and Council of Saints Not one of the sinners shall remain in the company of the righteous nor appear in their Society 2. The wicked are raised ex officio Iudicis not beneficio Mediatoris they are raised by Christ as a Judge but not by him as a Redeemer The one sort are raised by the power of his vindicative Justice the other by the Holy Ghost by vertue of his Covenant Rom. 8.11 He shall quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you The one by Christs power from without put forth by him as Judge of dead and living The other by an inward quickning influence that flows from him as their proper head When the Reaper gathers the Wheat into his Barn the Tares are bound in bundles and cast into unquenchable Fire Matth. 15.30 3. The wicked are forced to appear and cannot shift that dreadful Tribunal the other go joyfully forth to meet the Bridegroom and when the sentence of condemnation shall be executed upon the one the other by vertue of Christs Life and Resurrection shall enter into the possession of a blessed and Eternal Life wherein they shall injoy God and Christ and the company of Saints and Angels and sing Hallelujahs for ever and ever Thirdly How is this an evidence and assurance to all good Christians of their happy and glorious Resurrection 1. The Resurrection of Christ doth prove that there shall be a Resurrection 2. That to the faithful it shall be a blessed and glorious Resurrection 1. There shall be a Resurrection it is necessary to prove that partly because it is the foundation of all Godliness if there were not another Life after this there were some ground for that saying of the Atheists Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye 2 Cor. 15.32 If there be no future estate nor being after this Life let us enjoy the good things of the World whilst we can for with in a little while death cometh and then there is an end of all These Atheistical discourses and temptations to sensuality were more justifiable if men were annihilated by death no the soul is immortal and the body shall rise again and come into the judgment and unless we live Holily a terrible judgement it will be to us Partly because we cannot easily believe that the same body shall be placed in heaven which we see committed to the Grave to rot there Of all Articles of Religion this is most difficultly assented unto now there is relief for us in this business in hand Christ is the first-born from the dead There were many praeludia resurrectionis foretokens and pledges of the Resurrection given to the old World in the Translation of Enoch the Rapture of Elijah the reviving of these few dead ones which I spake of before but the great and publick evidence that is given for the assurance of the World is Christs rising from the Grave this makes our Resurrection 1. Possible 2. Easie. 3. Certain and Necessary 1. Possible the least that we can gather from it is this that it is not impossible for dead men to rise for that which hath been may be We have the proof and instance of it in Christ see how the Apostle reasoneth 1 Cor. 15.13 If there be no Resurrection from the dead then Christ is not risen and then our whole Faith falleth to the ground For all Religion is bottomed on the Resurrection of Christ if therefore Christ be risen why should it seem an incredible thing to us that others should be raised also 2. It is Easie for by rising from the dead he hath conquered death and gotten the victory of it 1 Cor. 15.57 A separation there will be of the soul from the body but it is not such as shall last for ever The victory over sin is the victory over death and the conquest of sin makes death an entrance into immortality The Scriptures often speak of Christs destroying the power of death Heb. 2.14 That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death The devils design was by tempting men to sin to keep them for ever under the power of death but Christ came to rescue men from that power by a Resurrection from Death to Life Again it is said he hath abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to light in the Gospel He hath voided the power of death by taking a course for the destruction of sin and made a clear Revelation of that Life and Immortality which was not so certainly known before We look to the natural impossibilities how what is turned to dust may be raised again because we do not consider the power of God but the moral impossibility is the greater for the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law that which makes sin able to do us hurt is the guilt of sin otherwise it would be but as a calm sleep and this guilt is bound upon us by the Law of the righteous God which threatneth eternal Death to the sinner Now get free from sin and it is easie to believe the conquest of death I will prove two things that Christs Râ—surrection shews both his victory over sin and his victory over death 1 His victory over sin That he hath perfectly satisfyed for sin and appeased the wrath of God who is willing to be reconciled with all those that come to the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel which could not be if Christ had remained under the power of death for the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15.17 If Christ had not risen ye are yet in your sins that is God is not pacifyed there is no sufficient means of atonement or foundation layed for our Reconciliation with him but his Resurrection declareth that he is fully satisfyed with the ransom paid for sinners by Jesus Christ for it was in effect the releasing of our Surety out of Prison so it is said Rom. 4.15 He was delivered for our offences and raised up for our Iustification he dyed to expiate and do away sin and his Resurrection sheweth it was a sufficient Ransom and therefore he can apply the vertue of it to us 2. His victory over death For he got out of it which not only shews there is a possibility for a man by the power of God to be raised from Death to Life but a facility as a second Adam he brought Resurrection into the World there were two Adams the one Man brought Death and another brought Resurrection into the World The sentence of death is gone out against all the children of Adam as such and the Regenerate Believers that are recovered by Christ shall be raised to immortal Life he hath gotten out of the power of death so shall we 3. Certain and necessary For several Reasons 1. Our relation to Christ he is the head of the body now the head will not live gloriously in Heaven and leave his members behind him under the power of death Believers are called the
