teacheth us all things that we rightly know we know nothing as we ought to know farther then Christ Jesus by his Spirit teacheth But I proceed to the next particular propounded in the office or work of a Prophet namely to work miracles this the Prophets before Christ did Moses a type of Christ and the great Prophet of Israel work't many miracles when the Lord sent him to deliver his people And this hath Christ our Prophet done and doth to this day this hee did when he was in the world turning water into wine raysing the dead to life restoring those borne blinde to sight c. and this be still doth Christ our Prophet is ever working miracles The conversion of a soule is a miracle it is the changing of the nature and it is above nature to doe it to raise a man from the dead to life is a miracle and this Christ doth to every soule who is indeed raised Ephes 2. the 1. and 5. verses compared ver 1. and you who were dead in trespasses and sins ver 5. Even when wee were dead in sins hath hee quickned us c. now to quicken to give life to a dead soule is a miracle and this Christ doth ordinarily and hee gives sight unto blinde men it was a miracle for Christ to give sight to the man that was borne blinde beloved every man and woman in the world is borne blinde spiritually blinde and this is a greater miracle to cure such yet this is the ordinary work of Christ and every man naturally is both blinde lame and deaf but Christ when he comes he opens the blinde eyes he un-stops the deaf eares he causeth the lame to walke and the tongue of the dumb to sing Esay 35.5 3 The Prophet did foretell of things to come Moses and the rest did fore-tell Christ c. and so did Christ in many particulars Mat 24. but I passe this also 2 Christ is to be exalted Prophet in the dayes of the Gospel see Act. 3.22 23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you hear in all things Use 1. To examine if Christ have been thy Prophet When Christ comes first to the soule he findes men dead and gives life unto them he findes men blinde and gives sight unto them Hath the Lord discovered thy dead condition unto thee and given thee life art borne from above That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and thou wert borne flesh dead in trespasses and sins hath the Lord changed thee from a state of death to a state of life from a state of infidelity to a state of believing thou wert blinde thou wert borne blinde not able to see into spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.14 Hath the Lord opened thine eyes canst say I was blinde but now I see I was dumb but now I speak ô this is worth your consideration Use 2. A word of consolation to the Saints whom the Lord Jesus hath taught what is the comfort you will say 1 He will for ever be thy Prophet and will be ever teaching thee Thou shalt hear a voyce behinde thee saying this is the way walke yee in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left the Lord Jesus will be for ever thy Prophet he will never fail thee nor for sake thee his eye shall ever be over thee for good he will direct thee in all thy wayes and is not this a mercy 2 He hath made all the Saints Prophets he hath powred down a spirit of Prophesie upon them that now they are enabled by the spirit of prophesie to speake one to another for edification exhortation and consolation 1 Cor. 14.3 and therefore the men of the world might hence be warned to take heed how they meddle with the Saints to persecute them for they are the Lords Prophets 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine anointed doe my Prophets no harme Christ takes every wrong done to them as done to himselfe therefore you had need look to it for it is that which will work your ruine in the end THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone KING of SAINTS CHAP. III. I Come to the Kingly Office of Christ Christ is the alone King of his people believe it Christ is the alone King of his people Christ is a King and hee hath a Kindome Psal 45.6 His Kingdome is spirituall it is not of this world although it is in the world Christ hath a twofold kingdome here in this world there is the kingdome within the Saints and the kingdome without the one in the heart the other in the Church they are both spirituall 1 Christ rules and reignes in the Saints the kingdom of God is within you beloved Christ hath a kingdom within you if ye are his Christ is in you except yee be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And this is a priviledge more then all the Kings in the earth have they may reign here over their subjects but not in them but Christ first reigns in them then over them he reigns I mean spiritually over none but those in whom he reigns Now Christ reigns in the souls of the Saints first opposing all things that are contrary to himself there are other Lords that will seeke to rule in the hearts of the Saints if Christ subdue them not the Devill hee will seek to be Lord he that is the God of the world and rules and reigns in the hearts of the children of disobedience where Christ doth not rule but when the Lord Jesus coms he dispossesseth him and casts him out and so keeps him out The Devill will make many a strong assault throw many a fiery dart at the soule of the Christian endevouring if possible hee can to shake his hold but Christ he is the King hee is the watchman the keeper of Israel hee giveth in power to the weak fainting soul to overcome all those Laws and Edicts Satan shal endevour to set up in the soule so that now the Christian espyes all