Christ have cause to fear him because of his wisdom when Saul saw that David behaved himself very wisely he was afraid of him 1 Sam. 18.15 5. Walk circumspectedly not as Fools but as wise Eph. 5.15 walk as wise before him that hath such Riches of wisdom when we are amongst wise men we will speak and act as wisely as we can much more being before the wise Lord of Heaven and Earth be wiâ—e to consider the day of visitation the things of Peace be exact in our walkings and doings have Eyes before behind and within as the beasts have Rev. 4.6 8. the Body hath not so but the Mind should look before to see the Lord before us his will and Glory look to the Joy before us look behind to see what we were in the Flesh and to Satan pursuing the world persecuting have Eyes within to see our failings imperfections wants and what is amiss within us 6. Let there be Wisdom dwelling within you so as 't is with Christ that is we should know and do know and obey know and love if ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them John 13.17 Be doers and not hearers only otherwise knowledge will but aggravate sin and increase Judgment As we should have Eyes within before and behind so also Wings Rev. 4.8 we should make haste and not delay to keep the Righteous Judgments of God CHAP. VI. THere are in Christ Riches of Power Job 9.4 He is Wise in Heart and mighty in Strength not only strong but mighty in strength he excels therein so that the strongest Creatures have no strength in comparison of him verse 19. If I speak of strength lo he is strong what do we speak of the strength of Men Sampson Goliah and David's worthies c. he hath strength worthy of praise lo he is strong Solomon was a type of Christ in Wisdom David in his glorious Conquests so Sampson in his strength 1. There is his Power and Strength as he is God the Lord God Omnipotent all thinngs are possible to his Power by this he weigheth the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance and takes up the Isles as a very little thing to which the Power of the Nations is nothing yea less than nothing and vanity Isa 40.17 2. There is the Power as Mediator thus 1. There is the Power of his Death which may be called the weakness of Christ but yet stronger than Man than Satan than the World than Sin there is a conquering Power of his Death Heb. 2.14 By Death he destroyed him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil in his works Kingdom c. Satan had his power by means of Sin and that being satisfied for there is Redemption from his power The Death of Christ was not so destroying to Christ's own as to Satan's Kingdom and to the old Man which was Crucified with Christ when a dead-Man touched the bones of Elisha he was raised to live 2 Kings 13.21 and much more when Christ dying is touched by Faith those that are dead shall live Rom. 5.10 We were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son and if there be so great a Power in his Death what is the Power of his Life If so great a Power of Christ Crucified what is the Power of Christ Crowned If so great a Power of Christ in the Grave what is the Power of Christ on the Throne of his Glory 2. There is the Power of his Resurrection Phi. 2.10 That I may know him and the Power of his Resurrection which hath a justifying Power He was raised for our Justification Rom. 4.25 As the bonds of his Death were loosed and Prison Doors opened so this declared he had paid the uttermost Farthing and thereby the bonds of Captivity were loosed to the Vessels of Mercy who being under the bonds of Guilt were loosed thereby and enlarged There 's a raising Power of his Resurrection a saving Power of his Life Christ quickened becomes a quickning Spirit Because he lives the Elect shall live also John 14.19 He is a quickning Spirit to the Soul that is Planted in the likeness of his Resurrection and shall be to the Body the same Spirit by which he was quickened shall quicken your mortal Bodies Rom. 8.11 what a glorious Power is this And what reason had Paul to desire so much the Power of his Resurrection and how happy are they that have the experimental knowledge of it 3. There is the Power that Christ hath with the Father in his Mediation and Intercession If Jacob had Power with God then how much more Christ who could say I know thou always hearest me let me alone said the Lord to Moses c. Exod. 32.10 What was this but to shew what Power Christ as Mediator hath to hinder Divine Wrath from consuming Sinners having taken it upon himself he saves from wrath such as believe in him as on the other side he hath Power to draw forth wrath against Antichrist and all his Enemies Rev. 8.3 5. The golden Censer is filled with Fire and cast into the Earth This is a sweet consideration for true Believers that 't is Christ their Head Saviour Redeemer c. who hath Power to dispense good and evil Grace and wrath having a loosing and binding Power in some sort in relation to the Fathers Love and Wrath. 