Blessing on it are all to this end and have this tendency that the world might believe in which believing they shall receive forgiveness and life So that this Branch of the Testimony of the Intercession of Christ thus far is together with his Oblation offered good News true Gospel to be preached to the World to all men that they might believe and having fitness and power to draw them that they might believe it being all also true before they believe that they might believe and so true whether they believe it or not CHAP. 13. Of the more special Mediation of Christ or his Mediation as more specially considered THe more special Mediation of Jesus Christ is his Mediation of the New Testament and this also is by vertue of his Oblation once offered and that to this end That Believers may be preserved in peace Heb. 9. enjoy the Promises of the New Testament and be brought to receive the promised Inheritance And in this respect he is and is called Heb. 8.2.6 The Minister of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man and so the Mediator of a better Covenant established upon better Promises Heb. 12.24 Heb 9.14 15. his Blood being sprinkled on those that come to him speaketh peace to them and purgeth their Conscience c. Therefore also his Mediation is of this New Testament that they which are called might receive the promised Inheritance this Mediation being so full and excellent his special Intercession is in it Whence also it is sometime called Advocation for the fulness of his dealing in it in removing all Stops procuring Grants and affording Instructions and Consolation that Believers may enjoy Peace Compare 1 Joh. 5.7 9. with 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Freedom Union and Fellowship with him and the Father and be preserved in and to their Hope So it is said If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous He saith not If any man sin he hath an Advocate as if this were the common priviledge of all men nor saith he only If any of us sin we have an Advocate as if we had no hope to pray for any but Believers but in general If any man sin whoever of us or not of us if a man we have an Advocate one with the Father known to us and believed in by us to go to God by who advocateth for us and he is righteous and will procure us a gracious Answer when we in his Name pray for our selves or for the Church or any of it yea and also when according to his will we pray for others that are yet of the world for he is also the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world so as by his Oblation having made peace for Mankinde and being now the Mercy-Seat of God and the Propitiation to propitiate and mediating with God for that end whereby he hath propitiated us and brought us in to believe in God and is also become our Advocate Joh. 10.9 14.6 16.23 Eph. 2.18 Heb. 10.18 19 7.17.24 25. that we may approach to God by him both for our selves and for others in which confidence Believers approach through Christ with boldness to the Throne of Grace having this Ground Because he continuing ever remaineth a Priest for ever having an unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7.25 wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost or evermore that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them from whence I shall briefly observe a few things about this special Mediation or Intercession of Jesus Christ as by other places also I have instruction 1. That here is no denial or exclusion of his Mediation for all Men and Intercession for Transgressors as if those only that approach to God by him were the All the only and the whole number for whom he doth in any sort mediate and intercede He neither saith But them or only them not a word to contradict that affirmed in other places nor doth he here speak of his Mediation and Intercession for men for that to be vouchsafed them whereby they might believe and so approach to God through him but of his Mediation and Intercession for those that do already believe and approach to God by him and so are beheld believing and coming in to God by him who are indeed God's chosen a 1 Pet. 1.2 2.3 4 5. 