Word Mark here one of Satans depths in outward things he tempts men to distrust God and to rely altogether on means but in heavenly things and matters of salvation he tempts men to lay all on Gods Decrees and Gods purposes without any regard had to the means Such men might as well say the Lord hath appointed that we shall live to such a time and till then we shall not die and therefore what need we food in health or physick in sickness Oh take heed of these reasonings Gods Decree doth not remove the use of the means but establish and confirm them 2. The Decree is the same with that book of life wherein are written the names of the Elect Phil. 4 3 Luke 12 20 Rev. 20.12 Paul tells us of some women with Clement and other fellow-labourers whose names are in the book of life And Christ bids his Disciples rejoyce because their names are written in heaven And John saw in his vision the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life As Captains have a book wherein they write the names of their Souldiers and Citizens have a book wherein they record the names of their Burgesses So God hath his Decree or book of life in which he registers all that belongs to him Exod. 32.32 33. Some other texts speak of a book of life as blot me I pray thee out of thy book which thou hast written said Moses in his zeal for Israel to whom the Lord answered whosoever sinneth against me him will I blot out of my book But this was not the book say some of Gods eternal Decree but the book of his providences God hath a double book and both in a figure he hath a book of his resolved Decrees and a book of his acted providences this latter is but a transcript or a copy of the former those huge original volumes of love and blessings which God hath laid up in his heart for his own people from all eternity is the book I mean Indeed this book is writing out every day by the hand and pen of providence in the ordering of all those affairs which concern our salvation 3. This Decree is the very same also with Gods seal the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his A seal is used in three cases 1. To keep things distinct 2. To keep things secret 3. To keep things safe In every of these respects Gods Decrees are seals but especially in the last those souls that are sealed by God they are safe in the love and favour of God as when Job tells us that God sealeth up the stars i.e. say some he preserveth the stars in their Orbs in the places where he hath set them they shall never drop out so God seals up his Saints i.e. he secures them of the eternal love of God so that they shall never drop out of his heart All these titles speak the immutability of Gods eternal emminent acts q. d. I decree I predestinate I book it seal it that such and such persons shall be eternally saved and why all this but to note the certainty and stability of the thing shall great Monarchs of the earth do thus shall they decree and book and seal to shew their greatness and wisdom that they could so resolve as no person or power whatsoever should be strong enough to cause them to change their resolutions and shall not I much more do not I know or foresee all that can or will follow is there any power or ever shall be to take them out of my hands Or is it possible that ever I should have a relenting thought at the saving of thâ—se souls Can any thing fall out hereafter to make me more provident more powerful more wise more merciful then now I am it may be in some things I may will a change but can I in any thing truly change my will no no I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3 SECT IX The Covenant THE Covenant concerning mans salvation is the last and main particular I instanced in I dare not be too curious to insist on the order of nature and the rather because I believe the Covenant betwixt God Christ from everlasting is interwoven with the Decree fore-knowledge and election above So the Apostle tells us Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world mark that in Christ There was an eternal plot betwixt the Father and the Son there was a bargain made I speak it with reverence betwixt God and Christ there was a Covenant betwixt the Lord and his Son Jesus Christ for the salvation of the Elect and of this observe we especially these following Texts In Isaiah 49.1 2 3 4. the Prophet seems to set it Dialogue-wise one expresseth it thus First Christ begins and shews his commission telling God how he had called him and fitted him for the work of redemption and he would know what reward he should have of him for so great an undertaking The Lord hath called me from the womb Isa 19 1 2. from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me and made me a polished shaft in his quiver hath he bid me Upon this God answers him and tells him what reward he should have for so great an undertaking only at first he offers low viz. onely the elect people of Israel And he said unto me thou art my servant O Israel Ver. 3. in whom I will be glorified or Israel it is in whom I will be glorified by thee Christ who stood now a making his bargain with him thought these too few and not worth so great a labor and work because few of the Jews would come in but would refuse him and therefore he says he should labour in vain if this were all his recompence then said I ver 4. I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for naught and in vain yet withal he tells God that seeing his heart was so much in saving sinners he would do it howsoever for those few comforting himself with this that his work or his reward was with the Lord. Upon this God comes off more freely and opens his heart more largely to him as meaning more amply to content him for his pains in dying ver 6. it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribe of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel that is not worth the dying for I value thy sufferings more than so I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth Methinks I imagine as if I heard God speak unto Christ from
as Rev. 20.12 1. The Book must be opened And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of life It is spoken after the manner of men in whose publick Judgments are produced all the writings of the process informations depositions of witnesses to shew that all actions Aug. l. 20. de civitate Dei cap. 14. even the most secret ones shall then be rehearsed and made manifest Augustine thinks these Books to be the Books of the Old and New Testament wherein all things either to be done or omitted are prescribed by God and then shall these Books be opened Rom. 2.16 Orig. Com. ad Rom. 14. because according to them shall sentence be given In that day God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Origen and all most all with him think these Books to be the Books of our consciences which now are shut up and concealed from men but then shall be made manifest to all the world whatever these Books are we find here one Book opened which is proper to the Saints called the Book of Life This Book contains in it the names of all that are elected from first to last Thou John and thou Joseph and thou Judeth and thou Mary and thou Elizabeth c. you are all Book'd down there is the particularity and there is the certainty Your names are written in Heaven rejoyce in it Oh what is the joy of Saints when once they see this book opened and their names inrolled engraven there in letters of glory This very Book clears it to me that God from all eternity made choice of a particular and determinate number of Persons to save them and that none other can be saved but those who were so elected and whosoever are so elected Rev. 13.8 17.8 they shall not fall away All that worship the Beast their names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb from the foundation of the world On the other side Rev. 3.5 He that overcometh the same shall be written in the Book of life and I will not blot out his name but I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels This is the day when that book of life shall be opened and Christ shall read the names of every elect person before God and Angels not that Christ needs a book or indeed reads a name but that his Election stands so firm that he knows every predestinated Saint as well as we know their names whom for our memories we commit unto our books and then he will so honour his Saints that he will publish their names to all the world 2. All the actions demeanours graces duties and it may be sins of Saints shall be produced and laid open the holy Ghost tells us that the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books It appears hence that not onely names but things were written and these things were produced and accordingly they were judged 