Objects of Pity and Compassion rather than of Passion and Anger Eph. 1.32 Be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Consider what God hath done to you that you may do the same to them Secondly The next consideration of this Prayer of Christ is as a Tast and Pledge of his Mediation and Intercession So it is Prophecied Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Christ was placed in the midst of Thieves as the first Clause is explained Mark 15.28 and he made Intercession that is prayed for his Persecutors The whole Chapter is a Prophetical Narration of the Acts and Sorrows of Christ upon the Cross. In this publick Sense and Consideration let us see what may be gathered out of the Clause Father forgive them 1. It is an Instance of Christ's Love and Bowels to Sinners he loved Mankind so well that he Prayed for them that Crucified him Look on the Lord Jesus as Praying and Dying for Enemies and improve it as a ground of Confidence Upon the Cross he would give us an Instance of his Efficacy in converting the Thief and of his Affection in praying for his Persecutors We were as great Enemies to Christ and as deep in the Guilt of his Passion as they Rom. 5.10 When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son The Enemies of his Kingdom are every way as bad as the Enemies of his Person if Christ did not say Father forgive what would become of us You will say we are Christians But scandalous Sinners renew his Sufferings and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 Oh! let us Adore God for these Experiences it is a mighty ground of Hope that Christ hath put in for a Pardon he would not die till he had expressed his Reconciliation with his Enemies 2. See what is the Voice and Merit of his Sufferings Father forgive them This is the Speech that Christ uttered when he was laid on the Cross. The Apostle compareth Christ's Blood and the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 And to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel Abel's Blood was clamorous in the Ears of God Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy brothers blood crieth to me from the ground And so in the Conscience of Cain it crieth Avenge Avenge me Christ's Blood hath another Voice it speaketh to God to pacifie his Wrath and to Pardon us if penitent and believing Sinners it speaketh to Conscience to be quiet God hath found out a Ransom The Blood of Christ may speak against us as well as against the Iews for by our Sins we made Christ to die Oh! be not quiet till it speak Peace in your Consciences Christ's Blood was spilt in Malice as Abel's was and might have cried for Vengeance on the Actors who were not only the Iews but we and it yet speaketh as Abel's did Heb. 11.4 By it he being dead yet speaketh It is a speaking Blood and is yet speaking The speaking of the Blood is interpreted according to the Words in their Mouth wherewith they died Mat. 23.35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zecharias the son of Barachias whom ye slew between the porch and the altar Our Lord gathers it from Zecharias his saying The Lord look upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24.22 So the Words of Christ interpret his Death 3. In the Mediatory Consideration it hinteth the coupling of his Intercession with his Satisfaction On the Cross there he dieth and there he prayeth he was both Priest and Sacrifice The High-Priest under the Law was not only to slay the Sacrifice but to intercede for the People first the Beast was slain without the Camp and then the Blood was carried into the Holy of Holies and there Prayer was made with Incense but before that Aaron when he was going into the holy Place before the Lord was to cause the sound of his Golden Bells to be heard under pain of Death Exod. 28.35 To this I parallel this Action of Christ upon the Cross. This Prayer was as the sound of the Golden Bells he would make his Voice to be heard by Prayer and then he goes into the Holy of Holies the Lord Jesus Christ when he shed his Blood before the Tribunal of God he sendeth forth a Prayer God would have our Salvation carried on in a way of Mercy and Justice and Christ was to mingle Intreaty with Satisfaction as Lev. 16.14 the High-Priest was to bring the Blood within the Vail and to sprinkle it upon the Mercy-Seat He must satisfie Justice and make an Address to Mercy that we that have sinned with both hands may take hold of God with both hands Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ it is freely and yet through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ these two sweetly accord 4. This is a Pledge of his constant Intercession in Heaven The Ceremonies of the Old Law were not only Types of Christ but his visible Actions were a kind of Types and Pledges of his Spiritual Actions 1 Iohn 2.1 If any man sin we have an advocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous He that could pray for Enemies will pray for Friends and he that got our Pardon by his Intercession will promote our Salvation Certainly Christ's Glorified Soul looseth no Affection he is as earnest with the Father for his Friends as ever he was upon the Cross for his Persecutors Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Christ doth appear as our Advocate in Court not only in our Name but in our stead 5. It shews the Nature of his Intercession It not only implies