is true Conversion where they are not only changed but quickned Heathens have been changed from Prophaneness to a moral course If you pretend to close with Christ and find no Life you can take no comfort in your Faith it is but a Cloud a Fancy John 10.10 I am come that they might have Life and that they might have it more abundantly So for Repentance and trouble for Sin if no Zeal follows it it is naught Rev. 3.19 Be zealous therefore and repent So for being Members of the Church you cannot take comfort of being Christ's Members without Zeal for all the true Members of Christ's Mystical Body are living Stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual House It is true in the outward Building there are some carved Stones So in the visible Church there are many polished with Gifts which may serve in their place to hold up the Building but they are not living Stones for they want Life And then for Hope it is but a Fancy and Dream if we be dead and sluggish It is called a lively Hope 1 Pet. 1.3 And if thou art drowsy still and neglectful of God surely thou art but in a Dream Canst thou take Comfort in this that thou art a constant Hearer of the Word if thou art as backward to Holiness and good Works as ever Phil. 2.16 Holding forth the Word of Life The Word is the Word of Life it doth not leave us dull slow and backward If there be not Life and Zeal all is nothing 11. Consider how odious want of Zeal is to God He will not own a cold careless neutral Spirit Rev. 3.16 So then because thou art luke-warm and neither hot nor cold I will spue thee out of my Mouth Cold lazy Professors that have nothing but a dead Form are as luke-warm Water to the Stomach and there is nothing the Stomach nauseates so much as that which is luke-warm So will God cast them out with much loathing he will uncase and pluck off their Masks and reveal them to the Congregation and make them odious this is worse than stark cold It is not enough that we are not violent against the Ways of God but are you zealous for God otherwise you are odious to God Mat. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness and not only the grosly Wicked but the unprofitable Servant Though he did not abuse his Talent nor embezel it away yet he hid it in a Napkin If you hide your Talent be it Parts Estate or Authority are you then zealous for God Useless Sapless Lifeless Christians incur the Penalty of Damnation as well as the openly Wicked they are cast into Hell therefore rest not in a dead Form 12. Consider how dishonourable it is to the living God to serve him with a dead Heart and cold Affections when he hath indented with you upon such glorious and noble Terms Heathens that worship the Sun offer to him a flying Horse because of the swiftness of his Motion 2 Kings 23.11 He took away the Horses that the Kings of Judah had given to the Sun So our worshipping of the living God must not be dead and cold Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the living God God that is a living God must have lively Service but Men worship him as a dead Idol In an earthly Matter we would not be so cold and careless in our Treaties and Transactions Malachi 1.8 Offer it to thy Governour will he be pleased with you or accept your Person saith the Lord What you do it must be done with all the Heart and all the Might Consider Religion is not a Fancy You do not worship the Vanities of the Gentiles therefore be not dead cold and careless You worship the living God and he will be served with Life Zeal and strength of Affection SERMONS UPON HEBREWS VI. 18 SERMON I. HEB. VI. 18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before us TO give you the Occasion of these Words we must look back into the Context The Apostle proveth the firmness of the Promises and yet the great need of Faith and Patience e're they be accomplished He proveth both by the Instance of Abraham who was long exercised in waiting and had God's Promise ratified with the most solemn Assurance that can be conceived under Heaven with an Oath which is held sacred and inviolable among all Nations But here some might object That if Abraham had such a special Assurance from God what is that to us To this the Apostle replies That tho God's Oath were given to Abraham yet it concerns all the Heirs of Promise every Believer hath the same ground of Certainty that Abraham had so it is asserted ver 17. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath There is an Emphasis in the Phrase more abundantly God's Oath was not given out of Necessity but out of Condescension Not out of Necessity as if his Word was not valid and authentick without an Oath but he would give his Oath that over and above and by all solemn ways of Assurance the Lord would provide for our Certainty and Assurance that we might have strong Consolation upon solid Grounds That by two immutable things c. In the Words we have the Purport and the Aim of God's Oath which is to give Believers more solemn Assurance Take notice of three things 1. The Ground of this Assurance That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie 2. The Fruit of this Assurance That we might have strong Consolation 3. The Persons to whom God hath given this Assurance we who have fled for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope that is set before us Sutable to the three Parts there are three main Points I. God's Word and Oath are the immutable Grounds of a Believer's Certainty and Confidence II. That the Fruit of this Confidence and Certainty is strong Consolation III. That the Persons to whom God hath deposited his Oath and by it administreth so strong a Comfort and Consolation are those who fly for Refuge to take hold of the Hope that is set before them Doct. I. That God's Word and God's Oath are the immutable Grounds of a Believer's Confidence and Certainty for these are the two immutable things spoken of I shall speak of each distinctly First God's single Word is an immutable Ground having this you have enough And so it will appear if you consider the Power and the Certainty of it 1. The Power of God's Word His Word is nothing else but the Declaration of his powerful Will the Force of it was discovered in creating
it Again it is an holy Law according to which the process of that day shall be guided A Law that is clean and pure which alloweth not the least evil Thy Law is exceeding pure Psal. 119.140 The Gospel abateth nothing of the purity of it Now when we appear before an holy God and must be judged by an holy Law surely we must have holiness and righteousness answerable or how can we stand in the Judgment It is an holy God before whose Tribunal we must appear and an holy Law that we must be judged by therefore if we be destitute of all kind of righteousness What shall we do 2. No other righteousness will serve the turn but the righteousness of Faith And therefore till we submit to the New Covenant we are in a woful case Now the righteousness of the New Covenant is supream or subordinate The supream by way of Merit and Satisfaction The Subordinate by way of Application and Qualification on our parts 1. The Supream is the Righteousness or Obedience of Christ. VVhich can alone deliver us from Hell Job 33.24 Deliver him from going down to the Pit for I have found a ransom There is no deliverance from eternal destruction which our sins deserve but onely by the Ransom which he hath paid Till his Justice be satisfied by Christ no good can come unto us 2. The Subordinate Righteousness which qualifieth us and giveth us an interest is Faith Repentance and new Obedience All which are hugely necessary and convenient and gracious terms 1. Faith By which we own and acknowledge our Redeemer with love thankfulness dependance and hearty subjection to him Certainly love and thankfulness is due to him who hath indured so much and procured such great benefits for us Would we have the blessings instated on us and not know from what hand they come And acceptance is due for should Christ save us without our wills and against our consent Dependance is due Should they have benefit by Christ's Merits who question the force and efficacy of them Therefore God hath set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 2. Repentance is necessary Would we have God to pardon us while we continue in our rebellion without sorrow for it or purpose to leave it The case of the obstinate is not compassionable Jer. 3.13 Onely acknowledge thine iniquity and I am gracious And to acknowledge an offence and continue in it is to condemn our selves 3. New Obedience That was due before to our Creator and our Redeemer strengtheneth the Bond and maketh it more comfortable For we have a new Lord by right of Redemption Rom. 14.9 For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living A Lord that hath payed dear for our Souls 3. This righteousness is every way sufficient that we may venture our eternal well-being upon it For what is appointed by God will be accepted by God And though there be many defects in our Faith Repentance and Obedience yet there is an intrinsick value in the obedience and death of Christ besides the Institution Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God And 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Lastly See your help The Spirit is the great New-Covenant Gift purchased by Christ that it might be dispensed to us the more abundantly John 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Tit. 3.5 6. By the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us By his Sanctifying and renewing Grace we are inabled for all this duty We have it by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3.2 And the whole dispensation of the Gospel is called the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.8 Therefore if a sluggish heart did not possess Christians they might do more than they do A Sermon on 2 Pet. III. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise as some Men count slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance THe Apostle in Answer to the Cavil and Exception of the Mockers of Religion is taking off the Scandal of the delay of Christ's Coming Three Considerations are produced to satisfie the Godly 1. The true measure of speed or delay is the Eternity of God which admits of no beginning succession and ending but consists in a constant presentness to all that which to us seemeth past or to come And we must judge as he judgeth This is laid down vers 8. 2. The end of this delay which is the conversion of Sinners It proceedeth not from any culpable slackness in God but onely his patience towards the Elect. God is not slack but we hasty Our temper requireth time and patience to work upon us and bring us under the power of Grace This is in the Text. 3. The manner of coming which is sudden and unexpected like the coming of a Thief upon a sleepy family ver 10. Therefore we should rather prepare for it than complain of slackness We are upon the second consideration Wherein 1. The false cause of this delay is removed The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise as some Men count slackness 2. The true cause assigned But is long-suffering to us ward 3. The end of this long-suffering propounded First Negatively Not willing that any should perish Secondly positively But that all should come to Repentance Wherein the way to escape ruine is intimated which is Repentance The only doubt is about the sense of the words How that is to be understood that God would not have any perish but all come to Repentance For we see many do yet perish all do not come to Repentance And is God frustrated of his end Ans. To this doubt three answers are given and all solid though I prefer the two first 1. The Patience of God according to its nature hath that use and end to invite all sinners to Repentance Rom. 2.4 Despisest thou the riches of his goodness forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance Gods continuing forfeited Mercies and tarrying the sinners leisure giveth us an hope that he is willing to be reconciled And if we do not seek his favour and turn to him by Repentance it is long of our selves the fault is our own because we do not improve this hope 2. The Apostle in this place hath special reference to the Elect who are concerned more especially in the promise of Christs coming to put an end to their sufferings and to render them an eternal reward Certain
ever we think of it When this Lamb of God was killing the Creatures were all in amazement the Earth trembled the Rocks rent the Sun was eclipsed Oh how great is the stupidity and dullness of our Hearts that we can no more seriously think of it Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High-priest of our Profession Iesus Christ. Serious Meditation is like the Concoction of Meat in the Stomach 2. Behold him with Application Iob 5.27 Hear it and know thou it for thy good Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things Excite thine own Heart surely this was for my Sins if I have an Heart to receive Christ and make use of him for this End and Purpose Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me And 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 3. Behold him with an Eye of Faith Isa. 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Iesus Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced Faith gets such a clear sight of things as if we had been by when he suffered and paid this Ransom 4. Behold him with an Eye of Repentance and brokeness of Heart Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born It was thy Sins that pierced him therefore behold him and mourn 5. Behold him with an Eye of Thankfulness as the great Instance of God's Love who would by so costly a Remedy procure our Pardon and Happiness 1 Iohn 4.9 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the prâ—pitiation for our sins 6. Behold your Suffering and Crucified Saviour with an Eye of Love so as to love him the more O 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My Love is Crucified Ignatius quò vilior eò charior The more vile and humble he was the more dear he should be to you Let it perswade us to a real Love to allow him a Dominion and Lordship in our Hearts that is real Love to obey God Rom. 5.8 God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us This Love must beget Love 1 Use. To press you to behold the Lamb of God behold him as a Sacrifice for Sin whose Blood applied doth quiet the Conscience and turn away the Curse These Words present the more glorious Spectacle and Object not to your Sight but to your Faith not to your Senses but to your most serious and intimate Consideration The Object is Christ Crucified the only true propitiatory Sacrifice for Sin the chief Point of Christian Knowledge and the most powerful Means of the Creatures Good Oh behold him look not at Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper but at the Lamb of God 2 Use. To press you to take and eat Christ and receive him out of God's hands by Faith He is the Lamb of God God designed him for this Work when Man had no way to help himself 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world God tendreth him to you now Take and Eat God the Party offended hath authorized Christ to be a Mediator say then Lord thou hast appointed thy Son and sent him into the World to be a Ransom for our Souls he is now offered to me Lord I come to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood We must eat him so as to feel the Virtue of both changing our Hearts and comforting our Consciences changing our Hearts other Food is changed into our Substance this changeth us 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is in Christ is a new Creature Comforting our Consciences Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Is God unwilling to give Christ Or is Christ unable to do his Work A Second Sermon on JOHN i. 29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the World Doctrine 2. THE great Work of Christ the Lamb of God is to take away the Sins of the World 1. What is meant by the World 2. In what manner Christ taketh away the Sins of the World 3. That this is the great End Work and Scope of Christ's coming into the World I. What is meant by the World Why is there such a capacious and comprehensive Word used Since it is clear that all the World have not benefit by Christ for many of them die in their Sins Answ. 1. To shew the difference between the Lamb of God and the Sacrifices of the Law the old Sacrifices were only offered for the People of Israel but Christ's Death hath a larger Extent to People of all places Iews and Gentiles 1 Iohn 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world And in all Ages from the beginning of the World to the end Rev. 13.8 He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world The Lamb of God is of an universal and perpetual Use. 2. To shew the sufficiency of this Mediatorial Sacrifice it is of such a full and overflowing Merit that it becometh a Foundation for a tendry of Grace to every Creature Here is a Ground-work and Foundation laid for the truth of this Proposition Mark 16.16 That whosoever believeth shall be saved So that here is a great Invitation and Incouragement for every oppressed Soul if Christ taketh away the Sins of the World put in for a share thou art a Member of the World Paul creepeth in at the back Door of the Promise 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Iesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Christ would not have Sinners exclude themselves but attend upon him for this Benefit Therefore he would have his Grace set forth in the most comprehensive Terms that all that find themselves Sinners may stir up themselves to find benefit by him 3. Those Elect ones who have actual Benefit by this Sacrifice may be called The World partly because of their Number take them all together and they are many and therefore called World Rev. 7.9 I beheld a great multitude which no man could number c. And partly in regard of God's Estimation though they are few they are as good as all the World to him And partly because they will one day be set apart from the rest of Mankind and make a peculiar World of themselves II. In what manner doth Christ take away the Sins
And more and more interest our selves in his cleansing 5. Because the Application is a difficult Work Besides the Purchase of the Gift of the Spirit Christ hath instituted the Help of the Word and Sacraments to bring us into Possession of this Benefit Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of VVater by the VVord The Merit of his Death falleth upon these means that we may use them with the more Confidence Iohn 15.3 Now are ye clean through the VVord which I have spoken unto you The Word is the Glass wherein to see Corruption which sets a-work to seek Purging By that our Sense of our natural Impurity is revived the Means and Causes of our cleansing set down that we may with deep Humiliation confess our Sin humbly sue out the Grace offered and wait for it in the conscionable Use of all the means of Grace And for the Sacraments As the Word containeth the Charter and Grant of Christ and all his Benefits to those that will receive him so this is the Seal of the Grant Rom. 4.11 He received the Sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith whereby we are more confirmed in waiting for the Spirit and excited to look for this Benefit from Christ. Well then we must still lie at the Pool of the Word and Sacraments And now you have my second Argument Why Jesus Christ should be honoured lauded and praised by all the Saints because he hath done so great an Office of Love and procured so great a Benefit for us as the washing away of our Sins in his Blood that we might be admitted to Communion with God III. The Fruits and Benefits that we have thereby He hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and to his Father This doth oblige us the more to ascribe and give Glory and Dominion to him for ever and ever since he hath brought us into Communion with God and set us apart as consecrated Persons such as Kings and Priests were of old to perform daily Service to God In this third Thing 1 st Observe the Order We must be washed from our Sins before we can be Kings and Priests or minister before the Lord. Aaron and his Sons though they were formerly designed to be Priests yet they could not officiate and act as Priests before they were consecrated So must we be consecrated and made Priests to God and that by the Blood of Christ. They were seven days in consecrating This whole Life is the time of our Consecration which goeth on by degrees and will be made compleat both for Body and Soul upon the Resurrection when we shall be fit to approach the Throne of Glory and serve our God in a perfect manner in the eternal Temple of Heaven For this Life though our Consecration be not finished yet here we are stiled an Holy Priesthood to minister before the Throne of Grace though not before the Throne of Glory Now if we be washed from our Sins in the Laver of Regeneration we may draw near to God as the Priests under the Law were washed in the Laver and then came to the Altar It holdeth good both in this Life and in the Life to come that none but the Washed can come so near to God either before the Throne of Grace or Throne of Glory The Throne of Grace Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water So Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God In the State of Glory Rev. 7.14 15. These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him Day and Night in his Temple The persecuted Saints who came out of great Tribulation they first washed their Robes in the Blood of the Lamb before they were admitted as Priests to stand before the Throne of God to serve him Day and Night in his Temple Sanctification must go before Consecration and the more sanctified the more consecrated when our Sanctification is finished then our Consecration is consummate And then we shall have a full Communion with our God a clear Vision of his eternal Beauty and as great a Fruition of his Godhead as we shall be capable of in a State of full Contentment Joy and Blessedness 2 dly The Privileges are exceeding great to be consecrated to so high a Dignity That we should be consecrated or set apart for God to be Objects of his special Grace and Instruments of his Glory and Service Much more that we should be advanced to so great a Dignity as to be Kings and Priests to God We share in Christ's own Dignity He was a King and a Priest so are we He had an Unction so have we He was Christ we are Christians By virtue of our Union with him we are Partakers of his Kingdom and Priesthood The Church of Israel was called a Kingdom of Priests Exod. 19.6 And Believers in the New-Testament are called a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 Not to disturb Civil Kings or the Order God hath instituted in the Church for it is Kings and Priests to God not to the World Let us consider these Privileges asunder 1. Kings King is a Name of Honour Power and ample Possession 1. Here we reign spiritually as we vanquish the Devil the World and the Flesh in any measure It is a Princely Thing to be above these inferiour Things and to trample them under our Feet in an holy and heavenly Pride An Heathen could say Rex est qui metuit nihil Rex est qui cupit nihil He is a King that fears nothing and desires nothing He that is above the Hopes and Fears of the World he that hath his Heart in Heaven and is above temporal Accidents the ups and downs of the World the World is beneath his Heart and Affections this Man is of a Kingly Spirit Christ's Kingdom is not of this World neither is a Believer's Rev. 5.10 Thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth viz. in a Spiritual Way It is a beastly thing to serve our Lusts but kingly to have our Conversations in Heaven and vanquish the World 1 Iohn 5.4 5. Whosoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God To live up to our Faith and Love with a Noble Royal Spirit 2. Hereafter we shall reign visibly and gloriously when we shall sit upon Thrones with Christ at his last coming to judg the World and Angels themselves Matth. 19.28 Verily I
