is Tâ—y necke with Chaines Christs commands are these chaines Our necks are not too good for Christs chaines chaines are for use and for ornament for use for service and to keep in order and restraine Chaines Many chaines chaines are for service and for strength to hold and last long a horse may snap a bridle asunder but a chaine will hold him if not many chaines will The Law of God is this bridle or chaine to restraine order and guide us in the right way in which wee are to walke the many commands of God are the chaines which are as a bit to be put in our mouthes and upon our cheekes and about our neckes if the commands of God were not strong and durable we have such stiffe necks we need chaines to hold us else we would breake them snap them asunder as Sampson did his cords by nature we are like the Horse and wilde Asse and swift Dromedary Jer. 2. 23. We are not easily catched and when we are we need be chained Also chaines are for ornament so are Gods commands My sonne beare thy fathers instructions they shall be as a comely ornament unto thy head and as chaines for thy necke Pro. 1. 8 9. Chaines of gold Song 1. 10. The more of these chaines we have in our mouths and about our neckes the better and the more faire and beautifull our neckes are no Jewels of gold or pearle can adorne any so as these chaines adorne they are ornaments to us it s a shame to us not to have these chaines about our neckes we live in evill times the commands of God men reject and perhaps count it Religion to doe so but yee that love the Lord abhorre such a thought Gods own people are to be ruled by him by his commands allow our selves to be set free from the commands of God is unreasonable and abominable 11. We will make for thee we saith God as Gen. 1. 26. Rowes of gold with specks of silver Divers ornaments severall fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22 23. They are from God created by him Phil. 1. 29. Eph. 3. 16. Phil. 2. 13. to beautifie our conversation c. that it may be for his glory else it is not comely The soule saith 12. While the King Jesus Christ Sitteth at his Round Table With his Church at the Lords Table Mal. 1. 12. 1 Cor. 10. 21. With his Church at his spirituall banquet the Lords Supper a Round Table hath no upper end My spikenard is very costly spice Joh. 12. 3. A sweet smelling spikenard full of vertue see Song 4. 13 14. The breaking of Christs body in the Supper is this sweet precious Spikenard that fils the place with sweetnesse so the fruits of Christs death is held forth in the 〈◊〉 of ointment of Spikenard with which Christ was anointed Joh. 12. 3. Giveth forth the smell thereof The sent thereof fills soules with sweetnesse Joh. 12. 1 2 3. It sents forth Redemption Salvation happinesse and glory and what not Oh! the sweetnesse of these none can expresse nor conceive what joy delight or consolation is like this of Christ dying for my sinnes c. It causeth the soule to extoll Christ and say 13. A bundle of Myrrhe is my beloved unto me This holds forth the greatnesse of the contentment satisfaction and joy the soule takes in Christ in the fruits of his death the soule desires ever to take comfort in these benefits and bundle them up together least they be scattered and to seeke tie them up together in a bundle its the sweetest poesie ever to smell on to comfort refresh thy selfe withall A bundle of Myrrhe is sweet but nothing so sweet as Christ and his benefits is to me I finde by experience he is so to me there is nothing to be compared to him there is nothing so sweet and pleasing as is sweet Jesus unto me What is a mountaine of myrrhe and a hill of frankinsence Song 4. 6. Dropping sweet smelling myrrhe Song 5. 13. The bundle of my workes is not so sweet to me Love is as strong as death the coales thereof hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6. The heate of these coales were so exceeding hot and the flame so vehement it scorched and burnt up all my righteousnesse ere I was aware that bundle is gone now I need it not for my beloved is a better bundle unto me I leane not on any thing but on my beloved Song 8. 5. I have nothing else to leane upon nor is any thing else worth the smelling on he is my delight and all my pleasure in the sence of sinne and wants I comfort my selfe in the Righteousnesse of Christ He shall lie all night The night is the saddest time by reason of darknesse the night is a sad time by reason â—f feares Song 3. 8. Many walke in darknesse Isa 50. 11. When my soule is most sad and darke he shall lie all night the soule is to own and imbrace Jesus Christ and rest satisfied in him Between my brests When I am at the worst Christ I desire and nothing but Christ I leave all to imbrace my beloved he shall lie as near my heart as may be he is onely sweet to me I will have him alone and nothing else to lie between my breasts that I may smell on him and be satisfied with his sweeetnesse when I am at the worst he is enough for me he alone will I imbrace and fill my soule with his loves and sweet solace The breasts is the place of consolation and satisfaction Isa 61. 10 11. A bundle of myrrhe is sweet for sent but not so sweet as he my soule solace thy selfe with him and take thou no content but in him I am my beloveds and his desire 〈◊〉 towards me Song 6. 10. 14. A cluster of Cipres is my welbeloved unto me Cipres is sweet it hath reference to Christ in the fruits of his death Redemption Salvation Justification c. are all clusters together in one and not to be parted Christ hath joyned them in one part them not In the vineyard of Eâ—gedy A fruitfull soile Jos 15. 6. 2. Ezek. 47. 10. So Christs death is wonderfully fruitfull who can reckon up his benefits all which are the fruits of his death Christ saith to the soule 15. Behold thou art faire my love behold thou art all faire It s twice repeated because Christ would have his to know and minde their beautie Isa 62. 5. Song 7. 6. Thine eyes are as doves eyes Good eyes and cleare as the eyes of doves by the Rivers of waters washed with milke Song 5. 12. It holds forth the soules quick-sightednesse in the mystery of Christ Eph. 3. 4. Secondly Doves eyes are chaste Doves eyes within thy looks Song 4. 1. It holds forth the soules chastnesse to Christ they are covered except it be to Christ their eyes are fixed on him they looke not to their workes for life but freely part with all their
Deut. 22. 9. Mine Christ hath an interest in his people and he owns it he is not ashamed to own them to be his the Eject are his part The Saints are not their own but Christs 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. 1 Cor. 3. 23. Use Seeing the Saints are Christs they are to be at his disposing and not their owne they are to serve him and doe all for him Inheritance of my Cup Christs people are his by purchase Let this Cup passe from me they cost a great price his precious bloud 1 Pet. 1. 19. Use He that payd so much for his will not loose them nor leave them Heb. 13. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance The Saints have God for their portion The Lord is my portion saith my soule Lam. 3. 24. Thou art my portion O Lord Psal 119. 57. The portion of a childe of God is infinite because God is infinite God esteems nothing too much for his in that he declares himselfe to be theirs The Saints are infinitly happy in having such a portion Jer. 10. 16. Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144 15. Use The Saints portion can never be spent nor lost God is my port on for ever Psal 73. 26. None are so rich as a Saint they shall never want The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want Psal 23. 1. There is no want to them that feare him they shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 9 10. Use O rich and happy Saint admire free grace that hath so abounded to thee be content with thy portion for richer thou canst not be rejoyce in thy portion for it will be a full supply to thee They shall rejoyce in their portion Isa 61. 7. Be thankfull for thy portion for it was freely given thee Hos 14. 4. Esteeme not any thing too much for him who esteemes nothing too much for thee be content in every condition because thou art an heire of glory improve thy portion and live richly upon it Thou maintainest my lot God hath undertaken to preserve the Saints and he doth it Christs inheritance can never be lost because it is maintained by God The Saints safety and preservation depends not upon themselves nor any thing below God but upon God who maintains and upholds them The Saints are sure to persevere its impossible they should misse of glory because they are maintained by God Vers 6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places Christs lot and inheritance is his Saints who are delightfull and precious unto him Yea I have a goodly heritage Christ is wonderfully taken with the Saints comelinesse it s a maine part of the excellency of Christs inheritance that it cannot be kept from him spent nor lost Goodly heritage Christ hath a high esteeme of his faire unto me it pleaseth me well Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Song 4. 7. They are without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5. 