being of him And can do no more without him than a body without a Head And therefore there must be a near Union betwixt us and him 4 Under the similitude of an Union betwixt the Foundation and the Building 1 Pet 2.4.6 The Believer is built on him as lively stones Christ is the chief corner stone of that Building and it is in him that all the building fiâ—ely framed together groweth up into an holy Temple in the Lord In whom they also are builded together for â—nhabittation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2.21 22. Which manifests that the Believer cannot subsist wiâ—hout him more then a house can stand without a foundation And therefore â—hey must lean on him and be firmely united â—o him other wayes they can neither stand nor â—ubsist 5. Under the similitude that is betwixt the Body and the Cloathing or Armour The Believer is said to put on the LORD Jesus Christ Rom 13.14 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal 3. â—7 And he is put on as Cloath to defend from â—he cold and to cover their nakâ—dness and â—lso for addorning So also is he puâ— on as Arâ—our for defending us against all spiritual enemies 6. Under the similitude that is betwixt the Accused and his Advocat betwixâ—â—he principal Debtor and his Cautione who are as one person in Judgement Therefore it is that the Believer is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in Christ Eph. 1.3 Being choosen in him v. 4. They are crucified with him in a legal sense Gal 2.20 They are dead with him Rom 6 8. Col 2.20 Buryed with him by Baptism unto death Rom 6.4 Quickened together and raised up together and made to sit together in Heavenly Places Ephes. 2.5.6 Planted together in the likeness of hiâ— Death and shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom 6 5. Yea and their Life is bid with him in God Col 3 3. So are they said to be heirs and joynt heirs with him Rom â— 17 All which palpably hold forth a real and legal Union betwixt Christ and Belivers to their Joy Comfort and satisfaction Christ being their Cautioner stands oblidged for them and answers in Judgement for them as a Head and publick person appearing for them As Adam was in respect of his posterity so â—his second Adam this last Adam as he is called 1 Cor 15.45 47. Who is a quickening Spirit and Lord of Heaven he appears as a Head and publick person all his Spiritual posterity he binds and oblidges himself for them in a Covanant with GOD And having satisfiâ—d â—or them he is risen from the dead and became the first fruits of them that slâ—pâ— And in him shall all his Spiritual seed be made alive v. 22 3. This Vnion is held out to us in some other Expressions which are most pathetick and condescending As when Christ and they are called one seed Gal 3.16 One Body 1 Cor 12.13.27 1 Cor 6.16.17 And make up one Mystical Christ 1 Cor 12.12 4. This Vnion is inward It is a mutual in-being for as here he is said to be in us and Rom 8.10 Gal 2.20 2 Cor 13.5 Ephes 3.17 So we are said to be in him Rom 8.1 1 Cor 3 1. 2 Cor 1.21 and 5.17 and 12.2 Rom 16.7 Philip 3.9 and. 4. â—1 He in us and we in him Ioh 14.20 O how wonderful and inconceiveable is this Vnion 5. This Vnion hath some likness and resemâ—lance with that Union which is betwixt the â—ather and Christ Ioh 17.11.21.22 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and in thee and again that they may be one even as we are one 6. This Vnion is not only between Christ â—nd the Souls of Believers but also between Christ and their Bodies For their Bodies are said to be Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor â— 19 And by the vertue of this Union their dead Bodies shall be again raised in the last â—ay For if we believe that Iesus died and rose â—gain even so them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes. 4.14 7. This Vnion is not only near and inward but also durable lasting Therefore he is noâ— only in us but dwelleth in us Ephes 3.17 And we are said to abide in him Joh 15 6.7 And as we are dead in Christ 1 Thes 4.14 Rev 14.13 Even so in Christ shall we be made alive 1 Cor 15.22 And with him 1 Thes 4.14 So that death cannot loose that knot otherwayes the hope and comforâ— of the Believer which proceedeth from thiâ— Union were loose and unsure For if in thiâ— life only they had hope in Christ they were of all men most miserable 1 Cor 15.19 with Rom. 8.11 8. As it is excellent near and inward so greatly useful There being no life strength working moving growth or fruitfullness without it If any Man have not the Spirit oâ— Christ he is none of his Rom 8.9 Chrisâ— Jesus must be in us except we be Reprobateâ— 2 Cor 13.5 9. We must be careful not to have perverted uptakings of this Vnion betwixt Chrisâ— and a Believer or of Christs In being in a Believer That is we are not to have carnal uptakings thereof As it were such an Union as between the clay the thing formed thereof oâ— betwixt the vessel and the water that is in it 〈◊〉 