superstitious carnal part of the world falleth to his share but Christ hath cast him out and will still go on to do it Death hath an Empire and Kingdom Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses and verse 17. by one offence death reigned Now for the destruction of these powers was Christ exalted at the right hand of God and by degrees he doth destroy and subdue them yet this destruction is not so universal but that sin and Satan and death doth still continue yet though there be not a total destruction of them there is an absolute subjection of them to the Throne of the Mediator They cannot do any more than Christ permitteth they cannot hurt those whom God hath given to Christ in a deadly manner they cannot hinder the bringing them unto the Heavenly kingdom He doth annihilate the guilt of sin by his death the dominion by the power of his Spirit In the dispisers and refusers of his grace sin continueth in its absolute power but still in a subjection to the Throne The wrath of the Mediator is seen in their condemnation and destruction Satan is destroyed as to his Princely power but so as we must use the means still at last he shall be judged Death is the last enemy 1 Cor. 15.26 that shall be destroyed It will be finally destroyed in the Resurrection For the present it serveth Christs ends 1 Cor. 3.22 Fourthly His Intercession for us this is a notable prop to faith 1. Christ presents himself and the merit of his Sacrifice before the face of God to preserve us in his favour Heb. 9.24 He appeareth before God for us As the High Priest did enter with Blood into the holy place Levit. 6.7 The Priest shall make an atonement for him If he did not interpose before God night and day how should the accusations of Satan be repelled breaches prevented a mutual correspondence preserved between us and God 2. He doth interpose his love will and desire for our salvation and all grace that is necessary thereunto in all our difficulties conflicts and temptations to intercede is the part of an inferior towards a superior thus is Christ as Mediator to God John 14.16 I will pray the father He is to ask his own glory Psal. 2.8 Therefore what Grace is necessary for us 'T is a comfort Christ doth nor forget us now in Heaven as Pharaohs Bâ—tler forgat Joseph Gen. 40.23 But 't is much more a comfort that he will take notice of our particular case that he knoweth us by name and our necessities and wants and doth particularly intercede for us Nay he is mindful of us when we are not mindful of our selves for his intercession doth make way for the effectual application of his grace to us when we think not of it He obtaineth first the convincing then sanctifying then comforting spirit 3. To prevent breaches 1 John 2.1 We have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous An advocate so he is opposite to our accuser And Heb. 2.17 He is a merciful and faithful high priest in things appertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Merciful to undertake faithful to accomplish merciful to us faithful to God merciful in dying faithful in interceding and so mindful of us at every turn Surely 't is the office of a Saviour to be Gods instrument in procuring our discharge if we our selves should only plead for pardon having carried our selves so unworthy of it it would be uncomfortable to us but he that hath redeemed us pleadeth for us we do not go to God alone 4. He presents our prayers which are made acceptable to God not as coming from us but as perfumed with his merits Heb. 8.2 and Rev. 8.3 And another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer and there was given to him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the Saints He hath intendred his own heart by suffering hunger contempt in the world exile weariness pain of body heaviness of mind Heb. 4.14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need Therefore come boldly for such mercies as we stand in need of He knoweth the heart of a tempted man VSE You see then what abundant cause we have to triumph and glory in Christ. You have his Humiliation as the ground of your comfort his Exaltation which qualifieth him to apply it to you and work it in you the merit and power If he had not wrought our deliverance long might we have born the wrath we deserved and had no means to help our selves If he should not make continual intercession for you the remnant of your sin would still bring damnation if he did not hide your nakedness and procure your daily pardon you would every day be your own destroyers nay you would not be an hour longer out of hell if he did not bring you to God you could have no comfortable access to him in any of your wants and necessities if he leave you to your selves to resist one temptation even to the foulest sins how quickly would you be born down and wallow like a swine in the mire We can with Jonah easily raise the storm but we know not how to allay it All from first to last must be given and ascribed to God in Christ. SERMON XLV ROM VIII 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword THE Triumph over the evil of sin being ended the Apostle beginneth his Triumph over afflictions Here observe 1. The Challenge Who shall separate us from the love of Christ 2. The evils enumerated Shall tribulatiâ—n or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword 1. The Challenge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who for what The things mentioned are spoken of as a person but the chief difficulty is about the meaning of that Clause the love of Christ Whether it be meant of our love to Christ or Christs love to us Reasons may be given on both sides 1. That it is meant of our love to Christ for tribulation is not like to alienate Christ from us but us from Christ This doth rather tend to draw us from loving God than God from loving us 2. That it is meant of Christs love to us because 't is very unlikely that the Apostle would boast of the constancy of his own love 'T is more comely to triumph in Gods love to us than our love to God What shall we then
