them fully ripe as follows in that Parable ver 29. when the fruit yeelds forth it self or is brought forth straitways puts in his sickle because the harvest is come that is till Christ take us away by death we are to abide and grow That 's one thing implied and then 2. That this building up or edifying on the most holy faith is a thing to which the believer is to be active not passive only It 's a work in some sense put upon and required of the believer not so to be wrought in upon them as the building of a temple of wood and stones is a work wrought upon it so as it contributes nothing therto by way of action only is built up but builds not it self both phrases are used of believers they are built up says Eph. 2.21 22. Col. 2.7 and yet also are said to edifie willed to build up themselves as here and in 1 Thess 5.11 The former because believers have not power and sufficiencie of themselves as of themselves to build up themselves for God more than to bring themselves to God but their sufficiencie is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 and it is he that worketh in them to will to do of his good pleasure they are in that sense also Gods Building not onely built for God but built of God too The Sanctuary that God hath pitched and not man and yet the latter phrase of edifying and building up themselves and each other is also used because they are not dead stones like the stones in Solomons Temple of old that had neither life nor motion in them but by vertue of Christ the living stone to whom they in believing are come they are made living stones that have life and motion in them not only natural as men but also spiritual and divine as Believers in and partakers of the life and Spirit of Christ and therefore are capable of receiving and obeying exhortation and of acting spiritual things yea are inabled by the Grace of God to what he requires of them 1 Pet. 2 3 4 5. And God who gives them his Spirit to inliven and impower them to holy and good actions gives them it not to be idle in them or that they should be idle in or with it but living in the Spirit he would have them walk in the Spirit too do the works that his Spirit requires of them and leads them to the working out their own salvation and not being therefore secure and slothful because it is God that is working in them to will and to do It is the Believers work then in the help and strength motive and motion of the Grace of God to edifie and build up themselves And it is the work of God and his Spirit power and strength in the obeying him to build them up too And in their doing in his power and strength what he requires of them and moves and inclines them too he also will not all to do all his good work in them so as they shall be built up and prepared for an habitation for him by his Holy Spirit Now that which they are to doe in the helpfulness and operation of Gods Grace in them for edifying themselves and each other is 1. Diligently to heed and minde the most Holy faith on which they are built and have their standing exercising themselves and provoking one another to consider it and all that is in it as it is discovered to and set before them taking heed to those things which they heard and learned therein and to draw waters out of those wells of salvation even to suck and receive that nourishment in faith and incouragement to hope and love and live upon and unto God that it presents to them feeding upon the words of life and Christ crucified as set forth therein and receiving in the sweetness strength vertue thence afforded Considering Jesus Christ the Great high Priest and Apostle of our Profession both in his Person and that dignity and greatness of it that he is the Son the only begotten Son of God who was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God and as to his undertakings and performances in what he hath already done for us as that he accepted and undertook to doe the will of God for ransoming us from that wretched state of sin and death and therein of slavery to Sathan that we by our sin had plunged our selves into and to that purpose abased himself to be made flesh for us partaker with us in flesh and blood made of a woman and made under the Law for us that the curse of the Law might fall upon him for us as also it did to the death of the Cross wherein he bare our sins on the tree and died for us the just for us unjust that he might bring us to God so making peace for us by the blood of his Cross and ransoming us from under the Law and Curse to be under his own gracious Government and dispose who also in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice is able and ready to save to the utmost from all our following sins even against his Grace and goodness all that see and confess them and turn from them and so doe come unto God by him and so from all dangers and inflictions of wrath and judgement and be the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him who being now raised from the dead and ascended and sit down on the right hand of Majesty in the highest is made Lord and Christ the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers being put under him and all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him And he is made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption one in whom all these things are for us so as in believing in him to becom ours and to be injoyed by us the Great Prophet anointed of God and filled with his quickning Spirit to give forth light and bring forth judgement to the Gentiles able so to speak as to cause the dead to hear and in hearing to live able to open the eyes of the blind and cause the simple to understand knowledge and guide the Believer into all truth as he is also appointed of God and hath promised to do The great High-Priest that hath offered up the acceptable Sacrifice by which he hath made an atonement for our sins and in the virtue of which he is become the propitiation for our sins even for the whole world and now ever lives to make intercession for be the Advocate of al those that come unto God by him The great ruler disposer of all things and the protector and Defence of all those that believe in and obey him the Judge of quick and dead who shall raise all men out of their Graves and bring them before him to receive of him according to their works everlastingly rewarding with eternal life
not hear and obey him Mat. 28.18 19. with Mark 16.15 16. Acts 3.22 23. And so God hath a singular watchfulness over and care of his Name and Doctrine the Gospel of Christ preaching and declaring him as the foundation of God for men so as that he will not bear that it should be slighted rejected and disobeyed by men It shall be easier in the judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those that so do Matth. 10.15 with John 12.48 49 50. His presence is in and with it and it is a ministration of life righteousness and spirit as in 2 Cor. 3.5 6 7 8 9 c. thus the Faith is holy But 2. It s also called the most Holy to signifie 1. The superlative holiness and more abundant excellency of it above other holy things as to say 1. There were many things or persons types of Christ holy to God under the Law and some of them more holy and more set apart than others as there was the whole people holy to God The holy people Dan. 12.7 and Deut. 7.6 The holy seed Ezra 9.2 The Levites were yet more holy as being chosen and taken out of the people to do the service of the Tabernacle in liew of the first-born which God hallowed and chose for himself to be peculiarly his above the after-births of them Exod. 13. â— with Numb 3.12 13. and yet the Priests were more holy than they as having liberty to the holy Place and to go into the Tabernacle and offer upon the Altar which the Levites might not do and yet the High-Priest was more holy than they as only having liberty to enter the Holy of Holies Levit. 21.2 6 8 10 11 c. But Jesus Christ is more holy then them all the most holy Person that appears where Aaron or none of them might even in the Heavens themselves and by the vertue of his own blood to make intercession for us none holy like him who is the Lord nor any Rock like our God 1 Sam. 2.2 3. Yea there were many things holy as the Land was the holy Land Zech. 2.12 and the portion of it set apart for the Sanctuary more holy Ezek. 45.1 The Chambers of the Priests holy Ezek 42.13 Their Garments holy Exod. 28.20 and 29.29 The Crown put upon Aaron was the holy Crown Levit. 8.9 The Altar was holy yea most holy and whatsoever touched it was holy Exod. 29.37 The Sanctuary and all the Vessels of it holy Levit. 16.33 1 Chron. 