it for some competent space of time his pouring out of the Spirit the Apostles witnessing the truth of it in the teeth of opposition his appearing from Heaven to Paul the prophesies of the Old Testament foretelling of it the Miracles wrought to confirm it the holiness of the Persons who were employed as chosen Witnesses their unconcernedness in all temporal Interests their hazarding of all their success It would make a volum to give you the evidences 2. Your own Resurrection what may facilitate our belief and hope of it 1. Consider it is a work of Omnipotency We are apt to say how can it be that when our bodies are turned into dust and that dust mingled with other dust and hath undergone many transmutations that â—very one shall have his own body and flesh again Why consider the Infinite and Absolute Power of God and this will make it more reconcileable to your thoâ—ghts and this hard point will be of easier digestion to your Faith To an Infinite power there is no difficulty at all Phil. 3.21 According to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself He appeals to Gods power how much Gods power out-works our thoughts for he were not infinite if he might be comprehended We are not fit Judges of the extent of his power many things are marvellous in our eyes which are not so to his Zech. 8.6 Therefore we must not confine God to the limits of created bâ—ings or our finite understandings Alass our Cockel-â—hell cannot empty an Ocean we do no more know what God can do than a worm knoweth a man He that made the world out of nothing cannot he raise the dead He that brought such multitudes of creatures out of the dark Chaos hath he forgotten what is become of our dust He that gave Life and Being to that which before was not cannot he raise the dead He that turned Moses Rod into a Serpent and from a Serpent into a Rod again cannot he raise us out of dust into men and â—uâ—n us from men into dust and from the same dust 〈◊〉 us up into the same men and women â—â—ain 2. We have a releif from the Justice of God All will grant that God is and that God is a rewarder of good and bad Now in this Life he doth not dispense these rewards Many times here instruments of publick good are made a sacrifice to publick hatred and wicked men have the world at will therefore there is a Judgment when this life is ended and if there be a Judgment men must be capable to receive reward and punishment You will say so they are by having an immortal Soul I but the soul is not all of a man the body is a part it hath had its share in the work and therefore it is most equal to conceive it shall have its share in the reward and punishment It is the body which is gratified by the pleasure of sin for a season the body which hath endured the trouble and pain of Faithful obedience unto Christ therefore there shall be a Resurrection of just and unjust that men may receive according to what they have done in the body God made the whole man therefore glorifies and punishes the whole man The Apostle urgeth this as to the Godly 1 Cor. 15.29 3. Gods unchangeable Covenant-Love â—â—â—ch inclines him to seek the dust of his â—onfederates God hath taken a believer into Covenant with himself body and soul therefore Christ proveth the Resurrection from Gods Covenant-Title Matth. 22.31 To be a God is certainly to be a Benefactor Gen. 25.26 Not blessed be Shem but blessed be the Lord God of Sem. And to be a Benefactor becoming an Infinite Eternal Power If he had not Eternal Glory to bestow upon us he would not justifie his Covenant-Title Heb. 11.16 To whom God is a benefactor he is a Benefactor not to one part onely but to their whole Persons Their bodies had the mark of his Covenant upon them their dust is in Covenant with him and where-ever it is dispersed he will look after it Their death and rotting in the Grave doth not make void his Interest nor cause his Care and Affection towards them to cease 4. We have relief also from the Redemption of Christ which extendeth to the bodies of the Saints as it is often interpreted in Scripture as where Christ speaks of his fathers charge this was a special Article in the Eternal Covenant Ioh. 6.39 40. This is the will of my Father that of all that he hath given me I should lose nothing but raise it up at the last day Christ hath ingaged himself to this he is the Guardian of the Grave as Rispah kept the dead bodies of Sauls sons 2 Sam. 21.10 Christ hath the keyes of death and hell he hath a charge of the Elect to the very day of their Resurrection that he may make a good account of them and may not lose so much as their dust but gather it up again What shall I say when the intention of his death is spoken of 1 Thes. 5.10 That whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him that is whether dead or alive for they that are dead in the Lord are said to be fallen asleep Whether we live or die we should live a spiritual life here and eternal life in Glory hereafter So where the obligation 1 Cor. 6.20 Ye are bought with a price There would be no consequence if Christ had not purchased the body as well as the Soul and Christ will not lose one jot of his purchase if he expect duty from thâ— body you may expect glory for the body so redemption is particularly applyed to the body Rom. 8.23 Waiting for the Adoption the redemption of our bodies Then is Christs Redemption full when the body is exempted from all the penalties induced by sin 5. The honour which is put upon the bodies of the Saints 1. They are members of Christ 1 Cor. 6.15 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them members of an harlot God forbid No Members of Christ can for ever remain under death but shall certainly bâ— raised up again When a Godly Man â—â—eth the union between Soul and Body is dissolved but not the union between him and Christ as Christs own natural body in the grave was not separated from his Person and the Hypostatical Union was not dissolved it was the Lord of Glory which was crucified and the Lord of Glory which was lâ—yed in the Grave so the Mystical 〈◊〉 is not dissolved between Christ and 〈…〉 who are his Mystical Body 〈◊〉 they are dead 2. They are Temples of the holy Ghost therefore if they be destroyed they shall be built up again 1 Cor. 6.19 Know ye not that your bodies are temples of the holy Ghost As Christ redeemed not the soul onely but the whole man so the Spirit in Christs Name takes
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession The inchoate or begun deliverance is that measure of deliverance which believers enjoy now by Faith which consists of two parts Iustification and Sanctification Sanctification 1. Pet. 1.18 Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works When we are free from the power and weight of sin Iustification so it is in the Text and Eph. 1.7 When sin is freely pardoned and our debt cancelled and we are delivered from evil and wrath to come II. As it is a part so it is a principal part This will appear if you consider the evil we are freed from As 1. The power of the Devil is destroyed All the advantage which he hath against us is as we are sinners guilty sinners before God For we are put into his hands when we have forfeited the protection of our righteous Lord but forgiveness of sins gives us a release from him Acts 26.18 When Christ came to procure it he destroyed the devils Power when we are converted we are interessed in the priviledge 2. The reign of sin is broken for sanctifying Grace is inseparable from pardoning Grace yea I will venture to say that the gift of the sanctifying Spirit is a part of our pardon executed and applyed for a part of the punishment of sin was spiritual death or the loss of Gods Image Col. 2.13 He hath quickned you together with Christ having forgiven all your trespasses When God pardoneth he sanctifieth and createth us anew