an infant as it is now in a man growne so it is that the inward light of the minde by an addition of wisedome and knowledge taketh increase The third thing we haue still neede of is that God should shine vnto vs with a light of reuelation in his word for as the bodily eye cannot be inlightned to see till it hath outward light afforded so it is with the soule and the eye thereof But of this before is spoken The fourth thing is a direction and application of the eie of our mind to behold things that are spirituall If the naturall man all his faculties moue in God much more the spirituall Prou. 20.12 God is said to make the eye seeing and the eare hearing that is not onely to create them but gouerne and apply them to that they do otherwise we might be like to Hagar not seeing that which was before our eyes Euen as it is not the eye so much that seeth as the soule in and by the eye whence it is that if the minde be abstracted in some serious thought men see not that which is before them So it is not so much the eye of our vnderstanding as the spirit of Christ which is the soule of all the body mysticke which doth cause sight in vs. We doe euery thing but secondarily and instrumentally it being God who giueth principally both to will and to doe and all these are here to be conceiued because the end which the Apostle doth aime at cannot be attained without them Vse 1 To comfort weake ones who know but any thing if it be in truth so as it maketh them endeauour more conscionably to obey Hadst thou long beene without sight shouldst thou but be able to discerne thy hand held iust before thine eyes it would glad thee because it is a token of fight now comming on thee so this little sight when the heart is conscionably affected is a pledge of more returning to vs who are darkenesse it selfe quite deuoide of sauing knowledge by nature Vse 2 This must make vs still follow God and vse all meanes to be further inlightned Were our eyes sore and the sight of them not perished but depraued onely or diminished what would wee not doe to get helpe yea wee would abide strong smarting waters but we would mend this defect in them how much more should we seeke to amend all defects in the eyes of our vnderstandings Obserue secondly from hence that he doth pray that they might know their hope the matter of their inheritance that euen true beleeuers know not at first in any measure those hopes which are kept in heauen for them Naturally we know nothing of the hope to come When God doth now regenerate to these hopes we doe know them in some measure but nothing as we ought and may come to know them if we be not wanting to our selues Euen as earthly heires in their minority through want of earthly wisedome they know in generall that they haue inheritances where they lye but they doe not particularly and exactly know the seuerall Lordships which belong to them the worth of them c. yet the neerer they come to age the more they winde out such particulars so it is with vs Wee doe at first know things very confusedly and the neerer wee grow to our saluation the more wee come into the vnderstanding of these things Now the reason why these hopes are not so knowne is partly in the excellency of them and the glorious light which is in them if the Law hath his wonders in it Psal 119.18 what a wonderfull thing is this which is the vpshot of all the Gospell Againe the weake sight we see of yonglings in christianitie is not proportioned and fitted as yet to so high an obiect as this is Bring the light of a candle neere to the naturall babe and it cannot endure to looke vp against it Thirdly euen as children are so taken vp with their childish common-wealth that they cannot bend themselues to the more serious consideration of more important matters so beleeuers are a great while so carnally affected that they cannot set themselues to purpose about this contemplation Fourthly and lastly as Heires in earth want not crafty companions about them who will keepe them from knowing the worth of things which belong to them so the Diuell doth labour nothing more then to keepe vs hood-winked this way Vse 1 The Vse is first to rebuke such who will not seeke to haue further knowledge of their excellent hopes kept from them in the heauens Men will prie into all their hopes and possibilities in earth yea if it be a thing which in reuersion may doe good happily to some of their children they will make account of it they will know these things too well till they are proud count them as fooles who know them not and yet neuer seeke to know their free-hold in heauen Vse 2 In the second place this must stirre vs vp to seeke after those hopes to get the knowledge of the things kept for vs These are not like earthly hopes they make their eyes fall out who waite on them and sometime neuer come neere them such were Absolons and Adoniahs hopes sometime they are gotten but proue no blessing it being with them as it was with the Quailes which were giuen Israel 2 Thes 2. Tit. 2. 