2. 12. In him ye have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins The forgivenesse of sins Ephes 1. 7. 6. What shall I say more He hath purchased all for us all is ours because Christ is ours God himself becomes our God by Christ and his Love and Mercy All for us and Promises and Peace and Joy and Hope Heaven it self and all that brings to heaven Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. Use 1 Why this is wonderfull comfort unto us that the sufferings of Christ were a purchase That there was such a dignity in them as paid all our debts and such a Comfort to us from this purchase value in them that amounted moreover unto a purchase of all blessings and blessedness They were not a meer Legael Debitum but also a Superlegale Meritum There are three choice comforts in this purchace by Christ 1. You are begotten again to a lively hope There is now good hope through You are begotten again to a lively hope Christ that a poor sinner may see the face of God again and that his poor soul may at last be found in Heaven and that in the mean time he may partake of Grace of the Divine nature and of all that will bring to salvation why so Because Jesus Christs blood and sufferings were a purchace and a purchace of all You have a right to the things purchased these 2. You have now a right to all these things and a sufficient plea Indeed you have no right or title of your own you cannot say Lord I expect and challenge Heaven upon mine own obedience upon mine own righteousness this I am and this I have done and this I have suffered therefore thou owest me heaven and therefore mercy is due to me No no if God should give you no more than what you deserve you should have nothing but wrath and damnation But though you have no right or title of your own yet you have a right and title in and by the purchase of Christ As a stranger hath no title of his own yet if he be adopted to be a Son upon this adoption there falls in a right or title Or as if a poor Beggar should have an estate of Inheritance bought for him by another and setled upon him by another he may now expect and plead for that Inheritance It was purchased and bought for me So may we now go to God and press him humbly and believingly Lord shew me mercy forgive me all my sins give me thy Spirit give me eternal life why saith God who are you and what right and title have you and what have you to shew for such heavenly lands and possessions Lord I have nothing of my own to shew but yet I have the blood of Christ to shew he bought me and he bought all these at thy hands for me it cost him dear even his precious blood therefore give me these things for his Names sake 3. You shall assuredly possesse all that good which Christ hath purchased for You shall assuredly possesse them you The Lord is faithful and just he will not deal injuriously with his Christ nor with us It was expresly concluded in the Agreement 'twixt him and Christ That if he would make his soule an offering for sin he should then see his seed and of the travel of his soul that he should be the Head of the Church and that all that come in to him should have mercy and grace and glory Now the Lord by no means will deal deceitfully with Christ he will not put him to sorrows and deliver him to death and after all his bitter agonies and sufferings deny him what he hath so dearly bought No there is no possession more sure and safe than that which depends upon the purchase of Christ And if that reason of Gods inviolable compact with Christ will not convince you of it Then let this also help to strengthen your weak faith viz. That Jesus Christ who hath purchased and merited all for you He himself is God equal with the Father and as God will himself bestow and settle what as mediatour he hath bought and purchased Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me that where I am they may behold my glory Are the sufferings of Christ a Meritorious purchase Then strive for two things Vse 2 1. To believe them to be so This is not an easie work but this is a necessary work Though we do not perhaps at present so fully weigh it yet ere long Strive to believe the sufferings of Christ to be a purchase we shall see great reason to think on it when we come to dye when we come to the parting way when we come to our last and behold an eternal hell before our eyes which we do deserve and an eternal heaven before our eyes which we deserve not and when our title and right comes to be scanned two things at that time will be extreamly necessary One is to believe that Jesus Christ hath made a purchase of glory and happiness Another is to believe that Jesus Christ hath made this purchase for our soules Object But you will say We do believe both the one and the other Sol. I am afraid that many do not so although they say they do so and I Many do not believe it will give you four reasons for what I say 1. If you do indeed believe that heaven depends upon the purchase of Christ and forgivenesse of sinnes depends upon the purchase of Christ Why then Why else do they depend so much upon themselves do you depend so much upon your selves upon your own righteousness why are not your hopes only fixed upon Christ but you hope to be saved for your good meanings and for your devout servings of God and for your alms and good works Do you believe that salvation is to be had only upon the account of Christs purchase when in the mean time you do set up your own righteousness and deny the righteousness of Christ and place confidence in your selves and not only in Christ 2. If you do indeed believe that salvation and all saving good properly depends Why do you slight Christ so much on the sole purchase of Christ Why then do you slight Christ so much and minde him so little If you do indeed believe that there is salvation in no other Name and mercy in no other Name and peace in no other Name whence is it that your soules are all this while destitute of Christ himself and that he cannot perswade you to hearken unto him so as to come in and obey him that your souls may live Tell me plainly Is not this your fancy that you may have the portion without the Person the blessings which Christ hath purchased though you never give up your hearts unto Christ who makes the purchase But you are mistaken and shall one
are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Secondly From all your Idols Having shewed the greatness of the sins of uncleanness I now proceed briefly to shew unto you the greatness of the sin of Idolatry the greatness of that sin Idolatry This people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold Exod. 32. 31. And you shall find it very great First By Gods singular detestation and loathing of Idolatry and Idols Idols are frequently in Scripture called abominations 1 King 11. 5. Solomon went after By Gods singular detestation of it Milcom the abomination of the Amorites Verse 7. And he built an high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon Idolatries are called abominable Idolatries 1 Pet. 4. 3. which the Learned call Epithetum perpetuum non distinguens see Acts 15. 20. That they abstain from pollutions of Idols 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contaminations filthinesses defilements Therefore Idols are called dunghill-gods stinking filthy and defiling Secondly By Gods special warnings of his people against this sin of Idolatry Jer. 44. 4. Do not this abominable thing which I hate Deut. 18. 9. When thou art come By Gods special warnings into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not do after the abomination of these Nations Deut. 4. 23. Take heed unto your selves lest you forget the Covenant of the Lord your God which he made with you and make you a graven image the likenesse of any thing which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee 1 Cor. 10. 14. Flee from Idolatry 1 Joh. 5. 21. Keep your selves from Idols Thirdly By the grievous threatnings of Idolaters read at your leasure Deut 32. By grievous threatnings 15. He forsook God Ver. 16. they provoked him to jealousie with strange gods and ver 19. and when the Lord saw it be abhorred them and ver 20. and I will hide my face from you and ver 22. A fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn to the lowest hell ver 23. I will heap mischief upon them and will spend my arrows upon them ver 24. they shall be burnt with thunder and devoured with burning heat and with bitter destruction ver 25. The sword without and terror within shall destroy c. Fourthly By the unparallel'd judgments on Idolaters God hath given the bill By unparalleld judgements on Idolaters of divorce and broken them in pieces and rooted them out of their dwelling places and scattered them over all the earth and persecuted them in his wrath untill he hath destroyed them from off the face of all the earth Fifthly And besides all this he hath shut the dore of heaven against Idolaters and threatens them with no less then hell and damnation and the lake that burns The dore of heaven is shut against them with fire and brimstone Sixthly But once more consider the nature or effect of this sin of Idolatry it is so every way contrary to Gods glory of which he is most tender Isa 48 11. The nature or effects of this sin and Isa 42. 