with his Death II. That the Sacraments are a solemn means of this Communion Here are three things 1. That Union with Christ is the ground of our Communion with him 2. This Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments 3. That both the Sacraments do chiefly refer to Christs Death 1. That Union with Christ is the ground of Communion with him This is evident every where for it is said 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption We are first ingrafted into Christ and then partake of his influence and he conveyeth to us all manner of Grace and is the cause both of our Justification and Sanctification and final Deliverance So 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life Christ is the first gift first God giveth Christ to us and with him all things Rom. 8.32 Christ himself is the first saving gift and therefore before we can have spiritual life we must have Christ himself who is offered to us in the Promises of the Gospel principally and immediately to be received by us and with him all his benefits as the Members receive sense and life and motion from the Head and the Branches sap from the Root We have not what he hath purchased unless we have him first as we are not possessors of Adams guilt till we are united to his person by carnal generation so not of the grace of the Redeemer till united to him by effectual calling In short Christ hath purchased and the Father hath given all things into Christs own hands the gifts and graces of the Spirit are not intrusted with our selves but him we have so foully miscarried already that God will no more trust his Honour in our hands we have nothing but what we have in and from the Son The Spirit dwelleth in Christ and there it can never be lost he dwelleth in Christ by way of radication in us by way of influence and operation We have many disputes about the inhabitation of the Spirit the Spirit is not given to any Believer immediately but to Christ and to us derivatively from Christ. Therefore the Spirit i◠called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and the Spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 and 't is Christ liveth in us Gal. 2.20 and as head of the Church he filleth all in all Eph. 1.22 23. From this great Cistern the Waters of Life come to us and not immediately from the Godhead and it is our Head which doth communicate and send to all his Members from Himself that Spirit which must operate in them as they have need this Grace our Mediator distributeth to all his Members 2. That this Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments and so they are special means to preserve and uphold the Communion between Christ and us Baptism is spoken of in the Text and that is called a being baptized into Christ nnd is elsewhere said to be a putting on Christ and here v. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a being planted together in the likeness of his death and 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body and are all made to drink into one Spirit The Union is begun by the Spirit but sealed in Baptism then carried on by the same Spirit and further sealed in the Lords Supper Our first implantation is represented by Baptism which is a Solemnization of the New Covenant whereby the Party is solemnly entred a visible Member of Christ and his Church It is carried on by the same spirit the Lords Supper is a Seal of that Communion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we bless is it not the communion of the body of Christ There is not only a solemn Commemoration of the Death and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ but a Participation of his Benefits it is the Communion of his Body and Blood There is a difference between an Historical Representation of Christs Death and a spiritual Communion of his Blood and Body Now the Lords Supper is an holy Rite instituted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in remembrance of him and also to convey to us the benefits of Christs Death Well then you see this Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments Baptism is our first implantation and the Lords Supper concerneth our growth and nourishment the external and visible incorporation is by Baptism or Profession of the Christian Faith which all visible Christians have Joh. 15.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit The real and saving Union belongeth to the Regenerate who really believe in Christ in their hearts Christ dwelleth Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and love is requisite 1 Joh. 4.16 God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and new obedience 1 Joh. 3.24 He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby know we that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us This is the summ then Christ maketh his first entrance into us by his Spirit who regenerateth us this is figured in Baptism continueth his Presence by Faith Love and New Obedience which are exercised and quickened by the Lords Supper 3. The Sacraments do chiefly relate to our Communion with Christs Death as appeareth 1. By the interpretation of both in Scripture Baptism is explained in the Text the chief thing represented is his Death and by what is said 1 Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the name of Paul Whence I gather that for any to have been crucified made a Curse and a Sacrifice to God for us would draw an obligation upon us to be baptized into his Name And that one peculiar reason of our being baptized into the Name of Christ was his having been so crucified for us The Lords Supper is explained 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come The use of the Lords Supper is a solemn Commemoration and Annunciation of the Lords Death We annunciate and shew it forth with respect to our selves that we may anew believe and exercise our Faith with respect to others that we may solemnly profess this Faith in the crucified Saviour with a kind of glorying and rejoycing with respect to God that we may plead the Merits of the Sacrifice of his own Son with affiance expecting the benefits thereof which are Pardon and the sanctifying Spirit Thus you see Christ hath instituted two Sacraments which represent him dead not one to represent him glorified This signification
and them In this Life the Body hath an absolute necessity of them but in the next Life the meat its self as well as the eating or desiring of meat shall be taken away Partly because if these should be restored there must be a Resurrection of them which is only promised to men And the Apostles when they speak restrain it to mankind who have reasonable Souls living to God while their Bodies are not â—otting in the Grave but the Soul of the Beasts goeth downward Eccl. 3.21 that is perish with their bodies which are buried in the ground 4. All artificial works done by the hand of man as Cities Castles Houses Gardens They shall all be burnt up and be extant no more for tho these things are useful during the earthly Life yet then they are all consumed as being defiled by the inhabitants thereof 2 Pet. 3.10 The earth also and the works which are therein shall be burnt up That is which men have made and built thereupon which should turn our hearts from our affecting those things or fixing upon the Creature which is passing away whilest we neglect God who is the same that passeth not 2. That which shall be restored is the Fabrick of Heaven and Earth not the highest Heavens they need no purifying fire no unclean things entring there But the lower Heavens and this Earth the State of things after the Dissolution is called a World to come often Now World in the sacred Dialect comprehendeth the visible Heavens and Earth Meaning by Heavens the airy and starry Heaven and by Earth dry Land and Waters Well then Heaven and Earth Sun Moon and Stars which had a being in the Creation and undergo the purging fire at the dissolution shall be restored as Gold that hath been melted and refined in the fire If you ask for what use We must refer that to the event the Scripture in the general 2 Pet. 3.13 We expect according to his promise new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Wherein righteous men shall have a firm place and always dwell therein and exercise righteousness Whereas this earth is full of wicked and unrighteous men which then shall be all in Hell But the difficulty is about the use of this lower World 1. What if God restore it as a monument of his Wisdom Goodness and Power An object wherein by the great beauty of the creature the just shall see God by reflection 2. What if for the exercise of our delight and gratitude To delight the eyes and minds of the Saints the creatures having a glory and brightness put upon them somewhat proportionable to their own glorious estate God will make a proportion between the Heir and the Inheritance the Lord and the Servants the Habitation and the Inhabitant as the Church is altered so must her dwelling there shall he nothing in nature displeasing to the Eyes of Gods Children but all delightful to all eternity 3. What if to be a Trophy of the final Abolition of Death the last enemy that shall be destroyed The World is now a Monument of Sin and then of our Redemption that all the fruit of Sin is done away both in us and the World 4. What if to compleat the first grant of Dominion to man over the creatures This grant must sometime or other take place Psal. 8.6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the work of thine hands thou hast put all things under his feet 'T is not done here therefore in the World to come as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 2.5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come Which World to come concerneth the state of the Church under Christ and the state of Glory after the Resurrection now we have the right then the possession An eternal Kingdom over all creatures for 't is said of the Saints that they shall have Dominion in the morning and that they shall reign with Christ for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 and of the new Heavens and the new Earth Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things which beareth some sense VSE It sheweth us three things 1. The certainty of our Hopes There is hope that the creature at length shall be delivered into a state agreeing with the future Glory of Gods Children Therefore much more is their deliverance to be hoped for by the Children of God themselves For if these dumb insensible things be made partakers of a better estate than they have now Will not God take care for the recompence of his people 2. The excellency of our Hopes It appeareth hence what excellency of Glory is reserved for the Children of God since all the World shall be refined and restored for their sakes and seeing the Glory of that state requireth the creature should be changed before it can suit with it 3. It sheweth us the manner of entring into our hopes As the creature must be freed from the state of Corruption before it can partake with Gods Children in any degree of their glorious Liberty so must we be changed before we are capable of it How changed First By Grace Secondly By Death 1. We must be changed by Grace and freed from the Corruption of sin Eph. 5.5 For this we know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God Common knowledg will easily shew us that those that impenitently persist in gross sins are uncapable of any right unto and never shall come to the Possession of that blessed estate of eternal Glory We have a larger Catalogue Gal. 5.20 21. And the Apostle concludeth that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God There is no mixture of godly and ungodly in the Kingdom of Heaven Nay we may go further not only exclude them who live in gross sin but every unregenerate Person Joh. 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God and in the 5 th vers 't is explained he cannot enter into it Every man in his natural estate be he to appearance better or worse is unmeet for Glory And there must be a change wrought in him he must be delivered from the Bondage of sinful Corruption or he cannot injoy the glorious liberty of the Children of God not only an Epicure or Drunkard or Whoremonger is excluded but a painted Pharisee as long as his heart is corrupt and unrenewed hath no right and never shall have possession he must be changed from a state of Corruption to a state of holiness and the Image of God in which he was created must be restored in him 2. Changed by Death The Saints being mortal must be changed before they can inherit eternal Life All that we derived from old Adam must be laid and left in the Grave 1 Cor. 15.50 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption These earthly frail bodies
