of the World then the power of Christ is spread as a Tent over us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 12.9 Christ the Captain of our Salvation can be present with and mighty in all his Soldiers and ride in triumph through the World on poor Worms He that hath wounded the Head of the Old Serpent and broke the strength of Satan is able to foil all his scatter'd Forces that yet remain Rev. 6.2 He rideth forth Conquering and to Conquer and turneth the Battel even to the Gates of Hell Isa 28.6 Christ the true David doth succour his People out of the Heavenly City 2 Sam. 18.3 and send to his Fighting Soldiers the Supplies of his Spirit Phil. 1.19 8thly Christ is alive and lives for evermore Rev. 1.18 And Christ doth not live idly but to make intercession for all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He lives to execute his Testament sprinkle his Blood and apply his Redemption Paul reasoneth thus Rom. 5.10 If we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more shall we be saved by his Life Christ hath gone through with the most hard difficult and painful part of his work he gave his Life a Ransom he poured out his Soul unto the Death and will he neglect or omit the easiest part of his work He may live and save us he needs not to bleed again to go forth into any more Storms or to be set up as a Mark of God he may sit in his Throne he may wear his glittering Crown and reign in his Glory and do al the rest that is requisite to accomplish and compleat our Salvation Because Christ liveth his People shall live also John 14.19 Christ liveth and therefore his Interest shall not die in the World Our Redeemer liveth to quicken our Spirits Job 19.25 26. Now by his Spirit to receive our departing Souls and to revive our dead Bodies Christ is alive to woo his Spouse Cant. 8.8 and marry her Romans 7.4 to assault and subdue his Enemies Isa 42.13 14. Rev. 6.2 I shall come now to the use of the Doctrine Vse 1. Shall Men be most eminently saved in Christ's Days then we may be inform'd of the wonderful Mercy of God of the admirable Grace of Christ that we have such days of the Messiah The days due to Sinners are days of Punishment days of Vengeance Luke 21.22 A day of Evil a day of Destruction is properly called a Sinners day Psal 37.13 The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming Ezek. 21.25 And thou Prophane Prince of Israel whose day is come when Iniquity shall have an end By these Passages of Scripture we may see what days Sinners deserve and what days they might have looked for If God had dealt with the World according to the rigour of his Justice the Threatnings and Curse of his Law there would have been no other days but the days of the first Adam In his days Sin reigns unto Death and Death reigns Rom. 5.14.21 How terrible would it have been if there had been no other days but days for Sin and Death to Reign in It is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have an Accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Otherwise Men would do nothing else but sow the Seeds of Woe here and reap a full Harvest of Misery hereafter They would sin in this World and suffer in the World to come they would walk contrary to God in time and God would walk contrary to them to Eternity Vse 2. If Sinners are saved most eminently in Christ's Days O then examine your selves whether Christ's Salvation be applied to you whether God doth cloth you with the Garments of Salvation Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord that hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation Have you obtained the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.10 Try your selves by proposing to your own Souls these following Questions 1. Were your Eyes ever opened liberty of sight makes way for liberty of Soul the opening of Mens Eyes is the first step that Christ takes towards their Salvation Isa 42.7 He is appointed to open the Blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house As those Jews that were born in Babylon if they were not better inform'd would account Chaldea to be the Native Country of their Fathers and that they had always dwelt there and so be contented to stay in the Land of their Captivity They therefore needed to have their Eyes opened that they might know that Chaldea and the other Countries under the Babylonish Empire were the Land of their Captivity That God in wrath had slung them out into this strange Country Jer. 10.16 That their sins had driven them hither and scattered them among their Enemies Even so Sinners need to have their Eyes opened that they may know whose they are and where they are Men do not acknowledge and consider that they are under the Law of Sin the power of Satan and the wrath of God Sinners do not know themselves to be Condemned Men and Women shut up under a Sentence of Death and reserved to the Day of Wrath and Execution Job 21.30 Men are as careless and unconcerned as if they had not degenerated and fallen from God as if their Natures were not corrupted and depraved as if Mankind never knew a better state but were always as vitious loose and wicked as now they are Could Sinners be so quiet yea be so merry and jovial as they are if they knew they were God's Prisoners and that the Day of Judgment and Vengeance was at hand Consider therefore how it is with you did God ever open your Eyes and let in Light into your dark Prison Did you ever feel the Chains of Guilt that are about you the burden of Iniquity that is upon you Have you ever applied the Threatnings and Curse of the Law to your own Souls and so have in the bitterness of your Souls cried out that you are undone None are fit to be Christ's Patients but such as are broken in Heart or are capable of Christ's Comforts if they be not first Mourners in Zion Isa 61.1.2 The Prodigal came to himself and was sensible of his Misery before he took a Resolution that he would arise and come to his Father Luke 25.17.18 Did you ever see your worst and most dangerous Enemies to be within you Have you been made sensible of your vain Minds hard and whorish Hearts and carnal Affections 2. Were you ever effectually called 2 Tim. 1.9 He hath saved and called as with an holy Calling Hath God called you so as to save you from your unbelief and impenitency Hath God spoken to you with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Hath he laid the hand of his Power on your Hearts The Angels spake to Lot with a strong hand they did not only exhort him to hasten
44.22 Sin did reign so as to bring us under the guilt of Eternal Death But how comfortable is it that Reigning Grace should succeed Reigning Sin Revenging Justice might next follow after Reigning Sin but it is Grace that now reigns through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life Rom. 5.21 Our Iniquities were as deep Waters gone over our heads there was no wading through them they were a heavy burden too heavy for us to bear Psal 38.4 they were ready to sink us down into the deep Sea of the wrath of God but in this Righteousness of Jehovah we may be lifted up and exalted Psal 59.16 As Jesus Christ once gave himself a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God Ephes 5.2 to God the Father continually gives Christ most precious and fragrant Incense on the account of his Obedience and Sufferings always to plead before the Father Revel 8.3 much Incense is said there to be given him to offer with the Prayers of all Saints Christ's Obedience and Sacrifice makes an everlasting Perfume in the Heavenly Sanctuary It is said of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They earnestly catched at they greedily laid hold of they strongly grasped the Righteousness that is by Faith This is the only Cord cast out to us sinking and drowning Sinners which we should catch hold of to keep us from perishing for ever 6. This Name of Christ shall continue last be victorious in the World over all the Reproaches Slanders and Defamations cast on Christ the blind Malignant World called Christ a Glutton a Wine Bibber a Friend of Publicans and Sinners Matth. 11.19 they charged him as a Blasphemer John 10.33 36. because he said he was the Son of God and so made himself equal with God John 10.33 they stiled him a deceiver Math. 27.63 The Jews did black Christ all that they could they raised Mists yea thick Clouds to obscure and hide his Glory yet all this should not prevail this Illustrious Name of Christ should wade out of all these Ecclipses and scatter all these Clouds Notwithstanding all the endeavours of the World to obstruct his Honour and cloath him with shame yet he should by Multitudes in all Ages be owned acknowledged and called Jehovah our Righteousness 6. This Evidences that the Mighty Power of God did go along with the Gospel of Christ that though the Jews at this day do stile him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Hanged Man and the Gentiles as Blasphemous Porphyry did call him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Crucified Sophister yet all these Reproaches should be wiped off and this glorious Name of Christ should shine out through all these thick Clouds of Infamy he should be known and called The Lord our Righteousness I shall observe and insist on this Doctrine foom these latter words of the Text. Doctrine That Jesus Christ is and shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness The Prophet in the Name of the Lord promises That the Lord would raise up to David a Righteous Branch one that should be most Holy and Just in his Humane Nature and that this Righteous Branch the Messiah sprung from David according to the Flesh should be called Jehovah our Righteousness this intimates he should be Man and Jehovah too in one Person and as such he should be owned and acknowledged Four things are to be spoken to for the prosecution of this Doctrine First What Righteousness of Jehovah the Son is here meant and understood Secondly To Evidence and Demonstrate that Jesus Christ God-Man is our Righteousness yea our only Righteousness for Justification Thirdly How this Righteousness of Christ is made ours Fourthly Who they are that shall call Christ by this Name The Lord our Righteousness 1. What Righteousness of Jehovah is here meant To this I shall Answer First Negatively Secondly Affirmatively First I Answer Negatively It is not the Essential Eternal Righteousness of the Son of God as Osiander the Lutheran affirmed but this cannot be For 1. This Righteousness is incommunicable it is proper to the Divine Nature and cannot pass or be derived to a creature To say that this Righteousness is given to Believers is to deifie them rather than to justifie them that is most certain that in this sence God will not give his Glory to another Isa 42.8 2. This Righteousness is an Adversary contrary to us at Hostility with us God according to it hates the Wicked and abhors the Workers of Iniquity Psal 5.4 5. He is a swift Witness against them Mal. 3.5 A Terrible Judge to them and a Consuming Fire in the execution of his Vengeance on them Deut. 4.24 As God is Holy he lothes unclean Souls and as he is Just he hates guilty Creatures If another Righteousness had not been found out God would rise up against them as an Enemy and break out on them for their everlasting destruction Secondly I Answer Affirmatively This Righteousness of Jehovah is not a Righteousness possessed by the Son from Eternity but acquired in time It is not the Righteousness that was his Patrimony as a Son but his Purchase as a Servant by the sweat of his Brows by the travel of his Soul by the effusion of his Blood by the expense of his Life This was wrought by the Son of God Incarnate by the Mediator in the form of a Servant as Joshua the Type of Christ is called the Minister or Servant of Moses Exod. 24.13 Exod. 33.11 So Jesus Christ was made under the Law Galat. 4.4 It is said Isai 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many This is very observable God himself asserts That by his knowledge his righteous servant should justifie many and that by virtue of his service in bearing the Iniquities of his People Jesus Christ did exactly perform what as a Servant he had undertaken and so he was Righteous Here we may observe a wonderful Mystery that Jehovah is said to be our Righteousness yet God's righteous Servant also is said to justifie These two things sweetly conspire in our Justification God's servant did perform Obedience and suffer on the Cross He that took our Nature and was a Servant in it was only capable of doing and dying for us As Man he must be subject and suffer but yet as he is also Jehovah he gives an infinite Price and vallue to his Obedience and Sufferings The same Person was God-Man as Man he served and performed the Obedience by which we are justified Rom. 5.19 but as God he gives an infinite worth to his own Service So both Jehovah is our Righteousness and yet God's Righteous Servant doth also Justifie Christ's Righteousness consists in Two things First In his Obedience to the Commands of the Law Secondly In his Subjection to and enduring of the Curse of the Law Jesus Christ took debitum officii the debt of Duty as well as debitum poenae the dept of Punishment And suitably unto this object of our Faith is thus expressed 1. Our Faith is
no hurt but good for their Bonds were broken or consumed Dan. 3.23.25 And is it not as great a Miracle of Grace that Believers walk with God that is a consuming Fire Heb. 12. last and yet have no hurt but good God is for them Rom. 8.31 How low did Jesus Christ stoop that he might be the Lord our Righteousness He thus represents his own Sufferings Psal 22.14 I am poured out like water this seems to point at his Bloody Sweat on the ground All my bones are out of Joint This did intimate that Christ's Body was so stretched out and extended on the Cross that all his bones were put out of Joint He further complains that his Heart was melted as wax within him and this was by the sence he had of the Heat and Fire of Gods Wrath. The Manna which came down from Heaven was ground in a Mill or beaten in a Mortar and then baked in a pan to be Food for the Israelites Numb 11.8 So Jesus Christ was Bruised Isa 53.10 as Manna in the Mill or Mortar yea this Lamb of God was rosted in the Fire of his Father's Wrath Exod. 12.8 9. The Sacrifices of the Law were not only killed but burnt afterwards which was a kind of second death to them Levit. 1.13 yea there were whole burnt Offerings Psal 51.19 and this whole Burnt-Offering did signifie not only that Christ's Body was wounded but his Soul did suffer and was made an Offering for Sin Isa 53.10 The sense that Jesus had of his Fathers displeasure and forsaking of him was a kind of second death to Christ As Adam was a Criminal cast out of paradice so Christ was as a prisoner led out of the Garden to suffer Death He became a Servant that he might Justifie us Isa 53.11 O how would this affect our Souls that where we deserved all the Creatures should be withdrawn and should serve us no more as God threatens Hos 2.8 9 10. That when the Lord of Glory should take on him the form of a servant 2 Phil. 6.7 8. we deserved that the Flower and the Wine-press would feed us no more Hos 8.2 yet that then the Son of God should come down from Heaven to feed us with his Flesh and chear us with his Blood John 6.53 54 55.57 Flesh is weak and because of this Christ is said to be Crucified through weakness 2 Cor. 13.4 yet this Flesh of Christ is set forth by bread that strengthens Man's Heart Psal 104.15 Christ's Blood is figured by Wine in his last Supper Though the Blood of Christ was shed with unexpressible Anguish and Pain yet this is set forth by Wine that chears Man's Heart Psal 104.15 Our strength comes out of the weakness our comfort comes out of the Sorrow of Christ Christ was the true Rock smitten by the Rod of Moses the Curse of the Law As that Rock being smitten did cleave so Christ being smitten with the Curse his Soul and Body did part that water of Life might flow forth to us and that we might enter in and dwell safely in him Cant. 2.14 O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock We had vastly run in debt with God and that God should pay himself out of the Sufferings and Blood of his Son We had proudly exalted our selves against God and that Christ should debase himself so low to satisfie for our pride and that his Self-denial should make a Recompence to God for our Self-seeking We dishonoured God Reproached Blasphemed him as a poor portion as a hard Master as a Righteous Law-giver And how wonderful is that the Reproaches wherewith we Reproached God should fall on Christ Rom. 15.3 4. Though we are Justified so Freely yet so Righteously The Mercy-seat that covers the Curse of the Law is sprinkled with Christ's Blood Levit. 16.13 14. We are Justified through the Redemption that is in Christ Rom. 3.24 The prison is opened to them that were bound because the Life of Christ is given as a Ransom Matth. 20.28 Christ died as a Testator that we might not be executed as Criminals and Malefactors When Christ became a Testator he stript himself as it were of all good Peace Liberty and exposed himself to all Evil to Sufferings Pain Reproaches and Death it self and all this was to enrich us 2 Cor. 8.9 and that all good things might come to us in a Righteous way that all Blessings might Swim to us in the Blood of our Testator Christ would have had nothing to give to us if he had not bought off our Transgressions from us and purchased all good for us As Moses lifted up his Rod over it and the Red Sea was divided Exod. 14.16.21 So we may by Faith lift up the Cross of Christ over the deep Sea of the Wrath of God and it will divide and give us passage to the Heavenly Canaan Grace shall Reign through Christ's Righteousness to Eternal Life Rom. 5. last 5. What Praise doth this call for that God and Christ do so often call us and so earnestly invite us to come into this Righteousness of the Son of God Come to me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 Look unto me all the ends of the Earth and be saved Isa 45.22 Christ tells us that This is the Work of God that you Believe on him whom he hath sent John 6.29 This is the great Work that God requires and is best pleased with It is a pleasure to Christ to see his Seed and to behold the Travel of his Soul Isa 35.11 This satisfies Christ when he seeth Souls Feed on the Bread that he gives to wash in the Fountain he hath opened and to use Remedies he hath provided and to put on the garment of Righteousness he hath prepared He hungers after the Justification and Salvation of Men and he is satisfied when Sinners trust on him for Justification and look to him for Salvation That Christ doth thrust forth Labourers into his Harvest to reap perishing Sinners though they are under many fears difficulties dangers discouragments yet Christ thrusts them out into his Harvest Matth. 9. last And then doth charge his servants by their earnest importunity to compel guests to come in Luke 14.23 God's pleasure hath been fulfilled in Bruising of Christ and now it is God's pleasure that Men should listen to and obey his call and run to Christ O that it should be the pleasure of God to Bruise Christ and to Heal us to Condemn Christ and to Justifie us O that it should be the pleasure of the Lord to exercise Severity on Christ and extend Mercy to us Christ charges his Servants by their earnest importunity to compel Guests to come into his Feast Luke 14.23 Famishing Sinners do not feel their wants and they do not press into Christ's House but the Servants are commanded by urgent and continual Solicitations to compel them Christ would have his House filled with Guests and his Provisions