betwixâ— things confounded and mixed togetheâ— in one Nor are we to take it up in a way anâ— wayes derogatory thereto As if it were a substantial Vnion such as there is among thâ— Persons of the Trinity or between Christs GOD-â—had and Manhood Nor should we think prophanlie of it as if it were a meer phansie or notion But we are so to apprehend it as a real tho Mystical Mysterious and Spiritual Union having Real and Spiritual Effects in Life and Death and after Death to wit Peace with God Reconciliation Redemption Remission of sins Justification Adoption Approaching to God with Confidence Santification Comfort Joy in the Holy Ghost a Joyful Resurrection and Eternal Glory 10. As this Union is Spiritual in it self so â—t is made up through a Spiritual Bond of Means For as it is through Faith on our part Eph 3.17 So through the Spirit on his part the which is promised in the New Covenant Ezek 36 27. Isa 59 21. Christ hath promised to send him Ioh. 15.26 And he must abide with us for ever Iâ—hn 14.16 Therefore Christ and they are called one Spirit 1 Cor 6.16 17. But to come more particularly to the purpose we shall now point out and demonstrate â—n what respect he is to be in the Beliâ—ver Christ in you We may apprehend Christ to be â—n the Believer in these respects 1. As a King in his Kingdom siâ—ting upon his Throne Ruling and Defending it by his Laws â—nd Statutes preserving it by his Wisdom from intestine Ruptures Divisions and Bâ—oylâ— and by his strength and mighty Powâ—r froâ— Outlandish
CHRIST IN BELIEVERS THE Hope of GLORY BEING The Substance of several Sermons Preached By The Learned Laborious and Faithful Servant of Christ Mr. IOHN BROWN Sometime Minister of the Gospel at Wamphray in Annandale Never before Published in English EDINBURGH Printed by Iohn Reid Anno 1694. TO THE READER Christian Reader AMongst the Prejudices wherewith the Hearts of many of the People of this Generation are plagued this is not the smallest or least that they accept of or reject what cometh to the publick view of the World more as they affect or disaffect the Authors then according to the Worth and Merit of the Thing published And are more ready to say As concerning this Sect we know that every where it is spoken against Then to say But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest Or with the Noble Bereans to search the Scriptures daylie whether these Things be so or not But Reader For removing thy Prejudices know that the following Sheets exhibite unto thee several Precious and Excellent TRUTHS not to be found every where so succinctly and yet clearly handled Which if thou hast any Spiritual Senses exercised to discern Good and evil may by the Blessing of GOD prove wholesome Food to thy Soul And if thou hadst known the Reverend and Worthy Author thou could'st not for his sake have had the least ground to be prejudged at any Truth that ever did come from his Pen. And for thy better Knowledge of him he hath left some Monuments behind him of his singular Piety and Learning which if perused would no doubt make him great in thy Esteem And these Monuments are extant in his Writings both in Latine and English in Polemick and Practical Divinity Such as his Book De Causa Dei contra Anti Sabbatorios His Refutation of the Errors of Wolzogius and Velthusius about the Right Interpretation of Scripture and about Church Government And an Manuscript intituled Defensio Ecclesiae Scoticanae c. Which was exhibite to the General Assembly of this Church Anno 1692. And is not yet published but we wait for it and expect that it shall be of the same Accuracie with the rest All these he hath Writen in Latine Moreover he hath written excellently against the Quakers and made evident the dreadful tendency of their pestiferous Errors And for Practical Divinity let the first and second Part of The Life of Faith with his Book intituled CHRIST the Way the Truth and the Life be considered and it shall be evident that he hath done great Service to the Church of GOD particularly in discovering from the Scriptures the right way of making use of CHRIST for sanctification A little Subject handled before him especially in such a plain andclear Method But Christian Reader I would advertise thee not to look for that Accurateness of expression in the following Sheets which may appear in the Authors other Writings For they are only some Notes of Sermons preached in the time of the Authors trouble at Utrecht for the most part in his own Chamber Which after his Death came to the hand of the Reverend Mr. James Koolman Minister of the Gospel at Sluis in Flanders and by him were published in Dutch as an Appendix to the Dutch Translation of the Authors Book intituled CHRIST the Way thâ— Truth and the Life And now are only translated out of Dutch at first intended for the private â—se of some particular Persons but afterward by the Solicitations of some who had the occasion to read them they were diligently compared