promised Were the believers of the Old Testament deceived that expected his coming in the flesh Surely Christ never meant to deceive us when he said John 14.2 3. I will come again if it were not so I would have told you See Serm. on Matth. 25 th v. 6. 2. The types shew it I shall instance in one which is the High Priest's entring with Blood into the Holy place within the vail and when he had finished his Service and Ministration there he came forth to bless the people which the Apostle explaineth and applyeth to Christ Heb. 9. from 24. verse to the 28. 3. There are Ordinances appointed in the Church to keep afoot the remembrance of his promise the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come He hath left it as a monument of his faithfulness that upon all occasions we may renew our hopes and expectations of it 4. We have an inward pledge his Spirit and the visits of his grace He hath taken our flesh and left with us his Spirit He went not from us in anger but in love to set all things at rights and to bring us there where he is 5. Christs interest is concerned in it that the Glory of his Person may be seen His first coming was obscure and without observation Then he came in the form of a Servant but now he will come as the Lord and Heir in Power and Glory Then John Baptist was his forerunner now an Archangel Then he came with Twelve Disciples men of mean Condition in the World a few poor fisher men now with Legions of Angels Jade 14. Then as a Minister of Circumcision now as the Judge of all the World Then he invited men to repentance now he cometh to render vengeance to the neglecters and despisers of his grace Then he offered himself as a Mediator between God and Man as an high Priest to God and an Apostle to men Heb. 3.1 But vailed his Divinity under the infirmities of his flesh now he cometh in Gods name to Judge men and in all his Glory Then he wrought some Miracles which his enemies imputed to Diabolical Arts and Magical Impostures at the day of Judgment there will be no need of miracles to assert the Divinity of his person because all will be obvious to sense Then he prepared himself to suffer death now he shall tread death under his Feet Then he stood before the Tribunals of men and was condemned to the cursed death of the Cross now he shall sit upon a Glorious Throne all Kings and Potentates expecting their doom and sentence from his mouth Then he came not to Judge but to save now to render unto every one according to their works Then he was scorned buffeted spit upon Crowned with Thorns but now Crowned with Glory and Honour Then he came to bear the sins of many now without sin not bearing our burden but our discharge not as a Surety but as a pay Master not as a Sufferer but a Conqueror triumphing over Death Hell and the Devil He cometh no more to go from us but to take us from all misery to himself 2. That he may possess what he hath purchased He bought us at a dear rate and would he be at all this loss and preparation for nothing Surely he that came to suffer will come to Triumph and he that purchased will possess Heb. 2.13 3. With respect to the wicked 'T is a part of his office to Triumph over them in their final overthrow All things shall be put under his feet Isa. 45.23 Rom. 14.10.11 Phil. 2.10 4. To require an account of things during his absence what his Servants have done with their Talents Matth. 25. What his Church have done with his Ordinances how things have been carryed during his absence in his house 1 Tim. 6.14 Keep this Commandment without rebuke unto the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whether men have carryed themselves well or beaten their fellow Servants and eaten and drunk with the Drunkard whether they have strengthned the hands of the wicked oppressed with censures the most serious of his Worshippers what disorders in the World what violation of the Law of Nature 2 Thes. 1.8 2. The Vniversality Who must be judged we must all All mankind which ever were are and shall be No Age no Sex no Nation nor Dignity nor Power nor Wealth nor Greatness can excuse us In the World some are too high to be questioned others too low to be taken notice of But there all are taken notice off by head and pole not one of the Godly shall be lost but will meet in that general assembly Nor shall any of the wicked shift the day of his appearance as we may obey in every state and sin in every state so in every state we must give an account All that have lived from the beginning of the World till that day shall without exception appear from the least to the greatest before the Tribunal of Christ. This will be illustrated by considering the several distinctions of mankind 1. The first and most obvious distinction is into grown Persons and Infants 2. Distinction is those whom Christ shall find dead or alive at his coming 3. Distinction is of good or bad 4. The next distinction of men whom Christ shall Judge are believers and unbelievers 5. Men of all Conditions high and low rich and poor of these see Matth. 25. v. 33. Ser. 3. 6. Men of all callings in the Church Apostles and private Christians Ministers and People for the Apostle here in the text joineth himself with others and saith We must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ. Besides the Law of Christianity by which all shall be Judged the Officers and Guides of the Church must give an account of their faithfulness in their ministration There is much spoken in Scripture of their account 1 Cor. 4 4.5 I know nothing by my self yet am I not thereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord therefore Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and shall make manifest the Counsels of the heart and then shall every man have praise of God He speaketh there of the execution of his Apostolical Office though he was Conscious to himself of no fault in it yet this was not the clearing of him only God that searcheth and seeth all must do this 'T is a great matter to clear a mans fidelity first as a Minister then as a private Christian. Paul would not venture it upon the single Testimony of his own Conscience So again Heb. 13.17 They watch for your Souls as they that must give an account Their work is to watch over Souls for their Eternal Salvation if Souls miscarry through their negligence they are answerable to God for it but if they miscarry through their own willfulness the
ask Assurance is a ground of the more earnest Request When Daniel understood by Books the number of the Years then he was most earnest in Prayer and when Elijah heard the sound of the Rain he prayed Prayer is to help on Providences that are already in motion That thy Son also may glorify thee Here is another Argument It is usual in Prayer to speak of our selves in a third Person so doth Christ here That thy Son may glorify thee This may be understood many ways partly as the Glory of the Son is the Glory of the Father partly by accomplishing God's Work that I may destroy thy Enemies and save thy Elect partly by the preaching of the Gospel in Christ's Name to the Glory of God the Father He doth as it were say I desire it for no other end but that I may bring Honour to thee From this Clause 1. Observe That God's Glory is much advanced in Jesus Christ. In the Scriptures there is a Draught of God as Coin bears the Image of Caesar but Caesar's Son is his lively Resemblance Christ is the living Bible we may read much of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. We shall study no other Book when we come to Heaven for the present it is an advantage to study God in Jesus Christ. The Apostle hath an expression 2 Cor. 4.4 Lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Christ is the Image of God and the Gospel is the Picture of Christ the Picture which Christ himself hath presented to his Bride There we see the Majesty and Excellency of his Person and in Christ of God And Vers. 6. the Apostle saith To give the Light of the Excellency of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. In Christ we read God glorious in his Word Miracles personal Excellencies Transfiguration Resurrection we read much of God There we read his Justice that he would not forgive Sins without a plenary Satisfaction If Christ himself be the Redeemer Justice will not bate him one Farthing His Mercy he spared not his own Son What scanty low Thoughts should we have of the Divine Mercy if we had not this Instance of Christ His Truth in fulfilling of Prophecies Psal. 40.7 8. Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my Heart This was most difficult for God to grant for us to believe yet rather then he would go back from his Word he would send his own Son to suffer Death for a sinful World All things were to be accomplished though it cost Christ his precious Life God had never a greater Gift yet Christ came when he was promised He will not stick at any thing that gave us his own Son His Wisdom in the wonderful contrivance of our Salvation When we look to God's Heaven we see his Wisdom but when we look on God's Son we see the manifold Wisdom of God Ephes. 3.10 The Angels wonder at these Dispensations to the Church His Power in delivering Christ from Death and the glorious Effects of his Grace His Majesty in the Transfiguration and Ascension of Christ. O then study Christ that you may know God There is the fairest Transcript of the Divine Perfections the Father was never published to the World by any thing so much as by the Son 2. Observe Our Respects to Christ must be so managed that the Father also may be glorified for upon these terms and no other will Christ be glorified 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises in him are Yea and in him Amen to the Glory of God by us Phil. 2.10 11. That at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow and every Tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father John 14.13 Whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son Look as the Father will not be honoured without the Son John 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him so neither will the Son be honoured without the Father I condemneth them who out of a fond respect to Christ neglect the Father As the former Age carried all respect in the Name of God Almighty without any distinct reflection on God the Son So many of late carry all things in the Name of God the Son that the Adoration due to the other Persons is forgotten The Wind of Error doth not always blow in one Corner When the heat of such an Humour is spent Christ will be as much vilified and debased Our Hearts should not be frigidly and coldly affected to any of the Divine Persons 3. Observe It is the proper Duty of Sons to glorify their Father Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is mine Honour Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that others seeing your good Works may glorify your Father which is in Heaven How must this be done 1. By reverend Thoughts of his Excellency especially in Worship then we honour him when we behave our selves before him as before a great God this is to make him glorious in our own Hearts When we conceive of him as more excellent than all things Usually we have mean base thoughts by which we streighten or pollute the Divine Excellency 2. By serious Acknowledgments give him Glory Rev. 4.11 Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy Pleasure they are and were created Now this is not in naked ascriptions of Praise to him pratling over words but when we confess all the Glory we have above other Men in Gifts or Dignity is given us of God this is to make him the Father of Glory Ephes. 1.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of him 3. When we make the advantage of his Kingdom the end of all our Actions 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the Glory of God Phil. 1.20 Christ shall be magnified in my Body whether it be by Life or by Death Christ had glorified him yet he seeks now to do it more Self will be mixing with our Ends but it must be beaten back We differ little from Beasts if we mind only our own Conveniences 4. By making this the aim of our Prayers We should desire Glory and Happiness upon no other terms Ephes. 1.6 To the Praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved It is a mighty encouragement in Prayer when we are sure to be heard John 12.28 Father glorifie thy Name then came there a Voice from Heaven
