Scripture had truly asserted that Abraham believed God his Faith wrought with his Works to evidence him a sincere Believer and his Faith was made perfect by his Works that is it was provided to be genuine the strength and power of it was declared as God's strength is said to be made perfect in weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 that is discovered to be perfect 4. Paul speaks of the causes of Justification he searches after the Springs of it viz. Christ's Righteousness and Faith as receiving it but James speaks of the effects of Justification A Man whose Person is Justified before God will certainly Justifie his Faith and Sincerity before Men by Works of Righteousness 5. Paul speaks of the Justification of a Sinner James Treats of the Approbation of a Believer Paul discourses of the Righteousness that must Justifie viz. the Righteousness of Christ James Treats of the Faith that must Justifie of what kind and sort it must be not an Idle Lazy but a Working Faith Paul speaks of Justification before God Rom. 3.20 21. James of Justification before Men James 2.18 Shew me thy Faith prove it if thou canst to be a right Faith if it bring not forth Good Works 6. That James doth not speak of a proper Justification of the Person of a Man before God by Works is evident by several Arguments 1. The proper Justification of a Man is from Sins that he hath done not for Works of Righteousness that he hath wrought Good Works are not shewed before God's Tribunal but Iniquities are Covered Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose sin is covered By Christ we have forgiveness of Sin and are Justified from all things from which we could not be Justified by the Law of Moses So that a Gospel Justification is a clearing us not from a false Charge but from a true Accusation Our Consciences do accuse convince and condemn us for sin John 8.9 Rom. 2.14 15. We know our Transgressions they are with us Isa 59.12 but there is no such charge of Hypocrisie that lies before God against true Believers and Saints They can appeal to God as Job Job 10.7 Lord thou knowest that I am not wicked My witness is in Heaven my Record is on high Job 16.19 Thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee John 21.17 Therefore there is no proper Justification from a false Charge before God Works will only witness and Justifie from a false Charge before Men. 2. Nothing will properly Justifie us but what is Commensurate to the demands of the Law and that which will satisfie the Justice of God But there is no Obedience of ours that answers the Demands of the Law or will satisfie Justice therefore we cannot be Justified by our Works Yea Works are not the cause by which we are Justified for he that is Justified is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that worketh not Rom. 4.5 neither are Works a Causa sine qua non a Cause without which a Man is not Justified for he that is Justified is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ungodly Rom. 4.5 Abraham himself had been an Idolater Josh 24.2 and in that sense was Ungodly 3. Nothing will properly Justifie us but that which did Justifie Jesus Christ he could not be Justified except he had been fully conformable to the Commands of the Law and endured the Curse also Nothing will Justifie us the Debtors but what Justified Christ our Surety Therefore we cannot be Justified by our Works if we could then would Christ have Died in vain 4. In a proper Justification we are Justified before God Rom. 3.20 21. But our own Works cannot be imputed to us for a Righteousness before God because he seeth so many Faults Blemishes and Defects in them Philosophers say there are no pure Elements for they are mixed one with another and Divines may say there are no pure Duties and Performances in the best of Saints Paul Complains that he did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go through with finish and perfect any Good Work 5. Our best works need a Pardon and therefore cannot be our Righteousness to Justifie us that which needs Forgiveness that which deserves Punishment cannot earn a reward and be accepted for a Justifying Righteousness we need an High-Priest to bear the Iniquity of our Holy things 6. If we could be Justified by our Good works we should Justifie our selves but it is God's act and not ours to Justifie It is God that Justifieth Rom. 8.33 7. In a true Justification we receive a Righteousness Rom. 5.17 And an Attonement Rom. 5.11 But our Works cannot make an Attonement for us or be a Righteousness to us 8. Works both before and after Faith are shut out from Justification before Faith Rom. 4.5 6. Rom. 3.21 22. The Righteousness of God is Manifested without the Law and the Apostle Paul not only suffered loss of all that he accounted his gain while a Pharisee but also after he was Converted he Esteemed all but Dung that he might win Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. He