Dangers they may pluck Joint from Joint but they cannot pluck the Soul from Christ that is once really implanted into him 2. Observe That Eternal Life is Christ's Gift It is not the Merit of our Works but the Fruit of his Grace Rom. 6.23 The Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is good to observe how the expression is diversified Sin and Death are suited like Work and Wages but Eternal Life is a mere Donative not from the Merit of the Receiver but the Bounty of the Giver Works that need Pardon can never deserve Glory Grace in us runneth as Water in a muddy Channel the Child hath more of the Mother It is true there is a concurrence of Works but not by way of Causality but Order God will first justify then sanctify then glorify Justification is the Cause and Foundation of Eternal Life and Sanctification the Beginning and Introduction of it and we have both by Christ. The first is obtained by Christ's Blood the second wrought by his Spirit See Ephes. 2.8 9. By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works left any Man should boast The Instrument of Salvation is Faith which requireth a renouncing of Works and Faith also is of Grace The Papists to excuse the gross Conceit of Merit say our Works do not merit but as they come from the Grace of God and are washed with the Blood of Christ. But neither Salve will serve for this Sore 1. It is not enough to ascribe Grace to God all Justitiaries will do so the Pharisee said God I thank thee I am so and so You confound the Covenants when you think we may merit of God by his own Grace God maketh us Righteous by Grace and if by the exercise of it we deserve Life Adam under the Covenant of Works must then have been said to be saved by Grace because he could not persevere in the use of his Free Will unless he had received it from God 2. Nor as dyed in the Blood of Christ because Faith disclaimeth all Works as to the Act of Justification and there is no Merit if it be of Grace Learn then to admire Grace with Comfort and Hope Merit-Mongers are left to be confuted by Experience Surely Men that cry up Works seldom look into their own Consciences Let them use the same Plea in their Prayers they do in their Disputes Give me not Eternal Life till I deserve it Lord let me have no Mercy till I deserve it Or let them dispute thus when they come to dispute with their own Consciences in the Agonies of Death then Optimum est inniti Meritis Christi 3. Observe The Gifts that God is wont to give are not earthly Riches worldly Power transitory Honours but Eternal Life This was the great End for which he was ordained by the Father Many come to Christ as that Man Luke 12.13 Master speak to my Brother to divide the Inheritance with me He looked upon him as aliquem magnum one furnished with great Power fit to serve his Carnal Ends such fleshly Requests are not acceptable to our Mediator The Lord loveth to give Blessings suitable to his own Being He liveth for ever and he giveth Eternal Life to the Elect. Learn then how to frame your Requests Say I will not be satisfied with these things Remember me with the favour of thy People O visit me with thy Salvation that I may see the good of thy Chosen that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy Nation that I may glory with thine Inheritance Psal. 106.4 5. 4. Observe From the Expression Eternal Life Our Estate in Heaven is expressed by Life and Eternal Life This is a term frequently used to signify the glorified Estate Now it doth imply not only our bare subsistence for ever but also the Tranquillity and Happiness of that state 1. It is Life Heirs together of the Grace of Life 1 Pet. 3.7 Life is the most precious Possession and Heritage of the Creature there can be no Happiness without it All our Comforts begin and end with Life Life is better than Food Mat. 6.25 Is not the Life more than Meat and the Body than Raiment Poisons and Cordials are all one to a dead Man Creatures base if they have Life are better than those which are most excellent A living Dog is better than a dead Lion All Creatures desire to preserve Life All the Travail of Men under the Sun is for Life to prop up a Tabernacle that is always falling Job 2.7 Skin for Skin and all that a Man hath will he give for his Life All our labour and care is for it and when we have made provision for it it is taken from us It is called the Life of our Hands Isa. 57.10 We make hard shift to maintain it This Life is a poor thing it is no great matter to be Heir to it James 4.14 What is your Life it is even a Vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away 2. It is Life Eternal not like the Earthly Life which is but as a Vapor a little warm Breath or warm Smoak tunn'd in and out by the Nostrils Our present Life is a Lamp that may be soon quenched it is in the Power of every Ruâ—â—ian and Assassinate But this is Life Eternal In Heaven there is a fair Estate the Tenure is for Life but we need not take thought for Heirs We and our Happiness shall always live together The Blossoms of Paradise are for ever fresh and green therefore if we love Life why should we not love Heaven This is a Life that is never spent and we are never weary of living This Life is short yet we soon grow weary of it The shortest Life is long enough to be encumbred with a thousand Miseries If you live till old Age Age is a burden to it self The Days shall come in which they shall say we have no pleasure Eccles. 12.1 Life it self may become a burden but you will never wish for an end of Eternal Life that is a long date of days without misery and without weariness Eternity is every day more lovely Well might David say The loving Kindness of God is better than Life Men have cursed the Day of their Birth but never the Day of their New Birth Those that have once tasted the sweet and benefit of God's Life never grow weary of it 3. This Life is begun and carried on by degrees 1. The Foundation of it is laid in Regeneration Then do we begin to live when Christ beginneth to live in us and we may reckon from that day when in the Power of his Life we began to advance towards Heaven for then there was a Seed laid of a Life which cannot be destroyed The Life of Nature may be extinguished but not of Grace Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus
All Consequent Benefits are procured by the Merit of Christ. The Father that is first in order of Persons is first in order of working and can have no higher Cause than his own Will and Purpose And besides there is an Obligation established to every Person absolute elective Love is the Father's Property and Personal Operation but then his Eternal Purpose is brought to pass in and through Jesus Christ In the carriage of our Salvation Christ interposeth So we are chosen in him as Head of the Elect Ephes. 1.4 pardoned justified sanctified glorified in and through him all these Benefits and Fruits of God's Love are procured by Christ's Merit not only as it is the more for the Freedom of Grace that the Reasons why Man should be loved should be without himself and so the Obligation is increased and not meerly neither for the greater fulness of our Comfort for if God should love us in our selves it would be a very imperfect Love our Graces being so weak and our Services so stained But whence should we have this Grace at first which is the Object of his Love He could never find in us any cause why he should love us God could not love us with honour to himself if his Wisdom had not found out this way of loving us in Christ. There was a double Prejudice against us our Nature was loathed by God's Holiness and then God's Justice had a quarrel against us 1. For God's Holiness What Communion could there be between Light and Darkness God is Holy by Nature and we are Sinners by Nature Nature being corrupted God cannot love it unless he see it in such a Person as Christ is Psal. 5.4 5. For thou art not a God that hast pleasure in Wickedness neither shall Evil dwell with thee The Foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of Iniquity not only the Work but the Person Therefore we are hidden in him found in him as when a Man loaths a Pill we lap it up in something which he affects God abhorred the fight of Man till found in Christ. 