the everlastingness of his Merit that his Blood doth continue to deserve such things at the hands of God as we stand in need of but it is a continual representation of his Merit it is not a Metaphor but a solemn Act of his Priesthood Again it is not by Verbal Expressions such as he used here upon Earth Father forgive them this became the state of his Humiliation but now he intercedes Non voce sed miseratione Not by Voice but by Pity What is it then Partly his appearing in Heaven as God in our Nature Heb. 9.24 Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands c. but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us He is said to appear before God for us as the High-Priest came and presented himself before God with the Names of the twelve Tribes engraven on his Breast-plate Partly in his expressing an actual Willingness or the
glorify us his Coming is sutable to his Work that is visible in Power and great Glory therefore it is said Col. 3.3 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory Christ is to have all first and we at second-hand when he comes in Grace Iohn 17.19 For their sakes I sanctify my self that they also may be sanctified through the Truth So we must be glorified at second-hand first Christ and then we 4. Christ comes not simply to glorify us but to bring the Saints to Heaven with the more State O Christians remember Christ thinks he can never do you Honour enough Christ doth not send for us but he will come in Person Iohn 14.3 I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Look as the Bridegroom comes with the Youth and Flower of the City to bring in his Bride in State so Christ brings the Flower of Heaven all his holy Angels to conduct us in State to our everlasting Mansions 5. He comes in Glory that all Creatures might see his Glory to the full Men and Angels were made for this Spectacle that they might behold the Glory of Christ. It was evidenced in part at the Resurrection Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead But that was but a private and more covert Declaration to the Jews and when it was published to the World in the Gospel many believed not We have the spiritual Evidences of it to Faith but not to Sense and Sight But now the Personal Union shall fully and undeniably appear which before appeared but in part he is now declared to be the Great God 6. His Appearing shall be glorious because then Christ shall have the full Conquest over all his Enemies Some of his Enemies are still let alone for our Exercise Satan is not destroyed The infernal Spirits are held with the Chains of an irresistible Providence and shall then be brought trembling into the Presence of Christ Jude v. 16. The Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness to the Iudgment of the Great Day They are now in expectation of greater Doom and Terror Mat. 8.29 Art thou come hither to torment us before the time The good Angels come forth as Christ's Companions the evil Angels as his Prisoners The Saints shall judg Angels as well as Men 1 Cor. 6.3 Know ye not that we shall judg Angels Christ will have his People come and set their Feet upon the Necks of their Enemies for the present God hath a Ministry for them But tho the Devils now tempt trouble and molest the Saints for their Exercise yet then the Saints shall triumph over them when they shall be brought like Captives into Christ's Presence Vse 1. For Information in two things 1. That Humility is the way to Glory This Lesson we learn from the two Comings of Christ first in an humble manner and then in a glorious manner The Devils aspired after Greatness they would be great and not good The fallen Angels set us an ill Copy but Christ came to set us a better He came not from Heaven to teach us to make Worlds and work Miracles but to teach us to be humble and lowly Mat. 11.29 Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart The way to spiritual Preferment is to be low and vile in our own Eyes as the Ball that is beaten down riseth the higher 2. We learn what cause we have to be patient under present Abasement Jesus Christ is contented for a while to lie hid and not to shew himself in all his Glory till the End of the World In the Days of his Flesh he was trampled upon by wicked Men and now he is in Heaven he is despised in his Gospel in his Cause and in his Servants tho his Person be above Abuse but he is content to tarry till the Day of Manifestation when he will appear in all his Glory so should we Vse 2. 1. Here is Comfort to the Godly To you Christ's Appearance is glorious but not terrible it is as Light but not as Fire the Trumpet sounds but it summons you to be crowned The Sign of the Son of Man shews your Lord is come it is as the Shadow of the Husband before his Person appeareth this is your Jesus Certainly they that have an Interest in him will not be afraid of him foâ— his Angels are your Guardians his Saints your Companions his Appearance is to pronounce your Pardon a Crown shall be set upon your Heads in the face of all the World That which is so formidable and dreadful to our Thoughts in it self is all comfortable to a Child of God Christ came as God but still in the Humane Nature as your Brother if he be glorious it is for your sakes that you might be like him he comes as a Pattern of your Glory 2. Here is Terror to them that lie in their Sins How can they hear of these things