in us Briefly I shall shew three things 1. It is Life 2. It is a good and happy Life 3. It is an endless and eternal Life 1. It is Life both in Soul and Body in Soul Psal. 22.26 Your heart shall live for ever and again Psal. 69.32 Your heart shall live that seek God In Body 2 Cor. 4.10 Always bearing in our bodies the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ that the life of Jesus also might be manifested in our body that is we are continually ready to be put to death for Christs sake that at length we may receive the effects of his quickening Power in rising from the Dead to the Life of Glory so Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Well this we know then that the party must subsist and live after death otherwise he is incapable to injoy God and the Blessedness of that Estate and he must subsist in Body and Soul otherwise he is not the same person if he were all Spirit and had no Body at all for if his Body were utterly perished and his Soul were changed into the Nature of Angels which were never destinated to be conjoyned to Bodies this were not altogether the same Being for it is not he that is glorified or debased but some other thing Well then he that now serveth God shall then live but in another manner than he now liveth 1. Compare it with Life natural This Life is a fluid thing that runneth from us as fast as it cometh to us but that is eternal Besides here we are exposed to many troubles in an uncertain world Gen. 47.9 Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been there is full rest and peace Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them The supports of this Life are base and low it is called The life of our hands Isa. 57.10 most men labour hard to maintain it but there we are above these necessities Once more the Capacities of this Life are narrow every strong Passion overwhelmeth us the Disciples were not able to bear the glory of Christs Transfiguration Mat. 17.6 When the disciples heard it they fell on their faces and were sore afraid Alas strong winds soon overset weak Vessels if God should give us but a taste or glimpse of that Blessedness which is reserved for us we are ready to cry out Enough Lord we can hold no more but there we are fortified by the Glory we enjoy and the Object strengthens the Faculty 2. Compare it with the Life of Grace which puts us into some degree of Communion with God but this doth not exempt us from miseries rather sometimes exposeth us to them 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Yea we often provoke God to hide his face from us all tears are not yet wiped from our eyes our sins breed not only doubts of Gods Love but put us under a sense of his Displeasure Isa. 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Though we have obtained the Life of Grace we are not yet got rid of the Body of Death and that is matter of continual groaning Rom. 8.23 And not only so but our selves also which have the first-fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption viz. the redemption of our body Here we serve God at a distance in some remote service there we are present with the Lord and immediately before the Throne Rev. 7.15 Therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple Here we enjoy God in the Ordinances at second or third hand there face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 For we see but through a glass darkly then face to face here in part we do not enjoy so much but more is lacking but then we shall be satisfied with his Image Psal. 17.15 As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness That which attaineth its end is perfect and blessed there needeth no more to make us happy for the most perfect Estate excludeth all want and indigency here is still some want but there is none 2. It is a good and happy Estate I prove it 1. From the Nature of it they that live this Life see God and enjoy God There is some last End of mans Life and therefore some chief good There are intermediate Ends therefore there must be a last End we must stop somewhere as suppose I eat for strength my strength must be imployed to some End is it for the service of others or my self or God not for my self for then I eat that I may have strength to labour that I may eat again not for others non nescitur aliis moriturus sibi then for God who is mans chief good Gen. 15.1 Fear not Abram I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Psal. 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light There is all good in God and beyond God nothing is to be desired without him the Soul is never satisfied but having him we are perfectly satisfied and our desires acquiesce as in their proper Center of Rest. Well then our injoyment of him is our proper Happiness certainly mans Felicity must agree with the noblest part of a man his Soul that his noblest Faculty may be exercised in the noblest way of operation about its most noble Object every living Creature desireth good but their highest way of perception being sense it is sensible good but Man being endowed with Reason and Understanding must have some spiritual good before his desires can be perfectly satisfied a good it must be for our Souls Now the noblest Object the Soul is capable of is God and the noblest Faculties of our Souls are Understanding and Will the noblest Operations are therefore Knowledge and Love Love is either Desire or Delight Desire noteth a deficiency or some imperfect possession Joy or Delight is the repose of the Soul in what is already obtained So then the noblest Acts are Sight Love and Joy which assisted by the Light of Glory are now most perfect in degree as being assisted by the Light of Grace they were true in their kind Well then put all together a living reasonable Creature is admitted to the Sight and Love of God in the highest way he is capable of 2. The End must be somewhat better than the Means The Means is having our fruit to Holiness the End is everlasting Life this Life
2.10 and in whose cause we are ingaged and who giveth us the holy Spirit to move us to good and to restrain us from evil 2. What confidence we have or may have in Christ. The Saints overcome by his love and if you will adhere to him in the greatest hazards will he fail you Surely he is kind to his people and hath given not only such assurance of it in his promises but such experience of it in the course of his dispensations that we are still incouraged to wait upon him He is willing to help his people for he loveth them he is able and sufficient for infinite power is at the beck of his love And you have tryed him and he never forsook you will he fail at last Was all this to trepan men into a deceitful hope 3. How little we should suspect his love when to appearance all things go against us There are two dispensations Christ useth either disappointing the temptation or strengthning his people under it For the first we have cause to bless him and many times more cause than we are well aware of Plures sunt gratia privativae quam positiva say Divines in general in our case that of the prophet is verified I led Ephraim but he knew it not In preventing our temptations we know not what the love of Christ hath done for us but for the second in what he will try us Take heed of misconstruing any act of Christs love towards us You think there is some want of love when he permitteth you to furious and boistrous temptations no then he meaneth to give you some supereminent Grace of the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified He loveth you still but will not manifest his love this way or that way which the flesh pleaseth 4. It sheweth us how much we should love Christ and adhere to him in the greatest difficulties Love doth attract and draw love Ordinary love should be mutual and reciprocal 2 Kings 10.15 Is thine heart right as mine is with thee That is dost thou affect me as I do thee Paul pleadeth it 2 Cor. 6.11 12 13. O ye Corinthians our mouth is open to you our heart is inlarged Ye are not straitned in us but ye are straitned in your own bowels now for a recompence in the same be ye also inlarged This sheweth the justice of it that we should retaliate be as kind and affectionate as Christ is to us But alas usually Christ may complain 2 Cor. 12.15 The more abundantly I love you the less I am beloved Shall we lessen our respects to him 2. USE Is to perswade us to give all diligence to this that we be assured that Christ loveth us This is known partly by an external partly by an internal demonstration 1. The external demonstration is in Redemption surely there is no doubt of that that Christ came to shew the loveliness and goodness of God to the forlorn world This only needeth consideration and improvement He that loved us at so costly a rate will he desert us if we chuse his ways and resolve to adhere to him 2. The internal demonstration is in conversion or our receiving the atonement entring into peace with God and adopted as children of the family Sure if you get this one evidence you shall be brought to glory When he hath pardoned thy follies and the frailties of thy youth and called thee when he passed by others and left them in their sins what will he not do for thee SERMON XLVII ROM VIII 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. THESE Words render a reason why believers are more than conquerors in their forest tryals and do further carry on the Apostles Triumph to a fit conclusion of such an excellent Discourse In the Text observe 1. The assailants Death Life Angels 2. The attempt and design to separate us from the love of God 3. The fruitlesness of it no creature shall be able to do this 4. His confidence for I am perswaded First The aggressors and assailants are set forth either by a particular distribution or wrapt up in a general expression 1. The particular distribution is made by four pairs or couples 1. Neither death nor life that is neither the fears of death nor the hopes of life this pair is mentioned because death is the king of terrors Job 18.14 And among all desirable good things life is the chiefest and that which maketh a man capable of enjoying all other good things exprest Job 2.4 Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will be give for his life Now all assaults from this first pair are in vain as they tend to separate us from the love of God in Christ. Will you hope to do it by threats of death A believer will tell you that Christ threatneth eternal death and this temporal one be it natural or violent is but a passage into life eternal will you entice him by the baits of life They have learned to prefer everlasting life before it Heb. 11.35 Not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection 2. Pair nor Angels nor Principalites and Powers that is the powers of the visible and invisible world so these two powers are elsewhere coupled Eph. 1.21 Far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also that which is to come So that by principalities and powers worldly powers are intended Angels is a common word that implieth good and evil spirits if you apply it to the good Angels then 't is spoken only by way of supposition if it were possible they could concur in such a design such a supposition there is Gal. 1.8 Tho an angel from heaven preach any other doctrine to you let him be accursed 'T is a supposition of an impossible case but such as conduceth much to heighten the sense of the truth represented As for evil angels they make it their work and business to steal away souls from Christ and if they could would wrest them out of Christs own arms Well then The good Angels seek not to separate us from Christ the good will not and the bad cannot Were it possible for a good Angel to disswade me from my Lord Jesus Christ I would hold him accursed Evil Angels assault us but we are preserved by a stronger than they By the other branch principalities and powers he understandeth the Potentates of the world by what title soever distinguished No powers can overtop the Divine and Soveraign Lord of the Redeemed
