say it is such Raiment as is only to be had and bought of this Wonderful Counsellor the Amen the Faithful and True Witness and not such White raiment as is to be bought here below by which some persons distinguish themselves from others and in which they glory as if they were because of this better then others and what this white raiment here commended to us is we may be helped to know and understand by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture of Truth namely that it is righteousness even the righteousnesses of the Saints according to what we find spoken Rev. 19. 8. It was granted unto her the Lambs Wise that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white For the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints viz. that wherewith they are cloathed and adorned And so frequently in the Holy Scriptures righteousness is compared to a Garment cloathing or covering as where Job saith I put on righteousness and it cloathed me Job 29. 14. And again let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousness Psal 132. 9. So it is said The Lord hath covered me with the robe of righteousness Isa 61. 10. And the joyning here Gold and Raiment together aptly answereth to that motive and inducement given by the Holy Ghost to perswade us to receive Wisdoms instruction viz. That with her are durable riches Gold tried in the fire and righteousness white raiment Prov. 8. 18-20 So that the White raiment here commended to us appeareth to be righteousness But this righteousness which is the White raiment is not as after may be shewn our own righteousness according to the law or any works of righteousness of ours For by the deeds of the Law can no flesh living be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 20. But the White raiment here spoken of is 1. The righteousness of God without the Law even that righteousness which Christ hath wrought by and compleated in himself for us and is become there-through for this is his name Jehovah our righteousness Jer 23. 6. And so Jesus Christ himself through and by means of that righteousness he hath wrought and compleated for us in himself is likened and compared to a Garment and believers are instructed to put him on as Rom. 13. 14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ And as many as are baptized into Christ are said to have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. And it is both taken for granted they have put on the new man Christ and they are instructed still and further to put him on Col. 3. 10. Ephes 4. 23 24. And they that follow after righteousness are such as seek the Lord for it even the Lord of whom the righteousness of the Servants of the Lord is Isa 54. 17. And in whom it is Isa 45. 24. And who is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yea that righteousness which is come by him it is unto all that have sinned and upon all that believe as their Ornament and Raiment Rom. 3. 21-23 And in the Prophet he is oftentimes prophesied of under this Title or expression of righteousness As I bring near my righteousness it shall not be far off Isa 46. 13. And my righteousness is near and near to be revealed Isa 51. 5. 56. 1. with Rom. 3. 21 22. And Christ is and in him appeareth the righteousness of God and he is become righteousness for us 1. In taking our Nature upon him and therein being made sin and a curse for us and so by cying our death even tasting death by the Grace of God for every man and so this righteousness is without the Law without the works or Sacrifices thereof though Christ did no sin in the days of his flesh but always did those things that pleased the father and observed the Law yet that could not be righteousness for us but to the end he might prepare and become righteousness for us he must have our sins laid upon him and therefore God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us by imputing the trespasses of the World to him that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 19-21 As well as also he must dye our death according to that If righteousness come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. In which is implied that to the end he might bring in everlasting righteousness he must dye and be cut off from the Land of the living Dan. 9. 24-26 righteousness could not come by the Law namely by our keeping the Law of ten words or by any works of ours according thereto for by the Law is the knowledge of sin in all we do in our best as well as in our worst works nay righteousness could not come by Christ's keeping and observing of it though he did always keep it and never transgress it in thought word or deed for then he died without any just or sufficient cause he died in vain And again righteousness could not come by the Law of the former Priesthood or by any gifts Offerings or Sacrifices appointed by it for then Christ died in vain It was not possible the bâ—ood of Bulls and Goats could take away-sin Where ore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt-offerings and Sacâ—ifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God namely to do that which the Law could not do to take away sin and bring in righteousness Heb. 10. 4-10 To this end he was the Lamb of God who was slain for us he was delivered for our offences And it was needful that Christ should suffer for our sins being put to death in the flâ—sh that this raiment of righteousness might be prepared for us for we had sinned against God in our fiâ—st father Adam and were thereby become liable unto the judgment of God and had deserved death in an utter separation from the presence of God and God who is a God of truth and without iniquity and to whom it is impossible to lye and therefore he cannot by any means in clearing clear the guilty had said and threatned In the day thou eatest thereof in dying thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17. And cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them namely as is explicated by the Apostle that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. And therefore man having sinned and thereby fallen under curse and death unless the justice of God be satisfied and his truth fulfilled there can be no righteousness for us no accepting of us no forgiveness of our sins nor mercy to be shewn to us For Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law shall pass till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. Therefore to the end that Christ might
particularly he is called and compared to gold 1. Because as Gold is taken out of the earth before it becometh so precious and inriching to us Job 28. 5 6. So our Lord Jesus Christ fell into the ground and died and was taken out of the earth the heart of the earth that he might become inriching to us Herein indeed there is a dissimilitude between the natural gold and this spiritual as there are many between the old and new creation and things appertaining to both the earth is the original place of the former but it is not so of the latter Christ came down from Heaven from above he was in the form of God and was glorious with the father 's own self before the world was Job 3. 31. 6. 38 51. 17. 5. he is as to his divine consideration over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. from everlasting to everlasting he is God Psal 90. 1 2. But now that he might become unsearchable riches for us it was absolutely necessary that he should suffer and rise again from the dead Act. 17. 3. Luk. 24. 26. ye know saith the Apostle the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who being rich the proper and onely Lord and Heir of all things by divine and eternal generation for your sakes became poor that ye thorow his poverty might be enriched 2 Cor. 8. 9. So he faith of and concerning himself except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit Joh. 12. 24. he might have remained alone in the injoyment of his own glory and glorious perfection though he had not fallen into the earth but he could not have brought us back to God but we must have remained in our miserable poverty for ever he could not have been communicable riches to us as we had departed from God and fallen by our iniquities if he had not died for our sins and been buried and if also he who was delivered for our offences had not been raised again and taken out of the earth in that same body in which he was put to death and laid in a Sepulchre he could not have been Gold for us we could not have been partakers of him and of that glory in him If Christ be not raised again we are yet in our sins preaching and hearing faith and hope is vain and they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished and we must be banished from God for ever necessarily and so continue poor and miserable everlastingly But now Christ is risen from the dead and so truth substance and substantial riches is sprung out of the earth in his resurrection and righteousness looketh down from Heaven and God giveth us that which is good Psal 85. 10 12. and in him bodily even in that body which the father prepared for him and in which he bare our sins on the tree and was taken from Prison and from Judgment dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead and in him we are compleat compleatly provided for and furnished with all that may truly inrich us Colos 2. 9. 10. He is now ascended up on high and hath led captivity captive and received gifts in the man for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them He is ascended and gone up to a glorious place and to a glorious state in him it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell But in that he ascended what is it what is signified hereby and imported to us herein as needful hereto but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth into the womb of the Virgin and into a great abasement into many sorrows and sufferings he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross yea he went down into the heart of the earth his soul was in hell and his flesh in the grave in the belly or womb of the earth He that descended is the same also that ascended farr above all Heavens that he might fill all things with the virtues and influences of his sufferings and sacrifice and fulfill all things Psal 68. 18. with Ephes 4. 9 10. It is through his falling into the earth that he hath exalted and advanced our nature so highly that he is in it become the great God and our Saviour the Lord and Christ the heir of all things and inheritour of God's holy mountain Because he humbled himself therefore God highly exalted him and gave him a name above every name And he is gone up into Heaven and and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him Heb. 9. 12. Philip. 2. 6 9. 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. The Captain of our salvation is become perfect for us through suffering Heb. 2. 10. The Lord did in a wonderful and supernatural way create a new thing in the earth and it is this fruit of the earth which is excellent and comely for our escape Jer. 31. 22. Isa 4. 2. But this may be further spoken to in what is said and affirmed of this gold to wit that is tried in the fire 2. He is called and compared to gold because as natural Gold is the most excellent metal which God hath created so this faithful and true witness is the most excellent one there is none to be compared to him Gold is more precious then Iron Brass Silver or any other metal Isa 60. 17. Numb 31. 22. So he is precious excellent as the Cedars namely as the Cedars excel other trees so doth he other persons and things Cant. 5. 15. He is the beginning the principal one God's first born the first begotten from the dead that in all things and amongst all persons he might have the preeminence for it hath pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell Psal 89. 27 Col. 1. 18 19. He is White and Ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. he is fairer then the children of men Psal 45. 2. Whatever beauty or comely proportion they may have their fairness is not to be compared to his he is fair with the beauty of holiness and there is no blemish or spot in him no sin in him or wrinckle of sorrow and infirmity upon him 1 Pet. 1. 19. He is more excellent then the Angels he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they for unto which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son this day have i begotten thee All the Angels of God are required to worship him He who is raised from the dead even the man Christ Jesus is set on the right hand of God in the Heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and God hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things c. And therefore
