express Image of his Person whose Errand to the World was only to Reconcile God to Man knowing how Essential Holiness was to the Bargain he and all the Prophets and Apostles Preach up Holiness Holiness and Righteousness is the chief piece of the Saints Armour to fight the Battels of Christ Eph. 6.14 and is that Image of Christ to which Believers must be Conformed to Ephe. 4.24 and Colo. 3.10 and by which they are distinguished and known Holiness is that Cloathing of the Saints who sit with God on his Throne in his Kingdom these are the White Robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb and the Brides Wedding Garment spoken of in the Gospel for the clean Linnen is the Righteousness of the Saints Rev. 7.14 Object But to this it may be Objected that Christ is made to us of God Wisdom Righteousness Redemption Salvation and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.13 so we need take no care for inherent Holiness in our selves but may sit down and rest on his imputed Righteousness and Rely on his Justification Answ To which may be answered thus That it is most certain that Christ is Sanctification and Redemption to Believers and that they are Cloathed with his imputed Righteousness in the Eyes and acceptance of God and by his Stripes they are healed and all that Saints could do would never make Attonement for Transgression and although Christ by his Death hath most sufficiently satisfied Justice for our Offences and that thereby the Father in him is well pleased nevertheless as he hath promised to Reconcile us to the Father and hath actually Reconciled such as believe in him and hath to them purchased Eternal Salvation by his Blood and having procured for them Heavenly Mansions to make them Companions with himself and his Father Angels and Saints there is a necessity for an Inherent Holiness with which they must be cloathed as that Wedding Garment and attire suitable to the Bride in such Heavenly Mansions where no unclean thing can enter in Rev. 21.27 and this cloathing and garment is the renewing the Children of God in their Nature all things are made new old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.17 We must forsake and crucify the World we must dye to sin and live to righteousness we must be planted in his Death that we may live in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom. 6. to 19. Gal. 3.27 Col. 2.10 to 14. We must put on the Nature of Christ in Spiritual Holiness Circumcised without hands putting off the Body of Sin and are quickned with Christ by his effectual working of Grace The Affections must be above the Creatures and the new Man renewed by Knowledge after the Image of him who created him Col. 3.10 The Saints live no more to the Flesh but are dead to it and live by Faith I am crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I but Christ that liveth in me and the Life that I live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2.20 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ in whom the World is crucified to me and I to the World Gal. 6.14 Thus then inherent Righteousness and holiness of the Saints is that which qualifieth the Soul for union with God in Christ Jesus and this holiness though inherent to the persons of all Saints is not their own growth or product but is the gift of and special working of the Spirit of God he it is alone that gives the new Heart and creates in them a clean Spirit and takes from them the Heart of Stone and sits them for this union The Third branch of Saints Union with God is their being one with him and Christ in love I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me before the World began John 17.23 Love in its perfection is the Darling of all Christian Vertues and Graces and is such essential part of Holiness and Divine Nature that it cannot be without it as God is Holiness Wisdom Goodness and Righteousness so is he love it self Let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.7 8 16. Love is Christs chief command and from his own example a new Commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13.34 35. Love as the Character and Mark of a Christian is not only a naked and bare profession of kindness and friendship but consists in these two First In a firm and constant sympathy of and with any in any afflicted state or condition Secondly In a constant chearful and ready supply of the wants of others as far as their abilities will reach First This love consists in a constant and tender sympathy in all troubles afflictions and distresses in Body Spirit or Estate like as Christ was In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and bore them all the days of old Isa 63.9 There is denounced a severe curse and wo against such as are at ease and unconcerned in the case of Gods afflicted People Wo to them that are at ease in Zion and forget the afflictions of Joseph Amos 6. to 7. Charity and Sympathy either to the Church of God in general or to any of the particular Members or Saints is the great badge ornament and character of Christians 1 Cor. 13 3 to 7. Love is to be in amity and unity and not in contention one with another love thy Brother as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Gal. 4.14 15. Christians should consider the height depth and full extent of Gods love towards them which is a mystery passing knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.18 19. Christians in one anothers afflictions should incorporate themselves in that holy cement of love or mutual sympathy and assistance to comfort uphold assist and relieve one another under their several afflictions see the woful character of such as do not relieve and love his Brother If a Man say I love God and hateth his Brother the love of God is not in him he is a Liar for he loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen and how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.20 And this command have we from him that he that loveth God loveth his Brother also and he that loveth not his Brother is a Murtherer and
original guilt imputable to them in so much as they are part of that Mass which was corrupted common experience in all Ages tell us that unhappy constitutions of Parents either natural or accidental render Posterity exceeding corrupt as well in Intellectuals as in bodily habits and what reason can be given why men beget men and not beasts and beasts beget beasts and not men but because of the Affinity of Nature between the Sire and what is begotten the same Parity of reason will infer that from corrupt Men corrupt Issue must be produced and how can it be otherwise supposed for what is begotten of man can give no quality to it self and therefore must participate of the nature and ascribe its quality to that by which it is begotten This also is clear from Scripture who can bring a clean thing from an unclean not one Job 14.4 If a man be sinful polluted and unclean as Adam was after his fall how could his Posterity be clean they have it not of themselves and could not claim or derive it from him David gives us for this a clear Scripture proof in his own acknowledgment of Original guilt behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me Psal 51.5 From whence comes this pollution of David the Embrio took it not from its lodging in the Womb there being nothing there to defile it therefore it must needs have it from its polluted Parents Do not dayly and woful experience instruct us that the first Acts of Children is wickedness and if not restrained and instructed they will perish in Sin and Atheism whence comes this Man was created Righteous and Holy untill he wilfully defiled himself doth not then this wickedness arise from that first pollution of Nature in Adam and so descended and fell on all Posterity and continues successively until Nature be polished by Grace and man be renewed in Christ Jesus and made conformable to the Image of him that Created him in Righteousness and true holiness wherefore we must conclude all men under Sin by natural Generation and for this the Scripture is most clear for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under Sin and in that other place of the same Apostle Wherefore as by one Man sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all Men for that all have sinned Rom. 3.9 Again therefore as by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to condemnation For as by one Mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous Rom. 5.12 18 19. Having discovered from Scripture and by other arguments that by Adams Transgression his Nature was corrupted and that thereby his Posterity partaking of his corrupted complexion and nature are also tainted with his corruption and are thereby guilty of his original Transgression we come next to consider the consequences thereof upon his Posterity and these are twofold First The Posterity of Adam are made subject to Death and disabled from succeeding him in the many priviledges he enjoyed in his Integrity Secondly They are disabled in natural enjoyment and spiritual performances For the first as we have already cleared upon Adams transgression an act of attender passed against him and he was deprived of his Soveraignty over the Creatures enmity was sowed between him and them and the Earth was accursed for his sake and he himself exposed to toil misery and sorrow so that all these evil effects have fallen on his Posterity and they also made subject to Death This is already cleared from their participation of the corrupt nature and consequently the Judgments which have followed must also affect them and they are thereby brought under the Judgment of Death as by that Scripture already cited as by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all men for that all men have sinned Rom. 5.12 So as Adam had not seen Death if he had not sinned and sinning was brought under the Judgment of Death all his Posterity likewise sinning in him are liable to the Judgment of Death For the Wages of sin is Death Rom. 6.23 Secondly The Posterity of Adam are not only disabled from succeeding him in that glorious state of his Integrity but are disabled in the use of natural enjoyment and spiritual performances First In natural and temporary enjoyments for though the World be respited from utter ruine and God continues Man on Earth with a Course of Day and Night and the usual seasons nevertheless since the Curse on the Creatures for Mans Sin the enjoyment of Creature delights is attended with such uneasiness that Mans Life is a continual dying and a Life of Sorrow Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of trouble he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down he flieth also as a shadow and continueth not Job 14.1 2. See Davids testimony of the greatest of Men surely Men of low degree are vanity and Men of high degree a lye to be laid in the hallance they are altogether lighter than vanity Psal 62.9 If we take Solomons opinion of the whole World he plainly tells us all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit Eccles 2. all The holy Apostle gives us an Inventory of the World In the World is only the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eyes and the Pride of Life and these things are not of God and perish in the using 1 Joh. 2.15 16. The holy Apostle Paul informs us that the whole Creation is brought under subjection and groans under bondage for Sin Rom. 8.20 21. So that since the Curse for Sin the World is but a Stage of Sin Sorrow and Misery This also is proved from daily experience what Age Nation City or Family is exempted from the lash of mortality misery or changes is not the greatest Earthly glory honour wealth and strength clouded in a moment and brought to nothing and this is the just effect of mans Sin and Rebellion and will be the continuing Lot of the Seed of Adam untill the Restoration of Man in Christ Jesus according to the Image of him that created him and that the bondage of the Creation be restored by the coming of the second Adam and restitution of all things by him Rom. 8.21 22. The second thing wherein Man is disabled by Adam's Sin and inherent Corruption from the first pollution is not only natural feebleness and weakness all the vital and corporal faculties being disabled from that original wholesome and vigorous Constitution of the first Adam whereby the actions are either corrupt or faint in comparison with what they were before the Fall but also in Religious performances and duties so as all these actions and performances are either wholly corrupt and sinful or so weak and scanty that they are rather a Skeleton or Picture than real Duties This is illustrated from these three Instances First
sort of communication or delight in sin with an abhorence as infectious can any touch Pitch and not be defiled with aversion as an infectious Plague jealous as of the Wiles of the Devil as Intanglements and Fetters Fourthly Zeal With great anxiety after a thorough discovery of every sin in its blackest dress in its Nature Root Branches and Tendencies zeal for full purging and washing not leaving Root or Branch of any Sin unmortified or subdued without any tampering or listning to new affinities or terms of reconâ—iliation or inticements hotly and warmly pursuing every Sin to utter death and destruction Fifthly Vehement desire Like one curious to paint to the Life the Nature Monstruous shape and mischievous quality of every sin as well in its offensiveness to and detestableness with God who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity as in its perniciouâ—ness to Man exposing him to the wrath of God and barring him from entring into the Heavenly Jerusalem where â—o unclean thing can enter in Rev. 21.27 And as the only Enemy of Mans Eternal Happiness and blasting with a Curse all his temporal enjoyments and the disturber of the Peace of Mans Conscience in a Communion with God and diverts him from enjoying of God in place of Lust and Sin The Sixth qualification is Fear Watching and Praying lest we enter into temptation being always mindful that the subtile Enemy of our Salvation the Devil goeth about night and day like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour And therefore in watching put on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.14 15 16. and watch over our Thoughts Words and Actions having a continual Eye on the Enemy without as a Sentry standing in view of the Enemies Camp day and night observing the voice of all Gods Providences and Dispensations not putting the evil day far from us but being on our watch with oyl in our Lamps and our Lamps burning knowing that the Bridegroom cometh as a Thief in the night not knowing what hour he will come and therefore to be always ready lest when he comes we sleep and that the door of Mercy may not be shut on us for ever Mat 24.14 The Seventh qualification of true Repentance is Revenge Holy revenge consisteth â—t a restless discovering of sin and not only giving up all society with it and entertainment of it and contradicting or implacable prejudice and hatred to it but also knowing that corruption and sin is such an infect and that of venomous Nature that every piece and crum will excite to a new Rebellion against God And therefore by a holy reâ—enge to give up every Sin and Lust though never so dear intirely to Divine Justice as well to appeale the Wrath of God and avoid his Dishonour as to secure our selves from falling into disobedience and new rebellion by tampering with the seditious deceit of Sin and Lust Cast out the Bondwoman and her Son Gen. 23.10 Be not again entangled with the Yâ—â—k of Bondage walk in the Spirit and ye shall not â—uâ—fiâ—l the Lusts of the Flesh for the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and they are contrary one to the other Rom. 5.1 16 17 24. The next Duty incumbent to Man in order to Eternal Life is to search the Promâ—â—es in Christ Jesus and believe them all men are anxious to have good Titles to their Estates and to know them how much more ought Christians to be solicitous for the knowledge of sacred Records to insure their Interest of something with Christ Christs Promises to his People are either for things Spiritual or Temporal first of things Spiritual which may be considered under these three First The free love of God in sending Christ a Ransom for Sin Secondly All suitable graces and spiritual blessings given by God to the called according to his promise Rom. 8.28 Thirdly Eternal Life and Salvation given to all who believe in Jesus Christ As to the first Scriptures are full of the Records of Gods free love in redeeming Man by Jesus Christ when Man was in no condition to make terms for himself and that early instance of Gods compassion on Man when he had so soon fallen from his Integrity I will put enmity between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Gen. 3.15 Here is a clear promise of the Messiah of victory over Sin and Satan And when we were without strength in due time Christ died for us and when we were yet sinners And that compassion of God when Man was contemptible and without help and no Eye pitied thee to do these things to thee and when I passed by thy time was the time of Love and I said to thee live yea I said to thee live And that Evangelical Invitation Ho every one that thirsteth come to me drink of the Waters of Life buy wine and milk without money and without price come to me and I will make your Souls live and make an everlasting Covenant with you Let the wicked forsake his wickedness and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon him Isa 55. to 8. This strain constant current and Ocean of free Love flows upon free terms upon the most miserable and without any terms or expectation of any return from Man but freely without recompence I am found of them that sought me not I am sought of them that asked not for me Isa 65.1 2. From all which may be seen that great mystery of the Love of God to Sinners which passeth understanding The second thing in spiritual blessings is Gods furnishing Believers with all suitable Graces blessings and Indowments And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are called according to his purpose for whom he did foreknow them he also did Predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.28 29 32. Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what great things he hath laid up for those who wait on him Isa 64.4 Ask and it shall be given seek and ye shall find whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name believe ye have them and they shall be given you Mat. 7.7 The last instance of divine bounty is Eternal Life To them who by patient continuance and well doing seeketh for glory and honour eternal Life Rom. 2.9 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 God so loved the World that he sent his only Son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have eternal Life Joh. 3.16 And the glory that thou gavest me I have
