mighty voyce 1 It shall be by vertue of or because of his being the son of man his being made so and his continuing ever to be so by and in the vertue of the works finished in that his own body which the Father gave him to do on Earth So much is plain in the foregoing verses compared with this The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son For as the Father hath life in himselfe so he hath given to the Son to have life in himselfe and hath given Him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the son of man yea on that this which followes in the Text doth also depend being part of that exccution of judgment to which the Father hath given him authority Because he is the Son of man therefore it is that all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. If he had not suffered the judgment of this World which the Father had against them under which they were fallen by the transgression and disobedience of the first man in which all have sinned and by that sin and sinfullnesse which thereby entred into and overspread the whole nature which judgment he could not have suffered if he had not had a body prepared for him in mans nature subject to all our infirmities yet without sin And if also in suffering that judgment he had not so satisfied as to discharge and overcome it If he had not compleated righteousnesse in riseing up from the Dead in the name power and glory of the Father that delivered him to it And in the same body in which our sins were imputed to him and in which he bore them to the Tree a Conquerour over all that Curse and Death inflicted on him for us And offered up that body an acceptable and effectuall ransome or price of Redemption to God for all mankind so as to be therein and as such a ransome received and accepted for ever with the Father now no more to return to coâ—ruption Then that first judgment could not have been remitted nor mankind released from under it to him And the whole judgment of them committed to him nor could he have received authority and power to raise them all out of the first death And bring them to his judgment seat But this power authority and glory is given him because he is the Son of Man according to that Joh. 12. 31 32 33. Now is the Judgment of this World namely then when his soul was in trouble as vers 27. in that Agony in which it was made an offering for our sin Then was the Judgment of this World executed on him and suffered by him now shall the Prince of this World be cast out That is this suffering work being over and finished By vertue of it and of the well-pleasednesse God hath taken in it The power of death should be and was before vertually taken from Satan And he cast out of that dominion and principallity he had gotten over mankind by the receite and prevailency of his temptation Bringing sin weaknesse and death into the World and upon the whole nature And so bringing whole man under the Judgment of banishment and separation from God in the first death which was such as left them as so shut out from God necessarily under the power and dominion of Satan subject to his bondage all their life time And so for ever to be left under the power and dominion of the first death This plot and snare of Satan he hath broken That no man is necessarily holden out from God by sin death or the Curse of the Law as so brought in nor shall any be for ever holden in that death Christ hath abollished death by his appearing and therein spoyled Principallities and Powers The Prince of this World is judged And see what followes And I says he if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men to me which he spake saith the Text signifying by what death he should dye yet doubtlesse 't is a direct expression of his exaltation with the right hand of God in that Body in which he bore our sins to the Tree But that so expressed as therein was signified the manner of his death by being lifted up upon the Cross through which and by meanes of which he was so exalted And so in both it answers to this Text Because he is the son of man Because of his taking mans nature in that one body prepared for him and in that his own body humbling himselfe to death even the death of the Cross as the Son or Heyre of man even his Heyre at Law of all his sin misery death and curse that came in meerly through the offence of one man Adam Therefore he being raised from the dead by the glory of the Father in that his own body in which he bore our sins to the Tree now no more to return to corruption and exalted with the right hand of God to appear in his presence in Heaven it selfe for us is therein glorified with the Fathers own selfe so as to bring all men under his power dispose and Government in their severall Ages that through him they may be saved yea therefore because of his sufferings and giving himselfe as raised from the dead and being accepted for ever a ransome for them all he will redeem them all wholly from the first death ransome them from the power of the Grave and bring them to his Judgment seat Hose 13. 14. with 1 Tim. 2. 6. For to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of all both dead and living Rom. 14. 9 11 12. Phill. 2. 6-11 For as by man came death so by man also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye and that is no otherwise but in the demerit and influence of his transgression Rom. 5. 12. even so in Christ That is in the merit or vertue and influence of his perfect sacrifice and righteousnesse shall all be made alive Hence the Apostle gives this as the ground of that Doctrine that we must all appear before the Judgment seate of Christ that every one may receive according to the things done in the body whether good or bad namely that one dyed for all and rose again so effecatiously as it was accepted with the Father as if all had dyed and to such a gracious end that they which live every man in his severall Age and life time should not hence forth after this grace comes to him bringing salvation live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again If he had not dyed for them their death and suffered their curse and that so effectually as to become himselfe a ransome for them a price of redemption from that death and curse They must necessarily have perished for ever in and under it If also this had not been by the grace of God and so reall
because he went to his Father Joh. 14. 12. with Act. 26. 18. Greater works then those visible and sencible demonstrations of his power which they saw made by him on mens bodies amongst which also was his raising Lâzarus though that more singular and as a discovery of his mighty power for raising the dead as it should be more gloriously manifested in due time yet that was not a totall Redemption from death and the power of the grave and therefore might be rockoned among those works that are inferiour to the making alive the spirit for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin if then the quickening and saving operations of his word on the spirits of men now be greater then any of these works forementioned and yet the efficacy of the same voyce spoken of in the text as to come be another and distinct work and greater then that as t is clearly signified to be It s evident from thence it can be no Iesse nor other then that resurrection of the dead bodies of men in which they shall be wholly redeemed from the first death and from the power of the Grave And so the Apostle Paul speaking of the first Resurrection which is more properly then the other called a quickening of the mortall body or raising it unto life mentions it as another distinct and following work And such only as is greater then the making the spirit alive now while yet the body is dead Rom. 8. 10 11. And if Christ be in you the body is dead that is it is yet so because of sin though Christ be in you but the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall body or raise up that also in a state of life and unto life by the same spirit that now dwels in you quickening your spirit Yea our Saviour also otherwhere speakes of the generall resurrection at the last day as another distinct work and greater then any spirituall efficacy of his voyce or word now in drawing men or strengthening and quickening the commers which yet also are there signified to be so great and of such a nature that nothing short of that his raising them up at the last day is greater see Joh. 6. 