iniquities of us all Isa 53. 6. and he confesseth these as his own when he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up Psal 40. 12. and saith to his father my guiltiness is not hid from thee Psal 69. 5. he becoming our surety and undertaking for us all our debts were charged upon him and our trespasses were imputed to him and he bare our sins in his own body and so by the imputation of the father and by his own gracious acceptation our sins became his own sins Heb. 7. 27. he is that Lamb of God that did bear the sin of the world John 1. 29. But he was tried in the fire therein and thereby was he purified from our sins from the guilt of them and so he is pure 1 Joh. 3. 3. He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin 1 Joh. 3. 5. He appeared once in the end of the World to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and is without sin and shall so appear the second time unto salvation to all them that look for him Heb. 9. 26. 28. To this purpose the Apostle saith Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit to wit He was justified acquitted and discharged from the guilt of our sins in the spirit 's raising him from the dead who died for our sins and was buried 1 Tim. 3. 16. and He through the eternal spirit hath offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9. 14. he having fully paid our debt and compleatly satisfied for our sins in his bearing the judgment of the world and being tormented for our transgressions he is released by the father and taken from Prison and from judgment and hath by himself made purgation of our sins and purged them from before the presence of God made peace and attonement for them and redeemed us in himself from the curse of the law and through that redemption that is in him all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely inasmuch as he as our surety and as the publick man and last Adam is justified and is through his personal abasement and sufferings become a lamb without blemish and without spot Heb. 1. 3. 7. 27. Col. 1. 20. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 3. 23 24. and chap. 5. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Yea and also he partook of our infirmities he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality Heb. 2. 14. he himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matt. 8. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren the sons of men such an one as they were become as the fruit of sin as distinguished from sin it self Heb. 2. 17. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and was deformed as it were with that reproch shame and dishonour which appertained to us Psal 69. 19 20. and was in that body subject to corruption though he did not abide so long in death as to see it as is implied in that the Apostle saith God raised him from the dead now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. he partook of our infirmities sorrows griefs and had a mortal body in which he was crucified and put to death and died and was buried his visage was marred more then any man's and his form more then the sons of men Isa 52 14. 53. 2. He was covered over with the wrath of God for our sins and by his permission and ordering he was covered over with shame from men so as he had no form nor comeliness no appearing beauty outwardly to make him desirable When his God forsook him then he was a reproch of men and despised of the people all they that saw him laughed him to scorne they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head saying He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he delight in him Psal 22. 6 8. as intimating that though he made his boast of God and said he was his Father yet he would not own him as his Son and therefore said they God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 10 11. and how he was covered with reproches as if he had been a gluttonous person and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and Sinners as if he had cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils as if he was a deceiver of the people as if he was guilty of blasphemy against God and of stirring up sedition amongst the people the Scriptures of the Evangelists abundantly shew to us But in this respect also he is tried in and came purified out of the fire and hath in himself overcome and abolished that death he died 2 Tim. 1. 10. and put off all mortaliry and weakness in his resurection that mortal body of his hath put on immortality his body that was so marred and without sorme is now become a glorious body and he therein and he only is a spiritual man death in him is swallowed up into victory and he is become the first-fruits of them that sleep and his triumphing Song is Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin this he hath purged away and the strength of sin is the law this he hath answered and satisfied and hath gotten himself the victory and thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 42-47-55-57 he hath put off all weakness grief sorrow pain mortality and restored our nature in himself into the image of God in a more glorious manner then ever it was in the first creation even into perfect righteousness integrity immortality and eternal life and he is in our nature glorified with the father 's own self with the glory he had with him before the world was Therein he is become eternal life for us who was delivered for our offences and such glory and lustre is upon that body that it is above the brightness of the sun at mid-day such as we are not capable to behold unless wonderfully and miraculously strengthned It was so glorious as that the sight of it struck Saul blind three days Acts 26. 13. 22. 11. 9. 17. and this seen in a vision by John caused him to fall down at his feet as dead Rev. 1. 17. and when Daniel also saw him in vision there remained no strength in him but his comliness was turned into corruption and he retained no strength Dan. 10. 5-8 and he was tried in and came purified out of the fire from all the wrath of God and from all the reproches and shame and dishonour cast upon him by his enemies God hath actually testified of him that he is the Son of his love and that he is well
that to a gracious end that we sinners might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15-19-21 He is the Lamb of God who had imputed to him and did bear in his own body to and on the tree the sin of the World even the guilt of the disobedience of our first Father in whom we all sinned and of all the necessary branches thereof God caused them all to meet on him that he might put away and abolish them by the sacrifice of himself Joh. 1. 29. with Rom. 5. 12-14 1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa 53. 6. Heb. 9. 26. Dan. 9. 24. 3. And God went to law with him for them and executed the judgment of the world upon him Joh. 12. 31. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities Isa 53. 5. God spared him not but delivered him and brought him into the dust of death for our offences and he by the grace of God tasted death for every one of that nature in which he was for a little while made inseriour to the Angels even for every man without difference Heb. 2. 9. And gave himself aransom and price of redemption to God for all men 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 We thus judge saith the Apostle That if one died for all then were all dead and be died for all even for all that were dead 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. And such is the excellency and preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings sustained by him in that body which the father prepared for him wherein he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross that he is in the virtue thereof raised again from the dead and hath given himself an offering and a sacrifice for a sweet smelling savour to God All which doth demonstrate and is a fundamental evidence that this preparation in Christ may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and blind ones For if Christ who was delivered for our offences and died for our sins be not raised again we are yet necessarily in our sins and preaching faith and hope are in vain and to no purpose 2. Through and by means of his death in the virtue whereof he is taken from prison and from judgment there is in Christ a perfect and compleat provision for mankind There is in him and he is become unsearchable riches And he hath compleated and brought in everlasting righteousness according to that motive and argument laid down and set before men and the sons of man to move them to hear and receive wisdom's instruction Prov. 8. 18. with vers 4-10 Rev. 5. 12. Truly there is a rich preparation and treasury of all spiritual blessings prepared and treasured up in Christ for every sinful creature of mankind without difference or respect of persons Isa 25. 6. Luk. 14. 12-21 Col. 1. 28. Matt. 11. 27 28. There is in him unsearchable riches for all and this was preached and proclaimed among the Gentiles Ephes 3. 8. 9. And in him there is forgiveness of sins even of rebellious sins for all that need it while it is called to day And this our Saviour commanded his Apostles to preach in his name unto all nations yea to begin at Jerusalem which was a bloody city even the slaughter house of the Prophets which killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them according to what the Martyr Stephen saith Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers Ezek. 22. 2-4 24. 6-9 with chap. 7. 23. Act. 7. 52. Yet for such as these there is forgiveness of sins in Christ and through this man to be preached unto them Matt. 23. 37. Act. 1. 8. And God hath caused righteousness to spring up before all nations Isa 61. 11. He hath provided and made ready this White raiment even the wedding garment for all and it is contained in that provision prepared in which all things are ready And therefore when the King demanded of the person who was without it friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment The man was speechless he had nothing to say by way of excuse for himself which he might have had and needed not to have been speechless if there had been none prepared for him But the invitation was all things are ready and so righteousness this white raiment which we are counselled to buy Matt. 22. 4-11-14 So it is said the Jews who were zealous of the law and established a righteousness to themselves according thereto attained not righteousness because they submitted not or humbled not themselves to accept of God's righteousness which is now manifested by the saith of Christ to be far and unto all without difference even prepared for them in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 20-22 and 10. 2 3. with Jam. 4. 6. 7. Yea Christ is become a rich treasury and fountain a blessed object in whom there is prepared forgiveness healing all riches and clothing for those Angels and Churches of his that after tastes of his graciousness have wandred from him and lightly esteemed him and followed after other lovers whose evil and iniquity herein is more highly displeasing and provoking to him then the iniquity of others that have not known God or rather been known and owned of him as they have been And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the son of man be listed up saith our Saviour Joh. 3. 14. The Serpent of Brass was commanded to be lifted up and was set up by God's appointment for the healing of such as were stung by the fiery serpents because their soul lothed that Manna which at first they admited at and was so welcome to them and the sweetness and goodness whereof they had ostentimes proved and tasted Numb 21. 5-9 with Exod. 16. 15-31 Even so must the son of man be lifted up in preaching as one in whom there is durable riches and righteousness forgiveness of their sins and healing of their diseases and a covering for their shameful nakedness who have lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation and of the rock that begat them have been unmindful and forgetful after they have met with joy and peace in believing To such may be applied what Eliphaz saith to Job If ye return from your wandrings and revoltings to the Almighty ye shall be built up yea the Almighty shall be your gold and ye shall have silver of strength for then shall ye have your delight in the Almighty Job 22. 23-26 And though such have dealt very treacherously and done very shamefully in forsaking their resting place yet there is forgiveness of their sins and a robe to cover the shame of their nakedness with him Hos 2. 5. 14. 1-4 Isa 1. 10-15-17 And he is therefore exercising longsuffering and rebuking and chastening and hedging up their ways with thorns that they