our Bridegroom to come into his presence with our filthy Rags therefore we come to present his Bride with Glory 3. Then there is an open Manifestation of his Dearest Love before the last day the Match is concluded between the Parties there is love expressed but 't is secret and hidden Our Life is hid with Christ in God But then he will own Believers man by man Luk. 12.8 invite them into his bosom in the sight of the World Mat. 25.34 pronounce their Pardon on the Throne Acts 3.19 set them at his Right-hand as Judging the World together with himself 2 Cor. 6.2 Alas now all is under a Vail the World sees us not 1 John 3.1 Now we our selves question whether he loves us or no question it often If the Lord be with us why are these things befallen us But then all is open and clear when the Clouds vanish about Christs Person so about us also 'T is called the day of the manifestation of the Sons of God Rom. 8.19 4. Then we are brought home to his House conducted in State to Heaven John 14.3 Then the day is come when you shall have all that you have hoped desired looked for Oh what an happy day will that be When the great Shepherd of the Sheep shall lead his Flock into their everlasting Fold and the Husband of the Church carry her with him into his Fathers House John 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be where I am and behold my Glory And his Will and Testament is made good now we are in the outer Court if one day in the House of God be better than a Thousand elsewhere Oh what is it to be brought home to God! In these blessed Mansions there we shall abide for ever and never to part more 5. Everlasting Cohabitation and living with him We shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4.17 not get a Glimpse and away but for ever to enjoy his presence Christs Presence for a time upon Earth was very sweet to his Disciples 't was bitter to them to think of his going from them though it were Expedient for them but now remain in an everlasting State of Intimacy and Familiarity with him Now we have a taste of Christ but then our Communion shall be without Intermission or Interruption we shall be out of the Croud and press of Troubles and Temptations and Sins and study Divinity in the Lambs Face and he will communicate himself to us according to the vastest Extent of our Capacity VSE Oh then be Espoused to Christ Otherwise he will not come as a Bridegroom but as a Judge For Motives 1. Consider your Necessity there is a deep necessity lyeth upon you you are undone for ever if you are not married to Christ The Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7. if a Woman can live without an Husband she doth well if she marryeth not But now you are undone for ever if you have him not you are liable to the Wrath of the Eternal God The Apostle saith Rom. 7.4 That all those are dead to the Law who are marryed to Christ that must be done necessarily First now What is it to be dead to the Law but to see our selves miserable and undone for ever and Impotent and no way able to help our selves The Law which is written upon every mans Conscience is there represented as an hard and cruel Husband that requireth an hard task to do but affordeth no strength at all to do it Therefore it bindeth us over to Death and the Curse The Sense of the Law being in-bred in the Conscience and Natural to us cannot be extinguished but will return with the more Violence Well then the Law suggesteth what we should do threatneth us if we do it not and Conscience telling us we have not done it this is a continual Grief and Vexation to us and a man is kept under fear of Death and Hell all his days 2. Consider the Excellency of Christ who is altogether Lovely as to his Person and Offices and every way suited to your necessities As to his Person he is God-man able and willing to do you good for what cannot God do and surely he will not be strange to his own flesh You are condemned by the Law he is a Priest to make Atonement for you You are ignorant of the way to true Happiness he is a Prophet to teach and guide you you have many Enemies and Difficulties to overcome in that way he points it out to you and your own flesh is weak but he is a King to vanquish your Enemies and to assist you with the Powerful Succours of his Spirit he will help you to perform your Duty in the midst of all Temptations to the contrary For we are to serve him in Newness of Spirit Rom. 7.5 6. 3. Consider the Vtility and Profit of it 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All things are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods If you could as heartily devote your selves to the Service of Christ as Christ as Mediatour did to the work of Redemption nothing would be wanting to you to promote your present Holiness and future Happiness 4. 'T is no Presumption to aspire to this Marriage for God maketh the first Motion God hath made Love to you and Wooed you by all manner of ingaging Expressions that he may win your Hearts and ingage your consent Oh do not refuse the Lords kindness or neglect to bestow your Hearts upon him or to give up your selves to him Christ hath imployed Spokes-men sends his tokens as presents of Love Mat. 23.37 I would but you would not All Marriages are brought about by earnest Suit on the one side and Consent on the other so it is here Oh therefore consider and say as Rebecka I can say no more nor no less the thing is the Lords 5. Consider how ill Christ will take it to be refused Prov. 1.29 30. They would none of my Counsel and despised all my Reproofs And Psal. 81.11 But my People would not hearken to my Voice Israel would none of me Despising of kindness is very provoking Oh then give Christ a free and a full and firm consent and all is ended First A free Consent not Extorted When men are a little frighted into a good Conscience Christ seemeth to be welcome to them but as their Trouble weareth off so doth their Resolution to take Christ for their Lord and Saviour Psal. 78.34 35. When he slew them then they sought him and returned and enquired early after God and they remembred that God was their Rock and the most High their Redeemer In such cases men put a force upon themselves and their Heart is not inclined but compelled as those that marry against their wills 'T is only in a pang and fit of Conscience that they like Christ when some great distress forceth them to resolve for him and their fears drive them to Christ rather than his excellencies draw them to him That
are guilty of Incogitancy at least This appeareth 1. By our Drowsiness and Weakness and Carelesness about the things of Eternity Did we believe that for every Lie we told or every one whom we deceived or slandered we were forced to hold our Hands in scalding Lead for half an Hour how afraid would Men be to commit an Offence Temporal things affect us more than Eternal Who would taste Meat if he knew it were present Death or that it would cost him bitter Gripes and Torments How cautious are we in eating or drinking any thing in the Stone or Chollick or Gout where 't is but probable it will do us hurt We know certainly that Sin hath Death in it The Wages of Sin is Death Rom. 6.23 yet we continue in Sin 2. By our backwardness to Good Works Sins of Omission will damn a Man as well as Sins of Commission small as well as great Christ saith not Ye have robbed but Not fed not cloathed Not blasphemed but not invoked the Name of God Not that you have done Hurt but that you have done no Good 3. By our Weakness in Tempatations and Conflicts We cannot deny a Carnal Pleasure nor withstand a Carnal Fear Matth. 10.28 Shrink at the least Pains in Duty The whole World promised for a Reward cannot induce us to enter into a fiery Furnace for half an Hour yet for a momentary Pleasure we run the hazard of Eternal Torments 4. By our Carelesness in the matters of our Peace If a Man were in danger of Death every moment he would not be quiet till he had got a Pardon How can a Man be quiet till he hath secured his Soul in the Hands of Jesus Christ. He that believeth not in Christ the Wrath of God abideth on him SERMON XXV MATTH XXV v. 41. Then shall he say to them on the Left Hand Depart ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels I Come now to the Second Doctrine II. Doct. That these Torments shall be full at the Day of Iudgment Then shall he say c. First There is something Presupposed that they begin presently after Death They are in Hell as soon as the Soul departeth out of the Body that is as to the Soul as to the better half Luk. 16.22 23. And it came to pass that the Begger dyed and was carried by Angels into Abraham's bosom The rich Man also dyed and was buried and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in Torments 'T is a Parable but sure Christ spake intelligibly and according to the received Doctrine of the Church in those times Mark how quick it followeth Here he had his Pleasures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Rich Man also died rich Men die as well as others and was buried it may be had a pompous and stately Funeral when the Soul is in Hell The Body is left in the hands of Death but the Soul is in a living and suffering Condition The Souls of good Men are in Heaven Heb. 12.24 Spirits of Just Men made perfect 'T would be uncomfortable for the Saints to tarry out of the Arms of Christ so long as the last Judgment to be in a drowsie Estate wherein they neither enjoy God nor glorifie him And so the Spirits of wicked Men they are in Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 3.19 Who were sometimes disobedient now in Prison It would be some kind of comfort to the Wicked to be so long delayed The time is long till the last Judgment and we are not moved with things at a distance what shall be thousands of years hence It begetteth a greater awe when the danger is nigh Oh let this startle wicked Men before night they may be in Hell before the Body be committed to the Grave the Soul slitteth hence as soon as it departeth out of the Body to God that gave it to receive Woe or Weal The hour of Death is sudden many are surprized and taken unawares Your carnal Companions if God would use that Dispensation that sometimes bowzed and caroused with you and wallowed in filthy Excess by this time know what 't is to be in Torments they would fain come and tell you that you are as rotten Fruit ready to tumble into the Pit of Darkness Every wicked Man groweth upon the Banks of Eternity and hangeth but by a slender String and Root one touch of Gods Providence and they drop into Hell Secondly There is something Expressed To wit That these Torments shall receive their full and final Accomplishment at the last Day That their Torments shall be increased appeareth 1. By Comparison 2. By Scripture And 3. By Reason 1. By Comparing them 1. With the Devils Jude 6. And the Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great day As good men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so wicked men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Devils for the present are under the powerful Wrath of God and horrible Despair Though they have a Ministry and Service in the World yet they carry their own Hell about with them full of Fears and Tremblings under the Wrath of God but not in that extremity discontented with their present Condition Such a Fall is much to a proud Creature and there is a despair of a better Mat. 8.29 What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time There is a bitter expectation of Judgment to come Now they have some delight in mischief but at the last day their power shall be restrained which is another Infelicity of their Nature Their Ignominy shall be manifested before all the World they shall be dragged before Christ's Tribunal and judged by the Saints whom they hate 1 Cor. 6.3 The good Angels shall come as Christ's Companions the evil as his Prisoners There are Sights that will work on their Envy and thwart their Pride to see the Glory of the Saints and Angels Dolet Diabolus quod ipsum Angelos ejus Christi Servus ille Peccator judicaturus est saith Tertullian Then they are confined to Hell there to keep their residence where they shall have a more active sense of their own Condition and of the Wrath of God that is upon them So 't is with wicked Men they have their Hell now but at the last day they shall be brought forth as trembling Malefactors before the Bar of Christ all their privy Wickedness shall be manifested before all the World 2 Cor. 4.1 2. However they may be honoured and esteemed now either for their Power or Holiness they shall then be put to publick shame driven out of his presence with Ignominy and Contempt cast into Hell to keep company with the Devils where their Torments shall be most exquisite and painful 2. Compare them with the Saints Heavens Joyes shall then be full so Hells Torments The full Recompense of
your Birth and Education If you had been born among Heathens you had been liable to their Darkness The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the Heart Psal. 19.10 Secondly Now we come to speak to the Second Head of Christian Doctrine What is to be known concerning Jesus Christ. I shall not wander and digress from the Circumstances of the Text. Here are three things offered to our consideration First That he is sent Secondly That he is Jesus or a Saviour Thirdly That he is Christ or an anointed Saviour First That he is sent I in part opened this in the Explication now I shall open it more fully It implieth 1. Christ's Divine Original he was a Person truly existing before he came into the World as a Man must be before he is sent he came forth from God Gal. 4.4 When the fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word is a double Compound Sent forth from God Jesus Christ was in the Godhead to note his intimacy and familiarity with God he is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 1.18 The only begotten Son of God which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him He is not only legatus à latere from the Side of God but from the Bosom of God so Equals and dear Friends are admitted into the Bosom Therefore he is said to come forth from God John 16.30 Not only to note the Authority of his Message but the Quality of his Person he came from out of the Godhead No inferior Mediator could serve the turn such an Errand required a God himself nothing but an infinite Good could remedy an Infinite Evil. Sin had bound us over to an Eternal Judgment and nothing could counterpoise Eternity but the Infiniteness and Excellency of Christ's Person He that came on such an Errand must needs be God both to satisfy God and to satisfy us God could not be satisfied unless his Sufferings had received a value from his Person to satisfy God offended there must be a God satisfying for the Offence therefore his Blood is called the Blood of God Acts 20.28 Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood The Satisfaction must carry proportion with the Merit of the Offence a Debt of a Thousand Pounds is not discharged by two or three Brass Farthings Creatures are Finite their Acts are due and their Sufferings for one another if they had been allowed would have been of a limited Influence Merit is above the Creature no Act of ours can lay an Engagement upon God 1 Sam. 2.25 If a Man sin against another the Judg shall judg him but if he sin against God who shall intreat for him The Judg may accord a Difference between Man and Man and one Man may make Satisfaction to another but to take up Matters between us and God a Person must be sent out of the Godhead it self So to satisfy us he had need be able to grapple with Divine Wrath that would undertake our Cause he was not only to undergo it but to overcome it The Creature would never have been satisfied if he had perished in the Work if our Surety were kept in Prison and held under Wrath and