with the Dutch Translation and committed to the Press the Original not being extant so far as I know that this present Translation may be compared with it and therefore any Defects that may appear in this little Book cannot in Iustice be ascribed to the Author but to the Translators who yet have used very great Diligence and Faithfulness in what they have done And to conclude I am hopeful that the Reader shall find that what pains he shall bestow upon the perusing of them shall not be in vain they containing so many Soul-Solacing Truths so clearly proposed together with many Pathetick Exhortations and Soul-Searching Marks of Christians all founded upon clear Scripture Testimony and when perused he shall say that the Report he hath heard of them was not only true but that the half of what was true of them was not reported CHRIST THE Hope of Glory IN BELIEVERS c. Coloss. 1.27 To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory THe Apostle having made mention of the Gospel whereof he was made a Minister according to his ordinary Method cannot supeâ—ficially pass it over But as he counted it his Glory to be employed in that Glorious Ambassage of Preaching the Gospel to lost Sinners Rom 1 16. 1 Tim. 1.12 So he falleth out on all occasions in the commenâ—ation of that Noble Ambassage And therefore having made mention of the Gospel vers 23.25 before he proceed further he cannot but in thiâ— and the foregoing verse give it some commendatory or praise worthy Titles to make it more amiable and acceptable What he sayes thâ—reof in this 27 Vers may bâ— summed up in â—hese few Heads 1. That it is a Mystery not easie to be understood by every one 2. That it is meerly the Fruit of freâ— Garce and good Pleasure of God that this Mystery waâ— made known and manifested 3. That whateveâ— outward Discoveries are made thereof unto alâ— within â—he visible Church yet the more speciaâ— Maniâ—estations and Discoveries thereof are reserved for and made manifest unto the Saintâ— 4. That this is a Mystery which hath Glory iâ—â—t 5. That the Glory of this Mystery is not ordinary There is in it The Riches of Glory 6. Thâ—â— this is now made known among the Gentiles 7. Thâ—â— the Quintessence Kiâ—nel or the Riches of thâ— Glory of this Mystery or the very â—nd or aiâ— thereof is Christ in you the Hope of Glory What we have to say upon this Verse we shaâ—â— reduce to these principal Heads First There is a Glory to come whereof somâ— shall be made partakers Secondly There is an Hope of that Glory whicâ— may be attained in time Thirdly The surest ground and most undoubâ—â—d Mark of that Hope is Christ lâ—ving and woâ—â—ing in the Soul Fourthly Here is unfolded a short sum of a the riches of the Glory of the Mystery of the Gospel Christinus the Hope of Glory As to the First Head We see there is a Glory whereof Bâ—lievers here have an Hope and in the expectation whereof they are to live This â—hrough â—he whole Scripture is sufficiently held forth as â—hat which the real Children of God are to meet with And in the beholding whereof they are supported and comforted against all Rancounters â—hey may meet with in a wicked World But who can tell what this Glory is Seeing
1. It doâ—h not yet appear what we shall be 1 Ioh. â— 2. And notwithstanding it be much mention'd in Scripture yet is it not as yet seen it is as yet an unseen Glory hidden for the present from the Eyes of those who undoubtedly shall be made partakers of the same 2. It is called a Glory thaâ— shall be revealed 1 Pet. â— 1 And when shall iâ— be revealed Even whâ—n Christâ— Glory shall be revealed then shall Believers be glad with exceeding joy 1 Pet 4.13 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye aâ—so â—ppear saith the Apostle to the same Colossians Chap. 3 4. with him in Glory 3. It is a Glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. â— 18 So that now it must be an unseen and superâ—xcellent Glory Not an outward show or a borâ—owed Glance but an inward Glory which shall â—e revealed in us 4. It is such a Glory which eye hath not seen â—or ear heard neither hath it entered into the Hâ—art of Man to concâ—ive what this foreordained Glory is Isa. 64 4. 1 Cor 2 9 It were but oâ— small value if Mâ—râ—als by their words could express iâ— yea if creaâ—ed Wisdom could comprehend it or sufficiently understand what it is Leâ— the highest sâ—aring wiâ—s that are propose to themselves the greatest Glory they can imagine and let others come after them and add to theiâ— highest Conceptions and so on until there werâ— none moâ—e to add thereunto And if it were possible the whole Quintâ—ssence of their united Conceptions were molten into one Mass or reduceâ— into one comprehensive Thought it should comâ— short yea very far short of that Mysterious Glory which shall be revealed but hitherto it hath noâ—â—ntered into the Heart of man to conceive How unfiâ— are we then to speak of it being unexpressibly greater than we can