Captain of our Salvation is the mighty God Isa 9.6 no Enemy can stand before him or prevail against him no Disease is so strong or malignant but the great Physitian can cure it no Dross cleaves so close to us but he can separate it from us Christ is a refining Fire to his People and a consuming Fire to their Enemies As the first Adam corrupts and defiles inevitably so the second Adam can renew cleanse sanctify irresistibly And infallibly he can speak so as to cause the Deaf and Dead to hear Isa 29.18 John 5.25 He can woo so as to cause himself to be loved and chosen he can draw so as to make Sinners to run to him at first Isa 55.5 and to run after him ever after Cant. 1.4 The spirit of Christ is mighty in its Operations it acts as a spirit of Power it causeth Men to pass under Christ's Pastoral Rod and brings them under the Bond of the Covenant Ezek 20.37 It causeth Men to approach to God and dwell in his House Psal 65.4 It causeth Men to walk in God's ways and to keep his Statutes Ezek. 36.27 This word Cause is observable and emphatical and signifies the spirit's mighty and effectual way of working It doth not only propose Arguments and sollicite the Souls of the Elect in a moral way but renews the Will changes the Heart effectually inclines men to yield to and follow after God The event is not pendulous and uncertain and suspended on Man's free-will but Christ undertakes that his Sheep shall hear his Voice and he will bring them to his Fold John 10.16 4. Christ's Salvation is a full and comprehensive Salvation Luke 1.71 That we should be saved from the Hand of our Enemies and from all that hate us Sin the World and Death are our Enemies 1. Sin is our Enemy Our Lusts do Satan's work if he should stand still James 1.14 15. A Man is tempted and drawn away by his own Lust This is a Body of Death Rom. 7.24 it deforms our Souls as much as Death deforms our Bodies it makes them corrupt putrify and stink in the Nostrils of God it renders us as unactive for God as a dead Carcase is unserviceable to Man it defiles and enslaves our Souls lets us only do dead works Heb. 9.14 such works as are the fruits of spiritual death and the seeds of eternal death Where it prevails and reigneth it causeth us continually to go a whoring from God and to rise up in Rebellion against him it causeth us to lead a life of Vanity here and prepares us for a life of Misery hereafter 2. The World is an Enemy We need the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand to secure us from the danger of Prosperity and the Aamour of Righteousness on our Left Hand to guard us from the evil of Adversity 2 Cor. 6.7 Height of Prosperity and depth of Misery Rom. 8.39 are dangerous snares and may prove mortal Enemies to us if Grace doth not prevent The World's Musick is to draw and its Furnace is to drive us from God Satan takes his Bait and fetches his Weapons from some thing in the World How doth it blow up and inflame our Hearts fire and fuel our Lusts How many are made to forget God and to think they have no want and need of him in their Plenty and Abundance Psal 50.22 Job 1.14.15 Job 22.17 Jer. 3.31 3. Death is an Enemy to God's People 1 Cor. 15.26 it strikes them dumb and deprives them of the use of their Tongues in praising God which is their Glory Saints as well as others when they die go down into silence Psal 115.17 Isa 38.18 Death disables us from working for God in a body of Flesh it gives a Quietus est to one half of us and dischargeth it from the service of God The Temple in which the spirit dwelt is now pulled down and sinks into Dust and Ashes and Death that deprives us of so great and glorious an Inhabitant in our Bodies and takes us off from such noble service with our Tongues and Members must needs be our Enemy But Christ saves from these Enemies Sin shall not Reign Rom. 6.14 and in due time it shall cease to be sin and shall be utterly extirpated out of the People of God As Israel's Freedom was begun in the death of the First-born of the Egyptians and was compleated in the drowning of Pharaob and all his Host in the Red Sea so the liberty of Saints is begun in destroying the reign of beloved sins that are the first-born of the Old Man and shall be compleated by the total extirpation and destruction of all sin We are Baptized into the Death and Burial of Christ Rom. 6.3 and we must be made Partakers of the saving Benefit of both Sin shall not only die but also be buried A Dead Man hath lost his Command in the House yet his Carcase may remain in it but when he is to be buried his Corps is carried out and he ceaseth any longer to be in the House So sin shall not only cease to reign but also to be in the soul we shall be washed and free from every spot and wrinkle Ephes 5.25 26 27. 2. The World is foiled and overcome by Christ Joh. 16. last It could not divert or draw him from doing his Father's work and will and this conquered Enemy shall not have strength to captivate and destroy Believers they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb Rev. 12.1 Our victorious Saviour hath purchased conquering Strength and merited Victory for us in the midst of all snares and temptations We are more than Conquerors through the Lord Jesus that hath loved us Rom. 8.39 3. Christ will save his People from Death after this Enemy hath not only swallowed them up but digested them Christ hath abolished Death already in himself and will abolish it also in all his People Hos 13.14 he threatens Death that holds the Rod over and threatens the whole World he menaceth Death that he will be the plague of Death a mortal Disease to it He threatens the Grave that he will destroy it and in due time Triumphant Saints shall sing this Song O Death where is thy sting O Death what hast thou gotten by killing our Bodies they are alive again O Grave where is thy Victory what hast thou gotten by taking away all the shape of a Body and crumbling it into Dust 3ly This Body is now restor'd our Particles of Dust are gathered together and formed into a Body like the glorious Body of Christ 1 Cor. 15.55.57 Phil. 3.21 Christ will in Living Saints at the last day swallow up Mortality of Life 2 Cor. 5.4 and in dead Saints he will swallow up Death into Victory Isa 25.8 2dly There are those that hate Saints and so wicked Men and Satan do they hate them because they bare the Image and live the Life and uphold the interest of God but the wicked cannot kill the Souls of the Saints
brings forth evil things Jer. 6.7 Matth. 12.35 All Mens doings is to undo themselves 3. Sinners owe God glory to be raised out of their shame and misery Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 Men by transgressing rob God of his Authority and Honour and are bound to make Restitution to him and God as a Righteous Judge owes Punishment unto them God is a Debter to his Threatning and Justice to take Vengeance on Transgressors therefore it is said He will repay Fury to his Adversaries Isa 59.18 He will render Anger to his Enemies Isa 66.15 God will not always forbear Sinners or be in Debt to them The Wages of sin is Death Rom. 6. last and it becomes the Just Judge of the World to pay the Servants of Sin their Wages Impiety shall not be joined with Impunity God will distribute a Portion of Sorrows and divide an inheritance of Torments and Misery to Satan's Children Job 31.23 God will be glorified in their everlasting shame Ezek. 28.22 Dan. 12.2 4. Sinners are in God's Prison they are in Satan's share they are under the curse of the Law 1. They are in God's Prison There would be no need for Christ to Preach the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61.1 if Men were not in God's Prison there were no need to call them forth into Liberty Isa 49.9 if they were not in Bondage There is an outer Prison of God from which Men may be brought Isa 42.7 but there is an inner Prison a deep Dungeon from whence there is no Redemption Though Transgressors now think themselves to have liberty and walk at large yet God's Eye is still over them the Chains of Guilt bind their Consciences They are Condemned Men both by the Law for their Disobedience and by the Gospel for their Unbelief God's Hand hath fast hold of them their Iniquities are before God's Eyes to provoke him to abhor them they clamour loud in his Ears to pluck down his Vengeance on them their Crimes are both Alledgers and Witnesses against them they cannot fly or escape from God If they run to the ends of the Earth they go but to the sides of their Prison The Jews were in danger of Death in all the Provinces of Abasuerus his Empire by virtue of the Edict given forth against them yet it was possible for them to Travel out of Ahasuerus's Empire where his Law would not reach them But Sinners cannot get out of the Bounds of God's Empire the whole World is his Dominion Psal 103. last If Men stay in God's Prison they shall be certainly brought forth to be condemned and executed in the Day of Wrath Job 21.30 2. Sinners are in Satan's Snare 2 Tim. 2. last every sweet beloved reigning sin is the Snare of the infernal Fowler of this cruel Hunter Wo be to those that continue in this Snare There is a time when a Snare is taken up as the Expression is Amos 3.5 Satan will visit his Snares and take the Prey catched in them into Hell In this Den the roaring Lion will devour what he hath taken in his Snare 3. Sinners are under the Curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 We needed not Christ to Redeem us from the curse of the Law if we were not under it and the curse of the Law is the curse of the Law-giver This is dreadful for God's Anger to be so kindled for his Spirit to be so imbittered as to curse his own Creature God that wisheth evil to and designs evil against his Creatures is able to execute his own Curse his Curse is not a causeless but a righteous Curse It is the Curse of him that is Omniscient that knows what Mens Offences are and where the Offenders are It is the Curse of him that fills Heaven and Earth there is no flying from him It is the Curse of him that is wise in Heart and therefore can devise the most dreadful Evils and that is mighty in strength Job 1.4 and therefore can execute them God lives for ever to execute this Curse to pour wrath into and blow eternal Flames over the Soul The meaning and dreadful effects of this Curse is expounded by Christ Matth. 25.41 Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Men curse when they are weak and not able to punish us when David was weak and the Sons of Zerviah were too hard for him 1 Sam. 3.39 and so he could not punish Joah and Abishai for the Murder of Abner yet he curseth them 1 Sam. 3.28 29. But God that curseth not without a cause hath an Almighty Arm to execute his own Curse 5. There is a black dismal Storm that hangs over the Heads of Sinners in the Clouds of God's Threatnings Psal 11.6 On the Wicked the Lord will rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and an Horrible Tempest this shall be the Portion of their Cup. They that drink in Iniquity now Job 5.16 shall drink in Wrath at last Joh 21.20 Sinners shall not be able to fly from this Storm God will rain Snares to take hold of them and to hold them fast God's Ax is at the Root of Sinners Matth. 3.10 his Arrows are levell'd at their Hearts all the Sufferings they feel now are but the first-fruits of Wo earnest of a more grievous Vengeance Harbingers and Forerunners of an Everlasting Destruction It is terrible when the Sins of Men are yet with them Isa 59.12 when the Breach is open to let in a Deluge of Misery on them and the Sentence of Death stands in full force against them O should not this affect and affright the Souls of Sinners that God is ready to arrest them and tear them in pieces to set them up as his Mark to pierce their Hearts and cleave their Reins with his Arrows and to consume them with the Fire of his Anger Though Gods Judgments are now far above out of their sight Psal 10.5 yet the Wicked shall see their Destruction Job 21.20 6. Christ will come to execute the Vengeance that the Law denounces and that Christ threatens 2 Thes 1.8.9 He that came at first with Beams of Love will come a second time in Flames of Wrath to avenge the Quarrel of despised Grace and of abused Mercy Then Sinners shall feel the truth of God's Threatnings that there will be a Day of Vengenance Isa 63.5 a Day of Wrath Rom. 2.5 a Day of Destruction Job 21.30 Though Christ will appear for Salvation to those that look for him yet he will also be revealed to remember and punish those that forget God Psal 50.22 to burn Adulterous Souls and to destroy Obstinate and impenitent Rebels 7. You can have no true solid or lasting joy except you partake of this Salvation Psal 51.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation This Prayer of David is observable it was not his Palace his Crown or his Throne that would afford Joy when God's Heart did burn with wrath and his Face was clouded with Anger He
about their Eternal State Hope is an Anchor cast within the Vale as soon as they set out and begin their Voyage they may cast their Anchor into their Port and Haven and so have their Hearts established Heb. 6.19 2. Those that have hope of this Salvation are supported under Afflictions and Persecutions 2 Tim. 18.9 Partake thou of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who both saved us and called us As if Paul should say Murmure not at faint not under the Afflictions of the Gospel for God hath saved you from the greatest Enemies and from the worst Evils and all your Afflictions shall turn to your Salvation Phil. 1.19 They shall further advance promote it they shall refine Saints from their Dross wean them from their strange Land and cause them to long more after their Father's House and Heavenly Country Have they any Reason to be discontented whom God loves 1 John 4.59 and that are Heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and of the Kingdom James 2.5 3. These may die with comfort they have hope in Death Prov. 14.32 That which doth shipwrack others shall land them safe on the calm Shores of a Blessed Eternity that which impoverishes others shall enrich them Though Death doth pluck off the Rags of Mortality yet God shall cloath them with Robes of Glory When their Bodies drop down into the Pit their Souls shall be taken up into the Palace when their Flesh feeds Worms their Spirits shall feast with Saints and Angels though God doth kill them yet they may trust he will be their Salvation Joh 13.15 16. When the Eye of Sense shall be shut so that Saints shall no more see Worldly Objects yet then God will shew them his Salvation Psal 91. last They shall see God's Salvation from Sins Temptations Troubles Afflictions they shall see a freedom from Spiritual and Temporal Evils and also be translated into an Eternal Kingdom Christ will receive their departing Souls and be their Guardian and Trustee till the Resurrection O it is sweet when God adds to the Mercies of Sixty Seventy Eighty Years the enjoyment of a blessed Eternity It is Salvation that must crown Old Age with Glory Death is the critical time the Soul must then see Life or Death a Heaven must shine from God's pleasing Countenance or Hell be rained from his angry Face O how sweet is it then to see the truth of God's Promises in the enjoyment of an Eternal Salvation 4. Those interested in this Salvation shall be saved in the Day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5.6 when Sins will find out others and Vengeance will take hold of them then Believers shall be saved O what unexpressible comfort will it be to point out Jesus Christ at the Great Day and to say This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us and we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 This is a Salvation that will for ever set Souls beyond Gun-shot out of the reach of all Dangers Evils Enemies They shall then fully receive the end of their Faith even an Eternal Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 Christ will appear unto Salvation to those that look for him Heb. 9. last Then Saints shall be Heirs in full possession of Salvation Heb. 1.14 They shall be redeemed from all Evils or possessed of all goodness be exalted to the Kingdoms and be placed in the Throne I shall lastly give you some Directions how you may be saved 1. You must be enlightned and convinced of your Danger you must see the Evils you are under and the Danger and Destruction you are exposed to Few do think themselves to be condemned to Death and to be sick unto Death That they are Children of Satan and Enemies to God They will not believe that they are captivated by the Devil enslaved by Sin and chained to the World The Scripture teaches us that Men are held Rom. 7.6 and that they are led 1 Cor. 12.2 they are held in the Snares of Sin and led by Satan Their Lusts are Bonds their depraved Wills and corrupt Affections are the Chains that the Devil leads them by Men discourse see or discern what are the true Evils that they should be saved from they are not sensible of the blindness and vanity of their Minds the deceit and desperate wickedness of their Hearts That their Wills are perverse and rebellious and the greatest Enemies to God and their own Souls They will account that Troubles Afflictions Reproaches Wants and Death are Evils but they do not perceive that their greatest Evils and worst Enemies are within themselves A Root of Bitterness an evil Treasure a Body of Death a Fountain of Iniquity that is in their Souls But Sinners must know what first cleaves to them abide in them do defile and deform their Souls and testify against them before God Isa 59.12 Our Transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Yea Men have no liking of that which is the true Salvation Saints are said to love God's Salvation Psal 70.4 but a Carnal Creature doth not love but loath God's Salvation to be delivered from his false Notions his vain Thoughts his corrupt Opinions his inordinate love of himself and of the Creatures to be taken off from his sensual Pleasures carnal Delights to be brought to give his Heart to God set his Love on Christ to delight in Spiritual Future Invisible things this is a Salvation he dreads and hates and if he could go to Heaven with this vain Mind and carnal Heart it would be a place of Exile and of Punishment to him You must see your Danger that you are as Isaac bound laid on the Altar and ready to be sacrificed as a whole Burnt-Offering in the Flames of Wrath. You must hear the just dreadful Sentence Matth. 18.25 The Lord commanded the Debtor to be sold and Payment to be made It is dreadful to be sold into the Prison into a Place of Eternal Bondage Your Heart must be broken your Spirit wounded your Soul burdened under the sense of the guilt and filth of Sin else you will not have a due value of the Doctrine and Promise of Salvation 1 Tim. 1.15 We must account it worthy of all acceptation more valuable than all the Riches Pleasures Honours of the World If a Man were sinking and drowning he would not regard a Bag of Gold or a Box of Diamonds but prefer a Cord cast out to save him a Boat to take him in more than all the things of the World Believe that your Condition is exceeding bad and dangerous Lot's Wife looked back as one that doubted whether Sodom would be destroyed and Lots Sons in Law could not believe that the danger of Sodom was so great and its Destruction so near Gen. 19.14 So Sinners believe not that to be Carnally minded is Death that they that live after the Flesh shall die that they that are far off from God shall perish Psal 73.27