to promise Gal. 3. 16 17 29. 4. 28. and 5. 1. And so here Christ declareth himself to be the Amen To cure these of that Lukewarmeness they were polluted with and assureth them that in opening and giving entertainment to him he would come to them and sup with them and they with him And that he that overcometh should sit with him on his Throne Rev. 3. 14 20 21. Oh were this considered by us that God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how would this make us confident that with him he will freely give us all things also How would this cause us to mount up with wings as Eagles to run and not be weary to walk and not faint and incourage and ingage us to listen to his counsel whom God hath given for a Covenant to the people For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield and will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Rom. 8. 32. Psal 84. 10 12. The Faithful and True Witness This may be an explication of the Amen and shew us what is further meant by and contained in that expression These two words Faithful and True may mean one and the same thing or we may say He is the faithful Witness in that work whereto the Father appointed him hence the Apostle instructeth the Holy Brethren to consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession who was faithful to him that appointed him namely in that hard and difficult work of humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross Heb. 2. 9 18. 3. 1 2. He is in his Cross a faithful witness of the greatness and sincerity of the fathers affection to us Isa 55. 3 4. Who is meant by the faithful Witness here spoken of may be plainly seen and wherein is he so firstly and fundamentally Rev. 1. 5. Jesus Christ the faithful Witness and the first begotten of the dead And so 1. As he died for our sins by way of propitiation and as the Peace maker so he is a faithful witness of the fathers love and that he is not willing any should perish but that all should come to Repentance He is the great sign and undoubted evidence of the heat and ardency of Gods love towards us poor sinners even towards every poor sinful Creature of Mankind in that he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man in this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son c. John 3. 16. This is the great sign of Gods love to us and it is an evil and adulterous thing to seek after any other Mat. 12 39. The Jews require a sign but we Preach Christ crucified Christ the power of God the great witness and manifestation of his power and goodness toward us 1 Cor. 1. 22 24. and he is the faithful witness therein of the truth and faithfulness of the father in performing his promises according to the tenour of them for he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things also Isa 55. 3 4. Rom. 8. 32. Yea in what he hath suffered he is the faithful witness also of the freeness and ardency of his own love toward us his love was so fervent as that many Waters could not quench it nor could the Flouds drown it it was strong as yea stronger then Death such his Grace that he laid down his life for us he died for all and such the preciousness of his Blood that in the virtue thereof he is raised again hath purged away our sins made peace slain the enmity broken down the middle wall of partition between God and Mankind taken out of the way all that was in it contrary to us abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and obtained into himself all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things and confirmed a new Testament and everlasting Covenant Oh what a faithful witness is he of the greatness and fervency of his own and his fathers love and how powerful therefore is the view of him in his Cross to cure us of our lukewarmness do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is he not thy father that hath bought thee Oh how doth this love constrain us to love him and to cleave to him with full purpose to give him our hearts and let our Eyes observe his ways and how doth this incourage and imbolden us to follow him fully who hath delivered us from our enemies that we might serve him without fear and who is become the treasury of all Gods fulness that we might come with boldness to the Throne of his Grace and hold fast our profession Yea and to return to him when we have fallen by our iniquities for herein he sheweth us he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth and so not in the death and destruction of poor wretched miserable blind naked luke-warm ones Oh fear not to come unto and walk before him and be perfect let not your hands be slack by this ye are saved if ye keep in memory what at first was declared unto you unless ye believe in vain viz. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 2. 4. O foolish Galatians saith the Apostle who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Truth that ye should not continue in tunning well but grow remiss before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you Gal. 3. 1. with Chap. 5. 7. 2. The faithful Witness and Martyr as a Peace-preacher who laid down his life in Testimony to the Truth of that Gospel which he received from his father and declared to us on this account he gave his back to the smiters and his Cheeks to them that plucked off the hair he hid not his face from shame and spitting he set his face as a flint to indure whatever afflictions reproches persecutions he might undergo for the truth for which purpose he was born and to which end he came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth John 18. 37. and to this he did bear witness to the death and sealed to the truth of that Gospel with his Blood This the Apostle setteth before Timothy to incourage him to fight the good fight of faith that Jesus Christ witnessed a good confessiom before Pontius Pilate when he knew what things he should suffer on that account 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. Away
own goodness but that they should make mention of his righteousness and shew forth his praises who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God Cant. 5. 9-16 6. 1. with Chap. 1. 5 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. And his desirableness and loveliness to the eye is signified in several descriptions and declarations given of him in which he is like to though infinitely exceeding Gold even pleasant to behold So he is said to be beautiful beauty and fairness are very delightful and desirable the eye is affected therewith and apt to lust thereafter hence it is said The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them to Wife Gen. 6. 2. Upon this account because beauty is so pleasing to the eye even Holy men for saving themselves have polluted themselves As Abraham and Isaac because their Wives were fair and beautiful Gen. 12. 11-15 26. 27. Esther 1. 11. And the Holy-Ghost warneth us Not to lust after the beauty of the Whorish Woman to intimate to us that beauty is very taking with us Prov. 6. 25. 2 Sam. 11. 2. But oh how great is his beauty He is beautiful even to admiration Zech. 9. 17. Hence the Spouse saith Behold thou art fair my beloved yea pleasant Cant 1. 16. Hence also when the Spouse declareth his amiableness she saith first in general My beloved is white and Ruddy that is to say he is Immanuel God with us in our Nature and for us he was over all God blessed for ever and yet he took part with us of flesh and blood and bare our sins in that his own body which the father prepared for him and died our death and is acquitted from our sins and death for us and is in our Nature become fairer then the Children of Men. Cant. 5. 10. Psal 45. 2. Beautiful and comely with the beauty of holiness Again he is called the Light and compared to the Sun John 1. 9. Mal. 4. 2. Psal 84. 11. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11. 7. Oh! he inlightneth the eye cheareth the Heart comforteth the Soul reviveth the drooping and broken Spirit and manifesteth all things to us in their right and proper Colours He is the light of the World the great manifestation of God and of all things to us John 8 12. This man is more precious and delightful to behold and look upon then fine refined Gold Isa 13. 12. And who so looketh into the perfect Law of liberty in which his beauty is evidently set forth before our eyes Whoso pryeth into this peepeth wistly and consideringly and stoopeth down here to behold it and continueth it will cause him to desire after and delight in Christ and or ever he is aware it will make his Soul and his soul will make him like the Chariots of Aminadab Jam. 1 25. It will make him sick of love unsatisfied restless and diseased till he more know him yea till he fully and compleatly injoy and he made partaker of him he being the Object in whom is the light and health of his countenance Cant. 2. 3 5. 5. 8. Psal 42. 5 11. 43. 5. Oh that we did more know the loveliness of this pleasant Object this would make us desire this one thing of the Lord and seek after it that we might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire into his holy Temple Psal 27. 4 5. Joh. 4. 10. In such like respects he is compared to Gold 2. We have in the next place to inquire and consider what is meant by this expression tried in the fire therein is signified 1. The wonderful afflictions and sorrows which Christ indured and underwent for us and for our sakes herein he was like gold thrown into the fire as that signifieth great and grievous pains and sufferings He was tormented as in the fire for our transgressions bruised for our iniquity the chastisement of our peace was upon him Isa 53. 5. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief even made up as it were of sorrows and therefore he is eminently and emphatically called the afflicted one Psal 22. 24. There was no sorrow like unto that sorrow done unto him wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce anger Herein he was like gold ried he was cast into the fire indeed and it 's but the shadow of it as it were wo pass through All Gods waves and billows went over him his wrath lay hard upon him and he afflicted him with all his waves Psal 88. 3 16. hence he cried out my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death before men laid hold on him Maâ—t 26. 37. 38. Mark 14. 33 34. Joh. 12. 27. The father left him to feel the weight of our sins and the fierceness of that fire we had kindled against our selves and this made him cry out and roar by reason of that horrour that overwhelmed him So hot and great was the fire of God's wrath into which he was throne that his heart was like wax before the fire it was melted in the midst of his bowels and his strength dried up like a potsherd and God brought him into the dust of death Psal 22. 1 2 -14 15. It plesed the Lord to bruise him he put him to grief he made his soul an offering for our sins he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Isa 53. 10. Rom. 8. 32. And he indured great things from the hands of men he was a reproch of men and despised of the people reproch did break his heart and he was full of heaviness wherewith his soul was even melâ—ed Psal 69. 20. with Psal 119. 28. They did despitefully use him mock deride and scourge him and with wicked hands did crucify and slay him The heathen did rage and the people imagined a vain thing the King 's of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against him Many Bulls compassed him strong ones of Bashan beset him round they gaped upon him as a roaring and a ravening Lion Yea dogs compassed him the Assembly of the wicked inclosed him and his own people were the betrayers and murderers of him Psal 2. 1. 22. 6 7 12 13-16 Acts 7. 52. And now also was the power of darkness the Prince of this World came with the fiery darts and he who had the power of death did torment him Luk. 22. 53. Joh. 14. 30. with Ephes 6. 16. Christ was in an horrible pit in a pit of noise the noise whereof caused horrour and in the miry clay his soul was in hell and his body or flesh in the grave he tasted death by the grace of God for every man even that very death which every man should have