die This is the Advantage of spiritual Comforts that they do not only satisfy our Desires but secure us against our Fears Isa. 35.10 The Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy upon their Heads They shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flie away Once in Christ and you shall be for ever preserved The Leaven and the Dough can never be severed when kneaded together so neither can you from Christ. Grace would be little better than temporal Things if it did yield but temporary Refreshment You are sure that nothing shall cut you off from enjoying God for nothing shall altogether cause you to cease to love God The Children of God would be troubled tho their Grace should not fail if their Privileges should be cut off but you are sure of both God will maintain a Spark and the Seed remaineth and the Privileges of Grace are sure too This was figured under the Law An Israelite could never wholly alienate his Title to the Land Lev. 25.23 The Land shall not be sold for ever for the Land is mine for ye were Strangers and Sojourners with me His Title to the Land shall not be quite cut off it shall not be sold for ever Which was a Type of our spiritual Inheritance in Christ which cannot be alienated from us He might for a while alienate and pass away his Inheritance yet the Property remained he knew it would return again So here God's Children are never disinherited By Regeneration we are made Coheirs with Christ we have an Interest in the whole Patrimony of the Gospel Now God will not cut off the Entail nor take the advantage of every Offence which his Children commit To insure us he hath not only put the Entail into our hands by giving us his Promise but he hath given us Earnest and Seisin in part and he hath chosen a Feoffee in Trust to keep the Estate for us our heavenly Patrimony is kept safe in his hands It is true we forfeit it by the Merit of our Actions but the Trust standeth still enrolled in the Court of Heaven and is not cancelled Christ is to look to that and it being conveyed in and by him as the first Heir he is to interpose his Merit As under the Law if the Person were not able to redeem the Inheritance the Kinsman was to redeem it Christ is our Kinsman after the Flesh he is our Goal and maketh all firm and sure between God and us It is true we lose the Evidences that are in our keeping Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy-Ghost but the Estate is undefeizable and cannot be made away from us Well then you see that Grace is kept and the Privileges of Grace are kept O what a sweet Comfort is this But now because Comforts are never prized but in their Season Men that have not been exercised in spiritual Comforts nauseate these sweet Truths they know not what it is to be left to uncertainty when Troubles come like Waves one upon the neck of another let us see when these Truths will be sweet and seasonable 1. In great Troubles when God seemeth to hide his Face Oh! how sweet is it to hear God say Gen. 28.15 Behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this Land for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of All this shall better thy Heart or hasten thy Glory We are apt to think that God will cast us off and will never look after us any more tho formerly we have had real Experience of his Grace What a foolish Creature is Man to weaken his Assurance when he should come to use it to unravel all his Hopes and Experiences Times of Trouble are a fit Season to make use of this Comfort 2. In the Hour of Temptation and hard Conflicts with Doubts and Corruptions when you find their Power growing upon you you are ready to say as David did after all his Experiences I shall one day perish by the Hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 and many times out of Distrust ye give over the Combate Then say Who shall separate us from the Love of God One came to a pious Woman when she had been exercised with a long and tedious Conflict and read to her the latter part of the 8th of the Romans she broke forth in Triumph Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us Sin or Death cannot divide you from Christ Christ will tread Satan under your Feet and weaken the malignant Influence of the World 3. In times of great Danger and Defection through Terror and Persecution as Sanders trembled to think of the Fire especially when others fall fearfully that were before us in Privileges and Profession of Zeal and Piety when the first become last when eminent Luminaries are eclisped and leave their Orb and Station as the Martyrs were troubled to hear of the Revolt of some great Scholars that had appeared for the Gospel When Hymeneus and Philetus two eminent Professors fell it was a great shaking 2 Tim. 2.18 19. Who concerning the Truth have erred saying That the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some Nevertheless the Foundation of the Lord standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his 4. In times of disheartning because of the Difficulties of Religion and the use of means groweth troublesome To quicken us in our Christian Course think of the Unchangeableness of God's Love all Grace riseth according to the Proportion and Measure of Faith loose Hopes weaken Endeavours 1 Cor. 9.26 I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the Air As those that run at all give over when one hath over-reached them they are discouraged when Hope is broken the Edg of Endeavours is blunted Go on with Confidence ye are assured of the Issue by these Endeavours God will bless you and keep you there is a sure Recompence 5. In the Hour of Death when all things fail you God will not fail you this is the last Branch Do but wait I will not forsake you notwithstanding all that I have done all that I have promised there is more behind than ever you have enjoyed Death shall not separate Olevian comforted himself with that Isa. 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee In the Pains of Death Sight is gone Speech and Hearing is departing Feeling almost gone but the Loving-Kindness of God will never depart Oh! the Lord give us such a Confidence in that Day that we may fix this Comfort in our Thoughts Doct. 2. That we are kept in the state of Grace by God's Name by his Power for
Service about himself for bestowing on him the Gift of Miracles for trusting him with the Bag. Christ had lately washed his Feet as well as of the rest of the Apostles yet he obstinately goeth on in ways of Self-Perdition and his purpose of betraying his Lord and Master yea contrary to many Warnings given him Vse Oh take heed of a wilful obstinacy and wresting your selves out of the Arms of Mercy of being of such a disposition that nothing will reclaim you for that is to be a Son of Perdition Wilful Sins have a greater mark upon them than other Sins As when you go 1. Against an express Commandment Prov. 13.13 Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed but he that feareth a Commandment shall be rewarded If a Commandment stand in your way it should be more than if a Band of Armed Men stood to hinder you Many make nothing of a Commandment they fear a Judgment from God or a Punishment from Men but never stand upon the Word of God 2. Against express Warnings of those that wish well to your Souls Deut. 1.43 So I spake unto you and you would not hear but rebelled against the Commandment of the Lord and went presumptuously up into the Hill When Men are wedded to their own Inclinations outfacing all Challenges in God's Name they will do what they are set upon Psal. 12.4 With our Tongues will we prevail our Lips are our own who is Lord over us This is not far from a Judgment 2 Chron. 36.15 16. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his People and on his Dwelling-place But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of the Lord rose against his People till there was no Remedy This Contempt will draw down Wrath no means to appease God 3. Against Checks of Conscience and Motions of God's Spirit in our Hearts Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost Conscience telleth them ye ought not to yield to this Sin whatever the Profit and Pleasure be yet Men kick against the Pricks and do that which their own Hearts disallow Rom. 14.22 Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing that he alloweth And in spight of these good Motions they will go forward to perfect the Sin which they have in chase then God lets them alone le ts them go on till they perish 4. Against Restraints of Providence when God hath hedged up their Way with Thorns or they have found much inconvenience in that course 2 Chron. 28.22 In the time of his distress he trespassed yet more and more This is that King Ahaz the Scripture sets a Brand upon him As Baalam would go on 2 Pet. 2.16 But was rebuked for his Iniquity the dumb Ass speaking with Man's Voice forbad the madness of the Prophet When Men go on over the Belly of more than ordinary Opposition till they perish A Miracle will not stop a Sinner in the violent pursuit of his Lusts. Providence hath a Language that biddeth us stop but the sway of Lusts is great and breaks through all Restraints Oh! take heed then of being self-willed stout-hearted in a sensual course wedded to our own Inclinations of being a Slave to Sensual Appetite and being led by it more than by Holy Reasons Take heed of love to some unmortified Lust especially to Covetousness this is the cause of extream violence in Sin Jer. 44.16 17. As for the Word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own Mouth to burn Incense unto the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto her 2. Observe from his Character The Son of Perdition The same Name is given to Antichrist 2 Thess. 2.3 That Man of Sin be revealed the Son of Perdition Judas was a Type of Antichrist as they said of the blind Man John 9.9 Some said This is he others said He is like him The Pope boasteth that his Seat is Apostolical and that he is the Successor of an Apostle If we grant it and he will needs be a Successor of an Apostle there is an Error in the Person it is not Peter but Judas Let us see the Parallel 1. Judas was not a Stranger but a pretended Friend and an Apostle Acts 1.17 He was numbred with us and obtained part of this Ministry So the Pope obtained part of this Ministry Turks and Infidels are Enemies to Christ Antichrist must be one that seeketh to undermine Christ under a pretence of Friendship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for and against Christ. He maketh War with the Horns of the Lamb Rev. 13.11 If he were a professed Adversary what Mystery were there in it Now it is a Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thess. 2.7 A false Prophet Rev. 16.13 It is wisdom to discern him Rev. 13.18 Here is Wisdom Let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast 2. Judas sold Christ for a small Matter So Omnia Romae venalia Pardons Indulgences Freedom from Purgatory all to be bought at Rome The Antichristian State maketh a Market of Religion Truth is made to yield to Interest and Profit 3. Judas betrayed Christ with a Kiss Antichrist is a true Adversary of Christ and yet pretendeth to adore him He pretendeth to be his Servant and Vicar and is his Enemy not an Enemy without the Church but within the Church that betrayeth Christ under a colour of adoration 4. Judas was a Guide to them that came to take Jesus Christ is in Heaven Death hath no more dominion over him his natural Body is above abuse but in his mystical Body he still suffereth Acts 9.4 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me The Pope is the Head of the Persecuting State others are his Emissaries and Agents to persecute Christ in his Members It is a Politick Religion carried on with Cruelty 5. Judas was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Son of Perdition as destroying himself and involving others in the same Condemnation So is Antichrist called in the Revelations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 9.11 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Destroyer of Souls of himself and others Vse Let all these things open our Eyes that we may behold the Man of Sin One Egg is not more like another than Judas and Antichrist 3. Observe That Carnal Practices will end in Perdition Because Judas is called the Son of Perdition let us see what course he took to undo himself Let us look upon his Sin and Punishment 1. For his Sin In the Story of Judas four Sins are most remarkable his Covetousness his Hypocrisy his Treason and his Despair 1. His Covetousness This was the Root of all as indeed it is the Root of all Evil 1 Tim. 6.10 Christ had made him his Treasurer and