4. Christ hath Power over himself and his own wrath Num. 14.17 When the People murmured because of the evil report brought upon Canaan and the Lord threatned to destroy them Moses makes intercession Let the Power of my Lord be great as thou hast said the Lord gracious c. and now pardon the Iniquities of thy Servants When the Lord pardons he hath Power over his own wrath when men are offended and provoked they have not always Power to keep themselves from revenge Simeon and Levi had not Power over their own wrath which Jacob cursed because 't was cruel but the Lord hath Power over his Wrath to turn it from believing convinced humbled repenting sinners when the Lord knows and we know also our manifold transgressions and mighty sins Amos 5.12 'T is comfortable to know that the Lord hath a mighty Power to pardon even mighty sins as Christ lays hold on the Fathers strength so we may on his and make Peace Isa 27.9 5. Christ hath Power over Men's Heart 1. Of the Elect to change them and to turn them from sin unto God to take away the heart of Unbelief the heart of stone he can humble the proud heart and make the rebellious heart to yield How soon can Christ make us other Men Saul why Persecutest thâ—u me I am Jesus and what said Saul Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Acts 9.4.6 2. Of wicked men he can bind up and bound their Malice he can melt and incline their hearts towards his Servants as he did once and again the heart of Saul towards David of Ahashuerus towards Mordecai
flowing in till there be fullness and then they never flee away concerning Babylon's wealth the cry will be Alas alas in one hour so great Riches are come to nought Rev. 18.16.17 but Sion's Riches never came to nought being the durable Riches Prov. 8.18 2. They many times hinder Mens entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven 't is hard for â— Rich Man to enter thither because Riches are loved more than that Kingdom but being rich in Christ and having Vertue and Knowledge Temporance and Godliness added to Faith so you may know that Entrance shall be administred abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ 2. Pet. 1.8 11. 3. The love of Money is the Root of all Evill a Root bearing Gall and Wormwood as Lying Deceit Violence Apostacy Pride c. on the other side the love of Christ's Riches will be a Root out of which much good will grow as Obedience Zeal of following Christ Boldness to Confess him a heavenly Conversation with contentment with food convenient as the love of Money is the Root of Sin so of piercing Sorrow and distracting Cares but the love of Christ's Riches will be a Root out of which much Peace and Joy will grow even that Peace which passeth Understanding and Joy unspeakable and full of Glory 2. Let those that are partakers of Christ's Riches take these Instructions 1. Be poor in Spirit when you are rich in Christ being rich in the Spirit of Christ given you be poor in your own Spirits Paul said in nothing came I behind the very chiefest Apostles though I be nothing 2 Cor. 12.11 whatever I have now there was a time when I had nothing and was nothing I see now but I was blind I am Righteous now but I was a Sinner and by the Grace of God I am that I am 1 Cor. 15.10 I have no Sufficiency of my self but his Grace is sufficient for me thus be poor in Spirit then you are blessed for yours is the Kingdom of God Math. 5.3 blessed are those that are thus poor in Spirit for they are rich blessed are they that are empty for they are full blessed are they that are thus nothing in Christ they have all 2. Know that it is by your Faith you are Rich Jam. 2.5 rich in Faith Faith seeing Christ Faith receiving Christ and staying upon him makes Rich. Thou standest thou livest thou lovest thou followest Christ by Faith therefore be not high minded but fear be not low minded but believe 3. Such as are rich in Christ should be rich towards Christ 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Charge them that are rich in this World that they be rich in good works much more should those that are rich in Christ be rich in good works abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor. 15 58. 6. 20. 