imagine Nevertheless let us â—eview some Scriptural Expressions concerning this Glory As 1. Sometimes it is holden forth under thâ— Name of a Kingdom and of a Kingdom bestoweâ— of the Father Luke 12 29 32. A Kingdom appointed by Christ Luke 22.29 And a Heavenlâ— Kingdom whereunto we are preserved 2 Tim. â—â— 18. And what greater Glory can Mortals here eâ—pect then to be Kings and to be Heirs of Kingdoms And O! this a Kingdom of anoâ—hâ—â— kind a Kingdom of Glory wherein there is nothing but pure and unmixed Glory All thâ— Subjects of this Kingdom are Glorious all the Exercises are Glorious all the Air they breath in is Glorious the Meat they feed upon iâ— Glorious all their Garments are Glorious 2. It is called a Crown and a Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 5.4 Kings highly esteem of their Crown and the Rights and Pendicles thereof and will spare no possible means for the defence of the same Though notwithstanding of all their Crowns may fall from their Heads and their Right die out either through their uâ—just Purchase or possessing of the same But this Crown is a Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crown incorruptible 1 Cor 9 25. Kings with all their Crowns more then the Beggar cannot once buy by Deaâ—h Psal. 49.7 8 9. They must return unto the Dust But this is a Crown of Life which preserves from all Deaths and all its Concomitants Revel 2.10 3. They are said to Reign that is really to possess their Kingdom and to enjoy the Glory of their Greatness Earthly Kings may be Titular Kings and no more having the Title without the Kingdom But the Possâ—ssors of this Glory are truly in possession of the Kingdom of Glory They Reign and not only so but they Reign with Christ. 2 Tim. 2.12 And that for ever and ever Revel 22.5 They sit with Christ on his Throne as He sits with his Father in his Throne Revel 3 21. O who can unfold the Glory that is in this Glory that Believers should not only behold the Glory of Christ Iohn 17 24. But that also they should be made partakers with hâ—m therein That He as the Head and they as thâ— Members should enjoy the same Glory How deep and unexpressible is this Ocean of Glory 4. This Glory is held forth under the Name oâ— an Inheritance to point forth the undoubted right which they have thereto through Grace and thâ— sure possession which they shall have thereof iâ— due time It is an Inheritance amongst all them which are Sanctified Act. 20.22 And 26.18 Aâ— Inheritance of the Saints in Light Coloss. 1.12 Aâ— Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you 1 Pet. 1 4.5 It is called an Eternal Inheritance Heb 9 15. An Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Ephes 5.5 Further let us consider as to this Glory what other Names it getteth in Scripture 1. It is called a Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 5 4. A Crown of Glory that fadeth not away This is far preferrable to the Crowns of yellow Clay 2. It is an Eternal Glory 2 Tim 2.10 1 Pet. 5.10 This is Glory that fadeth not away no wayes bounded nor confined within the narrow or short Marches of time but stretched out through all the Ages of endless Eternity 3. It is a Glory wherewith the Saints shall appear wiâ—h Christ Coloss. 3 4 Iâ— shall be his Livery who is the King of Glory and the Saints their Livery 4. It is a vast weight of Glory therefore the Apostle knows not enough how to express and demonstrate it 2 Cor. 4 17. Calling it a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory But the Original is more Emphatick as if we should thus express it by one Hyberbole added to another the one supperlative expression surpassing the other It is an Eternal weight of Glory O how wonderful A weight of Glory who can poise it An Eternal weight when shall the weight thereof be pondered An transcendant Eternal weight yea not only so but a far more exceeding and transcendant weight of Glory 5. It is called the Glory of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 For Believers are made joynt Heirs with him Rom. 8.17 It is the Glory which He haâ—h purchased The Glory which he is now in possâ—ssion of The Glory which He prepareth for His own Joh. 14 3. The Glory which He hath gotten from the Father that He may bestow it on them Joh. 17.22 6. It is a Glory which is the Saints portion Ephess 1.18 Coloss. 1.12 Who must be made meet to be partakers of the same For without are Dogs Sorcerers Whoremongers Murderers Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a Lye Revel 22 15. No Whoremonger nor unclean person nor Covetous man who is an Idolater hath Inheritanceâ— in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Ephes 5.5 Therefore must the Hâ—irs of this Glory be prepared thereunto Rom 9.23 seâ— Revel 21.27 7. It is a Glory far surpassing all Sufferings whatsomever they are not once to be laid in tâ—â— ballance or compared with the same Rom. â— 18 For I reckon saith the Apostle
