of this death That our comforter against spiritual deadness is in Christ the following words shew I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Though there be cause of mourning when we look into our own dead hearts yet there is cause of thanksgiving and rejoycing when we look up to God in Christ And that on these grounds 1. The end of Christs assuming our nature and suffering death for our sins was to give us life not only eternal life hereafter but spiritual life here and that in a plentifull measure Joh. 10.10 I am come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly Joh. 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world 2. Though there be in us much deadness yet in Christ and with Christ there is a fountain of life Psal 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light As it is with Fountains of water there is water to be had at all times and for all comers in the Fountain So it is with the Fountain of life there is life to be had constanly freely a sufficiency of life for all comers at all times to be had from this Fountain of life 3. The Lord hath given us many gracious and comfortable promises to encourage us to hope in him for quickning grace at such times as we find our selves under deadness as Joh. 11.25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet he shall live Joh. 6.57 He that eateth me even he shall live by me Psal 69.32 Your heart shall live that seek God Psal 22. They shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Amos 5.4 Thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel seek ye me and ye shall live We see here that Spiritual and Eternal Life is promised to such as seek the Lord These promises may be a great comfort to us under our deadness 4. Jesus Christ hath provided us excellent helps against our deadness I will instance in two helps 1. His word that hath a quickning influence in it Psal 119.50 Thy word hath quickned me And ver 93. I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me And as the Precepts so the promises of the word have a quickning virtue in them We may say of the promises with Hezekiah Isa 38.16 O Lord by these things men live and in all these things is the life of my Spirit 2. His spirit is an excellent help against deadness Joh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickneth The spirit of Christ is the spirit of life and this quickning spirit shall be given to those that ask it of God Luk. 11.13 5. When Christ who is our life shall appear we shall appear with him in glory and when we appear with Christ in glory we shall ive with him for evermore and shall never any more be troubled with deadness but shall be freed from the body of sin and death for ever Col. 3.3 4. Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Your Life is hid with Christ in God It may be understood of the life of Grace here and the life of Glory hereafter Our life of Grace is hid not only from the eyes of the VVorld but at sometimes and in part from themselves As Davenant observs Ex parte quoad quos sanctos quippe qui vitam hanc sentiant in se esse valdè infirmam obscuram dubiam obtentationes diaeboli carnis Yet the weakness of our Spiritual Life the deadness that is mixed with the life of grace shall not hinder our appearing with Christ in and if we appear with him in glory all our deadness and imperfections shall be done away for ever Sect. 7. There is comfort in Christ for such as are troubled for the weakness and imperfections of their services Many Christians finding their service they do for God and their Generations attended with very great weakness and many imperfections are much troubled and discouraged thereby But to such as go under this burden there is comfort to be had in Christ and that in these respects 1. Our persons and services are accepted of God not for the worthyness that is either in our persons or services but for the sake and upon the account of Jesus Christ Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the beloved And as our persons are accepted in Christ so are our services also 1 Pet 2.5 To offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ If any say how can imperfect services that have sin mixed with them be accepted of God I answer by the merits of Christ the imperfections and sins that are mingled with those holy services which we perform to God are done away and the services rendered acceptable to God Exod. 28.38 And it shall be upon Aarons Forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things of the children of Israel which the children of Israel shall hollow in all their holy gifts and it shall be alwayes on his Forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. Aaron was a Type of Christ our great High Priest The Plate on his Forehead that had graven on it Holiness to the Lord was a Type of the merits of Christ who is the Lord our Righteousness As Aaron bare away the iniquities of the holy things Typically which being done they were accepted of God So Christ doth really and truly bear away the sins of all services and thereby they are accepted of God 2. Though our services have much weakness and many imperfections in them yet if they be performed with Upright hearts God will accept them 1 Chron. 29.17 I know also my God that thou tryest the heart and hast pleasure in Vprightness As little done by an Upright man is more acceptable to God than great services done by wicked men Pro. 15.8 The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the Vpright is his delight 3. VVould you serve God and your Generation in a better manner if you were able and is it your burden that you can serve God no better then know for your comfort that God through Christ will accept of your willing mind though you have not such abilities to serve him as others have or as you your selves desire to have 2 Cor. 8.12 If there he first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 4. It is a great comfort to those that mourn over their imperfections that how imperfect soever they are in themselves they are compleat in Christ Col.