said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Righteousness of God so the word might be render'd and this Phrase the Righteousness of God seems to be taken and be proved from my Text Jehovah our Righteousness 2. Faith is said to be in the Blood of Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth for a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood All the Garments of Christ are said to smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia Psal 45.7 As Christ's Garments are expounded to be his Graces so they may also be interpreted to be the Actions of Christ that flow from those Graces Garments signifie Actions so it is said they washed their Robes white in the Blood of the the Lamb Rev. 7.14 So these Garments point out the Active Obedience of Jesus Christ It is said also That Christ gave himself an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Ephes 5.2 Zanchy on the place observes the Emphasis of the Apostles words that Christ is said to be first an Offering and then a Sacrifice There were Offerings of First-fruits and Fine Flower and of such things as had not life but living creatures were offered up in Sacrifice and then their blood was spilt and their lives taken away Christ's being an Offering may point out the Holiness of Christ's Life and his being a Sacrifice did signifie his Sufferings and his Death How satisfactory and refreshing is it to us to Read and Hear of the sweet smelling Garments of Christ and the sweet smelling Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus It was foretold of our Lord Jesus Christ that his Ears both his Ears should be opened Psal 40.6 one Ear was opened as he was Man to hear and obey the Commands of the Moral Law and Christ's other Ear was opened to listen to and comply with that peculiar Commandment that was given to him As Mediator to lay down his Life Joh. 10.18 Innocent Man owed but a single debt to God and that was Obedience to his Law but Fallen and Guilty Man is bound to God in a double Bond. He owes God Obedience as he is a Creature and he owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings Misery and Torments as he is a Guilty Creature Therefore Sins are called Debts Matth. 6.12 because the Transgressors of the Law for Non-payment of the Debt of Obedience contract another and New Debt and that is an Obligation to endure Punishment As they wrong and rob God by their sins of Omission and Commission so they are bound to make Restitution to God by their eternal Sufferings and Torments 1. Jesus Christ was to obey the Commands of the Law Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do Jesus Christ was to Glorifie God in the Nature of a Creature in the Form of a Servant he was to be a perfect Pattern of Piety and an example of Righteousness on Earth where there had not been a full and exact Instance of Righteousness and Obedience fince the Fall Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man on earth that lives and sins not The Earth hath been full of violence and wickedness before God Gen. 6.13 How much was it then for the Glory of God and the Honour of his Law that there should be a Man Perfectly Holy and Just on Earth A Virgin-Soul among Whores and Adulteresses A Diligent Servant among Drones and Lazy Loiterers A Loyal Subject among Rebels and Enemies How little Honour had been given to the Law if only the Penalty of it had been inflicted and its Curse been executed but the Commands of it had never been obeyed and fulfilled Is it for the Credit or Glory of an Earthly Prince to have no Obedience paid to his Laws but only the Penalties annexed to them to take hold of and be executed on all that are under his Jurisdiction And shall God's Laws never be obeyed Shall the Penalties of them only be executed As a Foreign Prince if he Travels through the Territories and Dominions of another King doth owe him a Topical Allegiance and must needs be subject to his Laws so the Son of God though he was a Rightful and a Glorious King yet Travelling through the Dominions of his Father in the nature of a Creature to Redeem Captives must needs be subject to the Laws that God gave to all Mankind The High-Priest under the Old Testament was an eminent Type of Christ he was bound to wear a Plate of Gold joyned to his Mitre on his Forehead Exod. 25.36 37 38. This did intimate and teach us that the true substantial High-Priest was to be Perfectly holy and absolutely devoted to God Tho' God may spy Faults and observe Blemishes and Spots in the best of Saints yet he may look to the Forehead of Jesus our Great High-Priest and there read nothing but Holiness to the Lord. The Law of God was perfectly impressed on Christ's Heart and fully expressed in his Life He loved God to the Height of utmost Perfection He loved Men even his own that were in the World with the most pure ardent and intense Love John 13.1 he was so intent so fixed in Exalting and Magnifying God that when his Soul was troubled in the prospect of his Sufferings yet he Pray'd thus Father glorifie thy own Name John 12.27 28 29. As if he should say However I am clouded and eclipsed whatever bitter Cup I drink whatever heavy Burden I bear yet Father glorifie thy own Name As the First Adam ruined us by his Self-seeking so the Second Adam raised and Recovered us by his Self-denyal and Christ's Love to his People was stronger than Death He leaped over Mountains of Difficulties and brake through Hosts of Enemies and Sufferings to Redeem them He did forget himself for a time that he might remember us to eternity He veiled his Glory and Majesty to manifest his Love to us We are all as an unclean thing Isa 64.6 but Jesus Christ is that Holy Thing that was Born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 1.35 he came into this World without a Foreskin on his Heart and therefore was that Holy Seed that was Figured and Typified by Circumcision Phil. 3.3 And we may Glory in him on this account The Fountain was pure from his Conception and Birth and the Stream that did flow from it was ever after clear and clean It was requisite that Christ should be Holiness to God that he might be made Righteousness to us 2. Christ's Sufferings may well be accounted a part of his Righteousness For 1. They were the Fulfilling of the Law given to him as Mediator that he should make his Soul an Offering for Sin and pour it out to the death Isa 53.10 12. Joh. 10.18 As the Moral Law belonged to Christ as a Man he could not possess our Humane Nature in Purity or order his Conversation with Beauty without submission to it so the Ceremonial Law belonged to him as a Jew and he was obliged to die as
he was a Mediator He must be obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.7 8. 2. The Sufferings of Christ were part of his Righteousness because they were the enduring of what Jesus Christ as a Surety did undertake to undergoe If one Man doth bind himself in a Bond to pay the Debt of another it is but Justice that he should satisfie it if he refuse or decline it he acts contrary to the Rules of Righteousness So when Jesus Christ took our Debt on him it was Righteous that he should pay it off A Surety doth first make the Debt his own and then binds himself to the payment of it So Christ first took our sins themselves and then became liable to punishment for them As the Sacrifices of the Law had first Sins put and laid on them Levit. 1. v. 4. and then thereby were exposed to wounds and death If Jesus Christ had not been made sin he could not have been made a Curse 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 Christ's being made a Curse seems somewhat different from his being made Sin and was a Fruit and Consequent of it The Curse could not Fall Fasten or Abide on a Person but where Sin opened the Door drew and pluckt it upon him Jesus Christ by becoming a Surety was snared was taken by the words of his own Mouth Prov. 6.2 Jesus Christ said to the Father Psal Ch. 40.7 8. Loe I come that is to be an Atoning Sacrifice I delight to do thy will O my God that is to offer up my Body once for all Heb. 10.9 10. Now Jesus Christ was come into the Hand of his Father to be punished Prov. 6.3 It was just for God the Father to wound and bruise him to call the Sword of his Justice to awake against him Zach. 13.6 7. verses the Cup could not pass from Christ but he must drink it the Debt must be exacted of him Chastisement must be laid on him Isa 53.5 because Jesus Christ had engaged as a Surety to draw near to God sitting on a fiery Throne holding a flaming Sword and clothed with the garments of vengeance Jer. 30.21 Sins being laid on Christ Isa 53.6 Sorrows and Sufferings were to follow Isa 53.4 because he bare our sins he must also be burthened with our sorrows It was just with God on this account to wound the Man that was his Son and to smite the Man that was his Fellow Zech. 13.7 God's Sword had as it were slept for a long time in the Scabbard of his long-suffering his Justice had been silent and not roared against Sinners But now the Surety was come the great Atoning Sacrifice was presented and exhibited it was high time for God's Sword to awake The Times before Christ were the days of Forbearance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.26 God took Christ's Word till then but now the Day of Payment was come and therefore Christ could not be secured from a Dark Hour or be exempted from drinking of a bitter Cup Matth. 26.39.42 John 12.27 28. he came into the World to have such a Terrible Hour and to walk through the Dark Valley of the shadow of Death As he was loaded with our Sins God must not only forsake him Psal 22.1 but wound him Isa 53 5. He had not only a dark Night as the Light of God's pleasing Countenance was hid from him but he felt Dews and experienc'd the Drops of the Night Cant. 5.2 as God's punishing hand was stretch'd out against him Christ had not only a very Dark Night but a very Stormy and Tempestuous Night as we had estranged our selves from God and had forgotten our Relation to him so God estranged himself from Christ and seemed for a time to veile and forget his Relation to his Son to carry it as a Stranger and as one unconcerned in the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Psal 22.1 2. My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring O my God! I cry unto thee in the day time but thou hearest not and in the Night season and am not silent O! how strange is this that God should thus withdraw himself from his own Son that the Father should deliver him up into the hands and leave him to the Will of his Enemies That God's ear should be stopt and his Bowels shut up against his own Son That Jesus Christ should roar out his doleful Complaints and yet God be as it were deaf and dumb to him and inexorable towards him when the Son was not silent to his Father day or night Surely Christ's Cup was very bitter his Burthen heavy and the Fire that Roasted this Lamb of God was very hot and scorching or else Christ that had the Power of the God-head to support him was now in the midst of his Enemies and near the end of his Sufferings would never thus have roared out The words of the Psalmist David do exactly Point out and Foretel that which Matthew Records Matth. 27. v. 46. And about the Ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Yet Jesus Christ justifies the Father in forsaking of him in not hearing of him But thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel Psal 22.3 Though others tast thy Goodness admire and glorifie thy Grace and thou inhabitest their Praises yet thou art deaf to me I feel thy Wrath and Severity But thou art holy in all this I am come into thy hand as a Surety and must fall under thy weighty Arm as a God of Vengeance This was the true reason and cause why Jesus was wanting to himself did not plead his own Cause or more confute the Slanders and wipe off the Reproaches his Enemies cast on him clear and justifie himself from their Calumnies False and Forged Accusations Mark 15.3 4 5. Jesus Christ kept silence he Answered nothing to what the High-Priest charged him with He also Answered nothing to Pilate so that Pilate marvelled that he would not plead for and defend himself that he carried it as if he had no Reply no Reproofes in his Month to vindicate himself and silence his Adversaries This Silence of Christ was foretold Isa 53.7 He was dumb he opened not his Mouth The truth was that Jesus took our Sins and bare our Iniquities in order to his submitting to Punishment for them Isa 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 Confusion of face did belong to us Dan. 9.8.9 Guilt might stop our Mouths seale up our Lips We had cause to lie down in our Shame to cover our selves with Confusion never to open our Mouths to deny extenuate or justifie our Practises Ezek. 16. last Christ now stood in our place he did as it were assume our Person Silence did become us Our Cause was so bad that it could not be pleaded or defended It was Just now that Christ should be Condemned Executed
this Table The Altar Figured Christ and he Offered his Humane Nature as a Sacrifice on the Altar of his Divine Nature and this True Sacrifice was God's Meat Here Divine Justice did Feed and was satisfied What an Honour is this for us to be admitted as Guests yea as Children to God's Table and for our Faith to feed on the same Sacrifice that Justice is satisfied with that may well quiet our Consciences that Pacifies God's Wrath The Sacrifice and Meat on the Altar is called the Fruit of it Mal. 1.12 This Phrase is very observable that the Altar is compared to a Field that did yield and bear Fruit to the Priests they had not Lands and Inheritances as the other Israelites had but the Altar was their Inheritance and their Field the part of the Sacrifice offered on the Altar that was allowed to them for their Services was the Fruit of the Altar that they Fed on and were sustained by So Christ the Altar is our Field on the Fruit of it even his Sacrifice our Souls must Live In Rom. 10.5 it is said That he that doth the Law and the things required in it shall live by them But Christ Teacheth us another way of Subsistence for our Souls John 6.57 He that eateth me shall live by me Our Drink also is not in or from our selves we are in a Pit in which there is no Water Zech. 9.11 Jesus Christ was Figured by the Rock that was smitten by the Rod of Moses even the Curse of the Law Exod. 17.6 7. 1 Cor. 10.3.4 Though Christ was Moses his Minister as a Servant made the Law and perfectly obeyed it was Holy to God Harmless to others and undefiled in himself yet he Felt the Rod of Moses he endured the Curse We were in a Dry and Barren Wilderness where no Water was we must have perished with Thirst had not Christ been Smitten He did cleave his Soul and Body were separated from each other and so Spiritual Waters did gush out for us to Drink God's Sword might have devoured our Flesh and his Arrows have been made drunk with our blood Deut. 32.42 but Jesus Christ gave us his Flesh to be Meat indeed and his Blood to be Drink indeed John 6.53 54 55. We are too prone to dig and seek Spiritual Water in our selves but we must look for it from Christ The Travelling Israelites passing through the Valley of Bacha did make it a Well they digged deep to find Water in the Earth but yet at last they were disappointed and the Rain did fill the Pools Psal 84.6 They sought Water from beneath but They received it from above So we would find Water in our selves but we must perish if Christ doth not Rain upon us Psal 72.6 He shall come down like the Rain on the Mown Grass as Showers that water the Earth When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their Tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them I will make the Wilderness a Pool of Water and the dry Land Springs of Water Isa 41.17 18. If any Man thirst saith Christ let him come to me and drink John 7.37 we cannot live by a fullness and sufficiency in our selves but we must live by Bread from without by eating of the Flesh and drinking of the Blood of Christ And this also is given us freely We reap that we sowed not and eat that we did not labour for as the Israelites lived in the Wilderness without Plowing and Sowing 3. We are Healed not by any Remedy we have invented or by any Medicine that we have prepared but by a wonderful Remedy that Jesus Christ hath provided The Israelites Murmured in the Wilderness and were for it bitten by Fiery Serpents and their burning poyson did kill many of them those that were hurt were utterly at a loss They knew no Physical Herbs no Soveraign Drugs no proper Remedies to apply They knew not how to draw out the Mortal Poyson but were destroyed by it Numb 21.6 7 8. The Wilderness they were in afforded no Medicines but God devised prepared revealed a Remedy he directed Moses to make a Brazen Serpent and to hang it on high upon a Pole and promised to bless this Remedy and render it effectual that whosoever looked to it should be healed and live So Mankind was bitten by Satan that Old Serpent in Paradise He drew them to Discredit God's Threatning he Leavened them with hard and base Thoughts of God that he envied their higher Knowledge and greater Happiness and so put a restraint on them Forbidding them to eate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and so drew them to Disobedience and to cast off the Authority and Yoke of God Hereby Humane Nature was corrupted and poysoned in our First Parents and by them this Vermin did spread and diffuse it self into all their Posterity and infected the whole World This Bite of the Old Serpent was deadly Tribulation and Anguish belongs to every Soul that Sins Rom. 2.9 The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. last Sin hath reigned unto Death Rom. 5. last but God hath provided a Remedy that we could never have imagined or thought of and was most remote from the Sentiments and Apprehension of the Natural Man The Son of God came down from Heaven took our Flesh and Suffered in our Nature was lifted up to the Cross and died on it that whosoever looks to him and believes to him and believes on him may not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3.14 15. Jesus Christ was lifted up before the eyes of God when he was Crucified and he is lifted up before our eyes when his Death is Preached and he is evidently set forth as Crucified before us Gal. 3.1 We are not to compose Medicines or to provide Plaisters of our own to heal our selves but we are to look to and make use of God's Remedy continually Ainsworth on Numb 21. doth probably assert That the Israelites as they Journied and did remove from one Station to another carried the Brazen Serpent along with them and set it up again in their Camp and as often as any one was bitten he looked to it for Healing So we must receive Christ to dwell in our hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 and still carry him about with us that as often as we contract New Guilt we may look to him with a Spiritual eye and be Healed The Life that we live in the flesh we must live continually by the Faith of the Son of God Galat. 2.20 All the Healing Remedies are out of our selves and are in Christ His Stripes are Healing Isa 53.5 he hath healing beames Mal. 4.2 out of the side of the Altar there came forth Living Waters that healed the corrupt and dead Sea Ezek. 41.1 2 8. so out of Christ's side there came forth Water and Blood John 19.34 The Blood of Christ is a Soveraign Remedy against the Guilt
