his name fhould want that glory and praife that I fee it will get in faving me. 2. They whom he faves, for his name's fake, are brought off all hope of being faved for their own fake: as God fays, "Not for your fakes have I done this, but my own name's fake;" fo they are brought to fay, not for my fake will God do fo and fo, but for his name's fake. 3. They feek all they want from God, for his name's fake. Many a gracelefs beggar feeks an alms for God's fake, that know not what they fay; but believers are beggars at God's door, and they feek for God's fake: they feek pardon for his name's fake, with David; "For thy name's fake, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great:" they feek, faying; Quicken me, for thy name's fake; purify, for thy name's fake; give grace, for thy name's fake : and every thing they feek, is for his name's fake. Thus they lean upon his lap, and give evidence of their being loved with an everlafling love. 4. They will defire to do much for his name's fake; and will be content to fuffer for his name's fake. Such is their regard to his name, that every duty they perform will be eafy to them, when they have his name and honour in their eye; and they count their fufferings all to be light, when they fuffer for his name: this made them take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, Heb. x. 34. 5. They will fet his name on high, as being a name above every name. Hence they will defire, and endeavour to have his name exalted in the world, that all men may know his name: they will be grieved when his name is profaned and blafphemed; they will be content that their name fink and be buried, that his may arife, faying, Let me decreafe, and him increase; whatever may come of my name, let thy name be exalted: their ambition will be to have his name written in their foreheads; "I will write upon them my new name," Rev. iii. 12. 6. They approve and efteem the way of falvation, for this reafon, becaufe God faves for his name's fake: their hearts fay, O! I prize falvation the better, that his name is honoured thereby they fet his name above their falvation, as the crown of it; and his name below VOL. V. their their falvation, as the ground of it; and his name and attributes round about their falvation, as the defence of it: the place of their defence being the munition of rocks. His name is a rock round about them; "As the mountains are about Jerufalem, fo the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever.” As that is his reafon for faving them, even his name, fo it is the reafon for expecting falvation: as God's argument in faving them, is drawn from his name; fo their argument in trufting in him for falvation, is drawn from his name. O! but this is what fweetens the thoughts of falvation, that his name is exalted thereby they defire no other way of falvation but through his name. 7. They not only run to this ftrong tower, the name of the Lord, but they run into it, and reft there: they hang their falvation upon this ftrong nail; they build upon this everlafting rock; here they have their reft. As the fparrow and swallow built their nefts on the rafters of the temple and tabernacle, and there laid their young; fo they dwell on high: Chrift is the temple, and God's name and attributes are, as it were, the lofty pillars and high rafters of the temple; and faith builds there, refides there, where neither the devil, nor all the powers of hell, fhall be able to difturb or annoy them : there they dwell fafely from the fear of evil; there they lay their young, and bring forth their fruit unto God, even all the fruits of holiness and righteoufnefs, which are to the praife and glory of God: for, as from him their fruit is found, Hof. xiv. 8. from the temple; fo their fruit is to him, being dedicated to the temple, to the praife and glory of his name that dwells therein. 8. They whom God has begun to fave for his name's fake, as their confidence is placed only in his name, as the leading argument of their truft; fo this argument will carry them thro' thousands of difficulties, oppofitions and impediments that feem to ly in the way of their falvation; this name of God will ftrengthen you against thousands of temptations, thousands of objections. Notwithstanding your fins, your guilt, your rebellion, your apoftafy, the wrath gone out against you for fin, as it did against Jonah, in fearful streams of indignation; yet faith will look again to God's holy temple, to God's holy name, and fay, Nevertheless be faves for his name's fake: there are thousands of things to damp and difcourage me in looking for falvation, and if I confider them, I must defpair; but, with Abraham, I defire to confider nothing but God's name, and word of promife, Rom. iv. 19. Here is one thing that can overcome all things, O! I hope he will fave me for his name's fake; have you won here? ftay here, and you are fafe. There is not a man fuller of God, in all the world, than he that is brought to nothing before God, and has nothing to rely on but the great name of God. That name never failed a foul that trufted to it. In a word, they whom God faves for his name's fake, are brought, 1. To know his name. 2. To truft in his name. 3. To love his name. 4. To fear and worship his name. Ufe 4. The fourth ufe fhall be by way of exhortation. And our exhortation fhall be tendered, 1. To finners in general. 