acceptance with God if both Principle and Performance are right and justifiable fearing God and working righteousness He that is truly Sanctified must first be one that truly feareth God that is maketh God his Witness Approver and Judge His aim is to please and Glorifie God and his work is to sue God Grace must be acted in the whole life and this not by starts and fits but for a constancy Psal. 106. 3. We can make no judgment upon our selves by what is unusual and extraordinary but by the tenour and drift of our Conversation Not by what happeneth rarely but by our ordinary course Acts 10.2 Cornelius gave much alms to the people and prayed unto God alway Daily converse manifesteth the temper of our hearts A Christian is not to be judg'd by single Acts but by his Life These two then we must still look after the Principle and the Performance The Principle is Fear that owneth God's Authority our Hearts and Lives must be ordered and directed according to his Will and moved and acted by his Rewards And the performance must be regarded wherefore did God change our Hearts and infuse Grace into them but that we might have the use of it But that we might act it and live by it Saving Grace is a Talent and the chiefest Talent that we are intrusted with for the Masters use Matth. 3.8 Bring forth fruits meet for Repentance And Acts 20.21 Testifying to the Iews and Greeks repentance towards God There must be practices becoming such a change of Heart 2. Use. To press you to fear God and work Righteousness I have many Arguments in the Text. 1. From the Priviledge to be accepted with God That should be our great scope 2 Cor. 5.9 labor that whether present or absent we maybe accepted of him with respect to God See that all is right between you and God It is his Law you have broken his Wrath you fear his Judgment you must undergo his Presence you come into his Favour which is your Life and Happiness So that it is a great priviledge to be accepted of God Then for your comfort 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience Carnal joys do but tickle the Senses this doth affect the Heart yea the Conscience which is the quickest tenderst and most sensible part of the Heart Many things please our Affections which yet cannot appease our Consciences That frowneth upon and sowreth our other Delights if it be not pacified Till God accepteth our persons this still occurreth God may condemn thee to Eternal Torments for all this 2 With respect to Men He that is accepted with God needeth not care for any mans hatred he may be confident of God's Favour and the priviledge of his Servants Iob 16.20 My Friends scorn me but mine eye poureth out tears to God Besides you have a testimony in their Consciences not by being zealous for the Interests of a Faction but careful of God's Laws Rom. 14.17 18. He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men 2. From the condition What is required of you 1. Fear To fear God is not contrary to your Comfort or Blessedness to be always in God's company living as under his Eye is a branch of Blessedness Prov. 28.14 Happy is the man that feareth always 2. Righteousness These are things which bespeak their own Respect If the Lord had bidden us do some other things we might have stuck at it but Righteousness is so amiable and lovely that if a Man be well in his wits he will not stick at it but would work Righteousness if it were not requir'd of him We should be so inured to it that we cannot go out of its track We should never consent to break a Law so fit for God to give and us to receive so conducible to the Glorifying of God Governing our selves and Commerce with others 3. The force of the Enunciation In general it is predicatio adjuncti de subjecto But what kind of Adjunct is it 'T is either Signi de Signato or effectus de medio requisito necessario 1. It is a sign or evidence whereby you may really know that you are accepted with God It is a comfortable thing to know how we shall fare in the judgment hereafter or whether we shall be accepted to Life or no. This cannot be known but by somewhat equivalent to what is asserted in the Text. That is a sure Note which gives you comfortable access to God for the present and hopes of fruition of him hereafter 2 Kings 20.3 Remember Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart But 2. There is not only necessitas signi but necessitas medii A Sign is with respect to our own judgment of our Selves but a means is our qualification before God and God considereth these things in his Judgment Luke 1.6 They were righteous before God and walked in all the ways and ordinances of God blameless Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of lifâ— A Sign giveth us Comfort but a necessary Means appointed by God giveth us right The New Covenant is certainly the strongest ground of solid Comfort to the fallen Creature We can have no other hope of acceptance with God than that alloweth Now in the New Covenant there are three things considerable all which have a great influence on our Comfort and Peace 1. The first is the Merit and Satisfaction of the Lord Jesus This is necessary to allay the Conscience of Sin which is the root of all our trouble Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the â—lood of Carist who through the eternal Spirit offer'd himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure water Heb. 12.24 And to Iesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel 2. The Matter of it or the large priviledges we enjoy by it For these are the Hope set before us Heb. 6.18 Psal. 84.11 He will give grace and glory c. Psal 119.111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever thâ—y are â—he rejoycing of my heart 3. The Third is a sure claim Now this is not Perfection but Sincerity Gen. 17 7. Walk before me and be thou perfect or upright Psal. 84.11 No good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Here then are the three grounds of Comfort Everlasting Merit Blessed Promises Sure Title This last is to walk before God in all Holy Conversation and Godliness this keepeth Conscience from being offended Acts 24.16 This is accepted with God next to Faith in Christ. So that attain this and Conscience is well setled and hath a full
the Creation and upon the Seventh Day he Rested So Christ will not come down till he had finished the Work of Redemption on the Sixth Day and on the Seventh he Rested in the Grave and Rose early in the Morning on the First Day of the Week to shew the Truth of his Satisfaction And the Holy-Ghost his Work is perfect all the time of his Life he continueth increasing our Graces but in the everlasting Sabbatism when Sin shall be no more his Work is brought to an end And then he shall present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Iude 24. But what were the Reasons why Christ would not give over till all was perfected 1. Love to his Father Iohn 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Christ loved the Father with unspeakable Love and was in like manner beloved by him Therefore when this Cup was put into his hands by his Father he would drink it off to the very bottom 2. Love to the Church Eph. 5.25 26. Even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word c. And Rev. 1.5 6. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood The Church was given for a Spouse to Christ but we were polluted and defiled with Sin he would not only cleanse it but make it a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 Christ loved the Church and therefore it was not grievous to him to wash it with his Blood Because Iacob loved Rachel he served seven Years for her in Heats and Frosts by Night and Day and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 So the Son of God loved the Church and therefore endured all these Indignities and grievous Passions 3. He had respect to that eminent Glory set before him Heb. 12.2 Looking to Iesus the author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is now sate down at the right hand of the throne of God Though the Way was rough the Prize was excellent and so he run through all the Pain and Shame and attained the eternal Crown of Glory He endured cruel Pains in his Body and bitter Sorrows in his Soul such as never any Man did suffer never any Angel could have born as he did so dear did it cost our Saviour to make a Propitiation for our Sins That which in all this did strengthen and encourage him was the Joy set before him namely that happy and glorious Estate which followed upon his Sufferings so that his Burden was made the lighter and his Sorrows much abated Oh let us think of this 'T is not a lessening his Love to us for he needed not to put himself into this condition Herein he was our Example to teach us how to sweeten the Cross and as our Mediator he is gone to Heaven to prepare a Place for us Iohn 14.2 3. I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also 2. Let it raise in us a Confidence of the Benefits purchased For Christ expresseth himself as a Conqueror and in a kind of Triumph over the Devil and all the Enemies of our Salvation The Wrath of God is appeased Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him The Law is satisfied Gal. 4.4 5. God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Satan is vanquished Iohn 12.31 Now is the judgment of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Guilt is removed Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Sin is subdued Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Death is unstinged 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is sin and the strength of Sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. The Curse is removed Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Surely where Christ beginneth he will make an end We cannot have too high Thoughts of the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.13 14. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the â—lood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Let us stand still now and behold the Salvation of God and Eccho to Christ's Cry It is finished it is finished What can the Law crave more than the Blood of the Son of God What will make us perfect as appertaining to the Conscience if this will not Being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him Christ hath so far obtained Pardon and Acceptance for us that he hath made an end of Sin for all that are willing to accept of his Grace upon God's Terms 3. Let it quicken us to Perseverance in our Duty notwithstanding Sufferings till all be ended that when we come to die we may be able to say Iohn 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work thou gavest me to do 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness If Christ out of Love to us would finish the Work of our Redemption What shall separate us from the love of Christ Rom. 8.39 4. It teacheth us how to comfort our selves in Death It finisheth all our Labours and Sorrows as Christ sheweth when he was about to give up the Ghost Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds Believers have a Joy set before them as well as Christ. The Wicked cannot say It is finished their Evils are then begun 5. Let us believe Things to come The Event sheweth that all these Things were true which the Prophets had so long before foretold The Holy-Ghost cannot be deceived nor can God lie We are certain that Things yet to come shall be fulfilled as well as these which are past Those who lived before Christ's time had not such an Experiment of God's Truth as we have We have seen the Coming of Christ let us so fix our Minds on future Things as to draw them
abridg them of their Liberty and take upon us to condemn their Garb I confess it is a Sin to condemn what God hath not condemned There are two sorts of Superstition Positive when we count that holy that God never made holy And Negative when we condemn that for sinful which God never made sinful Therefore what Rules can be given to trace and find out the Sin The Abuse will be best discovered by considering the Use. What are the Ends of Apparel They are diverse either for Necessity to defend the Body against the Injuries of the Weather therefore they that discover their Nakedness sin against that or else for Honesty or Modesty to cover that Deformity of the Body which was the Fruit of Sin or else for Profit such Apparel as sutes with our Callings and Course of Life or for Frugality according to the Proportion of our Estate that we may not waste the good Gifts of God that should be kept either for Family-Uses or for other good Uses or for Distinction of Persons of Age Sex and Rank Deut. 22.5 The Woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a Man neither shall a Man put on a Woman's Garment for all that do so are Abomination to the Lord thy God By these Ends the Abuse may be conceived 1. It is a foul Abuse of Apparel and Ornament when Men and Women disguise Nature and seek to mend that which God hath made by patching painting and other Varnishes of Art Iezebel is infamous in Scripture for Painting and dare any sober Woman that pretends to be a Christian put her self into her Garb and Fashion They reprove God that seek to mend Nature Cyprian saith It is a Dislike of God's Work So Tertullian before him They dislike God's Workmanship in their own Faces and consult with the Devil how to mend it That which is natural is from God and that which is artificial is from the Devil How shall God own them at the last Day when they are ashamed of his Workmanship Will thy Maker own thy disguised Face He will say this is not the Face that I made We should appear before Men with no other Face than we would appear before God with at the Day of Judgment Would I have God see me thus disguised patched and painted Doth not Conscience startle at the thought of it when God shall come to take knowledg of all the Works he hath made wouldst thou appear then with these Spots and artificial Varnish 2. Addictedness to Fashions certainly that argues such a Levity that doth not sute with the Gravity of Religion That there is a Sin in Fashions is plain by Isa. 3. where the Holy Ghost is pleased to give us an Inventory of the Wardrobe of the Women among the Jews for what Reason but to shew they were vainly addicted to Fashions So Zeph. 1.8 I will punish the Princes and the King's Children and all such as are clothed with strange Apparel God takes notice of Pride in Apparel though it be in Courtiers Nobles Princes and Kings Children their new and strange exotick Garbs therefore much more is it evil in private Persons and those that are of an inferiour Rank But you will say if we must not follow the Fashion of what Date should our Habits be Should we go back as far as Adam to clothe our selves with Skins and Leaves and run back to the Rudeness of former Ages I answer There may be as much Vanity and Affection in being too much out of the Fashions of the times and places in which we live as in being too much in it therefore our Liberty in this kind is to be determined by the general and received Custom of the gravest and godly wise It stands not with Christian Gravity to be first in a Fashion and affect that which is new nor to take it up when it is only the Fashion among those that are light and vain they are not to be imitated for that 's conforming our selves to the Fashions of the World which the Apostle disproves Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this World The Apostle speaks in the Business of long Hair and when he had spoken what an unseemly thing it was for a Man Ruffian-like to go with long Hair 1 Cor. 11.14 Doth not Nature it self teach you that if a Man have long Hair it is a Shame to him He adds ver 16. But if any Man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Which seems to carry this Sense that if Women will come with their Nakedness into the Congregation and if Men will wear long Hair and if any Man or Woman will contend and say the thing is indifferent and they have a Liberty in this kind this is the short Answer We have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Therefore the general and received Custom of the Churches of God ought to be a Law in all such Cases Mark the vain World is not to give you a Precedent but the Use of the Churches and the Practice of godly Christians and their Sobriety 3. When our Apparel exceeds the Proportion of our Callings and Abilities There is more due to Persons of a higher Rank than to those of inferiour place Matth. 11.8 They that wear soft Clothing are in Kings Houses It is more commendable in them that stand before Princes than in others and therefore our Rank and Place and Estate must be considered It is a wrong to the Family and the Poor when our Garments exceed our Abilities Nay but take them both together though they do not exceed our Abilities yet if they exceed our State Place and Calling it is a Sin As for Instance For Ministers who should be mortified to the Glory and Pomp of the World it is not fit for them to shine in Bravery as others do So for Ministers Wives the Scripture is pleased to take notice of Women in that Relation above all other Women 1 Tim. 3.11 Their Wives must be grave sober And for Servants it is odious to see them strive to be in a Garb exceeding their Station and to do as others of better Rank and higher Place As Habits were given for Necessity so for Distinction of Ranks and Orders of Men and as odd a Sight it is to see an Inferiour exalting in Pomp as to put the Attire of the Head upon the Feet and Shooes on the Head 4. When it sutes not with Modesty and Chastity Garments were given to cover Nakedness and the Deformity that was introduced by Sin Therefore the Apostle saith Let the Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefac'dness and Sobriety not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array 1 Tim. 2.9 And therefore the leaving the Breasts naked in whole or in part is a Transgression of this Rule they uncover their Nakedness which they should vail and hide especially in God's Presence As the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 11.10 The Woman ought to have Power on
The Day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the Night Here is our Day because God affords Time to us as a Space and Season of Repentance and Reformation but the Day of Judgment that is the Lord's Day the Day of Recompence Rewards and Punishments Vse 1. To reprove them that delay the Work of Repentance and their Change of State There is nothing more usual than Delays and Put-offs Some are full of Imployment and after their Business is a little over then they will think of saving their Souls Luke 9.59 Suffer me first to go and bury my Father still there is something in the way Others when they have arrived to such a Degree of Wealth and made such Provision for their Families then they will look after their Souls Others when their youthful Heats are spent then they dream of a devout Retirement and a religious Age there is nothing more usual The Lord knows these are our inward Thoughts still there is something in the way when we should act holily righteously and godly This is Satan's last shift to elude the Importunity of a present Conviction by a future Promise As a bad Debtor promises Paiment for the future to be rid of the importunate Creditor though he means no such matter so we make Promises for the future Felix when his Conscience boiled dreams of a more convenient Season Acts 24.25 Go thy way for this time when I have a more convenient Season I will send for thee And Matth. 22. when they were invited to the Wedding the Answer is not scornful but civil it is not non placet but non vacat they do not deny but make Excuse they had present Business and were not at leisure to comply with God's Will Always God comes Unseasonably in the Sinner's Esteem Reckoning and Account and Satan's usual Clamour is when we begin to be serious and mind our Salvation Art thou come to torment us before our time Matth. 8.29 The Devil would fain have a little longer Possession and therefore something is pleaded by way of Bar and Hesitancy You find it in particular Cases when you go to perform any thing that is good to pray to meditate to renew your Communion with God something is in the way if such a Business were over then I were at leisure Thus we dream of another time a more convenient Season and we linger and draw back as Lot in Sodom O consider the Work must be once done or you are for ever miserable and you will never have a better Season than now when you are under Conviction and the warm Impulses of the Spirit of God David takes hold of the present Season when his Heart was ingaged and he had a religious bent towards God Psal. 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments So when there is such a strong bent in your Souls strike while the Iron is hot you may have more Hindrances but never more Helps Again we owe more than we are worth already and why should we run more in Debt The longer you continue in Sin the higher will your Accounts rise A Tenant that cannot pay the Rent of one Year if he let it run on how will he be able to discharge the Rent of two Years So if it be so troublesome now do you think it will be more easy hereafter when the Heart is hardned by a constant Resistance If there were a sound Conviction you would not delay A sensible Sinner is always in haste Heb. 6.18 He flies for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before him It is an Allusion to the Man pursued by the Avenger of Blood he that hath Wrath at his Heels he runs as for Life to Jesus Christ. It is but a slender and insufficient Touch upon the Conscience He that knows the Danger can never make haste enough to come to Christ as the pursued Man could never make too much haste to get into the City of Refuge that is before him Nay it argues little Love to God and a great deal of Disingenuity of Spirit to continue in Rebellion against God and think to come in at last when you can stand out no longer This is meerly Self-love when you care not how much God is dishonoured and his Spirit grieved provided at length we be saved The Lord did not so deal with us his whole Duration and Existence is for our sakes from Eternity to Eternity he is God and from Eternity to Eternity his Loving-kindness is great to them that fear him Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to them that fear him If God thinks of us from one Eternity to another before the World and after the World can we be content to thrust him into a narrow Corner of our Lives Can you satisfy your Hearts when you have nothing to give God but the Rottenness Weakness and Aches of old Age and Sickness Consider once more Sin leaves thee in Sickness thou dost not leave Sin it is not a Work of Choice but of Necessity as a Merchant throws his Goods over-board in a Storm tho he loves them well enough At least it is a very suspicious Act a natural Aversation from our own Misery and a desire of our own Happiness it is a yielding upon force when a Man never yields to God but when God hath him under and he can sin no longer And what assurance have we that we shall have a Heart to mind Salvation at all and turn to God hereafter When all our Distractions are out of the way is Grace at our beck There is an offer of it to day Heb. 3.15 While it is said To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Nay there 's a shrewd Presumption to the contrary that Obduracy Hardness of Heart and Despair will grow upon us Long use makes the Heart more obdurate and long Resistance grieves the Spirit of God and makes him more offended with us By putting off the Change of your Lives you put your Souls into Satan's hands by Consent for a while He that delays his Conversion doth as it were pawn his Soul into the Devil's Hands and saith if he do not fetch it again at such a day it is his for ever Again it is a great Honour to seek the Lord betimes Mnason was an old Disciple Seniority in Grace is a very great Honour The Apostle saith Rom. 16.7 Salute Andronicus and Junia who were in Christ before me And the Lord saith Ier. 2.2 I remember thee the kindness of thy Youth and the love of thine Espousals God prizeth these pure Virgin-Affections when before our Hearts be prostituted to the World we apply our selves to seek his Face You lose the Advantage of much early Communion with God whenever you are called to Grace and if ever you taste of the Sweetness of Grace it will be your Grief that you were acquainted with it no sooner and all the time that remains
I shall tell you what Application there must be if we cannot attain to Assurance There are three degrees of Application beneath Assurance 1. Acceptation of God's Offer that is one degree of Application Iob 5.27 Hear it and know thou it for thy good Put in for these Hopes and take God on his Word stipulate with him and undertake thy part of the Covenant upon a confidence God will not fail thee As Moses when the Book of the Law was read Exod. 24.6 took half the Blood and sprinkled it on the Altar to shew that God undertook to bless them and ver 8. the other half he sprinkled on the People by which they were engaged to obey There must be in all Christians the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.21 2. Adherence Stick close to this Hope in a course of Obedience If we do God's Work we shall not fail of Wages 1 Cor. 9.26 I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the Air. 3. Affiance noting waiting upon God tho with some Doubts and Fears for the Revelation of this Glory Tho you cannot say It is yours yet wait with hope till your Change come looking for the Mercy of Christ so that you durst venture your Soul in that Bottom This is committing our Souls to him in well-doing as to a merciful and faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4.19 You put your Souls into God's Hands that made them 3. Expect it This is the formal Act of Hope which is pressed in the Text. This Hope and Expectation of Blessedness is the Strength of the inward Man The Devils have a Faith but because it is without Hope it yieldeth no Refreshment James 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble The word signifies such a trembling as the raging of the Sea it is a Light that does not refresh but scorch There would be Comfort in Hell if there could be Hope there It is the Duty now in season here we must expect Rom. 8.24 We are saved by Hope In Innocency there was little or no use of Hope and in Heaven there will be none at all the Object of Man's Happiness will be present and enjoyed but now all is to come we have only a Taste and Pledg to make us long for more and expect more Faith by Hope maketh them present Substance Heb. 11.1 Faith is the Substance of Things hoped for Things of Eternal Life seem as a Shadow and Fiction to a carnal Heart This Hope is an earnest Elevation of the Mind to look for what Faith counteth real Vse 3. To direct us how to look for this blessed Hope 1. Consider it Hope is a temperate Extasy a Survey of the Land of Promise As God said to Abraham Gen. 13.14 15. Lift up now thine Eyes and look from the Place where thou art Northward and Southward and Eastward and Westward For all the Land which thou seest to thee will I give it and to thy Seed for ever So Psal. 48.12 Walk about Zion and go round about her tell the Towers thereof It is a great Advantage to think often of Heaven it maketh it present to us Heaven deserveth our best Thoughts We should always do it in the Morning it were a good Preservative to keep us from being under the power of present things Psal. 17.15 I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness In some special Seasons doth Hope set the Mind a-work in times of Trouble and present Sufferings we enjoy a happy Dedolency the Mind is untouched whatever the Body suffereth When we are summoned to the Grave and bodily Sicknesses put you in mind of Death when Sense and Speech fail the Love of God never fails this pale Horse is sent from Christ to carry us to Glory and though we go down to the Grave to converse with Worms and Skulls this Hope may comfort us Iob 19.26 27. And thoug◠after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another tho my Reins be consumed within me 2. Long for it Hope cannot be without Groans Every day wind up your Affections for here is nothing but Conflicts and Sorrows Love to Christ cannot be without him it will never be content Nature desires Perfection Col. 3.1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right Hand of God Set your Affections on Things above not on Things on the Earth There is our God our Christ our Rest Where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Mat. 6.22 not only the Mind but the Heart what we are much thinking of the Desires will be working that way The new Nature cannot be without these Desires every thing tendeth thither whence it came Eph. 1.3 Who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in heavenly Places God sits in Heaven that dispenseth Grace Christ that conveyeth it thence come our Mercies Comforts and Joys therefore it is against the tendency of the new Nature not to be tending thither where Christ is who is our greatest Happiness There is your Father your elder Brother the best of the Family and your spiritual Relations whom you most valued the best Company is in the other World Here you have Maintenance as in a foreign Land but there is your Interest and Estate How unworthy soever we are there is infinite Mercy to give it there it acts like it self infinite Merit to purchase it there we receive the full Fruits of our Redemption and the present Fruits of the Spirit are the Earnest of it as an Earnest is something in part of a greater Sum. 3. Wait for it There are Groans of Expectation as well as of Desire You have a fair Charter granted by God the Father written with the Blood of Christ sealed by the Spirit To make your Expectation more firm consider 1. Christ's Goodness and Mercy Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternal Life Jude v. 21. He never discovered any backwardness to thy Good or inclination to thy Ruin 2. God's Faithfulness Heb. 9.18 19. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong Consolation God stands more on his Word than on Heaven and Earth If an honest Man has made a promise of any thing he will make it good much more may we depend on the faithful God 3. God's Power If our Souls were in our own keeping we might fear but we are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Abraham being perswaded of God's Power against Hope believed in Hope Rom. 4.18 4. Christ's Merit and Intercession Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh
Works were evil and his Brother 's righteous 1 Joh. 3.12 Carnal Professors that creep into the Church unawares are full of Envy Strife and Wrath. How can we edify one another in the holy Faith unless we be first holy A Man would think they should be purified to the Love of God nay but they must be purified to the Love of the Brethren 3. With respect to the World A distinct Body should have a distinct Excellency They are a People distinct from the World they are set apart for God Psal. 4.3 Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself They are a chosen Generation Many other Societies excel the Church for Strength Policy and worldly Pomp but Holiness and Purity is the Church's Badg Psal. 93.5 Holiness becometh thy House O Lord for ever God's peculiar People must have a peculiar Excellency upon a double ground 1. Because of Likeness to God Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee glorious in Holiness It is God's Glory and therefore the Churches God is rich in Mercy but glorious in Holiness his Treasure is his Goodness but his Honour is his Holiness and immaculate Purity as among Men their Wealth is distinguished from their Honour 2. Because all the Ordinances hold it forth especially the Ordinance of Initiation So that it is the greatest Hypocrisy in the World to pretend to be God's People and not to be holy because they wear the Badges of Holiness they all come in by the washing of Water Men forget their Baptism 2 Pet. 1.9 He hath forgotten that he was purged from his old Sins Men that are only whited over with the Name of Christians and Sin is still new and fresh as an old thing they forget the Effect of their Baptism That a washed Man should be so foul and noisom still sure they forget or do not know what it is to be baptized into Christ. Secondly The Manner how he purifieth them There is on Christ's part the Spirit and Ordinances and his Merit reacheth to both and on our part Faith 1. On Christ's part 1. The Spirit is necessary Titus 3.5 He saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost applieth all the Grace which the Father intendeth and Christ hath purchased We are usually said to be saved by the Blood of Christ that was the Merit and Price There was a Grant on God the Father's part Rev. 19.8 To her it was granted to be arrayed in fine Linen clean and white An Authentick Act passeth in the Court of Heaven that we shall have fine Linen as Esther had Garments out of the King's Wardrobe But this is founded on Christ's Merits the Stream in which we are washed flowed out of Christ's Heart 1 Iohn 1.7 The Blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin But then the Holy Ghost as the Executor of Christ's Will and Testament worketh and applieth all The Merit of the Creature is excluded by Christ's Merit and the Father's Grant the Power of the Creature is excluded by the Work of the Spirit he worketh with a respect to Christ's Blood As in the cleansing of the Leper the Bird was to be killed over running Water Levit. 14.5 So in the cleansing of the Sinner there is the Merit of Christ and the Work of the Spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God If we come to the Father the Father sends us to the Son otherwise he could not look upon us the Son sends us to the Spirit the Spirit sends us to Moses and the Prophets 2. The Ordinances Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word These are the Ordinances that are specially consecrated and to which Christ's Merit reacheth he hath not only procured the Gift of the Spirit but a Blessing on the Means that we may use them with Confidence The Word helpeth us by way of Declaration and Offer and Baptism concurreth sacramentally by way of signing and sealing and so it is a Means to confirm and provoke the Faith of a Receiver to lay hold on this Grace The Ordinances are an help to call to mind Baptism It is not good to balk the known and ordinary Means of Grace Christ hath purchased a Treasure that cannot be wasted Iohn 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctify my self that they also may be sanctified through the Truth When you come to hear you come to receive the Fruits of Christ's Purchase 2. On our part there is required Faith which also purifieth Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith Christ's Blood cleanseth the Gospel cleanseth Baptism cleanseth the Spirit cleanseth Faith cleanseth all these are not contrary but subordinate neither Christ nor the Word nor the Spirit worketh without an Act on our parts As under the Law the Priest was not only to wash and cleanse the Leper who herein represented God but also after the sprinkling of the Priest he was to wash himself Lev. 14.8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his Clothes and shave off all his Hair and wash himself in Water that he may be clean to shew that some Work is required on our part The Work of Faith is to apply to wait to work by Reflection and to stir up Love 1. To apply the Promises of God the Offers of Grace in the Word and the Blood of Christ and all these to purge out Corruption It applieth the Blood of Christ urgeth the Soul with it he died to purchase that Grace which thou wantest The Water and Soap cleanseth but the Hand of the Landress must apply it and rub the Clothes that are washed This is called sprinkling the Conscience with the Blood of Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water We should thus argue with our selves Surely Christ died to sanctify Sinners his Death cannot be in vain Grace is bought at a dear rate in the offers of the Word God maketh a tender why should I not accept of it Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Word preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it But we do not say What shall we say to these things By Faith the Plaister is laid on the Sore 2. In the Use of Means it waiteth for the sanctifying Virtue of the Blood of Christ and looketh upon them as Ordinances under a Blessing Isa. 45.24 Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength It casts out the Net at Christ's Commandment Micah 7.19 He will turn again he will have Compassion on us he will subdue our Iniquities and thou wilt cast all their Sins
the Law that I might live unto God Sometimes Repentance is described by one term called Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 where by dead works are meant Sins which render us liable to Death And often by the other called a Turning or Returning to God Zach. 1.3 Turn ye unto me saith the Lord. Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God From him we fell to him we return and so it includeth an acknowledgment of our Sins with grief of Heart and a resolution to forsake them that we may live unto God both of which if they be hearty and sincere will be evidenced by newness of Life Rom. 6.4 or doing works meet for Repentance Acts 26.20 That they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance The sum of what he preached was reduced to three Heads the two first by way of Foundation the third by way of Superstructure The two first imply an Internal Change the third the Outward discovery of it By Repentance is meant there a bethinking our selves or considering our ways after we have gone wrong with a broken hearted sense and acknowledgment of the misery into which we have plunged our selves by Sin By turning to God our seeking happiness in God by Christ and giving up our selves to him to do his Will And by works meet for repentance a suitable and thankful Life All practical Divinity may be reduced to these three Heads a sense of our misery by Nature a flying to God by Christ for a Remedy and the Life of Love and Praise which becometh Christs reconciled and redeemed ones This is Repentance Secondly What the Gospel doth to Promote it 1. It requireth it indispensibly of all grown Persons In the Text he commandeth all men every where to repent And our Lord telleth us that the great end of his Commission was to call Sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 I am not come to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance The Gospel findeth us not innocent but in a lapsed estate under the power of Sin intangled in the Love of the World and the snares of the Devil and obnoxious to the Wrath of God Now Christ came to recover us from the Devil the World and the Flesh unto God that we may love him again and be happy in his Love So that they quite mistake the Nature of our recovery who dream of a meer exemption from Wrath without an healing our Natures or restoring and putting poor Creatures in joynt again which were disordered by the Fall or that we can live in the Love of God before we are changed both in Heart and Life No Christ took another course to call us not only to Pardon and Eternal Glory but to Repentance or strictly to enjoyn this Duty upon us that by his Grace we might recover a disposition of Heart which in some measure might incline and enable us to love please and obey God and that under pain of his displeasure we might break off our Sins and live unto God For he came not to give liberty to any to live in Sin 2. By its Promises for it offereth Pardon and Life to the Penitent Believer and to them only None can enjoy the Priviledges of the New Covenant but those that are willing to return to the Duty which they owe to the Creator This is Gospel Luke 24.47 That repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in his Name compared with Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned God and Christ are agreed that Salvation should be dispensed upon these terms and no other We are not within the reach of the Blessing and Comfort of the Promise till we repent 3. By its Ordinances or the Sacraments and Seals of the Covenant As Baptism which serves for this use Mat. 3.11 I baptize you with water unto repentance And Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of Sins This is the initial Ordinance which is our first covenanting with God and therein we bind our selves to forsake all known Sin and to live unto God And from that time forward we must reckon our selves as under such a Vow Bond Debt and Obligation Rom. 6.11 Reckon your selves also to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. What! doth our Mortification or Vivification depend on our esteem or conceit Will that kill Sin or quicken Holiness The meaning is Count your selves obliged to dye to Sin and to persevere in Holiness by your Baptismal Vow and Covenant In the Lord's Supper one great Benefit offered and sealed to us is the remission of Sins Mat. 26.28 For this is my Blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of Sins that is supposing we make Conscience of our Baptismal Vow and renew our resolutions against Sin lest we grow cold and remiss in them Thirdly How convenient and Necessary this is for our recovery to God 1. For the Honour of God Surely Christ communicateth the effects of his Grace in a way becoming the Wisdom of God as well as his Justice Now as the Justice of God required that his Wrath should be appeased so his Wisdom required that Man should be converted and turned to God because God in dispensing Pardon will still preserve the Honour of his Law and Government As he doth it in the Impetration so in the Application As to the Impetration that was not without Satisfaction so to the Application that is not without Repentance or a consent to live according to the Will of God Now this would fall to the ground if we should be pardoned without Submission without Confession of past Sin or resolution of future Obedience For till then we neither know our true misery nor are we willing to come out of it For they that securely continue in their Sins they despise both the Curse of the Law and the Grace of the Gospel 2. The Duty of the Creature is secured when we are so solemnly bound to future Obedience Our first hearty consent to live in the Love and Service of our Creator with a detestation of our former ways is made in a solemn Covenant manner called therefore the Bond of the Covenant Ezek. 20.37 I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant So Numb 30.2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord and swear an Oath to bind his Soul with a bond he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth And besides it is made in our anguish when we drink of the bitter waters and feel the smart of Sin Acts 9.6 And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And so the fittest time to induce an hatred of Sin and also love to God and Holiness as having then the sweetest and freshest sense of his
do to remedy this 1. Get your Conscience cleansed by the hearty application of the Blood of Christ a galled Conscience is much discomposed and unsettled and unfit for such an Exercise Musing requireth a quiet sedate Mind 2. There are matters comfortable that may be of excellent Relief to the Spirit When the Soul is sadly humbled and Bondage is indeed revived there is an Hope set before us to which we may fly for refuge Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye we may have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us The wounded Soul may run up to the Mountains of Myrrhe and Frankincense So David Psalm 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 4. Another Lett and Hindrance is unweildiness of Spirit to Spiritual and Heavenly Duties The Heart is many times burdened and oppressed and sunk down with its own burden and weight that it cannot be lifted up to any Holy Duties and so is unfit for any Exercise of Religion This our Saviour bids his Disciples have a care of Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life Pleasures and Cares do as it were hang a weight upon the Soul that it cannot mount up to God in Heavenly Exercises This is expressed by a fat heart Isa. 6.10 Make the heart of this people fat That is Spiritually dull as it is observed of the Ass which is the simplest of all Creatures it hath the fattest heart There is a Spiritual dullness and listlessness that is apt to seize upon us What shall we do to help this 1. Learn a Holy Moderation and Sobriety in outward Businesses and Pleasures As the Apostle saies of Prayer Ephes. 6.18 watching thereunto The same Rule holds good in Meditation watch that you may alwaies keep the Soul in a fitness for the Duty order your Affairs with great wisdom that you may not justle out so necessary a Duty when a Man is incumbered with business there is no room left for such an exercise if he let loose his heart disorderly all the day he will find this Spiritual dullness to seize on him 2. Keep the Body in a fit frame that it may not be a clog to the Soul but a dexterous Instrument There is a Sanctification of the Body 1 Thess. 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. And the Apostle commands 1 Thess 4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour Men emasculate and weaken their Strength and Spirits and so the Body loseth its fitness Secondly There are Hindrances that are peculiar to the Duty of Meditation I shall name but two Barrenness of Thoughts and Inconstancy 1. Leanness and Barrenness of Thoughts When we go about to meditate we have no Matter whereupon to bestow our Time and Thoughts and so Christians are much discouraged This is opposite to that which the Scripture calls the abundance of the heart Matth. 12.34 Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh That is when there is a Holy Treasure in the Soul Now to remedy this 1. You must not give way to it but try and use constant Exercise When we give way to such indispositions they prove an utter Bondage voluntary neglects are punished with penal hardness and evils grow upon us as to lie in the dirt will make us more filthy and by little and little Men are hardned through the deceitfulness of Sin The Apostle speaks of them that have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 5.14 Who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil All Habits are increased by frequent Acts long disuse makes the Duty uncouth Wells which are at first a puddle are the sweeter for draining If we are under Indisposition should we not strive to come out of it The more we work the more vigorous and free is the Soul for the Work of God 2. Get a good stock of Sanctified Knowledge Let there be a Treasure in your Hearts Matth. 13.52 Every scribe which is instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old Those that buy by the Penny will be sometimes in want Prov. 6.21 22. Bind them continually upon thine heart and tye them about thy neck When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee This is the way to make Truths present and ready in the Thoughts when we have layed them up we can the better lay them out 3. When the Heart is barren think of your own Sins and Corruptions and the Experiences of God to your own Souls If we did not want an Heart we could never want Matter did we but consult with our own Experiences Psal. 40.12 Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of mine head therefore mine heart faileth me And if nothing else will come to hand meditate upon your present unfitness for any Holy Duty 4. You may season and affect your mind before Meditation with some part of Gods Word Reading is a good preparative and when we have taken in Food we may exercise our Depastion and Digestion upon it 2. A loose garish Spirit that is apt to skip and wander from thought to thought There is a Madness in Man his thoughts are light and feathery tossed too and fro and like the loose Wards in a Lock only kept up whilst we are turning the Key This doth much discourage Christians that they cannot keep up their Affections and command their Thoughts How shall we help and remedy this 1. When you go to meditate you should exercise a Command and Restraint upon your selves This is expressed in Scripture by trussing up the Loins of your Minds Luke 12.30 Let your loins be girded about An allusion to their hanging Garments that they trussed up when they went about any work that they may be compact and succinct Lay a Command upon your selves Zephan 2.1 Gather your selves together yea gather together O nation not desired 2. Pray and call in the help of God's Holy Spirit Psalm 86.11 Vnite my heart to fear thy Name Lord make my Heart one He that could stay the Sun can stay the sleeting of your thoughts 3. Dry up these swimming Toyes and Fancies with the flame of Heavenly Love Love unites the Heart and where we have a pleasure there we can stay Psalm 119.97 Oh how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day 4. Let the course of your Lives
thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him But here the Son of God himself is become Man for us oh that Jesus Christ should stoop so low That he that fills all things should be shut up in the narrow straits of the Virgins Womb That Christ should disrobe himself of all his Glory and submit to the greatest abasement Iohn 3.16 For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life 2. Hereby his Justice is discovered One Attribute is not to be exercised to the wrong and prejudice of another Now in this excellent contrivance God did glorifie his Mercy so as his Justice was no loser that being sufficiently satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore Justice which in it self is our dread is in Christ the ground of our comfort and support and that Attribute which would discourage Sinners doth now invite and draw unto Christ 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness So Rom. 3.25 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare at this time I say his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Iesus God would dispense acts of Grace with the greatest advantage to his Justice This is the Beauty of his design he would be just in Justification and those Acts which to be Acts of meer Grace are now made Acts of Righteousness 3. Hereby the Authority of the Law is still preserved God in Innocency had written a Law in Mans heart and he was to preserve the Honour of it Man transgressed this Law now by appointing Jesus Christ to dye for us the dignity of the Law is kept up Impunity maketh Sin to be lightly esteemed when Laws are relaxed there must be some Commutation or Recompence or else their Authority is not preserved Matth. 5.18 Till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled The omission of punishment would detract from it therefore Christ must be made under the Law Gal. 4 4 5. But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of Sons Christ endured the severity of it 4. Hereby Gods Essence is discovered even the whole Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost The Doctrine of the Trinity was but darkly revealed in the Old Testament till Christ came in the Flesh. One of the main designs of our Redemption was to discover God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost There is a God that must be satisfied there is a God that must satisfie and there is a God that must seal up all this to the Soul At Christ's Baptisme when he was solemnly inaugurated into the Mediatorship there was a discovery of the Trinity the Father in a Voice the Son in Person and the Holy Ghost in the shape of a Dove 2. If we consider the Creatures Comfort it was the best way to establish that 1. Here is excellent Provision made against the infiniteness that is in sin by the infiniteness of Christs sufferings For though sin be but a Temporay Act yet it is infinite because of the Object being committed against an Infinite Majesty so Christs Sufferings were but a Temporary Act yet they were Infinite he being a Person that was both God and Man Therefore as Sins receive a value from the Person against whom they are committed so Christs sufferings receive a value from the Person by whom they are performed The Apostle puts a how much more upon the Blood of Christ. Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God His Godhead did put a value and merit upon his Blood to expiate the guilt of Sin and therefore the blood of Christ is called the Blood of God Acts 20.28 Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood So that if Sin did abound Grace had superabounded if Sin be put into one Scale put the Blood of Christ into the other The great purpose and design of God was to give us Triumph over the clamours of our own Conscience Sin is expiated and done away by the Blood of the Son of God 2. There is an excellent Provision made for all that the Creature stands in need of There are three things which trouble the Creature and they are only accomplished and made good in this great Contrivance of God the bringing of God and Man together the bringing of Justice and Mercy together and the bringing of comfort and duty together How God and Man are brought together who were separate by Sin 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ also hath once suffered for sin the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God To unite Man fallen to God there is Mortal and Immortal Greatness and Baseness Finiteness and Infiniteness brought together There is God and Man in one Person that there might be a Commerce between us and God our Nature as it were grafted and planted into the Person of Christ that our Persons might have social Communion with God Then Justice and Mercy are brought together the great inquiry of Nature is how to have a satisfaction for Justice that Mercy might have a free course what shall we do to recompense Justice Creatures would sacrifice themselves and all they have Micah 6.6 7. Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the high God Shall I come before his face with burnt-offerings with calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousand of rams or with ten thousand of rivers of oyl Shall I give my first-born for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul But it is not our first-born but Gods first-born So also Comfort and Duty are sweetly united together the Lord having provided a Merit against our Defects and a Spirit against our weaknesses the Lord is at peace with us and we are inabled comfortably to serve God 3. If we consider the profit of the Creature 1. This way serves to represent Sin You have no where such a sight of sin as upon Mount Calvary when you see the Son of God stretched out upon the Cross and crying out My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me When the punishment of our Sins was laid upon Christ God sheweth how displeasing Sin was to him 2. To wean us from Vanity We make great matters of trifles and are apt to
