2. This is also an ineffable pledge of the love of God unto our nature. For although he will not take it in any other instance, save that of the man Christ Jesus, into this relation with himself, by virtue of personal union; yet therein he hath given a glorious pledge of his love unto, and valuation of, that nature. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.' And this kindness extends unto our persons, as participant of that nature. For he designed this glory unto the man Christ Jesus, that he might be the first-born of the new creation, that we might be made conformable unto him according to our measure; and as the members of that body, whereof he is the head, we are participant in this glory.

3. It is he, in whom our nature hath been carried successfully, and victoriously, through all the oppositions that it is liable unto, and even death itself. But the glory hereof I shall speak unto distinctly in its proper place, which follows, and therefore shall here pass it by.

4. He it is, who in himself hath given us a pledge of the capacity of our nature to inhabit those blessed regions of light, which are far above these aspectable heavens. Here we dwell in tabernacles of clay, that are crushed before the moth;' such as cannot be raised, so as to abide one foot-breadth above the earth we tread upon. The heavenly luminaries which we can behold, appear too great and glorious for our cohabitation. We are as grasshoppers in our own eyes, in comparison of those gigantic beings; and they seem to dwell in places, which would immediately swallow up, and extinguish our natures. How then shall we entertain an apprehension of being carried and exalted above them all? to have an everlasting subsistence in places incomprehensibly

more glorious than the orbs wherein they reside? What capacity is there in our nature of such a habitation? But hereof the Lord Christ hath given us a pledge in himself. Our nature in him, is passed through these aspectable heavens, and is exalted far above them. Its eternal habitation is in the blessed regions of light and glory; and he hath promised that where he is, there we shall be, and that for ever.

Other encouragements there are innumerable to stir us up unto diligence in the discharge of the duty here proposed; namely, a continual contemplation of the glory of Christ in his person, office, and grace. Some of them, the principal of them, which I have any acquaintance with, are represented in the ensuing Discourse. I shall, therefore, here add the peculiar advantage which we may obtain in the diligent discharge of this duty. Which is, that it will carry us cheerfully, comfortably, and victoriously, through life and death, and all that we have to conflict withal in either of them.

And let it be remembered, that I do here suppose what is written on this subject in the ensuing Discourse, as being designed to prepare the minds of the readers for the due improvement of it.

As unto this present life, it is well known what it is unto the most of them, who concern themselves in these things. Temptations, afflictions, changes, sorrows, dangers, fears, sickness, and pains, do fill up no small part of it. And on the other hand, all our earthly relishes, refreshments, and comforts, are uncertain, transitory, and unsatisfactory; all things of each sort being imbittered by the remainders of sin. Hence every thing wherein we are concerned, hath the root of trouble and sorrow in it. Some labour under wants, poverty, and straits all their days; and some have very few hours free from pains and

sickness. And all these things, with others of an alike nature, are heightened at present, by the calamitous season wherein our lot is fallen. All things almost in all nations are filled with confusions, disorders, dangers, distresses, and troubles; wars and rumours of wars, do abound, with tokens of farther approaching judgments; distress of nations, with perplexities, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.' There is in many places 'no peace unto him that goeth out, nor to him that cometh in, but great vexations are on the inhabitants of the world; nation is destroyed of nation, and city of city, for God doth vex them with all adversity.' And in the mean time, vexation, with the ungodly deeds of wicked men, doth greatly farther the troubles of life; the sufferings of many also for the testimony of their consciences are deplorable, with the divisions and animosities that abound amongst all sorts of Christians.

But the shortness, the vanity, the miseries of human life, have been the subject of the complaints of all sorts of considering persons, heathens as well as Christians; nor is it my present business to insist upon them. My inquiry is only after the relief which we may obtain against all these evils, that we faint not under them, that we may have the victory over them.

This in general is declared by the apostle, 2 Cor. iv. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. But for this cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a more exceed

ing and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for the things which are seen, are tem poral; but the things which are not seen, are eternal.'

Our beholding by faith things that are not seen, things spiritual and eternal, will alleviate all our afflictions, make their burden light, and preserve our souls from fainting under them. Of these things the glory of Christ whereof we treat, is the principal, and in a due sense comprehensive of them all. For we behold the glory of God himself, in the face of Jesus Christ." He that can at all times retreat unto the contemplation of this glory, will be carried above the perplexing prevailing sense of any of these evils, of a confluence of them all. Crus nil sentit in ner

vo dum animus est in cœlo.'

It is a woful kind of life, when men scramble for poor perishing reliefs in their distresses. This is the universal remedy and cure, the only balsam for all our diseases. Whatever presseth, urgeth, perplexeth; if we can but retreat in our minds unto a view of this glory, and a due consideration of our own interest therein; comfort and supportment will be administered unto us. Wicked men in their distresses (which sometimes overtake even them also), are like a troubled sea that cannot rest.' Others are heartless and despond, not without secret repinings at the wise disposals of divine providence, especially when they look on the better condition (as they suppose) of others. And the best of us all are apt to wax faint and weary, when these things press upon us in an unusual manner, or under their long continuance, without a prospect of relief. This is the strong hold which such prisoners of hope are to turn themselves unto. In this contemplation of the

glory of Christ, they will find rest unto their own souls. For,

1. It will herein, and in the discharge of this duty, be made evident, how slight and inconsiderable all these things are from whence our troubles and distresses do arise. For they all grow on this root of an over-valuation of temporal things. And unless we can arrive unto a fixed judgment that all things here below are transitory and perishing, reaching only unto the outward man, or the body (perhaps unto the killing of it), that the best of them have nothing that is truly substantial or abiding in them; that there are other things wherein we have an assured interest, that are incomparably better than they, and above them, it is impossible but that we must spend our lives in fears, sorrows, and distractions. One real view of the glory of Christ, and of our own concernment therein, will give us a full relief in this matter. For what are all the things of this life; what is the good or evil of them, in comparison of an interest in this transcendent glory? When we have due apprehensions hereof, when our minds are possessed with thoughts of it, when our affections reach out after its enjoyments, let pain, and sickness, and sorrows, and fears, and dangers, and death, say what they will, we shall have in readiness wherewith to combat with them, and overcome them; and that on this consideration, that they are all outward, transitory, and passing away; whereas our minds are fixed on those things which are eternal, and filled with incomprehensible glory.

2. The minds of men are apt by their troubles to be cast into disorder, to be tossed up and down, and disquieted with various affections and passions. So the psalmist found it in himself, in the time of his