This hath not been without the divine pleasure of our gracious and heavenly Father that Election which hath been before the world was he maketh knowne to his by operative and effectuall Vocation Rom. 8.30 Whom he hath predestinated them also hath he called and whom he hath called them also hath he justified and whom he hath justified them also hath he glorified 24. Election and Vocation proceeds from the free benevolence of a loving God and are confirmed to the consciences of true beleevers through the true and faithfull testimony of the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.17 And the Spirit witnesseth together with our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God 25. If we desire to see and know the propitious minde of God let us turne our faces towards Christ in whom the Father is well pleased if we would seeke eternall life and the immortalitie of the celestiall Kingdome Not to any other but to Christ must we flie for he is the fountaine of our life the Author of our salvation and the ground of our Adoption and effectuall calling 1 Thes 5.9 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to salvation by the meanes of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our worke but according to his owne purpose and grace which was given to us through Jesus Christ before the world was 26. Now whitherward doth our Election tend but that through the bountie of him who is propitious towards us we may enjoy the filiation of sonnes immortalitie and salvation and although our minds are troubled and our cōsciences perplexed yet no otherwise can we know the certaintie thereof but by vocation and absolute regeneration for absolute regeneration and vocation are assured pledges of our salvation immortalitie and filiation 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant bountie hath begetten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance immortall and undefiled and that withereth not reserved in heaven for us 27. Although our heavenly and gracious Father love all his people as he loved his beloved Christ yet it is his divine grace and pleasure in effectuall vocation to try some of his in the fiery furnace of sorrowes and great tribulation Act. 2.37 Who when they heard it they were pricked in their hearts and said to Peter and other Apostles Men and Brethren What shall we doe Isa 6.5 Then said I I am a man undone I am a man of polluted lips and I dwell amongst a people of polluted lips mine eyes have seene the King the Lord of Hoasts 28. Our life is hid with God in Christ and we are called efficaciously from the world unto celestiall grace and from woefull darknesse unto his glorious light that we may live godly in this present world expecting the comming of our Lord and Saviour Ephes 4.1 I therefore being prisoner in the Lord pray you that yee walke worthy of the vocation whereunto yee are called Titus 2.13 Expecting that blessed hope and that glorious comming of that great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Contemplation THis was the saying of Moses Who is a Rock like our Rock or who is a God like the God of our salvation We may say Who hath a Father like our Father or who hath found any so sweet and delectable as he hath been to us As the sweet influence of the Plejades and the sweet distilling drops from the Clouds so hath he been in our vocation his words are rarer then the words of Moses the one is Law the other grace and peace Joh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth cams by Jesus Christ. The one a killing Letter the other a quickening Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able Ministers of the new Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life The one the ministery of condemnation the other the ministery of life and salvation 2 Cor. 3.9 For if the ministery of condemnation hath been glorious much more the ministery of righteousnesse doth abound with glory The one written in Tables of stone the other in the fleshly Tables of our heart 2 Cor. 3 3. In that yee are manifest to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us and written not with inke but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart The one accuseth us before the Barre of Justice the other acquitteth us before the Mercy Seate Joh. 5.4 5. Thinke not that I am come to accuse you before the Father there is one who accuseth you to wit Moses in whom yee trust Hath Moses fetcht home the lost sheep sought the lost groat or imbraced the poore returned Prodigalls No it was our Christ the great and blessed Shepheard of Israel What are the drops or dewes without the Sunne or what can the body effect without the soule or what can the Law doe in the act of vocation without the effectuall operation of the Spirit of Jesus from whence art thou called O my soule Not onely from the receipt of custome but from the custome of hell Not onely from prophanenesse to civilitie from civilitie to moralitie but from all to heavenly and celestiall grace and glory What hast thou found in Christ fince he called thee I have found my life in him my name in the heavenly places a hope amongst his peculiar a rest in his love a communion in his promises a fellowship amongst the Saints and the glorious gracious and loving face of a sweet Father And hast thou not also found rare effects in thee since the time of his overpowring of his precious graces yea now his love is more to me then Kingdomes then Consullships then riches then honours then dignities then Dominions yea then all things If I were possest with the wealth of Arabia the riches of India the treasure of Africa and the glory of Europe what would those be to me without a Christ I would rather choose one dram of his grace then mountaines of gold then a sea of silver then an earth of pleasures and Kingdomes and Provinces of delights and delectations Rachel said Give me children or els I dye I say give me Christ or I shall dye Abraham said What availes all these if I goe childlesse I say what availeth all if I goe Christlesse Was Jacob comforted when he wanted Joseph or can I be comforted when I want my Beloved And did not Rachel mourne and would not be comforted when her children were not And doe I not mourne and cannot be comforted because my Christ is not From henceforth will I triumph with the triumphers and take my place amongst the Conquerours for I am not called from the sheepfold but from the gates of hell and made a King and Priest to God the Father I am
