lov'd the World Joh. 3. 16. and every Creature in it such a Philanthropy is in Christ he would have all men come to the Knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved 1 Tim. 2 4. Love your Enemies Mat. 5. 44. so did Christ he prayed Father forgive them Luke 23. 34. love his Friends 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 6. 24. CHAP. XI The glorious Excellency of Christ's tender Pity opened and displayed in the several Acts of it both to Saints and Sinners ANother Discovery of the Sweetness of Christ's Disposition is Thirdly His Pity this is lookt upon as an excellent Qualification and that which renders a person lovely among men Rom. 5. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye for a just man one that is strict and rigid in his Life and matters of Justice none will dye but for a good man that is for a bountiful liberal man for a Benefactor saith Beza for a Friend saith another some would even dare to dye Kindness and Compassion renders men lovely and amiable in the Sight of Heathens hence one calls a merciful man a precious thing and another makes him equal to God God himself prefers Mercy above Sacrifice Mat. 9. 13. This the Lord opened to Moses as part of his Glory Exod. 34. 6. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. And this mercifulness is placed in the Nature of Christ as Mediator and therefore must needs render him glorious and be part of his unsearchable Riches now that the Lord Jesus is so full of Pity and Mercy in his very Nature the Scripture is clear This was one Qualification necessary to his Priest-hood Heb. 2. 17. This was a special Requisite to the Priest under the Law that he should be one who might have Compassion on the Ignorant and them that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. Therefore the high-priest must be a Man not an Angel that so he being subject to Infirmities to Sins and Weaknesses himself he might the better have Compassion upon others in the like ease The same Argument the Lord useth to Israel Deut. 10. 19. Love ye therefore the Stranger for ye were Strangers in the Land of Aegypt Experience of Affliction fits a person for pity to others and therefore our Lord took our Nature upon him that being compast with the same Infirmities Sin only excepted he might be able to have Compassion on others this is necessary in that Office for a person will never be active in such laborious work for Sinners as offering of Gifts and Sacrifices for Sin if he have not tender Bowels towards persons in Misery and therefore Jesus Christ must needs be such a one who can have Compassion c. The word is significant 't is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have Compassion on others according to the Measure and Proportion of their Misery Paraeus renders it to have Compassion as much as is needful Beza to be affected according to the greatness of anothers Misery and such is the Compassion of Christ 't is suted to the Condition of his People were Christ's Pity but one Grain short of the Misery and Condition of Sinners he could never save them to the utmost for if he will save to the uttermost he must ever live to make Intercession there 's no one moment of time in which they don't want help and must have Gifts offer'd for them But this Christ will not do if he wants Compassion Jam. 5. 11. The Lord is said to be pitiful and of tender mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many Bowels or as Piscator multum viscâ—ralis much bowelful all pitiful from inward deep Bowels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is to pity with the Bowels of a Mother to be prone to compassion So Aestius He is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. Great in Quantity and Choice in Quality great Mercy and choice Mercy Psal 5. 1. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies The word Rab multitude signifies Quality as well as Quantity many Mercies or weighty Mercies Mercies Rachamim 'T is such love and pity as Mothers bear to the fruit of their Womb which is fervent and flaming The word hath no singular number because there are many works of Mercy saith Piscator Now this Compassion of Christ lies in these two things 1. In his sympathizing with his Creatures 2. In supplying and supporting them First Pity hath sympathy in it an inward Heart-affecting sense of another's Evils Psal 103. 13. Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitietb them that fear him Judg. 10. 16. His Soul was grieved for the Children of Israel The word signifieth His Soul was short'ned or contracted in him by reason of grief 'T is spoken by an Anthropopathy according to the apprehensions of men As a man is filled with grief his Breast is straitned that he can scarcely breathe It denotes how much the Lord Jesus is affected with the miseries of his People Heb. 4. 15. He is said to be touched with the Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffering with us Christ in Heaven hath such a fellow-feeling of the Evils of his People as that he resents their troubles as his own He is tender-hearted and every misery of theirs reacheth his Soul But this hath been somewhat treated of before Secondly Readiness to supply and support others in their Misery and this is eminently manifested in the Lord Jesus Isa 38. 20. The Lord was ready to save me Men sometimes have a hand but no heart they may help but will not they only say Go and be fed and be cloath'd c. Others have a heart but no hand they have not to supply the needs of others their Cruse of Oyl and Barrel of Meal will reach but a little way besides there may be some Cases in which Men or Angels cannot help Psal 142. 4. I looked on my right hand and behold there was no man would know me c. But there can be no Condition in which Omnipotency fails to help Heb. 7. 25. Jer. 32. 27. And Christ is as really willing as able to save He is an inexhausted Fountain of all good Sufficit omnibus saith Paraeus nec sufficit tantum sed dat liberalissime Dives est saith the same Author sufficientia affectu He is good and doth good He feeds gathers carries leads his poor infirm Flocks when they most stand in need of him Isa 40. 11. When they are ready to faint for want he opens a Well and fills their Bottles when they wander from their resting-place he sends his Dogs and gathers them to his Fold when they are weary and can go no further he takes them into his Arms and carries them when they are hungry he feeds them when they are naked he cloaths them when they are sick he visits them when they are in Prison he comes to them He giveth to his
angry and then to Love which argues a Mutation yet that Change is not in Gods Will and Affection which is one Essence with himself but in his outward Dispensation So that the Divine Nature in Christ is unchangeable both in his Nature and Will he cannot he will not vary in him is no Variableness or Shadow of turning he is a Rock and his Work perfect Time or Change in Creatures work no Change in God 't is the Mistake of Unbelief to think that the Heart of God changes as the poor Believer doth like those that row by the Shore fancy the Land and Houses on it to move when 't is but the Vessel changes his place Comfort thy Heart poor Soul who hast sincerely chosen the Lord to be thy Portion on this Assurance that the Thoughts of God are the same towards thee as evâ—â— all thy changeable Frames and unfaithful Dealings with him works no more Alteration in his Heart to thee than the interposing Clouds do on the essential Light of the Sun or the Provocations of the Child on the Fathers Relation who is still a Father how unlike soever he carries himself to the Child but these Instances are too short to adumbrate and set out the Immutability of God who cannot but be Truth though every man be a Lye he is faithful and cannot deny himself to his though they believe not 'T is his Faithfulness secures thy Faith and not thy Faith makes good his Faithfulness Rom. 3. 3. 4. Shall their Vnbelief make the Faith or Faithfulness of God of none Effect God forbid Mat. 3. 6. I the Lord change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Is Christ immutable Then there is Ground enough for Believers to cast Anchor on him and to bottom their strong Hopes upon his Promises for faithful is he that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. He is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent Numb 23. 19. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good He cannot alter the Word that is gone out of his Mouth Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one Tittle of his Word till all be fullfilled For this end hath God shewed to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Council confirmed by an Oath that by two immutable things his Purpose and Promise in which 't is impossible for God to lye they might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before them Heb. 6. 18. 19. O Believer suffer not thy Soul to be tossed to and fro with every change of Providence without or of thy heart within but roul thy Hopes on this Rock of Ages on whom the Pillars of the Earth hang for their Stedfastness the whole Creation for its Sustentation by whom Winter and Summer Day and Night are kept within their Seasons and all the changes of his People reduced into a Consistency with his Covenant Fidelity This also yields encouragement to Believers for perseverance in the way of Duty whatever Alterations are in their Conditions and the Times they live in because he that leads them is the same in the worst as well as the best of Times and as able to secure them and as firm in his Affections to them seeing he changes not and therefore cannot will not leave them Again To this Immutability of God in Christ may gracious Souls go to get their unsteddy Hearts fixed and derive by Faith more constancy to their Spirits towards God He who is faithful hath engaged it to establish their Hearts with Grace and keep them from Evil. 2 Thes 3. 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil 2 Chro. 20. 20. Believe God so shall you be established As Christ's Life is Security for the Believer's Life Joh. 14. 19. His Power for their Preservation 2 Tim. 1. 12. so is his Immutability for their Stedfastness Psal 102. 12. The Author of this Psalm under the sense of his weakness and the languishing state of Sion comforts himself in the consideration of Gods Immutability But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever And upon this mountain of Spices raises his hopes of Sion this he takes for granted from his unalterableness He shall appear in his Glory Go Believer and lay by Faith thy changeable Heart on Christ's Constancy as the Shunamite did her dead Child on Elisha's Bed till she received him to Life again 2 Kings 4. 21. And she said when her Child was dead It shall be well vers 23. So in the same Spirit of Faith with her Leave thy Soul with a Faithful Jesus to be made faithful also 1 Thes 5. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it Fifthly The Omniscience of Christ is another of his Divine Attributes by which he doth perfectly and in one Eternal and immutable Act know himself and all things that were are or shall be and things that are not that never were or never shall be things natural and voluntary necessary and contingent things in their Causes and Effects acted or intended good or evil finite or infinite all are most clearly and fully naked and open in his sight He alone fully knows himself and his Divine Perfections 2 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God ver 11. For what man knoweth the things of man save the Spirit of a man which is in man even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God So Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son That is No man can know the Divine Nature but God himself immediately and perfectly That knowledge which the Saints have of God is but a secondary and communicated knowledge of Gods back parts as revealed in his Works Word and in a Mediatour according to the measure of the Gift of Christ But God knows himself immediately and fully as he is for his Knowledge is his Essence and so as Infinite as his Being is He is a pure Act without any potentiality therefore his Understanding and himself are the same He knows also all things else that are in Being and not in Being things past present or to come in one eternal Act without any search into Principles or Causes as Humane Understandings do in a discoursive way and by succession but hath the Idea's of all things in himself his Essence being the Exemplar of those things seeing he gives them their Being As the Artificer knows the Forms of the Pieces he makes and the Writer the proportion of his own Letters so doth God the first Cause know all things that receive their Nature from him they being first in him and so eternally present to him Hence the knowledge of God is most certain and infallible and things are as he knows them seeing his Knowledge gives them their Being which must be understood of the things that God