40 44. The Father hath sent him now in the light and power of his word or doctrine to draw men to him that otherwise could not come And to give eternall life through his name to all comers even in the knowledge and faith of it in him and in some first fruits of spirituall enjoyment and in the hope of the harvest To each of these he addes and I will raise him up at the last day signifying nothing short of that is greater then these and clearly mentioning that as another work and greater then any of these which yet also he saith he will do both unto those that come in his drawings to see and believe on him and to those also that break his bands asunder and will not come to him for life And then shall be fulfilled that which is written all that the Father hath given him shall come to him even those that now will not come in his drawings see verse 37 39. with Isa 45. 23 24. Psal 2. 7 8 9. And so in this place The resurrection of the dead is distinguished from and mentioned as a far greater work then any spirituall efficacy of his word or voyce on Mens spirits now And therein signified to be a mighty and wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce on their dead bodies that sleep in the dust of the Earth even such as in which they shall be wholly redâ—emed from the first death and from the power of the Grave Yea 2 So much is plain and full in the expressions 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them 2 It s said to be such as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them both some to life and others to damnation now there is no work in Scripture called the resurrection of the dead But that in which the whole man is wholly redeemed ouâ— and brought forth of the first death that came in and passed on all men at first by sin nor can be properly so called no not that quickening of the spirit that is now effected in hearing the voyce of the Son of God by what meanes soever preached though that as we have shewed already in respect of the nature and greatnesse of it is the neerest to this yet that is but such a quickening or making alive of the spirit in part or in a first fruites as may and doth stand together with their body being still dead as the fruit of sin Rom. 8. 10 23. yea of those of whom the Apostle supposes they were risen with Christ yet he affirmes of them that they were still dead and their life hid with Christ in God And when he who is our life shall appear then not before shall they also appear with him in glory Coll. 3. 1-5 And of himselfe the same Apostle plainly affirmes that he had not yet attained the resurrection of the dead but was pressing on to it ayming at it even at the first resurrection in which is such blessednesse yet so as looking for it both after the changing this vile body and at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven when he shall bring with him all that sleep in Jesus and not before see Phill. 3. 11-14 20 21. True it is In that gracious or spirituall work in which the spirit is quickened or made alive for righteousnesse sake now through the beliefe of the truth as it is in Jesus Therein also the Believer is said to be risen with Christ Coll. 3. 1. with ch 2. 12. But that is explicated to be not in or by a like act wrought upon our Persons as was wrought upon his when he was raised from the dead But through faith of the operation of God and so effected in the doctrinall and spirituall baptisme as also they are said in the same baptisme in a like sence to be buried with him He is the Person that was dead and buried and was raised again for us and with reference to that his personall buryall and resurrection the Apostle speakes there as also in Rom. 6. 3 4 8 11. shewing that in the spirituall washing of that doctrine of his death and resurrection we are through faith washed from the errors and polutions of the World into the acknowledgment grace and consolation of that his death and resurrection And so in that Baptisme or washing of the spirit which is in the beliefe of the truth we are taught and strengthened to reckon our selves dead and buried in his death and buriall there dead indeed unto sin and so risen with him through
the same faith of the operation of God who hath raised him he saith not us but him from the dead still we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God who also hath begotten us by and through the resurrection of Christ to a lively hope of an Inheritance incorruptible and that sadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time unto which he that raised up Christ from the dead will also raise us up by Christ at his coming Till then the resurrection of the dead is not in a full or proper sence attained by any but the Head for us all Some there are I know that would not have us understand the Resurrection of the body to be meant in that first resurrection spoken of Revel 20. 5 6. But some spirituall quickening reviving or enlargement given to such Persons in this corruptible time and state of the World And the pretended ground of their cavill against the understanding the resurrection of the body to be there meant is from John's saying that he saw the soules of such and they lived and reigned with Christ The soules says John Not the bodies therefore say they For the clearing of that therefore consider 1 That sometime by the soul is meant the whole Person of the man or men spoken of both soul and body together as Gen. 12. 5. 46. 15 18 22 27. with Deut. 10. 12. Rev. 18. 13. with Ezek. 27. 13. 2 That the soul as well as the body may be said to be dead to us though not in it selfe or unto God All live to him Luk. 20. 38. And so the soul departing out of the body yet retaines a sensible being while the body is in dust But so as under the Altar in a disappearing state as to us having no fellowship or converse with us nor any more any reward oâ— portion of the things done under the Sun nor shall they appear again or be visible and so living to us untill in the body at the resurrection of the body And so in this vision John saw the soules not as chap. 6. 9 under the Altar as still remaining in a disappearing state of death as to us But coming forth and appearing That is soul and body together the whole persons of those spoken off And they lived c. Yea 3 That the resurrection of the Podies of those that sleep in Jusus is there meant by the living again of the soules of such which is there called the first resurrection is clear in that it s spoken of as a work passing upon them after death and not before Some of them had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus before they thus lived again and yet their very persons lived again in that first resurrection as seen in the vision yea the rest of that Company that have part in the first resurrection were dead before they so lived again or immediatly changed with such a change as is answerable to death as appeares by his saying of all the residue that have not part in that first resurrection The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished Then it seemes these were all of the dead before they thus lived again Likewise 4 Its further evident in that this living again of those is called the first resurrection with relation to and as distinguished from the resurrection or living again of the rest of the dead after the thousand yeares of Christs personall reigne on the Earth shall be finished And as opposed to their not living again till that time be expired And that that Resurrection or living again of the rest of the dead that shall be at the end of that time is the Resurrection of their dead Bodies is clear in that explication that follows The Sea gave up the dead which were in it now it s their dead Bodies that were in the Sea And death the first death and Hell or the grave or disappearing state of death delivered up the dead which were in them By all which it appeares that by the first resurrection is meant that resurrection of all that are his peculiar people at his coming to take the Kingdome and reigne that is spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 23. 1 Thess 4. 14 16. In which their vile Bodies shall be wholly redeemed from death and fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious Body for which all true Believers are here waiters Rom. 8. 23. Phil. 3. 11 21. Yea the resurrection of the dead is here expressed to be such a work as shall be effected by the power of his mighty voyce on all both just and unjust And therefore though the just or those that sleep in Jesus now before his coming and those of them that survive at his appearing shall have their â—â—â—stnesse in it And all the righteous shall have the only blessednesse of it Yet the resurrection simply is not their peculiar priviledge or portion or a work only to be accomplished on them but on all the dead that dye in Adam 2 Such also it is here expressed to be as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth a work exceeding or going beyond that in which some received their dead to life again Hebr. 11. 