smiters for the smiters and gave himself to prayer for his persecuters though he was oppressed unjustly proceeded against and unworthily and despightfully intreated and used by them whose good he aimed at and pursued and afflicted Yet he opened not his mouth but was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers so he opened not his moâ—th against them Isa 53. 7. Yea he prayed and dyed for them who with wicked hands did crucify and slay him And being raised again was sent and did come to bless them in turning every one of them from their iniquities Isa 53. 12. Acts 3. 13 14 15-26 Yea at that time when he was numbered with transgressors and hanged between two Thieves and most unmercifully and inhumanely intreated mocked at and reproached then said Jesus Father forgive them Luk 23. 34. Oh wonderful trial Oh matchless love He was greatly tried also in the greatness and depth of the abasement whereto he was abased for us a small condiscension in such an excellent and glorious person for such unworthy ones would have been admirable But as that would not have sufficed for our recovery so such was the cordialness of his love and servency of his affection to us that he did not avoid or shrink from that great abasement whereto it was absolutely necessary he should humble himself that we might be redeemed from the curse of the Law and our loss might be again recovered for us he laid not hold on the Nature of Angels when many of them had sinned to keep them from falling or to recover them though that had been wonderfully beneath him but he was made a little lower then the Angels his own Creatures in a Nature inferiour to theirs yea he did not partake of our Nature as it was when first Created by God but as it was become through our seeking out foolish inventions and was in all things like unto us sin only excepted he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality and was subject to all our infirmities to hunger thirst weariness painfulness and was poor and needy and took upon him the form of a Servant who was Lord of all and was made in the likeness of men yea of sinful flesh and being found in fashion as a man he still and further humbled himself and became obedidient to death even the death of the Cross that cruel shameful and accursed death Phil. 2. 6-8 He came down from Heaven and descended into the lower parts of the Earth not only into the Womb of the Virgin but into greatest and deepest afflictions Sorrows and troubles yea his Soul was in Hell and his Flesh in the Grave Acts 2. 27-31 He was tried and found faithful in that such was his power in himself and with the father that he could have acquitted himself from those sufferings which he indured from his enemies He was not at first necessitated to undertake for us but his Grace and free love moved him thereto and he could afterwards have confounded his foes and that way or otherwise have delivered himself out of their hands as he did do many times in the days of his personal ministration and some proof and demonstration he gave of his power to have destroyed them had he pleased when they came to apprehend him for when he told the band of Men and Officers who were sent to take him that he was the person they sought for as soon as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground John 18. 3-6 So when Peter drew out his Sword out of its place and smote off the ear of the High-Priest's Servant after our Saviour had bid him put it up again c. He addeth Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more then twelve Legions of Angles as intimating that such was his interest with his father that had he prayed he might have been rescued from their destruction with a great and Heavenly Host of those Glorious Angels and needed not Peter's Sword to avenge his quarrel but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled in his breaking the head of the Serpent and healing that first breach between God and Manking and doing and becoming that whereby we might be brought back to God Mat. 26. 52-54 He was not forced to suffer what he did but he might have avoided all had he so pleased and this is a great trial of love and patience We may pretend to patience in sufferings when we cannot help our selves but if the power were in our hands we should be apt presently to get rid of the trouble but though Christ was such a mighty one yet he readily and chearfully undertook for us at first and patiently indured to the last such an hot fire He was not a Passive simply but Active and forward also in all his abasement not only was he sent into the World but he came and came rejoycingly Lo I come I delight to do thy Will Psal 40. 6-8 Not only was he made flesh but he laid hold on the Seed of Abraham in that body the father prepared for him Heb. 2. 16. Not only was he put to death but he died yea to shew his forwardness he breathed forth and commended his Spirit into the hand of his father before they died who were crucified with him and he so soon died that the Governour admired at it Mark 15. 44. He emptied himself and made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and he further humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 1. 7 8. Oh that that mind that was in Christ Jesus where more in us Ver. 6. Here was a trial indeed and herein was love inexpressible love incomparable He was tried in his obedience to his father and in his love to us and in his power in grapling with such and so many and great enemies in his so great abasement and in the day of his calamity when the fathers wrath lay heavy upon him They prevented him in the day of his fog when his God forsook him and hid his face from him Psal 18. 18. They persecuted him whom God had smitâ—en Psal 69. 26. When he was weakest and his Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death then was their hour and the power of darkness then his and our enemies appeared in their strength against him He had all our sins even all the trespass 〈…〉 f the World upon him He bare our sins in his own body to the Tree and this was so great a burden that his heart even failed and these were such a multitude that they were more then the hairs of his head Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet 2. 24. And these must be born and taken away there must be an abolishing of them or else there could have been no deliverance for us Heb. 9. 26. He had our death to die and
pleased in him of this he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. though they gathered together against him and unjustly condemned him and said and intimated that he was not the Son of God yet God did stand at his right 〈…〉 and to save him from the judges of his soul Psal 109. 30 31. he wiped off as it were all that dirt reproch and ignomy wherewith they covered him and testified he delighted in him in sending from above and taking him out of great waters Psal 18. 16 17. And in setting him on his own right hand and glorifying him in the Gospel He is purified in and through this fire from all the guilt of our sins and from all the weakness and mortality of our Nature and from all the hidings of Gods face and from all the calumnies slanders and dishonours of his enemies yea from all trouble and grievance and is now an inconceivably glorious one full of lustre and splendour And this will be furher shewed in what followeth 4. This Gold is said to be tried to denote and signifie that this work this trying work is over and past though the virtue and glorious fruit of it remaineth and abideth for ever It is not said Gold trying but tried in or out of the fire for as before is said he is acquitted of all our sins that were imputed to him and hath overcome abolished and got rid of all our weakness and mortality and all occasions of grief and trouble and is not as some ungodly and Antichristian Spirits affirm blasphemously dying in some or in any in every Age of the World Those that so say make his sufferings and Sacrifice like those directed to under the Law they even count the blood of the Covenant a common thing like the blood of Bulls and Goats take away sin and therefore was daily offered but herein his Blood and Sacrifice is distinguished from and infinitely preferred before all legal Blood and Offerings in that his is not to be itterated or repeated and so by consequence he can suffer no more as the Apostle intimateth in the dissimilitudes he maketh between the former Priests and their Offerings which they offered according to the Law and our High-Priest and his Offering when he saith Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entreth into the Holy place every year with blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World which to imagine and affirm is the greatest and first-born of absurdities as the Apostle doth intimate but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 25 26. Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more Dominion over him For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Rom. 6. 9 10. And this Christ proposeth unto John to strengthen him against his fears He saith John laid his right hand upon me saying Fear not I am he that liveth and was dead and behold consider and set thine heart unto this give attention hereto I am alive for evermore Amen This is a true and faithful saying Rev. 1. 17 18. Were he always trying always suffering and offering there could be no perfection by his Blood if he were always dying in some in every Age or always to be offered up a propitiatory Sacrifice then would his Blood and Sacrifice be like that Blood and those Sacrifices under the Law which could not make the comers thereunto perfect for the Law made nothing perfect But Christ hath once and but once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet 3. 18. And by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. And offered up one Offering that of his one body once for all and this man when he had offered up one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from ever suffering any more or offering any more Sacrifice or Offering for sins Heb. 7. 27. 10. 10-12 And hath by his one Offering once offered perfected for ever them that are sanctified whereof the Holy-Ghost also is a Witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. And this Holy-Spirit convinceth the World of righteousness evidenceth that Christ hath compleated righteousness a perfect righteousness in and by himself for us and therein sheweth and demonstrateth the unprofitableness of ours in that he is gone to the father and we see him no more no more coming down to suffer or offer any new Offering or to repeat that Offering of his own body for us nor hath he given or left behind him instruction to any one who may pretend himself to be his Vicar to offer him up a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick or dead John 16. 10. Heb. 10. 10-14 In this Phrase then or manner of speaking is implied and intimated to us the preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings and herein is evidenced that his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is drink indeed that we might eat his Flesh and drink his Blood and rejoyce and glory in nothing save in the Cross of Christ in that he is tried not trying but come out of and delivered from the fire taken from prison and judgment and is ascended up where he was before John 6. 54-62 And it is also a powerful admonition to us not to count it a common thing not to despise or set light by it for there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sins he can dye no more so that If this Blood and Sacrifice be rejected and trodden under foot till the day of Grace and patience be at an end there remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation Heb. 10. 26-29 It was witnessed of him who was dead that he liveth and he was made a Priest after the power of an endless life and that by his Oath who sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech and so ever liveth to make intercession for them that come to God by him And is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7 8. 16-25 Rev. 2. 8. This is Gold not trying but tried in or out of the fire 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Rom. 6. 3 4. 5. In this Phrase and expression in saying Gold tried in the fire is also signified that he is become Gold for us who was tried even that same person in that same body the same that was tried the same is become Gold for us precious and inriching even as it is with natural and earthly Gold that precious Metal of the Earth The same substance that is cast in the same