8. and will not give it to graven images It is the changing of his glory They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things Rom. 1. 23. and the sordid abasing of his glory to imagin any creature capable of that excellency and of that worship which belongeth to God and verily we do no less than make the creatures to be God when we do conferre on them that worship which is proper unto God or suppose such excellencies to be in them which are to be found only in God It is the exceeding provocation of God Hos 12. 14. Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly therefore he shall leave his bloud upon him Idolatry is therefore often called adultery and Idolaters are said to commit adultery with stocks and stones what greater offence and provocation in a wife than to forsake her husband and to play the adultress with strangers the Lord for this sin of Idolatry hath utterly forsaken people he would be their God no more nor would he own them for his people any longer Nevertheless though this sin of Idolatry is so exceedingly high and provoking yet God hath pardoned it unto his people He pardoned it to Abraham Solomon to all the Churches of the Gentiles to those of Rome to the Corinthians Ephesians Galatians Thus you see the Assertion evinced from the Text. Secondly I shall in the next place evince it from other places of Scripture that From other Scriptures God will forgive the greatest sinnes c. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy O what sins were these blasphemy persecution injuriousness even to banishment and death but I obtained mercy In Acts 3. 14. And ye denyed the Holy One and desired a murderer to be granted unto you ver 15. and killed the Prince of life yet Acts 44. Many of them which heard the Word believed and the number of men were about five thousand Isa 1. 18. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as Crimson they shall be as wooll Thirdly Let us see it further demonstrated by some Arguments Arguments to demonstrate it God is great in mercy 1. God is great in mercy Who is a strong God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the Remnant of his heritage Micah 7. 8. Grave est quod habeo sed ad Omnipotentem confugio said Austin Infinite mercy can forgive great iniquity 2. The satisfactions of Christ are great aad full so that by them grace did Christs satisfaction is great super abound He undertook the whole state of the sins of Gods people sins great and small many and few â—gnorance and knowledge all their iniquities and all their trespasses and all their transgressions and did satisfie the Justice of God fully and to the utmost so that in him there is plenteous Redemption The obedience of Christ is as much above our sins as his person is above our persons 3. When the Lord calls upon people to repent as therein he deals with them to leave and forsake all their sins great and small he excuses them in no one God calls us to repent of great sins and promiseth pardon sin but of all sinnes he presseth them to forsake their great sins so to draw and encourage them to this repentance he doth hold out his promise of pardon indefinitely of all their sins this Covenant makes no distinction at all twixt small and great God usually instances in the greatest sins 4. God by the Gospel gathers of all sorts into his kingdom The notorious God gathers all sorts of sinners sinners as well as the
shall we drink or wherewithal shall we be cloathed Verse 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth you have need of all these things James 5. 7. Cast all your care on him for he careth for you I will tell you what your inordinate cares for the things of this life Inordinate cares are Your burdens are 1. They are your burdens David calls them so Psalme 55. 27. They sit more heavy upon your spirits than your wants do they are like the guilt of sinne in the conscience which makes us to go heavy all the day long 2. They are vexations They pierce us through with many sorrows 1 Tim. Your vexations 6. 10. Scratching tearing wounding thornes as our Saviour calls them 3. They are vanities As the King of Assyria distressed Ahaz but helped him not at all so our inordinate cares are are fruitful troubles but fruitlesse They are vanities helps They cannot adde one cubit to our stature Matth. 6. 27. 4. They are Indecâ—rums fit for Heathens who know not God nay unfit They are Indecorums for Christians who know and also enjoy God for their God 5. They are dishonours unto you and unto your Relation As if God were worse than an Infidel that he will not provide for his own They are dishonours houshold 6. They are very sins they justle aside the glory of the Covenant and the fidelity They are very sinnes Twelve things in respect of God to remove our cares His sufficiency and sufficiency of divine providence But to let these things passe I beseech you who are the people of God to remember and consider twelve things in respect of your God to remove your cares 1. His sufficiency He is able to supply all your wants and to succour you in all your distresses 2. His Omnisciency He knowes every want and strait that lies upon you as Omnisciency all his works so all your wants are known unto him He knows that you have need of all these things 3. His Authority The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof Authority All the creatures and all your helps are in his hands and depend on his Command 4. His Willingnesse He is willing to do you good or else he had never promised Willingnesse all good unto you he is your Father 5. His Engagement He binds himself by Covenant to supply you He must Engagement wrong himself if he should forget you 6. His tendernesse His love as you have often heard is more to you than Tendernesse all the world 7. His Bounty He hath given you Christ and grace and will give you glory Bounty and how shall he not with these give you all other things 8. His Fidelity He is faithful who hath promised he never yet brake his Fidelity word or did fail his people 9. His extent of undertaking for all your life long I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. His extent of undertaking for us all our life The accounts of his careful proyisions His undertaking for our posterity 10. The accounts and reports of his careful provisions by his own people and their opinion of him Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my life long unto this day said Jacob. Psal 37. 25. I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his â—eed begging bread 11. God undertakes even for your children and posterity also and is it likely that he will fail your selves The generation of the upright shall be blessed Psal 112. 2. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed after thee Gen. 17. 7. 12. He doth good to his enemies therefore he cannot forget his friends If he feeds the dogs surely he will feed his children If he provides for the Ravens His doing good to his enemies surely he will provide for his people 6. You who are the people of God should walk without inordinate feares Walk without inordinate fears even upon this account because you have God to be your God Gen. 15. 1. Fear not Abram I am thy shield and thy excâ—eding great reward Isa 41. 10. Fear thou not for I am with thee Be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uâ— hold thee with the right hand of my righteousnessâ— Isa 43. 1. Fear not for I have Redeemed thee I have called thee by name Thou art mine Verse 2. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flames kindle upon thee Verse 3. For I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour There are seven fears against which the Covenant-Interest should secure the Our Covenant interest should secure us against hearts of the people of God 1. A fear what man can do 2. A fear what Satan can do 3. A fear what God will do 4. A fear what we our selves shall do 5. A fear what ours shall do 6. A fear what the Churches of Christ shall do 7. A fear what death may do 1. Your Covenant-interest and relation should secure you against the fear what The fear of what man can do man can do Psal 118. 