without Astonishment You that despise the still-Voice when God speaks to you by the Angel of the Church what will you do when you hear the Great Trump which will be an Alarm to Death and Execution Your Avenger is come Christ's Sign is not Light but Terror to you If you tremble not you are worse than Felix an Heathen for Felix's Heart trembled when he heard of Judgment to come Acts 24.25 he had a more tender Conscience Nay such as do not they are worse than Satan for the Devils fear and tremble Iames 2.19 Loose and carnal Persons scoff at that at which Devils tremble It is storied of a King that wept when his Brother came to him being asked the Reason O saith he I that judg others must be judged my self Shall not I tremble at the great Trumpet that shall awaken the Dead O take Sanctuary in Grace 3. Here is Advice to All. It is a good check to Sin it stays the boiling of the Pot. Remember when thou art in the carreer and heat of thy Lusts for all these things God will bring thee to Iudgment Eccles. 11.9 Whenever thou sinnest thou art entring into the Lists with Christ as if thou wert stronger than he But Man canst thou grapple with him then it is an Engagement to Repentance When Iacob heard Esau was coming with a great Power and Force against him he sends to make Peace with him You have heard that Christ comes in a glorious manner and will be terrible to his Enemies Let us compromise all Difference between us and God O go and make Peace with him it is Christ's own Advice Luke 14.32 Or else while the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an Ambassador and desireth Conditions of Peace And repent saith the Apostle that your
God will not linger but fly Delays are a Sign of Unwillingness To say Non vacat I am not at leisure rightly interpreted is Non placet it doth not please me When Men are not at leisure for the things of their Peace it is a Sign they have no Mind to go to Christ and are not earnest in this matter Excuses are but a real Denial as they that have no Mind to pay their Debts they put off their Creditors and troublesome Suitors until another time only to be rid of them When Men have a true sense of their Case they can trifle no longer In a matter of Life and Death Delays are dangerous God is for present Obedience Heb. 3.7 To day if ye will hear his Voice And so a Soul that is affected with its Condition cannot dally with God any longer Gal. 1.16 Immediately I consulted not with Flesh and Blood When Christ called Andrew and Peter they straitway left their Nets and followed him Mat. 4.20 And Zacheus made haste and came down and received him joyfully Luke 19.6 When Men have but a slight Conviction they think of a more convenient Season when such a Business or such a Temptation is over but alas modò modò non habet modum a Sinner's Morrow will never come 2. Running to the City of Refuge implieth avoiding all By-ways A Soul that is rightly affected cannot be satisfied with any other thing Another place would not secure the Man nothing but the City of Refuge Worldly things to a wounded Conscience are as unsavoury as the White of an Egg. Surely the Wound is not deep enough when it can be healed with other Plaisters and that Thirst is not urgent which we can quench at the next Ditch I mean when the Comforts of the Creature can satisfy the Soul our Thirst was not very deep Many have a Trouble upon them but they quench it in Mirth and carnal Company and by little and little wear out all Feelings of Conscience A Man that ran to a City of Refuge would not turn aside but went a strait way thither another Town could not secure him So all things else are but Dung and Dross in comparison of being found in Christ Phil. 3.8 9. There are two things which are apt to keep us from Christ when we begin to be touched with any sight of Sin or God's Wrath pursuing us either the Delights of the World or some formal Duties When a Man begins to be in want with the Prodigal he first feeds upon Husks with the Swine takes up with Worldly Delights which serve to benum and stupify the Conscience Or if that will not do then some outward formal Duty That Trouble never went very deep that can be cured with any thing on this side Christ. 3. This Running implies an unwearied Diligence The Man was running still till he was gotten into the City of Refuge for it was for his Life so we are unwearied until we meet with Christ Cant. 3.2 The Spouse sought her Beloved throughout the whole City from one Ordinance to another Where is Christ They run here and there to the Word and to Prayer to see if God will let in any glimpse of Love They do not presently give out tho they find not what they look for but are born up by Encouragements of the Word Many that have Trouble upon them are anxious and make a kind of Essay whether God will give them Christ or no and if not presently answered throw up all But they which run to Christ in good earnest wrestle with many a Discouragement and Delay it is for the lost Sheep of the House of Israel it is Childrens Bread and not to be given to Dogs but they are resolved to hold fast and take no Denial 4. When they are got into their City of Refuge they stay there having once taken hold of Christ they will not quit their hold-fast for all the World Many times the Children of God have that which Divines call a Negative Adherence that is they do not stick to other things tho they dare not apply