of Sin and the Spirit that was signified by the Water that flowed out of Christ's side is a sovereign Remedy against the Filth and Reigning power of Sin And Jesus Christ the Tree of Life beares Leaves for the Healing of the Nations Revel 22.2 No other Tree hath Healing Leaves but only Jesus Christ his Word Doctrine Promises are Healing Leaves We do not Work to Cure our selves tho' we are Patients yet we cannot be our own Physitians but we are Justified by Christ's Condemnation and live by his Death 4. We are not Washed in any Water of our own providing or in any Bath of our own making but God the Father hath opened a Fountain for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13.1 and this Fountain is opened where we could never have thought of or imagined any such thing even in the pierced side and wounded heart of the Son of God His Head was Crowned with Thornes his Hands and Feet were nailed to the Cross his Side was pierced and Blood did flow from thence to Purifie our Souls This is noble and precious Blood indeed that affects Conscience and reaches so far as to purifie it The Blood of Sacrifices the Ashes of an Heifer and Clean Water availed only to the Purification of the Flesh to take off Ceremonial Uncleanness but Christ poured out his own Blood and thereby made a Precious Laver a Costly Bath This Blood purgeth Conscience from sins that are dead Works as they are the Fruits of Spiritual Death and the Seeds of Eternal Death Though Conscience be stupid and doth not feel the weight of these dead Works yet if they remain unpurged they will revive and sting the Soul to death they will return upon it and sink it to Hell There is no other means to purifie and pacifie Conscience but this Blood and we exceedingly need it There is a Fountain of Iniquity in us that continually flows to defile us Jer. 6.7 As a Fountain casts out its Waters so Jerusalem casts out her Wickedness It is well for us that there is a Fountain without us in Christ to take off that Guilt that is contracted by the Flowings of that Filthy Fountain that is within us Christ's Blood though it is little in quantity yet it is mighty in Virtue There is a deep Sea of Merit in it Micah 7.18 19. Thoug it was poured out of his Body but a few hours yet it is a Fountain that Flowes in all Ages and Generations to take away Sin And is not this most sweet and comfortable that Jesus Christ did not only shed his Blood but sprinkles it also Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness Clean Water to wash the Body is common but clean Water to purifie the Soul is rare and no where to be found but in Christ This is wonderful Grace that Christ would not only shed his Blood but undertakes also to sprinkle it He shed it with unexpressible Pain and Anguish but he Sprinkles it with much Pleasure and Delight As he pitied Souls and shed his Blood for them so he Loves Soules and Sprinkles it on them and Washes them in this Fountain from their Uncleanness Revel 1.56 We are not clothed by our own Works or Righteousness Our Webs cannot become Garments Isa 59.6 Our best Performances cannot clothe us Our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags they cannot hide our Shame cover our Nakedness they are too narrow and short to do it Isa 64.6 Shall we be proud of or trust upon filthy Rags Our own Righteousness is but a Garment full of Patches So Piscator renders the Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vestimentum frustrorum panni veteris attriti A Garment of Pieces of old and worn-out Cloth How long have we been serving in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 and so our Garment may be called Old Cloth Sometimes we do good Works and then are apt to turn aside and to commit evil Works There are interruptions in our obedience Sin doth too often intervene so that these patches of the Old Man do much blemish and disfigure the Garment of our Righteousness There are Breaches in our Walls and Spots in our Garments As we need clean Water to Purisie us Ezek. 36.25 so we also want clean Linnen to Clothe and Adorn us Revel 19.8 Jesus Christ invites us to come to him to buy White Rayment that the shame of our Nakedness may not appear Revel 3.18 Christ was the Angel that commanded the Filthy Garments to be taken from Joshuah the High-Priest he caused his Iniquities to pass away and Clothed him with change of Rayment Zech. 3.4 The Garments of our Bodies do put us in mind of our Sins and bring to Remembrance our Transgression therefore they are called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bidge from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bagad that signifies to Rebel Because if Man had not Apostatized from and Rebelled against God he had not needed Clothing or Garments But the Righteousness of Christ may well be called the Garment of Praise Isa 61.3 It is a Garment for Beauty and Glory and so to be exceedingly praised when God puts it on us then we begin heartily to praise God Christ is stiled the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 he hath healing Beames for wounded Consciencies The Church is said to be Clothed with the Sun Revel 12.1 And is not this a Glorious Garment Doth it not deserve praise in it self and call for the highest Praises from us God provided Coats of Skins and Clothed our First Parents with them Gen. 3.21 The matter of those Coats was the Skins of Beasts that probably were slain and offered in Sacrifice to God This might instruct and teach them that the Spiritual Cloathing of their Souls was to be borrowed from the Obedience and Righteousness of the Great Atoning Sacrifice As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Our First Parents did sow Fig-leaves together to make Aprons to hide their shame Gen. 3.7 but when God provided Coats of Skin for them then they threw away their Aprons of Fig-leaves as useless So every Man Naturally seeks some Aprons of Works and righteousness of his own to cover his Nakedness when Conscience accuses them for sin and the Law of God Condemns them for Iniquity The Whore in Prov. 7.14 pleads That she had Peace-offerings with her and that day she had paid her Vowes and with this Apron she thought to hide the Filthiness of her Adultery But when Men come acquainted with Jesus Christ and have that Glorious Clothing revealed to them which he hath proved for Souls then they cast away their Aprons of Works and their own Imaginary Righteousness Paul saith That those things that he reputed his Gains that he thought would gain him the Favour of God Acceptance with God a Title to Everlasting Life these he counted loss for Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. that is he cast them away not only as unprofitable
God by Isaiah tell us Isa 48.8 Thou wast called a Transgressor from the Womb. God might call us Backsliders Revolters Rebels and Enemies And is not our own Name both reproachful dangerous and pernicious too if we keep and retain it Is it not then absolutely necessary that we should lose our old Name and put on the Honourable and Glorious Name of Christ that we may be Justified in it 1 Cor. 6.11 The Apostle Paul hath this expression Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus The Apostle seems to me plainly to refer to the Name of Christ in the Text and to this Name as communicated to and put on the Church Jer. 33.16 in this Name of our Husband must we be Justified If our old Name stick on us and cleave to us we must surely be Condemned in this Name and the Wrath of God will abide upon us But Christ's Name will draw Salvation on us and procure a Blessing for us As a Husband must Cloath his Wife so Christ spreads the Skirt of the Robe of his Righteousness on and over us to hide our Shame and cover our Nakedness Ezek. 16.8 as a Husband is a cover to the Wife he protects her from Debts Arrests Law-suites so the Spouse of Christ is under Covert he secures her from the wofull effects of Sin and Wrath. 4. It is by Faith that we become interested in and related to Christ as a Surety Heb. 7.22 Christ is the Surety of a better Covenant and Testament If Jesus Christ had not undertaken to stand under feel and endure the curse of the Old violated Covenant of Works Deut. 27. last Gal. 3.10.13 and to Merit for us the Blessings of the New Covenant as a Priest of Good Things Gal. 3.14 Heb. 9.11 God would never have made a New Covenant or Tastament it is built on Christ's Suretyship as a Foundation Christ in this dissers from all other Testators that he Bequeaths nothing in his Testament but what he Merits by his Sufferings and purchases by his Death For whom is Christ a Surety And to whom doth the Benefit of Christ's Suretyship redound but to those that Believe on him their Ransom he paid their Debt he discharged As the Payment of a Surety is imputed to the Principal Debtor so the Payment of Christ is imputed to all Indebted Sinners that come to Christ and receive his Righteousness Rom. 5.17 it availes and advantages no others but God reckons Christ's Obedience and Satisfaction to every Believer Some have conceived * Witsus de Faedere that the word Imputation is borrowed from Arithmetick and keeping of Accounts God doth as it were keep a Book Isa 65.6 Behold it is Written before me Our Sins Transgressions and Provocations are as Debts set down in one Page of this Book and the Obedience Sufferings and Satisfaction of Christ is set down as it were in another Page of God's Book When God accounts the Obedience and Sufferings of Christ to us this Ballances the Account this Crosses the Book and makes all even between God and us God sets Christ's Obedience against our Disobedience his Righteousness against our Unrighteousness because we come into this Righteousness by Faith and trust on his Blood Psal 69.27 Rom. 3.25 God now saith Poor Souls let it be to you according to your Faith you trust in Christ's Righteousness 2. Pet. 1. so let it cloath and cover you and secure you from all your sins and the Curse of my Law As Christ is one with us in Nature as a Man so he is one with us in Law as a Surety Christ did put his Name into our Bond and was as a Surety bound in our Obligation that in a Righteous way he might blot our Sins out of God's Book and Insert our Names into his own Testament Jesus as a Surety vailed his own Innocency covered his own Personal Purity and Righteousness took on him our Sins became Heir of our Punishment and Curse that he might hide and cover our Sins and we become Heirs of his Righteousness and Blessings As the Sentence of Death passed against and was executed on Christ our Surety so we partake of Justification of Life and reign in Life through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.18 21. God punished our sins in Christ and God rewards Christ's Obedience and Sufferings in us Our Sins were punished in Christ's Condemnation his Obedience is rewarded in our Justification There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gift of Righteousness and for this there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the free forgiveness of many Offences Rom. 5.16.17 This Glorious Name The Lord our Righteousness being put on us the Reproachful Chains of Guilt do fall off from us 4. Who is it that shall call Christ by this Name Answer 1. Such as know Jesus Christ John 5.20 He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Isa 53.11 that is many by knowing of Jesus Christ shall be Justified Faith is called Knowledge because those that truly know Jesus Christ cannot but trust in him Psal 9.10 This is very observable that Christians are said to be Justified by the Knowledge of Jesus Christ it is not what we know in our selves or by our selves it is not by the knowledge of what we are or have done that we are Justified we must purely look off from our selves and wholly fix the eye of Faith on Christ Such as know the Insufficiency of their own Righteousness and the All-sufficiency of Christ's Righteousness do call him The Lord their Righteousness 2. Such as fly to Christ lay hold of him and do know their own Union with Christ and Relation to him such will say Surely in the Lord we have Righteousness Isa 45.24 A true Believer disclaims disavows and denies Righteousness to be in himself and Glories in this that he hath Righteousness in Christ 3. God may be said to call Jehovah our Righteousness when Jesus Christ is of God made Righteousness to us 1 Cor. 1.30 God the Father that Loaded Christ with our Sins Isa 53.6 he Clothes us with his Righteousness Isa 61.10 I will greatly Rejoyce in the Lord for he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness God gives Jesus Christ and with him gives his Righteousness Rom. 8.32 Quest Is not Repentance requisite in order to Pardon Isa 1.16 17 18. Wash you make you clean put away the euil of your doings cease to do evll and learn to do well Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll He that confesseth and forsakes his sin shall find mercy Prov. 28.13 Let the sinner forsake sake his ways and the unrighteous Man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and be will have mercy upon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon Isa 55.7 Answ Repentance is necessary in its place
as an Antecedent not as a Cause or proper condition of Pardon Faith precedes in order of Nature and Repentance infallibly follows when we see the wonderful Grace of God that he stops and heales the Breach our Sins have made with the Dead Body of his Son quenched the Fire of his Anger with the Blood of his Son made War with him to make Peace with us Sheathed his Sword in his own Son that he might Draw it out Sheath it and for ever lay it asleep towards us This Grace of God softens hard Hearts melts the Rebellious and Obstinate Wills of Men. When we believe that God will repent of his Righteous Enmity against us this indures and inclines us to Repent of our unjust and wicked Enmity against him When we are perswaded that God is ready to heal us Matth. 13.15 this swayes us to desist from wounding him in his Authority and Glory when God declares he will turn from his Anger this influences sinners to change their mindes towards God and to turn from their Provocations and Rebellions against him How can Men possibly Love God or subject themselves to him if they Believe he is inexorable inflexible will Retain his anger pursue his Controversy and take Vengeance on Offenders for their former Transgressions If God will never open his Prison if he will shut up his Bowels against and pour out his Fury on Transgressors this will harden them against God But when they see God is not implacable this causes them to relent and induces them to return to God Jer. 3.22 God saith Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings They Eccho to God Lo we come unto thee For thou art the Lord our God They believed God would forgive Iniquty and this influenced them to depart from Iniquity As God puts it away he will not impute it 2 Sam. 12.13 So we must put it away and not obey it Isa 2.16 17. As God will not remember Iniquity with anger so we must not remember it with delight when God casts Sin behind his back Isa 38.17 We must set no wicked thing before our eyes Psal 101.3 Repentance in Scripture is said to be to God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 By Faith we first return to our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd 1 Pet. 2. last and then by Repentance we return to God the Father Jer. 3.22 As by Faith we receive the Righteousness of Christ Rom. 5.17 So by Repentance we Recognize the Rights of God the Dominion he hath over us as his Creatures and the advantage he hath against us as Sinners As Faith abases us in that we must fly to Christ for Righteousness so Repentance doth lower stoop and empty us that we must have Recourse to meer pure Mercy for our Pardon Faith humbles as to the matter for which we are Justified and Repentance humbles us as to the manner in which we are Justified as we are Justified by the Obedience and Redemption of Christ so we are also Justified freely by the Grace of God the Father Rom. 3.24 A Sinner then advances and magnifies Grace when he is cast down in himself when a Sinner seeth the Plague of his heart the Spiritual Leprosy of his Soul the Filthy Fountain of Iniquity that is in his Nature he abhors himself for the evil Treasure that is within and loathes himself for all the evil things that have been brought forth out of it The offender is now ashamed to lift up his Eyes to Heaven Luke 18.13 He blushes and is ashamed to look God in the Face Ezra 9.6 Innumerable evils now Compass the Sinner about his Iniquities take hold of him that he cannot look up Psal 40.12 As we are Justified by Faith so we Justifie God by Repentance 1. In his Commands Rom. 7.12.14 The Commandment is Holy Just and Good Holy with respect to God Just with respect to Man Good with respect to our selves 2. We Justifie God in all his threatenings Psal 51.3 4. David did acknowledg his Iniquity that God might be Justified when he did Speak and be clear when he did Judg. Whatever God had spoken against David however he had Judged him and his House by Nathan 2 Sam. 12.10 11 12.14 Whatever Judgments he had denounced as a War to rise out of his own House and the defiling of his Wives the death of his Child yet David doth Justifie God in all this Guilt did seale up his Lips shame did cover his Face he could enter no Action against God complain of no wrong done by him If God should cut down Barren Trees if he should Execute Condemned Creatures if he should Bury those in the Bottemless Pit that have been long Dead in Sin they confess they cannot spot him with Cruelty or blot him with Injustice Repentance is so far form lessening of or detracting from Grace that it commends heightens and exalts it that God should Justifie a Sinner that Arraigns himself and judges himself to be Guilty of Innumerable Transgressions and worthy of Eternal Death that God should cover those Sins in Mercy that were laid open and represented as exceeding Heinous and Sinful by the Transgressor himself the poor Publican could not plead but only petition he could mention no Righteousness of his within or good Works without he had nothing to look or fly to but Mercy only God be Mercyful to me a Sinner It is observable he doth not say My God be merciful to me a Sinner but God be Merciful to me a Sinner Adam accused Eve Eve accused the Serpent and so thought in some measure to excuse themselves but the Publican charged himself only I am the Sinner he accuses no other though Sinning yet presumptous Israel saith My God we know thee Hos 8.2 But this Publican pleads no relation to God claims no Interest in him yet he ventures to cast himself into the Arms of Mercy to lye down prostrate at the feet of Mercy And was not this Free and Rich Grace to cleanse a Spiritual Leper to wash one that accounts himself a Lump of Guilt and Filth To bind up a broken heart to Raise a Spirit bowed down and ready utterly to sink under a weight of Guilt To take away Filthy garments and to bring forth the best Robe to Cloath a naked Soul to kill the fatted Calf to Feast a Famishing Sinner If the very Redemption of Christ if his Attoning Sacrifice doth not detract from God's Free Grace Rom. 3.24 * Vid. Bolton on the place Surely the Sacrifice of a Broken Heart doth not Wrong or Rob Grace of its glory it was the express will and Law of God that on the very day of Attonement when Sacrifices were offered for Typical Expiation of Sin that the Israelites afflict their Souls Levet 16.29 Much more when we Beleive that Jesus Christ hath made a real Attonement for our Sins we must deeply afflict our Souls for our Iniquities that kindled the Wrath of God against us that procured so
us till the House of the Body is pulled down How else could it be said That the Body is dead by reason of sin Rom. 9.10 If we were perfect how could we die Doth it sute the Justice of God to pull and tare a perfect Creature in pieces and to deliver it up to Corruption If there be no sin within what is that which opens the Door and lets in Death If there be no Bonds of sin on the Soul how doth the Bondage of Corruption come on the Body God hath wisely ordered it that Persons shall not come to the Mark of Perfection till they also arrive at the Prize of Glory How Foolish and False is it for Persons to say they are perfect and yet have not attained to the Prize of Glory but are in a frail and miserable Estate God designs not that Persons shall be absolutely perfect in a Natural Body 1. That the Threatning may be fulfilled Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return Gen. 3.19 2. That Christians may have an Enemy to Wrestle and Conflict with whilst they are here Ephes 6.12 1 Tim. 6.12 3. That Believers may still act Faith on Jesus Christ and repair to him for Help Healing and Salvation God will not utterly take away the Fiery Serpents Satan and our Lust that we may resort to Jesus Christ for a continual Cure and Christ may never be out of date or use with us 1. Vse If Jehovah be the Righteousness of the Church this may reprove those that do not stop in or satisfie themselves with this Righteousness The Apostle Paul in Galat. 3.1 thus addresses himself to the Galatians O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth as Crucified The Apostle Paul and others had drawn the Picture of Christ Crucified in beautiful and lively Colours he had described the Causes the Ends the Greatness and Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings and he wonders that any should darken their Minds and as it were bewitch their Eyes that they should not see the Loveliness and Excellency of this Glorious Object and comply with the Ends and Designs of Christ's Death Would Jesus Christ stoop so low Would he endure such hard and heavy things to have only a share in our Justification Shall any put in a joynt-stock with Christ Shall they contribute to their own Redemption and Justification Will Christ be a Partner only with our Works and Righteousness Shall a Crown be put on the head of the Creature as well as one set on the Head of Christ Is this the utmost product of all Christ's bitter Sufferings to do but half in our Justification Will not a Man both deceive and indanger himself that sets one Foot on a strong Bough and another on a rotten one Will not such an one fall So he that leans on Christ in part and on his own Righteousness in part will be frustrated and disappointed will miscarry and perish The Church is thus described as leaning on her Beloved Cant. 8.5 It is this Arm only that can support us and it is Christ's Righteousness that must keep us from sinking into Destruction How ignorant are Men of their Sins if they think these Waters are not so deep but they can Wade through them and not need Christ as an Ark to carry them over How blind are they that think their Wounds are not so dangerous but they can heal them or that Judge their Transgressions are not so heavy but they can cast in Religious Duties and Good Works enough to fetch up the Scale from the Ground and make a Compensation for their Offences and to Ransom themselves from Destruction The Papists here are highly guilty of darkening this Glorious Name of Christ and of Robbing him of the Honour of it they assert that a Man may do such Good Works before Justification that render it meet that God should give him Grace and that by Good Works done after Justification he may Merit Glory They affirm that we are Justified not by Forgiveness or not imputing our Trespasses as the Scripture saith 2 Cor. 5.19 but by the infusion of Righteousness into us Alensis saith that Justificatio est rectitudo liberi arbitrii that is it is the Reforming and Rectifying of Man's Free-will the bringing of the Soul to love God But this is a proud and false Doctrine in this as well as other Senses Rome is Egypt Revel 11.8 as it asserts a River of Inherent Righteousness below and that they need not that God should Rain an Imputed Righteousness on them as the Poet said of the Ground and Herbs of Egypt Nec pluvio supplicat Herba Jovi their Ground and Herbs did not Pray to Jupiter to send Rain A part of Egypt is satisfied with the River Nilus and hath no Rain as the Scriptures teach us Zech. 14.18 They think to climb to Heaven by a proud Babel of their own Building and not to ascend thither by the Ladder of Christ's Righteousness As this is a proud so it is a false Doctrine 1. It destroys the Parallel that the Apostle Paul makes between Christ's being made Sin and our being made Righeousness 2 Cor. 5.21 as Christ was made sin though he had not Inherent sin but only our sins Imputed to him so we are made Righteousness by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to us though we have not a perfect Inherent Righteousness of our own 2. Nothing Justifies before God but a Perfect Obedience and Righteousness our own at best is not such therefore we need Christ's Righteousness Christ as applying himself to us is the efficient cause of our Righteousness and Christ as applied is the formal cause of it as Amesius in his Bellarminus enervatus excellently asserts 3. If we are Justified by an Inherent Righteousness of our own there would be no room pretence or colour for that Objection that the Jews and all Natural Men are ready to make against the Doctrine of Justification Shall we not sin then that Grace may abound Rom. 6.1 If God Justifies by pardoning our sins and not imputing our Trespasses then the more we offend then the more Glory Grace will have in forgiving our Iniquities and so we may let the Reins loose to our Lusts But if Paul did assert our Justification to be by infusing of Righteousness into us the more Righteousness is Infused into us the more we should be restrained from sin and the less need Mercy to Pardon our sins and there would be no colour for such an Objection as the Jews did raise from the Apostle's Doctrine 2. There are others that we own as Brethren and account as sound in the main of the Doctrine of Justification yet we may modestly enquire whether some of their notions or expressions are calculated to advance the Glory of Christ's Righteousness in the Justification of the Ungodly 1. They assert that Faith and Repentance are proper conditions of the Covenant of