1 Pet. 1. But what if they be gotten and possessed in death they perish for death diuorceth a man from all these earthly things he enioyeth But these hopes will not let vs be ashamed these are good and blessed hopes yea life it selfe a liuing hope till we know this hope we haue in heauen we cannot be heauenly minded for where a man hath hope thither his soule will looke out and be more there then where he is bodily present This is it which maketh vs purge our selues Men that hope to stand before Princes will refine their behauiours and furnish themselues with all kinde of complement This knowledge of our hope is the spurre of action men worke cheerefully when they know an ample reward abideth them It is a ground of all patience sweete in hope maketh that which is sower for the present goe down more sweetly Doct. 3 Obserue thirdly Hope of his calling That there is no grounded hope but onely of such things as God hath called vs to obtaine We could not haue hope of saluation Gods kingdome life eternall had not God called vs hereunto 1 Thes 1.12 He hath called vs to his kingdome and glory 2 Thes 2.14 He hath called vs to obtaine life ergo Col. 1. it is said that the Colossians now had a hope laid vp in heauen when they had heard the word of truth euen the Gospell of saluation As no man can hope to stand before a mortall Prince in place of dignity and office till the King doe call him thereunto so none can groundedly looke to be in glorious condition in Gods kingdome
we haue obtained this or that we may cease to begge any longer as we did before Euen as the body resteth when it is now come to the place to which it moueth so the soule when it hath attayned that to which it went by vnfained desire Secondly when we finde the thing not to be profitable for vs or otherwise not pleasing to God Thus Paul was taught to see the vse of that buffeting remaining with him Thus when Ieremy learned that God had not to giue nor would not be intreated for the prosperity of the people hee did desist though hee did well before in asking of it for that reuealed will and not the secret is that to which our actions must be conformed Though here is somthing extraordinary in these examples yet God doth often let his children see that they did affect things not good for them by leading them into fuller knowledge of their owne hearts and by letting them finde the fruit of some outward disturbances the remoouall whereof they sought earnestly so that they correct themselues and no more seeke to be free from that which they finde so necessary by good experience this desisting is holy and good Thirdly there is a desisting ouertaking Gods children when God doth locke vp their hearts that they haue not power to seeke the good of some persons or Churches as heeretofore they haue done which when it is not contracted or caused by some sinfull indisposition in the party but from a secret of God not moouing the spirit in this kinde that so way may be made for his iudgements it is such a ceasing as cannot be condemned for sinne though it may alwayes be bewailed as a secret desertion which doth foretell heauie things insuing Fourthly Wee cease to pray as before for things without sinne when now God hath as it were spoken within our spirits that wee shall haue the thing we haue asked and bid our soules after a sort returne to rest For from whence we find God thus good vnto vs wee follow not with our accustomed feruency though execution delayed may cause vs sometime seeke the seasonable performance of it the soule is more in ioyfull expectance lesse then before in carefull petition The ceasing therefore forbidden is when before we receiue things we doe through vnbeliefe and impatience giue ouer either for a time which befalleth Gods children or altogether The latter question is answered thus Looke as a brunt of vnbeliefe doth not euacuate our faith formerly grounded on Gods promise for Dauid his saying that Saul would at length catch him and flying out of vnbeliefe to Gath did not make his former faith in vaine so intermission for a brunt while the fit of vnbeliefe deiection of minde or impatiencie lasteth doth not hinder but that wee shall receiue the things wee haue vnfeignedly desired The Vse is to stirre vs vp that wee faint not in following God Wee loue not to be troubled and euen molested with instancy but no thing is more acceptable to God then this violence which will not let him goe till he hath blessed vs. I but I seeke and see nothing of my prayers the haruest commeth not so soone as the seed is sowen though thou feelest not the things thou askest nor remoueall of those euils whereof thou complainest yet thou dost not know what euill this course of following God doth keepe from thee nor what good in other kindes he doth thee for it Againe thou shalt reape in time if thou vtterly faint not for that which is denied vs in life is often by Gods most wise disposition graunted in the end of it But to come to the prayer it selfe VERSE 17 Now followeth his Prayer in which we mark the Person to whom he prayeth with his description First from his relation to Christ Secondly from the attribute of his glory God of Christ the Father of glory 2. The benefits for which he prayeth touching which three things are to be obserued First the benefits to be bestowed which are propounded in this verse and further declared in the beginning of the verse following Secondly the way by which they should