from Faith in Christ Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God from a sense of our sincere dealing with God 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world A serenity resulting from our peace with God and close walking with him 2. The strictness and exactness of the Apostles course He would keep this good Conscience void of offence It may be understood passively or actively Passively that Conscience be not offended and suffer wrong Actively that we offend not or offer wrong to others 1. That Conscience be not offended or receive wrong by any miscarriage of ours For it is a tender thing the least dust in the eye hindreth its use so doth Sin offend and trouble the Conscience Take those four Notions before-mentioned Clearness Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God A dusty Glass hindreth the sight of the Image so Lust cloudeth the mind In regard of Purity so far as we give way to Sin Conscience is defiled the Apostle speaketh of some Whose minds and consciences were defiled Titus 1.15 It is defiled by Sin In regard of tenderness nothing bringeth a brawne upon Conscience so much as frequent and allowed sinning in small things first it is wounded and then hardned and so groweth dead and sleepy though it may write it refuseth to speak it is a Register when it is not a Witness So it is offended in regard of quietness an offended Conscience will offend us and a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 You may as well expect to touch the Flesh with a burning Coal without pain as to sin without trouble of Conscience Sin will bring shame and horrour ever since Adams experience who was afraid and ashamed Gen. 3.7 2. The second Sense that we offend not nor offer wrong to others will fall in with the next Head 3. The Impartiality of his Obedience both towards God and towards men There are two Tables and we are to take care we do not give offence to God or Men by neglecting our Duty to either 1. Our chief care should be that we do not make a breach upon our Love to God Conscience standeth alwayes in dread of God's Eye and Presence to whom it is most accountable Acts 23 1. I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day Oh grieve not the spirit Eph. 4.30 Offend not the pure Eyes of his Glory 2. That we do not offend Men Rom. 12.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Provide things honest in the sight of all men We must be careful of our Conscience before God and frame with Men that we neither seduce them by our Example nor grieve them by any unjust or uncharitable Carriage of ours but be blameless to Men. 4. The Constancy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwayes in all cases by all means at all times A Conscience brought forth at times and for certain turns is not a good Conscience Iob 13.18 Behold now I have ordered my cause I know that I shall be justified A Man is tryed by his course not by a step or two 1 Pet. 1.15 As he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every creek and corner of your lives not in an Humour and in good Moods A Christian is every where like himself and never dareth to do any thing knowingly against Conscience Thirdly The laborious diligences wherewith he carryed it on I exercise my self We must make it our constant labour and endeavour by a diligent search into the mind of God Rom. 12.2 That we may prove what is the good and acceptable will of God Eph. 5.17 Be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord that we may not offend him in Worship or Daily Conversation By a serious enquiry into the state of our own hearts and wayes Psalm 4.4 Stand in awe and sin not commune with your hearts upon your bed and be still If we would have Conscience speak to us we must often speak to Conscience Ier. 8.6 I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying what have I done Ask questions of your hearts And also by a constant watchfulness and taking heed to our feet Psalm 39.1 I said I will take heed to my wayes that I offend not with my tongue Many live as if they had no Conscience and by a broken-hearted making use of Christs Death Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. And 1 Iohn 2.1 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous And Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself to God without spot purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God By a serious resistance and mortification of Sin cutting off the right Hand and pulling out the right eye Matth. 5.29 30. and Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts And by the use of all Holy Means which God hath appointed II. The Reasons Why this is true Christianity 1. The necessity of it it is a great question how far Obedience belongeth to Faith whether as a part or as an end fruit and consequent I answer both wayes consent of subjection is a part of Faith Actual Obedience a fruit of it In the Covenant there is a consent first before practice Faith believeth the Precepts as well as the Promises Psalm 119.66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge for I have believed thy commandments Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water It believeth the Promises to sweeten Obedience to us it hath a perswasive Oratory as it worketh by Love or Hope it worketh us to an observance of the Precepts by the hopes of the Resurrection least we be inticed from them either by things grateful or troublesome to present sense 1 Cor. 15.58 Be stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abâ—iâ—ding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your work is not in vain in the Lord. If you believe things written in the Law and the Prophets you will see your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2. The Comfort of Obedience to us we cannot make out our Evidence and Plea but by a uniform constant and impartial Obedience Principles are latent till they discover themselves by their Fruit our Faith and Hope is but a fancy unless it prevail over sensitive inclinations to present things that we may live in the patient and delightful service of God and an intire
thing Conscience is another Science is a Mans knowledge of other things Conscience is a Mans knowledge of himself his State and wayes to know what he is to do and to know who he hath done that is Conscience It is the Judgment of a Man concerning himself and his Actions with respect to Reward and Punishment God that is our Lord is also our proper Judge but it pleaseth God to put a faculty into Man this Spirit within him that he should have something in his own Bosom to be a Rule and Judge but yet a Subordinate Rule and a Deputy-Judge accountable to God but a Judge it is However it much conduceth to the Glory of God and to the Safety of Man 1. To the Glory of God 1. As it is an Evidence of his Being whose Law is the ground of Conscience and before whom Conscience doth accuse and whose Sentence it doth dread and stand in fear of Why doth Conscience scruple this or that if there be not a God by whose Will Good and Evil are distinguished To whom doth it accuse us but to God Why is Conscience sometimes afraid sometimes comforted if there were no God to mind things here below We find Conscience appaleth the stoutest Sinners after the commitment of some Offence though it be secret and beyond the Cognizance and Vengeance of Man Psalm 53.5 There were they in great fear where no fear was that is no outward cause of fear where none sought to hurt them accusing themselves when none else could accuse them as Iosephs Brethren Gen. 42.21 We are verily guilty concerning our brothers blood or where none had power to reach them as Princes and Worldly Potentates feel the stings of Conscience as well as others Foelix trembled who was the Judge at Pauls Words who was the Prisoner Acts 24.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Foelix trembled What is the Reason of this but that they know there is a Supream Judge and Avenger 2. It is for the Glory of his Judicial Proceedings Self-Accusers and Self-Condemners have no reason to quarrel with God and impeach his Justice Man hath Principles and Sentiments graven upon his Heart which justifie all Gods dealings with him Luke 19.22 Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee thou wicked servant And Psalm 51.4 That thou mayest be justified when thon speakest and be clear when thou judgest Hereby he is left without excuse Rom. 1.20 So that they are without excuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 3.11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hence the frequent Appeals to Conscience Isa. 5.3 4. Iudge I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard What could I have done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it I have produced these Scriptures to show that by Conscience Man is better induced to give a Testimony to God concerning all his dealings with him 2. To the safety and benefit of Man that he may have an Oracle in his own bosom to direct him to his Duty and to warn him of his danger if he doth amiss Conscience is spoken of in Scripture both wayes as instructing us in our Duty Psalm 16.7 My reins also instruct me in the night season that is Conscience shewed him his Duty and how he was concerned in the Law of God or the Rule which God had given to his Creatures And as it sheweth us what to do so it reflecteth upon what we have done If evil it smiteth us for it 2 Sam. 24.10 And Davids heart smote him after that he had numbred the people If good it cheareth us with it 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world It smiteth as it exciteth fear of punishment it cheareth as it stirreth up hope of Reward and we do very much understand hereby how God standeth affected towards us 1 Iohn 3.19 20 21 And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all thing Beloved If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2. Conscience is Gods Vicegerent and Deputy You may know much of his Mind by the Voice and Report of Conscience therefore next to the Judgment and Sentence of God a Man should regard the Judgment and Sentence of Conscience 1 Iohn 3.20 21. If our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things Beloved If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Observe what Conscience speaketh doth it condemn thee or acquit thee And upon what terms doth it either The voice of Conscience is often the voice of God and Men would sooner come to know themselves and might make a right Judgment upon their Estates if they would look inward and regard the voice of Conscience doth it condemn or acquit Indeed there lyeth an Appeal from Court to Court and from Judge to Judge 1. From Court to Court In what Court doth Conscience condemne you In the Law Court You ought to own the desert of Sin clearing God if he should inflict it upon you 1 Cor. 11.31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged But yet you may take Sanctuary at his Grace and humbly claim the benefit of the New Covenant Psalm 130.3 4. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared If it condemn you in the Gospel Court for no sound Believer the Case must not be lightly passed over but examined whether there be a sincere bent of Heart towards God Heb. 13.18 We trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly 2. There is an appeal to an higher Judge Doth Conscience write bitter things against thee Yet if God justifieth Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth Gods Act is Authoritative and Powerful Isa. 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace to him that is afar of and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Psalm 85.8 I will hear what God the â—ord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints But sometimes he speaketh in the Sentence of his Word when not in the Conscience his Authority may comfort when we feel not his Power so for acquitting Conscience is not the highest Judge 1 Cor. 4.4 For if I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Prov. 16.2 All the wayes of a man are clean in his own eyes but the Lord weigheth the spirits He must consult his Word and thereby clear our Case so
as to assure our Hearts before him 3. Conscience is easily offended but not easily appeased As the Eye is easily offended with the least dust or mote which soon gets in but is not easily gotten out But then to appease it costs a great deal of trouble Therefore if we would as Paul keep a Conscience void of Offence there needeth much tenderness and watchfulness for by the Commission of deliberate and wilful Sins you may raise a Tempest that is not easily laid again as David felt broken bones after his foul fall Psalm 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Before the Action Conscience sheweth what is to be done in the Action it guideth us in doing after the Action it censureth it as well or ill done And so either comforteth us with hopes of a Reward or terrifieth us with fear of Punishment As a Man acteth so Conscience is a Party as the Action is censured so Conscience is a Judge after the Action the force of Conscience is usually seen more than before the Fact or in the Fact because before and in the Action the Judgment of Reason is not so clear and strong the Affections raising Mists and Clouds to darken the Mind and trouble it and draw it on their side by their pleasing violence By the Treachery of the Senses and Revolt of the Passions the Mind is betrayed but as the Violence of the Affections ceaseth and is by little and little allayed guilt flasheth in the face of Conscience and Reason hath the greatest force to affect the Mind with grief or fear The Act being over and the Affection satisfied the Soul giveth place to Reason which was before contemned and when it recovereth the Throne it striketh through the Heart with a sharp Sentence and Reproof for obeying Appetite before it self and brings in Terrour and Trouble which causeth the Soul to sit uneasy Matth. 27.4 I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood Rom. 1.32 Knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Therefore do not go like an Ox to the Slaughter nor a Fool to the Correction of the Stocks 4. Conscience is the best Friend and the worst Enemy It is the best Friend partly for its Comfort Prov. 15.15 He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience no Bird sings so sweetly as the Bird in the Bosome Partly for its nearness it is alwaies with us in Health and Sickness in Life and in Death Husbands and Wives who are most together yet because they live a distinct Life they are often apart Death looseth the Bond and Knot but this remaineth with us So it is the worst Enemy Partly for its universal nearness it is sad for a Man to be at odds with himself and fall out with his own Heart It is a Domestical Tribunal which alwaies remaineth with us and therefore Iob could bear the Reproaches of others but his own heart should not reproach him as long as he lived Iob 27.6 Partly because of the grievousness of the Wound and Stroak Prov. 18.14 A wounded spirit who can bear It is no less than the fear of the Wrath of the Eternal God A Man cannot run away from his Conscience no more than he can run away from himself and therefore for a Man to please others and offend his Conscience what folly is that Or to please a Lust to wound his Conscience A Lust or vain Appetite is an unjustifiable thing and will soon appear so but the Fears of Conscience are justified by the highest Reason the Law of God the satisfaction of a Lust is a poor vanishing Pleasure but the observing and keeping a good Conscience breedeth a solid Joy which will stick by thee to the very last and when thou comest to dye will be a support to thee Isa. 38.3 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight When thou must leave Riches Honours and Pleasures which are the Baits of thy Lust this will stick by thee 1 Iohn 2.17 The world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Therefore now thou shouldest mortifie thy Lust and gratifie thy Conscience 5. Thy Conscience is the beginning of Heaven and Hell A good Conscience is the beginning of Heaven and Peace and Joy in believing is a foretast of that fulness of Joy and Pleasure which we shall have when we come into Gods immediate presence The glorified Spirits carry a good Conscience with them to Heaven their works follow them Rev. 14.13 And the damned carry their Stings and Convictions with them to Hell Mark 9.44 Their worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Oh think of this The Joys of the Spirit are an Antipast of Glory called often an Earnest in Scripture 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts And the Horrors of Conscience are the Suburbs of Hell Oh therefore be sure to keep all quiet within and whatever be your Temptations do not offend Conscience but unfeignedly discharge your Duties to God and Men 6. If there be a crack and a flaw in your Conscience all your trading with Heaven is at a stand there cannot be any serious dealing with God nor Holy boldness in Prayer 1 Iohn 3.21 If our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence towards God When you have sinned away your Peace a strangeness and distance groweth between God and you Psalm 32.3 When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long Gen. 3.8 And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden Adam run to the bushes Your hearts will grow shie of God and you cannot so comfortably look him in the face and so the sweetness of Holy Privacy and Communion with God will be lost Time was when you could go boldly and open your Hearts to God but now you are afraid of him and every Act of Commerce is a reviving of your Bondage the remembrance of God is a trouble to you 7. If Conscience speaketh not it writeth for it is not only a Witness but a Register and Book of Record Ier. 17.1 The sin of Iudah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond We know not what Conscience writeth being occupied and taken up with Carnal Vanities and carryed away with foolish and hurtful Lusts but we shall know afterwards when the Book of Conscience shall be opened Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books according to their works These Books are the Book of Conscience and the Book of Gods Remembrance The Remembrance of our Actions shall be forced upon us Conscience is Gods Register and keepeth a Diary and sets down every thing This Book though it be in the Sinners keeping cannot be razed what Conscience writeth is written to Eternity unless it be blotted out by Repentance and a serious application of the Blood of Christ. Well then consider a sleepy Conscience will not alwaies sleep if we suffer it not to awaken here it will awaken in Hell where there is no Remedy for the present it sleepeth in many in regard of motion check or smiting but not in regard of Notice and Observation This secret spy is privy to more than it speaketh of it is laid up as matter for the Worm that never dyeth to feed upon 8. If the stings of an evil Conscience be not alwayes felt yet they are soon awakened by serious Thoughts of Death and Judgment to come and then forced upon us There is a fire smothering in our bosoms and it is soon blown up into a flame Sometimes by the word Acts 22.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Belshazars edge was taken oft in the midst of his carowsing Dan. 5.6 Then the kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joints of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another Sometimes by some great Troubles Isa. 59.12 For our transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us For our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them Therefore we roar like beasts and mourn like doves ver 11. In a Tempest that which is at the bottom cometh a top Or by Death whatever silence there be in Conscience before yet Death usually reviveth these fears 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin Men are wise and more serious as they are entring on the Confines of Eternity near things affect us the baits of the Flesh have then lost their allurement the Devil that was before a Tempter will then be a Tormentor things overlooked before are then seriously considered then the stings of Sin work most sensibly and in a lively manner and the deluded Sinner begins to see what he would not take notice of before 9. If Conscience do not speak to you you must speak to it and call upon it to do its Office Call your selves to an account for the Expence of your Time and Employment Psalm 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still Psalm 77.6 I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search Take a time to parley with your selves and consider how matters stand between you and God When the Clock striketh not it is a sign the Plummets are down and we must wind them up again Every day we must do something as Iob sacrificed for his Sons day by day Iob 1.5 It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts And God himself reviewed every dayes work and saw that it was good Gen. 1.4 10 12 c. So should we review every dayes work and cast up the account at the foot of every page Short reckonings prevent mistakes Pythagoras taught his Scholars that they should never give way to sleep till they had posed themselves with these Questions Quid feci c. What have I done What good have I omitted Wherein have I transgressed Conscience What hast thou to say to me And Seneca telleth of his Friend Sextius that before he would betake himself to rest he would ask his Soul Quod hodie malum tuum sanasti cui vitio obstitisti qua parte meliores What evil hast thou got rid off to day What Sin hast thou resisted Wherein art thou better than thou wert before And he saith of himself Quotidie apud me causam dico toâ—um diem mecum scrutor dicta facta mea remetior that he scanned all his Actions and Speeches in the day Shall Heathens be more serious and shall Christians who are acquainted with Eternity never take time to set Conscience awork Oh let us be ashamed of our slightness and negligence 10. We can never have a sound Conscience till we be sincere with God in a constant uniform course of Self-denying-Obedience 1 Iohn 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him and this is described in the Text by keeping a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men So 2 Kings 20.3 I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And this not in an Act or two but in a Mans whole Course Psalm 106.3 Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doth righteousness at all times Not by starts and good moods only but constantly and at all times And our Obedience must be self-denying as well as constant and uniforme that Religion is worth nothing that costs nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing When we value Gods Interest above our own and we can deny our selves upon the hopes of Glory then is our sincerity most evidenced But if we embrace only the safe cheap and easie part of Religion and cannot deny our Ease Profit and Honour we do not set up Christs Religion but a Christianity of our own making Matth. 16.24 Then said Iesus unto his disciples if any one will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 11. If we would have Conscience to do its Office there must be great heed and watchfulness for it is corrupt as well as other Faculties and from a Judge it may become an Advocate excusing the partialities of our Obedience To evidence this more fully with respect to Conscience Men may be considered three wayes as acting without Conscience or according to Conscience or against Conscience 1. A Man may act without all Conscience so a Man may do either good or evil 1. Good as those that act rashly inconsiderately or customarily As when Men pray give Almes go to Church Conscience did not send them thither but Custom inducement of Friends perswasions of Parents or the like These do that which is good but they do it not well Luke 8.18 Take heed how you hear Conscience doth not put them upon it To this first sort may be reckoned those that intended to do evil but by accident do that which is good as Iosephs Brethren Gen. 50.20 But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good And those that performe the Duties of Christianity so far as the interest of the flesh will give them leave for the flesh it self will command you to
thee pray to God for us that he take away the fiery serpents In Adversity Men will own the faithful Servants of God against whom they have murmured when all is well Moses forgetteth the injury and prayeth to God for them and God though he doth not take away the Serpents yet he provideth a Remedy unlikely in appearance a Brazen Serpent to cure the bites of Living Serpents but Divine Institution conveyeth a Blessing The word of Command is that they should look upon the brazen serpent and the word of Promise is that they should be healed Numb 21.8 Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass that every one when he is bitten that looketh upon it shall live This is in short the History Secondly The Mistery or Typical use of the Brazen Serpent The chief things represented in it are Sin Christ and Faith the deadliness of Sin the manner of our deliverance by Christ and the Nature of Faith 1. Israelites deadly Sin and Misery occasioned the setting up of the Brazen Serpent so the occasion of Christs sending into the World was Mans Sin and Misery we being all bitten by the old Serpent and so liable to the Curse The Devil is called the old serpent Rev. 12.9 And in the appearance of a Serpent he deceived our first Parents Therefore we read that the serpent beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 Humane Nature was then stung to Death by Sathan and the Venome dispersed its self throughout the whole Race of Mankind Among the Israelites there were but a few stung here all there their Bodies here the Soul there Temporal Death followed here Eternal In the Sting of these fiery Serpents two things representeth our Misery by Sin 1. It is painful 2. Deadly 1. This Sting is painful The bitings did presently cause pains and an intolerable thirst and burning which was very grievous to them so the sting of Sin is painful not alwaies felt but soon awakened In Spiritual things we are more stupid and are not so sensible of the Maladies of the Soul as they were of the pains of the Body We are subject to bondage Heb. 2.14 Though we do not alwaies feel actual horrour There is a fire smothering in our Bosoms though it be not blown up into a Flame One of our Spiritual Diseases is a Lethargy and it is a great part of our Misery not to know our Misery If Conscience were not lulled asleep we would be more sensible Surely Sathans bites are more painful than those of these Serpents his Darts are called fiery darts Eph. 6.16 His Darts are dipt in the gall of Asps and Vipers Boiling Lusts will in time awaken raging Fears and Despair O what horrour and torment will Sin procure to us if it be not speedily cured Sin is an Evil and a Mischief whether we feel it yea or no but we shall soon feel it an Evil as the stung Israelites felt the biting of the Serpents Sin in the Life will make Hell in the Conscience it seemeth a sweet draught while we are taking it down but there is rank poison at the bottom A wounded Spirit findeth it now Prov. 18.14 A wounded spirit who can bear Horrour and anguish of Conscience is insupportable ask any Man whose Heart is well awakened and he will tell you that the sense of the guilt of Sin is more bitter to the Soul than the gall of Asps no terrour comparable to the terror and sting of an accusing Conscience Gods terrors are compared to a Fire that drinketh up the Blood and Spirits Iob 6.4 The arrows of the almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me No poison more burning than Sin in an awakened Conscience it may lie asleep till you come to dye in Sin stupid and benummed Creatures But then the sting of death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 Death is made terrible by those sad horrors and apprehensions which Sin raiseth in us 2. This Sting is deadly As the biting of the Fiery Serpents could not be cured but was present Death till God found out a Remedy so this sting of Sin is deadly Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye dying thou die Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death Death Temporal Eternal Thou art a dead Man lost for ever if thou art not cured Those who were not solicitous about their Cure are a figure of the impenitent who obstinately continue in their Sins though they bring destruction upon them Not only Death Temporal which consists in the separation of the Soul from the Body but Death Spiritual which consists in an estrangement from God as Author of the Life of Grace yea Death Eternal which consists in a separation both of Body and Soul from the presence of God for evermore and is a perpetual living to deadly pain and torment This Second Death is set forth by two solemn Notions the worm that never dyeth and the fire that shall never be quenched Mark 9.44 By which is meant the Sting of Conscience and the Wrath of God Prov. 8.36 All they that hate me love death 2. Christ is set forth by the Brazen Serpent Here I shall shew you 1. The Resemblances 2. The Superexcellency of Christ above this and all the Shadows and Types of him 1. The Resemblance between Christ and the Brazen Serpent 1. The Brazen Serpent was a Remedy of Gods own prescribing out of his great Mercy So is this Remedy for lost Sinners the meer Fruit of Gods Love Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son the causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Occasion or outward moving Cause was our Misery the causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the inward impulsive Cause was his own love and pity to lapsed Mankind God found out the Remedy we neither plotted it nor asked it he saw the world of Mankind was perishing and involved in Eternal Ruine and because there was no Intercessor therefore his own Arm wrought out Salvation Herein the Antitype differeth from the Type The stung Israelites having Death in their bosoms go to Moses Moses goeth to God for he saw there could be no help elsewhere then God said Make thee a brazen serpent The motion came from them first but here it is quite otherwise God is the offended Party yet he maketh the first motion 1 Iohn 4.19 We love him because he loved us first There God found out the Remedy but here his meer love began the whole business and did set at work all the Causes that did concur to our Salvation we neither minded our Danger nor asked our Remedy 2. The conveniency of this Type to set out the low Estate and Humiliation of Christ. The form of a Serpent was chosen to shew