Scriptures for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 24 25. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29.30 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and compassion on whom I will have compassion Rom. 9.15 16. So that it is not of him that wilâ—eth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Ephes 5.8 In hope of eternal Life which God that cannot Lye hath promised before the World began not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3.5 6. Secondly This Salvation is to such as are incapable of helping themselves and under most miserable circumstances Christ is that charitable and kind Samaritan to the wounded man by the Thieves who brings help when the Levite and Priest whose Office preach charity passed by without giving any â—elief See that â—â—mous and often repeated place â—n instance of mercy and relief when Man was exposed to all imaginable misery in most contemptible and helpless condition where the bowels of mercy are liberally extended and relief is brought from meer love and pity Ezek. 16. to 9. And that other famous Scripture demonstrate the freedom and fulness of love when Man was in the worst of circumstances when we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved throug his Life Rom. 5. to 12. Nothing can be a greater instance of love pity and compassion than the relieving of one in a helpless state so that Christs redeeming of Souls is unparallelled who relieved Enemies without their own help or capacity to relieve themselves and that famous Scripture of causing the Dead Bones to take flesh sinews and life and become a numerous host is a clear emblem of the Infinite and Free love of God and mans incapacity to relieve himself Ezek. 37. And in that famous place of Gods interposing for his People when all friends and relations are treacherous and helpless Micah 7.4 5 6. From all which we may see the eminent instances of Mans self incapacity and miserableness and of the fulness and freedom of Gods Love and early mercies for him Thirdly The third excellency and encouragement in this great Salvation is that it brings with it all suitable helps and supplies to assist us to promote that great Salvation we find the Apostle discovering to us Gods eternal purpose of Mans Redemption he resolved to bring Man to a conformity with his own Will and Image For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8.29 Whereby we find God purposed to have the ransomed and such as shall be saved by Christs Blood to be compleatly supplied with all things necessary to adorn and compleat that great Salvation and this is most manifest in the Scripture He that spared not his own Son but gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from such as fear him seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof then all things else shall be added thereunto Mat. 6.33 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no money come come ye buy and eat without money and without price and let your Soul delight it self in fatness Isa 55.1 2. Here we find a full free and cheap Market of all supplies from whence may clearly be implyed Gods purpose to have his people whom he adopteth heirs of his Kingdom to be compleatly furnished with all things necessary thereunto Fourthly The fourth and sixth may be comprehended in one that this great salvation is compleat and full in that it hath the enjoyment of God in union of the Father by the Son in the Spirit and the Heirs of that Inheritance are made sharers of all Heavenly excellencies In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore this is more particularly expressed by the manifold priviledges of the glorified Saints and their blessed Inheritance First As it is the restoring of Man from the deepest state of misery and exalting him to the highest pitch of happiness as hath been already shewed Secondly These of that estate are entituled to all things as hath been alreardy shewed Thirdly They shall be exempted from all manner of misery sorrow and grief They have compleat happiness and enjoyment of all things as being eternally united to God by Jesus Christ The fifth and last mystical excellency of this great Salvation is in the method taken by Heavenly Wisdom in the accomplishing of it to wit by Christ the Mediators taking upon him the humane nature and therein making an attonement for Sin in the Flesh This is so great a mystery that it merits all admiration that Jesus Christ though he was from the beginning and from all eternity cloathed with all Majesty and Glory and the first born of all the Creation the Heir of all things by whom the World was made and by whom it subsists who being the brightness of the Fathers glory and express Image of his Person and by himself upholding all things the only begotten Son of God whose Throne is in glory for ever more who laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Workmanship of his Hands nevertheless according to the Counsel of his own Will he abased himself to enter into a Virgins Womb and came into the World and under the infirmities of humane Nature suffered the highesâ— indignities that the vilest wretches could have been exposed unto And at last though he knew no sin he gave himself unto Death to make satisfaction for our sins this is that mystery which was hid from the beginning of the World Ephes 3.9 This is the riches of the glorious mystery of love to the Gentiles Col. 1.25 26. Christ the hope of glory And oppositely it is said by the holy Prophet and Apostle Paul Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what great things he hath treasured up for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.3 And though the Tongues of Angels and Men are not able sufficiently to express and unfold this great mystery nevertheless we may sincerely view it in these four heads First The unsearchable dimensions of the love of God to Sinners in his eternal purpose of redeeming the World by Jesus Christ before the World began To make all men see
no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him 1 Joh. 3.15 Secondly The second branch of Divine Love approved of God to make up the Union of the Saints with God is that laving out the Bowels of charitable assistance in the supply of the Saints necessities like the good Samaritan in the Gospel not only to see and pity his affliction and condition but to support it God is not only a bare Spectator of our misery and maladies but also a healer of all our wounds and is that only Physitian of Israel and hath and applies that balm of Gilead even the Balsom of his own Blood to cure us hereby know we the love of God for us because he laid down his Life for us and we ought to lay down our life for the Brethren 1 John 3.16 But whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how doth the love of God dwell in him 1 John 4.9 If God so loved us we ought also so to love one another Greater Love hath no man than this that a Man lay down his Life for a Friend Joh. 15.13 to 18. The Duty of Christian charity is recommended and commanded as the evidence of Christian sincerity The blessing is to the liberal the liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered himself Pr. 11 24 25 26. See the exhortation from Christs own example But ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that tho' he was Rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his Poverty might be Rich and that famous exhortation consider them that are in bonds as being bound with them and such as are in adversity as being your selves in the Body Hebrews 13.3 See how the Apostle James challengeth a naked beholder of the poor naked and indigent If a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say depart in Peace and be you warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful what doth it profit Jam. 2.15 16. So that it is not bare profession which makes Love but the fulfilling of the Commandment love thy Neighbour as thy self as Christ loved his Church and laid down his Life for her so ought we also for whom Christ died Hence we see how great is the Priviledge of Believers for whom Christ both died and is risen again and taken possession of Heaven for them and that the Father will love them with the same love with which he loved his only Son before the World was so Believers should not be affraid for Love admits no fear There is no fear in Love for perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in Love 1 John 4.18 What quiet and comfort therefore may Believers have who find that love of God constraining them to wait on him by Faith may with David say we will not fear what man can do unto us and with the Apostle if God be with us who can be against us be of good courage for God will strengthen your Hearts Fourthly As the Saints are one with God and Christ 1. In Spirit 2. In Holiness 3. In Love So 4. In Glory which is the highest priviledge imaginable and is clearly held out in the Text And the glory thou hast given me I have given them that they may be One even as we are One. Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17.22 24. And as God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for Sinners so Christ continues his Love that he will have all for whom he died to share of the same glory with himself and this is the highest exaltation and expectation of the Saints contrived by the Wisdom of God and accomplished by the Death and Resurrection of Christ and his being set down at the right hand of Glory for us This superexcellent state of the Saints Glory and Eternal Happiness is branched out in a fivefold consideration First In their blessed Death Secondly Their Spiritual and Immortal Bodies Thirdly Their being admitted into the Presence of God and Host of Heaven Fourthly Their being continued in that state for ever Fifthly All Sorrow Tears and Mourning to be everlastingly done away First Man in his first Creation was made Lord of all Creatures and tho' after his Fall by the Wisdom of God and infinite Love of Jesus Christ was reconciled to God by a new Covenant of Peace nevertheless was continued in a Prison of Clay subjected not only to all Natural weakness sickness cold hunger thirst and other natural infirmities of the Flesh and uneasiness of Life but also while in the body obnoxious to the Temptations of Sin and grief of Soul through the weakness of the Spirit under the clog and coverture of the Flesh as the experience of all Men Witness that this Life is but Labour and Sorrow therefore the Wisdom and Goodness of God and love of Christ Jesus hath so contrived that the Soul a Prisoner to misery and infirmities should have the Chains of Mortality knocked off by Death and be let free to Eternal Life And this is the first step of Saints effectual Happiness The Holy Apostle clearly testifieth that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from the Lord and therefore not only we but the whole Creation groan under these Infirmities and long for the Liberty of the Sons of God even the Redemption of our Bodies and therefore it 's revealed that Death is as it were the opening of the Prison Door to the Prisoners of Hope to set them at liberty from all the miseries of Mortality and Temptations to sin and gives them a free Pass to the Land of Rest Blessed are the Dead thy dye in the Lord they cease from their Labours and their Works follow them Rev. 14.13 And this is a great Consolation to Believers for as Death is the end of all Fleshly pleasures it 's also the end of all sin and Misery so the way of Death and the Grave ought not to be loathsom or irksom to them for that Christ the Captain of our Salvation hath proved both ways and for us led Captivity Captive O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory and the last Enemy is Death who is led Captive by Jesus Christ he will swallow up Death into Victory he will Ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 The Second instance of Eternal Happiness is to have Spiritual Bodies The glory of Heaven and presence of God which is Eternal Happiness being designed for the Saints therefore the Lord in his Eternal Wisdom hath
Enemies and the last Enemy Death it self by taking away Sin the Sting of Death and as the great Trophy of his Victory hath Blotted out the Hand-writing of Ordinances which was against them and contrary to them and Nailed it to his own Cross and so hath compleated the Victory for Believers Col. 3.13 14 15. From hence may be seen the Truth of that great Mistery of Gods Love in Christ Jesus Eye hath not seen neither hath Ear heard c. Is 64.4 and how great Reason then have sinful Mortals to be much in the Admiration of all the Dimentions of that inexpressible Mistery of Christs Love which passeth knowledge Eph. 3.18 19. As the many Advantages from the Booty in this Conflict and Christs Example is an inducement for chearful fighting so is the Example of the chearful Companions of this Combate of which see a great Tribe of the Royal Combatants under this Banner of Christ fighting to Death with Immortal Glory set down before the Saints Banner is the Cross of Christ God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 In this Cross or Banner Christ carries in it as the Trophy of his Victory and Motto for the Comfort of Sinners that Hand-Writing of Ordinance above mentioned and this is the Magna Charta of Believers Col. 2.14 He that Believeth on him shall never perish but have Eternal Life John 3.14 to 18. Thirdly The third Encouragement for chearful fighting is Christs express Will and Command Let not your Hearts be Troubled you believe in God believe also in me c. Jo. 14. to 5. Rejoyce always yea I say rejoyce evermore Col. 3.16 17. The whole Scripture is full of Exhortations of the Godly's Rejoycing in God Let the Hearts of them that seek the Lord rejoyce again rejoyce in the Lord always I say again rejoyce in the Lord Ps 105. all Phi. 4.4 the Combatants under Christs Banner have peculiar Reasons of chearfulness beyond all others First For that their General was never defeated neither can be for how is it possible that Wisdom Power and Experience which Christ is in himself can be Defeated Secondly All other Souldiers fight in Hopes of Victory here the Victory is insured and already obtained Christ hath already fought the Battel and Christians are but to follow chearfully and receive the Prize He hath trod the Wine-press of his Fathers Wrath and none of the People were with him Is 63. to 5. He is that only High Priest and Sacrifice for Sinners and is the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.4 Heb. 4.15 16. He is our Fore-runner and Harbinger to take possession for us within the Vail Heb. 6.20 He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.27 He is offered up once for all By his own Blood he obtained Redemption for Sinners to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 12.27 He is our Advocate to make intercession for us 1 Jo. 2.1 Thirdly All the Soldiers Wounded in this Conflict are Healed and Cured by the Balsom of his Blood He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are Healed Is 53.5 O Mistical Balm of Gilead doth any Generals Blood prove the Soldiers Balsom but that of Jesus Christ the lives of Millions of Soldiers are Sacrificed to the Life of their General but this General dyed to save the Lives of his Soldiers God commendeth his Love towards us for while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Ro. 4 25. Ro. 5.9 10. Fourthly Those who fight under this Banner shall never be overcome even though they fight to Death they may be troubled but not destroyed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 1 Cor. 4.8 9 10. They may be killed all the day long and counted as Sheep for the Slaughter and yet in all this be more than Conquerors Ps 44.22 Ro. 8.36 37. He hath so Framed Fitted Fashioned and prepared them in a spiritual Building and Frame by putting his invincible Spirit in them Eze. 36.26 27. and so Armed and Disciplined them in a Spiritual Warfare that they are invincible they have on the whole Compleat Armor of God that though their fighting be against Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places they are secured against all assaults enabled to fight all Battels and though they should and must resist unto Blood and in this fight lose their Carnal Life yet shall they be gainers and victorious Eph. 6.12 to 19. He that saveth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life shall find it Mat. 10.29 He that raiseth up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up and present us with him 2 Cor. 4.14 Fear not him that can kill the Body and do no more but fear him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mat. 10.28 Fifthly Christ's Soldiers are not straglers but are all chosen of God from the beginning of the World and before the World was Romans 9.8 11 16. Ro. 8.29 30. They are all Named Marked Listed and Entred in Christs Muster-Roll of his Saints they have the Mark of God The White Stone and New Name and on them the Name of God and the Name of the City of God Rev. 7.3 ch 14.14 ch 2.7 ch 3.8 12. so that they cannot be lost stolen or forced from their Colours having Gods Name and Mark on them Eze. 8.4 5. Sixthly They are all given of God to the General Christ Jesus and I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word Jo. 17.6 12 15 24. They are peculiarly guarded and kept by Christ that they may not be lost but are preserved against all evil Ps 91. all Is 54.10 they are protected against all Poysonous or hurtful Weapons no Weapon framed against thee shall prosper and every Tongue which shall rise against thee in Judgment shalt thou Condemn this is the Heritage of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me saith the Lord Is 49.2 16. They are in Christs own keeping so that they are graven on the Palms of his Hands and are Eternally preserved to the enjoyment of God and to be set on his Throne and When he maketh up his Jewels they are spared Rev. 3.24 Mal. 3.17 Seventhly This one thing more is peculiar to Christs Army whereas in other Armies the Soldiers some are pressed others hired of divers Nations Languages Judgments Interests and Perswasions all Christs are Volunteers Thy People shall be a willing People in the Day of thy Power Ps 110.3 They are all of one Spirit with Christ he puts his Spirit within them Eze. 36.25 26. Jer. 32.39 They are all united to Christ and are of one mind and Will with him one in us as we are one John 17.21 They are all of one mind and unanimous amongst