durst not then dwell at home or be found in his own Righteousness 9. Abraham himself had not whereof to boast or wherein to Glory before God He could not find such a Righteousness in his Heart or such Works in his Life that he durst to trust to Hath Abraham our Father found as touching the Flesh Rom. 4.1 No surely he did not find any Righteousness or Works of his own to plead before God Therefore he that cannot find this Righteousness in himself had need to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 Though Moses was Eminently Holy yet when he drew near to God and saw that Terible Glory that appeared in the Mount he said I exceedingly Fear and Quake Heb. 12.21 He could not stand before the Law that he gave Saints have waved a Trial before God on the account of Works Psal 143.2 Though David was the Lord's servant though he did set the Judgments of God before him and was devoted to his Fear Psal 119.30 38. yet he deprecated a Trial before God on the account of his own Righteousness Enter not Lord into Judgment with thy Servant Why doth he pray so much against God's entring into Judgement with him The reason he gives is strong For in thy sight shall no Man Living be Justified For by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin Rom. 3.20 21. The Law was not given to Fallen Men to Justifie them but to discover their Sins By the Law comes nothing else to an unregenerate Man but the Knowledge of Sin it allows such no Good Works at all If the Law once discovers Sin in Men farewel a Justification by the Law for ever Faith cannot Justifie it self it is so weak and accompanied with such doubts staggerings and fears And how shall Works Justifie themselves that have such defects and defilements cleaving to them Observe these four Weighty Questions proposed in the Scripture 1. The Heart is deceitful and desperately wicked Who can know it Jer. 17 9.2 Who can
Rom. 7.18 As Jacob did Travel towards Canaan yet he halted on one Foot as he Journied on Gen. 32.31 So though Saints do walk with God and hold on their way towards Heaven Job 17.9 yet they halt on the Unregenerate side and part With my Mind I serve the Law of God ' but with my Flesh the Law of Sin Rom. 7. last This is a wonderful Mystery of the Gospel that Believers are perfected as to the Conscience Heb. 9.14 Heb. 10.14 Though the Sacrifices of the Law could not make them that brought them perfect as touching the Conscience Heb. 9.9 they did Shadow Pardon they did Typify Reconciliation but they could not confer and bestow Pardon and Peace But this is the Excellency and Perfection of Christ's Sacrifice that it doth Purge and Perfect Conscience though the Soul and its Faculties are not perfected by a Compleat Inherent Righteousness yet Conscience is Perfected and hath no more ground to Accuse and Condemn than as if there were no Corruption remaining no Sin dwelling in us O what a Mystery of Grace is this that Conscience should be perfected and yet the Soul remain imperfect in Grace 8. Our own Inherent Righteousness is so defective and comes so short of a full Conformity to the Law that we cannot dwell at home but must fly unto and inhabit in the City of Refuge Though the Old Man be wounded in every Member in the Saints yet it is not Maimed no one of our Members on Earth is perfectly cut off 3 Cor. 5. And therefore we must not stay at home or dare to be found in our own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 As the Man-slayer was not to continue at his House Numb 35.15 22 24 25. He was in hast to leave it and fly to the City of Refuge and there to abide till the Death of the High-Priest Tho' a Man did without Enmity Hatred or Design but by meer Chance Kill his Neighbour yet he must not abide at Home Then we that have sinned knowingly and that with the bent and purpose of our Hearts have Transgressed a Righteous Law set before us do much more need Jesus Christ as a City of Refuge We are in more danger of Revenging Justice than the Man-slayer was of the Avenger of Blood O! how much Mercy is it that we have a City of Refuge to fly to tho' we have sined greatly and heinously When Jesus Christ our High-Priest died when the Temple of his Body was destroy'd John 2.19 then was this City of Refuge built up It is wholly Inhabited by Creatures that have been Guilty of Heinous and Innumerable Transgressions O what encouragement is this that there is yet Room in the City of Refuge to receive Guilty Creatures that fly to it And what great need have we of it not only for our Acts that are meer Sins but also for the best of our Duties and Performances There is Iniquity that cleaves to our Holy Things Exod. 28.36 37 38. We need an High-Priest not only for our Deformed Facts of Sin but for our Beautiful Acts of Worship by reason of the Dross that is in them our High-Priest did bear the Iniquity of our Holy Things they lay Heavy on him And can we purchase Heaven by those things that we need