that we may be fit for his service so that we are renewed by the Spirit as well as recovered out of the sâ—ares of the devil 3. We are eased of tormenting fears in a great measure Man can have no firm peace and comfort in his own soul while sin remaineth upon him our case is dangerous whether we be sensible of it or no because our condition is not to be valued by our sense and feeling but by the sentence of the Law of God which we have broken and violated if there be any difference in the case the more insensible we are the more miserable The generality of men indeed are senseless and careless put far away the evil day from them and so make light work of reconciling themselves to God but are they the more safe for this No if they will dance about the brink of Hell and go merrily to their execution it argues not their safety but their stupidness The thoughts of danger is put off when the thing it self is not put away but if they be serious they cannot be without trouble Rom. 1.32 Knowing the judgement of God they conclude that they that do such things are worthy of death The very light of Nature will revive many unquiet thoughts within them The justice of the supream Governour of the World will still be dreadful to them whose law they have broken and whose wrath they have justly deserved They may lull the soul asleep by the stupifying potion of carnal Delights and while Conscience is asleep please themselves with stoln waters and bread eaten in secret which is soon disturbed by a few serious and sober thoughts of the world to come God is offended and what peace can they have 4. Death is unstinged That 's the usual time when Convictions grow to the height and the stings of an awakened Conscience begin to be felt 1 Cor. 15.28 Then the thoughts of Death and Judgement to come are very terrible to them and men begin to see what it is to bear their own sins and how happy they are who are sure of a pardon 5. The obligation to Eternal punishment ceases Pardon is dissolving and loosing that obligation Now the punishment is exceeding great Hell and damnation are no vain Scare-crows Eternity makes every thing truly great the poena damni an everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of the Lord Matth. 25.41 Go ye cursed Luk. 13.27 Depart ye workers of iniquity When God turned Adam out of Paradise his case was very sad but God took care of him in his Exile made him Coats of skin gave him a day of Patience afterwards promised the seed of the woman who should recover the lapsed estate of mankind intimated hopes of a better Paradise That estate therefore is nothing comparable to this for now man is stripped of all his comforts sent into an endless state of Misery whence there is no hopes of ever changing his condition So for the poena sensus the pain Mark 9.44 Where their worm never dieth and their fire is never quenched The worm is the worm of Conscience reflecting on past folly and disobedience See here a man may run away from the rebukes of Conscience by many shifts sleeping sporting distracting his Mind with a clutter of business but there not a thought free but is always thinking of slighted means abused mercies wasted time the offenses done to a merciful God and the curse wherein they have involved themselves the fire is the wrath of God or these unknown pains that shall be inflicted on body and soul which must needs be great when we fall into the hands of the living God! If a little mitigation a drop to cool your Tongue be thought a great matter oh what a blessedness is it to be freed from so great an evil Perhaps you coldly entertain the offer of a pardon now but then to be freed from wrath to come oh blessed Jesus 1 Thes. 1.10 2. The good depending on it Luk. 1.77 To give us the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins Eternal life dependeth on it for you are not capable of enjoying God till his wrath be appeased As all evil was introduced by sin so all happiness by pardon This is an initial blessing which maketh way for the rest VSE Of Exhortation To perswade you to seek after this benefit All of us once needed it and the best of us till we are wholly freed from sin still need it 1. We all of us once needed it for we are not onely criminal persons liable to condemnation but actually condemned in the sentence of Gods law Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already Now should not a condemned man make means to be pardoned and should not we accept of Gods terms especially when there is but the slender thred of a frail life between us and execution He that securely continues in his sins despiseth both the curse of the Law and the grace of the Gospel Oh consider nothing but a pardon will serve the turn not forbearance on Gods part not forgetfulness on yours 1. Not forbearance of the punishment on Gods part God may be angry with us while he doth not actually strike as the Psalmist saith Psal. 7.11 12 13. God is angry with the wicked every day if he turn not he will whet his sword He hath bent his bow and will make it ready
13.33 To the Resurrection of Christ. Things are said to be when they are manifested to be compare Rom. 1.4 Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the dead He was declared to be the true and Everlasting Son of God and Head of the Church so the Adoption of Believers shall appear by their Resurrection Rom. 8.19 and 23. The earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God verse 23. We our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of the body 2. The sequel and consequent of these things That in all things he might have the preheminence that is as well in the Spiritual estate of the Church as in the creation and natural estate of the World Rom. 8.29 That he might be the first-born among many Brethren I begin with the first Doct. I. That this is the honour appropriate and peculiar to Iesus Christ to be head of the Church 1. Here I shall shew what the Church is to which Christ is an Head 2. How is he an Head to this body 3. The Reasons why this body must have such an Head 1. What the Church is A Society of men called out of the World by Gods effectual Grace according to the purpose of his Election and united to Christ by Faith and the participation of his Spirit and to one another by the band of Charity that after Remission of sins obtained in this World together with Regenerating grace they may at length be brought to eternal Life Let us a little open this description by Effectual Calling God worketh Faith which uniteth us to Christ and that Effectual calling is the fruit of Election and the effect of this union is Remission of sins and the necessary consequence of this Communion is Salvation or Eternal Life This Society of Men is called a Church in the Text The word Church is taken in divers acceptations First and most properly it signifies these whom I have now described the universal collection of all and every one of those who according to the good pleasure of God are or may be called out of a state of Sin into a state of grace to obtain eternal Glory by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Church of the First-born whose names are written in heaven Heb. 12.22 That chosen Generation