2. God's Justice had a Quarrel against us God dealt with Man by way of Covenant and so hated Man not only out of the Purity of his Nature but out of Justice his Righteous Anger was kindled because of the breach of the Covenant When Subjects are fallen into displeasure with their Prince such an one as the King loveth must mediate for them So God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself 2 Cor. 5.19 How cometh God who seemed to be bound in point of Honour to avenge himself on Sinners to be reconciled In Christ he received satisfaction God was resolved to manifest an infinite Love to Man but he would still manifest an infinite Hatred against Sin which could not be more fully manifested than by making Christ â—â—e ground of our Reconciliation Thus the Wisdom of God hath taken up the difference between us and his Holiness and between us and his Justice that so Divine Love may be like it self not blind but rational This was the great Prejudice how could the Holy God the Just God who is not overcome with any Passion love such vile and unworthy Creatures as we are The Question is answered he loveth us in Christ and for Christ's sake Secondly Take the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the ordinary Acceptation So it signifieth Similitude and Likeness but then it signifieth not an exact Equality but some kind of Resemblance Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5.48 One as we are One. So here 1. There is a Disparity 2. A Likeness 1. A Disparity for in all Things Christ hath the preheminence both as God and as Mediator 1. As God he is most perfect in whom God hath found all Complacency and Delight Prov. 8.30 Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his Delight rejoicing always before him He was God we are Creatures He the natural Son Psal. 2.7 Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee We the adopted Children John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God God's Love to Christ was necessary ours is a free dispensation John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life 2. As Mediator so he is the first Beloved God loves Christ as the first Object of his Love after Christ he loveth those that are Christ's The Relation begins with him John 20.17 Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father unto my God and your God He is loved as the Head of the Mystical Body we as Members the Head first then the Members He is loved for his own sake we for his 2. Yet there is a Likeness God loveth us with a like Love 1. Upon the same Grounds Nearness and Likeness 1. Nearness He loveth Christ as his Son so he loveth us as his Children 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God There is a three-fold Ecce in Scripture 1. Ecce demonstrantis as pointing with the Finger John 1.29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sin of the World It referreth to a Thing or Person present and it noteth the certainty of Sense as there he pointed at him as present or to a Doctrine and then it noteth the certainty of Faith Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good believe it as a certain Truth 2. There is Ecce admirantâ—s as awakening our drowsy Minds more attentively to consider of the Matter as Lam. 1.12 Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow So here entertain it with Wonder and Reverence as an important Truth 3. Ecce exultantis vel gratulantis as rejoicing and blessing our selves in the Privilege Psal. 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel he neither slumbers nor sleeps Now all these take place here Behold it with Faith and Confidence as a certain Truth behold it with Reverence and Wonder as an high Dignity behold it with Joy and Delight as a Blessed Privilege as it is a certain Truth we should believe it more firmly as it is an important Truth we should consider it more seriously as it is a comfortable Truth we should improve it more effectually to our great Joy and Satisfaction in all Conditions The Wisdom of God findeth out Relations between God and us to establish a mutual Love between us He would be known not only as our Creator but our Father and indeed none is so much a Father as God is Earthly Parents have but a drop of Fatherly Compassion suitable to their finite Scantling never had any such Bowels and
lowly in heart For Obedience Heb. 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered For Patience and Self-denial 1 Pet. 2.21 23. Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Thus in his Graces must we resemble him 2. In his States of Humiliation and Exaltation wherein we must be content to follow him who first suffered and then entred into the Glory that he spake of His people are usually afflicted persecuted slandered now they must suffer all for the hopes of a better life because therein they do but follow the Captain of their Salvation who was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2.10 And if we suffer with him we shall also be glorified together Rom. 8.17 So 2 Tim. 2.11 12. If we be dead with him we shall also live with him if we suffer we shall also reign with him 2 Cor. 4.10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh And in many other places where Christs Pattern is urged to bespeak our Patience and incourage our Hopes that we may bear his Cross after him with an hope of those endless Joys which our Redeemer now possesseth He first endured the shame Heb. 12.2 and was misrepresented in the World as we are but at length was vindicated being mightily declared to be the Son of God with power 3. In the special Acts of his Mediation which are his Death and Resurrection These are of special consideration for these are not barely a Pattern propounded to our imitation but have a great influence upon our dying to sin and living to Holiness To clear this let me note to you That effects of Grace in us are ascribed to those Acts of Christs Mediation which carry most correspondence with them thus our Mortification is referred to Christs dying and our Vivification to his Resurrection unto life our heavenly mindedness to his Ascension So that all Christs Acts are spiritually verified in us we dye to sin as Christ dyed for sin and rise again to newness of life as Christ rising from the dead liveth a new kind of life to what he did before Let us a little state the dependence of the one upon the other Our Acts depend on Christ four ways 1. As the Effect on the Cause 2. As the thing purchased on the Price 3. As the Copy on the Pattern 4. As the thing promised on the Pledge thereof 1. As the Effect on the Cause By the same virtue by which Christ was raised from the dead by the same Almighty