be conceiv'd, by so illuftrious a Manifeftation of his irreconcilable Averfion and mortal Hatred to it, in punishing it so feverely in the Bitter Sufferings and Death of Him, in whom He was ever well pleased. In that He spar'd not Him, God has openly declar'd and convinc'd the World that He hates Sin, if Infinity were capable of Degree, even more than He Lov'd his Own Son.

2dly. By this Means of Chrift's being made in Every thing like to us, and in this likeness familiarly converfing with Us, and fulfilling all Righteoufnefs, God has both given Us a perfect and imitable Example of Holynefs and Obedience, and by this means also taken away all manner of Excufe that we might pretend to from the Inequality or Impoffibity of His Commands. By the Man Chrift Jefus without Sin he has convinc'd us both of the Goodneß and the Easynefs of his Law, which commands nothing but what God himself when he was made Man thought it became Him to Do. Is not the ready and Perfect Obedience which Chrift in Our Nature paid, a full Demonftration how reasonable a Service God requires at Our hands, while he Exacts from Us no other Dutys, but what are so Excellent in Themselves, that the Son of God was willing, and fo Poffible to Us, that

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the Son of Man was able to perform them? 3dly. It behov'd Chrift to be made like unto Us for our great Comfort and Encouragement. In all things like unto Us: for he did not only take Our Nature but all the Infirmitys of it, and having been Subject to all the Evils and Temptations of Our frail Mortality, cannot but have a fellow feeling of all Our Sufferings, remembring his Own, and be ready in all Our Afflictions and Temptations to fupport and deliver us, to fupply Our Wants and affift Our Weakness, and to fhew Mercy and to afford Grace to help in time of need. And this is the particular Ufe that the Apostle here makes of this Gracious Difpenfation in the words immediately following the Text. Wherefore in all things it behov'd him to be made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a Mercyfull and Faithfull High Prieft in things pertaining to God: For in that He himself fufferd, being Tempted, he is able to fuccour them that are Tempted.

Laftly, We have hence a comfortable affurance of an Equal and Mercyfull Judgment at that great Day when God ball Fudge the world by the Man whom he hath Ordain d. For for this Reafon God hath given him Authority to execute Judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Had it been allow'd to Us to have chofen Ourselves a Judge, who could we

have rather wish'd for, from whom could we expect a more favourable Sentence than from a Man like Ourfelves? one who has fhewn the greatest kindness that can be poffibly conceiv'd for Human Nature, who is fenfible of the Follys and Infirmitys and Temptations of it, who will not require in Us the Purity of the Angels or Unbody'd Spirits, for He experimentally knows whereof we are made and remembers that we are but duft. And furely we may conclude God has not defign'd that Sentence fhould pass upon us according to the Rigour of the Law but the mildness and mercys of the Gofpel, fince he has appointed him to be Our Judge, who is Our Redeemer, who is our High Prieft, who is our Interceffor, who is our Advocate, who is our Brother.

Thus we fee, that upon many great accounts and important confiderations it behov'd, it was highly fitting and reasonable and advantagious, it was an appointment of Infinite Wisdom and Goodness, that the Saviour of the World fhould in all things be made like unto his Brethren.

I fhall now draw fome few practical Inferences from what has been faid and fo conclude.

ift. Then it is very meet and right and our bounden Duty, that we fhould at all times

times and in all places give all poffible Thanks and Praife to Our Mercyful Redeemer for This gracious Condefcenfion in abafing Himself so far as to be the Son of Man that he might Exalt Us to be the Sons of God. Should not we gladly join with that Heavenly Hoft, who not Envying Our Felicity tho' so much preferr'd to their Once Glorious but Now Fallen and Miserable Fellow Spirits, usher'd in the Birth of God Incarnate, with this Triumphant Song, Glory be to God in the Higheft, and on Earth Peace Good will towards Men! fhall These who have no Intereft or Share in this great Salvation be defirous to bow down and look into this glorious Mystery, and shall not we who are fo much concern'd lift up our Hearts, raife up our Souls to a Devout Contemplation, and frequent and Serious and Grateful Meditation of his Incomprehenfible Love, who for Us Men and for Our Salvation came down from Heaven and was made Man? What warmth of Affection, what Light of Joy, what Incenfe of Gratitude fhould the Senfe of fo invaluable a Blessing kindle and for ever keep alive in our Spirits? Abraham, whofe Seed he long after took upon Him, was tranfported with the obfcure and confus'd apprehenfion,with the remote forefight only of fo great a Bleffing, He faw This Day afar off and was glad. How fhould

we then be affected to whom the Son of God is actually come! What thanks fhall we render, what Acknowledgments can we pay, I do not fay Equal, but in any wife fuitable and becoming for fuch mighty Love, not in dim fhadows, as to this great Patriarch the friend of God prefigur'd only and promis'd, but in real Bleffings Substantially perform'd! Certainly the best way of Expreffing our Joy and Gratitude and Love is heartily to comply with, and as much as in us lyes to promote and forward this Merciful Design of the Son of God in being made Man! O Let not Us fruftrate the Councel of Infinite Wisdom, O Let not us do despite to the kindness of Ineffable Love! Let not us receive this Grace in vain! This

Grace which has appear'd indeed to All Men, but bringeth Salvation to Thofe Only whom it teaches to deny all Ungodlyne and Worldly Lufts, and to live Soberly and Righteously in this prefent World, looking for his Second glorious appearing, for which if we have not rightly prepar'd Ourselves it will be much better for us that the firft had never been. For if we ftill continue in Our Sins after fuch wonderful, wife, and gracious means us'd for Our Recovery, we shall be more Wicked and lefs worthy of Mercy than those Miferable Apoftate Spirits whom Chrift pafs'd by and had no Compaffion of when

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