25. to 28. 1 Tim. 1. 7. Psal 51. 5. Rev. 19. 8. Song 2. 10. Use O happy Saint have thee a high esteeme of Christ he is satisfied in thee be thou satisfied in him rejoyce in nothing else but him Psal 31. 21. and sing praises to him 7. I will blesse the Lord Declare his name Who hath given me counsell Counselled me made me wise see 1 Pet. 1. 11. Luk. 24. 25. My raines also instruct me Heart teacheth see Pro. 16. 23. In the night seasons in the darke seasons 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me I have proposed I beheld before Acts 1. 25. He is at my right hand Supplied Acts 2. 25. God powerfully assists and comforts me I shall not be moved that I be not moved Acts 2. 25. 9. Therefore my heart is gladâ— in it I rejoyce And my glory my tongue Acts 2. 26. Rejoyceth uttereth joyfull things My flesh My body Also shall rest in hope Safely securely in confidence to rise the third day Mat. 12. 40. 10. For thou wilt not leave Me in the power of death Acts 2. 24. 31. 13. 34 35. My soule My life Job 2. 6. In bell In the grave he speaks of the Resurrection that he should rise Acts 2. 31 32. or pit Psal 55. 24. Eccle. 9. 10. the corrupting ditch Psal 16. 10. Psal 57. 7. Neither wilt thou suffer Wilt not permit Thy holy One Me that am holy free from sinne To see corruption To perish Acts 13. 36 37 but that I shall rise Acts 2. 31 32. 11. Thou wilt shew me Make me to know or hast made me know The path of life The way of life for me to dye and rise is the way to life Acts 2. 28. Mat. 18. 9. Mark 9. 47. Our workes are not the way or path of life Christ is the way Joh. 14. 56. Yet Saints are to walke and doe walke in good works In thy presence Before thy face or presence The wicked put from thy presence 2 Thes 1. 9. Is fulnesse of joyes Thou wilt fill me with joy before thy face or with thy countenance Acts 2. 28. Gods face or presence is our joy Exod. 33. 14 15 16. At thy right hand The place of honour in the highest glory Psal 17. 15. Exalted Acts 2. 33 34. Are pleasures Pleasant joyes For ever more Eternally Mat. 25. 33 34. 36. A divine Cordiall for a fainting Soule Psal 89. 28. My Covenant shall stand fast with him THis Psalme holds forth Jesus Christ of whom David was a type and figure as Acts 2. 30. This Psalme containes the foundation of mans happinesse and the certainty thereof We are to consider first what a Covenant is secondly whose Covenant it is thirdly the nature and substance of this Covenant fourthly with whom it is made For the first the word Covenant imports a mutuall agreement of two parties to performe each of them the things agreed upon for it cannot be a Covenant unlesse there be something to be done on both parties and therefore a promise differs from a Covenant in that a promise may tie one partie onely as all free and absolute promises doe but a conditionall promise differs nothing from the nature of a Covenant For the second it is Gods Covenant as appeares by these words My Covenant For the third the nature and substance of this Covenant its spirituall and containes principall things spirituall salvation eternall life happinesse and glory For the fourth this Covenant is made with Jesus Christ which appeares by these words My covenant shall stand fast with him I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworne unto David my servant thy seed will I establish for ever vers 3. I have found David my servant with my holy Oile I have anointed him vers 20. With whom my hand shall be established my arme also shall strengthen him ver 21. The condition on Christs part is comprehended in these words that he should be made a sacrifice
to God so we decay in our obedience to him As our love is to Christ so according is our fruitfulnesse cold love is attended with barrennesse To doe our first workes is a speciall means to recover our first love Meanes to recover our first love 1. Frequent those duties meditation and prayer c. in which you injoyed communion with God in which God conveyed himselfe to thee God may by those meanes fill thee with himselfe 2. Beleeve God will raise thee up it 's his promise Hos 14. I will heale their backslidings want of depending upon God is a cause of our declining therefore faith is a meanes to raise us when fallen 3. Pray continually to God to raise thee and to hold thee up hold up my going that my footsteps slide not we are to use the means but without the presence and blessing of God all is to no purpose 4. Love not the world nor the things of the world wee cannot minde things above and things below he that minds the things below cannot minde the things above he that is filled with these things below is empty of things above he cannot live above with God he that is buried in the creature he cannot set his affections on things above 5. Meditate often upon Christs love to thee what he hath given thee and done for thee the consideration thereof is enough to â—aise thee Use This reprooves those that doe not their first works and yet thinke to recover their first love yet sit still God hath appointed meanes for his peoples prosperitie and welfare and they are to use them Or else I will come God will not suffer his to continue long in their fallen estate Gods coming to his is to reforme them and doe them good Come quickly 1. Such as are fallen from their first love are willing and prone to continue so 2. The time of our repentance and reformation is not left to us God will not stay our pleasures 3. As soone as we are convinced of a dutie to be done we are presently to practise it after admonition God requires a present reformation he expects we should regard his word and be ruled by it 4. Those that leave their first love God will allow but a little time and space to repent in This should exhort all that are fallen to rise now quickly put it not off to another season there is no reason why we should put it off because 1. Gods command is now quickly To day if yee will heare his voice harden not your hearts To put it off will but more harden your hearts 2. For that which is put off till hereafter is oft-times never done Felix was almost perswaded by Paul but he put him off to another season but when did his season come 3. It 's easier rising now then hereafter rise now whilest it is in your heart to rise now God calls therefore rise now now while your conscience is awake and tell yee yee are fallen the longer yee lay the longer yee may for your heart will be more hardened through the deceit fulnesse of sin then yee will have lesse minde to rise and be lesse able to doe your first workes 4. You have declined enough and laine long enough therefore doe not deserre it no longer seeing Christ calls saying Rise my love my faire one come away Song 2. 10. Oh therfore rise rise and goe quickly to him thirst after him cry to him now inwardly and secretly to raise you and draw out your heart abundantly to him Use Reproofe to such as know they are â—â—en and have left their first love yet rise not nor use not any meanes to get up but put it off till hereafter Oh that you would now consider that in so doing yee disobey the voice of the Lord and if you rise not quickly he will remove the Candlesticke out of it's place Observe he saith not if they doe not so he will damme them but remove the Candlesticke The Candlesticke is his Church which is called a Candlesticke Rev. 1. 20. A Candlestick holds forth the light so doth the Church of Christ the light of truth the light of Christ To remove the Candlesticke is to remove one socket from another to take it a pieces as the Candlestickes in the Temple had many sockets so the Church consists of many members so that to remove the Candlesticke out of it's place is to divide and scatter the Church the members one from another so he hath done to the Churches of Asia where there is not any appearance of any of the 7 Churches to be found Wee learne that a Church of Christ may cease to be so and which is more a Church of Christ may cease to be although not guiltie of any scandalous sin nor error in doctrine God chargeth them not with any such evills but onely for decaying or leaving their first love So that if a Church of Christ decay in their love to him he will quickly un-church them except they repent and doe their first workes God will have his to know it is no small affliction to be un-churched and such as prise the injoyment of the Saints with the ordinances of God count it an affliction to be stripped of them and because God threateneth to un-church then unlesse they repent c. it appeares that although they were fallen from their first love yet they had so much love to Gods ordinances and communion of Saints that before they would be stripped of them they would repent and doe their first workes Except thou repent Repentance is a means to escape affliction If we repent not he will strip us of that which is neere to us that so we may repent and be reformed When love will not reforme us a rod must and it is a mercy to be reformed by any meanes Lam. 3. 33. The life of Faith The just shall live by Faith Hab. 2. 4. THat we might live by faith God hath given his many rich and precious promises for this life and that to come that we may be comforted and satisfied in the injoyment of God in them our lives cannot be sweet without them by reason of the many miseries within and without that attends us I have here set downe many principall promises that you may with ease and speed finde them and live upon them Faith supplieth all wants faith honours God and God honours them most that live by it see Heb. 11. Hos 12. 3 4. Job 13. 15. By faith we live to God a life of joy in him our righteousnesse as if we had never finned by faith we live above sin infirmities temptations disertions sense reason feares doubts faith sweetens the sweetest mercy and the bitterest miseries it makes great afflictions as none it maintains the soules strength and comfort by faith wee obey God it makes Christs yoke easie and sweet faith puts the soule into possession of heaven while the body is on earth by it we view the glory of