made light of in comparison of Christ Eccl. 2.27 Solomon having spoken of Mirth Musick Riches Stately Buildings Gardens Orchards the peculiar treasure of Kings c. Saith all is vanity and vexation of Spirit But speaking of Christ saith Cant. 5.10 My beloved is the chief among ten thousand But when men have great thoughts of the world and make light of Christ 't is a sign they have no interest in him suum cuique pulchrum Every one valueth and prizeth his own things 3. It is a sign that we esteem Christ above all things when in matters of deliberation we prefer Christs will above our own will and Christs interest above our own interests and the Glory of God above all our own concernments As it was with Christ when he was in great danger and deliberating what he should do whether he should pray for deliverance from Death or expose himself to suffer Death he resolved upon what was most for the Glory of God and preferred the Glory of God above his own Life Joh. 12.27 28. Now is my Soul troubled and what shall I say Father save me from this hour but for this cause came I to this hour Father Glorifie thy name So the grace of Christ teacheth every Christian in such cases as come under deliberation to prefer the glory of God above all worldly concernments 2. We may know we love Christ above all things in the world when we desire Christ and the favour of God in Christ above all things in the World For what we love best that we shall desire most Our love is discovered by our desires Now there is no good in this World is so much desired by gracious souls as the favour of God in Christ Psal 4.6 There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us There is nothing in all the world that is desired by gracious persons like the enjoyment of God and Christ and they that find such desires after Christ may conclude that they have a saving interest in Christ and that God is and will be their portion for ever Psal 73.25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever That desiring Christ above all things is an evidence of a gracious state appears hence because Unregenerate men have no desires after Christ Their Language concerning Christ is there is no beauty that we should desire him Isa 53.2 If you ask how shall we know that we desire Christ above all things A. 1. When the main thing that we seek after is to get Christ and Salvation by Christ For what we truly and heartily desire that we shall seek after and pray for Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after Rom. 10.1 Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved VVhere there is no seeking after Christ and Salvation by Christ no praying to God for Christ there are no hearty desires after Christ 2. VVhere Christ is desired above all things if the Lord should give us leave to ask what we would have given to us as he did Solomon 1 King 3.5 Ask what I shall give thee VVhat would we ask of God would we not ask Salvation by Christ If we would choose Christ above Riches above Honours and Pleasures above all the World that shews that we desire Christ above all things 3. We may know that we desire Christ above all things when the enjoyment of Christ is sweeter to us than the enjoyment of any thing in this World Prov. 13.19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the Soul Now do we find a sweetness in Christ Are not the fruits and benefits we have by his Death sweet and precious Cant. 2.3 His fruit was sweet to my tast Are not the thoughts of Christ sweeter and more pleasing than the thoughts of Riches or Honours or Pleasures Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet Is not the word of Christ his gracious promises sweeter than all earthly delights Psal 119.103 How sweet are thy words to my tast yea sweeter than hony to my mouth When we find a greater sweetness in Christ than in all other things it is a sign that we desire him and delight in him above all things 3. We may know that we love Christ above all things when he is our chiefest joy and delight For what we love most as we desire it most when we want it so we delight and joy in it most when we possess it Cant. 7.6 How pleasant art thou O my love for delights Now we may know that Christ is our chiefest joy and delight these ways 1. When we have greater joy from the apprehension of the love of God in Christ then from all riches or worldly enjoyments Psal 21.6 Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance Davids joy and gladness which he had from the light of Gods countenance was exceeding great joy it did exceed all the joy that the greatest confluence of worldly comforts could afford to him or any other man Psal 4.6 7. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their Corn and Wine encreased 2. Then Christ is our chiefest joy when we can joy in God and Christ when our other joys and comforts are taken from us Hab. 3.17 18. Although the figtree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be on the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the stall yet I will rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation Isa 24.11 13 14. All joy is darkned and the mirth of the land is gone When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the People there shall be as the shaking of an Olive Tree and as the gleaning grapes when the Vintage is done They shall lift up their voice they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord. 3. Then Christ is our chiefest joy when all other joys and comforts are as nothing to us when we want Christ and the sense of the love of God in Christ but in the midst of all our enjoyments we are in a troubled condition through the hidings of Gods face Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled It was not Davids Riches his Honours his Crown and Kingdom that could make up the want of the light of Gods countenance but in the midst of his greatest enjoyments and highest preferment he was in a troubled condition when he was under the hidings of Gods face Mary wept for want of Christ when she saw and conversed with Angels Joh. 20.11 12 13. The seeing