mortifies our Lusts writes his Laws in our Hearts but these things relate to our Sanctification not to our Justification Christ as Priest only hath a proper influence on our Justification as such he was made under the Command and endured the Curse of the Law The taking of Christ for our Lord the choosing and accepting of him as our King is the root spring and begining of our new Obedience Our very Subjection to Christ is an imperfect and a defective act of Obedience we do not fully Submit to Christ There is a Negative vote there is a Rebellious party there is a Law of Sin in our Flesh And can we look on a weak imperfect act of our Obedience as giving us right and title to the perfect Obedience and compleat Righteousness of Christ Choosing and taking Christ for King is certainly a work of ours and if we are Justified by it as a condition Are we not Justified by a Work of our own Is not this to bring in our Works in the root and principle of them into Justification And must we not beware that though we have Works in our Superstructure yet we have them not in our Foundation 3. Some set up that which they call an Evangelical Righteousness of our own consisting in the fulfilling the conditions of the new Law or Covenant and that it is this that entitles us to the Righteousness of Christ which they call our Legal Righteousness Our Brethren I hope do not mean that our own Evangelical Righteousness is our immediate Righteousness and the Righteousness of Christ our remote Righteousness Surely Christ's Righteousness is our immediate only perfect Righteousness for Justification By a new Law I hope they do not mean a Law that requires less duty than the Moral Law or makes those imperfactions to be no Sins that the Moral Law doth condemn as Transgressions All our new Obedience cannot be any proper condition of the Covenant because the performance of it is the Fruit of God's performing his promise to us Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit into them and cause them to walk in my Statutes and to keep my Judgements and Commandments Our Obedience is defective and imperfect And can this be the condition of our Title to Christ's Righteousness Persons must beware that they do not Legalize the Covenant of Grace yea set up an easier Covenant of works 2. Vse If Jehovah be our Righteousness then we may be informed of three things 1. Of the wonderful wisdom 2. Of the exact Righteousness 3. Of the admirable Grace of God 1. We may learn the wonderful wisdom of God that he hath Reconciled two things that seemed contrary and utterly inconsistent That the Just should be Condemned and the Wicked Justified Prov. 17.15 yet both these God hath accomplished without any stain to his Holiness reflexion on or reproach to his Justice Jesus Christ that knew no sin yet was made sin 2 Cor. 5.21 that Just one died for the Unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 What was more remote from the thoughts and hid from the minds of Natural Men than that the Son of God should stoop from Heaven to Earth be not only clothed with our Flesh but also be burthened with our Sins and the weight of our Curse That he should come under our Iniquities that we might come into his Righteousness The very finding out a Surety and the constituting of a Mediator is a deep design of Infinite Wisdom That another should expiate our sins and pay a Ransom for our Souls 2. We may be informed of the exact Righteousness and inexorable Justice of God How just is God that he would not be appeased without an Atoning Sacrifice that he would not dismiss Prisoners or release Captives without a Ransom or Justifie without an Obedience Rom. 3.24 25. Rom. 5.19 The Debt must be exacted of Christ the Storm must fall the Curse must be executed on him else he could not be our Righteousness Christ was set forth for a Propitiation that God might be just and the Justifier of them that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. God's Sword did awake against Christ else it could never have been laid asleep towards us Zech. 13.7 Our Sins were laid on Christ our Iniquities took hold of him our Reproaches whereby we reproached God did fall on Christ Rom. 15.3 he could not be spared the Cup could not pass from him God could not release or exempt his own Son from Sufferings The Lord Jesus was so bound by his own undertaking as a Surety that he could not use his own Tongue to plead for and vindicate himself he could not exert or exercise his own power to restrain his Enemies or to rescue himself from them It was just that God should bruise Christ as he became our Surety it is now just that God should Pardon those that fly to Christ 1 John 1.9 There was a Redemption of Transgressions by the Death of Christ Heb. 9.15 Some think this Phrase the Redemption of Transgressions is borrowed from that Hebrew Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Goel hadam the Redeemer or Avenger of Blood Our Transgressions were Redeemed by being avenged in the Death of Christ Sin would have for ever laid on us if it had not been bought off by the Blood of Christ God is said to Justifie the Ungodly Rom. 4.6 but it is because Jesus Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5.6 God would not have been at peace with us if the Chastisement of our peace had not fallen on Christ Isa 53.5 3. We may be informed of the admirable and astonishing Grace of God that Jehovah the Son should become our Righteousness This Righteousness of Christ is not derived to us doth not descend upon us as Adam's sin doth Adam was a Natural Head we were nearly related to him as the Father of our Flesh as the Root and Fountain of our Nature and so we must needs be involved in his Guilt and wrapt up in his Transgression it is our Patrimony and Inheritance for we are by Nature Children of Wrath Ephes 2.3 But Christ is a Supernatural Head a Second Adam constituted by meer Grace We were wholly strangers and no way Related to him but by pure Mercy His Righteousness is wholy a Gift Rom. 5.17 We were born under Adam's sin but it is by Faith that we come into Christ's Righteousness Guilt is spoken of as that which is past By the Disobedience of one many have been made sinners but Justification is spoken of as Future By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 5.19 that is when they fly to him and are found in him O what Grace is this that sinners should be cut out of their Natural Stock and be grafted into a Supernatural Stock that we should not be condemned for our own sins but be justified by the Righteousness of another That God should Rain Vengeance on him and Righteousness on us That Jesus Christ should be cast into Prison himself Isa 53.8 that he might call us
Criminals are sowed up and sealed up in a bag to be produced at the Trial of an Offender so are the Sins of Men Job 14.17 So many Sins as Men have committed and are unpardoned so many witnesses have they provided against the day of their Trial. Jer. 14.7 O Lord our Iniquities testifie against us Read Isa 59.12 Our Sins are not only as dead records but as living witnesses not only as matter of accusation but as accusers they cry to Heaven to kindle wrath against us and pluck down vengeance on us Gen. 18.20 21. Sodom's Sins did cry to Heaven against it Little do Sinners think that they are daily filling Gods Book with complaints and accusations and filling his Treasury with Wrath and piling up Fuel to burn and Torment themselves It is nothing else but the speaking Blood of Christ that can stop the mouths of these witnesses and silence the clamours of their Sins 7. Every Sin deserves Eternal death Rom. 6. last Death is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wages of Sin The word signifies Soldiers wages Luke 3.14 They that cleave to Satan as their General that stay in his Tents Fight on his side against God shall have Eternal death as wages paid to them Tribulation is due to the Body Anguish to the Soul and Conscience of every Transgressor Rom. 2.9 God will repay fury Isa 59.18 he will render anger to his adversaries Isa 66.15 8. Consider there is Judgement to come Heb. 6.2 God seeth all Mens Provocations Hos 5.3 Prov. 15.3 Jer. 13. last And he will be a swift witness against them Mal. 3.5 God hath not in vain Registred the Sins of Men the Book of God and the Eye of the Soul shall be opened no Sin shall be forgotten Amos 8.7 all shall be brought to light Eccles 11.9 1 Cor. 4.5 and be brought into Judgment Eccles 12.14 There will not only be a Resurection of Bodies but a Reviving and Remembrance of Sins If your Sins are not pardoned but remain before God's Face Psal 90.8 They will shortly be reviewed by God and set in order before your face Psal 50.21 If you inherit the Sins of your whole life Job 13.26 you will be Heires of Shame Misery and Eternal Torments 2. Motive Consider what great advantages we have in these times of the Gospel as to a participation of this Righteousness of God 1. It is now wrought out and perfected Jesus Christ hath been a Faithful High-Priest Heb. 2.17 And a Righteous servant Isa 53.11 God devolved the greatest trust on Christ and he undertook took the hardest and most noble work even to make Restitution to God for the wrong we had done him and to make Reconciliation for us to appease the Wrath we had provoked and to divert form us the Punishment we had deserved The Jews thought of old that their High-Priest was trusted with their greatest concerns and for fear he should be a Sadducee or out of heedlessness neglect any part of his Office on the day of Atonement they used Solemnly to swear him to a full and faithful discharge of his Office in the great Work of that day But our Lord Jesus Christ was by fervent love to his Father and his People Heartily and throughly engaged in this great Work he undertook and hath fully discharged it He glorified God on Earth he finished the Work he gave him to do John 17.4 He would not dye till he could say all was finished John 19.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How honourable a word is this to Christ And how Comfortable a word is this to us Jesus Christ as the slain Goat did bear our Sins and as the Scape-Goat he did bear them away As God did lay Sins on Christ Isa 53.6 so he purged them Heb. 1.3 and put them away He hath been a most Righteous servant to God his very Sufferings that in a Moral sence were Punishments yet in a Legal sence were Righteousness Jesus Christ is perfected himself Heb. 5.9 And he hath by one Offering for ever perfected us Heb. 10.14 There is signal evidence and demonstration that Jesus Christ hath finished his Work for he could not else have confidently commended and committed his Soul to his Father Luke 23.46 He would not else have been welcome to him and Received by him John 16.10 The World was to be convinced of Christ's Righteousness by this argument that he did go to the Father and they did see him no more on Earth How could he have ventured into the glorious Presence of God if he had not Righteously performed what he undertook Would not the Father have sent him back again into the World if he had omitted or left any thing undone But Christ saith he should be seen on Earth no more in the form of a Servant to do any Work in a state of Humiliation 2. The Father Raised him up from the Dead 1. Pet. 1.21 He Released our Surety out of the Prison of the Grave which he would not have done if the debt had not been fully paid Therefore an Angel came down from Heaven to roll away the Stone from Christ's Grave Matth. 28.2 This was an Officer from the great Judge of Heaven and Earth to free our surety and to evidence that God was satisfied and did allow Christ's Resurrection 3. The Father exalted Jesus Christ by his own right Hand Acts 5.31 And gave him Glory that we might be encouraged and emboldened from thence to act our Faith and hope in God 1 Pet. 1.21 4. Jesus Christ is sat down at the Right Hand of God in the Heavenly Sanctuary Heb. 1.3 Heb. 12.2 What an honour was this to our High-Priest to sit down in the true Holy of Holies When the High-Priest under the Law might not sit down in the Typical Holy of Holies And Christ's siting down did shew he had done his Work and might now take his rest This the Apostle makes the great difference between Christ and the Priests of the Law If they stood dayly Ministring and Offering Sacrifices that could never take away Sin But Christ When he had Offered one Sacrifice for ever be sat down on the Right Hand of God Heb. 10.11 12. The Priests of the Law did go on in their Ministry they stood Offering Sacrifices their Work was never at an end they could never sit down But Christ hath Finished his Work and therefore is sat down and expects that all his Enemies shall be made his Footstool Heb. 10.13 5. Jesus Christ as he is released so he Preaches the opening of the Prison to us Isa 61.1 God's Prison is not Forced or Broken but opened in a Righteous way our Ransom being paid Matth. 20.28 Christ therefore now comes to the Prison-door and saith to the Prisoners Come forth you that were hid in Prisondarkness now shew your selves and appear with boldness and confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary Isa 49.9 2. The Righteousness of Christ is now brought Dan. 9.24 To bring Everlasting Righteousness Eternal Redemption is now
Justified in such a Righteous way therefore they may Glory Isa 45. last against all Accusations and Accusers against all Dangers and Threatnings 2. The Justified are Redeemed from the Curse and delivered from the wrath to come 1. They are Redeemed from the Curse by Christ's being made a Curse Gal. 3.13 The Apostle used the Abstract taking it from Deut. 21. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is Hanged is the Curse of God God did take order for the Burying of him the same day that he was Hanged Deut. 21.22 23. Cocceius doth think that this very Law pointed at Christ and doth Teach us that Jesus Christ by bearing the Curse so abolished it that it was Buried with him the same day in his Grave As sin is covered and hid Psal 32.1 so the Curse also must be Buried out of God's sight 2. They are delivered from Wrath and that because Jesus Christ was delivered up to Sufferings and Death God delivered up Christ to Death Rom. 8.32 and therefore Jesus Christ can deliver us from Wrath 2 Thess 1. last The sins of the Elect met with Christ and fell on him with great violence the Reproaches of them that reproached God fell on him Rom. 15.3 The Ark was sitted to save Noah from the Flood that drowned others it was Pitched within and without Gen. 6.11 14. so that no water could come in So Christ was pitched within with a perfect sinless Righteousness and without with a spotless Obedience and so is able to protect us from the Deluge of God's Wrath. 3. Those that are Justified have peace with God and may dwell safe from the fear of evil Prov. 1. last As in the Text it is said Israel shall dwell safely The chastisement of our peace was laid on Christ We may put away our sins because God laid them on Christ It is a great thing to have Conscience purged from dead works Heb. 9.14 and to be purified from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 not to have Conscience as a continual accuser and tormentor Augustin in his Confessions saith He could remember his old sins without horrour A Man doth not fear a Cancelled Bond. The Israelites did not dread the drowned Egyptians when they saw them dead on the Sea-shore Exod. 14.30 The smart the anguish the burden of an accusing Conscience is not to be expressed I have Read of one Pausanias a Lacedemonian Captain that killed a Virgin that was brought to him but would not be exposed to his Lust After this Cruel Fact he was seized with such Horrour that though he being a Heathen himself had tried all the ways of Purification in use among them yet he could not recover any Peace but was a continual Terrour to himself Pausanias a Grecian Writer hath this History in his Laconica Varenius in his History of Japan cap. 5. tells us of one Angarus a Native of Japan that Murder'd a Man and was seized with such Terror and Anguish of Mind that he could not shake off or get rid of But hearing of a New Religion Taught in China and in the East Indies he took a Voyage and Sailed to meet with Francis Xavioeur that by his Instructions he might get some Healing of his wounded Conscience and was the first Instrument to bring the Christian Religion into Japan O! what an excellent Fruit is this of Christ's Blood to be delivered from the beginnings of Hell in Soul Torments and to have the First-fruits of Heaven in Spiritual Peace and Joy 4. Those that are clothed with Christ's Righteousness have a sure and permanent state of Justification so that new Acts of Guilt shall not subvert and destroy it or lay their Persons under the Sentence of Eternal Death There is a simple hatred and guilt and there is a hatred and guilt redounding on the persons of Offenders Believers by and for new acts of Sin deserve to be hated of and condemned by God but guilt and hatred do not redound on their Persons but fall on their Sins It is very observable that though Simeon and Levi had been guilty of heinous crimes in killing the Shechemites yet they being probably Good Men in the Main Jacob doth not Curse their Persons but Curses their Anger and their Wrath Gen. 49.7 this was so cruel that it might have brought a Curse on them but Jacob that was guided by the Holy Ghost layes the Curse on their evil and extravagant Passions but not on their Persons It is expresly said There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Jesus Christ can have no Accursed or Condemned Members such are passed from death to life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Jesus Christ hath Merited for Believers the Pardon of all their Sins and Christ still appears in the Presence of God to Answer Accusers and to prevent Condemnation Heb. 9.23 24. It would be very hard for any to assert that New Acts of Sin do stop or obstruct the Intercession of Christ for Believers If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.12 His Righteousness doth render his Intercession powerful and prevalent for their pardon the Lamb of God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking away the sin of the World John 1.29 The Blood of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth cleanse away sin It is God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.33 that is Justifying or that Justifieth These three expressions do note a continued act of God and Christ that Christ is still taking away sin cleansing from it to distill Justifying Believers from their Iniquities The Israelites that were the Church of God had an Atoning Sacrifice day and dight Burning on the Altar Numb 16.9 Psal 50.8 which did not only signifie their continual need of Pardon that sin might not fix and settle on them but did also import the perpetual influence and efficacy of the Blood of Christ for the keeping of Believers in a Justified State and acceptance with God If by reason of wrong steps taken God ceaseth to Justifie and the Blood of Christ to speak on the behalf of offending Believers they must certainly be Condemned If the guilt of one sin redounds on the person and sticks on the Soul a state of Justification is destroyed For how can a Man be Justified and Condemned at the same time if every new sin redounds on the Person and shuts it up under Guilt Then how can there be any such thing as a state of Justification continuing one hour But it is said ordinary Infirmities are pardoned without explicit or particular acts of Repentance but it is not so with greater sins But should not persons do well to consider whether God hath two ways to pardon whether a General Repentance will serve to remove some Sins but a more particular Repentance is requisite that God may pardon more heinous and grievous sins if these affect the person and lay him under Condemnation till deeper Repentance and more