a Pardon and Jesus Christ endured a Heavy Punishment for If the Man-slayer did come forth and was found without the Borders of the City of Refuge the Avenger of Blood might kill him Numb 35.26 27. So if the best of Saints should go forth of Christ the City of Refuge and think to dwell at Home by trusting in their own Inherent Righteousness God's Revenging Justice might destroy them therefore it is our wisdom and safety to abide in Christ 1 John 2.28 Little children abide in him Because we are but weak little children not grown to perfect strength and full stature in Grace we are still to abide in Christ The Apostle Paul seems to me to refer to that expression of the Man-slayer's being found without the Border of the City of Refuge Numb 35.26 where he expresses it as his Great Design and Desire to be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 The Man-slayer and the Avenger of Blood might converse freely and comfortably together without fear of danger in the City of Refuge So a God of Vengeance and a Believing Sinner may have sweet Communion with each other in the Lord Jesus That Just One died for the Unjust to bring them to God not as Guilty Malefactors to be punished but as Reconciled Friends to be Embraced 1 Pet. 3.19 By the better hope we draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Noah though a sincere and Just Man was not to stay in his Tent or House but to leave it and enter into the Ark that he might not be Drowned by the Waters of the Flood so we must go out of our selves fly to and trust in Christ as God's Ark of Salvation that we may be deliver'd from Destruction by the Deluge of God's Wrath. 9. We do not ascend up to Heaven by a Lofty Tower or by a Proud Babel of our own Building the Top of our highest Structure cannot reach Heaven as those Foolish Builders thought theirs would do Gen. 11.3 4. Our Sins are increased and grown up to Heaven Ezra 9.6 If our Trespass be grown up to Heaven as Ezra acknowledges if our Sins affront provoke and dare God to destroy us How shall our Righteousness grow up to Heaven to enter into it and take possession of it We de serve by our Iniquities to be thrown down to Hell and do not Merit by our Righteousness to Ascend up to Heaven If Men could fly to Heaven by the Wings of their own Works or get up thither by the Ladder of their own Righteousness What need was there that God should provide and set up a Ladder to Heaven for us Gen. 28.12 13 14 15 16 17. Jacob was Travelling to Padan-Aram and in a Dream God minds him of the Great Journey up to Heaven and discovers to him a Ladder the Foot of which did stand on Earth and the top of which did reach Heaven By this Ladder was signified both the Person of Christ that was to be God-man and so at once to stand on Earth and reach to Heaven and the Office of Christ that as Mediator was to Reconcile God and Man and so joyn Earth and Heaven together The Foot of this Ladder stood in Bethel which signifies the House of God In the Church Christ the Mediator is Revealed and Preached At the top of this Ladder is the Gate of Heaven Gen. 28.16 17. Heaven is only accessible and open over this Ladder to those that climb and ascend up by it This Ladder is now Compleat in all the Rongs or Parts of it the Foot of the Ladder stood near the Head of Sleeping Jacob this might point that the Ladder is Raised from Christ's Sleeping the sleep of Death Jesus is now not only Born and hath Died but is Risen again and
explicit acts of Faith be put forth What is become of a state of Justification Was David under Condemnation and the Curse while he lay long in a stupid state Surely he was a Justified Man or else he was out of Christ and fallen under the Curse It is said that God hath given Believers everlasting life 1 John 5.11 and that he who believeth hath everlasting life John 5.24 Is the Sentence of life Rom. 5.18 revoked by new acts of sin Is this gift of life retracted Is the blood of Christ wiped away from the Conscience by new Transgressions We read that the blood of Christ purgeth away sin 1 John 1.7 but never that sin purgeth away the blood of Christ and wipes it off from the Conscience Let not any here mistake me I am no Patron of Sin I do not plead for careless and loose walking if any indulge the Flesh they shall feel to their smart and cost that God hath Fatherly Anger Justice and Severity and the fruits of it are terrible God hides his Face suspends the comfortable and quickning Influences of his Spirit so that the heart is hardened Isa 63.17 the Church thus complains Why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy Fear Jesus Christ withdraws himself and leaves the Soul in a dark doubting and disconsolate state Cant. 5.45.6 There are also sharp Temporal Afflictions laid on believers as that the Sword should not depart from David's House and that his Concubines should be defiled by Absalom 2 Sam. 12.10 11. yea there may be much Trouble and Terror