Thus St. Paul, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall be not with him alfo freely give us all Things? And again, God commendeth his Love towards us, in that while we were yet Sinners Chrift died for us. So likewife St. John, Hereby perceive we the Love of God, because he laid down his Life for us. This indeed was a great Demonstration of his Love; for, as our bleffed Lord himself hath told us, Greater Love bath no Man than this, that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends. Were it then ever so hard to render an Account of Christ's Sufferings to the Inquifitive, to the Reafoners of this World; yet, fince it is plain his Sufferings were upon our Account, if we confider them as an Argument of God's Goodnefs, and our Redeemer's Love to us, it ftands clear of all Difficulties whatever, and plainly speaks how much our Salvation was the Care of Heaven. Perhaps we cannot fee the Reasons that made it neceffary for Chrift to die, that the World might live: But this we certainly know, that if Christ died, that the World might live, he had an exceeding great Tenderness for the World, and we are bound to him in the strictest Bonds of Gratitude and Love. And, fince ...VOL. III.

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cellency of his Perfon. He was a Man of Sorrow, and acquainted with Grief; and had he not been fo, we could never have believed him to be that glorious Redeemer, who, as the Spirit of Prophecy foretold, fhould be defpifed and rejected of Men. The Confideration therefore of our Saviour's Sufferings is' not only an Argument to inflame our Love, but to strengthen our Faith likewife; fhewing as well that he is our Redeemer, as how much he underwent for the fake of our Redemption.

There are three Things then which may deferve your Attention in this Subject:

First, The Wisdom and Goodness of God in determining to send his Son into the World in a State of Poverty and Affliction.

Secondly, The Evidence of Prophecy, that he should so appear in the Fulness of Time.

Thirdly, The hiftorical Evidence, that he did fo appear, and that in him the Prophecies had their Completion.

First, The Wisdom and Goodness of God in determining to fend his Son into the World in a State of Poverty and Affliction.

The Sufferings of Christ we find often infifted on by the facred Writers, as an Evidence of the Mercy of God towards Mankind. Thus

Thus St. Paul, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall be not with him alfo freely give us all Things? And again, God commendeth his Love towards us, in that while we were yet Sinners Chrift died for us. So likewife St. John, Hereby perceive we the Love of God, because he laid down his Life for us. This indeed was a great Demonstration of his Love; for, as our bleffed Lord himself hath told us, Greater Love hath no Man than this, that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends. Were it then ever fo hard to render an Account of Chrift's Sufferings to the Inquifitive, to the Reafoners of this World; yet, fince it is plain his Sufferings were upon our Account, if we confider them as an Argument of God's Goodness, and our Redeemer's Love to us, it ftands clear of all Difficulties whatever, and plainly speaks how much our Salvation was the Care of Heaven. Perhaps we cannot see the Reasons that made it necessary for Chrift to die, that the World might live: But this we certainly know, that if Chrift died, that the World might live, he had an exceeding great Tenderness for the World, and we are bound to him in the ftricteft Bonds of Gratitude and Love. And, fince VOL. III.

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this Scene lies fo open to our View, it shews great Perverseness of Mind, and a base ungenerous Difpofition, to fhut our Eyes upon it, and to harden our Hearts against the Impreffions of fo much Kindness, and to amufe ourselves with curious Inquiries into the hidden Reason of this myfterious Love. What is it that your Lord requires of you, but to love and to obey him? What greater Inducement can you have to both than this, that he first loved you, and laid down his Life for you? Could you give ten thousand Reasons for the Expediency of his fo doing, yet ftill your Love and your Obedience would ftand upon the fame Bottom, that Chrift died, that you might live. What Purpose then of Religion would it ferve, to know these hidden Things of God? Knowledge will fave no Man. And who would not chufe rather to be found in the Number of the most ignorant Lovers of Christ, and of his Word, than among the profoundest Inquirers into the secret Mysteries of Providence? Would you fee the Goodness of God? Nothing plainer, Chrift died for you. Would you encourage yourself in the Practice of Virtue by the Expectation of God's Affistance and Favour? Or would you comfort yourself

in

your Repentance, and be glad to know that God will receive you, if you return from the Evil of your Ways? Go, learn to reason of St. Paul: If God fpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will be not with him alfo freely give us all Things?

Thus far then, that is, as far as we are concerned to go, our Knowledge is clear and distinct, and the Sufferings of Christ afford us fuch an Argument for Love and Obedience, as the weakest Man must understand, and the wifeft must adore.

But farther: Though we cannot enter into the hidden Wisdom of God, and fee the Reasons which made it neceffary for Chrift to fuffer; yet if we confider his Sufferings with refpect to ourselves, we may difcern many wife Ends of Providence in this Difpenfation.

First, With regard to his being a Teacher, his Sufferings fet him above the Reach of Sufpicions. What Ends could he have to ferve by his Doctrine, who met with nothing but Misery and Affliction, as the Reward of his Labour? Religions, we know, have been inftituted to serve the Ends of Policy, and new Kingdoms have sprung out of new Doctrines: Thus the Empire and S 2 Alcoran