oblige Men beyond their pretended Interest what Allyances or Treaties tye Princes from Usurpation or Encroachments may it not be too much charged on most of the greatest form on Earth which was said of Philip of Macedon amicitias utilitate non fide colebat his Interest not his Promise obliged him Secondly If we look on the World in respect of the Politick Constitution what Nation Country or People shall we find quiet from Commotions Disturbances Rebellions or Mutinies either from the Oppression Tyranny or Usurpation of the Soveraign or the Murmurings Jealousies and Mutinous Uneasie and Discontented Humours of the Subject Doth not Judah vex Ephraim and Ephraim envy Judah Is 11.13 doth not the Church Complain Servants have ruled over us and none delivered out of their Hands Kings are hanged up by their Hand the faces of Elders were not Honoured Lam. 5.8 12. Is not the whole World at Enmity Nation against Nation and Nations divided by intestine Wars and Contentions This Enmity is not only between Man and Man but hath also infected the Beasts of the Field Fish of the Sea and fouls of the Air whereas in Mans first State he had all of them given him for use with Dominion over them they are turned wild run into Rebellion and not to be subdued or made useful but by force and many are not only useless but destructive and they also are at War amongst themselves destroying one another so that in place of all the Sons of God shouting together for Joy as in the first State we now hear the noise of Wars Malice Envy and Destruction and whereas at first God looked on all that he had made and it was very good Gen. 1.31 afterwards for the Degeneracy thereof It repented God that he had made Man on the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6.6 and whereas all things were good when first Created and given to Man for use the Scripture tells us That the Friendship of the World is Enmity with God and whosoever will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him Ja. 4.4 1 Jo. 2.15 If then the Heavenly Harmony Union and joyful Shoutings of the Sons of God was Ravishing and Refreshful even to sitting down under that shadow with great delight and being sick of Love when Man and the Creation was in its first Integrity when we look on the black and defaced Countenance of Man and Creatures defiled with all manner of Sin and Pollution and the World with all Deformity of Wickednesses and Contention and being Branded with Gods displeasure How great reason have we with the Church to cry out How is the Gold become Dim How is the most fine Gold changed and with David to say Wo is me that I Sojourn in Mesech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar Ps 120.5 If the Soul of Righteous Lot was grieved at the Iniquity of Sodom how much more Reason have Men now adays to grieve for that universal Deluge of Abominations which overflow the whole while earth in serious Reflection of Man in his Integrity and the Beauty of the Creation and the present Degeneracy under Sin and Misery and being Anxious to understand that Mystery why the World once approved of God to be good and given to Man should afterwards be stamped with Gods Curse and Displeasure as in the foregoing Scripture I was entertained with that of Eliphas the Temanite Shall Mortal Man be more just than God shall a Man be more pure than his Maker Job 4.17 which lead me to enquire into the particular causes of this great Catastrophe and to understand the meaning together with the Justice of God and the Mistery of his Love to believers in Christ Jesus In this enquiry I was led up to the Fountain of Gods bounty to Man by which he was made in the likeness of God in Righteousness true Holiness and Knowledge according to the Image of him that Created him and had the other Creatures given to him for use with Dominion over them under the Tenure of his Obedience and under the Commination and Assurance of Death on his Transgression I had no sooner viewed the Happiness of his first Estate when I was led to the Record of his Transgression by putting forth his Heart to Rebellion and his Hands to the Trespass and then found the Judgment entred against him by which he was degraded of his Soveraignty and Enmity was sown between him and the Creatures and the Earth accursed for his sake Gen. 3.14 to 20. And here with the Prophet we may put the question is Man the Darling of the Creation made lately in Gods own Image and Lord of all the Creation is he now a Servant a Home-born Slave why is he spoiled The Answer is in the Text hast thou not procured this to thy self In that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God for my People have committed two Evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Waters and hewed themselves Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2.11 13 14 17. And with the same Prophet we may cry out with Astonishment Be Astonished O Heavens and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord Jer. 2.11 And here is this Riddle resolved shall Mortal Man be more Just than God Shall Man be more pure than his Maker Man hath forsaken God and followed his own Inventions therefore God must be just to bring upon him the Judgment threatned viz. the forfeiture of all his Priviledges and make him smart under the folly of his own Devices They hatch Cockatrice Eggs and weave the Spiders Webb he that eateth of their Eggs dyeth and that which is crushed breaketh into a Viper their Webb shall not become Garments neither shall they cover themselves with their Works their Works are Works of Iniquity Is 59.5 6 7. Hence we find God is Just in punishing Man for his Transgression and Man by his Folly hath brought himself and Posterity to ruin who through the Pride of his Concupiscence abode not in his Integrity but in repining against God hath brought himself and Posterity under Servitude to Sin Misery and Death Thus while with Rachel weeping for her Children and refusing to be Comforted because they were not Jer. 31.15 I was plunged in oppression of Thoughts and heavily Lamenting that so glorious a Fabrick of Gods Handy-work as in the first Creation in Holiness and Integrity should be polluted by Sin and defaced from the primitive Beauty and as Moses pleading with God from the Arguments of his own Glory and Power in behalf of his People of Israel Num. 14.11 to 17. heartily wishing that glorious and first Image might again be restored in Man after the Image of him that Created it I was led to that Scripture My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are
a man Math. 15.18 19 20. Seems to confirm this Doctrine that Sin principally consisteth not in the outward acts but in the inward Corruption and Disorder of the affections and mind for here in this Scripture he brings the words and actions of a man to charge the guilt upon the heart This is explained also by the Custom and Laws of Countries against Treason where Imagining and Conspiring to kill the King is made Treason and any act which discovers or proves that Intention is made Treason but the main guilt lieth in the malice and rebellious Inclinations of the heart in Conspiring the Kings Death and the act is but a proof of it so upon the whole matter we find this great transgression of Original Sin was the adulterate and disorderly frame of the Spirit of man let out in disobedience against God and having once listned to temptation the whole faculties were defiled and did not stop until man run into actual rebellion against God So that we must look on Man's corrupt Nature as having in it the Complication of all Lusts and Sins as the Principal cause of Gods Wrath and Curse and that the act of Disobedience served for Gods Evidence to prove the guilt of the heart and this Corrupt Fountain of Nature with the Curse for Rebellion have our first Parents sent down to all Posterity And thus we see man lately Righteous Holy Pure and Undefiled full of Knowledge Power Soveraignty over the Creatures giving Law to them and receiving Obedience from them living in Honour Glory Pomp Plenty and at Pleasure having all the Creatures in Subjection to him and none in Competition with him a Friend of and at Peace with God the Darling of the Creation having Glory without Envy Plenty without Toil Pleasure without Trouble Strength without Infirmities or Pain Degraded from Soveraignty Clouded with Darkness Pestred with Contention Oppressed with Toil Pinched with Difficulties Obnoxious to Destruction from such who lately were under Subjection to him an Outlaw to God and Banished from his Presence his Body a Mass of Infirmities and Soul a Cage of unclean Lusts The whole Head is Sick the whole Heart faint from the Sole of the Foot even unto the Head there is no soundness in it but Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores Isa 1.5 We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags and we do all fade as a Leaf and our Iniquities like the wind have taken us away c. Isa 64.5 And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee for thou hast hid thy self from us and hast consumed us because of our Iniquities Isa 64.7 Thus having viewed mans estate in his Creation and Integrity and considered his fall and steps thereof we come next to examine how far his Posterity is concerned in his guilt and punishment thereof Adam being freely Created of God and by him endowed with excellent Knowledge Righteousness and Holyness and made Lord over the Creation under the Covenant of Obedience and Penalty of Disobedience we must look on him in the Purpose of God as representing all mankind so as on his performance with God he should continue and hold all the Priviledges he was dignified with and send them down to his Posterity and if he should fail in the Conditions assigned to him he was to forfeit all these Priviledges as well for himself as Posterity this is but what was just with God who freely made Man what he was and might duely claim the disposal of his own gift upon his own terms this was only advantagious enough to Man having so fair a bargain gratis without price or any purchase except that of due Obedience which he was capable to perform had he not wilfully corrupted himself This is illustrated by the customary practice amongst Men for when any man lets Land to Lease for term of years reserving a Rent payable at a certain time if the Rent be not pay'd at the term assigned the property reverts and vests in the Leasser and the Tennant is devested of his term and of all benefit thereby but if the Leassee performs he holds for himself and assigns This also is clear in that case when a King or Overlord makes a Grant for Service to a Man and his Heirs if the Grantee performs he holds for himself and sends the right and benefit of the Grant to his Heirs but if he fail the Grant is Extinct by his Non-performance and the Heirs take nothing by succession to him for that his right in his own time was voided so could not he send it down to his Heirs In the Case of Treason the Ancestors blood is corrupted and he so dead in Law that the claim of Succession is cut off so as the Issue of his Body can make no claim through him and not only so but the Ancestors blood is so attainted by Act in Law that the Posterity is not only barred from succession to what the Ancestor held but the Crime of Rebellion or Treason is imputed to the Successors or Posterity that in all time coming their Succession is cut off unless by Act in Law the blood be restored although the Posterity should not be guilty of the Act of Rebellion or Treason on which the forefeit was declared or accrewed In this case two fatal Consequences have hapned to the Posterity of Adam First By his Act of Disobedience he hath so far corrupted Nature so as thereby the Nature of all Men by Natural Generation is Corrupted Secondly by breaking of the Command he in his own life time was dispossessed of the Rich Priviledges vested in him and thereby his Posterity were cut off from the claim of right thereunto First Adam by his transgression hath corrupted his Nature and thereby all men by Natural Generation are corrupted and as partakers of that degenerated Nature they are guilty of and chargeable with Adams transgression and have lodged in them inherent Corruption That Adam by the many enormous steps of his Disobedience above mentioned hath not only incurred the Wrath of God but also Corrupted his Nature doth thereby appear by what has been already said in the Concomitants or special steps of that Disobedience for it was simply impossible that so many irregularities could have concurred in any one Act as have appeared in this if the whole Nature had not been polluted the very Act in the Circumstances of it clearly prove it for that so many different Concomitants would have jarred and marred that Act if the chief propension of the Affections and Natural Dispositions had not joyned whereby we must agree that the whole Mass was Corrupted and in Conspiracy to rebellion against God If Adam by his Apostacy from God did defile his Nature from the first purity and that all men since are the seed of Adam we must infer that all men by Natural Generation are of a Corrupted race and naturally defiled and consequently
his Church In all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them and carryed them all the days of old Isa 63.9 Secondly This Love is extensive to all wants and necessities or else it is empty and profiteth not Whoso hath this Worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of Compassion how doth the Love of God dwell in him 1 Joh. 3.17 And the Apostle James is to the like purpose If a Brother or a Sister be naked and destitute of Daily food and one of you say to them depart in peace he ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Jam. 15.16 Seventhly Is it so then of a lamentable truth that all men are concluded in Adams Apostacy and that there is a woful Degeneracy in the Soul of Man from that primitive Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness and that all men in Nature are dead in Sin and have their Conversation with the Lusts of the Flesh fulfilling the desires thereof and of the mind according to the Course of this World according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience and are by Nature the Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.1 2 3. And that there is even amongst the renewed a Law in the Members warring against the Law in the Mind Rom. 7.23 Ch. 8.1 And that by reason of Sin the Creature is Subject to Vanity and the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain for the Adoption and Redemption Rom. 8.20 22 23. And that in this degeneracy a mans life is his burden and there is no true pleasure under the Sun confirmed in Solomons experience Therefore I hated life because the work that is wrought under the Sun is grievous unto me for all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 2.17 all Seeing then this Earth is but a sojourning and no abiding place and that here is neither Pleasure Rest nor Happiness how much is it mortal mans concern anxiously restlesly and with a believing Impatience to pursue close after these two things First That as by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin so Death passed upon all men for that all men have sinned Rom. 5.12 And that as by the offence of one man Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to Justification of life Rom. 5.18 That man would seriously apply himself to the Throne of Grace that he may be found in the Faith that he may be intituled into Eternal Life in Jesus Christ that only mediator and for that the first Image of God in man was wilfully abolished or defaced by man that by the bounty of Free-grace he may be begotten again by the regeneration of the Spirit unto a lively Faith and that he may put on the new man of Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4. â—â— And may be renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created it Col. 3.10 And may be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life And that he may be spiritually enlightned not by the Spirit of the World but by the Spirit which is of God and that he may know the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And that he may be spiritually minded that enmity of the Carnal mind may be removed so as he may no more mind the things of the Flesh but the things of the Spirit Rom 8.5 6 7. That being raised from the Death of Sin by the Spirit of Christ he may seek these things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 And may be accounted to be called a Child of God an heir and Joynt heir with Jesus Christ and may also be glorified with him Rom. 8 17. That he may be dead and crucified in Christ to Sin and may also live with him in Glory Rom. 6.8 Secondly Seeing the Earth was accursed for mans sake Gen. 3.17 18 19. And that the Creature was made Subject to Vanity not willingly but by reason of him who Subjected the same in hope Rom. 8.20 And that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together for redemption from the bondage of Corruption unto the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.21 22 23. That he may watch and be always ready with Oyl in his Lamp for the coming of the Bridegroom who cometh as a Thief in the night Rev. 16.15 And may earnestly pray that the Bridegroom would hasten the coming of his Kingdom and the new Heavens and the new Earth and set the Sons of God at liberty from the Liberty of Sin and Corruption and that the glad Tydings of that Heavenly Proclamation may be heard Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and God shall dwell with them and they shall be his People and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor Crying neither shall there be any more Pain For the former things are passed away Rev. 21. to 6. Having thus viewed Adam in his Primitive Integrity in Glory Honour Righteousness true Holiness and perfect Knowledge with absolute Soveraignty over the Creatures the Darling and Friend of God and all the Creation at Unity and Peace with him and in Subjection to him and in Amity amongst themselves And afterwards by Man's falling from God Man the declared Enemy of God and by a guard of Angels barred out of Paradise deprived of his Soveraignty and Enmity sowed between the Creatures and the Earth accursed and the Creation brought under Bondage and the Posterity of Adam once the apparent Heir of all Righteousness true Holiness Knowledge Honour Glory and Soveraignty over the Creatures disabled and cut off from that glorious succession and exposed unto all misery and under the servitude of Sin and Wrath Rom. 3.23 Eph. 2.3 And in place of that Unity of the Sons of God and shouting together for joy nothing to be seen or heard but Subjects rebelling against their Soveraign and the whole Creation Split in Enmity and Envy Malice Oppression and Unrighteousness to have filled the whole Earth where is that corner of the World where ambition for Dominion Covetousness for Wealth private or publick animosities have not drowned the sense of all comfortable enjoyments Man raging against the Creatures and they against him and each in contention devouring one another and nothing to be seen but a woful Convulsion and dismal complexion and the degenerate frame of that first and beautiful Fabrick of the Creation from its so late purity and glory This then being the Tragical Condition of all Mortals Subject to Sin and Misery as entailed on them from the Inherent Corruption of Nature Job 5.6 Who can
