to resist and contradict the Law of God This was very strange and surprizing to Paul he was decived in this he thought the Law would have repressed beaten down and mortified Sin but it rather fortified it As a Man that doth not know the Nature of Burning Lime thinks by pouring a little water on it to quench it but when he seeth that this water makes it to burn more vehemently and fiercely How would he as amazed cry out How am I deceived that the water should increase the Fire that I thought would extinguish it So the Law doth not weaken Sin but rather strengthen it and render it more violent 4. The Law punishes every Sin with Death Every Lust is mortal every wrong step is fatal and corrupt Fruit is pernitious and destructive Though Ismael might be guilty of many other offences yet for a weighty reason Moses mentions but one and that was his mocking at Isaac and for this he was cast out and cast off Gen. 21.8 9 10 11. Ismael was Hagar's Child and so a Type of them that cleave to the Covenant of Works The Law Curses for every act of Disobedience Deut. 27. last One offence according to the Covenant of Works is enough to undo and Ruin a Man to Eternity 5. There is no access to God by the Covenant of Works When the Law was given Bounds were set about Mount Sinai to keep off the people of Israel they were charged not to break through Death was denounced as the Punishment of those that touched the Mountain Exod. 19.12.13.21 The people therefore removed and stood a-far off Exod. 20.18 None of the other Priests or Worshiping Israelites might enter into the Tabernacle till Atonement was made for their Sins by Aaron the High-Priest Levit. 16 17. But after that Sacrifices were Slain Offered and their Blood Sprinkled on the Altar and the People then Moses Aaron and Seventy of the Elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai and saw the Glory of the God of Israel Exod. 24.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. These Sacrifices were but Types of Christ's Death he died the Just for the Unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 else we are shut out of the Glorious Presence of God and cut off from all Gracious and Blessed Communion with him God is not accessible by the Covenant of Works guilty Creatures are kept off from him 6. The Law genders to Bondage Galat. 4.22 a Spirit of Bondage to Fear attends it Rom. 8.15 as Hagar and Ismael had a slavish Fear of Abraham as a Master rather than a Conjugal Love to him as a Husband or a Filial Love to him as a Father Those under the Covenant of Works are still doubting of God's Favour questioning his Love dreading of his Wrath They do not know whither Death will carry them and where Judgment will fix them and therefore through the Fear of Death they are all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.15 the fear of the evil that is future doth embitter to them all present Good The Law was given in such a Manner that it was designed to strike Fear and Terror into Sinners The Israelites were then alone with God in the Wilderness separated from all other Nations This might intimate that God and the Sinner shall be alone together and all pleasing Company and delightful Enjoyments shall be shut out The Thunder did roar in their Ears and the Lightning did flash and flame in their Eyes and the Earth did tremble under their Feet Exod. 19.16 18. Whither shall a Guilty Sinner betake himself when the Heavens do threaten Vengeance over his head and the Earth seems sinking under his feet The Mountain did burn with fire Exod. 19.16 18. with Deut. 5.23 this did represent the fiery Throne of God and his burning Wrath wherewith as a Judge he is Armed to punish and destroy those that trust in their Works and will have to do with God according to the Covenant of Works But though the Mountain did burn yet it was not consumed So guilty Creatures shall burn in the fire of God's Wrath yet never be consumed or cease to be There was Blackness Darkness and Tempest Heb. 12.18 These pointed at the perplexed state of a Sinner the horrour and consternation of the Soul when God the Judge doth shew his Justice and Wrath for the Violation of the Condition of the Covenant of Works O what black darkness will cover Sinners O what a Terrible Storm and Tempest will one day be raised in and fall upon their Souls The sound of the Trumpet that was exceeding loud Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.19 did signifie that Sinners must be cited to and presented before the Tribunal of God neither can any decline or avoid appearing before God's Justice-Seat Yet the Apostle calls this Mount Sinai a Mountain that was in it self Tangible or might be touched that so it was an Earthly and Material Mountain because the Dispensation of the Law and Covenant of Works is but a low Dispensation A Natural Man may Touch and Reach this that God will inflict evil on those that rebel and do evil When as the Covenant of Grace is a Spiritual and Invisible Mountain far above the reach and comprehension above the sight and ken of a Natural Man And what did all this Terror in giving the Law tend to but to raise a Spirit of Bondage in sinners and by Fear to drive and force sinners to some External Obedience to the Letter of the Law which yet they perform with Regret and Reluctancy and not with Love and delight 7. There is no enjoyment of the Eternal Inheritance by the Law the Bond-woman and her Son were to be cast out Galat. 4.20 21. Gen. 21.8.10 Ismael was not admitted or allowed to be an Heir with Isaac He did not Inherit Abraham's Rich Estate Moses could not bring the Israelites into or give them possession of the Land of Canaan this Joshua the Type of Christ did Hagar and Ismael were turned out with a small pittance they had but a few Loaves and a Bottle of Water It may seem strange that Rich Abraham should provide no better for his Wife and Child but there was a Mystery in it it served to instruct us that those that are of the works of the Law cannot be Heirs of Heaven cannot possess any Spiritual Riches or an Eternal portion in Glory but are put off with Temporary Momentary Comforts and Enjoyments What are the best things that this World affords What are Earthly Riches Honours or Pleasures compared with an Eternal Happiness they are but as a few Loaves of Bread and a Bottle of Water When Hagar and Ismael were turned out they wandered in a Wilderness Gen. 21.14 O what a difference was there between the plenty and abundance of Abraham's Family and the wants of a Barren Wilderness The World it self is but a Wilderness compared with the Paradise of God Revel 2.7 A Legal state under the Covenant of Works What is it but a wretched