6. The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me We are sometimes afraid of the power of man and why are we so I even I am he that comforteth you who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die and the sonne of man that shall be made as grasse And forgettest the Lord thy Maker Isa 51. 12 13. Of the rage and fury oâ— man and why are we so Thou hast feared continually because of the fury of the oppressor as if he were ready to deâ—â—roy And where is the fury of thâ— oppressor Isa 51. 13. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee and the remainder of wrath shâ—lt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. Of the plots and combinations of men and why are we so Say ye not a confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say a confederacy neither feare ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary So in verse 9. Associate your selves O ye pâ—ople and ye shall be broken in pieces c. Verse 10. Take counsel together and it shall come to naught speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us 2. Your Covenant-interest and relation should secure you against the feares Against the fear of what Satan can do of what Satan can do You are many times exceeding afraid of the dreadful power of Satan as if he might command you and force you to such sinful thoughts and sinful acts which make your hearts
is reconciled to us There is no mention in all the Scripture That God is reconciled to us though 3. Doubt indeed frequently we are said by Christ to be Reconciled unto God Answered Sol. 1. If we do find that we are reconciled to God this is enough to evidence that God is reconciled unto us As if we know such a woman is married unto such a man we need not be solicitous to prove that such a man is married unto such a woman Or supposing Paul and Barnabas have been at difference if Barnabas be reconciled to Paul we may well conclude that Paul is reconciled to Barnabas Reconciliation 'twixt different parties is in the very nature of it a conciliation or accord of both parties if either of the parties stand off and will not yield it cannot be called a Reconciliation of them or between them 2. But secondly the Scripture will give in testimony enough for Gods being reconciled unto us Ezek. 16. 36. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord Here God himself is said to be pacified towards them and what is it for God to be pacified but to be reconciled Exod. 30. 10. Aaron shall make an attonement upon the horns of the Altar once in a year with the blood of the sin-offering what doth this Typifie but the Reconciliation made by the blood of Christ for our sinnes and with whom is this attonement made with God who is displeased with us because of our sins c. Isa 54. 9. I have sworn that I will not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee Isa 57. 16. I will not contend for ever neither will I be alwayes wrath Vse 3 Is Reconciliation with God the fruit and effect of the blood and death of Christ then consider seriously of three things Information How efficacious is the blood of Christ 1. How powerful and efficacious the blood of Christ is It hath done that which all the righteous men on earth and which all the Angels in heaven could never do If all the righteous men on earth should have come forth and offered their lives their souls and bodies unto God and have said Lord take all these at our hands so that thou wilt be reconciled and at peace with such a sinner they could not have made his peace Yea if all the angels in heaven had offered themselves to God and said Lord we are content to be put out of Heaven so that this may satisfie thy justice and so that this may make peace for sinners neither would this have took up the difference and made peace There cannot be found in any creature sufficiency enough to be a Peace-maker to be a Dayes man betwen God and sinners to take off the wrath of God due to a sinner No no it is not our tears nor our confessions nor our repentance which can make reconciliation it is Jesus Christ only He was only able to open the book and he only is able to shut the book None but Christ and nothing but the blood of Christ is able to satisfie and to pacifie God His blood was the blood of attonement or reconciliation and the chastisement of our peace was upon him The debt was so great and the provocation by sin was so high and the wrath of God against sin was so infinite that nothing could discharge that debt and pacifie that wrath but the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. How much are we beholding to Jesus Christ who by his blood reconciled God to us How much are we beholden to Jesus Christ and us to God and hath made peace O said Luther concerning the 118. Psalm I am more beholding to this Psalm than to all the Potentates of the world This Psalm hath done more for me in my distness than all the world could do for me we may much more say that of Jesus Christ we are more bound to Christ than to all the world besides for Christ hath done more for us why because he hath reconciled us to God we had laine under the wrath of God for ever had it not been for Christ and we should never have seen the face of God had it not been for Christ He hath pacified his wrath and brought us into favour and friendship again O sirs ponder it well what I am about to speak unto you that you may know how much you are beholding to Christ What a miserable unhappy creature is the sinner who is separated from God and at variance with him and whiles he is separated from God! God only is happiness and nothing can be our happiness but the enjoyment of him and therefore the falling away from God and the separation from him is an infinite losse and misery and infelicity Cain thought it a peculiar curse I shall be hid from thy face And the Church cries out he bides his face from us why I cannot express the darkness the losse the curse the death the hell of this that the sinner is fallen out with God he hath forsaken God and God hath forsaken him he is none of Gods and God is none of his he is an enemy to God and opposeth him and God is an enemy to the sinner and doth abhor and will curse him but besides this consider also how terrible the wrath of God is and how dreadful it is for a poor sinner to be a child of wrath and to live under the wrath of God On the wrath of God it is a consuming fire and who can stand before his wrath If his wrath be kindled but a little saith David How doth the conscience tormented with the apprehension and sense of Gods wrath make men cry out and roar and tremble and quake and be restless and easeless and hopeless But now Jesus Christ by his blood hath reconciled us and God he hath quenched this devouring flame of fire he hath slain enmity he hath saved us from wrath from that wrath which is so infinitely dreadful and which otherwise would have burned and consumed us for ever and ever and ever And besides that he hath made us nigh and hath made us one again we may now with the Prodigal come back again unto our Fathers house and be kindly accepted and received Well! If you know the Scriptures and if you know what a just and wrathful God is and if you know what a sinning creature is or what sin is Then bless God for Christ and bless Christ for himself and for his love and for his blood and for his death who hath taken up the greatest controversie that ever was as he took up the nature of the different parties into his own Person so he took off the differences twixt them by his own blood Father said Christ I will die I will shed my blood so that thou wilt be friends again with these poor sinners and enemies
