whom have I in heaven but thee, • and ⚫ and whom in earth that I defire befides thee,' Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. Neither heaven nor earth will yeild them an object any way comparable to him, that they can delight in. 1. They value him above all other things and perfons, Mallem, faid one, ruere cum Chrifto, quam regnare cum Cafare. Pulchra terra, pulchrum cœlum, fed pulcherrimus dominus Jefus. Chrift and a dungeon, Christ and a cross is infinitely sweeter than a crown, a scepter without him to their fouls. So was it with Mofes, Heb. xi. 26. He efteemed the ' reproach of Chrift greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.' The reproach of Christ, is the worst confequent that the wickednefs of the world or malice of Satan can bring upon the followers of him. The treasures. of Egypt were in those days the greatest in the world. Mofes despised the very best of the world, for the worst of the cross of Christ. Indeed himself hath told believers, that if they love any thing better than him, father or mother, they are not worthy of him. A defpifing of all things for Chrift, is the very first lesson of the gofpel. Give away all, take up the crofs and follow ine, was the way whereby he tried his difciples of old, and if there be not the fame mind and heart in us, we are none of his. 2. They value him above their lives, Acts xx, 24. My life is not dear that I may perfect my courfe with joy, and the miniftry I have received of the Lord Jefus.': Let life and all go, fo that I may serve him, and when all is done, enjoy him, and be made like to him. It is known what is reported of Ignatius, when he was lead to martyrdom, "Let what will, faid he, come upon me, only "fo I may obtain Jefus Chrift." Hence they of old |