poor and the lame and the blind and the halt were called to the Marriage Supper Persons of the lowest condition such as are in by-lanes high-ways and hedges and such as are most despicable in the eye of the world the maimed and the blind are to be called and entreated with all earnestness to come to Christ Luk. 14.21 23. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and compell them to come in We see here all sorts of sinners even such as are most despicable in their own eyes and the eyes of the world the poor the maimed the halt the blind sinners in all places the High-ways Hedges Streets Lanes all are called and that with such importunity as if they were compelled for this compelling is to be understood of earnest entreaties and using prevailing arguments As Luk. 24.29 3. Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ is offered freely to the greatest and chiefest of sinners if they will accept of him and repent of their sins 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief Prov. 28.13 Whoso confesseth und forsaketh shall find Mercy Adam all circumstances considered was one of the chiefest of sinners for he was the cause of the death of all the men that ever lived 1 Cor. 15.22 In Adam all dye He brought sin into the World and death and by his disobedience made all men sinners and corrupted all Mankind Rom. 5. By one man sin entered into the World and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ver 19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners Yet Christ and Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam in that promise The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent's head Gen. 3.15 It may be some are in a despairing way because they have not only been sinners themselves but they have corrupted and made others sinners and have not only made others sinners but have been the occasion of the death of many persons Though this be a wofull case yet not desperate By Adam's disobedience many were made sinners Hundreds Thousands yea all Mankind Christ only excepted And Adam was the cause of the death of Hundreds Thousands Millions of Men Women and Children yea in Adam all dye yet Salvation by Christ was offered to Adam 4. Christ Jesus with his saving benefits is offered to children and old men bond and free male and female He is willing that little Children should come unto him for Life and Salvation Mar. 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God The giving of the Spirit which is one of the saving benefits of Christ is promised to all sorts of persons Young and Old Male and Female Bond and Free Men-servants and Maid-servants Joel 2.28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your Old Men shall dream Dreams your Young Men shall see Visions And also upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit By dreaming Dreams seeing Visions and Prophesying we may understand that God in the days of the Gospel would reveal his mind and will to all sorts of Persons by his Word and Spirit as he did in old times to some peculiar Persons by Dreams and Visions 5. Jesus Christ offers himself and all his saving benefits even to such as have for a long time neglected and rejected the offers of grace made to them in the Gospel and notwithstanding all former neglects and refusals if now they will come in they shall be accepted Rom. 10.21 But to Israel he saith all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a rebellious and gain-saying people The stretching forth the hands signifie the offers of grace made in the Gospel the offer of Pardon and Salvation upon their Faith and Repentance and this offer was made and continued from time to time to a rebellious and gain-saying people To the Jews that had refused Christ and preferred a Murderer before him yea and had not only refused but killed him that came to save their lives there is a promise of forgiveness of their sins upon their Repentance Acts 3.14 19. Ye denyed the holy one and the just and desired a Murderer to be granted to you and killed the Prince of Life Repent ye and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Another instance of Christ's offering himself and his saving benefits to such as have neglected former offers of grace We have Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he with me This is part of the Epistle sent to the Church of Laodicea where there were many luke-warm persons that deserved to be spued out of Christ's Mouth ver 15. And many self-conceited persons that thought their Estate good when they were in a most miserable condition ver 17. And notwithstanding their luke-warmness and self-conceitedness he makes a gracious offer of himself to them Behold I stand at the door and knock The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Praeter-perfect Tense which is used for the Present I have stood and I am not gone though neglected though the door be kept shut I stand there still and knock and call if any man hear my voice One paraphraseth thus on the words Siquis qualiscunque fuerit peccator hypocrita qui diu obstitit Evangelio c. What manner of man soever he hath been though he hath been a vile sinner though he hath been a hypocrite though one that hath long rejected the offers of grace in the Gospel If any man hear my voice and open the door that is accept of the offers of grace in the Gospel consent to receive me on the terms of the Gospel no former neglects or refusals of Christ shall hinder such a man's Salvation for it follows I will come into him and sup with him and he with me that is I will bestow my self and all my saving benefits upon any man that openeth unto me whosoever he be and whatsoever he hath formerly been or done against me 6. Remission of sins and Salvation are offered by Christ to backsliding revolting sinners upon their Repentance though they have beakslidden often and done very heinous things after their backsliding from God Jer. 3.1.5 22. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings But some may say I once had the offer of Salvation by Christ but I did not embrace it I fear now it is too late and
