far from them wondrous confident have the Saints of God been in times of danger upon this very ground God is our refuge and strength saith the Church a present help in time of trouble therefore we will not fear though the earth be moved c. Psal 46. 1 2 3. A Saint that beleeves this may laugh at fear he may esteeme iron as straw and brasse as rotten wood as the Scripture saith of the Leviathan Job 41. 27 28. 'T is a disparagement to your hiding place that you should be afraid If Christ be able to hide you you shall not be undefended Let the world rage let devils roare let men lift up their voice let sinne be never so furious Christ is a hiding place he hides you from Gods wrath and he will hide you from mans fury Let unguarded sinners fear and tremble but let Christs hidden ones rest in setled peace in firme security Your sinking doth upbraid your hiding place with weaknesse and insufficiency 2. Acknowledge from whence all your safety and protection comes That you are hid from danger when others are exposed to danger that you are sheltred when others 〈◊〉 without shelter that your soules bodies graces comforts are secured it is not because of your own care but because Christ hides you If the Lord himself had not been on our fide now may Israel say they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us Psal 124. 1 2. If Christ did not prepare a place for the woman the Church and if he did not give her the two wings of an Eagle to carry her to her hiding place the Dragon would soon devoure both her and her childe Rev. 12. 14. Acknowledge the protection of Christ let him have the praise of all your safety The ancient Romanes used to pay tribute for shadows let Christ have praises for his shadowy protection Whosoever are the instruments he is the principal Authour of all your hiding 3. Take heed of making any other hiding places Men are very apt when danger approacheth to dig created hiding places for themselves We may reade how the Prophet reproves this practise Esay 22 9 10 11. A providential use of outward means is not onely lawful but necessary but carnal trusting to any such hiding place is sinful To trust to creatures in time of danger is very Atheistical God hath cursed such confidence Jer. 17. 5 6. But to descend to particulars There are sundry places which men create to themselves in time of danger 1 Many make great men their hiding place When troubles arise they have recourse to men that by the strength of horses and Armies they may hide them Alas what a vain confidence is this Ahaz thought to have hid himselfe under the wing of the King of Assyria but what was the event 2 Chron. 28. 20. The King of Assyria came unto him but strengthened him nâ—t The skirt of men the strength of horses is weak and very vaine Prov. 21. 31. The horse is prepared against the day of battel but safety is of the Lord. We must say as the Church Lord give us help in trouble for vaine is the help of man He that makes a chariot his hiding place shall not be hid God will drive the wheeles over their own back If men and horses could be a hiding place from men to your bodies they cannot be any competent shelters to your soules they cannot hide the inner man I shall conclude this with Psal 20. 7. Some trust in chariots c. They are brought down and fallen but we are risen and stand upright He that makes men and horses his hiding place shall bring down the fire of Gods anger upon his hiding place and upon himselfe Esay 31. 1 3. When God shall stretch out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fall together 2 Others make strong Castles and desenced Cities their hiding place When danger approaches they slie to such places and there think to be safe But alas how insecure are all these places The high walls of Jericho fell down with a shout when Jesus Christ gave commandment for their downfal Josh 6. 20. such hiding places are made of perishable materials Nineveh was a strong place but it could not secure the inhabitants thereof See how the Prophet derides their confidence Nah. 3. 12 13 14. Tyrus was very strong Ezek. 27. 11. The Gammadims were in thy Towers They were a people of Phenicia called Gammadims as if we should say viâ—i 〈◊〉 becausâ— of the grâ—â—t strength they had in their 〈◊〉 〈…〉 lacâ—rtosi saith Juniâ—s And not for all their strength they could not preserve their Towers nor their Towers them from the rage of Nebuchadnezzar Chap. 26. 7 8 9. If any defenced place could hide you yet it could but hide the outward man it could be no security to the soul either from sinne or temptations Devils can climb the highest walls brazen wals cannot keep out his temptations much lesse can they secure you from the wrath of God 3 Others make their silver and gold a hiding place The rich mans wealth is his strong City and as a high wall in his conceit Prov. 18. 11. but alas how unable are these things to secure us riches sometime lay men open to danger poverty is a better securer then riches even from bodily danger Osiander reports that in that bloody Epit. Cent. 16. l. 3. c. 69. Parisian Massacre many rich Papists were murthered for their wealth as well as protestants Though their profession made them Papists yet their wealth made them Hugonots as well as others However riches cannot secure a man from a disease nor from death Luke 16. nor from temptation nor from troubles of conscience nor from the wrath of God Prov. 11. 4. and Zephan 1. 18. Neither their silver nor gold can deliver them in the day of the Lords anger 4 Others make their outward priviledges a hiding place This the carnal Jewes did ever betake themselves to when the Prophets threatned any stormes Nothing is more frequent in Scripture then this Jer. 7. 4. The Temple of the Lord c. Mic. 3. 11. and Mat. 3. 9. Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father c. But alas all this will not hide you Go to my place at Shiloh saith God Jer. 7. 12. Go to Jerusalem and see how it is there go to the seven Churches of Asia and see how it is there These priviledges are so farre from being hiding places that if he that enjoyes them be not hid savingly in Christ they will expose him to more sudden more certaine and more dreadful ruine Reade Mat. 11. 20 21 22 23 24. Ioab was slaine at the horns of the Altar Gods Temple shall not be a Sanctuary except he who is the Lord of the Temple be our hiding place Indeed whatever hiding place is made besides Christ shall not shelter