when a Sacrifice was offered he bid him to put up his Sword 1 Chron. 21.27 So in the times of the Law God did but as it were stay his Hand Sins were said to be passed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the forbearance of God that Time is called a Time of Forbearance and God staid his Hand from punishing those that did look to Christ to come But now the great Sacrifice is offered up God's Sword is sheathed and he can magnify Grace through the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ it may reign through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ Rom. 5.20.21 Jesus Christ being lifted upon the Cross will draw all to him John 12.32 All that is very many compared with the few that were drawn before a Dying Saviour 3dly Christ hath now paid a Ransom Matth. 20.28 and purchased a Church by his own Blood Acts 20.28 And therefore Christ hath now just ground to come to the Prison Door of Sinners and to call them forth Isa 49.9 That thou maist say to the Prisoners go forth and to them that are in darkness shew your selves Come with boldness into the presence of God appear and shew your selves with confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Redeemer hath just Ground to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 shall he Ransom and not Rescue shall he buy and not possess hath not Christ a just claim to what he hath purchased to take possession of it 4thly Christ hath now sealed confirmed and established his Testament by means of Death Heb. 9.15 He that might have given a Sanction to to the Threatning by our Blood and have executed the Curse in our Death hath ratified the Promises and confirmed his Testament by his own Death Christ hath given Vigour and Strength to the Promises by his being Crucified through weakness 2 Cor. 13.4 and hath given Life to his Testament by his own Death and he is rising again to be his own Executor Now he can fulfil the Promises of the New Covenant and bestow the Legacies of his new Testament and that especially because Christ is such a Testator as by his death doth purchase of God all the Legacies he bequeaths in his Testament which no other Testator doth All the Mercies of the Everlasting Covenant are the sure Mercies of this Spiritual David Isa 55.3 they are sure because Jesus Christ is risen from the Dead to bestow them Acts 13.34 And certainly Christ may freely and lawfully give forth his own 5hty Now Christ is saved and therefore in a full capacity to save others Zech. 1.9 Thy King cometh to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Salvatus ipsemet ut de brevi transitu in locum Saved Christ had many Adversaries and did encounter with mighty Enemies they endeavoured totally to crush Christ and wholly to swallow him up it was of great concernment to the whole Church of God that Christ should be saved The Holy Ghost therefore dictated that Prayer to the Saints to be put up for Christ Psal 118.25 Save now we beseech thee we heseech thee now send Prosperity now was the time of War and utter Destruction there were many associated and united against Jesus Christ Acts 4.25 26 27. He is stiled Child Jesus Enemies thought easily to destroy him Herod Pontius Pilate the Jews and the Gentiles Many Dogs were hunting down this Morning Hart Psal 22. and the Title of Psal 16. And it was that which the Church desired and Christ himself also pray'd for that he might be delivered from their cruel and devouring Mouths Psal 69.29 I am Poor and Needy let thy Salvation set me up on high And Christ was heard in what he pray'd for He was taken from Prison and Judgment Isa 53.8 From Man's Prison Tribunal and Judgment and God did set him up on high even in a glorious Throne far above the reach and rage of all his Enemies that Christ that is so perfectly saved himself can fully save us He that did wrest himself out of the Hands of his Foes can also rescue us from the Power of all our Enemies the day of Christ's Weakness is past 2 Cor. 13.4 and the day of his Power is now come Psal 110.3 6thly Christ is now Perfected and being made Perfect he is fit to become the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5.9 The Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through Sufferings and can lead to Glory Heb. 2.10 All the Rounds or Rongs of the Spiritual Ladder that reacheth from Earth to Heaven are compleat Gen. 28.12 13 14. with Rom. 5.33 34. Christ hath cloathed himself with our Flesh he hath died is risen again is ascended to Heaven is at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us His Priestly Garments are sprinkled with his own Blood and so he is fitted to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary and to appear in the Presence of God the Sons of Aaron were to have their Priestly Garments sprinkled with the Blood of a Sacrifice before they could officiate in the Sanctuary Exod. 20.21 Christ's own Death did consecrate him as a Priest for ever and perfect him for the great