1. As to evil things unfruitful works of darkness It is a question and I dare not be too positive in it viz. Whether the sins of God's People shall be manifest at the day of Judgment Some are for the negative because God in his promises speaks so expresly Isa 43.25 44.22.38.17 John 5.24 Of forgiving iniquities of remembring them no more of blotting them out of throwing them into the bottom of the Sea of casting them behind his back in which respect say they the Godly are said not to come into Judgement I suppose this last Text is ill urged for by Judgment is not meant discussion but condemnation and in our best Translations so it is rendred others are for the affirmative upon these grounds 1. Because many of the Godly and wicked men's sins are mingled together and there cannot be a Judgment of discussion preceding that of condemnation unless Godly men's sins are also produced 2. Because it is spoken generally in respect of all sorts that the Books were opened By which Books most understand the consciences of men and by the opening of those Books they understand the manifesting clearing and discovering of consciences at that general day 3. Because the Scriptures are express for the affirmative not but that those Texts are truths that sins are forgiven blotted out thrown away to be remembred no more i.e. as to condemnation but as for exploration or discussion the Lord speaks universally that of every idle word that men speak Mat. 12.36 they shall give an account thereof at the day of Judgment If the ballance weigh down on this side for my part I am not peremptory but shall easily submit to the spirits of the Prophets yet this manifestation shall not be for the shame grief trouble ignominy or confusion of the godly but only for the setting up of God's justice and that the goodness and free grace of God in Christ may be made more illustrious how will Christ then be exalted when all the world shall see his righteousness and goodness his truth and mercy now again meeting together and kissing each other it was so at his first coming and it will be so at his second coming then shall his justice and mercy his righteousness and goodness be manifested to all in that by his own merits notwithstanding their sins he will bring all his Saints to his heavenly glory 2. As for good things whether good works duties or graces there is no question but all these will be that day produced and laid open 1. We see Christ enumerating the good works of them on his right hand for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked Mat. 25.35 26. and ye cloathed me sick and ye visited me in prison and ye came unto me It is true in this catalogue we find nothing of faith but all of works but certainly faith is included as the life of the Tree is included in the fruit not only nor principally are works here mentioned for the goodness of the work considered in it self but as these works did express our faith and love to Jesus Christ in that by saith we could see Christ in a poor beggar or prisoner and could love Jesus Christ in these poor better than all our worldly goods or liberties I do not wonder that Paul adviseth his Corinthians See that ye abound in this grace of contribution to the Saints 2 Cor. 8.7 Phil. 1.9 1 Thes 1.12 and that he prayeth his Philipians And this I pray that your love may abound yet more And that he prayeth for his Thessalonians now the Lord make you to increase and to abound in love one towards another and towards all men and that he praiseth God in their behalf We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is
LOOKING UNTO JESUS A VIEW OF THE Everlasting Gospel OR THE SOULS EYING OF JESUS As carrying on the great Work of Mans Salvation from First to Last By ISAAC AMBROSE Minister of the GOSPEL Isaiah 45.22 Look unto me and be ye Saved all the Ends of the Earth LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswel Benj. Tooke and Thomas Sawbridge 1680. To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Earl of BEDFORD Lord RUSSEL Baron of THORNEHAVGH Right Honourable ONce I made bold to prefix an Epistle to Your Honour before my Book entituled Ultima since which time You have continued with increase Your wonted favours As the Sun that rejoyceth to run his race and is unwearied after his many revolutions so Year after Year have You indefatigably expressed Your great Bounty whereby both my self and family have been exceedingly refreshed As I cannot but in way of thankfulness acknowledge thus much So I shall be a sincere Remembrancer both of your Honour and Your nearest Relations at the Throne of Grace My Lord I have now composed this Work containing a necessary practice and high priviledge of every Christian it is by way of supplement to the other duties set down in my Book call'd Media but because of my large handling it I reserved it for a tract by it self Indeed of all other duties I prefer it as the chief and I exceedingly wonder that before this time it hath not been undertaken by some abler hand Christians ordinarily go to Prayer Sacraments Hearing Reading and Meditation of the Word and sometimes though more seldom they set on the exercise of other Duties as self-trial self-denial the improving of experiences the clearing of evidences extemporary and deliberate meditation c. but in the mean time how is the main the prime employment even the duty of duties of Looking unto Jesus wholly neglected If many or most have been ignorant of it hitherto I think it is high time to discover it to the sleepy world and it may be when day is clear they will walk in the light and bless God for finding out a way wherein they may more immediately have commerce with Jesus Christ I could have wished that others more able had appeared in this service in a particular handling of this excellent subject I find it in print wisht for by a godly Brother where he complains that Christ's love had been so little studied Men have been very swift in searching after other truths but slow in searching after this An ample exact discovery of this love of Christ I say of this love in carrying on our souls salvation from first to last may well be set down amongst the desiderata the desirables of Divines it having been so little handled unless in some parts or pieces by any Surely it is very sad to think that the knowledge of this love of Christ in a continued series being of such necessary and high concernment hath been so little enquired into O what a gallant Gospel-design were it for some one who is acquainted with the Spirit in a large measure to go over the whole History of the Gospel of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus and to observe the glorious shinings of the love of Christ to Believers in all it would be precious if some would take it in hand and perfect it to the purpose but it is sad to think it hath been neglected so long As the Lord hath enabled I have adventured and if for my rashness in not waiting any longer to see if any Star of a greater magnitude would have appeared I must be censured I fly to your Honour for Patronage Nor only for Patronage but I humbly heg of You and Yours to peruse and practise this slender Work who can tell but some of the golden Oile of Grace may come out of Jesus Christ the true Olive-tree even through these Pipes and if so your own experiences will be satisfactory answers to all other censures Sure I am in this exercise however the directions may be weak you will find the advantage of lying at the well-head and so you may drink more sweetly than others that make use only of the streams That you my noble Lord and your vertuous Lady with your hopeful Issue may receive spiritual good by this Treatise and all other helps which God's good providence may put into your hands Is the hearty prayer My Lord Of your Honours thankful faithful though very unworthy servant ISAAC AMBROSE TO THE READER AMongst all the duties I formerly mentioned I omitted one that now I look upon as chief and choice of all the rest This is the duty I call Looking unto Jesus and if I must discover the occasion of my falling on it I shall do it truly and plainly and in the simplicity of the Gospel as thus In the Spring 1653. I was visited with a sore sickness and as the Lord began to restore my health it came into my thoughts what my Jesus had done for my soul and what he was doing and what he would do for it till he saved it to the uttermost In my conceptions of these things I could find no begining of his actings but in that eternity before the world was made nor could I find any end of his actings but in that eternity after the world should be unmade only betwixt these two extremities I apprehended various transactions of Jesus Christ both past and present and to come In the multitude of these