4. Prize the Riches of Grace as well as the Riches of Glory Isa 33.6 the fear of the Lord is his treasure as the fear of the Lord and zeal of worshiping God was that which brought so much treasure to Hezekiah and filled his Treasures with precious things so the Worship and Service of God was esteemed by him as a great Treasure the Treasures of Grace which he had in his Heart were better than the house of his precious things he is a sound Christian that looks on the favour of God and the fear of God as his Treasure 5. Communicate of your Riches As the Ministration of the Spirit so the Riches of Christ are given to profit withal and we should be good Stewards of them in trusting as we are intrusted comforting as we are comforted when Christ gives his Riches he gives his Charge with them Occupy till I come Luk. 19.13 with 1 Pet. 4.10 6. Honour the Lord with your earthly Riches feed Christ hungry and cloath Christ naked we may argue as the Apostle 1 Cor. 9.11 If we have sown Spirituals is it a great matter if we reap your Carnal things If Christ sows his Heavenly Spiritual Incorruptible Riches is it a great matter for him to reap our Carnal make you Friends of the Mammon of Vnrighteousness Covetuos Men look on Mammon as their best Friend Saints should not do so but make themselves Friends with it Not Christ we can't make him our Friend by our Riches Believe come to him Reverence him and so he will be our Friend our Riches cannot purchase his Friendship but make the Saints our Friends do good to the Houshold of Faith and then when these fail they shall receive you with Joy and consecrate your Gain to the Lord If Men have not a heart to it themselves the Lord will do it for them Mich. 4.13 I will consecrate their Gain to the Lord c. when covetous Men make a God of their Wealth Saints should Honour God with it 2 Sam. 1.21 Ye Mountains of Gilboa let their be no Rain nor Dew nor Fields of Offerings the Fields of Canaan were Fields of Offerings of the Fruits of them were made Offerings to the Lord so shâ—â—ld the Fields of Saints be Fields of Offâ—rings tâ—eir Riches the Riches of Offerings and 〈◊〉 â—hat is in the hands of wicked Men is the Mammon of Unrighteousness but shall in the handâ— of Saints be the Riches of Righteousnesâ— 3. Comfort to such as have Christ and his Riches with him Those tâ—at have theâ—â— Portion only in this life and enjoy their good things here hereafter mâ—y have torment and as Jam. 4.1 Go too now ye Rich Men weep and howl for the Miseries that are to come upon you But go too now ye Sainâ—s that are so much scorned and contemned in the World so much persecuted c. rejoyce and be exceeding glad great are your Riches â—n Christ much have you received mo e is laid up for you great is your reward on Earth but far greater in Heaven If you are of the Poor of the World you are rich in Christ if you loose outward Riches for Chrâ—st's sake you have an hundred fold and in the World to come Everlasting Life and the fulness of heavenly Riches In every State you may know how to want and how to abound having Food and Rayment you may very well be content and account Food convenient as all Phil. 4.18 I have all and abâ—und having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you what an Excellent frame of Spirit was there and most worthy of our Imitation and what cause is there to rejoyce in filling up that which is behind of the Sufferings of Christ as Paul did Coll. 1.24 seeing Christ is filling up that which is behind of our Grace and Glory and is the Lord Proving and Trying you as Silver is tried doth he bring you into a Net and lay Afflictions upon your Loins doth he at any time cause Men to ride over your Heads what is the Issue of all Psa 66.12 Thou ledd'st us through fire and Water and brought'st us out into a wealthy Place Heaven is the wealthy place thither at
grace offered unto them they out of hardnesâ— and unbelief in refusing are made the more inexcusable their Mouths are stopped not only by the Law but the Gospel and the Justice of God is more glorified in their Condemnation This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World c. Objeâ—tion Why is unbelief and not laying hold on Grace charged on Men as their Sin if they have not free will and power of themselves to consent to the taking of Christ Answer Unbelief is never the less sin for that a Man hath not power to believe As transgressing the Law is never less sin because a Man hath not power to keep the Law because Man had once power given him 't was given him in Adam and lost in Adam who was the Head of all Men and representatively every Man There is the more of Divine Grace seen in giving Faith to any and nevertheless of sin in any to refuse it As 't is Man's sin that he doth not believe so 't is Man's sin that he cannot believe Sin caused the Impotency and Impossibility of believing so Impotency and Impossibility doth not make unbelief no sin Sect. 20. Use 1. Of Instruction God works to will and to do the will of the Creature is determined by God to this or that to will good to consent to embrace Christ and things that please him Now if the will of the Creature be determined by God Then 1. The will of God is not determined by the Creatures God works in a Creature a will and consent to be saved by Christ so the Creatures willing and embracing Salvation doth not work a will in God to save