of God Rom. 8.35 But sin makes us hateful to and hated of God Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of Iniquity No affliction can hinder our Salvation Lazarus was exceeding poor he begged his bread and was full of noysom sores yet his Soul was carryed by the Angel into Abraham's bosom but sin will hinder the Salvation of our Souls Now we flee from the Sword and Pestilence and other Judgments and shall we not much more flee from sin which is a greater evil than all these 2. Sin is a greater evil than Hell it self for God made Hell but sin is the work of the Devil And therefore sin which is the work of the Devil must needs be worse than Hell which is the work of God Hell sets forth the glory of Gods Justice but sin wholly dishonours God and therefore sin is worse than Hell Now we are very desirous to be delivered from Hell and why shall we not be willing to leave our sins which are worse than Hell 3. There is nothing in the world doth us so much hurt and mischief as sin doth Sin separates us from God the chiefest good Isa 59.2 What poyson is to the body that sin is to the Soul the Souls poyson Rom. 3.13 The poyson of asps is under their lips Sin wars against our Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 And will be the Death of our Souls if we do not forsake it Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death We flee from Death and those things that bring Death VVhen there was a deadly herb in the pottage the Sons of the Prophets would not eat thereof but cryed out O thou man of God there is death in the pot and they would not eat thereof 2. King 4.40 I may say the like to impenitent sinners O thou sinner there is Death in thy sins O thou Drunkard there is Death in thy Cup O thou Unclean Person there is Death in the Harlots house and to the unrighteous man there is Death in thy false weights and false measures and deceitful-balances And shall not this make us willing to leave our sins that there is Death in our sins 4. If no consideration will encline your hearts to a willingness to forsake your sins look up to Christ that he would put forth his grace and divine power upon your Souls to make you willing to forsake your sins and willing to serve and obey him Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power 5. See what it is which makes you so unwilling to leave your sins and get those cords cut in sunder whereby your wills and affections are hold intangled in your sins VVhen men are unwilling to leave their sins it is usually from one of these two causes either from the delight and pleasures they have in their sins or from the gain and profit they have by them Most men are very unwilling to part with their sinful gain Act 16.19 20 22. Act. 19.24 25 27. And with their sinful pleasures in so much that they love their pleasures more than they love God 2 Tim. 3.5 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God I shall endeavour the removal of both these §. Arg. To perswade us to be willing to part with our most delightful and pleasing sins 1. God parted with his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased for us and delivered him up to death for us Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And shall not we part with our beloved and pleasing sins for him and deliver them up unto Death They that take most pleasure in their sins and have the greatest love for them will or ought to be ashamed to say they love their sins and are pleased with their sins as much as God loved Christ and was pleased with Christ and therefore they should also be ashamed to spare their sins and not deliver them up to Death for the enjoyment of Christ 2. God will give thee better pleasures than ever thou foundest in thy sins if thou wilt part with thy sins he will give thee better pleasures in this life Job 36.10 11. He commandeth that they return from iniquitie If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures There are better pleasures to be found in Christ and in the ways and ordinances of Christ than are to be found in sin Prov 3.17 Her ways are wayes of pleasantness Ps 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures The comforts of the Holy Ghost are infinitely better than the pleasures of sin Now if you forsake your sins and walk in the fear of God you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Besides the pleasures that God giveth you in this life if you will leave your pleasing sins God will give you the pleasures of Heaven where you shall live in fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Ps 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore 3. Pleasing sins are like poyson in sweet wine What wise man will be allured to drink a draught of poyson because 't is put into sweet VVine though it be sweet in the mouth it will torment and rack a man exceedingly Job 20.12 13 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though he hide it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still in his mouth Yet his meat in his bowels is turned it is the gall of asps within him The poyson of asps is the most deadly poyson Those sins in which men find most pleasure will one day torture and torment their Consciences as much as the most deadly poyson doth their Bowels Mens pleasing sins will be like the little book the Angel gave the Apostle which was in his Mouth sweet as hony but made his Belly hitter Rev. 10.9 10. Sweet sins will be bittterness in the latter end Take an instance in two sorts of sins in which men find pleasure Uncleanness and Drunkenness Prov. 5.3 4. The lips of a strange woman drop as an hony comb and her mouth is smoother than Oyl but her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged Sword Prov. 23.31 32. Look not upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder 4. The pleasures of sin will cost a man dear without Repentance for they shall be punished with the pains and torments of Hell for ever And from the first day that a man comes into the torments of Hell all the pleasures of sin will vanish away for ever The Rich man that had