greatest Evils so he Swears again to assure us of the greatest good By my self have I Sworn saith God to Abraham that in Blessing I will Bless thee Heb. 6.13 14. Those to whom Christ is made Righteousness do also receive the Holy Spirit The clean Water of Christ's Blood and the Spirit do go together Ezek. 36.25.27 Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Psal 51.12 Some call the gift of the Spirit Executive Justification they mean that God executes the Sentence of Justification by bestowing the Spirit to break off our Chaines burn up our Dross purge away our Filth and make us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 Though the Law of Sin be a strong and powerful Law to inslave us yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is more mighty to set us free as Jesus Christ by his Blood redeems us to be the Temple of God so by his Spirit he comes into his Temple takes Possession of it and fills it with his Glory As we live by the Sentence of Justification so Christ lives in us by the Spirit of Sanctification Gal. 2.20 The Spirit is given as a Tree of Life and all Graces are the Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The Holy Ghost is given as the well of all Living Waters and Spritual streames John 4.14 John 7.37 38 39. By Faith we drink in the very Well it self and therefore Believers can never be totally dry He that Believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.35 Observe and compare the words of God the Father Zech. 13.7 with the words of the Church Cant. 4. last As God said once Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the Man that is my Fellow smite the Shepherd so the Church now saith daily Awake O North wind and blow O South wind upon my Garden that the Spices of it may flow forth Because the Sword of Justice hath awaked terribly against Christ the Spirit may sweetly awake and blow on our Soules excite quicken and draw forth Grace into act and exercise Christ gives his people the Glory that the Father gave him John 17.22 Musculus understands this Glory to be the gift of the Holy Ghost The Spirit was on Christ Isa 61.1 and given to him John 3.34 And Christ communicates this glorious Spirit to his Members as the soul of the whole mystical body and this makes them one with the Father and the Son and perfects them in one because they participate of the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son and have by it a new divine Nature and do aim at design and seek the Glory of the Father and the Son as they do design their own Glory 6. The Prayers of Justified persons are acceptable to and powerful with God for the Spirit that testifies God's Grace to Believers doth make Intercessions in them As a Spirit of Grace it gives Encouragement to Prayer as a Spirit of Supplication it gives assistance in Prayer Zeck 12.10 Rom. 8.26 This is the Fire from Heaven that warms our cold hearts and kindles all our Sacrifices that they may flame upwards The Prayer of a Believer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 5.16 A deep in-wrought Prayer it is not born in the lips but springs from the Soul Luther on Genesis well expresses it it is not Spuma oris sed singulus cordis The Foam of the Mouth but the Throbbing and Sighing of the Heart The Holy Ghost breaths in Holy Affections and the Soul then breaths out holy desires and expressions Saints pray as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as those that are possessed and acted mightily by the Spirit of God hence it is that they so strive and wrestle with God and their prayers are so much valued and desired by Christ Those are wonderful words Cant. 2.14 Christ saith to the Church Let me see thy face let me hear thy voice He that seeth his Father's Face above desires to see Petitioners Faces below He that hears the Songs the Hallelujahs of Angels of Saints in Heaven desires to hear the Voice the Suits of Believers on Earth And as their Prayers are desired so they are accepted The Prayer of the upright is God's delight Prov. 15.8 They Pray in Christ's powerful Name John 16.23 26. and he adds the Incense of his Merits to the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8.3 and so takes away the Iniquity of their Holy Things The Altar had a Grate of Brass Exod. 27.4 the use of it was to separate the Earthy and Grosser part of the Sacrifice and to let the Ashes through So Christ is an Altar that hath a Grate he separates our sins our defects our weaknesses from our services yea he is the Altar on which our Offerings must be laid and that renders our Sacrifices acceptable to God Isa 60.7 It is said that the Offerings of Believers shall ascend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Good-Will my Altar God speaks and puts this glorious Name on Christ Good-Will my Altar What an encouragement is this to Saints that are Spiritual Priests to offer Holy Sacrifices seeing they have Good-Will for their Altar God is so pleased with and delights in Christ that he calls him Good-Will my Altar 7. All the outward and Temporal Mercies of Justified Persons are heightened and sweetened to them by the Spring from whence they flow and they have a new tast He delivered me saith David because he delighted in me Psal 18.19 In love to my Soul saith Hezekiah he hath delivered me from the pit of corruption having cast all my sins behind his back Isa 38.17 Even Temporal Mercies are Glasses in which they see their Father's Face and are Stairs or Ladders by which their Hearts are raised to God Jehoshaphat had an Established Kingdom Riches and Honour in abundance And what was the fruit and effect of this his heart was lifted up in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17.5 6. Earthly Enjoyments do usually fuel Men's Lusts but they fed and inflamed Hezekiah's Love to God they are to Carnal Men Weights that press them down the Prosperity of Fools doth destroy them Prov. 1.32 but through Grace they are Wings to raise Saints Souls to God Believers enjoy their outward Mercies by a Spiritual Right they have them by Promise Heb. 11.9 Canaan was the Land of Promise and Abraham was Heir to it by the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Sacrifices were slain that Typified Christ and then God entred into a Covenant with Abraham gave and assured Canaan to him Gen. 15.8 9 10 17 18. Believers have a Right to Earthly things by God's Promise and Christ's Death who is the Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Earthly things are but as Cyphers but God adds a great Figure to them to make them signifie something Gen. 17.8 I will give thee the Land of Canaan and I will be thy God they are to Believers but additional things as an over-plus cast into the Kingdom of God as the Principal Matth. 6.33 So the Country of Sihon and Og the King of
Bashan were given to Israel that they might have a passage to Canaan their Inheritance Deut. 2.30 Deut. 3.1 So God gives the Earth to his People that they may have a passage through it to their Heavenly Country 8. All the Afflictions of Justified persons 1. Are allayed and mitigated Saints do acknowledge that God punishes them less than their Iniquities do deserve Ezra 9.13 the Wind is not so high the Furnace is not so hot the Burden is not so heavy as their sins do Merit yet God as a Father accounts the Sufferings of his People to be too much Isa 40.1 Thou hast received double at the hand of the Lord for thy sins These Sufferings that are not enough to Rigorous Justice are too many to Fatherly Mercy He stops his Hand sheathes his Sword throws away his Rod when yet our Sins call for more Strokes and Stripes He refines us but not with Silver Isa 48.10 he doth not so long keep us in the Furnace of Affliction till our Dross is quite separated and consumed for then our whole life would be nothing else but a Series of Misery and Sufferings 2. Our Afflictions have a new face they are not the fruits of pure Vindictive Justice or Wounds from an Incensed Implacable Judge but Chastisements from a Father who tho' he Corrects in time yet is pacified and reconciled for Eternity Yea Afflictions spring from God's Care of us and Love to us Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as sons Heb. 12.6 7. Those that are without Chastisement are Bastards and not Sons those that are an Illegitimate spurious seed the Father is ashamed to own and acknowledge them or to take any care about their breeding and education and regards not to correct them when they do amiss but a Lawful Posterity are better bred duely taught and timely corrected and God Chastens them with Judgment not in Anger Jer. 10.24 God may be said to Correct with Judgment when he considers their Relation and the Nearness of his People to him Lam. 2.20 Behold O Lord and consider to whom hast thou done this and when God considers rather how little his People can bear than how much they deserve and God hath gracious ends in Afflicting his People 1. That they may not be Condemned and perish with the wicked World 1 Cor. 11.32 We are judged and chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the World 2. God Afflicts to purge away sin to separate us from our dross of Iniquity and sin of Hypocrisie Isa 1.25 this is the fruit and end of Corrections to take away sin Isa 27.9 to drive away that Spiritual folly that is in our hearts God is a Refining Fire that he may not be a consuming fire as a Physitian takes away Blood to allay a Feaver and cure a Disease 3. God designs by Afflictions to make us partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12.10 11. that we might learn more to live to him and be brought more to live on him that we might less solace our selves in the Creature and more delight in himself that we might be more conformed to him and be better fitted to converse with him Though Afflictions are Punishments to the Old Man to pull it down yet they are Mercies to the New Man to build it up A poor Man would quietly suffer his Lord to pull down an old decaying sinking Cottage if he did believe that he designed to raise and build up a strong and better House all Afflictions tend but to wast and extinguish the life of the First Adam in the Body to make room for and to let in the glorious life of Christ into it at the Resurrection 4. This is a weighty and powerful consideration to lessen and lighten the anguish and bitterness of our Afflictions that Justification gives a Fatal and Mortal Blow at the root of them The time is coming when the Inhabitants of Zion shall not any more say that they are sick for their Iniquities shall be forgiven them Isa 33. last God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of Saints there shall be no more pain sorrow or crying no more Death Revel 21.4 No more Curse Revel 22.3 The days of Saints mourning shall be at an end Isa 60.20 All Afflictions are but short and momentary and therefore but light 2 Cor. 4.17 9. Death is an Advantage to Justified Persons Death is theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 To die is gain Phil. 1.21 In Death the Wicked Fear the greatest evil but the Righteous hope for the greatest good Prov. 14.32 When the Body falls under the Bondage of Corruption the Souls of Believers are perfectly freed from the Bondage of Sin Though it be a Mournful Seed-time to our Flesh it is sown in corruption 1 Cor. 15.42 yet it is a Joyful Harvest to the Spirit for it reaps Everlasting Life Gal. 6.8 Death that is in it self the most terrible thing hath Colour put into its pale Cheeks and it is changed into a comfortable thing Death in Christ is the purchase of all our happiness and Death to Believers is the way to possess it by Christ's Death they are Heirs in Reversion by their own Death they are Heirs in Possession that which utterly impoverishes others greatly enriches them that which kills the Body perfectly cures the Soul When our baser part shall return to the Dust feed Worms dwell in the darkness of the Grave our better part shall be called up to the Marriage Feast to see the Face of God and dwell in glorious Light and Reign in a Blessed Life Christ hath made Death Mortal and threatens to be a Plague a Deadly disease to it and to be Destruction to the Grave Hos 13 14. 10. Justified Persons shall Rise by the Power of Christ their Head and Second Adam 1 Cor. 15.22 His Spirit will find out the Ruines and Rubbish of its old Temple and build it up again as a Glorious and Everlasting habitation for it self Rom. 8.11 in Saints that shall be found alive at the last day mortality shall be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5.4 Dead Saints shall be raised and in them Death shall be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 a Body shall be formed up again so the Grave shall lose its Victory this Body shall be animated and alive so Death shall lose its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 when the Soul bears the Image of Christ in Holiness 2 Cor. 3. last and the being in a Glorious Immortality 1 Cor. 15.49 then we shall be satisfied with his likeness Psal 17. last then Christ will give his Members clear and full Evidences of their Adoption Rom. 9.23 when their Bodies shall be redeemed from the Bondage of Corruption and Soul and Body both shall possess a lot in the Heavenly Canaan Dan. 12. last As Saints die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 sleep in him 1 Thes 4.14 so they shall be made alive in Christ 1
to resist and contradict the Law of God This was very strange and surprizing to Paul he was decived in this he thought the Law would have repressed beaten down and mortified Sin but it rather fortified it As a Man that doth not know the Nature of Burning Lime thinks by pouring a little water on it to quench it but when he seeth that this water makes it to burn more vehemently and fiercely How would he as amazed cry out How am I deceived that the water should increase the Fire that I thought would extinguish it So the Law doth not weaken Sin but rather strengthen it and render it more violent 4. The Law punishes every Sin with Death Every Lust is mortal every wrong step is fatal and corrupt Fruit is pernitious and destructive Though Ismael might be guilty of many other offences yet for a weighty reason Moses mentions but one and that was his mocking at Isaac and for this he was cast out and cast off Gen. 21.8 9 10 11. Ismael was Hagar's Child and so a Type of them that cleave to the Covenant of Works The Law Curses for every act of Disobedience Deut. 27. last One offence according to the Covenant of Works is enough to undo and Ruin a Man to Eternity 5. There is no access to God by the Covenant of Works When the Law was given Bounds were set about Mount Sinai to keep off the people of Israel they were charged not to break through Death was denounced as the Punishment of those that touched the Mountain Exod. 19.12.13.21 The people therefore removed and stood a-far off Exod. 20.18 None of the other Priests or Worshiping Israelites might enter into the Tabernacle till Atonement was made for their Sins by Aaron the High-Priest Levit. 16 17. But after that Sacrifices were Slain Offered and their Blood Sprinkled on the Altar and the People then Moses Aaron and Seventy of the Elders of Israel ascended Mount Sinai and saw the Glory of the God of Israel Exod. 24.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. These Sacrifices were but Types of Christ's Death he died the Just for the Unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 else we are shut out of the Glorious Presence of God and cut off from all Gracious and Blessed Communion with him God is not accessible by the Covenant of Works guilty Creatures are kept off from him 6. The Law genders to Bondage Galat. 4.22 a Spirit of Bondage to Fear attends it Rom. 8.15 as Hagar and Ismael had a slavish Fear of Abraham as a Master rather than a Conjugal Love to him as a Husband or a Filial Love to him as a Father Those under the Covenant of Works are still doubting of God's Favour questioning his Love dreading of his Wrath They do not know whither Death will carry them and where Judgment will fix them and therefore through the Fear of Death they are all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.15 the fear of the evil that is future doth embitter to them all present Good The Law was given in such a Manner that it was designed to strike Fear and Terror into Sinners The Israelites were then alone with God in the Wilderness separated from all other Nations This might intimate that God and the Sinner shall be alone together and all pleasing Company and delightful Enjoyments shall be shut out The Thunder did roar in their Ears and the Lightning did flash and flame in their Eyes and the Earth did tremble under their Feet Exod. 19.16 18. Whither shall a Guilty Sinner betake himself when the Heavens do threaten Vengeance over his head and the Earth seems sinking under his feet The Mountain did burn with fire Exod. 19.16 18. with Deut. 5.23 this did represent the fiery Throne of God and his burning Wrath wherewith as a Judge he is Armed to punish and destroy those that trust in their Works and will have to do with God according to the Covenant of Works But though the Mountain did burn yet it was not consumed So guilty Creatures shall burn in the fire of God's Wrath yet never be consumed or cease to be There was Blackness Darkness and Tempest Heb. 12.18 These pointed at the perplexed state of a Sinner the horrour and consternation of the Soul when God the Judge doth shew his Justice and Wrath for the Violation of the Condition of the Covenant of Works O what black darkness will cover Sinners O what a Terrible Storm and Tempest will one day be raised in and fall upon their Souls The sound of the Trumpet that was exceeding loud Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.19 did signifie that Sinners must be cited to and presented before the Tribunal of God neither can any decline or avoid appearing before God's Justice-Seat Yet the Apostle calls this Mount Sinai a Mountain that was in it self Tangible or might be touched that so it was an Earthly and Material Mountain because the Dispensation of the Law and Covenant of Works is but a low Dispensation A Natural Man may Touch and Reach this that God will inflict evil on those that rebel and do evil When as the Covenant of Grace is a Spiritual and Invisible Mountain far above the reach and comprehension above the sight and ken of a Natural Man And what did all this Terror in giving the Law tend to but to raise a Spirit of Bondage in sinners and by Fear to drive and force sinners to some External Obedience to the Letter of the Law which yet they perform with Regret and Reluctancy and not with Love and delight 7. There is no enjoyment of the Eternal Inheritance by the Law the Bond-woman and her Son were to be cast out Galat. 4.20 21. Gen. 21.8.10 Ismael was not admitted or allowed to be an Heir with Isaac He did not Inherit Abraham's Rich Estate Moses could not bring the Israelites into or give them possession of the Land of Canaan this Joshua the Type of Christ did Hagar and Ismael were turned out with a small pittance they had but a few Loaves and a Bottle of Water It may seem strange that Rich Abraham should provide no better for his Wife and Child but there was a Mystery in it it served to instruct us that those that are of the works of the Law cannot be Heirs of Heaven cannot possess any Spiritual Riches or an Eternal portion in Glory but are put off with Temporary Momentary Comforts and Enjoyments What are the best things that this World affords What are Earthly Riches Honours or Pleasures compared with an Eternal Happiness they are but as a few Loaves of Bread and a Bottle of Water When Hagar and Ismael were turned out they wandered in a Wilderness Gen. 21.14 O what a difference was there between the plenty and abundance of Abraham's Family and the wants of a Barren Wilderness The World it self is but a Wilderness compared with the Paradise of God Revel 2.7 A Legal state under the Covenant of Works What is it but a wretched