Death we should have had no assurance that the Debt was paid Acts 17.31 Whereof he hath given Assurance to all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Christ's Resurrection is our Acquittance and Discharge John 16.10 Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Well then we see the Reasons why a Person of the Godhead is imployed in this Work you need not doubt but that it is accomplished to the full since it is in the Hands of such an able Surety Besides it sheweth the greatness of our Sin and Misery that a Person of the Godhead must be sent to rescue us Sin fetched the Son of God from Heaven and if we subdue it not it will sink us into Hell 2. It implieth his distinct Subsistence that Christ is a distinct Person from the Father for he that sendeth and he that is sent are distinguished Mark I say it implieth Distinction but not Inferiority against the Arrians Persons equal by mutual consent may send one another as we see among Men and Christ was equal with God Phil. 2.6 Who being in the Form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God he might take that Honour upon him without usurpation Now this sending is ascribed to the Father as John 10.36 Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the World c. and in other places Partly because the Father in those Places is not taken personally but essentially for the Decree of the Father is the Decree of the Son and Spirit they are one in Essence and one in Will their Actions are undivided partly because this peculiar personal Operation is especially ascribed to the first Person the Father is said to send and the Holy Ghost to qualify and fit him It is ascribed to the Father he sent the Spirit to accomplish it to God the Son who took humane Nature and united it to his own Godhead to the Spirit of God who formed and sanctified and furnished it with Gifts without measure In the 〈◊〉 of Salvation the Original Authority is made to reside in God the Father So that here is a sensible Argument to confirm the Doctrine of the Trinity Christ was sent one of the Persons took Flesh by order and appointment of the whole Godhead The Distinction of the Persons is by this discovered Heb. 1.5 6. For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son And again when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him 3. It implieth the Incarnation of Christ Sent into the World John 10.36 So Gal. 4.4 God sent forth his own Son made of a Woman Christ's sending doth not imply change of Place but assumption of another Nature Now this was necessary otherwise Christ neither ought to nor could suffer Justice required that the same Nature that sinned should be punished If he had not been made of a Woman he could not be under the Law the Duty or the Penalty of it Gal. 4.4 He was made of a Woman made under the Law Our Sin was not to be punished in Angels or in any other Creature that had not sinned nor in Man made out of nothing or out of a piece of Earth or out of the Dust as Adam God might have made Christ true Man out of that Matter but he was made of a Woman one that was of our Blood of the same Nature and Essence with them that sinned Our Saviour was not to be a Sinner but partaker
the strength of Desire Many of God's Children are tempted to make away themselves but I never heard of any that were tempted to make away themselves in the heighth of Assurance or out of the vehemency of Spiritual Desire tho the present Life be accompanied with many Vexations and Afflictions Despair maketh Men to lay violent Hands on themselves but not Assurance as Saul fell upon his Sword and Achitophel went home and hanged himself and Judas was his own Executioner But Assurance tho it desireth God's presence yet it tarrieth God's leisure Waiting is a Fruit of Faith as well as Confidence Spiritual Desires are always conceived with Submission and Obedience if God hath more work they can brook the delay of the Reward and tarry for their Wages I remember a Passage of a Heathen of Tully in his Somnium Scipionis when Scipio had said If true Life be only in Heaven why stay I then upon Earth why haste I not to come to you No saith his Father unless God free thee from the Fetters of thy Body thou canst not come hither Men are born and bred upon this Condition that they should promote the good of the World You must not fly from the Duty assigned by God the Soul is to be kept in the custody of the Body till it be commanded thence by God that gave it at first This was his saying and indeed it is wonderful Christians learn to wait Gâ—d's leisure it is better to be with Christ but you must not look for your Wages till you have done your Work When a Sentinel is set upon the Watch he must not come off without the Commander's leave and till he is discharged by Authority God hath set us in a Watch and we must not leave our Ground till we have done all that is injoined us till we receive a fair Discharge This Point will serve to open two Cases 1. Case Whether Men confessing Christ may make away themselves to avoid the cruel Torments of their Persecutors and they know not certainly what their strength may be able to sustain This was a great Case in the Primitive Times and it may be still of use Eusebius telleth us lib. 8. cap. 24. that in the Time of Dioclesian's Persecution which was very bloody and cruel there were divers that procured Death to themselves by leaping down from Losts and high Places or else thrust themselves through with Knives or Swords I Answer This is sinful Christ prayeth not that his Disciples might be taken out of the World but kept from the Evil. The sinfulness appeareth 1. Because this is an Act of Disobedience contrary to the Law of God Thou shalt not kill now the more unnatural any Act is the greater is the Crime A Man is not Lord of Life and Death 2. It is an Act of Distrust 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no Temptation taken you but such as is common to Men but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it God will either temper the Affliction to our strength or raise our strength to the degree of the Affliction Christ hath laid in this Prayer for our encouragement in this Case Keep them from the Evil it is a making haste as if God would not be faithful but require Brick where he giveth no Straw 3. It is a disparagement and dishonour to the Cause which we maintain It robbeth God of a great deal of Glory when he calleth us out to shew our Love to him to take our Lives out of God's Hands when he claimeth them Rom. 14. 7 8. For none of us liveth to himself and no Man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord 's Providence hath singled you out to be Witnesses God by his Providence challengeth his due It is a retracting of your Vows And therefore tho God may be merciful to the Soul yet the Act is unnatural and sinful and base when God hath drawn you out to be him Champions and Witnesses to the World 2. Case is about wishing for Death You know the Law doth not only forbid Acts but Thoughts and Desires Therefore is it lawful to long for Death and Dissolution We find Instances on both Hands in the Scriptures The murmuring Israelites are taxed Exod. 16.3 Would to God we had died by the Hand of the Lord in the Land of Egypt And it is usual for Men in a pet to wish themselves dead to curse the day of their Birth and long for the day of their Death On the other side Paul out of a spiritual Affection desireth to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Phil. 1.23 I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ. What shall we say in this case I Answer in several Propositions 1. There is a great deal of difference between serious Desires and passionate Expressions The Desires of the Children of God are deliberate and resolved conceived upon good grounds and after much strugling with Flesh and Blood to bring their Hearts to it Carnal Men are loth that God should take them at their word as he in the Fable that called for Death and when he came desired him to help him up with his Burden Alas they do not consider what it is to be in the state of the Dead and to come unprovided and unfurnished into God's Presence We often wish our selves in our Graves but if God should take us at our word we would make many Pauses and Exceptions Men that in their Miseries call for Death when Sickness cometh will run to the Physician many Gifts are promised if Life could be restored None more unwilling to die than those that in a Passion wish for Death 2. We must carefully look to the grounds of these Wishes and Desires Carnal Wishes for Death arise either 1. Out of violent Anger and a pet against Providence as Jonah 4.3 Therefore now O Lord take I besâ—ech thee my Life from me for it is better for me to die than to live And Vers. 8. He fainted and wished â—n himself to die and said It is better for me to die than to live The murmuring Israelites when they felt the Famine of the Wilderness wished they had died in the Land of Egypt When Men are vexed with the World they look upon Death as a Release to take vengeance upon God to deprive him of a Servant 2. In deep Sorrow as Job 3.11 Why died I not from the Womb Why did I not give up the Ghost when I came out of the Belly And Job 6.8 9. O that I might have my Request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Ever that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his Hand and câ—â—â—e off Elisha 1 Kings 19.4 He
few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Christ is not only Purchaser but first Possessor and is gone into Heaven to prepare a place for us to which he will at last bring us John 14.2 3. In my Father's House are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a Place for you And if I go to prepare a Place I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Vse 1. Information to shew what ground we have of Patience Comfort and Confidence 1. Of Patience in Afflictions from God Would we be loved otherwise than Christ was loved We see in the Person of Christ that Love may stand with Fatherly Correction Christ was beloved by God yet under Poverty Disgrace Persecution Hunger Thrist c. When Christ was hungry the Devil came unto him Mat. 4.3 If thou be the Son of God command that these Stones be made Bread So he taketh advantage of our Troubles and Afflictions to make us question our Adoption but we may retort the Argument Heb. 12.7 8. If ye endure Chastisement God dealeth with you as with Sons â— for what Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not But if ye be without Chastisement whereof all are Partakers then are ye Bastards and not Sons Brambles are not pruned but Vines God loved Christ in the lowest degree of his Abasement as much as at other times Shall I desire to be otherwise beloved of God than Christ was Nay God's Love may stand with sad suspensions of Soul-Comforts Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The Natural Son was in the Love of God when at the worst God loved him still tho he appeared to him with another Face as the Sun is the same when it shineth through red Glass only it casts a more bloody Reflection God had one Son without Sin but none without suffering 2. Comfort when we meet with ill usage in the World Our Lord Jesus prayeth That the World may be convinced that God loved them as he loved Christ. When the World intreated Christ ill how was the World convinced that God loved him There was an Eclipse at his Death which was a Monument of God's Displeasure Mat. 27.54 When the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the Earthquake and those things which were done they feared greatly saying Truly this was the Son of God So when Christ's Members are evil intreated there are publick Monuments of God's Displeasure the Courses of Nature are altered Drowths Innundations Pestilences Famines unseasonable Weather Confusions c. If this be not when God smileth tho the World frowneth you will convince them by bearing up with Courage and Confidence The more the World is set against us the more do the Fruits of his Love appear before Men. 3. Confidence in the midst of Dangers and Temptations When once we are assured of God's Love what shall separate us from it Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Heighth nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Can any thing alienate God's Love in Christ If it were God's Love in us that were an uncertain ground of Hope but it is God's Love in Christ. Get but an Assurance of his Love and you will never be ashamed What can alienate the Heart of God from you while you are faithful to him and have the sure Pledg of his Love his Spirit in your Heart Love or Hatred is not known by any thing that is before us But if you have an Heart to seek him fear him obey his Laws this is the favour of his People and this was his Love to Christ. Vse 2. Direction 1. Whereby chiefly to measure God's Love by his Spiritual Bounty John 3.34 35. God giveth not the Spirit by measure to him The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands So the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit are the special Effects of his Love for he loved us as he loved Christ and thus he manifested his Love to Christ. Psal. 106.4 Remember me Lord with the Love that thou bearest to thy People When one gave Luther Gold he said Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic à Deo satiari Be not satisfied till God love you with such a Love as he loved Christ. Inward Excellencies tho with outward Crosses these are the best Fruits of his Love an Heart to seek him to fear his Name to obey his Laws an understanding to know his Will God's Love is best known by the stamp of his Spirit that is his Mark set upon us Let us leave outward things to God's Wisdom Love or Hatred is not known by all that is before us Let us labour for a share in his peculiar Love Psal. 119.132 Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name Lord I do not ask Riches nor Glory nor Preferment in the World I ask thy Love thy Grace thy Spirit Doth our Saviour care for outward Things Other things are given promiscuously these to his Favourites God's Love is conveyed through Christ. Rev. 1.5 To him that loâ—ed us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood he loved us and sanctified us Ephes. 5.25 26. Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word Nothing more worthy nothing more suitable to Christ's Love 2. It directeth us what to do when we are dejected through our own unworthiness Look upon God's Love in Christ. If God did take Arguments and Grounds of Love from the Creature Where would he have found Objects of Love God hath proclaimed it from Heaven Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and we are accepted in the Beloved Ephes. 1.6 Jesus Christ is worthy desire to be found in him not having thine own Righteousness Lord for the Meritâ— of thy blessed Son accept of me Christ being beloved of the Father is the Storehouse and Conduit to convey that Love to his People Vse 3. Exhortation to endeavour after the sense and apprehension of this Love in our own Hearts Surely this is our Duty for Christ afterward saith Vers. 26. That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them There is a Love of God towards us and a Love of God in us so Zanchy citing the Text his Love erga nos towards us is carried on from all Eternity but nondum in nobis it is not in Us but in Time He loved us before the Foundation of the World tho we know it not feel it not but now this Love beginneth to be in