35. and that in which some dead Bodies of Saints arose and came forth of their Graves and lived again some time amongst men in this corruptible state of the World as Lazarus Joh. 11. and others Math. 27. 52 53. In which yet there was a glorious manifestation of the great power of God in and by Christ for raising all the dead wholly out of the first death in due time But in these it cannot be said that the persons so raised and brought forth were wholly redeemed from death and from the power of the Grave nor therein brought to the full enjoyment or possession of that eternall life and glory to which they were called by the Gospell and therefore neither is that called the resurrection of them from the dead yea they are still said to be expecting a better resurrection God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect Hebr. 11. 35-40 But the resurrection of the dead that which is so called in Scripture and is so in a full and proper sence is such as in which all that are in the Graves which also may signifie generally the disappearing state of death because in that as in the Grave they are hidden from us though not from him that hides them there as Job 14. 13. with Psal 139. 12. even all that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake and shall come forth some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. He will ransome them from the power of the Grave redeem them from death The first death and the Grave that now hides them shall be
up in the blessing Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from hence forth yea saith the spirit c. He that endureth to the end shall be saved Be thou faithfull unto death saith Christ and I will give thee the crowne of life Math. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 10. So James affirming the blessedness of the man that endureth temptation saith That when he is tryed namely to the end when that work of trying purging and making white through manifold temptations is finished he shall receive the crown of life Jam. 1. 12. Many that have been going right on their way yea runing wel suffered many things yet afterward wickedly drawing back and departing from the living God by an evill heart of unbeliefe have not been found among the righteous nor shall be found among them when he appeareth they so persisting till sin be finished Therefore let us not be weary of well doing In due season we shall reap if we faint not Thus we have done with the first branch of the point under consideration namely who they are that have done good And what we have said in it leads into the understanding of the next branch namely who they are that in a like scripture-sence according to the rule of the Gospell have done evill To that therefore we shall ad but a few words The doing evill that is imputed to men and which brings under condemnation the wrath of God is clearly expressed according to what is also shewed before to be mens being contentious against and not obeying the truth when it is manifested to them in their minds by the evidencâ— demonstration of the spirit and powerfully leading to repentance They then like not to retain it in their knowledge or so to receive the love of the truth as to save them but are incensed against Christ and his gospell because he reprooves their deeds by the light and power of it Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. with ch 1. 18 19 21 28. 2. 1-4 5. 2 Thess 1. 8. 2. 10 11 12. Isa 45. 24. Their willfull refusing to come in his drawings to â—imselfe for he is drawing all in due time even to himselfe for life And this is the condemnation that when light comes men love and chuse darkness Hose 11. Job 6. 47 with ch 12 31. 32. Psal 2. Joh. 12. 47. 48. 25. 22. 24. nor is any man under a state of condemnation or wrath but for such seeing hateing hearing and rejecting for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son And so the time of their doing evill in this sence is in the very opportunity given them for doing good even when light comes when he is preaching peace and witnessing goodness to their spirits when his goodness is leading and drawing to repentance even when and as they are so called to the most high they goe back and willfully refuse to exalt or honour him in those discovery â—s and operations of his goodnesse and glory in and through him vouchsafed Hose 11. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 2 4 5. If light had not so come to them or he had not so spoken to them they had not known or been capable of sins of this nature as now charged upon them But yet mens evill or in quities of this nature though they are truly said to be Doers and workers of it while they continue in it yet are not in a full and proper sence said to be done or finished nor so reputed of God While yet the day of salvation lasteth to any man that is while God is yet calling his grace bringing salvation to them If yet they repent and seek him none of their former wickednesse shall be remembred to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope but when sin is finished it brings forth death In an utter separation of the person from Gods mercy and binding him over and sealing him up to the wrath to come They that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 2. The next and last point to be considered in this last position propounded is where in the manifest difference that shall be made between them in the resurrection standeth or how it shall be made and made to appear in the coming forth of the one by the power of his voyce to the resurrection of life of the other by the power of the same voyce to the resurrection of damnation there is a reall difference between the doers of good and the doers of evill now in this day before either of them have finished their course And a very great one too see 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 20. The whole world lies in wickednesse even in the wicked one for while they willfully remaine in the state and condition or in the darknesse of this world in ignorance of God in Christ strangers to the life of God loveing and chusing their darknesse when light comes they consequently remaine under the Power Bondage and Dominion of Satan holding in captivity to sin the mind conscience and whole man So that they are in their uncleannesse and not washed from it in the flesh and under the wrath of God for not believing on him that came to save and deliver them is bringing that salvation to them through the power and in the grace of his truth But saith the Apostle speaking of themselves and other Believers or doers of truth God hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true namely as the fruit of the knowledge of him we are brought into him to have our hearts and mindes stayed there as a full object and foundation of rest and satisfaction to our soules a sure refuge and house of defence to save us from sin and Satan and hide us from the wrath of God we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and so in God This is the true God this is eternall life Babes keep your selves from Idols They in whom the word of truth the things heard from the begining in the word of the truth of the Gospell remaines or abideth do continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Ioh. 2. 24 25. As the fruit of which knowledge of and union with God in Christ The righteous is more excellent or abundant then his neighbour But the way of the wicked seduceth them Prov. 12. 26. But this difference is not yet manifest or visible as to outward appearance or to be seen by the carnall mind nor otherwise then as faith is the evidence of things not seen while Christ doth not yet appear personally in his glory on the Earth and in his spirituall presence in through and according to the Gospell is hidden not discerned known or taken notice of by the World But under reproach his people also are in lâ—ke manner a hidden people and rendered as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day As he