22 19. Yea the Trumpets and other Instruments Numb 31.6 The Oracle or inner-place of the Sanctuary and Temple was most holy and therefore called the Holy of Holies and the most holy place as the Ointment made to anoint and sanctifie them and the Priests was most holy but yet Christ was more holy than they or any of them the most holy One the truth of them all they were but types and figures of him and their holiness of his yea there were holy Prophets and holy Apostles but yet he more holy than they the most holy One none so pure spotless oâ— undefiled the holiest Places and Vessels contracted soil and dust and needed cleansing sometimes and were sometimes defiled with Idols and other pollutions and needed an atonement to be made for them and at last because of the pollutions wherewith they were polluted they were given up to spoil to fire and to Captivity none of which can befal the Son of God though he was once put to death for our sins which were charged upon him yet being raised he dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him in that he died once he died unto sin but in that he liveth he liveth now unto God holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the Heavens who needeth not dayly as those other Priests to offer first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people for this he did once c. Heb. 7.26 27. The holiest Priests had their sins properly their own to offer for he never did sin nor was guile found in his mouth the holy Prophets and Apostles had their sins and failings Moses the meekest man on earth yet once spake unadvisedly with his lips in his anger and provoked God to deprive him of entring into the Land of Canaan Aaron the Saint of the Lord made a molten calf also at the instance of the people David the man after God's own heart yet fell very grievously So did Solomon the wisest yea none of the Patriarks but in offering Sacrifices for sins therein confessed themselves to stand in need of mercy and forgiveness The Apostles confessed sins in them and tell us if they had said there was no sin in them or that they had not sinned they should have deceived themselves and the truth had not been in them But Christ was the perfectly spotless One in whom is no sin Nay the very Angels vail their faces and cover their feet in his presence as appears by what Isaiah saith when he saw his Glory in a Vision and spake of him Isa 6.1 2.3.4 with John 12.40 41. so that he is absolutely the most Holy One and therefore also the most consecrated and devoted unto God the Levites might come neerer to the Sanctuary and so to God as dwelling in it than the generallity of the people and the Priests neerer than the Levites and the High Priest neerer than the rest of the Priests but Christ comes nearer than any For he is not entred into the Holy places made with hands as they did but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 Yea neither Saint nor Angel is so devoted to God or admitted so neer to him as Christ they are about the Throne but Christ is in the midst of it yea and though the four Beasts figuring the Camp of the Saints or their Leaders be said also to be in the midst of the Throne as well as round about it yet the Lamb is in the midst of them as the most inmost amongst them Rev. 4.4 6. and 5.6 11. and therefore also the most Holy both as to his efficacie and vertue for conferring holiness upon others it being He only that is made to us of God wisdome righteousness holiness and redemption No man or Angel hath that honour with or besides him the holy and holy-making Spirit is fully and immeasurably only upon him and sent forth by and from in his name Saints and Angels have not that honour and power as he and therefore also as to Gods tender care of him or heighth of love to him they are below him For to which of the Angels said he at any time sit thou on my right hand or thy Throne O God endureth for ever c. So that in all respects none holy as he none else the foundation the holy foundation of God's holy building but he Other foundations can no man lay but him 1 Cor. 3.11 and so 2. In
him they should not perish but have everlasting life Job 3.16.17 And if he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 Having when we were enemies reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son how much more shall we be saved by his life Chap. 5.10 2. That Jesus Christ according to the will of God his Father hath actually come forth and been manifested in a body of flesh and dyed for our sins suffering the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being made a curse that he might redeem us from the curse of the Law and from under the obligation too of seeking righteousness by the Law and so of living or dying according as we fulfilled or fell short of that that so we might receive the adoption of children that we might be taken into Gods house and into more near relation to him and be provided for of all things good for us freely by him And he that dyed for us to these ends to take away those evils that hindred and stopt up the passages of all good is risen again as a person that hath done and compleated his work he undertook to do by dying hath paid our debts satisfied for our sins and is therefore acquitted and justified of God and raised up again to prosecute and pursue our good further in the power of God and this that our hope might be in God as in 1 Pet. 1.21 Now seeing that he in Christs death hath removed what might hinder on his part good from us and hath raised up him that had such love to us as to die for us to remove what might hinder our good on our parts to be the Author of good to us the soul sees good ground thence of lively hope and is begotten to a lively hope of a glorious inheritance by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 wherein it was made manifest that Christ hath abolished the death and obtained life and righteousness for us Especially since 3. That Jesus Christ that dyed for us and rose again is now on the right hand of God Angels and Thrones and Principalities being made subject to him so as he hath supreme power over all things for our good yea and also liveth ever to make request or intercession with God for us even for such as come to God by him And that in the vertues of his most perfect and acceptable Sacrifice that prevails and prospers for whatsoever he asketh As also he shall come again in the power and glory of God to raise and judge all and give eternal life and an everlasting Kingdom to all that obey him 1 Pet. 3.21 Rom 8.34 Heb. 5.9 7.25 Matth. 25.31.36 Heb. 9.28 4. That God of his great mercy and in his goodness hath called the now Believer to the faith of his Son and brought him in some measure to know and believe on him and so hath taken him into his house and family to live upon his Son and his Grace in him Hath delivered him from the power of darkness and translated him into the kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.12 13. in whom there is the redemption forementioned and such fulness and sufficiency to save him and to perfect what concerns him hath already so loved as to suffer for him while a sinner and enemy as before And faithful is he that hath called to do what yet is needful further to be done for and in us 1 Thess 4.23 24. we being through his death reconciled how much more by his life shall we be saved Rom. 5.10 being brought upon that foundation that is most holy and that is laid strong and sure for the upholding and sanctifying to God all that is built upon it how shall he not for that foundation sake and by it confer upon us his further grace and blessing to prepare and fit us for his inhabiting us and filling us with glory Seeing also 5. That God now by vertue of this foundation or holy faith loves the Believer owning him as his imbraces him as his son and is become a Father to him and if God justifies who is he that shall charge or condemn If God be for us who is he that it against us That is considerable in comparison of him Rom. 8.31 38. To which add 6. That he hath made many gracious and precious promises in Christ to the believer in him abiding on that foundation and building up himself thereon and praying to him in the Holy Ghost yea promises for his administring grace to him for his abiding strengthning and building up as that he will be with them and bless them never leave them nor forsake them that he will be their God and they shall be his people He will be a Father to them and they shall be his sons and daughters yea godlines hath the promise of this life and that that is to come for the performance whereof both Christs Mediation with his Father and the faithfulnes of God are engaged both by his word and oath in which two it is impossible for him to lye in and through Christ are interested and faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it 1 Thess 5.24 Heb. 10.23 And Christ the great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession is faithful in the performance of his undertaking for us also Hebr. 9.15 and 3.1 2. But besides that hoping 2. This waiting implies further a tarrying for the good hoped for a patient abiding and staying in the way to the enjoyment of what it expects In which also two things are contained 1. That God doth exercise the believer under a want and with a delay of what mercy and good he hath provided for him and promised to him He doth not presently possess the soul of all the good he intends it nor presently perform all that he hath promised Though he gives what ever he sees good and meet for its present case according to that method in which his wisdom hath ordered to lead it yet the great things he hath prepard for it he doth not presently confer The vision the mercy discover'd promis'd in the Gospel is for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie or fail though it tarry wait for it saith Hab. 2.3 because it will surely come viz. at the appointed time beyond which it will not tarry but it s for an appointed time till which it will tarry and not come or be accomplished And this God doth 1. To try and exercise the Believers faith to see and prove whether he doth believe in him or not and to draw his faith out into exercise while it grapples with delays and non appearances to sense and reason that so it will be as is said to it So the word of the Lord tried Joseph while it was not of a good time performed to him yea while it seemed
