any we can discover to have belonged unto Adam and his natural posterity had they persisted in that integrity wherein they were created For then the Reward would only have born proportion to the obedience whereunto it related but now it shall have its dimensions from the dignity of the Person and excellency of the price whereby it was purchased both which do infinitely surpass both the person and obedience of Adam or any other meer man 3. By the Gospel there is more divine and supernatural help afforded to Believers to carry them through their course of obedience unto glory then there was unto Adam in Paradise To Adam was given a posse non peccare si vellet a power not to sin if he would and a power to have willed if he would so have done but he had not special supernatural assistance given him to will for if he had had that he had persevered But unto believers there is such grace given qua efficitur ut velint It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure saith the Apostle Phil. 2.13 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power saith the Prophet David Psal. 110.3 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them saith the Lord Ezek. 36.27 This point is excellently handled by that renowned champion of the grace of God St. Austen in his book De correptione Gratia II. The excellencie of the Gospel will appear if we compare it with the Law of Moses The Priesthood thereof a nobler Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec the Covenant thereof a better Covenant established upon better promises as the Apostle proveth at large in his Epistle to the Hebrews 1. The Law moral considered singly and alone is a ministration of death and condemnation a killing enthralling inexorable insupportable Law insomuch that the people were not able to endure the commands thereof Heb. 12.20 Why should we dye say they This great fire will consume us If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more then we shall dye Deut. 5.25 But the Gospel is a ministration of the Spirit and Righteousness and therefore more glorious as the Apostle argues 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9. 1. Hereby the curse of the Law is removed for Christ came to bless us Act. 3.26 That repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name 2. Hereby we are delivered from the Law as a Covenant of life though not as a Rule of living the righteousness of Faith being substituted in the room thereof as the Apostle teacheth us Act. 13.39 Rom. 3.20 28. Gal. 2.16.3.10 13. 3. Hereby the Rigour of the Law is corrected Christ procuring acceptation of sincerity instead of perfection He is the Altar which sanctifieth all our oblations so that the Lord notwithstanding their defects is well pleased with them pardoning that in them which comes from our weakness and accepting and rewarding that which comes from his own Grace 1 Pet. 2 5. Isa. 56.7 4. Hereby the Coaction of the Law is sweetned by healing and assisting grace that whereas the Law doth onely drive by terrour and bondage unto the doing of duty which otherwise we should rather have left undone Mallent licitum quod male delectat as St. Austin speaks the Spirit of Grace in the Gospel shedding abroad the love of Christ into our hearts doth cause us with delight to run the ways of Gods commandments c Vt non sit terribile sed suave mandatum for the yoke of Christ is easie and his burden light and his Commandments not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 5. Lastly hereby the Irritation of the Law is rebuked that whereas the restraints thereof did before exasperate corruption that like an obstructed River Ab obice saevior iret it gathered strength by suppression now all the channels of the heart being opened by grace the course of obedience goeth on with more freedom and lust is not able to gather head against it as it was wont to do 2. The excellency of the Gospel will appear if we compare it with the ceremonial Law For though quoad substantiam Foederis the Covenant was the same to them and us Christ theirs and ours the new Testament hidden in the Old and the Old expounded in the New as St. Austin speaks yet quoad modum Administrandi there is as much greater excellency in the Gospel then in the Law as there is in the body or substance then in the picture or shadow whereby it is represented 1. The Law was dark and obscure a veil over the eyes of that people but in the Gospel Christ is evidently set forth Gal. 3.1 We see with open face the glory of God 2 Cor. 3.18 Though the Jews had the same promises of eternal life and an heavenly Country with us yet they were overshadowed with the Types of an holy Land and temporal blessings there and therefore the Apostle telleth them of another rest besides that of their Sabbath and Canaan There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4 9. 