that Royal Priesthood that Holy Nation that peculiar People whom to shew forth his praises God hath called out of darkness into his marvelous light 1 Pet. 2.9 This Church most generally and properly taken is the Kingdom of God the Body and Spouse of Christ Cant. 6.9 My dove my undefiled one is but one This is that one fold under one Shepherd Ioh. 10.16 And it was Prophesied of Christ that he should dye to gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad Iohn 11.5 Secondly Of this universal Church there are two parts one of Travellers the other of Comprehensors or the Church Militant and Triumphant they both belong to Gods Family Eph. 3.15 Of whom the whole Family whether in Heaven and Earth is named so Col. 1.10 That part of the Family which is in Heaven triumpheth with God there that which is in Earth is yet Warring against sin satan and the World Thirdly This part which is the Military comes in the 2d place to be called by the name of the universal Church because being scattered dispersed throughout the whole World it comprehendeth all and every one that belongeth to Christs flock which are found in several Folds known to God they are and to themselves and do indeed belong to Christs Body and his Kingdom this is often and not undeservedly called the invisible Church because so far as it is the Church of God their reality and sincerity is rather believed by Faith then seen by the eyes of the body This Church This Kingdom of God though it be yet in this World yet it is not of the World neither doth it come with observation for the Faithful have this Kingdom of God within them Luke 17.20 The World knows them not other believers know them not but God knoweth those that are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Fourthly The universal visible Church While they are in the way and in the midst of their conflicts it is possible many hypocrites may take up the profession as in the great house are many vessels some to honour some to dishonour from these ariseth an external promiscuous multitude who also are called the Catholick Church for the sake and with respect to those Holy ones among them who truly belong to Christs Mystical Body We read often the Kingdom is like to a net wherein are good and bad Fishes Matth. 13. To a Threshing floor wherein is chaff and Wheat To a Field wherein groweth good Corn and also Tares Matth. 13.24 25. Now all these wayes is the universal Church taken Fifthly There are particular Churches wherein the Ordinances and means of Grace are dispensed as the Church of Corinth Cenchrea Galatia Greek Roman None of these particular Churches contain all believers or the Elect of God that out of them or any of them there should be no Salvation Again the universal Church may remain in the World total and intire though these particular Churches are or other of them may successively be destroyed as it hath often faln out And it is a great sin so to cry up a particular Church as to exclude all the rest from saving Communion with Christ and for any one particular Church to arrogate power over the others they being but members 2. This Church is called a Body in two respects 1. In regard of the union of all the parts 2. Dependance upon one and the same head 1. With respect to union as in man all the members make but one Body quickned by the same soul so in the Mystical body of Christ all the parts make up but one body animated by the same vital principle which is the spirit of Christ and are joyned together by certain bonds and ligaments Faith and Love and all is covered with the same skin the profession of the Faith of Christ. Look what the soul is in man the form in the subject life in the body and proportion in the building that in the universal Church of God is the Union and Communion of the several and single parts with the head among themselves Take away the Soul from man the form from the subject life from the body proportion and conjunction from the parts of the building and what will man be but a Carkass and the building but ruine confusion So take away union and communion from the universal Church then Ierusalem will become a Babel and Bethel a Beâ—haven and for Life there will be death and for Salvation eternal destruction How else shall all that come out from one return again to one and all and every one have all things in one
fullness of him that filleth all things Eph. 1.23 Head and Members make up one perfect Man or mystical Body which is called the fullness of Christ Eph. 4.13 Otherwise it would be a maimed Christ or a Head without a Body and therefore we should not doubt but he will raise us up with him Secondly The charge and office of Christ which he will attend upon and see that it be carefully performed Iohn 6.39 This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but raise it up again at the last day as none so nothing in the Prophets expression concerning the good Shepherd not so much as a leg or a piece of an ear that he should be carefull to preserve every one who belongs to his charge and what ever befalls them here he is to see them forth coming at the last day and to give a particular account of them to God Now certainly Christ will be very careful to fulfill his charge and make good his office Thirdly There is the Mercy of God through the Merits of Christ towards his faithful ones who have hazarded their bodies and their bodily interests for his sake 1 Thess. 4.14 If we believe that Iesus dyed and rose again even those also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him Upon the belief of Christs death and Resurrection depends also the raising of their bodies that dye for the Testimony of Christ or by occasion of Faith in Christ and that so certainly and speedily that they that dye not at all shall at the day of Judgment have no advantage of those that have layen in the Grave so many years the raising of the one being in the same twinkling of an eye with the change of the other for the Apostle saith they that are alive shall not prevent them that are a sleep So 2 Cor. 4.14 Knowing that he that raised up the Lord Iesus shall raise us up also with Iesus and present us with you He gives it as the reason why he had the same spirit of Faith with David who in his sore afflictions professed his confidence in God because he believed he spake So they do profess the Faith of Christ though imminent death and danger is always represented to them as before their eyes because they stedfastly believed that God would raise them to a glorious estate through Christ therefore did they openly proclaim what they did Believe concerning him To the same purpose to confirm Timothy against all danger of death 1 Tim. 6.13 I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things that is as thou believest that God is able and will raise thee from the dead that thou hold out constantly unto the death and do not shrink for persecution 2. It proveth that to the faithful it shall be a blessed and a glorious Resurrection 1. Because Christs Resurrection is not only a cause but a pattern of ours there is not onely a Communion between the Head and Members in the Mystical Body but a conformity The members were appointed to be conformed to their