convenient they should be used these presented passing thy meditation expect not the strongnesse of the aged or the boughes of a Cedar from a twig but let thy wisdome and discretion Christian Reader passe by the weaknes of the writer More must not be expected then is communicated therefore it is not meet that acceptation should be further requested yet requesting that the benefit of these may be to thy conscience sealed that thou mayst live and not die that thou mayest die and live no more to the creature but to God blessed for ever To whom be ascribed all blessednesse through Christ Jesus for evermore Thine in the Lord Christ beloved of the Father and respected of the Saints Timothie Batt The Table of the severall Heads contained in this Book 1. Of Grace 2. Of Election 3. Of the Covenant of Grace 4. Of Vnion 5. Of Vocation 6. Of Adoption 7. Of Redemption 8. Of Christs Mediation 9. Of Reconciliation 10. Of Justification 11. Of Sanctification 12. Of Glorification CHAP. I. Concerning Grace Definition 1. THe Hebrew word Chen from Chanan doth signifie to pitie The Greeke ward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from charistomaj signifies to shew kindnesse to a man immeriting or undeserving Definition 2. Grace is the free benevolence or gracious favour of God the Father in Christ through which he loves his chosen and peculiar people remitting their transgressions imputing them just and righteous and bestowing on them the spirit of Adoption and eternall hope and benediction Jer. 31.33 34. I will be their God and they shall be my people I will forgive their sin and their iniquitie I will remember no more Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ 3. The prevenient grace of God is that through which God loves his in the beloved without any respect to any merits or deservings in his own peculiar 1. Joh. 4.19 We love him because he loved us first 4. The concomitant grace of God is that whereby he doth continually supply his own with sweet communion with himself in the day of grace and perfect fruition and communion with his Christ in the eternall weight of glorie 1. Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard that declare we unto you that ye may have communion with us and our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 5. The subsequent and prevenient grace of God are all one and the same onely they differ in respect of dispensation 6. Operating grace is that which changeth the mind will and affection Cooperating grace is that which makes the Saints move to Godward when the will is changed 1. Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Phil. 4.13 I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 7. The grace of Christ is that whereby he dispenseth abundantly to the Saints from the overflowing and abundance of grace enwrapt within himself and procureth for his eternall favour through which they are ever beloved of his Father Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse all we receive grace for grace Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God waiting for the mercie of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8. The supereminencie of divine grace and bountie is declared in the redemption union and salvation of the unworthie and immeriting Ephes 2.7 That he might shew in the ages to come the supereminent riches of his grace according to his bountie towards us in Christ 9. Grace is proposed unto all in the Gospel of life and reconciliation but made effectuall to none but the Saints beleeving Hebr. 4.2 The Word profited them not because it was not mixed with faith in them which heard it 10. The fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse mediately are produced by the Saints communion with Christ and immediately by grace the cause of everlasting hope and reconciliation 1. Joh. 1.6 If we say we have communion with him and walk in darknesse we make him a lyar and there is no truth in us Tit. 2.11 The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared vers 12. Teaching us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live chastly godly and righteously in this present world 11. The collocation of inestimable and unspeakable graces abounded in Christ sith he was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows and the Spirit was not given to him by measure Hebr. 1.9 Joh. 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure 12. There is an inseparable conjunction between the grace of God and the satisfaction of the Lord Christ sith the Lord Christ hath no otherwise merited life and salvation by his merit or satisfaction save by the favour or divine pleasure of his Father Luk. 22.42 Father if thou wilt take this cup from me neverthelesse not my will but thy will be done Joh 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeved on him might not perish but have eternall life 13. There is an inseparable bond betwixt the satisfaction of Christ and the pleasure of God the Father Hence whatsoever the Lord Christ hath procured it is his Fathers pleasure to bestow it Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world 14. The inestimable grace of God which is collocated in the Lord Jesus and from him effectually bestowed on the Saints redeemed cannot utterly be abolished or extinguished Rom. 8.39 Neither height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 15. The Lord Christ by the grace of supplyment doth supplie the travellers of his hope in the estate of love and mercy and by the grace of complement doth crown his peculiar with the fruition of glorious and full communion in the estate of glory 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us wisdom of God and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Which is his body the complement of him who filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 16. Answerable to the act of faith pitching upon God the Father in his beloved Christ so is the gracious injoyment of the sence of Gods free mercie and benevolence in Christ Ephes 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith 18. That being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and the length and the depth and the height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulnesse of God 17. Pacification of spirit and peace of conscience ariseth whilest the faithfull rest on Gods fatherly indulgencie being
Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation 4. The ends of Reconciliation are the peace of Conscience the dignitie of Christ our Mediator and the faithfulls fruition of Gods presence which was obscured or hidden from them by reason of iniquitie Ephes 2.14 For he is our peace who hath made both one and broken downe the middle wall of partition betweene us 5. Whilest the soule apprehendeth not this reconciliation with God in Christ there is nothing but disturbance but when the Spirit of God doth assure us of our Reconciliation with him wee then enjoy the peace of Conscience Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee 6. The sence of Reconciliation through the hand of Christ Mediator is the beginning of tranquilitie of mind and the upholder of the Spirit against the feare of the houre of death and Judgement Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also bast wrought all our works in us Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away teares from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the carth for the Lord hath spoken it 7. The more a Christian hath the sence of this estate and condition he is more heavenly in his meditation more comfortable in declaration and holy in conversation The ground is this sith the deare love of God in the act of Reconciliation is the ground of our affection to Christ in the heavenly places and of obedience to Gods blessed and sacred Majestie 8. It is impossible he should loose Gods favour any more who through the death of Christ is to God reconciled sith that sinnes hand-writing is wholly removed and that this precious death is a sufficient ransome from all iniquitie Col. 2.14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his Crosse Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised againe for our justification 9. The faithfull under the Law did not onely looke for salvation but also for reconciliatiō by the hand of Christ Isaiah 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our workes in us 10. God was reconciled to man before it was vertually manifested and after vertuall manifestation he is reconciled before of his it be received The ground is this Sith it is the wisdome of the Faether that in himselfe there should be the primary ordination afterwards answered by Christ in the act of Reconciliation and conferred to the Saints by way of Reception 11. For as much as it hath been impossible that any creature could reconcile himselfe to God infinite in nature it hath been the free grace of God to send his beloved Sonne that being infinite he might answer what infinite Justice did require Isaiah 63.3 I have troden the Wine-presse alone and of the people there was none with me 12. He that supposeth that by answer to the morall Law he either pacifieth Gods Justice procureth Gods favour or maketh peace with God is deceived for there is no other meanes under heaven to give us rest in the day of great necessitie or peace in the depths or gulfes of misery save by the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus Isaiah 53.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed 13. To attribute Reconciliation to any Creature save unto Christ Mediator is blasphemy and a point of high Arminianisme 14. Although we have been estranged from God through sinne heires of anger of eternall death subject to destruction shut out from all the hope of salvation and alienated from the blessings of God and under the yoake and bondage of the Morall Law notwithstanding such hath been the love of God unto us in Christ that he would remove all these and not onely reconcile us unto himselfe by the bloud of Christ but also by his death Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life 15. By the knowledge of Gods anger against us we come to the knowledge of our misery and of his mercy and unlesse we know how great a sepation or distance there is betwixt GOD and us we can never value or prize the exceeding or excellent vertue of our Reconciliation by Christ 16. As God first loves us before he doth redeeme us so doth he love us before he reconcile us unto himselfe albeit we have no assurance of his love untill wee through faith apprehend him to be reconciled unto us through Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.18 And all things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himselfe by Jesus Christ and hath given us the ministery of Reconciliation 17. Incomprehensible and immutable is the love of God that although we were not reconciled actually through the bloud and death of his Sonne yet he loved us before the foundation of the world Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 18. As Redemption Adoption Union and Communion can never be disannulled sith they are obtained by Christ and in him established so reconciliation being the worke of God in Christ and procured both by the precious bloud and vertuall death of Christ can never be annihilated 19. Not onely the presentation of the chosen of God but also the glory of God the honour of Christ Mediator hangs upon the everlasting reconciliation of the faithfull to God Col. 1.22 In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight 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 selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us 20. The infinite worth and power of Christ in matter of Reconciliation is so sufficient to answer Gods infinite puritie that Gods pure nature desireth no more in matter of Reconciliation 2 Pet. 17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased 21. Though there is a participation of the vertue of Christs Reconciliation in this vaile of misery yet the full fruition is not enjoyed of the faithfull untill they come to the Heaven of felicitie 1 Cor. 2.9 For it is written eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 22. The assurance that the faithfull