2. The Law was exceeding Burdensome in many chargeable and painful observances a yoke which they were not able to bear Act. 15.10 Whereas the yoke of Christ is light and easie unto the bearing whereof he encourageth us by glorious promises and assisteth us by the supplies of his Spirit of grace 3. The Law is weak and unprofitable not able to make the comers thereunto perfect to expiate sin to pacifie God to quiet conscience or procure salvation It is true by vertue of divine Institution it was profitable to the uses for which it was designed namely to prefigure and lead unto Christ for that salvation which it self could not give But Christ being come the use of it is wholly ceased and it become to all intents weak and unprofitable And therefore Moses and Aaron both dyed before the entring of Israel into Canaan the Lord thereby signifying as Tertullian hath observed the mortality of the Law and its impotency to bring men into the possession of the Promises that it was to give way to Christ who had an unchangeable Priesthood and to his Gospel which was an everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 Thus we see the excellencie of the Gospel above the Law for by it onely is ministred Grace to pardon the sins committed against and to perform the duties required by the Moral Law and by it is Christ exhibited to accomplish the Prefigurations of the ceremonial Law For the Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Iesus Christ. III. The excellency of the Gospel appeareth if we compare it with any other the most noble perfections acquirable by the uttermost improvement of natural abilities either in Genere notitiae or in Genere morum 1. The highest knowledge attainable by humane
of the Law cancell'd and the Kingdom of sin destroyed and demolished in us To be Adopted unto the dignity of the Sons of God To be partakers of the Divine Nature To have the life and likeness of Christ formed in us these are branches and veins of those unsearchable riches of Christ which in the Gospel are set before us Lastly the preciousness of the Rewards which in the Gospel are promised unto Believers infinitely surpassing those which any other Religion maketh to the observers of it They dreamt onely of such delights as their narrow mindes darkned with sin and contracted unto baser objects could frame conceptions of to themselves But the rewards of the Gospel are of a more sublime and refined nature Such the endowments of the glorified body which the Apostle giveth us in four words 1 Cor. 15.42 44. 1. Incorruption nothing shall ever annoy or infest it as here poverty violence sickness death and other evils do 2. Honour siderial splendor and pulchritude like that of Christ in his transfiguration or of Moses coming down from the Mount· For if wisdom here make the face to shine Eccles. 8.1 as we read of St. Stephen That his face was as the face of an Angel Act. 6.15 How much more lustre will Celestial Glory bring upon it when it shall be as the Sun and as the brightness of the Firmament Dan. 12.3 3. Power and vigour to serve the glorified soul without any defect infirmity or impediment whatsoever 4. Spirituality no need of cloathing nutrition or any other Animal provisions it being perpetually supported and preserved by the Spirit of Glory· Such the endowments of the soul filled with the reward of blessedness A sure reward Prov. 11.18 grounded upon immutable love upon an unvaluable purchase upon unquestionable promises whereof we have in our selves the earnest in our head the possession A great reward a Crown an heavenly Kingdom a Kingdom of God a weight of Glory Psal. 19.11 Matt. 5.12 2 Cor. 4.17 A full reward 2 Joh. 5.8 no desire unanswered no faculty unreplenished no sin no sorrow no labour no tears unremoved Thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy pleasures Psal. 36.8 The minde filled with as much light the will with as much love the soul with as much peace as the whole capacity thereof is able to contain Faith hightned into vision hope satisfied in possession love compleated in fruition peace consummated in immutable inconcussible and indeficient delectation In these four things seem to consist the endowments of glorified souls so far as we can here frame any judgement of the glory to come 1. In a complete vision of God and Christ. Here we see but in part in the book of the creatures in the glass of the Word But then we shall see him as he is face to face we shall behold his face in righteousness though not with a comprehensive vision how can a finite comprehend an infinite Aliud est videre aliud totum videndo comprehendere saith saith St· Austin yet with a beatifical and replenishing Vision no desire of the minde unfilled unsatisfied with the knowledge of God and Christ. 