had sent divers servants before last of all he sent the Son himself Math. 21. 37. 2 We come next to enquire what is that hour or time immediately succeeding or coming next after that time of the ministeriall preaching of Jesus Christ forementioned After the finishing of which there shall be no more meanes used nor time afforded to the World that now is nor shall there ever be any more need of such gifts or such exercise of them as is now appointed for the work of the ministry by the Saints in this time of their imperfection though the matter of the voyce preached shall then be the matter of their song and gloriously commemorated by them among all the Nations in the World to come The hour or time then coming after and immediately succeeding that hour or time mentioned in vers 25. Cannot be in any time or ages of the World that now is nor untill the second personall appearing of Jesus Christ from Heaven For till then this time forementioned lasts And is therefore called the last time or age of the World that now is as we have already shewed The time therefore under consideration must needs be the time of the World to come which immediately followes at the heeles of this and upon that second and glorious appearance of the mighty God our Saviour as 2 Pet. 3. So that it is the World to come of which we speak and of which our Saviour speakes in this 28 verse The hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth some to the Resurrection of life and others to the Resurrection of damnation It is the time of his glorious personall appearing from Heaven upon earth to put an end to the World that now is And create new Heaven and new earth and restore the whole Creation And the time of his glorious Kingdom on the earth in the World to come in which all things shall be visibly and gloriously subdued to him 2 Tim. 4. 1. After which time shall be no more Now then that there shall be such a time after the ministeriall preaching of peace by Jesus Christ hath been continued its time for a witnesse to all Nations such a time I say as in which the Son of man shall personally appear from Heaven on the Earth in that glory he now possesseth for us in Heaven in that body in which he bore our sins to the Tree And shall then put an end to the World that now is and make new Heavens and new Earth and take to him his great power and reigne on the Earth till all his enemies be subdued And that all that whole time of his appearing and Kingdom is called one time or day of the son of man the great day of Christ the hour or time that is coming and not yet come And that that time or day of his appearing and Kingdom is the time of the dead that they shall be raised and judged See a little of the Scriptures Testimony to each of these 1 That there shall be such a time after the ministeriall preaching of peace by Jesus Christ as aforesaid see Peters Testimony Act. 3. 19 20 21. of the times of refreshing which saith he shall come from the presence of the Lord when he shall send us Jesus Christ who before saith he was presence unto you namely before that time of Gods sending him again viz. in this present hour or time that now is after the finishing of which God shall send us the same Jesus whom they crucified in the glory which he now possesseth for us whom the Heaven must receive till the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the World began To which agrees the testimony of the Angels this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him goe into Heaven Act. 1. 11. As he appeared once in the last Ages of the World in that one body which the Father prepared for him in our nature to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe and so was once offered to beare the sins of many So he shall appear the second time in the same body but without sin or any imputation or fruites of it upon him even in the glory he now possesseth for us to the utmost salvation of those that now look for him Hebr. 9. 26 28. Those that have their conversation in Heaven do look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven as Phil. 3. 20. Coll. 3. 4. Tit. 2. 13. And though others scoffe at the promise of his coming yet that day of the Lord will come to them as a Theife in the night In the which the Heavens shall pasle away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with servent heate the Earth also and the works therein shall be burnt up And so it shall be as the dayes of Noah and of Lot to the dissolving all these things and putting an end to this corruptible state of the World Luk. 17. 25 30. Neverthelesse we according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 4 14. yea in that his coming he shall still sit on the right hand of power Math. 26. 64. and reigne on the earth ministring judgment to the people in righteousnesse Psal 9. 7 8. 96. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Rev. 5. 10. 20. 4 6. And then when he takes to him his great power and reignes as Rev. 11. 17. all things shall be visibly and gloriously subject to him for he shall put down all rule power and authority and reigne till all his enemies be put under his feet and then deliver up the Kingdom to the Father and God shall be all in all when time shall be no more 1 Cor. 15. 23 28. with Hebr. 2. 5 8. 2 That all that whole time of his glorious personall appearing and Kingdome is together and by it selfe as distinguished from the first day of the son of man In which he once personally appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe and hath abollished death And in which also he personally began and mediately continues a gracious and spirituall ministration bringing life and immortallity to light through the Gospell I say as distinguished from that whole day or time of the son of man All this time of his glorious appearing and Kingdome is called one of the dayes of the son of man Luk. 17. 22. Where after he hath told the Pharisees that the Kingdome of God cometh not with observation ourward shew of glory or worldly pomp as they expected But that the Kingdome of God was now amongst them brought to them in the ministration and preaching of it by him he then further tells his Disciples that they should desire to see one of the dayes of the son of man namely that of his
the water and the spirit In the same chapter Joh. 3. 14 15 16. which verses are evidently a further demonstration and explication of that Doctrine vers 3 5. shewing in that whole explication what that water and that spirit is of which a man may be born again And there I say he changes the order used in vers 5 speaking to that first in his explication which was last in his first declaration of them Namely the spirit of which a man may be born again which he interprets to be in that office or work of the spirit The lifting up of the Son of man according to that Joh. 16. 14. And then explicates the water after to be that love of God to man-ward that is manifested in and through the gift of his Son which is both the ground of the spirits being sent to lift him up and also is it selfe commended displayed and shed abroad in such lifting him up as verse 17. with Rom 5. 5 6 7 8 c. And so the water and the spirit goe together and are one in and with the other poured forth abundantly by Jesus Christ for regenerateing men as Tit. 3. 3 4 5 6. which that we may understand our Saviour observes not the same order of expressions in the first declaration and following explication and after by his Apostles mentions them as joyntly coming forth together yea in the 1 Joh. 5. 8. expresly mentions the spirit first And then the water and the bloud of Christ through which the water is shed abroad by the spirit opening and sprinckling it and so mentions them as all agreeing in one and coming forth joyntly and together Other instances of like nature might be given But as we have said when the same order is alwayes observed in mentioning the same things as it is wherever the resurrection of the just and unjust is spoken off It 's more significant as to order of time to be observed by us in the coming forth of those things And at least it gives us occasion to observe what other Scriptures speak more fully to that point Now then That there shall be such an order in the Resurrection of the dead and eternall judgment by Christ That Christ the first fruites being already raised from the dead shall afterwards even at his coming raise up them that are his and bring them with him and then after that the end All that dye in Adam shall be made alive by him but every man in his owne order yea that the dead in Christ shall rise first not before the Survivers of that body then shall be changed for that shall be at the same time they shall not one prevent another But Before the rest of the dead as Revel 20. 5. even immediately at his descending and coming downe from Heaven And then at the same moment the Survivers of them being changed they shall be taken up together to meet the Lord in the Ayre And so he shall bring them with him and they shall be from thence forth ever with the Lord in their soules and bodies reunited All this is full and expresse in 1 Thess 4. 14-16 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. with Rev. 20. As likewise that though all that sleep in Jesus God shall bring with him they shall meet him in the Ayre and so come with him at his coming yet death shall not then immediately at his coming be wholly destroyed but remaine in Beeing and in being as an enemy after his appearing and in the time of his reigne yea it s the last enemy that shall be destroyed by him in that day of his reigne is also clearly expressed in that 1 Cor. 15. 