of the Gospel he urgeth this Argument 2 Tim 1.7 8. For we have not received the spirit of fear but the spirit of love and power and of a sound mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a poor cowardly dasterdly spirit mated or overcome with every difficulty but now a spirit confirmed in the love of God and the faith and hope of the Gospel is a fruit of power and fortitude the righteous is as bold as a Lion Pro. 28. 1. Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O king but if not be it known unto thee O king that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up and Rom. 8.37 38. I am perswaded that neither life nor death nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3. It hindreth the readiness and chearfulness of our service and crippleth our endeavours The sloathful servant was affraid Luke 19.21 22. when we do not know whether we shall please or be accepted or no 't is a very discouraging thing and we drive on heavily when nothing appears to us but fear but love maketh a willing people 1 Joh. 5.3 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous 4. It resisteth sin unwillingly we had rather let it alone than go about it the mortifying of lust is like the cutting off of an Arm with a rusty Saw rather let go any thing than sin but grace furnisheth us with the most powerful arguments For means 1. Cherish good thoughts of God the spirit of bondage is increased upon us by unreasonable fears and jealousies of God the Lord is good and doth good Psal. 119.68 his commands are not greivous Matt. 11.30 My yoke is easy and my burden is light The tryals sent us by him are not above measure nor beyond strength 1 Cor. 10.13 Who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able Nor his punishments above deserving Neh. 9.13 thou hast punished us less then than we deserved he is not hard to be pleased nor inexorable upon our infirmities Mal. 3.17 And I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 2. Study the nature and constitution of the Gospel which maketh rich preparation of Grace Help and Comfort for you this is Gods Act of Oblivion which easeth you of your troubles for here God promiseth to blot out your transgressions and remember your sins no more this is a Sanctuary and Refuge for your distressed souls to fly unto when pursued by the laws curse the Charter of your hopes or the word of salvation which secureth you aginst the laws curse or the fears of the damnation of Hell the law is good as a rule of duty but the Gospel is glorious 2 Tim. 1.8 11. In short Your souls will never sit easie within you till you resolve not to seek for that in the law which is only to be found in the Gospel peace of Conscience and Reconciliation with God The law can only save the innocent but the Gospel pardoneth the penitent sinner Look not for that in self which is only to be found in Christ a perfect Righteousness and Merit to appease Gods Justice and propitiate him to us this is only by the Blood and Obedience of Christ never look for that on earth which is only to be had in Heaven which is exact and unspotted holiness Jude 21. Then we are presented faultless in his presence 3. An hearty and sincere love to God 1 John 4.18 There is no fear in love for perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment and he that feareth is not made perfect in love He speaketh not of a childlike Reverence of the Divine Majesty or a carefulness not to displease him but of slavish fear of Condemnation which is the life and soul of many mens Religion but they are never soundly converted till God hath their hearts that is their love Now this strong and fervent love arising from faith in Christ driveth and forceth this tormenting fear out of the heart and will never be affraid of him whom they love and on the other side will not love him whom they look upon as ready to condemn them and cast them into Hell Surely God will never damn the soul that loveth him therefore if we would get rid of the fear of wrath or hell let us love God with our highest and best affections we have reason to love him if we consider the wonder of his love and good will to sinners manifested to us in and by Jesus Christ. 4. Live holily and obey the motions of the sanctifying spirit We deprive our selves of comfort by falling into sin the more the spirit is a Sanctifier the more a Comforter Holiness breedeth a generous confidence 1 John 3.2 Behold now we are the Sons of God Gal. 5.18 But if ye be led by the spirit ye are not under the law If we are not watchful against sin our bondage returneth therefore David saith Psal. 51.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me by thy free spirit The Holy Spirit withdraweth and suspendeth his comforts when we walk vainly and loosely then we cannot serve God with any delight and readiness of mind 't is not a free spirit but a servile that then governeth us and influenceth our actions SERMON XXIII ROM VIII 15 But ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father IN the Words we have 1. A Priviledg Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption 2. One special fruit and effect of it Whereby we cry Abba Father In setting down the effect the change is emphatical ye received we cry He includeth himself and puts in his own name together with theirs to shew that it is a Priviledg common to all that receive the New Testament the meanest and least of Gods Children have an affectionate and childlike way of praying unto God Doct. That the spirit which we receive under the new Covenant dispensation is a spirit of Adoption I shall explain these Five Things 1. The state of Adoption which we obtain under the New Testament 2. The spirit of Adoption consequent thereupon 3. Whether all that live under the New Testament Dispensation have the spirit of Adoption 4. Whether all that have it know it 5. The reasons why this is the fruit of the new Covenant Dispensation 1. What is the state of Adoption Our admission into Gods family that he will be a Father to us and we shall be his children 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons
all our Conversations we should get it rooted and setled in our hearts that we may not be tossed up and down with the various Occurrences of this Life God is our happiness and not the Creature 3. This filleth us with courage and magnanimity in the most desperate cases Dan. â— 17 18. O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace but if not we will not serve thy god nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up This is true fortitude to look to God alone he will deliver from Death or by Death He can save us from trouble or if not he will hastenour glory Yet we must resolve to stick close to him however he determine the event 4. This maketh us live quietly from cares and fears when we can commit and submit all to God Phil. 4.6 7. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. 'T is a blessed frame questionless to be careful for nothing This is to be had by ceasing from Man and trusting in the Lord who hath the government and disposal of all things Directions 1. Let the Will of God be your sure Rule For God must institute that Religion which you expect he should accept and reward None trust in the Lord but those that keep his way Psal. 37.34 Wait on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land 2. Let the Favour of God be your Happiness Be quieted in his acceptance whether man be pleased or displeased 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him Let God be enough to you without and against Man SERMON XLII ROM VIII 32 He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things THE Apostle had been speaking of God's eternal Decree which is his hidden Love now he speaketh of Redemption by Christ which is his open and declared Love In Predestination his love was conceived in his own heart in Redemption 't is manifested in the effects and commended to us That was the rise this the visible demonstration In the former Verse the Apostle reasoned a causa here is argumentum a signo Once more The former question is a comfort against that trouble which may arise ex presentia mali this against our trouble which may arise ex absentia boni The Covenant-Notions by which God is expressed are Two suitable to the Two sorts of blessings we have by him positive and privative that he is a Sun and a Shield Psal. 84.11 and Gen. 15.1 Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Do you fear evil God is our Shield and if God be with us who can be against us that is so as to procure our utter and eternal ruin Do you want good God is our Sun and our exceeding great Reward There is blessing enough to be had in God The Argument of the Text sheweth it He that spared not his own son c. In the Words we have two things God's former and after Bounty 1. A Foundation or 2. An Inference 1. The Foundation and ground-work of the Argument is propounded 1. Negatively He spared not his own son 2. Positively But delivered him up for us all 2. The Inference is considerable both for the Matter and the Form In the Matter take notice of a gift resulting from the Death of Christ where 1. the extent of the gift or donation all things 2. The Freeness of the gift 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 freely 3. The Method and Order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with him 2. The Form 'T is an appeal to our Reason and Conscience how shall hr not As if it were said Can an any man be so absurd and illogical so little skilled in the art of reasoning How is it possible to imagine that he that gave us Christ will deny us any thing that is good for us Doct. That in the Death of Christ God hath laid a broad foundation for a large superstructure of grace to be freely dispensed to all those that have an interest in him Let me here shew you 1. How the Death of Christ is here expressed 2. What a superstructure of grace is built thereupon 3. The strength and force of the Inference 4. Who have interest in Christ and may more expresly take comfort in it and reason thus within themselves 1. How the Death of Christ is here expressed as to God's act about it 1. Negatively He spared not his own son where we have the Act and the Object of it God's Act is intimated in that expression he spared not There is a Two-fold not sparing either in a way of impartial Justice or in a way of free and eminent Bounty 1. In a way of impartial Justice So 't is said 2 Pet. 2.4 5. God spared not the angels that sinned And again He spared not the old world that is would use no clemency but gave them their deserved punishment So many would interpret this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spared not Christ but stirred up all his wrath against him when he took upon him to satisfie for our sins When he took upon him to satisfie for our sins Divine Justice would not abate him one farthing Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered 2. In a way of eminent and free bounty So we are said to be sparing of those things which are most dear and precious to us but upon great occasions we part wiâ—h them In this sense when the Elect had need of Christ God did not spare him but came off freely with him John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son parted with him out of his bosom gave him to die for our sakes 2. The Object his own Son that is not an adopted Son but only begotten What dearer to Parents than their children Parents will part with their All to redeem their children especially if they have but one and that dearly beloved but God's love to Christ is not to be measured by an ordinary standard all is infinite between the Father and him Therefore this heightneth his grace to us that he spared not his own Son Let us consider what might have moved God to spare his Son 1. The incomparable worth and excellency of his Person Things which are rare and excellent use to be spared unless upon great necessity Now the Lord Jesus was so the Son of God that he was co-equal with him in divine honour and glory Thus did the Jews understand him