who stood in need of his Sons coming and saving of them In that love as we noted in one sense all men are till any of them slighting it and rebelling against God as exercising his love to them are therefore blotted out of the Book of Life and reprobated and reckoned after Satan as incorporated into him that is all men as fallen were and are till then the objects of that love God would not that any man should perish but that all might come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 He would that all men be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator of God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Such Grace or Good will was in the heart of God toward the whole World or every one that there through Christ was sent forth for them and tasted death for every one Heb. 2.9 by which bearing upon himself the sin of the World therein he took it away John 1.29 obtained such a release of that judgment that was upon all for one offence to condemnation that there is justification to life and righteousness in him for all Rom. 3.22 and 5.18 He being risen again a Conquerour over sin and death for our justification and being as a reward and recompence of his services and sufferings taken up to the right hand of God He is by him made Lord and Christ Phil. 2.10 11. Acts 2.36 Lord of all both of the dead and living Acts 10.36 Rom. 14 9. And anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost and power that he might be the light to lighten the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isai 61.1 and 42.1 7 8. and 49.8 9. The great Prophet and Teacher of the Truth of God to men the Great High Priest who having offered up himself an acceptable Sacrifice to God is in the vertues thereof the Mediator of God and men the propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.5 So as that mercy and goodness patience and forbearance is by him extended from God to the whole World in the day of his grace and patience to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 5. Psal 145.8 9 10. and there is in and through him a way of access for any of them to God and of acceptance with God in their repenting and coming to God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20. John 14.6 and 3.16 17. Who is also the Great King over all the Earth who are given him for his inheritance and possession Psal 47.7 Jer. 10.7 Psal 2.8 And in the exercise of these his glorious Offices He is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe and through him God his Father is so also 1 Tim. 4.10 All things are ready in him for men even a feast of fat things for all people Mat. 22 4. Isai 25.6 And both he and the Father in him is ready to entertain thereto all that come to him in the strength and vertue of his grace and gracious call preventing them which is therefore also extended to them generally by God and Christ in his works about them or words to them with his Spirit there through working to convince reprove and move them to seek after and turn to him Isai 55.1 2 3 6 7 8. and 45.22 Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24. Psal 50.1 2. Prov. 8.1 5. and 9.1 6. John 6.37 Such love hath God to all generally and to those that believe he testified the same to draw them to believe and come to him they also being before their believing Children that is fit for and worthy of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 4 5. Yea and now that they believe having nor wholly put off the fruits of the sin of the first Adam but being as men still defiled with sin dwelling in them and mortallity and death upon them as such they are objects still of that love of pitty to mankind and stand in need of the exercise of it to their salvation they are not by believing passed out of that love much less blotted out but are yet continued in it though also advanced higher and so not only as all other men the objects of that love but also 2. As brought unto Christ they are in a further sense in that love too so as other men are not that is to say they are in the understanding belief and knowledge of that love of God to man that is they in some measure understand believe know it yea have it in their hearts so as they are also begotten to God and Christ thereby are born of it and have the foundation ground or beginning of their faith and hope in God in it for it is in the discovery and perception of that love of God to man that the heart is overcome and framed to trust in God and brought out of it self and out of its former false confidences into Christ not the sight of special love to it self above others but the sight and knowledge of Gods love to the World Therefore when our Saviour had preached to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration to the entring into the Kingdom of God or seeing and injoying it he did not afterward for effecting that regeneration in him tell him of some peculiar electing love of God towards him in particular but of Gods love to the World in general John 3.3 5 15 16. Even as it was not the lifting up the Brazen-Serpent in some special fashion for this or that particular person of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents and their beholding it as in some such special fashion lifted up for them by vertue whereof this or that person of them was healed but by its being lifted up for all of them in general this or that man beholding it as so lifted up as a common Medicine for their healing received healing by it and perished not And as Moses lifted up that Serpent in the wilderness the only common Medicine for all that were stung so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life So the Apostle Paul saith Tit. 3.3 4. that it was the effect and product of the love and pity of God our Saviour towards man and not as towards themselves only or in some special manner that they were pull'd out of the state of the world saved While any man knows or takes heed to and minds the Name fame or Doctrine of God that sets him forth in his greatness power love mercy faithfulness c he will trust in him That Name known and minded though it be but one and the same in it self for and to all men as considered alike will beget and frame the hearts of such as know it to trust in him It is the sight understanding or perception of the General
in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever see Revel 21. and 22.1 5. Yea in a word the love of God in Christ Jesus is unspeakable towards them and passeth all understanding and conception But I shall say no more here of it but pass to the use of what is already said Vse This Truth thus opened and considered may be of good use to us divers ways as 1. To such as are yet unbelievers and unacquainted with Christ it serves to provoke them to give diligence to know and believe in him to let go all their Idols and lying refuges their false hopes and confidences that they are and shall be well enough because of some good birth of good Parents or priviledges works and worth of theirs that they think well of themselves for and all taking content in or earnest pursuit after the injoyments of the world and learn the knowledge of Christ and close with and submit to him that so they may be by him brought into the love and favour of God as to the special actings of it towards them that they would hear and mind the Gospel and therein the love of God testified towards them as and while yet sinners in having no pleasure in or desire to their destruction but providing in Christ for their escape from misery obtaining mercy to which also in his Gospel he is exhorting and inviting of them that so through the knowledge and belief of his general love toward them and all men in the ransome given for them they may be perswaded and overcome to believe in Christ and in God through him and submit themselves to his Heavenly Doctrine and Government that so they may receive the life in him the forgiveness of their sins and the inheritance with those that are sanctified by faith in him Who is also given for a Covenant to the people for a light to the Gentiles that he might be Gods salvation to the ends of the Earth That so whosoever listens to and obeys him might be by him made at one with God and be in Covenant with him To every one while yet the day of Grace lasteth it affords motive and incouragement to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while nigh at hand to let go their evil ways and false thoughts and imaginations as of being well enough without the hearty knowledge of and faith in Christ or as if they might not certainly obtain favour by closing with Christ or the like and to turn to God to hear believe what he saith to them by Christ in the Gospel and tells them there that he hath done for them in and by him that so they being in the mindfulness and belief of that his love and grace may be begotten ther through to trust in him and depend on him and so may find everlasting life Repent and believe the Gospel Hear instruction and refuse it not for blessed is he that hears the instructions of Wisdom watching at her gates and waiting at the posts of her doors using all he can appointed of God for seeking her for they that find her as all that heartily seek her attending to God in his ways shall find life and shall obtain favour of the Lord namely the choice mercy and love of the Lord which is the portion of the unfeigned believers the inheritance of the Saints and holy ones But who so sin against her wrong their own Souls all they that hate her and so slight and put away her instructions and refuse to turn at her reproofs love Death Prov. 8.32 33 34 35. Isa 55.6 7. Surely the favour of God is worth the most earnest seeking after for what like it can make us happy What else can so satisfie the Soul and make it safe If the light of the Kings countenance is so beneficial and comfortable that it 's compared to a Cloud of the latter rain sweetly refreshing and bringing forward the fruts of the earth and if in his favour is life as Prov. 16.11 12. Oh then how much more advantageous and comfortable and inriching is the favour of God if he be for us who is he that can be against us or that can harm us if he be our Shepheard what good thing that he sees good for us can be wanting to us in whose presence is fulness of joy and the delight of whose countenance is better than light it self Verily in what he hath done for All men in the death and resurrection of Christ he hath opened a way for us to look up to him and hope in him notwithstanding the guilt