2. In a complete possession of God and Christ. Here God is our God in a gracious Covenant in precious Promises in the first-fruits of the Spirit in the seeds of grace and peace in comfortable provisions in powerful providence in continual protection in spiritual Ordinances But all this while we are absent from the Lord in hope onely of things which we see not The Inheritance in our minority is reserved in heaven for us But at last we shall be admitted into it As our faith shall be changed into vision so our hope into a possession of God We shall not be in a waiting expecting longing languishing posture but in a plenary fruition of all the blessedness which the Covenant of Grace did by faith entitle us unto No faculty of the soul not as full of God as the Sun of Light or the Sea of Water 3. In a complete similitude and transformation into the Image of Christ. Here our Grace is mingled with corruption the flesh lusting against the Spirit As we are Similes per primitias spiritus so we are dissimiles per Reliquias vetustatis as St. Austin speaks But in Heaven we shall be wholly like unto him for we shall see him as he is As the Image of the Sun is formed in the glass on which it shines so the glorified soul by seeing God hath the untainted image of his Holiness and purity shed forth upon it 4. In a complete delectation arising from the vision possession and similitude unto God in whose presence is fulness of joy at whose Right-hand are pleasures for evermore Earthly delights are apt to cloy and produce a loathing But in Heaven the delights are full and perpetual Tota virtus Amare quod videas summa felicitas habere quod amas For it cannot be that the highest and chiefest good should ever cause a fastidium or satietie in the fruition of it since it comprehendeth eminently in it the particular and divided perfections of all other desirable things God himself being All in All unto us Unto All which we might add the excellency of the place where these glorious things are reserved for us where Christ hath prepared and furnished mansions for his own Spouse A building of God an house not made with hands wherein the Lord will shew that glory to his Church which no other creatures ever saw or can see Add hereunto the excellency of the company there Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs All Saints and Blessed Angels the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus the sight of whose Glory is the Glory of his Church Lastly the Crown of all is the eternity of this Glory· For the Mercy of God is from everlasting to everlasting to those that fear him The Gospel of Christ an everlasting Gospel his Priesthood unchangeable his Kingdom inconcussible his sacrifice for ever his redemption eternal no moth no rust no seed of corruption within no thief no violence no cause of corruption without So long as there is power in God to preserve us so long as there is mercy and truth in God to reward us so long as God is our Father and Christ our Head so long shall believers be blessed and enjoy an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for us Oh that any who know themselves to be mortal here and immortal hereafter should rake in the dunghil of the earth for content and comfort and build their happiness upon loss and dung upon vanity and vexation who have such gloririous things as these to look after and to secure unto themselves Certainly no man liveth up to the dignity of man who doth not regulate his conversation by the pure and holy Laws of Christianity
legal obedience was necessary unto life by the first Covenant made with Adam Do this and live Rom. 10.5 by which since the fall no man can be saved 2. By way of a final perpetual Decree never to be altered Such is the Covenant of Grace in the Gospel confirmed by an oath to shew the immutability thereof for Christ offered one sacrifice for sin for ever upon rejection whereof there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins saith our Saviour Ioh. 8.4 Again one thing may be necessary to another two ways 1. Necessitate causae as that which giveth it its being and foundeth a right unto it So the payment of a price is necessary to a purchase and foundeth that right which the Purchaser hath thereunto 2. Necessitate viae without the which I cannot come to the possession of the thing purchased For though the price procure me the property yet I must go the way which will bring me unto it before I can be personally possessed of it The only cause of salvation is the free Grace of God and price of the bloud of Christ deriving a property thereunto upon us as one by faith with the Purchaser by regeneration descending from him by adoption joynt heirs with him But we cannot come to the actual possession of that inheritance without running that race of Evangelical holiness which is the way thereunto From these things thus distinguished we gather this conclusion that although the Gospel were not originally necessary unto blessedness by the Law of Primitive Creation another Covenant having been made with Adam in order unto life yet upon supposition of the fall of man and of the unchangeable sanction of God whereby the Covenant of Grace is made perpetual so the Gospel