sin because they beleeve not on Christ and evidences it to be great unrighteousness from the consideration of what great things he hath done for them as also from the faithful evidences thereof to them instructing and moving to it as their reasonable service so that indeed they render him hatred for his love and evil for his good will and are without cause his adversaries yea against and contrary to all right reason or cause They not regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands which was true in him for and towards them that through him they might have beleeved Joh. 16. 8. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Psal 68. 18-21 2 Corinth 5. 11-21 6. 1 2. Psal 28. 5. 109. 4 5. 3 This work of faith in Jesus is a righteous work directed in truth as may be seen in every act or branch of this faith of the operation of God For 1 Such it is as in which they acknowledge God to be true in his testimony concerning Christ which is the great things of his Law and in all the instructions and sayings thereof and therein acknowledge and disown themselves and all their own imaginations and the traditions of men as discovered and detected in the light of Gods testimony to be vanity and lyes he that hath received his testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true whereas on the other hand hee that beleeveth not God hath made him that is the God Fountain of all truth a Lyar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son even this record that God hath given us eternal life in his Son so as to bee received in receiving him in his testimony c. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12 What greater unrighteousness than to make God a Lyar and yet this is done by all that when they hear beleeve not the record of God concerning Christ but in the faith of Gods operation God is acknowledged to be true and every man a lyar his Word received as his and reverenced and preferred before all the Traditions or Precepts of men if never so many and those never so learned or holy 2 Such it is as in which they ascribe righteousness to their Maker and make their boast of his righteousness and of his only Job 36. 2 3. Psal 71 15 16. As that in which Law is answered Truth fulfilled a Door of approach to God opened and without which they must have been for ever cast out as an uncleane thing so as in this they acknowledge their owne sinfulness and vileness as therein evidenced They are the true confessors of sins that doe in the belief of that testimony of God concerning Christ owne them as theirs according to the discoveries of the true Light and so confess and disowne and give them up as filthy as thereby detected to be purged and such confession and acknowledgement of our owne vileness is certainly included in this faith of the operation of God If a man with the heart beleeve Gods testimony concerning Christ then doth he therein beleeve what it faith concerning himself or concerning Sin or Righteousness to bee true and so beleeving ownes its reproofs whence the Apostle John faith If we any of those great Apostles and so consequently any beleever in this life say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 8. 10. If any object against the righteousness of this act of faith That it is affirmed of Zacharias and Elizabeth that they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless to this we answer This confirms what we have already said for if they walked in all the Commandements of the Lord blameless then they walked in this of confessing our sins always acknowledging our owne vileness and wretchedness And truly this was contained in all those Commandements and Ordinances of the Law under which he served in the Priests Office for in those Sacrifices there was a remembrance againe of sins every year Heb. 10. 3. yea the High Priest himself ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sin 8 Heb. 5. 3. And now the prefect Sacrifice is offered and the Purgation for all Sins compleatly made in the vertue of the bloud of Christ men are in the testimony of this Foâ—untainepened discovered to be sinners and all their righteousness as filthy raggs and so their owne vileness and the need of coming to this Fountains for washing always shewed in the opening of it so that he that walks not in the confession or acknowledgement of his sinfulness vileness and wretchedness as there discovered ascribing righteousness only to his Maker he doth not righteousness hee makes God a Lyar the truth is not in him hee walks not blameless for by the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified as blameless in the sight of God for all have sinned and are sinners have Sin in them as well as Death upon them while in this mortal body rendring it vile and wretched Phil. 3. last Rom. 7. 18-24 And for a sinner to hide his sin is most worthy of blame the just are they that live by faith in the righteousness of another even of Jesus Christ the just and righteous one Behold his Soul which is lefted up is not upright in him Galath 3. 11 12. Rom. 1. 16 17. Hab. 2. 4. Hence the confessing of our sins answers to and is put for the walking in the light as he is in the light 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. and good reason for God is always in the discovery and demonstration of Christ the true light discovering our sinfulness and vileness that we may not trust in our selves but receive the sentence of Death there that we may learn in the beleife and mindfulness of his testimony concerning Christ to trust in him that raiseth the dead So that if we bee walking in the light beleeving and acknowledging Christ in his testimony we must needs be found in the beleeving view and remembrance of what he hath done and is become for us and Gods glory in him confessing our sins and so he that is borne of God that is led of the Spirit of God that always leads into and in Christ for all righteousness and life though he have sin in him for which simply God holds no man underblame or Condemnation by Christ yet so farre forth as he is born of God that is as he abideth in Christ he sinneth not hee doth not commit or serve sin no not in hiding his sins which is the first step of making provision for it which who so doth shall not prosper truly he should sin with a very high hand even to the making God a Lyar if he should say that hee had no sin in him warring and moveing for service or that he had not sinned yea