of Conscience because Unbelief is strengthened by this new Guilt contracted and the Spirit of God is grieved and doth not powerfully apply testifie and seal Pardon till explicit acts of Faith and Repentance be put forth Yet I must assert this with the Scripture That Believers do not again a second time or more receive the Spirit of bondage to fear Rom. 8.15 The Spirit in the Word doth not testifie to a Believer that he is a Condemned Man in a state of Hostility with God and that God is his Enemy as it testifies to Unregenerate Men. Besides this is much to be considred that a Believer doth not Sin according to the New Man but according to the remainders of the Old Man It is not the new Graft that bears corrupt fruit but the old Stock Rom. 7.17 Now it is no more I that do it but Sin that dwelleth in me The New Man hates Sin consents to and delights in the Law of God as good Rom. 7.15 16.19.22.25 I my self serve the Law of God He that is born of God committeth not Sin He cannot Sin because born of God 1 John 3.9 How then can guilt redound on the whole person when the New Man that is the predominant party doth not Sin If it be said that Sin committed redounds on the person according to the Old Man this will amount to no more than Fatherly anger and Temporary Chastisements that fall on the Old Man that must decay be pulled down to the dust and perish but they shall not hinder the Salvation of the person according to the New Man It is true that Christ doth direct us dayly to pray for Pardon of Sins Matth. 6.12 And David did earnestly and frequently sollicit for Forgiveness Psal 51.1.7.9 But these Scriptures may be thus understood that Believers for it is of them only that I speak do deprecate the Fruits and effects of Gods Fatherly anger both in Temporal and Spiritual Judgments They petition for the turning away of God's Fatherly displeasure the removing of outward Afflictions and Spiritual Punishments the return of the sweet sense of Gods Favour the lifting up of the light of his Countenance on them the shedding abroad of his Love in them The removing of Temporal and Spiritual Judgements is both a proper and excellent Pardon If any be otherwise minded let them Answer a little Piece of Mr. Gilbert's written on this Subject Justified persons have a sure and strong standing in the Grace and Favour of God Rom 5.2 By Faith we have an entrance into this Grace in which we stand and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Justified persons are Established firmly in the favour of God Though Hagar and Ismael were cast out of Abraham's House Gen. 21.10 12 13. yet Isaac the Child of the promise was still retained God loves Believers with the same love that he loves Christ with John 17. last And God's love to Christ is not mutable and changeable but fixed and certain Justified persons may therefore challeng all accusers Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that Justifieth Is there any higher Judge Is there any other Superiour Tribunal to which the person may be cited and his cause drawn It is Jesus Christ that Died and Rose again He was arrested and is released and discharged He was Baptized in a deep Sea of Sorrows and Sufferings yet was not drowned but Swam out to the Shores of a Blessed Eternity Yea he is ascended into the Heavenly Sanctuary to plead his blood and Represent his Righteousness And will not this stop the mouths of all gain-sayers and Silence all accusers We may now draw near to God the Judge of all as being assured he will not only Justifie us but also plead our cause against those that wrong us Christ now being ascended he lives to execute his own Testament and bestow his own Legacies Acts 5.31 To give Repentance and Remission of Sins The Mercies of the new Covenant are sure Mercies Isa 55.3 Acts 13.34 35. Because Christ is Dead and Risen again to give them Faith Jesus Christ in Heaven asks for the Travel of his Soul and the Purchase of his Blood and cannot be denied He interceeds with Authority There was a Crown of pure Gold about the Altar of incense Exod. 30.3 to intimate that our High-Priest doth interceed effectually and with Authority John 17.24 Father I will that those thou hast given me may be with me that they may see my Glory The Apostle Paul proposeth a Farther Question Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ and he thus answereth it himself I am perswaded that neither Life nor Death things present or things to come shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Love of God is fixed the Heart of God is centred on Jesus Christ and shall never depart or remove from him Christ is the strong and everlasting bond whereby Gods Love is secured and assured to us What greater security can God give us than his Oath to perswade us of the Immutability of his counsel God hath twice sworn that the Heires of promise might have strong Consolation God saith thus to the Church I have sworn that I will not be Wroth with thee that is to destroy thee nor Rebuke thee so as to disinherit thee Isa 54.9 And as God hath Sworn to secure us from the