be giuen them in the end of this verse Wisedome and reuelation through the knowledge or acknowledging of Christ Thirdly the end that thus they might know both the things kept from them in the heauen and that which had beene bestowed vpon them To open the words of this verse the Father of glory doth note out God as glorious by nature in himselfe and the fountaine of that glorious life which is communicated with any of his creatures The spirit of Wisedome is put for the gift of wisedome which is bestowed on vs and it is called the spirit of wisedome both because the spirit doth beget it in vs as also because the same spirit is with it to sustaine it and perfect it Thirdly because the wisedome it selfe is of a spirituall nature moouing them in whom it is to worke after the direction of it The spirit of Reuelation Reuelation is extraordinary or ordinary and it is nothing but the gift of illumination or that light which the spirit causeth to shine about our mindes by which as a meane things spiritual are made manifest to the eye of our vnderstanding as by the light of the Sunne things bodily are made manifest to the eye of our body and the spirit causeth this and continueth it euen as the Sunne doth cause and continue this naturall light which we haue with vs all the day long Knowledge of Christ is put for that affectionate knowing acknowledging of him The summe is Since I heard of your faith in the Lord Iesus I goe to him who is the God of this Christ on whom you haue belieued who is the Father glorious himselfe by nature and the author of all that glory which is communicated with his children intreating him to giue vnto you that spirituall gift of wisedome whereby you may be able to vnderstand and that light of his spirit which doth make manifest the things spirituall which are to be vnderstood of you and this I wish you through the further knowing and acknowledging of that Christ in whom you haue beleeued More plainely I desire for you that God would giue you eyes of your vnderstanding so enlightned that you may know him Doct. 1 Obserue then first that wee must so consider of God when we come vnto him in prayer as that we may see in him the things we desire The Apostle going to Prayer for these Ephesians who had beleeued on Christ and about to seeke the glorious gifts of the spirit which might helpe them to know the glory reserued for them he setteth God before him as the God of that Christ whom these had now receiued by faith into their hearts and the father of all glory both of them strengthning his faith For he could not thinke that God the God of Christ would be wanting to those who were Christs or that the father of all
iudgement then shall we haue that life now hidden manifested in vs. Vse 1 The Vse of this is first to let vs see to whom we are to giue the praise of all we haue receiued euen to Christ the head of vs Wee haue receiued our spirituall being from him Vse 2 Againe we must labor to get more neere communion with Christ seeing hee is the fountaine whether should we haue recourse but to him the more we could approach to the Sunne the more should we be inlightned with the light of it Want of Vnion and Communion with this fountaine maketh the Grace in temporizers come to nothing as waters doe which haue no running spring to feede them Who hath elected vs verse 4 Now he doth prosecute the Doctrine of Gods benefits which were summarily propounded and proueth that he spake by particular enumeration first of benefits before all times which we haue so in Christ that wee haue them through him Secondly of those benefits which we haue so in Christ that we haue them also for his sake through him as he speaketh in the 7. verse changing his phrase in whom we haue redemption through his bloud The former are two 1. Election in this verse 2. Predestination in the 5. and 6. verses In this verse wee are to marke these things 1. The spirituall blessing as hee hath elected 2. The persons heere said to be elected vs 3. The person in whom in him 4. The time 5. The end First to open the meaning of them and then to come to the instruction to be deduced First for Election it is put sometime for that election which is made in temporary execution of Gods purpose whether it be a separating of men to the state of Grace which maketh them as the chosen first fruits of the creature thus it is taken Iohn 15.19 The world hateth you because I haue chosen you out of the world thus 1 Pet. 1. ver 2 to the elect of the dispersion seemeth to be vnderstood or a separating of them to any office or dignity as Saul yea Iudas might in this sense be said chosen But heere hee speaketh of that choyse which God made with himselfe from all eternity as is manifest Secondly By the persons vs he meaneth himselfe with those Ephesians which hee had called Saints and beleeuers ver 1. In him Is diuersly construed first in him that is in God the Sonne not considered as God-man Head and Mediator of the Church but as second Person God with the Father Thus all things are said created in or by Christ not that he is considered as Man-God in this worke but because Christ God-Man as the Sonne of God God with the Father and Spirit as that person by whom all things are created