are described by such termes as set out the sensiblenesse of their condition The meek the broken-hearted the captives them that are bound them that mourne in Zion them that sit in ashes them that are under the spirit of heavinesse The cure is set down in expressions suitable to the nature of these sicknesses To the meek good tydings to the broken hearted binding up to the captives liberty to them that are bound the opening of the prison to them that mourne comfort the oile of joy to them that are in ashes beauty to the spirit of heavinesse the garment of praise The Authority enjoyning this is the Divine unction of the Father by the Spirit The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me the Lord hath anointed me So Esay 50. 4. Jesus Christ is a very exact observer of his Fathers Commandment He hath his 〈…〉 not onely in his hand but even in hi◠〈◊〉 Psalm 40. 8. in the middest of his bowels Now because God hath in so peculâ—ar â— manner recommended these to his â—are therefore doth he apply himself to them for their cure 2. From the instigation of his own mercifulnesse Jesus Christ is very tender-hearted he is full of the bowels of compassion The Apostle calls him a merciful and faithful High Priest Heb. 2. 17. He could not be a compleat High Priest if he wanted either of these Now being so merciful and compassionate he will not turne away his bowels from them that are in so dejected a condition This is rendred as the reason why he was so ready to heale the wounded travellor Luke 10. 33 34. When he saw him he had compassion on him and bound up his wounds Jesus Christ hath lost none of his tendernesse by going into heaven He is still touched with the sensible feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 15. this inclines him to this readinesse 3. That he may not lose the glory of that work which he hath begun The humbling and convincing of proud sinners is as truly the work of Christ as the restoring of humbled sinners 'T is his work to prick the heart as well as to comfort the heart Now if he should humble and convince a sinner and then leave him and proceed no farther he would lose the honour of what he hath done The soule doth not heartily praise Christ for conviction till conviction be carried on to conversion The soul so long as it abides onely under the paines of conviction apprehends no love but onely wrath and anger and so long as the love of Christ is unseen the glory of Christ is not proclaimed Now Christ will not lose the glory of the first work therefore is he so careful and ready to carry on the second work The Uses of this Point 1. Let this preserve all that are in such a condition from despaire Satans great plot upon convinced and humbled sinners is to drive them to despaire As he endeavours to heighten and harden unbroken sinners to presumption so his great designe is to afright humbled sinners to despaire This Doctrine is a good preservative against such temptations you that see sinne and complaine of your spiritual sicknesses know this to your comfort that as Christ hath prepared you for healing so he will be ready to heale you Object I have been a long time under these heart-pricking convictions and yet cannot finde any healing my wounds are as wide and as deep as ever they were I have lyen many moneths yea many yeares under the apprehensions of sinne and wrath and yet am not healed How shall I beleeve this Doctrine Sol. 1. Many sinners are healed who do not apprehend themselves to be healed Many wounded sinners will not beleeve themselves to be healed unlesse they could finde no skarre or spot of sinne upon them They think they are not healed of sinne 〈◊〉 they are not quite delivered both from the being and acting of sinne They even look to finde as perfect healing on earth as they shall have in Heaven But we must know that a person may be healed both of the guilt of sinne by Justification and of the dominion of sinne by Sanctification and yet still finde many sores of sinne upon and new sores breaking out every day in him Paul was healed when he cried out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Romans 7. 24. David was healed and yet he cries out My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psalme 38. 5. and againe verse 7. My loynes are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my flesh When the love of sinne the secret delight in sinne the allowance of sinne the commanding rule of sinne are removed though there continue many wounds and scarres too upon the soule the cure of sinne is wrought and that which is wanting shall perfectly be finished 2. Many sinners keep themselves from being healed by their own default They do keep terrour and apprehensions of wrath upon their soules because they will not close with the promises of the Gospel Though the comforts of the Gospel be held out never so clearly and with never so much perswadingnesse yet they will have none of them They are not humbled enough as they think they are not so prepared as they should be therefore they will not come to Christ to close with him as with a Saviour nor apply the promises of the Gospel but reject them and put them away as none of their portion This is the case of abundance of sinners Is it any wonder if such say they are not healed 'T is because they will not be healed They are not worthy of mercy and therefore they will have none They do not consider that all our worthinesse stands in the sense of our own unworthinesse They do not consider that they do not come to bring fulnesse to Christ but to draw out of Christs fulnesse John 1. 