hoâ— great and mighty a King is Jesus Christ that threatens so powerful and victorious a King as Death is How long hath Death reigned and how large an Empire hath it had in the World it is said Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses yea we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further it hath reigned from the Fall of the first Adam to this day and how many conquered Subjects hath it had 1 Cor. 15.22 in Adam all died Death is such a King as shakes its Black Rod over and brandishes it 's sharp and glittering Sword against the whole World it hath threatned arrested and cut off the Greatest Kings and Conquerors it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppression Violence and Cruelty caused their Terrour in the Land of the Living Ezek. 32.23 none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal stroke of Death on themselves much less can they divert it from their Subjects but Christ is such a King as combates with Death and overcomes it he tasted Death indeed himself once Heb. 2.9 but it was to abolish it 2 Cor. 1.10 he became a Subject to it for a time that he might swallow it up for ever and be a Lord over the dead to raise them up Rom. 14.9 and rescue them from this Enemy And how strong yet how sweet are these Words of Christ I will be the plague of death I will be a Discase yea a mortal Disease to kill Death it self and Grave I will be thy destruction Christ fulfills his threatning when he seeks out the Dust of his People and forms it up into a Body this defeats and disanuls the Victory of the Grave that it may be said O Grave where is thy victory though thou didst corrupt putresie and dissolve our Bodies thâ—â— thou didst devour our Flesh and crumble it into Dust and take away the very shape of a Body yet we have new Bodies formed and organized again and when these Bodies shall receive their Souls and be quickened by them then it may be said O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 What haâ—â— thou gotten by stinging and killing our Bodies behold they are alive again Theâ—e is a Day when the Lord will make upâ—â— Jewels Malachy 3.17 And then God's Jewels are made up when immortal Souls shall be joined to and set in the Rings of Glorious Bodies Christ is such a King as will conform all his Subjects to himself both is Soul and Body When he regenerates the Soul then it bears the Image of the second Adam when he raises the Body this is â—s proper Regeneration to be begotten and born from the dead as Christ was Col. 1 1â— Revel 1.5 When old Adam's Tenour is out and quite abolished when Christ bâ— his Spirit quickens the Body Rom. 8.11 then it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam and is held of him 1 Cor. 15.49 Saints are the Children of God as they are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20. â—6 This is a new Ground and Reason why they should be called the Children of God the Seed of Christ When Saints awake out of the Dust they shall be satisfied with God's likeness Psal 17.15 When they are begotten again into a lively Hope 1 Pet. 1.3 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls but when they shall be raised or be begotten from the dead then they shall also bear Christ's Image in their Bodies and so shall be satisfied with the Image of Christ as an Everlasting Father O what a precious Merby What an incomparable Priviledge is this that Jesus Christ will not forget or reject our Dust for ever but seek it out and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls and an everlasting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in 8thly Jesus Christ is such a King as will gather and draw up all his sincere Subjects to him to be with him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour Psal 49.15 Acts. 7.59 so he will come again to revive their Bodies and then he will receive their whole Man to himself John 14.3 What wonderful Grace and Kindness is this that where the Master is there the Servant shall also be John 12.20 That the Sheep shall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd and all the Subjects of this Glorious King shall abide with him and see his Glory so as to share in it and partake of it John 17.24 2 Thes 2.14 Christ the King is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects Hebr. 6.20 He is gone into another World to choose an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren Psal 47.4 He shall choose our Inheritance for us And Christ by interceeding with his Father that his People may be with him doth prepare a Place for them John 17.24 John 14.2 3. Christ's Intercession is so powerful that it cannot be deny'd I would now give you some Counsels and Directions that you may stay and continâ—e in this Kingdom and not be gathered 〈◊〉 of it and deprived of the Blessedness and Glory of it 1st O come forth and see King Solomâ—â— Cant. 3.11 This King Solomon is King Jesus he hath made him a rich and gloriâ—â— Chariot