work of Intercession Heb. 7. last 7thly Christ is now Victorious over all his and our Enemies he hath overcome the World John 16. last he hath made Reconciliation for Iniquity yea made an end of sin Dan. 9.24 he hath abolished Death 2 Tim. 1.10 by tasting it for a few Hours he hath swallowed it up for ever By Death he hath destroy'd him that hath the power of Death even the Devil Heb. 2.15 As a Goaler hath the power of the Law to keep a Malefactor in Prison and the Executioner hath the power of the Law to put him to Death so Sinners hath broken the Law and incurred the Penalty Satan hath the power of the Curse to cut off and destroy Sinners But Christ hath spoiled Principalities and Powers turned Satan out of his Office stript him of his Power as to those that believe The Curse is the Armour that this Strong Man trusts in Luke 11.22 And Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse himself Gal. 3.13 And Christ hath now the Key of Hell and Death the Key of Hell to shut it that the Souls of his People may not enter into it and the Key of Death to rescue and bring forth the Bodies of his People out of the Grave He hath led Captivity Captive Psal 68.18 and triumphed over the Enemies of our Salvation the Captain of our Salvation is entred in triumph into his Royal City above as he hath overcome in his own Person so now he can overcome in us His strength is perfected in our weakness It is discovered to be most perfect when we are most weak and low when we seem as Christ's Soldiers to lye in the open Field and to be exposed to manifold Inconveniences and Sufferings from the rage and fury
God's Throne was like the fiery flame and his wheeles as burning fire God's Throne hath wheels to pursue Guilty Creatures a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him This is a dreadful description of God's Throne as a Tribunal of Justice But now as it is sprinkled with the Blood of Christ we have a most sweet discovery of it Revel 22.1 There is a pure River of Water of Life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lamb and there is a Rain-bow round about the Throne Revel 4.3 signifying the flood of God's Wrath is abated and that Christ is near the Throne to prevent a condemning Sentence issuing out of it and a storm of Vengance falling from it 5. Jesus Christ's Blood is still speaking in Heaven and never silent Heb. 12.24 And this speaking Blood drowns the voice of the accuser and the cry of our Iniquities Christ's representing and pleading his Sacrifice in Heaven is his burning Incense before the throne Revel 8.3 to take away the stink of our Sins from the Nostrils of God 6. Christ by his death hath dedicated consecrated and confirmed a new Testament Heb. 9.15 16. The threatnings were in force before for our destruction but the promises could not be in force for our Salvation but by the death of Christ God might have confirmed his threatnings by our death but he hath confirmed his promises by the death of Christ How different is the Language of the Law and of the Gospel The Law saith where there is an Offence there must be of Necessity the death of the Offender But the Gospel speakes thus where there is a Testament there must of Necessity be the death of the Testator Though Christ seemed to die as a Malefactor in the eye of the World yet he died as a Testator in the eye of God and Believers Though he was emptied and impoverished stript of all of his Liberty Garments good Name and Life by his Enemies yet even then he did Bequeath all good things and died as a Testator to enrich others O! that Jesus Christ should as it were put himself out of Possession of all to put us into Possession of all good things Heb. 9.11 A Covenant could not be made between God and Sinners but by Blood Heb. 13.20 Those words may be rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shepherd of the Sheep great through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant That Shepherd was indeed great that by his blood could Establish an Everlasting Covenant Covenants used to be made by killing Sacrifices and cutting them in twain and the Covenanting persons passed between the pieces of the Sacrifices Gen. 15.9 10.17 18. Jer. 34.14 Now Christ the great Sacrifice was cut in twain his Soul and Body were Separated from each other and by our passing through the parts of his Sacrifice by Faith we pass as the Hebrew phrase is into Covenant with God Deut. 29.12 God might have torn us in pieces for our Covenant breaking Psal 50.22 But O! what Grace is this that Jesus Christ should be cut in twain for the Renewing of the Covenant between God and us Christ's Blood is of such efficacy that it makes the Covenant Everlasting always new It is styled a New Covenant Heb. 8.8 that which will never be Antiquated or Abrogated God hath now put his Covenant into the best and most Excellent form It was first a promise then a Covenant but now it is stiled a Testament God hath finished his Covenant-Dispensations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will finish or perfect a New Covenant It is so finished that there is never to be any other Edition of the Covenant Heb. 8.8 it hath its last and final Sanction it hath the strongest Confirmation by the Blood and Death of Jesus Christ God hath spoken in these last days by his Son Heb. 1.12 and there is nothing beyond this but seeing Face to Face Jesus Christ by his Righteousness hath Merited the application of his Blood and the bestowing of all good things on us this seems the fairest sence of those words in 2 Pet. 17. as they ly in our Translation Simon Peter to those that have obtained like precious Faith with us through the Righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that is through the Mighty Merit of Christ's Righteousness the Elect obtain Faith it self the Spirit or Sanctification the New Heart these are the good things that our High-Priest brings Heb. 9.11 Christ having fulfilled to the Father his Promise in the Covenant of Suretyship and Redemption he gives to the Elect a right to all the Promises of the Covenant of Grace 8. This Righteousness of Christ gives us a Title and Right to the Heavenly Inheritance it is called Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 The Righteousness of God and his Kingdom are joyned together Matth. 