14. if such sinners would but lay aside this spiritual pride and close with Christ because they see they are unworthy of him they should finde that he would in a short time spiritually heale them For he is willing to heale and willing to do it speedily Jesus Christ never did never will put any sinne-lamenting sinner to any unnecessary trouble to any unnecessary delay 2. Let all the people of God especially the Ministery of God be ready to follow Christs example When you see or know of any soul that is wounded with sinne apply what healing medicines you can that they may be healed 'T is given in charge to the Ministers of God both in the Old and in the New Testament Esay 35. 3. and 1 Thes 5. 14. As it is cruel mercy to prostitute the comforts of the Gospel to proud sinners so is it great cruelty to with-hold the cordials of the Gospel from such sinners as are burthened with their sinnes Jesus Christ will take it very kindly at any mans hand that will help forward the
feed the inward man Those that have the fattest bodies have not alwayes the fattest soules But Christ is spiritual meat and drink He feeds the soul the conscience the spiritual part His blood purgeth the conscience Heb. 9. 14. it refreshes the conscience it chears the conscience his body strengthens the soul repaires the decayes of the inward man 2. Christ is heavenly meat and drink Joh. 6. 32. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven Other meat and drink is terrene and earthly Your bread grows out of the bowels of the earth Your wine is the blood of an earthly grape The flesh you eat is fed of the tender grasie that springs out of the earth If the earth should prove barren you would soone feele a famine The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. 'T is true the blessing comes from heaven but all the materials of meat and drink are earthly But Jesus Christ is the bread of heaven and the wine of heaven The Manna came from the clouds onely but Christ from the beatifical heaven even from the bosome of the Father 3. Christ is incorruptible meat and drink All earthly meat and drink is of a fading perishing nature The best bread grows mouldy in a little time the best flesh in time putrifies and taints the best wine growes eager and sowre in a little time and becomes unfit for the body of man The very Manna it self when it was kept till the morning of the next day contrary to Gods command bred wormes and standk Exod. 16. 20. But Jesus Christ knows no corruption His flesh blood is now as sweet and pleasant after so many Ages as it was the first houre it was eaten and drank John 6. 27. And it will be as farre from corruption at the end of the world as now it is The Manna in the golden pot corrupted not though kept for many Generations Christ is Manna in that golden-pot the humanity in the golden pot of the Divinity shall see no corruption 4. Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal The rich man died and was buried Luke 16. 22. All that Generation that fed on Manna and drank the water out of the rock died John 6. 49. But Christ preserves the soul from Death John 6. 50. This is the bread of God that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die It immortalizes the soule that feeds on it He that beleeveth on me hath eternal life ver 51. And then 5. Christ is soul-satisfying meat and drink He that beleeveth on me shall never hunger and he that cometh to me shall never thirst John 6. 35. There is a hunger of desire and a hunger and thirst of total emptinesse and want He that hath this meat and drink shall never totally want him It is not so with other meat and drink A man may have his belly filled with other meat and drink and may have a good quantity before-hand and yet may at last want a morsel and die for want of a draught of water But he that once hath this spiritual meat and drink though he eat but a little shall never be utterly destitute Jehn 7. 37 38. The widows handful of meal and spoonful of oyle was never spent till God sent raine upon the earth 1 Reg. 17. 16. He that hath but a handful of Christs flesh and a spoonful of his blood shall never see want but shall have enough to satisfie him to all eternity 6. Christ is such meat and drink as gives life to the Dead Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death much lesse can it give life and restore breath to a dead body Put the most delicate meat the strongest drink into the mouth of a dead man and they will not give him life if the soul be quite departed They may recover from a swoon they cannot from death But the flesh and blood of Christ quicken the dead Christ by putting his flesh and blood into the mouth of the dead soul conveys life into it His flesh and blood make the lips of the dead to speak As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickneth whom he will John 5. 21. if thou hast any spiritual life in thee thou didst receive it from the enlivening vertue of Christs flesh and blood communicated to thee by the Spirit of life 7. Christ is such meat and drink as will never surset All other meat and drink if it be taken immoderately and unseasonably tends to sicknesse and suâ—fetting The more lushious and delicate they are the sooner do they surfet the body Hence is Solomons advice Prov. 25. 