The Death of Christ under the notion of the Death of a Sacrifice will improve the Believer's Faith which I hope will be manifested when we have viewed the grand concern of Faith in these three particulars 1. It 's Expectation or the things it waiteth for 2. The grounds of its Expectation and waiting 3. The present actings of Faith whilst it is assured there are such things to be expected and whilst it is perswaded and resolved to wait for them Of all which in order Sect. 1. 1. Faith hath its expectation and looketh for things that are not seen Things hoped for as Heb. 11.1 And these are great things As 1. A publck solemn full and clear absolution from the charge of sin and guilt which Satan Conscience or the Law might load us with Faith looks to that word John 5.24 He that believeth shall not come into condemnation Faith waits for that day 2 Thes 1. v. 10. When the Lord shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe Faith hearkneth for that awakening voice Matth. 25.6 Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him The Believer expecteth a justification from all things from which he could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38 39. when he shall be declared blessed when he shall be accounted righteous and as such shall enter into the possession of a Kingdom of Righteousness Mat. 25.34 37. with 46. ver 2. The Believer expecteth Totus mundus expectat illud tempus quo illi qui sunt Filii Dei manifestabuntur and with Faith waiteth for a publick declaration or manifestation of his Adoption and Sonship Rom. 8.19 The whole world expecteth that time wherein they who are the children of God shall be made manifest as Vatablus noteth on the place And this I take to be the Apostle's meaning Col. 3.4 You shall appear with him i. e. you shall be publickly declared the children of God through Christ And though it do not appear what Believers shall be yet when the Lord appeareth they shall appear his Sons and daughters also 1 Joh. 3.2 3. The Believer looketh for a publick and glorious inauguration or coronation Come inherit the Kingdom Matth. 25.34 is the happy investiture which Faith expecteth Now there is a Crown laid up for us then it shall be set upon our heads 2 Tim. 4. ver 8. It is already intended and promised then it shall be given Faith expects that joyful day of rewarding the Spiritual Champions Here they run there they are crowned Now the Believer warreth then Faith triumpheth 1 Cor. 9.24.25 4. The Faith of a Believer looketh after a reward for all its obedience whether active conforming to the Precepts and Rule of Christ or passive bearing the Cross of Christ It is one of the excellencies of the Law of Faith that as it commands no more than it enableth us to do so it rewardeth no less than we have done The distribution grace doth make is first so much as we need to work and next so much as we have wrought the Believer receiveth according to his works Matth. 25.35 36. And when grace hath thus distributed to each then shall we find our labour was not in vain 1 Cor. 15. v. 58. That the Lord was not unrighteous to forget our labour Heb. 6.10 Then shall we fully understand that the Believer is blessed for that his works do follow him Rev. 14. v. 13. Faith expects that the light and momentany asslictions should work for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 18. We expect a glory to be revealed with which these light afflictions of this life are not worthy to be compared Rom. 8.17 Such are the expectations of Faith and may well be confirmed as rational and justifiable by the consideration of their being built upon the Death of Christ our Sacrifice For 1. Doth a Believer expect absolution why should he not Christ his Sacrifice hath born his guilt and punishment Or Secondly 2. Doth a Believer expect a declaration of his adoption to be a Child of God this is no more than the promise of the Covenant ratified in this Sacrifice God will be his Father 3. Doth the Believer expect an investiture into a Throne Kingdom and Crown why all these are by Christ our Sacrifice procured for us after they were forfeited by us 4. Doth the Believer expect a reward for all his obedience both active and passive well He may For all his obedience is advanced in it's worth by this blood sprinkled on it This Sacrifice hath merited it albeit our obedience could not this in the Apostle's words one Sacrifice hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 Faith exceeds not its bounds when it expects consumate and full Perfection of happiuess These are the Grand expectations of faith let us view how justifiably faith may expect all these since that the foundation and ground of faith's expectation is secured and made good by the Death of Christ our Sacrifice Sect. 2. 