thoughts Within me my soul exceedingly delighted it self and that delight stirring up in me other affections for one affection cannot be alone I began to consider of those texts in Scripture which seemed at first to impose the working of my affections on so blessed an Object as a Gospel-duty then I resolved if the Lord Jesus would but restore my health and prolong my life I would endeavour to discover more of this Gospel-duty than ever yet I knew and that my pains therein might not hinder my other necessary labours my purpose was to fall on this subject in my ordinary preaching wherein I might have occasion both to search into Scriptures several Authors and my own heart In process of time I began this work begging of God that he would help me to finish as he inclined me to begin and that all might tend to his glory and the Churches good In the progress of my labours I found a world of spiritual comfort both in respect of the object that I handled Jesus Christ and in respect of the act wherein consisted my duty to him in Looking unto Jesus 1. For the Object it was the very subject whereon more especially I was bound to preach Christ in you the hope of glory said Paul to his Colosians and he immediately adds whom we preach Col. 1.27 28. and unto me who am less than the least of all the Saints is this grace given what grace that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.8 Ministers ought in duty more abundantly to preach
constant in it at least for eighty one days in one year so for eighty one days in every year during thy life and then for thy meditations on any other subject I shall not take thee quite off but leave the remainder of the year which is above three parts more to thy own choice If thou art so resolved I shall say no more but the Lord be with thee and if sooner or later thou findest any benefit by this work give God the glory and remember him in thy prayers who hath took this pains for Christ's honour and thy souls good So rests Thy Servant in Christ Jesus I. A. The CONTENTS of This BOOK BOOK I. Chap. 1. THe Proem Division and Opening of the Words Page 1 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. The Duty of Looking off all other Things Confirmed and Cleared Page 2 Sect. 2. An Exhortation to Look off all other Things Page 5 Sect. 3. Directions how to Look off all other Things Page 7 Chap. 3. Sect. 1. An Explanation of the Act and Object Page 8 Sect. 2. The main Doctrine and Confirmation of it Page 10 Sect. 3. Vse of Reproof Page 11 Sect. 4. Vse of Exhortation Page 13 Sect. 5. Motives from our Wants in case of Neglect Page 14 Sect. 6. Motives from our Riches in case we are lively in this Duty Page 16 Sect. 7. More Motives to Encourage us in this Work Page 18 Sect. 8. Vse of Direction Page 21 BOOK II. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of the Eternal Generation of our Jesus Page 23 Sect. 2. Of our Election in Christ before all Worlds Page 26 Sect. 3. Of that great Treaty in Eternity betwixt God and Christ to save Souls Page 27 Sect. 4. The Project Page 28 Sect. 5. The Counsel ibid. Sect. 6. The Foreknowledge Page 31 Sect. 7. The Purpose Page 33 Sect. 8. The Decree Page 34 Sect. 9. The Covenant Page 35 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in that Eternity Page 38 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that Respect ibid. Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 45 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 47 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 49 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 51 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 53 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 54 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect ibid. BOOK III. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of Christ promised by Degrees Page 57 Sect. 2. Of the Covenant of Promise as manifested to Adam Page 59 Sect. 3. Of the Covenant of Promise as manifested to Abraham Page 64 Sect. 4. Of the Covenant of Promise as manifested to Moses Page 69 Sect. 5. Of the Covenant of Promise as manifested to David Page 77 Sect. 6. Of the Covenant of Promise as manifested to Israel about the Time of the Captivity Page 81 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation from the Creation until His First Coming Page 90 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect ibid. Sect. 3. Of Desiring Jesus in that respect Page 96 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 100 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 102 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 105 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 108 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 110 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 111 BOOK IV. PART I. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of the Tydings of Christ Page 117 Sect. 2. Of the Conception of Christ Page 119 Sect. 3. Of the Duplicity of Natures in Christ Page 122 Sect. 4. Of the Distinction of the Two Natures in Christ Page 124 Sect. 5. Of the Vnion of the Two Natures of Christ in one and the same Person Page 125 Sect. 6. Of the Birth of Christ Page 133 Sect. 7. Of some Consequents after Christ's Birth Page 139 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Birth Page 141 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect Page 142 Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 146 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 147 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 150 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 155 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 157 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 160 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect ibid. BOOK V. PART II. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of the First Year of Christ's Ministry And therein of the Beginning of the Gospel Page 167 Sect. 2. Of the Preaching of John Baptist Page 168 Sect. 3. Of the Baptism of Jesus Page 170 Sect. 4. Of the Fasting and Temptation of Christ Page 174 Sect. 5. Of the First Manifestations of Christ Page 180 Sect. 6. Of Christ's Whipping the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple Page 182 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of the Second Year of Christ's Ministry and of His Acts in general for that Year Page 175 Sect. 2. Of Christ's Sermons this Year Page 176 Sect. 3. Of Christ's Prophetical Office Page 177 Sect. 4. Of Christ's Miracles Page 179 Chap. 3. Sect. 1. Of the Third Year of Christ's Ministry and generally of his Actings in that Year Page 184 Sect. 2. Of Christ's Ordination of His Apostles ibid. Sect. 3. Of Christ's Reception of Sinners Page 187 Sect. 4. Of Christ's easie Yoke and light Burthen Page 192 Chap. 4. Sect. 1. Of the Fourth Year of Christ's Ministry and generally of His Actings in that Year Page 200 Sect. 2. Of the Distinction or several Divisions of Christ's Righteousness ibid. Sect. 3. Of the Holiness of Christ's Nature Page 201 Sect. 4. Of the Holiness of Christ's Life Page 202 Sect. 5. Of the great Controversie Whether we are not Justifyed by the Passive Righteousness of Christ only without any Consideration had to the Righteousness of Christ either Inherent in Him or Performed by Him Page 204 Chap. 5. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Life Page 207 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect Page 208 Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 315 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 317 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 320 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 324 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 326 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 328 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 329 BOOK VI. PART III. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of the Day of Christ's Sufferings divided into Parts Hours Page 339 Sect. 2. Of the Brook over which Christ passed Page 341 Sect. 3. Of the Garden into which Christ ontred Page 344 Sect. 4. Of the Prayer that Christ there