2 Thes 2.13 and those to whom Christ is the Author of Eternal Salvation b Heb. 5.9 to whom he is to give and hath promised to give Eternal Life c Joh. 6 37-40 17.3 11.25 26. And so Emphatically it is said of them as the choice upon whom his eye is set He ever liveth to make Intercession for them for them directly for them especially 2. That he ever liveth to intercede for them that is to officiate and perform this business in Heaven for them every word is of force 1. He ever liveth as their Great High-Priest Heb. 7.23 24. Rom. 6.9 10. Rev. 1.18 2.8 Psal 120. Joh. 6 37-40 appearing in Heaven for them in their Nature and as their Head Husband elder Brother and Keeper he died once for them and rose and offered the Oblation once but now he is alive for evermore and can die no more but liveth ever so as there can be no let nor ceasing of his business he neither slumbereth nor sleepeth so that none shall or can perish through any defect in his Ministration 2. He ever liveth as the Son of God Joh. 11.42 14.16 Psa 20.3 4. Joh. 17.24 and the Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily beloved of the Father and prevalent with him so as the Father denies him nothing his suites are all and always granted so that with him it is but I will and it is done 3. He ever liveth as the living Object of Faith Heb. 12.2 Joh. 5.25 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 15.44 45. Joh. 7.37 38. Joh. 14.19 Rom. 5.10 the Author and Finisher of it that hath Life in himself and giveth Life to others the quickning Spirit that quickneth and enliveneth all that believe on him and because he ever liveth they that believe on him shall live also his ever living is a strong consolation to Believers For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled to God we shall be saved by his lise or ever living to intercede for us and so to quicken and preserve us 3. That he ever liveth to make Intercession for them I might say in a sense Joh. 14.16 17.24 Psal 20. 65.4 Mat. 7.11 Luk. 11.13 to pray the Father for them though not in that submissive manner as when he was on Earth before he had offered the Oblation with tears and cries but as one accepted having
knowledge of it in their believing so that Abraham saw the Day of Christ Joh. 8.56 and rejoyced and we may suppose the same of Isaac and Jacob though our Saviour had not occasion then from the Jews words to mention them so that they were abundantly fitted to preach this Faith and Covenant unto others 3. They had also an outward Ordinance called Circumcision as a sign and seal of the Righteousness of the Faith they had received Gen. 17 9-14 18.18 19. Deut. 30.6 Rom. 4.11 12 15. and were to teach that they might so witness the Truth and disciple their Children born of them and by gracious providence brought under their tuition and government and so teach them to attend on God in his way who in such attention would in due season circumcise their hearts that thus they might be the Fathers of all that believe 4. They were enabled by Faith to walk as strangers in this very promised Land Act. 7.4 5. Heb. 11.9.16 not building Cities in it nor having of their own the possession of a foot onely a burying-place bought with their money yet did they believe to enjoy that very Land according to the promise and by the preparation of it for them and Promise of it and Gift of God to them believed they did wait and look for it in which Faith they both lived and died believing That they should be raised again and possess in due season And so as Abraham at first in the Faith of the Gospel as set forth in the first Revelation went at God's Call into that Country not knowing whither Heb. 11.8 till he came there even by Faith so he lived and walked in that Land by Faith as farther enlarged according to the Revelation explicated to him in that Promise given him again and again Gen. 12.2 3. 13.15 15.4 5 6. 16.16 Gen. 21.5 Gen. 25.26 And after the Covenant was made with him he lived and walked in that Land by Faith enlarged according to it for one yeer himself and after with Isaac all his dayes and he with Isaac and Isaac with him lived in this Faith all the dayes of Abraham and Isaac was sixty yeers old when Jacob was born with whom he then lived in that Faith all his dayes and Jacob that was with him and after him lived in that Faith with his Sons was an hundred and thirty yeers old when he stood before Pharaoh in Egypt Gen. 47.9 So that their sojourning in the Land of Promise or promised Land which they are one day to possess was one hundred ninety and one yeers after the Covenant made In which time they taught the Faith thus enlarged to their Children and them so to live in it which remained with the spiritual Seed But after Israel was come into Egypt they began quickly to be defiled with the Idolatries of Egypt and then they sojourned not in the Land of Promise as their Fathers did but in the Land of Egypt four hundred and thirty yeers Exod. 12.40 41. Gal. 3.17 18. of which four hundred and thirty yeers after the Fathers living in the Faith of the Covenant one hundred ninety one yeers the Apostle speaketh for so long it was still confirming to them and they in being so furnished have taught the same CHAP. 3. Of the third Revelation of Christ and way of making him known THe next Revelation of Christ was in Moses time Heb. 1.1 and it was both immediately to Moses and mediately by him to Israel and this was in divers manners and at divers times or by divers parcels as to say 1. By divers