him to have his Righteousness imputed to them Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God That resting on our own Righteousness or hoping to attain Righteousness and Life from the works of the law is an hinderance to our being made partakers of Christ We may see from Rom. 7 4. Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the dead By being dead to the law we may understand dead to it as it is a Covenant of life not as a rule of life dead to the law in reference to our hope and expectation of life from the works of the law but not dead to the law in reference to our obedience and conformity to the law And this being dead to the law as a Covenant of life preceedeth our being Married to Christ Such as are Married to the law and expect Righteousness and Life from the law they are not Married to Christ Now we are said to be dead to the law by the Body of Christ that is by that death which he suffered for us in his Body Both as his Death hath purchased for us deliverance from the First Covenant and the establishment of a new Covenant and also it plainly declares that Righteousness is not possible to be had from the law for then he needed not to have dyed to have brought in another way of Righteousness Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain If any say how may we be taken off from resting in the law from hoping to attain Righteousness and Life by our own works done in obedience and conformity to the law of God and be brought to see an absolute necessity of going to Christ for Righteousness and Life A. 1. Let us see and consider that it is utterly impossible for any man in this fallen estate to attain unto that perfection of Righteousness and Obedience to the law of God as to be justified and saved thereby Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Gal. 3.11 12. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for the just shall live by Faith and the law is not of Faith but the man that doth them shall live in them That no man can attain such a Righteousness from his observing the law as shall justifie and save him Is evident these ways 1. The law requireth personal perfect constant obedience in all things else it pronounceth a curse against us Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Now no man since the fall of Adam Christ only excepted ever did or could continue in all things required in the law without transgressing any command thereof at any time Joh. 7.19 Did not Moses give you the law yet none of you keepeth the law And least any should say Christ meaneth the carnal Jews only when he saith none of you keepeth the law We may see from other Scriptures that the holyest men upon earth cannot keep the law of God without transgressing against it at any time Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 King 8.36 There is no man that sinneth not 2. If any man could have obtained Righteousness and Life by the law then there had been no need of Christs laying down his life for us Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain And such as go about to seek for Justification by the works of the law do make Christs obedience and his suffering death to be useless Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to you whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace 3. God hath made a new Covenant to give us Life and Righteousness through believing in his Son Joh. 3.16 Rom. 3.21 22. And there had been no need of a new Covenant of a new way to obtain Righteousness and Life if Righteousness and Life could have been obtained by the law For if it had been possible for fallen man to have had Righteousness and Life by the law fallen man should have been saved by a Covenant of works as well as Adam in innocency Gal 3.21 Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily Righteousness should have been by the law 4. None that ever sought after Righteousness and Life by the works of the law have been able to attain thereunto Rom. 9.31 32. Israel which followed after the law of Righteousness hath not attained to the law of Righteousness Wherefore because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the works of the law It may be some will think the reason why Israel could not attain to the Righteousness of the law was because they were not zealous followers after Righteousness but were cold and luke-warm but that is a mistake for many of them were zealous in observing the law Act. 22.3 I was zealous towards God as ye all are this day Act. 21.20 Or it may be some will think that the reason why they could not attain to Righteousness though they followed after it was because they rested in an External Righteousness and did not seek after Internal Righteousness the Righteousness of the heart but this was not the cause for though many of them did rest in External Righteousness yet others of them did look after an Internal Righteousness they knew that God called for the heart Prov. 22.26 When they fasted they did not only afflict their bodies but their Souls also for their sins Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted wherefore have we afflicted our Soul They were sollicitous to have the sins of their Souls pardoned as well as their sinfull actions Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewithall shall I come before the Lord Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul But the true reason why Israel that followed after Righteousness could not attain unto Righteousness was because they sought not after that Righteousness which is by Faith but sought it by the works of the law Rom. 9.31 32. 2. We mistake God's end in giving the law when we seek for Righteousness and Life by the works of the law For the law was not given us to be a Covenant of life that is for this end that we should expect Righteousness and Life by the works of the law As appears 1. Because God had setled another way of justifying and saving sinners namely by Faith in Christ long before the giving of the law and did confirm this way Salvation through Faith in Christ by an Everlasting Covenant made