A LAMENTATION Over the Dead in Christ not as those without hope with instruction admonition and encouragement to the Survivers As it should have been delivered to the People had not Satan hindered at the Funeral of Mr. Henry Rix of Cambridge Jan. 19. 1656 7. in pursuance of his earnest request on his Death-Bed Now published for the benefit of those that will hear By THOMAS MOORE junior David lamented over Jonathan I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan very pleasant hast thou been to me thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of Women how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the Battel and the Weapons of Warre perished 2 Sam. 1. 25 26 27. And Jeremy lamented for Josiah and all the Singing-men and Singing-women speak of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day and made them an Ordinance in Israel Behold they are written in the Lamentations 2 Chro. 35. 25. But I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them that are asleep that yee sorrow not even as others that have no hope for if we beleeve that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 4. 14 15. Printed at London by R. I. for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1657. To the Reader and especially to those at or near Cambridge ON the sad news of my dear Brothers Sickness to death I went as soon as I could if happily I might to have seen him and that I might have been refreshed together with him before his departure but it pleased our gracious Father the wise Disposer of all things in whose hands are all our lives our times and ways to deny me of that by speeding another Visitor to him farre better to take him away from the evil against which he had been long striving in the light and strength of the Lord that he may henceforth be with him and at rest from all his Labours and Combates though yet waiting for the compleating of the Adoption that is the Redemption of the Body till the rest of his Brethren have finished their course as well as he He departed the night before I got to Cambridge where I understood That it was his earnest request on his Death-bed that if I came in time I should be desired as from him to give the people a word if Exhortation at his Funeral and also that the Minister of the Parish on his desire was freely willing with it on which considerations I consenâ—ed to it and knew not of any Blocks in the way until the time was almost come that I should have performed the will of the Deceased in this matter â—â—to which service apprehending from the fore-mentioned considerations God calling me and making the way hitherto clear enough I was very ready to have offered my self notwithstanding some reports I know not how raised of some Schollars threatning incivility to me which I did not much credit of at least feared not purposing by the grace of God not to resist evil if 〈◊〉 and trusting in a greater power than that of man for protection In some others thought it convenient to take me off yet could I not be satisfied without publishing what I then intended to have spoken and that for these Reasons 1 I cannot but judge the removal of this Israelite indeed and at such a time to be a sad Correction and Judgement especially to the place and people among whom he lived he being one whose heart through the grace of God in Christ our Saviour towards man was fixed trusting in â—â—◠〈◊〉 and walking in the hearty belief and acknowledgement of the truth of the Gospel and waiting for the hope of it and thence filled with the constraining operation of the love of Christ perswading men and seeking the good of all by all means within his capacity shining as a light in the world and amongst a crooked and perverse Generation holding forth the Word of Life in word and conversation and how much as to these things he was alone is that place I spare to speak yet he through that grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men teaching us as Tit. 2. 11 12. so demeaned himself that he had a good report of all men as well as especially of the truth itself for cleaving to which though he had many adversaries chiefly of those that sometimes in some measure acknowledged and rejoyced in the truth with him but now have turned away their ears from it and are â—â—â—ned aside to fables yet they could finde nothing against him but in the maâ—ters of his God and were made ashamed wherein they falsly accused his good conversation in Christ 2 That which follows was much set upon my spirit as a very needful and seasonable Instruction and Admonition to the people there and at that time and I knew not but God by his providence called me thither at such a time for such an end though I could not but judge my self most 〈◊〉 to present it 3 Some that observed could not but take notice of a great hand of Satan with great diligence exercised to the hindring it Therefore that I may both doe what in me lies to performe the desire of the deceased and also not to rebell against him that pressed my spirit to give my sence of the meaning of the voyce of this providence as by bringing to remembrance and opening the Scriptures to my understanding he gave it me if peradventure any may be awakened by it I here present it to view and commit it and my self to him in whom I desire to be Servant to all THO. MOORE From my house at Lynn Febr. 10. 1656 7. On the Subject of the following Discourse upon the Death of Henry Rix. Here hast thou first a Paradox explained Evincing some have Righteousness attained Nevertheless this truth remains there 's none Righteous in as of themselves not one Yet in the Lord and 't is in him alone Righteousness and strength some have and they In him are justified and glory aye Xpecting still its Crown of Immortality Henry in 's Lot shall then with Christ affix And we with Christ shall meet our Brother Rix. Next we present thee with our cause of grief Desiring God from Heaven to send relief He 's gone in whom no guile an Israelite Is there in 's stead left such another Light Then had we not such cause as now to mone Yet mourn we not as those that hope have none First in behalf of him that 's faln asleep We have great cause to joy and not to weep For we beleeving Christ did Dye and Rise Do know that with him he shall come likewise And then possess with all the Saints the Crown The righteous Judge shall give when he comes down And in mean time he rests in blessed peace Where from his warres and labours he doth cease Then for our selves our God our Rock's alive And will not fail at need us to