Power are we raised to newness of life the same Almighty Power is engaged for working Grace and carrying on Grace and perfecting Grace in Believers which wrought in Christ when he was raised from the dead Eph. 1.19 20. According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Compared with Rom. 6.4 Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life 2. As the thing purchased on the Price All Christs Actions have an aspect on his Merit The Foundation was laid in his Death This Resurrection evidenceth that this Purchace holdeth good in Heaven and that his Merit Ransom and Satisfaction are perfect Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification 3. As the Copy on the Pattern or Original Christ dying and rising in our Nature is a Pattern to which all the Heirs of Promise must be conformed as the Apostle telleth us 1 Cor. 15.23 First Christ then they that are Christs 4. As a thing promised on the Pledge thereof Christ dying is a Pledge of our dying to sin and his rising a Pledge of our rising to Holiness first and Glory afterwards Therefore our old man is said to be crucified with him Rom. 6.6 and we are said to sit down with him in heavenly places Eph. 2.6 It is already done in the Mystery and shall be surely done in the effectual application in all that belong to God 5. If there be a likeness to his Death by infallible consequence there shall be a likeness to his Resurrection Those that are dead with Christ shall also live with him Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live Where sin is mortified there is a new life engendered which will at length end in the life of Glory It must needs be so for these reasons First Christ is not divided those that really partake with him in one Act partake with him in all it is a necessary consequence The death of sin and the life of Holiness are the two branches wherein we profess our Communion with Christ in his Death and Resurrection and therefore these cannot be sundred we must reckon upon both or else we have neither Rom. 6.11 Likewise reckon ye your selves also to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In our dying to sin Christs dying is conspicuous in us and his Resurrection in our walking in newness of life as it was with him so must it be with us Secondly God doth not love to leave his work imperfect Now imperfect it would be if besides ceasing to do evil we should not learn to do well Amos 5.14 Seek good and not evil that you may live and again vers 15. Hate the evil and love the good Their affection to good must be evidenced by their cordial detestation of evil and their hatred of evil must kindle their affection to good This is perfect Christianity it is said of the foolish Builder That he began and was not able to make an end Luke 14.30 Our Conversion is compleat when there is a turning from sin to God Thirdly That the temper of our hearts may carry a meet proportion with the Divine Grace Duty is the Correlate of Mercy now Grace and Mercy are not only privative but positive Gen. 15.1 I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Psal. 84.11 The Lord God is a sun and shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly So the godly man is described Psal. 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth he meditate day and night There is not only an abstinence from gross sins but an earnest love to God and his ways Rom. 8.1 Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Fourthly This is the end of Mortification God subdueth sin to make way for the life of Grace 1 Pet. 2.24 That we
have petty ones attending them must be chiefly attended by us and we must not discontinue the work till we have gotten some power against them and they be considerably weakned Be it lust or passion or sloath and dulness or worldliness or pride we must Pray and Pray again as Paul Prayed thrice grace must watch over it and keep it under and abate it by contrary actions that we may the better govern this inclination and reduce it to reason 5. Take heed of an unmortified frame of spirit there are certain dispositions of heart which argue much unmortifiedness and do loudly call for this remedy and cure even the grace of the spirit whereby we may be healed as first impotency of mind whereby temptations to sin are very catching and do easily make impression upon us The heart like tinder soon taketh fire from every spark certainly there is great life in our lusts when a little occasion awakeneth them As it is said of the young fool in the Proverbs he goeth after her suddenly Pro. 7.22 That is as soon as inticed Upon the least provocation we grow passionate the temptation findeth some prepared matter to work upon as straw is more easily kindled than wood Now this calleth upon us to weaken the inclination 2. When the temptation is small a little adversity puts us out of all courage and patience Pro. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small If we be so touchy that we cannot bear the common accidents of the world how shall we bear the most grievous persecutions which we are to endure for Christs sake For the other sort of corruptions for handfuls of Barley or a piece of Bread will that man transgress So selling the righteous for a pair of shooes Selling the Birthright for one morsel of Meat She is a common prostitute that will take any hire A little thing makes a stone run down hill Certainly the heart must be looked after the bias and inclination of it to God and Heaven more fixed 3. When lusts are touchy storm at a reproof If the word break in upon the heart with any evidence carnal men cannot endure it 1 Kings 22.8 He doth not propechy good concerning me but evil 't is a bad crisis and state of soul when men would be soothed in their lusts cannot endure close and searching truths but either affect general discourses that they may creep away in the crowd without being attacked or loose garish strains that please the fancy but do not reach the heart or must be honyed and oyled with grace scarce can endure the Doctrine of Mortification none need it so much as they or love flattery more than reproof 't is a sign sin and they are agreed and they would sleep securely Not only did an Herod put John in Prison but an Asâ— put the Prophet in the stocks 2 Chron. 16.10 4. In case of great spiritual deadness The heart hath too freely conversed with sin and so groweth less apt for God Psal. 