cometh out again and is Gold tried only the Dross and mixture is taken out so it is here this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold which was in the fire and was then Gold the most precious one even he the same Jesus who dyed for our sins and was buried he in that very personal body is raised again discharged from the guilt of our sins and free from the fruits thereof God did not leave his Soul which was made an Offering for our sins Isa 53. 10 in Hell nor suffer his Flesh in which he was put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18 to see corruption Acts 2. 27-31 So the Apostle Peter saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He that descended is the same also that assended far above all Heavens even into the presence of God that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 8-10 The Stone which the builders set at nought and disallowed the same is made the head of the Corner 1 Pet. 2. 7. It is even he the same person who was delivered for us that is raised again and taken from prison and judgment And in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily even in the body of his flesh Col. 2. 9 10. And this same Jesus shall so come in like manner As those men of Galilee saw him go into Heaven Acts 1. 9. 11. And herein is he preferred before David He fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption and his Sepulchre is with us saith Peter unto this day but Christ whom God raised again saw no corruption Acts 13. 36 37. 2. 29-32 And Christ in those fourty days after his resurrection in which he was seen of his Apostles Shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs Acts 1. 2 3. And shewed them his hands and his feet that were nailed to the Tree and his side that was pierced with a Spear of a Souldier and his Disciples did see and look upon and handle his raised body by which it appeared he was not a Spirit simply but hath a body that hath flesh and bones And these infallible proofs are given us that we may know and be assured That Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing in him we may have life through his name Luke 24. 36-40-48 John 20. 19-31 And of this the Apostles are Witnesses and have testified That he is the first born from the dead brought forth out of the heart or Womb of the Earth as Jonas was out of the Belly of the Whale Mat. 12. 40. Col. 1. 18. Rev. 1. 5. And it is he that person that same Jesus that is very Christ Acts 9. 22. Anointed with the Holy-Ghost And in him this first-born from the dead it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell even all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and so he is become Gold for us and hath the pre-eminence in all things Col. 1. 18 19. 2. 9 10. And hath all Dominion given unto him Because he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross therefore hath God highly exalted him and given him who so humbled himself a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bowe c. Philip. 2. 8 9. And it is needful and good for us to be rooted and grounded in the hearty perswasion and belief hereof that we may be saved and preserved from those evil and Antichristian Spirits that say There is no resurrection of the dead and so by consequence that Christ is not raised again and then we are yet in our sins and the Apostles are found false Witnesses of God and faith is vain and those who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished But Christ is risen from the dead and is become Gold for us even the same that was tried in the fire 1 Cor. 15. 3 4-12-20 And herein he answereth to nay infinitely exceedeth and goeth beyond Gold that is the most incorruptible Metal Yet it will perish though tried with fire 1 Pet. 1. 7. It may canker and rust Jam. 5. 3. And is called a corruptible thing 1 Pet. 1. 18. But his Blood is said to be and is precious as opposed to corruptible of infinite value and worth and highly to be esteemed by us because it is incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And he himself in his own body in which he died for us is in the virtue of his precious and incorruptible Blood raised again no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. And is become incorruptible Seed even the Word of God which by the Gospel is preached unto us he liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Isa 40. 8. And whosoever is born of this Seed shall live for ever this man continueth ever and therefore hath an unchangeable Priesthood He was dead and is alive and liveth for evermore and whosoever believeth on him though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth and believeth shall never dye 1 John 2. 17. John 11. 25 26. In such like respects he is said to be Gold tried in the fire 3. In the next place let us consider what is imported to us in the end why he counselleth this Angel to buy which is also a powerful Motive and Argument used to move us to have such an high estimate of this Gold as to buy it at any rate That thou mayst be rich To which I shall speak more briefly because what is intimated herein hath been noted formerly In this end then is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this Gold tried in the fire they cannot indeed be rich or inriched with the true riches but are poor miserable Creatures in the eyes of him that judgeth righteously though they have large possessions much Gold and a multitude of Rubies We may apply that saying of the Prophet to them Surely these are poor For they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 4. Alass all the substance here below will not procure the love and favour of God in which is life Cant 8. 7. These riches will not deliver from the stroke of Gods hand or from the Testimonies of his displeasure Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold c. Job 36. 18 19. They profit not in the day of wrath or death Zeph. 1. 18. Prov. 11. 4. They are deceitful riches they promise somewhat or rather we promise to our selves much contentment and blessedness in the enjoyment and possession of them but they are not there is no substantial and durable good in them That rich man in the Parable whose ground brought forth plentifully so as he was careful and thoughtful how to dispose of his fruits not having room where to bestow them and therefore resolved to pull down his Barns and build greater and there to dispose all his fruits
gave his onely begotten son There was nothing of worth or worthiness in the world to move him so to do for all the world was become guilty before God and subject to his judgment By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 3. 19. 5. 12. All were become ungodly sinners and enemies and so great unworthiness was found with them yet he loved them and so loved them as to give his Son to be the Saviour thereof because he himself is charity the fountain and original of love 1 Joh. 4. 8-10 Thus also it is in a measure with those that have known and believed the love that God hath towards the world and so are born of God The charity they are instructed to put on It is such a manner of love as is towards another without any goodness or worthiness in the party loved yea notwithstanding great unloveliness be found in him and it is begotten and moved and exercised from an higher motive and from a reason without him namely from the love of Christ and God in him 2 Cor. 5. 14. 1 Joh. 4. 7. I say unto you that hear That God is love and how he hath manifested it Love your enemies bless them that curse you c. Luk. 6. 27. This being put on and walked in the exercise of will cover the multitude of sins so as still to be seeking the good of the party loved 1 Pet. 4. 8. And indeed in putting on charity we put on all the other garments before spoken of and therefore above all things this is to be put on by us In putting this on we shall put on humility for Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up 1 Cor. 13. 4. It taketh no notice of its doing or works so as to be hindred from pursuing the good of another but it leadeth one to humble himself to that end as it was eminently found in Christ such was his Charity as that though he was rich for our sakes he became poor that through his poverty we might be inriched 2 Cor. 8. 9. He humbled himself and became obedient to death c. Charity doth not behave it self unseemly as those that want humility do in proclaiming their own goodness knowledge c. Philip. 2. 3-7 In putting on this we shall put on zeal and fervency in looking upon and indeavouring the good of others that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ and hence this is called fervent Charity 1 Pet. 4. 8. And is so fervent and hot as that many waters cannot quench it neither can the flouds drown it it is even strong as death And casteth out all fear that hath torment in it Cant. 8. 6 7. 1 Joh. 4. 18. In putting on this we put on bowels of mercy kindness c. it filleth with bowels of pity and compassion towards others Charity seeketh not her own but the profit of others that they may be saved Charity is kind 1 Cor. 13. 4 5. Hence our Saviour first instructeth his Disciples to love and then to do good to lend to be merciful not to judge not to condemn to give forgive c. As signifying love includeth and leadeth to all mercy and kindness and acts of it Luke 6. 27-38 Charity openeth the bowels of our compassion on sight of the needs and necessities of others 1 Joh. 3. 16-18 In putting on Charity we put on also meekness and gentleness in bearing injuries unkindnesses and ill requitals from others and in being long-suffering toward them and not presently turning away from them though they be dull of hearing unteachable untractable yea though they are froward evil and incensed against us and are enemies to us because we tell them the truth and indeavour their good and profit Charity suffereth long and is kind all the while it is not easily provoked thinketh projecteth surmiseth no evil it is even blind and leadeth those that are filled with it to demean themselves as blind ones Who so full of Charity as Christ And who saith God is blind as my servant or deaf as my messenger that I sent who is blind as he that is perfect and blind as the Lords servant seeing many things but thou observest them not c. Isa 42. 19 20. So also Charity beareth all things indureth all things all burdens cast upon it and yet Charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 5-7 8. All is included in one word Thou shalt love c. Gal. 5. 13 14. Rom. 13. 8-10 2 And by the fruits of righteousness and so by those White garments are meant those more outward the works and acts of love and mercy exercised unto others so receiving and holding fast the Grace of God as that in its efficacies and outward works it may be seen and beheld of all men Acts 11. 23. Holding forth the word of life in word and conversation as our Saviour instructeth his Disciples Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 16. This is an Ornament which becometh such as profess godliness even good works 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. And to that end the Grace of God moveth and instructeth us to cast off the works of darkness such as rioting and drunkenness chambring and wantonness strife and envying which are the garments of darkness proceeding from our ignorance and blindness these are to be cast off as an unclean filthy and dishonourable garment and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ in the efficacies of his righteousness believed Rom. 13. 12-14 And so we are instructed to put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts viz. to put off and put away lying anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication stealing c. and to beclothed outwardly with love peace humility mercy temperance sobriety and to have our speech always with Grace seasoned with Salt both which namely good words and works tend to adorning the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Ephes 4. 22 31. Col. 3. 5-8 9. 15. 4. 5 6. Tit. 2. 10-12 And so by this White raiment is meant the righteousness which Christ hath wrought and compleated for all without them and which he is become through and by means of his personal abasement and sufferings and the fruits thereof both those more inward and outward 2. Why this raiment is said to be White and what is imported therein 1. In general we may say in this expression there is allusion and reference unto the Garments that the Priests and Levites did wear and were clothed with and in which they did then minister which Moses the Mediator of that old Testament or Covenant was appointed to make or cause to be made Exod. 28. 39-43 Levit. 16. 4-23-32 So it is said the Levites when they ministred were arayed in white linen 2 Chron. 5. 12. And now the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also