effects of the World's Conviction Page 314 Why Christ prays so earnestly for it Page 315 God honoured hereby Page 315 The advantage of it to the Elect. Page 316 It lessons and increases the World's Iudgment and how Page 317 Arguments to press Christians so to live as to convince the World Page 321 God would have the World convinced of his Love to his People Page 347 Reasons of it Page 348 How the World should be thus convinced Page 347 Convictions not to be slighted nor rested in Page 318 319 How we may know whether we are convinced only or converted Page 319 Covenant of Redemption the terms of it Page 77 What was proposed by the Father in it Page 155 What Christ undertook Page 156 Covetousness one of Judas's Sins Page 174 The evil of the Sin Page 177 To be avoided Page 177 Creatures discover God Page 28 33 Doting upon the Creatures withdraw the Heart from God Page 335 D. DAnger cannot be withstood by us in our own Strength Page 171 Christ apprehensive of the Danger of his People in this World Page 133 Reasons of it his Interest Love Charge Experience Page 133 Comfort from hence Page 136 Death desire of Death vid. Desire Death of Christ Christ died to promote Vnity among Christians Page 1â—â— Why the Death of Christ hath so little Effect upon us Page 291 Decay of the Power of Godliness brings trouble on the Church Page 195 Delight excessive in worldly things shews a worldly Heart Page 209 Desires show the temper of the Soul Page 208 Desire of Death whether lawful and what Desires are so Page 212 213 Difference between serious and passionate Desire of Death Page 213 Carnal Desires of Death whence they arise Page 212 Believers must be willing to dye Page 354 Despair one of Judas's Sin Page 175 To be avoided Page 178 Devil the great Author of the Troubles of the Church Page 201 219. Difference in course of Life provokes wicked Men especially Difference in Religion Page 200 Difference between Believers and Men of the World in their Principles Rule Conversation End Aims Page 204 Disrespect of the World not to be regarded and why Page 225 Hard to be digested Page 224 The best way to digest it is to consider Christ's Example Page 225 Distraction of Man's Thoughts after the Fall Page 333 This continueth till we return to God Page 334 Divisions in the Church how they arise Page 163 The mischief of them Page 165 166 They bring on Trouble Page 194 They that promote them contrary to Christ. Page 164 Who are guilty of this Sin Page 165 Doctrines of the Word shew it to be from God Page 260 Doctrines Christian vid. Christian. E. ELect none of them can be lost Page 173 Election a special Priviledg Page 66 Not for foreseen Faith good Works or Perseverance Page 364 Original and actual what Page 71 Election of Ministers the Peoples Right Page 273 End a Man is as his End is Page 55 Enjoying no enjoying God without Christ. Page 30 Envy of others worldly Happiness shews a worldly Heart Page 209 Wicked Men envy the Good in others Page 201 Error makes way for Looseness Page 232 Esteem of the World discovers a worldly Heart Page 208 Eternal State the Foundation of it laid in this Life Page 370 Evil Satan hath an Hand in the Evil that befals God's Church and People Page 219 Example of Christ the heavenliness of it Page 206 The Courage of it Page 206 Experience Christ hath Experience of his Peples Sufferings Page 134 F. FAith various Expressions by which it is set-forth in Scripture Page 391 The Nature of it Page 90 95. Difference between true Faith and counterfeit Page 93 The Acts of Faith Page 296 297 In Faith Assent Consent and Trust. Page 93 The Office of Faith to accept Christ and present him in Prayer Page 115 The Object of Faith Page 85 97 296 The Word vid. Receiving the Word Christ vid. Receiving Christ. Three things concur to the working of it the Light of the Spirit external Revelation and the use of fit Instruments Page 84 The Word the means to work Faith Page 88 The necessity use and power of the Word to work Faith Page 298 299 Why God useth the Word to this end Page 299 Incouragements to Faith Page 295 The Excellency of Faith Page 296 How it sanctifies Page 234 Faith a help to Ioy. Page 189 Faith cannot be without Knowledg Page 90 What a kind of Light the Light of Faith is Page 91 In the Knowledg of Faith there is undoubted Certainty Page 90 The work of Faith when we cannot apply Christ. Page 298 The Faith of the Apostles work yet by Christ commended to the Father Page 97 Faithfulness to our Charge recommended Page 67 Of Christ to his Father Page 83 Fall into Sin why God sometimes leaves his People to fall into Sin Page 218 What falls into Sin are inconsistent with Grace Page 148 Belivers not to be discouraged by every Fall into Sin Page 147 Father a Comfort in Prayer to call God Father Page 6 How to carry our selves in Afflictions towards God as a Father Page 7 God the Father chiefly offended by Sin Page 86 263 And he the supream Iudg. Page 86 264 Fear of want discovers a worldly Heart Page 208 Filth of Sin our Filthiness by Nature Page 291 Nothing can cleanse us but the Blood of Christ. Page 291 Finishing what Christ's finishing his Work signifies Page 47 G. GEntleness of Christ in bearing with his Peoples failings Page 80 85. Gift the Privileges of the human Nature a Gift Page 48 Work it self a Gift Page ibid. Gifts are fading Page 148 Wicked Mens Gifts useful to the Church Page 316 Given how Christ had given to his Disciples the Word of God Page 191 Given to Christ who are given to Christ. Page 21 76 153 351. None given to Christ but they that are the Fathers vid. Commensurable Page 72 107 109. Why God gave the Elect to Christ. Page 77 How Belivers given to Christ. By way of Charge vid. Charge Page 21 72 154 156 351. By way of Reward Page 21 72.154 155 351. How shall we knowwe are given to Christ. Page 159 351 Being given to Christ a ground of Consolation and Establishment to the Elect. Page 154 How it is such a ground of Establishment Page 158 Glory the fruit of Vnion as well as Grace Page 326 Shame the way to Glory Page 10 Christ in his last Will and Testament gives Glory to his People Page 350 The Glory that is given by Christ we have as sure as if in the Possession of it Page 322 The freeness of Grace in giving us Glory Page 349 Looking to future Glory a remedy in Tribulation Page 10 Glory of God much advanced by Iesus Christ. Page 11 Glory of Christ's Person what it is Page 358 What the Glory was Christ prayed for Page 9 61 Why Christ begged it of the Father Page 58 Why he was so earnest for
natural to us 1. Gods principal Will is that we should obey his Laws rather than need his Pardon the Precept is before the Sanction before sin came into the world he pardoneth that we may return to our duty Heb. 9.14 Luk. 1.74 Rev. 5.9 10. therefore to make wounds for Christ to cure is not the part of a good Christian. 2. Remember what was Christs main design 1 Joh. 3.5 To take away sin not to take away obedience Many think though they sin never so much their pardon will be ready and easie Oh no! not so lightly when you wilfully and presumptuously run into sin 3. Loose carnal and careless Christians that wallow in all filthiness and hope to be saved are rather of the Faction of Christians than of the Religion of Christians 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity 1 Pet. 1.17 18. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as you are not redeemed with corruptible things â—s silver and gold from your vain conversations received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot SERMON II. ROM VI. 3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ were baptized into his death IN the former verse the Apostle confuteth the preposterous inference which some drew or might draw from free Justicifation or Gods Mercy to Sinners in Christ by this Argument It cannot be so that men should continue in sin because Grace aboundeth for all Christians are dead to sin at their first entrance upon the Profession of Christianity they take upon themselves a Vow or solemn Obligation to dye unto sin Now what he had asserted there he proveth it in this verse that such is the Tenor of the Baptismal engagement Know ye not that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death In the words there is 1. A Truth supposed That those who are baptized are baptized into Christ. 2. A Truth inferred That they that are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death 3. The Notoriety of both these Truths Know ye not 1. For the first the Phrase of being baptized into Christ is again repeated Gal. 3.27 As many of you as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ it noteth our Union with him or ingrafting into his mystical Body We are not only baptized in his Name but baptized into him made Members of that mystical Body whereof he is the Head 2. For the second are baptized into his death the meaning is Baptism principally referreth to his Death that we may have communion with it expect the benefit of it express the likeness of it 3. For the third Know ye not It is that which every Christian knoweth if he be but a little instructed in the Principles of his Religion those bred in the Church neither are nor can be ignorant of this Truth therefore the Doctrine of Grace opens no way to Licentiousness Doctrine Sacraments are a solemn means of our Communion with the Death of Christ. Where is to be shewn 1. What is Communion with Christs Death 2. That Sacraments are a solemn means thereof 1. What is Communion with Christs Death It signifieth two things First Something by way of Priviledge a participation of the Benefits and Efficacy of Christs Death Secondly Something by way of Duty and Obligation namely a spiritual Conformity and Likeness thereunto by a Mortification of our Lusts and Passions First We are partakers of the Benefits of his Death when we receive Pardon and Life begun by the Spirit and perfected in Heaven Pardon Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption by his blood even the remission of sins The same Death of Christ which is the meritorious cause of our Justification is the cause of our Sanctification also Tit. 3.5 6. Eph. 5.26 as it took away the impediment which hindred God from communicating his Grace to us and opened a way for the Spirit of Grace to come at us and sea our Adoption Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a three That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Gal. 4.5 6. To redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Secondly Christs Death bindeth us to renounce sin and by submitting to Baptism we profess to take the Obligation upon us to dye unto sin and unto the world more and more to shew our selves to be true Disciples of the crucified Saviour as we are when we express the likeness of his Death vers 5. And elsewhere the Apostle telleth us Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ. He is a Christian indeed that not only believeth that Christ is crucified but is crucified with him that is doth feel the virtue and bear the likeness of his Death for Christs death is the pattern of our Duty This likeness is seen in two things First In weakening and subduing sin so it is said Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts they have in their Baptism renounced these things and they fulfil their Vow sincerely and faithfully there we bind our selves to dye unto sin and Christ bindeth himself to communicate the virtue of his Death unto us that we may fulfil our Vow and by his Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 Secondly In suffering for Righteousness sake and obeying God at the dearest rate as Christs undergoing the Death of the Cross was the highest act of his Obedience to God This is also called Conformity to his death and the fellowship of his suffering Phil. 3.10 This is Participation of or Communion with his Death Christ intended to wean his people from the interests of the animal life therefore assoon as they enter into his Family or are listed in his Warfare they must resolve to renounce all that is dear to them in the World rather than be unfaithful to him Christ puts this Question to the two Brothers that would fain have an honourable place in his Kingdom Mat. 20.22 Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with They thought of Dignities of being nearer to Christ than others in Honour and Christ puts them in mind of sufferings that should befal them wherein they might rejoyce that they were partakers with him but mark here is a plain allusion to the two Sacraments which are Signs and Tokens of Grace on Gods â—ide and we on ours bind our selves to imitate Christ in his patient and self-denying Obedience This is Communion