notwithstanding of opposition in the way Hope will never suffer the heart to sink it will be a cork to the poor Soul which wiâ—l make it swime through the jaws and gulfs of the greatest opposition and most insupperable like difficulties When other â—hings as so many weights and heavy loads would bear down the Soul Hope will draw and hold it up that it go not to the ground Or in case the Soul is at any time over charged and brought under water as it were to the â—rink of hell Hope notwithstanding will recover again the Soul out of the very womb of â—ell and will it make it look out towards the Temple 3. Hope hardens a man and makes him prooff against the day of battel It encourageth and strengtheneth the Soul Thereâ—y he can run through a troop for he knows â—hat his head is secured well covered and guarded with the helmet of Hope the Helmet of Salvation 1 Theâ— 5.8 Eph 6.17.4 Hope â—s a strong guard against temptations What values a man the great offers of the World who has a Lively Hope of Heaven The fear of death worldly losses and the greatest of â—ufferings will not once shake him who hath the Hope of Eternal Life The hope of a betâ—er Resurrection will make them refuse to accept of a deliverance upon unworthy or base â—erms 5. Hope assures us of Heaven whereâ—ore we find that Heaven is often laid out to us by Hope Eph 1.18 4.4 Col 1.5 Tit 2.13 Heb 6.18 It is The Anchor of â—he Soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail whether the forerunner is for us entered Heb 6.19 20.6 Hereto should these words encourage us Psal 147 11. The LORD taketh pleasure in them thaâ— fear him in those that hope in his mercy 7. Aâ— hope is needful necessary and useful whilâ— passing through the valley of sorrow and tearâ—â— so also when drawing near the end of our journey and when pale death comes to look us iâ— the face For the Righteous hath hope in his death Pro 14.32 When the hope of the Hypocrite and unrighteous person giveth up the Ghost and foresaketh him in his greatest straiâ— even then will the Hope of the Righteous comfort and bear up his head Yea when death the king of terrors hath done its worst anâ— conveyed the Soul into Eternity Hope thoâ— may take its leave of the Soul as having no more service to do it 1 Cor 13.13 Yet wiâ—â— attend the corps of the Believer to the grave and be a bed unto his dust Psal 16.9 Uâ—til the morning of the Resurrection dawn Again as to those who really have thâ— Hope and yet cannot be convinced thereoâ— I would say these few things 1. It is not strange that such who are begotten again into a Lively Hope be now anâ— then brought to doubtings through these 〈◊〉 such like grounds As 1. Because sad noâ— strange like dispensations are measured out unto them by GOD this makes the Church 〈◊〉 out Lam 3.18 And I said my strength anâ— my hope is perished from the Lord See v. 1.2 This occasioned Iob also to say that his hope was removed like a tree or rooted out of the ground Iob 19 8.9 10.2 Because there is â—ant of growth in Grace and Mortificaâ—ion for â—hey hear that hope is a purifying Grace and â—hey can find no advancing in that work 3. Because they miss the other above mentioned Fruits of a Lively Hope But 2. Hope is like to other Graces not alwayes alike visible sometimes so clouded and â—id that it cannot be easily seen or discovered And in a very little it may appear again when the cloud and â—hick mist is over as we â—ee Lam 3.18 There the Church comâ—lains that her strength and hope was perishâ—d from the Lord yet she sayeth a little after This I recal to my mind therefore have I hope And again v. 26. It is good that a man should â—oth hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the â—ord The holy Man Iob cryâ—th out as one â—hat hath no hope He hath destroyed me on every â—â—de and I am gone and mine hope hath he reâ—oved like a tree And nevertheless before all is â—one and he end his reckonings he getâ—eth his head lifted up on high and hope brings â—im so above that he triumphs Chap 19. â— 25.26 27. For I know that my Reâ—eemer liveth and though after my skin worms â—estroy this body yet in my flâ—sh shall I see God c. 3. Hope as have other Graces hath its degrees There is a full assurance of hope Heb. 6.11 And there is a weak Hope that cannot see farr being accompanied with many doubtings discouragements fears c Nevertheless a weak hope may be a true hope being on an Evangelical ground Hope may be lively in respect of its root yet weak and sickly in respect of its present frame and operations 4. It is not therefore safe â—o conclude that there is no hope because there is no full assurance of Hope or Actual Lively Vigorouâ— or stronge Hope 5. It were better to make an impartial enquiry according to the forementioned Marks And search and see if ever you had any thing of a True and Lively Hope of Glory through CHRIST And providing you have ever had it you may then be confident that the root remains for the Gifts and Calling of GOD are without