2. The Foundation or ground of Faith's expectation is the promise and covenant of God upon this Faith builds it's hopes before God promiseth we may repose some kind of trust that he will do good for us but we cannot firmely and properly believe the Mariners Jonah 1.6 had some hope and trust that God would shew them mercy but this amounted not properly to a degree worthy the name of faith it rested still upon the Divine Goodness possibly God will think on us but it had no promise on which it might conclude God will think on us for good But now when once God hath promised and given out the word of Grace and Mercy the soul findeth a fit ground to build it's faith upon thus God spake to Abraham and gave him the promise so shall thy seed be Gen. 15.5 Then did Abraham believe God ver 6. And he believed in the Lord and he had no ground for faith before the promise And he gave no ground to unbelief after he received the Promise Hence the Apostle speaking of the greatness of Abraham's Faith tells us that it was against hope in hope Rom. 4.18 it was against all hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Natural and Second Causes but it was in hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to what was spoken to him by his God who could make good his word what ever he spake It is a blind and bold presumption not Faith which builds on other foundation than what God layeth Behold I lay in Sion for a Foundation a stone a Tried stone c. Isa 28.16 On this we may build our faith and not be confounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 2.6 The word of promise is the word of faith Rom. 10.8 And when we hear that word we ought to believe it for it is the word of God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of possibility of failure And it
which lyeth a Curse indeed Now this duly considered will promote the increase of our graces The Communicant who can meditate on Christ dying a Curse for us may thereby excite his graces and exercise them to an improvement of them such meditations will be as lesser streams to a River which they greaten whilst they run in the same chanel A brief specimen of this will satisfie I hope and set the soul on work wherein for his help I shall shew him an Essay in a rude draught of this in eight following particular Graces which well become a Communicant 1. Humility and Self-abasement is unquestionably a Sacramental grace 1. Sacramental grace improved a grace we should Bring to exercise at and improve by the Sacrament of our Lord dying for us And the consideration of his death represented under the circumstances of a Curse is a very suitable and a likely means to effect this For it doth represent to our thoughts not only the sufferings of our dearest Lord and friend but convinceth us that it was our sin which procur'd this to him and that we must have been miserable for ever if he had not thus died Thus our sin and misery is set before us and these will humble a soul these will bow the generous courage and stoutness of the noblest and highest mind Misery alone cannot break the courage of a virtuous and innocent mind Nil conscire sibi c. A soul clear and approv'd to its self is an impregnable fortress And the spirit of a man will bear these infirmities Indeed a base and degenerous mind breaks into shivers under a load of crosses But the soul under sorrows or in danger of deserv'd misery reflecting on its own guilt and looking through the vileness of sin on the greatness of its sorrows is the more humble because more refined and excellent in it's temper principles and aims True lowliness of spirit or humility that is genuine may possibly first gush out in a tear from pain But it 's constant running is in tears for sin Misery may broach the vessel but it is sin that keeps it running Misery may make the best despised in others eyes sin makes him despised in his own Men will tread on a distressed fortune but the humble soul will tread on its sinful self And now serious Reader cast thine eye upon Christ made a Curse and suppose for thy self and then tell me what is first reflected on is not thy misery the title page of that great Volume of sorrows which Christ did bear for thee when he was made a Curse and underwent it in thy stead wa st not thou in danger of that Curse didst thou not dwell on the borders of an eternal infinite misery and wast thou not every moment in danger to be haled and thrust headlong into a prison of wofullest darkness and unspeakable sorrows Did not the Curse laid on Christ hang over thy head It was thy sin thy misery that Christ lay under and this will humble thee if thou hast any spark of spititual ingenuity if there dwell any generous dispositions within thy breast 1. For what is it to be cursed but to lye under the transgression of a righteous Law and what will abase an ingenuous spirit if the baseness of sin will not Humility is the judgement or opinion of its little worth arising from due sense of sin Humility what Thus did Moses instruct Irsael to be humble Deut. 9.7 12 22. 23. 24. shews them how great their sin had been and leaves then to say how little their opinion of themselves ought to be tells them how near they were to utter ruine when nothing but a Moses and his prayer was between them and the execution of that word Deut. 9.6 14. I will blot out their name from under Heaven Let thy soul renew the memory of thy sin when thou renewest thy thoughts of Christ's dying a Curse Remember thy sins and do as they Ezek. 20.43 Gen. 41.9 Loath thy self for all thy sins The remembrance of a fault made a Courtier blush In a Sacrament thou seest Christ dying an accursed death in his Curse thou dost or shouldest see thy own sin and with Ezra in another case Ezra 9.6 Thou shouldest be ashamed and blush to look up to Heaven For 2. Thou most righteous and just hast condemned me and judged what my fault is how great how vile it is in the Curse my Saviour did bear for me It was not a rash hasty and inconsiderate passion of a man that cursed the sinner but it was the just deliberate sentence of a wise and holy God who never curseth one that deserves to be blessed who never curseth before the creature hath sinned and deserved it How inquisitive is a good disposition if he be cursed as David by a Shimei 2 Kings 