23 25 26. After he hath said those that are Christs shall be made alive at his delivering up the Kingdome That he must reigne till he have put all his enemies under his feet The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death Though death shall be perfectly destroyed in the children of the first resurrection Immediately on his coming to destroy his enemies and take his great power and reigne And they shall be Princes and Reigners with him yet death is not presently perfectly destroyed but remaines in being as an enemy and is the last that shall be destroyed As to say 1 It must needes still remaine in Beeing and in some sence reigning on the Bodies of those that shall be the subjects of that Kingdome that shall be possessed and administred by the son of man and the children of the first resurrection A thousand yeares on Earth even upon those that are saved left or reserved from being cut of in those sweeping and dissolateing judgments that shall be immediately executed on the Earth at his personall coming to take the Kingdome And so upon the people that shall then be born The Nations that shall presently and abundantly multiply and increase of those few who shall all be the subjects and admitted to walk in the light of that glorious Kingdome Isa 24. 6. 13 14. 66. 19. 60. 21 22. Psal 102. 18 22. Revel 21. 24. I say death or mortallity must needs still remaine in being on them though not so imbittered with violent diseases paines and miseries as now The creature being restored and all other enemies subdued so that men may generally live and live happily in submission to that glorious Government much or all the time of it Yet in a state of mortallity till they have passed through it For it s appointed to all the whole kind of man once to dye yea they must all first bear the Image of the earthy So that mortallity must needes continue in being as long as there is any off-spring or generation of mankind coming forth which that there shall be in the time of the administration of that Kingdome on earth the forecited Scriptures shew yea the Psalmist prophecying of that Kingdome declares this to be the blessednesse of all those subjects of it that fear the Lord and so volluntarily submit to and rejoyce in that Government They shall see their childrens children and peace upon Israel Psal 127. Though they that shall be counted worthy to obtaine that World and the Resurrection from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage nor can they dye any more for they are equall unto the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the Resurrection Luk. 20. 35 36. They shall possesse glory of a far higher nature not as subjects but as Reigners with Christ yet among the subjects of that Kingdome and World to come that are not the children of the Resurrection but under their Government there will be marrying and wonderfull increase and multiplication such as in no time before compare with that Psal 127. Isa 60. 21 22. And while so and that they are not yet the children of the Resurrection That mortallity remaines on them is clearly imported in that of our Saviour last mentioned as also in what hath been already said it must remaine
out of the Book of the living as Psal 69. 27 28. whence that Eccles 9. 4. with 2 Cor. 5. 15. Even for all those sins and offences found in and upon men or done by them before the day of Gods grace and patience be quite out with them or their sin be so finished as to have brought forth death in an utter separation from God sin when so finished is not to be prayed for because he is not the propitiation for it as appeares by comparing 1 Tim. 21 1-6 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with ch 5. 16. But to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope and help in Christ there is yet pardon for all his sins and healing for all his diseases For he was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Now our sins and offences even the sins and trespasses of the World which the Lamb of God was sent to take away for which he was delivered and gave himselfe they are of two sorts and so distinctly spoken off in the Scripture And accordingly the termes on which he was delivered for them are distinct and different 1 The sins are of two sorts 1. That offence of one man called Adams transgression in which all have sinned and by which sin and so death by sin entred into the World and overspread the whole nature And so all that sin and sinfullnesse that is the naturall and necessary fruit thereof 2 Sins that are now committed by men after the similitude of Adam's transgression such as in which men sin voluntarily by a willfull complyance with Satan against light and power to withstand for though men since the fall of the whole nature in the first man Adam have not that light knowledge and power by which they may withstand Satan in them as a naturall habbit or as Adam in his first constitution yet God by Jesus Christ giveth more grace more abundant light or discoveries of more abundant grace and glory with supernaturall power answerably in and with those discoveries of his goodnesse leading to repentance and teaching and strengthening to resist sin and Satan And thus Christ is a testimony to men and the grace of God in and through him bringing salvation to them all in due time So that if when light thus comes to them they then love and choose darknesse wickedly resisting and departing from him that calleth them into the grace of Christ hardening their hearts against his melting and softening opperations refusing to be healed and so as children of disobedience to the grace of God walking after the course of this World after the Prince of the power of the ayre They then and therein sin of themselves after the similitude of Adam's transgression like men or like Adam Hose 6. 5 6 7. yea their sins being against more grace even against the light and power of the grace in Christ faithfully and seasonably given are greater and of a higher nature though resembled by his See both these sorts of sins distinctly mentioned Rom. 5. 14. Neverthelesse death raigned from Adam to Moses as well as since even over those that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression where he clearly implyes that some there were before as well as since that sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression And also that there were some that had not so sinned and yet that death reigned over them also which shewes that they had sinned and were uncleane and polluted by sin though they had not so sinned For death came in by sin as vers 12. By one man sin entred into the World and death by sin for as much as all have sinned so that sin was in the World before the Law given by Moses and was upon them as an overspreading Leprosie even upon them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression which also shewes that there was a Law and a Law broken and man fallen under the penalty of it before that more full and declarative giving of it by Moses for where there is no Law there is no transgression And after this distinct mention of sins he shewes in the next verses how the gift and grace in and through it by that one man Jesus Christ goes beyond the offence in that it is of many offences There is in it provision of pardon and healing for many other offences besides the first and the necessary branches of that even for such sins as are after the similitude of Adams transgression All sins of the first sort are mentioned as already entred into and overspreading the whole nature even from the first receite and consenting to the temptation of Satan by Adam And so found in the World before Christs undertaking to dye for them And alwayes considered as having being in men in order of nature before that gift and grace in and by it as Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned namely in that offence of one as Rom. 5. 12. And are come short of the glory of God deprived and bereft of that Image and glory of God in which they were created in the first man so that they come forth naturally unclean and altogether filthy the Imaginations of his heart evill from his youth and that enmity of the mind leading to all evill works Gen. 8. 21. Psal 14. 3. with Rom. 3. 9-19 Coll. 1. 21. All sins of the second sort that is hateing when they see rejecting when they hear sinning wilfully against the light and power of the grace of God in Christ bringing salvation are expresly mentioned as sins that could have had no being in the World nor had the World known them or been capable of committing them If there had not been such a gift at least vertually for so it was from the first of our need prepared and accepted and the grace of God through it bringing salvation If he had not made peace for them by his bloud and also preached peace to them even to their spirits by his spirit They had not known or been capable of committing sin as it is now charged upon them that is of seeing and hateing willfull sinning against light Joh. 15. 22-24 with ch 3. 19. 12. 46-48 2. The termes on which he was delivered for them are different The sins of the World of the first sort which are all that had or have beeing in the World in order of nature before the gift and the grace that is in and through it bringing salvation even that offence of one and the naturall uncleannesse from thence entring into and overspreading the whole nature and so remaining in us as a naturall heritage while we are in this body as a Law of sin in the members even in those in whom the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake yea in such as walk not after the flesh but after the spirit All these were imputed to Him He was so made under the Law that concluded us guilty And for us that they were legally charged on him