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken me in thy ways and Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Our vivification is according to the degree of our mortification and therefore great deadness argueth the prevalency of some carnal distemper 5. Live much in doing good The intermitting of the exercise of our love to God maketh concupiscence or the carnal love to gather strength and when men are not taken up with doing good they are at leasure for temptations to entice them to evil our lusts have power indeed to disturb in holy duties but 't is when we are remiss and careless and usually 't is the idle and negligent who are surprized by sin as David walking on the Terras 2 Sam. 11.2 Diabolus quem non invenâ—â— occupatum c. I will close all with these two remarks 1. That 't is more sweet and pleasant to mortifie your lusts than to gratifie them Stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant but the dead are there Prov 9.17 so Job 20.12 13 14. Tho wickedness be sweet in his mouth tho he hide it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still within his mouth yet his meat in his bowels it is the gall of asps within him Sin is but a poisoned Morsel Mortification is not pleasant in its self yet in its fruits and effects 't is rewarded with joy and more occasions of thanksgivings we shall have Rom. 7.24 25. Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 2. If you enter not into a war with sin you enter into a war with God shall sin be your enemy or God the Eternal Living God Ezek. 23.14 Can thine heart endure or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee I the Lord have spoken it and will do it SERMON XIX ROM VIII 13 If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body DOCT That in mortifying of sin we and the Spirit must concur Here I shall handle 1. The manner of this Co-operation 2. The necessity of it 1. To state the manner of this Co-operation First We must know what is meant by the Spirit 't is put either for the Person of the Holy Ghost or for his Gifts and Graces the new Creature or the Divine Nature wrought in us The Person of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 Baptize all nations in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost The new Nature John 3.6 That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit The former is here intended the uncreated Spirit or Author of Grace called the Spirit of Christ v. 11. which leadeth and guideth us in all our ways v. 14. which witnesseth to us v. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Spirit is the Author or principal Agent in this work For he doth renew and sanctifie us we are merely passive in the first infusion of Grace Ezek. 35.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness Eph. 2.1 You that were dead in trespasses and sins yet now hath he quickned but afterwards we cleanse our selves 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit First he worketh upon us as Objects then by us as Instruments So that we concur not as co-ordinate causes but as subordinate Agents being first purified and sanctified by him we purge out sin yet more and more 3. Tho the spirit be the principal Author yet we must charge our selves with the duty it is our work they destroy all humane industry and endeavour that make mortification to be nothing else but an apprehension that sin is already slain by Christ no 't is charged on us Col. 3.5 Mortifie therefore your members which are upon
cannot rationally expect the best and richest Fruits of this gift and to be inabled and inlarged by the spirit who do not give such ready entertainment and obedience to his motions as the more serious and fruitful Christian doth 4. But do all that have it know that they have it I Answer 1. The spirit of adoption is in some weak and therefore not so perceptible as it is in others for small and weak things are hardly discerned All Gods Children have the spirit of adoption in the effects though not in the sense and feeling of it They have the spirit of comfort though not the comfort of it for if any have not the spirit of Christ they are none of his Rom. 8.9 The Witness of his spirit is spoken of as distinct from receiving the spirit v. 16. There is a Child-like inclination and impression left upon them tho they know it not own it not There is a difference between the thing its self and the degree we cannot say we have not the spirit of adoption because we have not so much of this spirit calming our hearts rebuking our fears and filling us with joy and peace in believing The spirit was given to Christ without measure but to Christians in a different measure and proportion as they yield up themselves more or less to the conduct of his grace and overcome the enemies of their peace the Devil the World and the Flesh the impression is left upon some in a smaller upon some in a larger character all are not of a growth and size some are more real Christians others only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eminent grace will more discover its self than a little grace under an heap of imperfections a fervent love will be felt and a lively hope of Heaven demonstrate its self and an exact obedience less liable to dispute as we increase in Love and Heavenly mindness so the spirit discovereth his presence in us 2. Where the spirit of adoption acteth at the lowest rate there is something to difference it from the spirit of bondage 1. They are carried on to wait upon God upon Gospel grounds though they cannot apply the comforts and enter themselves heirs to the priviledges thereof some know they are of the truth and can make out their title with clearness and satisfaction 1 John 3.14 And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him others depend on Gods general offer while their claim and sincerity is as yet questionable God offereth to be a Father in Christ to all penitent believers and so we are incouraged to come to him by Christ the Apostle telleth us Heb. 7.19 That the gospel brought in a better hope by vertue of which we draw nigh to God There is a Child-like inclination when there is not a Child-like familiarity and boldness the soul cannot keep away from God but will come to him that he may pardon our sins and heal our souls and save our persons now this is the spirit of adoption in the lower or more obscure way of addressing our selves to God as a Father 2. There are child-like groans as well as child-like comforts compare Rom. 8.26 The spirit it self maketh intercession for us with sights and groans which cannot be uttered with 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory In some the spirit only discovereth himself by hungring and thirsting after righteousness in others he worketh peace which passeth all understanding and joy unspeakable and full of glory 3. There is a child-like reverence when there is not a child like confidence They are affraid to offend their Heavenly Father though they cannot challenge all the fruits and effects of his Fatherly love as belonging to them when they cannot own him as a Father with delightful confidence yet they dare not offend him for all Gods Children have a Child-like love to him when they have not a full sense and assurance of his paternal love to them for he hath a title to our dearest love before we can make out a title to his benefits now they that love God hate evil Psal. 97.10 are tender of omitting any duty or committing any offence where there is this Holy awe there is a spirit of adoption 't is an owning of God as a Father 1 Pet 1.17 If ye call