him as the Apostle says We love God because he first loved us 1. Joh. 4.10 The love of the Creature is not the cause of the love in God but the love of God is the cause of love in the Creature so Man wills because God wills and works to will God doth not so will the Salvation of Man because Man wills it There 's an Opinion abroad that advances the Creature and the power of Nature to embrace good offer'd and that makes the will of God in relation to Salvation wholy dependent on the will of Man and determin'd by it They say God wills Salvation to all alike and is not determined to this or that Man but by the right use of free will This day if Man's will consents to take Christ c. then God wills his Salvation To morrow if he be off from willing what he did before then God is off from willing his Salvation And thus God's will is not the first mover and cause of things but Man's will This is overthrown by this Text God determines the will of Man Iâ— it be determined by God to will the embracing of Christ this is of God God works Man to will so Man doth not work God to will because God wills it he makes the Creature to will it For further clearing it Consider Consid 1. God wills the Salvation of some but not of all the Gospel says 1 Tim. 2.4 God will have all to be saved But this is meant of some of all sorts not of all of all sorts and God wills it that is calls on all Men to receive the knowledge of the Truth invites all to come to Christ so he wills it with his offering will but not with his ordaining will That thus appears Esau was a Person God never did will to save For before they had done either good or evil that the purpose of God might stand God said the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I chosen Esau have I hated Rom. 9.11 There is Election of God What is that A chusing of one that implies a passing by of another If there be any such thing as Election from Eternity which the Scripture so often speaks off then God doth not will the Salvation of all Consideration 2. The will and decree of God in relation to Man's Salvation is absolute and peremptory 1. In respect of any cause without God no foresight of Faith or of what the Creature will do if it be placed in such a condition and Grace be offered to it Rom. 9.5 He saith to Moses I will shew Mercy to whom I will shew Mercy 'T is not of him that willeth but of God that sheweth Mercy Man's will is not the cause of God's will to shew Mercy 2. Absolute without alteration the foundation of the Lord standeth sure c. 2 Tim. 2.19 Rom. 8.30 Whom he predâ—stinated them he called and whom he â—alled them he justified c. The immutability of his Councel c. Heb. 6 18. Consid 3. Christ was given to dye for such as are ordain'd to life It 's true as in Adam all dye so in Christ all are made alive Rom. 5. It doth not follow that Christ died for every Man Hence if any will conclude that Christ died for every Man it may be as well concluded that every Man shall be actually saved but that 's clear against Scripture For 1. Christ shall save all that he died for For this is the will of him that sent me of all that he hath given me I should not loose nothing but raise it up at the last day Joh. 6.39 But all are not saved so Christ died not for all 2 Christ did not pray for all so did not die for all Joh. 17.9 19. For their sake I sanctify my self that is sacrifice my self For whose sake For the Men thou hast given me out of the World verse 6. Consid 4. God in due time works in their Hearts a consent and will to take Christ for a Saviour whom he did will to save by Christ As many as were ordain'd to Eternal Life believed Act. 13.48 God was willing to shew to the Heirs of Salvation c. Heb. 6.18 God makes Heirs of Salvation his will to save them makes them Heirs And God shews to them his will and counsel and the immutability of it and then God makes willing None can come except the Father draws and it follows they shall be all taught of God Joh. 6.45 All are drawn and made willing that are ordained to Eternal Life So that God's will is the cause of the Creatures will and not the Creatures the cause of God's God's free will is the cause of Salvation and not Man's free will Use 2. Of Consolation To such as do will to be saved by Christ and to take him as he is offered in the Gospel herein you may see a saving work of God on their Souls or God in their Hearts working them to will 1. If your will he to embrace Christ and close in fully with the Gospel Promises then you may reâ—d the will of God to save you the will of God in giving Christ for you this is an evidence of God's will for good God by this writes a Book of Life in your Hearts in which you may read your Names read the Eteâ—nal
