signifies sometimes to Teach and Instruct, Act. 20. 20. And how I kept back nothing, that was profitable unto you, but have [shewed you] and taught you Publickly, and from house to house: where shewing, and teaching are all one for nothing more common even in vulgar Speech, then when one wants to be taught, Will you shew me such a thing? 3. To shew, signifies to Compare, or illustrate, Luk. 6. 47. Whoso ever cometh unto me, and heareth my Sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you] to whom he is like. 4. To shew is to direct, Exod. 18. 20. And thou shalt teach them Ordinances, and Laws, and shalt [shew] them the way wherein they must walk, and the work they must do. So that it is pointing out, and directing them to the way wherein they must walk. 5. To shew, signifies to impart, give, or freely to bestow, as Psal. 4. 6. There is many that say, who will [shew us] any good; lift up the light of thy Countenance upon us. Joh. 5. 20. For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doth, and he will [shew him] greater things than these, that ye may marvel. So that in my Text several of these Senses and acceptations may justly fall in here; I will show you the Salvation of God; that is, I will Discover, and Manifest this Salvation, which was hid, and concealed from Ages, and the past Generations; yea even the Wise and Prudent, and will shew it unto you: Yea, which is more, I will particularly and in a more special manner Instruct and Direct you, by my Word and Spirit, Effectually and Savingly, to this necessary, and great Salvation: But more than all this, is implyed in the Promise, I will most freely, and fully, give, impart, bestow upon, and apply this Salvation unto you. Unspeakable Promise! Unparalelled Blessing! desired by most, obtained by few, and fully known by none, but such as are swallowed up in the Eternal Enjoyment thereof.

Secondly; You may observe the thing it self Promised, and that is the greatest blessing we want, and the highest favour we can be admitted unto, an ac

cumulated blessing, and that is Salvation: This is also a word used in Scripture, of various Significations. 1. It sometimes signifies an External, and Temporal Salvation, or deliverance, from Temporal Evils, and External, or bodily troubles: As bold, and believing Moses, when hotly pursued by Pharaoh, his mighty Egyptian Host, he encouraged the Children of Israel, and said unto the People, Exod. 14. 13. Fear ye not, stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you this day: for the Egyptians whom you hav seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. But this is not the only Salvation in our Text, which ofttimes is common to the Godly and Ungodly; and such as walk irregularly, as well as those that Order their Conversations aright, may be visited with such outward deliverances from Enemies, and dangers, both by Sea & Land. 2. Salvation is oft in Scripture taken for God himself, the beginning, author and original cause of our Salvation, Psal. 27. 1. The Lord is my Sight and my Salvation, whom shall I fear; the Lord is the strength of my Life, of whom shall I be afraid. 3. It is used for our Lord Jesus Christ, the Procurer and meritorious. cause of our Salvation, as is clear from the words of good old Simeon, Luk. 2. 30. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation; which was the Babe Jesus, in his Arms: and he blessed God that he had seen him by whom Salvation was purchased for the World. 4. It is taken sometimes for the Doctrine of Salvation, by which it is revealed and manifested unto the World, by which it is. offered, tendered and applyed to Souls, Heb. 2. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us, by them that heard him. But, 5. It is taken principally and chiefly, for a Spiritual, and Soul deliverance from Spiritual Evils, not excluding but including God the Author, and Finisher of our Faith, who is Savingly manifested to, and known by such as are Saved, and becomes their God; neither excluding, but including our Lord Jesus Christ, who by way of

eminency is the Salvation of Souls; neither excluding, but including the Doctrine of Salvation, by which we are inlightned, directed, and perswaded to accept of the Great Salvation contained therein, and offered thereby; but directly and most strictly Salvation is an Actual Redemption, and Deliverance from Soul Evils, Spiritual Calamities, and Eternal Wrath and Vengeance, due to our Apostasy, from the Living God, and all the consequent Sins thereof, as their just wages, and debt: And this Salvation which is principally, chiefly and directly intended and understood in my Text, must be considered, in a three-fold respect, in this Explication.