on him on his death on his blood O blessed Jesus thy Person have I accepted thy blood have I relyed on on that precious and purchasing blood I have relied hitherto on it and it hath brought grace into my heart and peace into my conscience and joy into my soul and forgiveness of sins and the taste of much mercy and goodness I read and I do believe the future inheritance purchased by thy blood and reserved in heaven for me I die in the faith of it I believe also to enjoy the Crown of Righteousness the Kingdom of glory that eternal life which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ my Lord. 6. I will super-add one great benefit more which results from Christs Suffering The suffering of Christ is the confirmation of the Covenant as our Mediatour which shall be the close of all the rest and that is this The sufferings or death or blood of Christ is the confirmation of the Covenant you read of a two-fold confirmation of the Covenant 1. God confirmed the Covenant and he confirmed it by an Oath Heb. 6. 17. and Psal 89 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness c. 2 Jesus Christ confirmed the Covenant Gal. 3. 17. The Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ and Jesus Christ confirmed it by his Oath therefore his blood is called the blood of the Covenant Heb. 13. 20. And the blood of the New Testament Matth. 26. 28. In a two-fold respect His death gives force unto it Now Christ confirms the Covenant in a two-fold respect 1. In that his death gives force unto it To this agrees that of the Apostle in Heb. 9. 16 Where a Testament is there must also of necessary be the death of the Testator verse 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead In this place the Covenant is called a Testament or a last Will wherein Estates and Legacies are bequeathed and which cannot be challenged untill the Testator dies but upon his death the Testament is of force that is all concerned in the Will and Testament may come and demand and take out the Legacies bequeathed unto them Object And whereas you may object that the Saints before the death of Christ obtained all blessings Sol. It is answered that Jesus Christ was a Lumb slain from the beginning of the world Rev. 13. 8. Jesus Christ was reckoned both with God and with his Church of old as dead and the promise of laying down his life for his people accepted in their time as if it had been performed and his very death appeared unto them in the Sacrifices of the Law and accordingly the Testament was of force unto them 2. In that his death seals the Covenant as firm and stable and unalterable His death seals the Covenant saith the Apostle Gal. 3. 15. Though it be but a mans Covenant yet if it be confirmed no man disanulleth or addeth thereto There is now no question to be made of the intentions of God or of his promises in the Covenant for they are all of them Yea and Amen in Christ they are sure and stable the blood of Christ hath confirmed and ratified all there cannot possibly be an higher confirmation of the Covenant than this If a man offers you his Oath to assure you this is high but if a man will lay down his life upon it if he will take his death upon it he cannot give an Higher Testimony or Confirmation unto a Truth Now to take â—ff all doubtings on our part and fully to settle our perswasions concerning the Covenant as God gives us his Oath swearing by himself Heb. 6. 13. And God could go no higher than to swear by himself So the Son of God gives us his life he takes his death upon it that all shall be performed and further he cannot go Object But will some say What if Christ did die why must there be thereupon a confirmation of the Covenant must all the Covenant be sure for performance because Christ died what was there in his death for such a purchase Sol. I answer The death of Christ was the death of a Surety and of one who was therefore to die that the Covenant might be established There are three things considerable in the death of Christ One is Satisfaction to Gods Justice The other is Merit of all the good which we do need and God will bestow And there is also Efficacie Jesus Christ will see all made good and in these respects his death comes to be a confirmation of the Covenant but I will not stand any longer on this Point only I will make a little Use of it and so passe on Vse 1 Hath Jesus Christ as Mediator confirmed the Covenant not only established it to to be unalterable but made it firm and sure and unquestionable for the performance Why do you that are in Covenant doubt of all the good which God hath therein promised Then you who are brought in to Christ who are the people of God in Covenant you whose treasures are laid up in the Covenant and whose whole portion is setled there why do you doubt and why are ye afraid and why are your hearts troubled you cannot possibly have a better or fuller portion than God hath already setled upon you in this Covenant and you cannot possibly have a better or stronger assurance to confirm you in the expectation of all that good of the Covenant then the Oath of God and the death or blood of Christ You have the Promise of God and the Oath of God and the blood of Christ to assure you what would you have more and what can you have more It was a sharp aggravation of the infidelity of the Jews in John 12. 37. But though he had done so many miracles before them yet they believed not on him And verily it is a just exprobation of our unbelief that though we have the promise of God to perform his Covenant and though we have the Oath of God to perfoâ—m his Covenant and though we have the Blood of Christ to confirm the Covenant unto us yet in every occasion and in every strait we are calling all into question we doubt and fear and suspect and question whether the Covenant of God with us be a faithfull word as if God who cannot lie would deceive and faile us as if the God of Truth would forswear himself as if the Lord Jesus Christ having sealed the Covenant with his own blood might be found a deceiver and a false witness The Lord humble us for this unbelief and cause us to fear and to abhor this sin of unbelief as that which is most dishonourable to God and as most prejudicial and dangerous unto our own soules Vse 2 Hath Christ our Mediatour confirmed the Covenant by his own death Then you who do believe in Christ and therefore are interested in the Covenant make Make out to your God for all your souls do need
apply It is ridiculous themselves to Christ and then they must back again with Christs Merits and why not without any more adoe to Christ at first Quest But before I passe on I would speak a word unto a more material Scruple viz. Whether Christs Intercession in heaven be not a probable Argument of the imperfection of Christs Merits at his death If his death were sufficient to purchase all good for us what need then of his Intercession Sol. I answer the death of Christ was sufficient Ad promerendum but the Intercession of Christ is required only Ad applicandum There was no imperfection at all in his death for it was a plenary satisfaction and merit nor doth the Intercession of Christ argue any imperfection in his merit because his Intercession is not a new meriting but only a continual application of that which he hath already merited by his death Use 1 Doth Jesus Christ now in Heaven make intercession for us How sad then is their condition who have no part in Christ who have not him for their Advocate with the Father not appearing for them not interceding on their behalf How sad is their condition who have no part in Christs Intercession You that will not be perswaded to hearken to receive Christ but resist his Spirit and slight his Gospel and reject him what will you do in the dayes of your distress and death 1. All saving mercy comes unto us upon the Intercession of Christ his Intercession is the application and the donation of Righteousnesse Reconciliation Forgiveness and Salvation unto us 2. And can you have faith on him to be your Advocate and Intercesser whâ— would not receive him to be your Lord and head O stand out no more against the Offers of Christ least you shut out your selves from the Intercession of Christ One day you will finde a need of Christ to help you you will pray for mercy and you will pray for salvation and these Prayers will not prevail without Christs Intercession If you do indeed desire to be heard in what you pray then hear Christ in what he speaks to you and prayes you to hearken to him hear his voice receive himself by faith obey his will hearken unto him that he may hearken unto you Vse 3 You that are Believers perhaps as yet are but weak and are apt to be shaken and afraid of your selves and of your requests how they will speed and whether Weak Believers must remember they have an Advocate with the Father they will speed and many times are ready to be silent in Prayer O do not so but Remember that you have an Advocate with the Father Remember that Jesus Christ ever lives to make Intercession for you Remember that what is purchased by his death that will he apply unto you by his Intercession In all your addresses and prayers look off from your selves and look more on your Intercessor Believingly consider 1. Who he is even Jesus Christ the Righteous your Lord your Christ your Mediatour your Priest and Intercessor 2. What his Intercession is on what it is grounded not on your merits but on his own The end of that Intercession viz. To give out to you what he hath purchased for you 3. The qualifications of his Intercession 1. It is Mighty and Powerful It never fails it is never denyed nor can be 2. It is Pitifull he is full of compassion towards you is very sensible of your infirmities presently hears you and is ready to help you 3. It is Vniversal First As to every one of you Secondly As to every one of your Requests for Mercy for Favour for Grace and strength c. 4. It is sufficient Though all the Members on Earth pray at one time from all the Quarters of the Earth he hears you all will plead for you all will speed you all 5. It is Absolute his Intercession carries it against your unworthiness for his Own sake 6. It is Perpetual every day you pray and every day every hour yea for ever he lives to make Intercession for you Object Why then are we not presently heard Sol. You are so but not supplyed alwayes presently because as it belongs to the Fidelity of his Intercession to speed you so it belongs to the Wisdom of the Intercessor when to deliver out unto you that help Jesus the Mediatour of the Covenant Heb. 12. 