2.23 or as the Prophet reproached by the Boyes of Bethel or by a contemptible beggar How ready are best natures to enquire into the cause Have I given an occasion to this reproach Have I deserved it And how is he abashed and ashamed that any reason is pretended for unreasonable railing Now much more abashed is the ingenuous spirit when a sober man when a judicious observer of his own words as well as of other mens carriages shall condemn and adjudge him worthy of a Curse But here it is the Lord who adjudged thee to a Curse and canst thou remember this and not be humble and not reflect upon thy sin which provoked so just a Wisdom and such deliberate Justice to execrate thee David was humble when Shimei cursed because it might be God had said to him Curse David When thou receivest the Sacrament thou remembrest Christ whom God made a Curse for thee there God tells thee Thou hadst been forever cursed if Christ had non been once cursed There thou mayest see a holy wise just and infinitely excellent person displeased with thee and provoked against thee and surely such a sight will I am certain it should make thee abhor thy self and be humble 3. Farther thou hadst a fair and open tryal of thy Cause and it now stands in the greatest Court of Record in the world It is there registred that thou art the son or daughter of a tainted blood a child of an accursed stock In the first Adam God tryed and cast thee and told thee what thou must expect in the second Adam he shewed thee this Record stood firm the sentence unrepealed and if the blood of Christ dying and bearing the Curse for thee had not washt out the stain thou hadst remained still under a curse and stain It is accounted a glory in an Antient Family that the blood is not stained with any treasonable practices against the Soveriagn and it is a disparagement and diminution of their glory and greatness that the blood is embased by disloyal designs and attempts When thou receivest the Sacrament and seest Christ dying an accursed death
Sacrifice for so were Covenants of old made confirmed as hath been observed a very pregnant place to our present purpose we met with in Psa 89.30 seq If his children forsake my Law Psal 89.30 31 32. â—â— and walk not in my Judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments then will I visit their transgressions with a Rod and their iniquity with stripes 2 Sam. 7.14 Virgâ hominum i.e. moderatâ correctione in eorum commodum Poli Synops Crit. This Rod 2 Sam. 7.14 is the Rod of men that is with moderate correction and for their good But or Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him Here 's a rich Cordial to the drooping soul which smarteth under the didivine corrections God hath not nor will he take away his loving kindness nor suffer his faithfulness to fail ver 33. My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Now then when thy sin whether of folly or frowardness is corrected and thou mournest under sense of divine displeasure call to mind the Covenant made in Christ thy Sacrifice and be comforted sense of thy peace may but the Covenant of thy peace shall not be broken 4. Under the apprehension of divine displeasure and present dereliction yet this Sacrifice may soon quiet and sufficiently support the soul in that it will be its present refuge against the violence of this trial still the soul may interpose the Propitiatory vertue of this Sacrifice between it self on the one part and God's displeasure with its own fears on the other part hitherto this Altar may the troubled and the trembling soul fly as Joab to the horns of the Altar and certainly when the blood of this Sacrifice is found sprinkled on the soul God will speak a present peace or support with a secret infused hope of life and at least seasonably let the Believer know he will never take him from the Altar that he may die but yet as a Father he may correct his offences without violating the priviledge of sanctuary And indeed this is the utmost God intends in the exercise of his Sons and Daughters who are reconciled to him through Christ their Sacrifice In vertue whereof all Believers might and I believe the most of them do one time or other in this life after such spiritual troubles recover some degree of spiritual peace and joy in the favour of God however seldom go off the stage without the joy of good old Simeon departing in peace because they have seen the salvation of God But they never fail to see and rejoyce in God through Christ when they receive the peace which after death is to be obtained with God by vertue of this Expiatory Sacrifice the truth hereof they firmly believe and hope for it also Rom. 5.11 We may then joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received the atonement Joy in God is a fruit of atonement and this an effect of the Sacrifice of Christ So near alliance there is between our Joy in the Divine Favour and Christ procuring and maintaining it for us in the vertue of his Sacrifice Much to the same purpose is that of the Apostle Heb. 10. v. 19. Having boldness to enter by the blood of Christ Now at least this boldness is a fruit or consequent of our perswasion and hope that God beareth a gracious respect to us And ver 21. and 22. Having an High Priest and consequently a Sacrifice let us draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith c. If any complain notwithstanding all this I must assure them their own inability to improve the vertue of Christ our Sacrifice is the reason why they draw not out the excellent Oil which would make their face to shine it is not want of excellency in him or in his death our Sacrifice Sect. 3. 