in their troubles and sufferings than by permitting them to live in prosperity and scandalize others by their vanity sensuality and pride of conversation God is usually more honoured by his people at such times when his graces are exercised in the eye of the world and his people confess him in the midst of persecutions 2. The advancement of Christs kingdom in the propagation of the Gospel Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives to the death There is an overcoming indeed you will say to die in the quarrel Yes as long as Christ overcometh a Christian hath that which he looketh for If their blood may be the seed of the Church they are content Some convinced others converted brethren strengthned and confirmed Phil. 1.12 Those things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel His sufferings conduced thereunto as much as his preaching 3. Our own salvation 'T is not worldly prosperity and greatness and dominion that we should seek but that the soul may be saved in the day of the Lord. Indeed if our aim were at worldly prosperity and carnal honour and pleasure then were we clearly overcome when we hazard our worldly interests but 't is Heaven that we aim at and therefore as Christ endured the cross and despised the shame for the glory set before him Heb. 12.2 3. So we must despise the cross for the same ends 2 Cor. 4.17 These light afflictions which are but for a moment shall work in us a far more exâ—eeding and eternal weight of glory Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Heb. 10.34 They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods as knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance At length we shall have our promised Crown 4. To maintain and keep alive present grace First our faith 2 Tim. 4.8 I have kept the faith when we abide faithful with God and are not drawn to apostacy by all the flatteries or threatnings of the world Secondly Our love to God Satans design is to make a breach between God and us Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ unclasp these mutual imbracements whereby Christ and the soul held fast one another you are in Christs arms and Christ in yours The Devil would count it a greater victory to conquer your love than to get a power over your bodies and bodily interests his design is to keep men from God if therefore adversity bringeth you the nearer to him then you conquer The souls of the faithful are kept closer to God in suffering times than in prosperity being sensible of the vanity and emptiness of all worldly things and weaned from them what ever befall the body you keep nearer to God and have most of his love Thirdly our patience that 's not overcome by the storm and tempests of temptations Luke 21.19 In patience possess your souls A man keepeth himself as long as he keepeth his patience James 1.4 Let patience â—ave its perfect work this is necessary that we may receive our Crown Heb. 10.36 For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise Well then a Christian overcometh not when he gets the best of opposite interest in the world but when he keepeth himself in a capacity to injoy the Heavenly inheritance 2. How more than a conqueror When he doth not only keep his standing but gets ground by the temptation Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good to them that love God not only bear them but groweth the better for them First more holy and more heavenly as graces by being exercised are improved and increased Heb. 12.11 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees More sensible of the folly of sinning than at other times Secondly more joyful comforts are increased Rom. 5.3 4 5. And not only so but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation works pateince and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us 2 Cor. 12.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions and distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong Acts 5.41 They departed from the presence of the council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and so triumpheth most when he seemeth to be most overcome Thirdly more resolute in the profession of godliness 2 Sam. 6.22 If this be to be vile I will be more vile and base in mine own eyes Courage groweth by sufferings as trees are more rooted by being shaken Psal. 119.126 127. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy law Therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold As a staff is holden the faster the more another seeketh to wreâ—t it out of our hands 3. Who is this true believer that will be more than a conqueror The victory is sometimes ascribed to faith 1 John 5.4 5. Sometimes to love Rom. 8.35 What shall separate us from the love of Christ Love is not only taken passively for the love wherewith Christ loveth us but actively for the love wherewith we love Christ I can exclude neither for the success is here ascribed in the text to Christs love to us but there our love to Christ must be understood also for what shall separate us from the love of God Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Tribulation is not wont to draw God from loving us but to draw us from loving of God And in the text 't is said we are conquerors not God is a conqueror 'T is we are assaulted not Christ and 't is our love which the temptation striketh at Both must be included Christ hath hold of a believer in the arms of his love and a believer hath hold of Christ 1 John 4.14 Well then 't is faith but faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 Christ is rather held by the heart than the hand only Go to them that make a Religion of their opinions and you will find no such effect if they have a faith 't is that that never went deeper than their brains and their fancies but where Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith there he remaineth constantly Eph. 3.17 and flitteth not thence he resideth as in his strong
the beloved to the praise of his glorious grace The people of God are loved from all eternity by his love of benevolence whereby he willed good unto them and decreed to bestow good upon them even when they were children of wrath in the sentence of the law But there is besides this the love of complacency whereby he accepteth of them as being reconciled to him and acquiesceth in them as his peculiar people and will bestow all manner of grace upon them Secondly As to sense or our feeling of this love Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts When 't is evidenced to us that God hath thus sanctified us and adopted us into his family taken us for his children Rom. 8.16 And we are incouraged to look for the eternal inheritance as our right and portion The effects we have in our conversion called therefore effectual calling the sense we have by the Lords confirming Grace or the witness of the spirit which God giveth as a reward to his faithful and obedient servants Experienced seasoned Christians usually have it in a large measure 2. The people of God apprehend it as a very blessed and comfortable condition for here Paul in their name speaketh that as long as God loveth them they are not troubled about other things Death may separate the soul from the body depth of poverty may separate them not only from the preferments of the world but the enjoyment of their own estates Evil angels may disquiet them with temptations worldly powers exile them from their countrey and separate them from their dearest friends and acquaintance but as long as they are not separated from the love of God in Christ they are well apaid and contented for the Apostles triumph is not that he did escape the troubles but that he was not separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus Now this cometh partly from the real worth of the priviledg its self and partly from their esteem and value of it 1. For the real worth of the priviledge its self Surely Gods love can make us more happy than the world can make us miserable Consider a believer as to his present or future condition he is a blessed man For the present his sins are pardoned Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered Their natures are healed 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust Their ways are directed and ordered Psal. 119.1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. And for the future they have eternal life 1 John 2.25 And this is the promise he hath promised us even eternal life Now these are blessings the world cannot deprive us of and they are the fruits of distinguishing love but worldly things which are subject to the will and power of our enemies are not Eccles. 9.1 2. Love nor hatred cannot be known by these things all things come alike to all These have escaped the greatest misery and are intitled to the greatest happiness mankind is capable of 2. Their value and esteem of it above all worldly felicities Psal. 4.6 7. Many say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put gladness into my heart more than in the time that their corn and wine increased Yea above life its self Psal. 63.3 Thy loving-kindness is better than life They were willing to renounce all to get it and therefore they are willing to renounce all to keep it Phil. 3.7 8. What things were gain to me I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss He had counted and did count to shew that he had not repented of his choice Man is changeable and fickle highly conceited for one thing to day and another to morrow but the Apostle saw no cause to recede from his choice he continued still of the same opinion We often affect novelties are transported when we first change our profession and repent at leasure Now if he were to do it again he would freely do it supposing it to be gainful But now to have the favour of God and to be like him how valuable a blessing is it None are true Christians but those that are like-minded that value his favour above all things for otherwise God is loved with the respect of an underling and so cannot have the affection from us that is due to the chiefest good Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 3. That nothing can separate us from the fruition of his love This will be best seen from the grounds 1. The immutability of Gods love to the elect His elective love maketh not only our vocation effectual but our justification and glorification also Rom. 8.30 He will not cease to love us nor cast off the care of our salvation till he hath brought it to its final period 2. The infinite merit of Christ. 'T is in the text The love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. His free-love is carried on to us in that way for the fruits of his eternal love we cannot obtain but by Jesus Christ. Now his merit is an everlasting merit he went not to Heaven till he had obtained eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 A purchase that shall ever stand in force 3. The unchangeable Covenant and the promises of God which irreversibly make over this right to us 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God are in him yea and amen And Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong consolation Surely this should give us a strong consolation that we have the word of the eternal God for it That if we run for refuge and stick there nothing shall defeat our right 4. The union of a believer with Christ as a member of his body and so belonging to his care and protection For the Lord Christ is a Saviour to all those to whom he is truly an head Eph. 5.23 Christ is the head of the Church and the Saviour of the body Therefore every living member of the mystical body is safe nothing shall dissolve or break that blessed union that is between Christ and believers 5. The Almighty power of God and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 Ye are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation Heaven is kept for them and they are kept for Heaven Christ hath promised his Almighty Power for the safety of believers As it was he and not we that purchased our salvation so it is Christ and not we that must have the keeping of the purchased benefits and he saith that none shall pluck them out of his hands and out of the Fathers hands
deep experience of his grace in Christ that have not taken up some light thoughts about it but are deeply overcome and possessed with a sense of his love whose heart and soul is towards God and his wondeful love in Christ is the root and foundation of all their Religion now these thorough-Christians who are rooted and grounded in faith and love they are not so much believers in conflict as believers in triumph and whereas others make an hard shift to get to Heaven with much labour both of flesh and Spirit and many doubts and fears they keep up a continual rejoycing in God and find little or no trouble or disturbance in the Spiritual life Lusts are more mortified and Satan is discouraged and they are assisted with a larger experience of grace than others receive 1. USE Is information 1. To shew what cause they have to be ashamed that are discouraged by smaller temptations that cannot run with the foot-men Jer. 12.5 The smallest things separate them from the love of God in Christ or darken the comfort of it in their souls 2. The great priviledges of a Christian. Turn him to what condition you will raise him or cast him down kill him or spare his life you cannot harm him inrich him or beggar him his happiness is not at your command he is not at the disposal of any creature in the world Devils or Men crosses and contrary winds blow him to Heaven Cant. 4.16 and here death life heigth depth if God hath good to do by his life he will preserve him if his work is ended he will take him away by death All doth better his heart or hasten his glory 3. What an advantage those Christians have above others that make it their business to love God and count it their happiness to be beloved by him Take either first that make it their business to love God Love God once and all that he doth will be acceptable to you and all that you do will be acceptable to him for if we love him nothing will be grievous not commands grievous nor tryals grievous 1 John 5.3 Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth 'T is from a father and all that you do is acceptable to God The lovers mite is better taken than the vast treasures of enforced service If you love him you may be sure he loveth you John 14.21 Secondly They count it their happiness to be beloved by him and then under the sorest temptations 't is enough that God loveth them if he will not take away his loving-kindness from them 't is enough though he visit them with scourges Other things will not satisfie them without this but this satisfieth them in the want of all other things Psal. 106.7 2. USE Is to exhort us to several duties 1. To the great duties of Christianity which give us an interest in this unchangeable love I shall instance in faith and love First by faith to put our souls in Christs hands for there alone we are safe against temptations 2 Tim. 1.12 For I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 1 Pet. 4.19 Commit the keeping of your souls to him So Psal. 37.3 4. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land verily thou shalt be fed Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee thy hearts desire 'T is not a devout sloath or careless negligence but a resolution to take his way and adhere to it trusting him with all events We may do it upon the confidence of his willingness fidelity and sufficiency His Office sheweth his willingness 't is his office to save souls which he cannot possibly neglect Luke 19.10 The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost His Covenant sheweth his fidelity 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able His nature or his Divine Power sheweth his sufficiency He is God Phil. 3.21 and he is with God Heb. 7.25 2. The next great duty is love for love is the mutual bond between us and Christ as Christ is the bond of union between God and us We must not intermit our own love the love of God keepeth us and we are bidden to keep our selves in the love of God Jude 21. John 2.27 28. Ye shall abide in him and then presently abide in him And John 15.5 Abide in me and I in you The greatest danger of breaking is on our part there is no fear on Christs part Now we must use the means possess the heart with the love of God in Christ. We must believe the love of God think of it often not by light thoughts but let it be radicated in our hearts and let us rouse up our selves to love God again who hath shewed so much love to us 2. Let us forecast all visible dangers and not fix too peremptorily on temporal happiness There are a world of vicissitudes in our pilgrimage but all are ordered for good to a Christian. Let us not too peremptorily fix on life or death heighth or depth but beg of God to sanctifie every condition Phil. 4.12 I know how to be abased and how to abound to be full and to be hungry to abound and to suffer need We are subject to changes sometimes in credit and sometimes in disgrace sometimes in sickness and sometimes in health sometimes rich and sometimes poor there needeth wisdom to carry our selves in prosperity as well as adversity 3. Let us get our hearts confirmed against these temptations that may assault our confidence Life death if God prolong life there is occasion for service if death cometh that is our comfort Rev. 14.8 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Phil. 1.20 I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is much better Death is a passage to glory it shall not separate us from Christ but joyn us to him Phil. 1.23 Lay up this comfort against the hour of death 'T is a separation that causeth a nearer conjunction Then Angels the evil Angels are under Christ Col. 1.16 You are never in Satans hand but Satan is in Gods hands Then for Principalities and Powers no Potentates have any power but what is given them from above John 19.11 Thou couldest have no power at all against me were it not given thee from above And Christ promiseth Matth 16.18 Vpon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Things present and things to come Whatsoever is present is either good or evil the good things are for our comfort in our pilgrimage the evil fit us for an happier estate but we have no assurance of things to come Matth. 6.34 Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof And then heighth depth We are acquainted with the heighth and depth of the love of God we know
their bodies but assoon as they are separated from the Body go to their place and state of torment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The place of their everlasting Imprisonment So Luke 16.23 24. And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom God is not more prone to punish than to reward if the wicked be in their final Estate assoon as they dye the Saints are in their happiness presently upon their dissolution On the other side Heb. 12.22 The Spirits of just men made perfect The Souls of men unclothed and divested of their bodys too these come How could these things be said if they did lye only in a dull sleep without any life sight joy or any act of love to God Present sleep 't is a burden to the Saints as 't is an Interruption to their Service though a necessary refreshment to their Bodys 4. That Argument also proves it Col. 1.20 That Christ by the bloud of his Cross hath reconciled all things to God both in Heaven and in earth He meaneth the universality of the Elect whether already Glorifyed or yet upon the Earth it cannot be said of the Elect Angels who never sinned and therefore were never reconciled Se nunquam cum matre in gratiam rediisse c. But only confirmed in grace and put beyond all reach and possibility of sinning and so the things in Heaven which are reconciled are the Souls of the Godly who departed in the Faith 5. That place also proveth it Luke 20.37 38. Now that the dead are raised even Moses shewed at the Bush when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead but of the living for all live to him The Sadduces denyed the Immortality of the Soul as well as the Resurrection of the body and say that there was no state of life after this Christ disproveth both by a Notable Argument I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not the God of the dead but of the living for they all live to him The words were spoken by Moses after their deceasing not I was but I am the God of Abraham God said after their decease that he was still their God And therefore those that are departed out of the World live another life The Souls of the just are already in the hands of God and their Bodys are sure to be raised up and united to them by the power of God 6. My next place shall be Luke 16.9 And I say unto you make to your selves friends of the unrighteous Mammon that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations What is that time of failing 'T is not meant of condemnation in the Judgment for there is no escaping or reversing that sentence therefore 't is meant of the hour of death then are we received into everlasting habitations and our Everlasting habitation is Heaven 7. And lastly from Luke 16.22 And it came to pass that the Beggar dyed and was carryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosom By the â—osom of Abraham is meant Heaven and Hell is opposed to it and 't is explained he is comforted but thou art tormented Lying in the Bosom is a Feast Gesture as Mat. 8.11 A greater expression of love for the most Beloved disciple lay in the bosom of the Principal person at the feast and Mat. 13.43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father Basil telleth us of the forty Martyrs exposed naked in a cold frosty night and to be burnt next day that they comforted one another with this consideration Cold is the night but the Bosom of Abraham is warm and comfortable 't is but a nights enduring and we shall feel no more cold but be happy for evermore Well then here is proof such as is fit in the case in things future we are doubtful and of the state of the Soul we are in a great measure ignorant Therefore God hath discovered these things to us in his word 1. Use. Well then here is great comfort for those that are now hard at work for God the time of your refreshing and ease is at hand 2. To support us against the Terrours of death In Martyrdom if you are slain the sword is but a key to open the door that you may presently be with Christ if strangled the Animal life is put out that the Heavenly may begin if burnt 't is going to Heaven in a Fiery Chariot In the general death cannot separate us from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8 38 39. Though we dye the Soul is capable of loving God and being beloved by him 3. To support us under the pains of sickness 'T is but enduring pain a little longer and in a moment in the twinckling of an eye you shall be with God Angels will bring you to Christ and Christ present you to God and then you shall enjoy an Eternal rest 4. Here is comfort to the dying Commend your Souls to God as Stephen Acts 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my spirit There is a Redeemer ready to receive you heaven will be your residence and God will be your happiness and portion for ever 3. Doct. This presence with the Lord is earnestly desired and chosen by the saints as far more pleasing to them than remaining in the Body 1. The thing its self is true that presence with the Lord is infinitely much better than remaining in the Body and will abundantly recompense the absence from it Gods gracious presence is better than life bodily Psa. 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than life 'T is that which giveth a value to life its self without which it were little worth Alas what should we do with humane nature or a rational Soul if it were not capable of loving knowing and injoying God what Imploy it only to cater for the Body that is to act but as an higher and wiser sort of beast Life is no life without God then we do live when we live to him injoy him and his love Now if his gracious presence is more worth than life what then is his glorious presence Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain A Christian loseth nothing by death but he gaineth abundantly more by his being present with Christ. And the 23th verse I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better There is no proportion between the choicest Contentments which we attain unto here even those which are Spiritual and that Blessed estate which the Saints injoy hereafter Now there being such a disproportion in the things themselves there should be in our desires and our choice for we are to Judge and be affected according to the nature or worth of things otherwise we act not only irrationally
Christ hath suffered those punishments which are due to us That which is equivalent to what we should have suffered He hath suffered all kinds of punishment In his body 1. Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own Body on the Tree that we being dead to sins should live unto Righteouâ—â—â—â—â— whose stripes ye were healed In his Soul in his agonies His Soul was heavy to 〈◊〉 Matth. 26.38 As a little before the shower falls there is a gloominess and blackness so in Christs spirit he suffered privative evils or poena damni in his desertion positive evils or poena sensus when he sent forth tears and strong cryes unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.7 8. He hath suffered from all by whom evil could be inflicted Men Jews and Gentiles strangers and his own disciples The powers of darkness who were the Authors of all those evils which Christ suffered from their Instruments Luke 22.53 He suffered from God himself the full cup of whose wrath he drunk off Such a broad foundation hath God laid for our peace He suffered in every part sorrows being poured in upon him by the conduit of every sense hunger thirst nakedness spittings stripes they pierced his hands and feet 2. Propound it to your Love 1. How much we are bound to acknowledge the unspeakable mercy of God who knowing our sad condition pitied us and resolved to save us and to reconcile us to himself by such a Priest and Sacrifice as was convenient for us But we unworthy wretches being ignorant and sensless of our sin guilt and misery do not understand what need we have of Christ nor praise God for his great love in providing him for us Our condition was sinful and so miserable We are guilty polluted with sin and liable to death can have no access to God nor Eternal Life And which is worst of all are sensless of this sad condition and if we once know it we are hopeless helpless and so should have perished utterly if the Lord had not found out a Remedy and a Ransom for us Rom. 8.32 2. How miserable would it have been if every man should bear his own burden how light soever any sins seem when they are committed yet they will not be found light when they come to reckon with God for them Sin to a waking Conscience is one of the heaviest burdens that ever was felt If God had laid sins upon us as he laid them all upon Christ they would have sunk us all to hell The little finger of sin is heavier than the loins of any other sorrow if God give but a touch of it Psal. 39.11 When thou with Rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth The Rod if it be dipt in guilt smarts sorely If a spark of his wrath light into your Consciences what a combustion doth it make there Psal. 38.4 My iniquities are gone over my head they are a burden too heavy for me Assoon as we do but taft of this Cup we cry out presently my heart faileth You may know what it is Partly by what Christ felt He lost his wonted comforts he was put into strange agonies and a bloody sweat Now if this be done in the Green Tree what shall be done in the dry If his Soul were exceeding sad how soon shall we be dismayed Partly In the Saints when they feel the weight of Gods little Finger all life and power is gone if God set home but one sin upon the conscience Psa. 40.12 Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me therefore my heart faileth Job saith The arrows of the Lord like porson did drink up his Spirits Job 6.4 Partly