on the Father c. And therefore this reverence we call filial fear 4. The heart is carryed out to heavenly things though we cannot call them ours All that are children do look after a childs Portion there is a twofold hope First an hope which is the effect of regeneration 1 Pet. 1.3 And an hope which is the effect of experience Rom. 5.4 Now this puts a difference between the spirit of Bondage and the servile mercenary spirit when the currant of thine affections is carried out after the eternal inheritance servants and mercenaries must have pay in hand they covenant with you from day to day or from quarter to quarter or from year to year a child in the Family tarryeth for a Childs Portion Math. 6.4 When thou dost thine alms do not sound a trumpet before thee as 〈◊〉 hypocrites do in the synogogue and in the street they have their reward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 present wages they look for discharge God from other things if he wiâ—l give them the honour and pleasure of the world they are satisfied and look for no more 5. Why this is the fruit of the new covenant dispensation There are three things which must not be severed 1. The object 2. A powerful agent 3. The disposition of the subject thence resulting 1. There is an object and that is the Gospel offering pardon and life reconciliation with God and the everlasting fruition of him in Glory In the Gospel or new covenant we have the highest discovery of Gods Fatherly goodness that he might be more amiable and lovely to us and be loved by us the great end of reconciling and saving lost man by Christ his wonderful condescention in his incarnation life sufferings and death was to commend his love to us Rom. 5.8 Herein God commended his love to us in that when we were yet sinners Christ died for us To this end also tend his merciful covenant and promises that we might not look upon God as a condemning Judg but as a gracious and reconciled Father offering to be so to all that will accept Christ and submit to him God would not immediately beget this perswasion in our minds by his own secret power but use this objective means work upon our love by love because he will work on man agreeably to the nature of man his covenant shall speak him a Father that we may apprehend him as a Father 2. There is an internal powerful agent and that is the spirit Besides the external objective means there must be an internal effective cause for though Gods Fatherly love
that please me and take hold of my covenant They thankfully accept the offered benefits and resolve by the strength of the Lords grace to perform the required duties 3. That our hearts be set to fulfil our covenant vow For otherwise we double and deal unsincerely with God Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good conscience willing in all things to live honestly The habit and bent of the heart is for God and obedience to him 4. That there be some answerable endeavours and pursuance of this resolution and care to please God in all things Acts 24.16 And herein do I exercise my self to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men 5. That these endeavours be uniformly carried on that our sincerity may be evidenced to conscience For then 't is matter of Rejoicing and assurance to us 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoicing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversations in the world 1 John 3.19 And hereby we know we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him Grace constantly and self-denyingly exercised hath an evidence in the conscience and conduceth also to give liberty and boldness before God 2. The witness of the spirit Because this is often mistaken I shall the more distinctly lay it before you 1. The spirit layeth down marks in Scripture which may decide this question whether ye are the children of God yea or no. As for instance 1 John 3.10 In this the children of God are manifested and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother And again Rom. 8.14 As many â—â— are led by the spirit are the sons of God So every where in the Scripture God expresly telleth us who shall go to Heaven and who shall go to Hell and that there is no neutral and middle estate between the Holy and Carnal all are of one sort or other Now if we should go no further the Text would bear a good sence The spirit beareth witness with our spirit when our conscience can witness our sincerity in a course of obedience unto God The spirits witness in Scripture that this is a sound so a true evidence and the Testimony of conscience confirmed by Scripture for whatever is spoken in Scripture 't is supposed to be the very voice and Testimony of the Spirit as Acts 28.25 Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers so Heb. 3.7 Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice So the spirit speaketh or witnesseth to our spirits namely in the word supposing what is to be supposed this must not be slighted yet this is not all for the context speaketh not of a witness without but motion within whereby we are restrained from sin and inclined to cry Abba Father 2. He worketh such graces in us as are peculiar to Gods children and evidences of our interest in the Favour of God as when he doth Renew and Sanctify the Soul and so many of the choicest Divines take the word witness for evidence or the objective Testimony namely that the presence and dwelling and working of the Sanctifying Spirit in us is the Argument and matter of the proof upon which the whole cause or traverse dependeth That it is so to be taken is clear in that exclusive mark Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be the spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his And in that positive mark 1 John 3.24 And he that keepeth his commanments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us and again 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he is us because he hath given us his spirit That Holy and Charitable spirit The gracious operations of his presence are the Argument whence we conclude 3. He helpeth us to discern this work in our souls more clearly Conscience dothits part to discover it and the spirit of God doth his part namely as he helpeth us to know and see that Grace which he giveth and actuateth in us for he revealeth the things given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 not only in the Gospel tho chiefly but also in our hearts The workman that made a thing can best warrant it to the buyer First he Sanctifieth and then he certifieth sometimes we overlook our Evidences through the darkness and confusion that is in our hearts Hagar saw not the Fountain that was near her till God opened her eyes Gen. 21.19 There is a misgiving in the conscience we cannot see grace in the midst of weakness and imperfections Mary wept for the absence of Christ when yet he stood by her John 20.14 15. The spirit dwelleth and worketh in their hearts but they know it not 4. He helpeth us not