types shadows and figures immediately appointed by God to Moses for the people Heb. 8.5 9.23 10.1 and mediately by him to the people as to instance 1. Heb. 7.27 9.7 12 22. The way by which Christ should make Peace and Atonement for the sins of Men that he might have them into his dispose This was figured out by Beasts slain and offered to God in Sacrifice for sin and the High-Priest entring into the Holy of Holies once in the yeer to make Atonement for all Israel as Christ was by his death and bloodshedding for our sins and offering himself a Sacrifice to God entering into Heaven by his own Blood to make the Atonement and obtain eternal Redemption 2. The way how he communicateth unto Men this Peace and Atonement Heb. 9.13 14. 12.24 Rev. 1.5 and Redemption and maketh them partakers of the benefit thereof in the extention of his Grace and Spirit making it known with the Fruits thereof gaining in to believe and so sprinkling the vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice on their Heart and Conscience thereby washing and comforting them this figured by sprinkling the Blood and the Water of Purification on them with a Bunch of Hyssop Psal 51 7. Whence that Prayer Purge me with Hyssop c. 3. Heb. 7.25 10.2 19 20 22. Eph. 2.17 18. The way how people may come to and partake of the benefit of all this Grace in him and by him dispensed namely by looking to him attending his Voice approaching to God by him through his Sacrifice and Propitiation made yield to and receiving in by Faith his Blood sprinkling and Water of Purification so drawing nigh to God by him this figured by their so looking to and approaching to the Tabernacle and observing those Rites aforenamed 4. That Christ is wonderfully filled with Power Spirit and Authority and all riches of Grace to be all to us and work all in us for Peace Purity Union and Communion with God he having our Nature in a personal Body in which he hath by Sacrifice made the Atonement and the fulness of the Godhead now dwelling in him bodily Joh. 2.19 Col. 2.3 9. Joh. 2.19 Joh. 5.20 Joh. 14.6 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. 2 Cor. 6 16. Heb. 3.6 Heb. 8 5. He is the Tabernacle Temple or House of God in whom are all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily in and through whom only God is to be worshipped and such a House he is that all that believing in him are united to him and worship God in him are made of the same spiritual Tabernacle Temple or House This figured by their Tabernacle or Temple made according to the pattern given of God and the Enjoynment of them to come and worship there looking towards it He is also the Altar on which all Prayers and spiritual Sacrifices are to be offered up to God Heb. 13.10 11-15 1 Pet. 2.5 This was figured by that one Altar to which their Sacrifices were to be brought and upon it to be offered and on no other He is the Propitiation the Covering or Mercy-Seat Rom. 3.25 1 Ioh. 2.2 Joh. 1.18 Heb. 9.5 where all the Righteousness in Mercies and forgiveness and the Oracles of God are to be met withal This figured by the Mercy-Seat they
bload of his cross and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby or in himself and came and preached peace Col. 1.20 so the Father's will is having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile c. Again Col. 2.14 it 's said of him Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross And so there is no more sins to be imputed to Christ or counted upon his score he hath done all of them away by one Sacrifice and made the peace and caused it to be preached that Men might believe it 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. Rom. 5.11 and in believing be reconciled in their hearts to God and so peace effected in them 2. If we also consider of a Reconciliation and so of a purging away of sins that by vertue of this Heb. 2.17 Eph. 5.26 27. Heb. 9.14 compleated in and by himself with God he as the High-Priest after and by vertue of the Sacrifice offered Atonement and Purgation once made in the holy of holies is still continually making for the people Then we shall also finde that there are sins of another Nature and against another Obligation then that Men fell under in and through the first Adam even such as the Law under which Mankinde was fallen did not charge upon Christ directly and they in the committing are every Man 's own sins that doth them as sins against Mercy and Grace extended through a Mediator who by vertue of the Peace he by his Blood and Sacrifice hath made Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Prov. 1.23 24-36 Jer. 6.16 17. Rom. 2.4 Jer. 13.27 Joh. 13.10 11. Joh. 1.10 11 29. Heb. 2.17 7.27 9.7 extendeth light and means towards them as not minding the light that shineth forth from the Life that is in him not owning him in all the preservation