but Christ is inwardly revealed and the Soul is convinced this is Christ. 2. By forming Christ in a Man Gal. 4.19 I travel in birth till Christ be formed in you that is that he be imbraced by your Faith and held fast in your Soul and your Souls are made to live by Christ and to Christ so as that it may appear in your Conversation that Christ is in your Hearts from both gather that where Christ is truly known he is revealed in a Man the Soul comes to see and to be acquainted with Christ yea Christ is known not only Speculatively but Experimentally Christ is formed the power of Christ's acts and works in the whole Soul and when Christ is thus known then is there that Excellency of Knowledge see Phil. 3.8 9. where Observe three things wherein the Excellency and Experimentalness of this Knowledge appears to be in a Man 1. There is an accounting all things but dung that a Man suffers the loss of for Jesus Christ many Men may suffer the loss of Goods for Christ's saâ—e that yet it may be have not attained to this Excellency of Knowledge but such an Excellency of Knowledge such a high degree of Prizing Christ as to look on Honour on Riches the best of Worldly Accommodations as Dung that can part with them yea utterly contemn them and cast them away as Dung and Filth so I may enjoy Christ and have Communion with him this is Excellency of Knowledge 2. A Man will be found trusting in Christ alone for his Justification he knows no Righteousness no Merit of his own no Duties that he will be found in and plead for his Acceptance with God he sees abominableness in his best Performances Iniquity in his most holy things so that cannot render him beloved but the more abhored but he sees perfect Righteousness in Christ no stain no defect in it and that his Beauty and Renown may be perfect through his Comeliness that Christ's Righteousness is a perfect covering for all his Spots and Deformities which if cast on him that then he is so perfectly Justified that God shall not see Iniquity in him and that if it be sought it shall not be found and that Christ's Righteousness is not like that Covering Isa 28.20 that 's narrower than a Man can wrap himself â—n it If the greatest Sinner can wrap himself in this Covering it will be enough to hide all his Iniquities 3. There is a knowledge of the Power of Christ's Death and Resurrection that is 〈◊〉 knows and feels a Power of Christ 's death which makeâ— him conformable unto his death whereby his old man is Crucified as Christ was Sin ceases to reign in him the strength of corruption is abated in him and a Power of his Resurrection whereby you have been quickned and made to live a life of Grace such a life as Christ lived that is to glorify God on Earth by doing his will 6. Your Knowledge must be an affectionate knowledge A knowledge of the Excellency of Christ in such a manner as that your hearts be enflamed with love to him Knowledge is sometime put for Love 1 Cor. 8.3 or else it is to be interpreted as taking love to it as John 10.15 As the Father knoweth me so I know the Father that is because the Knowledge of God must infer love As the Father loves the Son as Beza And certainly there is that in Christ which will beget love if it be rightly known John 10.17 So the Father loveth me because I lay down my life So if we come to know the love of Christ in laying down his life and the unspeakable good that comes thereby we shall love him Cant. 1.3 therefore the Virgins love thee and Chap. 2.3.4 Let me ask that question of you as Christ of Peter John 21. Lovest thou me Do you love Christ So will you if you know him Yea as he said Lovest thou me more then these If you do you love him above all other Excellencies more than these Bodies than these Estates than these Friends c. 7. Your Knowledge must be Operative Excellency of Knowledge will beget an excellent practise a good conversation 2 Pet. 1.8 They shall not be barren in the Knowledge of Christ Rev. 22.4 They shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their foreheads that is shall know him and outwardly profess him where Christ is seen his Name his Honour and Dignity is born forth in a Christian practise held out in a holy Conversation Rev 21.24 in the description of the New Jerusalem i. e. the Church 't is said The Lamb is the Light of it whence follow two things 1. The Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it They that have light saving knowledge and are in the way to be saved they shall walk in the light of it having this Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ they shall walk by it they shall walk according to the Lamb's precepts 2. The Kings of the Earth do 〈◊〉 their Glory and Honour to it that is to the â—â—mb that is light c. 1. They shall subject thâ—â— Glory and Honour to the Honour and Excellency of Christ reigning in his Church They shall acknowledge all to be inferior to his their Glory shall stoop and bow to Christ as the Moon and Stars made obeisance to