6.33 God's Righteousness gives us a title to and a fitness for God's Kingdom Glory it self seems to be styled The Hope of Righteousness Galat. 5.5 This Righteousness of God gives us ground to hope for Heaven and the possession of it is Executive Justification in the fullness of it Ainsworth understands those words of the Psalmist as meant of imputed Righteousness Psal 17. last In Righteousness I will behold thy face This Righteousness of Christ assures us we shall see God's Face we must first come to the Fountain set open for sin and uncleaness that we may arrive at the Fountain of Life We must touch at the Purifying Fountain that we may have access to the quickening Fountain Psal 36.9 We must first draw Waters at the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.3 and then the Lamb will lead us to Living Fountains of Water and God will wipe all Tears from our eyes Rev. 7. last 4. Consider the great benefits that they obtain who have the Lord to be their Righteousness 1. They are not only Pardoned but Justified Pardon may be given by a Prince's Prerogative where there is no Compensation made for a wrong but Justification is properly by an Obedience given and satisfaction made to the Law Our Pardon is not only a Fruit of Mercy but an Act of Justice God is Just in Justifying Rom. 3.25 26. Blood is sprinkled on the Mercy-Seat Levit. 16.14 to intimate that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 God did not in a way of Sovereign Prerogative reconcile the World to himself He did it not alone by himself or by a meer act of his own Will but he was in Christ reconciling the World to himself Grace reigns but it is through Righteousness Rom. 5. last God is highly pleased by Christ he honoured God's Holiness by Obedience to the Commands of the Law and Glorified God's Justice by his enduring the Curse Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to them that believe Rom. 10.4 All that the Law could aim at or require is fulfilled in Christ he obeyed the Precept and felt the edge of the Threatning because Believers are
about their Eternal State Hope is an Anchor cast within the Vale as soon as they set out and begin their Voyage they may cast their Anchor into their Port and Haven and so have their Hearts established Heb. 6.19 2. Those that have hope of this Salvation are supported under Afflictions and Persecutions 2 Tim. 18.9 Partake thou of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who both saved us and called us As if Paul should say Murmure not at faint not under the Afflictions of the Gospel for God hath saved you from the greatest Enemies and from the worst Evils and all your Afflictions shall turn to your Salvation Phil. 1.19 They shall further advance promote it they shall refine Saints from their Dross wean them from their strange Land and cause them to long more after their Father's House and Heavenly Country Have they any Reason to be discontented whom God loves 1 John 4.59 and that are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and of the Kingdom James 2.5 3. These may die with comfort they have hope in Death Prov. 14.32 That which doth shipwrack others shall land them safe on the calm Shores of a Blessed Eternity that which impoverishes others shall enrich them Though Death doth pluck off the Rags of Mortality yet God shall cloath them with Robes of Glory When their Bodies drop down into the Pit their Souls shall be taken up into the Palace when their Flesh feeds Worms their Spirits shall feast with Saints and Angels though God doth kill them yet they may trust he will be their Salvation Joh 13.15 16. When the Eye of Sense shall be shut so that Saints shall no more see Worldly Objects yet then God will shew them his Salvation Psal 91. last They shall see God's Salvation from Sins Temptations Troubles Afflictions they shall see a freedom from Spiritual and Temporal Evils and also be translated into an Eternal Kingdom Christ will receive their departing Souls and be their Guardian and Trustee till the Resurrection O it is sweet when God adds to the Mercies of Sixty Seventy Eighty Years the enjoyment of a blessed Eternity It is Salvation that must crown Old Age with Glory Death is the critical time the Soul must then see Life or Death a Heaven must shine from God's pleasing Countenance or Hell be rained from his angry Face O how sweet is it then to see the truth of God's Promises in the enjoyment of an Eternal Salvation 4. Those interested in this Salvation shall be saved in the Day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.6 when Sins will find out others and Vengeance will take hold of them then Believers shall be saved O what unexpressible comfort will it be to point out Jesus Christ at the Great Day and to say This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 This is a Salvation that will for ever set Souls beyond Gun-shot out of the reach of all Dangers Evils Enemies They shall then fully receive the end of their Faith even an Eternal Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 Christ will appear unto Salvation to those that look for him Heb. 9. last Then Saints shall be Heirs in full possession of Salvation Heb. 1.14 They shall be redeemed from all Evils or possessed of all goodness be exalted to the Kingdoms and be placed in the Throne I shall lastly give you