Sanctification infancy and strong age the one is in the estate of grace the other in the estate of felicitie and glory 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 3. In Sanctification there are two parts considerable 1. Mortification 2. Vivification 4. Mortification is the first part of Sanctification through which sinne is mortified and the force thereof weakned and abated Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we might not serve sinne 5. Vivification is the second part of Sanctification through which the Image of God is restored and renewed 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have borne the Image of the earthly we shall also beare the Image of the heavenly 6. The efficient and absolute cause is the Father of eternall grace and mercies 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soule and body be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. The meritorious or formall cause the precious deare bloud of the Lord Christ that bought us Heb. 10.10 By the which will wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10.29 Oh how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under-foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace 8. The instrumentall cause of our Sanctification is the precious and sanctifying Word of the Lord Jesus Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth 9. The spirit of life and glory is the cause principally working and perfecting of our Sanctification Hence the Spirit of Christ is tearmed the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 10. There is an inseparable lincke and conjunction betwixt the act of Justification by or through the righteousnesse of the Lord our righteousnesse and the act of Sanctification through the Spirit of life and Adoption The ground is this Sith the end of Justification through the love of God and righteousnesse of Christ is the holinesse of our lives and conversations 11. Whilest the inabilitie of man is insufficient to mortifie sinne transgression and iniquitie the Spirit of life and consolation worketh faith in the hearts of the faithfull which layeth hold on the deare bloud and precious death of the Lord Christ which draweth strength from thence to the utter subduing and mortifying of corruption Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your conscience from dead workes to serve the living God Rom. 6.8 9 10. Now if we be dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him For in that he dyed he dyed unto sinne once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God 12. Whilest man is insufficient to restore againe the Image of God which he lost in Paradise to him is given the Spirit of life through which he is freed from the Law of sinne and death and raised againe to live by the life and resurrection of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you 13. The New Creature reconciled through bloud justified through righteousnesse and sanctified by the Spirit is really absolutely freed from blame reproofe and sinne in the sight of God the Father 2 Cor. 5.17 Coll. 1.22 Vide. 14. As God hath glory by faith in his promise love to his Name and hope in his salvation so he hath glory by holinesse and sanctitie in our lives and conversations Rom. 4.20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe But was strong in faith giving glory to God Joh. 17 10. And all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 15. Though the Father of glory and God of all consolation give us life eternall without the desert of holinesse and sanctification yet he doth not give the joy of the Spirit supply of grace without the meanes of sanctimony or sanctification Act. 10.43 44. Vide. 16. Answerable to the sence of Gods divine favour the apprehension of the divine love of Christ and the over-fillings and over-flowings of the joy of the Spirit so is the faithfulls progresse to the high calling of God in Christ Phil. 3.14 I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 17. So farre as our sanctification or holinesse is an assurance of our glory and blessednesse hereafter that it shall receive the crowne of hope and approbation in the day of Judgement and that through it we glorifie our heavenly Father before the sonnes of men we may rejoyce before God with an assured confidence Act. 24.14 15 16. But this I confesse unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prephets And have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience voyde of offence towards God and men 18. Not the terrors of the Law the feare of hell the dread of Justice nor the affrightment through condemnation ought to move the Saints to the obedience of the Gospel of life and salvation sith they are bound to the obedience thereof by the love of God a reconciled Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Joh. 15.12 This is my Commandement that yee love one another as I have loved you Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements 19. Though the Saints for their sanctitie and holinesse are not assured of life and immortalitie yet without sanctitie and holinesse they are not assured of beatitude and glory Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. 20. When the faithfull doe not consider their justified estate and condition and their glorious presentation through the act of reconciliation but opposeth and compareth their works with the Commands and Precepts of the Morall Law It doth possesse them with dreadfull griefe and woefull sorrow Heb. 12.18 19 20