Christ to their Souls tho they have but a Twilight and make but a blind Adventure they dare not say Christ is theirs yet they will not let go that kind of loose Hope for all the World Much more when it comes to some Positive Adherence tho not a full Assurance that is when they are resolved to cast their Souls on Christ to see what God will do with them as Ioab when he took hold of the Horns of the Altar he said If I die I 'll die here 1 Kings 2.30 So whatever Discouragements they meet with their Hearts hold Christ fast and will not let him go II. For the second Branch To lay hold upon the Hope that is set before us and you must repeat the word flying or running again Here is another Metaphor implied the Apostle having spoken of flying alludeth not only to the City of Refuge but to that speed and haste Men make in a Race to take hold of the Prize for he speaks of laying hold of a Hope set before them the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to seize upon it and ver 20. of a Fore-runner that is entred before us 1 st What is this Hope Hope is put for the thing hoped for Heaven with all the Glory thereof for it is a Hope that lies within the Vail ver 19. or a Hope laid up for us in Heaven Col. 1.5 Mark the double end of him that cometh unto Christ Refuge and Salvation for in Christ there is not only Deliverance from pursuing Wrath but Eternal Life to be found First we fly from deserved Wrath then we take hold of undeserved Glory This is more easy of the two Rom. 5.10 11. For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement The greatest Brunt is at first because of the great fear upon us to fly from Wrath then we encourage our selves to take hold of Eternal Life In the temporal Refuges they had Security but not Possessions there was no Heritage there but here we are not only secured against the Avenger of Blood but we are called to great and glorious Hopes Our Privileges in Christ are not only privative but positive Cant. 2.3 I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit was sweet to my Taste Christ is not only a shady Tree to afford a cool and wholsome Shade to shelter us from the Scorchings of the Sun but a fruitful Tree we are not only sheltred from Wrath but called to eat of the Apples of Paradise In the Covenant of Grace God doth not only enter into a League with us that he will not hurt us but he openeth all his Treasure to us So Psal. 84.11
mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his head against me Which was fulfilled Matth. 26.23 He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish he shall betray me And accordingly Iudas came to attack him Mat. 26.47 That he should be sold for thirty Pieces of Silver Zech. 11.12 So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver Fulfilled Mat. 26.15 That with these thirty Pieces of Silver there should be bought afterwards a Field of Potsheards Zech. 11.13 And the Lord said unto me Cast it unto the potter And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. Fulfilled Mat. 27.7 And they took counsel and bought with them the potters field to bury strangers in That being apprehended he should be most barbarously intreated by the Jews and be beaten and buffetted and his Face defiled with spitting according to that of Isaiah the Prophet Isa. 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Fulfilled Mat. 6.67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him and others smote him with the palms of their hands That they would wound rend and tear his Body with Scourges before they put him to death Isa. 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Fulfilled Mat. 27.26 When he had scourged Iesus he delivered him to be crucified And they did at length put him to death according to the Prophecy The Messiah was to be cut off but not for himself Dan. 9.26 That the Death that he should die was the Death of the Cross unto which he was nailed Hand and Foot according to that of David Psal. 22.16 They pierced my hands and my feet And that of Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced Fulfilled Luke 23.33 And when they were come to Mount Calvary there they crucified him That he was crucified between two Malefactors one on the right hand and the other on the left according to that of Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors Luke 22.37 For I say unto you that this which is written must yet be accomplished in me And he was reckoned among transgressors for the things concerning me have an end He was to pray for his Enemies and Persecutors according to that of Isa. 53.12 He made intercession for the transgressors And this was fulfilled in that Prayer Luke 23.24 Then said Iesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do So Psal. 69.21 In my thirst they give me vinegar to drink Fulfilled as before That they should divide his Apparel and cast Lots for his upper Garment Psal. 22.18 They part my garment among them and cast lots upon my vesture Fulfilled Mat. 27.35 And they crucified him and parted his garments casting lots Well then all these Particulars foretold of the Messiah were exactly fulfilled in our Saviour and so conduce to settle our Hearts in believing his Person and Office Well then might he say now It is finished 2. That the substance of the Types were accomplished in him as that of the Brazen Serpent the Paschal Lamb the Daily and Yearly Sacrifices