3. A third thing a soul is disquieted at is the sinful imperfections of duties weakness of graces and unworthiness of his person all which concurring do oftentimes occasion a doubt whether such shall be accepted with a God of infinite holiness and glorious Majesty Can God indeed take pleasure in such will such persons be accepted such graces allowed such duties approved and if not where shall the troubled soul seek rest For removal of this Disquietude from the soul there is sufficient in Christ dying our Sacrifice For 1. It is that which procureth an acceptation of our persons it restoreth us to the Favour of God who delighteth in every one who hath by faith a real interess in this Sacrifice The Grace of God through Christ looketh to our persons Quâ gratos nos sibi reddidit per illum dilectum Vatab. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. So that he maketh us accepted Ephes 1.6 He hath respect to our persons and this through Christ our Sacrifice as ver 7. By whom we have redemption through his blood Expounding the material cause how we are made acceptable to God in Christ for it is he only whose Sacrifice by the mercy of God is imputed to us for forgiveness of sin as some note on these words It is the order observed in the New Covenant Semper igitur sentiendum est nos consequi remissionem peccatorum Et personam pronunciari justum i. e. gratis acceptari propter Christum per fidem postea vero placere etiam obedientiam erga legem reputari quandam justitiam c. Augustan Confess Ar. 6. confirmed in the death of this Sacrifice to look to the person first through the precious blood of his Sacrifice and next to the performance of his duties subsequent As God is said to have had respect to Abel first and then to his Sacrifice So here the person of the Believer is through Christ accepted with God thus the fears lest our unworthy persons be rejected are removed God valueth them not as in themselves but in the superadded favour which for Christ's sake he beareth to them 2. Secondly The excellency of this Sacrifice removeth the fears which arise from the weaknesses and perfections of our gracious works too For the excellency of this Sacrifice ennobleth every spiritual Sacrifice we offer unto God by faith Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer and there was given him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the Saints upon the golden Altar which is before the Throne On which words Junius hath this passage among others This is that Great Emperour the Lord Jesus Christ our King and Saviour who maketh intercession to God the Father for the Saints filling the heavenly Sanctuary with most sweet odours and offering up their prayers c. in such sort as every one of them so powerful is that sweet savour of Christ and the efficacy of his Sacrifice are held in reconcilement with God c. You
a perpetual thanksgiveing to Christ but a Sacrament is the solemne day of Thanksgiving which Christ hath appointed He did find the Jews keeping the Passeover so he hath ordained the Christian Feast of his supper in the stead thereof and so to be kept the Apostle tells us that he received of the Lord what he delivered to his Corinthians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.16 and he delivered unto them this cup of Blessing this minds you of the greatest gift God could give and must not be lookt on without your heart in your eye Go too then think as you can of him who hath made you heirs by his will speak of it as you can Inusitatâ incognitâ quadam felicitate I mistake if you do not think say this came to pass by an unusual and wonderful happiness as the Historian said of that will which made the people of Rome heir to a Kingdome Be you as just to the Remembrance of your Lord and shew it in your thankfulness 4. Fourthly Another great End of the Sacrament and which Christ intended in appointing Coena in eum finem comparata est ut sit communioris charitatis Christianonum vinculum inter ipsos Th. Thalm. de usu coen Dom. dis 1. sect 42. it was that union and communion might be preserved and continued among Believers It doth therefore bear the name of a Communion and Christ hath prepared this Spiritual Feast to keep up spiritual friendship Christ would have but one Table for Believers that Believers might have but one heart for each other Christ hath put them all together at his table that they might keep all together in love and be but one Mark well with what text the Apostle urgeth this Union and Communion among Saints 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one body for we all partake of one bread But now alas that is made a cause of contention and separation which was appointed a means of union and Christian friendship of which I might justly complain were this fit time and place But I conclude this in the words of the Learned Professours Sacra Synaxis est dilectionis fidelium inter se contesseratio quaedam P P. Salmur de usu neces coen Dom. Disp 1. Sect. 42. The holy Communion is a certain signal mark of the love of the faithful one to another Now I say the last Will of Christ dying a Testator conduceth unto this and therefore the meditations of Christ dying a Testator will suit with the Sacrament and do well become a Communicant View but a while oh ye quarrelling Believers how you have all one common great friend ought you not be one in him Have you not all one title and may you overthrow