and gather his lambs in his armes c. sayth ver 13. Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord and who was his Counsellor with whom took he counsell and who instructed him c. certainly none beloved there was none to do it for he determined his whole work both of creation and redemption before all things if there had bin any being then for any of the sons of men who could have invēted such a way such a means of recovering of reconciling fallen man truly none but the God of wisdome and therefore Christ is called in Scripture the wisdom of God Luk. 11.49 therfore also he is called the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1 21. we preach Christ the wisdom of God c. Chap. 2.7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world began Note beloved the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdome of the Father him in whom the Father manifests his wisdome was ordained before the world began Ephes 3.10 11. it is called the manifold wisdom of God Well may it be called manifold for it is infinite there is no numbering of it Ps 47.5 Great is the Lord and of great power of his understanding there is no number How should this take off from the Saints all cares and feares concerning the things of this world he who is infinite in wisdom wisdom it selfe hath taken care for thy soul for thine eternity Doubt not but rest upon him his wisdome shall be for thee hee will so order and dispose of all thy actions as shall be most advantagious for his owne honour and thy good And know this that nothing comes to passe but by his wise disposing hand of grace nay he is made unto thee that believest wisdome 1 Cor. 1.30 ô admirable mercy that the God of wisdom should not only wisely contrive a way for the reconciling of sinners to himself but should become their wisdome he is made to us wisdome admire at this all the sons and daughters of God what God himself become your wisdome then truly thy solly shall not harm thee ô thou art ready to say I am so foolish so ignorant c. ô poore soul it matters not it is mercy thou seest thy solly for the truth is thou must be a foole that thou mayst be wise 1 Cor. 3.18 4.10 that is thou must renounce all thine own wisdom as folly for it is self-wisdome that is the greatest enemy to Christ Therefore let no man deceive himself If any man amongst you seem to be wise in this world let him be a fool that he may be wise 2 What cause have the Saints to admire God in Christ for his love ô admirable love what God to give his Son to become a propitiation for the sin of sinners Is not this rich grace and mercy for God to take upon him the nature of man and the sins of men to make peace and reconciliation for men what soule can behold this love this mercy and not stand admiring in the enjoyment of it Beloved this love of God manifested unto men it is Free Full Everlasting Love it is free without desert there was nothing in man for to procure it hee hath loved thee freely poore soule Hos 14.4 I will heal their back-sliding I will love them Freely for mine anger is turned away Beloved God loved freely for he loved his before they were Ephes 1.4 he loved them freely for he loved them when they were sinners Rom. 5.8 the manifestation of it is free for it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercie Rom. 9.16 1 Cor. 1.27 he manifests it unto them when they would none of it when men had rather keep their sins then receive Christ as a Priest and an atonement so Paul Act. 9. the Lord meets him and over powers him when he was going in a way of persecution as it is in Esay 65.1 I am sought of them that asked not for mee and found of them that sought me not c. God first seeking and finding causes the creature to seek after God 2 It is full grace and love great love John 3.16 God so loved the world that hee gave his Son c. O unspeakable love that nothing lesse then the Son of God can serve for a gift and truly beloved nothing lesse could have done the deed and therefore nothing lesse could be given from a God of love who intended in his gift to doe good to man John 4.9 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but that hee loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins and herein is the love of Christ manifested to become a Priest a Sacrifice to lay down his life for sinners Iohn 5.13 Greater love then this hath no man that a man lay down his life for his friends Here is great love love to be admired of al the Saints 3 This love of God manifested in the Son is everlasting love Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Harke you beloved friends God hath loved his people from everlasting and he will love them to everlasting Iohn 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world hee loved them to the end that is for ever Hence it is that the kindnesse of God is called everlasting kindnesse Esay 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face frone thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee c. his mercie is everlasting mercie Psal 100.5 For the Lord is good and his mercie is everlasting and his truth endureth to generation and generation His Covenant made with thee who art a believer is an everlasting covenant Esay 61.8 I will make an everlasting covenant with them saith the Lord a Covenant that shall not bee removed Esay 54.10 neither shalt thou depart out of it Jer. 32.40 and hence it is that the joy of the Saints shall be everlasting for indeed were not Gods mercies Gods Covenants