of that sin that excluded us from his presence the death curse therby sentenc'd upon us And in the glory given him at his right hand the power and Lordship over all things in Heaven Earth and power to mediate for us and obtain for us and obtain to give to us in the vertues of his Sacrifice the forgiveness of our sins yea even of sins committed by us in our persons against his Grace and goodness upon our hearty Repentance and turning to him there is great incouragement to betake our selves to his teaching and Government especially considering his great mercifulness unto sinners and promises to receive them that come him and faithfulness in his promises and to rely upon him for what ever may be for our welfare and happiness Who so desires then to be in the love and favour of God and to have him a sure defence and shelter from all evil and mischief and from everlasting destruction yea and a gracious Father to him to take care of him and afford his blessing to him for here and for hereafter let him let go all other ways of seeking rest or good to himself and betake himself to Christ to learn and embrace his heavenly Doctrine and walk therein So shall he be at peace with God and good shall assuredly be his portion 2. It is also very useful for reproof to those that slight the Doctrine of Christ and take no heed thereto or rest in an empty formall profession thereof not heartily embracing it and submitting themselves to it Surely it discovers them guilty of great folly and madness for what do they deprive themselves of how inestimable a treasure what unspeakable advantages and blessings even of no less than the special savour and love of God and so of his protection promises presence and of eternal life which stands in the knowledge and injoyment of him and of the light of his countenance And what is there that a man can set his heart upon and desire and endeavour after that is worthy to be compared with so great benefits much less to be preferred are not all other things infinitely below the favour of God either as to our safety or satisfaction Can we be any where so safe as in his custody and protectionâ— Or any where so well provided for as in his blessing The life and happiness of
it offendeth and cast it from us least by gazing with a carnal judgment and mind upon the things that are seen we should either for the love or fear of them neglect things unseen that are objects of our faith only as also thence David prays God to turn away his eyes from beholding vanity and quicken him in his way Psal 119.36 But again besides there are also 4. False Teachers or false Prophets that come in Sheeps-cloathing in great shews and appearances of piety and holiness and wisdom men oft-times that have the approbation and countenance of the world and are of great learning as to the Learning of the the World yea and many that seem to be skilfull in Mysteries and to have a kind of Spiritual force in their teaching so as that the sheep if not very wary and watchful may easily mistake them for true Shepheards or Teachers of the Truth Yea and these so earnest fervent industrious oftentimes that they will deceive if possible the Elect Matth. 7.15 16. and 24.24 25. where note that those words if possible for the words it were are nâ— in the Greek Text do not imploy an absolute iâ—possibility of their being deceived but a greater difficulty and therefore greater diligence used by the Deceivers to deceive them if possible even as the same words if possible used in Act. 20.16 and Rom. 12.16 where it is said that the Apostle Paul hastned if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem by the Feast of Pentecost and exhorts us if it be possible so much as in us lies to have peace with all men do not argue an utter impossibility of either of those things but only some difficulty there may be or were therein and therefore greater earnestness used or required such is the intimation of the phrase in that of Matth. 24. Indeed this may be implied that they the Deceivers are so specious in their pretences and so diligent and earnest in their endeavours that it was onely because it was not possible for them to do it that any of the Elect are not deceived by them even such as are not deceived by them would have been deceived by them also had it been possible for them to have been deceived and so it may signifie an impossibilty of somes being deceived as indeed it is not possible for Sathan or any of his instruments to deceive those that are not only called and chosen but also faithful as in Rev. 17.14 those do overcom all their enemies through the power of Christ with them and cannot be overcome possibly by them that is such as faithfully cleave to Christ and use the means and walk in the wayes he hath appointed them to go in and promised his presence and helpfulness to them in no possibility much less danger where there is not a remiss negligence or carelesness 〈◊〉 presumption in departing from him or not â—ng the weapons and ways of safety appointed to them But otherwise they may possibly and there is danger too especially if after often warnings to awaken up to more faithfulness and watchfulness yet men be slack therein Now these false Teachers are manifold nor may I speak of them in this place For many deny or corrupt the Fundamental Truths of the Gospel or some one or more of them as in denying the person of the Son of God his Deity or humanity or the preciousness and vertuousness of his death and sufferings to make atonement for our sins or the extent of that atonement or the Resurrection from the dead and the last Judgment or the personal and glorious appearance of Christ thereunto Or else corrupt the Doctrine of Justification and so the compleatness of the faith of Christ alone for justifying us in the sight of God yea or for making us wise to salvation or for sanctification or the like Nay I conceive those are not the least dangerous false Teachers that teach men to believe that every man ought to judge himself Elect and then that none of the Elect or real hearty believers that are once such can possibly fall finally and totally away by any sinning from the Grace and favour of God for this directly tendeth to open a gap for their boldly closing with and following after that temptation of Sathan If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down from the pinnacle of the Temple for it is written He shall give his Angels charge over thee and they shall bear thee up in their hands that thou dash not thy foot against a stone that is however thou mayst precipitate thy self into any sin or danger of sinning or neglect the means of preservation yet thou canst not being a Son of God possibly hurt thy self thereby at least not to destruction And indeed he that well minds the Scriptures of the Prophets and Evangelists may see that those were of the most dangerous sort of false Prophets amongst the people of Israel and that one of their most dangerous errours and false Prophecyings whereby the people were born in hand and perswaded that because they were the Children of the Patriarks the Children of Abraham the Elect chosen and beloved Nation therefore they should have peace and no disinheriting or destruction could befal them yea though they walked after their own imaginations or served Baalim their apprehension and perswasion of their being in such a sure safe infallible state of Covenant Grace or favour with God as that by no means they could be rejected or cast away occasioned the fall rejection and destruction of multitudes of them See Deut. 29.18 19 20. Jer. 7.4 5 6. Mic. 10 11 12. and thence it is that the Apostle warning us Gentiles by their fall tells us that our standing is by faith and wishes us not to be high minded as if because made of the choice people of God grafted in upon and the Root of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the Covenant made with them through the faith of Christ therefore we could not fall nor might God harden and reject us but fear and take heed to continue in his goodness or else we however grafted into the stock of Israel by Christ shall be cut off by him who hardens whom he will Now that which makes these false Teachers as all or most of the rest of them so dangerous to the flock of God is their great pretences to appearances of piety holines orthodoxy or righteous judgment or rather their boasts thereof even as those false Prophets who u'sd to cry peace peace to the Jews notwithstanding their great wickednes stil'd themselves the Prophets of the Lord reproached and persecuted those who were such indeed because they prophesied otherwise than themselves dealing faithfully with the people to warn them of sinning against God and shew them the danger thereof as mad-men and Deceivers as may be seen in Jer. 18.18 Come say the false Prophets let us devise devises against Jeremiah for the Law shall not perish from the Priest nor