24. And to Jesus the Mediatour of the New Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel I Have discoursed of Jesus Christ our Mediatour in Relation unto his Person and to the Natures united in his Person and unto his Obedience both Active and Passive and likewise unto the Vertues or Benefits by him as our Mediatour viz. Satisfaction and Remission and Reconciliation and Redemption and Purchase And then of the great Work which Jesus Christ doth still for us in Heaven as our Mediatour viz. his Intercession I shall now close up this Discourse with the Resolution of three notable Questiâ—â— which shall be in stead of the general Uses for the whole matter 1. Whether Jesus Christ as Mediatour did die for all and every man and those forementioned Benefits of his death were intended and extended unto all 2. Whether any Person can certainly know the particular intention of Christs death in the Benefits of it unto himself 3. How a person may evidently know that Jesus Christ died for him and satisfied Gods justice for him SECT VIII 1. Quest WHether Jesus Christ as Mediatour died for all and every man Redeemed all Reconciled all Purchased Salvation Whether Christ died for â—very man for all Sol. Concerning this Question there are several Opinions of men 1. Some have held that Jesus Christ died for all things that is for all â—â—veral opiniâ—â—â— about it creatures whatsoever because the Apostle saith that Christ by his blood Reconciled all things and therefore they conclude that the Sun and the Moon and the Stars and all the Elements yea and the very Divels were Reconciled by Christ a vild Opinion As if Jesus Christ who appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself and to Reconcile God unto us and is the Mediatour betwixt God and men should be a Mediatour also for damned Divels who are eternally judged for their transgression or should satisfie Gods justice for the Heavens and Earth and such like Creatures which were never capable of offending or sinning against God! But by all things which the Apostle saith Christ hath Reconciled he means the universal Church which is now partly in Heaven and partly in earth 2. Some have held that Jesus Christ hath died for all mankind without any difference of sins or sinners that he took upon him all the sins of all men and did by his death expiate all their sins and Ipso facto reconciled them to God without any respect to believing or not believing Nay let them speak out their own
said to be the Head but he is the Head only of his Church 2. Those for whom Christ gave himself of those he is the Saviour but he is the Saviour of the Church which is his Body 3. Those for whom Christ here gave himself He is said to sanctifie and wash that he might present it unto himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinckle and those are only his Church none but his Church are sanctified and fitted for a glorious Church Ergo c. 3. A Third Scripture which I would make use of against the Universal efficacy of Christs death for all and every man shall be that in Rom. 8. 32 33 34. Verse 33. He that spared not his own Sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also give us all things Verse 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth Verse 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Verse 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ This place affords unto us many considerable passages 1. A delivering up of Christ to death for all the Elect and Called of God Pro Nobis omnibus not simply for all but for us all 2. A certainty of enjoyment of all things of all the good things which God the Father hath promised and God the Son hath purchased for all them for whose sake Jesus Christ was delivered up How shall he not with him also give us all things As if he had said God having given his Christ for you will certainly give you all other things with Christ if he gives the greater he will not stand with you for the less whatsoever good you need you shall assuredly possess and enjoy it 3. That the death of Christ is effectual for the absolution of all those for whom Christ was delivered up It is effectual against any thing that can be brought in against them who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth And it is effectual against all condemnation there is none to condemn them if any one it must be God but he hath justified them if for any thing it must be for sinne But saith the Apostle It is Christ that died who by his Death hath satisfied the justice of God and hath put away sinne Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that Died. 4. There is a Connexion 'twixt the Death of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ and the Session of Christ at the right hand of God and the Intercession of Christ those for whom Christ did Dye for them he did rise and those for whom he died and rose for them that is for their good He now sits at the right hand of God for them also he makes Intercession And one thing more from the love of Christ shall none of those be separated for whom he dyed and rose again and ascended and makes Intercession Now how all this can be affirmed of all and every man in the world that ever was is or shall be is a conceit beyond any solid reason of man or faith of a Christian to reach 1. Can all and every man be assured or assure himself because Christ was delivered to death therefore God will unquestionably deliver or give him all things 2. Is there no condemnation to any man in the world notwithstanding Christ hath died Nay saith John He that believes not is condemned already and thâ—s is the condemnation That light is come into the world but men love darkness rather than light 3. Is every man justified by God so that nothing can henceforth be laid to his charge seeing that God is the justifier only of all them that believe and they only that believe do receive the Remission of their sinnes If ye believe not that I am He you shall dye in your Sinnes said Christ 4. That Jesus who died here on earth and rose and ascended to heaven and there presents himself before his Father and makes Intercession that all this should be for all and every man the Arminians themselves are afraid and dare not to affirme for though they say that Mortuus est Christus Adaequate pro pecâ—atoribus yet they say also that Resurrexit intercedit cum salvandi intentione adaequate pro fidelibus But you see first that the Apostle knits and joynes all these together the Death and Resurrection and Intercession of Christ And secondly how miserably they delude poor ignorant people with the flash of an universal Redemption by the Death of Christ when yet notwithstanding this death and universal Redemption there is not any one saving good that ever shall befall them unlesse they do believe in Christ which will amount to no more than what we do maintaine that Christ died not effectually for all and every one but only for all and every Believer 2. Thus have I in the General brought some places of Scripture against the Opinion of Universal Redemption by the death of Christ I shall now discourse of it in a more particular way Where I shall endeavour to clear 1. That God the Father never did intend or purpose such an effectually Universal In particular Redemption of all and every one by Christ 2. That Jesus Christ the Son of God did never intend it 3. That Jesus Christ never obtained or impetrated the same no not in the sense of the Universalâ—sts themselves 4. That an Universal Application of this as it never shall be In Rerum natura so never was it In Dei aut Christi proposito God the Father did never intend this latitude of Redemption when he sent Christ into the world Proved 1. That God the Father did never intend this latitude of Redemption and Reconciliation and Salvation when he gave Christ and sent him into the world 'T is true that he had the Salvation of sinners and their Redemption and Reconciliation in his design of giving of Christ But I say this was not his design for all and every man whatsoever which I shall demonstrate in foure Arguments 1. What God intended that he Willed and Decreed this I think no rational Christian will or can deny but God never willed a General Redemption and Reconciliation and Salvation by the death of Christ which I prove thus If he did will and decree it then that Decree was either absolute or conditional if it were an absolute Decree or Will then it is effecual for no man hath resisted that Will which is an infallible cause of all which it doth will and then all and every man shall actually partake of Salvation by Christ which assertion as the Scriptures do manifestly contradict so the Arminians and their followers professedly deny If it be a Conditional Will in God as they say it is in case of believing on Christ then it is but