with-hold the Churches lamentation How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his anger and cast down from Heaven to Earth the beauty of Israel and remembred not his foot-stool in the day of his anger what thing shall I take witness for thee what shall I liken unto thee O Daughter of Jerusalem what shall I equal unto thee that I may comfort thee O Virgin Daughter of Zion for thy breach is great like the Sea who can heal it Lam. 2.1 to the end How is the Gold become dim how is the most fine Gold changed the Stones of the Sanctuary are poured out in every Street the pretious Sons of Zion comparable to fine Gold how are they esteemed as Earthern Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter Lam. 4.1 2 all And with the Holy King and Psalmist heavily lament wo is me that I sojourn in Meseâ—â— and dwell in the Tents of Kedar Psalm 120.5 This being the universal state of Misery to all Mankind as in the place before cited Man is born unto troubles as the sparks fly upward It being no more natural to the Sparks to come out of fire and fly up then to man born in Sin to meet with sorrow and misery and therefore all Men should Copy out the Prophets methods and wish Oh that my head were Waters and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of my People Oh that I had in the Wilderness a lodging place of way faring Men that I might leave my People and go from them for they be all Adulterers an assembly of treacherous Men and they bend their Tongues like their bows for lies but they are not valiant for the Truth upon Earth for they proceed from Evil to Evil and know not me saith the Lord take ye heed every one to his Neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every Brother will utterly supplant and every Neighbour will walk with Slanders they weary themselves to commit Iniquity thine habitation is in the midst of deceit through deceit they refuse to know me saith the Lord Jer. 9.1 to 7. And should also with the Church arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the Watches pour out thy Heart like Water before the Face of the Lord lift up thy Hands towards him for the Life of thy young Children that faint for hunger in the top of every Street Lam. 2.19 And with the same Prophet Jeremiah Rachel weeping for her Children and refused to be comforted because they were not Jer. 31.25 Now if the holy Prophet was thus in an Agony of grief for the Sin and Misery of one Nation and People and the Church for her private state and the holy King for his uneasiness under such Companions how much more reason hath every Son of Adam not only to mourn for and bewail his private guilt and misery but also to lye low in self abasement humiliation repentance and bitter Complaints of the universal misery of all mankind as Sons of Wrath by Nature because of Sin This being the dismal Estate and Condition of Man by Nature in which is too great matter of mourning and lamentation methinks I hear the loud sounding of bitter groaning under the subjection and bondage of the Creation Rom. 8.22 And a voice grievously putting the question Is the plant of renown of Gods Creation utterly cut off Hath the Lord forgot to be gracious will he be favourable no more are his tender Mercies clean gone for ever Psal 77.7 8 9. Psal 85.5 Psal 89.46 In answer to which I was led to that place Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from weeping and thine Eyes from tears for thy works shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy and there is hope in thine end and thy Children shall come again to their own Land Jer. 31.16 17. And while in deep contemplation of this consolatory voice and plunged with reflections on Mans Incapacity to reconcile himself to God and of the apparent impossibility I was led to that of the Prerogative of God With Man this is impossible but with God all things are possible Mat. 19.26 And to that pretious Truth My Thoughts are not your Thoughts nor my Ways your Ways saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts and my Ways than your Ways Isa 55.8 9. And being further plunged in the deep contemplation of Mans Rebellion and of the Justice of God which requires Attonement for Sin and finding Man had nothing wherewith to come before the Lord to appease the wrath of an Omnipotent Holy and Dishonoured Majesty I was lost between the belief of his Faithfulness who had promised and the apparent impossibility I was carried to that Scripture Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began 2 Tim. 1.9 And to that other Scripture According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundations of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1.4 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Tit. 1.2 And to that other clear truth for as much as ye know that ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the pretious blood of Christ as a Lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was fore-ordained before the Foundations of the World but was manifest in these last times in you 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. And being also carried to view that Scripture And I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3.15 by all which I was brought to understand that the same Eternal Wisdom and Council of God whereby at first Man was created in the Image of God Gen. 1.26 27. by which the Fall of Man was foreseen the Restoration of Man to the same Image of God was also decreed from all Eternity by Gods Eternal goodness and free bounty and by means above the reach of Man to contrive or his power to accomplish viz. by Jesus Christs taking upon him the Humane Nature and shedding his blood to death to expiate the guilt of Mans Sin as in that of the forecited testimony of the Apostle Peter This then being the unfolding of that great mistery of Mans Redemption and Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ as by Gods Grace shall be more fully explained in the ensuing Discourse If the reflection upon the miserable Estate of Man in the foregoing Description justly occasioned and called for from all men deep humiliation sorrow and repentance how great Reason have all Men with all adoration humility and thankfulness to cry out with the Holy Apostle Oh
the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out for who hath known the Mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor Rom. 11.33 34. And with the same Apostle That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth Knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.17 18 19. And to admire Infinite Goodness with the Holy Prophet For since the beginning of the World Man hath not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him Isa 64.4 And further of the mistery of this love read 1 Tim. 3.16 Psalm 139.17 18. Having thus viewed the first estate of Man in his Innocence and his estate of Apostacy from God and being informed of the mistery of Gods Love and eternal good Will to Man in Christ Jesus we come next to consider how in infinite Wisdom the Redemption of Man is contrived We have already discovered how God of his bounty made man in a happy and glorious estate after his own Image and upon the Condition and Covenant of obedience he was made Lord of all the sublunary Creatures and that God putting Mans Stock in his own hand and though he was sufficiently enabled to perform Obedience nevertheless through the Concupisence of his Heart he broke his Allegiance to God and incurred to himself and posterity the forfeiture of all the glorious Dignities and Priviledges given to him and he and his Posterity were concluded under Misery and Wrath because of Sin so that having no capacity in himself to be reconciled to God and retrieve his loss the Infinite Wisdom and Bounty of God from all Eternity as above is discovered did determine mans Restoration to a better and surer Estate and Condition than what he was in at his first Creation and that same Infinite Wisdom foreseeing that Man having corrupted his Way and Heart the Fountain of Actions And that the Thoughts and Imaginations of his Heart were evil and only evil continually Gen 6.5 And that his Heart was deceitful and desperately wicked Jer. 17.9 And though he intended Mans Restoration and Eternal Happiness yet because of the pravity of Mans Heart he was neither to be treated with upon his own Integrity nor fit to be trusted with a new Stock in his own strength and therefore Heavenly Wisdom appoints the only begotten Son of God and Second Person of the Holy Trinity to be a Mediator for Man and by him enters into an everlasting Covenant with Man which shall be demonstrated in the ensuing Discourse and that as well to satisfie Divine Justice for Mans Transgression as to secure to Man the future Stock of Gods bounty granted unto him by vertue of this New and Second Covenant and what this Covenant is and the terms of it shall be the next Subject of Discourse This Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace is mutual between God and Man through the Mediator Jesus Christ who in Scripture is called the Mediator of the New Covenant considering this Covenant we shall First Take notice of the freedom thereof Secondly Of the terms of it First As to the freedom It being apparent that God of his Free-Will and Goodness without any tye necessity or obligation upon him for his own Glory Created the World and Man in that glorious and stately Condition as we have heard and that Man by his Rebellion departing from God had incurred the execution of Justice upon himself and all after Posterity and that the Pravity of Mans Nature was such that it grieved and repented God that he had made Man Gen. 6.6 There lay no obligation upon God to restore lost Man but that God intending to make Bounty and Mercy as it were to triumph over Justice and magnifie his Infinite goodness by the Council of Heaven this mystery of Christs love is contrived by which Justice is satisfied and Man is not only relieved from the servitude of Sin and delivered from wrath to come and insured in a better estate than what he was in at first but also is made Heir to all the most excellent priviledges contained in this new Covenant which shall be branched forch in the ensuing Discourse The frequent testimonies of the Spirit in the New Testament witness the freedom of this Covenant Having Predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 But God who is rich in Mercy for his great love wherewith he hath loved us even when we were dead in sins hath he quickened us together in Christ by Grace ye are saved Eph. 2.4 5 11. And not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour that being Justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life Titus 3.5 6 7. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare his righteousness that he may be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Rom. 3.21 to the end When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life Rom 5.6 to 11. Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 and other innumerable places of Scripture as Rom. 9.11 15 16. Ezek. 16. to 15 and Ezek. 36.17 to 33. James 1.17 By all which we see the blessing of this Covenant coming freely of Grace by the Council of Heaven Christ undertaking for impotent helpless sinners and enemies and this undertaking approved and accepted of by the forbearance of God and the suffering of Christ coming as a propitiation and satisfaction to Justice for Mans offences who was in no capacity to help himself the freedom and excellency of this love of Christ in this new Covenant appears yet more particularly in these respects First As man was of himself incapable to make satisfaction to Justice and reconcile himself to God so he was not fit to be treated with by God in his own person because he had altogether defiled himself and was of no Integrity therefore Jesus Christ
holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones for I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit should fail before me and the Souls which I have made Isa 57.15 16. From whence we may have these two Lessons First A Lesson of Caution Humiliation and Watchfulness to the Godly and Penitent Secondly An advice against censoriousness and rash judging of others First As to Godly and Penitent hast thou upon serious enquiry into thine own Heart Affections and Conversation found that Godly sorrow and repentance for sin spoken of 2 Cor. 7.9 10 11. And explained in this ensuing Discourse Page And hast found Faith warranting thee to believe that Christ Jesus who knew no sin is made sin for thee 2 Cor. 5.21 And thou made the Righteousness of God in him and that the Hand-writing of Ordinances of Gods Justice as to thee is by him blotted out Col. 2.13 14. Then consider First What thou art called unto That as ye have learned Christ Jesus so walk ye in him Hath he made thee Righteousness who was dead in trespasses and sins not by thine own work of Righteousness but of his Grace and by his Power of Regeneration art thou justified not by the Law of thy Works but by Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ Romans 3.27 28. T hy works are only Obedience Faith and Holiness which are given to thee by him and though they neither have justified nor can justify thee they are thy duties and what thou canst do is but duty and thou shouldst account thy self an unprofitable Servant as to God Luke 17.10 And though in the acceptance of God through Jesus Christ thou art accounted Righteous thou must continue in holy duties in all manner of conversation and must not continue in Sin that Grace may abound but as being dead to sin and crucified in Christ thou shouldest walk in newness of life to the destruction of the body of Death that we may live with Christ Let not therefore Sin reign in your Mortal bodies that you should obey it in the lusts thereof neither yield ye your Members as Instruments of unrighteousness to Sin but yield unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God and sin not because thou art not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. to 16. Secondly Art thou in thy apprehensions renewed to God and hast a loathing sense of Corruptions is the Bond-woman of Sin and Satan cast out by the power of Regeneration and Grace leave not thy house empty but get it freshly stockt with increase of Grace consider what Christ saith of the Man out of which the Devil was cast out that if he find the House empty he will return with seven Devils worse than himself and the last state of that man will be worse than the first Luk. 11.24 25 26. Be instant therefore in Prayer to God for increase of Grace and Guard against old favourite Lusts and Corruptions that they return not again to entangle thee to Folly take the Apostles advice be sober be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 8.9 Thirdly Art thou Righteous to God by Christ Jesus not by thine own works and power be humble in the sense of thy own incapacity and insufficiency for any good in thy self and say with that holy Apostle For I know that in me that is in my Flesh there dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good that I know not for the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do for I find a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me O wretched man that I am Who shall deliver me from the Body of this death Rom. 7.18 to 25. And be deeply sensible of the weakness and imperfection of all thy Graces and Attainments as rotten Garments and menstruous Clouts as in and from thee and that in thy self there is no soundness but uncleanness from the sole of the Foot to the top of the head Isa 1.6 Ch. 64.6 Secondly As to censoriousness and rash judging the Scripture tells us that offences must come but wo to them by whom they come Luke 17.1 And as none are more obnoxious to be slandered reviled and evil reported of and be treated censoriously and uncharitably than the Godly this they may remember for their Comfort and Patience that the Disciple must not expect better entertainment than his Master nor the Servant than his Lord and as Christ was reviled with being a friend to Publicans and Sinners a Wine-bibber and a Drunkard and that he did cast out Devils by Belzebub the Prince of Devils Luke 7.32 33 34. So may the Children of God contentedly sit down under the uncharitable constructions of the Enemies of Truth after the example of Christ who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. As the Children of God when they do well and suffer for it are called to suffer patiently as following Christs example in the foregoing Scripture so the uncharitable and censorious Rabsecahs whose business is to ridicule the Truth of God disparage Religion and load the zealous for God with reproach and infamy Isa 36. Chap. 37.8 to 14. should do well to remember that uncharitable censoriousness is a great sin against God and to take on them to charge the Professors of Religion with Hypocrisy is assuming to themselves the Prerogative of God of knowing mens Hearts which alone is the peculiar power of God Jer. 11.20 ch 17.9 10. Psal 7.9 1 Sam. 16.7 Man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the Heart No Man can charge another with any Sin but if he search into his own Heart and Ways he may find himself guilty of that same or worse Sins wherewith he chargeth his Brother wherefore he should take Christs directions first To take the beame out of his own Eye before he challenge the Mote in his Brothers Eye and not to Judge least he be Judged Mat. 7. to 6. Let such consider how much a narrow uncharitable and censorious Spirit is contrary to that love tenderness and charity which is commanded and recommended in Scripture Rom. 2. all and that if any brother or professor of truth be fallen under any sin that he be reclaimed in the Spirit of meekness and not treated with bitter invectives and reproaches 2 Cor. 2.7 and that self-humiliation is the best means of anothers conviction and the true Christian duty For whoso exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted Luk. 14.11 Let such consider