repentance Rom. 11 29. Question But what shall he do who is brought to suspect all what formerly has been wrought in his Soul looking on it all as false work How I say shall such win to any clearness concerning their Hope or what shall they do for strengthening of the same Answer Such would lay to heart and well improve these following Considerations As 1. As Hope it self is the Gift of GOD and not their own work So is also the clear discovery of this Hope in the Soul his Gift and a new Gift The observation whereof should make the Soul fix its eye on the Soveraignity and Freeness of God who may bestow His Gifts as He will and depend on God for Light to â—ee and discern things which are given him of GOD 2 As the first lively Acting of Hope is a fruit of the Spirit of Life and floweth from the Spirit of Life in them So all the after actings depend on continual influences from Heaven These considerations should humble them under the impression of an absolute and Soveraign Lord And should stir them up to search and see wherein they have provoked GOD â—o hold in his Influences in the continual out-goings of Hope and withdraw his Light whereby they might be in case to discern the being of Hope in the Soul even when but wâ—ak in its operations 3. Such are to humble themselves before â—he LORD in the sense of their naturall frailty and inability As likewayes of their unrighteousness and transgressions whereby they have provoked the LORD to leave them in the dark 4.
and have keeped Christ so long at the door and so have foresaken your own Mercies and have loved death rather then life Ionah 2.8 Prov 8 36.4 Endeavouâ— earnestly to win free of this estate and to bâ— Partakers of this singular and unspeakable advantage to have Christ in you Seek unto to him who hath the Kings keys and the kâ—ys of of David and that openeth and no maâ— shutteh That he may put his hand into the holâ— of the lock and cast open the leaves and unbolt the dear of your heart and come in 5 Whatever ye do Be carefull that ye wâ—onâ— none of them Ye see who is near hanâ— them and whose House and Habitation â—hey are Do â—hem no hurt left ye bring on youâ— selves the wrath of him that dwelleth iâ— them Vse 3 For Application of these comfortable Truths aright there are several Dutieâ— required of Believers themselves 1. They must make use of Christ for Light Counsel and Direction in all their wayes Seeing â—e is so near unto you that he is even within you then make all your difficulties knowâ— unto him Undertake nothing without his Advice Believers are to trust in the Lord witâ— all â—heir heart and in nothing to lean untâ— their own understanding acknowledging him in all thâ—ir wayes and he shall direct theiâ— pathâ— Prâ— 3 5.6 Thus therefore as theâ— received Christ Jesus the Lord so should theâ— walk in him Col. 2.6 Setting him up for their Patern and Example and so walking as be walked in the World in all Humility Patiâ—nce Love Zeal Holiness and Uprightness â—hat thereby it may appear that Christ is in â—hem and that they are rooted and built up â—n him and established in Faith 2. They must lay to Heart that great Duty of growing in Grace and bearing Fruit in him Ioh. 15.2 That this Union with Christ may appear For when found fruitful in him â—hen it appears that they are united unto a Fruitful and sappy Root and that the founâ—ain of Life and influences is in them And on â—his account are they to be the more diligent in â—hese following Duties As 1. Live in the constant and real Convictions of your Impoâ—ency to do any thing of your selves knowing â—hat ye are not sufficient of your selves to â—hink any thing as of your selves 2 Cor. 3.5 â— Acknowledges that all your sufficiency is in Christ through whom ye can do all things â—hilip 4.13 Believe his All-sufficiency and â—eadiness to help and bear through Difficulties â—ll such who will imploy him and his Grace â— In confidence hereof go to him for help â—epend on him for assistâ—nce according to the â—romises lay the weighâ— of the Duty on him â—y Faith 4. Lean and rest on him by Faith â—nd so venture upon every commanded Duty â—ith uprightness of Heart 3. The Believer must lay to Heart the Duâ—y of rejoycing in him and of boasting alone in him And that in these respects 1. As having all what they have in and through and for him alone As also all they have to expect for the making of them compleatly happy must run through this Channel so thaâ— the Believer is alone Compleat in him Col. 2.10.2 Because they will find all their wants through Loâ—ses Crosses Tossings sharp Dâ—spensations c. Richly made up in Him in whom Dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead Bodily Col. 2.9 For He is in theâ— 3. Because that through Him they are brought to the highest pitch of Honour and Credite imaginable as having Christ abiding and dwelling in them 4. Because that through Him they have the â—urest hope of seeing God and of dwelling in Glory eternally For Christ in them is the hope of Glory 5. Because that in Him they have cause to triumph over Death Hell the Grave and Corruption and over a Body of Death Rom. 7.24 25. 