to ride forth in and to visit Kingdoms Nations and People The Gospel as preached in the World is the Spirituâ—â— Chariot that Christ sits in and the whâ—â— Horse he rides on Rev. 6.2 The Church in her Ministers may be and is comparâ—â— to the Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot Cant â— 9 The Church by her Ministers do's drâ—â— Jesus Christ about the World O consider this the Gospel is not fixed to one Nation the Chariot of Christ is moving and may quickly pass by us and be gone from us It is a great Mercy that Christ's Chariots come to us that he appears among us O slight not the Opportunity neglect not the Day of Grace Come sorth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkness come forth from your slight low and contemptible Thoughts of Christ O fix the Eye of your Minds on him look with a steady Eye on Christ John 6.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We should contemplate the Son our Minds should dwell on him we should not content our selves with seldom and transient Glances on Christ but our Thoughts should be conversant about Christ Do we not need Christ Is he not absolutely necessary for us Must we not wander if Christ doth not guide us and fall if he doth not support us and be a Prey to Satan if he doth not guard and protect us Must we not famish if he doth not feed us and perish if he doth not fold us And be Friendless and Harbourless at last if he doth not receive us How will you look Death or the Judge in the Face if you do not first see Christ and his Salvation O view and look well on Christ Is there any thing in him to be disliked to be excepted against Is he not altogether lovely Cant. 5.16 Whatever is desireable
all meets in Jesus Christ and there is nothing in him but what is lovely what may kindle Love draw Hearts captivate Souls If you dislike any thing in Christ if you harbour any Prejudice cherish any Objection against him it is because Satan hath blinded your Minds and cast a Veil over your Hearts 2 Cor. 4.4 5. 2dly O run to Jesus Christ Isa 55.5 Thâ—â— shalt call a nation thou knowest not and people that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God because of the holy one of Israel that hath glorified thee O will you not run to him who is the Seat of Beauty the Fountain of Honour the Treasury of all spiritual Riches the Subject and Centre of Life Will you not run to the Captain the Author the Wells of Salvation Hebr. 2.10 Hebr. 5.9 Isa 12.3 O will you not fly from Sin Satan and Eternal Death by running to Christ Is there any shadow from scorching Heat but Christ's Cant. 2.2 Any Wing to cover you from Birds of Prey but his Psal 36.7 Any Fold to protect you from Beasts of Prey bâ—â— Christ's Fold John 10.9 He that enters by me that is into the Fold shall be saved 〈◊〉 Sinners can give no Reason why they wilâ— Dye Ezek. 18.31 surely they can give â— Reason why they should not run to Jesâ—â— Christ That Text Isa 55.5 affords cogent Arguments mighty Reasons why we should run to him 1. God is his God If ever we would have any comfortable Knowledge of God any honourable Relation to God any sweet Communion with God we must run to Jesus Christ God is only to be found and enjoyed in Christ Will you cut your selves off Will you estrange your selves for ever from God Will he not be a satisfying and an everlasting Portion when all other Comforts fail all other Friends forsake all our Lamps are put out 2. God the Father hath glorified him He hath exalted him And shall we depress debase him and keep him still in a state of Humiliation Hath the Father given him a Throne in Heaven and shall we deny him one in our Hearts Are Angels Principalities and Powers made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.32 and shall we lift up our selves against him Do the noblest Creatures worship at his Footstool and execute his Commands and shall we reject his Yoke affront his Authority and trample his Laws under our Feet Is Christ glorified and will you despise and slight him Is not a glorified Redeemer worthy of our Love Praise and Obedience Shall vile and dunghil Objects draw away our Affections and a glorified Saviour be denied our Hearts Would we not commend our Spirits to him at last and shall we not give our Hearts to him now Prov. 23.26 Shall our last Act be our first Gift to Jesus Christ Wilt thou commend thy Soul to Christ only when thou canst keep it no longer in the Body Is it not dreadful for a Glorified Christ with his Omnipotent Arm to fall on thee for Destruction Is it not desirable that a Glorified Christ by his Almighty Power should draw thee up to him for Salvation 3. Kiss the Son Psal 2. last this is a spiritual Act of Homage 1 Sam. 10.1 Samuel did anoint and kiss Saul thereby recognizing his Authority and obliging himself to Obedience and Subjection to him as his Sovereign The Promise is the Mouth of Christ and Faith is the Mouth of the Soul and when the Mouth of Faith is applied to the Mouth