Joseph in his Dreâ—m 2. If 〈◊〉 Glory Honour Power may add any Glory to Christ or may help to make this Jerusalem a praise and afford any benefit to the Saints they shall bring it in and freely give it up So where there is the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ all Glory and Honour will be made to stoop to Christ and all given up and laid forth in the cause of Christ you will rejoyce to spend your selves and Estates and be spent in that way wherein Christ may be magnified the Gospel advanced the Church profited the Saints comforted and refreshed 3. Means to get this Knowledge 1. See a necessity of attaining this knowledge without which you shall never obtain Life and Salvation This is Life Eternal c. If you want this knowledge you must be destroyed Vengeance is to be rendred on all that know not God To whom should we go said Peter thou hast the Words of Eternal Life Every one that will not labour to get the knowledge of Christ must needs perish Hos 4.6 Isa 33.6 Wisdom and Righteousness shall be the stability of thy times and strength of Salvation Do as the Wise Man exhorts Prov. 2.2 so that thou incline thine Eear unto Wisdom and apply thine Heart to Vnderstanding Yea if thou eryest after Knowledge and liftest up thy voice for Understanding 2. Look not on Christ after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 Henceforth know we no Man after the Flesh no not Christ What is it not to know a Man after the Flesh This is not to regard those Outward and Carnal Excellencies by which a Man gets esteem above
your Salvation look that when God hath begun God should finish The words are a full answer to the Goaler's question What shall I do to be saved and being thus cleared offer several Propositions Sect. 2. From the first sense of those words work out i. e. make it evident get assurance Doct. 1. The great business that requires greatest diligence is making Salvation sure That which most nearly concerns Men to set about with all diligence is the working out their own Salvation the full assurance thereof in their own hearts your work should be to make Salvation sure Heaven sure God and his All sufficiency Christ and his fulness sure The Apostle says he that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel If it be so great a fault to be so negligent of making Provision for your Family Children c. then how great a fault must it be to neglect your own Salvation not to make provision for the Soul especially when great Salvation is offered when the way of Life is discovered when Christ is preached that he is willing and able to save them to the utmost This is a work you should set about with so much zeal as never to rest satisfied till the Spirit of God evidence it to your Spirits that you are the Children of God till you see your selves founded on that sure foundation Jesus Christ and till by Faith you can see Heaven opened and Jesus sitting at the right hand of God making Intercession for you preparing Mansions for you so that you may say where Christ is I shall be what Christ is I shâ—ll see For the clearing of this point weigh seriously these particulars 1. Saâ—vation may be made sure Here consider First That for such as are ordain'd to Life or are Heirs of Salvation and have â—elieved in Christ their Salvation is a thing in it self most suâ—e Salvation is entail'd to them and this entail shall never be cut off they shall never be disinherited no Angel Principality nor Power c. shall be able to seperate from the Love of God in Christ 't is as sure as the whole Trinity can make it 1. On the Father's part sure He hath written their Names in the Book of Life And if God writes them who shall blot them out God the Father doth own them The Lord knows them that are his and this the Apostle calls a Foundation that stands sure God's knowing is chusing in his eternal Decree that is of ordering to Salvation That 's a sure Foundation nothing shall make it void 2 Tim. 2.19 And the Father hath covenanted with Believers to bestow Salvation and Liâ—e upon them and for the making good his Covenant hath given his Word and Oath Heb. 6.18 The Salvation of Believers depends on immutable causes so is most certain If Believers should perish God should break his Word and Oath now 't is impossible for God to lye so that â—â—om this place you may gather that 't is now as impossible that a true Believer should come short of Glory and eternal Life as it is that God should Sin So that we may argue thus God can't sin so a Believer can't dye Were a Man nder a legal condition under a Covenant oâ— woâ—ks he might argue thus concerning himselâ— I have sinned so ought to dye I have broken the â—â—w so the Law curses and condemns me and that justly But a Believer in a Gospel estate under the Covenant of Grace may argue thus God canâ—ot sin so I shall be saved God