approves of as his Creatures his Providences and Evils of Punishment which are just and righteous But sinful Evils have no dependance on his Fore-knowledge or Influence from his Essence Indeed Actions as they are natural have their Being from God but the pravity and sinfulness of those Acts Sin being but the privation of that good which was and should be in them is derived from the Subject whose Acts they are As the Motion of the Clock is from the Art of the Artificer but the obliquity of the Motion is from some defect in the Clock it self Gods fore-knowledge of Sin confers no Physical Vertue and necessity to the Being and succession of Sin and yet his knowledge of it is certain all things being naked and manifest in his sight who is Truth it self and cannot deceive or be deceived He determining to permit the Being of Sin must needs fore-know it else his Knowledge would not be perfect and if his Knowledge should be imperfect his Essence would be so too they being both the same but this cannot consist with the Fountain of all Perfection He is the Holy One and can do no Iniquity Zeph. 3. 5. His Fore-knowledge of Sin doth not offer Violence to the Nature of man or destroy the natural Freedom of his Will but foreseeing what man would be determined to leave him to the natural Motion of his own Will Judas betraying Christ as it was sinful was the Consequent of Gods Foreknowledge but the effect of his own Covetousness Acts 2. 23. All Contingencies are perfectly foreseen of God also both in himself as the first Cause and so they are necessary to succeed in due time he sees them also in the second Causes in respect of which they are said to be contingent for to God nothing is accidental although it seems so to men through an Unacquaintedness with their Dependance on the first Cause Rebeccah's meeting Abraham's Servant at the Well and her Discourse with him Gen. 24. 15. seem to Standers by to be things contingent but look back to the former Verse and you will see them to be the answer of Prayer and so before appointed The like was the Midianites drawing Joseph out of the Pit Gen. 37. and the Wind blowing down the House on Job's Children Job 1. though they look like Accidents yet were the Effects of Gods Permission and fore-appointment Again God fore-knows all Contingencies not only as they are in their first and second Causes but as they are in themselves for all things being present to him he perfectly knows what every Cause will produce in time and so must necessarily come to pass according to that Axiome Every thing that is when once it is it appears necessary that it should be Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle are not they in thy Book Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off that is before they are in Being Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good This Wisdom of Christ as God is part of his Unsearchable Treasure and so great a Deep that 't is past finding out by his most intelligent Creatures in Heaven and Earth Rom. 11. 33. O the depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out Again as God is infinitely wise in himself so is he the Author of all Wisdom to his Creatures He enlightneth every one that cometh into the World Jo. 1. 9. This is laid down to prove the Divine Nature of Christ he is the Word which is God this appears both in his making all things verse 3. and in his incomprehensible Essence He is the Light shining in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Also he is the Fountain of all that Light and Life his Creatures enjoy and therefore must needs be God The Evangelist doth not speak here of Christ as Mediator and so of that saving Light which he gives to his Elect by his Spirit but of his divine Essence which the Jews would not own and as a proof of it doth instance in his creatorly Power he is the Fountain of that natural Light which all men have all Wisdom comes from him who is the Father of Lights he is the Fountain of Light able to fill the Children of men with all that Knowledge that is necessary to their highest Happiness to guide them with his Eye and lead them into all Truth First This yields wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have chosen such a Saviour as is able to make them wise to Salvation who not only knows what is best for them but can also reveal and make out the Knowledge thereof to them that they might know and chuse what makes for their best Good here and for ever He is the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. The bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. The Light of Israel Isa 10. 7. The Pillar of Fire by Night Neh. 9. 12. To shew them their way in their greatest Difficulties and Obscurity Secondly This assures gracious Souls that he who hath undertaken their Conduct Supply and Preservation to Glory knows how to make it good and finish the work he is intrusted with he can keep that good thing committed to him he can help them in the worst of Straits and lead them through the greatest Improbabilities Weaknesses Dangers yea Impossibilities to their desired Rest Thirdly This also relieves them that they have a Friend in Heaven who knows their Soul in Adversity and is acquainted with all their Troubles Wants Weaknesses Wrongs Fears Dangers yea with all their Labours Duties Desires and Designs for him and knows how to succour comfort support and deliver them when all Refuge fails them and there is none to help and how to requite and crown all their Duties and Sufferings for his Name He knows their Corruptions the Strength and Prevalency of them and how to subdue and destroy them he sees their Ways and Infirmities and how to heal them he knows the Power and Malice of their Enemies to restrain them and discovers the most secret Plots against his innocent ones to disappoint them that in vain is the Snare laid in his Sight against them He observes thy Tears Believer thy corner Duties thy Bed-side Breathings after him though hid from others he takes notice of thy Innocency when men revile thee and knows how to plead thy Cause and bring thee to the Light Fourthly This will serve to humble the proud Heart of men that God is acquainted with all their Vileness he sees their high their fretful their vain their unclean their unsound their rebellious Hearts Souls men see
entrance within the veil was typified out Heaven Glory As the High-Priest entred within the veil so Christ as an High-Priest is now in Heaven to carry on Redemption-work He is there to oppose all Designs against his People and secure them against all the Impleadings of their Enemies He ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. The word signifies to attain the Mark as an Archer doth or he that throws Darts hits the Mark so the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes so as to prevail Secondly How doth Christ intercede in Heaven Ans 1. Negatively Jesus Christ doth not intercede in Heaven Figuratively As if his Intercession were no more but the vertue of his Merit as Abel's Blood is said to speak Heb. 12. 24. But formally as one that takes upon him the Cause of his sinning suffering people Secondly he doth not intercede Charitatively by way of Courtesie and Kindness which he might do or leave undone as he pleaseth but officially by way of Office and Trust committed to him for so he is our Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thirdly Neither doth he intercede Precario in such an humble manner and Mode of Supplication of bowing the Knee and submissive Intreaties with Cries and Tears as the Saints do and as once he did whilst on Earth for this is inconsistent with that State of Majesty and Glory he is in at the right hand of God Heb. 1. 3. But Authoritatively by way of Right and Power as one that hath deposited a sufficient Price and now demands his Captives as one that hath made a Purchase and now requires the thing purchased as one that hath deserved what he moves for and hath Power as God to bestow Secondly Affirmatively and so First Christ's Intercession in Heaven is by his appearing there for us as our Mediator and Surety presenting his person God-man as our Agent and High-priest Heb. 9. 24. As the High-priest of old did appear in the holyest of all with the Names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders for a Memorial before the Lord Exod. 28. 9. to 22. to which says one the Church alludes Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a Seal on thy Heart as a a Seal upon thy Arm as a Manifestation of his Love so Christ's interceding is his appearing in the behalf of his People as their Advocate and Christ's sitting in Heaven in this Relation to his people may be calleâ— his interceding Secondly By presenting his Obedience and Sufferings before the Father on their behalf that they might have the Benefit of it and that God would in Justice communicate the Fruits of it to all his Seed 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. A type of this we might see in the High-priest's bringing the blood of the Sacrifice within the Veil and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat Lev. 16. 11. to 17. First he killed the Sin-offering and then brought in the Blood before the Lord within the Veil without which his Act was not compleat Thus Christ first sheds his Blood on Earth for his People then enters into Heaven there to present his Blood for us Heb. 8. 