was not in vain towards me 1 Cor. 15.10 but also when tempted and buffeted of Sathan and in danger to be harmed he crying to Christ for help Christ answered him that his Grace was sufficient for him his favour relied upon and looked to would afford all supplies for safety and satisfaction to him for therein a man hath God and Christ with him and for him in whom there is all things that may preserve him As 1. Infinite power able to subdue all things to the Believer that rise up against him and to support him in under the greatest tryals troubles that may possilby befal him for he is the Almighty God all things are far inferiour to him no work too hard or difficult for him He that made the Heavens and Earth by his Word and upholds them by the Word of his power what cannot he create and accomplish for the help and safety of his people that wait upon him and what cannot he strengthen too by his glorious power to doe or undergoe in the way of salvation there is nothing Almighty but he neither sin nor Sathan nor world nor any thing or creature All the Inhabitants of the earth are to him as the drop of a bucket he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing a small inconsiderable thing If he then be for us who is he that is against us None is able to pluck or by force or power to take Christs sheep out of his hands John 10.27 28 29. Because God that gave him them is greater than all and nâ—ne to be compared with him If a man hearken to his voice and then obtain his favour he can soon subdue his enemies Psal 81.13 14. Philip. 3.21 because he can subdue all things to himself by his mighty power yea the strongest and violentest corruptions He will subdue our iniquities says Micah 7.18 19. He that made all things at the first is able to make the heart and Spirit new and put his fear into it to keep a man from sinning against him Jer. 32.41 42. Ezek. 36.26 27. Greater is he that is in the believer that is God and Christ by his Holy Spirit than he that is in the world 1 John 4.4 5. greater in power and might as also 2. Greater is he in Authority than any of the enemies He rules over all things All power and Authority is his and oâ— him and all his Authority is in the hand of his Son our Saviour so as he commands all Creatures at his pleasure to be for the furtherance of the safety of his servants that believe in him He hath an innumerable number of Angels attending on him and ministring to him which he sends forth for the help of those that are heirs of salvation And these he makes to pitch their tents about them that fear him Psal 34.7 and to bear them up in their hands from harm and all the Devils and evil men are under his controul so that he can abate their rage bridle their fury and malice take them off from the assaults and enterprises against them according to his pleasure None can say unto him what dotb he Yea and 3. In him is infinite wisdome and understanding to see and foresee what may either hurt or help his servants and to order all things for good to them All fulness of Wisdome dwells in him for ever his understanding is boundless Psal 147.5 He sees what is in the dark all the subtlest contrivances of Sathan are manifest to him and the light to disperse and scatter all Clouds of error and deceit that might intangle our minds dwells with him Dan. 2.22 so that he is every way able to keep him from falling the Soul that looks to and believes in him Rom. 16.25 Jude 24. able to build up the Soul and bring it to the inheritance of his everlasting Kingdom Act. 20.32 4. And as he is able in respect of his Authority power and infinite wisdome which was able to find out a way to ransome us when lost and therefore surely is able to find out how to save us when found again brought back to him so he is so good gracious and loving especially to those that are the objects of his favour the members of his Son his Disciples and followers that there is no Question to be made of his willingness and readiness to improve his Power Authority and Wisdome for their preservation in his favour they that are upright with him and depend on him shall experience his all-sufficiencie exercised for their safe keeping As his love to mankind when yet sinners and lost leading him to give his only begotten Son to be their Saviour and to that purpose to deliver him up to Death for their offences and make him the propitiation for their sins and glorifie him to be Lord and Christ to the end that men might believe in him and believing in him become the Objects of his favour and be saved by him may assure us of his readiness to care for and keep those that answer his end therein in believing on his Son that having justified us by his blood he will much more save us from wrath to come and we being reconciled by his Sons Death we shall much more be saved by his life Rom. 5.9 10. and having delivered him up for us all for all men he will also freely with him give us us especially who have received him all things that may conduce to our salvation and happiness Rom. 8.32 So also he hath through his Son made and confirmed many precious promises of taking care of keeping and saving those that trust in him as that Surely In blessing I will bless thee said he to Abraham and his seed Those that be of the faith of Abraham are also blessed with him Gal. 3.7 8 9. Heb. 6.13 14 15 c. he hath said of Christ and his Seed that he would establish them His Seed also will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the days of Heaven Psal 89.29 30 36. and again I will be with thee I will never leave nor forsake thee Deut. 31.6 Josh 1.5 Heb. 13.5 6. again Thou art my Servant says he to Israel his people I have chosen thee and not cast thee away Fear thou not for I am with thee be not disdismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee by the right hand of my righteousness Isa 41.9 10. thence also it is said They that trust in the Lord are as mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever As the mountains are about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about his people from henceforth and for ever Psal 125.1 2. Yea and these promises he hath made good to his people in all ages they that trusted in him have found his goodness and faithfulness therein Which leads us to another consideration namely 5. That he hath ingaged his word and promise to his
are his in him by vertue of him known and owned by him as also in this that he allows not any in iniquity that name his Name though by vertue of Christ held forth in the Apostles Doctrine that also may secondarily be called the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles as in Ephes 2.20 Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone That Doctrine then or Christ himself as therein preached as the Son of God and Saviour of the World delivered up to death and crucified for our offences and raised again from the dead for our justification and glorified at ' Gods right hand for our salvation and that our faith and hope might be in God and so as appointed to be Lord and Christ the Judge of all who shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead is the faith here meant whereon Believers are to edifie and build up themselves and not their act acts or habit of believing which may be added to and builded up being imperfect upon this foundation so as this foundation cannot upon any thing else yea that Christ as so laid and held forth in the Cospel is the foundation to be built on is plain For 1. Christ was the first thing appointed or laid of God for fallen mankind as to his purpose and promise of him and he was the first thing preached to him in order to his return to God This was the Doctrine first preached in Paradise after our first Parents had sinned and were convicted thereof I will put enmity between thee the Serpent and the Woman and between thy seed and her seed He her Seed shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Though Christ was not as then actually manifested in the flesh crucified dead buried and raised again yet all that was intimately preached from the beginning as a thing to be accomplished in its time and season 2. And as this was the first thing or Doctrine preached so it was the foundation and ground of all other dispensations of God after to fallen man It is upon that account of Christs having interposed between God and us as the bruiser of the Serpents head the destroyer of his work the taker away and abolisher of Death that God now deals mercifully and graciously with men is inviting and leading them to repentance by â—is goodness and forbearance and lades them with his benefits and sends forth his light and truth to men to call them back to himself and to his Kingdom to be under his government and protection from which they were banished for their iniquity and so it is the ground and foundation of his Ordinances witnessing of Christ and of himself in Christ unto men and appointed as mediums for mens approaching to him and seeking of him and of Gods raising up and judging all men according to their works hereafter for there would have been no resurrection from the first death to any new judgment much less to life if Christ had not come and dyed for all men and risen again 1 Cor. 15.12 17 18. Acts 10.42 and 17.30 31. The final rewards and recompencings of men then as also his present chastisements in mercy and measure now and accepting and justifying saving and honouring those that believe in him and serve him stand upon Christ and his death and sufferings for all men and rising again and being appointed Lord of all and Mediator of God and men the propitiation for our sins even for the sins of the whole world as their proper ground and foundation Yea 3. He as so set forth is the ground and foundation of all right repenting and turning to God from our our sins and of all right believing hoping and trusting in God for his mercy and blessing of all prayers and praises to be made to God and so of all true piety and religion in fallen men for had there not been such a Ransome found out and Sacrifice offered for us there could have been no approach for us to God or acquaintance with God God sent him that the world through him might be saved and raised him from the dead and gave him glory that our faith and hope might be in God John 3.17 1 Pet. 2.21 So that he and the Word of the Gospel as setting him forth is meant by the faith here on which Believers are built and to build up themselves and each other 2. Now this is called their faith not because it is of them of their invention broaching or preparing as a foundation for themselves or others but because it is owned received and confessed by them it is that that they have and believe in their hearts unto righteousness and with their mouths confess to the salvation of themselves