your Brother's hope without overthrowing your own are all men careful to preserve unity whose welfare is endangered by discord and will you be less than men In one word Christ hath put you all into his own Will and made you Legatees Joint-heirs how well doth one Will become them who are thus one in the Will of Christ oh divide not in your wills and affections you are undivided in the Will of Christ suit your considerate thoughts to the blessed ends your Dear and Dying Lord intended to promote enlarge your thoughts on the particular considerations and respects in which he died draw down these respects unto the several graces and duties which they will awaken and strengthen and I hope in a Sacrament you shall find your Profession and Faith confirmed your Affections enlivened your Thankfulness enlarged your Union and Communion with Saints strengthened and secured by a due application of your meditations to the Death of Christ dying a Testator and so will find by experience what I have said that these thoughts well suit a Sacrament because they well suit the ends of the Sacrament CAP. III. Christ's Testament Influenceth our Graces I Am now to treat my Reader with the entertainment of his thoughts on the third proposal which pretends to make it appear that due considerations of Christ's dying a Testator making his will and comprising all his friends in it may improve the growth of grace such reflections on this kind of death do well comport to the communion they do also well advance the graces of the communicant they do befit the solemnity they benefit the solemnizer which I shall attempt to illustrate and prove in the genetal by these following arguments Sect. 1. 1. First 1 Argument That which awakens the soul to a diligent search and enquiry into the word and into its own state will advance the growth of grace Grace is of such a nature it growes best when most searcht as health by medicines which penetrate the secretest places of the disease and expel the most hidden hurtful humours our spiritual Balm healeth best when self-examination openeth our wounds and maketh way that the Balm may sink and soak to the bottom Now the consideration of Christ dying a Testator and making his Will or Testament will awaken us to such a search enquiry It is almost natural to us when our rich friends dye to enquire what Will they made and who are remembred and what they are remembred in especialy when they hear that all the kindred and all the friends are remembered in the Will and have somewhat given them upon this the considerate Christian begins his search of these two things at least 1. The last Will of Christ which is contained in and to be gathered out of his word And next He 2. Searcheth his own Pretences to the Friendship and Kindred of Christ for the word assures him that the Lord Christ hath bequeath'd all to his Brethern and Friends Hence 3. A Third thing is concluded by the considerate Christian viz. The strengthning his alliance to Christ and making it more firm and sure which is most effectually and only done by adding grace to grace and bringing forth fruits of grace thus will this search occasioned by this Death of Christ improve grace Sect. 2. 2. That which answers the doubts and which removes the disquieting fears of the gracious soul doth improve grace in the soul Doubts are the souls earth-quakes which shake the foundations and weaken the superstructure these doubts once well removed and these fears once well blown over the soul resteth on a good strong solid foundation and all that is laid upon it standeth the faster and steadier These disquieting fears are Languores animae The consumptive decaies of weak grace let these be taken away and grace recovers to a healthful vigorous and strong habit they are part of that spirit of bondage which attends a weaker and less grown grace and as these fears are dispelled and the prevalence of the spirit of bondage abateth so the Pharrhesia that boldness and child-like confidence of grown grace increaseth with an increasing measure of the spirit of Adoption from which springeth an universal increase of grace Atque
perverse in them Prov. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. 8.7 8.8 Now then see what farther ground of firme perswasion thou hast Oh believing soul to assent to wait for all that he hath promised all which he hath comprised and ratified by his last Will. Read over the promises weigh them duly and say to thy self at a Sacrament all these promises were confirmed by the last Will of my Lord. Whose death I am to remember and consider with respect to the nature and notion of his Death and this his Death was the Death of a Testator of one who made his Will so wisely so consonantly to the law viz. Of grace and mercy so agreable to the holy will of God so plainly and fully for the consolation of his poor Friends that no one of his poor Friends shall ever be defeated disappointed or injured in their claim and plea their title by gift and will is so good that nothing but a narrow desire a straitned heart a scanty apprehension of it can lessen their portion in it the fullest apprehension the largest heart and the vastest desire according to Christ's own Will shall have the best and greatest share in these gifts get then apprehensions suited to these excellent mercies enquire and learn what mercies are offered represented confirmed and sealed in the Sacrament what priviledges are there by God's charter and grant given and conclude of them all these were put into Christ's