4. Thirdly By declaring his Willingness that his People should have all that Mercy and Salvation which they need and that he purchases for them Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am Father I will that my Children have their due 't is true they have sinned but I have suffered they have fallen short but I have fulfilled all Righteousness thou knowest I obeyed for them and dyed for them that all which thou hast promised might be made good to them and Father I will that Justice be done for them in Heaven and I will that this and the other Mercy be given out to them here according as their Necessities and Capacities require whilst Christ was on Earth he came to do his Fathers Will and now he is in Heaven he must in all things have his own Joh. 11. 42. Thus much may be understood by the manner of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Thirdly For whom doth Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven Answ For all that come to God by him Heb. 9. 27. For all that do believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Some desponding Sinners may be ready to say alas this is not for me I am unworthy of so choice a Mercy will Christ plead for such a grace-abusing wretch as I Why Sinner if thou art one that comest over to Jesus Christ and believest on the Son thou mayest lay claim to this Advocate in Heaven and confidently expect the Benefit of his Intercession Again The Lord Christ intercedes for all his People on Earth Joh. 17. 11. And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou hast given me The Saints on Earth are the Subjects for whom he intercedes particularly for his sinning people he made Intercession for the Transgressors Isa 53. 12. Some trembling Soul may say Christ's Intercession is for them that are holy but I am vile but know O Soul Christ interceeds in Heaven for his people that sin against him 1 Joh. 2. 2. Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his weak and impotent people that are compast about with Clouds of Infirmities he hath a special Respect to these as a tender Father hath to a weak Child Christ's grace was sufficient for Paul when his own fail'd under the horrible Buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 9. Such as are weak in themselves that know not how to pray or wait upon God in any holy Duty as they should these are the Persons Christ pleads for to help them such as are ready to be overcome by Temptations Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 31. 32. Poor tempted Souls hurryed up and down sometimes assaulted with blasphemous Thoughts then poysoned by ugly Temptations put upon this Sin and then the other Sin every day the Devil following them with new Temptations laying in new Batteries against them Now the Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for these Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his suffering People such as are in danger of being overcome by their Enemies and have no Might and none to intercede for them Isaiah 59. 16. Sore Judgments there were upon the People of God and that justly for their Transgressions no Righteousness of their own to plead for them nothing at all that could justly intervene between Wrath and them Now in this case Christ steps in and he intercedes and brings Salvation These are the persons Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fourthly What doth the Lord Jesus intercede for in the behalf of his People First One thing he pleads for is for their Preservation in the World and from the Evil of the World Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but
that thou should'st keep them from the Evil. This implies Christ's mind is his People should continue in the World till their Work be done that neither Sin nor Danger may cut them off till their full time be come but that they may be kept from Evil from the Evil of Temptation and the Evil of Persecution Secondly He intercedes for the Sanctification of his People and this is a glorious Priviledge indeed Jo. 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth By the word of thy Truth make them partakers of thy Holiness For their sakes I sanctifie my self ver 19. I set apart my self now on Earth as an High-Priest and Mediator And why so That they may be sanctified through the Truth It may be a poor tempted Soul hath beg'd for Grace but finds no answer as Paul prayed twice thrice many times without return but Jesus Christ intercedes who will prevail and because he prayes they shall obtain according to the measure of Christ and in his time Thirdly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads in Heaven for Believers Union with himself and with one another Jo. 17. 11 21 22 23. Holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou bast given me that they may be one as we are That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one This he died for to gather his People into one and this he will procure in due time Their Union with himself shall be inseparable their Communion may be interrupted but their Union can never be broken And it is a matter of Comfort to Believers that grieve for the sad Breaches amongst Saints how that Christ intercedes in Heaven for their Union who cannot be denied Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for his Peoples Succour and support under and deliverance from Temptation Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee that tby Faith fail not Ah Soul Art thou followed with new Temptations every day Doth the Devil vex thee casting in wicked vile thoughts that do make thee tremble pulling and haling thee Fear not sayes Christ the Devil shall not prevail O sayes a Soul What shall I do for Faith I cannot take hold of this and the other Promise Why Christ in Heaven pleads for Believers that their Faith shall not fail shall not sink away nor faint in the day of Temptation He will not suffer you to be tempted above measure 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will make a way to escape As sure as Christ himself hath escaped from Satan and Dangers unto Glory so sure shall Believers pass thither also O Soul thou canst not tell how to pray this and the other wicked thought hurries thee Faith and Hope all seem to be gone but O what a blessed thing is this that there is a Mediator in Heaven to pray for thee Fifthly Jesus Christ intercedes in Heaven for the Pardon of all the Sins of his People and for the enjoyment of his Fathers favour If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. That 's part of Christ's Work in Heaven to Advocate in regard of their Sins So Joh. 17. 26. That the Love with which thou lovest me may be in them I have purchased thy Favour for them and Peace with thee by my own Blood therefore Father O take not away thy loving kindness from them O do not be angry with them for ever O what a wonderful Priviledge is this Christ is not contented that his Father love them with an ordinary and a common Love but his Will is that the same Love with which the Father loved Christ as Mediator be bestowed upon them Sixthly The Lord Jesus Christ Advocates in Heaven for the supply of all the wants of his People Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need according to the Riches of his Glory by Jesus Christ Observe the ground and meritorious cause of all the Supplies of the Saints Needs is the Riches of Christ in Heaven the Riches of Christs Intercession O! when the poor Believer goes mourning under a sense of this and the other Want Christ in Heaven is interceding for them O sayes one I want a soft Heart a Heart to love God I want more power over Corruptions and Temptations More Humility sayes another O my proud heart I want more Patience I am fill'd with the Fire of Hell I want more Purity unclean Thoughts lodge in my Soul but Christ in Heaven is interceding for them thus Father There 's a Child of mine wants a soft Heart I will that thou give it to him there 's another goes complaining for want of more power over Corruptions I will that thou grant it to him Another wants Bodily supplies he is in straits in the World and knows not what to do Father thou hast made me Heir of all things and I will that thou give him some of mine Inheritance O that Believers did know this when they are pining away in their straits that they would look to Jesus and by Faith see him interceding for them Seventhly Another thing Christ pleads in Heaven for is the subduing of all the Enemies of his People Whatever is like to endanger their well-being in thelr work of glorifying God and in their way to Glory with God Christ pleads that it may be removed Are the Snares of the World like to carry away one the Snare of Prosperity or vain Company like to ruin another Doth the Flesh lust against the Spirit and ready to reduce it into Bondage Christ pleads in Heaven for the destruction of these Leviathans and will in his own time bring down all the Enemies of his People Yea Gog and Magog and all the implacable Adversaries of Sion must be subdued because Christ intercedes for it and Reigns till he hath put down all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. Eighthly He intercedes for his Peoples Consolation He seems to be much concern'd in this that his People be of good cheer in the World Joh. 16. 33. Be of good cheer Pluck up your Spirits walk comfortably I have overcome the World for you I will not leave you comfortless I will not leave you in danger of overwhelming Christ takes care that his People be not overladen with trouble but that they have comfort in due time Ninthly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads for their thorough and compleat Salvation for their preservation in Grace and their sure and certain enjoyment of Glory Wherefore he is able to save to the utmost because he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. Whatever their dangers straits and hazards be Christ intercedes in Heaven for their utmost saving thorough all and from all The gracious Soul miscarries sadly this and the other time in this and the other matter he falls dangerously and bruises his Bones but Christ pleads in Heaven that this might not prove