were not ashamed Gen. 2. 25. But Adam in listening to the temptation and lye of the Serpent was by him deceived first in the female and then in the male and eating of the forbidden fruit and therein seeking out many inventions to better his condition and to be as Gods to attain to an higher state and to have a self-sufficiency in himself sinned against God And by this one man sin entred into the World and death by sin and so death pâ—ssed upon all men in whom all have sinned Rom 5 12. So he brought shame upon himself and all his posterity and now he was ashamed and afraid because naked Gen. 3. 10 11. There is now a nakedness upon mankind naturally they are without and destitute of that original clothing that was upon them that righteousness and uprightness All have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were Created Rom. 3. 23. They are destitute of the understanding of a man as at first Created by God Every man is bruitish by his Knowledge and void of sound Wisdom Job 11. 12. Prov. 8 4 5. 30. 2 3. There is none that understandeth Jer. 10. 14. They are destitute of the righteousness in which they were Created of that love to God and one another They have lost the Image of God in which they were Created Rom 3. 9 10 11 12. Yea and they have sinned and are sinners and as they come into the World they are polluted and defiled They are conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity Psal 51. 5. Who can being a clean thing out of an unclean not one Job 14 4. 15. 14 25. 4. And so they are naturally inclined to all that is evil Every imagination of the thought of mans heart being only evil and that continually Out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries blasphemies an evil eye covetousness pride foolishness and these things desile the man Yea he is very abominable drinking in iniquity like water even as a thirsty man drinketh in water to cool his thirst and refresh him so man drinketh in iniquity or as a Fish continually drinketh in water Job 15. 16. Gen. 6. 5. 8. 21. Mat. 15. 19 20. Mark 7. 20-23 And when they come to act they do abominable works such as are shameful and of which they are ashamed when the eyes of their understandings are opened and they see things in their right and proper colours Psal 14. 1 2. Rom. 6. 21. Aswell as also there is the guilt of sin upon them and they are by nature obnoxious to the wrath of God and lyable to his judgment Rom. 3. 19. Ephes 2. 3 And the fruits of sin in weakness shame death c. A shameful nakedness is upon them in Soul and body from the Crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is nothing upon them but filthiness and uncleanness sinfulness and misery And this might hide pride from us and take us off from boasting in our birth and parentage or in any work of ours or in any thing natural to us and help us to cease from man for whereof is he to be accounted for we are all as an unclean thing sinful shameful Creatures And it may also cause us to admire at the riches of Gods Grace towards us who prepared for us such excellent raiment for the covering us when we were in our blood and so polluted a 〈…〉 defiled at so dear a rate and cost as by the abasement of his onely begotten Son who therefore was cut off that he might obtain justification and forgiveness and bring in everlasting righteousness Yea and they remain and continue naked and destiture of all that is good and lye open to the storms of God's anger and their nakedness is more shameful who after means is vouchsased and light extended love darknessrather then light and believe not on the name of the only begotten Son of God on such the wrath of God abideth be they never to wise rich and honourable in this world and they shall 〈◊〉 see life Joh. 3. 18 36. The Lord after he had affo 〈…〉 means to lead men to repentance looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are together become filthy stinking and shameful there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 2 3. Rom. 3. 1 2 9-11 Their iniquity is greater then formerly it was and their shame more shameful in that there is lewdness found with such in their filthiness and they refuse to be washed and cleansed when God is purging them and causing the scum to swim aloft Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 4 5. Hos 11. 3-5 And this exposeth men to the wrath of God upon a new account though yet while it is called to day Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation and covering for such like shameful evils even for the sins of the whole world so taking away the sin of the world that judgment may not be speedily executed but that he may procure and exercise further patience and extend further means to open their eyes and to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God 1 Joh. 2. 2. Joh. â— 29. Act. 26. 18. Yea those Angels and Churches who after the tastes of the graciousness 〈◊〉 the Lord depart from him have a shameful nakedness upon them for in departing from him they depart from their raiment which will only cover the shame of their nakedness and cloth them as afterwards Hence the Apostle severely reproveth the Galatians and sheweth the greatness of their iniquity in that after they had known God or rather were known of God and were by him called into the grace of Christ for all forgiveness and righteousness That yet they should listen to those witches that came amongst them and by them be perverted to seek to be justified by the law and to perfect by the flesh what was begun in the spirit Gal. 1. 6-8 3. 1-4 4. 8. 5. 1-8 Thus also his Church in former times did shamefully herein and laid themselves naked and open to God's displeasure on this account Hence the Lord by way of complaint thus expostulateth with them O Generation see ye the word of the Lord have I been a wilderness unto Israel A land of darkness Wherefore say my people we are Lords we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing We will come no more unto thee Can a Maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire Yet my people have forgotten me who was their clothing and ornament days without number Jer. 2. 31 32. with Isa 6â— 10. Hos 2. 2-7 Jer. 3. 20-25 Thus it was with this Angel and Church of Laodicea who treacherously departed from the Lord as a Wife from her Husband and entertained other lovers besides him and though he had stood
they confess not their proper iniquity for which God is rebuking them or they extenuate and excuse it Job 20. 12 13. Sometimes they seek to cover one sin with another and add sin to sin that they may cover their shame As sometimes men seek to cover their adultery or uncleanness with murder or with some other sin 2 Sam. 11. 4-8-13-15 12. 12. Or to hide their theft by lying or by swearing and forswearing thinking this way to clear themselves Lev. 6. 2 3. 19. 11 12. Prov. 30. 9. Yea this way of lying is a general covering men have wherewith they think to cover their other evils not from men onely but from God also to which Satan is tempting men powerfully and in and walking in which they are very like to Satan for he useth lying in all his sinning at first and always from the beginning When he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it Jer. 2. 23 35. Joh. 8. 44. And great need have we every one of us to pray with David remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously Psal 119. 29. Sometimes men think to cover their evils by committing them in secret and in the dark The murderer in the night is as a Thief The eye also of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying none eye shall see me and disguiseth his face In the dark they dig through houses they know not the light for the morning is to them even as the shadow of death if one know them they are in the terrours of the shadow of death Job 24. 14-17 22. 12-17 Isa 29. 15 16. So those that persecute and murder the innocent many times do it in the dark or in secret pretending that they are enemies to them not because they worship God but because they are deceivers and malefactours Ezek. 9. 9. Joh. 18. 30. 19. 12. So those that walk in abominable idolatry act it in the dark many times Ezek. 8. 7-12 And generally those gross lusts and evils are therefore called works of darkness because men commit and serve them in the dark Rom. 13. 12 13. 1 Thes 5. 7. And hereby the workers of iniquity think to hide themselves though they are greatly mistaken and deceived For there is no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 34. 21 22. Sometimes men think to cover their other evils with hypocrisie feigning and pretending themselves to be worshippers of God and religious persons that they may continue in their sins unsuspected Mal. 2. 13. Matt. 23. 14 15. So those that came to intangle our Saviour in his talk that they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governour feigned themselves just men Luk. 20. 20-23 And of Israel generally it is said every one is an hypocrite and an evil deer they thought to cover their evil doings with their hypocrifie Isa 9. 17. Sometimes and too frequently men think to hide their sin and shame by charging God foolishly therewith Thus Adam sought to hide his iniquity by laying it secretly upon God himself as if he were the cause of it Gen. 3. 12. And men bely the holy one and think this way to cover their transgressions either 1. By saying he is the author of their sin and moveth them to what is evil as too too many do who say all is of God and therefore there is no sin or that God perswadeth and inclineth them to evil Nay the holy Ghost seeth it needful to give this warning to the believers themselves Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man Jam. 1. 13. Oh what wickedness is in our hearts Rather then we will take shame to our selves and acknowledge our evils we are naturally ready to condemn him who is most just and to impute evil to him who is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness yea who is of purer eyes then to behold evil Psal 5. 5 6. Hab. 1. 13. Rather then cry guilty we would make him who is holy and none is holy as he like the Devil himself who is called and is the tempter and wicked one emphatically Or 2. Men would excuse themselves and lay the fault upon God by saying God doth not seasonably give them grace and if God would have given them grace they would have done better like that wicked and slothful servant who said he was an austere master reaping where he had not sown and gathering where he had not strown Matt. 25. 24-26 So men would wipe their own mouthes and secretly signify they could not abstain from such or such evils they had no power in themselves and God withheld from them his grace Whereas indeed the grace of God in due time bringeth salvation to all men in the receiving whereof they might be kept from their iniquities See what the holy Ghost saith to such an intimately evil charge Mica 2. 7. O thou who art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned Are these thy evils and iniquities his doings as intimating they are none of his doings because his spirit is not straitned but he is graciously and seasonably calling unto them O do not this abominable thing which I hate And while he calleth he stretcheth forth his hand that men might lay hold on his strength and be preserved from that which causeth shame The spirit indeed which dwelleth in us lusteth to envy and to all that is evil but he giveth more grace grace abounding our natural corruption while he calleth to us wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud that receive not or receive not to purpose his grace but giveth grace continually and more abundantly to the humble that turn at his reproofs and in the light and strength of his grace Jam. 4. 5 6. Many such like coverings our wisdom leadeth us to make use of to hide the shame of our nakedness withall in which we do but add sin to sin and think to hide our shame with what is shameful but alass none of these will avail us for Hell is naked before him and destruction hath no covering Hell and destruction are before the Lord how much more then the hearts and ways of the children of men Job 26. 6. Prov. 15. 11. Job 34. 21. 28. 11. Dan. 2. 22. Jer. 16. 17. And he will hereafter bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart 1 Cor. 4. 5. Job 20. 12 13. Yea now while it is called to day and for our good while we make it our work thus to cover our shame and sin he will make it his work to discover and reveal it Psal 32. 2-5 2 Sam. 12. 12. Nor can any cover the shame of their nakedness or wash away their filth by any washings sanctifyings and purifyings of their own But