Christ taste death not one of them could have been saved but by his death and what is this to every man whatsoever in the world are all and every man sanctified children brethren c 1 Tim. 1. 10. Object 1 Tim. 1. 10. Who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe Answered Sol. 1. Speaks the Apostle here of Christs dying for the salvation of all and every man of Gods Spiritually saving of unbelievers and of believers that he will eternally save unbelievers as well as believers If the Arminians will needs have this place so understood how come they to admit and swallow down that word especially especially of them that believe whereas they hold that Gods will to save by the death of Christ is equal and alike to all either they must understand this place of Gods Antecedent will of salvation but then especially stands in their way or they must understand it of his Consequent will and then all stands in their way for God as they teach will not save any according to his Consequent will but only Believers 2. But the Apostle here speaks not of salvation by the death of Christ but of a saving or safety depending on the Providence of God which respects all men in the world but believers in a more special manner who have the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come v. 8. And therefore the Apostle in his sufferings and labours excites himself to trust on God to take care and provide for him which he doth upon this ground q. God is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe q. d. If Gods Providence will help all men even the world much more them that believe on him Object But that word Saviour and saving must needs mean some higher matter than this of Providence Sol. In this place it doth not nor in many other places Psal 36. 6. Hominem Bestiam servas Jehovah Matth. 8. 25. Lord save us we perish Rom. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 8. 11. Object Rom. 14. 15. Destroy not him by thy meat for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8. 11. Through thy knowledge shall thy weake brother perish for whom Christ died Answered Sol. The Question in dispute is whether Christ did by his death obtain for all and every man Reconciliation with God Remission of sins and Eternal life do these places come up to the proof thereof 1. The Apostle speaks unto Christians in both these places he writes unto believers are believers all and every man nay he writes to the believers of particular Churches in Rome and in Corinth are particular believers all and every man in the world 2. To these he writes of a particular case respecting their Christian liberty about the use of Herbs and Meats so to moderate themselves as not to scandalize or offend their weak brethren and to perplex and ensnare their consciences that those Christians who were strong in faith i. e. were fully perswade and satisfied that all meats were lawful should not so act their liberty thereupon as to give offence to their weak brethren unto weak believers who yet were not so clearly convinced of that liberty He speaks of believers on both sides strong and weak and of none other but believers concerned in the present fear and scandal and what is this to Christ dying for every man 3. And why would he not have the strong believers by the abuse of their liberty about meats and drinks and herbs to offend the Consciences of their weak brethren he gives the Reason destroy not him by thy meat for whom Christ died and shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died The reason lies in the danger of that offence q. d. thus to offend them was as much as in them lay to destroy them and cause them to perish For offence or scandal of themselves and in their own natural aptitude do tend to the ruine and destruction of those to whom they are objected and weak Christians are likewise apt to be shaken and wounded and waver by them Assuredly this is and should be reason sufficient with any believers therefore not to give scandal in any thing much less in the use of meats and drinks to other Believers who are weak neither doth the Apostle say He is destroyed by thy meat for whom Christ died but Destroy not him c. He speaks not of a work eventually done and effected but of a work which he cautions them to beware or take heed of as tending thereunto And so in the later place he doth not absolutely affirm that the weak brother doth perish but interrogatively propounds shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died q. d. should you or any of you be an occasion as much as in you lies of the ruining of any for whom Christ died therefore have a care be wary that ye give not any offence unto them Fifthly If the Apostle had said that any weak brother had indeed been destroyed and had indeed perished yet this would not prove that Christ died for all and every man All that it could inferre would be only this that some Believers might be destroyed and perish for whom Christ died which yet appertains to another controversie of falling from grace and there neither will it serve the turn Object 2 Pet. 2. 1. There were false Prophets also amongst the people even as 2 Pet. 2. 1. there shall be false Teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction Loe say the Arminians here are some which bring upon themselves swift destruction and deny the Lord that bought them and therefore as well they that perish as they that shall be saved are redeemed by Christ c. Sol. For answer to this place divers things may be said Answered 1. Some do question whether it speaks of Jesus Christ at all because the word here rendred Lord is not that word Lord by which Christ is usually set forth there is a difference observed by learned men 1. Inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominum which we find in Jude ver 4. denying the Lord God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But I know not whether we may with safety rest on this curiosity 2. I shall rather make use of that distinction of being bought by Christ persons may be said to be bought by the Lord Christ 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to truth so only the Church is bought or purchased by the blood and death of Christ Acts 2. 28. Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In respect of Opinion and so those are said to be bought who seem to be bought who bear such expressions of Christians for a while that both themselves and others in a judgement of