some Directions how you may be saved 1. You must be enlightned and convinced of your Danger you must see the Evils you are under and the Danger and Destruction you are exposed to Few do think themselves to be condemned to Death and to be sick unto Death That they are Children of Satan and Enemies to God They will not believe that they are captivated by the Devil enslaved by Sin and chained to the World The Scripture teaches us that Men are held Rom. 7.6 and that they are led 1 Cor. 12.2 they are held in the Snares of Sin and led by Satan Their Lusts are Bonds their depraved Wills and corrupt Affections are the Chains that the Devil leads them by Men discourse see or discern what are the true Evils that they should be saved from they are not sensible of the blindness and vanity of their Minds the deceit and desperate wickedness of their Hearts That their Wills are perverse and rebellious and the greatest Enemies to God and their own Souls They will account that Troubles Afflictions Reproaches Wants and Death are Evils but they do not perceive that their greatest Evils and worst Enemies are within themselves A Root of Bitterness an evil Treasure a Body of Death a Fountain of Iniquity that is in their Souls But Sinners must know what first cleaves to them abide in them do defile and deform their Souls and testify against them before God Isa 59.12 Our Transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Yea Men have no liking of that which is the true Salvation Saints are said to love God's Salvation Psal 70.4 but a Carnal Creature doth not love but loath God's Salvation to be delivered from his false Notions his vain Thoughts his corrupt Opinions his inordinate love of himself and of the Creatures to be taken off from his sensual Pleasures carnal Delights to be brought to give his Heart to God set his Love on Christ to delight in Spiritual Future Invisible things this is a Salvation he dreads and hates and if he could go to Heaven with this vain Mind and carnal Heart it would be a place of Exile and of Punishment to him You must see your Danger that you are as Isaac bound laid on the Altar and ready to be sacrificed as a whole Burnt-Offering in the Flames of Wrath. You must hear the just dreadful Sentence Matth. 18.25 The Lord commanded the Debtor to be sold and Payment to be made It is dreadful to be sold into the Prison into a Place of Eternal Bondage Your Heart must be broken your Spirit wounded your Soul burdened under the sense of the guilt and filth of Sin else you will not have a due value of the Doctrine and Promise of Salvation 1 Tim. 1.15 We must account it worthy of all acceptation more valuable than all the Riches Pleasures Honours of the World If a Man were sinking and drowning he would not regard a Bag of Gold or a Box of Diamonds but prefer a Cord cast out to save him a Boat to take him in more than all the things of the World Believe that your Condition is exceeding bad and dangerous Lot's Wife looked back as one that doubted whether Sodom would be destroyed and Lots Sons in Law could not believe that the danger of Sodom was so great and its Destruction so near Gen. 19.14 So Sinners believe not that to be Carnally minded is Death that they that live after the Flesh shall die that they that are far off from God shall perish Psal 73.27
Criminals are sowed up and sealed up in a bag to be produced at the Trial of an Offender so are the Sins of Men Job 14.17 So many Sins as Men have committed and are unpardoned so many witnesses have they provided against the day of their Trial. Jer. 14.7 O Lord our Iniquities testifie against us Read Isa 59.12 Our Sins are not only as dead records but as living witnesses not only as matter of accusation but as accusers they cry to Heaven to kindle wrath against us and pluck down vengeance on us Gen. 18.20 21. Sodom's Sins did cry to Heaven against it Little do Sinners think that they are daily filling Gods Book with complaints and accusations and filling his Treasury with Wrath and piling up Fuel to burn and Torment themselves It is nothing else but the speaking Blood of Christ that can stop the mouths of these witnesses and silence the clamours of their Sins 7. Every Sin deserves Eternal death Rom. 6. last Death is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wages of Sin The word signifies Soldiers wages Luke 3.14 They that cleave to Satan as their General that stay in his Tents Fight on his side against God shall have Eternal death as wages paid to them Tribulation is due to the Body Anguish to the Soul and Conscience of every Transgressor Rom. 2.9 God will repay fury Isa 59.18 he will render anger to his adversaries Isa 66.15 8. Consider there is Judgement to come Heb. 6.2 God seeth all Mens Provocations Hos 5.3 Prov. 15.3 Jer. 13. last And he will be a swift witness against them Mal. 3.5 God hath not in vain Registred the Sins of Men the Book of God and the Eye of the Soul shall be opened no Sin shall be forgotten Amos 8.7 all shall be brought to light Eccles 11.9 1 Cor. 4.5 and be brought into Judgment Eccles 12.14 There will not only be a Resurection of Bodies but a Reviving and Remembrance of Sins If your Sins are not pardoned but remain before God's Face Psal 90.8 They will shortly be reviewed by God and set in order before your face Psal 50.21 If you inherit the Sins of your whole life Job 13.26 you will be Heires of Shame Misery and Eternal Torments 2. Motive Consider what great advantages we have in these times of the Gospel as to a participation of this Righteousness of God 1. It is now wrought out and perfected Jesus Christ hath been a Faithful High-Priest Heb. 2.17 And a Righteous servant Isa 53.11 God devolved the greatest trust on Christ and he undertook took the hardest and most noble work even to make Restitution to God for the wrong we had done him and to make Reconciliation for us to appease the Wrath we had provoked and to divert form us the Punishment we had deserved The Jews thought of old that their High-Priest was trusted with their greatest concerns and for fear he should be a Sadducee or out of heedlessness neglect any part of his Office on the day of Atonement they used Solemnly to swear him to a full and faithful discharge of his Office in the great Work of that day But our Lord Jesus Christ was by fervent love to his Father and his People Heartily and throughly engaged in this great Work he undertook and hath fully discharged it He glorified God on Earth he finished the Work he gave him to do John 17.4 He would not dye till he could say all was finished John 19.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How honourable a word is this to Christ And how Comfortable a word is this to us Jesus Christ as the slain Goat did bear our Sins and as the Scape-Goat he did bear them away As God did lay Sins on Christ Isa 53.6 so he purged them Heb. 1.3 and put them away He hath been a most Righteous servant to God his very Sufferings that in a Moral sence were Punishments yet in a Legal sence were Righteousness Jesus Christ is perfected himself Heb. 5.9 And he hath by one Offering for ever perfected us Heb. 10.14 There is signal evidence and demonstration that Jesus Christ hath finished his Work for he could not else have confidently commended and committed his Soul to his Father Luke 23.46 He would not else have been welcome to him and Received by him John 16.10 The World was to be convinced of Christ's Righteousness by this argument that he did go to the Father and they did see him no more on Earth How could he have ventured into the glorious Presence of God if he had not Righteously performed what he undertook Would not the Father have sent him back again into the World if he had omitted or left any thing undone But Christ saith he should be seen on Earth no more in the form of a Servant to do any Work in a state of Humiliation 2. The Father Raised him up from the Dead 1. Pet. 1.21 He Released our Surety out of the Prison of the Grave which he would not have done if the debt had not been fully paid Therefore an Angel came down from Heaven to roll away the Stone from Christ's Grave Matth. 28.2 This was an Officer from the great Judge of Heaven and Earth to free our surety and to evidence that God was satisfied and did allow Christ's Resurrection 3. The Father exalted Jesus Christ by his own right Hand Acts 5.31 And gave him Glory that we might be encouraged and emboldened from thence to act our Faith and hope in God 1 Pet. 1.21 4. Jesus Christ is sat down at the Right Hand of God in the Heavenly Sanctuary Heb. 1.3 Heb. 12.2 What an honour was this to our High-Priest to sit down in the true Holy of Holies When the High-Priest under the Law might not sit down in the Typical Holy of Holies And Christ's siting down did shew he had done his Work and might now take his rest This the Apostle makes the great difference between Christ and the Priests of the Law If they stood dayly Ministring and Offering Sacrifices that could never take away Sin But Christ When he had Offered one Sacrifice for ever be sat down on the Right Hand of God Heb. 10.11 12. The Priests of the Law did go on in their Ministry they stood Offering Sacrifices their Work was never at an end they could never sit down But Christ hath Finished his Work and therefore is sat down and expects that all his Enemies shall be made his Footstool Heb. 10.13 5. Jesus Christ as he is released so he Preaches the opening of the Prison to us Isa 61.1 God's Prison is not Forced or Broken but opened in a Righteous way our Ransom being paid Matth. 20.28 Christ therefore now comes to the Prison-door and saith to the Prisoners Come forth you that were hid in Prisondarkness now shew your selves and appear with boldness and confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary Isa 49.9 2. The Righteousness of Christ is now brought Dan. 9.24 To bring Everlasting Righteousness Eternal Redemption is now
How much are Men dismayed and terrified at the Thoughts of Death Therefore they are very unwilling to step beyond Death in their thoughts or to Travel into Eternity in their Meditations They Fear to meet with a terrible Host of Sins an Ocean of Wrath a Lake of Fire and Brimstone They bode no good to themselves at their departure out of this World God the great Creditor Records their debts and Conscience his Officer doth sometimes charge them and arrest their Souls They have no Spiritual Balsom then to heal their wounds No arm to lean on to support their Souls None to roll away the Burden of their Guilt to pacify or quiet their accusing and condemning Conscience To Bail them when they are arrested for a debt of Ten thousand Talents they cannot look inward but they see an Evil Treasure and a Conscience loaded with Dead Works They cannot look upward but they see God's frowning Face and Fiery Throne They cannot look forward but they see a deep pit a dark Prison and Revenging Justice armed for their destruction The Covenant of Works is a continual Root of doubts and feares Legalists are still questioning and asking Who shall descend into the Deep to satisfy them That the Gates of Hell are shut that they shall not enter by and pass through them into the Regions of Darkness and Misery Or they inquire Who shall ascend up to Heaven to assure them that the Doer of Heaven is open to let them into Glory Rom. 10.6 7. They have still perplexed minds and anxious thoughts they cannot see themselves secured from a Miserable or assured of a Blessed Eternity They fear they shall make a ruining and undoing change be totally Shipwrackt and cast away Body and Soul for ever They cannot totally suppress the thoughts of