2. To believers in particular. Ift, To all finners in general, O Sirs, does God fave for his name's fake, and that with a notwithstanding of innumerable fins? Then let finners hope in his name, and fly to his name for falvation. QUEST. How is this doctrine the ground of faith to all, feeing those whom God designs to fave are only the elect, and these whom he actually faves are only believers ? How then is this doctrine to be conceived as an encouragement to all finners, to look to his name for falvation? ANSW. Salvation is to be confidered three ways; either falvation decreed, falvation obtained, or falvation exhibited in the word.-Salvation decreed, concerns the elect indeed; and the election fhall obtain: but thus it is not the first object of any man's faith. Who are elect, is a fecret, and fecret things belong to God. You are not concerned with falvation as it lies in the decree.-Salvation obtained, is what concerns believers; and this is not the object of any man's faith either, but rather the object of the fenfe of them who have it, when they 0 2 know 6,7, "Say know they have it. But falvation exhibited in the word, is what every man that hears the gofpel is concerned with; falvation promifed, falvation offered in the general difpenfation of the gofpel, with a particular invitation to every one to look to Chrift for falvation. Now, to lay hold of falvation here; as it lies in the word, is the fafe way for you to take; if you lay hold on falvation exhibited to you in the word, then you will come to find it falvation obtained; and when you find it falvation obtained, then you may find it falvation decreed : and this is the right order in which you afcend to God's decree, by taking hold of his word, when to you the word of this falvation is fent. See Rom. x. 6, 7, 8. " not, even in thine heart, Who fhall afcend to heaven," to fee if falvation was decreed for me? or, "Who fall defcend into the deep," to the heart, to fee if falvation be obtained? you will find no object of faith in yourself: but the word is nigh, the word of falvation which we preach; it is in thy mouth, and in thy heart, to be acknowledged with the mouth, and embraced with the heart, ver. 9. O then, finner, his word, which you are called to take hold of, is his name; it is that whereby he makes himself known: fly to his name, and look for falvation, as it is in his word, in his name. And in coming to him for falvation, 1. Let his name be your motive; for thus you will glorify his name. 2. Let his name be your tower, to which you fly for falvation. 3. Let his name be the meafure of your hope: how much he will be glorified in faving you, fo much let your hope and expectation go forth that he will do fo. 4. Let his name be your plea and argument: "What wilt thou do for thy great name?" Jofh. vii. 9. O fave for thy name's fake. "Father glorify thy name." Caft anchor here, and you fhall ride out all ftorms, and be eternally fafe. adly, We next tender our exhortation to believers, in particular, who have run to this ftrong tower of falvation, the name of the Lord. O admire his goodness, admire his name he knows all your fins against him, and against his name; yet for his name's fake, he fhews mercy. O! let fin against fo good a God be abhorred: let his goodnefs lead you to repentance more and more: The earth earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. O believer, are you called by his name: praife him for his mercy, truth, faithfulnefs; "According to thy name, O God, fo is thy praife unto the ends of the earth; thy right-hand is full of righteoufnefs," Pfal. xviii. 1o. O Sirs, afcribe all the mercy you met with to his name; and ftudy to be meet objects for God's name, to be more and more glorified, upon his engaging his name for your help. Study to become fuch perfons as the fcripture require: for though finners have ground of hope, that he may do, for his name's fake; yet faints have ground of hope that he WILL do for his name's fake: the graceless may run to him with hope, that he may begin the good work, for his name's fake; but the gracious may run to him with hope, that he will perfect the good work for his name's fake. His name is engaged. In a word, O improve his name in every cafe; for he hath a name fuiting every want, every need. Do you need wonders to be wrought for you? His name is Wonderful look to him fo to do, for his name's fake.-Do you need counfel and direction? His name is the Counfellor: caft yourself on him and his name for this.-Have you mighty enemies to debate with? His name is the mighty God; feek he may exert his power for his name's fake. Do you need his fatherly pity? His name is the everlasting Father: "As a Father pitieth his children, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Plead his pity, for his name's fake.-Do you need peace external, internal, or eternal? His name is the Prince of peace; feek for his name's fake, that he may create peace.-Do you need healing? O Sirs, his name is JEHOVAH-ROPHI, the Lord the healer and phyfician: feek, for his name's fake, that he may heal all your difeafes.-Do you need pardon? His name is JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU, the Lord our righteousness: feek, for his name's fake, that he may be merciful to your unrighteoufnefs.-Do you need defence. and protection? His name is JEHOVAH-NISSI, the Lord your banner feek for his name's fake, that his banner of love and grace may be fpread over you.-Do you need provision in extreme want? His name is JEHOVAHJIREH, in the mount of the Lord it fhall be feen, the |