16. drunkennesse and surfeting bring more to their long home then pining famine But the flesh and blood of Christ never surfet A man cannot eat and drink too much of Christ nor can they eat and drink him unseasonably There is no killing no annoying vertue in Jesus Christ this meat and drink will never clog never cloy the stomack Christ is an occasion of death to none but to those that refuse him 8. Christ is such meat and drink as is suitable for all persons at all times Other meat and drink is not fit for all persons nor for the same person in all conditions That that will nourish a man may kill a childe That that strengthens a man in health may kill him in sicknesse There is meat for strong men milk for babes c. But Jesus Christ is meat and drink for all persons for all conditions He is meat for the strong man he is milk for the babe He is proper for the healthful person and he is fit for the sickly person He is the labouring mans food and he is the sick mans diet His blood is Physical drink to him that is sick cooling drink to him that is parched with heat he is strong cordial-drink to him that faints He is a suitable nourishment 9. Jesus Christ is meat and drink that is freely bestowed He is not purchased by our money nor procured by our industry but freely communicated Other meat and drink is procured at dear rates Men must Till and Plow and Sowe their land men must breed up cattel men must plant vines dig springs and fountaines otherwise they can expect neither meat nor drink The Egyptians in a time of famine pawn'd their lands for food they gave their cattel for bread and at last sold their land out-right that they might have food Gen. 47. 15 16 17 18 19 20. But Christ is meat and drink though the most costly in himselfe yet costlesse to us Nothing is required on our part but receiving of him If any should offer money Christ would say as Peter to Simon Magus Act. 8. 20. Thy money perish with thee He that will not take this meat and drink as an
that long sickness how unlike himself was he he had no actual repentance till Nathan came to him with a message from God and quickned him Sinne quencheth the Spirit in Godly men as the water quencheth the fire Sinne takes off the edge of the soul deads the appetite and affection to the things of God It locks up the heart that it cannot act as it was wont to do 2 Sicknesse begets torment and anguish in the body When sicknesse is in extremity in the body how doth a man cry out of paine head and heart and every part is under torment What restlesse tossings are men under when diseases are violent heare how Job complaines Chap. 30. 16 17 18 Sinne is a Creator of torment and painfulnesse in the soule Felix his sinne made him tremble Acts 24. 25. Cains sinne put his spirit into such anguish that he cries out My punishment is greater then I can beare Gen. 4. 13 14. Judas his sinne did bring such despairing torment upon his soule that he takes away his life to end his misery Matth. 27. init And even Gods own people when they fall into this spiritual disease they are pained at the very heart till by pardon and remission they have obtained a healing from God How full of paine was Davids spirit by reason of his sinne He was as a man upon the rack for a long time if he did ever recover his former serenity Vid. Psalme 6. per totum Psalme 38. per tot Many of the deare children of God do by sinne fill their hearts with such anguish that they are never without much smart to the day of their death 3 Sicknesse doth bring uncomelinesse The most beautiful body in the world if pining sicknesses continue long upon it becomes like a garment that is moth-eaten the eyes sink the colour is lost the skin is shriveld the bones stick out c. Job observes this Chap. 16. 8. Thou hast filled me with wrinkles which is a witnesse against me and my leaâ—nesse rising up in me beareth witnesse to my face Sicknesse makes streight bodies how down beautiful faces look ghastly well-coloured cheeks look pale and oftentimes the more beautiful sicknesse findes us the more uncomely doth it leave us Sicknesse turnes youth into old age vid. Lam. 3. 4. My flesh and my skin hath he made old Sickness dries up the spirits Prov. 17. 22. A merry heart doth good like a medicine a broken spirit dries up the bones Sin takes away the comelinesse of the soule The first sinful sicknesse that ever entered into the world hath turned the soules and bodies of all mankinde into deformity and uglinesse Could we see the picture of Adams soule in the state of innocency and compare it with the soules that are diseased with sinne we would wonder at the sad change Sinne is a very deformed thing it turned Angels of light into ugly devils Those who were never healed by regeneration and remission of the disease of sin what deformed souls have they they have not one spot of beauty upon them Psal 14. 3. They are altogether become stinking A dead carrion a putrefied carcasse is as beautiful and as sweet an objâ—ct as a sinfully-diseased soul Yea even Gods own children by falling into sinne though but in one or two particular acts do lose much of their beauty They do not look with that grace they did before Every act of sin casts a dark thick shadow upon the soul As deep wounds leave skars upon the body so sinful acts leave some skarres of infamy upon the soul A Saint doth not look like the same man he was before he fell into sin 4 Sicknesse brings death Dorcas was sick and died Act. 9. 37. Long sicknesses if they be not removed will bring the strongest body to the dust of death Sicknesse is indeed Anteambulo mortis the forerunner of death The sick-bed is the direct way to the dark bed the grave Sinne doth bring death to the soule One disease of sinne if it be not healed by Christs bloud will certainly bring the soule to eternal death Rom. 6. 