no night there for the Lord God doth enlighten them and they shall reigne for evermore For the Lord God doth enlighten them VVHat said he for the Lord God that is he who was who is and is to come who is the Alpha and Omega who hath been from everlasting to everlasting and from eternitie to eternitie who is the Lord of hosts the holy One of Israel the King of Kings the God onely wise blessed for evermore who is the Father of glory the God all-sufficient the fountain of consolation the well-spring of living waters the ancre of hope and the Lord God of Israel to Israel his redeemed who is strong gracious and mercifull slow to anger and abundant in kindnesse and truth He will give grace and glorie enlightning them with his light and glorie according to the text For the Lord God doth enlighten them and they shall reign for evermore Doth enlighten them O Admiration of admirations O wonder of wonders O gift of gifts that the high and holy One of Israel the Father of eternall mercies of incomprehensible and infinite kindnes who dwels in light in accessible should communicate his light and glory to poore distressed captives who walked upon the dark mountains who were bound by Law and justice to everlasting chains under darknes who were blinded by the fearfull king of terrors that roaring Lyon whose dwelling and habitation is in eternall wo and miserie O my soul was not thy darknesse worse then the darknesse of Egypt was it not more terrible then the darknesse of the night season wa st thou not as blind as the Sodomites yea thy blindnesse worse then the blindnesse of the Aramites In that day of darknesse and obscuritie thou sawest nothing but sinne transgression and iniquitie but hell death and calamitie but justice wrath and furie but destruction woe and misery though the glory of God showne in the land of the living though the beautie of Christ showne amongst the beleeving yet thou beheldest not his glory but now he hath enlightned thee when he became the day starre in thy heart a Sunne of brightnesse in thy understanding and his glory showne in the face of Jesus Christ upon thy conscience What light is like this light wherewith thy Father hath enlightned thee not the light of the starres Christ the day starre is thy illumination not the light of the candle the Spirit of Christ is to thee the Spirit of revelation nor the light of the Sun though it shine in the Meridian That enlightneth the aire this thy soul that contents thy eye this thy conscience that setteth and riseth this riseth and never setteth that draweth vapors from belowe this draweth thy soule as high as the heavenly places that enlightneth Townes Cities and Countreys this enlightneth thee to the heavenly Citie whose maker and builder is God O my soule is light sowne for the righteous and not for thee Hath light appeared in a dungeon of darknesse and not to thee Or hath Christ the Light of the world appeared and not to thee Yea for though thou wast born blind yet now thou seest and though thou wast encompassed with obscuritie yet now thou beholdest what doest thou behold yea what dost thou not behold For his grace is thy glory his face thy comfort his promise thy rest his Christ thy hope his kingdome thy end and the fruition of his face thy great felicitie Thou sawest the Sunne whilest the Sonne of righteousnesse was obscured and whilest the Son of righteousnesse appeared the Sunne in the midst of the Planets was ecclipsed so that whilest thou wast deprived of the one thou didst enjoy the other as the text relateth For thy God enlightneth his and they shall reigne for evermore And they shall reigne for evermore VVHat they who received the holy unction who have been made Kings and Priests to God our Father through the blood of Jesus who have washed their long white robes through that blood most precious They yea they who have been cast out to the open shame and contempt of their faces who have been unsavourie salt whom no eye pitied neither towards them hath the bowels of mercy yearned yea they who have not been ashamed of chaines fetters and bonds for Christs sake who have endured reproaches slanders shipwracks whippings and rebukes for Christ their Master who have not been ashamed to confesse the Name of Christ before Kings Princes and Monarchs of the earth They yea they who have been strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel alienates from the Covenant of promise without Christ and without God in the world They shall reigne with Christ for evermore They shall WHat not now who are more then conquerours through Christ that loved them who have encountred with sin fought with Satan overcome death and by the power of their blessed and loving Mediatour have suppressed all evils and removed all the force of powers and principalities Not now who are alreadie anointed with the holy unction filled with the fulnesse of grace and mercie made Kings through Christ the beloved King and Lord of life and reconciliation Yea now for Christ lives in them they in Christ Christ dwels in them they in Christ Christ reignes in them and they by Christ And they shall reigne for evermore Reigne VVHat they yea they who have wandred in sheep-skins and goat-skins they who have been counted as sheep to the slaughter and have been slain all the day long for his names sake They yea they who have not had the oyle of unction who have not had a foot of inheritance amongst the sonnes of men who are the mock of the world the derision of the people adjudged unworthie though most worthie whom the world is not worthy of they shall enjoy a kingdome not earthly but heavenly not mortall but immortall not momentarie but eternall not made of stone of lime of gold of silver or established upon any earthly foundation not senced with walls of brasse and posts and gates of wood and iron but incompassed about with an eternall protection not filled with terrene fruits and pleasures delectable but with heavenly pleasures and joyes inenarrable not with terrene or terrestriall profits accounted valeable but with heavenly treasures and thing unvaleable O the Himnes the Songs and Psalmes that are in that Citie O the praisings laudings and honours that are in that Jerusalem O the dignifyings laudings and magnifyings that is in that kingdome There is nothing but peace love and amitie there is nothing but blessednesse life and felicitie there is nothing but heavenly fruition glorious communion and the excellent and eternall weight of glory For the Lord Jehovah dwelleth there Therefore they shall need no light and they shall reigne for evermore For evermore NOt for daies times years moneths and houres not for tens hundreds thousands and millions but for aeternitie What day like that day wherein the Sonne of righteousnesse shall never set what time like that time wherein the splendorous glorious