be waited for till the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven but even now those that with the heart believe in him They are made by faith the righteousness of God in Christ Christ is made of God to them righteousness their sins are forgiven them for his name sake he loveth them and washeth them therefrom in his own Blood and they are made accepted in the beloved And he in the body of his flesh through death doth and will present them holy unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight they continuing in the faith grounded and setled and not being moved from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 22 23. Oh infinite Grace of God in Christ to sinners Oh blessed and everlasting righteousness How might this move his Angels and Churches to buy this White raiment this blessed covering here commended to us and set before us Isa 61. 10. And the fruits of this righteousness believed do cover the shame of our nakedness from men Hence that Behold I come as a Thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. 2. This White raiment is that also wherewith we may be clothed that is to say covered from the Rain and Storm of Gods wrath and from the evil of all adversities and afflictions This is one use of raiment as to cover our nakedness so also to be a covering from the Storms and Cold that otherwise would annoy and hurt us so it is here Jesus Christ who of God is made to the believers righteousness and who is become White raiment doth hide and secure them from the evil of all judgments wrath and afflictions c. So when the Psalmist had been saying Thou hast covered all the sins of thy people he addeth Thou hast taken away all thy wrath Psal 85. 2 3. Riches profit not in a day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness Prov. 10. 2. 11. 4-6-8 The Branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth is a place of refuge and a Covert from Storm and from Rain Isa 4. 2-5 This man is an hiding place from the wind and a Covert from the Storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a Storm against the Wall and shall appear gloriously so to be when he shall reign in righteousness Isa 25. 1-4 32. 1 2. Being justified by Faith we have by faith Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ even deliverance from his wrath and from the fears and terrours thereof Rom. 5. 2. 15. 13. Oh blessed priviledge the wrath of God abideth not on him who with the heart believeth unto righteousness so as to harm or hurt him but this White raiment covereth and clotheth him so that when Gods judgments are poured forth and they occasion trembling to the outward man Yet he can by Faith and in Spirit rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his Salvation Habak 3. 16-18 And whatever fatherly chastisements God be ordering to such an one yet it is in love and faithfulness and to a gracious end even for his profit that he may be made more a partaker of his holiness Heb. 12. 6-11 And such also shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of all evil Prov. 1. 33. Psal 91. So as when in the World they have tribulation yet in Christ who hath overcome the World they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. Philip. 4. 7. On this account Salvation and Righteousness may be so often put together as Psal 98. 2. Isa 45. 8. 46. 13. 51. 5-8 56. 1. 62. 1 c. Yea and Salvation and righteousness are put one for another as whereas in 2 Chron. 6. 41. It is thus voted and desired Let thy Priests be clothed with Salvation it is thus rendred Psal 132. 8 9. Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness And again in answer to that Prayer and desire it is said I will cloth her Priests with Salvation Ver. 16. I say on this account Righteousness and Salvation may be so oft put together and one put for another to signifie that this Raiment will save and secure us as from our sins so from all storms tempests rain judgments afflictions c. I mean from the evil of them now and hereafter fully and gloriously from them all Upon the wicked God shall rain snares fire and brimstane and an horrible tempest this the portion of their Cup but it shall not be the portion of them that are clothed with this Raiment of righteousness For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11. 6 7. This is armour on the right hand and on the left to defend them from evil that put it on 2 Cor. 6. 7. And such are instructed and strengthened not to fear the reproch of men nor be afraid of their revilings because they shall perish But this righteousness shall be for ever and this Salvation from generation to generation And the work of this righteousess â—â—all be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Isa â—1 6 7 8. 32 17. Yea and this White raiment is not only proper and effectual to save and secure from Storms and Cold but also to warm and make not lukewarm ones to make them fervent in Spirit in seeking and serving the Lord and to cause them forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth to the things that are before to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ Philip. 3. 6-9 14 15. 3. With this White raiment also his Angels and Churches may be clothed that is to say Adorned So Garments are used amongst men for Ornament and it is fully true of this White raiment it is an excellent Ornament and it doth greatly adorn and beautify those that put it on those Garments are wonderfully beautiful in themselves and give an Ornament of Grace to the head of those that buy them Prov. 1. 9. 4. 9. Isa 52. 1. This is that which doth beautify them in the eyes of God so as they are accepted of him and delighted in by him So the Church acknowledgeth That the Lord God had covered her with righteousness as a Bridegroom deâ—â—â—eth himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Isa 61. 10. As intimating this is an excellent Ornament and Jewel So the Prophet saith The Lord himself shall be to them that come to Christ as the rest and foundation a Diadem of beauty and as a comely Ornament and adorning attire Isa 28. 5-12-16 Jer. 2. 31 32. This is that which maketh his Church all glorious within Psal 45. 13. This inward adorning is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. 3. Yea this is a Kingly and Priestly Ornament and therefore it is called a Robe 't
is a Garment for beauty and Glory Hence it is said The Lord God hath covered me with a Robe of righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself as a Priest with Ornaments Isa 61. 10. 4. 2. Exod. 18. 2-4 2 King 22. 10-30 Rev. 7. 9-13 14. Christ hath washed them from their sins in his own Blood and hath made them Kings and Priests unto their God and as such he is clothing them and they by faith are putting on this beautiful and glorious Raiment Rev. 1. 6. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5-9 And the fruits of this righteousness render them comely among men so as being clothed and filled therewith they have a good report of all men as it is said of Demetrius 3 John 12. Though yet they hate them and hereby those that speak evil of them as of evil doers shall be occasioned to glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9-11 12. And hereafter they shall be gloriously arayed herewith as with a Robe and as Kings shall reign with Christ on earth they shall then inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace then shall God bring forth their Righteousness their white raiment as the light and their judgment as the noon day Rev. 5. 10. 20. 4-6 Psal 37. 6-11-22-29-34 Isa 32. 1. Such like instructions are contained in this end here proposed to move and ingage us to buy this white raiment here commended to us We should now come to speak to the third thing here counselled unto to wit To anoint our eyes with eye-salve but to this in due time God assisting This which hath been said shall suffice for this first instruction And we now come to speak to the second Viz. 2. That Christ Jesus and this preparation in him may be had and partaken of by those that are miserable and wretched and poor and blind and naked and know it not while it is called to day This is imported to us in this counsel in that he saith who is the Amen the faithful and true witness I Counsel thee c. And this will further appear if we diligently mind and consider these things 1. That the ground and cause of all was for every sinful soul of mankind 2. The preparation is made ready in Christ the last Adam for all 3. This is discovered to all and especially where the Scriptures are vouchsafed in due time and they are invited 4. It may be had freely without any worth or worthiness 1. The ground and cause of all this provision in Christ was for all men for every sinful soul of mankind That is to say Christ was made of a Woman made under the Law for the good of all and to the end he might become a fountain for all according to their needs and capacities Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. He came into the World and was abased therein and further that he might become the Saviour of the world Joh. 3. 17. 4. 42. 1 Joh. 4. 14. And this was not whispered or spoken in secret or in the ear by our Saviour but publickly spoken and loudly proclaimed by him that we might know he was not ashamed of reporting this good news Jesus cried and said If any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not in this day of grace and patience for I came not to judge the world but to save the world Joh. 12. 44-47 It was in love in infinite pity and compassion to the world of mankind and so to those that are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked that God gave his only begotten Son And therefore it is thus expressed by his Son and that disciple whom Jesus loved God so loved the World so infinitely in expressibly yea inconceivably merciful and kind was he that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 8-11-14 As to say 1. Jesus Christ took upon him the nature of all men and was as the Son of Abraham and David and so the witness and evidence of the truth and mercy of God to them in whom God hath shewed himself to be a God keeping covenant and mercy Luk. 1. 54 55-68-75 Acts 13. 32 33. So also the Son of Adam Luk. 3. 23-38 Yea the Second man who was foreordained of God and interposed himself for the good of mankind while there was none in a personal being but one even the First man in whose loyns all were and who was the representative of all mankind and so in his room became the Publick man for the good recovery and bringing back of mankind to God which had departed from him in the First man and so were justly banished from him in the righteous sentence of his Law 1 Cor. 15. 47. Yea He the Second man is the last Adam of whom the first was the figure or type 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 5. 14. And the truth falleth not short of the type in those things most materially intended thereby but rather exceedeth it as the Apostle giveth us to understand Rom. 5. 15 16. Heb. 9. 13 14. And hence when Christ was actually born the Angel saith Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for to you men as distinguished from and opposed to us Angels Heb. 2. 16. is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord And the multitude of the heavenly host confirm and set their seal to the truth hereof praising God and saying glory be to God in the highest on earth peace goodwill not evil will towards men Luk. 2. 10-14 Hence also he is so frequently called the Son of Man yea only so called when one person is spoken of indeed when spoken to Ezekiel and Daniel are so called but he is never so called when spoken to but always when spoken off or speaking of himself I say He is so often called the Son of Man even of that kind or species of creatures because he partook of the nature of man and undertook their cause and was the Heir of man's misery to the end he might become their Saviour And by means of the King 's making a marriage for his only begotten Son in which our nature was married to the Divine nature in the person of the word the Son of God all things are ready and prepared for all mankind Which doth clearly intimate to us that he came into the world in a publick capacity and condition for the good and behoof of all men Matt. 22. 1-4-8 Luk. 14. 16-23 Isa 25. 6. 2. And being made of a woman he was therein and by the will of God made under the Law and had the guilt of our old sins the wages whereof was the first death imputed to him and laid upon him When God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself he did not impute their trespasses to them But he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us who knew it and were guilty of it and