23. it hath brought many to hell and it will certainly bring all others to the same condition that live and die in it unhealed He that dies in his sinne shall die for ever II. For the nature of this sicknesse 'T is a more dreadfull sicknesse then any other sicknesse I shall set it out in a few particulars 1. It seizeth upon the most noble part of man All other sicknesses do infest the body onely but sinne is a disease in the soul Those sicknesses are most painful and most mortal which seize upon the vitals and inward parts A disease that feeds upon the spirits doth soone drink up the natural moisture and is not so easily cured Sinne is a disease that doth immediately reach the spirits 'T is the sicknesse of the heart O Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse that thou mayest be saved Jer. 4. 14. The Apostle it 's true speaks of the filthinesse of the flesh and of the spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. Some sins are onely acted by the brutish fleshly and sensitive part others rest in the spirit as pride vain-glory envy c. yet notwithstanding even those filthinesses of the flesh have their chief seat and residence in the heart according to that of our Saviour Matth. 15. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts c. All sinne is spiritual wickednesse in regard of the fountaine and root of it As grace is seated in the heart so also is sin Ier. 4. 18. This is thy wickednesse because it is bitter because it reacheth unto thine heart 2. Sinne is a sicknesse which God never made All bodily diseases are the handy work of God He created Plagues Feavers Consumptions c. Amos 3. 6. But sinne is a sicknesse of which God never was the Author 'T is true God sometimes punisheth sinne by sinne not by creating sinne but by suffering a sinful creature to fill up his sinne by withdrawing denying his grace which onely can preserve from sin 3. Sinne is a sicknesse which separates between God and men No other disease can divide between God and the soule Hezekiahs plague Asa's gout Iobs sores none of all these did make any division between God and them Some sicknesses do separate between the husband and the wife the father and the childe at least in regard of actual communion though not in regard of affection but no bodily sicknesse divides between God and men But sinne doth separate between God and the soule Esay 59. 2. It makes God stand at a distance from his own children to hide his face from them and to deale with them as with enemies 4. Sinne is the cause of all other sicknesses All bodily diseases come from this disease Hast thou not procured this thy unto self Thine own doings shall correct thee c. Jer. 2. 19. A distempered soul is the true cause of a distempered body Sinne was the first
Vine I shall present you with four clusters by which you may judge of the rest First the fruits of his death There are many particulars in this cluster I name but six 1. The satisfaction of Divine Justice The appeasing of Gods anger towards the Elect Esay 53. 6. Christ by his death did as perfectly satisfie the demands of justice as though God had never been offended he made full payment 2. The reconciliation of beleevers to God He hath not onely paid what justice required but he hath perfectly made agreement between God and the sinâ—er that now thorough Christ God is as well appeased and is become as perfect a friend to the beleever as he was to Adam iâ— Paradise God hath not in his heart the least grâ—dge towards his person Of this the Apostle speaks Eph. 2. 14 15. and Col. 1. 21 22. 3. The working out of a compleat righteousness for the sinner Such a righteousnesse as that the sinner may with a holy boldnesse chalenge the Law of God to finde fault with it Of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 17 18 19. This is called in divers respects righteousnesse of God Rom. 1. 17. The righteousnesse of faith Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 4. 13. The righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 5. 18. 4. The destroying of him that had the power of death Of this you may â—eade Col. 2. 15. and Heb. 2. 14. Saâ—ans supremacy over the soule is abolished and the captived soul made the Lords freeman 5. The sweetning and perâ—uming of the grave and the freedome of the sinner from the fear of death This fruit is mentioned by the Apostle Heb. 2. 15. 6. The killing of the power of sinne Christ by dying for sinne slew sinne so as that it can never damne any of the Elect. Of this you mâ—y read Rom. 6. 4 6. Secondly the â—ruits of his resurrection These are many I shall set a few before you these foure 1. Spiritual vivifiâ—ntion The soule of a beleever is raised up and empowred to walk in â—â—â—â—nesse of life This the Apostle applieth principally to the resuâ—â—◠〈…〉 2. 12 13. You being deâ—â— i◠〈…〉 He â—ath quickâ—ed together 〈…〉 2. An assured evidence 〈…〉 from sinne This the Apostle 〈…〉 resurrection of Christ Rom. 4. 25. He was 〈◊〉 again for our justification The resurrection of Christ from the grave is a full proof that all the debt is paid the discharge of the prisoner is a cleare testimony of the discharge of the debt The Prophet puts them together Esay 53. 8. He was taken from prison and from judgement And hence the Apostle argues against those that deny the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 17. If Christ be not raised we are yet in our sinnes 3. An Argument of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day If the Head be raised the body shall not lie for ever in the grave the Resurrection of Christ is a pledge of ours as the first fruits were unto the Jewes a pledge of the ensuing harvest The Apostle alludes to that 1 Cor. 15. 