which was since the Law maketh his Son who is consecrated for evermore for Christ is not entered into the Holy Places made with Hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 Heb. 7.23 24 25 28. And by the Holy Apostle John If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.1 From these Scriptures we have a clear proof of this consolatory Doctrine that Christs Priesthood continueth when mens cease for his is Eternal theirs are but while they are on Earth but on the other Hand Christ hath entered into the Heavens to make Intercession for us and although he hath once for all fulfilled the Sacrifice to Justice for Sinners nevertheless he is still at a post of Intercession in Heaven with the Father to make our requests known and to procure the answer to our Petitions and as at his leaving of the World he told his Disciples he was going to the Father and told them Whatsoever ye ask in my name that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son and if ye ask anything in my name I will do it Joh. 14.13 14. It clearly appears his Mediatory Office is not determined but continueth and will continue until the restitution of all things and he give up the Kingdom to his Father As this Doctrine affords great consolation to all Believers that in all their wants Spiritual and Temporal while in their Pilgrim state they are assured of an Advocate to make Intercession for them so we have a clear confutation of that errour of the Church of Rome who set up the Doctrine of Invocation and Intercession of Saints which exceedingly derogates from the Prerogative of Jesus Christ who is that great High Priest and only Mediator for Sinners for the Apostle is most positively clear that Priests amongst men are not suffered to continue because of Death but this man continueth for ever so as nothing can be clearer than that their Office determines with their Lives and his continueth in Heaven making Intercession for Sinners What can be a greater contradiction of Scripture and more derogatory to the sole Prerogative of Jesus Christs Mediation than to allow the power of Intercession to any Saint or Angel whose Office is extinguished when they yield up the Ghost Fourthly Priests amongst Men offer Sacrifices of corruptible things at the charge of others but this great High Priest hath made a Sacrifice of his own blood for the sins of others But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say neither by the blood of Goates and Calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained eternal Redemption for us for if the blood of Bulls and Goates and of the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the Unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences to serve the living God Heb. 9.11 12 13 14. and elsewhere Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.13 14. Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World according to the Will of God and our Father Gal. 1.4 being justified freely by his Grace by the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of Works nay but by the Law of Faith therefore we conclude that a Man is justified by Faith without thee deeds of the Law Rom. 3.24 to 29. Hence then have we this great Doctrine of Christs satisfaction for Believers plainly discovered and proved unto us in which we see the contrivance of Heaven for Mans Eternal Redemption freely justified that is without merit or reward on our part but of Bounty and Grace whom God hath set forth by the joint Council of the Godhead through Christ Jesus here the Sole Mediatory office lodged in him through Faith in his blood this is the duty and condition on Believers part for remission of Sins that are past this is the full satisfaction to Justice through the forbearance of God the consent of Heaven and Indemnity for Sinners that he might be just that Justice might be satisfied and sin expiated by the Blood of Jesus and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus that Christs Blood be imputed as satisfaction for Sin without farther satisfaction from Believers or other Mediators From all which and almost in express words we have the confutation of that impious Doctrine of Rome viz. of Merit Mediation of Saints Purgatory after Death all sins being done away by the Blood of Jesus God being the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus what room then is there for Purgatory Another difference between our great High Priest and Priests on Earth is that they offered often but he offered up himself once for all a Propitiation for Sin and thereby at once satisfied Justice as in the foregoing and other Scriptures By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus once for all and every Priest standeth daily ministring and oftentimes offering the same sacrifices which can never take away Sin but this Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sin for ever sate down on the Right Hand of God for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 9.11 12. He entred in once into the holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 10.11 12 14. From this plain Doctrine of Christs once offering himself a Sacrifice for Sinners believers may comfort themselves in assurance of Salvation from that Sacrifice of his Blood and may come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 And may have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail whether the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 6.18 19 20. This Doctrine also plainly reproves that Judaick Idolatrous and vain opinion of the Popish Mass in crucifying a fresh the Lord of Glory and so
according to Christs own Doctrine When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say we are uprofitable Servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 As the holy Scriptures of the old and new testament hold out to us the whole complex of Christian duties which being so various and collected from so many several Scriptures and for the better attaining to the knowledge thereof are to be reduced in order under the several heads of the duties of the first and second Table shall by the blessing of God be the subject of the ensuing Discourse Before we proceed to examine the particular duties of Christians under this new Covenant we shall by the way consider the great difference between the bounty and goodness of God to Repenting Sinners and the bounty and goodness of man to one another in which we shall find made good that Scripture As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways Isa 55.9 We have discovered that the Lord Jesus Christ his bounty is such that man by sin against God having forfeited his first and happy estate in Paradise and being therefore accursed and concluded under wrath is freely restored by the Sacrifice of Christs Blood and that all required of him in return of such mercies is the due observance of Gods Commands in new obedience and that towards mans performance God in Christ Jesus makes with him an everlasting Covenant that he is their God and they his People That he will give them one Heart and one Way that they may fear him for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.38 39 40. and give them a new Spirit Ezek. 11.19 and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Commandments and do them Jer. 36.27 By which we perceive that as the Lord requires duties on mans part he affords to his people Strength and Grace to perform the duties Commanded which other Benefactors neither do nor can do Secondly The Lord gives power and authority to his people to call on him for a supply of such of his Graces as are necessary for them to enable them to walk with him Ezek. 36.37 I will yet for this be inquired of the House of Israel to do it for them seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened c. Mat. 7.7 8. and in that famous place Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and my Daughters and the works of my hands command ye me Isa 45.11 Thirdly The Lord doth not only afford stock of Grace by his Spirit and gives a command to call for more supply but he also rewards the right improvement of Grace with fresh Grace he will give Grace for Grace and no good thing will he with-hold from those that fear him Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 and this is clear by the parable of the Talents to such as improved more was given and Eternal Life as a reward of their well-doing but he that did not improve what he had was taken from him and he himself was thrust into utter darkness Mat. 25. Fourthly The Lord delighteth in mercy and not in the severity of his Justice and rather desires sinners should repent and live than perish under his Wrath and Justice Cast away all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O House of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth wherefore turn your selves and live Ezek. 18.31 32. As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye for why will ye dye O House of Israel Ezek. 33.11 We see in all these foregoing steps the great desire and zeal the Lord Jesus Christ hath for the good and conversion of sinners and aversation to their distruction but on the other hand we shall find the great prejudice oppression and cruelty of men against one another For first consider any man as a benefactor to another either in that case where any man hath raised some to some degree of preferment or profit either of meer good will or favour and on taking a liking to him as his favourite or for some good office done to him by another makes him some grant to himself and his heirs how frequently doth it happen that either the donor looseth his fancy or forgets the good office to the donec in his own time or like Pharaoh to the Posterity of Joseph and thereby rests not till by some means or other he brings his favourite into disgrace and worms from him the grant with Ignominy and leaves him in worse condition than he found him or makes him the continual Butt of his displeasure and exposeth him to the contempt of others or if any condition be performable on the grant makes the Grantee uneasy and never at quiet until the grant be voided Secondly If on the account of Charity or common course of dealing one Neighbour or Friend happen on some pinching exigent to supply the want of another how frequently doth Pride upbraid the necessitous and covetousness take these advantages that what was lent is called and forced back so unseasonably and in such rigid and hard terms that the calling the thing back after such manner is a greater prejudice than the supply could be a service and many are ruined on pretence of friendship in lending when the event is pernicious and the design appears to have been nothing but covetousness let such persons consider the common duty of Charity of lending without expectation of a return according to Christs Doctrine Love ye your Enemies and do good for evil and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the highest for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil be ye therefore merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Luke 6.34 35 36. It were advisable such persons would consider it 's only Gods bounty which makes one man in a worldly state to differ from another What hast thou O man that thou hast not received Every Good and every Perfect Gift cometh from the Father of Light Jam. 1.17 The Race is not to the Swift nor the Battel to the Strong but God raiseth up one and casteth down another Let man in prosperity consider it is only by the favour of God he standeth and he that thinketh he standeth let him take heed least he fall And remember what the Psalmist saith When thou Lord rebukest man for Iniquity how dost thou make his beauty to consume like a Mothe Let him consider the Parable of Dives and Lazarus Luke 16.19 to the end and the rich Husbandman in the
shall not be your ruine why will you dye O House of Israel for I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live Ezek. 18.25 to 33. chap. 26. As the Lord doth exercise the Patience of his People in Spiritual Promises for Spiritual things so also to trust his Promises in reference to temporals and these may be branched out in these two First His Promises to the People of God in general without reference to particular cases of suffering and these comprehend God's complex or full purpose to his People Secondly These Promises may relate to the several cases or exigence of Gods People First For Gods Promises in general not relating to particular cases the Scriptures are so full that it 's impossible to collect them however we shall touch some of the most obvious In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them in his Love and in his Pitty he remembred them and carried them all the days of old Isa 63.9 His Anger endureth but for a moment sorrow may be at Evening but Joy cometh in the morning Psal 30.5 For thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Sheild Psal 5.12 The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble for they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal 9.9 10. Though you have lyen among the Pots yet shall ye be live a Dove whose Wings are covered with Silver and their Feathers with yellow Gold Psalm 68.13 For thou Lord wilt save the afflicted People but wilt bring down high looks he is a buckler to all those that trust in him Psal 18.22 30. unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness surely he shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance he shall not be afraid of evil tidings his Heart is fixed trusting in the Lord Psal 112.4 6 7. Alas for that day is great there is none like it it is the day of Jacobs troubles but they shall be delivered out of them all Jer. 30.7 The Prophet Isaiah sets down in many places Gods universal care over his People O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorough the Fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flames kindle upon thee Isa 43. all The Lord will be a Sun and a Sheild he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Psal 86.5 13 15. The holy Psalmist is full of Prophetical Promises of Gods universal good to his People he that dwelleth in the secret of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord he is my Refuge and my Fortress my God in him will I trust surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the Fowler and from the noisome Pestilence he shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler Psal 91. all And of the numerous and large Promises of God to his People and of the Halcyon days of Zion all the Prophets abound for the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem he shall judge many people and the Nations afar off and they shall beat their Swords into Plough-shears and their Spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more but they shall set down every man under his own Vine and under his own Fig tree and none shall make them afraid for the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it I will assemble her that halteth and her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted and I will make her that halted a Remnant and her that was cast far off a strong Nation And the Lord shall reign over them in Zion from henceforth and for ever thou shalt go even to Babylon and there thou shalt be delivered there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine Enemies Arise and thresh O Daughter of Zion for I will make thy Horn Iron and thy Hoofs Brass and thou shalt beat in pieces many People and I will consecrate their gain and their substance to the God of the whole Earth Mic. 4. all Awake awake stand up O Jerusalem which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the Cup of his fury thou hast drunk the dregs of the Cup of trembling and thou hast wrung them out there is none to guide her amongst all the Sons whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the Sons whom she hath brought up these two things are come unto thee who shall be sorry for thee desolation and destruction the Famine and the Sword by whom shall I comfort thee thy Sons have fainted they lye at the head of all the Streets they are full of the fury of the Lord thy God therefore now hear this thou afflicted and drunken but not with Wine Thus saith the Lord the God and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his People behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling even the dregs of the Cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of them that afflicted thee who have said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy body as the ground and as the street to them that went over Isa 51.17 to end Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I do earnestly remember him still my bowels are troubled for him Jer. 31.20 Thus saith the Lord because the Enemy hath said against you a hah made you desolate and swallowed you up for a possession to the Heathen and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers and are in Infamy to the People and are a prey and derision I have spoken in my Jealousie and my fury because ye have born the reproach of the Heathen ye shall shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for behold I am for you and ye shall be tilled and sown I will multiply you and settle you after your old Estates and I will do better to you than at your beginning and ye shall know that I am the Lord I will take you from among the Heathen whether I have driven you and I will bring you into your own Land then will I sprinkle you with clean Water and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols a new Heart also will I give you and a