wherein â—e hath made us acceptable in the beloved Eph 1. 5 6. To whom be all the praise honour now and for ever Amen The end of the first Part. DIVINE CONSOLATIONS OR The Consolations of God The Second Part. Declaring how a soule may know and live in the sweet injoyment of the love of God c. Are the Consolations of God small to thee Job 15. 11. How sweet are thy words unto my tast Psal 119. 103. His lips drop downe sweet smelling myrrhe Song 5. 5. By Samuel Richardson I heard sweet Jesus Christ unto me say Rise my love my faire one come away â—ONDON Printed by M. Simmons in Aldersgate-streete 1649. To Mr. Daniel Tayler Silkman Mr. Nathanael Andrews Merchant Mr. John Fountaine Merchant Mr. Samuel Penoire Merchant Mr. Edward Wright Goldsmith in Norwich Fulnesse of joy happinesse and glory Much honoured and worthy Sirs GOD hath in his wisdome and love mixed crosses with comforts and comforts with crosses He hath said In the world yee shall have trouble but in me yee shall have peace peace in trouble is a sweet mercy behold a fountaine of joy and rest sufficient to satisfie the soule at all times which ever floweth full of sweetnesse and life to refresh our soules withall at all times Loving friends the love you have manifested to me it s so great so free and full and undeserved and unexpected the more I view it the more I see God in it and the more sweet it is to me I have cause to be affected with it with great thankfulnesse to you and to God for you in that he hath ordered you to be so sweet a mercy to me I trust he will take the kindnesse you have shewed to me as done to himselfe Mat. 25. 40. I know not how to require your love I cannot doe more nor lesse then to present you with the best I have as a testimony of my sincere and hearty thankfulnesse to you for the favour and kindnesse I have received by you not doubting but these spirituall and divine Consolations will be savoury and acceptable to you The Lord blesse you and keepe you from all evill so he prays that remaines Your much obliged Samuel Richardson The second Part. DIVINE CONSOLATIONS Of the first Chapter of the Song of SOLOMON 1. A Song of Songs the most excellent Song because it is of the most excellent things viz. the excellencies of Christ his love Which is Solomons which is Christs The soule saith of Christ 2. Let him kisse me Kisses are expressions of love and signes of peace and reconciliation 1 Thes 5. 26. 2 Sam. 14. 23. He is my love and my love is to him I prize and desire him and the manifestations of his love he is full of sweetnesse he is perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankinsence with all powders of the Merchants Song 3. 6. Let him kisse me There are no kisses so excellent nor so full of sweetness none so comfortable as his therefore none so desireable and acceptable as his therefore let him kisse me O that he would kisse me With the kisses of his mouth His mouth is sweet Song 4. 16. The roofe of his mouth is like the â—est wine very sweet Song 7. 7. His words are sweet Prov. 16. 24. I long to injoy the discoveries of his sweet and everlasting love Jer. 31. 3. The kisses of his mouth are sweet whose heart is full of love his lips drop down sweet smelling myrrhe Song 5. 13. Honey and milke are under thy tongue Song 4. 11. The expressions of his love doth quiet my troubled heart and heale my wounded soule Comfort me with apples for I am sicke of love the smell of thy nose like apples Song 7. 8. Apples are of divers and severall tasts yet all comfortable to the body So are the fruits of his death of divers and severall tasts all which are comfortable to raise and refresh the soule I raised thee up under the apple tree Song 8. 5. Let me heare thy voyce make hast my beloved Be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountaines of spices Song 8. 13 14. For thy loves Many loves Redemption Justification Salvation c. are the fruits of his love and as so many loves he hath drowned all our sinnes in the Ocean of his loves Are better then wine More good then wine more profitable more comfortable more strengthening more satisfying more sweet and pleasing more joyfull and lasting then wine Wine maketh the heart glad Eccle. 10. 19. Psal 104. 15. It causeth to forget sorrow and affliction So Christs loves chaseth away the soules feares and sorrowes as the comforts of the soule exceed and are better then the comforts of the body so much better are his loves then wine In the sence of sinne our soules are comforted and satisfied with his loves in Christ and his loves are all my consolation happinesse and glory This wine is spâ—ced wine Song 8. 2. it goeth downe sweetly and causeth the lips of him that is asleep to speake Song 7. 9. Drinke of this juice of apples for in this there is sweet consolation Acts 2. 18. His fruit is sweet unto my taste Song 2. 3. 5. 1. 3. For the savour Thy smell is as sweet Odours smell is a very sweet and comfortable savour pleasant words are as an honey-combe sweet to the soule and health to the bones Pro. 16. 24. Of thy good ointments Good made of precious things of sweet spices odours and perfumes Exod. 30. 23 24 25. The fruits of Christs death are the good ointments healeth all his ointments are very good very sweet and precious to the soule ointments and perfumes rejoyce the heart Pro. 27. 9. Thy name an ointment The Lord our Righteousnesse is this name This is his Name that they shall call him the Lord our Righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. This Name is this ointment The smell of which is better then all spices Song 4. 10. Christs righteousnesse is the best and most precious thing in the world this makes us righteous in the sight of God in this ointment there is contained all precious things pardon peace reconciliation redemption justification happinesse and glory and what not Psal 34. 6 7. This is very good very sweet this ointment healeth all our wounds 1 Pet. 2. 24. They that know thy Naâ— will trust in thee Psal 9. 10. Therefore we leane on thee we venture all on thee leaning upoâ— her beloved Song 8. 5. Powred forth In the powring forth it is discovered and evidently seene in its sweetnesse as a sweet ointment being opened and powred forth the sent thereof fills the place with sweetnesse so Christs Namâ— our Righteousnesse filleth the soule with love so that his breath where this love is smels strong of love he cannot but sent it forth Therefore the Virgins love thee Virgins chast ones who are content alone with Christ they follow Christ Rev. 14. 4. love thee the Name the Righteousnesse of
he may thinke he wants because he is possessed with all things God is his God It 's best to want that which we cannot injoy unlesse we sinne Weeping Excesse in weeping is against nature reason and Religion Many make a Christ of their teares World The whole world is a vanitie of vanities and vexations Will. To will is naturall but to will spirituall is above nature He cannot resist a sinfull will who hath no other then a sinfull will A man may perswade the will but it cannot be compelled To make Gods will to depend on mans will is to deprive God of his honour When we want a will to doe a thing wee pretend want of power and say I cannot Many prefer their wills before their lives for when they are crossed they wish for death The creature cannot doe more or lesse then God will Those vertues that adorne the will as love mercy justice are more glorious then those that adorne the understanding as wisdome power c. If the will gets into the understanding it puts all the powers of the soule upon action As the will is so answerable is the endeavour Wit A dull wit is fittest and best for him that wants discretion Winde Most men feed upon winde yet there is no satisfaction in it Words Many in stead of proofe will give big words but bare saying is no proofe Wonder For men not to prise their best workes is a wonder Naturall men wonder at worldly and sensuall things It 's no wonder if a naturall man seeke himselfe in all things Wisdome Wise men forecast how to doe most with least noise It 's wisdome sometimes to let passe and take no notice of a fault To feare to sin is wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Wisdome goeth as farre beyond folly as light beyond darknesse It 's a speciall piece of wisdome to finde