and others as Paul sometimes calls the Gospel he preached his Gospel as in 2 Tim. 2.8 According to my Gospel And so Rom. 2.16 Not because it was of him found out or invented or set on foot by him as if he had preached any thing for Gospel that he had not received from God and Christ but because it was ministred and preached by him even so this faith after the same manner is called the Believers faith as elsewhere The faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.2 because made known and delivered to his elected and chosen Servants such as he chose to be his Servants the holy Apostles and Prophets to be declared and published by them as accordingly it was published by them and as it is called The faith once delivered to the Saints in this Epistle of Jude ver 3. because it was delivered to them and preached by them it might be called their faith though otherwise it is the faith of God and Christ Yea and in calling it the faith of these believers the Apostle intimately distinguisheth it from the false saiths or false doctrines of the false Teachers and Seducers of whom he had been warning them as if he should say it is not their faith they have corrupted themselves and fallen away from it and have received or devised and broached another faith doctrine or foundation different from and repugnant to yours with which I would have you have nothing to do much less build your selves thereon for that would not render you an house or habitation for God and so objects of his favour but Synagogues of Satan and objects of Gods wrath and anger but build ye up your selves on your faith which he also the better to induce them thereto calls their most holy faith Which leads us to the third particular 3. Why it is called the most holy faith 1. It is holy that is it is pure faultless no falshood or corruption in it for so holiness is sometimes opposed to uncleanness or filthiness as We are not called to uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thes 4.7 Cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 So this Doctrine delivered
and so 1. Prayer is an exercise of the heart thence When God said seek ye my face my heart says David said thy face Lord will I seek Psa 27.9 and a man is said in prayer to pour out his heart as in Psa 62.8 Trust in God at all times ye people pour out your hearts unto him He is a refuge for â—â— So 2 Sam. 7.17 David says He found in his heart to pray this prayer to God It is true the heart may be exercised in reading or saying a prayer so as to joyn in the words of it heartily as what it sees it needs and desires be and the exercise of the heart so in reading or saying a prayer may be and is a praying but whether men read or say or frame and compose prayers by their parts if their hearts be not engaged therein but onely their lips and tongue or brains it s not a praying there may be the carkass or form of a prayer but the inside of it is wanting and it s but a dead image But when the heart is exercised though there be nothing read or said outwardly and audibly to the ear of man yet it may be a right and fervent praying as in the case of Hannah 1 Sam. 1.13 who spake in her heart and only her lips moved the heart may do well enough in prayer without the voice of the lips and tongue but they without it signifie nothing in Gods reckonings It s a vain worship when men draw nigh to God with the lips and honour him with the tongue but the heart is removed far from him Isa 29.17 It 's an exercise of the heart that 's the first thing 2. It 's an exercise of the heart in which the heart minds the needs of it self or others indeed this alone may be without praying but yet praying cannot be without this in one branch of it as it is for it self it mindes its own needs or wants and as it is for others it mindes their needs either more generally or in particular for there can be no hearty desire of supplies where there is no heart-minding of the needs to be supplied The heart first gathers and takes into it self by its consideration or mindfulness the needs to be supplied before it can pour them out in expressing them to God or desiring supplies for them And this is one thing in the preparation of the heart to pray to God mentioned Psal 10.19 that God brings to minde and makes it sensible and apprehensive of the needs or wants of it self or others and helps it to consider or lay them to heart an inconsiderate heart can never be a good praying heart thence also Solomon thus expresses himself 2 Chron. 6.37 If they shall bethink themselves and turn and pray c. yea thence also prayer is sometime called a Meditation of the heart as in Psal 5.1 Consider my Meditation That 's the second 3. It 's an exercise of the heart uttering and pouring out its needs which it may doe either by the mouth and lips also imployed as hear the prayer that proceeds not out of feigned lips 17.1 and again I cried unto him with my mouth and he was extolled with my tongue And I cryed unto God with my voice unto God with my voice did I cry c. Psal 66.17 and 77.1 or it may be without the voice as was noted above of Hannah for the heart hath a secret speech and cry too audible to God when yet men hear nothing thereof But whether with audible voice or without this pouring out or uttering the needs from or by the heart is essential to prayer which therefore is called the pouring out of the heart as Psal 62.8 before noted and the pouring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1.15 or of the complaint Psal 142.2 4. It is an uttering the needs and desires of the heart and that 's it which most properly renders it prayer the breathing forth desires by way of petition request or humble supplication for the supply of our needs It is not only this I need or want which may be without prayer properly so called But Lord give or grant me this or that the need whereof I am sensible of as in Solomons prayer for Wisdome 1 King 3.7 8. O Lord my God Thou hast made me thy servant King in stead of David my Father and I am but a little Child I know not how to go out or come in there 's the uttering his need and then ver 9. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people c. So in Psal 60.11 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man yea sometimes the goodness of the thing may be more in the praying begetting desires of it than simply the want of it as he that askes a thing that he hath tasted the sweetness of more out of delight in it than need of it thence prayer is exprest by asking seeking knocking making known our requests c. as Matth. 7.7 8. Philip. 4.6 It 's an uttering or powring out desires that 's the fourth thing 5. It 's an exercise of the heart pouring out its needs and desires unto God that 's the praying here required and to be spoken too for though there may be prayers and petitions made to men Kings or Magistrates or others as in Dan. 6.7 a Decree was made against asking a petition of any God or man except of King Darius for thirty days space and so we read of Jeremiahs presenting his supplication to the King Jerem. 37.20 and 38.26 yea and there were prayers made by the Heathens to their Idols as is said Isa 44.17 He falleth down and worshippeth it and prayeth to it and saith Deliver me for thou art my Godâ— yet these kinde of civil or Idolatrous prayers fall not under our consideration as prayers to which the Scripture exhorteth us much less under the name and notion of prayer as when it saith pray continually pray without ceasing watch unto prayer or the like It s a Divine exercise of the heart breathing forth the desires to God the onely true God as God hath said Call upon me in the time of trouble Psal 50.14 15. Let us goe and pray before the Lord Zech. 8.21 He is the object to whom our prayers desires or requests are to be made known c. as Philip. 4.6 make your requests known unto God c. It must be to God that 's the fifth particular 6. Through Jesus Christ as the Mediator of God and men the way of approach to God It is not God as absolutely in himself considered and immediately lookt upon that we are to direct our prayers to by our selves but God as in Christ as he hath in him been reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses and as he hath prepared in him for us by his Death and Sacrifice forgiveness of sins and appointed him as the great High Priest to present our suits for us and
hypocrisie wrath or the like which are not prayings in the Holy Ghost but far of another nature such prayings be often reproved in the Scripture as Isa 1.12 15. Matth. 6.5 6. James 4 3. 4. It may reprove also those high thoughts and conceits we are apt to have of our selves cases conditions attainments c. as if we were rich and full and needed nothing more either as to the building us up on our most holy faith or as to experiments of Gods love and favour to us which is a great cause of that sloathfulness in building up our selves and in praying before reproved Laodicea's conceits of her self was the cause of her lukewarmness and not looking out to Christ and buying gold and white rayment of him The full soul loaths the honey comb a conceit of sufficiency of attainment or to attain what is wanting without our own care and diligence makes us negligent in seeking to grow or in looking to God in his Holy Spirit for what may make us grow and further build us up High conceits of our selves usually produce sloathfulness and sloathfulness casts into a deep sleep and then the building may soon decay and through idleness of the hands the house may drop thorow as Rev. 3.14 15 16. Prov. 19.15 Eccles 10.18 Again 5. It reproves the instability in the faith of the Gospel too much and too often found amongst the Professors thereof and an aptness thence to be building besides the holy faith which is indeed with the foolish woman to pull down the house instead of building it Prov. 14.1 And so the itching ear after new matters of faith besides and swarving from the Apostles Doctrine a fault prophesied of and reproved in 2 Tim. 4.3 4. and admonished of in Heb. 13.7 8 9. as if we did not judge the Doctrine of Christ most holy and therefore seek holiness and perfection some other ways as Gal. 3.2 3. Isa 66.17 6. It reproves those also that prohibit and hinder the Assemblies and Exercises of the fearers of God for building up and furthering themselves and one another in their most holy faith forbidding them to meet together speak to Contrary to Psal 111.1 Mal. 3.16 17. or exhort one another and tying them up only to forms of praying and to hear their Parish Ministers read Prayers and preach it may be things that tend not to their helpfulness they being in many places ignorant rude and enemies to the Holy Spirit and all that is truly spiritual and holy punishing men for seeking out for and using other and better means of edification than they afford them imitating therein the Jews and Pharisees opposers of Christ and of his Apostles and the Christians in their private Assemblies as in Acts 4. 