1 Cor. 15.55.6 Because they have him near at hand to go to is all their Needs Miseries Doubts and Questionings Weakness c. He is ever at hand for he is in them 4. Seeing Christ is come so near unto them that He is in them so they are to keep near Communion and Fellowship wiâ—h him and that in these following respects 1. That they converse with him in their thoughts separating themselves from all others singly to speak with him adoring and admiring his Love and Condescendency towards them and with delight continuing in the Meditation of his Person Offices and Mediatory Works c. 2. That they be often speaking with him in Prayer And thus keeping up a Correspondence with him laying out all their wants before him pouring out their Souls in his Bosome going to him on all occasions 3. That they seek advice of and consult him in all Emergents attempting nothing without giving him notice first thereof 4. That they set hâ—m up conâ—inually as their Patern that they may be Followers of God as dear Children Ephes. 5.1 He haâ—h left us an example that we should follew his steps 1 Pet. 2.21.5 That they unbosome their whole Secrets to Him seeing He is their Heart and bosome Friend and seeing this is the real and sure token and demonstration of resting in and crediting of Him 6. That â—hey approach unto Him or unto God through Him with all Christian freedom and familiaâ—ity with an assurance of accepâ—ance seeing He is come so near to the Soul For in him We have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of Him Eâ—hes 3.12 And through Him we â—oth have an access by one Spirit unto the Father Ephes. 2 18.5 Seeing it hath pleased Christ â—o worthy and excellent a Guest to take up Lodging in the Souls of Believers they must beware of gâ—ieving Him We should be loath to let a good Guest go to the door upon the account of our incivility Now among other things these following will grieve Christ and and provoke him to depart 2. In case we have not that high esteem of Him as we ought any will soon weary in Company where affronted and slighted 2. Providing due honour and Respect to him be not intertained and fostered notwithstanding of all our forementioned freedom and familiarity with him For homliness must not spill good Manners He is a great King and Jealous God A Sen Honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master If then I be a Father where is mine Honour And if I be a Master where is my Fear saith the Lord of Hosts c. Mal. 1.6 3 Providing we have not strong hearty and sensible desires after him For as Love and Kindness waxeth cold so Friendship dryeth up His Love iâ— strong and love must be answered with love otherwayes it turns into Jealousie He is a jealous Lover And as his Love has mounted far above all Love yea above all the Love of Women though distilled into one Therefore we should carry our selves as ever sensible hereof continually praying that ouâ— Hearts might alwayes be directed into â—he Lorâ— of God 2 Thess. 3.5 And
Stars Adam if he had â—tood had never appeared with Christ as a glorious Member of Hîs glorified mystical Body Col. 3.4 He haâ— never been partaker of that Glory which Christ bestoweth upon His own which He hath of the Father as the Redeemed now have Ioh. 17.22 He had never been brought to Glory through Christ as the Captain of Salvation made perfect through Suffâ—rings as the Saints are now brought Heb. 2.10 He had never had that relation and interest in Christ as his elder Brother Hâ—ad and Saviour which Believers now have by veâ—tue of the New Covenant He had never sitten with Christ upon His Throne as Christ sitteth upon His Father Throne But this unspeakable Concotenatâ—on of Glory is carried on through the Covenant of Grace The Glory which he should havâ— purchased should have been but a Glory oâ— his own begetting bought with his poor inconsiderable sweating and legal payment but the Glory of the Gospel is a Glory bought witâ— the Life and heart Blood of the Eâ—ernal Son of GOD The other had been but a Glory of Law work and of Law-merit But this is a matchless Glory wholly through and through shining with the Glory of free Grace Here appearâ— incomprehensible Love wonderful free Grace inconceivable Mercy and a wonderful harmony of Mercy and Judgement Adam had not sung that new Song which the Redeemed now sing in Glory So that upon infinite accounts the Glory of the Gospel far surmounteth the Glory of the Covenant of Works That was unsure as the event did manifest This is sure for all the Seed being grounded and firmly bottomed on the Faithfulness established on the Truth ensured through the Righteousness strengthned by the Oaâ—h of GOD and confirmed by the Death of the Testator c. 4. Compare the Gospel with the formeâ— Administration of the Covenant of Grace