c. everlasting There could he no true joy but this is that which occasions both true and everlasting joy and consolation 2 Thes 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our father which hath loved and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace c. Note beloved here is everlasting consolation flowing from the love of God and truly the consolation could not be everlasting were not that love communicated through grace everlasting Here is admirable mercie admirable grace free full everlasting 3 The Saints have cause to admire God in his Justice for beloved those two attributes of God are admirably exalted in this one particular giving Christ a reconciliation between God and man his love and his mercie is exalted in that he to accomplish his own end in a way of grace gives his own Son to become an offering for sin to this very end and purpose
is that he is called a Lamb slain from the beginning beloved Christ having undertaken to become a High-Priest a peace-maker between God and man nothing lesse then his bloud could doe it Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission no justification without bloud Christs dying is a Christians justification Rom. 5.9 being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved c. no purging of sin without bloud Heb. 9.14 how much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himself purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Rev. 1.5 who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud c. there is no pardon and so no peace without bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus beloved you see that all must be done by bloud and that by the bloud of Christ too the bloud of all the creatures in the world nay of all the men in the world was not able to redeem to make satisfaction for one soule nay for one sin nothing lesse then the bloud of Christ could doe it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. silver and gold could not doe it the bloud of creatures could not doe it Heb. 10.5 It is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Object But some may say that God had never any thing against his elect he ever loved them from eternity Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Ephes 1.4 he chose us in him from before the foundatien of the world Ans True God ever loved his elect and ever intended mercie and love unto them yet he so loved them as with relation to the death of his Son and from everlasting determined to satisfie his justice to take away sin and work peace by the death of his Son and the truth is that God had as really an eye to the death of his Son from all eternity and saw it as actually then as if Christ had then suffered see Ephes 1.4 He chose us in him from before the foundation of the werld in him with relation to his death to his making satisfaction for sin not that God could not have made the Saints at once and have saved them presently and never have suffered them to sin but this is the way God in his wisdome appointed to manifest his mercie on the vessels of mercie and his justice on his enemies so that now beloved God having appointed this to be the means to bring sons to glory there could never have been any remission any peace but by a dying Christ therfore he is called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and indeed Christ was as a lamb ever slain in Gods account and he beheld all things as present and saw both the work of creation redemption and glory of his Saints from all eternitie The second part of Christs priestly office consists in his intercession at the right hand of the glory of his Father Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed year ather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Heb. 7.25 Hee ever liveth to make intercession Beloved this is one part of Christs Priestly office to intercede for the Saints Note beloved Christ intercedes 1 In the Saints 2 For them 1 In them Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirit it selfe to wit of Christ Gal. 4.6 Maketh intercession for us or in us according to the will of God that is God by his Spirit helpeth us to ask things according to the will of God for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit helpeth us c. 2 He maketh intercession For us also hee ever liveth to make intercession O blessed word for the Saints hee maketh intercession for every particular Saint hee maketh intercession for his Churches for us saith the Apostle and through him it is wee have accesse with boldnesse unto the Father c. Object But some may object did not Christ make satisfaction peace and reconciliation when hee dyed upon the crosse when he sayd It is finished Ans It is true that Christ in his death and resurrection finished the work of mans justification Rom. 5.9 being justified by his bloud and he made peace and reconciliation Col. 1.20 having made peace by the bloud of his crosse but wee are not to understand by Christs interceding any new act of Christ done eyther in way of satisfaction or justification neyther are wee to understand that Christ sits in Heaven pleading with the Father in words as a counfellour pleads a cause before the judge but Christ is in Heaven with the Father at his right hand that is in glory with him presenting our persons and in presenting our persens all our services in his owne person not by any new act of doing but by the worth of his merits the excellency of his person the neer relation of the Saints to