Satans plots and artificiall devices to trap and ensnare him rejects all his temptations and says as Christ Get thee behind me Satan when the Devill acts and works in others he hath no power over the soule where Christ reigns it is true hee may throw in his darts sometimes make assays eyther to tempt to some evill or to shake the faith of Christians but Christ the King reigns there still conquers him subdues him and so caries on his own work that the gates of hell cannot prevail against that soul where he dwels Thus Christ reigns keeping under Satan beleeve it beloved Christ and Satan cannot reign both in one soul 2 Christ opposes the power of sin in the soul where he reigns sin bears a strong sway in the soul now Christ he opposeth it sets himselfe against it hence it is there is such a strong opposition between the flesh and the spirit that is the spirit of Christ the spirit Iusting against the flesh the flesh
Apostle sayth Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing else save in Iesus Christ and him crucified Christ crucified is a Christians onely joy onely delight therefore the Apostle Paul prays Rom. 15.13 That God would fill them with all joy and peace through believing and why by believing the soule comes to enjoy this crucified Christ and so justification and peace Rom. 5 1. Question But some may say how shall I know that I doe indeed exalt Christ in my soule Answer First Christ is then exalted in the soule when the Lord brings over the soule to look upon Christ as its alone justification O beloved then is the Lord exalted when the soule comes to see that there is nothing but emptinesse in it selfe when the soule can through the power of God cast down all at the feet of Christ and looke upon all its own righteousnesse as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ so the Apostle Paul Phil. 3.7.8.9 the Apostle having in the 5 and 6 verses laid down what he was once in divers particulars in his own righteousnesse he amongst all the grounds as once he thought them grounds of comfort one and the least was hee walked as touching the Law blamelesse but what things were gain that is I counted gain and rested upon them I now count them losse for Christs sake yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord and ver 9. and be found in him not having my own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith ô here is a soule exalting Christ above all laying all his own righteousnesse low even as low as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ ô what saith thy soule to this now man woman didst ever see thine own righteousnesse or at least thine own unrighteousnesse hath the Lord opened thine eyes to see a vanity an emptinesse in that you once trusted hath the Lord let forth a glimpse of his glory into thy soule shining down in the face of Jesus can you say Yea donbtlesse I account all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Is thy soule carryed forth above and beyond thy selfe to the Lord Jesus as thine alone righteousnesse see Esay 45.24 25. Su ely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength ver 25. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israell be justified and shall glory In the Lord Christ thou seest thy justification and in him thou gloriest thou canst say God forbid I should glory in any thing below Christ Ier. 23 6. This is his name by which he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse the Lord our covering our justification this is the ground when thou canst look upon Christ as thy alone righteousnesse and justification and so seeing an excellencie in the knowledge of Christ in this particular 2 A soule then exalts Christ when it looks so upon Christ as that it is carryed with a principle of love after him and it is by love as it were glewed and knit up to him so the Apostle Rom. 8.35.38 Who shall separate us from the love of God and when love constrains thy soule to follow God 2 Cor. 5.14 the love of Christ constrains us and when love so glews and knits thy soule to Christ that thou takest him as the wife takes her husband for better for worse as we use to say when thon canst follow Christ in all conditions to tryall prisons death nothing severs thee from him when as with Abraham thou goest forth from thine own Countrey thy sins sinfull companions and followest Christ not knowing whether thou goest whether to liberty or prison that makes nothing with thee Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham obeyed and went forth of his own Countrey not knowing whither he went this flows from faith Gal. 5.6 3 When the Lord Jesus is the alone delight and joy of thy heart believe it beloved if the soule exalt Christ rightly he will bee thy delight and joy thou wilt be able to sing the song of Mary Luke 46.47 My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour there will be joy and peace come in through believing joy unspeakable and full of glory according to Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce c. 4 The soule that truly exalts Jesus is satisfied in the enjoying of him and now the soule hath enough when it hath Christ let who will have the world sin pleasure I have Christ sayth the soule a goodly portion now the soule is fitted for any condition come affliction persecution the soule glories in all because it enjoyes God through Christ in all 2 Cor. 11.30 after the Apostle has mentioned his afflictions he concludes that he will glory in all see Chap. 12.9 5 Lastly when Christ is all in all to the soule then doth the