20. And therefore the Apostle saith that Beleevers are raised up together with Christ Ephes 2. 6. They did rise in their representative when Christ was raised 4. The Confirmation of our hope of heaven This fruit of Christs Resurrection the Apostle sets down 1 Pet. 1. 3. We are begotten againe to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead The Doctrine of Christs Resurrection is the nourishment of the grace of Hope Thirdly The fruits of his Ascension This is a very rich cluster I shall name a few these five 1. Leading captivity captive The Apostle mentions this Eph. 4. 8. By â—eturning to heâ—ven from whence he came he did publickly â—arâ—y his spoile with him he did declare that â—ll the enemies of our salvation were perfectly brought under As great Conquerours when they have subdued their enemies do lead captive those whom they have overcome so Christ the great Captaine of our salvation did by his Ascension let his people see that their spiritual enemies were all eternally vanquished 2. The conferring of Mâ—nisterial gifts yea of the office of Ministery on his Church Of this the Apostle speaks Eph. 4 8. The Ministery of the Church is a fruit of Christs Ascension And t is as possible to pull him out of Heaven as to destroy that which he so solemnly settled at his Ascension 3. The more pleâ—tiful effusion of his Spirit upon his Church Of this fruit of his Ascension our Saviour speaks John 16 7. If I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I go away I will send him Christ when he departed powred forth his Spirit in greater plenty then ever it was before to supply the want of his bodily presence And then 4. Preparations of Mansions for his members This fruit is mentioned John 14. 3. As a man when he hath espoused a wife provides a house for her abode against the day of marriage so Christ having espoused the Church goes to heaven before-hand to make all things ready for their entertainment against the marriage day 5. An assured evidence of their corporal Asâ—ension Christ ascended and 〈…〉 as the fore-runner of his Churâ—◠〈…〉 The Apostle tells us that Christ 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not onely for ou◠〈…〉 our stead to give us an undoubted 〈…〉 that weâ— also shall personally entertaine the ascension of the head is the praeludium of the glorification of the members Fourthly The fruits of his Intercession These are very many I shall name these four 1. Assurance of the Application of all his benefits Whatsoever Christ purchased by his death â—e doth actually apply to the Elect by his intercession The Prophet puts them together Esay 53. ult This is one fruit of Christs intercession beleevers are sure to be put into full possession of all that which Christ hath merited for them by his blood-shed This some make to be the meaning of that Scripture John 14 3. They refer it to his intercession Christ by his satisfaction obtained for the Elect a right to heaven and by his intercession he doth actually apply it to them 2. The superseding and stopping of all Accusations made against them The Law accuseth Satan pleads the Law against beleevers and hence accuseth them Christ is interceding continually at Gods right hand to invalidate all these accusations There can no sooner come in any complaint but Christ throws it out Of this fruit of his intercession the Apostle speaks Rom. 8. 33 34. 3. Manuduction into the presence of the Father with boldnesse Christ is at Gods right hand for this very purpose that when ever a beleever hath any request to preâ—er to God he may take them by the hand and bring theâ— to the Father with confidence This fruit of his interâ—ession is set down by the Apostle Heb. 4. 14. 16. 4. Assurance of the acceptance of our weakest services This fruit of his intercession is mentioned Rev. 8. 3 4. The ascending
Out of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace John 1. 16. Christ doth not exhale vapours from the earth but sends down vapours from himself to the earth All his materials are in himself and from himself if Jesus Christ could not raine upon us till we did furnish him with materials we should be out of hopes of receiving one drop from him to the day of our death We can furnish him with materials for fire and brimstone but the ingredients of his comfortable raine are from himself alone 3. The raine is not necessary at all times There are seasons when the husbandman craves no raine He is sometimes afraid of showers and wishes for Sun shine rather then showers As snow in Summer and raine in harvest so honour is not seemly for a foole Prov. 26. 1. But now Jesus Christ is never unnecessary This raine can never faill unseasonably There 's no time but the drops of Christs doctrine come welcome to the soul There 's no moment wherein the influences of Christs Spirit are not grateful to the soule That day that is not a rainy day is a mournful day The earth may be too full of raine but the soule can never be too full of this heavenly moisture Si dixisti sufficit periisti 4. The raine is sâ—metimes hurtful to the earth Immoderate raine is as prejudicial as immoderate drought A poor man that oppresseth the poore is like a sweeping raine that leaveth â—â— food Prov. 28. 3. As parching heat doth sometimes dry up the fruits of the earth So excessive raine doth often drown the fruits of the earth Sometimes men and cattel are drowned sometimes houses with their inhabitants are swept away by overflowing showers But now Jesus Christ is never prejudicial to the soul If ever this raine do any annoyance to men it is by accident because it is not received or improved The distillation of Christs Doctrine is sometimes the savour of death 2 Cor. 2. 