roots did not that immortal seed preserve them Of this sign we are sure if any of the former belongs to us but to this we cannot actually seal till the end of our life Come now are these O my soul the grounds of thy hopes hath Gods word come with power on thy heart hath the Lord so effectually called thee that thou hast left all to follow Christ dost thou believe on the Lord Jesus for life and for salvation art thou holy is thy life holy dost thou walk exactly as the grace of God which bringeth to salvation teacheth Canst thou with inlarged thankfulness amplifie the love and grace of God in thy election surely these effects are the very fuel of hope they are the blessed and clear evidences so thy souls election and therefore hope well take strong consolation it is clear as the Sun that God hath predestinated thee to life and that thy name is written in the Book of Life and that none in Heaven or on Earth or in Hell shall be able to blot it out again Away with all sad dumpish dejected thoughts Look unto Jesus hope in Christ that that very salvation concerning which that great transaction was betwixt God and Christ belongs even to thee and that one day thou shalt see it and enjoy the happiness of it to all Eternity SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect 5. WE must believe in Jesus as carrying on that great work of salvation for us in that Eternity It is not enough to know and consider and desire and hope but we must believe Now this is the nature and property of faith to apply all these ancient and future doings and dealings of God to our selves as if they were now present Some difference there is betwixt hope and faith as hope hath respect to that which the Word pomiseth rem verbi but faith respects the word it self verbum rei hope eyes chiefly the mercy and goodness of the promise but faith eyes mainly the authority and truth of the promiser hope looks upon its object as future but faith only looks upon the object as present both make a particular application to themselves but hope in a waiting for it and faith in a way of now enjoying it Hence faith is called the substance of things hoped for it is the substance or confidence of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 as if we had them already in hand faith gives the soul a present interest in God in Christ in all those glorious things in the Gospel of Christ even in the things of eternal life Faith is an appropriating an applying an uniting grace it is a blessed thing to have the sight of God there is much power in it but to see God in his Glory as my God to see all the Majesty greatness and goodness of God as those things that my soul hath an interest in to see how the eternal counsels of God wrought for me to make me happy why this is of the nature of Faith And herein lies the sweetness of faith in that we believe not Christ only to be a Saviour and righteousness but my Saviour and my righteousness And therefore Luther affirmed that the sweetness of Christianity lay in pronounes when a man can say my Lord and my God and my Jesus I live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 who loved me and gave himself for me O my soul believe for thy self believe and be confident of it that those Eternal projects counsels love purpose decree and covenant betwixt God and Christ were all for thee hast not thou a promise Nay was there not a promise before the world began and that very promise the promise of eternal life Mark the words Titus 1.2 in hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Here 's a promise and a promise of Eternal life and a promise of Eternal life made by God by God that cannot lie and that before there was a World or any man in the World If thou enquirest to whom then was this promise made Sweet soul it was made to Christ for thee many promises thou hast in Scripture made more immediatly to thy self but this was the grand promise and all the other promises they are but a draught of that grand promise that God the Father made to his Son before the World began O cries the Soul I cannot believe what is it possible that God in his Eternity should have any thought of me What of me being not yet born Rom. 9.11 neither having done any good or evil What of me born in these last times of the world the least of Saints the greatest of Sinners less then the least of all Gods mercies that of such a one the great God the Majesty of Heaven and Earth should have a thought a project a counsel a knowledge of approbation a purpose a decree Nay enter into a Covenant with his Son for my salvation I cannot believe it Alas What am I to God or what need hath God of me If all the Nations of the Earth are to him but as a drop of a bucket Isa 40.15 and as the small dust of the Ballance O what a minime am I of that drop or what a little little atome am I of that small dust and is it probable that the greatness of God the goodness of God the power of God the wisdom of God the Eternal Counsels of God should work for me to make me glorious blessed happy to make me one with himself and one with his Son and one with his Spirit what care take I of every dust of the Earth or of every sand one the Sea-shore and yet these are my fellow-creatures there 's a thousand times more disproportion betwixt God and me and would God take care of me before I was or before the World was what would he busie himself and his Son about such a worthless wretched worm would he decree Christ to come from the Father for me to be my Redeemer my Jesus my Saviour I cannot I dare not I will not believe O stay my soul and be not faithless but believing I 'le take thy argument in pieces As Jer. 29 11 1. Thou sayst hath God any thoughts of me Yes saith God I know the thoughts that I think towards you thoughts of peace and not of evil and before the World was my thoughts Prov. 8.3 and my delights were with the Sons of men 2. Thou sayst I have no thoughts no care of my fellow-creatures Isa 55.8 as of the dust or sand or atoms and what then my thoughts are not as your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts What if thou hast no thoughts or care of the smaller creatures yet God extends his thoughts and care and providence not only to thee but
greatest part of thy Salvation already done to thy hand nay I 'le tell thee more poor soul then thus even Christ himself from all Eternity hath engaged for thee that thou shalt believe O then put not Christ to be challenged of his engagement by refusing the Gospel surely when thou believest thou makest Christs word good he that believeth not makes God a liar though in another sense and for ought he knoweth even in this that he frustrates Christs undertakings in the Covenant And therefore believe yea and cry Lord I believe help thou my unbelief increase my Faith till I come to full assurance of Faith Faith in this sense is the very Eye of the Soul reading is Name Written in the Book of Life it is an apprehension of our particular Election O believe till thou comest up to this fullness of perswasion of Gods Love in Christ SECT VI. Of loving Jesus in that respect 6. WE must love Jesus as carrying on that great work of our Salvation in that Eternity And this is the fruit or effect of Faith if once we believe that all those designs and transactions were for us even for us O then how should we but love that God and love that Christ who thus firstly and freely loved us God loved us before we loved him for he loved us in that Eternity before all Worlds surely then we are bound to love him First and above all things As the Diamond formeth and fashioneth the Diamond so love formeth and fashioneth Love or as fire converteth Fewel into Fire so this antient love of God and Christ may well cause our love again O Christ didst not thou love us who doubts it that but reads over the project councel foreknowledge purpose decree and covenant of God and Christ who doubts it that but reads the eternal designe of God that Christ should go out of himself and suffer an extasie through the vehemency of his love that Christ should so far abase his Majesty as to dye for us that we might not dye but live with him O then how should this but kindle in our hearts a most ardent love towards God and Christ what more effectuall motive to work mans love then to be prevented by the love bounty of another That this fruit doth spring from the sense of our Election Bernard observes who is righteous but he that requiteth the love of God with love again Bern. Epi. 107. which is never done except the holy Ghost reveale unto a man by faith Gods eternal purpose concerning his future salvation And hence it is that the heart is most in frame when it is a considering the eternal love of God in Christ 2 â—am 1.26 As David said of Jonathan thou hast been very pleasant to me thy love to me was wonderful so a poor soul gathering up all the goodness of God in that Eternity and feeding upon it and the variety of it it breaths out in that expression thou hast been very pleasant to me O God thy love to me hath been wonderfull O my soul that thou couldest so live by faith on these eternal passages as that thou mightest attain to the highest fruits of faith not onely to love God and Christ but to love them with a burning love with a mighty love such a love as lyes in the most vigorous prosecution after Jesus Christ and in the most faithful resignation