soule rightly exalt and lift up Christ when it enjoys a fulnesse in Christ in the want of all things and sees an emptinesse in all things without Christ this the Apostle could see and say he is all and in all Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all he is the way the truth and the life Iohn 14.6 He is the light and life of men Ioh. 1.4 He is meat drink and cloathing as wee use to say to the Saints he is their meat and drink see Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drinke indeed ô beloved revery believer spiritually eats and drinks the flesh and bloud of Christ that is lives upon Christ he doth not build upon ordinary prayers duties no no give me Christ sayth the believing soule Christ in hearing Christ in preaching in the Supper of the Lord c. Believe it beloved nothing lesle then Christ can satisfie the living the believing soule and likewise in temporall things the believer sees all purchased for him by the bloud of Christ and so in every creature he lives upon the flesh and bloud of Christ and believe it beloved thus every beleever lives upon Christ see ver 53. Then Jesus said unto them verily verily I say unto you except yea eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinke his bloud you have no life in you harke you friends Hee that doth not thus spiritually eat and drink the flesh and bloud of Christ hath no life in him a signe of a dead soule that lives upon ordinary creatures without Christ 2 Christ is cloathing and covering also he covers the nakednesse of men and women that believe see Rev. 3.18 I counsell thee to buy of me c. white rayment that thou maist be cloathed what is this cloathing the righteousnesse of the Saints see Rev. 19.8 The fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints Christ Jesus is the Saints righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 Jer. 23.6 and so the Saints covering
The Saints spiritually enjoy Christ also in their externall cloaths and covering so that I say he rightly exalts Christ in his soul that sees Christ to be all and in all to him c. I shall now come to the exaltation of Christ in his offices in the dayes of the Gospel Priest Prophet and King in these is Christ to be exalted 1 He is the great High-Priest of his people Christ Priest and in this particular he is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel that is as the alone atonement and peace maker betwixt God and man The Leviticall High-Priests under the Law were a type of Christ our great High-Priest under the Gospel Therefore for my more cleer proceeding I shall indeavour to unfold unto you what was the Office of the High-Priest under the Law wherein Christ the Iewish High-Priests agree wherin they differ and wherein Christ our Gospel High-Priest and those High-Priests agree and wherein they differ What their office is and wherein they agree for those High-Priests in all their administrations typed forth Christ our High-Priest 1 The Office of the High-Priest it was to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people Exod 28.29 Levit. 9. from the 1 to the 7 ver this hath Christ done he hath offered sacrifice for sin and herein Christ doth not onely agree with those High Priests in offering sacrifice for sin but he differs also excelling those High-Priests for they offered sacrifice it is true but it was the flesh and bloud of creatures a lambe a ram goats buls c. Levit 9.3.4 Heb. 9.13 22. But Christ Jesus he offered not the bloud of goats and calves but his own bloud Heb. 9.12 14. his own body Heb. 10.10 Christ hath offered himselfe a sacrifice Ephes 5.2 Christ hath loved us and given himselfe for us an offering and a sacrifice to God c. so you see Christ exceeds in the very first in the offering in the Sacrifice he offers his own body his own bloud upon the crosse a sacrifice for sin and indeed those legall sacrifices were but a type of Christ our sacrifice and in themselves could not doe away sin but as they directed to Christ therefore Christ is called the lamb slain from the beginning or from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.18 29. 2 The High-Priests by offering sacrifice were to make a tonement and peace for their own sins and for the sins of the people Levit. 19.7 Moses said unto Aaron goe to the Altar offer thy sin offering and thy burnt offering make an atonement for thy selfe and the people Chap. 15.30 The Priest for the unclean woman was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering to make an atonement for her before the Lord This was the end wherefore he went into the holy place Cap. 16.3 To make an atonement for the children of Israel before the Lord ver 34. This Christ our High-Priest hath done harke you beloved Christ our High Priest hath offered sacrifice and by his sacrifice he hath put away sin made an attonement that is peace and reconciliation between God and man Rom. 5.10 12. Being enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Nore here is Christ reconciling by his death Christ a sacrifice dying and so reconciling you shall see all along the Scripture that it is Christ a Sacrifice Christ dying that is our reconciliation our attonement and peace Ephes 2.13 They which were somtimes afar off are made night by the bloud of Christ ver 14. he is our peace ver 15. having abolished in his slesh the enmity c. ver 16. and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse c. You see Christ hath made peace by his bloud having abolished in his flesh the enmity of the Law made reconciliation by his crosse see