hand He hath disposed of them to his as they need as they desire as they want or wish And that they might be sure hath ordained them by his last Will a Legacy for all who understand desire seek and wait for them and lest any doubt should discourage you I pray you remember Christ the wisdom of his Father could not want sufficient skill and Christ Dying for us could not want good will to ordain his Testament so that none should disappoint or defeat it in part or in whole Consider then how little cause you and I have to doubt consider how great cause we have to be fully peswaded of the truth and certainty of the promises Nay farther yet 4. All the Promises thus confirmed by the last Will and Testament of Christ are Legacies given by one who now doth and ever shall live to be his own Executor This Testament is not the Testament of a man who dieth and must entrust others to see his Will perform'd but it is the Testament of one who was once dead but behold he liveth Rev. 1.18 For evermore O happy soul who art Heir of those Promises which he made who lives to perform what his love hath bequeathed to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou art surer to enjoy the Crown which he bequeaths thee than ever was the child of any dying Emperours or Kings whose last Wills have been wickedly violated because they were dead and could not prevent the violence of such Traitors nor avenge the wickedness of the Treason But behold here 's a friend who lives after death and wilt thou know why he doth Amongst others this is one reason Heb. 7.25 That he might save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him and to intercede for them viz. that they may enjoy what he hath given that they may possess what he hath purchased Now then compare the grounds of other mens perswasions and confidences upon the Will of their dead friends see what is in them weigh them and write upon each of them Tekel Dan. 5.27 thou art found too light to be weighed against the confidences and perswasions of a Believer for all other Legacies are the gifts of the dead but the Believers Legacies are the gifts of him who was dead but is alive and liveth for ever more Others may have the assurance of an unchangeable Testament and ordination of their will but yet want an assurance of just and faithfull execution of it If their Friend be dead the Legacy is due and cannot be recalled But their Friend is dead possibly the Legacy may never be paid here 's that defect which makes it too light to be weighed with the believers confidence which is as sure for his Friend was dead to confirm and is yet surer than all others for his Friend doth live Christ will make all sure as we say his own eyes shall be overseers and his own hands executors of his own Will Now then at the Lords Table view the riches of the promises take a particular of what is contained in them a particular of what grace what consolation what glory say All these are by the last Will of my Dying Lord bestowed upon me I may claim them I may sue and plead for them I may avow my title to them for they are a Legacy given to me by my Lord and who then can change or alter his VVill which hath been ratified by his Death or who shall dare to violate it and defeat me or any other Believer So long as my Lord liveth to prevent the attempt and to avenge himself for the violence Oh that our perswasion of the truth of the Promises were firm and stedfast as the Promises themselves Oh that we could give more credit to the Promises as God hath given us more arguments and inducements to credit them well Reader I know not how my weak and dark reasoning with thee doth prevail but I assure thee there is in the Promises a most sure and unfailing truth asserted and declared to thee by this That they are the bequests of Christ Jesus who ever lives to make them good Remember this at the Sacrament where the Promises are all tendered to thee in Christ I doubt not it will strengthen thy Faith 5. Fifthly Consider the Promises are the Legacies of thy friend who would not alter his Will and dispose of them otherwise than he hath already disposed them He is yesterday Heb. 12.8 to day and for ever the same in his love care wisdom and bounty were he now to make his last VVill he would not alter any thing he would not blot out one name nor abate any one Legacy I stand the less to prove this because nothing can fall out to change infinite wisdom and such was the wisdom of Christ who is the Testator and disposed all as you see them disposed And in this appeareth a certainty in Divine Promises which is seldom nay never found in the promises of men although confirmed by an irrevocable Testamentary disposition for it seems past doubt that if any one of the rich and wealthy Princes or Grandees of the world were to live again and to ordain their VVills anew they would alter much leaving out some abating to others c. Either upon discovery of unworthiness in the Legatees or upon discovery of other persons and uses more excellent all which would proceed from experience and after-knowledge the least of which cannot be supposed or found in Christ He would do what he hath done