Eternity or Comfortably entertain them They can neither stupify nor pacifie Conscience How often are Sinners terribly awakened and alarm'd when Death looks them in the Face O! what a bitter cry of Destruction do they then lift up Isa 15.5 All their Sins as the adversaries of Zion once did Lam. 1.31 do overtake them between the Straits when they walk through the narrow Valley of the shadow of death as Jesus Christ himself was in an Agony near his end Luke 22.44 When he saw what an Host of Infernal Enemies he must Fight through what an Ocean of Wrath he must Swim through this put him into a Bloody sweat When he beheld the Frowning Face of God the Fiery Throne and the Flaming Sword of Justice this drew strong Cryes and Teares from Christ Heb. 5.7 So if Sinners be not stupified if they see themselves going to an Eternal execution that they will be ever Suffering and never die That there will still be Food for an Everlasting Worm and Fuel for an Eternal Fire This will fill them with Consternation and Horrour Condemned Transgressors must bear their Iniquities yet cannot stand or bear up under this load They cannot stay yet dare not to depart they cannot hide yet are not fit to appear they must stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 yet cannot stand in the Judgement Psal 1.5 They must appear before that Tribunal Cor. 5.10 where yet they cannot Confidently or Comfortably appear 1 Pet. 4.18 They dread the next step they shall take when out of the Body where their Lot will fall and what their Treatment will be to Eternity Beleivers indeed do confidently commit and commend their Soules into the Hands of their Redeemer Psal 31.5 But wicked Men full sorely against their wills must fall into the Hands of an angry Creditor and of an inexorable Judge Heb. 10.31 They must answer for their own Sins there is no other to pay their Debts Satisfie for their Offences Plead for their Reconciliation All their Iniquities will overtake them in another World and meet them at the Tribunal of God None of them are blotted out or passed over God hath Sworn by himself he will never forget any of them Amos 8.7 God will open the Treasury of his Wrath and shut up the Bowels of his Mercy he will remember Iniquity and therefore forget to be Gracious God will enter into Judgement with Sinners and stand up to plead against them Isa 3.13 14. Delinquents must appear Criminals must be brought unto Judgement Eccles 11.9 and all their thoughts words and actions must appear and be brought into Judgement Eccles 12. last God will pass a Just Condemning Sentence and terribly Execute it on them As the Sun was Eclypsed and darkness covered the Earth when Christ Died so the Gracious Countenance of God will be Eternally Eclypsed towards Sinners Christ met with Affronts Indignities Blowes before the Tribunal of Men And what must Sinners look for at the Tribunal of God Jesus Christ was denied any refreshment when he thirsted So Sinners shall not obtain a drop to cool their scorched tongues Luke 16.22 23 24 25. As the Waters did persue all that were out of the Ark till they were drowned So Sin shall hunt persue find out and overtake Sinners for their Eternal Destruction Psal 140.11 Ezek. 35.63 Numb 2.23 All that is grateful and sweet in the being of Sinners shall be consumed yet they themselves shall still exist to suffer more Punishment and Torment God's Controversie with Sinners will never be at an end His Sword will never be sheathed The dreadful storm of Vengeance will never cease God's Eternity will be dreadful for he ever lives to punish and the Soul 's own Immortality will be terrible to it For it shall ever exist to be punished So that Sinners would rather sleep in the dust for ever than to have a Resurection to Condemnation John 5.28 and had rather be annihilated than suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire If departing Souls did see whither they were going and know what they must suffer Would not their Chambers sound with these dreadful words We must dwell with Everlasting Fire we must inhabit with Eternal Burnings 8. It is bad not to have Christ to be our Righteousness if we consider how many foolish devices sinners seek out to quiet and ease their Consciences and yet by all these they do but delude and cheat their Souls Some Fast often eat course Food wear Hair-cloth Whip themselves severely lie on the Ground Those that have not rest in Christ they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are still walking about in devices and inventions of their own Heb. 13.9 to pacifie God the Judge and to bribe Conscience his Officer How woful is the Case of some ignorant Protestants of the blind Papists of the deluded Jews the deceived Mahumetans and Heathens Papists think by severity and cruelty to their Bodies to expiate the sins of their Souls Some go in Pilgrimage to the Images of Saints some build Churches and Chappels and appoint Priests to Pray for their Souls while they live in Sensual Pleasures and serve their Lusts Some endow Religious Houses with Lands that
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