Col. 1.20 and making peace how through the bloud of his crosse it is by the bloud of his crosse by his death wherein he offered himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that he hath made peace for all his people Note in this also that Christ our High-Priest exceeds those Jewish High-Priests Christ our High-Priest hath indeed made peace and reconciliation for sin he is our peace and that the Jewish High-Priest could not doe their Sacrifice could not make peace farther then the soule was lead unto Christ see Heb. 10.1 The Law having but a shadow of things to come can never with those sacrifices that they offer make the commers thereunto perfect and ver 4. For it is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Christ hath done that which the bloud of buls and goats could not doe that which never a High-Priest in the world could doe he hath taken away sin he hath made peace and every believer receives the atonement from his hands Rom. 5.11 By whom namely Christ we have now received the atonement O beloved What doe your soules say to this Christ hath wrought peace for every soul rightly receiving him he hath done that which the Priest could not do he hath done that thou thy selfe couldest never have done if the Load help thee rightly to look to him and this hee hath done in offering himselfe a Sacrifice for sinne dying upon the crosse How should this informe poor creatures where to look for their peace and atonement O doe not loook for it in duties in teats in professions it is not crying but dying that will take away sin it is not tears but bloud that will make peace Col. 1.20 Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission believe it if ever thou hast peace thou must have 〈◊〉 from a Christ dying Rom. S. 33 34. Who shall lay any things to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed c. Hee dyed for our sins and rose again for our iustification Rom. 4.25 it is through him who hath given himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that you must come to see your sin pardoned if ever you see it pardoned O how doe poor ignorant blind creature deceive themselves seeking peace where it 〈◊〉 not to be found in duties tears c. The dig broken cisterns to themselves that will hold no water They that is the reason they are so empty compaesse themselves about with sparks of their own kindling Esay 50.11 that is the reason they ly down in sorrow they seek the living among the dead that is living consolations amongst dead works and that is the reason they finde it not believe it beloved if ever your soules enjoy true peace it must be let into your soules by a dying Christ if ever you are saved it must be by eying of and believing in the Lord Jesus Esay 45.22 3 The High-Priest was to bear the names of the children of Israel in two srones between their shoulders Exod. 28.12 so hath Christ born not onely the names but
is that he is called a Lamb slain from the beginning beloved Christ having undertaken to become a High-Priest a peace-maker between God and man nothing lesse then his bloud could doe it Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission no justification without bloud Christs dying is a Christians justification Rom. 5.9 being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved c. no purging of sin without bloud Heb. 9.14 how much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himself purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Rev. 1.5 who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud c. there is no pardon and so no peace without bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus beloved you see that all must be done by bloud and that by the bloud of Christ too the bloud of all the creatures in the world nay of all the men in the world was not able to redeem to make satisfaction for one soule nay for one sin nothing lesse then the bloud of Christ could doe it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. silver and gold could not doe it the bloud of creatures could not doe it Heb. 10.5 It is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Object But some may say that God had never any thing against his elect he ever loved them from eternity Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Ephes 1.4 he chose us in him from before the foundatien of the world Ans True God ever loved his elect and ever intended mercie and love unto them yet he so loved them as with relation to the death of his Son and from everlasting determined to satisfie his justice to take away sin and work peace by the death of his Son and the truth is that God had as really an eye to the death of his Son from all eternity and saw it as actually then as if Christ had then suffered see Ephes 1.4 He chose us in him from before the foundation of the werld in him with relation to his death to his making satisfaction for sin not that God could not have made the Saints at once and have saved them presently and never have suffered them to sin but this is the way God in his wisdome appointed to manifest his mercie on the vessels of mercie and his justice on his enemies so that now beloved God having appointed this to be the means to bring sons to glory there could never have been any remission any peace but by a dying Christ therfore he is called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and indeed Christ was as a lamb ever slain in Gods account and he beheld all things as present and saw both the work of creation redemption and glory of his Saints from all eternitie The