even the death of the Cross He laid down his life that he might take it again even as he received Commandement of his Father Phil. 2. 7 8. Joh. 10. 17 18. Heb. 12 2. 1 Pet. 2. 24. and because of this 3 He is made perfect for us the Righteous and just one or justified Person in our Nature and for us acquit off all our trespasses and sins that were imputed to him and so therein a Victorer over all Curse and Death laid upon him having by himself purged our sins he is accepted and set down on the right hand of God as a perfect Ransome and price of Redemption for men and standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world yea a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and forgiveness of sins and the Judge of all Heb. 1. 3 4 12. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 1 Job 2. 1 2. Acts 5. 31. 10. 36. 42. Yea 4 He is righteous and faithful in all appointed him A faithful Mediator and High Priest a faithful testimony of Gods goodness to men in due time that through him they might be saved and the Author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him and the righteous Judge of quick and dead by whom God shall judge the world in righteousness even by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead for to this end he dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of dead and living so that hee is properly and absolutely the righteous One in and of himself and for us the Lord our righteousness in whom and in whom only weehave righteousness and strength yet is not he the righteous that are here spoken of For 1 This Text speaks in the plural number of righteous ones merciful men men of kindness or godliness nor is he included as one of the righteous ones here spoken of For 2 He was not nor could be holden of Death as David and others that sleep in Jesus are his flesh saw no corruption Psal 16. 10. with Acts 2. 25 31. so that he did not perish out of the earth by death as they Mich. 7. 1 2. He was raised again the third day and after seen of many witnesses Yea 3 Though he was taken from the earth in his Ascension yet that was no chastisement or correction and so no cause of grief or sorrow to us no nor to them that did enjoy his personal presence on the earth but cause of great joy for if hee had not so personally ascended to the Father The Comforter that coming forth of the Spirit of truth in the evidence and demonstration of the works finished in his Body accepted and for ever vertuous with the Father for us could not have come Joh. 7. 39. 14. 26 28. 16. 7 8. yea he went to prepare places for us that he might come again Personally and receive us to himself that we even all that by him beleeve in God might be ever with him in his glory Job 14. And so neither is he so perished from the earth or from among men in his being personally received up into glory as to be no more capable of conversing with them helping or doing them good but is thereby absolutely perfected in such capacity even in that body in mans nature through sufferings glorified for being ascended farre above all heavens even in Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us even the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth he fills all things with his influences and operations and is in his gracious and Spiritual presence and vertues in the hearts and societies of his people that through grace beleeve in him Ephes 4. 7. 8 10. 11. Matth. 28. 20. Joh. 14. 17 18. By all which it appears he is none of the righteous spoken of in this text yet the consideration already propounded of him as the righteous one will help us to understand who are the righteous that are here spoken of and therefore is no digression from our business for from these two considerations viz. That of the Natural Race or Children of Adam there is none in â—â—r of themselves or in any thing they can doe righteous or that doth good nor that is so accepted owned and justified in the sight of God no not one and that he and he only in mans Nature is the righteous one and that for us also The Lord our Righteousness I say from these two considerations it appears That of all the Children of men they only are righteous that in the light and power of Gods testimony concerning Christ doe so beleeve and receive it that in belief and acknowledgement thereof they disowne and run out of themselves into Christ for righteousness and life 2 Cor. 1. 9. Phil. 3. 3 9. It is a good description or character of the righteous that on hearing of the Name of the Lord that it is a strong tower they as men therein made sensible of it acknowledge their own nakedness and the lyingness of other refuges and therefore the danger of abiding out of this they run into the Name of the Lord Prov. 18. 10. they fly for refuge even in the light and powerful drawing of the Name and Grace of God in Christ which bringeth Salvation to all men in due time unto the hope set before them in Christ that they may lay hold of that Heb. 6. 18. The righteous then are they whoever they be or whatever they have been that through his name beleeve in him Acts 10. 35. 43. for what saith the Scripture Abraham beleeved God and it was counted to him for righteousness now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of Debt but to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness for that was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our effences and raised againe for our justification Rom. 4. 3 4 5. 23 24 25. For with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness chap. 10. 10. Therefore even the sinners of the Gentiles which before followed not after righteousness yet when the light of Gods testimony concerning Christ came to them they falling down in the acknowledgement of their own vileness as therein discovered and seeking righteousness by faith in Christ attained righteousness when Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness yet attained it not because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that beleeveth for Moses describeth the