Head as in obedience and sufferings so in happiness and glory here in the one hereafter in the other Rom. 8.29 He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the Image of his Son As Christ was raised from the dead so we shall be raised from the dead God raised him from the dead and gave him glory and honour that your Faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 So God will raise us from the dead and put glory and honour upon us There is indeed a glory put upon Christ far surpassing the glory of all created things but our glory is like his for quality and kind though not for quantity degree and measure as to those prerogatives and priviledges which his body in his Exaltation is endowed withall Such a glory it is that Christ shall be admired in his Saints the World shall stand gazing at what he means to do 2. By the grant of God They have a right and title to this glorious estate being admitted into his family they may hereafter expect to be admitted into his presence The Holy Spirit abideth in them as an earnest till it be accomplished Eph. 1.14 Ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession The Spirit of Holiness marketh and distinguisheth them as Heirs of Promise from all others The mark or seal is the impression of Christ's Image on the soul this seal becomes an earnest or part of payment which is a security or assurance to us that more will follow a fuller conformity to Christ in the glorious estate and this earnest doth continue till the redemption of the purchased possession the purchased possession is the Church and their redemption is their final deliverance Eph. 4.30 when their bodies are redeemed from the hands of the grave See Rom. 8.28 VSES I. Vse Is to perswade you to the belief of two grand Articles of Faith the Resurrection of Christ and your own Resurrection 1. The Resurrection of Christ. The raising of Christ from the dead is the great prop and foundation of our Faith 1 Cor. 15.14 If Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith also is vain All the Apostles preaching was built upon this supposition that Christ died and rose again Partly because this is the great evidence of the truth of the Christian Religion for hereby Christ was evidenced to be what he gave out himself to be the eternal Son of God and the Saviour of the World whereof he hath given assurance to all men in that he raised him from the dead Acts 23.31 that is the ground of Faith and Assurance So Acts 13.33 God hath raised Iesus from the dead for it is written Thou art my son c. Partly to shew that he is in a capacity to convey life to others both spiritual and eternal which if he had remained under the state of death could not be The life of Believers is derived from the life of Christ Ioh. 14.19 Because I live c. If he had been holden of death he had neither been a fountain of Grace nor Glory to us 1 Pet. 1.3 He hath begotten us unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead Partly because the raising of Christ is the pledge of Gods omnipotency which is our relief in all difficult cases the power which raised Christ exceedeth all contrary powers Eph. 1.20 21. Now the resurrection of Christ besides the veritableness of the report manifested by the circumstances when a great stone was rolled at the mouth of the Sepulchre a guard of Souldiers set to watch against all fraud and impostures yet he brake thorow his frequent Apparitions to the Apostles yea to 500 disciples at once 1 Cor. 15.6 a great part of which were alive to testifie the truth of
Scriptures Isa. 4.2 Christ is prophesied of In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely When he is called the Branch of the Lord his Godhead is signified when he is called the fruit of the earth his Manhood So again Isâ— 7.14 A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and thou shalt call his name Immâ—â—uel That is to say God with us which can agree to none but to hiâ— that is God and Man So that this Mystery of God Incarnate was not hid from the Church of the Old Testament for his very Name did import God with us or God in our Nature reconciling us to himself So Isa. 9.6 To us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called The wonderful Counseller the mighty God the everlasting father the prince of peace Who can interpret these speeches and Aâ—â—ributes but of one who is God-Man How could he else be a child and yet the Everlasting Father born of a Virgin and yet the Mighty God So Isa. 11.1 with the 4th Verse A rod out of the Sâ—em of Iesse and a branch out of his roots Therefore Man And verse 4. He shall smiâ—e the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall be slay the wicked Therefore God So Isa. 53.8 He shall be taken from prison and judgement therefore Man yet who shall declare his generation therefore God So Ier. 23.5 6. A branch raised unto David from his deaâ— stock therefore Man yet the Lord or Iehovah our righteousness therefore God Shall I urge that speech whereby Jesus did silence divers of the Learned Pharisees Psal. 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool He was born in the mean Estate of humane Flesh and King Davids seed and yet Davids Lord which he could not be if he were not God himself the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Well then he was Davids Son as Man but Davids Lord as he was God And so do many of the Ancient Iewish Rabbins interpret this place So again Micah 5.2 Thou Bethlehem Sphratah Though thou â—e little among the thousands of Iudah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been from old from everlasting He is born in Bethlehem yet his goings forth are from everlasting He came out of Bethlehem and therefore Man his goings forth are from everlasting and therefore God So Zech. 12.10 I will pour out the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced He is God because he giveth the spirit of grace Man because he is pierced or crucified So Zech. 13.7 Against the man my fellow A man he was but Gods companion his only begotten son and co-essential with himself and so God Secondly Come we now to the New Testament in which this mystery is more plainly and fully demonstrated There often the son of Man is plainly asserted to be also the Son of God Thomas calleth him his Lord his God Ioh. 20.28 We are told that the word was made flesh Ioh. 1.14 That God purchased the Church with his own blood Acts 20.28 which can be understood of no other but Christ by whose blood we are redeemed and who being Incarnate hath blood to shed for us But God as a pure Spirit hath not flesh and blood and bones as we have So Rom. 1.3 4. Iesus Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh but declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness c. In respect of his Divine subsistence he was begotten not made in regard of his humane Nature made not begotten True Man as David was and True God as the Spirit and Divine Nature is Again Rom. 9.5 Whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Than which nothing can be said more express as to that nature which is most apt to be questioned for surely he that is God over all cannot be said to be a mere Creature The Jews confessed him to be Man and one of their blood and Paul asserteth him to be God over all They accounted him to be accursed and Paul asserteth him to be blessed for ever They thought him inferiour to the Patriarchs of whom he descended and Paul over all so that no word is used in vain and when he saith according to the flesh he insinuateth another Nature in him to be considered by us The next place is 1 Cor. 2.8 They Crucified the Lord of Glory He was Crucified there his humane nature is acknowledged but in respect of the Divine nature he is called the Lord of Glory as in the 24th Psalm The Lord or King of Glory is Iehovah Sabaoth The Lord of Hosts Go we farther Phil. 2.6 7. Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with Gon but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men By the form of God is meant not only the divine Majesty and Glory but also the divine essence it self for without it there can be no true divine Majesty and Glory Now this he kept hidden under his humane nature letting onely some small Rayes sometimes to shine forth in his Miracles but that which was most sensible and conspicuous in him was a true humane Nature in a low and contemptible estate Again 1 Tim. 3.16 Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in our Flesh. That is the Eternal Son of God became Man and assumed the humane nature into the unity of his person Once more 1 Pet. 3.18 He was put to death in the flesh but quickned in the spirit That is dyed according to his humane nature but by his divine nature raised from the Dead 't is not meant of his soul quickned signifies not one remaining alive but made alive that power belongeth to God Secondly By Types Those that come to hand are these 1. Melchisedec Gen. 14.18 Melchisedec King of Salem brought forth bread and wine to Abraham Which Type is interpreted by the Apostle Heb. 7.2 3. First being by interpretation King of Righteousness and after that also King of peace Without Father and without Mother having neither beginning of dayes nor end of Life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest continually What Melchisedec was is needless to dispute The Apostle considereth him only as he is represented in the story of Moses who maketh no mention of his Father or Mother Birth or Death Certainly he was a very Man but as he standeth in Scripture there is no mention of Father or Mother beginning or end what he was or of whom
for as he is true Man flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone he will not be strange to us and as he is God he is able to help us Two things I will press you to 1. Consider what a fit object he is for your Faith to close with 2. Own him as your Lord and your God 1. To raise your trust and confidence consider what a fit object he is for your Faith how he is qualified for all his offices of Prophet Priest and King 1. As your Prophet consider how necessary it was that God dwelling in mans nature should set a foot the Gospel Partly because when ever you come seriously to consider this matter this thought will arise in you that this blessed Gospel could not be without repealing the Law of Moses given with such solemnity by God himself and it was not fit it should be abrogated by any but him who was far above Moses to wit by the Son of God himself not any fellow servant equal to Moses The Apostle telleth us that Moses was Faithful in Gods House as a servant but Christ as a Son over his own House Heb. 13.5 6. The servant must give place when the Son and Lord himself cometh but rather take it from what Moses foretold himself Deut. 18.18 19. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and I will put my words into his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I command him and it shall come to pass that he that will not hearken to my word which he shall speak in my name I will require it of â—im Now these words cannot be verified in any other Prophet after Moses untill Christ for that of these Prophets there arose none in Israel like unto Moses Deut. 34.10 They had no authority to be Lawgivers as Moses had but were all bound to the observation of his Law till Christ should come whom Moses calleth a Prophet like unto himself that is a Law-maker exhorting all men to hear and obey him None of the Prophets did take upon them that priviledge they must let that alone till the Messiah should come whose office it is to change the Law given upon Mount Sinai and instead thereof to propagate or promulgate a new Law to begin at Sion Isa. 2.3 The Law shall go forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem And in another place the Isles shall wait for his Law Isa. 42.4 Well now this is a mighty confirmation of our Religion and bindeth both our Faith and Obedience to consider Christs Authority that a greater then Moses is here Partly because it concerneth us to receive the Gospel as an eternal Doctrine that shall never be changed For 't is called an everlasting Covenant and nothing conduceth to that so much as to consider that it is promulgated by the eternal God himself by him in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Partly because the Gospel if we would profit by it is to be received by all Believers not only as an everlasting Covenant but as certain perfect and saving Now if the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him who gave this Covenant we cannot deny either the certainty or the perfection or the savingness of it for if we receive it from him who is Truth it self we cannot be deceived 'T is certain if he Taught us in person surely all his works are perfect subordinate Ministers may mingle their weaknesses with their doctrine if we have it from a Saviour surely it is a Doctrine that bringeth Salvation 2. Consider what a fit object here is for your Faith as Christ is a Priest so his great business is to reconcile us to God in the body of his flesh through death who once were strangers and enemies Col. 1.21 consider how fit he was for this God and Man were first united in his Person before they were united in one Covenant If you consider the fruits of his Redemption and Reconciliation The evil from whence we were to be delivered the good that was to be procured Christ is every way a commodious Mediator for us as God man If you consider the evil from whence we are delivered he was man that the chastisement of our peace might be put upon his shoulders God that by his stripes we might be healed Isa. 53.5 Or if you consider the good to be procured he doth it as God-man He was a man that as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many might be made righteous God that as sin reigned unto death so Grace might reign through righteousness unto Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5.19 21. As he is God his merit is full as he is Man we are partakers of the benefit of it 3 Consider how fit an object he is for our Faith as King For as the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily he is the greatest and most glorious person that ever was in the World Infinitely superior above all power that is named in this World or in the World to come The Man who is our Shepherd is fellow to the Lord of Hosts The thought of Immanuel maketh the Prophet startle and brake out into a Triumph when Senacherib break in with his forces like a deluge in the Land of Iudah They fill thy Land O Immanuel Isa. 8.8 Then verse 9 10. Associate your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsel together it shall come to nought speak the word it shall not stand For God is with us Or because of Immanuel Surely Christ is the foundation of the Churches happiness and may afford us comfort in the most calamitous condition we are in his hands under his Pastoral care and protection Ioh. 