much brokenness of Heart Cold thoughts of Sin beget but cold thoughts of Christ For every mans value and esteem of the Remedy is according to his sense of the Misery If we are not deeply affected with our lost Condition Christ is of little use to us It is the câ—ntrite and broken Heart which doth most relish the Grace of the Redeemer 2. Sacrifices were figures of the Mercy of God and the Merit of Christ viz. of his Death and Obedience Heb. 9.13 14. If the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God So Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me In burnt Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin thou hadst no Pleasure Then said I Lo I come to do thy Will O God So that the Sacrifices were to represent Christ to them without which they did little else than qualifie for legal Priviledges Therefore it behoved every one that would make Covenant with God to own the promised Messiah the Surety who died for Sin and the great Sacrifice of Atonement the Lord Jesus Christ. And is not this incumbent upon us who would make and renew Covenant with God What is required of us in the Eucharist but to bless God for all his Mercies especially the gift of his Son to die for us That which was promised and prefigured is now accomplished Surely the Death of Jesus Christ is the only true means of Redemption and Propitiation for Sin which must be acknowledged with all joy and thankfulness 3. They were Obligations to Duty and that worship and Obedience which we owe to God For a man by offering a â—east did in effect devote himself and all his Power and Strength to God The Worshipper was to Consecrate himself wholly to his Service So Rom. 12.1 I beseech you by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice Holy and Acceptable to God which is your reasonable Service This was the Interpretation of the rites of the Law and the reasonable part of that Worship And are not we to give up our selves to God with a sincere firm Resolution of new Obedience Thus for our Humiliation the Sacrifices revealed our Misery for our Consolation they propounded the Remedy of Grace and in order to our Sanctification they taught us gratitude and new Obedience But their chief and first Relation was to Christ without whom our Misery had been in vain discovered and Holiness of Life to little purpose required for we have all from him I. Vse To press you to enter into Covenant with God especially being incouraged thereunto by the Atonement and Reconciliation made by Christ. You have no Benefit by it till you personally enter into the Bond of it It is true God being pacified by Christ offereth Pardon and Acceptance on the Conditions of the Gospel but we do not actually partake of the Benefit till we perform those Conditions Though the price be payed by Christ accepted by the Father yet we have not an actual Interest through our own default for not accepting Gods Covenant The Covenant of Nature lieth upon us whether we consent or no because that is a Law but this is a Priviledge and therefore we must man by man make out our Title and Claim What shall we do 1 Bless God for this Grace That when man had irreparably broken the first Covenant and fallen from his State of Life and all the World left under guilt and a curse Rom. 3.19 All the World is become guilty before God That God took occasion by this Misery to open a door of hope to us by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself And hath set up a new Court of Righteousness and â—ife where Sinners may appear where Grace taketh the Tâ—rone and the Judge is Christ and the Rule of proceeding is the Gospel and upon Faith and sincere Obedience we may be accepted O let us run for refuge to this Court take Sanctuary at this Grace Heb. 6.18 Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us The Lord standeth with Arms open to receive us if we will but acknowledge our Iniquities Ier. 3.13 Only acknowledge thine Iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God 1 John 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness Judge and Condemn our selves for them 1 Cor. 11.31 If we would judge our selves we should not be judged With Penitent and Contrite Hearts the self-condemning Sinner is acquitted Luk. 18.13 14. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his Eyes to Heaven but smote on his Breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner I tell you this man went down to his House justified rather than the other For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted 2. Own Christ as the Son of God and the Redeemer of the World and the Fountain of your Life and Peace For till we own the Mediator of the Covenant we have not the Benefit of the Covenant Though his Blood be shed 't is not sprinkled on us Heb. 12.24 And to Iesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Nor can it be pleaded by us with any Comfort and Satisfaction Therefore you must own him Iohn 20.28 My Lord and my God At least prize and esteem him Phil. 3.8 I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. And use him to the ends for which God hath appointed him Iohn 1.16 Of his fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace And 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sancâ—ification and Redemption Let him be to you what God hath appointed him to be and do for you what God hath appointed him to do for Poor Sinners Micah 5.5 This man shall be the Peace that is in him alone will we seek it this is the Blood of the Covenant 3. Devote your selves to God to serve him and please him Isa. 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the Name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the House of Israel And Ezek. 16.8 I entred into a Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Now this must be done sincerely Not only with a Moral Sincerity not to dissemble but with a Supernatural Sincerity Deut. 5.29 O that there were such
to everlasting Destruction In the former respect we are compared to lost Sheep who when they are once out of the way know not how to find it again Psal. 14.3 They are all gone aside And Isa. 53.6 All we like Sheep have gone astray Swine and other Creatures if they wander all day will easily find the way home again but we are gone astray like Sheep Domini errare per me potui redire non potui Lord I have wandred of my self but I cannot return of my self In the second respect as they are in the way to destruction so we are compared to the lost Son who undid himself and wasted his substance with riotous living Luk. 15.13 So we are lost by reason of Original Sin or the corruption introduced by Adam's first sin Hereditarily derived to us from our first parents Psal. 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me And also by reason of actual sins whereby we involve our selves more and more in the wrath and curse of God Eph. 2.1 2. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience And v. 3. We were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Take one distinction more Some are lost totally and others totally and finally too All men in their natural estate whether they be sensible or insensible of it are lost totally Isa. 53.6 All we like Sheep have gone astray not one excepted The Elect though for the present they are totally lost yet they are not finally lost But those that still continue in their impenitency and unbelief are both totally and finally lost justly given over and designed to everlasting Perdition and Destruction In which sense Iudas is called the Son of Perdition John 17.12 Those which thou hast given me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition unbelief persisted in is a sign of Perdition Therefore the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to those that are lost Well then such as refuse the Gospel are in an actual state of perdition and while they continue to repel and refuse the benefit of the Gospel there is no hope of them Thus we are really and indeed lost 2. Some are lost and undone in their own sense and feeling All by reason of sin are in a lost state but some are apprehensive of it when the Soul is made sensible of its utter perishing condition and fear of its aggravated punishment by reason of actual sin as the lost Son apprehended his perishing for want of Bread Luk. 15.17 And when he came to himself he said How many hired servants of my Fathers have Bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger Thus would Christ represent the sensible sinner that is apprehensive of his condition Now such a sense is necessary to prepare us for a more broken-hearted and thankful acceptance of the Grace of the Gospel 1. Because the Scripture speaketh of an awakening before Conversion Eph. 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light While we are asleep we are neither sensible of our misery nor care for our remedy but please our selves with Dreams and Fancies but when a Man's Conscience doth rouse him up out of the sleep of sin and awaken him to some sight and sense of his miserable condition he is in a good measure prepared to hearken to the offers of the Gospel and to be afâ—ected with and entertain the Grace of Christ so Psal. 22.27 All the Nations of the Earth shall remember and turn to the Lord first remember then turn They are like Men sleeping and distracted before they do not consider whence they are what they are doing whither they are going what shall become of them to all Eternity 2. Till we are sensible of our lost estate we have not that trouble for sin that hunger and thirst for Grace which the Scripture expresseth every where in the calls and invitations of the Gospel As Mat. 9.12 13. The whole need not the Physician but they that are sick I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance And Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters Heb. 6.18 Who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us They that are Heart-whole will not value the Spiritual Physician neither will they that feel not their load care for offers of ease None will prize Bread but the hungry nor come to the Waters but the thirsty nor make haste to the City of refuge but those that see an Avenger of Blood at their Heels Or to devest these things of their Metaphor sin unseen grieveth not that which the Eye seeth not the Heart rueth not it is the hungry Conscience that cannot be satisfied without Christ's renewing and reconciling Grace 'T is the Curse driveth us to the promise and the Tribunal of God's Justice to the Throne of Grace One Covenant to another None do with such sighs and groans mourn and wait in the use of Means till they obtain Mercy as those who have a sight and sense of their lost estate or their sad and miserable case by nature 3. It appeareth by the Types the deliverance of the Children of Israel out of Egypt and Babylon which figured our restauration by Christ. Now God would not deliver his people out of Egypt till they sighed and groaned out of the anguish of their Spirits for their cruel bondage Exod. 3.7 I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their Task-masters for I know their sorrows So God delivered them not out of their Captivity of Babylon till they were sensible of their being ready to perish under it Ezek. 37.11 Behold they say our Bones are dried and our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Now the great truth figured hereby is our perishing condition under the captivity of Sin before the Spirit of Life entereth into us 4. By experience it appeareth that Christ is not valued nor his Grace so highly prized till Men have a sensible awakening knowledge of their own misery and lost estate by reason of sin When sin is sin indeed then grace is grace indeed and Christ is Christ indeed if Men have a superficial sense of sin they have a superficial Faith in Christ. The slight person doth the work of an Age in a breath We are all sinners but God is merciful Christ died for sinners and there is an end both of their Law and Gospel Work If Men have a Doctrinal and Speculative knowledge of sin they have also a
sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God Man's Justification is not the cause of his Sanctification nor his Sanctification the cause of his Justification but Christ is the cause of both but yet he is first sanctified then justifyed first we recover his Image then his Favour then his Fellowship Now you must look after both these not to be eased of the fear of Hell onely but to be fitted for God The penitent heart seeketh both 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness He were a foolish Man that having his leg broken should onely seek to be eas'd of the smart and not to have his leg set right again Sin is the Mire that carnal persons stick in and are unwilling to be drawn out of it Therefore you are rightly affected when you seek not the one onely but the other also to have sin subdued as well as pardoned 3. Being Justified and Sanctified you must live to the Glory of God For you were not onely lost to your selves but to God And you must be recovered not to your selves onely but to God also You are redeemed to God Thou hast redeemed us to God Revel 5.9 and this redemption is applied to you Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works to serve the living God You are Mortified to the Law Gal. 2.19 I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God You are Married to Christ Rom. 7.4 That you should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that ye should bring forth fruit unto God In short as we are under the New Covenant we are obliged to live unto God As we are Justified and Pardoned we are incouraged to live unto God As we are Sanctified we have a Principle of Grace to incline us to live unto God And we shall have besides this habitual principle his Spirit to work in us what is pleasing in his sight 4. You must continue with patience in well doing till you come to live with God Till then Christ's salvation is not perfect he hath not saved us to the uttermost nor is our recovery perfect we are not fully cleansed from all sin nor do we serve God perfectly nor injoy full communion with him Here Christ seeketh and there he saveth us indeed here he puts us into the way of Salvation but then are we compleatly saved A wicked Man is gone out of the way losing himself more and more but the regenerate person though he be put into the way yet he is not come to the end of the journey and therefore now we are but expecting and waiting for the salvation of God It is said Heb. 9.28 That unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Then he will reward all his Faithful Servants that look for him Heretofore he came to purchase Salvation then to confer and bestow Salvation Then Man shall be delivered from all sin and all the sad and woful consequents of sin and that for ever Now this is that we look for and wait for and that in the way of well-doing for when Christ hath sought us out and brought us home we must wander no more Well then being renewed and justified we must wait for the time when we shall be rid and freed from sin and sorrow for ever Vse 3. Is to press us to Thanksgiving that the Son of God should come from Heaven to seek and save those that are lost and us in particular Thankfulness for Redemption and Salvation by Christ being the great duty of Christians I shall a little inlarge upon it 1. Consider how sad was thy condition in thy lost estate You were fallen from God and become an Enemy to him in thy mind by evil works Col. 1.21 And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled And were a wretched bondslave to Satan led captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his will And thy work was to pursue vain pleasures sutable to thy fleshly mind Titus 3.3 Serving divers lusts and pleasures running with the rest of the wicked World into all manner of sin Ephes. 2.2 Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this World according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience And all this while thou wert under a Sentence of Condemnation Iohn 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already And there was nothing but the slender thread of a frail Life between thee and Execution and the Wrath of the Eternal God ready ever and anon to break out upon thee Iohn 3.36 He that believeth not the Son of God shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Surely we that were lost were not worth the looking after now that God should with so much ado and so much care seek to save such wretched creatures Oh how should we be affected with the Mercy Which of you having a servant that run away from you sound and healthy but afterwards is become blind deformed and diseased will seek after him and cure him with costly Medicines and much care and bring him into the Family and receive him with so much tenderness as if all this had not been and yet this and much more is the case between us and God 2. Consider how many Thousands there are in the World whom God hath past by and left them in their Impenitency and Carnal Security under the bondage of sin and the vassalage of Satan and how few there are that shall be saved in comparison of the Multitude that shall be eternally destroyed and that God should call thee with an holy calling and bring thee in to be one of that little Flock that is under that good Shepherds care And that when there is but as it were one of a Family and two of a Tribe that thou shouldst be singled out from the rest and chosen when they are left What meer Grace and astonishing distinguishing Mercy is this Who maketh thee to differ from another And what hast thou that thou hast not received 1 Cor. 4.7 The Lord hath passed by Thousands and ten thousands who for deserts were all as good and for outward respects much better than us We were as deep in Original Sin as they and for Actual Sin it may be more foul and gross And for Dignity in the World many more Rich more Honourable more Wise are left in a state of sin to perish eternally And that thou shouldest be as a brand plucked
into our hearts as the pledge of our atonement we receive it when we receive the Spirit Rom. 5.11 And his Sanctifying work is the sure evidence that God is at peace with us 1 Thess. 5.23 The God of peace sanctifie you wholly And doth ingage us to wait on God in the way of well-doing till our pardon be pronounced and we be absolved by our Judges own Mouth in the hearing of all the VVorld In the mean time applyeth to us the Blood of Christ for the pacifying of our Consciences and the comforts of the Pardoning Covenant that our peace with God may be more firmly setled 2. As to Life He doth three things 1. Prepareth us and fitteth us for it 2 Cor. 5.5 He that hath wrought us for this very thing is God who also hath given us the earnest of the Spirit None are received into Glory but those that are prepared for Glory Rom. 9.23 Vessels of Mercy which he had before prepared unto glory He giveth us the Heavenly Mind or an heart working up to God and Heaven and purifieth us more and more for that blessed estate 2. He assureth us of it 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath anointed us and sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts The beginning of holiness and love to God is a pledge and assurance of the sight of God and our compleat vision of him and love to him For God would not so against Nature plant such dispositions in us if he meant not to perfect them Nor print his Image upon us if he intended not a more full conformity to himself in another and better World 3. He comforteth us and raiseth our longing after this blessed estate For the beginnings we have here are called also the first-fruits Rom. 8.23 The beginnings are sweet What will the Completion be As he is the earnest to confirm our hopes the first-fruits to raise our affections that we may be diligent and serious in the pursuit of it Vse of all 1. Here you see your scope what you should look for and hope for The forgiveness of sins and Inheritance among the Sanctified 2. Here you see your work and what you should now seek after the righteousness of Faith 3. Here you see your help and what will enable you to obtain through the Spirit Oh let these things be more in your thoughts 1. For your happiness or the great priviledges which you should most value and hope for First The forgiveness of sins I shall onely suggest these Two things to you 1. Till sin be forgiven you can never have sound Peace within your selves but still God will be matter of fear and terrour to you Adam as soon as he had sinned he was afraid Gen. 3.10 I heard thy voice in the Garden and was afraid and hid my self In the Morning of that day he was made by the hand of God and in a few hours runneth away from his Maker as afraid of him So Isai 33.14 The Sinners in Sion are afraid as unable to abide the presence of God Now we that have so much to do with God to depend upon him every moment for all that we are have and want surely it would be a comfortable thing to us to hear not onely that sin may be pardoned but is pardoned Isai. 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my People saith the Lord speak comfortably unto Ierusalem cry to her that her warfare is accomplished her sin is pardoned There is the true ground of comfort to have sin forgiven Other comforts tickle the Senses but this soaketh into the Heart 2. By waiting on the duties of the Gospel this comfort is more and more setled in the heart With the Serious it is not an easie thing to get this comfort setled for the Conscience of sin is not so soon laid aside We have wronged God and incurred his displeasure but now to believe that he is appeased is not so soon done as spoken Some are guilty and senseless but yet no sound peace Heb. 2.14 Subject to bondage though they feel it not Others are sensible and have a fear of God's wrath It is a great while ere they can get their hearts to settle on the possible pardon or reconciliation offered in the Covenant When they do it is but It may be Joel 2.14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him Zeph. 2.3 It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger But to judge of the sincerity of our qualification so as to say Psal. 103.3 Who pardoneth all thy sins and healeth all thy diseases this cometh not by and by The case is this God is angry his anger is ratified by the Sentence of his Law and Conscience is privy to our own disobedience and applieth the Sentence of his righteous Law to it self Some part of the anger may break out in his Providence Our duties and addresses to God about pardon are very imperfect therefore it is difficult to have Pardon setled yet by acquaintance with God in the exercise of Faith Repentance and New Obedience we come to get the Peace established Job 22.21 Acquaint thy self with him habitually converse with him and be at Peace 2. For eternal life Oh let it be your great hope to be translated into the glory and joys of Heaven when you flit out of this World This Life will not always last you must die but you do not wholly perish when you die Now what shall become of you to all eternity Would it not be a blessed thing to be assured that when you appear before the Bar of your Judge you shall not come into Condemnation but obtain eternal Life Surely happiness is desired by all The Young Man that cheapened the Pearl of the Gospel but was loth to go to the price said Good Master What shall I do to inherit eternal life Mark 10.17 Surely this is the question which all serious people should busie themselves about The Goaler did so Act. 16.30 Sirs What must I do to be saved Alas other things do not touch us so near Not How shall I do to live in the World But How shall I do to live with God for ever Let your hearts be upon that Psal. 24.3 Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord Who shall stand in his holy place Having spoke to your hope and scope let me Secondly now speak to your work what you must seek after and that is The righteousness of Faith To inforce this Consider 1. There is no appearing before God without some righteousness of one sort or another Why Because it is an holy and just God before whom we appear And Shall not the Iudge of all the Earth do right Gen. 18.25 And 1 Sam. 6.20 Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God If not now in the time of his Patience how then in the time of his recompence His Holiness inclineth him to hate sin and his Justice to punish
God Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens c. 2. God in our Nature was Abased Crucified made Sin made a Curse for us that he might pacifie the Justice of God and reconcile us to him So that besides the infinite Mercy and Power of God there is the Infinite Righteousness and everlasting Redemption of a Mediator God offended with Man is fully satisfied with the Ransom paid for Sinners by Christ Mat. 3.17 This is my well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 3. God having laid such a foundation and bestowed so great a gift upon us will not stick at any thing which is necessarily required to make us fully and eternally happy Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but gave him up c. shall he not with him freely give us all things Here in the Text 't is said All things are by him such abundant provision hath he made for Mans Salvation Surely here is a broad foundation for our comfort and hope Here is God appeased the works of the Devil dissolved our wounded Natures healed our Enemies vanquished by him as the Captain of our Salvation the Church defended and maintained by him as supream Head and Pastor all kept quiet by him between God and Us as our Agent and Advocate and finally he will bring us into the immediate presence of God that we may remain with him for evermore 4. Besides the dignity of his person consider the suitableness of his office to our necessity The dignity of his person must not be over-looked for he is God-man and therefore he is accepted by the Father and may be relied upon by us Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Besides the institution there is an intrinsick value Act. 20.28 'T is called the Blood of God But what a suitable as well as valuable a remedy do his Offices of King Priest and Prophet make him By these three Offices he exerciseth the Office of Mediator The three Offices are alluded unto Iohn 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life The Way as a Priest Truth as a Prophet Life as a King The Way because he hath removed the legal exclusion we were fugitives exiled and then Truth to direct us and give us the knowledge of Gods Nature and Will The Life To begin a Life of Grace in us by his Spirit which shall be perfected in Heaven So 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption All the offices of Christ are there expressed with a suitableness to our misery Wisdom as a Prophet to cure our ignorance and folly we had no true sense of the evil we deserved nor the good we wanted nor of the way to remove the one or obtain the other but he convinceth and instructeth us in all these things We lye also under the guilt and power of sin that is our second necessity and so Christ is made Righteousness and Sanctification as a Priest for he gave himself to cleanse us from sin Eph. 5.26 We are also liable to many miseries introduced by sin yea under a necessity of dying and perishing for ever therefore Christ is made Redemption as a King and as Captain of our Salvation at length fully redeemed us from all evil Rom. 8.23 And not only they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our Bodies Luk. 21.28 And when these things begin to come to pass then lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are seal'd to the day of Redemption Thus you see how amply we are provided for in Christ. It may as well be said By him are all things as it may be said of the Father From whom are all things Secondly Another improvement is to ingage and incourage us to make those returns of Love Worship and Obedience Service and Glory which are expected and required of us There is something which reflecteth from us upon God from all this Grace and Mercy which God dispensed by the Mediator We must be for him and we must be by him 'T is more than if it were said we must serve him glorifie him We in our whole capacity we must be whatever we are and do whatever we do to God and for God by the Mediator 1. We must enter into Covenant with him and give the Hand to the Lord and consent to be his Isa. 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord 's another shall call himself by the Name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his Hand unto the Lord. They should enter their Names to God to be entred into his Muster-Roll or Listed among the Faithful that belong to him and are Listed for his service a Member of that Body whereof Christ is Head a subject of that Kingdom whereof Christ is King 2 Cor. 8.5 'T is said But first gave their own selves unto the Lord. Rom. 12.1 Present your Bodies a living Sacrifice Holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service Christ gave himself a Sin-offering and we give up our selves a Thank-offering 2. There must be a strong love to God ever at work in our Hearts levelling and directing all our actions to his glory and this love must be an impression of the love shewed to us by Christ a thankful sense of his Mercies and Benefits 1 Iohn 4.19 We love him because he loved us first 2 Cor. 5.14 The Love of Christ constraineth us Love is an earnest bent and inclination of Heart towards our chief good and last end and its effect and work is to devote our selves to his Service Will and Honour longing after more of God and continually seeking for it Psal. 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee My Soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is A Soul that hath chosen God for its portion cannot want him nor be long without him nor satisfied with any partial enjoyment of him therefore still seeketh for more The main work of this life is a desirous seeking after God and getting nearer to their last end by all the means which God hath appointed us to use 3. There must be a constant study and care to please honour and glorifie this God Acts 27.23 Whos 's I am and whom I serve If we be dedicated to God there must be a conscience of our dedication that we may live unto God and this not now and then but in our whole course All our Faculties Bodies Souls 1 Cor. 6.19 20. What! know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy
righteousness for the remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3.25 In him God will satisfie his justice and accept of the believing Penitent He spared not his Son that he might spare us Rom. 8.32 He that spareth not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Isa. 53.10 It pleased the Lord to bruise him and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand In the same verse Christ's Bruises and our Salvation are called the pleasure of the Lord. The Lord was willing of both and well content with both 3. His gracious Covenant which may be considered 1. As to the terms or conditions it requires 2. As to the Penalties which God hath reserved a Liberty to inflict 1. As to the Terms or Conditions propounded it requireth Perfection and accepteth of Sincerity It requires Perfection Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Surely the Covenant of Grace requireth Perfection for the righteous Law is Adopted into the frame of it as the rule of our duty otherwise our defects were no Sins and otherwise allowed failings were consistent with sincerity and where shall we then stop otherwise we were not obliged to strive after perfection for it were only a work of Supererrogation not of necessary Duty to press towards the mark Therefore certainly it doth invite us to the highest degree of Goodness and maketh Perfection it self our Duty And there is Mercy in it that our Duty and Happiness may agree and we may not have liberty to be bad and miserable but ever bound to our own felicity which consisteth in an exact Conformity to God and the most perfect subjection to him But yet it accepteth of Sincerity If our Hearts be upright with God and set to obey please and glorify him and we make it our main work so to do God will not enter into judgments with his Servants nor be strict to his Children nor condemn those that Love and Fear him 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. But Hezekiah prayed for them saying The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his Heart to seek God the Lord God of his Fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary And the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people Therefore he taketh not advantage of our infirmities to ruine us Indeed as the Covenant commandeth Perfection it noteth our infirmities to humble us in order to our cure but as it accepteth of Sincerity Christ looketh not to our Infirmities as a Judge but as a tender Physician to rid us of them and free us from them more and more 2. As to the Afflictions and Penalties which God hath reserved a liberty to inflict notwithstanding the new Covenant they all infer his sparing of us for they are but Temporal Evils when we have deserved Eternal and the Temporal Evil is sent to prevent Eternal It is true they are merited by our Sin but yet they turn to our good They are in themselves the effects of God's displeasure and parts of our Misery but by them he speaketh to the Conscience of a Sinner and sealeth Instruction to our Hearts that we no longer deal perversly for the rod hath a voice Micah 6.9 Hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it In short they are in themselves and in their own nature Evils of punishment but there property is changed and so they are acts of God's Faithfulness Psal. 119.75 I know O Lord that thy Iudgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me and they are sent to us as a needful Medicine Isa. 27.9 By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his Sin And are profitable acts of God's Fatherly Discipline Heb. 12.10 For they verily for a few days chastned us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness Mercy turneth them to our benefit 'T is our part to seek after the benefit it is God's part to give it and to remove the affliction and that is his sparing Hic ure hic seca modo in Aeternum parcas or Burn me or Cut me or do what thou wilt with me here so thou spare me as to Eternal punishment said one of the Ancients 4. From his comfortable relation to us He is our Father and a Father will not be severe to his Children partly out of Instinct of Nature which inclineth the Bruits to their Young ones till they can shift for themselves and partly from Reason which should guide Men they being our own Flesh Blood and Bone a New and Second self the Child is the Father Multiplied and the Father Continued And partly out of Conscience of God's Command who hath injoyned this Duty on Parents to be tender of their Children Now if God be our Father and will take the relation upon himself he will do whatever this relation implieth Psal. 103.13 Like as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth thosâ— that fâ—ar him Yea whatever is in the Creature is ascribed to God per modum Eminentiae By way of Eminency Tam Pater nemo No one is so much a Father as God Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good Gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him So in the present case 1. There is sparing as to acceptance A Father if there be any blemish in his Child he will pity it and cover it He accepteth in good part the willingness of his Son to serve him though he through weakness fail in the exact manner of performance So our Heavenly Father accepteth of a willing and honest Heart though we come short of that perfection required in the Law His choice Servants have had their blemishes yet their merciful Father giveth them this commendation that they have have walked before him with a perfect Heart So doth God to David Asa and Iehosaphat 1 King 15.5 David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord and turned not aside from any thing which he commanded him save only in the matter of Uriah The brand of that wilful sin sticketh upon him but other things are passed by 2. There is God's sparing as to Punishment and Correction It is true that God hath reserved a liberty to scourge his Children but still he doth it as a Father Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth To spare the Rod is to spoil the Child but still he useth it as a Father which is seen partly because he cometh to it unwillingly There are Tears in his Eyes as it were when the Rod is in his hand Lam. 3.33 He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men And partly because he doth it in measure and with great Moderation In chastising his people he dealeth otherwise with his People than
took our Natures though the Crime of our first Parents had made it hateful to God and the consequent Miseries shewed it was not to be valued He that was a Judge of would become a Party and appear for us and answer in our Nature what might be required of us 3. It supports against the Terribleness of God's Majesty How can Men dwell with God Stubble with devouring Burnings If our Nature be taken into a personal Union with God it rendereth it more reconcilable to our Thoughts God incarnate born of a Virgin carried in the Womb rocked in a Cradle sucking of a Breast growing up by degrees going up and down and doing good when dying on the Cross lying in the Grave it mightily abateth our Fears 4. Against the pollution of our Natures which is so ingrained that it cannot be easily wrought off His own holy Nature is a Pledge of the Work of Grace He that separated our Nature in his own Person from all the pollution of his Ancestors he can purifie our Persons and heal our Natures how polluted soever So many as there are in the Story of Christ's Nativity Mat. 1. so many Miracles there are of Grace in that he prevented the Infection conveyed by such and such a one 5. Against the Mindlesness which Unbelief supposeth to be in God of Human Affairs especially of the Calamities of his People Now Christ hath taken the Communion of our Natures and Miseries as a pledge and sign of his Pity Heb. 2.17 He was made like his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-priest He would intender his Heart by Experience and inure himself to all our Sorrows 6. Against the doubt of Strangeness and that he will take no notice of our Request being so remote from him We may with the more confidence go to him with whom we communicate in Natures There is a natural Bond between him and us we are of the same Stock and Substance 7. Against the fear of Arrogancy in the assuming of the Priviledge of Adoption Surely he will bestow this Priviledge on a returning Sinner For if he be not ashamed to call us Brethren God will not be ashamed to be called our God Heb. 11.16 5 Use. Think of this for your Comfort We have an Unity with Christ in Nature that we may be encouraged to look after the Gifts which he dispenses that we may be one with him in Spirit We may the more chearfully come to him because he took our Nature for this end and purpose especially does this concern you that come to the Lord's Table The Meat that is set afore you is the Flesh of Christ his Humane Nature is the Food of your Souls It 's not enough that Christ the Son of God was partaker of our Flesh and Blood but we must also be partakers of his Flesh and Blood i. e. There must be a true Union and Communion with that Flesh and that Body and that Blood which Christ assumed into his Person and delivered up to Death for us all For Christ as the Son of Man in our Flesh is Head of the Mystical Body of which we are Members The Humane Nature is the Cistern in which the Spirit dwells without measure and of whose Fulness we all receive Grace for Grace that is the Temple in which the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily the Tree of Life whose Leaves heal the Nations In this Temple must we dwell into this Tree must we be grafted that we may become one with him and live by him So the Apostle tells us Eph. 5.30 For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his Bones That is not only of one nature with him which is common to them with all Mankind but as Members of one Mystical Body with him Not as God but as God-man We all draw our Spiritual Life and Nourishment from those things which Christ has done in our Flesh. For this end was the Lord's Supper instituted that we might be partakers of the Flesh and Blood of Christ not only of Bread and Wine but Flesh and Blood it self How so Not with our Mouth and Teeth but Spiritually by Faith with an hungry Conscience and Spiritual desires That which we do receive is not only the benefits which flow from Christ but the very Body and Blood of Christ That is Christ himself Crucified As none can be partaker of the Virtue of the Bread and Wine to his Bodily sustenance unless he do first receive the Substance of those Creatures so neither can any be partaker of the benefits arising from Christ to his Spiritual relief except he first have Communion with Christ himself We must have the Son before we have Life 1 Iohn 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son hath not Life and we must eat him if we will live by him Iohn 6.57 Well then this is our great business to be partakers of Christ. Now in partaking of Christ we begin at his Humane Nature his Flesh and Blood Iohn 6.53 His Cross and his Death His Body and Blood 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Christ as dying becomes fit Food for Hungry Sinners So only is he suitable to their necessities Certainly the hunger is not that of the body for a Meal but that of the Conscience for a Saviour In this sense the flesh profits nothing but the spirit quickens Iohn 6.62 A man is not better nor a jot the holier nor the further from the second Death if he had filled his Belly with it 'T is a Spiritual eating by Faith that brings quickning and Life an applying of Christ as a Saviour in our Nature Well then His Flesh was given as the price of Life Iohn 6.51 The Bread which I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world This is the first receptacle of our Spiritual Life and being laid hold on by Faith is the Conduit to convey Life to us But the Author of all is his Spirit being and dwelling in us That same Flesh and Humane Nature of Christ which was offered up a ransom to justice is also the Bread of Life for Souls to feed upon tho' the quickning Efficacy and Virtue flow from the Godhead to which his Flesh is united 2. Doctrine That Christ having taken our nature upon him is not ashamed to accept and acknowledge us for Brethren What cause of shame there might be in it we intimated before in the Explication Notwithstanding our meanness and unworthyness and his own glory and excellency Divines observe That he never giveth his Disciples the title of Brethren but after his Resurrection before Servants little Children and Friends were their usual designations But then expresly he calleth them Brethren Servants Iohn 13.13 14. Ye call me Lord and Master and ye
God in token whereof he hath set him forth in the Gospel as a propitiation for Sin Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood And in the Text he is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a Lamb but the Lamb that Lamb of God which is said partly by way of dignity and distinction to put a difference between him and the Typical Lamb and partly by way of Ostension and Demonstration that Lamb figured in the Sacrifices and spoken of by the Prophets this is he the Lamb of God indeed Now Lambs were often used in Sacrifices In the Purification of Women Levit. 12.6 She shall bring a Lamb of the first Year for a Burnt-Offering In the Cleansing of the Leper Levit. 14.10 On the eighth day he shall bring two He-Lambs without blemish and one Ewe-Lamb without blemish both which figured the Cleansing of our defiled Natures by Christ and the doing away the Defilement and Leprosie of Sin But the most frequent and constant use of the Lamb was in the daily Sacrifice Exod. 29.38 39. Now this is that thou shalt offer upon the Altar two Lambs of the first year day by day continually the one Lamb thou shalt offer in the Morning and the other Lamb thou shalt offer at Even which was to be done with Meal and Wine the two great supports of the Natural Life all which figured Christ. God is every day pleased and propitiated for our Sins and by vertue of his daily Mediation we and all our actions are accepted of the Lord. The Lord Jesus is our daily Lamb which must be represented to God's justice as the only means of our atonement every Morning and every Evening we need it as much as they and are more obliged than they because all is clear and open to us Now upon the Sabbath Day this Offering was double Numb 28.9.10 And on the Sabbath day two Lambs of the first year without spot and two tenth deals of Flower for a Meat-offering mingled with Oyl and the Drink-offering thereof This is the burnt-offering of every Sabbath beside the continual burnt-offering and his drink-offering Then God requireth a more solemn remembrance of Christ our Lamb slain for us Thirdly But the most solemn Figure and Type of Christ was the Paschal Lamb and most frequently interpreted of him in the New Testament 1 Cor. 5.7 Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for us And Iohn 19.36 A bone of him shall not be broken This was originally spoken of the Paschal Lamb Exod. 12.46 Neither shall ye break a bone thereof Now the Evangelist bringeth this as a Prophecy this which was ordained concerning the Paschal Lamb is said to be fulfilled in Christ it is brought as a reason why the Divine Providence permitted not his Legs to be broken This is the Type to which Iohn here alludeth and saith Behold the Lamb of God Therefore here my Work must be fixed to state the resemblance between the Paschal Lamb and Jesus Christ. Certainly the use of that Ordinance was Typical as well as Historical it was ordained not only as a Memorial of their redemption from Aegypt but as a figure of our redemption by Christ. To the first Use it is supposed David hath respect when he said Psal. 111.4 5. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembred the Lord is gracieus and full of compassion He hath given meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant The Meat there mentioned is supposed to respect the Paschal Lamb when they were to remember the Works of God But the chief use was to Type out Christ who hath so taken away Sin that he hath freed us from eternal Death He was the Truth and Substance of that Type and the true Passover sacrificed for us in whose Person and in whose Sufferings and Benefits all that is really to be found which is pointed out and Typified by that Shadow That this may more clearly appear to you I shall shew you that the Paschal Lamb figured 1. The Person of Christ. 2. His Death on the Cross. 3. The Fruits of his Death 4. The manner how we are made Partakers of them I. The Paschal Lamb figured the Person of Christ. The Prophets and Apostles do often set forth the Person of Christ under the Notion of a Lamb. Isaiah calleth him a Lamb Isa. 53.7 He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter And Philip instructing the Eunuch applyeth that Prophecy to Christ Acts 8.35 And among the Apostles Peter telleth you That we are redeemed with the precious â—lood of Christ as of a Lamb without spot and blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 And Iohn the Evangelist calleth him often The Lamb that was slain Rev. 5.6 9. And here Iohn the Baptist who was Fibula legis Evangelii in the middle between the Prophets and Apostles calleth him The Lamb of God in the Text and Ver. 36. Behold the Lamb of God And fitly for Christ was a Lamb in regard of his Meekness Patience and humble Innocence For his Meekness he was a Lamb for he saith Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Matth. 11.29 And for his Innocency for there was no guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.22 But chiefly for his Patience for as a Lamb before the shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth Acts 8.32 He did not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets Isa. 42.2 Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.23 Not that he wanted Strength and Power for all Power was given him both in Heaven and Earth and if he would have made use of them he had more than twelve Legions of Angels at his command Matth. 26.53 Thinkest thou not that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give more than twelve legions of Angels One of which was able enough easily to dissipate and destroy all his Enemies But he came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many Matth. 20.28 And therefore he humbled himself being made obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phill. 2.8 Thus the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah by a strange Metamorphosis of a Lion was made a Lamb that out of the Eater might come forth Meat and out of the Strong might come forth Sweetness for this Lamb feedeth us with his Flesh and giveth us to drink of his Blood Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed No Dish so savoury as that to an hungry Conscience no Draught to comfortable to a thirsty Soul And besides this he cloatheth us with the Fleece of his own Righteousness and therefore we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.29 As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord
their Broach was fashioned to the shape of a Cross a transverse piece of Wood thrust through the Shoulders of the Lamb and why should we not believe this Holy Man who was well acquainted with the Jewish affairs being born at Sychem Besides the notable Providence of God that Christ's Legs should not be broken 3. The fruits and benefits of this Sacrifice 1. By the sprinkling the Blood of the Lamb he that destroyeth the first born of the Aegytians could not touch them Heb. 11 28. This secured them against the destroying Angel to teach us that the justice of God doth only spare them whose Consciences are sprinkled with the Blood of Christ. The Blood of the Lamb and the Blood of Christ was shed for this end that it might be sprinkled and being sprinkled might exempt and free us from Death So the Apostle St. Peter speaketh of the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus by which the Elect are sanctified and saved 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ. There was not only Blood shed but Blood sprinkled so Heb. 12.24 And to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel God said of the blood of the Paschal Lamb Exod. 12.23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Aegyptians and when he seeth the blood upon the Lintel and on the two side posts the Lord will pass over the Door and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you So when Wrath maketh inquisition for Sinners God beholding his Sons Blood wherewith the Elect are sprinkled they are exempted from the Curse wherein others have intangled and involved themselves for saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him So that we need not fear the Sword of the destroying Angel whither he be an Angel of Darkness or an Evil Angel for God hath delivered us from the power of Darkness by the Blood of his Son Col. 1.13 or an Heavenly Angel by the same blood he hath reconciled all things unto himself both in Heaven and in Earth Col. 1.20 Those Angels which were heretofore set as a guard upon the Earthly Paradise with a Flaming Sword to keep us out from thence do carry us into the Heavenly Paradise Luke 16.22 The Begger died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom and are Ministring Spirits sent forth for the Heirs of Promise not to destroy them but to keep them and preserve them Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation 2. In that very Night in which the Paschal Lamb was slain the Israelites obtained their freedom and deliverance out of Aegypt So hath Christ by his Blood freed us from the slavery of Sin the Devil and the World and called us into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men. So Heb. 2.15 That he might deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life time subject to Bondage And Iohn 8.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed We are redeemed unto God as they went into the Wilderness to worship God 3. In that very Night God exercised Judgments on the Gods of the Aegytians So it is said Exod. 12.12 Against all the Gods of the Aegyptians will I exercise Iudgment And it is repeated Numb 33.4 For the Aegyptians buried all their first born which the Lord had smitten among them upon their Gods also the Lord executed Iudgments Some say by slaying the Beasts which the Aegyptians Worshipped as the Oxe Ionathan in his Paraphrase saith that all their Idols of Metal melted and their Idols of Stone and Earth were broken in pieces and their Idols of Wood were burned to Ashes whether this or that we cannot tell because the Scripture is silent but surely these threatnings were not in vain and wanted not there certain effect Certain we are that by the blood of Christ the Devils Kingdom goeth down Iohn 12.31 32. Now shall the Prince of this World be cast out And I if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me As Christ's Kingdom goeth up the Idols are thrown to the Moles and to the Bats Isa. 2.20 And God will famish all the Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11 And in the 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversations received by tradition from your Fothers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot The blood of Christ fetcheth over men from their inveterate Customs and Superstitions And Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb. And 1 Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil 4. How shall we be partakers of those good things which come to us from the Lamb of God Two things were required of these Israelites that they should sprinkle the blood of this Lamb upon the Lintel and the two side Posts And then eat his flesh in an Holy and Religious manner and if any of the Israelites had neglected either of these he had refused the grace annexed to this Ordinance and so lost the benefit of it So if we neglect the means by which Christ is to be applyed we lose our benefit by him 1. They were to sprinkle the Lintel and the two side Posts of their doors At another time God gave them direction to write his Law on the door Posts Deut. 11.20 Thou shalt write them upon the door Posts of thy house and upon thy gates Which I mention that we may the better understand what is meant by them By these Door Posts are meant our Hearts for these God sprinkleth with the blood of his Son Heb. 10.22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience And upon these hearts of ours doth he write his Laws Ier. 31.32 I will put my law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts For the Hearts of Men are as open to God as the Doors of our Houses are to our selves Now our hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Christ when we firmly believe that God is propitiated by the blood of Christ and will spare all those who in a broken Hearted manner sue out their pardon in Christ's name unfeignedly devoting themselves to God Oh than Let every one of us get our hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ and apply it to our Consciences and say with the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.15 Iesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief And again Gal. 6.14 God forâ—id that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the World