only to see grace but to judg of the sincerity of grace 'T is more easie to prove that we believe than to know that our faith is saving to love Christ than to know that we love him in sincerity because of the deceitfulness of the heart and the mixtures of unbelief self-love and other sins and some degrees may be in hypocrites as temporary faith tasts imperfect love partial obedience and besides Grace where it is weak is hardly perceived the air will shew it self in a windy season the fire when 't is blown up into a flame 't is no more hidden grace strengthned increased acted is more evident to conscience habits are discerned by acts and exercise and God is wont to reward the faithful soul with his assuring seal of light and comfort 1 John 3.18 Love not in word or in tongue only but in deed and in truth The less we are Christians in shew and the more in sincerity the more joy and peace 5. He helpeth us with boldness to conclude from these evidences Many times when the premises are clear the conclusion is suspended we find in case of condemnation 't is suspended out of self-love many know that they that live after the flesh shall die yet they will not judg themselves and the same may be done in case of self-approbation out of legal fear or jealousie for persons of great fancy and large affections are always full of scruples or loathness to apply the comforts due to them the spirit concludeth for them that they are the children of God 1 John 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life 1 John 2.3 And hereby we know that we know him 6. He causeth us to feel the comfort of this conclusion Rom. 5.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing 'T is an impression of the comforting spirit and Acts 9.31 They walked in the fear of the Holy ghost The spirit is necessary to
defence of it Sixthly An immunity from such temporal judgments as might hinder our salvation and the service of God 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it and Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good to them that love God No absolute immunity from troubles God hath reserved a liberty to his wisdom and justice to afflict us as he shall see cause Psal. 89.32 Then will I visit their transgressions with the Rod and their iniquity with stripes But will preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.17 18. 1. Their rights and prerogatives First They have a right to serve God with a ready and free will and on comfortable terms Luke 1.74 75. That being delivered out of the hands of our enemies we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives Psal. 51.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me by thy free spirit And Rom. 8.15 For we have not received the spirit of Bondage again to fear but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 2. A liberty of access to God a large door is opened to us for communion with him Eph. 3.12 To whom we have boldness and access with confidence Heb. 4.16 Let us come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may have grace and find mercy in a time of need and Heb. 10.19 Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holyest by the blood of Jesus 1 John 3.21 Beloved if our hearts condemn us not then have we boldness toward God 3. A free use of all the creatures which fall to our share and allowance by Gods fatherly providence 1 Tim. 4.3 4. Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meat which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and obey the truth For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods With good conscience we may use the creatures and get them Sanctified to us by the word and prayer 4. A right to eternal life Tit. 3.7 That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Rom. 8.17 If children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ If so be we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Tho we have not the possession yet a Title sure and indefecible so that you see and yet I have told you little of it it is valuable but 't is a glorious liberty we are to speak of 2. Our glorious liberty in the world to come That is a liberty which implyeth the removal of all evil and the affluence of all good and may be considered either as to the Soul or to the Body 1. As to the Soul We are admitted into the blessed sight of God and the perfect fruition and pleasing of him in perfect love joy and praise to all eternity 1 Cor. 13.12 For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know it partly but then shall I know even also as I am known 1 John 3.2 But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Psal. 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life for in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand pleasures for evermore Psal. 17.15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness 2. As to the Body it is in a state of immortality and incorruption wholly freed from death and all the frailties introduced by sin and because the body remaineth behind when the Soul is in Glory our Deliverance and Redemption is saâ—d to be yet behind Eph. 1.14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the holy spirit whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption And that in respect of the body Rom. 8.23 Waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body In short This glorious liberty may be somewhat understood by the liberty which we have now 1. Our liberty now is imperfect and incompleat but then 't is full and perfect 'T is but begun now and our bonds loosed in part but our compleat deliverance is to come from sin at death from all misery when our bodies are raised up in glory sin dwelleth in the Saints now but in death it will be utterly abolished therefore groan and long for it Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of death Yet with hope v. 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the mind I my self serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin Our bodies now are subject to corruption and diseases as others are but Phil. 3.21 God will then perfectly glorifie his children in body and soul. 2. Spiritual liberty is consistent enough with corporal bondage Paul was in Prison when Nero was Emperor of the world many that are taken into the liberty of Gods children are not freed from outward servitude 1 Cor. 7.21 22. Art thou called being a servant care not for it but if thou canst be made free use it rather The condition of a slave is not incompetent with Christianity Joseph was a slave in Egypt but his Mistress was the Captive as she was overcome by her own lusts servants may be the Lords Freemen and Freemen may be Satans slaves 3. All the parts of liberty are quite other than now First as to duty we are not so free from the power of sin as to be able to govern our own actions in order to eternal happiness Rom. 7.25 With my mind I serve the law of God with my flesh the law of sin There is law against law mutual conflicts and mutual opposition tho grace gets the mastery not absolute freedom Our present estate is but a convalescency a recovery out of sickness by degrees 2. As to felicity First Immunity from the curse of the law and the wrath of God We have a right but the solemn and actual judgment is not past nor the case adjudged but at the last day when the condemning sentence is past upon the wicked our sins shall be blotted out Acts 3.19 Secondly Death remaineth on the body but then the last enemy shall be quite destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 Thirdly Satan doth still trouble us and vex us winnow us as