of thy self to God such a love as works the most delightful aspect of God and Christ as makes a man to behold God and Christ with all cheerfulness such a love as works a man to extoll the praises of God O in these things lyes the strength of love But alas this is or at least this should be thy grief that thou canst not love so well and so warmly as thou art beloved Christ comes towards thee Skipping like the Hart or Roe on the Mountaines of spices Cant 8 14. but thy love towards Christ is creeping like the worme in the unwholsome valley Indeed the best affections have their fits of swooning it may be for the present thy love is cold O but come up to this fire consider how God and Christ loved thee in every of these 1. His project to save they soul sprung out of his love love was the first wheele that set all the eternall works of God a going what was that great designe of God but onely an expression of his love it was his pleasure to communicate himself and the rise of that communication was his love 2. The Counsels of God were all in love had not love been as President of the Counsel where hadst thou been when all the attributes of God were at a stand it was the love of God in Christ that resolved the question for thy salvation 3. The foreknowledge of God was a foreknowledge of love and approbation in his eternal love he embraced thee as his own he foreknew thee i. of his free love he set thee apart to life and to salvation God hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the World Ephes 1.4 he chose us in Christ but not for Christ nothing at all moved him to Elect thee but his own good pleasure and free love 4. The purpose of God was a resolution of love it speaks his love to be a constant setled abiding love John 13.1 no unkindness shall alter it for having loved his own he loves them unto the end nay he loves them without end from everlasting to everlasting 5. The decree of God was an order as I may call it or an act of love to give in time that grace unto his elect which before all time he decreed should be an effectual means to bring them unto glory 6. The covenant betwixt God and Christ was an agreement of love God and Christ struck hands to save our souls 2 Tim. 1 9. grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began Grace was given us that is the gracious love and favour of God in Christ was given us before all secular times This was Gods meaning from everlasting this was the designe yea the greatest designe that ever God had to set out the infinite glory and the riches of his love in Jesus Christ No question but he had other great designes in doing such great things as he hath done but above all the designes that ever God had in all his works this is the chiefe to honour his mercy to glorify the riches of his love and grace had it not been for this he would never have made the World and therefore in that World to come it will be the delight of God to shew his Saints and Angels what he is able to do for a creature yea he will to all Eternity declare to them to what an height of excellency and glory his love and mercy is able to raise poor souls so that the very Saints and Angels shall admire adore and magnifie the name of God
the next Sections SECT II. Of the Covenant of promise as manifested to Adam THe Covenant of grace in this sense is nothing else but a compact made betwixt God and man touching reconciliation and life Eternal by Christ Now the first breaking forth of this gracious Covenant was to Adam and Eve immediatly after the fall expressed in these words I will put enmity between thee and the woman Gen 3 19. and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel This promise as it is the first so the hardest to be understood it contains in it good news of the overthrow of Satans Kingdome and of mans freedom by the death of Christ But the obscurity is such that Luther exceedingly complains Textus qui omnibus debebat esse notissimus a nemine quod ego sciam diligentor accurate explicatus c. Luther Gen. 3.14 the Text which of all men should rightly be known is of no man that I know saith he especially and accurately unfolded amongst the Antients there is not one that hath explicated this Text according to the dignity of it The occasion was this The Lord looking down from heaven and seeing how Satan had prevailed against man and in some sort undone the whole fabrick of the creation he resolves upon Satans ruine and mans preservation And the Lord God said unto the Serpent because thou hast done this thou art cursed This literally is understood of the Serpent but Spiritually of the Devil both were as means to draw man unto sin and therefore they are joyned as one in the punishment The Lord cut off the feet of the Serpent say the Rabbies and cursed him R. Eliezer c. 14. and he cast Samael the Devil and his company out of heaven cursed them Indeed man being in the transgression must also have his punnishment as it follows vers 17 18 19. and yet that God might manifest the riches of his grace he includes in the Serpents malediction this everlasting Gospel I will put enmity between thee and the woman c. For the sense of the Words we shall open these termes as 1. Who is the Serpent 2. Who is the woman 3. What is the seed of the Serpent 4 What is the seed of the woman 5. What is that Hu in our Bible translated it 6. What is the Serpents head and the bruising of it 7. What is the heel of the seed of the woman and the bruising of it 8. Amongst whom was the enmity or rather enmities for in the Text we find many Armies I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed c. 1. Who is the Serpent I find diversity of opinions among Interpreters Some say it was onely the Serpent and that which belongs unto Satan is but mystically understood others say it was onely Sathan under the notion of a Serpent as sometimes he is called the great Dragon And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devil Rev. 12.9 and Satan which deceived the whole world Others say it was both Satan and the Serpent as men are said to be possessed of Satan so was the Serpent possessed of the Devil Satan could not provoke our first parents to sin by any inward temptation as now he doth by the help of our corruption nor could he enter into their bodies or minds because of the holiness and glory that was in them and therefore he presumed to take a beast of the earth and by disposing of his Tongue he speaks within him But what must the Serpent have punishment that was only Satans instrument in the temptation yes Such was Gods love to man that he condemns both the Author and instrument of that that evil as one that in anger breaks the sword wherewith his son or his friend was wounded so Gods breaks Satans sword the Serpent is punnished according to the letter of the Text and Satan is punished in the spiritual meaning of the Lord. Who is the woman Some are all for Allegories and thy will tell you that the Serpent and the Woman are the superiour inferiour faculties of the Soul and that ever since the Fall there hath been a continual War betwixt these but I look at this Commentary as vain and trifling though it be fathered on some of the Antients and of no small note others say this Woman is the Blessed Virgin in relation to which they read the last words thus she shall bruise thy head this reading is not only allowed but confirmed by the Councel of Trent and in some of their prayer-Prayer-books thy call her The Mother of the Lord the Tree of Life the breaker of the Serpents head and the Gate of Heaven But I look on this Commentary as ignorant Idolatrous Antiphona de domina nostra secundum usum Eccles Hildenshem and wholly derogatory to the Kingdom of Christ Others are not so easily mislead and therefore say that the Woman wheresoever mentioned in this Text is Eve and none but Eve she it was whom the tempter had seduced and in just judgment for her familiarity with the tempter God meets with her I will put enmity saith God between thee and the Woman 3. What is the Seed of the Serpent in Scripture phrase Seed is sometimes taken collectively for many at once as when the Lord said to Abraham I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Gen. 17 17 18 and to thee and thy Seed will I give this Land and I will multiply thy Seed as the sand of the Sea and sometimes it is taken singularly for one only person thus Eve called her Son Seth for God said she hath appointed me another Seed instead of Abel Gen. 4.25 Gen. 22.18 and so it is said of Christ in thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Now in this place the Seed of the Serpent is taken collectively for all the families of Devils Mat. 25.4 for the Devil and his Angels as Christ calls them and for all the Sons of the Devil i. for all reprobate men whose Father and Prince is the Devil as Christ told the Jews ye are of your Father the Devil John 8 44 and the lusts of your Father ye will do and as John tells us 1 John 3 8 10 he that committeth sin is of the Devil in this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil and thus both Devils and reprobates are reckoned as the seed of the Serpent 4. What is the Seed of the Woman The Seed of the Woman is that posterity of the Woman which do not degenerate into the Seed of the Serpent that is the meaning of the first sentence I will put enmity and then it follows between thy Seed and her Seed and for this sense we have these arguments 1. The opposition of the Seeds for as the Seed of the Serpent is taken collectively