15. but this is onely because men are not bettered by it The Scepter of Christ doth break many in pieces Psalme 2. 9. but this is because men do not submit to it The influences and strivings of Christ by his Spirit are sometimes the occasion of the hardning of mens hearts and so consequently of their destruction but this is because they do resist and oppose them This raine hath intrinsecally no hurtful destructive property in it If it ever prove destructive it is because of some evil quality in them upon whom it falls 5. The raine is no distinguishing Argument between good and bad It falls promiscuously upon the righteous and unrighteous This our Saviour tells us Matth. 5. 45. The raine indeed sometimes falls in one place when it doth not fall on another Amos 4. 7. but on whatsoever City or Village it falls it comes down equally on all As fat drops fall upon the sluggards field as upon the field of the most diligent man But now this spiritual raine is more distinguishing Though all where the Gospel is preached have the same common Doctrine and all have some common influences of Christs Spirit yet there are special drops distilled upon the Elect which others never partake of Some are hardned others are softned some are rained upon to conversion others are rained upon for obduration some are melted and dissolved others are stiffned and enraged The peculiar drops of special grace are not communicated to all alike from Jesus Christ Arminians may talk of Universal grace that Christ doth no more for Peter then for Judas but the Scripture speaks of peculiar grace which is not communicated to all Why is it that thou wilt reveal thy self to us and not unto the world John 14. 22. There is hidden Manna which Christ never intended to bestow on all There are secret drops which Christ lets fall on one soul in a Congregation and doth not distill upon others This raine falls with a most exact distinction He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy saith the Apostle Rev. 2. 17. and whom he will he hardeneth Rom. 9. 18. Christ hath excluded some from the benefit of his prayers John 17. 19. And they that are shut out of the benefit of his prayers are excluded from the saving merit of his blood His propitiation is not extended further then his mediation 1 John 2. â— 2. The peculiarity of the descending of this raine is cleerly shewed by our Saviour in the answer he gives to that question of his Disciples concerning his preaching to the people in Parables Mat. 13. 10 11 12 13 14 15. Though the raine of Christs Doctrine fall down indifferently upon all yet the special grace of understanding applying and improving that Doctrine is not given unto all 6. The rain can make nothing spring where nothing hath rooted The showers are able to make both grasse and corne and other plants grow up but if either the earth be barren or if there be no foundation of roots the showers can do nothing the raine can make nothing grow up out of rocks It cannot make wheat grow where none was sowen But now Jesus Christ doth not onely make seed grow where seed is sowen but he makes seed grow where none was sowen Christ by the drops of his Doctrine and by the influences of his Spirit makes the rocks bring forth fruit He doth not onely cause plants to spring in good soyle but by the dropping of his grace turnes a barren soyle into a fruitful soyle one good shower from Christ will make the barren Heath as good ground as the fruitful valley The Word of Christ is called seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. it doth not onely make seed grow but it is seed it self Christ by raining down turnes the Thorne-tree into an Apple-tree He changes the thistle into wheat Other raine brings up something where something was but this rain brings up something where nothing was Other showers bring forth figs from Fig-trees but these showers bring forth figs from thistles Other raine brings up a crop where a crop was sown but this raine brings forth a crop where none was sown Those three thousand you reade of Act. 2. 37. had not one root in them when Peter began to preach but before he had done raining upon them their hearts were a nursery of all living plants The Uses of this Point 1. How justly may Christ expect fruitfulnesse from his people My beloved saith the Prophet had a vineyard planted in a very fruitful hill And he fenced it and gathered out the stones c. and he looked that it should bring forth grapes Esay 5. 1 2 3. It is but equal that they that live under Christs Doctrine and Scepter and under the influences of his Spirit should bring forth both good fruit and plenty of fruit the people of God are compared to a tree planted by the rivers of water which bringeth forth his fruit in his season Psal 1. 3. Christ is spiritual raine he is both
the Holy Ghost Our Saviour was anointed with the Holy Ghost Esay 61. 1. This Peter mentions in his Sermon Act. 10. 38. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Now this ointment was shed upon the Lord Jesus in such great plenty that he may well be called by the name of ointment Psal 45. 7. he had more of this spirituall ointment poured upon his humane nature then all the Saints put them altogether The Spirit was not given him by measure but above measure Joh. 3. 34. He was from his conception filled with the holy Ghost He was full of grace and truth Joh. 1. 14. He had not only drops but whole rivers of Oyle poured upon his head He may be denominated ointment from that abundance of spiritual ointment wherewith he was filled his God-head anointed the manhood with an unspeakable fulnesse Col. 1. 