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Neither Man nor Devil can break off totally and finally their union with him In short he that assumed our nature to himself will communicate himself to us All union is in order to communion here is a commodious and a blessed Saviour represented unto you Secondly Own him as your Lord and your God This was the Profession of Thomas's Faith Iohn 2â— 28 My Lord and my God I shall insist on that Scripture In the History there are these remarkables 1. Thomas his absence from an Assembly of the Disciples when Christ had manifested himself to them verse 24. Being absent he not only missed the good news which many brought but also the comfortable sight of Christ and was thereby left in doubts and snares 2. When these things were told him he bewrayes his incredulity v. 25. when they told him he said unto them except I see in his hands the print of his nails and put my finger into the print of the nailes and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe This
as well as verbum oris This Covenant is carried on in soul Language Psal. 16.21 O my soul Thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord. So Psal. 27.8 When thou saidst seek ye my face my heart said thy face Lord will I seek The Lord offereth or representeth himself as our Lord and we prosess our selves to be the Lords No eye seeth or ear heareth what passeth between God and the Soul Now without this Personal inward Covenanting all the priviledge of the Covenant will do us no good And this Personal inward covenanting amounts to full as much as My Lord my God Therefore it concerneth every one of us see whether we have thus particularly owned Christ if there hath been any Treaty between God and our Souls and whether it came to any conclusion and particular Soul engagement That you could thus own Christ. Not only as God and Lord but as your God and your Lord. SERMON VIII Col. 1.20 And having made peace by the blood of his Cross to reconcile all things to himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven IN these words observe First What Christ was to do Secondly The manner how he did it Or First The End for which he was appointed To be our Mediator and Redeemer and accordingly promised and sent into the world to reconcile all things to God Whether they be things in heaven or things in earth Secondly The means by which he accomplished it Having made peace by the blood of his Cross that is by his bloody sacrifice on the Cross thereby answering the sacrifices of Attonement under the Law In the first branch take notice of 1. The Benefit Reconciliation with God 2. The person procuring it by him and it is repeated again I say by him 3. The persons to whom this Benefit is intended expressed 1. Collectively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things 2. Distributively Whether they be things in earth or things in heaven As they are Collectively Expressed it teaches us that grace is revealed and offered in the most comprehensive expressions that none may be excluded or have just cause to exclude themselves As it is distributively expressed the latter clause is of a dubious Interpretation some by things on earth understand Men but by things in heaven the Angels Surely not the fallen Angels for they are not in Heaven neither was Christ sent to reconcile them nor relieve them in their Misery and reduce them to God Heb. 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what then shall we understand by things in heaven Some think the holy Angels others the glorified Saints 1. Those that assert the first argue thus that the Angels are properly inhabitants of Heaven and so fitly called things in Heaven and they are Enemies to Men whilst they are ungodly Idolatrous and Rebels to God as good Subjects hold with their Prince and have common Friends and Enemies with him but are reconciled to them as soon as they partake of the Benefits of Christs Death as we are told of joy in heaven among the angels of God at the conversion of one sinner Luk. â—5 10 Now if there be so much joy over one Sinner repenting how much more when many sinners are snatched out of the Jawes of Hell They make the sense to be thus before for the sins of men they weâ—â— aliâ—nated from them but then reconciled but this Scripture speaks not of the Reconciliation of Angels and Men but the Reconciliation of all things to God for so it is expresly in the Text to reconcile all things to himself Now the good Angels cannot be said to be reconciled to God for there was never a breach between them sâ— nunquam cum matre in gratiam rediisse 2. Therefore I interpret it of the glorified Saints See the like expression Eph. 1.10 To gather together in one all things to Christ which are in heaven and in earth And more clearly Eph. 3.15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named Meaning thereby the Faithful who are already in Heaven and those who are now remaining upon Earth This is a comfortable note and teaâ—hâ—s â—s 1. That the Apostle Paul knew no Purgatory or third place for Souls after Death 2. That the Saints departed are now in Heaven as to their Souls and gathered to the Rest of the Spirits of just men made perfect 3. The souls now in Heaven once needed the Merit of Christ even as we do None come thither but they were first reconciled to God By him their peace was made and they obtained Remission of sins by the blood of his Cross as ye do In short all that go to Heaven go thither by the Mediation Sacrifice and Meritorious Righteousness of the same Redeemer Doct. One great benefit we have by Christ is Peace and Reconciliation with God Here I shall shew 1. What this Reconciliation is 2. How it was obtained 3. What Assurance we have that it is obtained 4. How and upon what terms it is applied to us 1. What this Reconciliation is I Answer It is not an original Peace but a returning to Amity after some foregoing breach Now the breach by sin consisted in two things an aversion of the Creature from God and an aversion of God from the Creature so before Peace and Reconciliation can be made two things must be removed Gods Wrath and our sinful Nature God must be pacified and man Converted Gods Wrath is appeased by the blood of Christ and our Natures are changed and healed by the Spirit of Grace First Gods Wrath is appeased and then the Spirit is bestowed upon us for while God is angry and offended no saving benefit can be expected from him This Text speaks not how he took away our enmity but how he appeased God for us not so much of the Application as the impetration of this benefit The Application is spoken of verse the 21. how it is applied to us but here the Apostle more directly speaks of the impetration how it was procured and obtained for us namely by Christs satisfying Gods Justice for that wrong which caused the breach or the dying of the Son of God for a sinful World Now this hath an influence on Gods pardon and our Conversion for by vertue of this Reconciliation we are justified and pardoned Therefore we are said to be justified by his blood Rom. 8.9 that is the price is paid by Christ and accepted by God there needeth nothing more to be done on the Mediators part by virtue of the same peace made we are also sanctifyed and converted unto God 2 Cor. 5.18 The gift of the sanctifying spirit is given us as the fruit of Christs death 2. How it was obtained by the blood of his cross he made peace This implyeth death and such a death as in appearance was accursed for the death of the cross is the vilest and most cruel death Gal. 3.13 Christ hath Redeemed us from the curse of the Law being