a mortal wound Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory Joh. 17. 24. All his Glory that he hath purchased with his Blood is for his People As a Father if he gets a large Estate his Children shall fare the better for it he will leave it all to them so Christ in Heaven intercedes Father I will that my Children may share with me in my Glory may Reign and sit on Thrones and be crowned with Immortality with me Where I am there shall my Servant be Thus you see what Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fifthly Why doth the Lord Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven First Because he hath undertaken this Work for his People He is their Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. He is an Officer in Heaven for them and hath undertaken their Cases and being bound he will be faithful He is there as their Fore-runner and his Fidelity lies at stake to make their way plain to Glory If they come not after how can he be their Fore-runner Secondly Because of his Interest in them they are very near to him they are his own Having loved his own that were in the World Joh. 13. 1. Persons use to love their own The World loves its own therefore is Christ so concern'd in the welfare of his People because they are his Propriety They are his Friends Joh. 15. 14 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends And will not a man concern himself about his Friends There 's never a man on Earth that hath a Friend so near his heart as the Saints are to the heart of Christ They are his Brethren He is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. He is their Elder Brother and they are younger Brethren and he cannot but have a tender heart towards them How full of Bowels was Joseph to his Brethren though they had sold him and injured him yet how affectionately did he discover himself to them he wept that the Egyptians heard him Gen. 45. It is a most affecting Story to shew what the heart of a Brother is or should be O how much is Jesus Christ concerned in the welfare of his People Again He is their Father He hath the Bowels of a Father He pleads in Heaven at the Right hand of God as a Father doth speak for his Children O! if a man had a Child or some Children condemn'd to dye how would a tender Father speak for them and weep for them that they might not dye with such Bowels doth Jesus Christ plead for his People in Heaven Again They are his Spouse his Love his Dove married to him Cant. 5. And can a tender affectionate Husband shut up his Bowels towards his own Flesh So Christ in Heaven accounts nothing too dear that might be for the welfare of his People because of their conjugal relation to him Thirdly Because of the great Love he bears to them therefore will he make Intercession for them Isa 63. 9. In his Love and pity he redeemed them Nor men nor Angels can tell the Height Depth Length and Breadth of the Love of Christ it is Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. Christ's Love to his people is unconceivable unchangeable many waters cannot quench it all their Unkindness cannot diminish it therefore he remembers their Concernments and pleads their Cause Fourthly Because of the Sympathy the Lord Jesus Christ hath with them he hath a fellow-feeling of all their Infirmities and Afflictions as he is their head he cannot but sympathize with all the Maladies and Distempers of every Member he is the high-priest and must have Compassion Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities He cannot be capable of Insensibility of the Cases Concerns and Conditions of his people Weaknesses Sins and Wants whatever becomes the Burden of his People it is near his Heart It is not his own Glory in Heaven can take off his Thoughts and Care of them He that abuseth the Saints offers Violence to Christ's Eye Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his Eye While he was in Heaven in the Possession of the Fathers Glory no sooner did their Cry come up from Aegypt but presently it reached his Heart God tells Moses he could not stand still to hear the Complaint of his poor afflicted people God in Christ the second person the Angel of the Covenant resents the Miseries and Afflictions of his people Exod. 2. 23. 24. I have surely seen the Afflictions of my People which are in Aegypt and have heard their Cry and I am come down to deliver them Exod. 3. 7 8. And if he was so pityful as to be soon afflicted with the Afflictions of his people before he assumed the humane Nature upon him is he not as much now sith he hath taken our Nature upon him and stands in Heaven cloathed with our Body and Soul Heb. 5. 2. Christ carries no Weaknesses to Heaven with him he hath no kind of Wants Pains nor Sorrows but he is compassed with Infirmities that is a Sense of the Weaknesses and Remembrance of the Afflictions and Infirmities whilst he was here He knows the Heart of a Stranger he knows what it is to be under the Wrath of God therefore cannot but have a fellow-feeling of the Infirmities of his People No tender Mother can be more affected with the pain of a little sucking Child with the Fear of losing it than Christ is with the case of his people therefore he pleads for them Fifthly Jesus Christ cannot chuse but speak for his People in Heaven because he hath purchased them he hath bought them and paid for them he thought it fit to lay down a very great price for every believing Soul 1 Cor. 6. 19. You are bought with a price He was willing to have his Heart opened and his Side opened that he might let out his Blood for them and surely he cannot but be willing to intercede for them when he was willing to dye and bear divine Wrath for them he hath bought Grace and Glory for them and he must needs speak that they might have what he hath paid for It is true if God should deal upon the account of Creature-deservings they would soon be totally destitute but though unworthy in themselves Christ pleads his Worthyness Father I will that thou give out this and the other Mercy to them I have purchased it for them it is true they have abused the Gospel and sinn'd away the Light of thy Countenance but I will that thou speak comfortably to them for my sake for I have always obey'd thee and done thy Will Sixthly Because of his Promise to them he hath promised he will not leave them Jo. 14. 18. I go away says Christ but I will not leave you I go to Heaven but it is for you I carry your Names on my Heart that I might think upon you when I am
upon a Death-Bed Ah! what are all thy Cries when God hears not Thirdly there 's sure Damnation waits for thy Soul the Devil stands by and expects the time when Christ will take his final leave of thee O Sinner if once thy time be gone and precious Overtures of Grace do cease then certain Ruine follows as sure as the Work-man's wages is due to him so will Damnation be to thy Soul that dost live and dye in thy Refusal of Christ every Soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed Acts 3. 23. Psal 2. 12. Fourthly all the precious Intercessions of Jesus Christ will be turn'd against thee and this is a most doleful Consideration enough to make the hardest heart to break now while there 's hope the blood of Christ pleads Father wait a little longer for this Sinner when divine Justice says cease interceding that I may take Vengeance on this wretch no says the blood of Christ spare this Drunkard a little longer O wait one day longer one year longer for this Swearer but upon thy final Refusal of Christ the blood of Christ pleads another wâ—y Father I will the Damnation of this Sinner I will that Mercy be no more tendred to him Luke 2. 34. This Child is set for the Fall and Rising again of many in Israel Christ is for the Fall as well as the rising of many and believe it his blood hath as great a Vertue to heighen the Damnation of willful Unbelievers as ever it hath to further the Salvation of Believers and O what a dreadful thing is this when the blood of Christ shall plead against thee It may be upon thy Death-bed thou wilt cry Lord pardon me Lord let me never go to the place of Torment but the Blood of Christ will say Father damn him he made me wait many Days and Years and would not let me into his Heart Father let him perish and whom do you think the Father will hear This is one of the most trembling Considerations that I know to heighten the Wrath of Sinners that Soul must needs go deep into Hell that the Blood of Christ sends thither the blood of Christ cries for Vengeance Ah! Sinners think of it what a fearful thing it is to refuse this Mediator the Lord open your Ears and the Lord work upon your Hearts that you may turn and live while there is Hope Fourthly Hence see whence 't is that the Prayers of any are so prevailing with God what is it that makes Faith and Prayer so omnipotent 'T is the Intercession of Christ in Heaven that wings our Prayers and makes them so speedily arrive at the Mercy-seat and come off with an answer of Peace 'T is a Friend in the Court of Heaven that makes the Saints Sutes so prevailing with God Rev. 8. 3 4 5. 'T is his Incense makes way for the Prayers of the Saints and then Fire comes out of the Censer and burns up the Enemies of Christ O there 's wonderful Mightiness in the prayers of the Saints whom Christ favours with his Mediation Vse 2. Of Confutation If the Lord Jesus Christ be the Great and onely Mediator between God and Man then this will strike down that dangerous damnable Errour of the Papists Of Praying to Saints and setting up other Interceders besides Christ making Addresses to the Virgin Mary placing her in the Throne with Christ If there be but one Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5. and one that liveth to make Intercession and that the Assurance of Salvation depends on this Intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. Then 't is a damnable Errour of the Papists to pray to the Virgin Mary as they do in their Missal one of which is thus O Virgin the onely chaste Mother loosing our Sins give us the Kingdom for thou art Queen of the World art able to do all things and with thy Son disposest all things Another is That God by the Prayers and Merits of the ever blessed Virgin and of all Saints would bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven Amen Nay they say That Prayers made to and delivered by the Saints are better than those by Christ So Sal. Now if Christ be the only way to the Father and Acceptance is through him alone then this is a false Way and never of Gods appointing but blasphemous Sacrilege and horrible Robbery of the very Flower of Christ's Crown Nothing plucks the Scepter out of Christ's Hand his Crown from his Head as these irreligious Opinions of the Papists If Prayer be an act of Worship Matth. 4. 10. then 't is onely due to God Indeed there 's a civil Worship due to Superiours but Religious Adoration is God's Prerogative If we must trust on him to whom we pray Rom. 10. 13 14. then we must pray to none but God in Christ for cursed is the man that trusteth in man Jer. 17. 5. He to whom we pray must be able to know our wants and our Hearts to see our Miseries and hear our Prayers Now this the Saints in Heaven cannot do Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not Isa 63. 16. 'T is Omnisciency alone can hear our Prayers and Omnipotency that can Answer them Psal 65. 2. Matth. 6. 6. 8. 32. Eccles 9. 5. Thus we may see the Heterodox Assertions of the Papists in making many Mediators Vse 3. For Reprehension to the professing People of God First To such as are no more affected with this great and glorious Privilege of having an Advocate with the Father Ah! Did Souls but know what an Ocean of Privileges and Fountain of Mercies is comprised in this one Mediator Jesus Christ it would fill their Hearts with Joy tip their Tongues with Praises and make them more glad in the Salvation of God But it may be you are more affected with your Frames fine Expressions and your own Duties than with the Pleadings of Jesus Christ This deserves a sharp Reproof 2dly Such as make little Use of the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas how few employ Christ about their Matters in Heaven and engage him in the momentous and weighty Matters of their Souls May not Christ complain still as once on Earth Joh. 5. 40. You will not come to me that you may have Life 'T is sad indeed that the Lord Jesus Christ should enter upon so costly an Office and pay so dear for a Right to do thy Soul good and thou neglect to use him after all This is the condemnation to Unbelieving Sinners That they turn their Backs upon the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas Soul Are not thy wants great and thy Sins many thy Provocations and abuses of Mercy daily and yet wilt thou not engage Christ for thy help to procure thy Pardon and Passage from Death to Life O how justly miserable will thy case be who might'st be happy but would'st not He is worthily miserable saith one that will not be happy for the asking Who knows but that thy hard heart might have been softened thy