out and improve such places of Scripture as are sutable to our present condition The way to be wise in things naturall and spirituall is to observe and consider the reasons and causes of things It 's wisdome to doe that which is safest Wisdome is better then strength Worldly wisdome few have but what they paid too deare for The wisdome of man cometh from conference of things past and to come The more wise a man thinkes he is the more foole he is World This world is insufficient uncertain and perishing Every worldly thing is inconstant and a vaine vanitie Many are deceived by the false and vaine shews of the world The nourishing in our selves the love and care of worldly riches choakes the love of heavenly and kils many good things in us The things of this world are sutable to our spirits The world affords no stable comfort it perisheth in the using and when wee have most need of it The lesse the Saints desire the world the large their hearts are for God The more we love this world the lesse minde we have to leave it The more men are afflicted the more willing they are to leave this world The consideration of the end of the things of this world tends to weane from the world Such as are full of the world are empty enough of spirituall things He that is full of worldly businesse needs no other trouble The world is a great snare and deadly enemy to spirituallnesse they are the strangers that devoute our strength According as the world is sweet unto us so accordingly spirituall things are bitter The more men possesse of this world the lesse many use and injoy the more we love it the more we are crossed with it and the more we have of it the more we are in want Weaknesse Weaknesse with watchfulnesse stands when greater strength with selfe-confidence faileth The wisest and strongest Saints are most sensible of their own weaknesses Workes To be saved by Christ and to be saved by works are contrary the one excludes the other Christ will be all or nothing It 's possible for a person that beleeves through weaknesse to goe aside to the covenant of works Watchfulnesse Spirituall watchfulnesse is a speciall gift of God a chiefe part of godlinesse and a speciall helpe to holinesse and a Saints great priviledge Because the Saints watch no more they fall so much There is no good order in their lives who watch not Watching keeps the soule awake and fits us to exercise seasonably the fruits of the Spirits Of zeale The height of the affections is zeale Zeale is the height of love and the heat of the intention and affection Zeale is an affection wound up to the highest peg Zeale is the fire of the affections and it 's very hot Zeale is good when it 's for God it 's evill when it 's against him The command of God and Christs love to us and ours to him begets zeale for him it kindles it and makes it burne and flame Riches honour pleasure ease consumeth the Saints zeale and cooleth them The world and carnall friends powre much water to quench our zeale Zeale should eate us up and we eate it up Every man is zealous for God or himselfe To be zealous for a trifle is a great weaknesse Zeale cannot indure to see God dishonoured in no kinde A Saint loaths himselfe because he hath so little zeale for God c. AS it were with wings Mount thy selfe my spirit Vnto stable things Without alterings Which all comfort brings Them for to inherite Earthly things despise In them take no pleasure But thy selfe advise Higher for to rise Where true substance lies And the chiefest treasure Shadowing things are here Better things are higher In the Heavens cleare Let it then appeare That as things right deare Thou doest them desire Earthly things we know Soone away are sliding Here on Earth below They doe ebbe and flow And to dust they goe Without long abiding Yea they are by kinde So base and unstable That they should not binde To Earth a pure minde The which we may finde To be honourable Counsells Concerning Actions 1. SEe that what yee doe be lawfull see that your actions have a good foundation a word of God to warrant them else they are evill to doe things not required of God is the error of the wicked 2 Pet. 3. 17. that when God shall say Who required this at your hands Isa 1. 12. Deut. 12. 32. we may say thou O Lord. 2. Look what yee doe be expedient the circumstance of time place and person must be wisely conâ—idered to a good action is required that all the circumstances be good 3. Look to your end why yee doe what yee doe the end and scope of an action conduceth to the being of it if two duties come together doe the chiefest first unlesse works of mercy and necessity hinder 4. Look yee doe what is required because it is required and as it is required and when it is required to doe one dutie and neglect another is uncomely give each dutie it 's due
doe not make us the better before God nor the more beloved of God but they declare us to be what we are made by God The Papists doe as they say many good works to be saved but we abhorre it because it is condemned of God Not of workes least we should boast If it were of works it were not of grace Therefore all those that expect hope for mercy because they leave their sinnes and doe many good workes as they thinke alas they are greatly deluded they are not taken off of selfe-works and selfe-concurrence with Christ you are ignorant of the righteousnesse of Christ therefore yee goe about to establish your own righteousnesse and so long as yee doe so yee cannot submit to the righteousnesse of God see Rom. 10. 3. But if thou didst know what a righteousnesse Christ is thou wouldst have preferred it before thy own yea it would be esteemed by thee but dresse and dung to his Phil. 3. 8 9. Publicans and Harlots are neerer salvation then thee as righteous as thou art who work for life as the blind Pharisees did and perished see Mat 21. 31 32. Luk. 7. 29 30. We are not commanded to doe any thing to procure the pardon of our sinnes but in reference to service and duty I doe count my selfe never the nearer heaven for my best works then if I had never done any thing but swore and blasphemed God it s to him that worketh not Rom. 4. 2 3 4 5. We are saved not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace 2 Tim. 1. 9 Doth not God speake plaine enough to the question in saying it is not according to our works And when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Rom. 5. 10. I will doe away thy offences for my Names sake Isa 43. 25. When thou wert polluted in thy own bloud I said unto thee live then was the time of love Ezek. 16. 6. 8. From hence it is that all that see this mystery of Gods free grace that salvation is not according to our works they cry grace grace Christ Christ Christ is all in all nothing but Christ now all their prayers teares duties devotions all of theirs is nothing to them in respect of their acceptation justification or salvation they are dead to working they will not stirre to doe the least worke in the world to attaine any of these c. Heb. 4. 10. All ours is vanished in the infinite ocean of Gods free love it s so that God might have all the glory Eph. 1. 6. Jer. 9. 24. and that man might not boast Rom. 3. 9. but obey God freely Luk. 1. 74. I have no worke of God wrought in me The Spirit shall convince the world of sin and of righteousnesse Joh. 16. 7 8 9 10. God hath begun his worke in thee if he hath convinced thee of sin and of righteousnesse to be convinced of sin is for the soule to see it selfe utterly lost and undone by reason of sin they confesse thâ—y are vile and abhorre themselves Job 42. 6. They loath themselves for their deeds Ezek. 20. 43. 2. The soule is convinced so as to have no hope in any thing it can doe to help it selfe this is to be undone in nature so as he cannot doe any thing from whence he may expect salvation or have any hope of it for a man cannot expect life and salvation from Christ alone untill the soule be taken off all other things in respect of life This vision of God causeth the soule to see themselves and say There remaineth no strength in me my comelinesse is turned in me into corruption Dan 10. 8. That is now the case is altered from what it was now my best workes my righteousnesse is defiled and is sin now sinfull-selfe and righteous-selfe are alike if there be any difference the last is the worst now the creature hath nothing to procure Christ nor no strength to beleeve in him the Spirit of God reveales to the soule that there is nothing but darknesse and death in our best duties it is from grace to be taken off of nature and he that is taken off of nature hath grace is borne of God When the soule is taken off its own bottome it must have another to rest on or else it sinkes therefore when God takes away the soules false foundation which is her false hopes he gives the soule a better in himselfe this is the teaching and drawing of the Father Joh. 6. That in Christ there is a ransome in which is life and that all that Christ hath done is for him and that nothing will stand the soule in any stead but him when the soule hath learned this there is a secret power goeth with this teaching and carrieth the soule to Christ to beleeve in him for the teaching of the Father and faith goeth together Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Joh. 6. So that to convince the soule of righteousnesse is to convince it of Christ to reveale that in him onely is helpe and in his righteousnesse is deliverance I have laid helpe upon one that is mighty Psal 89. 