by your own experience When the conscience of sin is a little revived in you what horrours and disquiets do you feel in your selves Prov. 18.14 The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded Spirit who can â—ear Then thousands of Rams and Rivers of Oil any thing for the sin of the Soul Partly By the state of the Reprobate in the World to come and what the threatnings of the word say concerning those who dye in their sins Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God And Mark 9.44 Where their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched This is the portion of them that bear their own burden and their own transgression 3. The happiness which redoundeth to us by Christs bearing it for us It is not a thing inconsiderable or a matter of lesser moment to be made the Righteousness of God in him Our whole welfare and happiness dependeth upon it our freedom from the curse our Title to Glory 1. Freedom from the curse For this is such a Righteousness as giveth us exemption from the penalty threatned in the Law We have the comfort of it for the present a freedom from the sentence of condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus c. So that we may go chearfully about our Service But much more shall we have the comfort of it when the great God of recompenses cometh to execute the Threatning In the general Judgment there is no appearing before God in that great day with safety and comfort without some Righteousness of one sort or another our own or our Sureties Now no Righteousness of ours can secure us from the dint of Gods anger and the just stroaks ' of the Law-covenant Blessed they that are found in Christ not having their own Righteouness 2dly Our title to glory As it qualifieth us for the reward There is no getting the Blessing but in the garments of our elder Brother We have holiness given us upon the account of this Righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 We are sanctified made personally holy and Righteous We have faith given us by virtue of this Righteousness 2 Pet. 1.1 All progress in grace is given us by virtue of the everlasting covenant Heb. 13.20 21. And at length glory Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 3dly Let us prize it and desire it Phil. 3.8 9. Every man is prone to set up a Righteousness of his own Luke 18.9 Partly Because naturally the Law is written upon our hearts And therefore Moral strains are more welcom then Evangelical Doctrine Every manis born under a covenant of works Partly out of Pride Every man would be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all for personal Merit A Russet Coat of our own is valued more then a silken one that is borrowed Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God But
He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their Hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against a Stone Thou learnest this Doctrine from the Devil thou mayst do what thou wilt thou art sure to be saved 2. It is against the Nature of Assurance he that hath tasted God's Love in God's way cannot reason so He that hath a good Father that will not see him perish shall he waste and embezel his Estate he cares not how A wicked Child may presume thus of his Father tho it be very disingenuous because of his natural Interest and Relation to his Father the Kindness which he expecteth is not built on moral Choice but Nature But a Child of God cannot because he cannot grow up to this Certainty but in the Exercise of Grace this Certainty is begotten and nourished by Godly Exercises And the thing it self implieth a contradiction this were to fall away because we cannot fall away you may as soon say that the Fire should make a Man frieze with Cold as that certainty of Perseverance in Grace should make a Man do Actions contrary to Grace 7. Again We do not say a Believer is so sure of his Conservation in a state of Grace as that he needeth not be wary and jealous of himself 1. Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall There is a fear of Caution that is warrantable There is a difference between the weakning of the Security of the Flesh and of our Confidence in Christ. None more apt to suspect themselves than they that are most sure in God lest by improvidence and unwatchfulness they should yield to Corruption Christ had prayed that Peter 's Faith might not fail yet together with the other Apostles he biddeth him watch Luke 22.40 and 46. The Fear of God is a preserving Grace and taken into the Covenant Jer. 32.40 I will never depart from them to do them good and I will put my Fear into their Hearts and they shall not depart from me God's Love will not let him depart from us and Fear will not let us depart from God This is a Fear that will stand with Faith and Certainty it is a Fruit of the same Spirit and doth not hinder Assurance but guard it This is a Fear that maketh us watchful against all Occasions to Sin and Spiritual Distempers that we may not give offence to God as an ingenious Man that hath a Inheritance passed over to him by his Friend in Court is careful not to offend him There is a cautelous and distrustful Fear 8. Again This certainty of our standing in Grace doth not exclude Prayer Luke 22.46 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Perseverance is God's Gift and it must be sought out in God's way by Christ's Intercession to preserve the Majesty of God and by our Prayer that we constantly profess our dependance upon God and renew our acquaintance with him Besides by asking Blessings in Prayer we are the more warned of our Duty it is a means to keep us Gracious and Holy As those that speak often to Kings had need be decently clad and go neat in their Apparel So he that speaketh often to God is bound to be more Holy that he may be acceptable to him 9. Once more and I have done with the state of the Question It is not a discontinued but a constant Perseverance that we plead for not as if a Child of God could be quite driven out of the state of Grace tho he be saved at length he cannot fall totus à toto in totum from all Grace and Godliness in the whole Man with full consent he may sin but not fall totally no more than finally There is something remaineth a Seed 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him An Unction 1 John 2.27 But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you There is a Root in a dry Ground that will bud and scent again Well then this we hold that true Grace shall never utterly be lost tho it be much weakned but by the use of Means shall constantly be preserved to Eternal Life Secondly Having stated the Point let me now confirm it The Grounds of Perseverance are these 1. On the Father's part there is an Everlasting Love and Alsufficient Power His Everlasting Love God doth not love for a fit but for ever Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting upon them that fear him before the World was and when the World is no more There can be no change in God's Counsels because they are accompanied with infinite Wisdom and Power God never repented in Time of what he purposed to do before Time Rom. 11.29 The Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance By Gifts are meant Gifts proper to the Elect Remission of Sins Grace and Glory And by Calling is meant Effectual Calling such as is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his Purpose Rom. 8.28 God never repented of it he is never ashamed of nor sorry for his Choice tho Men be unworthy it is the Reason why he brought them under the Grace of the Covenant His Alsufficient Power and Almightiness is engaged in the preservation of Grace John 10.29 My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hands As long as God hath Power we are safe and this Power is engaged by his Love and Will 2. Then on Christ's Part there is his Everlasting Merit and constant Intercession 1. For his Merit Heb. 9.12 By his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Legal Expiations did but last from Year to Year but Christ's is for ever and ever The Levitical Priest once every Year entred into the Holy Place but Christ is once gotten into Heaven his Redemption is Eternal not only as it is of use for all Ages of the Church but in respect of every particular Saint those who are once redeemed by Christ they are eternally redeemed not for a time to fall away again but to be saved for ever So Heb. 10.14 By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified He hath not only purchased a possibility of Salvation but hath perfected them hath made Purchase of all that we need to our full Perfection it is not for a certain time as if afterwards they could be taken out of his Hands and so perish but for ever and this for all those that are sanctified separated by God's Purpose and Decree and afterwards renewed and sanctified in time set apart to be Vessels of Honour to God 2. Then for his constant Intercession a Copy of which we have in this Place It is said Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him seeing he liveth
for ever to make intercession for us He is interceding with God that the Merit of his Death may be applied to us and that is Salvation to the uttermost The Heirs of Salvation need not to fear miscarrying Jesus Christ who is the Testator who by Will and Testament made over the Heritage to them he liveth for ever to see his own Will executed tho he died once to make the Testament yet he liveth for ever to see it made good Christ is risen from the Dead and dieth no more and therefore a Believer cannot miscarry 3. On the Spirit 's part there is a continued Influence so as to maintain the Essence and Seed of Grace The Father's Love is continued by the Merit of Christ that he will not depart from us and we are preserved by the Spirit of Christ that we may not depart from him He doth not only put into our Hearts Faith and Fear and other Graces at first but he maintaineth and keepeth them that the Fire may never go out Our Hearts are his Temples and he will not leave his Dwelling-place There is a continued Influence Now this he doth to preserve the Honour of Christ and the Comfort of Believers he glorifieth Christ and is our Comforter It is to preserve the Glory of Christ. Christ hath received a Charge from the Father John 6.39 This is the Father's Will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last Day nothing neither Body nor Soul In point of Honour and that he may be true to his Trust he sendeth his Spirit as his Deputy or Executor that his Merit may be fully applied therefore for the honour of Christ where-ever the Work is begun it is continued Christ is called Heb. 12.2 the Author and Finisher of our Faith Where-ever the Spirit is an Author he is also a Finisher when the good Work is begun he will also perfect it and continue his Grace to the end It was said of the foolish Builder He began and was not able to make an end This Dishonour cannot be cast upon Christ because of the Power and Faithfulness of the Spirit he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go through with the Work which he hath begun Phil 1.6 Being confident of this that he that hath begun a good Work in you will perform it unto the day of Christ. The Spirit is to fit Vessels for Glory he doth not use to leave them half carved but finish them for the honour of Christ. The Spirit is faithful to Christ as Christ is to the Father The Father chuseth the Vessels Christ buyeth them and the Spirit carveth and fitteth them that they may be Vessels of Praise and Honour He is our Comforter working Grace he puts us into an expectation of Comfort and Glory and therefore to make it good he carrieth on the Work without failing Rom. 8.23 And not only they but our selves also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our Body 2. Cor. 1.22 Who hath sealed us and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts We have the Taste and the Pledge of it it is good it is sure The first degree of Grace is conferred as a Pledg of eternal Life he giveth it as an Earnest or Pledg assuring us of a more perfect Enjoyment of him It is a Pledg of the whole Crop as an Earnest hereby God assureth us that he will pay the whole Sum. An Earnest is a Pledg whereby we confirm a Bargain it is a Piece of Money whereby we are assured he will pay the whole Grace it is the Livery and Seisin of Glory as soon as a real Change is wrought in us we have a Right that is indefeasible it is engaged by Promise Therefore that the Spirit may be faithful when he hath given us the First-fruits the Earnest shall he not give us the Inheritance Vse 1. It exhorteth us to persevere with the more care John 2.26 27 28. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you But the Anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no Lie and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear ye may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming Since we have so many Advantages of standing let us not fall from him O how great will your Sin be if you should fall and dishonour God! We pity a Child that falleth when it is not looked after but when a froward Child wresteth and forceth it self out of the Arms of the Nurse we are angry with it You have more ground to stand than others being brought into an unchangeable Estate of Grace being held in the Arms of Christ so that God will be very angry with your Slips and Fallings Mercy holdeth you fast and you seek to wrest your selves out of Mercies Arms. Never any can sin as you do there is much frowardness in your Sins You disparage the Spirit 's Custody the Merit of Christ and the Mercy of the Father Heb. 4.1 Let us therefore fear lest a Promise being left us of entring into his Rest any of you should seem to come short of it Some seem to stand and do not and some seem to fall utterly and do not A Child of God indeed cannot come short but he should not seem nor give any appearance of coming short Our Course in Religion is often interrupted tho it be not broken off this is a seeming to come short of it Hereby you bring a Scandal upon the Love of Christ as if it were changeable upon the Merit of Christ as if it were not a perfect Merit Tho we do not fall so as to break our Necks yet we may fall so as to break our Bones Vse 2. If you fall be not utterly discouraged As the Spinster leaveth a Lock of Wooll to draw on the next Thread There is somewhat left when you are departed from God you have more hold-fast in him than an unregenerate Sinner A Child tho a Prodigal will go to him and say Father Psal. 119.176 I have gone astray like a lost Sheep seek thy Servant for I do not forget thy Commandments Through natural Weakness I have gone astray like a Sheep but I seek thy Commandments there is some Grace left yet Isa. 64.8 But now O Lord thou art our Father we are the Clay and thou art Potter we are all the Work of thine Hand The Church pleadeth thus nay God is angry when we do not plead so Jer. 3.4 Wilt thou not from this time cry My Father thou art the Guide of my Youth You have an Interest in God yet Thus do and your Fall