and perfume them with my Incense not the Excellency of your Duties but the Worthiness of my Intercession shall procure your needed Mercies Secondly Here 's Comfort to troubled Believers such as are in the depth of Soul-misery and cast down with the sight of their Sins guilt of their Consciences and Fears of their Condition that go mourning all the day long forget to eat their Bread feed on Worm-wood and Gall refuse with Rachel to be comforted because their first born their Comforts first Love and Holiness are not Jer. 31. 15. This is the case of some poor Souls from day to day they meet with no Consolation eat Ashes in stead of Bread and mingle their Tears with their Drink they go from Ordinance to Ordinance and their Fear come and go with them they feel little Change by all they do or enjoy their Hearts are harâ— proud vain carnal unbelieving hence they fear they are Hypocrites and shall be cast away to all Eternity Now here 's Comfort to such from Christs Intercession in Heaven he is there pleading thy cause and pressing after thy cure thou hast provoked God but he is appeasing his Wrath 1 John 2. 1. 2. Thou art angring God every day but he is always pleasing him for thee thou art making Breaches upon the Law of God and he is there closing up those Breaches by his Blood and Intercession thou art busie making wounds upon the Glory of the Father and Christ is there presenting the deep Gashes and bloody Stroaks his Justice laid upon him for those very Sins when God is resolv'd to be aveng'd for thy Backslidings Christ is then discovering his constant Obedience and upright Faithfulness for thee he pleads with the Father thus Father shall thy Anger burn for ever and thy Vengeance always wax hot against this Soul My Child Remember what I have borne for him I have already suffered for his Sin and given a plenary Satisfaction to the Demands of Justice and wilt thou charge it on him Father let his Sins be on me as David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Let thy hand I pray thee be against me these Sheep what have they done 'T is I am their Surety and in thy Account the Offender I have answered for their Offences and discharged their Debts why wilt thou pursue them in thy Anger Holy Father in Justice spare these Offenders behold them in my Blood and cloathed with my Righteousness Obedience and Suffering 't is true their Natures are vile but mine is holy and they are Members of my Flesh and of my Bones they are diseased but I have undertaken their Cure and will present them to thee without Spot and Wrinkle And this Intercession of Christ shall certainly prevail with God for thee that thy Iniquities may be pardoned and thy Sins remembred no more Heb. 8. 12. All that is promis'd in the new Covenant Christ intercedes for in Heaven for he is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. The Mediator of the new Covenant Heb. 9. 15. But the Forgiveness of Believers Sins is part of the new Covenant Jer. 31. 34. Mich. 7. 18. where God forgives one Sin he forgives them all Jer. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their Iniquities c. He will pardon not only Sins before but after Grace not only small but great Sins Psal 25. 11. Not only Sins that have been once but often committed Jer. 3. 22. Return ye back-sliding Children and I will heal your Back-slidings He doth not say once or twiee but let their Back-slidings be never so great and many upon their Return God will pardon them nay though they be as Scarlet and as red as Crimson Isa 1. 18. Object I did once hope that God had pardon'd all my Sins but now I fear it because I have back-sliden after Mercy and wallowed in Sin after washing and God threatens he will not forgive such Jer. 14. 10. chap. 5. 7. Sol. 1. The Reason why God would not pardon their Sin was not because they were too great for Pardon but because they would not return Jer. 15. 7. I will destroy my People because they return not from their Ways Jer. 23. 14. The Lord promiseth to such as have gone aside from his Ordinances even from their Youth that if they will return to him he will return to them Mal. 3. 7. Jer. 4. 1. Secondly If God will pardon all their Sins then he will pardon their Relapses after Mercy be they never so great upon their returning to him God speaks indefinitely I will cleanse them from all Iniquity Jer. 33. 8. Thirdly If God will pardon their Sins before Grace much more those after Grace if he will forgive them when Enemies then much more being reconciled the Apostle useth the same Argument Rom. 5. 8. 9. Fourthly If there be no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus then God will surely pardon all their Sins that ever they commit for there is never a Sin but will condemn the Soul if it be not pardoned but the Soul that is in Christ is never no not one Minute of time in a condemned State Rom. 8. 1. Fifthly If the Lord Jesus haâ—h satisfi'd for all the Sins of Believers then they shall furely be forgiven otherwise God would be argu'd of Injustice and Christ would shed his blood in vain but the Lord Jesus hath satisfied divine Justice to the full for the Sins of all his People Isa 53. 5. 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ransome 1 Tim. 2. 6. paid by Christ was a full and sufficient price and therefore his Satisfaction is compleat for all their Sins if this were not so he could not have cleans'd them from all Sin but he cleanseth them from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Christ could not have saved them to the uttermost that come to God by him were his Satisfaction imperfect but this he doth Heb. 7. 25. Lastly If the Lord should not pardon all the Sins of his People he would be unjust and unfaithful 1 Joh. 1. 9. but that he cannot be Zeph. 3. 5 He will not do Iniquity he is the faithful one that cannot deceive or be deceiv'd Isa 45. 21. Let God be true and every man a Lyar. Thirdly Here 's Comfort to Believers that are dejected in the sense of their strong Corruptions and unsubdued Lusts The Body of Death in some doth make them doubt the truth of Grace and fills their Lives with Bitterness and Terrours The badness of their Hearts and vileness of their Natures makes some conclude their final Ruine But here 's Comfort to such Firstly In that it hath been and is the case of the dearest Children of God their Corruptions like the Sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Abraham accounts himself Dust and Ashes Gen. 18. 27. Job cries out I am vile Job 40. 4. David says Mine Iniquities are gone over my head as a Burden too heavy to bear Psal 38. 4. Isaiah from a reflex View of God's Glory concludes he
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
his Face from them when he speaks sharply to them and severely rebukes them Secondly To own his Friend in all places times and conditions so Jonathan owned David in his greatest Dangers when his Father sought his Life when it was dangerous to appear for him 1 Sam. 20. 28. 32. so Christ is not asham'd to own his People before God men Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father's Face 1 Cor. 16. 21. He reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine anointed c. Thirdly Pity Job 6. 14. Pity should be shewn from a Friend And in this is Christ faithful he hath compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. He cannot hide his Eyes from his own Flesh he is that good Samaritane Luke 10. 33. Fourthly Counsel Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart so doth the Sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty Counsel Christ is called the Counsellor Isaiah 9. 6. He will guide his People with his Eye and instruct them in the way they should go Psal 32. 8. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. Fifthly Adherence Prov. 18. 24. There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother 2 Sam. 16. 17. So the Lord Jesus he stands by his People in time of need Ps 50. 15. Ps 91. 15. Ps 44. 3. Sixthly Comfort So Joh's Friends Job 2. 11. Came to mourn with him and to comfort him the Lord Jesus is faithful in this also Joh. 14 18. I will not leave you comfortless Isa 61. 2. To comfort all that mouâ—â— Seventhly Communication of Secrets Judg. 16. 15. How canst thou say thou lovest me when thy Heart is not with me Now the Lord Jesus Christ is such a Friend he will open the very Secrets of his heart to his People Joh. 15. 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Psal 25. 14. O the secret Mysteries of the Gospel he discloseth to his faithful People that walk much with him Joh. 14. 2 3. Lastly Supply of wants Prov. 17. 17. A Friend is born for Adversity So Paul tells the Thessalonians of his friendly respects to them 1 Thes 2. 8. A true friend is ready to impart any thing for his Friend so Jonathan stript himself to his Girdle and Bow and Sword for David 1 Sam. 18. 4. Christ is such a Friend as will supply all the Necessities of his people Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need Such a Friend he was to Jacob Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my Life long Secondly He is faithful as a Brother for in this Relation also doth he stand to his people Joh. 20. 17. Go to my Brethren and say to them that I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Christ and Believers have all one Father though in a different way Christ the natural Believers the adopted Children of God Now as he stands to them in the Capacity and State of a Brother an elder Brother so his Fidelity consists in a faithful Discharge of the Duties of such a relation As First One Duty is Love All the Saints stand in the relation of Brethren one to another and so are obliged to mutual Love 1 Joh. 3. 10. Christ fulfills this duty to his people he loves them as himself Eph. 5. 25. perfectly with the same love with which the Father loves him Joh. 15. 9. Secondly Another brotherly duty is Pity 1 Pâ—t 3. 8. Having Compassion one of another love as Brethren be pityful So Christ can truly say as Esther did of her Kindred Esther 8. 6. Now can I endure to see the Evil that shall come unto my People or how can I endure to see the Destruction of my Kindred Thirdly Unity is the duty of Brethren Psal 133. 1. Behold how good and pleasant is it for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity so is the Lord Jesus one with his people This he dyed for Joh. 11. 52. This he prays for Joh. 17. 21. Fourthly Another brotherly duty is Peace Gen. 13. 18. Let there be no strife betwixt me and thee and betwixt my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren So Christ labours after peace for his people and with them Jo. 16. 33. Fifthly Acknowledgment is another duty of Brethren So Christ Heb. 2. 11. He is not asham'd to call them brethren Lastly visiting one another and taking hold of Opportunities to enquire the welfare of each other and communicate Refreshments Thus did Moses Acts 7. 23. He visited his Brethren and so doth Christ his People he gives them special Accesses by his Spirit he leaves them not comfortless but will come unto them Joh. 14. 18. Thirdly As a husband to his Spouse is Christ faithful to his People Isa 54. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have espoused you to one Husband Hos 2. 