Paul to the Romans Both by Tho. Horton D.D. late Minister of St. Hellen's An Analytical Exposition of Genesis and of 23 Chapters of Exodus by G. Hughes D.D. Books 4 to Present State of New England The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration by G. Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Steph. Scandert An Exposition of the 5 first Chap. of Ezek. with usual observations thereupon by William Greenhill The Gospel-Covenant opened by P. Bulkley God's holy Mind touching matters Moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lord's Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The Fiery-Jesuit or an Historical-Collection of the rise encrease Doctrines and Deeds of the Jesuits Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan The Practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and mens Souls by J. Clarkson The Creatures goodness as they came out of God's hand and the good mans mercy to the brute creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D. Certain considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity amongst Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection The Saints triumph over the last enemy in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Jam. Janeway by Nath. Vincent The vanity of Man in his best estate in a discourse on Psal 39.5 at the Funeral of the Lady Susanna Keate by Rich. Kidder M. A. Peaceable Disquisitions by Jo. Humphreys 56 Sermons of Providence by Joh. Collings D. D. Sermons concerning Grace and Temptation by Tho. Froysell The Morning-Lecture against Popery or the Principal Errours of the Church of Rome detected and confuted in a Morning-Lecture preached by several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Four useful discourses 1 The Art of improving a full and prosperous condition for the glory of God being an Appendix to the Art of Contentment in three Sermons on Phil. 4.12 2 Christian submission on 1 Sam. 3.18 3 Christ a Christians life and death is gain on Phil. 1.21 4 The Gospel of Peace sent to the sons of Peace in six Sermons on Luke 10.5 6. by Jer. Burroughs Dr. Wilds Letter of Thanks and Poems A new Copy-Book of all sorts of useful hands The Saints priviledg by dying by Mr. Scot. The Vertuous Daughter a Funeral Sermon by Mr. Brian The Miracle of Miracles or Christ in our Nature by Dr. Rich. Sibbs The unity and essence of the Catholick Church-visible by Mr. Hudson View of Antiquity by Mr. Jo. Hanmer The intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and the Church or the particular Believing soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chap of Cant. by John Collins D. D. Large Octavo Heart-Treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every Christian with Soul-enriching treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts The sure mercies of David or a second part of Heart-treasure Heaven or Hell here in a good or bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent Closet-prayer a Christians duty all three by O. Heyword A practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwhiele The re-building of London encouraged and improved in several meditations by Samuel Rolls The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints mystical Union with Christ by Richard Stedman M. A. Sober Singularity by the same Author Heaven taken by Storm The mischief of sin both by Tho. Watson The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Reading and Spelling made easie both by Tho. Lye Aesop's Fables with morals thereupon in English-Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans Remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolitle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church-Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zach. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second part of the fulfilling of the Scripture The immortality of the soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason to which is added Faiths-triumph over the fears of death by Tho. Wadsworth A Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word by George Swinnock M. A. A discourse of the original c. of the Cossacks The generation of Seekers or the right manner of the Saints addresses to the throne of Grace with an exposition on the Lords-Prayer An Essay to facillitate the Education of Youth by bringing down the rudiments of Grammar to the sence of seeing which ought to be improved by Syncresis by M. Lewis of Totenham An Artificial Vestibulum wherein the sense of Janua Linguarum is contained compiled into plain and short sentences in English for the great ease of Masters and Expeditious progress of Scholars by M. Lewis Speculum Sherlockianum or a Looking glass in which the admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the man as to his Acuracy Judgment Orthodoxy A discourse of Sins of Omission wherein is discovered their Nature Causes and Cure by George Swinnock Quakerism no Christianity or a through-Quaker no Christian proved by their Principles and confirmed by Scripture by J. Faldo The Dutch-dispensatory shewing the vertues qualities and properties of Simples the vertue and use of Compounds whereto is added the Compleat Herbalist Small Octavo A defence against the fear of death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by William Gearing The godly mans Ark or a City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mrs. Moors evidences from Heaven by Edmund Calamy The Almost-Christian discovered or the false-Professor tried and cast by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian-freedom or a discourse shewing the extent and restraints of Christian-liberty by S. Bolton D. D. The sinfulness of Sin and fulness of Christ in two Sermons by Will. Bridg. A Plea for the Godly or the Righteous mans Excellency The holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper