glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever shall come to pass I should come now to speak concerning the Decrees of God but I have already spoken something to this under the Attribute of God's Immutability God is unchangeable in his Essence and he is unchangeable in his Decrees his Counsel shall stand he hath decreed the Issue of all things and carries them on to their Period by his Providence and therefore I shall proceed to the Execution of his Decrees Quest. VIII The next Question is What is the Work of Creation Resp. It is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his power c. Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth The Creation is glorious to behold it is a pleasant and fruitful study Some think that Isaac when he went abroad into the Fields to meditate it was in the Book of the Creatures The Creation is the Heathen Man's Bible the Ploughman's Primmer the Travellers Perspective Glass through which he receives the Species and Representation of those infinite Excellencies which are in God The Creation is a large Volume in which God's Works are bound up and this Volume hath three great Leaves in it Heaven Earth Sea The Author of the Creation is God so it is in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God created The World was created in time and could not be from Eternity as Aristotle thought The World must have a Maker it could not make it self If one should go into a far Country and see stately Edifices there he would never imagine that these could build themselves but that there had been some Artificer there to raise such goodly Structures so this great Fabrick of the World could not create it self it must have some Builder and Maker and that is God In the beginning God created To imagine that the Work of the Creation was not framed by the Lord Jehovah is as if we should conceive a curious Lanskip to be drawn without the Hand of a Limner Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein In the work of the Creation there are two things to be considered The making of it The adorning of it I. The making of the World Here consider 1. God made the World without any praeexistent Matter This is the difference between Generation and Creation In Generation there is materia habilis disposita some Matter to work upon But in Creation there is no praeexistent Matter God brought all this glorious Fabrick of the World out of the Womb of Nothing We see our Beginning it was of Nothing Some brag of their Birth and Ancestry you see how little cause they have to boast they came of Nothing 2. God made the World with a Word When Solomon was to build a Temple he needed many Workmen and they all had Tools to work with but God wrought without Tools Psal. 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made The Disciples wondered that Christ could with a word calm the Sea Matth. 8.26 27. But it was more with a word to make the Sea 3. God made all things at first very good Gen. 1.31 no defect or deformity The Creation came out of God's hands a curious Piece it was a fair Copy without any Blot written with God's own fingers Psal. 8.3 So perfect was God's Work II. The adorning of the World First God made this great Lump and Mass Rudis indigestaque moles and then beautified it and put it into a dress He divided the Sea and the Earth he deck'd the Earth with Flowers the Trees with Fruit but what is Beauty when it is mask'd over Therefore that we might behold this glory God made the Light The Heavens were bespangled with Sun Moon and Stars that so the Worlds Beauty might be beheld and admired God in the Creation began with things less noble and excellent Vegetables and Sensitives and then the Rational Creatures Angels and Men. Man was the most exquisite Piece in the Creation he is a Microcosme or little World Man was made with deliberation and counsel Gen. 1.26 Let us make Man It is the manner of Artificers to be more then ordinary accurate when they are about their Master-pieces Man was to be a Master-piece of this visible World therefore God did consult about the making of so rare a Piece A Solemn Councel of the Sacred Persons in the Trinity was call'd Let us make Man and let us make him in our own Image On the King's Coin his Image or Effigies is stamp'd so God stamp'd his Image on Man and made him partake of many Divine qualities I shall speak 1. of the Parts of Man's Body 1. The Head the most excellent Architectonical Part 't is the Fountain of Spirits and the Seat of Reason In Nature the Head is the best Piece but in Grace the Heart excels 2. The Eye It is the Beauty of the Face it shines and sparkles like a lesser Sun in the Body The Eye occasions much sin and therefore well may it have Tears in it 3. The Ear which is the Conduit-pipe through which Knowledge is conveyed Better lose our seeing than our hearing for faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.17 To have an Ear open to God is the best Jewel on the Ear. 4. The Tongue David calls the Tongue his glory Psal. 16.9 because it is an Instrument to set forth the Glory of God The Soul at first was a Viol in tune to praise God and the Tongue did make the Musick God hath given us two Ears but one Tongue to shew that we should be swift to hear but slow to speak God hath set a double fence before the Tongue the Teeth and the Lips to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our Tongue 5. The Heart This is a noble part and Seat of Life 2. The Soul of Man This is the Man of the Man Man in regard of his Soul partakes with the Angels nay as Plato saith the Understanding Will and Conscience are a Glass that resemble the Trinity The Soul is the Diamond in the Ring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Soul is a Vessel of Honour God himself is serv'd in this Vessel It is a Sparkle of Coelestial Brightness saith Damascene If David did so admire the rare Contexture and Workmanship of his Body Psal. 139.13 I am wonderfully made I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth If the Cabinet be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel How richly is the Soul embroidered Thus you see how glorious a Work the Creation is and Man especially who is the Epitome of the World Quest. But why did God make the World Resp. 1. Negatively Not for himself he did not need it being infinite He was happy before the World was in reflecting upon his own sublime Excellencies and Perfections 2. God did not make the World to be a place of Mansion for us we are not to abide here for ever Heaven is the Mansion-House Iohn 14.2 the World
that we may not pray to Angels is clear from Rom. 10.14 How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed We may not pray to any but whom we may believe in but we may not believe in an Angel ergo we may not pray to him There is but one God and it is a sin to invocate any but only God 5. If there be but one God who is above all Ephes. 4.6 then he must be loved above all 1. We must love him with a love of Appreciation set the highest estimate on him who is the only Fountain of Being and Bliss 2. We must love him with a love of Complacency Amor est complacentia amantis in amato Aquin. Our love to other things must be more indifferent some drops of love may run beside to the Creature but the full stream must run towards God the Creature may have the Milk of our love but we must keep the Cream of our love for God God who is above all must be loved above all Psal. 73.25 There is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee Use 2. of Caution If there be but one God then let us take heed of setting up more Gods then one Psal. 16.4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God their Drink-offerings of Blood will I not offer nor take up their Names into my lips God is a jealous God and he will not endure that we should have other Gods 'T is easie to commit Idolatry with the Creature 1. Some make a God of Pleasure 2. Tim. 3.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Whatever we love more then God we make a God 2. Others make Money their God The Covetous Man worships the Image of Gold therefore is called an Idolater Eph. 5.5 that which a Man trusts to he makes his God but he makes the wedge of Gold his Hope He makes Money his Creator Redeemer Comforter 'T is his Creator if he hath Money then he thinks he is made It is his Redeemer if he be in danger he trusts in his Money to redeem him out It is his Comforter if at any time he be sad the golden Harp drives away the Evil Spirit So that Money is his God God made Man of the Dust of the Earth and Man makes a God of the Dust of the Earth 3. Another makes a God of his Child sets his Child in God's room and so provokes God to take it away If you lean too hard upon a Glass it will break many break their Children by leaning too hard upon them 4. Others make a God of their Belly Phil. 3.19 Whose God is their Belly Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a Fish that hath its heart in its Belly an Emblem of Epicures their Heart is in their Belly they mind nothing but indulging the Sensual Appetite they do sacrificare lari their Belly is their God and to this they pour Drink-offerings Thus Men make many Gods The Apostle names the wicked Man's Trinity 1 John 2.16 The lust of the flesh the lust of the eye the pride of life The lust of the flesh Pleasure the lust of the eye Money Pride of Life Honour O take heed of this whatever you Deifie besides God will prove a Bramble and Fire will come out of this Bramble and devour you Iudges 9.15 Use 3. of Reproof If the Lord Jehovah be the â—â—ly true God then it reproves those who renounce the true God I mean such as seek to familiar Spirits this is too much practised among them that call themselves Christians 'T is a sin condemned by the Law of God Deut. 18.11 There shall not be found among you any that consults with familiar Spirits How ordinary is this If People have lost any of their Goods they send to Wizards to know how they may come by their Goods again What is this but consulting with the Devil and so you renounce God and your Baptism What because you have lost your Goods will you lose your Souls too 2 Kings 1.6 Thus saith the Lord Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that thou sendest to enquire of Baal-zebub so is it not because you think there is not a God in Heaven that you ask Counsel of the Devil If any here be guilty be deeply humbled you have renounced the true God better be without the Goods you have lost then have the Devil help you to them again Use 4. of Exhortation If there be but one God as God is Oâ—â— so let them that serve him be One. This is that Christ prayed so heartily for Iohn 17.21 That they all may be One Christians should be One 1. in Iudgment the Apostle exhorts to be all of one mind 1 Cor. 1.10 How sad is it to see Religion wearing a Coat of divers Colours to see Christians of so many Opinions and going so many different ways It is Satan hath sown these Tares of Division Matth. 13.39 he first divided Men from God and now divides one Man from another 2. One in Affection They should have one Heart Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. As in Musick though there be several strings of a Viol yet all make one sweet harmony so though there are several Christians yet there should be one sweet harmony of Affection among them There is but one God and they that serve him should be one There is nothing would render the true Religion more lovely or make more Proselytes to it than to see the Professors of it tied together with the heart-strings of love Psal. 133.1 Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is to see brethren live together in unity It is as the sweet Dew on Hermon and the fragrant Ointment poured on Aaron's Head If God be one let all that profess him be One of one mind and one heart this fulfils Christ's Prayer that they alâ— may be one 2. If there be but one God let us labour to clear the Title that this God is ours Psal. 48.14 This God is our God What Comfort can it be to hear that there is a God and that he is the only God unless he be our God What is Deity without Propriety O let us labour to clear the Title beg the Holy Spirit the Spirit works faith by faith we are one with Christ and through Christ we come to have God for our God and so all his glorious fulness is made over to us by a Deed of Gift Use 5. What Cause have we to be thankful that we have the knowledge of the only true God How many are brought up in blindness some worship Mahomet divers of the Indians worship the Devil they light a Candle to him that he should not hurt them Such as know not the true God must needs stumble into Hell in the dark O be thankful that we are born in such a Climate where the Light of the Gospel hath shined To
eatest of it thou shalt surely die The Subject then of our next Discourse is the Covenant of Works This Covenant was made with Adam and all Mankind for Adam was a publick Person and the Representative of the World Quest. For what Reason did God make a Covenant with Adam and his Posterity in Innocency Resp. 1. To shew his Soveraignty over us we were his Creatures and as God was the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth God might impose upon us terms of a Covenant 2. God made a Covenant with Adam to bind him fast to God as God bound himself to Adam so Adam was bound to God by the Covenant Quest. What was the Covenant Resp. God commanded Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge God gave Adam leave to eat of all the other Trees of the Garden God did not envy him any Happiness only meddle not with this Tree of Knowledge because God would try Adam's Obedience As King Pharaoh made Ioseph chief Ruler in his Kingdom and gave him a Ring off his Finger and a Chain of Gold only he must not touch his Throne Gen. 41.40 in like manner God dealt with Adam he gave him a sparkling Jewel Knowledge and araid him with a fine Vesture put upon him the Garment of Original Righteousness only saith God Touch not the Tree of Knowledge for that is aspiring after Omnisciency Adam had power to have kept this Law Adam had the Copy of God's Law written in his heart This Covenant of Works had a Promise annexed to it and a Threatning 1. The Promise Do this and live In case Man had stood it is probable he had not died but had been translated to a better Paradise 2. The Threatning Thou shalt die the death Hebr. in dying thou shalt die that is thou shalt die both a natural Death and an Eternal unless some other Expedient be found out for thy Restoration Quest. But why did God give Adam this Law seeing God did foresee that Adam would transgress Resp. 1. It was Adam's fault he did not keep the Law God gave him a stock of Grace to trade with but he of himself broke 2. Though God foresaw Adam would transgress yet that was not a sufficient reason that Adam should have no Law given him for by the same reason God should not have given his written Word to Men to be a Rule of Faith and Manners because he foresaw that some would not believe and others would be prophane Shall not Laws be made in the Land because some break them 3. God though he foresaw Adam would break the Law he knew how to turn it to a greater good in sending Christ. The first Covenant being broken he knew how to establish a second and a better Well concerning the First Covenant consider these four Things 1. The Form of the first Covenant in Innocency was working Do this and live Working was the Ground and Condition of our Justification Gal. 3.12 Not but that working is required in the Covenant of Grace we are bid to work out salvation and be rich in good works But works in the Covenant of Grace are not required under the same Notion as in the first Covenant with Adam Works are not required to the Iustification of our Persons but as a Testification of our Love to God not as a Cause of our Salvation but as an Evidence of our Adoption Works are required in the Covenant of Grace not so much in our own strength as in the strength of another It is God which worketh in you Phil. 2.13 As the Scrivener guides the Child's hand and helps him to form his Letters so that it is not so much the Child's writing as the Scriveners that guides his hand so not our working as the Spirit 's co-working 2. The Covenant of Works was very strict God required of Adam and all Mankind 1. Perfect Obedience Adam must do all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 and not fail either in the matter or manner Adam was to live up to the whole breadth of the Moral Law and go exactly according to it as a well made Dial goes with the Sun a sinful thought had forfeited the Covenant 2. Personal Obedience Adam must not do his work by a Proxy or have any Surety bound for him no it must be done in his own Person 3. Perpetual Obedience He must continue in all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 Thus it was very strict There was no Mercy in case of failure 3. The Covenant of Works was not built upon a very firm Basis therefore it must needs leave Men full of Fears and Doubts The Covenant of Works rested upon the strength of Man's inherent Righteousness which though in Innocency was perfect yet was subject to a change Adam was created holy but mutable He had a power to stand but not a power not to fall Adam had a stock of Original Righteousness to begin the World with but he was not sure he should not break Adam was his own Pilot and could steer right in the time of Innocency but he was not so secured but that he might dash against the Rock of a Temptation and he and his Posterity suffer Shipwrack So that the Covenant of Works must needs leave Jealousies and Doubtings in Adam's heart he having no Security given him that he should not fall from that glorious state 4. The Covenant of Works being broken by Sin Man's Condition was very deplorable and desperate He was left in himself helpless there was no place for Repentance the Justice of God being offended sets all the other Attributes against Mandkind When Adam lost his Righteousness he lost his Anchor of Hope and his Crown there was no way for Man's relief unless God would find out such a way that neither Man nor Angels could devise Use 1. See the Condescension of God who was pleased to stoop so low as to make a Covenant with us For the God of Glory to make a Covenant with Dust and Ashes for God to bind himself to us to give us Life in case of Obedience Entring into Covenant was a sign of God's Friendship with us and a Royal Act of his Favour 2. See what a glorious Condition Man was in when God entred into Covenant with him 1. He was placed in the Garden of God which for the pleasure of it was called Paradise Gen. 2.8 he had his choice of all the Trees one only excepted he had all kind of precious Stones pure Mettals rich Cedars he was a King upon the Throne and all the Creation did obeysance to him as in Ioseph's Dream all his Brethrens sheaves did bow to his sheaf Man in Innocency had all kind of Pleasure that might ravish his Sences with delight and be as Baits to allure him to serve and worship his Maker 2. Besides he was full of Holiness Paradise was not more adorned with Fruit then Adam's Soul was with Grace He was the Coin on which God had
and Drunkenness in Noah and Cursing in Iob If God leave a Man to himself how suddenly and scandalously may Original sin break forth in the holiest Men alive 5. Original sin doth mix and incorporate it self with our Duties and Graces 1. With out Duties as the hand which is paralitical or palsy cannot move without shaking as wanting some inward strength so we cannot do any holy action without sinning as wanting a Principle of Original Righteousness As the Leper whatever he touched became unclen if he touched the Altar the Altar did not sanctifie him but he polluted the Altar such a Leprosy is Original sin it defiles our Prayers and Tears we cannot write without blotting Though I do not say that the holy Duties and good Works of the Regenerate are sins for that were to reproach the Spirit of Christ by which they are wrought yet this I say that the best works of the godly have sin cleaving to them only Christ's Blood makes atonement for our holy things 2. With our Graces There is some Unbelief mixed with Faith Lukewarmness with Zeal Pride with Humility As bad Lungs cause an Astmah or shortness of breath so Original Corruption having infected our heart our Greaces breath now very faintly 6. Original sin is a vigorous active Principle within us it doth not lye still but is ever exciting and stirring us up to evil it is an Inmate very unquiet Rom. 7.15 What I hate that do I. How came Paul to do so Original sin did irritate and stir him up to it Original sin is like Quicksilver always in motion when we are asleep sin is awake in the Fancy Original sin sets the Head a plotting evil and the Hands a working it it hath in it principium motus not quiet is it is like the Pulse ever beating 7. Original sin is the cause of all Actual it is fomes peccati it is the Womb in which all actual sins are conceived Hence come Murders Adulteries Rapines it is the Trojan Horse out of which a whole Army of Impieties come Though Actual sins may be more scandalous yet Original sin is more heinous the Cause is more then the Effect 8. It is not perfectly cured in this Life Grace though it doth subdue sin yet not wholly remove it Though we are like Christ having the first fruits of the Spirit yet we are unlike him having the remainders of the Flesh. There are two Nations in the Womb. Original sin is like that Tree Dan. 4.23 though the Branches of it were hewen down and the main body of it yet the stumps and root of the Tree were left Though the Spirit be still weakning and hewing down sin in the godly yet the stump of Original sin is still left it is a Sea that will not in this Life be dried up Quest. But why doth God leave Original Corruption in us after Regeneration he could quite free us from it if he pleased Resp. 1. He doth it to shew the power of his Grace in the weakest Believer Grace shall prevail against a Torrent of Corruption Whence is this the Corrupion is ours but the Grace is Gods 2. God leaves Original Corruption to make us long after Heaven when there shall be no Sin to defile no Devil to tempt When Elias was taken up to Heaven his Mantle dropped off so when the Angels shall carry us up to Heaven this Mantle of sin shall drop off we shall never complain more of an aking head or an unbelieving heart Use 1. If Original sin be propagated to us and will be inherent in us while we live here then it Confutes the Libertines and Quakers who say they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without sin they hold Perfection they shew much Pride and Ignorance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but we see the Seeds of Original sin remain in the best Eccles. 7.20 There is not a just man lives and sins not And St. Paul complained of a body of death Rom. 7.24 Grace though it doth purifie Nature it doth not perfect it Object But doth not the Apostle say of Believers that their old man is crucified Rom. 6.6 and they are dead to sin Rom. 7.11 Resp. They are dead 1. Spiritually they are dead as to the Reatus the guilt of it and as to the Regnum the power of it the love of sin is crucified 2. They are dead to sin Legally as a Man that is Sentenced to Death is dead in Law so they are legally dead to Sin there is a Sentence of Death gone out against sin it shall die and drop into the Crave but at the present sin hath its Life lengthened out nothing but Death of the Body can quite free us from the Body of Death Use 2. Let us lay to heart Original sin and be deeply humbled for it it cleaves to us as a Disease it is an active Principle in us stirring us up to Evil. Original sin is worse then all Actual sin the Fountain is more then the Stream Some think as long as they are civil they are well enough I but thy Nature is poisoned thou hast a proud lustful envious Nature a River may have fair Streams but Vermin at bottom Thou carriest an Hell about thee thou canst do nothing but thou defilest it thy Heart like muddy ground defiles the purest Water that runs thorow it Nay though thou art Regenerate there is much of the Old Man in the New Man O how should Original sin humble us This is one reason God hath left Original sin in us because he would have it as a Thorn in our side to humble us as the Bishop of Alexandria after the People had embraced Cristianity destroyed all their Idols but one that the sight of that Idol might make them loath themselves for their former Idolatry So God leaves Original sin to pull down the Plumes of Pride Under our silver Wings of Grace are black feet 2. Let the sence of this make us daily look up to Heaven for help beg Christ's Blood to wash away the guilt of sin and his Spirit to mortifie the power of it beg further degrees of Grace Gratiam Christi eò obnixiùs ambiamus though Grace cannot make sin to be yet not to reign though Grace cannot expel sin it can repel it and for our Comfort where Grace makes a Combat with sin Death shall make a Conquest 3. Let Original sin make us walk with continual Iealousie and Watchfulness over our Hearts The Sin of our Nature is like a sleeping Lion the least thing that awakens it makes it rage The Sin of our Nature though it seem quiet and lies as Fire hid under the Embers yet if it be a little stirr'd and blown up by a Temptation how quickly may it flame forth into scandalous Evils therefore we had need always walk watchfully Mark 13.37 I say to you all watch A wandring heart needs a watchful Eye MAN's Misery by the FALL Quest. XIII WHat is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell
any man should boast Eph. 2.9 But the Papists say The Works done by an unregenerate Man indeed cannot justify him but works done by a regenerate Man may justify This is most false as may be proved both by Example and Reason 1. By Example Abraham was a regenerate Man but Abraham was not justified by Works but by Faith Rom. 4.3 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness 2. By Reason How can those Works justify us which defiles us Isa. 64.6 Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Bona opera non praecedunt justificationem sed sequuntur justificatum Good Works are not an Usher to go before Iustification but an Handmaid to follow it Object But doth not the Apostle Iames say Abraham was justified by works Resp. The answer is easie Works declare us to be righteous before Men but they do not make us righteous before God Works are Evidences of our Iustification not Causes This Name only must be graven upon the Golden Plate of our High Priest Christ The LORD our righteousness 2. Use of Exhortation Branch 1. Adore the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God to find out such a way to justify us by rich Grace and precious Bloud We were all involved in Guilt none of us could plead Not Guilty and being Guilty we lay under a Sentence of Death now that the Judge himself should find out a way to justify us and the Creditor himself contrive a way to have the Debt paid and not distress the Debtor this may fill us with Wonder and Love The Angels admire the Mystery of Free-grace in this new way of Justifying and Saving lost Man 1 Pet. 1.12 and should not we who are nearly concerned in it and on whom the Benefit is devolved cry out with the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! c. Branch 2. Labour for this high Priviledge of Justification There is Balm in Gilead Christ hath laid down the Price of our Justification viz. His Bloud and he offers himself and all his Merits to us to justifie he invites us to come to him he hath promised to give his Spirit to inable us to do what is required Why then Sinners will ye not look after this great Priviledge of Iustification Do not starve in the midst of Plenty do not perish when there is a Remedy to save you Would not he be thought to be distracted if having a Pardon offered him only upon the Acknowledgment of his Fault and promising Amendment he should bid the Prince keep his Pardon to himself for his part he was in love with his Chains and Fetters and would dye Thou who neglectest Iustification offered thee freely by Christ in the Gospel art this distracted Person Is the Love of Christ to be slighted Is thy Soul and Heaven worth nothing O then look after Iustification through Christ's Bloud Consider 1. The necessity of being justified If we are not justified we cannot be glorified Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified He who is Outlawed and all his Goods confiscated must be brought into Favour with his Prince before he can be restored to his former Rights and Liberties So we must first have our Sins forgiven and be brought into God's Favour by Iustification before we can be restored to the Liberty of the Sons of God and have Right to that Happiness we forfeited in Adam 2. The Utility and Benefit By Iustification we enjoy Peace in our Conscience a richer Jewel then any Prince wears in his Crown Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Peace can sweeten all Afflictions it turns our Water into Wine How happy is a justified Person who hath the Power of God to guard him and the Peace of God to comfort him Peace flowing from Iustification is an Antidote against the Fear of Death and Hell Rom. 8.34 It is God that justifies who is he that condemneth Therefore labour for this Iustification by Christ this Priviledge is obtain'd by believing in Christ Acts 13.39 By him all that believe are justified And Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Faith unites us to Christ and having Union with his Person we partake of his Merits and the glorious Salvation which comes by him Use 3. Comfort to the Justified 1. It is Comfort in case of Failings Alas how defective are the Godly they come short in every Duty But though Believers should be humbled under their Defects yet not despond they are not to be justifi'd by their Duties or Graces but the Righteousness of Christ. Their Duties are mixed with Sin but that Righteousness which justifies them is a perfect Righteousness 2. Comfort in case of hard Censures The World censures the People of God for Proud and Hypocritical and the Troublers of Israel but though Men censure and condemn the Godly yet God hath justified them And as he hath now justified them so at the Day of Judgment he will openly justifie them and pronounce them Righteous before Men and Angels And God is so just and holy a Judge that having once justified his People he will never condemn them Pilate justified Christ I find no fault in him yet after this he condemned him But God having publickly justified his Saints he will never condemn them Whom he justified them he also glorified Of ADOPTION Joh. 1.12 To them he gave power to become the sons of GOD. HAving spoken of the great Points of Faith and Justification the next is Adoption 1. The Qualification of the Persons As many as received him Receiving is put for Believing as is clear by the last words To them that believe in his name 2. The Specification of the Priviledge To them he gave power to become the sons of God The Greek word for Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Dignity and Prerogative he dignified them to become the Sons of God Our Sonship differs from Christ's Sonship Christ was the Son of God by Eternal Generation a Son before time but our Sonship is 1. By Creation Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his Off-spring This is no Priviledge Men may have God for their Father by Creation yet have the Devil for their Father 2. Our Sonship is by Adoption So in the Text He gave them power to become the sons of God Adoption is twofold 1. External and Federal So those who live in a visible Church and make a Profession of God are Sons Matth. 8.12 The children of the kingdom shall be cast out 2. Real and Gracious So they are Sons who are GOD's Favourites and are Heirs of Glory Before I proceed to the Questions I shall lay down three Positions 1. Adoption takes in all Nations At first Adoption was confined to the People of the Iews they only were grafted in to the true Olive and were dignified with glorious Priviledges Rom. 9.4 Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth
any Snare If Satan be at the Sinners right hand let the Sinner take heed he be not set on Gods left hand Is not this a case to be bewailed to see Men taken Captive by Satan at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 He leads Sinners as Slaves before him in Triumph He possesseth them If People should see but their Beasts bewitched and possessed of the Devil they would be much troubled Yet their Souls are possessed by Satan but they are not sensible What can be worse than to be in the House of Bondage to have the Devil hurry Men on in their Lusts to Perdition Sinners are willingly inslav'd to Satan they love their Goaler are content to sit quietly under Satans Jurisdiction they choose this Bramble to rule them though within a while Fire will come out of this Bramble to devour them Iudges 9. Now what an infinite Mercy of God is it when he brings poor Souls out of this House of Bondage when he gives them a Goal delivery from the Prince of Darkness Iesus Christ Redeems Captives He Ransoms Sinners by Price and Rescues them by Force As David took a Lamb out of the Lyons Mouth 1 Sam. 17.34 So Christ rescues Souls out of the Mouth of this Roaring Lyon O what a Mercy is it to be brought out of the House of Bondage to be taken from being made Captives to the Prince of the Air and to be made Subjects of the Prince of Peace And this is done by the preaching of the Word Acts 26.18 To turn them from the power of Satan unto God III. The bringing of Israel out of the House of Bondage was a Type of their being delivered from Hell Hell is Domus Servitutis An House of Bondage an House built on purpose for Sinners to lye in 1. That there is such an House of Bondage where the Damned lye Psal. 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Matt. 23.33 How can ye escape the damnation of Hell If any one shall ask where this House of Bondage is where is the place of Hell I wish you may never know feelingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. Let us not so much saith Chrysostom labour to know where Hell is as how to escape it Yet to satisfie Curiosity Hell is Locus subterraneus Some place beneath Prov. 5.24 Hell beneath Hesiod saith Hell is as far under the Earth as Heaven is above it Luke 8.31 The Devils besought Christ That he would not command them to go into the deep Hell is in the Deep 2. Q. Why there must be this House of Bondage why an Hell Resp. Because there must be a place for the Execution of Divine Justice Earthly Monarchs have their Prison for Malefactors and shall not God have his Sinners are Criminal Persons they have offended God and it would not consist with Gods Holiness and Justice to have his Laws infring'd and not appoint Penalties for the Transgressors 3. The Dreadfulness of this place Could you but for one hour hear the Groans and Shreaks of the Damned it would confirm you in this Truth that Hell is an House of Bondage Hell is the Emphasis of Misery Besides the Poena damni the Punishment of Loss which is the Exclusion of the Soul from the glorified sight of God which Divines think the worst part of Hell I say besides this there will be Poena Sensus the Punishment of Sense If when Gods Wrath is kindled but a little and a spark of it flies into a Mans Conscience in this Life it is so terrible as in the case of Spira then what will Hell it self be That I may describe this House of Bondage 1. In Hell there will be a Plurality of Torments 1. Bonds and Chains 2 Pet. 2.4 2. The Worm Mark 9.44 This is the Worm of Conscience and the Lake of Fire Rev. 20.15 other Fire is but painted to this 2. This House of Hell is haunted with Devils Matt. 25.41 Anselm hath a saying I had rather endure all Torments than see the Devil with bodily Eyes Such as go to Hell must not only be forced to behold the Devil but must be shut up in the Den with this Lyon They must keep the Devil company The Devil is full of spight against Mankind This red Dragon will spet Fire in Mens Faces 3. The Torment of Hell abides for ever Rev. 14.11 The smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Mark 9.44 Time cannot finish it Tears cannot quench it The Wicked are Salamanders who live always in the Fire of Hell and are not consum'd After Sinners have lain Millions of Years in Hell their Punishment is as far from ending as it was at the beginning If all the Earth and Sea were Sand and every thousand Year a Bird should come and take away one grain of this Sand it would be a long time e'er that vast heap of Sand were emptied Yet if after all that time the Damned might come out of Hell there were some hope but this word EVER breaks the Heart Quest. But how doth this seem to stand with Gods Iustice for a Sin committed in a moment to punish it with eternal Torment Resp. 1. Because there is an Eternity of Sin in Mans Nature 2. Because Sin is Crimen laesae Majestatis it is committed against an infinite Majesty therefore the Sin is Infinite and proportionably the Punishment must be Infinite Now because a finite Creature cannot bear infinite Wrath therefore he must be eternally satisfying what he cannot satisfie at once Now then if Hell be such an House of Bondage what infinite cause have they to bless God who are delivered from it 1 Thess. 1.10 Iesus delivered us from the Wrath to come Jesus Christ suffered the Torments of Hell in his Soul that Believers should not suffer them If we are thankful when we are ransomed out of Prison or delivered from Fire Oh how should we bless God to be preserved from Wrath to come And that which may cause the more Thankfulness is because the most go into this House of Bondage the most go to Hell Therefore to be of the number of those few that are delivered from it is matter of infinite Thankfulness I say most go to this House of Bondage when they dye most go to Hell Matt. 7.13 Broad is the way which leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat The greatest part of the World lies in Wickedness 1 Iohn 5.19 Divide the World saith Brerewood into 31 parts nineteen parts of it are possessed by Jews and Turks seven parts by Heathens so that there are but five parts of Christians and among these Christians so many seduced Papists on one hand and so many formal Protestants on the other that we may conclude the major part of the World goes to Hell 1. The Scripture compares the Wicked to Briars Isa. 10.17 There are but few Lillies in your Fields but in every Hedge Thorns and Briars 2. To the mire in the streets Isa. 10.6 Few Jewels or precious
Stones in the Street but you cannot go a step but you meet with Mire The Wicked are as common as the Dirt in the Street Look into the Generality of People How many Drunkards for one that is Sober How many Adulterers for one that is Chast How many Hypocrites for one that is Sincere The Devil hath the Harvest and God only a few Gleanings Oh then such as are delivered from the House of Bondage Hell have infinite cause to admire and bless God How should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness When most are carried Prisoners to Hell they are delivered from Wrath to come Quest. How shall I know I am delivered from Hell Resp. 1. Those whom Christ saves from Hell he saves from Sin Matt. 1.21 He shall save his People from their sins Hath God delivered you from the power of Corruption from Pride Malice Lust If he hath delivered you from the Hell of Sin then he hath delivered you from the Hell of Torment 2. If you have got an Interest in Christ prizing confiding loving him then you are delivered from Hell and Damnation Rom. 8.1 No Condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus If you are in Christ then he hath put the Garment of his Righteousness over you and Hell Fire can never singe this Garment Pliny observes nothing will so soon quench Fire as Salt and Blood The Salt tears off Repentance and the Blood of Christ will quench the Fire of Hell that it shall never kindle upon you Of the Commandments Exod. 20.3 Thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. BEfore I come to the Commandment I shall premise some things about the Moral Law Answer Questions Rules Quest. 1. What is the difference between the Moral Law and the Gospel Resp. 1. The Law requires that we worship God as our Creator The Gospel requires that we worship God in and through Christ. God in Christ is propitious out of Christ we may see Gods Power Justice Holiness in Christ we see his Mercy display'd 2. The Moral Law requires Obedience but gives no strength as Pharaoh required Brick but gave no Straw but the Gospel gives strength The Gospel bestows Faith upon the Elect The Gospel sweetens the Law it makes us serve God with delight Quest. 2. What use is there of the Moral Law to us Resp. The Law is a Glass to shew us our Sins that so seeing our Pollution and Misery we may be forced to fly to Christ to satisfie for former guilt and save from future Wrath Gal. 3.24 The Law was our School-master to bring us to Christ. Quest. 3. But is the Moral Law still in force to Believers is it not abolished to them Resp. In some sense it is abolished to Believers 1. In respect of Justification they are not justified by their Obedience to the Moral Law Believers are to make great use of the Moral Law as I shall shew but they must trust only to Christs Righteousness for Justification as Noah's Dove made use of her Wings to fly but trusted to the Ark for Safety If the Moral Law could justifie what need were there of Christs Dying 2. The Moral Law is abolished to Believers in respect of the Malediction of it They are freed from the Curse and damnatory power of it Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Quest. 4. How was Christ made a Curse for us Resp. Christ may be considered 1. As the Son of God and so he was not made a Curse 2. As our Pledge and Surety Heb. 7.22 And so he was made a Curse for us This Curse was not upon his God-head but upon his Manhood This Curse was the Wrath of God lying upon him And thus Christ hath taken away from Believers the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse for them But though the Moral Law is thus far abolished yet it remains as a perpetual Rule to Believers Though the Law Moral be not their Saviour yet it is their Guide Though it be not Foedus a Covenant of Life yet it is Norma a Rule of Living Every Christian is bound to conform to the Moral Law and write as exactly as he can after this Copy Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid Though a Christian is not under the condemning power of the Law yet he is under the commanding power To love God to reverence and obey him this is a Law always binds and will bind in Heaven This I urge against the Antinomians who say the Moral Law is abrogated to Believers which as it contradicts Scripture so it is a Key to open the Door to all Licentiousness They who will not have the Law to rule them shall never have the Gospel to save them Having answered these Questions I shall in the next place law down some general Rules for the right understanding of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments These Rules may serve to give us some light into the Sense and Meaning of the Commandments Rule 1. The Commands and Prohibitions of the Moral Law reach the Heart 1. The Commands of the Moral Law reach the Heart The Commandments require not only outward Actions but inward Affections They require not only the outward Act of Obedience but the inward Affection of Love Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 2. The Threats and Prohibitions of the Moral Law reach the Heart The Law of God forbids not only the Act of Sin but the Desire and Inclination Not only doth it forbid Adultery but Lusting Matt. 5.28 Not only Stealing but Coveting Rom. 7.7 Lex humana ligat manum lex Divina comprimit animam Mans Law binds only the Hands Gods Law binds the Heart Rule 2. In the Commandments there is a Synecdoche more is intended than is spoken 1. Where any Duty is commanded there the contrary Sin is forbidden c. When we are commanded to keep the Sabbath day Holy there we are forbidden to break the Sabbath When we are commanded to live in a calling Six days shalt thou labour there we are forbidden to live idly and out of a Calling 2. Where any Sin is forbidden there the contrary Duty is commanded When we are forbidden to take Gods Name iâ— vain the contrary Duty is commanded that we should reverence his Name Deut. 28.58 That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God Where we are forbidden to wrong our Neighbour there is the contrary Duty included that we should do him all the good we can by vindicating his Name and supplying his Wants Rule 3. Where any Sin is forbidden in the Commandment there the occasion of it is also forbidden Where Murder is forbidden there Envy and rash Anger are forbidden which may occasion it Where Adultery is forbidden in the Commandment there is forbidden all that may lead to it as wanton glances of the Eye or coming into the Company of an Harlot
at one draught catched Three Thousand Souls Let us examine How was our Faith wrought Did God in the Ministry of the word humble us Did he break up the fallow ground of our heart and then cast in the Seed of Faith a good sign but if you know not how you came by your Faith suspect your selves as we suspect Men to have stolen goods when they know not how they came by them 2. True Faith is at first minute and small like a grain of Mustard seed it is full of doubts and fears it is smoaking flax it smoaks with desire but doth not flame with comfort it is so small that a Christian can hardly discern whether he hath Faith or no. 3. True Faith is long in working non sit in instanti It costs many searchings of heart many Prayers and Tears there is a spiritual Combat the Soul suffers many sore Pangs of Humiliation before the Child of Faith be born they whose Faith is per saltum they leap out of sin into a confidence that Christ is theirs I say as Isaac concerning his Sons Venison Gen. 27.20 How is it that thou hast found it so quickly How is it that thou comest by thy Faith so soon The Seed in the Parable which sprung up suddenly withered Mark 4.5 Solent praecocia subito flaccescere 4. True Faith is ioyn'd with Sanctity as a little Bezoar is strong in operation and a little Musk sweetens so a little Faith purifies 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the mistery of Faith in a pure Conscience Faith though it doth but touch Christ fetcheth an healing vertue from him Justifying Faith doth that in a spiritual sence which miraculous Faith doth it removes the Mountains of sin and casts them into the Sea of Christs â—lood 5. True Faith will trust God without a Pawn Though a Christian be cut short in Provisions the Fig-tree doth not blossom yet he will trust in God Fides Famem non formidat Faith fears not Famine God hath given us his Promise as his Bond Psal. 37.3 Verily thou shalt be fed Faith puts this Bond in suit God will rather work a Miracle than His promise shall fail He hath cause to suspect his Faith who saith he trusts God for the greater but dares not trust him for the lesser he trusts God for Salvation but dares not trust him for a livelihood 6. True Faith is Prolifical it brings for Fruit Faith hath Rachel's Beauty and Leah's Fruitfulness Fides pinguescit operibus Luther Faith is full of good works Faith believes as if it did not work and it works as if it did not believe Faith is the spouslike grace which marries Christ and good works are the Children which Faith bears by having such a Faith we may know the kingdom of God is within us Grace is certainly in our Hearts 3. We may know the kingdom of Grace is come into our hearts by having the noble grace of Love Faith and Love are the two Poles on which all Religion turns Cant. 1.4 The Vpright love thee True Love is to love God out of Choice Love turns the Soul into a Seraphin it makes it burn in a flame of Affection Love is the truest Touchstone of Sincerity Love is the Queen of the Graces it commands the whole Soul 2 Cor. 5.4 If our Love to God be Genuine and Real we let him have the Supremacy we set him in the highest room of our Soul we give him the purest of our Love Cant. 8.2 I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my Pomgrenate If the Spouse had any thing better than other a Cup more juicy and spiced Christ should drink of that We give the Creature the Milk of our Love but God the Cream In short if we love God aright we love his Laws we love his picture drawn in the Saints by the Pencil of the Holy Ghost we love his Presence in his Ordinances Sleidan saith the Protestants in France had a Church which they call'd Paradise as if they thought themselves in Paradise while they had Gods Presence in his Sanctuary The Soul that loves God loves his appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 It will be a glorious appearing to the Saints when their Union with Christ shall be compleat then their joy shall be full The Bride longs for the marriage day The Spirit and the Bride say come Even so come Lord Iesus Rev. 22.17 By this Sacred Love we may know the Kingdom of God is within us 4. We may know the Kingdom of Grace is come into our hearts by Spiritualizing the Duties of Religion 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye are an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices Spiritualizing Duty consists in three things 1. Fixedness of Mind 2. Fervency of Devotion 3. Uprightness of Aim 1. Fixedness of Mind Then we Spiritualize Duty when our Minds are fixed on God 1 Cor. 7.35 That ye may attend on the Lord without distraction Though impertinent thoughts sometimes come into the heart in Duty yet they are not allowed Psal. 119.13 they come as unwelcome guests which are no sooner spyed but they are turned out 2. Fervency of Devotion Rom. 12.11 Fervent in Spirit serving the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is a Metaphor alludes to Water that seeths and boyls over so the Affections boyl over the Eyes melt in tears the Heart flowes in holy ejaculations We not only bring our offering to God but our hearts 3. Uprightness of Aim An heart that is upright hath three ends in Duty 1. That he may grow more like God As Moses on the Mount had some of Gods Glory reflected on him his face shined 2 That he may have more communion with God 1 Iohn 1.6 our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our fellowship is with the Father 3. That he may bring more Glory to God 1 Pet. 4.11 Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be magnified Sincerity aimes at God in all though we shoot short yet we take a right aim This is a sure evidence of Grace the Spiritualizing Duty The Spirits of Wine are best so is the Spiritual part of Duty A little Spiritualness in Duty is better than all the gildings of the Temple or outward pompous Worship which doth so dazzle carnal eyes 5. We may know the Kingdom of Grace is come into us by antipathy and opposition against every known sin Psal. 119.104 I hate every false way Hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. against the whole kind Hatred is implacable Anger may be reconciled hatred cannot A gracious Soul not only forsakes sin as a Man forsakes his Country never to return to it more but hates sin as there 's an antipathy between the Crocadile and the Scorpion If the Kingdom of God be within us we not only hate sin for Hell but we hate it as Hell as being contrary to Gods Holiness and our Happiness 6. We may know the Kingdom of Grace is come into us when we have given up our selves to God by obedience As a Servant gives up himself to