19. 20. I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness loving Kindness and Faithfulness Now Christ performs all the Offices of a tender Husband to them First In loving them as himself Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Now I shall give you eight Proofs of Christ's great love as a husband to his People First His high Valuation of them he esteems them beyond all the World besides nay above Heaven it self he could leave the Heaven of Heavens to seek after and to save them and Mansions of Glory to come down and betroath them he despised all the offer'd Pleasures and Grandure of the world when proposed to divert his Love from them Matth. 4. He sets forth their excellencies by terms of greatest worth he calls them his Treasure Exod. 19. 15. A Kingdom of Priests vers 6. His Jewels Mal. 3. 17. Cant. 1. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely with Rows of Jewels thy Neck with Chains of Gold Cant. 2. 2. As the Lilly among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters He terms them a Fountain of Gardens an Orchyard of Pomegranates Cant. 4. The only one of her Mother the choice one of her that bare her These high Characters the Lord Jesus gives his Spouse shews the wonderful account he makes of her Secondly His costly purchase of them he sold himself to redeem them Eph. 5. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. He parted with all his Glory Treasures Peace Pleasures Strength and Life to procure a people to himself had not his love been infinitely great to all his Seed he would never have bought them at so dear a rate 1 Cor. 6. 20. Thirdly His great Endurings for them Jacob tells us of some Hardships he underwent to gain Rachel Gen. 31. 40. 41. But these are nothing to Christ's Endurings for his Spouse he bore infinite Torments for her all the Wrath and Vengeance of a consuming Fire which all the Sins of Believers did
are Sanctifyed are all of one Heb. 2. 11. Thirdly For this end he was actually designed of God and made over to his People in the Everlasting Covenant decrees purposes and determinations of God 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is made of God Non in creatione sed in ordinatione saith Paraeus Not created so according to his Divine Essence as some Hereticks assert but ordained and given of God to this end to be Sanctification that is the Author of Sanctification and therefore he is said to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. which can never be accomplish'd without Holinesse For without holinesse no man can see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly For this work was the Lord Jesus promised by the Father to come unto Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Rom. 11. 26. This Scripture is quoted out of Isa 50. 10. from which the Apostle varies following the Septuagint Translation then in great use rather than the Hebr. seeing it retaines tâ—e sense though different in words In Isa 't is The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from Transgression The Apostle saies He shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob To reconcile which Peter Martyr thinks the Septuagint might mistake Lashub To turn for Leshabe To them that turn But this is not likely that those Learned Doctors could be so mistaken in the Original and therefore 't is a far better answer that Beza and Grynaeus do give That the Prophet speaketh of the Effect of Christs coming which is a turning away from Sin And that the Apostle speaks of the Cause of their turning from Sin which is Christs taking away of Sin for none can turn from sin till Christ do remove Sin And this is the end of his coming into the World To this end he is promised Mal. 3. 2 3. He shall sit as refiners fire and purify the Sons of Levi. The Sons of Levi are Firstly meant of the Apostles Secondly I suppose of all the Saints But so much is clear that the Lord Jesus is promised to be a refiner to his People in Gospel times and to purge away their filth and dross and to make them Holy Fifthly For this end it was the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself up to Redemption-work Eph. 5. 25 26 27. As Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word Here we have 1. One great end of Christs Obedience and Suffering 't is to make his People Holy 2. Here 's the efficient Cause of this Holinesse that is By the Spirit of Christ The blood of Christ purges away the guilt of sin Meritoriously and the Spirit of Christ purifies the filth of sin Efficiently signifyed by Water as 't is often us'd in Scripture Joh. 4. 10. 14. Chap. 7. 38 39. 3. Here 's the instrumental cause of this Holinesse the means by which it is wrought and carryed on and that is by the word the immortal seed of the Soul This he undertook and was intended to do in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. He shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth that is Holiness for so 't is taken Joh. 16. 8. And this work is the Lord Jesus here engag'd to do Some take the word Ethmoch I uphold passively for the Fathers dependence and Christs Faithfulnesse He leans or stays upon his undertaking this work and trusts to his performance of what he undertook to do Others take it actively for the Fathers upholding and carrying Christ through this great work of Redemption and Sanctification In both senses 't is true The Lord Jesus stands engaged to carry on Redemption-work and is throughly furnished with grace to accomplish it Heb. 10. 7. Christ readily consents to the fulfilling of the Fathers will and what that was you have Isa 42. 7. To open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners out of the Prison which is meant of the work of Redemption and Regeneration and it was the will of God the Father that Christ should do this 1. Thes 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification And this he stood bound to do to promote and perfect the power of Holinesse in all his Children Now what Christ did undertake he finished Meritoriously whiles on Earth Joh. 17. 4. I have finished the work thou hast given me to do And for the application of it he is in Heaven to see it perform'd and this is the work of his Intercession Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth This Christ Intercedes for in Heaven and therefore 't is the fruit of his Purchase for he Intercedes for no more in Heaven than what he dyed for on Earth Sixthly His Authoritative sending the Spirit of Holinesse to his people shews his right to it by his Purchase Joh. 16. 7. I will send him to you That is after the finishing of his work and re-instalment in Glory Joh. 7. 39. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorifyed Lastly Were not holinesse purchased for saved Souls Christs Redemption-work would be imperfect neither could Souls ever answer the ends for which he dyed Without Holinesse were procured and compleated by Christ there could be no Salvation For First Man cannot Sanctify himself We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesse as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one Job 14. 4. Indeed the Scripture sometimes speaks after this manner Make you a clean heart Ezek. 18. 31. Make you a new heart So Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye celan But there is Mans Duty not his power It shews the subject not the Author or this holinesse and where you find such Exhortations they are to lead men to Christ for the getting of this Holiness wrought in them as 1 Pet. 2. 4. To whom come as as to a living stone c. Secondly Without this holiness be wrought in Believers they can never be capable of answering the ends of Redemption which are First To enjoy Union and Fellowship with God Joh. 11. 52. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 8. 10. Now without Holiness no Fellowship with God 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. For his Person is Holy and his offerings and services are Holy Secondly To reconcile together in one all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 20. But no Fellowship with Angels or Saints in Heaven without holiness for they are holy Creatures Thirdly To be brought into the nearest Union and Conformity to himself Rom. 6. 4 5. But without Holiness this cannot be Fourthly To be a Name and a praise unto God Eph. 1. 12. But without Holiness no glorifying of God Fifthly To bring Souls to the possession of the purchased
Kingdom at all is the reward of all such labours Sixthly 'T is work that will surely end in death Let men work never so hard yet they must dye and be damn'd at last for falling short and this is bondage-work indeed but the Children of God are freed from this work Rom. 7. 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we are held that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the letter Again As they are freed from bondage-work so are they freed from bondage-wrath The wrath of God is upon all the Children of disobedience all Christless Souls are Children of wrath bound over to an Inheritance of wrath Eph. 5. 6. Chap. 2. 3. Because the Law worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. It brings all its Servants under wrath under the curse and under death Rom. 6. 23. But from this also are all the Sons of God freed Heb. 2. 14. And destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil And not only from the Devil but from the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 6. 14. Chap. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 13. Again they are free from all yokes of bondage laid on their Consciences by Men. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men Do not give up your Faith and Conscience to their Commands obey not them contrary to the Command of Christ Gal. 1. 10 11. if I yet pleased men I should not be the Servant of Christ This is the first part of liberty the Children of God are brought into even a liberty from Servitude Secondly They have a liberty to service in the Worship of God Their service of God is free and ingenuous Service their offerings are free-will Offerings Psa 119. 108. Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth That is those offerings or vows which my mouth hath freely offered The Children of God are a willing people Psa 110. 3. They serve the Lord freely from the heart Rom. 6. 