Work to make us serious will carry it on to a farther degree if we be not impatient Matth. 12.20 A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory He is not wont to be strange to such as bemoan themselves to him Ier. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself It may be he will not do it so sensibly by Ordinances as by or not without sharp Providences which usually subtract the Fuel of our Lusts and awaken Seriousness Isa. 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin And 2 Cor. 12.7 There was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure We must leave God to his own way 3 Use. Let it put us on Thankfulness to our Redeemer Sin is a great mischief now that he should fetch us up from the Gates of Hell and recover us when the sentence of Condemnation was pass'd upon us and there was nothing but the slender thread of a frail Life between us and Execution and was content to do it at so dear a rate as to be made Sin and to be made a Curse for us and that he should put us into the way of Salvation to obtain Eternal Life how should our Hearts be enlarged in Thanksgiving to such a Redeemer A Sermon on JOHN xviii 11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it THese Words are part of Christ's Rebuke to Peter who when the High-Priest's Servants came to attack Christ draweth his Sword and cuts off Malchus his Ear which our Lord first healeth and then reproveth his Disciple for this temerarious Action Put up thy sword into the sheath He reproveth him partly because it becometh no private Man by opposition to resist Authority but the chief Reason was our Lord would not be hindred in performing the great Act of his Mediation his dying for Sinners You shall see in another place when Peter counselled him against his Sufferings he rebuked him with the same severity that he doth the Devil tempting him to Idolatry Get thee behind me Satan Matth. 16.23 compared with Matth. 4.10 And here this rash and unseasonable Interposition to save his Master by force is again reproved In Peter's Temerity take notice of the difference between Military Valour and Christian Fortitude He that faltered and was blown down by the weak blast of a Damsel's Question hath now the Courage with a single Sword to venture upon an whole Band of Men. Military Valour is boistrous and dependeth upon the heat of Blood and Spirits and is better for a sudden Onset than a deliberate Tryal but Christian Fortitude dependeth on the strength of Faith and lieth in a meek subjection to God and will enable us to endure the greatest Torments rather than encroach upon the Conscience of our Duty to God A Man of a Military forward Spirit may outbrave Dangers when they are sudden but faileth or fainteth in weaker Tryals that are managed rather in a way of Charge and Accusation than Force But in Christ's Rebuke take notice of his Obedience to God and Love to Men. Obedience to God shall I not suffer patiently without resisting what my Father hath determined me to suffer And Love to Men it was the Cup which God had given him to drink for the good of his People and therefore he would by no means decline it In the words take notice of 1. The Notion by which Affliction is expressed it is a Cup. 2. God's ordering of it Which my Father hath given me 3. Christ's submission Shall I not drink it 1. For rhe Term or Notion whereby Christ's sufferings are expressed a Cup. We read of a threefold Cup in Scripture 1. A Cup of Tribulation 2. A Cup of Consolation 3. A Cup of Salvation and Thanksgiving The first of these is often mentioned Psal. 11.6 Upon the Wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup. So the Prophet Ieremiah is bidden Ier. 25.15 Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand and cause all the nations to whom I send thee to drink it So Psal. 75.8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup and the wine is red it is full of mixture and he poureth out the same but the dregs thereof all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them Thus God's Dispensations are ordinarily expressed by a Cup poured out and given to Men to drink And therefore our Lord Christ himself useth this form of speech not only here but elsewhere as Matth. 26.39 Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me It was a dreadful Cup that he was to drink of The second Cup the Cup of Consolation is spoken of Ier. 16.7 Neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother taken from the Jewish Custom of sending it to them that mourned or to condemned Persons The same is spoken of Prov. 31.6 7. Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more Amos 2.8 They drank the wine of the condemned The third was the Cup of Salvation spoken of Psal. 116.13 I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Or the Cup of Deliverance used more solemnly in the Temple by the Priests or more privately in the Family Sometimes called the Drink-offering of Praise And to which the Cup of Blessing 1 Cor. 10.16 used in the Lord's Supper hath a great respect for it was always used with certain Expressions of Commemoration and Praise The first is plainly here intended the Cup of Tribulation so called because our Afflictions are measured out by God both for quantity and quality either by his Justice or by his Wisdom and Mercy 2. God's ordering of it which my Father hath given me Christ mentioneth not the malice of his Enemies but the will of God and his Father His hand in Christ's sufferings is often asserted in Scripture Isa. 53.10 It pleased the father to bruise him he hath put him to grief Acts 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Acts 4.28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done God did not excite and instigate those wicked Wretches to that cruelty which they exercised upon Christ yet it was prae-determined by God for the salvation of Mankind 3. Christ's submission Shall I not drink it If God put a bitter Cup into our hands we must not refuse it for here we have Christ's Example The meaning is This bitter Passion which the Father hath laid upon
Objects of Pity and Compassion rather than of Passion and Anger Eph. 1.32 Be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Consider what God hath done to you that you may do the same to them Secondly The next consideration of this Prayer of Christ is as a Tast and Pledge of his Mediation and Intercession So it is Prophecied Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Christ was placed in the midst of Thieves as the first Clause is explained Mark 15.28 and he made Intercession that is prayed for his Persecutors The whole Chapter is a Prophetical Narration of the Acts and Sorrows of Christ upon the Cross. In this publick Sense and Consideration let us see what may be gathered out of the Clause Father forgive them 1. It is an Instance of Christ's Love and Bowels to Sinners he loved Mankind so well that he Prayed for them that Crucified him Look on the Lord Jesus as Praying and Dying for Enemies and improve it as a ground of Confidence Upon the Cross he would give us an Instance of his Efficacy in converting the Thief and of his Affection in praying for his Persecutors We were as great Enemies to Christ and as deep in the Guilt of his Passion as they Rom. 5.10 When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son The Enemies of his Kingdom are every way as bad as the Enemies of his Person if Christ did not say Father forgive what would become of us You will say we are Christians But scandalous Sinners renew his Sufferings and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 Oh! let us Adore God for these Experiences it is a mighty ground of Hope that Christ hath put in for a Pardon he would not die till he had expressed his Reconciliation with his Enemies 2. See what is the Voice and Merit of his Sufferings Father forgive them This is the Speech that Christ uttered when he was laid on the Cross. The Apostle compareth Christ's Blood and the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 And to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel Abel's Blood was clamorous in the Ears of God Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy brothers blood crieth to me from the ground And so in the Conscience of Cain it crieth Avenge Avenge me Christ's Blood hath another Voice it speaketh to God to pacifie his Wrath and to Pardon us if penitent and believing Sinners it speaketh to Conscience to be quiet God hath found out a Ransom The Blood of Christ may speak against us as well as against the Iews for by our Sins we made Christ to die Oh! be not quiet till it speak Peace in your Consciences Christ's Blood was spilt in Malice as Abel's was and might have cried for Vengeance on the Actors who were not only the Iews but we and it yet speaketh as Abel's did Heb. 11.4 By it he being dead yet speaketh It is a speaking Blood and is yet speaking The speaking of the Blood is interpreted according to the Words in their Mouth wherewith they died Mat. 23.35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zecharias the son of Barachias whom ye slew between the porch and the altar Our Lord gathers it from Zecharias his saying The Lord look upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24.22 So the Words of Christ interpret his Death 3. In the Mediatory Consideration it hinteth the coupling of his Intercession with his Satisfaction On the Cross there he dieth and there he prayeth he was both Priest and Sacrifice The High-Priest under the Law was not only to slay the Sacrifice but to intercede for the People first the Beast was slain without the Camp and then the Blood was carried into the Holy of Holies and there Prayer was made with Incense but before that Aaron when he was going into the holy Place before the Lord was to cause the sound of his Golden Bells to be heard under pain of Death Exod. 28.35 To this I parallel this Action of Christ upon the Cross. This Prayer was as the sound of the Golden Bells he would make his Voice to be heard by Prayer and then he goes into the Holy of Holies the Lord Jesus Christ when he shed his Blood before the Tribunal of God he sendeth forth a Prayer God would have our Salvation carried on in a way of Mercy and Justice and Christ was to mingle Intreaty with Satisfaction as Lev. 16.14 the High-Priest was to bring the Blood within the Vail and to sprinkle it upon the Mercy-Seat He must satisfie Justice and make an Address to Mercy that we that have sinned with both hands may take hold of God with both hands Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ it is freely and yet through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ these two sweetly accord 4. This is a Pledge of his constant Intercession in Heaven The Ceremonies of the Old Law were not only Types of Christ but his visible Actions were a kind of Types and Pledges of his Spiritual Actions 1 Iohn 2.1 If any man sin we have an advocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous He that could pray for Enemies will pray for Friends and he that got our Pardon by his Intercession will promote our Salvation Certainly Christ's Glorified Soul looseth no Affection he is as earnest with the Father for his Friends as ever he was upon the Cross for his Persecutors Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Christ doth appear as our Advocate in Court not only in our Name but in our stead 5. It shews the Nature of his Intercession It not only implies the everlastingness of his Merit that his Blood doth continue to deserve such things at the hands of God as we stand in need of but it is a continual representation of his Merit it is not a Metaphor but a solemn Act of his Priesthood Again it is not by Verbal Expressions such as he used here upon Earth Father forgive them this became the state of his Humiliation but now he intercedes Non voce sed miseratione Not by Voice but by Pity What is it then Partly his appearing in Heaven as God in our Nature Heb. 9.24 Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands c. but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us He is said to appear before God for us as the High-Priest came and presented himself before God with the Names of the twelve Tribes engraven on his Breast-plate Partly in his expressing an actual Willingness or the
though there were two left with shining Garments to give satisfaction to his Disciples Acts 1.10 11. While they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven This same Iesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so return in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Christ was thinking how his Father would embrace him put the Crown upon his Head bid him sit down at his right hand and how there he was to be Royally attended And this doth not derogate from his Love to us for he went to prepare a Place for us and as our fore-runner is entred into Glory and because he lives we shall live also 1 Use. To commend the Love of Christ to us 1. That he should die this was an incomparable condescention of his Love Simeon suffered himself to be bound for his Brethren Gen. 42.24 Lot proffers his Daughters to save his Guests Gen. 19.8 But Christ would lay down his Life If it were in our choice who would die Who would be tumbled into a Pit of Darkness a cold Hole where he should see the Sun no more We would live for ever It is not put to our choice but it is in our wishes But Christ might have chosen whether he would die or no and yet he died 2. Christ had more reason to love his Life than we have He had a delicate Body and the Social Presence of the Godhead The poorest Worm in the world desires to keep its Life Iob 2.4 Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life That is a Man would part with all for Skins were the Barter of those days And the more excellent the Life is the more desire Men have to keep it as young Men whose Marrow is in their Bones to them Life is Life indeed The Woman that was broken and spent with old Age yet spent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all her living on Physicians Luke 8.43 Christ had reason to love Life upon a Natural Respect he was about 33 Years old and upon a Spiritual Respect his Human Nature enjoyed the near presence of the God-head but when he was in his full vigour and strength he willingly died 3. That Death which he died was a sad bloody Death the saddest Death that any Man could die He was weaken'd with the Agonies in the Garden They pierced his hands and his feet Psal. 22.16 The Sinewy Parts of his Body were pierced with Nails his Life dropping out by degrees the Irons open'd a passage for his Soul And which was more than all he suffered under the wrath of God Mat. 27.46 My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me 4. It was a shameful Death he suffered as a Malefactor Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors He was Crucified between two Thieves In medio latronum tanquam latronum maximus as if he were the greatest of them He was treated as a Sinner we are made the Sons of God Iob was called Hypocrite by his Friends but he would maintain his Righteousness till death Iob 27.6 My Righteousness will I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Eusebius Vercellensis chose rather to starve in Prison then that it should be said he had eaten with the Arians Christ takes it patiently to die as a Thief an Impostor a Traytor Iohn 18.30 If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee The High-Priest charged him with Blasphemy Mat. 26.65 Then the High-priest rent his clothes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses Behold now ye have heard his blasphemy The Disciples began to doubt of him and to look on him as an Impostor Luke 24.21 We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel By God himself when he had taken our Sins upon him he was dealt with as a Transgressor 1 Pet. 4.1 He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin He was as a Sinner before Heb. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many An ingenious Man â—alueth his good Name above all Enjoyments There was enough to clear Christ's Innocency yet in the repute of the world he suffered as a Malefactor Oh how unlike is Christ to the Men of the World Christ is Innocent and accounted a Transgressor they are Transgressors yet would fain be accounted Innocent as Saul said to Samuel 1 Sam. 15.30 I have sinned yet honour me now I pray thee before the elders of my people and before Israel We are more careful of Credit than Conscience and would not be accounted Sinners yet do not fear to be so What a comfort is this to Believers that Satan cannot lay more to your charge than his Instruments did to Jesus Christ. 5. He submitted to this Death most willingly He thirsted and longed to pay the Ransom for us here was not so much pain and shame as there was willingness Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins There was not only the Acts of the Father in giving Christ but a peculiar Act of Christ He gave himself How freely did Christ empty his Veins and let out his Soul it was no more to Christ to pour out his Soul than for the Minister to pour out the Wine We pray as if we were afraid to be heard we hear as if we were loth to be saved we serve God as if we were loth to please him there is a grudging in our Acts of Duty but Christ was free and willing to die for us 6. His Blood was spilt in Malice it might have cried for Vengeance yet it crieth for Pardon it had the Perfume of an infinite Merit Heb. 12.24 The blood of sprinkling speaketh better things than that of Abel As to Abel's Blood that crieth for Vengeance Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy Brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground Christ's Blood cries for Pardon As to the Actors his Blood would not have been a Curse to them if they had harken'd to the Voice of the Gospel But to speak of our selves we by our Sins had made our Lord to serve and die yet doth not his Blood speak against us as Abel's did against Cain but it speaks to God to pacifie his Wrath and to pardon us Our Sins cry Lord forgive not Isa. 2.9 The mean man boweth down and the great man humbleth himself therefore forgive them not They speak in our Conscience ye deserve Death But Christ's Blood speaketh words of Peace and Comfort to cleanse it and make it quiet when Wrath is ready to break out from Justice it still cryeth Father it is finished Christ's Blood yet speaketh When the awaken'd Conscience lies in fear of the offended Judge and is vexed with the restless Accusations of Satan the Blood of Christ speaketh better things viz. it is
away The Party displeased and provoked is God and the Party defiled is the immortal Soul of Man which being subject to the Power of God and bound by his Laws upon Disobedience is conscious to it self of the Merit of Death and Punishment and debarred from all Communion with God And it cannot have any sound Peace till it knows that God is satisfied and that it shall be admitted again into terms of Grace and Favour with him That Sin hath made us filthy and loathsom to God that we cannot please him nor be accepted with him the Word doth not only assert it Psal. 14.2 3. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Job 15.14 What is Man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one But Conscience is in part sensible of it so that a Sinner hath a secret Dread and Shiness of God especially upon the commission of actual Sins 1 Iohn 3.20 21. For if our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God I know generally Man looketh to the Foulness and Cleanness of the body but is insensible of the Stain of the Soul Yet we cannot always exempt no not the worst from a secret Sense of this However our Misery and Happiness dependeth upon God's Judgment not our own If in the Eye of God all of us are polluted and unclean lying in our Blood defiled with the Guilt of Sin already committed and the filthy Vileness of Sin yet in-dwelling This is evident we were miserable enough till God found out a Remedy And this Misery is the deeper because Man loveth what God loatheth as the Swine loveth wallowing in the Mire and therefore it is a Creature loathsom to us We count Sin a Bravery when it is the greatest Impurity a Filthiness deeply ingrained in our Natures and therefore not easily washed away both as to the Guilt as also to the Stain and â—lot 2. This being our Misery Christ came to wash us and with no other Laver than his own Blood as a Priest offering himself a Sacrifice for our Sins The Remedy for so great a Mischief must have a noble and excellent Cause That Blood was necessary appeareth by the Types of the Law for the typical Expiation was made by the Blood of Bulls and Goats offered in Sacrifice And that no Blood but the Blood of Jesus Christ would serve the turn is evident if you consider the Party displeased and provoked who was God the Party defiled the immortal Spirit of Man and the heinous Nature of the Offence which was a Breach of his righteous and eternal Law Therefore it is said 1 Iohn 1.7 The Blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Heb. 1.3 He by himself purged our Sins And Heb. 9.13 14. If the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God There is Virtue and Efficacy enough in the Blood of Christ partly from the Institution of God and its own manifold Worth and Value as being the Blood of God partly by the way and manner in which it was offered by an Act done in our Nature of the greatest Obedience and Self-denial that ever was or can be and so God is fully repaired in point of Honour 3. This Sacrifice thus offered was accepted of God in the Behalf of sinful Man as a full Price and Merit to procure for us both Justification and Sanctification We needed both being polluted both with the Guilt and Stain of Sin Both are a Trouble to a sensible Conscience or an awakened Sinner who is in the next Capacity to receive this Sacrifice 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness As a Man that hath broken his Leg is not only troubled with the Pain but would have it set right again Both are implied in this Washing and both are effectually accomplished by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God And Christ hath obtained both by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice for our Pardon and Restitution to God's Grace and Favour Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ As also the Gift of the Spirit to sanctify and renew us to the Image of God Tit. 3.5 6. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour 4. Besides the Impetration of this Benefit we must consider the Application The Sacrifice had Power to purge us and wash us from our Sins as soon as it was offered and accepted of God The procuring of the Power is the Impetration which was antecedent to actual Pardon and Sanctification Therefore it is said When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down at the right Hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.3 Then he interposed the Merit then was the first Grant made or Liberty given But then for the Application It is applied when we submit to those terms that are agreed upon between our Redeemer and God as our supream Judg and Lawgiver As when this Sacrifice is believed and depended on and pleaded in an humble and broken-hearted manner and improved to Thankfulness and Resolutions to return to the Obedience of our Creator then is Sin actually pardoned and our Hearts cleansed He did not pardon nor cleanse nor sanctify as soon as this Blood was shed upon the Cross until it be effectually applied to the filthy Soul by a lively Faith Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith and a serious and broken-hearted Repentance 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins We must bewail our Sins depend upon the Sacrifice of Christ sue out the Virtue of it by Prayer Psal. 51.2 VVash me throughly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin Extinguish the Love of Sin by godly Sorrow and all holy means and mortify the Flesh by the Help of the Spirit Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body c.