How much are Men dismayed and terrified at the Thoughts of Death Therefore they are very unwilling to step beyond Death in their thoughts or to Travel into Eternity in their Meditations They Fear to meet with a terrible Host of Sins an Ocean of Wrath a Lake of Fire and Brimstone They bode no good to themselves at their departure out of this World God the great Creditor Records their debts and Conscience his Officer doth sometimes charge them and arrest their Souls They have no Spiritual Balsom then to heal their wounds No arm to lean on to support their Souls None to roll away the Burden of their Guilt to pacify or quiet their accusing and condemning Conscience To Bail them when they are arrested for a debt of Ten thousand Talents they cannot look inward but they see an Evil Treasure and a Conscience loaded with Dead Works They cannot look upward but they see God's frowning Face and Fiery Throne They cannot look forward but they see a deep pit a dark Prison and Revenging Justice armed for their destruction The Covenant of Works is a continual Root of doubts and feares Legalists are still questioning and asking Who shall descend into the Deep to satisfy them That the Gates of Hell are shut that they shall not enter by and pass through them into the Regions of Darkness and Misery Or they inquire Who shall ascend up to Heaven to assure them that the Doer of Heaven is open to let them into Glory Rom. 10.6 7. They have still perplexed minds and anxious thoughts they cannot see themselves secured from a Miserable or assured of a Blessed Eternity They fear they shall make a ruining and undoing change be totally Shipwrackt and cast away Body and Soul for ever They cannot totally suppress the thoughts of Eternity or Comfortably entertain them They can neither stupify nor pacifie Conscience How often are Sinners terribly awakened and alarm'd when Death looks them in the Face O! what a bitter cry of Destruction do they then lift up Isa 15.5 All their Sins as the adversaries of Zion once did Lam. 1.31 do overtake them between the Straits when they walk through the narrow Valley of the shadow of death as Jesus Christ himself was in an Agony near his end Luke 22.44 When he saw what an Host of Infernal Enemies he must Fight through what an Ocean of Wrath he must Swim through this put him into a Bloody sweat When he beheld the Frowning Face of God the Fiery Throne and the Flaming Sword of Justice this drew strong Cryes and Teares from Christ Heb. 5.7 So if Sinners be not stupified if they see themselves going to an Eternal execution that they will be ever Suffering and never die That there will still be Food for an Everlasting Worm and Fuel for an Eternal Fire This will fill them with Consternation and Horrour Condemned Transgressors must bear their Iniquities yet cannot stand or bear up under this load They cannot stay yet dare not to depart they cannot hide yet are not fit to appear they must stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 yet cannot stand in the Judgement Psal 1.5 They must appear before that Tribunal Cor. 5.10 where yet they cannot Confidently or Comfortably appear 1 Pet. 4.18 They dread the next step they shall take when out of the Body where their Lot will fall and what their Treatment will be to Eternity Beleivers indeed do confidently commit and commend their Soules into the Hands of their Redeemer Psal 31.5 But wicked Men full sorely against their wills must fall into the Hands of an angry Creditor and of an inexorable Judge Heb. 10.31 They must answer for their own Sins there is no other to pay their Debts Satisfie for their Offences Plead for their Reconciliation All their Iniquities will overtake them in another World and meet them at the Tribunal of God None of them are blotted out or passed over God hath Sworn by himself he will never forget any of them Amos 8.7 God will open the Treasury of his Wrath and shut up the Bowels of his Mercy he will remember Iniquity and therefore forget to be Gracious God will enter into Judgement with Sinners and stand up to plead against them Isa 3.13 14. Delinquents must appear Criminals must be brought unto Judgement Eccles 11.9 and all their thoughts words and actions must appear and be brought into Judgement Eccles 12. last God will pass a Just Condemning Sentence and terribly Execute it on them As the Sun was Eclypsed and darkness covered the Earth when Christ Died so the Gracious Countenance of God will be Eternally Eclypsed towards Sinners Christ met with Affronts Indignities Blowes before the Tribunal of Men And what must Sinners look for at the Tribunal of God Jesus Christ was denied any refreshment when he thirsted So Sinners shall not obtain a drop to cool their scorched tongues Luke 16.22 23 24 25. As the Waters did persue all that were out of the Ark till they were drowned So Sin shall hunt persue find out and overtake Sinners for their Eternal Destruction Psal 140.11 Ezek. 35.63 Numb 2.23 All that is grateful and sweet in the being of Sinners shall be consumed yet they themselves shall still exist to suffer more Punishment and Torment God's Controversie with Sinners will never be at an end His Sword will never be sheathed The dreadful storm of Vengeance will never cease God's Eternity will be dreadful for he ever lives to punish and the Soul 's own Immortality will be terrible to it For it shall ever exist to be punished So that Sinners would rather sleep in the dust for ever than to have a Resurection to Condemnation John 5.28 and had rather be annihilated than suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire If departing Souls did see whither they were going and know what they must suffer Would not their Chambers sound with these dreadful words We must dwell with Everlasting Fire we must inhabit with Eternal Burnings 8. It is bad not to have Christ to be our Righteousness if we consider how many foolish devices sinners seek out to quiet and ease their Consciences and yet by all these they do but delude and cheat their Souls Some Fast often eat course Food wear Hair-cloth Whip themselves severely lie on the Ground Those that have not rest in Christ they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are still walking about in devices and inventions of their own Heb. 13.9 to pacifie God the Judge and to bribe Conscience his Officer How woful is the Case of some ignorant Protestants of the blind Papists of the deluded Jews the deceived Mahumetans and Heathens Papists think by severity and cruelty to their Bodies to expiate the sins of their Souls Some go in Pilgrimage to the Images of Saints some build Churches and Chappels and appoint Priests to Pray for their Souls while they live in Sensual Pleasures and serve their Lusts Some endow Religious Houses with Lands that
Masses may be said and Supplications made for their Souls * Dr. Addison of the Customs of the Jews in Barbary The Jews in the begining of the New Year do run into Rivers and there think to wash away their Sins if they see a fish in the water they will shake themselves and as it were endeavour to unlade their sins on the Fish that he may swim away with them On the day of Atonement the Men break the neck of a Cock and the Women of a white Hen as if those Birds should bear and expiate their Sins Some of the Jews as Buxtorf relates in his Synagoga Judaica do offer this Cock to the Devil to Bribe him that he may not Accuse them or hinder their Prayers When a Jew is sick and dying the Rabbi changes his Name and then Prays for him that if God were offended with one that did bear the first Name that yet he would be pacified towards him that now passes under a New Name as if the change of a Sick Person 's Name did make him another Person Indeed the Sinner must change his Name that he may be Pardoned but it is Christ's New Name that must be put on him that he may be Justified 1 Cor. 6.11 Yet these things do not quiet the Minds of the Jews but when they come to die they Pray to God That their Death may be the Expiation of all their Sins But how foolish is this to put their own Death in the room and place of Christ's Death Yet this doth not allay their Fears they further own that all or many of them must suffer pains in another World for Eleven or Twelve Moneths and that they need the help of their Living Friends to Pray them out of this place and pains The Bannians in the East-Indies are Baptized in the River Ganges for the cleansing away of their Sins as Mr. Lord relates in his History some do bring the Dead Bodies of their Friends ten days Journey or more to wash them in the River Ganges that they may be purified from guilt others do stand in painful postures with one Leg up others do Vow they will never eat any thing but what they find on the High-way There is a Tree in the East-Indies which the Natives do call Adam's Tree on the Boughes of it they do hang up sharp Irons much like such as our Butchers do hang dead Beasts on the Boughs of the Tree being low they leap up with their Naked Bodies against these Iron Hooks and if they do take hold of their Flesh they hang on them till the weight of their Bodies doth tear them off from these Iron Hooks this they do as they pretend to Expiate Adam's Sin in eating of the Forbidden Fruit. These things Tavernier Relates in the History of his Travels in the East-Indies The Mahometans do Fast go on Pilgrimage to Mecha to Mahomet's Tomb they draw Water out of a Well there and in the Water of it they think they Wash away all their sins Many more of such Foolish Inventions and Practices I could Instance in at what painful or costly service or suffering will an Awakened Sinner stick to pacifie God's Wrath and to be rid of the Fear of Eternal Torments But there is no other Shadow for Scorched or Rest for Weary Souls but in Jehovah our Righteousness I shall now give some Directions how Persons may be driven to seek Righteousness in Christ and partake of it through him 1. We must consider that we have to do with God We must appear before his Tribunal and be weighed in his Ballance we must not as Hypocrites only look at the Eye Judgements and Praise of Men Luke 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men sought honour one of another John 5.44 but it is to God that you stand or fall he weigheth Spirits Prov. 16.2 He searcheth the heart and trieth the reins Jer. 17.10 Men may commend a fair Shew a Beautiful Tomb of out-side Religion when God seeth the Dead Souls and rotten hearts that is underneath Mat. 23.27 Acquaint your selves with the Holiness Purity and Justice of God God is a pure Light as he is Holy and a consuming Fire as he is a Just God He takes pleasure in Uprightness he hates Iniquity the Foolish shall not stand in his sight Evil shall not dwell with him Psal 5.45 An Hypocrite shall not come before him Job 13.16 He will not clear the Guilty Exod. 34.61.17 or Justifie the Wicked Prov. 17.15 He not only weighs the Actions 1 Sam. 23. but he also weighs the Spirits of Men Prov. 16.2 He hath Eyes that are exceeding pure Hab. 1.13 His eyes also are as a flame of Fire Revel 2.18 to espy the secret filth of Hypocrites God is Jealous of his Honour and Glory Nahum 1.2 He is a consuming fire to Impenitent Unbelieving Sinners We have to do with God are to present our selves in his sight and at his Tribunal The Righteous Judge of the World cannot be blinded will not be Bribed or Byassed Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances Micaah 6.11 Should I receive comfort in these corrupt Idolatrous Services Isa 57.6 God will not pervert Judgment accept or approve what Sinners would impose and obtrude upon him Will God allow a Faulty and Defective Righteousness Will he admit and impute it for a Full Perfect and Satisfactory Righteousness Will any other Righteousness but our Saviour Christ's please God's Eye weigh in his Ballance or be pleaded at his Tribunal Those that have not this Righteousness will be rejected as Reprobate Silver Jer. 6. last 2. Study the Purity Spirituality and Perfection of the Law of God The Law of the Lord is perfect Psal 19.7 The Word of God is very pure Psal 119.140 The Commandment is exceeding broad Psal 119.96 Though we may find out the utmost perfection that is in the Creature yet we cannot discover the depth and breadth of the Law of God We cannot say we have found out the utmost of Duty that the Law requires or the utmost of that Transgression and Iniquity that the Law forbids and condemns it obliges to the height of Love to God and forbids the least and lowest Lust to the prejudice of Men Matth. 22.37 39. Rom. 7.7 The first and last Commands do eminently discover the admirable purity and perfection of the Law of God Can you Answer Obey Stand before this perfect Law of God Should not the Terrible Trumpet of the Law Exod. 19.16 cause you to prize and long for to hear the sweet Trumpet of the Jubilee Levit. 25.9 The Law was not given to stop or detain us in it self but to drive us to Christ This was the Glory of the Law yet this Glory of it was Vailed and hidden from the Jews This was intimated by the Vail on Moses his Face The Jews did not see God's end in giving the Law 2 Cor. 3.13 God did not intend to Justifie us but to Accuse and Condemn us by
followed and an Execution have taken hold of us It is God's Right and Royal Prerogative That his Will should be our Supream Law and his Glory our last End but how have we debased God to exalt our selves how have we as it were spoiled him of his Soveraignity and justled him out of his Throne to establish our wicked wills and obtain an absolute unlimited and an independent liberty But Jesus Christ died to make satisfaction for the wrong Man had done God Psal 69.4 Then restored I that which I took not away The first Adam affected to be as God in Knowledge and Independency the second Adam was condemned for saying he was the Son of God Mat. 27.64 65 66. and making himself equal with God John 5.18 John 10.36 So Christ paid the Debt he did not contract and pacified the Wrath be did not provoke And how much should pardoning mercy engage our hearts to God The best of men are but reconciled Enemies released Prisoners pardoned Malefactors What mercy is it that he who seeth our sins with indignation should yet himself cover them in mercy Jer. 13. last Psal 85.2 That the God that wrote down sin Isa 65.6 should himself blot it out Isa 43.25 Sin is a terrible writing it self and it draws after it another more dreadful writing Job 13.25 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the sins of my Youth The Sentence of Death did use to be written and then read to Criminals Sin recorded will procure a written Sentence of Condemnation Punishment is the Eccho of sin In this sense Sanctius takes the Hebrew word Isa 59.12 Our sins answer to us How bad will it be to possess the sins of Youth The word rendred Youth Job 29.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies also Reproach It is too often that Youth is perverted so that it is a Reproach to God and to us too How necessary therefore is a Pardon to cross God's Book cancel our Bond and reverse the Sentence of Death God that wounds us with the threatnings of his Law heals us by the stripes of Christ He received Wounds that God might be Just in justifying them that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. How gracious is God that at once removes from us the Incentives of Wrath and presents to us the Fuel of Love Luke 7.47 48. How precious should Justification be to us that hath a sweet retrospect to Election and as accompanied with a comfortable prospect of Glory Whom God predestinated and called them he justified Thus we may with admiration look back And whom God justifies them he glorifies Rom. 8.30 And so we may with Joy look forward Pardon springs from everlasting Love flows to and issues in eternal Life What Thankfulness therefore doth it call for If he justifies we are no more to fear Crimes past so they are no more to go on in sin for time to come Hath not Christ born sufferings enough on the Cross that men will load him with new Affrints and Provocations Those do not think Christ's Sufferings to be bitter and heavy that can make light of and take delight in sin The Heart is to be Christ's habitation Eph. 3.17 and not the receptacle of any sweet and secret Lust We that daily need mercy should not daily provoke anger As the work of Creation is attended with providence which is a continual Creation so the new pardon we need and God bestows is a continual Justification as the Creation would sink without a day by providence to uphold it so Justification would cease without a daily pardon to continue it There may be a Pardon before a Trial to prevent Condemnation as well as a pardon after Sentence to hinder Execution That the Blood of Christ which meritoriously purged sin on the Cross Heb. 1.3 may be applied to you and sprinkled on you to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God is the unfeigned and servent desire of Your Lordship 's most Humble and Obliged Servant SAMVEL TOMLYNS Hilcot July 1. 1696. A SERMON PREACHED On the late Fast on the 26th Day of June 1696. PSAL. LI. 9. Hide thy Face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities IN the Text we have the Psalmist's Petition for Pardon but it may be objected 1. What need had David to beg Pardon had not God given it already Nathan told David the Lord had put away his iniquity 2 Sam. 12.13 I answer Though God had pronounced the Sentence of Justification by his Prophets yet it seems not to be pronounced in and sealed to David's Conscrence by the Spirits Peace is the Fruit of the Lips as spoken by God's Ministers yet it is the Effect of the Spirit as created in the Soul by it Isaiah 57.19 The Priest did use to sprinkle the Leper Lev. 14.7 But though David looked on himself as a Spiritual Leper yet he was not satisfied with the Priest's sprikling him with the Blood of the Sacrifice but he sues to God himself to sprinkle him with the Blood of his Son the thing signified so it is not enough for Ministers in God's Name to pronounce Pardon but the Spirit must Ratify it and Establish Peace in the Soul else the storm will not cease the wound be healed the burden be removed and the Soul land at the Port of Assurance The Psaimist in the Text doth in an humble way Address to God That he would hide his Face from his Sins and blot out his Iniquities he doth imply that if God's Eye was fixed on his Sins his Anger might be fired by them there was Fuel for God's wrath if God would but behold it there was matter enough for Accusation cause enough for Condemnation if God would but read it but he begs God would turn away his Face and shut his Eyes not observing or imputing what would be destructive to him the latter expression in the Text enlarges and encreases the Sense and heightens the Mercy he doth not only Pray that God would hide his Face from his Sins but that he would blot out all his iniquities A Man may turn away his Face from an Object and yet the thing still remain as it was and be as visible as legible as before but David sues to God not only to hide his Face from seeing sin but that he would so blot it out that it may not any more be visible legible or remain to be imputed Doctrine Awakened humbled Souls do cry for this as the most valuable Mercy that God would hide his Face from their Sins and blot out all their iniquities But what is it for God to hide his Face from Sin Answer It is not to see and observe it with the Eye of Vindictive Justice So it is said God doth not behold Iniquity in Jacob nor see Perverseness in Israel Numb 23.21 God passes by Sin as if he did not see it Mic. 7.18 and he passes over the sinner as if he did not observe his iniquity God covers