the World till he was advanced at the right hand of God and then this effect declared it The spirit was given before but more sparingly because it was given upon trust and with respect to the satisfaction that was afterwards to be made and accepted And then it was witnessed to the World by a more copious and plentiful effusion of the spirit Therefore 't is said Acts 2.33 Therefore Iesus being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear The merit and value of the sacrifice is thus visibly attested therefore this is one of the witnesses Acts 5.30 31 32. The God of our Fathers raised up Iesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins And we are his witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him And what was the evidence given to the Church in general is the evidence given also to every particular believer 4thly Some have obtained the effects and fruits of Christs death this peace begun here hath been perfected in heaven The Text saith he hath Reconciled all things to himself whether they be things in Heaven or things in Earth Here many are pardoned and accepted with God and have the comfort of it in their own Souls Others are gone home to God and have the full of this peace All were by nature children of wrath under the curse as well as others Now if some in all generations have injoyed the love favour and friendship of God in this World and upon their departure out of it have entered into glory upon this account it is evident that Christ is accepted to the ends for which God sent him thus Abraham the Father of the faithful and all the blessed souls who are gathered into his bosom and are alive with God in Heaven Certain it is they were all sinners by nature for there is no difference between any of the children of men and yet God admits them into his peace Was it a personal priviledge peculiar to them only No the Apostle tells us Rom. 4.23 It was not written for his sake alone and Paul obtained mercy for them that should hereafter believe on Christ for life everlasting 1 Tim. 1.16 Therefore all penitent believers may be assured that this sacrifice is sufficient and will avail for their acceptance with God We take it for a good token of a healing Water when we see the Crutches of Criples that had been cured all the blessed Saints in Heaven are witness to a sincere soul they all obtained this blessed condition through the blood of his Cross Reconciling them to God There is none in glory but had his pardon sealed through the blood of Christ. 4. How and upon what terms is it applyed to us for we have considered hitherto onely how Christ hath made peace or made the atonement Yet if we receive not the atonement we may perish for ever for all that besides the work done on the Cross by Christ alone there is a work to be done in our hearts the work of making peace is sufficiently done by Christ there needeth nothing to be added to it no other ransom nor sacrifice nor propitiation Christ hath so fully satisfyed divine Justice that he hath obtained the new Covenant but we are not actually admitted 〈◊〉 this peace till we have personally accepted the Covenant Now here it sticketh God hath been in Christ Reconciling the World unto himself there was the foundation layed but therefore we pray you to be Reconciled 2 Cor. 5.20 There is our Title Claim actual Right security But how do we receive this atonement or how are we interessed in it the conditions and terms are gracious such as the nature of the business calleth for as to our entrance into this peace no more is required but Faith and Repentance The Gospel is offered to all but the penitent Believer as being onely capable is possessed of it 1. Faith is required that we Believe what the Son of God hath done and purchased for us Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ. If we sincerely embrace the Gospel we are Reconciled to God and accepted with him The Faith that justifieth is partly an assent to the Truth of the Christian Religion especially the fundamental Truth that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour of the World And partly an acceptance of Christ as God offers him a serious thankful broken hearted acceptance of Christ as your Lord and Saviour serious because of the weight of the business broken hearted because of the condition of the person accepting a self-condemning sinner or one that hath an awakening sense of his sin and misery Thankful because Reconciliation with God and fruition of them in Glory is so great a benefit and you take him as Lord for every knee must bow to Christ he is a Saviour by merit and efficacy By his meritorious Righteousness you obtain all benefits by the efficacy of his spirit you perform all duties the last thing is trust and dependance Eph. 1.13 Trust is such an expectation of the benefits offered by Christ that forsaking all other things you entirely give up your selves to the conduct of his Word and Spirit 2. The next thing is Repentance which is a turning from sin to God we turn from sin by hatred and we turn to God by Love We turn from sin by hatred hatred of sin is the ground of all mortification there is a twofold hatred of abomination and of enmity We turn to God by Love which is the great principle to incline us to God and is the bottom of vivification or living to God Now all this is necessary to actual peace for our refreshing begins in conversion Acts 3.19 there is no peace allowed to the wicked we must take Christs yoke or we shall find no rest for our souls Matth. 11.29 we are not reconciled to God till our enmity be broken and overcome then of enemies we become Friends of Strangers intimates then we are reconciled This then is required of you onely let me add this caution what is at first Vows and Purposes must be afterwards Deeds and Practises and having ingaged your selves to God to live to him to keep your selves from sin and to follow after Holiness This must be your business all the dayes of your lives For so you continue your peace and interest in God Gal. 6.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and on the Israel of God VSE 1. To Exhort you to enter into this peace that you may be partakers of the fruit of Christs Blood and the virtue of his cross may be effectual in you 1. Let me reason a