into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit One alone is the Baptism of Water the other the Baptism of the Spirit The one inferreth an obligation the other produceth an inclination to dye unto sin and to live unto God And therefore 1. Let us speak of Baptism and 2. Of Regeneration 1. Of Baptism which inferreth an obligation All those that profess Faith in Christ and an interest in him are by Baptism taken into the number of his Disciples and visibly joyned into his Church Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls And therefore they are bound to rise from the death of sin to the life of Grace and to make use of the virtue purchased by Christs Death and evidenced by his Resurrection to this end and purpose and to use all good endeavours to subdue sin and a double wo and curse shall befal us unless we verifie and make good this Vow and Profession by our constant practice And therefore all the Members of the visible Church are to be put in mind that they are planted into the likeness of his Death and engaged to walk in newness of life 1 Joh. 2.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought to walk also as he walked Not only he that abideth in him as a real Member of his mystical Body but he that saith he abideth in him All that profess Communion with Christ their Profession bindeth them to a resemblance of Christ otherwise their Baptism is but a mockery and their Profession a dissembling and counterfeit respect to Christs Name and Memory It may be said to them as Alexander said to one that bore his Name but was a Coward Either lay aside the name or put on greater courage So either do as Christians or do not pretend to be Christians 2. As to Regeneration figured by Baptism In Regeneration there is planted in us or put into us a Principle destructive of sin and impulsive to Holiness Now the working and urging of this Principle should not be restrained or obstructed 1. As to the destruction of sin the checks of the new Nature should be observed 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 2. As to the perfecting of Holiness where the life of Holiness is begun we should give way to its operations and when the new Nature would break out with operations proper to it self we should obey these motions 1 Joh. 2.5 But whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected that is breaketh out into its consummate and perfect effect So 2 Pet. 1.8 For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace in its vigour will put you upon fruits becoming a Christian this vigour should not be quenched which is our internal Baptism 3. This Union sealed in Baptism inferreth a Likeness and Conformity to Christ. I prove it thus First Surely we are cut off from our old stock and planted into a new one to better our condition that it may be otherwise with us in Christ than we were when we merely belonged to Adam This improvement of our estate and condition cometh from our being planted into a new stock and partaking of his virtue and influence and that inferreth a likeness 1 Cor. 15.49 As we have born the image of the earthly we shall also bear the image of the heavenly As we grew upon our natural Root we were like Adam but when cut off and planted into a new Root we are made like Christ. How like Adam Gen. 5.3 Adam begat a son in his own likeness corrupt man begat a corrupt son mortal man begat a mortal child So by proportion we may conceive of the image of the Heavenly first made holy then happy creatures in the first we had the seed and pledge of death and corruption and in the second the seed and pledge of incorruption immortality and life Secondly Christ was â—it to be a Pattern to whom all the rest of the Heirs of Promise should be conformed for this reason Because he was the Head of the renewed state Primum in unoquoque genere est mensura regula caeterorum the first and best in every kind is the measure and rule of the rest He is a Fountain of Grace set up in our Nature Rom. 8.29 He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first-born among many brethren that principal new Man to whom we might be conformed In every case wherein one thing beareth the image and likeness of another there must not only be similitude but deduction or a means of conveying that likeness Both are in Christ therefore Christ is set up as a Pattern in our Nature who lived among men in the same flesh that we have to teach us a life of Holiness and Patience and contempt of the World Thirdly The sameness of the Spirit in Head and Members doth evidence this For the Spirit worketh uniformly in both Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you The sap of the stock doth all now if the stock be the good Vine the fruit must be as the sap is the branches must bring forth Grapes Christ as the Root communicateth to us not only the fruits and effects of his Death and Resurrection but also the likeness of it in a way proper for our reception We partake of the likeness of the Root by Analogy and just proportion and what was done to Christ literally is spiritually done to us he dyed for sin we dye unto sin he rose to live unto God so do we in our way here upon earth as we seek his Glory and do his Will Fourthly That this Likeness and Conformity to Christ is carried on with respect to his Death and Resurrection To clear this it is good to see wherein our Likeness to Christ consists He was to be a Pattern to us in three things 1. His Graces 2. His States 3. The special Acts of his Mediation 1. His Graces There are certain Graces wherein we resemble God as Wisdom Purity Holiness Goodness and Truth in these God himself is our Pattern Mat. 5.8 Be ye perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect There are other Graces that help us in the duties of subjection to God as Faith Patience Humility Self-denial and Obedience in these we cannot have the Pattern from God for God is over all and subject to none therefore in these Christ is a Pattern to us As for instance Humility Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and
themselvs exactly to keep it they can from experience speak much of the gracious reward of obedience Psal. 119.56 This I had because I kept thy precepts Yea in the state of Heavenly Glory the law as purely moral is still in force for we are everlastingly bound to love God and one another 3. That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us I prove it by this Argument One of these Three Things we must say Either first that no obedience is now necessary to Salvation or that the perfect obedience is still necessary or some measure of obedience to the law by the ordinary aids of Grace vouchsafed to us in the new Covenant is possible and sufficient The first we cannot say for then there would be no necessity of new obedience or holiness But the Scripture condemneth that every where shewing us that we are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works Eph. 2.10 and purified to be a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 The second we cannot say that a whole perpetual perfect personal obedience to the law is still necessary for then there would be no hope for them that cannot perfectly fulfil the law which no man living can do Psal. 143.2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Therefore the Third Thing we must say That there is such a Measure of obedience necessary as is sufficient to salvation and possible by grace and they that attain to it the Scripture pronounceth them blessed Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it and John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are you if you do them 4. That the righteousness of the law not only can but must be fulfilled in us or else we are yet in our sins and have no portion and interest in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 Whosoever is in Christ is a new creature And a new creature must have a new conversation for all old things are passed away and all things are become new They are inabled in some measure to fulfil the law of God Christ being the Lawgiver of the Church or renewed state of mankind hath set down the terms of life and death to his terms we must stand or fall now he is the author of eternal salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Therefore every one that would be delivered from wrath to come must look after holiness and obey God according to his will declared in his law Certainly Christ died not to purchase an indulgence for us to live in sin the law hath not its right it looketh like a law given in vain if it be not obeyed 5. This fulfilling of the righteousness of the law is wrought in us by the spirit as the fruit of Christs purchase this real solid Righteousness is wrought in our hearts by the operation of the Spirit For those that have it are described to be Those that walk after the spirit and not after the flesh Therefore do not resist his work nor grieve the spirit of Christ nor quench his motions when he cometh to work it in you but submit to all his healing methods And this spirit we have from Christ as the fruit of his sin-offering Titus 3.5 6. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy-Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour He obtained that Grace whereby we may keep the law having satisfied for us as a Mediator he becometh an Author and Fountain of Life Upon him must you depend and to him must you look for it 2. VSE â—s Reproof to two sorts of People 1. To the carnal World who think that the Children of God are too strict and precise and make more a-do about Salvation than needs Certainly if we consider the tenor of God's Law and the exactness of Divine Justice what Rule and Law we must live by and to whom we must give an account the best of God's Children do no more than needeth as the wise Virgins could not spare one jot of their Oyl Mat. 25.9 Not so lest there be not enough for us and you David admireth the brightness of the Sun first and then the purity of the Law and how doth he close up that Meditation See Psal. 19.12 Who can understand his errors cleanse thou me from secret sins 2. Professing Christians are also to be reproved for that lazy and cowardly spirit that is in them and because they are so impotent and feeble and backward to their duty By their backwardness they wrong the Law for they do not give it its due Christ hath indeed freed us from the curse of the Law but not from the obedience of it And by this feeble and dastardly Spirit they wrong the Grace of the Redeemer and the New Covenant Obedience to the Law is most strongly enforced out of the Grace of the Gospel for thereby we are enabled to perform it Christ did not only fulfil the Law for us but doth also fulfil it in us by his Spirit and shall we after such provision sit down lazily and be discouraged with every difficulty and have our resolutions broken with every assault of temptation Men spare their pains and do not improve the Grace offered and then cry out they are weak and unable This is like lazy Beggars that personate and act Diseases because they would not work Set your hearts thoroughly to obey God and see what he will do for you VSE 3. If this were the end of Christ's coming and dying then let us be exhorted to seek after sanctifications by the Spirit of Christ. 1. This is one part of our salvation as well as remission of sins We often consider Christ as dying for our pardon we should as much consider him as dying to renew and heal our Natures that we may be recovered to our obedience to God to crucifie the Old Man to give us the Spirit of Holiness Surely he is made sanctification to us as well as righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption If Christ should abolish wrath and let alone sin it were to take away the lesser evil that the greater may remain 2. It is not only part of our deliverance but the better part Pardon giveth us an exemption from punishment but sanctification giveth us freedom from a corrupt heart Surely sin is worse than pain a moral evil is worse than a natural evil vice than misery Once more By holiness we more resemble God for holiness and goodness is his very Nature 1 Pet. 1.4 He hath given us precious promises whereby we are made partakers of the divine nature 3. Holiness is a means to the rest Pardon and life are the great blessings of the Covenant Now there is no