is arising and shining in our Horizon more and more clearly that great design of Gods love to our souls is manifested in every Sermon on every Sabbath is not this Gospel-preaching what is the Gospel but the Treasure of Gods love in Christ opened to us Oh it is a pleasant work in this respect to be a Minister of the Gospel to be alwayes searching into the Treasures of love and to make them known to poor souls for the gaining of them unto God 2. Here is your Happiness Christ hath not erected any standing Sanctuary or City of refuge for men to fly to for their Salvation but he hath appointed Ambassadors to carry this Treasure unto mens houses where he invites them and entreats them and requires them and commands them and compels them to come in Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ 1. In respect of the Messengers 2. In respect of their Message 1. In respect of the Messengers they were first Apostles now Ministers poor Earthen Vessels Had Christ himself come in his glorified body attended with his Angels it might in some measure have represented his Majesty but alas how would this have dazled your weakness or if Christ had made use of his Angels as he did at his birth to preach his Gospel had they continually come in state and proclaimed Salvation to the Sons of men this would have shewed more glory but alas how unsuitable had this been to your weak conditions here then is the riches of his grace that earthen vessels should carry this treasure that salvation should come out of the mouths of sinful creatures that hearts should be broken souls should believe life should be infused by the ministerial breath of a weak worthless man 2 Cor. 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Gods power is more Honoured this way than if an Angel had come in person it may be in that Case a sinners Conversion would have been attributed to the power and Efficacy of the Angel but to prevent this and to preserve the glory of his power and grace Christ takes the Treasure and he puts it into Earthen Vessels it is in the Original vessels of shell as precious Pearls are found in Shells so the Pearl is the Gospel and the Shell or Mother of Pearl are the Apostles and Pastors it is true they are Vessels of small price and subject to many knocks and falls yet in them is the most excellent Treasures of the Wisdom of God and of the Gospel of Christ And it is in them on purpose that the excellency may reflect on God and not on them 2. In respect of the Message O the unsearchable riches of Christ What is the message of these men what is the Treasure they bring but the Blood of Christ the Promises of the Gospel the Word of Grace I might sum up all in one word They bring unto men an invitation from heaven to heaven Observe it Christians the Gospel is a message the Lord sends his Son up and down carries him from place to place he is set forth before mens eyes he comes and stands and calls and Knocks at their doors and beseecheth them to be reconciled O the free grace of God! O that mercy pardon preferment eternal life and Salvation should go a begging and suing for acceptance O the love of sin and madness of folly in wicked men to Trample on such Pearls and to neglect so great Salvation when it is tendered unto them O what a heavy charge will it be for men at the last day to have the mercy of God the humility of Christ the entreaties of the Spirit the proclamations of pardon the approaches of Salvation the dayes the years the ages of peace the Ministry of the Word the Book of God the great Mistery of Godliness to rise up in judgment and to testifie against their souls O the condescentions of Christ who are ye that the Lord should send after you what need hath God of you suppose you should go on in the wayes of death and perish everlastingly what shall God lose by it Christ might say If you will go on go on and perish if you love sin so well take your pleasure in it and be damned evermore Ah no saith the mercy of God and the mercy of Christ before that be message after message Isa 28.10 Precept upon precept precept upon precept line upon line line upon line here a little and there a little This was the design of Christs chusing his Apostles Go ye into all the world Mark 16.15 and preach the Gospel unto every Creature that poor sinners may turn from sin and be saved SECT III. Of Christ's Reception of sinners 2. FOr Christ's Reception of sinners I cannot limit this only to one year of Christ's Ministry but I shall only mention it this year Now this will appear 1. In the Doctrine of Christ 2. In the Practise of Christ 1. In his Doctrine Christ layes it down expresly Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are Heavy laden and I will give you rest It is no more but come and welcome The Gospel shuts none out of Heaven but those that by unbelief lock the door against their own souls Again All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me John 6.37 and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out here is laid down the full intent and purpose of God and Christ to pardon and receive sinners the Father is willing and the Son is willing 1. The Father is willing This is the Fathers will which hath sent me John 6.39 that of all which he hath given me I should lose none the Father is engaged in that first he sent Christ on that errand to receive sinners Secondly in that he gave unto Christ all that he would have to be saved by Christ with a charge to lose none Sinners were given to Christ by his Father as so many Jewels to look to and to save 2. The Son is willing for he that cometh unto me saith Christ I will in no wise cast out Christ is so willing to receive sinners as that he sets all his doors open he keeps open house and he casts out none that will but come in and why so John 6.38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me 1. I came down from Heaven it was a great journey from heaven to earth and this great journey I undertook for no other purpose but to save sinners Great actions as one sayes well must needs have great ends now this was the greatest thing that ever was done Luke 19.10 that the Son of God should come down from Heaven and what was the end but the Reception and Salvation of sinners For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost had
but they were not able to draw for the multitude of the fishes 2. Hereupon Christ is known Therefore that Disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter ver 7. it is the Lord the alarm given now all the Disciples bestir themselves 1. Peter he casts himself into the sea 2. The other Disciples they come in a little ship to the land and there they dine and commune with Jesus which is the end of the history and so ends this Book of our Evangelist John Thus far we have propounded the object our next work is how to direct you to look unto Jesus in this respect CHAP. II. SECT I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Resurrection THAT in all respects we may look on Jesus 1. Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection and during the time of his abode upon earth after his Resurrection This is worth the knowing on it depends our justification sanctification salvation For if Christ be not risen we are yet in our sins and our faith is in vain and our hope is in vain little hope have we either of Heaven or of Resurrection if Christ be not risen of all men we are most miserable that believe in Christ if he whom we believe in be not risen again O my soul study this point many take it up in gross they can run over this Article of their Creed The third day he rose again from the dead but for a particular understanding of it in respect of the time or the end or the manner or the certainty how many are to seek I shall appeal to thy self are not many discoveries already made which before thou never tookest notice of and if thou wouldst but study this point how much more might yet appear especially how much more might yet appear as to thine own good it is not enough to know Christ's resurrection unless thou know it for thy self Be sure thou hast this in mind That Christ rose again but what 's that to me saving knowledge is ever joyned with a particular application if Christ be my Head then he could not rise but I rose with him and in him and thus O my soul look on Christ and thus search into every particular of Christ's resurrection come study when he rose study the Arguments that make out Christ's resurrection sure and certain study all the Apparitions of Jesus Christ O what delightful studies are these hadst thou been with them to whom Christ appeared would not thy heart have leaped with joy come study it close for the benefit of these Apparitions extend to thee the fruit of Christ's resurrection is thine Job 5.27 even thine as well as theirs Know this for thy self SECT II. Of considering Jesus in that respect 2. LEt us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation for us in his resurrection It is not enough to know a saving necessary truth but it is required further that we digest truths and that we draw forth their strength for the nourishment and refreshing of our poor souls As a man may in half an hour chew and take into his stomack that meat which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest so a man may take into his understanding more truths in an hour than he is able well to digest in many what good those men are like to get by Sermon 's or Providences who are unaccustomed to this work of meditation I cannot imagine it is observed by some that this is the reason why so much preaching is lost amongst us why Professors that run from Sermon to Sermon and are never weary of hearing or reading have notwithstanding such languish starved souls because they will not meditate And therefore God commanded Joshua not only to read the Law but to consider of it Josh 1.8 and dwell upon it This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night why this is the duty that I am now pressing to if thou knowest these things consider â—uminate meditate ponder on them again and again And because this work requires enlargedness of heart and spirit therefore take it into parts and consider of each of them apart by it self As 1. Consider of the time when Christ rose again As Christ had his three dayes and no more so must thou have the same three dayes like unto his the first day was called the day of preparation the second was the Sabbath-day and the third was the resurrection day so thy first day is a day of preparation a day of passion wherein thou must strive and struggle against sin and Satan wherein thou must suffer all their bitter darts till thou dyest and give up the Ghost And thy second day is a day of rest wherein thy body must lye in the grave and thy flesh rest in hope wherein thou shalt enter into peace and rest in thy bed until the trumpet sound and bid thee arise Isa 52.7 and come to judgment And thy third day is a day of resurrection unto glory It is the first day of the week or the first beginning of a never ending world Thus consider the time of Christ's resurrection and thence mayst thou draw down some use for thy souls nourishment 2. Consider of the reasons why Christ arose was it not to confound the Jews they could not endure to hear of Christ's resurrection and therefore when Peter and the other Apostles preached that point Acts 9.33 They were cut to the heart and took councel to slay them It is the case of them to say We will not have that man to reign over us they that by their sins crucifie Christ every day cannot without horror think of his exaltation it cuts them to the heart that Christ is risen to be their Judge Again was it not to confirm the faith of Christ's followers till he was risen their faith was but a weak faith weak in knowledge weak in assent weak in confidence weak in assurance much ado had Christ with them many a time had he chid them Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith but after he had shewed uimself alive by many infallible proofs they could then cry it out My Lord and my God Again was it not to evidence that he had fully satisfied all our debts the Apostle tells us that Christ was our Surety Heb. 7.22 at his death he was arrested and cast into Prison whence he could not come till all was payed and therefore to hear that Christ is risen and that he hath brokens the bolts and fetters of the grave it is a clear evidence that God is satisfied and that Christ is discharged by God himself Oh what breasts of consolation are here Again was it not to conquer sin death and devil now he took from death his sting and from hell his standard now he seized upon the hand-writing
Thorns now with Majesty then judged by one man now judging all men then as a Lamb now as a Lyon oh horror to conceive how will the sight of this Judge amaze the wicked and the rather because they shall see him whom they have pierced Is not this the aggravation of their terror conceive the guilty man-slayer coming to his tryal will not the red robes of his Judge make his heart bleed for his blood-shed doth not that crimson cloath present a monstrous hew before his eyes O then what sight is this when the man slain sits in the Judgment-seat the rosy wounds of our Saviour still bleeding at it were in the prisoners presence well my they hang their heads but they shall not shut their eyes They shall see him saith the Text yea they also which pierced him shall see him This very sight will be as convincing as if they heard Christ say Thou art the man that didst murther me thou art the man hast pierced me this wound this skar and this print of the nails in my hands and feet were thy very doings in thy sinning against me And who can tell but Christ may speak in some such manner as this Come all you on the left hand prepare you for the sentence I am them an whom you did crucifie afresh I am he whose person you despised whose Commands you disobeyed whose Ministers you abused whose Servants you hated whose Offers you rejected and of whom you said There is no beauty in him that we should desire him Whatsoever he shall say this I believe that Christ's sweet face will be most terrible to the wicked at that day Oh it will cut them to see him in the judgment-seat whom they basely shut out of doors preferring a lust before his presence then will they begin with extreamest grief and bitterness of spirit to sigh and say Oh he that I look upon and must look upon and cannot choose but look upon he whom I now see sitting on yonder flaming white and glorious Throne is Jesus Christ the Mighty God the Prince of Peace that true Messiah whose precious blood was poured out as water upon the earth to save his people from their sins it is he yea the self same he that many a time whiles I lived on earth invited and wooed me by his faithful Ministers that besought and entreated me with tears of dearest love to leave my lusts and to bid the Devil adieu that knocked again and again at the door of my heart for entrance offering himself to be my al-sufficient and everlasting husband telling me that if I would but have embraced him at this time should have been the solemnity of the marriage and now he would have set an immortal crown of bliss and glory upon my head with his own Almighty hand but I alas like a wilful desperate wretch forsook my own mercy judged my self unworthy of everlasting life and wretchedly and cruelly against my own soul persecuted all the means which should have sanctified me and all the Ministers which should have saved me as instruments in the hands of Christ and now happy I if I were an hundred thousand millions of miles distant from this sight of Jesus Christ oh that these eyes in my head were holes again as they were but even now when I was rotting or rotten in the grave oh that I could turn any way aside from this glorious sight oh that I were a Stone or Tree or Air or any other thing that wanted eyes oh that I had no eye within nor understanding faculty to conceive of Christ or to know Christ Jesus as my Judge now ready to bid me go to Hell certainly these will be the woful wishes of the wicked when they shall look on Christ as sitting on his Throne of Judgement 2. For the Saints they shall look on them Indeed they sit so near their Saviour that they cannot look on him but they must look on them the Saints are on their Thrones either in the Throne or about the Throne of Jesus Christ and the reprobates stand in a direct opposite line to the Saints so that their eyes cannot be off them It is said in the parable that the rich man being in Hell He lift up his eyes Luke 16.23 and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom but the distance being so great as Heaven and Hell that cannot be litterally understood but onely parabolically it is otherwise here for howsoever the separation be already made yet neither is the sentence nor execution past upon the reprobates and indeed as yet both the Saints and reprobates are in the Air the one on the right hand and the other on the left hand of Jesus Christ and therefore they cannot but have a full view of each other In the Apocriphal book there is a plain description of this view Wisd 5.1 2 3 4 5. Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him and made no account of his Labours and when they see it they shall be troubled with terrible fear and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation so far beyond all that they looked for and they repenting and groaning for anguish of Spirit shall say within themselves this is he whom we had somtimes in a derision and a proverb of reproach we fools accounted his life madness and his end to be without honour how is he numbred among the children of God and his lot is amongst the Saints Here is a sight that will trouble and amaze the wicked that those who sometimes were their footstools should now be on Thrones that poor Lazarus who lay at the gates of that certain rich man should now shine like a Star near the Sun of Righteousness that they who were reproached reviled massacred murthered by them should now be their Judges joyning with Jesus Christ to sentence them to Hell Oh who can conceive the terrible thoughts of these men's hearts now the world cannot help them their old companions cannot help them the Saints neither can nor will onely the Lord Jesus can but Oh! there is the soul-killing misery he will not Ye Men and Devils saith Christ joint-heirs of Hell fit fuel for eternal fire look on us in our Thrones time was we could not have a look from you Christ and Christians were an abhorrency of spirit unto you you troad us under foot but now we are got above you oh see the vast difference betwixt us and you look on us look on me and my Saints see us on our Thrones see us glittering in glory and be confounded and amazed for ever 4. A particular strict account shall be then required and given Of what you will say I Answer 1. Of sins Come will Christ say Now confess all your sins before all the world time was that you consealed your sins but now every sin shall be laid open before God Angels and Men and now is the black Book
In his mercy or free grace 1. His justice will be glorified especially in punishing the wicked here on Earth litle justice is done on most offenders though some publick crimes are sometimes punished yet the actions of closets and chambers the designs and thoughts of men the businesses of retirements and of the night escape the hand of justice and therefore God hath so ordained it that there shall be a day of doom wherein all that are let alone by men shall be questioned by God Shall not the judge of all the world do right Gen. 18.25 then all thoughts shall be examined and secret actions viewed on each side and the infinite number of those sins which escaped here shall be blazoned there all shall have justice and the justice of the judge shall be so exact that he will account with men by minutes and that justice may reign entirely God shall open his treasure I mean the wicked man's treasure and tell the sums and weigh the grains and scruples Deut. 32.34 Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my treasures I will restore it in the day of vengeance saith the Lord. Oh how will God glorifie his justice at that day surely his justice shall shine and be eminently glorious in every passage 2. His mercy or free grace will be glorified in rewarding the Saints And this is the main the supreme end of his coming to judgment 2 Thes 1.10 He shall come saith the Apostle to be glorified in his Saints not but that the Angels shall glorifie the riches of his grace as well as Saints but because the Angels never sinned they have now kept their Robes of innocency their cloth of Gold above five thousand years without one spark of dirt or change of colour therefore the glory of his grace is more especially fastened on Saints that sometimes were sinners Oh what stories will be told at this day of graces acts I was a blasphemer 1 Tim. 1.13 and a persecutor and an injurious person said Paul but I obtained mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I was be-mercied as if he had been dipt in a River in a Sea of mercy it may be he will make the same acknowledgment at the day of judgment I was a sinner but the grace of the Lord Jesus to me was abundant superabundant I obtained as much grace as would have saved a world Certainly free grace shall then be discovered in some purpose Rom. 5.20 then it shall be known That where sin abounded grace far more it over-abounded or more than over-bounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a word borrowed from Fountains and Rivers which have over-flowed with Waters ever since the Creation then all the Saints shall exalt and magnifie and with loud voyces praise the glory of his grace they shall look on their debts written in graces book and then shall they sing and say O the mystery of grace O the gold-mines and the depts of Christs free love why this was the great design of our salvation at the first when God was willing to communicate himself out of his aloneness everlasting he laid this plot that all he would do should be to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1.6 and now at his second coming having done all he will do the Saints for whom he hath done all admire esteem honour and sound forth the praises of his grace Is not this their everlasting song which they begin at this day Glory to the Lamb and glory to his grace that sitteth on the Throne for ever more not but that they glorifie him in his wisdom power holiness and his other attributes ay but especially in this it is his Grace in which he most delighteth even as vertuous Kings affect above all their other Vertues to be had in honour for their Clemency and Bounty so Jesus Christ the King of Kings affects above all the glory of his grace And to this purpose Heaven it self is an house full of broken men who have borrowed millions from Christ but can never repay more than to read and sing the praises of Free-grace Glory to the Lamb and glory to the riches of his grace for evermore Thus for directions one word of Application or a few motives to work Faith in you in this respect 1. Christ in his word invites you to believe these are his Letters from Heaven Come all to the marriage-supper of the Lamb Ho every one that thirsts come in Heaven-gate is open to all that knock but fools foolish Virgins foolish souls which have no Faith nor will have any to render them fit for Heaven This meets with some that scruple what will Christ come again to receive me to himself shall I enter with him into glory alas no unclean thing shall enter into that holy City and shall such a sinner as I am be admitted Oh believe believe thy part in this coming of Christ to receive thee to himself and no sin that thou feelest a burthen shall keep thee out of Heaven There is Rahab the Harlot and Manasseh the Murtherer and Mary that had so many Devils a man that hath many Devils may come where there is not one Luke 14.22 Lame and Blind and Halt may enter into Heaven and yet still there is room there is a great variety of guests above and yet one Table large enough for all no crouding and yet thousands and thousands of thousands sitting together Ah poor soul why dost thou make ecceptions where God makes none why shouldst thou exclude thy self out of these golden gates when God doth not believe onely believe in the Lord Jesus and the promise is sure and without all controversie thou shalt be saved 2. Christ by his Ministry intreats you to believe come say they we beseech you believe in your judge it may be you startle at this what to believe in him who is a coming to be your judge but if your judge be Jesus if the same person who dyed for you shall come to judge you why should you fear indeed if your judge were your enemy you might fear but if he who is your Lord and who loves your souls shall judge you there is no such cause will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friends a brother by a brother a child by a father or a wife by her husband consider is not he your Judge who came down from Heaven and who being on earth was judged condemned and executed in your stead and yet are ye fearful O ye of little faith Oh what an unreasonable sin is unbelief nay say the scrupulous if I were assured of this if I knew that my judge were my friend I should not fear but is he not my enemy have not I provoked him to enmity against my soul do I not stand it out in arms against my judge am not I daily sinning against him who justly may condemn me for my sin give this