second part of Christs priestly office consists in his intercession at the right hand of the glory of his Father Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed year ather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Heb. 7.25 Hee ever liveth to make intercession Beloved this is one part of Christs Priestly office to intercede for the Saints Note beloved Christ intercedes 1 In the Saints 2 For them 1 In them Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirit it selfe to wit of Christ Gal. 4.6 Maketh intercession for us or in us according to the will of God that is God by his Spirit helpeth us to ask things according to the will of God for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit helpeth us c. 2 He maketh intercession For us also hee ever liveth to make intercession O blessed word for the Saints hee maketh intercession for every particular Saint hee maketh intercession for his Churches for us saith the Apostle and through him it is wee have accesse with boldnesse unto the Father c. Object But some may object did not Christ make satisfaction peace and reconciliation when hee dyed upon the crosse when he sayd It is finished Ans It is true that Christ in his death and resurrection finished the work of mans justification Rom. 5.9 being justified by his bloud and he made peace and reconciliation Col. 1.20 having made peace by the bloud of his crosse but wee are not to understand by Christs interceding any new act of Christ done eyther in way of satisfaction or justification neyther are wee to understand that Christ sits in Heaven pleading with the Father in words as a counfellour pleads a cause before the judge but Christ is in Heaven with the Father at his right hand that is in glory with him presenting our persons and in presenting our persens all our services in his owne person not by any new act of doing but by the worth of his merits the excellency of his person the neer relation of the Saints to himself viz. members of his body so that now God cannot look upon the Son but he must behold the Saints in him he having so neer a relation to his Father both by his personall presence and the excellent worth of his merits whose bloud spake better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 he continually makes intercession to God for the Saints Esay 53.12 He hath poured out his soule to the death and he was numbred among the transgressors he bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors here you have the whol priestly office of Christ 1 Bearing sin and so working peace 2 Making intercession by that means for transgressors Use If so that Christ Jesus is to be exalted and lifted up as the alone High-Priest in the dayes of the Gospel hence will properly arise foure words of application 1 A word of Admiration 2 A word of Information 3 A word of Exhortatiō 4 A word of Consolatiō Use First a word of Admiration O what cause have the Saints to admire God who hath manifested himselfe in his Son I say to admire him 1 His Wisdom 2 His Love and his Mercie 3 His Iustice 4 His Power all manifested in his Son to and for the good of sinners whom he maketh Saints 1 How should the Saints admire his wisdom truly beloved the wisdom of God as in other things so in this particular making peace by the bloud of his Son is very admirable the wisdom of God wonderfully appeared in the whole work of God with relation to the creation Iob 37.14 15 16. Chap. 38.4 c. and this the Saints should be acquainted with that their hearts might admire him But the redemption of the Saints is much more admirable for beloved this was Gods end in making a world that he might set forth his wisdom in the redemption of the Saints Esay 40. The Lord speaking as it seems with relation to the comming of his Son a Saviour ver 11. he shall feed his flock like a sheepherd
to his diversities of operations and workings keeps this law of sin under in some souls more then in other both the workings of it and the guilt of it Rom 8.2 The law of the spirit of life hath made free from the law of sin and death that is free from the power as it comes with authority as a law there Christ subdues although it wil be there as a rebel reigning yet it shal set up no law in the soul where Christ is Consider of it you that were never troubled about your sins but all things are at peace within you it is a sad signe Christ hath not set up his Kingdome there While the strong man the Devill keeps the house all things are at peace all quiet and so the poore creature lives in a fools Paradise and plcases himself in this condition but beleeve it when the Lord Jesus comes He will sit as a refiner and as a purifier hee will purge out the drosse when hee comes Mal. 3.3 But who may abide the day of his comming he will come with the refiners fire and the fullers sope he comes not to bring peace that is with lust and corruption but the Lord cuts them downe corruption dyes when Christ comes Object But perhaps some soul may object I find indeed some stirring within me some to evill and some motions to good how shall I know that this flows from the Kingdome of Christ set up in my soule or from some other principle Answ There is a conflict betweene the law and naturall conscience and there is a conflict between the spirit of Christ his work in the spirit of the Christian and the flesh corrupt nature and Satan 1 There is a conflict betweene naturall conscience and the law or the minde legally enlightned and the law and this may be in a naturall man or an Hypocrite Thus it was with Judas