is indispensably necessary unto salvation called in the Scripture the Gospel of Salvation the Power of God unto Salvation the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation yea by the name of Salvation it self 1. The sacrifice of Christ necessary Ad acquisitionem to the purchasing of blessedness for us called by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by an Hypallage as some think 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A purchase of Salvation of glory of Redemption The bloud of Christ was both a price of ransome whereby we were Redeemed out of misery He gave his life a ransome for many Matt. 20.28 and a price of purchase of that eternal Glory unto which though it were his own he could not ascend so as to take possession thereof for us which was one principal business of his Ascension I go to prepare a place for you Joh. 14.2 until first he had suffered as himself telleth us Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory Luk. 24.26 for Christ having a double right unto glory a natural right as the Son of God and a purchased right as the Saviour of the world reserveth the former unto himself and bestoweth the latter upon the Church 2. The gracious Acts of Divine Love in Iustification and Adoption necessary unto the Ius ad rem or deriving a title upon us For sonship hath a right accompanying it If sons then heirs Gal 4.7 The inheritance it self is sometimes called by the name of Adoption Rom. 8.23 Gal. 4.5 3. Faith and Repentance which two Evangelical graces Christ hath honoured in the business of Salvation above others because they are humbling graces the one teaching us to judge and abhor our selves the other to go out of our selves for righteousness these necessary ad Statum to that condition wherein we are capacitated to receive the conveyance of that inheritance so purchased for us and derived upon us Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Act· 3 19· He that believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life Joh· 3 15. 4. Evangelical obedience necessary to the Ius in Re to the Actual possession of this Inheritance as the onely way which leads thereunto For without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 It is a gradus and an inchoation of Glory Thus we see the absolute necessity of the Gospel wherein we finde Christ meritoriously purchasing God graciously conveying Repentance humbly disposing Faith comfortably receiving and sincere obedience gradually conducting us unto eternal salvation In the next place let us observe the All-sufficiency of the grace of the Gospel unto the effecting of that blessedness whereunto it is so necessary In sickness Physick is necessary but when Death comes it is not sufficient to withstand it But there is a Plenipotency in Evangelical grace to consummate our Salvation for us Christ is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God by him Heb 7.25 Every thing which he did corporally for us he will do the same spiritually by his Grace in us So that though we be yet imperfect in our selves yet we are complete in him Col. 2.10 And as there was a consummatum est pronounced upon his work on earth whereby he wrought Redemption for us It is finished Joh. 19.30 So there will be a consummatum est pronounced upon his work in Heaven whereby he applyeth Redemption unto us It is done Rev. 21.6 He will perfect every good work which he begins and be the finisher of what he is the Author unto us And this is a further demonstration of the excellencie of the Gospel That as it is an onely so it is an all-sufficient means unto that blessedness which is therein tendred unto us Lastly the excellency of the Gospel will appear if we consider the infinite value and pretiousness of the things therein concerned 1. The preciousness of the subject by the grace thereof Redeemed It is true by sin our bodies are become vile and our souls cursed and might both be justly made vessels of dishonour But if we view them in their primitive integrity made after the Image of God in the Grace and Glory whereof they are capable in the immortal condition whereunto they are reserved in the honourable accompt which God hath of them when he hath once formed them for himself a people for his Name in whom he will be admired in these respects we may truely say that there is nothing which a man can give in exchange for his soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The preciousness of the price whereby we were purchased the bloud of God as the Apostle calls it Act. 20.28 3. The preciousness of the condition whereunto we are by the Gospel called To be justified from the guilt of innumerable sins To have the peace of God which passeth understanding the joy of salvation which is unspeakable and glorious the Favour of God which is better then life shed abroad upon the Soul To have the sting of Death pulled out the fire of Hell quenched the worm of conscience killed the sentence