with the Blessing of eternal Life His Priestly Actions after the Order of Aaron were his Consecration to his everlasting blessed Priesthood after the Order of Melchisedeck Without these Sufferings he could neither be a faithful nor a merciful high Priest nor satisfy his Father's Justice nor have a full feeling from Experience of the Creatures Misery Well then as Christ was consecrated at his Death so is a Christian who runneth Parallel with Christ in all his Offices As Christ had an Inauguration into that Priesthood he executed upon Earth at his Baptism So hath a Christian for his spiritual Priesthood as soon as washed in the Laver of Regeneration but for his everlasting Priesthood at Death 2. My next Argument is This suteth with the other Privilege of Kings We are made Kings as well as Priests Now as our Kingly Office is not perfect till we come to Heaven so neither our Priestly and therefore it mainly respecteth our Ministration in the heavenly Temple How is a poor Christian a King here unless in a Riddle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he vanquisheth the Devil the World and the Flesh As it is a Princely thing to be above inferiour things and to trample them under our Feet The Heathen could say Rex est qui metuit nihil Rex est qui cupit nihil He is a King that is above the Hopes and Fears of the World that feareth nothing and desireth nothing This is indeed in a Metaphor a Kingly Spirit to have our Hearts in Heaven and to look upon all sublunary things as beneath our Care and Affections Christ's Kingdom is not of this World neither is a Believer's Here upon Earth we reign only in a spiritual way But the Privilege cometh fully to be verified when we tread Satan under our Feet and triumph over Enemies and reign visibly and gloriously sitting upon Thrones with Christ at his Coming judging the World and Angels themselves Matth. 19.28 Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye shall also sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.29 30. I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me That ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Psal. 49.14 The upright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning And 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that we shall judg the World And ver 3. Know ye not that we shall judg Angels Neither will this Kingdom be terminated and ended at the Day of Judgment but they shall be Kings eternal in Heaven Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom 2 Tim 2.12 If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him that is in Heaven With respect to this Title Right and Interest we are said to be made Kings Now proportionably the other Privilege of being made Priests must be expounded also We are spiritual Priests upon Earth we have our Sacrifices of Prayers Praises and Alms and devoting our selves to God But this Office is not compleated till we come to Heaven and do immediately minister before the Lord. Then we have Entrance into the holiest Heb. 10.19 Having therefore Brethren Boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Iesus Not in Spirit but in Person For if the chief Part of our Kingly Office be yet behind why not the chief Part of our Priestly Office also 3. Then we are qualified and prepared Sanctification must go before Consecration and the more sanctified the more consecrated And when our Sanctification is finished then our Consecration is consummated and not till then Now in this World our Justification and Sanctification is imperfect we are not got above our legal Fears and Grace is very weak in us You know before we can serve the living God our Consciences must be purged from dead Works Heb. 9.14 As the High Priest was not to approach God without his Washings lest he die And we are bidden to draw nigh to God with a true Heart in full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water Heb. 10.22 If we have the Privilege of Priests we must perform the Duties of Priests Now we are not perfect as appertaining to the Conscience nor are we fully cleansed and sanctified till the Vail of the Flesh be removed and we be presented to God without Spot and Wrinkle Somewhat is begun indeed that will tend to and end in perfect Sanctification enough to qualify us for our Ministration at this Distance from God There is enough done on Christ's Part by way of Impetration and Merit Heb. 10.14 For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified or consecrated he hath payed the Price but as to the Application that is by Degrees The Priest under the Law was seven Days in consecrating this figured all the time that interveneth before we enter upon the everlasting Sabbath Our whole Life is the time of Consecration which goeth on by Degrees and will be made compleat both for Body and Soul at the Resurrection for then shall we be made fit to approach the Throne of Glory and serve our God in a perfect manner in the eternal Temple of Heaven In this Life our Consecration is not yet finished we cannot come so near God we are qualified indeed to come to the Throne of Grace but not qualified to come to the Throne of Glory But the Work is a-doing and in time it will be accomplished 4. We have not the full Privileges of Priests till then which is Intimacy full Communion Nearness of Access to God and Ministration before him This is the Privilege we have as Priests The Apostle telleth us Heb. 9.8 The Holy Ghost signifieth that the way to the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing How did the Holy Ghost signify this I answer by the whole Oeconomy and Frame of that Dispensation God kept State and Majesty then and his People must not come too near him The common Israelite must not come too near the Sanctuary they were not to camp or pitch their Tents round about it but only the Levites lest they die Numb 1.52 53. And the Children of Israel shall pitch their Tents every Man by his own Camp and every Man by his own Standard throughout the Host. But the Levites shall pitch round about the Tabernacle of Testimony that there be no Wrath upon the Congregation of the Children of Israel It was a dangerous thing for the common Israelites to be too near the Symbols of God's Presence to teach us the Distance between God and Men and their Unworthiness to come near him and his holy things But though the Levites might encamp near it yet none but the Priests must
his Sufferings 1. In the value of the Sacrifice Nothing could expiate Sin but the Blood and Shame and Agonies of the Son of God A Man would have thought that a Word of Christs Mouth would have pacified God but so great was the offence that though he cryed with strong cries God would not hear him till he had endured his Wrath. Christ prayed Matth. 26.39 O my Father If it be possible let this cup pass from me But God would not bate him a farthing If you would know Sin go to Golgotha 2. The Extremity of his Sufferings His outward Sufferings were much If you consider the Majesty of his Person he was the Great God that filled Heaven and Earth with his Glory and yet was sold for thirty pence the price of a Slave His back was mangled with Whips his Body nailed to the Cross he was scorned in all his Offices a variety of Sorrow was poured in by the Conduit of every sense seeing smelling tasting hearing and feeling If you consider the Excellency of his Constitution his Body being framed by the Holy Ghost was of a more exact temper his Senses more lively they that enjoy Life in a higher measure than others the more delicate the Sense the higher the Pain the back of a Slave is not so sensible of stroaks as of one that is nicely and tenderly bred His Senses were kept lively and in their full vigour he refused the stupifying Cup that was given to him He kept his strength to the last this appeared by his strong cry when he gave up the Ghost Luke 23.46 And when Iesus had cryed with a loud voice he said Father Into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost But what is this to what is inward The Agonies of his Soul under the Curse and Wrath of God due for Sin his Desertion of the Father it is more to see the Sun eclipsed than to see a Candle put out he complained that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death Matth. 26.38 His Soul dwelt with God in a Personal Union Christ knew how to value his Fathers Wrath he had an excellent Judgment and tender Affections When he sweat drops of curdled Blood he needed support from an Angel Now put all these Circumstances together and see if Sin be a light thing Object But many think this lesseneth Sorrow Christ hath endured so much what need they be troubled Answ. 1. These know not what Faith and Love meaneth Can a Man love Christ and not mourn for that which was the cause of his Sufferings Thou art the Man that laid all this upon Christ. 2. Slight thoughts of Sin are a disparagement of Christ's Sufferings you make nothing of that which cost him so dear 3. Christ's Death doth not nullifie our Duty in this kind but ratifie it He died not only to expiate the guilt of Sin but also to shew the heinousness of it God might have taken another course This for Humiliation 2. As to Reformation The Death of Christ furthereth this 1. By way of Obligation Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me The great Argument that quickneth us to the Spiritual Life is that it is a thing pleasing and acceptable to him If we knew any thing pleasing and acceptable to a Man that had redeemed us out of a miserable thraldom we would do it They are unthankful Wretches that dare to deny Christ any thing 2. By way of Purchase Our Liberty from Sin was bought at a dear rate not with Silver and Gold You disparage your Redeemer and seek to put him to shame if you live in Sin for you go about to make void the purchase and to overturn the whole business which Christ hath been establishing with so great a cost He paid dear for that Grace which you slight you tye the Bonds which he came to loosen 3. By way of Conformity to the purity of our Sacrifice He was without spot and blemish A Carnal Christian dishonoureth his Head and puts him to an open shame as if the Church were but a Sanctuary for naughty Men and Christianity a design to make us less Careful and Holy What a spotted Christ do we hold forth to the World We are to look upon Christ crucified so as to be crucified with him 2. The Day of Judgment The serious Consideration of that day is an help to Repentance Acts 17.30 31. He hath commanded all men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness As Hell worketh on Fear so this on Shame It helpeth Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation It is a means to prevent the Shame of that Day if we do not call Sin to mind God will call it to mind Psalm 50.21 I will set thy sins in order before thee The Book of Conscience shall be opened and not only ours but Gods Book too Now it will cost us grief to look upon our Sins then grief with desperation terms of Grace are ended and we can have no hope A Sinner now blots the Book that is in his own keeping but then he cannot We will not own the Convictions of the Word when it sheweth our Face but then Iude 15. He will convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds that they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Confession now is neglected but then all shall be brought to light out of our own Reins 1 Cor. 4.5 Iudge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknâ—ss and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God Let us take shame before it be imposed on us Sins repented of will not be mentioned to our confusion but only to the glorifying of the Riches of the Lords Grace They that repent their Sins shall be then blotted out Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the days of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 2. Reformation It includeth Faith and Obedience 1. Faith Let us get our discharge before that day cometh then we shall have boldness 1 Iohn 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming The Members of Christ's Mystical Body need not to be affraid of Christ's Judgment their Advocate shall be their Judge their Hearts are sprinkled with his Blood as the Door-posts against the destroying Angel They that are not careful to be found in Christ surely they do not believe that God will make inquisition for Sinners Is the day of Judgment a Fable Scripture
and Conscience saith the contrary Or are we innocent Or hath God provided another way than Christ 2 Obedience Every thing is written and must be reviewed If things were forgotten assoon as we forget them we need not revise our Acts or be so careful of our Conversations Oh but we must come to an account Iames 2.12 So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty Psalm 1.5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous What a shameful story will there be produced against careless Sinners All the business of our lives is to stand in the great Congregation and to appear with confidence Would a Man give way to vain thoughts if he knew he were to give an account or to vain Discourse if he thought every idle word would be brought to Judgment or to Carnal Actions though never so secret if he thought that all these would come to a review or neglect the Duties of his Calling if he knew he were to give an account of his Stewardship or be unmerciful to the Poor if he did think of Have you fed Have you cloathed Or that he should be examined upon these questions 3. The Consideration of Hell or the Dreadful Punishment of Sin For this is the matter in this Text. This is useful to think of Hell that we may shun it presumption is a Coward Matth. 3.7 8. O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance There is a forced Repentance they that do not weep for their Sins for a while here shall there mourn for ever with a fruitless Repentance It is peace upon Earth What is Hell 1. There is poena damni the Punishment of loss a separation from the presence of God and Everlasting Exile Depart from me ye cursed Matth. 25.41 Luke 13.25 26. When once the master of the house is risen and hath shut the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us and he shall answer and say unto you I know ye not whence ye are and verse 28. When ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out When God turned Adam out of Paradise it was sad but then he cloathed him made him Coats of skins Adam was a Rebellious Child and was turned out of Doors but God had a care of him would not turn him out of Doors without his Garments gave him the promise of the Seed of the Woman hopes of a better Paradise This is the worst part of Hell to have a glimpse of God the remembrance of which shall remain with them for ever and then to be shut out Thou shalt see it with thine eyes but not taste it As a Prodigal reduced to Rags goeth by the Lands and Houses he hath sold with a sad Heart 2. The poena sensus The Punishments of Sense the Worm of Conscience and the Fire of Gods VVrath The worm of Conscience the Sting of Conscience when we think of our folly and imprudence A Man may run away from his Conscience now by sleeping reading working drinking sporting as Cain built Cities and Saul called for Musick But in Hell there are no such Diversions not a Thought free Day nor Night but Memoria praeteritorum the remembrance of what is past slighted Means abused Comforts wasted Time and Sensus praesentium a Sense of what is present the understanding maketh Heaven or Hell and metus futurorum a fear of what is to come for ever and ever Oh blind Fools that we did not think of these things aforehand The pleasures of the VVorld for a Thousand years will not countervail one minutes torment And then the Fire shall never be quenched Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the the living God Do but make tryal and put your finger in the Candle and see how you can bear it Isa. 33.14 Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings III. How to improve the Scriptures to Repentance 1. Believe them as you would an Oracle or one from the dead Consider the Authority and Veracity of God The Authority of God God Commandeth Men to repent charge the heart in the Name of God as it will answer to him another day If God had bidden thee do some greater thing wouldst not thou have done it VVill you contradict your Maker The Veracity of God these things are true If you had heard a voice from Heaven as Abraham or had a Vision or a Messenger sent out of the other VVorld you would believe you would think him to have a very hard heart that is not warned by an Oracle or frighted by an Apparition God himself hath spoken in his VVord and is not he of Credit You would fly in the face of him that should give you the lye and will you give the lye to the God of Truth VVe should be ashamed that the VVord which is a greater and surer Revelation than Oracles or Apparitions should prevail no more with us and that all those Arts of Grace which are used in the Scriptures do not perswade us to Obedience and Amendment of Life There is more Reason to perswade a Rational Man that the Scriptures are true and worth the heeding than to perswade him of the Truth of any voice from Heaven or Message by one from the Dead There you are warned that if you are un-believing un-holy or un-charitable you shall go to Hell and as Lot seemed to his Sons in law as one that mocked e n. 19.14 so we are looked on as if we were in jest and it were a matter of course to make one another sad by repeating of Matters mournful and lamentable If thou hadst seen a Ghost this last Night or a Devil had appeared to thee in Mans shape thou wouldst have been terrified and shall not the threatnings of the word startle thee So when you are spoken to concerning the joyes of Heaven it should not seem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as an idle tale as it is said Luke 24.11 And their words seemed unto them as idle tales and they believed them not The Report of Christ's Resurrection was an idle tale If an Angel had told you that within such a compass of years you should be in another world he would have been credited but you have a more sure word of Prophesie we tell you the same from Gods word and yet we are not regarded as the Israelites did not believe the Spies 2. Urge thy Heart with it Recollect your selves Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things Come to your selves Luke 15.17 And when he came to himself The Prodigal came to himself before he thought of returning to his Father Psalm 22.27 All the ends of the