I have sinned in betraying the innocent bloud He saw his sin he had transgressed the law and now hee is troubled not because of his sin as it was a sin but because his conscience now dogs him will not let him rest This conflict may be in the heart of a poor creature and Christ never come there in the way of mercy and the soule deceive and cozen it self thinking Christ is their opposing sin when it is nothing else but the minde of man legally enlightned apprehending wrath and anger from the breach of the law and now walks more circumspectly yeelds more perfectobedience opposes sin as a transgression of the law and so thinks it selfe in a goodly paradise in a fair way for heaven And thus many poor souls deceive themselves and undo their souls everlastingly But perhaps some may say how shall I know the difference between mine one opposing sin from a principall of legall light whether the conflict be betweene naturall conscience and the law or the Kingdome of Christ set up in my soule and sin Answ The conflict betweene naturall conscience and the law it is only from the apprehension of the condemnation of the Law the law saith thou shalt not sin if thou do'st it thou must suffer thou must be condemned conscience enlightned seeing this is cast down and perhaps is much perplexed for sin sets against sin opposeth it with might and mayn and resolves to sin no more and anon sin presents it self and the Law presents it self and then out of doors sin must but why because of the law not because of Christ the law will give it no rest no peace there now to illustrate this by a comparison in these days of war I do not question but there are many in this countrey that are turned Paliamenteers for feare lest the Law seize upon their goods and persons and so they loose all their mindes are so far enlightned that they see it is good to sleepe in a whole skin as they say and hence they can perhaps talk somtimes and do for the Parliament when indeed their mindes are contrary well there comes one whose minde is not so farre enlightned as to seeke their owne externall good while he is here one whom this man loves and could gladly entertain him but for fear of the law he shall be counted and taken for an enemy to the State out of doores this man go none dares entertain him but why not for want of love but for feare beloved I have known the truth of this on the otherside enow And thus it is with this man perhaps the poore creature could be content to entertaine sinne in his bosome lust anger pride c. but no sooner doth sin appeare but the law that appeares conscience that is troubled out must the sin else conscience cannot be quier and so beloved for the quietnesse of conscience who fears eternall flames Esay 33.14 out sin must and an externall conformity follows and so the man is become a Christian It is as a man that hath a loving friend hee brings him to his houfe but the wife will not be satisfied she scolds out must the man else there will be no peace so sin would finde welcome perhaps and kinde entertainment with the man but naturall conscience from the apprehension of the law scolds and threatens and out must the beloved lust else there will be no peace I feare mee many a poore soule split themselves upon this rock But when Christ comes and sets up his Kingdome in the soul he presently writes his law in the heart makes them partakers of the divine nature makes them awilling people and now the conflict is not between the mind and the law but between the spirit and sin were there no law that matters not with the gracious soule it sees such a great disproportion and distance betweene its beloved and sin that there ariseth a bitter enmity between sin and the law of love in the soule of the Saints that the every appearance the very motions of sin as it is sin not as it brings condemnation but as it is filthy polluting contrary to the minde of Christ O the soule hath a continuall loathing of it and thus hee that is born of God sinneth not gives not the least allowance to sin in the very thought the very thought of it is bitter Quest. But what are the effects of this Kingdom of Christ in the souls of the Saints Answ First is the utter subversion and destruction of the Kingdom of Satan and sin for all sin is of the Devill and he that is borne of God sinneth not as you have heard 2 Is the continuall possessing of the soule with the enjoyment of God Christ always dwelling in the heart of the Saints for it is his Kingdom and the presence of Christ makes it heaven 3 Is joy and peace Rom. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with joy and peace through believing And the kingdome of heaven consisteth not in meat and drinke but in righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy spirit Joy unspeakable and full
