ALL that believe therefore, are All SER M that embrace and obey the Gofpel. For IX. Thefe, Chrift came into the World on purpose, that they might not perish, but have everlasting Life: And because the Gospel was commanded to be preached to every Creature, that is, to all mankind; and God has expreffly declared, that he would have all men to be faved; and defireth not that any fhould perish, but that All might come to Repentance: therefore we may reasonably understand the Words in the Text, whofoever belie veth in him, as if it had been Thus expreffed: God gave his Son, that Every one, by believing in him; that every man, by his means, and by accepting the advantage and gracious Terms of the Gospel; might avoid perifhing, and obtain everlafting Life. And This Senfe of the Phrafe is juftified, by the Words iminediately following the Text, ver. 17. For God fent not his Son into the World, to condemn the World, but that the World, that the whole World, through him might be faved. Those to whom the Gofpel is actually preached, have this Salvation clearly offered them, unless they reject it by their SERM, wilful Impenitence. The Jews and PaIX. triarchs had it no less certainly, though more obfcurely, repofited in the expectation of him that was to come: And those who never heard either of the Law or the Gospel, yet have it effectually laid up for them, (though without their having any present Knowledge of it,) in that declaration of the Apostle, that they which have not the Law, are a Law unto themselves; and that their uncircumcifion, if they keep the Law, fhall (through the blood of Christ, though not explicitly made known amongst them,) be counted to them for circumcifion. Thus God fhall univerfally be justified, when he appears in Judgment and All mouths shall be stopped before him. ; AND This may fuffice for Explication of the 2d particular that was to be confidered in the Text, viz. in what Sense it is affirmed, that all who believe in Christ, shall not perish, but have everlasting Life. 3dly, WE are in the laft place to take Notice, that This Salvation of Men by the Coming of Chrift, is afcribed to the antecedent Love of God, the original Mercy Mercy and Goodness of the Father Al-SER M mighty. God fo loved the World, that he IX: gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life. It is a falfe Notion which some men have taken up of God, and very injurious to Religion, to conceive God in his own Nature to be a fevere and merciless Punisher; to look upon him as a Cruel Exercifer of irrefiftible Power, as an Object only of dread and horror; to imagine, that, contrary to his own Inclination, and as it were against his Will, he was prevailed upon by Chrift to take Pity on his Creatures, as a Cruel and Paffionate Man is fometimes over-ruled by his Friend, to be better than his Intention. No: All This is a very unjuft Reprefentation of God; The hard Speeches which ignorant or unrighteous men have spoken against him. The Scripture on the contrary, as well as Natural Reafon, al ways fets forth God as the Supreme Fountain of Goodnefs; the Preferver, not the Enemy and Destroyer, of his Creatures. 'Twas not the interpofition of Christ, which changed the Mind of Gcd; but 'twas the original Goodnefs and Love VOL. II: Р of SER M. of God, which appointed for us the InterIX. pofition of Chrift. To punish Sinners, and destroy Wickedness out of his Kingdom, is indeed the neceffary Office even of That Governour who is Goodness itfelf; and therefore, in order to discourage Sin, he thought fit it should be pardoned by no eafier a Method, than by the Incarnation and Death of his Son. Yet 'twas his Goodness only that moved him to contrive that Method; and his original Love to his Creatures, that put him upon fo reconciling Mercy with Juftice. God did not hate the World, and fuffer the Interceffion of Chrift to prevail over that Hatred; but God loved the World, and therefore gave his onlybegotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life. And hence it is, that the Father is filed (by way of eminence) God our Saviour: Tit. iii. 4, 6. The Kindness and Love of God our Saviour, he feed on us abundantly through Jefus Chrift our Saviour. But this is a Subject of fuch importance, that it deferves to be treated of more particularly in a following Difcourfe. which SERMON SERMON X Of the LOVE of GOD towards St JOHN iii. 16. For God fo loved the World, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perish, but have everlafting Life. N difcourfing upon thefe SER M, Words, I have proposed to X. confider the following parti-m culars; ft, how and in what fenfe it is præfuppofed in the Text, that without the Coming of Chrift into the World, men could not but have perished. 2dly, In what Senfe it is affirmed, P 2 |