it is needful That they anoint their eyes with this Eye-salve that they may see This is intimated to us in the counsel here given and in the end of it And indeed this branch of the counsel may give answer unto and remove a doubt that may be and arise in our jealous hearts on the hearing of this counsel given to such wretched piteous persons as these were For they might be ready to say Question How may we be perswaded to believe the contents of this Counsel This Counsellour threatneth to spue us out of his mouth and telleth us that we are poor miserable creatures and speaketh as if he were highly offended with us and greatly incensed against us How can we then believe that he should in earnest propose to us such enriching gold and such excellent raiment as is here commended to us Whence should such grace be to such unworthy ill deserving ones as we are It is possible that that which he here calleth upon us to buy is nothing else but counterfeit and not so excellent as he would perswade us it is how shall we know whether this be right gold or such excellent raiment as it is signified to be Answer To give answer to such a jealousie and suspicious thought this may be added or however it is proper to purge it out of us It is indeed admirable grace excellent loving kindness such as cannot be expressed or conceived and it may well be marvellous in our eyes if it be duly considered by us Psal 36. 7. But yet to the end we might be assured of and satisfied in the goodness and reality of the Treasures here commended to us before he requireth us to buy he first in order of nature willeth us to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see He might upon his own authority as being our Lord have commanded us to buy and to have depended wholly upon his word for what he saith without seeing with our eyes but he condescendeth to us in a more gracious way and instructeth us to open our eyes that we might be satisfied And in some sort though not fully he dealeth with us as he did with Thomas when he was so slow of heart to believe yea resolved not to believe that Christ was raised again except he saw such things as might remove all doubtfulness out of him our Saviour was then pleased to give him such an evident demonstration and infallible proof of the truth of what he was doubtful concerning that he crieth out as one abundantly convinced of his former evil My Lord and my God So in some sort he dealeth here though he presenteth not himself to our bodily eyes yet he counselleth us to anoint the eyes of our understanding that we may see and might no longer have any doubtfulness remain in us John 1. 39-46 In this Instruction then let us consider these two things which are needful to be spoken to 1. What is that we should anoint our eyes for that we may see 2. Why is it needful to anoint our eyes herewith that we may see 1. What is that we should anoint our eyes for that we may see What is it that is needful to be seen by us To this we may say it is needful to our buying those excellent Treasures to see 1. The Lord Jesus Christ himself and that durable riches and righteousness in him and the means whereby he is become such a rich treasury and store-house of all the fulness of grace and truth that of his fulness we might receive and grace for grace to wit his humbling himself and becoming obedient to death the death of the cross for all this is the price of his blood and procurement of his sufferings for us This is needful for us to see even those heavenly and blessed commodities that are here to be bought by his Angels and Churches It is but a reasonable thing we should see what we are invited to buy in parting with all for And Christ and the unsearchable riches of him are discovered to us in and by this eye-salve the testimony of Jesus and we are thereby inabled to behold them As well as also here is shewn unto us the abasement of Christ where-through he hath obtained all things into his hand for us here we may see the great sufferings he indured for us so the Apostle signifieth that in this Gospel Jesus Christ was evidently set forth crucified before their eyes the eyes of their souls Gal. 3. 1. So the Author 〈◊〉 the Hebrews saith we see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels that by the grace of God he should tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. Here we may see that he who was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation and was made flesh Joh. 1. 14. That he bare our sins in his own body 1 Pet. 2. 24. And the great sorrows and sufferings which he indured for our sakes how he was tormented for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities how his soul was in hell and his flesh in the grave that he indured such great sorrows that there was no sorrow like unto his sorrow wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce wrath Lam. 1. 12. Here we may also see the preciousness of his sufferings and blood whereby he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law and obtained into himself eternal life eternal redemption a full and compleat treasury of all things that pertain to life and godliness and his beauty and glory his excellency and comeliness is here presented to us that it might be seen by us Here we may see Jesus who was made a little while inferiour to the Angels crowned with glory and honour Heb. 2. 9. Here with open face as in a glass we may behold the glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Here we may see that he is become a good foundation of faith a rich fountain of all spiritual and eternal blessings wisdome and righteousness and sanctification and redemption That he is more precious then rubies and that all the things we can desire are not to be compared unto him Prov. 3. 15. That he is more glorious and excellent then the mountains of Prey Psal 76 4. That he is more precious then gold yea then the golden wedge of Ophir Isa 13. 12. That God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name Phil. 2. 7-9 That he hath given him the preeminence in all things and amongst all persons Col. 1. 18 19. That the Father so loveth him that he hath given all things into his hand so as he that looketh up to and believeth in him hath everlasting life Joh. 3. 35 36. Matt. 11. 27 28. Here we may see that he is the chiefest of ten thousands that he is altogether lovely and that none are to be compared unto him Cant. 5. 11-16 And this we are called upon
While we behold this Gold this enriching Gold and see and consider how it hath been tried in the fire and how proper it is to make us truly rich and how certainly and infallibly it enricheth them that have it this is apt and powerful to draw the love and heart thereto and to cause us to covet after it As it is a powerful Cord to us naturally to draw our hearts to the riches of this world to behold and see them with our eyes As he confessed who said When I saw two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold then I coveted them and took them Josh 7. 21. 1 John 2. 15 16. So when we see in this Glass this excellent Gold the price whereof is above Rubies yea above all the riches of this world it is a forceable motive to engage our hearts to seek to be made partakers hereof If thou knewest the gift of God saith our Saviour and who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink thou wouldst ask c. John 4. 10. How did the knowledge and consideration of this better and enduring substance in Heaven make the Hebrews willing in the days of their first Illumination to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods and to endure reproch and shame and to be companions of them that were shamefully intreated Heb. 10. 32-34 What blessedness did the Galatians speak of And how did they turn from idols to God And how ready would they have been if it had been possible to have plucked out their eyes and given them unto them that were instruments of preaching Christ unto them when he was evidently set forth before their eyes in the testimony of Jesus They were willing then to part with all for his sake Gal. 3. 1. 4. 13-15 And was it not the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that made the Apostle willing to suffer the loss of all things even of those things also that formerly were gainful to him and to count them but dung that he might gain him and be found in him Phil. 3. 7-9 And to this very end That a nation he knew not and nations that knew not him might run unto him he saith Behold me behold me As intimating That the seeing and beholding him is very powerful and prevalent to overcome and perswade us to close with and embrace him Isa 55. 5. 65. 1. And so the beholding and seeing this White Raiment and the excellent and useful nature and property thereof is proper and powerful to incline us to seek that we may have it that we may be clothed therewith that so the shame of our nakedness may not appear Josh 7. 21. Phil. 3. 4-9 Doubtless the beholding with the eyes of the understanding that plenteousness of Redemption in him even the forgiveness of our sins those Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge hid in him that everlasting Righteousness brought in by and treasured in him that eternal Redemption obtained by his Bloud that fulness of Grace Truth Spirit and all things pertaining to life and godliness prepared in him that Eternal Life given us in him As these things are discovered to us in the testimony and his compleat and unparallell d comeliness and amiableness by means hereof it would enamour our hearts on him and inflame us with love to him and even make us sick of Love and unsatisfied in our desires till we more know him win him and be found in him yea till we see as we are seen and know as we are known and be ever with him Cant. 5. 10-16 2. 3 5. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun Eccles 11. 7. But how much more pleasant and alluring is it to behold this Pearl of great price this Sun of Righteousness this Robe of Salvation this excellent one who is fairer then the children of men yea who is the true God and eternal life And how powerful is the sight of him to keep us from our sins and idols 1 John 5. 20 21 So also the seeing our sins and idols as discovered in his Cross and Testimony is very powerful to move us to cast them away and part with them as hath been also in part signified before There sin is rendred most abundantly sinful and our idols most evidently unprofitable and vain Hence the Apostle saith Whosoever abideth in Christ in the sight and knowledge of him as appeareth by the opposition sinneth not Though sin be in him and moving for service yet he doth not commit it He doth not willingly yield up his mind or members to the service thereof And on the other hand Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him nor known him He hath not anointed his eyes with this Eye-salve that he might see nor seen with his eyes as thus anointed He that doth evil hath not seen God 1 John 3. 6 8. 3 John 11. He that seeth and abideth in the sight of the end wherefore he was manifested to wit to take away our sins and of his faithfulness therein for in him is no sin he that beholdeth and considereth the bitter Cup Christ drank off and the shameful cruel accursed death he died for our sins who was the Son of God to the end he might redeem us from all iniquity and what a Fountain he is become in whom is all forgiveness righteousness rest refreshing washing and cleansing eternal life c. Such an one is preserved from sowing to and siding with that sin that dwelleth in him he getteth an escape and fleeth from the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2. 20. So much the Apostle James also signifieth when he saith Whose looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth he being not a forgetful hearer of the word but a doer of the works this man shall be blessed in his deed The man that continueth looking in this Glass this Testimony of Jesus is a doer he layeth apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness as it is discovered and made to swim aloft Jam. 1. 21-25 This truth known maketh him free from the bondage and slavery of his sins John 8. 31-33 And he is made willing by these arguments contained in the Gospel to sell and part with his iniquities and abominations Rom. 6. 1-3 And so also in beholding Christ crucified and looking upon the Cross of Christ which he hath endured and overcome and the glory which there-thorow he hath received a man may be broken off from his idols The world the wisdom righteousness riches honour glory pomp and splendour favour and friendship customs and fashions of the world is crucified unto such an one as is thus exercised through the Cross of Christ Gal. 6. 14. So as he keepeth himself from those idols 1 John 5. 20 21. Thus when the Apostles preached Christ to men and he was received and beheld in his Gospel by them they then turned to God from