condition after this life is they cannot tell whether they live above or below the earth but that they subsist and have a being is their firm perswasion and therefore are wont to assign to the dead part of the goods which they possessed if they lose any thing they think some of their friends in the other world have taken it to supply their wants there The Chineses are fully perswaded of a state of happiness and torment after this world Acosta telleth us in Peru they were wont to kill some of their slaves to attend the dead in the world to come and so Mexico and other places 'T is enough for us that be it an inbred notion or tradition received from hand to hand by their Ancestors such a conception is not a stranger to humane nature and the nearer any lived to the first Original of Mankind the more clear and pressing hath been the opinion hereof lapse of time which ordinarily decayeth all things hath not been able to deface it out of the minds of men who tho they have been gradually depraved and degenerated according to the distance by which they have been removed from their first originals yet they could never wholly blot out the sense of an Immortal Condition after this life nor could any solid and undubitable reasons he brought against it to convince it of falsity Well then this perswasion being spread through the Universe and with extreme forwardness received by all nations and hath born up against all encounters of time and constantly maintained its self in the midst of so many revolutions of humane affairs even among them with whom other truths are lost and in a great degree have forgotten humanity its felf Certainly this motive hath its use for the reduceing of man to God especially of those who have been bred in the bosome of the Church 2. The argument is of great force in regard of our fears We desire life but guilt maketh us fear death Sin impresseth this torment upon the consciences even of those which little know what sin meaneth Rom. 1.32 They know the judgment of God and that those who commit such things as they do are worthy of death Natural conscience looketh upon sin as mortal and baneful and know not how to be delivered from this fear nature owneth a distinction between good and evil and for evil feareth a punishment because of those natural sentiments which we have of God as an Holy and Just God Therefore now this tender of life is made to them that not only desire happiness but are in bondage through fear of death and by the Christian doctrine involved in the curse of the law and obnoxious to the flames of Hell Therefore for sinners to hear of life must needs be an inviting motive Mortifie sin and it shall not hurt you you shall live The sting of sin which so torments you shall be plucked out Ezek 18.13 repent and iniquity shall not be your ruin We are all sinners but how shall we do that sin may not be baneful to us Deal gently with it and it stingeth you to the death deal severely with it and it shall do you no harm When we are dead to sin we shall not die by sin you have deserved death but life is offered if you will use Gods healing methods to get rid of so great a mischief Thirdly I will shew you the expediency of the promise and that we may make use of such a motive as is drawn from the consequence The death which followeth the carnal life and that eternal life which by the merciful grant of God is the fruit of mortification For many question whether it be a true Mortification which looketh to the reward they say we must work for our life but not for life I Answer 1. To be over spiritual and nice above the word which is the true instrument of sanctification doth not cherish Religion but quench it we may make use of Gods Motives without sin why doth God plead with us so often upon the terms of life and death but that we may plead with our selves I know no reason to press men to an Holiness abstracted from all respect to the reward I confess 't is abase self-seeking to eye outward advantages in religious endeavours for then the end is far beneath the work and the spirit is made to serve the flesh but not the flesh the spirit and by-ends taint us but do not refine us 2. The doubt proceedeth upon a mistake of the reward what is this life propounded but the seeing loving and injoyment of God and the adoring and praising of God And can it be a fault to aim at these things Doth not the tendency of the new nature directly carry us to them as the perfection of that estate unto which we are called by Christ as naturally as the seed cast into the earth works through the clods to get up into stalk and flower Indeed the objection is fit for them that look for a carnal Heaven as the Jews did for a carnal Messiah an Heaven that consists in ease and fleshly delights However to deal throughly in this Argument in the life and happiness which we expect two things may be considered 1. The nature of that life and happiness 2. The personal benefit and comfort that hence results to us 1. The nature of that happiness consisteth in seeing God and being like him 1 John 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is To aim at this is a fruit of the new nature which aimeth at a perfect fruition of God and conformity to him Surely this cannot be in any reason questioned or scrupled at as our great end For it is a pure motive and doth engage the soul to the greatest and best tempered strictness that is imaginable 1 John 3.3 He that hath this hope the hope spoken of in the former verse purifieth himself as Christ is pure Is every day growing up into a nearer conformity to Christ whom he hopeth to see and to be more perfectly like him hereafter he whose heart is set upon the vision of God and that pure and sinless estate which he shall injoy in Heaven that man hath not a light tincture of Religion but is deeply dyed into the spirit of it for such things cannot be seriously and really minded without grace yea no act we do is religious unless it be directed and influenced by this aim and end 't is a rooted thought or the impression of a powerful habit 2. There is a personal benefit and happiness which resulteth to us from the fruition of God As we are freed from the pain and sorrows of this life in which respect 't is often called a rest especial as we are freed from the misery of those that die in their sins in which respect 't is often called salvation and most especially as the soul fully sanctified dwelleth in a glorified and immortal body and injoying
counted mad who are bound in Fetters when madder men are walking at liberty 3. Another instance of their madness is their perverse Choice He is a wise Merchant that selleth all for the Pearl of Price Matth. 13.46 A Child will prefer an Apple or a Nut before a precious â—earl And a Madman will part with things of value for a trifle Is that Man wise that selleth his Birthright for a morsel of meat Heb. 12.15 That damneth his Soul and selleth his Salvation for so small a pleasure as Sin affordeth that to gratify a lump of flesh that was dust in its composition and will be dust again in its dissolution with a little Temporary vain pleasure hazards his immortal Soul with all the interests and concernments thereof and change their part in God and Glory for a little Carnal satisfaction 4. They that are the worst Enemies to themselves certainly they act as mad and distracted Men as you would count those deservedly mad who are ready to cut their own throats and gash and wound themselves and rend and tare themselves and do themselves a mischief Now who is a worse Enemy to himself than a Carnal Person Pr. 8 36. He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul and all they that hate me love death They are self-destroyers and self-murtherers in the worst sense for they destroy their own Souls they make it their business to bar up the Gates of Heaven against themselves and kindle and blow up the unquenchable fire wherewith they shall be tormented for evermore and with a great deal of cost and stir and care do labour for Damnation 't is not their intent but is the necessary result of their actions 't is finis operis but not finis operantis it tends to this Rom. 6.21 The end of these things is death 5. In their confidence and presumption As the Mad man at Athens challenged all the Ships that came into the Harbour for his own so they believe they are running to Heaven when they are posting to Hell like rowers in a Boat they look one way and go contrary He is called a foolish builder who would raise a stately building upon a sandy foundation Mat. 7.24 so to lay on such a structure of Confidence upon such slender grounds as they have to hope for any thing from God is an instance of their madness 6. In boasting of their folly and madness Nature is much distorted man fallen is but the Anagram of man in Innocency shame is translated we are confident where we should be ashamed and are ashamed where we should be confident We should own God and Religion with an holy boldness but we conceal it and sneak pitifully but Glory in our shame Phil. 3.19 As if a man besmeared with dung should cry it up for an Ornament We are conceited of our Carnal practices The way of a fool is right in his own eyes saith Solomon Prov. 12.15 And so we glory in that which should be matter of mourning and confusion of face to us Eccl. 10.3 When he also that is a fool walketh in the way his wisdom faileth him and he saith to every one that he is a fool If it be meant of the wicked fool 't is meant of his glorying in his shame and his boasting of his sins as Ornaments 2. Now for the other property fury it is also the madness that is in Carnal and Worldly Men Eccl 9 3. The heart of the Sons of men is full of evil and madness is in their heart There is a violent heady pertinacious pressing to evil and sin how fierce and furious are men in a way of sin under the passionateness of any lust the slaves of sin are as a man possessed with a legion of Devils in the Gospel who rent and tore his cloaths and all the Cords wherewith they bound him nay they are worse than he for in his fury he broke his Bonds but they double and strengthen theirs When a man is given over to the rage and madness of his own nature how is the Soul overborn by boisterous and filthy lusts They go on furiously and frowardly nothing can put a stop to their raging luâ—â—s but they call off all restraints of Reason and Conscience and Grace The Prophet said Jer. 50. â—8 They are mad upon their Idols Blind with fuâ—y against the ways of God And the Church Psal. 102.9 Mine Enemies reproach me all the day they are mad against me Now this madness of nature is seen in that all respects of danger and loss fear of death Judgment and Hell will not contain them within their duty they run upon God himself and the thick bosses of his Buckler Job 16.21 every sin is a contest with God an holding War with the Almighty 1 Cor. 10.22 And wilful sin an open and a plain contest as if we could make our party good against him and when we remain under the power of a Carnal mind we are in a state of Enmity against God Rom. 8.7 And this is such a piece of madness as if a private man could by the help of his Family his private House prevail against all the forces of the Kingdom This madness sheweth its self too by raging at reproofs the mad world cannot endure those that would stop them in the way to Hell therefore the seriously Godly whose lives are a standing reproof are most haâ—ed by them Prov. 29.27 and Isa. 59.15 He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Now you see where madness is to be charged either upon the Servants of God who make it their business to please him or upon the Worldly and the Carnal let them wash themselves from this imputation as well as they can it will stick to them and the only sober people in the world are the strict and religious Use 1. Let us bear it with patience if we be esteemed Mad-men for Gods service and our strictness and fidelity to him Think not strange nor be offended at the matter tho ye be thus censured of the Carnal men of the world they can no more judge of these things than blind men of colours and their dislike is many times a token of Gods approbation No wise man going into Bedlam will be offended to be railed at and spit upon he looketh for no other and so will not be moved at their madness If we be not thus minded the least offences will draw us from our duty Let us not then forbear these practices which are thought vanity and folly by Carnal men if they be for Gods Glory and the good of our own and others Souls nor be disheartned with them we must be contented to be accounted mad for God in that which the world judgeth madness or discretion 2. Let us vindicate Religion from this Imputation Wisdom is justified of her Children Mat. 11.19 Those who have received Wisdom true Wisdom from God and are obedient disciples of it they will defend true Wisdom as often as it is