19. So that the Lord doth fix and settle the soule upon Christs righteousnesse onely at least he puts the soule under the hope of it Ezek. 16. 5 6. When the soule seeth nothing but death God saith live and when the soule is a going downe into the pit God saith Stay hearken I have received a Ransome for thee see Job 34. 23 24. Now the soule wonders at the love of God in pardoning his sinne he is taken up as Luk. 1. 41. 43 Though for the measure it is not in all the Lords alike The Spirit discovers to the soule that it hath chosen something else besides Christ upon which the soule resteth and satisfieth her selfe withall and expects mercy and comfort from her best workes and other lying vanities telling the soule that there is nothing but death in them God by this teaching turneth the soule from darkness viz. selfe Satan and all other lying vanities to light to Christ where life is telling the soule there is life in Christ and that it need not seeke life in nothing else but to waite upon Christ for it and that the soule shall not loose its waiting but shall certainly have it at last Isa 57. 13. These things are wrought in some measure Some are strong others are weake and are called carnall and not spirituall yet they are babes in Christ therefore they were in a happy state 1 Cor. 3. 1. 3. In the same measure this work is wrought in the soule in the same measure faith is wrought and as it appeares to the soule so faith appeares to the soule I know not whether I may beleeve for some shall not be saved The Scripture doth declare that he that beleeves shall be saved Joh. 3. 16. You are to rest satisfied in the Word of
to the other foure Treatises the most of them have been published severall yeares O yee that love the truth is it a small matter to you for Christ to be dishonoured and his truth condemned Doe yee not regard what violence is offered to the sufficiency of Christs sacrifice if yea why are yee so silent as if there were none to answer God complaineth None pleadeth for truth Isa 59. 4. It might grieve us to consider that others take more paines for errour then we doe for truth Can we say we love the Lord and his truth as we should and not lay it to heart In these cold dayes the love of many too many waxeth cold to God and man many professe love to Christ yet few love him as will appeare ere long for the knowledge and practise of the truth shall be slighted and hated there shall be found but a very few that will own it The more darke or doubtfull any thing appeares the more narrowly search the Scriptures and consider them the benefits will answer the paines set aside partiality prejudice and the opinions of men neither receive nor refuse without sufficient tryall pray to God to reveale his truth to thee I trust the Lord that hath directed this to thee will blesse it to thee so as thou shalt praise and honour him all thy dayes which is the desire of Samuel Richardson To Collonell Robert Tichborne Mr. Moris Thompson Merchant Mr. William Packer Captain and Mr. Methusalah Turner Linnen Draper Fulnesse of joy happinesse and glory Much honoured and worthy Sirs CHrist and him crucified is the best and most desireable object that can be presented unto your view what can be better or more desireable this is our happinesse glory and our chiefest joy Joy sweet satisfying unmixt pure spirituall glorious full and eternall there is no sweetness like to this of Christ dying for my sinnes his suffering for us the whole punishment of sinne so that God will not impute sinne to that soule for whom Christ dyed therefore we are for ever freed from the punishment of sinne The more we know this truth the more sweet is Christ to us and the more fixed on Christ our hearts will be the more we love and obey him and contend for the truth once delivered to the Saints This subject is love the best love which is most sweet and full of divine consolation In the view thereof I trust you shall finde some sweetnesse and if you had not injoyed this sweetnesse you could not have sented it forth so naturally fully and sweetly to me as you have done I have great cause to be thankfull to you and to God for you your love to me hath caused me to dedicate this small Treatise to you as a testimony of my hearty thankfulnesse to you for your love the Lord blesse you and keepe you from all evill So he prayes that remaines Your much obliged Samuel Richardson Of the Justification of a Sinner before GOD. Rev. 1. 5. Vnto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in bis own bloud THese words declare the vertue fruit and efficacy of Christs bloud and the priviledges and happinesse of the Elect by it The word our comprehends the Elect as appeares John 17. 29. 6 37. c. Rom. 11. 17. Acts 20. 26. By the word sin here we are not to understand the being of sin for sin hath still a being in the Saints Paul saith Sin dwelleth in me Rom. 7. 17. see 1 Joh. 1. 8. In many things we sin all nor are we to understand it of the pollution and defilement of sin for sin is as filthy or and as abominable as ever and as defiling â—he ever therefore by sin we are to understand oâ— the charge curse wrath the condemnation of sin viz. the whole punishment of sin The word washed is a borrowed word from washing the dirt and filth from cloths c. so here washed us from our sinnes separated and clensed us from sinne viz. the punishment of sinne This him that hath washed us is Jesus Christ Rev. 1. 5. The word bloud comprehends his death and something else as appeares Heb. 9 22. 2â— He offered himselfe through the eternall Spirit 1 Joh. 1. 14. The life and substance of all lay hid under this vaile that is to say his flesh Heb. 10. 26. By vertue of this union there was such a worth in Christs bloud as was able to doe it 1 Pet. 1. 19. with Acts 20. 28. Hath washed us in his own bloud which declares that it is done and therefore it s not a doing nor to be done for he did it in his own bloud that is when he shed his bloud his own bloud that is the bloud of his body by his death he did wash and clense us from our sinnes that is from the punishment of them The cause why he washed us from our sinnes that was his love which was in himselfe nothing in us or done by us did cause him to y dye for us Doct. That Jesus Christ by his death upon the Crosse he fully freed his from sin that is to say the punishment of sin for ever as fully as if they had never sinned For prooâ—e consider these Arguments or Reasons drawn from Scripture and I shall be the 〈◊〉 large in it because there is much consolation in it also it is denied by many who ascribe our Justification from sin to beleeving c. For from the Scriptures I thus reason Argu 〈◊〉 Iâ— Jesus Christ hath suffered for our sinnes then he hath suffered the whole punishment of sin if so then we are freed from the punishment of sin and if he freed us not from that his suffering for us was ineffectuall and he freed us not from any thing at all for there was nothing we were liable unto but the punishâ—ent of sinne But Christ suffered for us for our sinnes the just suffered for the unjust 1 Pet. 3. 18 19. He was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. He offered himselfe for the errors of the people Heb. 9. 7. The punishment of our sin was death In the day thou earest thereof thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17 Christ tasted death and underwent the same Heb. 2. 9. He gave himselfe for our sinnes Eph 2. He laid downe his life for ours Joh. 10. 15. Christ shed his bloud for the remission of sinne Mat. 26. 28. Therefore it was sufficient for the remission of sinne if it be remitted the punishment is taken away if his life was not sufficient for ours his precious bloud sufficient to satisfie for all our sinnes 1 Pet. 1. 19. to what purpose did he die for us The law said Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the Law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. So that we were under the curse nor liable to it the curse was the punishment of sin Christ to free us from it he was made a curse for