man can clear out unto himself that he is one of the people of Christ or one of the sheep or one of the friends of Christ or one of the body of Christ or one of the Church of Christ he may thereupon certainly conclude that he is one for whom Christ dyed and really intended to save by his death Object You will say Here lies all the difficulty to evidence to our selves that we are within the number of these Sol. I confesse it doth yet this must be evidenced if you would certainly know that Christ effectually dyed for you and upon diligent inquiry it may be evidenced forasmuch as Christs people and sheep and friends and body and Church have such signal characters and differences stamped upon them by which they may be known to be his indeed I will give some instances to help you in this They are the people of Christ his people who are given unto him of the Father and His people bought by him with a price and rescued by his power unto himself and brought into Covenant by him with the Father and do stand in a near and choice relation unto himself as their Head and Lord of these people it is said in Scripture that they are 1. A willing people in the day of his power Psal 110. 3. i. e. when the Gospel is preached unto them there goes with that Gospel such a power from Christ upon their hearts that they are overcome and perswaded and willingly leave their former station and relation to sin and to the world and to Satan and as willingly become Christs hearkening unto his call and falling into relation with him 2. A peculiar people Tiâ—â—s 2. 14. That he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people His people are a peculâ—ar people in a twofold respect One because they are purged from those sins and iniquities under which other people do lye and with which they are defiled Another because they are beautified and adorned with those excellencies of grace which other people do want and attain not unto and therefore in 1 Pet. 29. An holy Nation and a peculiar people are joyned together These things being thus opened it will not now be so difficult for any mans conscience to say whether he be any one of the people of Christ yea or no for two things will plainly testifie it One is the willingnesse of his heart to become Christs and the other is the choicenesse or excellency of his nature both these are in all the people of Christ and in none but the people of Christ and if you finde these upon your hearts then are you the people of Christ and if you be his people then assuredly he dyed to save you from your sins They are the sheep of Christ his sheep for whom he did lay down his life His Sheep who do hear his voice and follow him thus doth Christ himself describe his sheep John 10 27. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me And Ver. 28. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish Well then hence a man Hence a man may conclude Negatively may conclude both Negatively and Affirmatively I do not hear the voice of Christ â—or do I follow him I disregard his voice and disobey his voice therefore as yet I am none of his sheep and consequently I cannot assure my self that Christ did lay down his life for me And on the contrary one can say I do hear the voice of Christ and I do follow Affirmatively him His voice saith Come unto me Matth. 11. 28. and I come unto him his voice saith Open the door Revel 3. 20. and receive me and my heart is open unto him and I do receive him his voice saith Be converted that your sins may be blotted out Acts 2. 19. and I do repent and am converted his voice saith Hearken unto me and your souls shall live Isa 55. 2. and I do obey this voice of Christ I hearken unto him and yield up my self to the service and obedience of his will Why hence I can conclude I am therefore one of the sheep of Christ and being so I am sure that Christ did lay down his life for me Again Jesus Christ saith that he layes down his life for his friends And in His friends that very place he gives two Characters of such who are indeed his friends One on their parts Joh. 15. 14. Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you The other on his part Ver. 15. I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you The meaning is As betwixt friends there is a reciprocal love so there is between Christ and his friends Christ loves them and they love Christ That they love Christ as friends indeed appears by their readinesse to do whatsoever Christ shall be pleased to command they are ready to take up his will and are chearfully at his command That Christ loves them as his friends appears by the manifestation and communicating unto them the secrets of his Father he tells unto them the love and minde of his Father in the great concernments of salvation which he doth not effectually make known to every man So now this stands as a firme and unmoveable ttuth that Christ did effectually lay down his life for his friends And secondly that they are the very friends of Christ who first are at the command of Christ And secondly unto whom Christ doth in a more special and familiar way make known the minde of his Father in the matters of salvation Therefore if you do experimentally finde an heart readily and chearfully affected to all the will and command of Christ What wilt thou have me to do his commands are not grievous I delight to do thy will then are you sure that you are one of the friends of Christ and if so then are you sure that Christ laid down his life for you And if you do experimentally finde such impartings of Christ to you from the Father which the men of the world know not in the sense of his love and taste of his mercy and fruits of his grace and efficacies of hâ—s Spirit thence you may certainly conclude that you are his friends for Christ effectually makes these known only to his friends and if you be his friends then undoubtedly Christ dyed for you he laid down his life to save you To this purpose might I go over the other instances of the body and of the Church of Christ but I have said enough unto this choice distinction 2. Secondly One may know that Christ dyed for him in particular by the quality of those persons who in Scripture have been able to say upon sure grounds that Christ dyed for them and redeemed them and unto whom the benefits of his death have been applied in particular It is a true rule Parium est par
Ratio par Affirmatio Put seveâ—al men into the same and like condition and into the same and like relation and into the same and like capacity then what interest priviledges one hath the same interest and priviledges the other hath and upon what ground the one can plead and conclude upon the same may the other plead and conclude I shall make use of this to the present purpose You read in Scriptuâ—e of some who have been able to say Christ loved me and gave himself for me Paul said so Gal. 2. 20. By the quality of the persons who have been able to say upon sure grounds that Christ dyed for them And I know my Redeemer liveth Job said so chap. 19. 15 And this is my beloved and this is my friend and I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine the Church said so Cant. 5. 16. and Cant. 6. 3. And of some to whom the benâ—fits of the death of Christ have been particularly applied and attributed Luke 7. 48. He said unto her Thy sins are forgiven Matth. 9. 2. Jesus saith unto the sick of the Palsie Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee 1 Joh. 2. 12. I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his Names sake 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us of God wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Revel 5. 8. Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood Now consider what was the quality and disposition of these persons who were able confidently and upon sure grounds thus to speak and of whom these things were thus affirmed and if you finde the same spiritual disposition in your selves you may then certainly conclude Christ gave himself for you and he is your Redeemer and your sins are forgiven you c. Quest Why what kinde of persons were they Sol. They were effectually called persons as Paul who saith in Gal. 1. 15. That it pleased God to call him by his grace And so were the Corinthians called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. And called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord Ver. 9. And they were upright persons fearing God and eschewing evil such an one was Job chap. 1. 8. And they were mourning and repenting persons such an one was the woman Luke 7. 37 38. And longing after Christ such an one was that person in Matth. 9. 2. And united unto Christ by Faith and Love filled with high thoughts desires and delights so was the Church mentioned in the â—anticles and the rest spoken of in the other places Why then if any man can say upon good grounds God hath called me by his grace unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ he may certainly conclude Christ dyed for me and gave himself for me I was thus and thus sinful but God hath converted me I was a blasphemer and a persecutoâ— c. And if any man can say My heart thirsts and longs for Christ and my soul is matched with Christ he is the beloved of my soul Why I say unto that man Christ loved thee and gave himself for thee And if any man finds himself a mourning and repenting sinner I can say to him Be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee And if any man finds his heart upright with God and with Christ that man may surely conclude with By his interest in the condâ—tion of faith Job I know that my Redeemer liveth 3. Thirdly One may know that Christ dyed for him in particular by his interest in that condition of faith upon which Christ certainly becomes ours in his person and benefits If any one of â—s do indeed believe on Christ assuredly God the Father intended his salvation in the giving of Christ and Jesus Christ intended and wrought the remission of his sins and the salvation of his soul by his death Hearken what the Word of God speaketh in several places to this purpose John 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life Acts 10. 