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glorified in the highest place, with the highest praise, in the highest manner, and to the highest degree.

(6.) In faving finners for his name's fake, he designs the eternalizing of his name; "It fhall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlafting fign that fhall not be cut off," Ifa. lv. 13. that is, that his name may be celebrated with Hallelujahs of praife to all eternity: "The glory of the Lord fhall endure for ever; the Lord fhall rejoice in his works, Pfal. civ. 31. Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial throughout all generations," Pf. CXXXV. 13. Chrift, the Saviour, was fet up from everlafting, that the finner faved of God in him might praife him to everlasting: "His name fhall endure for ever;" and his ranfomed thall come to Zion with everlasting fongs, faying, "Salvation to our God that fits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever," Rev. vii. 12. QUEST. What is it in the name of God that he hath fach regard to, when he faves for his name's fake?

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ANSW. He hath regard to his name in all the parts of it that I have already mentioned, and in every attribute, infomuch, that no attribute fhall be injured, but every one of them extolled more than another.-He alfo hath regard to his name in all the properties and qualities of it. His name is a glorious name; and, in faving finners, through Chrift, he hath regard to the glory of it; that it be glorified in the manner I have hinted at.— His name is a great name; and, in faving finners, thro' Chrift, he hath regard to the greatness of it, by bringing about fuch a great falvation. And, what will he not do for his great name?-His name is a holy name; and therefore, in faving finners, through Chrift, he hath a regard to the holinefs of it; not only in fanctifying all whom he faves, but in faving, by a righteoufnefs, whereby his holy law is not only fulfilled, but magnified and made honourable; in providing a Saviour of fuch infinite dignity, that he cafts a luftre on the law, by his obedience to it.-His name is a dreadful name; and therefore, in faving finners, through Chrift, he hath fuch a regard to the dreadfulness of it, that his moft dreadful vengeance lighted upon fin, in the person of the Surety, the Saviour, when he became a facrifice for

fin. His name is a precious name; and therefore, in faving finners, he hath fuch a regard to the manifefting the precioufnefs of it, as to make it appear in the precious blood of Chrift, which is the price of falvation.---His name is a bleffed name. and he cannot be more bleffed and happy than he is in himfelf; yet, to manifelt the bleffednefs of his name, he faves finners, fo as to fhow he loves not to be bleft and happy alone, but will have men to be bleft in him, that all nations may call him bleffed. His name is a wonderful name, a myfterious and unfearchable name'; and therefore it is faid, Ila. ix. 6. His name hali be called, Wonderful. Angels have been prying into this depth, fo many thousand of years, and yet are not at the bottom of it, but fill are prying into the myftery of the gefpel falvation through Chrift; and fuch is the regard God hath to this wonderful name, in faving finners, that every part of their falvation is a miracle and wonder, manifefting the wifdom of God in a mystery.---In a word, his name is an everlasting and unchangeable name; and it is his regard thereunto that makes him, by the means of his everlasting righteoufnefs, bring about this everlasting falvation.

III. The third thing propofed in the general method, was, To fhew what falvation he works for his name's fake. Salvation, is either temporal, fpiritual, or eternal; and though God, for his name's fake, works many temporal deliverances for his church and people, as you fee in Israel here, ver. 9, 10, 11. 21, 22. 43. 45, 45. and all this for his name's fake: alfo, he faved the church of Scotland many a time, for his name's fake: he faved us from Paganifm, for his name's fake, when he first sent gofpel light to our land; he faved us from Popery, for his name's fake, at the glorious Reformation, which was here carried on by folemn National Covenants, that were the glory of our land, whatever contempt is now put upon them; he faved us from Prelacy, and arbitrary power and tyranny, at the merciful Revolution, for his name's fake; and he hath faved us, from time to time, from many attempts of enemies that were feeling to

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raze us to the foundation, as fome are fubtilly doing at this day, by damnable errors, which ftrike at the foundation of all religion; I mean, efpecially Arian blafphemy; but, whatever church falvation, or temporal falvation of this fort to a vifible church, God works, for his name's fake, yet it is that fpiritual and eternal falvation typified by Ifrael's falvation, that the name of God is molt concerned with and exalted by; therefore, I efpecially fpeak of this everlasting falvation in Chrift. And therefore, if the queftion be, What falvation of this fort he works, for his name's fake?

I aufwer, There is no part of this great falvation but the name of God is engraven upon it, as being what he works, for his name's fake. I fhall offer a few inftances thereof; from election to glorification, all the parts of falvation that ly betwixt these two words, from everlast ing to everlasting, are brought about for his name's fake.