cannot lye so I shall never dye A Believer slips sometimes and may sin out of infirmity but the comfort iâ— though he may sin yet God cannot sin And 't is not a Believers not-sinning that is the Foundâ—tion on which Salvation is built but on the impossibility of God's sinning this is the sure Foundâ—â—ion 2. O Christ's part most sure He hath undertaken to â—ave that is mighty to save that is able to save to tâ—e utmâ—st 1. He is able to conquer the Enemies of Salvation 1. The Law that 's an Enemy to the Salvation of Sinners Those that are Enemies to it it says Curse And it hath dominion over men that are under it Christ was made under the Law who was above the Law he obeyed the Law being Lord of the Law So hath fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law which it required of men and undergone the Curse due to Sinners as Sinners and conquered the dominion and killing power of the Law so that the Law is not against the Promises against the Salvation of such for whom Christ is made a Curse so that there 's no power in the Law to kill a Believer 2. Sin Christ was made Sin it being imputed to him he dyed under the Sin of the Elect underwent punishment and being an innocent and infinite and most Glorious Person he suffered as much punishment as Sin deserved so Believers Sins shall never be punished on them And Christ dying under Sin he now undertakes to be the destroyer of Sin there may be motions of Sin but motions of Sin in Believers are but Sin 's death-pangs Christ hath given Sin a deadly wound Our Old Man is Crucified with Christ Rom. 6.6 Christ dyed for the Sins of Believers Christ will be the death of Sin in them This is a sure Foundation so they shall not dye 3. Satan Christ ascended and led captivity captive He hath taken the Devil captive that had the Elect in captivity Satan seeks to devour but shall but seek to devour the Elect. Christ is conqueror of Satan the Lord shall tread Satan under your feet Rom. 16.20 and Christ shall make them his foot-stool Thus amidst the many Enemies of Salvation Christ shall keep Believers to Salvation 2. Christ is able to make meet for Salvation Col. 1.12 Know ye not that no unrighteous Person c. shall enter c. 1 Cor. 6.11 into the new Jerusalem c. Now Christ can Wash Sanctify Justify his obedience is more able to make Righteous then Adam's disobedience to make Sinners his Righteousness is infinite perfect immutable Rom. 5.15 17. The Justification of Believers depends on a sure Foundation Adam's Righteousness is a slippery Foundation Christ's a sure Foundation No unclean thing shall enter but Christ of unclean can make clean 3. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever so that still Salvation depends on immutable Causes and an immutable God and an immutable Christ His Righteousness is the same sufficient to cover all Sin His Power is the same his Love is the same ground not so much your hope of Salvation on your selves on your abstinâ—nce from Sin or activity in Duties there is a great deal of change yesterday haply lively and quick in Duties to day dead let an immutable Christ Christ the same yesterday to day c. be in you the hope of Glory so your Peace Joy and assurance shall be the same 3. On the Spirit 's part sure The
Kings that gave up their Power to the Beast shall hate the VVhore c. Saints under so long a trouble must needs have fainted had they not believed to see the goodness of God in the Land of the living and had they not been assured that by the witty inventions of VVisdom dwelling with Prudence Babylon shall be made to fall and he that sits in the Temple of God shall come down and sit in the dust nay be cast into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone for the Beast and False Prophet shall be destroyed and their Bodies given to the burning flames 6. Lastly as when the old VVorld was destroyed by water God had a witty invention to save Noah and his Family so when the VVorld that now is shall be destroyed with Fire God will have a witty invention to save whom he pleases Now this glorious truth of the unsearchable Riches of VVisdom in Christ affords abundant matter of Joy and Incouragement to the Saints and Servants of Christ 1. As Christ hath the Riches of VVisdom so he is Wise for them to do them good The VVisdom bestowed on Solomon was for the good of the Israelites that he might know how to go in and out before them to do Judgment He had VVisdom to Teach and Instruct as we see in those Books of Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Canticles Eccles 12.9 Because the Preacher was Wise he still taught the People knowledge as the more wise he was the more he taught the People knowledge And so the more wisdom Christ hath the more shall he teach the Saints knowledge Solomon had wisdom to Build a Temple so had Christ to build a Spiritual House Solomon