But ver 3. it is plaine he doth consider Christ as wee are blessed in him in regard of both natures euen as he hath God for his God by couenant In him who hath God for his God and Father we are blessed Some make this in Christ not to be referred to that action of election but to the end in this sense He hath chosen vs in Christ that we should be holy that is hee hath chosen vs that wee should be holy in Christ but besides the harshnes it is impertinent though a truth for his scope is to proue not that in Christ we are made holy but that we haue this blessing of election in Christ Some take in Christ as if it belonged to the persons elected in this sense as he hath chosen vs now by faith in Christ to that fore-sight of his which beholdeth all things as present which are to come but this is beside the scope of this Scripture which intendeth not to lay downe our vnion with Christ by faith but Gods electing Christ Ergo in him must needs belong to the action of Electing not that obiect about which it is exercised In him Therefore noteth Christ God-man as the head and first Elect after whom and in whom all of vs his body for order of Nature are elected so that this phrase noteth the order in which wee come to be elected not the cause of election For the time there are 3. 2 Thess 1.13 2 Tim. 1. phrases which seeme to note the same thing 1. From the beginning 2. Before worlds 3. Before the foundation of the world These all may note that eternall loue of God toward vs there vnderstand nothing but eternity but because within eternity God doth foresee the things which are done in time and therefore though hee chose from eternity nothing hindereth as some thinke but that hee might foresee some thing whereupon to choose therefore this phrase may be extended not onely to respect the actuall creation but the Decree it selfe of the worlds being to this sense that hee chose his in order of nature before by his Decree hee laid the foundation of the world The end is all one with saluation elsewhere named for loue made perfect is the formall blessednesse we looke for in heauen it is nothing else but the supernaturall being and life of a Christian which is begun in Grace perfected in glory The summe of these words more amply is this Blessed be he who hath blessed vs in Christ with euery spirituall blessing As for example First he hath with himself set his liking on vs chosen vs before others vs I say who now belieue on Christ and are sanctified by his spirit this his Election beginning first at Christ our Head and so descending downeward on vs his members in him and this his Grace was toward vs before there was any word yea for order of nature before his decree did â—ay the foundation of the world that to which he hath elected being no lesse then saluation that glorious life of loue which begun heere shall one day bee made spotles and perfect before him Now to come to the Doctrine hence to be deduced Doct. 1 First We see what is a blessing worthy all thankfulnesse euen this of our election I praise God alwaies who hath elected you from the beginning This is the roote out of which all these blessings grow which in time we partake euen as the body and bowes branches of the tree issue from the root and are corne vp by the same Ergo this is in nature and in S. Pauls reckoning before predestination it selfe For as first I agree vpon this end I will help a sicke man to recouer his health before I determine to send for any Physitian so here God doth first by election choose to the end and agree on that in order of nature before hee predestinate meanes by which he will most certainely bring to this end For the better vnderstanding of this benefit two things shal be briefly opened 1. What it is 2. Why God the Father is here said onely to elect For the first the common matter which doth concur to the being of this benefit is loue a loue which God hath to vs
which proceedeth from vnbeleefe Secondly such who may be certaine of saluation by faith they may be secure if they did not as well stand in this grace by faith as first enter into it but this wee teach with the Scripture and ergo our doctrine doth show that those who see this Grace haue still need to looke to Christ the author and finisher of it that they may so stand in it vnto the end Thirdly it is false that such as are sure of saluation haue no cause to feare vnlesse no other euils but finall damnation need to be feared but while the soule is subiect to bring vpon it Gods temporary wrath sicknesses spirituall hellish anguish to the sense of it there is still left cause enough to feare Vse 1 Let vs then detest that damnable doctrine which doth condemne this particular perswasion as presumptuous heresie which maketh the spirit play all-hid in vs so that wee cannot know what wee haue what wee doe what things abide vs through Gods mercy Yea let it reproue many of our conceits who haue left popery and yet thinke that this is impossible that it is too high a point somewhat presumptuous that it is not necessary that a common hope is sufficient Vse 2 Seeing the spirit we haue is but as an earnest a small thing in comparison of that whole summe let vs not be dismayed though our knowledge and faith be but little