of Christ in the Promise then we give Christ a spiritual Kiss when Christ speaks and offers himself we should come in with our Amen of Faith 2 Cor. 1.20 to the word of him who is the Amen and the faithful witness Rev. 3.14 our Obedience and Subjection to Christ should not be seigned or forced but begin in a faithful and loving Kiss to him that is Love it self Cant. 3.5 when Christ applies his Words and Promises of Grace to us then he kisses us with the kisses of his Mouth Cant. 1.2 when we apply our Mouth of Faith to Christ's Word of Grace when we sincerely declare our Assent and Consent to it then we kiss Christ 4. We must press into the Kingdom of Christ as it were force a Passage into it and take it by violence Luke 16.16 Matth. 11.12 we must have a Room a Place in Christ's Kingdom he must reign over us or else Sin Death and the Devil will reign over us We must enter into Christ's Palace or be shut up in his Prison we must press into Christ's Kingdom that we may avoid a future eternal Storm of Vengeance Those that are hungry and famishing will force into a place where there is Plenty of Bread Poor necessitious Soldiers will storm will break into a rich City with the hazard of their Lives and shall we not be urgent to get into Christ's Kingdom where there is a Royal Feast a sweet Rest unsearchable and eternal Riches if you are not Christ's you will be Satan's Do you not fear to see God's frowning face to feel his punishing hand to drop into the bottomless Pit to be cast into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone for ever Be not cold or indifferent whether you get into Christs's Kingdom or no. Do not content your selves with loose hopes ungrounded and presumptuous Confidences lukewarm and lazy Endeavours It is said the Gentiles should fall down to the Church and make Supplication to her that is to prevail with her to be admitted and received by her into the Kingdom of Christ it is further foretold Zech. 8. last That ten men of all Languages of the Nations should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and so is a True Believer and a spiritual Worshipper and say we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you They would not be put by they would not be shaken or cast off they resolved they would join themselves to the Church of God and not be excluded kept or thrust out It is said the Gentiles should flow as waters to God's Holy Mountain Is 2.23 and should fly as clouds and as doves to their windows Isa 60.8 this expresses serious earnest and spiritual Violence 5. That you may be thus Earnest you must desire Christ to cast chains of Light and Love about you to subdue conquer and overcome you Isa 45.14 it is promised that the Gentiles should come over aâ—â— come after the Church in Chains Christ must fasten those Chains on and about the Souls of Sinners and draw them that they may run after him Cant. 1.4 though Christ's Name be as a fragrant Ointment Cant. 1.3 as a strong perfume though there be a drawing Beauty Excellency Treasure Love in Christ yet all these will not prevail without an Almighty and drawing Arm such is out averseness and perverseness It is prophesied of Christ That he should subdue the Peoples and the Nations under the Feet of the Church Psal 47.3 so
yet so is it here John 6.53 54 55 56 57. we here eat the flesh and drink the bloud of the Son of Man in this Life and in Heaven to all Eternity we shall feed on the delicious Fruits of Christ the Tree of Life Rev. 2.7 4thly In Christ's Kingdom is Liberty John 8.36 If the Son doth make you free thâ—â— you shall be free indeed Christ reigns to destroy the reigning Power of Sin and Satan to cast the Prince of this World out of his Throne and Kingdom John 12.31 Nâ—â— shall the Prince of this World be cast out Christ reigns to tumble down the God of this World from his Heaven Luke 10.18 Isâ—â— Satan falling as Lightning from Heaven Christ breaks this oppressour to pieces Psal 72.4 he bursts the Yoke of Sin snaps in sunder the Snares of Satan and delivers from the bondage of Corruption 5thly In Christ's Kingdom is safety This great Shepherd keeps his Sheep and watchâ—â— over his Flock in this Night of Time in this Wilderness of the World John 17 1â— While I was with them in the World I kept theâ— in thy Name and none of them is lost Saines are said to be preserved in Christ Jesus Jude 1. Christ guards his Flock and is a wall of fire round about them Zech. 2.5 no Lion shall be there nor any ravences Beast shall go up thereon it shall not be found there but the Redeemed shall walk there Satan that roaring Lion shall not prey on Christ's Lambs or Sheep they shall be as safe as if there were no Beasts of Prey about them they shall lye down safely in the wilderness and sleep securely in the woods Ezek. 34.25 Satan shall not be there to hurt them because their Shepherd is still with them to save them Psal 23.4 Thou art with me in the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil thy rod and thy staff they comfort me continually As David when a Shepherd did fight with a Lion and Bear and slew them to rescue a poor Lamb of his Flock 1 Sam. 17.34 35 36. so Christ did once in his own Person encounter with and destroy Satan Heb. 2.15 and he doth by his Spirit and Grace in his Members daily sight with him and foil him 1 John 2.14 ye are strong and have overcome the wicked one Christ stands feeds and keeps his Flock in the strength of the Lord Micah 5.4 and so this one Shepherd is stronger than all the Beasts of Prey whether they be wicked Men or evil Spirits as he is omniscient he understands all the difficulties and dangers of his Sheep and as he is omnipotent he can rescue save and preserve them Tho' this great Shepherd hath a numerous Flock scattered through the World yet he knows all his Sheep and doth hear all their Cries and Prayers Psal 72.12 14. He shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also and hiâ— that hath no helper He shall redeem their Sâ—â— from deceit and violence and precious shall they blood be in his sight Spiritual Enemies 〈◊〉 attempt against the People of God by Pâ—licy or Power yet Christ frustrates theâ— Adversaries in both he redeems the Souls 〈◊〉 his People both from Fraud and Violence no earthly King can know every Subjectâ— or hear the Cries and Petitions of all that are oppressed 5thly Jesus Christ strengthens and enâ—bles his True Subjects to obey him as Chrâ—â—â— dwells in their Hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 so he strengthens his People Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 can do all things through Christ that strengâ—â—â—â— me I will put my Spirit into them and 〈◊〉 them to walk in my statutes Ezek. 36 2â— Christ gives Influences Aids and Assistanâ—â— for every Act of Obedience because he is 〈◊〉 a Natural Head that communicates Spâ—â—â— to his Subjects as Members and as a Roâ—â— that derives Sap to all his Branches Tâ—â— Subjects of Earthly Kings have no such neeâ— of them or dependance on them 〈◊〉 strength to yield them Obedience But iâ— was prophesied of Christ Psal 72.6 〈◊〉 shall come down like rain on the mowen grâ—â— as showers that water the Earth This Scripture teaches us how great a Dependance Christ's Subjects have on him and how precious a Benefit they receive by him the â—owen Grass cannot spring and grow withâ—â—t Rain from Heaven so Christ's Subjects cannot spring up in Holiness or bring forth any Fruits of Righteousness except they have a Rain of Influences a Shower of gracious Communication from the Lord Jesus Christ Every Subject of Christ is a dry ground Isa 42.3 and needs watering from that River yea from that Fountain of Grace that is above in Christ We cannot take one step in the way towards a Blessed Eternity but leaning on Christ Cant. 8.5 the Church cometh up out of the wilderness and travels towards the Heavenly Canaan leaning on her beloved Ezek. 45.17 the King there spoken of was to provide and prepare all Sacrifices as Burnt-Offerings Sin-Offerings and Thank-Offerings for the People his Subjects By this King I understand Christ as he did give himself for us a Lamb for a burnt-offering John 1.29 as a sin-offering 2 Cor. 5.21 so he furnishes us with Thank-Offerings he kindles Love in our Hearts by his own Beams he circumcises our Hearts Col. 2.11 cuts off the filthy foreskin of sinful inordinate Self-love that did hinder and intercept our Love to God and it is by vertue of our Marriage-Union with him that we bring forth Fruits to God Rom. 7.4 all the fruits of righteousness are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Phil. 1.11 6thly Jesus Christ receives the Souls of 〈◊〉 Subjects at last as he committed his owâ— Soul at death to the hands of the Father Luke 23.46 so now he hath merited and â—â—tained this Honour to be the Receiver aâ—â— Guardian of departing Souls Acts 7 5â— Stephen called upon God saying Lord Jeâ—â— receive my Spirit he called upon God tâ— it was through Christ the Mediator God would not receive but reject and abâ—â—â— our Spirits were they not joined to 〈◊〉 accepted in and had access to him throâ—â—â— Christ Oh how desirable a King is Jeâ—â— Christ that will be a Friend to us when 〈◊〉 forsake us or can do nothing for our Soâ—â—s Oh what a Trust doth Jesus Christ undertâ—â—e to keep departed Souls till the last day and then restore them to glorious Bodies Oâ—â— departing Souls must fall into the hands 〈◊〉 an angry Sin-revenging God were theâ— not such a gracious King in whose Hand we might deposite and trust them 7thly Jesus Christ is such a King that 〈◊〉 conquer and destroy Death 1 Cor. 15 â—â— he threatens it Hos 13.14 O death I will 〈◊〉 thy plague O grave I will be thy destruction here is a promise in the Verse to the Sainâ—s I will ransom them from the power of the grâ—â—â— I will redeem them from death and this promise is joined with a threatning against Dearâ— and the Grave How wonderful