17. They obey from the heart that form of Doctrine deliver'd to them They delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 22. The strictest Service of God is to them the most desired liberty the Commands of God are no wayes grievous to them that is to their inner Man indeed so far as flesh and Corruption get head they drag heavily to duty when the spring of their motions even their child-like love to God is abated and all the Indispositions of a child of God flow from decaies of love to God and some abatement of the Adoption-Spirit in him The Children of God are never in their Element or as they would be but when their hearts slow out after God and they can run the paths of his Commandements this they pray and labour for Psa 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart So ver 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Their hearts move naturally after God when in their right temper As the Waters run towards the Sea and the Sun runs his race Their service of God comes from a new Principle even from Faith that works by love and is directed to new and higher ends than all the services of Hypocrites The sense of divine love constrains them to duty that they cannot but chuse the things that please God further than they are bound back by Corruption and Temptation their works are wrought in God from a Principle of life raised and revived by grace They have no mercenary aimes in their Duties to attain any carnal selfish end below God but their Motives are high and heavenly pure and spiritual as the Love of God and care they have to please him They see a beauty in Holiness and a pleasantness in the ways of God and find a sutableness in their hearts to love these though under never sâ— great discouragements and disadvantages aâ— to flesh and blood hence 't is a Child of God cannot cast off God and his Worship though he see nothing of good or comfort coming in by them nor be perswaded to consent to any thing that is sinful though to save his purse person yea life it self All the threatnings of Men or visible dangers in his way can't bring his heart to comply with ungodliness or speak or do any thing against God his people or wayes 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against the truth None but a Judas can come with a Band of men and Officers against Christ to apprehend him or his people for owning him Micaiah would speak nothing against the truth though to please a King 1 Kings 22. 17. Nor Jacobs Soul enter into the secret of the wicked in their sinful enterprise A fearful Peter may forsake the professing of Christ for a time but he will not be seen on the side of those that do oppose him no this is far from the true Spirit of Gods Children We read of the Christians in the primitive times that left their preferments rather than they would be seen against Christ people and the whole Legion chose rather to lay down their lives than to oppose their fellow Christians Such shufflings and Compliances are opposed to the Spirit of the true Children of God they can run after God in a Wilderness but cannot be drawn against God by all the World Secondly They have new Rights and Interests Believers being once entred into the Family of God by Christ are presently invested with new and Glorious Rights whicâ— they never had before nor any besides the Chilâ—ren of God have or can ever have which will appear in these fix things First They have a right to the special and blessed presence of God the Father Son and Spirit Psa 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence The upright that is the faithful the Children of God these shall dwell in thy presence in thy special presence for all Men and Devils are in the general presence of God but the Saints shall be in Gods special presence and not step into it only as strangers may but continue for ever as Sons Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Psa 26. 6. Secondly They have a right to the purchase of Christ to all the fruit of his Obedience and sufferings His blood is theirs with all the procurements of it Isa 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed whatever Christ dyed for according to the agreement betwixt the Father and him is the Right of his Children Joh. 17. 9. Thirdly They have right to the Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises Whereby that is by the knowledge of him as ver 3. Or through Faith in him that is by Jesus Christ we come to have
right to the promises for all the promises are in him Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. The promises of this Life and of that which is to come all are theirs 1 Tim. 4. 8. Fourthly They have Right to Communion with and to the blessing of the whole Family of Christ Being entred into Gods Family they have a Right to fellowship with all his people 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit The great design of the Apostle in this chap. is to shew that all Believers are brought into nearest Union with Christ and each other even into one body this he proves in this ver by the end of the Ordinances of Baptism and the Supper both which do signifie and seal up Believers into the nearest Union and Communion by reason of which they have equal right to one another and the whole body they have right to Communion with Angels and Saints All the Sons and Daughters of God have right to his House to his Church and all the priviledges of it Isa 56. 5. Ordinances and Ministers are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Yea they have right to the blessings of God on all Psalm 3. 8. Thy blessing is upon thy People Eph. 1. 3. Fifthly They have a right to all the good things of this Life Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Even the good things of this Life Ps 37. 9. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the Earth They are Heirs with Christ who is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. They have through Christ a Right to all the good things of this world so far as God sees it best for them they have their right in the Second Adam who is Lord of all this is a New-Covenant-Right not over other mens rights to invade or break the civil properties of any but to those Creatures God gives them and to the good of all things even wants and enjoyments and have a sanctified use of them which none but the Children of God have Tit. 1. 15. Sixthly They have Right to the inheritance of Glory Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Heaven is the Country Home and Inheritance of all Saints Their Title is founded on the Purchase of Christ and Adoption of Grace not upon their Merit or Holiness and therefore 't is called on the account of Christ the purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession That is until we are actually redeemed from Corruption and put into the possession of purchased Glory yea their Reversion in Heaven is so freely procured for them without any of their money or price duties or obedience further than 't is the way to walk in to Glory that Eternal Life is said to be the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Death comes by Man's merit but not Life and Salvation and is not this a glorious state and blessed condition to be made Heirs and Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And if Children then heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ partakers of the same Rights with him Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith Heb. 11. 7. So was Abraham and so are are all Believers they have a right to Justification by believing and a right to the Kingdom of Glory Jam. 2. 5. Heirs of the Kingdom They have as good a Title to this by Grace and through the purchase of Christ as any man to an Inheritance here on Earth yea and far more sure of it for men may be turn'd out of their Rights and Properties here but Believers cannot be deprived of their Title and Inheritance through Christ Seventhly They have an interest in Gods love they are upon his Heart at all times Joh. 16. 27. For the Father himself loveth you He loves with an infinite Love a Love passing knowledge and transcending the love of all Creatures Isa 49. 15. A Mother may forget her Child but God cannot forget his He loves at all times Eternally and unchangeably He loves his Children ardently when they have but little love to him He loves them notwithstanding their unkindnesses and provocations Psal 89. 31 32 33. He loves them when he seems to be angry with them and is forced to correct them Heb. 12. 6. He always thinketh on them for good Jer. 29. 11. I know the thoughts I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of Evil. He is very tender of them and hath the bowels of a Compassionate Father towards them Psal 103. 8 13. Mal. 3. 17. And I will spare them as a man spareth his Son that servâ—th him Eighthly They have a right to the Spirit of Grace the Spirit is put into their Hearts Gal. 4. 6. Not the spirit of Bondage but of Adoption Rom. 8. 15 16. They have union with the Spirit never to be seperated more v. 11. they have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. To quicken teach influence assist in Duty and make intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. O what a blessed priviledge is this to have the Spirit of the Son whereby they can go to God as a Father and to have the Spirit working in them the disposition and working for them the actions of Sons Thirdly They have holy and reverential boldness to come into the presence of God through his Son Ps 26. 6. I will wash my haâ—ds in innocency and so will I compass thine Alter Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father They can come to God at all times and behold his Face in Righteousness unless their sins do cause him to hide himself for a time Eph. 3. 12. And plead their cause through Christ with boldness Heb 10. 19 20. And they are not only free to come but sure to speed Joh. 16. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Fourthly Instruction is another Priviledge of Sons They shall be taught of God Isa 54. 1â— He will teach instruct and shew them things they know not He will lead thâ—m into all truth Joh. 16. 16. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and revealeth them to the Saints 1 Cor. 2. 20. He wll teach them all things which they are able to bear They shall have the openings of Christs mind to steer their course whiles in this Wilderness of the World and shall receive the revelation of all truths necessary to Salvation Fifthly They have choice and delicate provisions and rich maintenance this is the duty of Parents to provide for their Obedient and indigent Children 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own House he hath denyed the Faith He cares for his Children Mat. 6. 31 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. He that gives his Son how can he but with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants
He that gives a Kingdom at the Journeys end will not deny Bread and Water in the way He will provide for their Bodies and Souls for their Persons and Families Sixthly Correction is theirs Psal 89. 32. Heb. 12. 8. Correction is the Saints Priviledge and great advantage they have need of it 1 Pet. 1. 6. Though for a season if need be you are in heaviness c. And they have advantage by it Psa 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted Heb. 12. 10. But he for our profit Seventhly Protection is another priviledge of Children He will keep them as the Apple of his Eye Psa 17. 8. He will hide them in the secret of his Tabernacle Ps 31. 20. He will keep them Day and Night Isa 27. 3. He gives his Angels charge concerning them Psa 91. 11 12. Heb. 1. 14. Lastly The Kingdom is theirs O think what rest what joy what holiness what perfection what immutability and Eternity of Glory is in Heaven and say all this is my Estate by Adoption I shall one day be possessed of it here I am poor but there I shall be rich here I am empty and hungry there I shall be full here I am despised there I shall be honoured here I have not a house lay my head in there I shall have a Mansion to all Eternity here one and another says come sit at my Foot there shall I sit on a Throne and be a Crowned King for ever Here my Comforts go and my troubles stay worms breed in all my enjoyments but thereis no Rust nor Moth no Decay nor Death O blessed state indeed that Believers are Adopted to in Christ Fifthly The last considerable thing in Adoption is the Duties that flow from such a state and this is part of their priviledge also as being the Fruit of an Adoption-state and that which they are purchas'd as well as oblig'd unto by the blood of Christ all the filial duties of Believers are the fruits of Adoption-Grace Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts The Spirit of his Son to make you really such and to form in you the Nature and work you to the duty of Sons So that Adopted Souls are not only chosen of God to be heirs with Christ but are also begotten of God into the Nature and Image of Christ Rom. 8 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that as Christ carryed himself as a Son so should the Children of God in their measure and time and that by the same Spirit Now these duties which Gods Children are spirited and engaged to are First To love God as their Father even from a sense of his Fatherly love 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Lord thy God because he hath pleased to make thee his Son and to place thee in so near and high relation to himself Psa 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints You that are set apart for him and Sanctified by him O you of all Persons from the sense of this relation should love him This is a filial duty and so essential to Sons as that 't is put for the ground of all their Obedience Joh. 14. 13. If a man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him that is manifest his love to him as a Father This is not a forced but a natural love to God arising from that new Nature and Spirit of Adoption in them so that a Child of God may as well cease to be a Child as cease to have a disposition to love him Indeed a gracious Soul may not alwayes actually love God but he hath a disposition to love him and can appeal to God that he knows he would love him and there is nothing in all the World he can value like him Secondly To obey him 1 Pet. 1. 14. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to former Lusts 'T is a great duty of Children to obey their Parents in all things lawful and so they that are Gods Children are much more oblig'd to obey God whose relation much more binds them being so far above all other relations whose love constrains them 2 Cor. 5. 14. whose Laws invite them they being holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. Whose rewards also encourageth them there is a reward in keeping them Psa 19. 11. and a reward upon those that keep them Rev. 2. 10. Now this Child-like obedience differs from all other obedience in that 1. 'T is the fruit of faith Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods word that is obeyeth Gods word but what an Obedience is this see the former ver It is an Obedience from faith ver 46. If I say the truth why do ye not believe me 2. 'T is the labour of love 1 Thes 1. 3. Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of love 3. 'T is delightful Obedience Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Thirdly A fear of offending him Hos 3. 5. And shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter daies This is a filial fear arising from their relation to God as their Father 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call on the Father c. pass the time of your sojourning here in fear This is a fear springing from and consisting with love there is a fear that love casteth out 1 Joh. 4. 18. perfect love casteth out fear that is slavish fear 'T is such a fear as keeps the Soul close to God and not drive him from him Jer. 34. 40. O how fearful is such a Soul of offending God Job 34. 31. He will do all he can to prevent sin Psa 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee Fourthly A zeal for Gods glory Psa 69. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up That is the zeal which I have for thy house or for thy pure Worship against them that would corrupt it hath like fire consumed me Zeal is the burning fire of love which will not bear any thing that dishonours God So Phinehas could not endure to see God dishonoured by the whoredomes of his People but in his zeal executes the Law upon one of the highest offenders Numb 25. 11. The want of the zeal made Laodicea in danger of being spued out of Gods mouth Rev. 3. 16. and therefore God calls her to Repentance and to this zealous Spirit in his Worship ver 19. Be zealous and Repent This zeal was that Child-like temper that God commended in Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. Thou canst not bear them that are evil A zealous Soul cannot suffer any reproach on Gods Name Psa 69. 20. Reproach hath broken my heart
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
evil wayes Come and close with Christ O! obey those Counsels he gives you in his Gospel Lastly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by holding forth a Conversation sutable to it Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. As if he should say chiefly this is the main and sum of all O! live worthy of the Gospel First Then is your Conversation as becometh the Gospel when you live as becomes the grace of God discover'd in the Gospel 'T is infinite grace is revealed in it you should walk so as to honour grace you should press after more grace in your Conversations there should be grace in every step of your lives Tit. 2. 1 12. Secondly Then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and Glorious things held out in it When the Gospel is opened there are choice Jewels brought forth to sale O most excellent things produc'd by it and you should live up sutable to these There 's the manifold Wisdom of God held forth in the Gospel Eph. 3. 10. Treasures of wonderful wisdom are opened in the Gospel O live up to these mysteries O Christians let your lives be exact for you have curious eyes to look upon you labour to hold forth much wisdom and much light in your Conversations In the Gospel is held forth the mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness O what mysteries are here God Manifested in the flesh God and yet cloath'd in flesh Condemn'd for sin and yet justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Geutiles the worst of Sinners in the World Now live sutable to the mysteries of Godliness Again the Gospel opens the glorious priviledges of Saints of every saved Soul O wonderful priviledges That Enemies should be reconciled and strangers made nigh that Rebels should be adopted Sons and Daughters made the Children of God by Christ Rom. 8. 16 17. O what a glorious priviledge is this Believing Souls are brought into by the Gospel to a state of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. A state of glorious liberty Eph. 5. 1. Gal. 5. 1. O live up to these glorious priviledges You are Children of the light walk as Children of the light Eph. 5. 8. The Gospel shews you the the things freely given of God the infinite love of God the wonderful Salvation-Grace of God O then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and glorious things held forth in it Thirdly Then are your lives according to the Gospel when they are suted to the Rules of the Gospel look what the Gospel commands and requires that you do Gal. 6. 16. Math. 28. 20. Now the Gospel requires not only Bodily but Spiritual worship to worship God in the Spirit It requires not only external duties but internal holiness It calls for Obedience flowing from love and labours springing from faith well principled duties when you endeavour the greatest strickness in your lives That 's sutable to the Gospel Fourthly Then is your Conversation as becomes the Gospel when it is Subordinate to the ends of it One end of the Gospel is to exalt the praise of the glory of grace Eph. 1. 12. To make you vessels of Mercy for the glory of Mercy O Christians live so as you may most advance the glory of grace live self-denyingly and humbly exclude boasting then you live as becomes the Gospel Another great end of the Gospel is the sanctification of saved Souls to make Souls holy 2. Cor. 7. 1. Then you live as becometh the Gospel when you carry on Gospel holiness inward Holiness outward Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3. The Salvation of Souls that 's another great end of the Gospel that the Promise may be sure to all the seed 2 Thes 2. 10. That he that believes in Christ may have Everlasting Life O then live as you may be saved you must tread upon the World you have so much doted upon you must account all things loss and dung for Christ if ever you be saved O Christians labour then to hold forth a Conversation sutable to the Gospel So much for the first Inference Secondly If such great and unsearchable treasures are opened and tendered to Sinners in the Gospel O then how great is their sin that oppose and persecute the Preaching of it O this is a black sin indeed this activity comes from the Spirit of darkness O 't is a dreadful thing to oppose resist and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel For such do all they can to hinder the tenders of unsearchable Riches to the World they labour to keep the World poor to hinder the Salvation of Souls And is not this sad work Again such as oppose and persecute the Gospel are of the cursed brood and off-spring of the Pharisees who do shut up the Kingdom of God and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to go in So do those that do oppose and persecute the Gospel and would put out the light of the Gospel they are the Children of the Devil the first-born of Hell they do their Fathers work Joh. 8. 41 44. They that hate the light are the Children of the Devil their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 20. They carry the Devils mark upon their forehead wherever they go up and down to say there goes the Devils Children there goes an Heir of Hell Again They are Soul murtherers they do hunt Souls and shed the blood of Souls Ezek. 13. 30. As well as they that hinder the Gospel of Life as they that bring in false Doctrines and feed persons with Lies and occasion death They that starve mens Souls as well as they that poyson them both are Soul murtherers They sight against Christ in Heaven They go up and down with drawn Swords pointed against Christ in Heaven O bloody wretches that have murthered Christ on Earth and now would kill him in Heaven too Acts. 9. 4. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me O Souls 't is a fearful thing to oppose and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel for all the blood of all the Saints from the beginning of the world to this day shall be upon their heads Math. 23. 35. O 't is a sad thing to lye under the blood of one person but to have all the blood of all the Saints in the world to lye upon the head of a poor Creature O what will that Soul do That Soul will go to Hell with a vengeance and lye tumbling under the wrath of God to all Eternity Thus much of the Second Inference CHAP. XXIV Shewing the poor and lamentable State of all Christless Souls IF there are such vast and unsearchable treasures in Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Hence see then the poor and lamentable state of all those Souls that are without Christ O they are very beggerly Souls that are Christless Souls As they that are far from the Sun must needs be far from