19. And 2. Christ is ointment in regard of the excellent vertues which are in him He hath all the good properties of ointment I name five As 1. Oyntment is very fragrant and odoriferous Precious oyntment yeilds a very sweet small When the woman in the Gospel had poured her box of oyntment upon the head of Christ the text saith the whole house was filled with the odour of it John 12. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ is very odoriferous he is sweet in himself and he is exceeding sweet in the nostrils of his Saints the perfume in the Law was type of him Exod. 30 34. He doth perfume all persons and places where ever he comes If there be but one drop of Christ poured upon the soul the whole soul is perfumed with the smell of it When Christ had but put his finger into the hole of the door how was the hand of the Spouse perfumed as with sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5. 5. That soul wants its spiritual smelling which doth not finde a sweetnesse in Jesus Christ Every thing in Jesus Christ is very fragrant 1 There is a fragrancy in his person He is a bundle of precious myrrh Cant. 1. 13. His life and holy conversation yeilded a sweet smell in the world Psal 45. 8. All thy garments smell of myrrh aloes and cassia The graces of the Spirit of which his life was full His righteousnesse meeknesse piety patience what a sweet smell do they cast abroad in the Gospel to this very day 2. There is fragrancy in his death His death was a sweet favour unto God Eph. 5. 2. His dead body was enbalmed with sweet spices John 19. 39. not that he had need of any such His body did never see corruption Psal 16. 10. So fragrant was the death of Christ that he hath perfumed the grave and made it as a bed of roses to all the Saints 3 There is a sweet fragrancy in his intercession The intercession of Christ is so sweet that it perfumes heaven it self See how it was typified under the Law Lev. 16. 12 13. The odours of the sweetest incense are not so fragrant to the nostrils of men as the odours of Christs intercession are to God So fragrant is his intercession that the services of his people which are unsavory in themselves come up as a cloud of incense before the Lord. See this Cant. 3. 6. It 's spoken of the Church because it 's the feminine gender Quae ista All this sweetnesse which is upon the Church and in her services is because they are perfumed with the incense of Christs mediation 4 There is a fragrancy in the word of Christ The breath of Christs mouth is sweeter then any perfume in the world this is that which the Church mentions Cant. 5. 16. His mouth or palate is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweetnesses so it is in the original all his promises all his precepts are very favoury 5. There is a fragrancy in all his Ordinances Prayer Sacraments Preaching singing of Psalmes are in themselves and to a gracious heart like sweet smelling oyntment The Church mentions this Cant. 2. 3. No such sweet aire bloweth under heaven as doth in the Church of God where the Ordinances of Christ are dispensed in power and purity In one word there is nothing of Christ but is more sweet then the best oyntment that ever was compounded by man This is the first property of oyntment it 's very sweet 2. Oyntment hath an exhilarating vertue It cheeres the spirits and makes the heart glad This is observed by Solomon Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and perfume rejoyce the heart When Solomon exhorts men to a cheerful life he makes mention of oyntment let thy head want no ointment alluding to the custome of the ancients who in their banquettings and feastings used such signes of joy And the Prophet expressing the jovialty of those Epicures Amos 6. 6. saith they anoint themselves with the chief oyntments The Lord Jesus Christ hath a cheering vertue The heart of a sinner is never truly merry till it be anointed with the graces of Christ and the comforts of Christ Christ is the onely remover of spiritual heavinesse The oyntment is the onely cure for spiritual melancholy Mat. 11. 28. All spiritual refreshing is from Jesus Christ He was anointed with the oyle of gladnesse that he might work gladnesse in the hearts of others This work is committed to him by God the Father Esay 61. 3. There 's not one drop of the oyle of joy but what comes out of this great olive tree the Lord Jesus that gladnesse which doth not proceed from Christ and which is not bottom'd on Christ is worldly madnesse not true joy He is called the consolation of Israel Luke 2. 25. He hath laid the foundation of Israels comfort and he it is that doth convey to them all their comfort 3 Oyntment hath a mollifying and suppling vertue If there be any hard tumour or swelling upon the body we use oyntment to soften it The holy Ghost alludes to this Esay 1 6. Where speaking of the state diseases he saith they have not been mollified with oyntments Jesus Christ hath a mollifying vertue let a heart of Adamant be but once anointed with this oyntment and it becomes an heart of flesh It was by this oyntment that the hard heart of Manasseh was softned God by his Spirit chafed this oyntment into it and it became tender And it is by the Application of this unction through the warm hands of the Spirit of God that the stony hearts of sinners are softened from day to day Thou that hast now a tender heart wouldest have carried thy stony heart with thee to thy grave if this precious oyntment had not been spread upon it 4. Oyntment is of a shining nature It hath a brightning and beautifying vertue Those Virgins that were prepared for the Persian King did use divers oyntments to make themselves beautiful Est 2. 12. they used six moneths sweet odours and six moneths oyle of myrrh This oyle as those that write of it say had