to oblige us the more strongly to endeavour it And Partly because we have consented to this obligation in Baptism All the members of the Church have ingaged themselves to imploy the death and strength of Christ for the subduing of sin they are dead as they have upon this incouragement undertaken its death and in part already begun it 2. How all can be said to be dead when Christ died Since most of the Elect were not then born or yet in being Answer 1. When Christ was upon the cross be sustained the relation of our head or Common Person 'T was not in his own name that he appeared before Gods Tribunal but in ours not as a private but as a publick person So that when he was crucified all believers were crucified in him for the act of a Common Person is the act of every particular Person represented by him As a Knight or Burgess in Parliament serveth for his whole Borrough and Country Now that Christ was such a Common Person appeareth plainly by this that Christ was that to us in grace what Adam was to us in nature or sin The First Adam was said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 5. â—4 The figure of him that was to come And Christ is called the Second Adam 1 Cor. 15.45 The Second Common Person So that as we had a death in sin from the First Adam so a death to sin from the Second As we stood in Adam in Paradise so we stood in Christ upon the Cross Adams act in Paradise was in effect ours In Adam we all died 1 Cor. 15.21 So Christs act was in effect ours In Christ we all died Spiritually and mystically Adam did as it were lend his Body in Paradise we saw the forbidden fruit with his eyes gathered it with his hands eat it with his mouth that is we were ruâ—ned by these things as if we had been by and actually consented to his sin So in Christs representation on the Cross all believers are concerned as if they had been by and actually present and had been crucified in their own Persons and born the punishment of their own sins for all this was done in their name and â—ead that they might have the benefit 2. Christ was on the Cross not only as a Common Person but as a Surety and Vndertaker I say in his death there was not only a Satisfaction for sin but an obligation to destroy it There was an undergoing and an undertaking As he is set out in the Scripture under the notion of a Second Adam So also of a Surety Heb. 7.22 Christ is called the Surety of a better Testament Now he was a Surety mutually on Gods part and ours First he was to ingage for us to God and in the name of God ingaged himself to us The tenor of both ingagements is in Rom. 6.6 That the body of death should be destroyed that we should from thenceforth no longer serve sin Assoon as we consent to this stipulation this taketh effect On Gods part Christ undertook to destroy the body of sin by the Power of his Spirit which should be given to us to become a principle of Life in us and of death to our old man Titus 3.5 More particularly we mortify the deeds of the body by the help of the Spirit Rom. 8.13 The Holy-Ghost when he reneweth the heart puts into it a principle and seed of Enmity against sin 1 John 3.9 He cannot sin because the seed abideth in him And as that is cherished obeyed sin is resisted and mortified And he actuateth and quickeneth it yet more and more that it may prevail against the sin which dwelleth in us 2dly As our Surety he undertook that we should no longer serve sin that we should not willingly indulge any presumptuous acts nor slavishly lye down in any habit or course of sin Or under the power of any arnal distemper but also should use all godly endeavours for the preventing weakning or subduing it Christs act being the act of a Surety he did oblige all the Parties interessed he purchased grace at Gods hands and bound us to use all holy means of watching striving humiliation cutting off the provisions of the flesh avoiding occasions weaning the heart from earthly things which are the bait and fuel of sin that keep it alive 3. Our consent to this ingagement is actually given when we are converted and solemnly ratified in Baptism 1. 'T is actually given when we are converted Rom. 6.13 As those that are alive from the dead yield your selves to God and your members as instruments of righteousness to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weapons we then give up our selves to work and first as to do his work so to war in his warfare against the Devil the World and the flesh Till the merit of Christs death be applyed by faith to the hearts of sinners they are alive to sin but dead to righteousness but then they are dead to sin and alive to righteousness and as alive from the dead and then yield up themselves to serve and please God in all things 2dly That this is solemnly done or implyed in Baptism For when we were baptized into Christ we were baptized into his death Rom. 6.3 4 5. In Baptism we did by solemn vow and profession bind our selves to look after the effects of Christs death to mortify the deeds of the body or which is all one renounce the Devil the World and the flesh The Devil as the great architect and principle of all wickedness the World as the great bait and snare the flesh as the rebelling principle Our Baptism is certainly an avowed death to sin it implieth a renunciation by way of vow for 't is the answer of a good conscience towards God And the ancient covenants were made by way of question and answer 1 Pet. 3.21 The very washing implieth it washing is a purifying and after purifying we must not return to this mire again 2 Pet. 1.19 He hath forgotten he was purged from his old sins We promised to give over our old sins or as 't is our first ingrafting and implanting into Christ and his death if when we are baptized we are reckoned to be dead The death of Christ was mainly to put away sin and to take away sin 1 John 3.5 And Heb. 9.26 Now sins were not taken away that men may resume and take them up again The great condemnation of the Christian world is that when Christ would take away their sins they will not part with their sins 3dly How they can be dead to sin and the World since after conversion they feel so many carnal motions Ans. 1. By consenting to Christs ingagement they have bound themselves to dye unto sin When we gave up our names to Christ we promised to cast off sin and therefore we are to reckon our selves as dead to â—in by our own vow and obligation and accordingly to behave our selves Rom. 6.2 How shall we that are dead
will be like them that go back to fetch their Leap more commodiously Vse 3. When you stand let it incite you to Love and Thankfulness Nothing maketh the Saints more love God than his Unchangeableness His Mercy made you come to him and his Truth will not suffer you to depart from him Mercy and Truth are like Jachin and Boaz. Micah 7.20 Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob and the Mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our Fathers from the days of old The Covenant was made with Abraham and made good to Jacob. You may rejoyce notwithstanding your Weakness and Satan's daily Assaults as Daniel in the Lion's Den to see the Lions ramping and roaring about him yet their Mouths muzzled 2 Sam. 2.9 By strength shall no Man prevail that is by his own That any of us have stood hitherto let us ascribe it wholly to God we might have been vile and scandalous even as others Many of better Gifts may fall away and thou keepest thy standing what is the reason We have done enough a thousand times to cause God to depart from us Deut. 23.14 If he see any unclean thing among thee he will turn away from thee And is it not strange that the Spirit of Grace should yet abide with us hitherto when there is so much uncleanness in every one of us The great Argument of the Saints why they love and praise him is the Constancy and Unchangeableness of his Love Psal. 136. For his Mercy endureth for ever and Psal. 106.1 Praise the Lord O give Thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his Mercy endureth for ever No Form more frequent in the Mouths of his Saints Vse 4. If any fall often constantly frequently and easily they have no Interest in Grace 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he maketh not a Trade of Sin that is the force of that Phrase God's Children slip often but not with such a frequent constant readiness into the same Sin Therefore he that liveth in a course of Prophaneness Worldliness Drunkenness his Spot is not the Spot of God's Children Deut 32.5 You are tried by your constant Course Rom. 8.1 That walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit What is your Road and Walk I except only those Sins which are of usual incidence and sudden surreption as Anger Vanity of Thoughts and yet for them a Man should be more humble If it be not felt nor striven against nor mourned for it is a bad Sign What is your Course and Walk There is an Uniformity in a Christian's Course It is nothing to have some Fits and good Moods and Motions Vse 5. It provoketh us to get an Interest in such a sure Condition Be not contented with outward Happiness things are worthy according to their duration Nature hath such a sense of God's Eternity that the more lasting things are it accounteth them the better The immortal Soul must have an eternal Good Now all things in the World are frail and passing away therefore they are called uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6.17 compared with Prov. 8.18 Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness The Flower of these things perisheth their Grace passeth away in the midst of their Pride and Beauty like Herod in his Royalty they vanish and are blasted The better part is not taken away Luke 10.42 Mary hath chosen the better part which cannot be taken away from her A Man may outlive his Happiness be stripped of the Flower of all Worldly Glory is sure to end with Life that is transitory And still they are uncertain Riches uncertain whether we shall get them uncertain whether we shall keep them By a care of the better part we may have these Things with a Blessing Mat. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added to you Gifts they are for the Body rather than the Person that hath them Men may be carnal and yet come behind in no Gifts Judas could cast out Devils and yet afterwards was cast out among Devils 1 Cor. 12.31 the Apostle had discoursed largely of Gifts but saith he Yet I shew you a more excellent Way and that is Grace that abideth Many that have great Abilities to pray preach discourse yet fall away according to the Place which they sustain in the Body so they have great Gifts of Knowledg Utterance to comfort direct instruct others to answer their Doubts to reason in holy Discourse and yet may fall fouly Heb. 6.4 5. They may be once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy-Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come They may have a great share of Church-Gifts Nay Gifts themselves wither and vanish when the bodily Vigor is spent 1 Pet. 1.24 All Flesh is Grass and all the Glory of Man as the Flower of Grass the Grass withereth and the Flower thereof falleth away Whatever Excellency we have by Nature Wit Knowledg Strength of natural Parts nothing but what the Spirit of God worketh in us will last for ever So for seeming unsound Grace as false Faith such as beginneth in Joy will end in Trouble it easeth you for the present but you shall lie down in Sorrow General Probabilities loose Hopes uncertain Conjectures vanishing Apprehensions of Comfort all fail The planting of true Faith is troublesom at first but it leadeth to true Joy you may look upon the Gospel with some kind of delectation Thorns may blaze under the Pot tho they cannot keep in the Fire Do not rest in tasting the good Word of God Heb. 6.5 in some sleight and transitory Comfort Hymeneus and Alexander are said to make shipwrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 20. that is of a false Faith So for a formal Profession Men may begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh. Gal. 3.3 Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the Flesh A Man may seem to himself and to the Church of God to have true Grace nay he may be enlightned find some comfort in the Word escape the Pollutions of the World foul gross Sins yea these good things may be the Works and the Effects of the Spirit of God not of Nature only not professed out of a carnal Aim but there is no setled Root and therefore it is but of short continuance But certainly that Form that is taken up out of private Aims will surely fail God delighteth to take off the Mask and Disguise of Hypocrites by letting them fall into some scandalous Sins Paint is soon washed off Therefore rest not in these things till solid and substantial Grace be wrought in your Hearts Vse 6. Is Comfort to God's Children Grace is sure and the Privileges of it sure Grace is sure through your Folly it may be nigh unto Death but it cannot