against us was nailed to his Crosse then the punishment of our sins was nailed to his Crosse for that and nothing but that was against us but that which was against us was nailed to his Crosse Col. 2. 14. Therefore never since his death there hath not been any thing against us When I looke into the booke of Justice I see all is paid crossed cancelled before God we were acquitted and set free by Christ and are ever so Heb. 10. 14. 16 Argu. If our peace and reconciliation was made by the bloud of his Crosse then ever since his death our peace and reconciliation hath been made but our peace and reconciliation was made by the bloud of his Crosse Col. 1. 20 21 22. If Christ hath made our peace for us we cannot make our peace with God Christ he is our peace Eph. 2. 14. If he was before we were our peace was before we were Therefore we are freed from the punishment of sinne 17 Argu. If our sins are blotted out then they are not chargeable but they are blotted out Isa 44. 22 23. Therefore wee are freed from the punishment of sin 18 Argu. If the enmity that was against us be flaine abolished then we are freed from it but the enmity that was against us was slaine and abolished in his flesh Eph. 2. 15 16. Col. 1. 20. Therefore ever since his death it hath been abolished the enmity that was against us is nothing else but the curse wrath which is the punishment of sin if it be slaine it cannot hurt us if it be abolished it is not wee cannot meet with nor suffer by that which is not for that which is not hath no beeing therefore we are for ever freed from the punishment of sinne 19. Argu. If God will not remember our sinnes he will not punish us for them but he saith He will not remember our sinnes no more Isa 43. 25. Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8. 12. God is not capable of any forgetfulnesse what he ever knew he ever shall all that ever was is or shall be he ever knew and ever shall He is onely wise Rom. 16. 27. He cannot know more nor lesse then he doth its onely a borrowed expression it s a similitude the Lord expresse 〈◊〉 it so to satisfie us as if God should say as that which is not remembred cannot be imputed it cannot be charged nor punished so certainly I will not charge any sin to you nor punish you for them no more then if I had forgot it and never remember any such thing for that which is not remembred cannot be punished so his removing our sins farre from us as the East is from the West Psal 130. The casting them into the Sea Mica 7. 19. The casting them behinde his backe Isa 33. 18. The carrying them away into a Land not inhabited in the Wildernesse Lev. 16. 22. His covering them Psal 32. 2. Making an end of sin Dan. 9. Blotting them out Isa 44. 22 23. These and the like expressions of God are to satisfie and assure us that he will never charge us with them or impute them to us or punish us for them which is enough to satisfie us that we shall never suffer any punishment for them 20 Argu. If we may have boldnesse in the day of Judgement then wee may ever have boldnesse for that is the most dreadfull and terrible day of all but we may have boldnesse in the day of Judgement 1 Joh. 4. 17. Then all is paid and nothing can be laid to our charge Tell me what boldnesse could we have in the day of Judgement if any thing could be laid to our charge if all were not paid if we were not freed and delivered from the punishment of sinne 21. If wee are blessed then are wee freed from the punishment of sin if wee were not freed from that we were in a miserable condition but we are blessed Psal 32. 1. 1. 1. 22 Argu. Those that are blessed shall never be cursed but we are blessed Thou shalt not curse the people for they are blessed Num. 22. 12. see 23. 8. 1 Chron. 17. 27. Psal 115. 15. Isa 61. 9. There is nothing but a blessing to come even the sure mercies of David Gal. 3. 14. Heb. 6. 16 17. Therefore we are for ever freed from the punishment of sin 23 Argu. Those that are blessed heaven is provided for and they shall be saved but the Elect are blessed and shall be saved Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you Mat. 25. 34. If we are sure to be saved we are sure we shall escape the punishment of sin our salvation is certaine as appeares Rom. 8. 39. Therefore our freedome from the punishment of sin is certaine The Papists say to deny that our good works save us is a doctrine of liberty so say some to say all our sinnes past present and to come are pardoned is a doctrine of liberty to the flesh We answer the flesh will abuse all that is of God God saith they are pardoned Isa 42. 1 2. Others say they shall be pardoned if they shall certainly be pardoned will not a corrupt heart be as bold upon that principle as this seeing the 〈◊〉 is the same 1 Joh 2. 1. Most we teaâ—h that the Elect may be damned men and that men may fall from the love of God to keepe men in awe 24 Argu. If the Law was not to last but till Christ came Gal 3. 19. Then Christ put an end to the Law Ro. 10. 4. The Law being then taken away Eph. 2. 15 16. then never since the Elect have not been under the Law and therefore not under the punishment of it for when the Law is put to an end condemnation ceaseth No Law no transgression no punishment Deut. 27. 4. Wee are delivered from the Law Rom. 7. 6. God sent his Sonne to redeeme them that are under the Law Gal. 4. 4 5. Therefore we are not liable to any punishment of it I am not under the Law of the King of Spaine therefore I am not liable to any punishment for not observing it 25 Argu. If we be dead to the Law then we are not tied to observe the Law But we are dead to the Law by the body of Christ Rom. 7. 1. to 7. We are dead with Christ Rom. 6. 8. Then the curse of sin and death was taken away by his death and therefore never since his death the Elect have not been under wrath nor liable to it 1 Thes 1. 10. 26 Argu. If the Law hath nothing to say to us then we are not under the command of it but the Law hath nothing to say to us Now we know that whatsoever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law Rom. 3. 19. We are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6. 14. Christ and not our beleeving delivered us from under the Law â—f wee were in our sins the Law would have enough
righteousnesse saves us from our unrighteousnesse In the beholding of sinne we consider God hath set against it Christs righteousnesse and that in his righteousnesse God is fully satisfied and therefore in it we rest fully satisfied Christs satiffaction by his death if laid in the ballance with that perfect obedience of the law required of us is of sufficient weight to answer the Justice of God the wise and just God would not have ordained it for that end if it had bin insufficient to satisfie for our sinnes to judge Christs death insufficient is very dishonourable to Christ 3. Salvation from sin is not mans act but an act of Christ by his death it s Christs worke to save us Mat. 1. 21. It s not our worke to save our selves not our workes but Christ is the price and pay-master for the sinnes of the Elect if wee could have saved our selves Christ needed not to come from heaven into the world to do it 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ workes not salvation in us nor by us but brings salvation to us Isa 63. 5. Jesus Christ in one worke once performed by his death did eternally redeeme Rev. 5. 9. Justifie Rom. 5. 9. Sanctifie and perfect us for ever Heb. 10. 10. 12. 14. Heb. 2. 29. Then he reconciled all the Elect in the body of his flesh through death Col. 1. 21 22. His death is that price that paid to the utmost for all our sinnes our best workes cannot save us neither in whole nor in part 4. Heaven is an inheritance eternall inheritance Heb. 9. 15. An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 1 Pet. 1. 4. That which wee possesse by right of inheritance wee never wrought for nor paid for left to one Pro. 13. 26. falleth to one Ezek. 47. 14. given Jer. 3. 18. Acts 20. 32. Heb. 11. 6. Ezek. 33. 24. Psal 78. 55. So this inheritance Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 12. 3. 24. Christ bought it and paid for it his precious bloud a great price 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Eph. 1. 14. It cost him so much that it might cost us nothing vaine man would worke for it to earne it and merit it men thinke they must doe something for it our doings could not procure it God would not have us to have it that way but by way of gift it s a free gift as appeares Rom. 6. 23. Eph. 2. 8 9. And that it could not be if it had been to be wrought for by us To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned free of grace but of debt Rom. 4. 4. The children of God are borne heires to it Rom. 8. 17. and it was prepared for them before they were borne Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25. 34. 5. Wee are not exhorted to forsake evill and doe good to the end wee may be saved but because it is our duty consider these places Rom. 4. 5. 5. 19. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 17. 3. 14. Joh. 3. 18. James 5. 24. Acts 10 43. 6. We doe nothing in the world to be saved because salvation is not given for our workes nor according to our workes God saith he imputeth righteousnesse without workes Rom. 4. 6. Not of workes Rom 9. 11. Who hath saved us and called us not according to our workes 2 Tim. 1. 9. Not of workes of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Titus 3. 5. If by grace it is no more of workes otherwise grace is no more grace if it be of workes then it is not of grace Rom. 11. 6. What can be more plaine Hence it is that wee are ceased from our own workes Heb. 4. 10. We did walke in the way of workes for salvation till God did hedge up our way with thornes our workes were those thornes which did pierce â—s and wounded us at the heart in stead of saving us they killed us these thornes did so pricke us that we were not able to goe any further in that way God opened our eyes that wee saw nothing but death in them then we ceased to worke for life and salvation We ought to doe good workes because God commands us to doe them and because they are for his glory see Titus 3. 