himself viz. members of his body so that now God cannot look upon the Son but he must behold the Saints in him he having so neer a relation to his Father both by his personall presence and the excellent worth of his merits whose bloud spake better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 he continually makes intercession to God for the Saints Esay 53.12 He hath poured out his soule to the death and he was numbred among the transgressors he bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors here you have the whol priestly office of Christ 1 Bearing sin and so working peace 2 Making intercession by that means for transgressors Use If so that Christ Jesus is to be exalted and lifted up as the alone High-Priest in the dayes of the Gospel hence will properly arise foure words of application 1 A word of Admiration 2 A word of Information 3 A word of Exhortatiō 4 A word of Consolatiō Use First a word of Admiration O what cause have the Saints to admire God who hath manifested himselfe in his Son I say to admire him 1 His Wisdom 2 His Love and his Mercie 3 His Iustice 4 His Power all manifested in his Son to and for the good of sinners whom he maketh Saints 1 How should the Saints admire his wisdom truly beloved the wisdom of God as in other things so in this particular making peace by the bloud of his Son is very admirable the wisdom of God wonderfully appeared in the whole work of God with relation to the creation Iob 37.14 15 16. Chap. 38.4 c. and this the Saints should be acquainted with that their hearts might admire him But the redemption of the Saints is much more admirable for beloved this was Gods end in making a world that he might set forth his wisdom in the redemption of the Saints Esay 40. The Lord speaking as it seems with relation to the comming of his Son a Saviour ver 11. he shall feed his flock like a sheepherd
when a soule comes to this it is my duty to please God therefore hath Christ required it will it please the Lord Jesus O then I dare not but doe it come what will I cannot but doe it truly you who indeed love the Lord Jesus that Love will constrain you to please him although you displease your selves But secondly those who are taught of God will rather displease themselves then displease their brethren the Saints This is a necessary lesson a gracious soule will displease himself rather then the Saints this is a lesson that both you and I have need to learn and I doubt wee come shott in our practice of it I speak not eyther to blame or shame any of you I have more against my selfe in this particular then against you all but I speake to informe to forewarn both my self and you in this particular but to prevent any mistake or misunderstanding of what I shall speake concerning this thing I desire before I proceed to let you to know that I do not intend that you should be men-pleasers that is that ye should so please one the other as to suffer any sin in each other without reproofe or admonition in love therein you come to hate one the other Neyther be ye externally in shew only such for the Apostle reproves such speaking of the duty of servants Ephes 6.6 Not with eye service as men-pleasers but so pleasing the Saints as in that you please God 2 Thes 2.4 So speake we as not pleasing men but God See Gal. 1.10 But to proceed it is the duty of the Saints so far to please their brethren as to deny themselves as the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 10.33 Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved the Apostle seeks to please all men that hee might winne some to the Gospell which is every Saints duty much more then to please the Saints in love rather then in every thing to seek to please our selves It is this Self pleasure that is the cause of so much division amongst the Saints How hard a thing is it for one Saint to stoop to the weaknesse of another love would cause us to stoop to each other and to performe every service of love each to other Rom. 15.2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification And why vers 3. For Christ pleased not himself c. If your hearts and my heart was not so moulded into this forme of doctrine as that you could count it your joy to please you brethren that you could choose rather to please a Saint then to please your selves and so every one to have this heart of love toward each other what comfortable life of love in the Lord might the Saints live Whereas one the contrary when every one stands off to please himself men run an end to have their own minds what whisperings what bitternesse will arise even in the Saints nay how doe they come sometimes even to byte and devoure one the other as the Apostle speaks But my beloved I hope better things of you I speake not to condemne but to forewarne both my selfe and you of this great evill which too much creeps in among the Saints and to let you see a glimpse of the amiablenesse of that grace of love which is so usefull amongst the Saints 7 There is Self love naturally in every man so the Apostle fore-tels 2 Tim. 3.2 Men shall be lovers of their own selves and that Professours too and that in the last dayes See Verse 1. Now Christ who is the Saints Prophet and Teacher hee teacheth them to deny this selfe love not that a man may not love himselfe love his soule love to enjoy good Prov. 19.8 He that getteth wisdome loveth his own soule So likewise 1 Pet. 3.10 but that he should not love himselfe and himselfe onely this is sinfull love Christ Jesus never taught this love but a man may to love himselfe as that he love his brethren also nay he may so love himselfe as that he love his brethren as himselfe Rom. 13.9 Thou shalt love thy neighbour to wit thy brother as thy selfe This is the love Christ teacheth where he comes and he doth not onely teach it in word but in example also be may be said so far to deny himselfe as not to love himselfe in comparison of that love manifested to us he loved us better then he loved himselfe our life better then his own life for he gave his own life freely to purchase life for our souls here was great love John 15.13 Greater love then this hath no man that he lay down his life for his friends and we ought to be followers of Christ in this grace of love Ephes 5.1 2. Be yee followers of God as dear children and walke in love even as Christ hath loved you and given himselfe for you 8 There is selfe will also and this Christ teacheth the Saints to deny and to submit unto the will of God this Christ our pattern hath given us an example who came not to doe his own will but the will of him that sent him It is my meat and drinke to doe the will of my Father Iohn 4.34 In his prayer before his suffering Mat. 26.39 Not as I will but as thou wilt O blessed example to be imitated of all the Saints What Jesus Christ deny himselfe his own will and shall not the Saints doe it his Disciples and followers But Christ hath not onely given us his example as our pattern but he hath exhorted us thereunto also Mat. 7.21 Not he that sayth Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father c. Ephes 6.6 the Apostle exhorting servants to be obedient to their masters sayes not with eye service as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God This selfe will is a cause of much stirre and division in the world I had almost sayd amongst the Saints What is the cause of this warre and bloud but self will I mean next under God one will establish one Religion another will establish another Religion one will establish Episcopall another will establish Presbyterian Government or else the Kingdome must rue it being stirred up thereunto on both sides by the Clergie and is likely to bring ruine upon the Kingdome if God prevent it not in teaching those whom it concerns that they have nothing to doe in either side to compell men to any Religion that it is the will of men and never the will of Christ to give his Kingdome and Dominion minion to the will of men to the will of the Magistrate This self will is that causeth stirs and troubles in families the husband will have his mind and the wife will have her minde this causeth stirs in Churches amongst the Saints when every one will have his own mind
spirits are ever carryed forth against sin 2 The Saints cannot but deny sin as they stand related to Christ in relation to his glory Christ is holy and he will have a holy people that may be for his praise and honour 1 Pet. 2.9 But yee are a chosen generation a royall priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people why That yee should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light Christ hath made you and I holy that so we might shew forth his praise that is that so we might give occasion to praise God Are not the eyes of the world upon the Saints expecting much from them although it is true they doe not nay they cannot love holinesse yet they expect the Saints to be holy and to deny sin are they not ready to watch opportunities to scandall Saints and truth withall and would it not be a very sad and grievous thing if those that professe themselves to be for Christ should give just cause of offence would it not be very dishonourable to the name of the Gospel and profession of Christ therefore Christ teaches men and women where he comes to deny ungodlinesse and sin and to live soberly righteously and godly in this world It is his exhortation Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Let your light shine before the men of the world that they may have no cause to speak evill but rather cause to glorisie God Let your light so shine before the Saints that they may rejoyce and glorifie God A close walking with God is that which gives great cause of joy and rejoycing in each other and an occasion of praysing God one for another so the Apostle Rom. 1.8 I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of through all the world How was their faith spoken of it was the fruit of their faith their obedience in walking up with God answerable to that faith they professed for by our works we manifest our faith so likewise Phil. 1.3 5. the Apostle thanks God for their constant fellowship in the Gospel from their first submitting to it This is a cause of joy But on the contrary for such as beare the name of Christians to live in and delight in sin to be vain and carnall and earthly this is a cause of sorrow and weeping amongst Saints Phil. 3.18 For many walke of whom I told you before and now tell you weeping they are enemies to the crosse of Christ they cause the crosse of Christ and the way of Christ to bee evill spoken of a cause of sadnesse indeed to the Saints 3 Reason Why Christ teacheth his to deny self wisdome self love self will and all of self is because they are to take up their crosse and to follow Christ that is they must expect reproaches afflictions tribulations for the name and sake of Christ John 16.33 In the world you shall have tribulations Now what wise man in the world can or