was wise to put a difference betwixt the Israelites and Strangers and these he made Servants for his work but those were free and Officers under him and Christ shall make Believers Free so as that they shall be free indeed Thus as Christ is Wise he is Wise for the Faithful Wise to Teach to Save and to perfect that which doth concern them 2. His Wisdom is to be a Fountain of Wisdom to them in his light must they see light by his wisdom they shall have wisdom Christ's wisdom multiplies in Regenerated ones as he hath a Spirit of wisdom so he gives it as the Sun is the light of the VVorld gives light to the Moon Stars to the Earth and living Creatures therein so is Christ the light of the Church he doth give VVisdom dwelling with Prudence to his Members he gives to men natural and civil wisdom for their ordering of their worldly affairs for in such things 't is God instructs men to discretion as he doth the Husbandman in and about his Husbandry Isa 2â— 26. and he gives Spiritual wisdom to the Saints to know God and order their conversaâ—iâ—n aright his work is to give more wisdom where it is begun and this he will do till all the Saints come up to the measure of the stature of his own fulness and this in the latter days will be a work that Christ will more gloriously appear in for mâ—ny shall run to and fro and knowledge shall abound Dan. 12.4 and the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea and the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun sevenfold as the light of seven days Then as he that is feeble shall be as David so he that is simple and but a babe in understanding shall be as Solomon This is incouragemâ—nt to go to Christ for wisdom As the Queen of Sheba came with her hard questions to Solomon and he satisfied her in all so should we come with our hard questions to Christ every true Christian hath many hard questions about Divine Truth about the sence of Scriptures about the dispensations of God and concerning his own Estate whether it be a state of Grace and Peace in which they are with God Now he should go to Christ for satisfaction There are hard questions among Believers in which they are divided as about the form and pattern of God's House Now they should seek to the Lord and wait on him and in due time he shall reveal even this unto them to the making of the Saints all of one Mind and Heart then the Lord shall be King over all the Earth and Antichrist no where King then the Lord shall be one and his name one only be humble see the way of Wisdom ask in Faith and he will give it Again are there unsearchable Riches of wisdom in Christ as Solomon was Renowned for his wisdom Then 1. Have a high esteem of Christ because of his wisdom all the Kings sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom and she that was a Queen said Happy are those thy Servants It is better to be Christ's Servants seeing his Glory and hearing his wisdom than to rule over men David behaved himself wisely and was Respected of all the People 1 Sam. 18.30 shall not Christ be judged much more worthy of acceptation David behaved himself more wisely then all the Servants of Saul and his name was much set by or very precious and shall not Christ's Name be much set by 2. Trust to his Wisdom he knows what is good for us and how to do us good and to make all work for good when we have wants he knows how to supply them when infirmities he knows how to help them when dangers he knows how to deliver out of them When there was an Achitophel giving counsel against David he had an Hushai to defeat his counsel when there are so many Achitophels in counsel at Rome here 's one that sits in Heaven whose Name is Wisdom dwelling with Prudence who knows how to defeat their counsel 3. Justifie Wisdom Wisdom is Justified of her Children as wisdom justifies them so should they justifie wisdom There is much finding fault Flesh is apt to find fault as Jonah said he did well to be angry by murmuring by impatience we condemn the Lord when the Flesh condemns let the Spirit and renewed part Justifie the Lord the world is apt to find fault Antichrist condemns the truth and ways of Christ and sets up many Doctrines and Ordinances to make void the Doctrines and Ordinances of God Now here Saints should Justifie wisdom and confess Christ stand up for his Truths Commands c. Justifie wisdom by words and works Although we cannot and ought not to justifie our selves against the charge of God's Holy Law by works yet there is a sence in which we ought to Justifie Christ by our works 4. Fear Christ because of his Wisdom we reverence men much that have wisdom beyond others and rise up before the hoary head that is because with the Ancient is wisdom Here is the Ancient of days with whom is perfect wisdom worthy to be had in reverence by them that are round about him the Enemies of