8. 14. and because we are loved and saved from our enemies Luk. 1. 71. To doe good workes is good but not for salvation fire is good but not to put into the thatch nor under the bed unlesse yee meane to fire the house We perswade to good workes and strictnesse in holinesse of life because we are justified and saved without works yea before we did any good work for we did none before we were called Who hath saved us and called us 2 Tim. 1. 9. We were saved when Christ suffered upon the Crosse called when converted both eâ—â—ected in time but neither of them was according to our workes but according as he had purposed before the world began our workes remove not our offences nor make us just before God that which can cause to be accepted must be so perfect that the Law of God cannot except against see Lev 18. 5. Luk. 10 27 28. Our best workes are not so and therefore they will not stand us in any stead for salvation If wee could be saved by any workes Christ dyed in vaine I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. Remember that they that love Jesus Christ will keep his words see and consider Joh. 14. 23. 15. 16. 2. 10. Is Christ come not to doe his own will then we may not doe ours unlesse ours be his Joh. 6. 28 29. For those that take pleasure in sinne let them consider 1 Joh. 1. 6. 2. 4. Gal 5. 13. to 23. 6. 5. 7. 8. Rom. 2. 17. Mat. 7. 30. Luk. 6. 44. 13. 27. Christs love caused him to dye for us let his love constraine us to serve him he is worthy of our love if he hath thy affections he shall have thy actions if thou hast tasted of the sweetnesse of Christs love thou wilt say there is none so sweet as his who in his wounds hath buried and destroyed all thy sins to redeeme thee from them and purchase thy salvation 7. To doe for salvation were to bring in the law of workes he that seekes to be justified by the Law is fallen from grace Gal. 5. 4. The Law concernes our conversation not our salvation The righteousnesse of God is manifested without the Law Rom. 3. 21. No man is justified by the Law in the sight of God Gal. 3. 11. In mans sight he may Jam. 2. 24. By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3. 20. We are not debtors to the Law Gal. 5. 23. 8. Those that are such great doers for salvation doe as little as others None of
interpreted by them for the Scriptures are to be interpreted for Christ and not against him Also we are to consider if the word Faith were alwaies to be understood for beleeving by Levit. 17. 11. it appeares that was ascribed to the signe which is proper to the thing signified The word Justifie it signifieth to make just men are made just three wayes First By infusion so Adam Eccles 7. 29. Secondly By the justice of another Râ—m 5. 19. Eph. 1. 5. Rom. 3. 24. In this sense the Elect are justified by Christ for we are justified by another and in another Righteousnesse and Justification are one when he was made our Righteousnesse then he was made our Justification 1 Cor. 1. 30. We are made righteous by his satisfaction therefore we are justified by his satisfaction to deny this were to overthrow the foundation of Religion and mans salvation Thirdly Men are said to be justified by Sentence in this sense a man may justifie himselfe so Job 9. 20. or by witnesses Isa 43. 9. 26. In a large sense this is called Justification and sometimes this Justification is worth nothing and worse then nothing as wheâ— the wicked are justified Pro. 17. 15. 24. 24. Wee are justified by the Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 11. But this is not that Justification on which depends our eternall happinesse this is onely declared to us by the Spirit that we are justified by Christs death this knowledge of it is onely necessary to satisfie quiet the Conscience Christ having justified his upon the Crosse by his bloud it is not our beleeving but the Spirit that reveales the same to the soule The Spirit dwelleth in us 1 Cor. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 9. 19. Rom. 8. 11. 16. 1 Joh. 3. 24. The Spirit speaketh in us Mat. 10. 20. and sheweth us what Christ hath done for us 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. with 16. 13 14 15. Heb. 10. 15. 17. 1 Joh. 5. 6. The bloud of sprinkling is the Spirits speaking to the conscience that all is paid this satisfieth and clenseth the conscience Heb. 12. 24. The worke of faith is onely to assent to the testimony of the Spirit that it is truth and so receives its testimony to manifest and to receive the manifestation are not one thing Eph. 3. 5. When the declaration is beleeved the answer of a good Conscience is My sweet Jesus dyed for me he hath delivered me from all my enemies and from the wrath to come the debt of all my sinne is paid there is nothing now to be required of me What shall I render to the Lord for all his goodnesse unto me O that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse c. Psal 107. 8. There is a Justification before men by good workes James 2. 24. which declareth to men we are justified visibly but not infallibly but this is not that Justification which saveth us that Justification I treat is of that Justification which freeth us from condemnation for Justification is opposed to condemnation Rom. 8. 1 2. For his death was our Justification from the punishment of sinne this is the Justification that I intend and contend for for in this is our salvation therefore in this is our greatest happinesse and glory And that the Elect from the beginning to the end of the world were justified at and by Christs death upon the Crosse Consider Justification is that which is our freedome from the punishment of sinne this I have proved was at and by Christs death and that I may more fully put this question out of question namely that we are not justified by beleeving but before we beleeve by Christ I prove by these Arguments or Reasons 1 Argu. If Justification is free then beleeving is not required for that which is free is without any condition or consideration of any thing in us or done bâ— us but we are justified freely Rom. 3. 24. Ergo. If it be Christ and his workes it is not I and my workes that can justifie me from the punishment of sinne if Christ saves us then beleeving doth not save us compare Joh. 12. 42 43. with Mat. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26. If it be Christ and my beleeving together that saves me then Christ doth not save me if it be Christ and my workes then I share in saving my selfe To say we are justified by Christ and beleeving together as some say is to deny we are justified by either for that which is not alone doth not justifie alone he that is justified by two is justified by neither Christ and faith together say you Christ and workes together say the Papists wee are not justified without beleeving say you not without charity say the Papists that which they say is Popery so is what you say because what yon both say is in the nature of it one and though you differ in the letters that expresse it yet in substance it is one and the same thing 2 Argu. If Christ justified enemies sinners ungodly c. then they were not beleevers when they were justified but Christ justified enemies Kom 4. 5. 5. 10. Beleevers are not so called they are called friends Luk. 12. 4. Joh. 15. 15. Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. Holy and beloved Col. 3. 12. Holy brethren Heb. 3. 1. Holy women 1 Pet. 3. 5. If holy then not ungodly Babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3. 1. Therefore we were justified before we beleeved therefore beleeving comes too late to justifie us from the punishment of sinne if we were not justified till we beleeve he doth not justifie the ungodly it is evident 3 Argu In the same manner we are made sinners in the same manner we are made just and righteous but we were made sinners by the disoâ—edieâ—â— of one so we are made righteous by the obedience of one even Christ Rom. 5. 12. to 20. Eph. 1. 5. Therefore his obedience justified us from all sinne viz. from all the punishment of sinne therefore ever since his death we have been justified also if justified by his obedience then not justified by beleeving as our sinfulnes consists in that one disobedience of the first Adam so our righteousnesse consists in that one onely obedience of our sweet Lord Jesus Christ 4 Argu. Those God declares to be just and righteous they are just before therefore made so by Christ if they be not just they are wicked and to declare them to be just is to justifie the wicked which he saith is abomination to him Pro. 17. 15. 5 Argu. If Christ did dye for us truly really and actually then he did truly really and actually justifie us but Christ did dye for us truly really and actually Joh. 10. 15. it was not in a shadow Col. 2. 17. Therefore he truly and really took away sin viz. actually justifie us from all the punishment of sinne and in that the Apostle saith Without bloud there is no remission Heb. 9. 22. it doth follow that with bloud there is remission see 1 Pet. 1. 19 20.