only perfect and worthy to be sought after and submitted too They honour the Son and so the Father in him they ascribe righteousnesse to their Maker as more largely we have shewed in our lamentation over the dead in Christ published on the death of Henry Rixe 3. Because they herein do that which is good and profitable as to the attaining righteousnesse And so is confirmed to be good in the good fruit of it all works of darknesse are unfruitfull the workers of them reap no profit or good fruit of them Eph. 5. 11. Rom. 6 21. Job 33. 27. Hence they are called dead works which have not profited those that have been occupyed in them Hebr 9. 14. 13. 9. But the work of righteousnesse shall be peace and the fruit of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever Isa 32. 17. Yea it is so now in a first fruites of the spirit The God of hope filles with all joy and peace in this believing that they may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. This faith is so counted to them for righteousnesse that they are therein made partakers in a first fruites of the spirit of what they believe on him for even the fruit of his righteousnesse with which faith closeth in the forgivenesse of their sins acceptance of their persons into favour and fellowship with God dayly washing sanctifying justifying and changing into his Image in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull But his delight is in the Law or Doctrine of the Lord and therein doth meditate or exercise himselfe day and night And so through and according to that Doctrine trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is He shall be as a Tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth forth her rootes by the River and shall not see when heat comes but be always fragrant and fruitfull The ungodly not so c. see and compare Psal 1. with Jer. 17. 7 8. He that abideth in him sinneth not misseth not his mark failes not of the end of his faith the saving of his soul attaines righteousnesse 1 Joh. 3. 6 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. Rom. 9. 30-32 1. In that they are made accepted with God in the beloved even in and according to that perfect righteousnesse that he hath compleated for them on which their parts and mindes are stayed In him they are compleat it being the office of the righteous one so to present them in himselfe so that as he is righteous and faithfull in his office And the Father righteous in his promise and covenant confirmed in him so he that doth righteousnesse believes in him for righteousnesse in which also he doth that which the righteousnesse of God discovered in Christ works in him both to will and to doe is righteous yea his righteousnesse that is imputed to him by him that imputes righteousnesse without works even the righteousnesse of God not of man made theirs through faith in Jesus and in which through saith in it he is accepted It is perfect and answerable to the holinesse of God such as in which his truth is fulfilled his justice satisfied so that they are made the righteousnesse of God in him that was made sin for them And in an answerable sence viz. by imputation as well as also by making them partakers of the fruit and blessednesse of it as he was made a curse for them of which more in the next considerations For as being accepted in Christ their iniquities are pardoned in Heaven not remembred or retained there against them So 2. They are made partakers of that forgivenesse of their sins in their mindes and consciences through his name and in the opening of it filling them with joy and peace in believing that also they may abound in the hope of his righteousnesse for further washing and saving to the utmost and perfecting what concernes them By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses This blessednesse comes upon them in believing through his name Act. 10. 43. 13. 39 Rom. 8. 2 3. 3. 25 26. 4. tot Gal. 3. 9-14 Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. The Law of the spirit of life in Christ even the Gospell of Christ declaring his righteousnesse in suffering and redeeming us from the curse of the Law is the power of God to save them that believe making them free from the Law of sin and death and quickening them to a new and living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead that truth believed in the opening of it makes free from sin from the guilt accusation and bondage that they may serve him without fear in righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of their life Yea 3. They are also created in Christ in the light and power of his grace believed and believed in unto good works which God hath before ordained that they believers should walk in them And so also as well as in the sence forementioned he that abideth in him sinneth not that is he doth not commit sin he saith not he hath no sin but he doth it not he is kept from committing or serving it There is sin in them still dwelling and more stirring and warring in the members then formerly But he that abideth in him is dayly strengthened through his name against it that he doth not consent to or serve it or let it reigne in his mortall body and so he that is boâ—n of God or that is led of the spirit of God which alwayes leedes or carryes out of a mans selfe into Christ for satisfaction righteousnesse and strength he doth not commit or serve sin nor can he for the seed of God the word of truth abides in him And wheresoever that is suffered to dwell in the heart it will preserve and deliver from every evill work The power of God which is in it to that purpose being greater then the power of sin and Satan Therefore sayes David thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee If therefore sin prevaile over any of us so as we are thereby brought into bondage it must needs be acknowledged we are not then or therein born of God not led of the spirit of God not carryed out or brought forth of our selves into Christ for teaching and strength but leaning to our own understanding and retaining in our heart some Worldly principle or inclination and secretly consulting with that minding the things of it walking in the flesh and not in the spirit we reape corruption For that grace of God that brings salvation to all men Teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and Worldly lusts we shâ—uld live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for the blessed hope
