The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Corolary 2.

If God have given his own Son for the world, then it follows, that those for whom God gave his own Son,* 1.1 may warrantably expect any other Temporal mercies from him. This is the

Apostles Inference, Rom. 8.32. He that spared not his own Son, but de∣livered him up to death for us all; how shall he not with him freely, give us all things? And so 1 Cor. 3.21▪22. All is yours, for ye are Christs, (i. e.) They hold all other things in Christ; who is the Capi∣tal, and most comprehensive mercy. To make out the grounds of this comfortable deduction, let these four things be pondered, and duly weighed in your thoughts. (1.) No other mercy you need, or desire, is, or can be so dear to God, as Jesus Christ is. He never layed any other thing in his bosom, as he did his Son. As for the world and the comforts of it, it is the dust of his feet, he values it not. As you see by his providen∣tial disposals of it; having given it to the worst of men. All the Turkish Empire (said Luther) as great and glorious as it is,* 1.2 is but a crum which the Master of the family throws to the Dogs. Think upon any other outward enjoyment that's valu∣able in your eyes, and there is not so much compare betwixt it, and Christ, in the esteem of God, as is betwixt your dear Children, and the Lumber of your houses, in your esteem. If then God have parted so freely from that which was infinitly dearer to him than these, how shall he deny these, when they may promote his glory and your good? (2.) As Jesus Christ was nearer the heart of God than all these, so Christ is in himself much greater, and more excellent than them all; Ten thousand worlds, and the glory of them all, is but the dust of the ballance, if weighed with Christ. These things are but poor creatures, but he is over all; God blessed for ever. Rom. 9.5. They are the common gifts, but he is the gift of God. Joh. 4.10. They are ordinary mercys, but he is the mercy, Luk. 1.72. As one Pearl or precious stone is greater in value than ten thousand common pebbles. Now, if God have so freely given the greater, how can you suppose he should deny the lesser mercys? Will a man give to another a large inheri∣tance, and stand with him for a trifle. How can it be. (3.) There is no other mercy you stand in want of, but you are entitled to it by the gift of Christ. It is (as to right) conveyed to you with Christ. So in the forecited, 1 Cor. 3.21, 22, 23. The world is yours, yea, all is yours; for ye are Christs. So 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promises of God in Christ, in him they are, yea, and in him Amen. With him he hath given you all things, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 1 Tim. 6.17. Richly to enjoy.

The word signifies rem aliquam cum laetitia percipere. To have the sweet relish, and comfort of an enjoyment. So have we in all our mercys, upon the account of our title to them in Christ. (4.) Lastly, if God have given you this nearer, greater, and all comprehending mercy when you were enemies to him; and alienated from him: it is not imaginable he should now deny you any inferiour mercy, when you are come into a state of reconciliation and amity with him. So the Apostle reasons, Rom. 5.8, 9, 10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And thus you have the second Inference with its grounds.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Corol. 2.
• * 1.2

  Totum Iurci∣cum imperiam quantum, quan∣tum est; mica tantum est▪ quam Pater fa∣milias projicit cambus. Luther.