will suffer reproch the losse of the world and the worlds reputation the losse of friends liberty ease it may be of life it selfe in a word all that is neer and deer to the carnall man what man but a foole thinks the wise men of the world is there that will lose all on such light terms as the gaining of a crucified Christ A man not taught of Jesus as the truth is in Jesus can never suffer with comfort and joy these things the Saints are like to suffer for the name of Iesus Self wisdom and self love will come in O sayth wise selse when it eyes that persecution those hardships that are like to follow those that follow Christ May I not passe by such atruth and such a practice and it be a Christian and get to heaven what need I to adventure my selfe upon such hardships when perhaps for the neglecting of such or such an opinion or practice I may attain my liberty my good reputation Is it not a sad thing that men professing Christ should thus consult with flesh and bloud the Apostle Paul did not so when hee was converted to the faith of Iesus hee consulted not with flesh and bloud Gal. 1.16 It is self wisdom and self love that sets men to consulting with flesh and bloud but flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 That is a man not taught of Christ not made partaker of his divine nature and grace bearing only the image of the earthly Adam cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven When a man shall come to submit to Gospell Ordinances which are contemptible in the eyes of the world for which hee is like to suffer shame and disgrace here is need of self deniall O sayth the self denying Christian Let mee submit to Christ to every truth to every ordinance although I suffer losse in the world reproch and shame from my friends and acquaintance though I loose the love of my best friends whether father mother husband wife c. yet sayth the self denying Christian Christ hath sayd that who so loveth father mother wife or children more then me is not worthy of me and the love that CHRIST hath shed abroad in my heart by his Spirit Rom. 5.5 constraineth me to deny my selfe and follow Christ in all conditions 2 Cor. 5.14 Thus you see the self denying soul and none else is meet to be a Diseiple a follower of Christ hee is ready to take up the crosse daily and to follow him 4 Christ teacheth his to deny self sufficiency and self strength that so they may be able to hold out in the evill day when a day of adversity comes when a man is put to it eyther by his spiritual or temporal enemy Blessed are they then that trust in the Lord Psal 2.12 Men standing upon their own strength are gone Esay 40.30 The youth shall faint and be we ary the young men shall utterly fail that is those that apprehend a power in themselves to stand but Verse 31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint If men stand upon their own strength they are like to fall Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall But they that see an insufficiency in themselves and trust upon the name of the Lord shall be as mount Sion that shall never be moved Psal 125.1 but abideth for ever Christ would have his work to be a perfect and fair work his covenant a sure covenant Esay 55.3 Therefore hee undertakes not only to bring men and women intocovenant but to keep them there Ier. 32.40 I will not turn from them they shall not depart from me sayth the Lord. But if Christ had left the power of standing to man hee might
that which would knit the hearts of christians one to another It was the Apostles desire and care for the Colossians that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love Col. 2.2 This knitting together of the Saints is that which makes them meet to watch over each other to build up each other it is as the joynts and sinews of the body naturall knitting each member together and so nourishing the whole body Col. 2.9 Being knit together increaseth with the increase of God this is the excellent property of love it knitts up the souls of the Saints together where it is in truth there cannot be an easie dissolving of this knot of love this was the love of David and Jonathan 1 Sam. 18.1 The soule of Ionathan was knit with the soule of David and Ionathan loved him as his own soule this is the true property of love it knits the soul to the partie beloved it is not possible if there were true love that there should be such divisions amongst the Saints if it be but a difference in opinion presently the love the fellowship is broken A second excellencie of true love is It coven a multitude of infirmities it is not easily moved it is not easily provoked it is naturally easie to be intreated it will not suddainly believe evill reports it will not suddainly have bitter envyings and evill surmisings this is the excellencie of the grace of love it will bear much and long it will not censure without wonderfull just cause 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. Love suffereth long it is not easily provoked it will not starte at shadows love envyeth not anothers prosperity but rather rejoyceth in it as one member of the body rejoyceth in the prosperity of another it vaunteth not itselfe it is not puffed up love is an humble grace it maketh those in whom it is to serve each other in love to prefer each other before itselfe it seeketh not its own it seeketh not its selfe but the good of another it is not easily provoked it thinketh noill it rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth it beareth all things it believeth all things all things that it hath any ground or warrant to believe it hopeth althings that is the best of all things where there is any ground or probability of hope it endureth all things that is all things that God himself inflicts or suffers man to inflict upon him here is the excellencie of love O who would be without this grace of love nay but who can ever attain it but those whom God sheds abroad his love in their hearts by his holy Spirit how is this grace of love wanting among the Saints whence is it that there are such discords such bitter enyings such secret whisperings in a word such rents and breaches of communion and fellowship amongst Saints for slight things but the want of this grace of love truly were the love of God shed abroad in the hearts of his people more abundantly it would not be thus love is of absolute necessity for the peace and communion of Saints 3 Excellencie of love It is on everlasting grace it shall be made perfect in another world other graces fail but love never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 Prophesies they fail and faith that shall cease but love shall abide for euer it shall be so far from ceasing that it shall after the ceasing of faith and other graces be made perfect and the Saints that love God indeed here and from that fountain of love love each other they shall then for ever live in the bosome of love their souls being satisfied in the enjoyment of him the fountain they shall be then perfectly knit together in one being filled with the enjoyment of God made perfect in love through that abundance of love it enjoyes in him The third particular propounded is the manifestation of this love how the Saints manifest this their love each to other 1 In a faithfull diligent watching over each other in love Phil. 2.4 look not every one to his own things but every one to the things one of another there should not be such a spirit amongst Christians as was in Cain who said Am I my brothers keeper no no you are keepers of each other and it is love that will make you faithfull to each others soule in this particular The second manifestation of love is in building up one the other in the most holy faith edifying one the other in love helping forward each other in the way of holinesse being compacted together in the order fellowship of the Gospel maketh increase of the body to the edifying it self in love Eph. 4.16 3 In bearing with the weaknesses of each other Col. 3.12 13. Put on as the elect of God bewels of mercie kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering for bearing one another and for giving one another even as God for Christs sake forgave you Here is the manifestation of love when you are able to beare with and forbeare one another from this principle because God hath borne with you God hath forgiven you Rom. 14.1 him that is weak in the faith receive unto you 4 In restoring a falne brother with the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6.1 If any brother be falne through weaknesse yee that are spirituall restore such a one with the spirit of weeknesse much tendernesse is to bee used towards a brother in this case the ground is we our selves the strongest of us are subject to and may fall by the like temptation if the Lord prevent it not 5 In speaking kindly to each other good words and comfortable this is the manifestation of love and truly where there is love in the heart it will appear in the countenance in the words a cheerfull and loving countenance loving words here will be words both for the Saints and to the Saints First for the Saints to go to God in prayer Ephes 1.16 for them in their vindication when any scandall is unjustly laid upon them so Ionathan for David 1 Sam. 19.4 Ionathan spake good of David and good for David 2 In speaking kindly one to another so the Apostle Paul he ever gives the Saints the title of Brethren wherefore holy Brethren pertakers of the heavenly calling and Solomon sayth That a soft answer turneth away strife 6 And lastly love is manifested incondoling each with other in afflictions the Saints are all of them members of the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 and the members of the naturall body are sensible of the sufferings of each other if one member suffer all suffer with it if one member rejoyce all rejoyce with it so it is or should be in the body spirituall we should beare part of one anothers afflictions be truly sensible of the affliction of each other and so beare part with each other bee truly sensible of the comsorts of each other and so rejoice together this is the property of true love where it is I