Cor. 15.21 22. 11. Christ that is our Righteousness will be our Judge Acts 17.31 and will he not clear and acquit those that he hath already Justified Isa 53.11 Christ now over-looks the Failings of his People he calls the Church Vndefiled when she confessed her Infirmity that she Slept Cant. 5.2 He saith to his Disciples you have abode with me in my Temptations Luke 22.28 He might as truly have sald you are those that will presently fly and leave me in and under my greatest Temptation but Christ passes over this in the great day he mentions the Fruits of his Peoples charity to their honour Matth. 25.35 36 37. He rips not up their failings and defects in Love to their disgrace Is it likely that he who is our Saviour our Mediator our Advocate our Bridegroom will bring forth to Light all our Sins Will he not own his own Righteousness imputed to them Recognize his own Blood Sprinkled on them and do Right to it Will he not give forth the White Stone to them that are cloathed with Linen white and clean Revel 2 17. Revel 19.8 The new Covenant pardons Jer. 31.34 Ezek. 36.25 And as there hath been Sententia Legis the Sentence of the Law of Grace so there shall be Sententia Judicis the Sentence of the Judg to confirm and fully execute it Sins shall be blotted out not only out of God's Book and out of our Consciences but also out of our conditions that in them shall Remain no Footstep of Sin or mark of Wrath. Believers could not be safe or set beyond danger if he were not their Judge who was made Sin and a Curse for them and procured Reconciliation and Remission and Eternal Life to be bestowed on them The last Act of Christ is not only a Kingly but a Sacerdotal or Priestly Act After the Priest of the Law had offered Sacrifice and Burnt Incense then he came forth and Blessed the people For this Reason the people waited for the coming forth of Zechary the Priest Luke 1.21 So our great High-Priest will Crown his Sacrifice and intercession with a Blessing Matth. 25.34 Come ye Blessed of my Father Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World 5. Consider the woful condition of those that are not Interested in this Righteousness 1. It is wished as the worst Curse and denounced as the greatest Evil for Men not to come into the Righteousness of God Add Iniquity to their Iniquity and let them not come into thy Righteousness Psal 69.27 It was the Sin of the Jews that they Submitted not to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 and this is inflicted as a suitable punishment Let them not come into thy Righteousness Their own choice is turned into a dreadful imprecation for 1. Such will add Iniquity to Iniquity as it is expressed in the Psal 69.27 They will do nothing else but multiply provocations increase guilt heighten and inflame Wrath run further from God and harden themselves more against God 2. Such as Reject Christ and his Righteousness are under the Law as a Covenant Gal. 4.21 This is their choice this is their desire they would be under the Law and this is a bad state for 1. The Law gives no strength or Life John 1.17 The Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ It is only an urging Letter an exacting Command all the Grace to obey comes by and from Jesus Christ The Law doth not quicken our dead Soules it is only a sound of words it gives us no power Therefore when the Israelites heard it they could not bear it but desired that the word should not be spoken to them any more Heb. 12.19.20 Hereby they confessed their guilt impotency insufficiency and utter despair of keeping the Law as it ought to be obeyed Hagar was a young Woman and bare Ismael by Natural strength So the Law supposes that we should have kept the strength that God bestowed at our first Creation and by it render perfect obedience to its Commands But the new Covenant restores Life and gives strength So Sarah though she was barren and now past age yet by Faith received strength to conceive Seed Heb. 11.11 But the Law gives no strength furnishes us with no new stock to trade again with It doth not change the Table of the Heart it is still a Stony hard Rebellious Heart The Law is weak as to its commands because our Lusts are so strong and its Promises are weak and ineffectual because our Flesh is so powerful and predominant Rom. 8.3 Moses did only hew smooth and plain the Tables Exod. 34.1 but he did not make them soft they still remained Stone So however the Law may smooth and polish Men's Conversations yet their wills are still perverse and obstinate against its Spiritual Commands Isa 48.4 I knew thou wast obstinate and hast an Iron sinew Moses did Conquer the utmost Borders and the out-skirts of Canaan as the Country of Sihon and Og the King of Bashan but did not pierce into the Heart of the Country and subdue it This was