he giveth nor believing or receiving him by all the choice means he useth and so not turning at his reproofs nor hearkning to his Call and Voice but hardning their hearts against the same and so refusing to be made clean walk on according the lusts and wayes of their own hearts and all these and all of this Nature are called The sins of the world and The sins of the people and The errors of the people And Jesus Christ did on the foresight of what through Man's weakness and Satan's malice would be found in Men make provision for Propitiation Reconciliation and Pardon in respect of those sins also in that one Oblation and Sacrifice of his his Blood and Sufferings being the Blood and Sufferings not only of an innocent and just Man but of that Man that was the Son of God Act. 20.28 Joh. 3.16 Heb. 9.14 in which sense his Blood is called The blood of God and His laying down his life And so Jesus Christ offering himself by the Eternal Spirit a Sacrifice to God the Divine Nature did so sanctifie and dignifie this Sacrifice that it is of infinite value and vertue for taking away all sins and so though in his interposing he did not take those sins upon him as his which before his undertaking were neither in being nor in a possibility of being so to satisfie for and discharge as that they should never be imputed to those for whom he suffered nor they condemned for them as he did for the former sorts of sins yet he did so far bear them and offered himself in Sacrifice to God for them as he might have full power to forgive them and so such fulness of vertue in his Blood and Oblation and Propitiation made thereby as to propitiate and speak Peace in its sprinkling being made known to Men in the evidences of the Fruits thereof 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 7.24 25. 8.1 9.15 and for this business he remaineth a continual Mediator between God and Men and an High-Priest ever living to intercede for all that come to God by him and in this work we have to consider that it is done ministerially and spiritually to Men in the former for taking away the former sins and making Peace as he he had to deal with God for Men so he did it by his material Blood shedding and his material Body raised and offered in Sacrifice to God But now as he is a spiritual Man in dealing with Men he doth this business spiritually in Ministration of the Gospel making known the vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice and by his Spirit so sprinkling it on the Hearts of Men to wash and reconcile them to God thereby and so in a daily taking away these following sins and renewing c. and this was also figured in the continual bearing of the sins of the people by the typical High-Priests and Priest â—â—covery of mystâ—â—ous deceits p. 6 7 28. Heb. 9. Discourse of the prâ—câ—ous blood of Christ c. 4. p. 21 22 23. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. Mar. 2.10 Luk. 5.24 Act. 5.31 32 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. as hath been shewn at large in another Treatise and by their Purifications by sprinkling as hath been shewn at large in another Treatise And this hath Jesus Christ by his Oblation also procured to do himself in Person one while did minister the Word of Reconciliation but now he hath left that to his Servants and the extention of Spirit therein is his own work still and suitable to all this he said The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins And so the Apostles in their Teâ—imony and the Holy Ghost in the same witness That God hath exalted him to give repentance and remission of sins c. In which respect by vertue of his Oblation once offered he so ministring is called The Mediator between God and Man for such an end and The Lamb of God Joh. 1.10 11 19. not only that hath taken away the sins of Mankinde as fallen in A dam but that taketh that is in this present time in a continual act still doing away the sin or sins of the world even Men in worldly fellowship c. and even Believers also are said to come to the Blood of sprinking Heb. 12.24 that not only hath spoken but speaketh c. and he that believeth in Christ according to Gospel-Testimony knoweth both Heb. 10.2 That all sins in view and consideration preceding Christ his undertaking are so taken away by his Oblation to God that he hath no more charge in Conscience for them and also that there is such vertue in that Blood and Sacrifice of his that being believed and received as he makes it known it will take away in such sprinkling all following sins and purge the Conscience from dead works to serve the living God whence he is said to be set forth a Fountain Heb. 9.14 Zach. 13.1 Heb. 10.18 19 21 22 23. 1 Joh.