to reconcile and save sinners Iohn 3.16 2 Cor. 5.19 such was the love of God from all eternity that nothing could hinder their design of grace The Jews that had a hand in putting Christ to death shall have a part in that mercy and grace purchased by his death Acts 2.37 38. For they did nothing but what God in his counsell had determined Acts 4.28 Now as the mercy of God was herein admirably exalted to men so is his justice his severity also Rom. 11.12 Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of God c. Behold here is goodnesse and severity mercy and justice to be admired First the mercy of God is here admirably manifested In freely chusing some and secondly his justice in leaving others First His mercy in chusing some in his Son to life and glory Rom. 9.23 24. That he might make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory even us whom he hath called c. here is the mercy of God wonderfully made known unto the sons of men and note that this mercy was never manifested but in a way of justice justice must be sarisfied for mans transgression now that God may shew mercy without any wrong to his justice hee gives his Son to take upon him mans sin and to suffer for the sins of his people that so mercy and justice might meet together An admirable worke of grace where God shews mercy and his justice is satisfied Never any mercy to be expected but where justice is satisfied it is in vain for thee ô man to expect mercy out of Christ there justice is satisfied if ever thou hast mercy it must be there therefore Christ calls Matth. 11.28 Come unto me c. Now beloved the Saints may admire of and rejoyce in the justice of God for the justice of God is for every believer and is as ready to plead for them as the mercy of God A creditour that is honest hee will be ready to acquit and cleer the principall when the surety hath paid the debt and made full satrsfaction and to declare that he hath nothing against him it is true the surety may pay the debt and the principall not know it and hee may be affraid and troubled but when the surety shall come and tell him that the debt is paid and the creditour satisfied and when the creditor shall send his bond and discharge under his hand and seal now this satisfies the man and now he is cleer and comforted now he walks boldly So it may be with the poore soule Christ hath paid thy debt he hath satisfied the justice of his Father but perhaps thou wantest the assurance of it beloved to whomsoever the Lord hath or shall give faith there it is sure the Lord hath sent his Ministers to proclaime it to your souls That whosoever believeth shall be saved and here hee hath sent his word to confirme it unto you and if that will not satisfie thou shalt have his seal too Ephes 1.13 And justice is now ready to plead for such a soule to acquit him I am satis fied I have nothing against him and so justice is thine and for thee who indeed believest 2 The Instice of God is manifested in leaving others in a lost condition herein is the severity of God admirably manifested especially of the Saints see Rom. 9.22 What if God willing to shew his wrath and make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath made up to destruction see Chap. 11. the elect obtained mercie the rest were hardened ô how should the Saints admire at this justice what God to leave so many in a hardened-blinde-perishing-condition and shew mercie to me O wonderfull what should God see in me more then in such and such hardened ones what God shew mercie perhaps to one and leave twenty a hundred in a hardened lost condition and shall I bee one of the small number O beloved how will the due consideration of this mercie and justice this goodnesse and severity of God set your selves work to admire God and to praise him this is the new song of the Saints Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthie to take the booke and to open the seale thereof for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation O this is that which will set thy soule a praysing God indeed when thou shalt see people tongues nations left and thou taken out of them some taken perhaps one or two out of a family others left one or two out of a generation others left some few out of a City a Nation and others left O beloved the due consideration of this one thing will occasion your fouls to sing that song that none else could ever learn Rev. 14.3 They sung a new song and no man could learn that song but they which were redeemed from the earth called out from earthly men from Nations peoples tongues c. 4 The Saints have cause also to admire the power the almighty power of God working salvation for them he doth declare himselfe to be the Al-mighty God able to doe whatsoever he pleaseth he is able to save he is able to work salvation for his people which way he pleaseth and the power of God is manifested in Christ working salvation for his people see Esay 63.1 I that speak in righteousnesse mighty to save behold the Lord Jesus is called the mighty God Esay 9.6 and a mighty redeemer Prov. 23.11 and their redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause c. and truly beloved hee had need bee mighty for he hath undertaken a mighty work the redemption and salvation of sinners and this appears to be a mighty work 1 Because none else could do it beloved God hath done such a work for his people that no creature nor created power in heaven or earth could doe it Esay 45.21 There is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me none can save beside God Hos 13.4 There is no Saviour besides me therefore in vain is salvation hoped for from the mount ains truly in the Lordour God is the salvation of Israel Jer. 3.23 Beloved it is in vain to look for salvation from the hills and mountains from creatures or any thing beneath the Lord Jesus There is none other name given under heaven whereby wee may be saved but by the name of Jesus Act 4.12 O beloved how should the Saints praise God and admire him for that great and glorious salvation he hath wrought for his people this is the song the Saints sing unto his praise Rev. 7.10 11 12. And they cryed with a loud voyce salvation to our God c. blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever c. They sing forth Gods saving power Who is