5. 8. 9. 17. c. Such are faulty in so doing 7. It reproves too such as think there is no profit in praying to God no gain in godliness a vain thing to serve him and to keep his Ordinances as in Job 21.15 22.17 Mal. 3.14 15. as if he had said to the house of Isral and so to us Gentiles seek his face in vain This is an evil and impious thought in the places above cited taxed and reproved and the contrary abundantly shewed in the Scriptures and proved by the Saints and holy ones of God that there is no gain like to that of godliness which hath the promise of this life and of that to come 1 Tim. 4.8 to which purpose is that of Eliphaz in Job 22.21 Acquaint now thy self with God and be at peace so shall good come unto thee Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his words within thee that 's the way to acquaint our selves with him and be filled with his Spirit that we may pray in the Holy Ghost and then it follows If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity that is sorrow pain and evil as the fruits of iniquity far from thy tabernacle Here 's the way to be built up the turning to and so acquainting our selves with God in receiving the Law from his mouth and laying up his words the most holy faith in our hearts and then the profit that follows will be great Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir even the gold tried with fire which Christ gives to those that wait upon him as the stones of the brook yea the Almighty shall be thy defence and thou shalt have plenty or enough of silver what 's good for thee here also Yea and that that 's more desireable than silver which will give content to our hearts and make us content too with that portion of outward goods or comforts that he is pleased to give us here be it more or less for Then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty and shalt lift up thy face unto God Thou shalt make thy prayer to him and he shall hear thee and thou shalt pay thy vows c. 8. It may also reprove those more abundantly that profess themselves Believers in and followers of Christ and frequent private Meetings of themselves together pretendedly to call upon God and edifie themselves on their most holy Faith but under such pretences do seditiously rebelliously plot mischief against Authorities and Powers over them because they put them upon some things cross to their desires and perhaps in some places do really discountenance better exercises in which case if any doe so they ought to exercise faith and patience and yet pray for those that hate and persecute them and not pray much less plot against them fretting themselves to doe evil and practise treason and sedition that 's not the way to edifie themselves or others on the most holy faith but an exceeding wicked abuse of their meetings and Liberties thereto by providence injoyed and a marvellous deviation from the most holy Faith which condemns all such practises and instructs to Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him till he order the hearts of Authorities to favour and protect them or break the yoke some way of his own gracious finding out from of their necks as followers imitators of the Lamb to fight only with his weapons and only against what he opposes that is the pride tyranny injustice prophaness and wickedness of men by spiritual weapons the blood of the Lamb the word of their testimony patient bearing of injuries not loving their lives unto Death not being overcome of evil to render evil for evil but to overcome evil with goodness this is the way Christ would have us to walk in in such cases and not in a way of rebellion to resist evil offending Authorities and putting a sword in their hands to slay those also that are better principled and minded and assemble together to better purposes Woe to the world because of such offences it cannot be but that offences come but woe to that man
injoyable by us and as that which is the fountain well-spring of all blessing and happiness But here let us view 1. What is meant by this Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. What that phrase or term of Mercy to be waited for signifies and hints to us 1. To the first Mercy is either an affect in the heart or An effect in its work to take in both of them Mercy is properly an affection or frame of heart in which it pities and compassionates anothers misery and affliction leading to spare one where there is power to harm him and to succour him in necessities and indigencies where there is power to help him And this is attributed to God and Christ that he is merciful and full of compassion ready to forgive offences and relieve in wants and miseries and do what is good for the Creatures deliverance from evils and conferring safety and happiness as may be abundantly seen in the Scriptures Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Yea this his Name The Lord Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands c. Exod. 34.6 7. And so it is said of Christ that he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in Hebr. 2.16 17. And indeed God and Christ have abundantly manifested their merciful heart toward poor sinful afflicted Creatures many ways As 1. God hath manifested himself merciful 1. In taking pity on mankinde when fallen from him into a state of exceeding great sin and misery in that he did not then cast him off and destroy him but on the contrary devised a way and means for his redemption and recovery yea such a way of recovery as the translating our sin and misery upon his own onely begotten Son appointing in due time sending him forth into the world to be the propitiation for our sins bearing them on his own body on the tree that through his stripes we might be healed both abasing him thereto and exalting him to the height of Glory and Majesty therethrough at his own right hand that he might by the vertues of the former and in the exercise of the latter upon that account bring us back again to God Herein he hath shewed himself loving and merciful to us beyond all question or expression as it is said Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring Christ the bright and the Morning-Star from on high hath visited us c. Luke 1.78 2. God hath also manifested himself merciful to us in freely justifying us mankinde by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ not imputing to the world their trespasses but preaching peace to us by him and through his blood and opening his Kingdom for us and to us with gracious calls and counsels and invitations to enter thereinto and be made partakers of the blessed priviledges thereof unto everlasting life and in freely admitting and accepting all that obey his calls and counsels therein however otherwise and formerly sinful and unworthy as may be seen in Mary Magdalene the Publicans harlots and prodigals whom upon their coming to him he hath freely pardoned and accepted and made partakers of his righteousness and blessing as if they never had been so vile and wretched Rom. 3.23 24. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Eph. 2.15 17. Mat. 22.4 8 9. and 9.12 13 Luk. 7.37 47. 15.1 2 15 16 c. 1 Cor. 6 9 10 11. 3. God hath shewed himself merciful to us Gentiles and Heathens in calling us so wonderfully to the knowledg of his Son and of his Grace in him when as formerly we were so gross and grievous sinners against all former dispensations of his goodness and manifestations of himself in his works and providences It was his great mercy through the blood of his Son to make peace and atonement for us blotting out all former trespasses admitting us to fellowship with the Saints and so with himself through Christ Jesus as Ephes 2.4 5 11 12 17 19 20. as it is said that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy Rom. 15 9. and who had not in times past obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 whence I beseech you by the Mercies of God offer up your body a living Sacrifice c. Rom. 12.1 and the like he will shew forth to the Jews in calling them again and receiving them to favour after all their unbelief and stubbornesses against him as it is said He hath shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy upon them all Rom. 11.32 4. God hath doth dayly shew himself merciful unto men in passing by iniquities and extending helpfulness to them in their afflictions which they procure to themselves by their great follies and rebellions as is also frequently testified in the Scriptures as in Psal 78.38 when Israel oft and much â—â—oked him in the wilderness so as he therefore 〈◊〉 them sometimes with his Judgments yet 〈◊〉 â—eing full of compassion forgave their iniquity 〈◊〉 â—estroyed them not yea many a time he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath So in Neh. 9.16 17 18 19. 