lest to Joshua a Type of Jesus Christ The utmost the Law doth is but to restrain Sin in the Conversations and to Reform the Life when Men serve in the oldness of the Letter but Sin still keeps its Throne in the Heart Proud Hypocrisy or raging Despair is usually found in Legalists Though the Israelites heard the Law given by God himself saw his dreadful terrible Majesty and Glory in the giving of it yet they presently fell to Idolatry Exod. 32.1.4 5 6. This Idolatry so soon Commited did shew that the Law gave no power to obey and fullfil its own Commands 2. The Law abates nothing remits nothing of its demands on the account of our weakness It requires as much service of Sick and weak Man as if he were sound and strong It calls for as full payment of the poor Bankrupt Creature as if it were Rich The Law makes no composition with or allowance to decayed and insolent debters yea though it doth Curse us for our Disobedience to and Enmity against God yet at the same time it Requires us to Love God with all our Heart Mind Soul and Strength Matth. 22.37 3. The Law by woful experience is found to stir up Sin when it 's most pure and Spiritual Commands are urged upon the Conscience The motions of Sin are said to be by the Law Rom. 7.5 When the strict Commands of the Law are pressed on the Conscience indweling Sin rouses up it self growes more Violent and Outragious A Bridge set over and giving some check to a stream causes its smooth calm waters to rage and make a noise so Sin becomes more impetuous by that opposition that it meets withal from the Law of God The Apostle Paul saith That Sin taking occasion by the Law deceived him and so slew him Rom. 7.7 8 9 10 11. When the Commandments came Sin revived raised up it self more
us that he who hath imposed righteous Commands on us and hath denounced for our disobedience righteous Threatnings against us should to secure and preserve us or be made Righteousness to us This is admirable and wonderful that Jehovah should provide a Laver to wash us and work out a Righteousness to cloath and adorn us This is such a rare and stupendious thing that the Son of God by this gracious Condescention to us by this merciful Provision for us hath acquired a new honourable and everlasting Name The Words afford us two Points of Doctrine 1. That in Christ's Days Judah and Israel Jew and Gentile shall be most eminently and signally saved 2. That Jesus Christ is and shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Doct. 1. That in Christ's Days Judah and Israel Jew and Gentile shall be most eminently saved For the prosecuting of this Doctrine 1. I shall shew you what Days are meant and intended by the Days of Christ 2. What this Salvation is that shall be given forth in his Days 3. Why Salvation is by way of Excellency said to be bestowed in his days and then more eminently communicate 1. What days are meant by the Days of Christ Ans The Days that begin from the incarnation of the Son of God and continue and run on to his second coming these in Scripture are called his Days Psal 72.7 In his Days shall the Righteous flourish and these days are Long days for it followeth and an abundance of Peace there shall be as long as the Moon endureth So that the days of the Messiah do run parralel with the Moon as to their duration God had promised to him that he should prolong his Days and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his Hand Isa 53.10 It is a wonderful Condescention that he whose goings forth were from everlasting and was ancienter than days should take an Humane Nature and live a life in it that should be measured by days The Time since Jesus Christ was exhibited and manifested to the World is called his days 2. What is this Salvation that Jesus Christ bestoweth I shall shew you 1. The Nature 2ly The Properties and Adjuncts of this Salvation I shall first explain the Nature of it This Salvation hath two parts 1. A Privative 2. A Positive part 1. A Privative part It is Salvation from the most dreadful Evils 1. It is Salvation from Sin Matth. 1.21 thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins 2 Tit. 14. he gave himself to redeem us from all Iniquity His Blood is the precious Red Ink to blot out our Transgressions and the most wonderful Red Seas to drown the Spiritual Egyptians the Host of our Iniquities in Christ was but baptized in the deep Waters of sorrow and sufferings but he drowned for ever all our sins God made war with Christ to make peace with us Zech. 13.7 God saves by Remission of Sins Luke 77. and by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.4 5. God made him an instance of Severity that we might be eternal Monuments of Mercy 2. Christ saves from wrath Jesus delivers from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. last Being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5.9 The Apostle doth not mention whose wrath but means the wrath of God This wrath is so