all their sin Psal 55.2 that it may not be seen he remembers it no more that it may not be Pnnished Jer. 31.34 Quest But how can such a request be made to God How can he hide his Face from Sin Is this Practicable For 1. God is Omniscient he seeth all the Neighings Lewdness Whoredoms of Souls Jer. 13. last Prov. 15.3 2. God is Holy and hath a most pure Eye Heb. 1.6 13. tho he cannot behold Evil with Approbation yet he must needs behold it with indignation as it provokes his Glorious Eyes Isa c. 3. v. 8. 3. God is a Just God he is not regardless of his Honour careless of his Glory but he is said to be Jealous and Furious Nahu 1.2 He hath quick lively warm Resentments of what grates on his Authority and affronts his Majesty he beholds mischief and spite to requite it with disdain Psal 10.14 As he is the Judg of the whole World vengeance belongs to him Psal 49.1 2. Answer God could not hide his Face from our Sins if there were not a most pleasant grateful lovely Object provided towards which he might turn his Face and on which he might fix his Eye on Mountebul where the Curises of the Law were pronounced there the Law was written on Stones Plaistered over and there an Altar was Built and Burnt-Offerings presented to God Deut. 27.2 35.6 and we have the Truth of both in Christ the Law is written in his Heart Psal 40.8 and he gave himself an Offering a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling Savour to God Ephes 5.2 and this Sacrifice did smell the sweetest in God's Nostrils because it was bound only with Cords of Love and burnt in Flames of Love Jesus Christ is the True High-Priest Exod. 28.36 38. that was perfectly sanctified purely and absolutely devoted to God Holiness to the Lord was engraven on Christ's Heart and was written on all his Actions impressed on his whole Life and when he died for our sins he rose again for our Justification and ascended up to Heaven and appears in the glorious presence of God continually Heb. 9.23 24. He hath sprinkled the Tribunal of Justice with his Blood and burns Incense continually before his Throne God may turn his Face towards this Grateful and Lovely Object and behold it with Complacencv and Delight Isa 42.1 Matth. 3.17 Christ's Undertaking as a Surety was the very Foundation of this Petition Hide thy Face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities Sins must be covered with somewhat that they might not be seen and what could this be but the Righteousness of our Mediator Iniquity must be blotted out with something and what is that but the Blood of our Surety and Sacrifice Quest But why is it so desirable and valuable a mercy for God to hide his Face from our sins and to blot out our iniquities I shall answer to each of these distinctly Answ 1. It is most desirable that God would hide his Face from our sins For First It is a most dreadful Evil for God to set our sins before him for them to be remembred by him and to be continually before him Psalm 109.14 15. This is there mentioned as the most terrible Imprecation Moses sadly complains thus Psalm 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance It is sweet for Souls to walk in the Light of God's countenance Psalm 89.15 but it is dreadful for sin to be set in the Light of God's countenance for God to use and exercise his Omnisciency to view sin well to countemplate to the utmost the Evil the Filth the Deformity that is in it and all the Aggravations of it and to set all in a full clear and perfect Light Here are Two Expressions our sins and our secret There is no more in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but our secret Chemnitius in Exam. Concil Trident. cap. de pec Orig. doth by our secret understand Original Sin Though the Fruits of it are Evident and Notorious to the World yet the Root is secret and hidden to most in the World One Butler that lived in London and was for Murder Condemned to Death being discoursed with in Newgate by Alderman Titchborn did ingenuously confess he was an utter stranger to Original Sin he knew nothing of it till he was by the Alderman instructed about it Taking the words of Moses in this sense this Interpretation is to be given That God took a full View both of Original and Actual Sin of the Root and its Fruits of the Fountain and all its Streams of the evil Treasure that is in the Heart and all the Corrupt Thoughts Words and Actions that were as Pieces Coined out of it God observes also the actual Sins that are Secret to and hid from Men that are either wholly concealed or palliated and flourished and painted over with specious excuses and pretences Hos 11.7 Tho there be a Beautiful Tomb of Professions above yet he seeth the corrupt rotten Heart that is underneath Matth. 23.37 Yea God seeth which way the Heart doth hang and sway before sin is actually conceived and brought forth Deut. 31.21 I know saith God their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the Land God did know the Bent the Bias the Propension and inclination of the Israelites Hearts toward Idolatry before he brought them into Canaan he knew what they would be and do This God did set in the light of his Countenance Now it is Terrible for God thus to set sin before him For 1. Sins thus set before his Face do provoke him to turn away and hide his gratious Countenance from Sinners Deut. 31.18 I will surely hide my Face in that Day for all the Evils they have wrought He doth threaten the same Deut. 32.20 If God doth but turn away his Face Enemies will break in upon us and Evils will over-whelm us Ezel 7.22 Yea by our Sins we deserve forever to be cast away from God's Gracious and Glorious Presence Cast me not away from thy Presence saith David Psal 51.11 2. Sin set before God's Face doth provoke God's Anger against the Soul it kindles Displeasure against the sin and it stirs up God to pour it out on the sinner Ezek. 38.18 My Fury came up into my Face Fury may be kept secret some time in God's Heart but it will come up into his Face and be openly manifested and expressed by the Judgments inflicted by his hand 1. God will set his Eyes on sinners for Evil Amos 9.8 Behold the Eyes of the Lord are on the sinful Kingdom to destroy it from off the Earth Psalm 34.16 The Face of the Lord is against them that do Evil to cut off the Remembrance of them from off the Earth 2. God will remove sinners out of his sight Jer. 15.1 Cast them out of my sight Jer. 23.39 I will cast you out of my presence 2 Kings 17.23 The Lord removed
Israel out of his sight and cast Judah and Jerusalem also out of his presence 2 Kings 24.20 And God removed Judah out of his sight 2 Kings 24.3 because the King and the People did evil in his sight 2 Kings 24.9 19. They were not cast out of the sight of God's Omniscient Eye but from the Eye of his gracious and Fatherly Providence 3. God will at last Rain a Hell from his Angry Face 2 Thes 1.9 Those that known not God and obey not the Gospel shall be Punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Face of the Lord the same Face shall shine a Heaven of Happiness into the Souls of the Saints and shall Frown an Hell of Misery into the Souls of the Wicked 2. If God hide his Face from our Sins Love will come up into his Face and look out at his Eyes on Believers and Saints Psal 4.6 Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance on us the Love that was secret and hidden in the Heart comes up into his Face and is manifested to and shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Cant. 8.10 I found Favour in his Eyes Love and Kindness sparkles in and looks out from the Eyes God looks with a pleasing Countenance on his People the Spiritual Day doth break and Dawn and the Sun of Righteousness doth Arise and Shine in the Hearts of Believers Malachy 4.2 Psa 130.5 6. and the Countenance of God is said to behold the upright Psal 41. last that is with complacency and delight he withdraweth not his Eyes from the Righteous Job 36.7 He sets his Eyes on them for good Jer. 24.6 I will set mine Eyes on them for good If Sin be not set before God's Face God may take good out of his Treasury for us and bestow it on us Hos 14.2 yea God will set us before his Face for Ever Psal 41.12 That we may still dwell in his Presence Psal 140. last and behold his Face in Righteousness Psal 17. last Psal 16. last 2. It is most desirable for God to blot out all our Iniquities for 1. It is the most dreadful Evil and Curse that can be wished for Sin not to be bloted out Psal 109.14 Let not the Iniquity of his Mother be blotted out 2. If God do not blot out Iniquitie he may by sudden Judgement and sore Vengeance blot persons out of the Land of the Living Gen. 7.4 Every Living Substance that I have made I will destroy in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will blot out Corrupt Men are Evil lines of being and it is said It repented God that he had made Man on the Earth it greived him at his Heart Gen. 6.5 Man is so cross and contrary to the very end of his Creation that God did blot out the Old World of Men by the Flood if Men are bloted out of the World in their Sins Where must they be lodged but in a miserable Eternity 3. If we consider what Sin is What a valuable Mercy is it for it to be bloted out 1. It is a mist a thinner or a thicker Cloud according to its Nature and aggravations Isa 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick Cloud thy Transgressions and as a Cloud thy Sins Sin is as a hiding Cloud it hinders the light of God's Countenance from shining on us Isa 59.2 Your Sins have hid his Face from you 2. It is as a storming Cloud Psal 11.6 The Lord will rain Fire and Brimstone on the Wicked this shall be the portion of their cup. If Men suffer here They are cast into the hand of their Transgression Job 8.4 In the Hebrew it is That God did cast Job's Children into the hand of their Transgression If their Iniquities are punished hereafter they do for them fall into the hands of God Heb. 10.31 2. Sin is a debt Matth. 6.12 Forgive us our debts These debts are recorded in the Creditor's Book God saith Behold it is written before me Isa 65.6 and it is registred also in the debter's Book Jer. 17.1 It is written it is graven that is the Sin of Judah on the Table of their Heart Sin is called a debt because the Sinner owes God Glory to be raised out of his Sufferings and Eternal Torments And it is desirable this debt should be blotted out to prevent God's arrest and our Eternal Imprisonment 3. Sin is a crime a capital crime and that which is kept safe as matter of accusation against the Sinner It is as it were sowed up in a bag Job 14.17 As the depositions of Witnesses and the confessions of Malefactors are kept safe against the Assizes and day of Trial. Yea Mens Sins are sealed up among God's Treasures Deut. 32.34 God speaks of the Israelites bitter and corrupt Fruit and then puts this question Is not this laid up in store with me Is it not scaled up among my Treasures God hath a Treasury of knowledg of all past things and Sins are sealed up among these Treasures But what a kind of capital crime is Sin I answer 1. It is Rebellion against God I have Nourished and brought up Children and they have Rebelled against me A Rebellious Subject with us a Rebellious Son among the Jews was put to Death What Homage do we owe to God our King What Obedience should we render to God our Father 2. Sin is Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery Hos 4.12 They have gone a Whoring from under their God Thou hast destroyed such as go a Whoring from thee Psal 73.27 Adultery was capital it was punished with death by the Law of God Men loath God and love the Creature 3. Sin is Robbery and Stealing Mal. 3.8 Ye have Robbed me God saith My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 But the Heart of Men goeth after their Coveteousness Ezek. 33.31 Though they are by Baptism and a Solemn Covenant devoted to God yet they Sacrilegiously alienate themselves from God Isa 24.5 They broke the Everlasting Covenant Is it not our benefit to have our Crimes blotted out 4. If Sin be not blotted out God cannot write his Laws in our Hearts Jer. 31.33 34. God promiseth to write his Laws in the Heart And why It is thus answered vers 34. For I will forgive their Iniquity and I will Remember Sin no more Forgiveness of Sin is the root of all the Promises and Covenant-Blessings 5. God cannot record any Good thoughts words or works of ours if Sin be not blotted out Mal. 3.16 A Book of Remembrance was written before him for those that feared the Lord and thought on his Name Sin doth so corrupt and stain our best Works that nothing might be recorded for our honour or advantage Nehemiah prays that God would not wipe out his good deeds Neh. 13.14 6. If Sins be not blotted out the time is coming when God's Book will be opened Revel 20.12 God will review Men's Sins look on them and
They that go a whoring from God shall be destroyed 2. Consider what is the great hindrance the grand obstruction of your Salvation Whether some Sin is not so sweet some Lust so pleasant and delightful that you will rather venture a miserable Eternity than part with it What is it that holds you Rom. 7.6 And what is it that you hold fast Jer. 9.5 There is some Adulterous League between you and your Lusts between your Hearts and the Creatures that hinders a lawful Marriage with Jesus Christ and an interest in his Salvation Do you not delight in some Abomination and therefore are unwilling to be made clean and set free from it 3. We must fly to Christ enter into this Ark get into this City of Refuge Men are said to be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation Isa 45.17 We must look to Christ for Salvation Isa 45.22 Come to him for Life John 5.40 There is a believing to Salvation Heb. 10. last Salvation is in Christ 2 Tim. 2.10 Redemption is in Christ Rom. 3.24 and everlasting Life 1 John 5.11 Trust on Christ and not on the pieces of the Shipwrack as they Acts 27. last Some have Civility Morality a little Form of Religion all these are but the broken Planks of our old Shipwrackt state do not mistake a Truce for a Peace Embalming for Quickening it is Christ only that can be our Salvation and our Life We must see the Son and believe on him John 6.40 Acts 16.31 that we may see Salvation Luke 3.6 Though Noah was a Righteous Man yet he must leave his own Home and enter into the Ark that he might be saved from the Flood So those that have most of an inherent Righteousness must not stay at Home nor trust in themselves but fly to Christ the Ark of Salvation that they may be deliver'd from an Eternal Storm of Fire and Brimstone Psal 11.6 4. We must repent unto Salvation 2 Cor. 1.10 wash our Hearts from wickedness that we may be saved Jer. 4.14 We cannot fly from wrath Mat. 3.7 If we do not escape that Corruption that is in the World through Lust 2 Pet. 1.4 how can we drink Spiritual Poyson wallow in our Mires serve those Lusts that war against our Souls and yet be saved 1 Pet. 2.11 We must crucify the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 It is these hurtful Lusts that do drown Men in Perdition and Destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 10. How can we be saved and yet retain that which keeps open the Breach keeps up the enmity between God and us Lusts do war against our Souls in good earnest and we must not be in jest with Sin or fight as those that beat the Air 1 Pet. 2.11 1 Cor. 9.26 5. We must work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling 2 Phil. 12 13. We must work upon and about our Salvation we must work more to perfect it there are things lacking in our Faith 1 Thes 3.10 We are defective in our Love and Holiness we must nor think we are rich enough are saved enough live enough we must not set any limits to Christ's Kingdom or bounds to our growth God bids us open our Mouth wide that he may fill it Psal 81.10 11. Christ came that his Sheep might have Life and have it more abundantly John 10.10 Saints should daily be drawing Spiritual Waters at the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.3 We must draw or else be dry we must draw or else decay and decline run behind hand and become poor What pains did Noah take in preparing for and building of the Ark and yet this was but the means of Temporal Salvation Noah was probably longer in building the Ark then we do live bere in the World and he did not give over till he had wrought out and finished this Vessel for his Temporal Salvation and shall we not all our Life long be working out and perfecting our Spiritual Salvation O tremble to neglect any means of Salvation or to use them slightly It is God that works in us both to will and do of his own meer good pleasure therefore we must not displease affront or provoke him by our Laziness or Slightness This is the great end and the proper improvement of God's long-suffering to account it Salvation 2 Pet. 1.15 that God spares us not that we might rise to Honour gather Wealth drink in sensual Pleasures and delight but that we might mind and pursue an Everlasting Salvation As God exercised long-suffering towards the Old World while the Ark was building 1 Pel. 3.20 so God lengthens out his Patience while the Elect are building up themselves on their most holy Faith and are perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 1 Cor. 7.1 Be therefore more renewed in the Spirit of your Minds Ephes 4.23 Let the word of God root deeper and let the Temple of God rise higher in you Let your Weeds be more rooted out your Filthiness be more purged away your Dross be more burnt up take heed of minding of and doting on Earthly things and of forgetting and neglecting your Eternal Salvation 6. We should order our Conversations aright Psal 50. last walk with God walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing 1 Col. 10.11 1 Thes 2.12 We must keep the way of Salvation walk in the path of Life and in the way everlasting Psal 159. last If we are guided by God's Counsel Psal 73. Psal 24. and led by his Spirit we shall be certainly received to his Glory 7. We should often consider that our Salvation draws every Day nearer Rom. 13.11.12 We advance in our Race we draw nearer to the Mark and Prize and this should mightily quicken and influence our Souls O think often of this that you are near the end of Time the Borders and Confines of Eternity you draw nearer to the glorious Presence of God and to an immediate and full Communion with him Should you flag or faint near the end of your Race should you grow drowsy and sleep at the Door of your Father's House near the Borders of Immanuel's Land O how should you rouse up your selves and consider you will soon be gone from the Lion's Den and Mountains of Leopards You will get out of this Barren Wilderness into the delicious pleasant Canaan that is above Salvation is ready to be revealed 1 Pet. 1.5 a full and perfect Salvation Christ will come as a Saviour from Heaven Phil. 3.20 His Life shall then perfectly be derived to the Soul and his Image be impressed on the Body Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.48 Then you will be satisfied with his likeness and be fitted to have an immediate and everlasting Communion with him O think upon and make sure your Interest in this Salvation you will loose the greatest good and suffer the worst Evil if you come short of this Salvation Consider whether you have the things that accompany Salvation Heb 6.9 Have you the Graces that are joined with a state of Salvation