sins and delivery from death and truth in receit of and enjoyment of true righteousness peace quickning purity heavenly riches came by Jesus Christ even in all times past and so now more fully and cleerly doth so as though he came after John yet he is preserred before him yea he was before him so as now he is come John and all the residue of Believers then and since even we of his fulness have received and Grace for Grace for the Grace of God in Christ by vertue of his Sacrifice which God hath graciously accepted of him for us we receive the Grace of Faith to believe and therein remission of sins and so Grace for Grace yea this and so one to make us meet to receive another and that to make us meet to receive more still and so Grace for Grace plentifully one heaped upon another Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. Col. 1.12 13. Joh. 1.15 16 17. Act. 26.18 yea as Moses had a Law of Works to nurture the people towards Grace so we a Doctrine of Grace and Law of Grace to teach and lead people to partake of Grace 4. That this Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the sin-offering and the true passover which by vertue of his sacrifice mediating taketh or beareth away the sin of the world Job 1.29 36. Col. 2.14 15. Eph. 2.12 13 16 17. Rom. 5.18 that by his own death and sacrifice offered takes and now hath taken sin out of the way removed the contradictions that were in the mid-way between God and the world of Mankinde and made peace that it may be preached to them and that by vertue of his blood and sacrifice Isa 53.12 1 Tim. 2.4 Rom. 2.4 Rom. 3.24 25 26. 1 Joh. 3.2 Gen. 22.18 Act. 10.43 Rom. 4.5 Mat. 3.2 11. hath fulness fitness authority and readiness to take sin out of the consciences and nature of Men and by his Mediation procures forbearance patience and mercies to sinners to lead them to repentance being he and onely he set forth for that end the propitiation for the sins of the world in whom there is blessing for all Nations and that by spiritual application of his Blood he doth so take sin away from all that in believing come to him for it and that he is neer at hand to set up his spiritual Kingdom the fore-runner of his Davidical Kingdom 5. That the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.34 35 36. and immeasurably filled him with the Spirit so that whoever believeth in him hath everlasting life and be that believeth not on him the wrath of God abideth on him This Doctrine was John filled with to teach And with this Doctrine he was to throw down the Momtains exalt the Valleys Joh. 14.18 29 33. Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luk. 3. cry down all Flesh and exalt the Word of the Lord and so to call Men to Repentance and to Faith in Christ and so to newness of life assuring them that Christ would baptize them with the holy Ghost and as a witness of the Truth of this Doctrine and that Christ was at hand and shortly to be manifested to Israel he did baptize with water unto repentance and so discipled all that came to him and refused it not Yet did he not in the beginning of his Ministration point out which of all the Sons of Men was that Man that is the Christ so he shewed not which was the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ till he was especially fitted and directed and commissionated for that also by the direction of the holy Spirit by communication with Jesus Christ himself Joh. 1.33 34. Mat. 3.13 17. Mar. 1.9 10.11 Luk. 3.21 22. and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on him and hearing the voice of the Father from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And so was he furnished to know and declare the person of Christ as distinct from all others and who he was And then he did most plainly point out the Man Jesus Joh. 1.29 35 36. 3.30 36. the Son of the Virgin with confession that not himself and so no other Man but that very Man Jesus was the He the Christ the Lamb of God the King of Israel the Bridegroom the Son of God he even this very Jesus he pointed to and affirmed to the be very he and so exhorted his Hearers to behold him even Jesus and to follow him cleave to him and exalt him And in this his Ministration he was greater than all the Prophets that were before him Mat. 11.10 11. though less than any of his Lord's first Witnesses of his Resurrection that were to come after him and although in the exercise of his Ministration he was but for the House of Israel who if they had received him as he came in the Spirit and Power of Elias they would then have received Jesus Christ also and so they might have enjoyed the Gospel of the Kingdom and have continued in their own Land till his coming again to raign and then John Baptist had been all the Elias they should have needed and the coming of Elias mentioned Mal. 4. it would have been needful onely for the ten Tribes of Israel formerly cast off but they refusing came to be cast off also and so its needful for them And in this Ministration Mat. 11.13 14 15. 