of particular persons 't is much more true of the Church all is for good Psal. 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain Christ many times gets up on the Devils shoulders All Providence is for the Elects sake 2 Tim. 2.10 Therefore I endure all things for the elects sake that they may obtain salvation by Christ with eternal glory The sufferings of the Apostles conduced to the good of true Christians God considered the good of the whole Church USE Is Information 1. That the exception against Gods Providence from the evils that abound in the world is vain and frivolous 'T was an old doubting question If there be a God how are there evils If there were not a God how is there good One part answereth the other the Text more fully he turneth evil unto good That there are Devils God knoweth how to make use of them to punish the wicked and exercise the godly that there is sin if there had been no sin no Christ that there are miseries if no miseries many graces would be lost there would be no fortitude no patience no earnestness in prayer that there are wicked men it sheweth Gods distinguishing Mercy that when so many are drowned in the common shipwrack of mankind 't is the greater mercy that we escape if others are bad let us bless God that made us better Lastly that there is death that there might be a passage out of this world and a period to our labours and sorrows 2. It teacheth us how to interpret prayers We have prayed for the continuance of a blessing and lost it for the riddance of a trouble yet it continueth upon us this is the very case here if God heareth them how come they to suffer such hard things The spirit teacheth us to pray now the denyal of either suit turneth to good We often come to God with carnal requests which being interpreted sound but thus Give me that wherewith I may offend thee or have my flesh pleased or lusts fed God findeth us doting on the creature and we take it ill to be interrupted in our Whoredoms We must distinguish between what is really best for us and what we judg best other diet is more wholsome for our souls than what our sick appetites craveth we are best many times when weakest worst when strongest 3. It giveth us a reason of waiting Tho we do not presently know why every thing is done let us wait Providence doth not work without a cause we see it not now but we shall see it when God turneth it to good We must not judge of Gods work by the beginning God seemeth an adversary for a while to them that indeed injoy his eternal love let patience have its perfect work and when Providence is come to a period you will know more 4. What reason to trust God with events Some things fall under our duty others are a meer event our care is about events rather than duty and so we take Gods work out of his hands and so 't is not care so much as carking we enquire what shall become of us rather than what we shall do do you do your duty and God knoweth how to turn all things for good Phil. 4.6 7. Nothing can go amiss to him that is found in the way of duty 5. It informeth us of the happiness of Gods children We may put in for a share when we are sanctified to God all things are sanctified to us and things that otherwise would be snares prove helps and discouragements prove furtherances the creature is as if it were another thing to the Saints if they are advanced their hearts are inlarged to God 2 Sam. 7.2 And the king said unto Nathan the prophet See now I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains Neh. 1.11 O Lord I beseech thee let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name and prosper I pray thee this day thy servant and grant him mercy in the sight of this man for I was the kings cupbearer meaning he had improved this place for God When they are afflicted they do not fret or faint but humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and so meet him at every turn Oh what a blessed thing is it to be under the special care of God and to have all things about us ordered with respect to our eternal welfare 't is not so with the wicked if God make Saul a King Judas an Apostle Balaam a Prophet their preferment will be their ruin Hamans honour Achitophels wit Herods applause turned to their hurt if in prosperity they contemn God in adversity they deny and blaspheme God This evil is from the Lord why should I wait on him any longer As the salt Sea turneth all into salt water so a man is as the constitution of his heart is 2. USE is Caution 1. Against misconstruction of Providence 2. Against non-improvement 1. Against misconstruction of Providence There may be a seeming harshness in some of Gods dealings but all things considered you will find them full of mercy and truth Psal. 25.10 If there be a seeming contradiction between his Word and Providence you must not always interpret the word by Providence but Providence by the word Psal. 73.17 Vntil I went into the Sanctuary of God then I understood their end 2. Against non-improvement Let us not lose the benefit by our negligence and folly let us observe how we make profit of every thing God would not send this affliction did he not know how it would be good for me Therefore to this end 1. Take these Motives 2. Consider what profit is to be gotten by afflictions 1. Motives 1. 'T is not enough to be good in the affliction but we must get good by the affliction Carnal men are somewhat good in the affliction more modest when Gods hand is heavy upon them and they are somewhat disabled or discouraged from following their lusts yea and may make great promises of reformation when God hath them under but as soon as they are delivered they encourage themselves in the practice of their old sins as metals are melted while they are in the furnace but assoon as they are taken out they return to their natural hardness again But the godly are the better afterwards they cannot forget their old smart by sin Josh. 22.17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us from which we are not cleansed unto this day They remember what was the great burden in their troubles and what was the great comfort and support under them and are the better all their lives but others are of another temper Psal. 78.34 When he sâ—ew them then they sought him and enquired early after God The sense of present smart and the terror of an angry God may frighten them into a little religiousness for