formidable and terrible that all other wrath is as nothing doth not deserve the Name of wrath it is but a false or painted Fire a Bubble an empty Name and sound God can array all the Creatures as his Hosts in Heaven and Earth to fight against Sinners He can awaken and stir up Conscience to accuse and condemn the Sinner and so make him both a Burden and a Terrour to himself God can remember and set all our Trangressions before our Sight and fix our Eyes on this dreadful and dismaying Object that they shall never divert or look off from it God can pursue Sinners with punishment in this world and meet them with more dreadful vengeance in another World he can strike and support the Criminal at once he can blow up the Fire of his Anger and preserve the Souls and Bodies of Sinners to be eternal Fuel to it he can make extremity and eternity of Misery to meet in the same Person It is amazing wrath to make a bundle of Tares to subsist and continue in the Furnace for ever to be immortal Fuel to an eternal Fire It is from this dreadful wrath that Jesus Christ saves his People 2. There is a positive part of this Salvation 1. Jesus Christ saves and quickens us The Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear it shall live John 5.25 As God breathed the Breath of Life into Adam's formed Body and he became a living Soul Gen. 2.7 so Christ breathed on his Apostles and said Receive you the Holy Ghost John 20.22 the Life of Saints is a Beam of and a stream from the Life of Christ Eccl. 2.20 How noble is their Life They live by Christ's living in them through the Spirit they are ingrafted into Christ are Branches of the true Tree of Life they are in him who is the true God and Eternal Life 1 John 5.20 2ly Christ saves them and builds them Zech. 6.12 13. The Branches should grow up out of his Place and he should build the Temple of the Lord we fell and were ruined in and by Adam and we lay in Ruines and Rubbish till Christ doth lift up his Feet to our Desolations doth with Pity behold and in Mercy raise up our Ruins Satan dwells in and rejoices over these Ruins Those that are pulled down with respect to God may be said to be built up with respect to Satan as Ruins of a House are of no use to us so ruined Creatures are altogether unprofitable to God Rom. 12. O this is great Mercy for Satan to be dispossed and ejected and for Souls to be framed as a holy House and to be built up as a Spiritual Temple for God to inhabit and be worshipped in Those that are God's Temples are animated by his Spirit and are filled with his Glory at once they are framed to be a Habitation for God and fitted to be Inhabitants with him in the Heavenly Jerusalem 3. Christ saves waters and improves our dry Ground our Barren Land Isa 44.3 God saith he will pour water on him that is thirsty and Floods on the dry Ground And God thus explains the meaning of this Metaphor I will pour my Spirit on thy Seed and my Blessing on thy Off-spring We are by Nature a wretched dry and barren piece of Ground we did ly upon improvement to none but to the Heavenly Husbandman it was the second Adam only that could enrich such a hungry and dry Ground he that can give the Spirit as Rivers of Living Water John 7.37 38 39. He invites Sinners to come and drink
out of Prison Isa 49.9 that he should be wounded to heal us and be bruised to bind us up Isa 53.9 10. Isa 61.1 that a Vail should be cast over Christ's Innocency by our Iniquity taken on him that a Vail might be cast over our sins by his Righteousness imputed to us There was an Offence committed that might have remained on us and have destroyed us But O what kindness is this that there should be a Free Gift of Righteousness to relieve and justifie us Rom. 5.15 Christ Redeemed us from Destruction by devoting himself to Death for us in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to Redeem in the Arabick Fada fignifies to Devote ones self to Death This Fada is the same word with the Hebrew Phada and by comparing the two significations of the word in the two Languages we learn this excellent Truth †Vid. Oriental Lexicon That we are Redeemed by Christ's devoting himself to Death for us What we our selves should have fully wrought out that Christ hath bought and freely gives us Dan. 9.24 Rom. 5.19 O how should we admire God Who is a God like to him glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 Yet who is a God like to him pardoning iniquity and passing by Transgression and Sin Mic. 7.18 19. As he is Holy he hates sin yet as he is Gracious he pities Sinners His Holiness doth not hinder or obstruct his Mercy 3d. Vse Examine your selves whether you can truly call Jehovah by this sweet and comfortable Name Is he your Righteousness Are you invested with this Righteousness and discharged from your Sins Put these following Questions to your selves for Trial. 