for there is comfort in Christ for lapsed Christians though the sins into which they have fallen be of an heinous nature and that on these grounds 1. Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father and pleads our cause for us that our sins may not be imputed to us but may upon our Repentance be forgiven us As Stephen interceeded for his Persecutors Act. 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to their charge So doth Christ interceed with his Father for all his Members VVhen they fall into any heinous sin Lord lay not this sin to their charge Christ's love to his Members is infinitely above Stephen's love to his Persecutors yet Stephen prayed for them when they had committed an heinous sin the shedding of blood the shedding innocent blood the blood of a Martyr of a man full of the Holy Ghost his own blood yet Stephen interceeded for them Lord lay not this sin to their charge And the love of Christ being infinitely above Stephens will not be much more interceeded for his members his Servants in their greatest falls though their sins be of an heinous nature Lord lay not this sin to their charge that our Lord Jesus doth interceed for us when we fall into sin that our sins may not be laid to our charge VVe may see 1 John 2.1 2. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World The children of God must be very carefull they do not sin against God But suppose they do sin must they despair No if any man sin we have an advocate 't is not said we had an advocate as if he ceased to be our advocate when we fall into sin but we have an advocate with the Father and he is a powerfull and prevalent advocate Jesus Christ the Righteous whom his Father never denyed any thing in the days of his Humiliation Joh. 11.22 42. much less will he deny him any thing in the days of his exaltation and the person with whom he interceeds is the Father who is the Father of mercies a God ready to forgive waiting to be gracious who is Christ's Father and our Father And he useth a prevailing argument when he pleads for us he presents his own blood which is the propitiation for our sins And he is advocate for all that do and shall believe on him in all places and all ages of the World 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Compared with 1 Joh. 5.12 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father These things write I unto you that believe As David interceeded with his Captains on the behalf of Absolom though an undutifull rebellious Son 2 Sam. 18.5 Deal gently for my sake with the young man even with Absolom Even so doth Christ interceed with his Father for his Rebellious and Disobedient Children deal graciously for my sake with such and such persons though they have rebelled against thee 2. The death of Christ hath obtained pardon for all our sins sins after as well as sins before Conversion great and heinous sins as well as lesser sins 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed The two Hebrew words used by the Prophet as Rivet observes all sorts even the worst kind of sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth superbam mandati transgressionem rebellionem defectionem A proud transgressing of the law of God rebellion and revolting from God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth perversitatem malitiam a sinning out of perverseness and malice For such sins as these was Christ wounded and bruised and by his stripes we are healed and obtain pardon for our greatest offences 3. There are mercies and forgivenesses with God upon Christ's account even for such as have rebelled against him Dan. 9.9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him To rebell against the Lord is more than to sin out of infirmity it speaks willfulness in sin it is the highest degree of sin likened to the sin of Witch-craft when men have to do with the Devil 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Witch-craft Yet there are mercies and forgivenesses with the Lord for such as have rebelled against him not only mercy and forgiveness but in the Plural number mercies and forgivenesses to signifie the abundance of mercies and pardons that are with God for such as have rebelled though they have not rebelled once or twice only but many times And therefore the Lord is styled a God of pardons who hath pardons in store for rebellious sinners upon their Repentance Ne. 9.16 17. But they and our Fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and refused to obey and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their bondage but thou art a God ready to pardon or as 't is in the Margent a God of pardons gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindness and forsookest them not 4. The Covenant of grace which is confirmed with Christs blood admits Repentance and promiseth pardon of sin to back-sliders upon their Repentance though they have deeply and grievously revolted from the Lord. The children of Israel were grievous revolters Jer. 6.28 They are all grievous revolters yet they are called to Repentance Isa 31.6 Turn ye unto him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted And have a promise of pardon upon their Repentance Jer. 3.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings If any say it may be these to whom the Lord speaks here and promiseth to heal their back-slidings on their return to him had not they back-slidden so often and in such an heinous manner To which I answer that they had back-slidden often is evident from ver 1. Thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers yet return unto me And besides he speaks of back-slidings in the Plural number He saith not I will heal your back-sliding as if they had back-slidden but once but I will heal your back-slidings intimating that though their back-slidings were many which they themselves acknowledge Jer. 14.7 Our back-slidings are many yet upon their returning he would heal them all And that they were guilty of very great and heinous sins as well as many back-slidings to whom God makes this promise Return O back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings is evident from ver 5. Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst 5. When the servants of Christ fall into heinous sins God will visit their Transgressions with his Rod and their sins with Stripes but for Christs sake he will not cast them out of his love nor break his