My Brethren have dealt deceitfully with me as a Brook John 13.18 This also was the sad Condition of the Church Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord their Imaginations against me the Lips of those that rise up against me their devices against me all the day long behold their sitting down and their rising up I am their Musick Lam. 3.6 62 63. David was as among Lions their Teeth were as Spears against him and their Tongues as sharp Swords they wrested his words Psal 57.4 Psal 56.2 5 6. He was the Song of the Drunkards Reproach hath broken my Heart I am full of heaviness I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I found none Psal 69. all Our Soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those that dwell at ease and with the contempt of the Proud Psal 123.4 The sixth reason why God thus chastiseth his People is to make them sensible of the different measures by which he deals with his People in their Afflictions and with the wicked by his Judgment upon them and that consists in these six respects First He chastiseth his People in love and for their good but his Judgments on the Wicked are to their Everlasting Loss and Condemnation Secondly He unwillingly and with reluctance corrects his People but taketh pleasure in his Justice upon the Wicked Thirdly He corrects his People in measure and moderation but Rains down the Vials of his displeasure upon his Enemies Fourthly The Chastisements of his People are but for a moment and not to make an end of them but the Wicked are totally cut off without expectation or hope of recovery Fifthly The Godly though afflicted are comforted by Gods presence they have communion and fellowship with the Father and holy Trinity but the Wicked have no hope in their end or punishments Sixthly The Godly by their afflictions are taught to know the difference between Spiritual and Carnal enjoyments Temporal and Eternal Mercies First The Godly's Chastisements are for their good although all Trials Afflictions and Temptations are a dark Cloud and carry a pale Face yet when the Godly do search out the purpose of God in this and are desirous to know his Intentions therein they will see this to be in love when the Godly enjoy all sensual pleasures without any intermission they are apt to surfeit upon Mercies and turn lazy and forget God as the slothful Man by luxuriant feeding ease and gluttony contracts a Lethargy so are the best of men apt to forget the Fountain of Mercies and wax wanton against God as the People of Israel in their quiet and plenteous enjoyments Exod. 15 ch 17. Num. 11. ch 16. Deut. 11. Therefore the Lord visits his People with Rods to rouse them out of their laziness to make them turn to their rock for their good and safety Psal 106. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I learned to keep thy Word blessed is the Man whom thou chastiseth and teacheth out of thy Law Psal 119.67 71. This is the end to the Godly to take away his sin Isa 27.9 Whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth If ye endure chastning God dealeth with you as with Sons for what Son is he whom the Father chastneth not but if ye be without Chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye Bastards and no Children we had Fathers of the Flesh who chastised us after their own pleasure and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and life for they for a while corrected us according to their own pleasure but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness now no chastning for the present seemeth joyous but grievous but afterwards it bringeth forth the perfect fruit of Righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12.5 to 12. But see the Issue of the wicked and ungodly they shall be like the chaff which the Wind driveth away Ps 1.4 5 6. Secondly The Lord doth not afflict his People willingly but with great reluctancy How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Adma how shall I set thee as Zeboim my Heart is turned within me my repenting is turned together Hos 11.8 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child for since I spoke against him I remember him still earnestly my Bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord Jer. 31.20 Repent and turn your selves from your transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your ruin cast away all your transgressions and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will you dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner therefore turn your selves and live See Ezek. 33.11 Luk. 13.34 35. Ezek. 18.30 31 32. Thirdly The Lord corrects his People in measure and not in extremity as he doth the wicked hath he smitten him as he smote those that smote him or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him in measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough Wind in the day of his East-wind Isaiah 27.7 8. Fourthly The Afflictions of the Godly are but for a short time for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my self from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee Isa 5 4.7 8. They shall go into Babilon until I deliver them I will visit them there and restore them to this place Jer. 27.22 Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears for thy work shall be rewarded and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy and there is hope in thine end and thy Children shall come again in their own border Jer. 31.15 16 17. Thus though the Lord deals severely with his People nevertheless it is but for a time and in moderation and giveth them a happy delivery and eternal rest with himself in the end but he deals otherways with his Enemies never withdrawing his Judgments from them until he hath accomplished their destruction and avenged their malice against his People Wherefore it shall come to pass when the Lord hath performed this whole work upon mount Sion I will punish the stout-heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks Isa 41.15 16. I was wroth with my People I have polluted mine Inheritance and given them into thy hands thou didst shew them no mercy upon the antient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoak thou saidst I will be a Lady for ever for that thou didst not lay these things to thy Heart neither didst remember the latter end of them therefore hear thou this thou that art given to pleasure that dwellest carelesly that sayest in thy Heart
Heavens for us 1 Pet 1.3 4. This is that Treasure laid up where Moth consumeth not nor Thieves can purloyn this is a State where no change case or Circumstance of time or things can alter for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. Thirdly this State is a State of Compleat Happiness we have formerly seen the emptiness of all Human and Temporary Enjoyments That therein Happiness cannot be expected from the uncertainty and vexatiousness even under the Enjoyments thereof but here in this State is fulness of Joy and â—â—easures for evermore he that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 32. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise the Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Darkness shall the Moon give the light but the Lord shall be to thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory thy Sun shall no more go down nor thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thy Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Is 60.19 20. they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat and the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.14 15 16 17. Chap. 2 3 4. We are come unto Mount-Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the general Assembly of the First-Born which are written in the Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. Cbap. 3. The Seventh and great end Christ hath in Chastising his People is that which is the great end of the Gospel which is to raise Mens Hearts up to and fix their desires on that great prize of Salvation and Eternal Life as all Actions of Men have their Scope at which they chiefly Level this is the chief thing and ought principally to be driven at for these Reasons First this Great Salvation is for Gods Glory Secondly It is of all things most Profitable therefore most desirable Thirdly It hath the greatest Encouragements attending it Fourthly The Prize contended for is unvaluable First by Mans Salvation ariseth to God great Glory for as Christ is the Alpha and Omega and First-Born of his Brethren and though Originally perfect in himself and Glorious without Addition from Creatures being the express Image of his Person in whom the God-Head dwells bodily by whom all things were made and for him and to his own Glory and all things upheld by him his great goodness is such that he promotes Mans Happiness and sets it before him as his own Glory gave himself to Death for Man and made himself the Captain of that great Salvation by enduring all the Indignities of Human Contempt and his Fathers Wrath by personating Man and taking the Chastisements of his Sins upon him and this he proposeth as his Glory looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Glory that was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of God Heb. 12.2 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should Repent and live this being not only our Interest but Christs Glory how much and chiefly should we be concerned to promote it Secondly this is Mans most profitable concern all Men Level their Designs and Actions to the most Advantageous Interest and this of Eternal Life according to Christs Advice is most profitable What hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee then whose shall these things be that thou hast wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight in Fatness Luke 12 16. to 21. Is 55.2 Thirdly As this is most Advantagious so it is that in which most encouragement of help and assistance is offered and promised The whole Book of the Holy Writ is full of the great promises of Encouragement and Assistance to the People of God in their pursuit of this great Salvation yea it is Christs great desire that all Men should be saved How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings Luke 13.34 Is it not and hath it not been the Coursâ— and Care of Christ all the Prophets and Apostles to gather and bring Men to the Kingdom of God Christ made a purchase of Sinners but on his own Expences he is that kind Samaritan who Helps Cures Supplies and Recovers when other helps fail when Priests Levites and others pass by without Compassion or Relief he it is who of his own good will brings Deliverance as we see in the often repeated Scriptures Luke 10.10 to 37. Eze. 16. to 9. When we were without strength yea Enemies and Sinners Christ dyed for us so great is Christs Love to Sinners that nothing can stop the Current of his Mercy from them Rom. 5. to 11. First the Multitude of Sins do it not I have blotted out as a Cloud thy Transgressions and as a thick Cloud thy Sins return unto me for I have Redeemed thee Isa 44.22 Secondly the greatness of Sins cannot hinder his Love though your Sins be as Scarlet I will make them white as Snow though they be red like Crimson I will make them as Wooll Is 1.18 Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts Is 55.7 8 9. Thirdly Cloudiness and Darkness of Condition cannot do it who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50 10. Come my People enter into your Chambers shut the Doors about thee hide thy self for a Moment until the Indignation be over-past Isa 26.20 I will go and return to my place untill they acknowledge their offences and
what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ Ephes 3.9 Rom. 8.28 29 30. Secondly By his greatest and almost incredible humiliation in abasing himself to descend from the highest pitch of glory to the lowest step of humane miseries temptations ignominies and sufferings that humane nature could be exposed unto and to make himself a Servant in his sojourning in the World to teach the Gospel and the mystery of this great Salvation Thirdly His further condescention of abasement to the Wrath of God and suffer death for Mans Sin though he knew no sin that by his Suffering Death and Resurrection he might not only by satisfaction of Justice for Man redeem him from wrath to come and procure him eternal happiness but also to be a patern of patience and obedience to all for whom he suffered and both these last heads are contained or expressed in that of Isaiah he shall grow up before him as aâ— tender plant and as a Root out of dry ground he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we shall desire him he is despised and rejected of Men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him and we esteem him not surely he hath born our grief and yet we esteemed him stricken smitten of God and afflicted he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearers is dumb he opened not his Mouth he was taken from Prison and from Judgment he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death because he had done no violence neither was deceit found in his Mouth he poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressors Isa 53. to 11. This further instance of Christs Humiliation Abasement for Mans Salvation is further expressed by the Psalmist My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the People all men that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the Lip and shake the Head Ps 22. to 18. This sheweth in a Type what indignity reproach and misery the Saviour of the World should be exposed unto in the accomplishing of Mans Salvation and this was actually performed and brought about at Christs Suffering he was mocked reviled and flouted at when apprehended and brought to the Cross He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him Mar. 15.27 28. Mat. 27.35 43. Because Christ suffered leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not sin neither was guile found in his Mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. Fourthly This mystery of love and redemption of Man is magnified by Christs unparallelled indulgence and goodness that he did not only abase himself unto the greatest indignities in the flesh but he doth good for evil he doth not only make an Attonement by his death for the sins of Enemies but he also exalteth them from the greatest depth of misery to the highest form of glory an union with himself Father Angels and Saints as it is more fully expressed elsewhere This Doctrine and Truth of Mans Eternal Salvation so accomplished by Jesus Christ is not only given to us for our everlasting consolation but also for our instruction and direction in Faith Patience and new obedience in our sojourning state for although eternal Life our Redemption and Salvation is freely given and procured by his alone merit nevertheless he makes every man by a blessing on his Graces given to him instrumental of his own Salvation we are commanded To work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and as the Lord waits to be gracious so he commands and expects to be called upon for all his Mercies which he intends to bestow upon his People in that famous Scripture where he makes a new Covenant and Promises new and clean heart and to pour out his Spirit though he doth it freely and for his own name and glory yet he doth not intend his People should be bare Spectators and only passive in the receipt of mercies but that they should be active and solicitous in the duties of Faith Patience New Obedience and Prayer I will yet for this saith tbe Lord be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them and seeing all the days of our sojourning here we must wait until our change come and that as our duties are still incumbent upon us so we are obnoxious unto temptations and difficulties and for our help and directions steddily to steer our course we cannot have a more proper mean than to set Christ before us as a Patern who is the Captain and Author of our Salvation and that in his Doctrine and Practice First in his Doctrine his Doctrine is Preaching up Holiness Patience in Sufferings Mutual forbearance Peaceableness in Losses Contempt of the World Zeal for the Kingdom of God and Faith in the Providences of God and under all Despensations Mutual Love and Charity and Relief to the Distressed as a Duty even to Enemies His Doctrine is all for Holiness be ye Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy Math. 5.48 Patience in sufferings Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of Evil against you for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven for so Persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Math. 5.11 12. If ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ Happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God are on you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 1 Pet 4.14 to end He teacheth mutual forbearance and not to return evil but to do good for evil ye have heard it said an Eye for an Eye c. but I say unto you that you resist not evil with evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy Right Cheek turn to him the other also if any Man sue thee at Law to take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also if a Man will compel thee to go with him a Mile go with him two hence we are taught the great Spirit of Meekness whereof Christ was the Pattern and are commanded to bridle our Passionate Resentments of Injuries done us Math. 5.38 39. He Preacheth up the Duty of Charity and Charitable supplying of the Indigent give to