1. Did you ever come to your selves Luke 15.17 Did you ever feel your selves to be bound with Cords of Guilt laden with Iniquity ready to sink into the Bottomless Pit Men must be Condemned before they are Justified be cast down before they are lifted up apply the Curse to themselves before they apply the Blessing hear the Sentence of Death denounced against them by the Law before they partake of Justification of Life by the Gospel as the World was first without the Law and then the Israelites were under the Law and then Christ came with Righteousness and Peace So every Justified Sinner is first without the Law he is alive and full of hopes because he is without the Law Rom. 7.9 he knows not the Spirituality of the Commands of the Law nor the Severity of its Threatnings he hath a Calm and Peace because he never imputed his Numerous sins to himself or bound his Heinous Iniquities on himself The Soul is a dead Sea without motion towards God and yet is a calm and quiet Sea without dread and fear of God But when God intends good to the Soul first the Commandment comes Rom. 7.9 and then Sin Revives and a Storm is raised in the Soul but in due time Faith comes Gal. 3.25 and then the Soul is calmed and quieted being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 If you were nevere burdened you cannot be eased if you were never broken you cannot be bound up if you were never mourners you cannot be Comforted if you never tasted the bitterness of Sin you cannot tast the sweetness of the Grace of Christ and experience his purifying Blood and his reviving Righteousness If you are Justified How did you come by Pardon and Peace Can you call them Naphtali that you got them by wrestling It is said Israel shall be Justified and saved Isa 45.17 last Jacob wrestled with the Angel for a Blessing his Conscience might accuse him for Fraud and Lying in procuring the Blessing from blind Isaac yet he held the Angel fast said he and would not let him go except he did Bless him Gen. 32.26 And for this his Name was changed and he was called Israel Gen. 32.28 When we find Sin stirring in us when Conscience accuses the Law curses God according to the first Covenant condemns To Believe on Christ for Righteousness is as Peter's walking on the Sea in a storm If we have ever felt the smart of our wounds the Schorching heat of God's Wrath the Burning Poyson of the old Serpent in our Consciences If 〈◊〉 were ever arrested arraigned condemned shut up surely in the anguish of your Souls you have cryed out We are destitute of Righteousness and where shall we find it we have contracted guilt and provoked Wrath And where shall we be Found 2. Were you ever divorced from and dead to the Law and Covenant of Works as your First Husband and then Married to Christ we are first joined to the Law and the Covenant of Works as our First Husband and it makes us a jointure of Life upon condition of perfect Obedience The Apostle compares the Law to a Husband but the froward Heart of Man is not subject to this Husband The more the Commands of the Law are urged on it the more it contradicts and Rebels The motions of Sin are said to be by the Law Rom. 7.5 but the Fruits of Righteousness are by Jesus Christ Phil. 1.11 The Law cannot Sanctifie or Justifie us this is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.3 the thing that is impossible to the Law Have you therefore been divorced from and become dead to the Law Rom. 7.4 as it is a Covenant of Works Have you despaired of finding righteousness in your selves and of obtaining a Blessing from the Law and so have looked and fled to Jesus Christ †Heb. 12.24 as those that have been pursued by sin and the wrath of Ged Paul saith Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Works of the Law but by the Faith of Christ Even we have Believed in Jesus Christ that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the Works of the Law For by the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be Justified 3. Are you Sanctified Justification and Sanctification always go together as in the Natural Body the Blood and Spirits do flow out together so the Blood and Spirit of Christ are always joined John 19.34 Blood and Water Signifiing the Spirit came together out of Christ's Side He comes by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 else he would be but half and imperfect Saviour As the same day that the Waters went off form the Earth and were gathered into the Sea the Earth was adorned with Grass Herbs Flowers Trees Gen. 9.11 So when a deluge of Wrath goeth off from the Soul it is presented adorned with the grace of the Spirit and called a Tree of Righteousness Isa 61.2 Those that are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus are also Justified by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 If God Loves the Soul he makes it Lovely If Christ washes you he also makes you Kings and Priests Revel 1.5 6. You are no longer Vassals to your Lusts but as Kings rule in your own Hearts You check vain thoughts