far from the Kingdom of God they approve things that are good but they have no mind to take hazard and lot with Christ. 5. If there should be a Profession there is no Power The Net draws bad Fish as well as good There are mixtures in the Church Many revere Godliness but were never acquainted with the Virtue and Power of it Many have an excellent Model of Truth and make a Profession as plausible and glorious in the World as possibly you can desire yet they never knew the Virtue of this Religion it never entred into their Heart 1 Cor. 4.20 For the Kingdom of God is not in Word stands not in plausible Pretences but in Power 1 Thess. 1.5 For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power You know the State of Men were represented by Christ in the Parable of the two Sons Mat. 21.28 29 30. A certain Man had two Sons and he came to the first and said Son go to work to day in my Vineyard He answered and said I will not but afterwards he repented and went And he went to the second and said likewise And he answered and said I go Sir and went not Oh there be many that say I will go that pretend fair that are convinced so far as to make a Profession yet never bring their Hearts seriously to addict themselves to God to walk in his Ways and keep his Charge there is no real change of Heart no serious bent of Soul towards God 6. If there be some real Motions as there may be in temporary Believers for we must not think all is Hypocritical yet it is not intire Mark 6.20 Herod did many things and heard John Baptist gladly His Heart and his Profession went a great way together till he was to part with his Bosom-Lust John was safe till he touched upon his Herodias then Conviction grows furious and he turneth into a Devil Therefore take heed of meer Conviction Vse 4. To press the Children of God to express such Fruits of their Union with Christ that they may convince the World Christ prays not only that the World may be convinced but that it might be by those that are real Members of his Mystical Body that they may have a Hand to further it What are the Fruits of the Mystical Union that you may convince the World 1. Love and mutual serviceableness to one another's Good When we live as Members of the same Body that have a mutual care for one another then we shall bring a mighty Honour and Credit to Religion and can with Power give Testimony to the Truths of Christ. Acts 2.44 And all that believed were together and had all things common When Christians were of One Mind and Heart they had all things common O it is a mighty convincing thing when all those that profess Godliness labour to carry on the same Truths and Practices Divisions breed Atheism in the World The Lord Jesus knew it and therefore he prays Let them be all one c. that the World may believe that thou hast sent me We never propagate the Faith so much as by this Union Divisions put a great stop to the progress of Truth When contrary Factions mutually condemn one another it is a wonder any are brought off from their vain Conversations The World is apt to think there is no such thing as Religion and one sort is no better than another they see the World cannot agree about it therefore they stay where they are 2. Holiness and Strictness of Life and Conversation there is a convincing Majesty in it natural Conscience doth homage to it where ever it findeth it Therefore live as those who are taken up into Fellowship with God through Christ. Herod feared John Baptist Why because he was a strict Preacher No but because he was a Just Man Mark 6.20 When you live thus holily and accomplish the Work of Faith with Power then the Lord Jesus is glorified in you 2 Thess. 1.11 12. 3. When you can contemn the Baits of the World and Allurements of Sense this is a mighty Argument to convince the World that you have higher and nobler Principles you are acted by and better Hopes you are called to Tho you have not divested and put off the Interests of Flesh and Blood for you are not Angels yet you can be faithful to God and Christ. The World admireth what kind of Temper Men are made of 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange that you run not with them into all excess of Riot They have the same Interests and Concernments and yet how mortified how weaned are they from those Things which others go a whoring after sure they have a felicity which the World knoweth not of they dread and admire this tho they hate you 4. A Chearfulness and Comfortableness in the midst of Troubles and deep Wants when you can live above your Condition take joyfully the spoiling of your Goods Heb. 10.34 and bear Losses with an equal mind for you are not much troubled with these Things then you live as those that are called to a higher Happiness 5. To be more faithful in the Duties of your Relations The Fruits of the Mystical Union run to every part of the Spiritual Life None commend their Religion so much as those that make Conscience of the Duties of their Relations that they may carry themselves as becomes Christians Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants So poor Servants make the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ comely Tit. 2.10 That ye may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things And the Apostle saith Men that do not obey the Word may without the Word be won by the Conversation of their Wives 1 Pet. 3.1 Worldly Men have been much gained by the Lives of Religious Persons Thus you propagate the Truth by carrying your selves usefully in your Relations This hath been ever the Glory of Religion as it was in the Primitive Times Austin makes this Challenge Vbi tales Imperatores c. Let all the Religions in the World shew such Emperors such Captains such Armies such Managers of Publick Treasury as the Christian Religion The World was convinced there was something Divine in them O! it is pity the Glory of Religion should fall to the ground in our days and that the quite contrary should be said none such careless Parents as those that seem to be touched with a sense of Religion None so disobedient to Magistrates none such disobedient Children to Parents as those that seem to be called to Liberty with Christ Therefore if you would honour Christ and propagate the Truth keep up this Testimony and convince the World 6. A Constancy in the Profession of Faith You should live as if Christ and you had one common Interest Sure they believe Christ was sent from God and able to reward them else why should they sacrifice all their Interests for his sake It is said Rev. 12.11 The
Saints overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death Religion had never thrived and spread its Branches far and near had it not been watered by the Blood of the Martyrs Christ began and watered the Plant by his own Blood and then the Martyrs kept watering it till it began to be rooted and had got some esteem in the World and now it spreads its Boughs and yields a shadow and refreshing to the far greatest part of the World When Men take up Principles that will not warrant Suffering or are changeable and pliable to all Interests and wriggle and distinguish themselves out of their Duty upon all Occasions it doth mightily dishonour Christ and make Religion vile and harden the World and feed their Prejudices against the Truth What is the Reason the Ways of God have so little honour in the Eyes of the World so little Power upon the Hearts of Men Professors are so fickle and changeable this maketh them suspect all and so return to their old Superstitions and Vanities Now that you may do so I shall bind it upon you by some further Considerations 1. Consider you are God's Witnesses to keep up Truth in the World to bring them on to Conversion or at least to some temporary Faith Isa. 43.10 Ye are my Witnesses saith the Lord that I am He. God appealeth to those that have most Communion with him for the truth and reality of his Grace If a Man would be satisfied in a Thing that he knoweth not to whom should he go for Satisfaction but to those that have most Experience Well if the World would be satisfied Is Union with Christ a Notion or a real thing Ye are my Witnesses 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ. In an Epistle a Man writes his Mind The Scriptures they are Christ's Epistle and so are Christians The World that will not study the Scriptures are to be convinced and preparatively induced by your Lives Every Christian is to be a walking Bible It is a dangerous Temptation to Atheism when Christians that pretend themselves near and dear to God are scandalous and let loose the Reins to every corrupt Affection He that took a Christian in an Act of Filthiness cried out Christiane ubi Deus tuus In the Scripture there is Christ's Mind in words in a Christian there is Christ's Mind written in Deeds in his Conversation You are to be a living Reproof As Noah condemned the World by preparing an Ark Heb. 11.7 There was something in it when he was so busy in preparing an Ark with so great Cost and Charge it was a real upbraiding of their security and carelessness So when Men are so diligent and busy in working out their Salvation with fear and trembling it is a real Reproof to the carnal and lazy World 2. Consider if you do not convince the World you justify the World as Israel justified Sodom Ezek. 16.52 The Wicked hold up their Ways with greater pretence and are hardned in their Prejudices You put an Excuse into Wicked Mens Mouths What a sad thing will it be when they shall say Lord we never thought they had been thy Servants they were so wrathful proud sensual self-seeking factious turbulent hunting after Honours and great Places in the World Rom. 2.23 24. Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking of the Law dishonourest thou God For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you Carnal Professors will blush at the last day when they shall consider how many they have hardened by their Examples unsetled by their loose walking how you have disgraced Christ and taken up his Name for a dishonour to him It is this that makes the Chams of the World to laugh you cannot gratify them more 3. Consider the great Good that cometh by it For the present you stop the Mouth of Iniquity Tit. 2.8 That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil Thing to say of you It is the Duty of Christians not only to approve themselves to God but as far as they can to Wicked Men to take off all advantage from the World to confute their Slanders to muzzle the Mouths of Carnal Men that they may have no occasion to speak against the Ways of God and the Professors of Christianity Carnal Christians open prophane Mouths their Slanders shall be put upon your Score who give them too much matter and occasion to speak Do not say they are Dogs what care I if they bark The Awe that is upon Wicked Men is one Means of the Church's Preservation therefore you must justify Wisdom Mat. 11.19 But Wisdom is justified of her Children Justification is a relative Word it implieth Condemnation the World condemns the Ways of God and People of God of Fancy Fury Faction now you must justify them at least you will leave them without excuse and furnish Matter for the Triumphs of God's Justice at the last Day and so will have further cause to applaud the Counsels of God when you sit on the Bench at the last day For as in the last Day you shall together with Christ judg the World by your Vote and Suffrage 1 Cor. 6.2 Know ye not that the Saints shall judg the World So now you must convince them by your Conversations It is a sad thing Men walk so as it cannot be said Where is the Malefactor and where is the Judg You should condemn them as by the difference of your Lives so by the Heavenliness of your Hearts SERMON XXXVIII JOHN XVII 22 And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one CHRIST had prayed for the Union of Believers in one Mystical Body here is an Argument to inforce that Request The Glory which thou hast given me I have given them c. His Act is urged as a Reason because of that Consent of Will that is between Him and the Father Christ would have his Gift ratified by the Father's Consent as if he had said Deny not what I have granted them For the meaning of the Words all the difficulty is what is meant by the Glory here spoken of Some say by Glory is meant the Power of working Miracles that is called the Glory of God John 11.40 Said I not If thou wouldest believe thou shalt see the Glory of God that is a Glorious Miracle wrought by him When Christ wrought a Miracle John 2.11 He manifested forth his Glory And so they limit it to the Apostles who had Gifts of Miracles and were fitted to succeed Christ upon Earth Thus many of the Ancients By the Glory of God is sometimes meant the Image of God Rom. 3.23 All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God So 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the