not led captive by it yea hitherto they have not attained neither are they perfect they have not yet apprehended or laid hold of that for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus but are pressing on to it expecting the full injoyment in soul and body in that blessed and first resurrection in the mean time in death they are taken away from the evil but not before though in a sense they are said to be perfect or upright ones that have their hearts fixed to seek righteousnesse in Jesus though much weaknesse and sinfulnesse be yet found in them they are perfect as opposed to waveringnesse or double-mindednesse and so in the way of righteousnesse in which is life and light increasing to the perfect day but in this day not arrived at their journies end not perfect as to attainment but still striving against sin in themselves as well as against it in others and so have fightings within and fightings without as also they are groaning under the burden of those weaknesses and that death that is yet upon them and in a sense raigning over them This should teach us not to be secure or sleep as do others but to be watchful and take heed to our selves lest at any time sin get advantage over us and we be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of it left at any time we be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come on us unawates Put wee on the whole Armour of God that wee may be able to stand in this evil day Heb. 3. 12 13. Luk. 21. 34. Ephes 6. 10 c. 1 Joh 1. 8 10. with chap. 2. 1. 2 The dead that dye in the Lord being then taken away from the evil it mindes us That the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement to be punished that so we may now look to the Lord and wait for the God of our salvation as Micah 7. 7 9. In his hand are all our times and wayes and with him is wisdome strength and faithfulnesse to deliver us from the evil of temptations while yet we are left among them and if hee see them too heavie for us he will either deliver us out or command restraint to the remainder of them that might not tend to his praise in our profit Psal 76. 9 10. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 9. 3 This consideration also is an Antidote against immoderate mourning for them that sleep in Jesus as those without hope it speaks to all the surviving Brethren of such in the faith and patience of Jesus that they have not lost but for the present parted with such their Brethren and helpers of their faith and joy that they may enjoy them in a farre better manner for ever when the Lord comes he will bring them againe with him in the meane time they are taken away from the evil for which we have cause to rejoyce on their behalf and for our owne parts that are left behind for a while we know not how little a while that may be it cannot be long and this also we know He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all he abides or dwells in him whom also he hath raised from the dead to support and help us through him we shall doe valiantly it is he that treadeth down our enemies yea he will with his Son give us all things he doth and will keep us by his power or powerful Gospel through faith to the Salvation now ready to be revealed in the last time that we may also finish our course with joy 2 Cor. 1. 10. Psal 60. 12. Rom. 1. 16 17. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5. 4 Let this last consideration be of this further and general use to us all seeing the righteous hath hope in his death and the end of that man is peace seek righteousness and seek it in the Lord seek it by faith in Christ Jesus Seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near we pray you in Christs stead be yee reconciled to God and as motives to it consider 1. He hath made his Son that knew no sin to be sin and a curse for us that wee might be made the righteousness of God in him Consider how great things he hath done for you in and through the cutting off the Messiah as Dan. 9. 24. 16 that he might be feared by you 1 Therein by executing the Judgement of this world on him as Joh. 12. 31 he hath finished the transgression that one offence and disobedience that brought in Sin and death Rom. 5. 12 18. and made an end of the sins that came in meerly thereby the guilt of all the sin and filthiness of the nature thence naturally and necessarily derived Jesus Christ hath by himself purged or taken away from before the Father and so finished and made an end of it in the Court he being taken from the Prison and from the Judgement therefore laid on him so that the Father will require no more paiments of that Debt nor goe to Law or Judgement with men according to that rule of Judgement but hath committed all Judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son as the Saviour and Redeemer the Abollisher of their death and Deliverer of them from the curse of the Law even with the Same honour as they honour the Father as the great Creator of them all acknowledging the Redemption wrought and his Power over them as Lord and Saviour by means of death to bee of the same latitude that so though sin be in them and death upon them at the fruit of that first Transgression yet the sting thereof which is the Wrath of God on that account due the Curse of the Law being suffered and taken out by Christ no man shall perish for ever in or by that simply neither remains it as an Iron barre between God and them no man is necessarily kept out from God by that sinfulness and death yet remaining on them but may come to God by Christ the Mediator in whom the enmity is slaine the peace made and so the door opened and way made clear and the grace of God bringing Salvation to them through it Rom. 3. 23 24. Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 5. 22 23. Gal. 3. 13. Psal 107. 15 16. Ephes 2. 16. Col. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Tit. 2. 11. 2 Yea therein by making his Soul an offering for our sin and causing him to bear our sins in his owne Body to the Tree and in the vertue there of he hath made reconciliation for iniquity a Propitiation Purgation or Sin-offering for the taking away the following sins of the people and brought in everlasting Righteousness the Works which the Father gave him to doe on earth being once actually finished in that person the Sacrifice of his owne Body perfected through sufferings