17.11 12. 23.37 according to this Revelation all the former helps in and under all the former Revelations and Ministrations still remained and all for the good of Men specially the house of Israel CHAP. 7. Of the seventh Revelation and the last that shall be of Christ till his own return and personal and visible appearing THe next Revelation of Jesus Christ and the last that is to be carried an end for usefulness by teaching and use of such outward Ordinances as now even until his personal appearance when all such means shall cease and the eternal Sabbath be Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 12.49 50. Heb. 1.1 2. 2.4 and this Revelation was by the Father to the Son even to the Man Jesus Christ his Elect upon whom he hath put his Spirit and by Jesus Christ to his Disciples God by his divine power bearing witness thereto and confirming the same and this Revelation by Jesus Christ was of the same things fore-revealed to and by the Prophets but now more fully and cleerly manifested with the mystery more abundantly opened and this his Revelation was in a threefold manner or by three distinct wayes or means 1. By manifestation of himself and all that appertained to him to do in his first coming by demonstrating the same in the very act visibly c. 2. By his personal and bodily Ministration in a vocal and audible teaching the Gospel and the Testimony of himself in the Prophets and explicating it 3. By pouring on his witnesses and
put him to death and they did it wickedly and with wicked hands but God raised him and so he will us by him if we follow him through sufferings to the enjoyment of glory In respect of the first end of his death for satisfaction and propitiation making and of the second end for confirming the New Testament the death of Christ was vertuous and efficacious with the Father upon and from his first undertaking and accepting to do it and having accepted it it was vertuous in dispensations through him towards men whence he is called Rev. 13 8. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and upon the account of the vertue thereof all that believed from the beginning of the World Joh. 1.4 5 7 11 12. Rom. 1.16 17 20. 2.4 5 11. Prov. 1.23 33. were saved by this Grace in and through him and all that rebelled against Light and Grace were damned on the same account for rebelling against the Light and Grace extended through him It is an ignorant demand of some Did Christ die for those in Heaven or for those in Hell before his death for his acceptance and undertaking was vertuous from the first and from the beginning and God's proceedings with men through him on that account of his death in due time to be acted and so to the two first ends vertuous and efficacious from the beginning before the actual accomplishing of it but for the last end of his death to bear witness of the truth and give his personal example to follow the same cannot be so affirmed True it is He suffered and was slain in his members and spiritual Seed from the beginning of the World even beginning at Abel Mat. 23.34 35. Rom. 6.9 Rev. 1.18 Col. 1.24 Luk. 10.16 Act. 9.4 5. and so on in those which followed till his own personal coming as our Saviour taught and though himself in his own personal body have now once died and risen and is alive for evermore and can die no more yet in his members and spiritual seed on Earth he is suffering and dying still such his love to them and union with them he counteth these as his own sufferings these examples of the Saints through Faith passing through and overcoming in these sufferings are very useful for us and speaking examples to us to be beheld and minded of us but our Saviour's own personal example was not so before his actual sufferings accomplished as now it is in beholding of which as set forth in the Gospl we may see both more into the vertues and ends and efficacies of his death than before could be seen and his example therein also which could not so be beheld of men Heb. 11. 12.1 2. Jam. 5.10 11. Mat. 5.12 10.13 14 15. Joh. 15.20 21. before his actual accomplishment of it so that in him we have the beginning and foundation of life and strength the motive pattern and example also to follow him and therefore now to look to him and to the other examples also through him and to him in and above all the other and this our Saviour plainly taught his first witnesses 3. Our Saviour having instructed his first witnesses thus about his death and resurrection and the things done by him therein Joh. 12.8 13.3 15.6 28. and so the end of his first personal coming into the World to do and teach all these things he then also instructed them about his leaving the World and going again now in that personal body of his to the Father and this to present himself in that body with the vertue of his blood to obtain eternal redemption of the nature of Man in himself Heb. 10.5 10. 