Abba father Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a son then an heir of God through Christ. Which teacheth us how to come to a conclusion in soul debates Have I a child-like inclination and sense and confidence that God hath adopted me into his favour and have the sanctifying of the spirit upon my heart I may be bold then to enter my claim 3. It Informeth us That the priviledges of believers are so linked together that where one of them is there are all the rest Therefore if we injoy one then we must collect and infer that the rest do belong to us also If sons we must not rest there then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. One link of the golden chain draweth on another there is a great deal of profit in these collections and inferences our minds are usually taken up with trifles and childish toys surely the priviledges of a Christian are not so much considered as they should be The benefit of it is this partly it keepeth our hearts in a way of praising God and constant rejoicing in God if we did more consider the excellency of our Inheritanne 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be God who hath begotten us to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible undefiled Our thoughts are too dead and cold till we revive the memory of our excellent priviledges by Christ. Partly as it keepeth us in a constant and cheerful adherence to the truth what ever it cost us we slight all temporal things how grievous or troublesome so ever they be Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulation as knowing that tribulation worketh patience Partly To help us to despise the pleasures of sin which are but for a season while eternal things are in view 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not to the things which are seen but to the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal And Partly To digest the labours of duty and obedience all the pains of the Holy Life 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour whether present or absent that we may be accepted of the Lord. What shall we not do for such a Father that hath provided such an inheritance for us that we may injoy him and be accepted with him Therefore we should stock our minds with these thoughts 4. That we should not question our estate because we are under grievous pressures and afflictions For the words are an anticipation of an objection If Sons of God and Heirs of Glory why are we then so afflicted he inverteth the Argument You are so afflicted that you may have the inheritance 'T is rather an evidence of our right than an infringement of it especially if patiently endured for Gods sake seeing thereby you are conformed to the Son by nature Rom. 8.29 He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his son We have communion with Christ and his Sufferings and if we be like him in his estate of Humiliation we shall be like him in his estate of Exaltation also 2. USE is Exhortation 1. To bilieve this blessed inheritance which is reserved for the children of God 'T is a great happiness but let not us therefore suspect the truth of it for 't is founded in the infinite mercy of the eternal God and the everlasting merit of a blessed Redeemer And we are prepared and qualified for it by the Almighty Operation of the conquering spirit 't is an happiness that lieth in another world and we cannot come at it but by death But is there no life beyond this Where then shall the good be rewarded and the wicked punished 'T is unseen but it is set before us in the promises of the Gospel which God hath confirmed by miracles and sanctified to the conversion and consolation of many souls throughout all successions of ages and were the best and wisest of men that ever the world saw deceived with a vain fancy Or can a lye or delusion be sanctified to such high and holy ends therefore do you believe it John 11.26 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die believest thou this If you believe your Reconciliation with God by the death of Christ why not your salvation by his life If your adoption into his family why not the inheritance both priviledges stand by the same grace 2. Let us live always in the desire of it that desire that will quicken you to look after it Phil. 3.14 And to seek after it in the first place Matth. 6.33 That desire that will quicken you to long for the enjoyment of it Phil. 1.23 3. To comfort your selves with the hope of it Rom. 5.2 And rejoice in hope of the glory of God 't is the glory of God God giveth it God is the solid part of it and can we expect shortly to live with God and upon God and not rejoice in the hope of it Is a deed of gift from God the security of infallible promises nothing Is the Title nothing before possession When this estate is so sure and near we should more lift up our heads and revive our drooping spirits 4. Let us walk worthy of it 1. Despising Satans offers Heb. 12.16 Be not a prophane person as was Esau. 1 Kings 21.3 The Lord forbid that I should part with the inheritance of my father Be chary of your inheritance keep the hopes clear fresh and lively 2. Wean your hearts from the world Col. 3.1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above set your affections above and not on the earth There is your Father your Head your Christ your Patrimony 't is reserved for you in the Heavens 3. Live in all holy conversation and godliness 1 Pet. 3.7 Living as heirs of the grace of life in all duties to God love to one another fidelity in all our relations We that shall live in the clear vision and full fruition of God in Christ should be other manner or persons 4. In an heavenly manner Phil. 3.20 But our conversation is in heaven Either acting for it or living upon it or sollacing our selves with it with delightful thoughts of Heaven sweeten your pilgrimage here be willing to suffer afflictions if God call us thereunto patiently you suffer with Christ Christ takes it as done to himself Acts 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Fill up your share of the sufferings Providence hath appointed for Christ Mystical Col. 1.24 Who now rejoice in my afflictions foâ— you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the church 2 Cor. 1.6 And whether we be afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation and Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship
of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death SERMON XXVI ROM VIII 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us IN this Chapter the Apostle speaketh first of bridling lusts and then of bearing afflictions both are tedious to flesh and blood the necessity of taming the flesh is deduced throughout that whole discourse which is continued from v. 1. to the end of v. 17 where he maketh patient enduring afflictions a condition of our glory if we suffer with him we shall also be glorified together He now sheweth us a reason why we should not dislike this condition because the good which is promised is far greater than the evil which we fear two things Nature teacheth all men the first is to submit to a lesser evil to avoid a greater as men will cut off an Arm or a Leg to save the whole body the other is to undergo a lesser evil to obtain a greater good than that evil depriveth us of If this principle were not allowed it would destroy all the industry in the world for good is not to be obtained unless we venture somewhat to get it upon this principle the Apostle worketh in this place For I reckon c. In the Words take notice of 1. The things compared The sufferings of the present life and the glory to be revealed in us 2. The inequality that is in them They are not worthy 3. The Conclusion or Judgment of the Apostle upon the case I reckon 1. The things compared On the one side the sufferings of the present time 1. Mark that sufferings plurally to comprize all of the kind Reproaches Strifes Fines spolling of goods Imprisonment Banishment Death Again of the present time To distinguish them from the torments of Hell which maketh up a part of the Argument for if to avoid temporal evils we forsake Christ we shall endure eternal torments but the Apostle speaketh of temporal evils 2. On the other side The glory that shall be revealed in us Every Word is Emphatical 1. Our reward is called glory in our calamity we are depressed and put to shame but whatever honour we lose in this mortal life shall be abundantly supplied and recompenced to us in Heaven If any man serve me him shall my father honour John 12.26 An afflicted persecuted people are usually misrepresented and scandalized in the world but there is a life and state of glory prepared for them in Heaven men cannot put so much disgrace upon them as God will put marks of honour and favour 2. It shall be revealed This glory doth not appear for the present 't is not seen 't is not conspicuous to the eyes of men therefore some believe it not others regard it not It doth not yet appear what we shall be the world knoweth us not as it knew him not 1 Job 3.1 2. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not behold now we are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him and see him as he is But it shall be seen because of Gods Decree and promise for the glory is prepared tho it be not revealed 3. In us or upon us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when we shall be raised immortal incorruptible and we shall be so highly favoured and honoured by Christ as we shall be at the Day of Judgment then this glory is revealed upon us that is we shall be possessors of if we have the right now but then the possession 2. The inequality between them They are not worthy to be compared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not worthy to future glory not worthy to be set one against the other as bearing no proportion 3. The Conclusion or Judgment of the Apostle in this case the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is emphatical and implieth that he had weighed these things in his mind after the case was well traversed he did conclude and determine upon the whole debate rationibus bene subductis colligo statuo The Apostle speaketh like a man that had cast up his accounts well weighed the mattrr he speaketh of and then concludeth resolveth and determineth that the sufferings which are to be undergone for Christ are nothing considering the glory and blessedness which shall ensue Doct. That every good Christian or considerate believer should determine that the happiness of his glorified estate doth infinitely outweigh and exceed the misery of his present afflictions I shall open the Point by these Considerations 1. That counterballancing temporal things with eternal is the way to clear our mistakes or prevent the delusions of the flesh The Apostle observeth this method here and elsewhere 2 Cor. 4.17 This light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory And 't is necessary for all our mistakes come by reckoning by time and not by eternity but looking to eternity sets us right again 2 Cor. 4.18 Looking not to the things which are temporal but to the things which are eternal The flesh is importunate to be pleased with present satisfactions it must have something seen and at hand and this tainteth our minds so that present things bear a big bulk in our eye but things to come are as a vain fancy therefore nothig will scatter this mist and cloud upon our understandings but a due sight of eternal things how real they are and how much they exceed for greatness and duration then we shall find that time to eternity is but as a drop lost or spilt in the Ocean as a point to the circumference and that the honours and dignities of the world which dazzle mens eyes are vain and slippery that riches which captivate their hearts are uncertain and perishing that pleasures which inchant their minds are sordid and base and pass away as the wind that nothing is great but what is eternal if wicked men did but consider the shortness of their pleasures and the length of their sorrows they would not be so besotted as they are and if holy men did but consider the shortness of their afflictions and the length of their joy and glory it would animate and encourage them to carry it more patiently and cheerfully in all their tribulations 2. This may be done four ways 1. Comparing temporal good things with eternal good things that we may wean and draw off our hearts from the one to the other and so check the delights of senfe As wealth with heavenly riches Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods as knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and a more enduring substance Eternal bliss in Heaven is the most valuable and durable kind of wealth all other treasure cometh more infinitely short of it than Wampompeage or the shells which the Indians use for money