that the name of God be not blasphemed among the Gentiles And likewise how doth it concern you who are members in the kingdom the Church of Christ to carry on the kingly office of Christ in his Church with majesty that so all things may be done in order that so confusion and disorders may be avoided and that every member in particular submit to order and for that end to ordaine officers according to rule the want whereof I conceive is one means of confusion in the Churches and causeth some to breake from all order so much briefly concerning the offices of Christ In all these he is to be exalted now in the dayes of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. Acts 3.22 23. Now I come to my text for the manner how he is to be exalted as in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of his people in his offices so in my text Hee is to be exalted and lifted up even as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse Now it is true this might have some relation to his lifting up upon the crosse John 12.32 33. and I if I be lifted up will draw all men unto mee now John interprets it in the next verse this hee spake signifying what death hee should dye so that Christ was lifted up upon the crosse chap. 8.28 so hee is still to be lifted up a dying a crucified Christ for sin But he then was and still is to be lifted up as the Serpent was lifted up in the wildernesse First there was the lifting up of the Serpent with the manner of it above all the people 2 The cause of it that whosoever was bitten with the fiery Serpent might look to this brazen Serpent and be cured 1 The lifting up of the Serpent with the manner of it Numb 21 8 9. And the Lord said unto Moses make thee a fiery Serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to passe that every one that is bitten when hee looketh upon it hee shall live verse 9. And Moses made a Serpent of brasse and put it upon a pole and it came to passe that if a Serpent had bitten any man he beheld the Serpent of brasse and lived Here was the lifting up of the Serpent in the wilderness he was lifted up upon a pole above all the people to the end that all that were bitten might behold him so Christ is to be lifted up he is to be exalted above all as the Serpent in the wildernesse and that either in the world or in the Church in the World so hee is to be exalted in the preaching of the Gospel in the view of all above all that so men may come to the view of him and in the Church that so Christ may still have the preheminence 1 He is to be exalted above the world or any creature O how doth the world prevail amongst men nay too much amongst Christians but where Christ comes hee sets the soul above the creature 1 John 5.4 5. Whosoever is borne of God overcommeth the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the world even your faith who is he that overcommeth the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God It is the cleere sight and apprehension of the Lord Jesus that sets the soule above the world the more the soule enjoys of Christ the more it slights things below thus Christ is to be lifted up both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of the Saints 2 Christ is to be lifted up above duties and all legall righteousnesse thus the Apostle lifts up Christ both in preaching and in his own soule he preached Christ and him onely 1 Cor. 1.1 2. I desire to know that is to make known nothing but Christ and him crucified Christ as the alone justifier of all that believe Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ so that he is just and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus ver 26. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to all that believe Rom. 10.4 Christ justifying believers from all things from which they could not have been justified by the Law of Moses act 13.39 and thus is Christ to be lifted up in the view of all Mar. 16.16 God preach the Gospel to every creature and thus is Christ to be lifted up above all and every name that is or may be named under heaven wherein men usually rest and deceive themselves for There is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we may be saved Act. 4.12 2 In the hearts of the Saints Christ is to be lifted up above all duties legall righteousnesse or any thing that may be named all in the soule of the Christian is laid down as emptinesse nay as dung and drosse at the feet of Christ and the soule glories in nothing else but Christ and him crucified thus Christ is to be exalted and lifted up as upon a pole as the brazen Serpent above every thing or name that may be named under heaven Quest What is the reason that Christ is thus to be exalted Answ 1 Because God hath exalted him and lifted him up for that end and purpose Phil. 2.9 God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name c. God hath given to Christ a high transcendent name a name above every name the name of a Saviour and there is no salvation to be attained without him The desire of all Nations Hag. 2.7 That the desire of all his people in every Nation might be to him as the desire of the wife to the husband The King of his people men may come and bow and fall down and worship before him God the Father hath set him up as the ensigne to whom the Nations must come Esay 11.10 as the common Saviour and Gouernour of all Gods elect 2 Christ is to be lifted up that so men may have life by him the serpent was lifted up that whosoever was bit with the fiery serpent might live for the Lord sent fiery serpents amongst the Jews in the wilderness for their sins as you may see Numb 2.6 7. who bit them that they dyed and this was the end that whosoever was bit with the fiery serpent might looke to the brazen Serpent and live Now I am apt to conceive that the fiery serpent holds forth the Law for I finde the Law called a fiery Law Deut. 33.2 From his right hand went a firy Law and the brazen Serpent holds forth Christ Now as the fiery serpent did bite the children of Israel for their sin in the wildernesse so the Law who hath nothing but fire in it bites men and when they are bitten of the Law they are to look to Jesus Object It seems then that the preaching of the Law is that prepares for Iesus Answ Nay it is not so for although all men are under the law by nature yet