1. In its Iniatiation, beginning or original, its foundation being laid, in the Soul, by Conviction, Regeneration, or Conversation, hence is its first rise, as to us in the Soul. Salvation in this respect, is such as our Saviour speaks of to Zacheus, Luk. 19. 9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is Salvation come into this House. Now it is begun, for the Master and Head of the Family had given good Evidence to the truth of what our Lord asserted, and from our Saviours Words is observed by some, to drop a Promise of future Saving blessings to that House from so good a Beginning; for nothing more usual, then for the Head of a Family, to endeavour to reduce the whole House, and all in it to the same Faith, and Christianity he had so lately embraced; of which, Scripture affords many Instances: As in Cornelius the Centurion, Act 10. 2. He feared God with all his House. 48. v. He and his House were Baptized. In Lydia likewise, Act. 16. 14. God no sooner opened her heart, but she attended and so believed. And 15. v. She was baptized and all her House. It was so likewise with the Jaylor, Act 16. 34. Believing in God, with all his House. And this be ginning of Salvation in the Souls of Men and Women is illustrated to us by many Metaphorical expressions, As (1) Quickning from the dead, Eph. 2. 1. You hath he Quickned; who were dead in sins and trespasses, 5. v. Even when we were dead in sins, hath

quickened us together with Christ. (2) It is called a Resurrection, or raising from the Dead, Eph. 5. 14. Arise from the Dead, Joh. 5. 25. The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. (3) It is called an Awakening out of sleep, Eph. 5. 14. Awake thou that sleepest. (4) It is called a New Creation, and Converts are called New Creatures, Gal. 6. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but a New Creature: Eph. 2. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. (5) It is called a New-Birth, or Regeneration, Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God. (6) It is called a Conversion, or turning unto God. Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Except ye be converted, and become as little Children, ye shall in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. All which illustrate the reality, truth, and universality of our gracious change, as the beginning of our Salvation.

2. We must view our Salvation in the Proficiency, and Progress thereof, from its root, seed, and initiation, in the Soul, whereby it grows and advances by degrees, towards the Full Stature of Men in Christ; encreasing from Babes to Stronger and Riper years in Grace. Of this State of Salvation, the Apostle Paul speaks, 2 Cor. 6. 2. This is the accepted time, this is the day of Salvation.

3. As it comprehends its beginning, and first work with its Progress, Growth, & Increase; so it necessarily implyes its Consummation, Complement, and Perfection, without which, it can never properly be Judged Salvation. And this consists in two steps; One is at the dissolution of Soul, and Body by Death, when the Souls of the renewed, and righteous, in whom the Seed of Saving light and grace has been sown, which has appeared with some suitable fruit, and improvement in a day and season of Grace; shall lay aside their earthly vail, and clay Tabernacle for a time, and shall ascend into the World of Spirits above, into the Kingdom of our

heavenly Father, there to be glorifyed, or translated into his likeness, by beholding his Glory; and so shall be fit to dwell, and converse with the Spirits of the Just made perfect, Heb. 12. 23. And shall be with Christ in unspeakable and inconceivable Glory, where nothing shall enter that defileth, Rev. 21. 27. And where no stain, nor spot of pollution shall cleave to any Soul; but a perfect rectitude, and conformity of Soul to the Image of God, shall shine in its full Meridian; Made possessor of that glorious Place; where are many glorious Mansions Prepared by our glorifyed Redeemer; where there are a glorious company of Sinless and Pure Angels, and Purifyed Spirits, made perfect for ever: And a glorious and unchangeable State of Rest and Reward for ever without Sin, Suffering or Temptation: And all this while their Bodies are paying their debt to the Dust, and passing through corruption, as it were performing their last Sleep, only in order to a more joyful awakening, & Resurrection unto an endless Life, in the last day. But the final perfection and absolute consummation of this promised Salvation, shall be after the Resurrection, when upon the final appearance of our Lord Jesus to the last Judgment, and reunion of Soul and Body, they shall be solemnly adjudged, and openly declared, to be really what they were Living and Dying the blessed and redeemed of the Lord Jesus; and shall be invited with a Come ye blessed of my Father; and ushered in, and put into an eternal and uninterrupted Possession of an incorruptible Crown, and Heavenly Kingdom, wherein both Body and Soul, shall be cloathed for ever with incorruptible Glory, that fadeth not away. And this is that inconceivable Salvation Promised in our Text; which therefore in our Text is called the Salvation of God, as He is the Author, Giver and Finisher thereof in every Soul.

Secondly; We have the Persons particularly described to whom this Promise is made: Tis not to every One, neither to every Man or Woman that takes up with a Name, and Profession of Religion, of whatso