9.12 Rom. 14.7 8 9. Joh. 17.2 Psa 68.18 20. Joh. 16.7 15. and so to have all men into his dispose that he may dispense to them and deal with them according to the Father's will which also is his will and so to receive the immeasurable fulness of the holy Ghost in the Man to send forth even to the rebellious to convince them and to believers to lead them into all Truth Ioh. 17.26 Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1 2. Joh. 13.8 15.3 Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 14 15 Eph. 2.5 6. Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 Ioh. 14 20 21.24 and so to make known still farther his Father's Name and therein sprinkle the vertue of his blood upon the hearts and consciences of believers and herewith enduing them with his Spirit to be with and in them a Teacher Advocate and Comforter to minde them of his words enable them to prize trust in him and approach to God by him and pray in his Name and so to prepare them mansions that having all fulness in him they might have their rejoycing hope converse and dwelling with him in Heaven by Faith and that in one mindedness with God and Christ in his design Gal. 4.26 Heb. 12.22 23. 1 Ioh. 1.2 3. 2 Cor. 5.8 Rev. 6.9 Heb. 12.22 23. Eph. 2.19 22. 2 Cor. 7.3 Phil. 1.7 1 Thes 2.17 in believing and walking in the Truth breathed forth from Jerusalem that is above they might have in Spirit a dwelling and fellowship with the Prophets and Apostles and Spirits of just Men made perfect that are in and with Christ and under the Altar and also through the efficacy of his Spirit in their Ministration they may have a spiritual dwelling in the hearts of such as living in this World have their conversation in Heaven and fellowship in the Gospel with them And last of all according to the Spirits preparation of them and fruitfulness in and by them enlargedness in his Kingdom which is reserved in Heaven for them Col. 1.5 1 Thes 2.19 20. 2 Joh. 8. 2 Pet 1.11 Joh. 14 2. Heb. 8.1 6. 9.4 1 Tim. 2. â— 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Heb. 7.25 9.15 to be given them at his coming all which he assures them he is now preparing in the Heavens for them yea he is now there in Heaven appearing at the right Hand of God before God for us mediating between God and Men and advocating and interceding in special manner for Believers that come to God by him and so as in that he did in his own Body he made peace wrought and obtained Redemption with God for Men and obtained the Power of extending the vertues thereof in these spiritual efficacies to Men so by these efficacious makings known and application of the same to Men he draweth Mâ—n to himself and worketh Redemption in Believers and preserveth them to the Inheritance all which our Saviour taught to his first Witnesses And moreover 4. Having thus instructed them about his bodily absence from them and how much it is for their benefit because of the buâ—ness he is in Heaven doing with God for them and from God by his Spirit with them Joh. 14.3 Mat. 19.28 29 Rev. 11.17.18 Mat. 24.27 30. he also assures them of and instructs them in
so come to God by him and of this their Ministration and so this Ministration to continue till his coming again 2 Cor. 2.14 15 17. 3 10 11 12. 4.1 with which he is well pleased so that all the efficacies of it are to him a sweet savour This the choice and good pleasure of his will according to which they were to minister and did minister and both his choice of them and furnishing of them to his Ministration and their so ministring to bring Men by Christ to Sonship Eph. 1.6 was for this glorious end Vers 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace The Grace of God was from the beginning and testified in his works and word and he praised for it by his Servants but the riches and gloriousness of it was but dimly seen in respect of what indeed it is nor did it so appear till the Son was manifested till he came and was thus revealed and that God spake by him Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.1 3. Joh. 1.14 16 17 18. and manifested himself through him who is the Image of the invisible God the brightness of his glory the express Image of his person who hath declared him so that God that commanded the Light to shine out of darkness shined in the Hearts of these first Witnesses the Light of the Glory of God 2 Cor. 4.6 Col. 1.26 27. Rom. 6.25 26. Eph. 3.6 7. in the Face of Jesus Christ revealing the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery c. as formerly had not been revealed to others yea the largeness of this Riches and extention of it to all Mankinde in Ministration that they might participate so as they were for the praise and praising 2 Cor. 1.20 4.7 1 Pet. 1.4 and their Ministration for declaring extolling and praising the glorious largeness riches and freeness of his Grace and to occasion and bring others to glorifie and praise the same together with them in which free and abundant Grace or as still in vers 6. Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 which is as much as in more words to say That in the discovery of his glorious Grace in Christ to us Rom. 5.1 6 8.11 Tit. 3.4 5 6 2 Cor. 5.14 15 18 19 20. 1 Tim. 1 12 13 14.15 16. Rom. 8.2 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and shedding it abroad in our hearts he hath therein and thereby reconciled us who were sinners as others are unto himself and so made us accepted in Christ the Beloved and counted us faithful and put us in the Ministery so as we have seen and known what we preach and have our selves experience of that we preach to others being also patterns set forth of God for them that believe he having committed to us and put in us the word of Reconciliation and by that large and free Love of his filled our Hearts with Love and Desire that others may participate of the same and so answered that Praver made for us Joh. 17.11 20. by Christ lesus Vers 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood Eph. 1.7 the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace The Redemption here spoken of is explicated by the medium his blood applied the thing it self the forgiveness of sins and the manner according to the Riches of his Grace and so more full then what believers in former times received who had the application mediately by other blood figuring out his blood as then yet to be shed and yet short of that full and compleat Redemption that is still to be waited for of which this is a first fruits and sealing confirmation of it to us And of the having Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins Rom. 5.1 2 3 5 8 10 11. 8.2 Rev. 1.5 Col. 2.13 Act. 10.43 is more then having received forgiveness of their own sins in their own consciences and so freedom from the bondage of the Law and Justification through his blood and so peace with God and access to him in this Grace and Hope of Glory which indeed they had and were thereby filled with and fitted by experiments of his Grace But having here signifieth both all this and somthing more then all this even something wherein they were preferred before all the Ministers that went before them These having in Christ in the word of Christ as given them the word of Reconciliation in which all this is brightly discovered in him Col. 1.14 15 20 21 22 23. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. Luk. 24.47 48. Act. 13.38 Rom. 3.26 27 28. 4.5 and so in the Ministration given them they have the Redemption compleated by him in himself for Men and therein Remission of sins to preach to others in his Name that so by Faith in his Blood they also may receive the same Romans 3.24 25. Acts 10.43 26.18 yea even by Faith in his Blood without outward Circumcision or undering to the works of the Law so glorious the Ministration he hath given them and they have to display not according to the works of the Law but according to the Riches of his Grace And this sence appears by the next following words cleerly to be here meant Vers 8. Eph. 1.8 Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence This cleerly appears not to be the wisdom of the World 1 Cor. 1.19 20 21. 2.6 or of the Princes of this World or their prudence which cometh to nought yea with all their wisdom they have not known this wisdom 1 Cor. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.2.4 Col. 2.3 9. but as Christ is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God in whom are hid and treasured up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily he being immeasurably filled with the Holy Ghost Prov. 8.11 12. Isa â— 1.2 42.1 8. 61 1 2 3 4. Joh. 15.26 17. the Spirit of Wisdom and knowledge to send forth and it flowing from him and that Spirit testifying of him and enabling rightly to testifie of him When the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians that God would grant to them the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ Eph. 1.17 18 19. that so in the knowledge of that Object unbared and their eyes opened and strengthened to behold they might see the hope of his calling them in this Ministration c. and it being the wisdom of the prudent to understand his way so it is manifest Prov. 14.8 that here by all wisdom and prudence he meaneth the imparting and giving in to them the cleer knowledge of Christ and the things of Christ and so of his Minde according to the Revelation of the Mystery 1 Cor. 2.9 10 12 13 16. and ability to declare the same by the Holy Ghost as essewhere he expresseth himself to mean and so by abounding towards us he openeth himself to mean he