heaven by faith we know our selves to be happy when to a carnall eye wee seeme most miserable by faith wee can part with the sweetest outward comforts and welcome death because we know we leave the worst place and things and goe to better they that live by faith live upon God and are feasted in Christs banquetting house where there are all desireable dainties and enough Eate O friends and drinke abundantly because it is the pleasure of our Lord that we doe so it 's thy portion duty and priviledge to digest and refresh and make thy soule merry with his dainties to injoy himselfe in them that so thy joy may be full The life of faith is the communion the soule hath with God in Christ in his promises spirituall and temporall Faith in effectuall calling It 's the soules cleaving to God in Christ for life upon such places as these Mat. 11. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 20 21. Mat. 5. 1 Joh. 3. 23. The life of faith in justification The Lord having spoken peace to the soule that Christ hath paid all and his sin shall be remembred no more Isa 53. Jer. 31. 34. Now the soule knows it's happy and injoys the comfort of it is filled with joy and peace in beleeving his life is a life of comfort beholding and injoying Christs righteousnesse as his own lives upon it what ever befalls him he is comforted in his interest in the righteousnesse of Christ as sufficient to satisfie him at all times living upon such places as these Rom. 8. 38 39. Job 13. 15. Isa 54. 7 8. Rev. 1. 5. Eph. 1. 6 7. Rom. 5. 9 10. Gal. 3. 13. Heb. 10. 10 11 12 13 14 c. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Concerning justification see the third part The life of faâ—th in sanctification 1. It 's the soules cleaving to Christ our sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2ly it 's the soules cleaving to God in his promise to clense and renew my heart and life and be a quickning Spirit in me upon Psal 103. 8. Hos 14. 5. Isa 57. 18 19. Micah 7. 19. Joh. 17. 17. 19. Oh how little doe we obey him injoy him and honour him The life of faith in infirmities It 's the soules beleeving that God will be to us according to his promise for ever a God of love notwithstanding all our omissions and commissions excesses and defects Psal 103. 3. Joh. 13. 1. Mal. 3. 6. Heb. 13 8. Psal 89. 30. Nehe. 9. 16. c. Isa 43. 25. Psal 130. 7 8 9 10 13 14. 17. Isa 42. 2. Psal 86. 5. He that lives by faith in infirmities he will heare Christ 1 Sam. 3. 10. He is not offended at what Christ requires Mat. 11. 6. Joh. 1. 5. 3. The Scripture is his rule he will trust God and relie upon his Word he eyeth the promise saying as Psal 46. 6. Isa 45. 24. He will contend for the truth Jude 3. and doe others good Acts 20. 31. His sinne doth not sinke him into despaire the soule despaireth not for any sinne or trouble the weakest beleever may say in the midst of all imperfections I have as much of the love of God acceptation and perfect righteousnesse in Christ as the best Saint ever had Jer. 23. 6. my state is as happy as any of theirs Job 35. 7. and I shall have as much glory in heaven as the best Such as live by faith in infirmities live upon Christ in his promise for strength against all infirmities upon such places as these In deadnesse of heart Isa 35. 36. Ps 37. 30. In forgetfulnesse Joh. 14. 16. In feare of want Psal 34. 9. 37. 3. Mat. 6. 25. to the end Rom. 8. 32. Luk. 12. 15. In cares Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Heb. 13. 5. In ignorance Heb. 5. 2. James 1. 5. If fallen by passion not to sinke under it James 5. 17. Acts 14. 15. In all infirmities Psal 103. 8. For a supply of all wants Phil. 4. 6. 19. To live by faith for the fruits of the Spirit c. To beleeve 1 Joh. 3. 23. Zeph. 3. 12. To increase in saith Rom. 1. 17. To continue in the faith Luk. 22. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5. In the exercise of faith Isa 26. 3. Psal 18. 30. 32. 10. To know God Jer. 31. 33 34. Pro. 1. 23. To love God Mat. 27. 17. Joh. 17. 26. In loving God Deut. 30. 6. To seek God seek ye the Lord Acts 17. 27. In seeking God Psal 119. 2. 9. 10. 69. 32. 22. 26. To feare God Jer. 32. 39 40. Hos 3. 5. In fearing God Psal 147. 11. 25. 12. 34. 9. To hope in God Psal 147. 11. 146. 5. 31. 24. To waite on God 1 Cor. 2. 9. Isa 49. 23. 30. 18. To delight in God Psal 41. 16. 89. 16. 33. 21. To praise God Isa 38. 19. Ps 72. 15. 63 3. To injoy peace Isa 27. 5. To love the Saints 1 Joh. 3. 14. 23. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 22. Joh. 13. 35. To love enemies Mat. 5. 43 44. Luk. 6. 35. To judge our selves 2 Cor. 11. 31. Eze. 36. 31. To mourn for sinning against God Zach. 12. 6. Joh. 16. 20. Mat. 5. 4. In poverty of spirit Mat. 5. 3. Isa 66. 2. In deâ—ires after Christ Isa 51. 1. Job 7. 33. 37. Rev. 21. 6. Mat. 21. 6. Isa 42. 3. 2 Cor. 8. 10 11 12. Gen. 16. 17. Heb. 11. 27. Luk. 21. 3. Psal 37. 4. Pro. 10. 24. To be meeke Psal 25. 9 76. 9. 149. 4. To be sincere Psal 51. 6. Mat. 5. 8. To confesse sin 1 Joh. 5. 9. Job 23. 27 28. To forgive others Luk 17. 4. Mark 11. 25 26. 6. 37. Mat. 6. 14. Eph. 4. 23. To be a peace-maker Mat. 5. 9. To devise good Pro. 14. 22. Isa 32. 8. To selfe-deniall Mat. 16. 15. To watch Mat. 13. 17. 1 Thes 5. 6. Rev. 16. 15. Luk. 22. 37. Mat. 22. 47. To be patient Jam. 1. 5. 8. Luk. 21. 9. Heb. 6. 15 To be content in our condition Heb. 13. 5. To resist sin Rom. 6. 14. Not to feare the world Joh. 6. 33. 1 Joh. 4. 4. To mortifie the flesh Rom. 8. 13. To give to the poore He that hath two coaâ—s impart to him that hath none and he that hath meatâ— let him doe so likewise Luk. 3. 10 11. The life of faith in the use of meanes It 's the soules cleaving to God in Christ for a blessing upon the meanes he hath appointed Pro. 9. 29. Isa 48. 19. Isa 48. 17. To pray 1 Thes 5. 17. Zâ—ch 12. 10 Mat. 7. 7 8 9 11. Luk. 11. 13. Mat. 21. 22. Mark 11. 24. Mat. 16. 23. Isa 65. 24. To reade 1 Tim. 4. 13. Rev. 1. 3. Pâ—o. 1. 23. To meditate Jos 1. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 15. Psal 1. 1 2. Psal 104. 34. 49 3. For conference Prov. 15. 17. 18. 21. Mal. 3. 16. Psal 37. 30. 71. 24. Isa 59 21. To heare Christs Ministers Pro. 8. 34.