The imperfect life in a babe is life as truely as that life which a man attaineth at his constant age Though wee must not take occasion to liue in lust with a litterall knowledge and common profession as many do from hence that all is imperfect and nothing which we obtaine here yet hauing the Grace which doth make vs in any measure cleanse the heart though it be neuer so little euen hence we are not to be discouraged seeing it may be little and yet a true earnest of that fulnesse to be giuen vs. Vse 3 Lastly How should wee labour both to get and keepe this holy spirit holy in it selfe making vs holy in whom as Temples it dwelleth Men if they deale in great matters they loue to get earnest and good ones the fuller earnest the more security Againe they keepe and esteem an earnest more then other money which hath no such reference to further matters as that hath so it should be with vs. Let vs then desire this spirit of Grace at him who giueth it Let vs not despise good meanes and so quench it Let vs not by not heeding the suggestions and inspirations of it grieue it Let vs frequent the company of those who are spirituall able to quicken vs in this kinde Doct. Vntill the redemption purchased c. Whence first obserue that the spirit abideth with vs as a pledge confirming vs til our redemption our full redemption First that it abideth Secondly as an earnest or pledge Isa 59. v. 50. God promised that his word and spirit should neuer depart from that blessed seede and all those who should be borne after a sort of him and Rom. 8. the spirit of Christ is said to dwell in vs who are Christs Yea so that it shall at length quicken our mortall bodies the seed of God is said to abide in those who are borne of God that they cannot sinne but I will not prosecute this heere which I haue done else-where It abideth a pledge confirming that full redemption for euâ—n soules now perfected haue the sanctifying graâ—â—â— for substance which heere they had though their faith and hope be changed into sight and quiet expectation and by that executed in their spirits they doe expect the consummation of glory both in body and soule But it may be said Doth the spirit leaue vs at the time of our full redemption No but though it dwelleth with vs yet it ceaseth to be a pledge of further matter euen as the money giuen a man in earnest bideth with him when hee hath the whole summe payed but it is no longer an earnest of further money to be receiued Vse This then is our comfort who haue found this holy spirit dwelling and working in vs Though it may leaue such as Saul whom it neuer sanctified yet it shall neuer depart quite from them whom it hath in truth sanctified but they shall like Dauid then haue it praying in them that is teaching them to pray when they thinke themselues most deuoid of it Doct. Obserue lastly that he saith we haue a pledge giuen vs till the redemption come which is purchased for vs that heere the faithfull see not themselues fully deliuered Wee are the Sonnes of God but it appeareth not what wee shall be wee belieue life euerlasting we doe not see it yet we by nature lye in darkenesse of sinne and miserie God will haue our light return successiuely euen as the light of the Sunne which shineth from one degree to another till it come to full strength Prou. 4. There is a double redemption the one which we haue by faith vers 7. the other which we shall haue in that great day This redemption belongeth immediately directly to man to the creature mediately for in that great day the creature shall be changed from the vanity and bondage of corruption to which it is subiect As the first Adams treasonable defection deserued to be punished both in his person and in all the things which appertained to him so it was meet that the second Adams obedience should not onely restore man but the creature also which might any way be a fit appurtinance to him in his state of glory But one may ask what vse there shall be of these visible heauens of the earth when mans mansion is prepared in those third heauens In these things we are not to be curious What if God wil haue them stand as a monument of his former power wisedome goodnes toward vs in our pilgrimage Againe wee see it is a state belonging to earthly Princes to haue houses here or there which sometime through all their raignes they doe not once visit What respecteth man ye may finde in that I haue written on the 13. verse Vse 1 The vse is to encourage vs equally to beare the euils which presse vs Had we nothing to complain of our redemption might well seeme already past O this is our reioycing heere wee know misery in many regards but our Iubilie our year of redemption hasteneth God doth so feast his children that hee will haue their best dish last When trauellers set out in the fogge and darke mist of the morning it doth comfort them that they know the day is at hand and they shall haue it fayrer and fayrer On the contrary if thou gettest not this pledge of the holy spirit of Christ thou hast receiued thy consolation nothing doth abide thee but weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth an eternall night a reckoning which wil be more bitter then the pleasures of sinne haue seemed sweet