before Christ's Incarnation and thô that Administration had its own Glory which nevertheless behoâ—ved to be abolished yet here is a Glory far more excellent A Glory after which in former times the Prophets searched â—nd unto whom it was revealed they Propheâ—ed of this Grace that should come unto you 1 Pet. â— 10 12. The first Dispensation was daâ—k â—s also the Mysteries were vailed with Types â—hadows Ceremonies and Offerings Thereâ—ore Moses put a vail over his face that the Chilâ—ren of Israel should not stedfastly look to the end â—f that which is abolished 2. Cor. 3.13 That Administration in respect of the Administraâ—ion of the New Testament is called the Letâ—er that killeth and the ministration of Death written and engraven on Stones the Ministraâ—ion of Condemnation But this is called the Spirit the Spirit that giveth Life and the Ministration of the Spirit the Ministration of Righteousness So that the Glory of the former Ministration was not once to be compared with the Glory of the latter Ministration That was â—ndeed glorious so that the Children of Israol could not stedâ—â—stly behold the Face of Moses for the Glory of his Countenance but it was a Glory that was to be done away But this is much more glorious and surpasseth far in Gloâ—y For even that which was made glorious had no Glory in this repect by reason of the Glory that excelleth 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8 9 10. Therefore until that that Evangelical Day began to down and clear up and Faith or the great object of Faith Christ Jesus came unto the World The Heirs were kept under the Law shut up unto the Faith as in a prison and held under the strict Discipline of a Pedagogue or School Master Gal. 3.23 24 25. Under the Law they were Children differing nothing from Servants but were in Bondage under the Elements of the World and they were Tutors and Governours Gal. 4.2 3. They were under weak and beggerly Elements Gal. 4.9 But we shall not insist longer here this being sufficiently held forth by the Apostle Paul throughout hiâ— whole Epistle to the Hebrews Secondly Further that there are Riches in the Glory of the Gospel will appear providing we in the next place take notice of the glorious and super-excellent Nature of the same Many things might be brought in for clearing of this but we shall satisfie our selveâ— with some fâ—w As 1. This rich glorious Nature of the Gospel appears while it is called The Power of God unto Salvation to every oâ—â— that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek Rom. 1.16 That noble and sharp-fighted Apostle of the Gentiles saw such a Richeâ— of Glory therein that how contempâ—ible so ever it appeared to others whether Iew oâ— Gentile yet with him it had a high esteem he was not ashamed of it that is he gloried in it this being a dimunitive menner of Speech wherein more is understood than is exprest For he descerned it to be the glorious and none-such Instrument of GODs Power to break up Satan's hoof Quarters in the World and so to spread out the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Whereupon he says 2 Cor. 10.4.5 The weapons of our warefare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong Holds casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Justly then might he magnify his Office whileas he was imployed to carry these Treasures unto the Gentiles Rom. 11.13.2 Its Riches appeareth herein that the Gospel is the Cabinet wherein lyeth and the Field wherein is to be found the most enriching Glory imaginable It hath folded up in it that really enriching Pearl which when the wise Merchant had found sold all that he had and bought it which you may read in that Parable and which is doubled with very litle alteration Mat. 13.44 45 46. Christ the alone enriching Pearl of great Price is the whole Matter the Heart and Marrow of this Gospel It is wholly imployed about Him therefore cannot but contain Glory and Riches of Glory therefore it is called The Word of Christ Col. 3.16.3 It appears herein because it is the offering aâ—d the holding forth of the most enâ—iching and glorious Marriage that ever was heard tell of a A Marriage between the lofâ—ly high holy glorious and matchless King of Kings and Lord of Lords and despicable Sinners pooâ— beggerly Creatures by Nature Heirs of Hell It is the word of Reconciliation containing Articles and Conditions of Peace between the Holy Righteous and Glorious GOD and sinful self-destroying Sinners which is intrusted to the Apostles and their Successors 2 Cor 5.10 20. therefore called the word of Peace Act. 10.36 37.4 The Riches of Glory appears herein because the Gospel is the outward Call of God which when the LORD makes effectual He accompanyeth with an inward powerful irresistable Calling to the most glorious things imaginable It is hereby that the Lord Jesus bringeth many Sons unto Glory Heb. 2.10 Hereby do the Elect obtain the Salvation that is in Christ Iesus with