1. Wherefore did he elect any finners from eternity? It was for his name's fake, to fhew his abfolute fovereignty in making veffels of mercy, of whom he pleased; "And that he might make known the riches of his glory to them, Rom. ix. 23. He hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love. Having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift, to himfelf, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace," Eph. i. 4, 5, 6.

2. Wherefore did he redeem any finners by the blood of his eternal Son? It was for his name's fake; Eph. i. 7. "In whom we have redemption thro' his blood, the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence." The redemption of Ifrael is defigned and ordered for the glory of the God of Ifrael; "Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glori fied himself in Ifrael," Ifa. xliv. 22.

3. Wherefore doth he call any finners effectually? It is for his name's fake this is illuftrated at large by the apoftle; You fee your calling, brethren, how that not

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* The reafon of this affertion was accounted for, Vol. II. P. Vol. IV. p. 148.

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many wife men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chofen the foolifh things of this world," &c. 1 Cor. i. 26,-31. He hath faved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which he purpofed in Chrift before the world began," 2 Tim. i. 9. Hence the faints afcribe their converfion and quickening to the name of God, and to the grace of God; "By grace I am what I am," fays Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 10. "Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be the glory," Pfalm cxv. 1.

4. Wherefore doth he juftify and pardon any guilty finner? It is even for his name's fake; Ifa. xliii. 25. "I, even I am he that blotteth out thy tranfgreffion for my name's fake. And Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. We are justified freely by his grace, thro' the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift, whom God hath fet forth to be a propitiation, thro' faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs, for the remiffion of fins that are paft," &c. Again,

5. Wherefore doth he adopt any child of wrath into his family? It is for his name's fake; Eph. i. 5. "We are predeftinate to the adoption of children, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praife of the glory of his grace." Again,

6. Wherefore doth he fanctify any filthy finner? It is even for his name's fake, 1 Cor. i. 30: "Chrift is made of God to us fanétification, that no flefh might glory in his fight: but that he that glorieth might glory in the Lord." And hence all the great things promised in the covenant of grace, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 27. Among the reft, His putting his Spirit within them, and caufing them to walk in his flatutes, are faid to be done for his holy name's fake, ver. 22.

7. Wherefore will he carry on the good work, which he hath begun, and never utterly leave his people, nor fuffer them altogether to depart from him? Why? It is even for his name's fake, and his promife' fake, Jer. xxxii. 40. "I will make an everlasting covenant with them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their heart, and they fhall not depart from me. Heb. xiii. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forfake thee finally."

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8. Wherefore doth he glorify at laft? It is for his name's fake, who is the giver both of grace and glory, Pfal. lxxxiv. 11. "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. The gift of God is eternal life, thro' Jefus Christ our Lord."-Thus every part of salvation, from firft to laft, is wrought for his name's fake. The Lord is a rock, and his work is perfect:" he begins for his name's fake; carries on for his name's fake; and completes the work for his name's fake, that the head-stone of falvation may be laid on with fhoutings of Grace, grace unto it.

As all the parts of falvation, fo all the means of falvation, are granted for his name's fake.-Is right hearing a mean of falvation? Well, this is what he gives, for his name's fake, according to that promife, John x. 16.

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Other fheep I have that are not of this fold, them alfo I matt bring, and they fhall hear my voice."-Is prayer a mean? Well, right praying is what he alone grants, for his name's fake, according to the promife, Zech. xii. 10. "I will pour out the Spirit of grace and fupplication."-Is faith a mean of falvation? Yea, and it is a part of falvation`alfo, which God gives, for his name's fake, according to his word, Eph. ii. 8. By grace you are faved, thro' faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."-Is repentance a leading part of falvation? This is alfo what he gives for his name's fake, on the back of faith, as a fruit thereof, according to his promife, Zech. xii. 10. "They fhall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn;" and he hath exalted Chrift to give it, Acts v. 31.

My friends, if there be any other things that we reckon pertains to falvation, which God doth not work, for his name's fake, you may realize it as no part of salvation; for, I will affure you, his name will have the glory of every part of falvation.

IV. The fourth thing propofed, was, What is imported in this Nevertheless, or in God's faving with a Notwithfianding; and fo to fhow over what impediments, whether real provocations, or feeming impoflibilities of bringing about this falvation, for his name's fake; Nevertheless, be faved them, for his name's fake. It is im

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