is Ascended to Heaven sits at the Right Hand of God to make Intercession for us that we may see and share with him in his Glory and be with him for ever John 17.24 The Apostle Paul hath as it were pointed at all the Rongs of this Spiritual Ladder and shews us it is compleat Rom. 8.33 34. Though Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us for our Sins as he did Joshua for his Filthy Garments Zech. 3.3 yet Jesus Christ is at God's Right Hand to Plead and Interceed for us Our Sins Cry and Satan Accuses but the Blood of Jesus the Mediator Speaks for us Heb. 12.24 God that is infinitely Wise Holy and Just saw our need of this Ladder else he would not have provided it by the wonderful abasement and grievous Sufferings of his Son we cannot get up to Heaven by our own Righteousness Many of the Elect continue several years in an Unconverted Estate all these years are lost and so the Ladder is too short to reach Heaven their Righteousness doth not begin soon and early enough when they are Converted there are many stops and Interruptions of their Obedience The Ladder when it is begun it is much broken many Rongs or Rounds of the Ladder are wanting Who can possibly climb or ascend up to a high place where there are many Rongs or Rounds of a Ladder broken This will put a stop to them much more are we then unable to Ascend to a Heavenly Habitation and Glory by the Ladder of a broken Righteousness and by Duties or Works so interrupted blemished and Defective 10. We do not purchase a Heavenly Kingdom or Inheritance by our Works of Righteousness but we as Heires possess it by the Testament and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 9.15 We are Heires not by our Doing but by Christ's Dying Job complaines that God made him to possess the Iniquites of his Youth Broughton Renders the Hebrew word Thou makest me to Heir the Iniquities of my Youth Job puts this Construction on all his Afflictions and Sufferings that God made him in them to Heir the fruits of all his youthful sins If God should deal with us according to our deservings by bitter and sharp Afflictions we might Heir the Sins of Youth and riper years and not only Heir them in Temporal Evils but in Eternal Punishments How much therefore do we need to be made Heires of Glory by Christ's Testament This is very observable that Isaac the Son of the Free-woman a Type of the Children of the Covenant of Grace is declared Heir while he was but an Infant and had done no Works of Obedience or Service to oblige Abraham his Father Gen. 21.8.10 Sarah speakes of Isaac as the Heir yea the Sole Heir of Abraham while he was but an Infant and Hagar and Ismael after many years service were turned out and cast off and that with a very poor pittance a little Bread and a Bottle of Water Gen. 21.10 14. Hagar and Ismael were utterly cut off from any hope of Enjoying Abraham's Rich Estate So many that do live Civilly Morally and add some Tincture and Sprinkling of Religion will yet come short of Heaven for as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse Gal. 3.10 That is those that mainly cleave to and Build on the Works of the Law for Justification are under the Curse by reason of the defects that are in their Works Rom. 9.30 31 32. Israel that followed after the Law of Righteousness hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness Wherefore Because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the Works of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 1. They sought it by Works that had but the shadow shew and appearance of Works but were not Solid and Substantial Isa 1.13 Bring no more vain oblations or empty Sacrifices that had only bodily service but there was no Spiritual Worship in them no Faith in the Messiah to come no Mortification of the Old Man did attend them Revel 3.1.3 Thou hast a name to live but I have not found thy Works perfect before God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were not filled up with Spiritual Worship and gracious acts of the Soul they were Specious and Glorious before Men but vile and Contemptible before God they might be Pretious as to the Matter of them but were vile and base as to the Form of them as the Present and Offering that the Philistines made to the God of Israel even Golden Mice They were Pretious as to the Matter of them being of Gold but contemptible as to the Form of them for they were but Mice Sam. 1.6.4 So the acts of Natural men may be good as to the matter of them as Praying doing Justly with all yet may be vile as to the Form of them because all doth flow from a Mercenary Spirit and is designed for their own Honour and applause or 2. Men may be said as the Jews to seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law because though they may Complement God and pretend they are beholding to God's Grace for what they are and do as the Pharisee said God I thank thee that I am not as other men Luke 18.11 yet they put the greatest weight and stress upon their own Works and Righteousness for their Justification before God So the Pharisee did make an Inventory of his Spiritual Riches and drew up a Catalogue of his Good Works I am no Extortioner not Unjust or an Adulterer or as this Publican I Fast twice a week I give Tithes of all that I Possess This was the Foundation that he did build upon for his acceptance before God this was his plea at his Bar and Tribunal so that indeed they seek Justification as it were by the Works of the Law they give little to Grace and most to Works these are the Foundation of their Confidence and carry the main stroke with them but Christ Teacheth us other things he tells us that when we have done all that is commanded us we should say we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 There is a double sense that may be given of this Phrase 1. We are unprofitable servants that is to our selves we have laid no obligation on God we have earned no wages no reward from him 2. We are unprofitable servants that is if God would deal with us according to the defects and Sin that cleaves to our best services he might deal with us as with unprofitable servants Math. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Therefore Men must not trust to their own best Works for the obtaining of the Heavenly Inheritance God doth freely give the Kingdom to his Children Fear not little Flock it is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And Jesus Christ doth freely bequeath it Luke 22.28 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath to you a