of man were evil and only evil continually So we find Thoughts Affections and Actions concurring in that first transgression the rebellious Thoughts mutining against the Command the lustful affections after the fruit that was good to eat and pleasant to the Eyes and to be desired to make one wise and the actions in eating thereof Now as by this degeneracy in our first Parents the whole Nature of Man in Adams Apostacy was corrupted that thenceforth their thoughts were evil and only evil continually So that whatsoever mans estate was at his Fall he must now have a new life by Jesus Christ and as his Nature and whole Man was corrupted so must he be wholly framed a new by being transformed into that holy frame after the Spirit and Image of him that created him and that in all his thoughts affections and actions and whether it be so or not let every man search and try himself and First In his Thoughts If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature in his Thoughts let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus saith the Holy Apostle and a right regulation of a mans thoughts consists First In placing of them on proper objects Secondly In the right Government of them directed to these objects Man in his degeneracy and state of Nature is as in a Feaver the whole Mass of Blood being so disordered and infected that nothing is regular with him much less his Thoughts for that he is of the Earth Earthly and in that natural darkness that he neither knoweth or can understand the things of God like the blind Mole always working and walking about the Earth and Earthly things and in his ferment of affection to the Creatures is hurried with frantick raptures after them and finding in them no satisfaction flys from one vanity to another like Noah's Dove can find no rest and as Solomon saith finds all vanity and vexation of Spirit so as he hated all his labour the Wicked Man is unstable in all his ways but these renewed are made partakers of the Divine Nature and place their desires on Heavenly objects have the same mind in them that was in Christ Jesus as Christ came into the World to do the Will of his Father in the Redemption of Man and did behave himself as his Kingdom not being of this World even so Christians are in this World as Sojourners and must not look on the things of this Life as the objects of their delight or objects of their inheritance and therefore must be Spiritually minded For to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Rom. 8.6 Now the objects of the Spiritual Man must be Spiritual and nothing can with satisfaction or delight contemplate any thing but what it hath a resemblance unto or affinity with it so that if the Thoughts be Spiritual they will be fixed on Heavenly and Spiritual objects which are only two First One God in the Trinity Secondly The benefits accrewing to man from thence First On God as that only essential and omnipotent Being by whom the World was made and subsists in his Infinite Power Isa 9.6 In his holiness of purer Eyes than can behold Iniquity In his Justice to reward the upright and condemn the guilty In his Wisdom As Wisdom it self and who giveth Wisdom to all Men Prov. 8.1 Jam. 1.5 In his Love He is love and dwelleth in love God so loved the World that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life John 3.15 16 17. In his Mercy Witness his long forbearance and forgiveness of Sins through Christ Jesus with the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward Ps 18.25 26. and so through all the Attributes of God where there is an Ocean of Delight to pitch upon and swallow up and drown all the most longing desires and fill the greatest appetite on which are spent the eternal breathings and delight of the Angels and Saints in Heaven Therefore shall they be before the Throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell amongst them Rev. â— 15.16 17. Secondly On Christ that Ocean of Consolation to Believers who shall have from him fulness of Joy and Pleasures for evermore who humbled himself to death to see them on the Throne of Glory who was made Sin though he knew no Sin that Sin might not be imputed to them 1 Pet. 2.20 21. Who brought them from being slaves of Sin to the Inheritance of Sonship and Glory with himself and made them heirs of all things John 17.21 22. who is made to Saints Wisdom Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption and all and in all to them 1 Cor. 1.13 3dly On the Holy Ghost the Comforter who shall dwell and abide with them for ever and teach them all things and who shall uphold them in all their ways to guide them in all truth against all dangers and temptations Psalm 91. all John 14.16 17 26. Secondly The second object on which the thoughts of the renewed Christians are to be exercised are the things of great advantage which flow to them from the bounty of God in Christ Jesus but especially that inexpressible dignity honour and happiness of being made partakers of the Divine Nature and being made one with the Father and the Son in mind will and glory and to be where God is for ever in that often repeated place John 17. They shall feed on the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God Rev. 2.7.17 have the white Stone and in it a new name and have power over the Nations Rev. 3.12 21. they shall sit On the Throne of Glory before God and shall serve him day and night shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat and God shall lead them unto living fountains of Water and wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more sorrow Rev. 7.15 16 17. The thoughts of Believers being thus directed to their proper objects as they are yet in the Valley of Tears and obnoxious to the temptations of the Flesh and subject to so many incident distractions their thoughts are frequently diverted from their proper course the means thereof to fix them right when any temptation occurs whether from the Lust of the Eyes Lusts of the Flesh or Pride of Life is to compare the object offered with that on which the Thoughts should center and bringing infinite beauty glory and power that which is infinitely full of all perfection and above what eye can see or ear hear or heart apprehend how easily may this parrallel eclipse dazzle and confound the insinuations of Fleshly Lusts which perish in the using Secondly The second part of the renewed man is his affections which also must be spiritualized and renewed for if a man
and even to your Old Age I am he and even to Hoar Hairs I will carry you I have made and will bear I will carry and will deliver you Is 46.3 4. I will defer mine anger I have refined thee but not with Silver I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction Is 48.9 10. A Woman may forget her Sucking Child and not have Compassion on the â—â—uit of her Womb but I cannot forget thee saith the Lord for I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hand 's thou art mine thy Enemies shall go forth of thee and they shall go far away the Children thou shalt have after thou hast lost the others shall multiply that thou shalt be straitned for room for them and thou shalt say in thy Heart who hath begotten me these seeing the other were lost seeing I am Desolate a Captive and remove to and fro who hath brought me up these where have they been thy Captive Children shall be brought back by the Enemies in their Arms and on their Shoulders Kings shall be their Nursing Fathers and Queens their Nursing Mothers they shall bow down to thee and lick the dust under thy Feet for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and make them drunk with their own Blood as with sweet Wine and all flesh shall know that I am the Lord thy Saviour Is 49. all Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that sitteth in darkness and seeth no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50.10 Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my Salvation shall never fail fear not Reproaches and Reviling of Men they shall consume as a Moth and Worms shall eat them up Awake awake O Arm of the Lord art not thou it that cut Rahab that wounded the Dragon that Dryed the Sea and made it a way for thy Ransomed to pass over thy Redeemed shall return with Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall fly away I am he that comforteth thee be not afraid of a Man or the Son of a Man awake stand up thou that hast drunk and wrung out the Cup of mine Anger there is none to guide her or take her by the Hand of all the Sons that she hath brought forâ—â— Desolation and Destruction Famine and the Sword are come upon thee behold I have taken out of thy Hand the Cup of Trembling and I will put it into the Hands of them that afflict thee who have said to thy Soul bow down that we may go over thee and thou hast laid thy Body on the ground and as the Street to them that went over fear thou not for thou shalt not be ashamed thou shalt forget the the shame of thy Youth and the Reproach of thy Widow-Hood for thy Maker is thy Husband and thy Redeemer the God of the whole Earth Is 51. all For a small Moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercy will I gather thee in a little wrath have I hid my self from thee for a Moment but with everlasting kindness will I have Mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer no Weapon formed against thee shall prosper Is 54.4 to 9. The Lord is the avenger of his People Vengeance is in my Heart and the year of my Redeemed is come and is a Deliverer when all other helps fail I looked and wondred that there was none to help therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation and my fury it upheld me in all their Afflictions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pitty he Redeemed them and saved them all the days of Old Is 63.3 4 5. The Lord never puts his People to Work but doth furnish them with Assistance shall I bring to the Birth and not cause to bring forth shall I cause to bring forth and shut the Womb Is 66.9 When Christ sends forth his Disciples to Convert the World he forewarns them of the Difficulties and usage they should meet with but assures them of his present support outgate and eternal life are their reward Mat. 10.16 to end Chap. 16.24 to 28. Chap. 19.28 29. the Holy Apostle gives Christian Combatants great Encouragements for their full bearing the Cross for as much as Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death even the Devil and deliver them who all their Lifes were subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. We have an High Priest which cannot be touched with the failing of our Infirmities but was in all things tempted as we are yet without sin let us come therefore boldly to the Throne of grace that we may obtain Mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.15 16. No Temptation hath befallen to you but what is common to Men but the Lord is gracious who with every Temptation will give an outgate that ye may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 These Crowning Mercies promised in the Revelations are sufficient encouragements to bear the Cross and fight chearfully under Christs Banner to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God and to eat of the hidden Manna and give him a white stone and in it a new Name and he shall be Clothed with white Rayment and I will confess his Name before my Father and his Angels and he shall sit on my Throne Rev. 2.7 17. Ch. 3.5 21. The Valiant and constant Soldiers of Christ are Sealed in their Forehead and are Clothed with White Robes with Palms in their Hand and these are they which come out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb and are before the Throne of God Day and Night and Jesus Christ dwells with them they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any Heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne of God shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Water and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.29 to end They live in Holiness and are Blessed in their Death Blessed are they which dye in they Lord the cease from their Labour and their Works follow them Rev. 14.4 13 The third thing Remarkable in this Duty of Perseverance is that Christians thrive and grow in the Continuance of their Duty of patient waiting on God as in all Trades Vocations Arts and Sciences the frequent and constant practice begets perfection so we find in the History of the Church Militant in all Ages that the more Persecution the Church met with she did grow in greater Power Zeal and Purity and the professors did more chearfully out-dare Temptations and Embraced the Truth and this is
of his Heart he hanged himself 2 Sam. 17.23 The fourth difference of Gods dispensations to the Godly and Wicked is That the Godly are directed and assisted of God to level all their actions and apply all that is dispensed to them for the Glory and Honour of God but the Wicked apply all to the gratifying of their Lusts the Godly believe that all things as well in prosperity as in adversity work together for their good therefore they level all their purposes and actions at his glory Romans 8.28 Deborah though by God made eminently instrumental in that great victory over Gods Enemies takes not the glory thereof to her self but ascribes it to God Judg. 5. all The great Steward of Heaven dispenseth the blessings of this Life as the Lord in the Gospel gave forth his Talents to such as did profit by them he trusted them with more and gave them Eternal Life as the reward of their care for their Masters Honour and Profit but the slothful and unprofitable Servants are cast into utter darkness where they shall meet with nothing but weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 25.14 to 31. Having thus cursorily made enquiry into the emptiness of all humane enjoyments and discovered that no happiness can be found therein we come next to inquire into that compleat felicity of Eternal Life which is the fourth thing treasured up in that bank of Mercy for Believers and that under these considerations First The freedom of it Secondly The fulness of it First of the freedom as all temporal Mercies are of God as we have already discovered so also all Spiritual allowances are of him and from him he is the Father of Spirits and of his free will he hath begotten us by regeneration in Christ Jesus who hath purchased us with the price of his Blood God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life John 3.17 When we were without strength Christ died for us God commendeth his Love to us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us That as Sin reigned unto Death even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto Eternal Life through Christ Rom. 5.6 to end It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9.16 For by Grace ye are saved through Faith not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any Man should boast Eph. 2.8 9. In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began Tit. 1.2 Having Predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his Will in whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Ephes 1.5 7. Thus we plainly see the freedom of this gift of Eternal Life though purchased by the Death of Christ yet freely given to us by him The second thing we are to consider of is the fulness of this great gift and for the clearer discovery thereof we shall compare the excellencies of it with the things of this Life in all the advantagious circumstances of the same whereby we shall find the excellencies thereof incomparably excel all that can be pretended desireable in this Life in all their superlative state and condition The glory fulness and excellency of this World is laid down by the Apostle in the foregoing Scripture to consist in the Lust of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life and these things perish in the using but he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever these being put in the Ballance with eternal Life and its excellencies we shall easily find there can be no parrallel when we consider and believe the Testimony of that Evangelical Prophet Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what great things he hath laid up for such as wait on him Isa 64.4 Hence we may see an inestimable difference seeing all the enjoyments of this Life are only sensual and vanishing and the others are all Spiritual and Lasting to Eternity Secondly If we consider the World as the Apostle describes it and that The Love of the World is not of the Father and by the Apostle James that it is enmity against God and that eternal life is the purchase of Christs Blood how much will this sink the Parrallel 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Jam. 4.4 Thirdly If we compare the Worlds Inventory that in it is only the Lusts of the Eyes the Lusts of the Flesh and the Pride of Life How soon is this cast out of the Scales by the Apostle The Kingdom of God consists not in eating and drinking chambering and wantonness but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost When all that is said or can be said of the World is summed up First In Eating and Drinking Secondly In Apparel to cloath our nakedness Thirdly In Friends or Relations And Fourthly In Riches or Wealth all which perish in the using as is often demonstrated what Parallel then can be imagined between these two For our better satisfaction we shall examine all these severally by themselves and those things which come in exchange of them First Cloaths of the best Richest or Gordious sort which can be invented afford no cause of glory pride satisfaction or content for at best they are but badges of our Sin and Misery and causes of grief mourning humiliation and repentance for that they were at first upon Adams Transgression invented to cover our nakedness discovered by sin which first brought shame and therefore they are but the cover of our shame and nakedness in which we should neither delight not glory but rather on sight thereof humble our selves in the sense of our original guilt and lost estate in Adam Gen. 3.7 to 12. Secondly The best of Garments have under them infirm Bodies tainted with natural weakness at best and sometimes the Richest cover the frailest Carcase tainted with noisome Distempers the sight of which may make the Garments and what is under them loathsome and abhorrent so that what we have for our necessity to cover our shame and hide our loathsomness should not be our Pride much less our Delight or Glory Thirdly Cloaths are often our Burthen when either by penury we cannot attain to them or the persons are so weak that they cannot bear them in Winter to defend the cold nor in Summer because of heat Fourthly The fashion changeth and frets the Indigent that they cannot have them and draws the richer to excess emulation and prodigality in foppish and unnecessary pomp in the change of fashions to the exciting of Lust and superflous wasting what better may be bestowed on the poor whom God recommends as objects of Charity This being the badge of our shame and sin and the superfluity thereof so much abounding now a days