the Offering of Isaac all which praefigured that Christ should die for the Sins of the World As Abraham offered his only Son Isaac to God as a Proof and Demonstration of his Faith and Obedience Now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine only son from me Gen. 22.12 So God gave his Son as a proof and demonstration of his Love 1 Iohn 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins Isaac carried the Wood to the Sacrifice of himself so did Christ his Cross. The lifting up of the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness that whosoever looked upon it should be healed Numb 21.9 And Moses made a serpent and put it upon a pole and it come to pass that if any serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived This figured Christ lifted up upon the Cross that all those bitten by the old Serpent might by looking be cured Iohn 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal Life The Paschal Lamb was slain just at the time when Christ died and his Flesh eaten not a Bone broken Iohn 19.33 His Blood sprinkled on the Door-Posts all which were accomplished in Christ who is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Iohn 1.29 The Daily Sacrifice was offered Morning and Evening to shew our daily Use of Christ who was a Lamb without spot and blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 The Anniversary Sacrifice of the two Goats on the day of Expiation Numb 16. when there was a live Goat to be sent into the Wilderness and the other was slain and Aaron was to put both his hands upon the Head of the Scape-Goat confessing the Sins of the People and that Scape Goat was to carry all their Sins into the Land of Forgetfulness all which signified the Expiation of all our Sins by Christ dying for our Offences and rising again for our Justification For the Scape Goat was sent into the Wilderness far from the Sanctuary to shew that all our Sins are put far away out of God's sight the other Goat is said to be kept for the Lord that it might be slain and be offered to him for Sacrifice upon the Altar Well now these and all other Types were finished that is obtained their End and Accomplishment 3. All was finished that was necessary to make him a fit Pattern of Patience to us For he had born the extremity of his Enemies Malice all that Man or Devils could by the permission of God execute upon him for he saith Luke 22.53 This is your hour and the power of darkness Yea he had drunk up the Cup which the Father had put into his hands to the very Dreggs One end of Christ's Death was to give us an Example 1 Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps Now here is a full Copy and Pattern of the right way of Suffering for all his own to imitate 1. From the Matter Are you tempted and opposed by Satan and his Instruments So was Christ. Have you discountenance from Men Christ had much more Doth God seem to forsake you So he did by Christ. Are you sain to lye on your Knees crying for Mercy Christ in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries and tears to him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he
with the Blessing of eternal Life His Priestly Actions after the Order of Aaron were his Consecration to his everlasting blessed Priesthood after the Order of Melchisedeck Without these Sufferings he could neither be a faithful nor a merciful high Priest nor satisfy his Father's Justice nor have a full feeling from Experience of the Creatures Misery Well then as Christ was consecrated at his Death so is a Christian who runneth Parallel with Christ in all his Offices As Christ had an Inauguration into that Priesthood he executed upon Earth at his Baptism So hath a Christian for his spiritual Priesthood as soon as washed in the Laver of Regeneration but for his everlasting Priesthood at Death 2. My next Argument is This suteth with the other Privilege of Kings We are made Kings as well as Priests Now as our Kingly Office is not perfect till we come to Heaven so neither our Priestly and therefore it mainly respecteth our Ministration in the heavenly Temple How is a poor Christian a King here unless in a Riddle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he vanquisheth the Devil the World and the Flesh As it is a Princely thing to be above inferiour things and to trample them under our Feet The Heathen could say Rex est qui metuit nihil Rex est qui cupit nihil He is a King that is above the Hopes and Fears of the World that feareth nothing and desireth nothing This is indeed in a Metaphor a Kingly Spirit to have our Hearts in Heaven and to look upon all sublunary things as beneath our Care and Affections Christ's Kingdom is not of this World neither is a Believer's Here upon Earth we reign only in a spiritual way But the Privilege cometh fully to be verified when we tread Satan under our Feet and triumph over Enemies and reign visibly and gloriously sitting upon Thrones with Christ at his Coming judging the World and Angels themselves Matth. 