c. And saith in Christ will have its works in a man and bring forth its fruites by him and be further perfected therein if suffered And if not suffered but stifled and hindered or resisted in its works it will dye faith is dead being alone whence the Apostle John saiâ—h If any man see his Bâ—other stand in need and shut up the bowels of his compassion how dwels the love of God in him signifying plainly that if the love of Christ were suffered to dwell in us as it would and should be suffered it would not only strengthen to will but also carry forth to and in the acts of mercy and good fruites on sight of the Brothers need it moves the bowels of compassion and strengthens to shew them forth And if not suffered to work out it will not lodge or abide where so discourteously entertained If any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him If we walk in the light as he is in the light then have we fellowship one with another And the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse dayly giveth us the victory pardon peace and healing is met with through this faith of the opperation of God If therefore any say he have fellowship with the light and yet he walks in darknesse and confusion without peace joy and hope in the Lord and under the bondage of Satan holding under guilt and pollution of sin he lyes and doth not the truth That which they say they believe and have fellowship with may be true the true light the true grace of God in Christ and that which if believed and fellowship had with it would work But then their profession of hearty believing retaining and having fellowship with it is false He that committeth sin is of the Devill He that doth evill hath not seen God nor known him he hath not kept his word in his heart or retained in his veiw the sight and knowledge of God as manifested in Christ And in this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devill He that doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother The righteousnesse of God in this fruit of it even to the working the works of God in and by them is attained through faith in Christ Jesus 2. We come next to consider When is the time or opportunity for the doing good here mentioned The Text speakes of it in the time past as with relation to the time of the resurrection and judgment It s before that and then finished They that have done good that is in the former time or hour in which the dead was made to hear the voyce of the Son of God in the Gospell shall then come forth in the first resurrection to the resurrection of life The opportunity then for doing good is to every man in the time of the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ unto them even while he is by his spirit preaching to their spirits in any meanes whatever while his grace is bringing salvation to them 1 Tim 2 6. Tit. 2. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. 1 Pet. 3. 19. which time expires to every man at death at furthest it may sooner But while God is by any meanes calling and waiting to be gracious it is not so Whence the Apostle exhorts not to receive the grace of God in vain And presseth it with this motive in the place forecited For he saith in a time accepted I have heard thee in a day of salvation I have helped thee which is the saying of the Father unto Christ Isa 49. 8. So that while Christ is making intercession for mâ—n for the Father heareth him alwayes And so as the fruit of that he stand in the name and strength of his Fatheâ— a testimony to them by his Servants sent or other meanes of calling used It is yet due time an accepted 〈◊〉 a day of salvation for and to those persons even to such as have hitherto received it in vain or after they have tasted that the Lord is gracious and proved the saving efficacy of his word have turâ—ed back in their hearts from him to embrace this present World and so destroyed themseles yet while it is to day there is help in him Isa 50. Hose 13 9. Yea plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of their sins that he may yet be feared and hoped in by them Psal 13â— 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope And whosoever acknowledging their backslidings and transgressions as discovered and reproved in the light of his testimony looks to him again in Christ in the light and power of those gracious recallings wherewith he follows backsliders while it is to day He will graciously accept without upbraiding and love them freely and pardon and heal them through his name Hose 14. 1. 4 5 c. Mich. 7. 18 19. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Rom. 11. 23. Jer. 3. 1-12 But when once any man is blotted out of the number or Book of the living which is in the naturall death at farthest to them that till then have persisted or then are found out of Christ in willfull ignorance disobedience and rejection of him and Gods grace in him Then all opportunity is past for ever being written with the righteous Psal 69. 28. Wherefore the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts c. 3. The last thing propounded to be considered in this point is When in a Scripture sence any are said to have done good And that we shall not finde to be till they have finished their course dyed in the faith Then they rest from their labours even these their labours in the Lord which were not in vain And their works follow them so the like phrase Hebr. 10. 36. Is used in the same sence with this in the text the having done the will of God for their having finished it in all that service and suffering here appointed them Yee have need of patience namely in all your doing the will of God in the remaining time of your waiting and warfare That after you have done the wil of God fought the good fight kept the faith and finished your course in it ye may receive the promises In a like sence is that 2 Cor. 5. 10. Every one shall receive the things done or finished in his body According to that he hath done whether it be good or bad They that are found in Christ abideing in him as they have received him are said to be doing good running the race set before them and truly called doers of good doers of the truth while yet in the race or warfare Joh. 3. 11. Jam. 1. 12 25. Joh 3. 21. But not said to have done it in a full and proper sence till they have finished their course and doe rest from their labours And from that time their particular persons are absolutely sealed
according to the severall degrees of their indignities and evill works of this nature For we know him that hath said vengeance belongs to me and I will repay And againe the Lord shall judge his people in that judgement of eternall damnation he will remember and recompense on the heads of evill doers all the injuries reproaches hard speeches and unlawfull deeds which ungodly sinners have spoken and done against them for his name-sake as Math. 25. 43-46 Yea every idle word and rebellious practise with every secret thing as it hath been commited against the light and power of his grace bringing salvation and moving to repentance shall then be remembred and put on their account together with the many opportunities of mercy put into their hands with seasonable warnings and the manifold patience and long suffering of God towards them And how and for what lying vanities all have been willfully and wickedly rejected by them and their hearts more fully set in them to do evill And none of their former righteousnesse or good workes that they have done shall ever be remembred for them But in the sin which they have done and finished they shall be for ever separated into that fire of the wrath of God that shall never be quenched where their worme dyeth not and their fire is not quenched It will be a most fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liveing God under that judgement for he that made them will have no mercy on them he that formed them will shew them no favour repentance shall be hid from his eyes yea who knoweth the power of his anger of that wrath to come it shall be according to his greatnesse and terriblenesse and answerable to the infinitenesse of his grace towards sinners now that he might be feared yea answerable to the exceeding riches and glory of the hope of his called Heb. 10. 26-31 Math. 12. 36 18. 34. Eccles 12. 14. Rom. 2. 16 14. 9-12 Ezek. 33. 13 Iude 14. 15. Yea that which will be a great felicity to the one and misery to the other in which also the righteous judgement of God shall wonderfull be manifest is this The righteous shall in all this see their desire on their enemies yea he shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance and the snfoake of their torment ascending up for ever and for ever and that they have no rest day nor night Psal 112. 8. 58. 10 11 Revel 14. 10. 11. with ch 19 2. 3. For they shall then have no more pitty or bowels of mercy and compassion towards these as sometimes they had while the compassions of God was towards them now to have pitty or compassion towards them would be a misery seeing there is no more in God towards them and so no hope for them but this shall be part of their glory and song Righteous art thou oh Lord that hast judged thus Likewise also the wicked shall see their horn exalted with honour and shall be greived and gnash his toeth in the perfect remembrance of the many fair oportunities he hath rejected once and many a time graciously put in his hand for escapeing that place of torment and for being made meete to partake of the inheritance with the Saints in light Psal 112. 10. Let all be of this use to us 1. To instruct us not to mourn immoderately as those that have no hope concerning them that are asleep for if we beleive that Jesus dyed and rose even so them also which sleepe in Jesus God shall bring with him 1 Thesse 4. 13. 