43. Whosoever believes on him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Mark 16. 16. He that believeth shall be saved 1 Cor 1. 30. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctificaâ—ion and redemption In those places it is most evident that whosoever believes on Christ he is certainly interested in Christ and in all the benefits depending on Christs death he is delivered from perishing he shall have everlasting life he shall receive the remission of sins his peace is made with God Christ is wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption and salvation unto him Object You will say this is true and unquestionable that whosoever believes on Christ he is certainly interested in the death of Christ and in all the benefits of his death but here lies the scruple I doubt whether my faith be that very faith which doth indeed interest a person in Christ whether it be faith unfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. And faith that is precious 2 Pet. 1. 1. And faith that is justifying Rom. 5. 1. And faith that is saving Ephes 2. 8. Sol. I will not expatiate in the answer of this because I have upon several occasions How I may know my faith doth interest me in Christ spoken already much of the nature and properties of true faith what I would say to the present scruple whether my faith be the very faith which doth interest me in Christ and in the benefits of his death is this That faith is true and truly interesting in Christ and in his benefits which First is seated in an heart broken with the sense of sin and deeply apprehensive of the need of a dying Christ such was theirs in Acts 2. 37. c. and his in Acts 16. 29 30 31. Secondly Is raised and created by the exceeding greatnesse of the power of God and according to the working of his mighty power Ephes 1. 10. Thirdly Is let in by the Ministry of the Gospel and upon Gospel-offers and calls and promises and assurances Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of truth the Gospel of your salvation Matth. 11. 28. Joh. 6. 36 37. Rev. 3. 20. Fourthly Raiseth the heart to high and precious thoughts of Christ unto you that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. all is nothing without Christ And if I have but Christ I have enough he is life and best of all Fifthly Draws out earnest and unsatiable desires never resting without the enjoyment of Christ and parting with all which stands in opposition to that enjoyment Sixthly Makes the heart to receive Christ Joh. 1. 12. yea gladly to receive Christ Acts 2. 41. yea whole Christ the Lord Jesus Christ
ways of worldly advancements and advantages But the rule which a renewed heart sets up to guide and prescribe him is none other but that which God himself sets up for his people to walk by and that is his written Word Psal 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Ver. 133. Order my steps in thy Word This rule he sets up for all matters of faith and for all matters of fact this I must believe because God reveals it and commands me to believe it this I receive for truth because God delivers it for truth and that I reject as erroneous because the Word of God condemns it as contrary to the truth And this work I do and that way I walk in because God sets it out in his Word for me and that I do not do and so and so I dare not walk for I have no Word of God for it nay the Word of God is against it why mans heart is right indeed it is renewed by grace but if a man will walk contrary to this rule if he will not speak and live according to this Word it is because there is no light in him Isa 8. 20. SECT V. Vse 4. DOth God promise to give unto all his people in Covenant with him a new heart and a new spirit then there is comfort and joy to Comfort to those that have a new heart all those who finde the new heart given unto them it is true that when the Lord doth renew the heart of any by his grace and separate them from the world unto himself that 1. They shall meet with many troubles and scoffs and reproaches and persecutions from the world All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions 2 Tim. 3. 2. They shall meet with many temptations and oppositions from Satan if he cannot hinder grace and conquer grace yet he will molest and disquiet grace 3. They shall meet with many conflicts and warrings within their own hearts and with many weaknesses and failings and tryals nevertheless their condition is a very happy and comfortable condition and there are eight Eight comforts proper to them choice comforts which are proper to every renewed person and which may cheer up his heart all his days v. g. 1. Newness of heart is a sure and infallible testimony of the best and of the greatest matters which can concern the soul 2. This newness of heart is an unquestionable effect of our union with Christ 3. It is the noblest and highest elevation of the soul here on earth and the clear evidence of the presence of the Spirit of Christ 4. It enables you for all heavenly communion and serviceableness to Divine glory 5. God will own and accept of it and the fruits of it though but little and weak 6. He will strengthen and uphold and perfect it unto the day of Christ 7. He will poure upon every person who enjoys it all necessary blessings for this life and will take special notice of him and care for him in the days of adversity 8. Renewing grace shall without all doubt bring us at the last to eternal happiness First Newness of heart is a sure and infallible testimony of the best and of It is a clear testimony of the greatest matters which can concern the soul the greatest matters which can concern the soul There are six things which do concern the soul as nearly I think as any can and of every one of them is renewing grace a sure testimony 1. The love of God 2. The election of God 3. A relation to God 4. A change from death to life 5. The pardon of sin 6. The hope of glory 1. Of the love of God that the Lord doth indeed set his special love A testimony of the love of God his very heart upon a person 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God Psal 146. 8. The Lord loveth the righteous for any to be made the sons of God this is an effect or fruit of the love of God now all the sons of God are new born they are born again of the Spirit Joh. 3. 5. Ephes 2. 4. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us Ver. 5. even when we were dead in sins and trespasses hath quicked us together with Christ As it is one of the greatest testimonies of Gods hatred and wrath for any to be left to his old sinful heart and lusts and ways so it is one of the greatest testimonies of Gods love when he pities them in their sinful condition and delivers them out of it and gives his Spirit to enliven and renew them by grace 2. Of the Election of God for this see two places 1 Thes 1. 4. Knowing Of election Brethren Beloved your Election of God Ver. 5. For our Gospel came unto you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost Eph. 1. 4. He hath chosen us in him that we should be holy Holiness or renewing grace it is as one speaketh the counterpane of Gods decree of Election God by his own eternal prescience knows whom he intends for salvation and we by that work of renewing grace in our hearts come to know that eternal purpose of his grace concerning us it being given unto us an effect flowing from his Election and in order unto that happiness unto which he hath chosen us 3. Of our Relation to God as our God and our Father as none but his Of our relation to God people and children are holy so all his people and his children are holy Isa 63. 18. The people of thy holiness they are 1 Pet. 2. 9. an holy Nation and a peculiar people 2 Cor. 6. 17. Come out from among them and be ye separate and touch no unclean thing Ver. 18. And I will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 4. Of our translation from life to death See Isa 4. 3. He that is left in Of our translation from death to life Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem Ezek. 16. 6. When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Luk. 15. 32. This my son was dead and is alive again Rom 6. 11. Likewise reckon ye your selves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God Renewing grace is one of the strictest differences between men of death and men of life not any man hath it but he who is made alive by Christ and is in the state of life no profane person hath it nor doth any hypocrite partake of it 5. Of the pardon of our sins if any