19.28 Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye shall also sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.29 30. I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me That ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Psal. 49.14 The upright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning And 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that we shall judg the World And ver 3. Know ye not that we shall judg Angels Neither will this Kingdom be terminated and ended at the Day of Judgment but they shall be Kings eternal in Heaven Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom 2 Tim 2.12 If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him that is in Heaven With respect to this Title Right and Interest we are said to be made Kings Now proportionably the other Privilege of being made Priests must be expounded also We are spiritual Priests upon Earth we have our Sacrifices of Prayers Praises and Alms and devoting our selves to God But this Office is not compleated till we come to Heaven and do immediately minister before the Lord. Then we have Entrance into the holiest Heb. 10.19 Having therefore Brethren Boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Iesus Not in Spirit but in Person For if the chief Part of our Kingly Office be yet behind why not the chief Part of our Priestly Office also 3. Then we are qualified and prepared Sanctification must go before Consecration and the more sanctified the more consecrated And when our Sanctification is finished then our Consecration is consummated and not till then Now in this World our Justification and Sanctification is imperfect we are not got above our legal Fears and Grace is very weak in us You know before we can serve the living God our Consciences must be purged from dead Works Heb. 9.14 As the High Priest was not to approach God without his Washings lest he die And we are bidden to draw nigh to God with a true Heart in full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water Heb. 10.22 If we have the Privilege of Priests we must perform the Duties of Priests Now we are not perfect as appertaining to the Conscience nor are we fully cleansed and sanctified till the Vail of the Flesh be removed and we be presented to God without Spot and Wrinkle Somewhat is begun indeed that will tend to and end in perfect Sanctification enough to qualify us for our Ministration at this Distance from God There is enough done on Christ's Part by way of Impetration and Merit Heb. 10.14 For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified or consecrated he hath payed the Price but as to the Application that is by Degrees The Priest under the Law was seven Days in consecrating this figured all the time that interveneth before we enter upon the everlasting Sabbath Our whole Life is the time of Consecration which goeth on by Degrees and will be made compleat both for Body and Soul at the Resurrection for then shall we be made fit to approach the Throne of Glory and serve our God in a perfect manner in the eternal Temple of Heaven In this Life our Consecration is not yet finished we cannot come so near God we are qualified indeed to come to the Throne of Grace but not qualified to come to the Throne of Glory But the Work is a-doing and in time it will be accomplished 4. We have not the full Privileges of Priests till then which is Intimacy full Communion Nearness of Access to God and Ministration before him This is the Privilege we have as Priests The Apostle telleth us Heb. 9.8 The Holy Ghost signifieth that the way to the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing How did the Holy Ghost signify this I answer by the whole Oeconomy and Frame of that Dispensation God kept State and Majesty then and his People must not come too near him The common Israelite must not come too near the Sanctuary they were not to camp or pitch their Tents round about it but only the Levites lest they die Numb 1.52 53. And the Children of Israel shall pitch their Tents every Man by his own Camp and every Man by his own Standard throughout the Host. But the Levites shall pitch round about the Tabernacle of Testimony that there be no Wrath upon the Congregation of the Children of Israel It was a dangerous thing for the common Israelites to be too near the Symbols of God's Presence to teach us the Distance between God and Men and their Unworthiness to come near him and his holy things But though the Levites might encamp near it yet none but the Priests must
its present Estate Therefore every Man if there be not a Life after Death is bound to seek the Preservation and Continuance of this Life above all things in the World besides and to do that no Device would be dishonest or Practice amiss But all they that have ever heard of the Name of Vertue abhor this Principle as base and odious That a Man should make what shift he can though never so base and wicked to maintain and save his Life no Means used to this end are to be accounted foul for nothing is so ill as Death nothing so good as Life But if this would destroy all Honesty and Vertue then certainly we have Hopes and Fears of another Life If you will say No Vertue is a sufficient Recompence to it self at what rate soever it be purchased and maintained yet what is there to countervail all the Losses and Grievances it exposeth us unto such as the loss of Life and Limbs Vertue is a sufficient Reward to it self Spe non Re in Hope not in the Thing it self but so far as 't is the only way to everlasting Communion with God who is our exceeding great Reward or so far as the assured Hope of a better Life after Death is inseparably connexed to the constant Practice of Godliness in this Life And to do Good merely for Goodness sake without any Eye or Respect to the Reward is a Strain of Devotion contrary to that Doctrine which is taught us by Christ and his Apostles 3. With respect to Man's Comfort and Solace in his Troubles which ariseth from reflecting on our future Reward when all things go across to us here Comfort one another with these Words saith the Apostle 1 Thess. 