14. c. 2. To encourage to patient continuance in well doing and to be stedfast and unmoveable therein allways abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that ouâ— labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. In due season we shall reap if we â—aint not Ro. 2. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 9. 3. To exhort all to eschew evill depart from it in the light and power of Gods grace leading to repentance and doe good while they have oportunity and it is in power of their hand to doe Be not only hearers of the word of God but doers of it in what it is working in you both to will and to doe of good pleasure let us not deceive our own soules For what a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to his flesh shall of it reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of it reap life everlasting for the son man shall come in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels and then shall reward every man according to his works then it will appear an unvalluable losse if a man shall gain the whole world and loose his soule Psal 34 14. 37. 27. Iam. 1. 19-25 Gall. 6. 7 8. 4. To admonish evill doers to awake to righteousnesse to stand in aw and not to sin against him who is yet waiting to be gracious for he is a God of judgement If sin be once finished it brings forth death in an utter separation to the wrath to come and to him belongs vengeance and he will repay Nor will there be any oportunity in the grave or after for escaping that righteous judgment on them that know not God nor obey his Gospell Wherefore the holy Ghost saith to day while it s called to day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts for behold the great day of the Lord is coming that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud and evill doers shall be as stubble They shall then be made to heare to their everlasting woe and horror The same voyce that now they rejected when it might have been to their everlasting comfort For the houre is comeing in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voyce of the son of man and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation FINIS
outword works and services after the oldnesse of the letter which yet happily he will attribute to Gods grace in Christ and say with the Pharisee God I thank thee c. But that they are not the productions of that grace believed nor have they their dependance on that for them is evident from the former consideration which shewes that they have no beliefe or perswasion of that or of the truth of it to them But what depends on and alwayes springs up from such frames and quallifications towards God and men first found in them or if they have some other ground together with them as some particular promise or assurance that they are children of God yet usually these are one main ground of their application of those and however these are of the ground of their perswasion of any grace or good will in God towards them as to eternall life and therefore not the fruites of it or begotten by it but of the wisedome and strength of the flesh The other the true Believer of Gods Testimony being in the light of that Testimony of Gods glorious grace in Christ to sinners therein made sensible of his own weaknesse and the emptinesse of all other wayes of attaining righteousnesse as also of the great obligations to love from Gods first loving us and sending his Son the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him In which likewise he is instructed into and perswaded of the certainty of the way of attaining righteousnesse even to have the righteousnesse of the Law fullfilled in him that it is by minding the things of and walking in the light and power of the spirit that is in that testimony he hath already given of Christ and of Gods glory in him and not in the flesh Rom. 8. 3 4 5 c. He therefore goes out of himself and from his own thoughts reasonings and works to mind and consider the things of the spirit that he hath testified of Gods grace in Christ there seeking and expecting in the standing still to behold that grace and through the light and power of its instructions to love to have his heart begotten and purified to unfeigned love of God of men of brethren such as in which is the fullfilling of the Law And so for mortifying the deeds of the body They waite through the spirit for the hope of Gods righteousnesse by faith as for example To subdue the riseings of envy revenge mallice or bitternesse They consult not with flesh and bloud nor expect help from humane prudentiall considerations nor seek to mortify it in any wisedome or strength of theirs exercised in the consideration or observance of their duty But running out of themselves and from all other reasonings and works they run into his name to consider and remember his graciousnesse in forbearing and so giving them for Christs sake and how they have heard and tasted of it in and througâ— the word of the truth of the Gospell and what instruction that affords to the purpose There seeking and expecting help Eph. 4. 31 32. 5. 1 2. 1 Pet. 2. 1 -3. So likewise for subduing the riseings of uncleannesse They sensible of their own weaknesse to get victory run out of themselves and from consulting with flesh and bloud unto this name of God in Christ trusting in and staying upon it expecting strength against the lust in the believing consideration of his right to the body by purchase yea by double purchase the excellency of the pâ—ice wherewith he hath redeemed them both of the Father and from under the curse of the Law and of themselves and from the World and their vain conversation to be his and at his dispose his present care of the body in his mediation for it and gracious providence and eye over it for the good of the whole man his righteous judgment according to the Gospell before which ye must all appear to receive in the body the things done in it whether they be good or bad so for subduing the inclinations to convetousnesse pride or any manner of uncleannesse see 1 Cor. 6. 13 14 15 19 20. with 1 Pet. 1. 13 18 19. 2 Cor. 5 9 10 14 15 19 20. with ch 6. 1 2 17 18 7 1. This is the doing good mentioned in the Text. The hearing the word or voyce of Christ and through and according to it believing on him that sent him and hath raised him from the dead and given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God And such are reckoned doers of good doers of truth 1. Because they herein cease from their own works and do the work of God even that work which he through the power of his truth is doing in them for it is God that workes in them through the discovery of his works and his salvation in Christ for them Both the will and the deed of all this faith in all the acts and fruites of it whence 't is called faith of the opperation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Coll. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Joh. 6. 29. And they are said to be saved by grace through faith and that not of themselves it is the gift of God Eph. 2. He that doth good is of God Joh. 3. 11. And yet this also is counted to them for righteousnesse reckoned to them as their doing good because though all is of God yet he worketh in them both to will and to doe of good pleasure of him they are made willing and strong in the day of his power to doe what the goodnesse and truth of God is doing in them without murmuring and disputeings to cease from their own Imaginations and works that they may rejoyce in his works and seek righteousnesse and strength in the Lord by faith in him they come to him as to a living stone even in the vertue and force of his drawings allureing and strengthening them through the tasts of his graciousnesse And yet therein they are truly reckoned and indeed made comers they in the light and power of his drawings standing still from their own thoughts and works are made volluntary consenters and doe owne and close with him and as lively stones that are quickened by him to choose him for their foundation are built upon him 1 Pet. 2. 3 4 5. 2. Because herein they do that in the light and strength of the Lord which is in it selfe good righteous and just In acknowledging the emptinesse and lyingnesse of their own Imaginations and of every thought that exalteth it selfe against the obedience of Christ And God to be true in all his sayings as in that glorious testimony he hath given of Christ and by him so in all its discoveries and reproofes of instruction Themselves sinners and voyd of righteousnesse yea without strength And him righteous and faithfull according to that standing witnesse and glorious revelation of himselfe in his Son And his everlasting righteousnesse brought in in and by Christ