5. So also in his patience towards sinners not willing they should perish but rather come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Rom 2.4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 and to say no more 6. His readiness to hear the cries and prayers of the poor and afflicted and not to despise their prayers but to hear and help them as in Psal 22.24 yea to hear the cries of other Creatures as the young Ravens and provide food for all flesh Psal 136.25 and 147.9 much more doth he fulfil the desires of them that fear him yea he also hears their cries and saves them Psal 145.15 17 18. 2. So also Christ hath abundantly shewed forth his mercy toward us 1. In that being in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God yet for our sakes at the will and appointment of the Father he abased himself laid aside his Glory humbled himself to the Death the Death of the Cross and therein bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was made a curse for us to redeem us from sin and curse that so he might in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice bring us back again to God Ye know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.9 the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he being rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich He is merciful full of compassion and gracious Psal 145.8 2. In pitying poor miserable men in his personal converse with them and ministration to them while on the earth Going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil curing their sicknesses and Diseases instructing their Souls in pity to them where ignorant and out of the way Mark 8.2 Act. 10.38 As also 3. In preaching peace by his
deserts but as the fruit of the mercy of Jesus Christ in what he hath done for them in his death and in what he further doth to and for them in his life pitying pleading for and succouring them all along as the Captain of their salvation a merciful and faithful Priest bearing them in his bosom making reconciliation for their sins and sending them relief and comfort in their temptations till having led them through and fed them in the wilderness the state of exercise and living by faith here he bring them safely in the taking them hence as to their spirits and in the Resurrection of the just as to their bodies reunited with their spirits to the enjoyment of this eternal life and happiness which is so great and so glorious a condition and enjoyment as passes and exceeds all expressions and conception For no man knows nor can enter into the heart to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him onely they are in some measure made understandable by the Revelation of the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 2 9 10 11 12. Vse Now both the love of God and the abiding in it and this which is the great issue and advantage of it being all the fruit and profit of the most holy faith built upon and abidden in It doth exceedingly commend that most holy faith to us even the Son of God that loved us and gave himself for us as he is in the Gospel preached and declared to us And therefore it may serve to move and provoke all persons to love and imbrace and close with it repenting of their neglects and slightings of it and of their running in their hearts and ways after vain and empty words and things to believe and take heed unto the Gospel and Christ crucified as therein displayed that so they may therein discern and be found in the love of God and be made heirs and enjoyers of this unfathomable endless happiness eternal life Ho every one that thirsteth come to these waters of the knowledge and doctrine of Christ and he that hath no money let him come and buy wine and milk without money and without price Why do you lay out your money for that that is not bread and labour for that that will not satisfie you when in enclining the ear and coming hither to the most holy faith and so to Jesus Christ you may eat that which is good and let your souls delight themselves in fatness Isa 55.1 2. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let every one that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst Come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 even of the words of Christ whose words are the words of eternal life John 6.68 2. It shews the marvellous faultiness and wretched wickedness as of those that neglect so great a salvation such a most holy faith such a precious jewel and pearl of great price as the Gospel is such a feast as therein is declared and set before us to run after their Farms and Merchandize So much more of those that having embraced the Gospel and Christ as therein declared and having come to him and tasted of him and of his sweetness and graciousness do afterward turn away and fall off from him to some other way or doctrine or to some other object for delight stay or satisfaction crucifying him to themselves and making him and the grace in him of none effect They do most foolishly and madly for themselves putting away from them both the love and favour of God and that which is the product of it everlasting life and all that mercy and pity of Christ that leadeth thereunto and is necessary and was ready to be extended to them for their attainment thereof Oh foolish people and unwise that do not onely so badly requite God for all his love and mercy in Christ and grace extended to them by him but also reward evil to their own souls losing them for very vanities and trifles depriving them of such infinite mercy and happiness and plunging them into everlasting wo and miseries Who can express their folly and wretchedness to sell everlasting life and that after some good progress towards it for a mess of pottage It was a great folly in Esau so to â—ell his birth-right and in the Israelites when they were well on their way toward Canaan and in a great likelihood nay certainty of enjoying it in following Gods conduct yet then for a little meat to satisfie their lusts for leeks and cucumers c. for a little pleasure with the Moabitish daughters when arrived at the borders of it to forfeit their inheritance in and perish in the wilderness But no folly and madness like this of withdrawing from God and Christ to perdition after the tastes of his goodness and experience in some measure of the the powers of the world to come as Heb. 6.4 5 6. O therefore that we may receive admonition while it is yet called to day and avoid or break off from such practises as tend to such a loss and utter undoing for He that transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ the most holy faith hath not God and he that hath not the Son hath not life 2 Jo. 9 11. Jo 5.12 3. It shews the infinite happiness of those that be and abide in Christ in the faith and obedience of Christ edifying themselves and one another on him praying in the Holy Ghost and so doe keep themselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life they have the love and favour of God now as a Sun and Shield unto them and they shall have in the world to come everlasting life they are in a happy and blessed state and condition whatever tryals and afflictions doe or may befal them Blessed are the people that are in such a case yea blessed and happy is he whose God is the Lord Psalm 33.12 and 144. last And therefore also 4. It may incourage and provoke all that do believe in Christ and are upon that precious and most excellent foundation to abide in him and beware of all those things that may indanger their falling and departure therefrom Looking diligently least they or any of them fail of the Grace of God and least any root of bitterness spring up and thereby many be defiled least there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau Heb. 12.15 16 17. least there be found an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God least any false Prophet or Antichrist deceive any of us or the love of this world or of the things of it stealing in upon us withdraw us from Christ and from the love of the Father which cannot consist with it and so we be choked and all the Grace of God bestowed upon us prove ineffectual to us But on the contrary Exhort we one another while it is called to day least any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Considering one another to provoke to love and to good works so running that we may obtain Laying hold on eternal life and suffering no man or corruption or evil spirit to deceive us deprive us thereof But let that which we heard from the 〈…〉 in us and then we shall 〈…〉 â—â— the Father and in the Son and not fail of the promise of eternal life seeing he is faithful that hath promised and will perform it and perfect what concerns us Let us not be slothful then but followers of them that through faith and patience have inherited the promises Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and not cast away our confidence in God by Jesus Christ which hath so great a recompence of reward only remember we have need of patience that we may bear and suffer injuries and temptations and not faint but yet hope in the Lord and quietly wait for his Salvation waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternal life that so when we have done the will of God we may receive the promise which yet for a little while is deferred but will not fail to be performed to those that keep Gods waâ— â—nd therein wait for it He that shall come wâ—ll come and will not tarry Now the good Lord the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus that Great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make us perfect with him in every good work to doe his will working in â—s that which is well-pleasing in his sight 〈…〉 Iesus Christ To whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Amen March 26. 1664. FINIS