4.18 Now what Words were those The Belief of a blessed Resurrection of those that died in or for the Lord that is by occasion of the Faith of Christ he thought that Consideration sufficient to yield Matter of Comfort or Support to them These are Consolations proper to Christians because they are sure as depending upon Christ's Word and they are congruous and sutable because their Hearts are set upon these things not upon a vain World but a blessed and glorious Estate that Christ hath offered and himself is entred into and when we get thither our Affections will be satisfied Desires granted and Hopes fulfilled So that still the Apostle's Reasoning is strong If in this Life only we have Hope in Christ we are of all Men most miserable For our Consolations which are fetched from the other World are our proper Consolations 4. With respect to the Credit and Esteem of God's Servants in the World It is neither for the Glory of God nor the Safety of his People that the most eminent Vertue and Goodness should lie under perpetual Infamy God's Servants do not only suffer hard things but their Names are cast forth as evil Now this is not for the Honour of God because it reflects upon him when the Children of Wisdom are represented as Sons of Folly in checking their Lusts venturing their Interests and renouncing their All for their Fidelity to Christ as if they did foolishly in running into such Inconveniences when they might spare themselves and sleep in a whole Skin Now it is a great Dishonour to God that his wisest and most faithful Servants should be accounted Fools and an humorous odd sort of Men that needlesly trouble themselves and others This hardneth the World in Sin and would quench and destroy all Zeal for God if there were not a time coming when the Wisdom of the World shall be seen to be the greatest Folly and that there are no such Fools as those that imploy their greatest Abilities in attaining present Pleasure Profit and Preferment but those are the wisest Adventurers who have sold all to promote the Glory of God and gain Christ who look not upon things as they appear now to the sensual and deluded World but as they will be found at the last Day when all things shall be seen in their own proper Colours Neither is it for the Safety of the Saints who though they seek nothing but the Publick Good are traduced as the Troublers of Israel and their Way condemned as factious Singularity Therefore it is a great Satisfaction that we have hopes that things shall be reviewed and that which is good be restored to its publick Honour and the Godly who prize a good Name above all earthly Interests shall have their Faith found to Praise and Honour and Glory 1 Pet. 1.7 That the Trial of your Faith being much more precious than of Gold that perisheth though it be tried with Fire might be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the Appearing of Iesus Christ. Vse 1. It sheweth us how much it concerneth us to be assured of the future Estate It is the Life of our Religion it bindeth our Duty upon us by the strictest Tie and doth also establish our true and proper Comfort If we may have hope of better things from Christ in another World not only in our Calamities but by our Calamities we should not have such dark and doubtful Thoughts about Eternal Blessedness but live more in the clear Foresight of it by Faith and the Foretaste of it by Hope especially should this support us in two Cases in sharp Afflictions and in Death 1. In sharp Afflictions We are apt to take scandal and offence at the Sufferings that befal us for Righteousness sake but consider not only the Promises of Christ but that our very Persecution is an Argument of our final Deliverance The opposition of ungodly and unrighteous Adversaries is to them an evident Token of Perdition but to you of Salvation and that of God Phil. 1.28 That they are wretched and obdurate People and run on to their own Destruction but that you are sincere and penitent Believers who are not drawn away from your Fidelity to Christ by any Terrors whatsoever It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only an Argument to confirm the Hopes of the Gospel but a Mark and Token of your Sincerity it confirmeth your Right Well then though our Afflictions be smart and grievous let us comfort our selves with these Hopes You are not to look to present things but future not to what is applauded in the World but what Opinion Christ will have of them at the last not to what you feel now but what you shall enjoy hereafter Though all things appear with Pomp and Glory on the World's side and Terror to the Saints yet this Scene is soon withdrawn and present Time is quickly past like a Dream or piece of Phantastry and then there is an utter Inversion of things Shame is on the Wickeds side and Honour put upon the Saints and the Shame and Glory are both eternal and when they enter into everlasting Torments we enter into our Master's Joy and the Children of God that are derided and vilified in the World are then approved and justified