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them they hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them into living Fountains of Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.14 15 16. Is not here a fair recompence for all possible tribulations losses crosses and sufferings And on the other hand see the end of all the voluptuous pleasures and enjoyments of the Wicked If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Rev. 14.9 10 11. And they shall go forth and look on the Carcasses of men that have transgressed against me for their worm shall not dye and their Fire shall not be quenched and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh Isa 66.2 4. But on the other hand we have the further comfort of the Godly Hear ye the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed Isa 66.5 And then shall the Godly see the accomplishment of these evangelical Prophecies My Servants shall sing for joy of Heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of Heart and howl for vexation of Spirit and leave your name for a Curse to my chosen Isa 59.18 to 22. chap. 65.14 15. and have all the other comfortable Promises and Prophecies made clear to them Isa 50. all chap. 60. chap. 61 chap. 62. chap. 63. chap. 65. chap. 66. As we have viewed mans state from the beginning and traced the steps of his toilsom Pilgrimage to his reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ and placed him in the state of Adoption by the Covenant of Peace we come in the next place to consider the difference of mans estate in the first Adam and his sure and happy condition in the second Adam Jesus Christ the Mediator Man in his first Creation while in obedience was the Darling of God Head and Lord of all the Creatures on Earth and had the priviledge of self pleasing in all the Creatures under restriction of the Command but lusting against the command and exceeding his bounds broke the Chain of obedience and fell under the Curse and thus soon after his being made Lord over the Creatures his concupiscence and ambition of enjoying more and knowing more than what was allowed to him by the Justice of God for his presumption he is deprived of his soveraignty over the other Creatures whereas before they were subject to him he and they also are subjected to the Curse of Enmity I will put enmity between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise its Heel Cursed be the Ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life Gen. 3.14 to 20. Whereas upon the other hand such who have obtained mercy to be within the new Covenant of Peace through Jesus Christ are founded upon surer terms of an everlasting Covenant that cannot fail or be broken and those within it cannot miss of having the priviledges and advantages thereof and these principally are four First This Covenant is everlasting not subject to change or alteration Secondly He is Faithful with whom it is made and cannot fail in his performances Thirdly As God who Covenants with his People is faithful able and willing to perform on his part so he fits his People to perform on their parts Fourthly The great benefit and advantages annexed to this Covenant eternal Life and all Happiness First This Covenant is everlasting how great a consolation must it be to Believers that they are not only reconciled to God and the Curse for Disobedience taken off by Jesus Christ in his blood but also to be within an everlasting Covenant with God and have the Mediator Jesus Christ to make continual Intercession for them for when we were without strength Christ in due time died for the ungodly when we were yet Sinners Christ Died for us much more being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through him if when we were Enemies we were reconciled by his Death much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life Rom. 5.6.7 8 9. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath by two Immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye that we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us wh ch hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail whether the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck Heb. 6.17 18 19 20. For this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of his Death for Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called may receive the Promise of Eternal Inheritance for Christ is not entered into the Holy Places made with Hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.15 25. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 The whole Scriptures are a series of testimonies of this everlasting Covenant with Believers I will betroath thee unto me for ever in righteousness in judgment in loving kindness and mercy I even will betroath thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. Hos 2.19 20. This shall be my Covenant not after the manner of their Fathers but a new Covenant and I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts and they shall be my People and I will be their God Jer. 30.31 to 38. They shall be my People and I will be their God and I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.38 39. Secondly God is faithful therefore this Covenant founded upon his Promise cannot sail The gifts and calling of God are without Repentance Rom. 11.29 If my Covenant be not with Day and Night and if
16. read all Sixthly Does the free Market of Grace Merit no Admiration Thankfulness and Credit Isa 55 1 2 3. Seventhly Are not these words of him that cannot lye Dissemble or Deceive As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of sinner but rather that he should repent and live Come and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet I will make them as Wooll though they be red as Crimson I will make them as Snow Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you rest Is 1.18 Mat. 11.28 Eighthly Is not this Christs own Voice Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man will open to me I will come in and he shall Sup with me and I with him And to him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Rev. 3.20 21. Now how great was the Stupidity and Folly not to believe these Fatherly Invitations and Comply with them that we may be Eternally Happy Inference Though Man by Nature in the above Description be inexpressibly Miserable yet not without Remedy by Faith in Jesus Christ who dyed for a sinner and Salvation and Eternal Life promised to Believers in him Rom. 5.5 6 7. Jo. 3.16 17 18. wherefore we should take Heart Courage and a patient waiting on him And for our Assistance and Encouragement First Under the deep Sense of Mans Misery in the condition of Natural sin as in the preceding Description of Man with a continual Lowliness and Humility of Mind as a check to Pride Self and Sin looking into Mans Character when any thing of Sin or Temptation offers and with the Apostle cry out O Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Death Rom. 7.24 Secondly Have deep Admiration of the height and depth of the unsearchable Love of God in Christ Jesus who hath made Christ to Believers all and in all Eph. 3.17 18 19. Col. 3.11 Thirdly Be Reconciled to the Cross of Christ and Affliction as the happy means of Reconciling thee to God before I was Afflicted I went astray but now have I learned to know the Law I will return to my place and hide my Face until they acknowledge their Iniquities seek my Face in their Afflictions they will seek me early Hos 5.15 I have refined thee but not with Silver I have chosen thee in the Furnace of Affliction Is 48.10 I will bring her into the Wilderness and there I will allure her and speak Comfortably unto her Hos 2.14 I reckon that the present Afflictions of this Life which are but for a Moment are not worthy to be compared to that exceeding weight of glory that shall be revealed in us 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Fourthly Ly patiently under the Rod until the time of thy Deliverance come and quarrel not with the Instruments of thy Chastisement hear the Voice of the Rod and who hath appointed wait for the Vision though it tarry it will speak Hab. 2.3 Say with David Lo here am I let him do with me what seemeth good in his sight 2 Sam. 15.25 26. as with the Apostle I have learned in every condition therewith be content I know how to want and how to abound Phil. 4.11 12 13. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord until he plead my Cause and Execute Judgment for me Mic. 7.9 Fifthly Believe it to be a Truth and be Comforted in it that all things work together for good to such as wait for him and that the end is Eternal Life in Jesus Christ Ro. 8.28 Faith and Salvation are inseparable Companions as well from the Covenant of God in Christ Jesus as from the Fidelity Power Promise and good Will of God and this alone is able to answer all the Cavils of Malice and Disquiet or Discouragement which may arise from the Consideration of the meanness or misery by Nature or under the sense of Mans weakness under his sinful Condition in this that he that believeth shall have Eternal Life Jo. 3.16 17 18. for though Man in his best Condition by Nature without grace be a meer Picture Shadow Vapour Bubble and like a Bell upon the Water or dew on the Grass that withereth his whole Life Labour and Sorrow Vanity and lighter than Vanity so as he desireth Death rather than Life and at Death is the end of all his glory and his Misery is endless in Everlasting Destruction as in the foregoing Description hence is the unspeakable Consolation of Believers that the Covenant of God is everlasting not of the things of this Life only but also of the Life t come the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance and herein doth the excellency of the Covenant of grace exceed that of the Covenant of Works with Man in his first Creation First The first state and Condition of Man naturally considered was of the things of this Natural Life only but the New and second Covenant is of things of this Life and also of that which is to come so that the New Covenant which hath the promise of this Life and of that also which is to come is more valuable than the other Godliness is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 c. Wherefore Christ adviseth us not to store up perishing things but rather the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Mat. 6.19 to 24. Secondly We see in Natural Mans Description what a slippery thing he is and the meanness of his Condition and where all with him ends but the Enjoyments of the New Covenant is the Inheritance of all things which perish not nor change Ro. 11.29 Thirdly To this New Covenant belong Priviledges which make Happiness here and Eternally hereafter by all which the Fellows of this Covenant are endowed with the greatest priviledges and assisted with the Richest promises that infinite Wisdom and Goodness thought fit to make a happy State here and Eternally hereafter Fourthly The excellency of this Covenant is such that the priviledges thereto belonging qualifies and secures the Heirs of this Covenant against all vicissitudes in this Life and fits and moulds them for the Enjoyment of that Eternal State provided and secured by this New Covenant the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God designing to make Believers Citizens of the New Jerusalem made without Hands eternal in the Heavens alters and changes the whole frame of Man from what it was formerly in Nature and squares him to that Heavenly building Although of Gods free Will and Pleasure for his own glory without the necessity of any further perfection Man was at first Created by God as the free love of God in Christ Jesus is the only Rise of Mans Eternal Happiness nevertheless it is not only compleated by Election but also by Regeneration and newness of Life in Christ Jesus and by being made Holy as God is Holy and therefore the whole frame of
the elect as well of Soul as Body is changed into the likeness of Christ in Spirit and Body If any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature all things are made New and old things are done away 2 Cor. 5.5 17. That you put off the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and that you put on the New Man which after God is Created in Righteousness and True Holiness Eph. 4.22 23 24. That such fashioning and change must be before the Elect can fully be admitted into the presence of God and enjoy him unchangeably may appear by these reasons First for that the Wisdom and Goodness of God intending to compleat Mans Happiness and to magnifie the Mistery of his love by their immediate enjoyment of himself in the Spiritual Clear and full presence of glory That they may be one with me see me and behold my glory Jo. 17.24 The Communication of Gods glory being so sublimely spiritual and not apprehendible but by these who are purely spiritual therefore our dark understanding must be made spiritual The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed can do because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.14 15. and therefore in order to compleating of the Saints Happiness and to frame them for that he promiseth to put his spirit in them and give them a New Heart and renew a right spirit in them so as they may suitably enjoy God Eze. 36.25 26 27. Secondly Divine Wisdom knowing how Earthly mindedness runs after the Creature and being intangled therewith is clog'd from thirsting after God and things spiritual to be Carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace for that they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they who are after the spirit the things of the spirit because the Carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Ro. 5.5 6 7. And therefore to wean their Hearts from the World and to wind up the Affections of the elect to himself it behoveth their frame to be made spiritual The Lord Jesus Christ gives this as his Command to his Disciples to be spiritually minded and to mind Heavenly Treasures which are not Corruptible and useth this Argument for where your Treasure is there will your Hearts be also Mat. 6.19 20 21. And thus the Lord Jesus making his People of a Heavenly and Spiritual frame chiefly to mind Heaven and Spiritual things sets their Affections more earnestly on himself disengages them to Human Enjoyments Reconciles them to Afflictions and makes them more easie under the Cross If in Solomons experience that all the World is but Labour and Sorrow and Death is more to be desired than Life how much more easier will the Affections of the renewed be under all Disappointments of Carnal things when with the Apostle they look to Heaven and the inseparable and everlasting Communion of God will they not count all things but Dung and Loss in Compare with the Excellencies of Christ Ro. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present Life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us And in that other Famous Scripture for our Light Afflictions which are but for a Moment work for us a far more exceeding and an Eternal weight of glory whilst we look not after things which are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things which are not seen Eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 Hence we see how great is the goodness and wisdom of God towards renewed Mortals intreating them with so great Mercy and Love in convincing them of the vanity of Earthly shadows and discovering to them that so High Deep Long and Broad Mistery of Love in Christ Jesus which passeth knowledge and the Riches of the glory of that Mistery which is Christ the hope of all glory made manifest in the Saints Eph. 3.9 18 19. Col. 2.26 27. And by their choice of these excellencies above the Creatures to make all things else to be esteemed of no value and in their Souls desire to Eccho forth none but Christ and having so spiritualized their minds that they can neither Touch Handle Smell or delight in any thing but him and what tends to his glory and their Enjoyment of him Thirdly In the framing of the Saints Bodies at the Resurrection in a Spiritual and Incorruptible Body for Christs designing not only Mans Redemption from wrath to come but also to make them Coheirs and participate with him of his own glory John 17.22 And in respect the frame of our Carnal and Corruptible Bodies is not capable to receive that glory nor to continue under the Enjoyment of it for that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of glory nor Corruption inherit Incorruption he therefore changeth that Corruption into Incorruption and makes Mortality put on Immortality and changeth our vile Bodies into the fashion of his glorious Body 2 Cor. 15.42 to 55. according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phi. 3.21 What then can or will be wanting to compleat the Eternal Happiness of the Saints seeing they have so sure a Covâ—â—ant with such ample Priviledges and that they are and shall be fitted as well in Body as Soul to receive these Rivers of Pleasures in the Enjoyment of God in whose presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are pleasures for ever-more Ps 16.11 What then remains for the Prisoners of Hope but to sit down admire the Heighth Depth Length and Breadth of that Incomprehensible Mistery of the Love of God in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.9 18 19. and by Faith Love and Patience to sit down under his shadow with great Delight Cant. 2.2 and against all Crosses Temptations and Difficulties to take Comfort in the Faith of Eternal Happiness there is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit if God be for us who can be against us who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that Justifieth who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that Dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus From what hath been said we see Believers firmly stated to the Title of Joynt Heirs of glory with Jesus Christ and in a firm Covenant through him with the Father and having so fair an interest at stake their Duty is to pursue the same with Faith Courage and
invade the first agressor to confine him to such limits as he may not for the future be capable of doing further injury and thus of necessity it must be in the Christian Warfare against Satan the World and the Flesh so that this War is founded upon such implacable enmity that it must be continued without hope or expectation of any peace end or terms of accommodation for these three reasons First The Soveraigns of this War are of Interests incompatible so that of necessity the victory must turn to one side before the War can be ended Secondly The Parties and Combatants are under different and incompatible Laws so can never be reconciled Thirdly All terms of Treaty or Capitulation are by command forbid in this War First The Soveraigns of this War are of incompatible Interest and therefore the War must be perpetual until one of the Parties be destroyed Christ is the Generalissimo of the Christians Army Satan the Mammon of this World the Flesh and Lusts thereof makes up the competition how incompatible then must it be with the right glory honour and interest of Christ who in his own right is King of Kings and Lord of Lords to suffer a Rival to his Inheritance though for his wise ends he let Satan loose for a while to tempt and sift the Nations and draw the Children of Darkness into snares and distruction and to try the Faith and Patience of Gods own People in which the wicked Men are Gods servants and instruments however to suffer their power to prevail is altogether inconsistent with the absolute power and Soveraignty of Jesus Christ and although Satan and his Emissaries have fought many Battels against Christ and his Church they have still been overcome in all of them and shall be overcome until Christ bring Judgment into Victory and overcome him who hath the power of Death even the Devil Rev. 12. to 12. chap. 17.14 Oh Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13.14 Death is swallowed up into Victory O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory the Sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54 to 56. The Lord of Life hath told us we cannot serve God and Mammon we must reject the one if we serve the other so that their Interest being inconsistent we must onely be of one side there is no fellowship between God and Belial So that they cannot divide Interests therefore there is a necessity to be on Christs side The Son of the Bond Woman which is Sin and Satan the World and Lusts thereof cannot Inherit with the Son of the Free Woman which is Christ Jesus Gal. 4.30 Secondly The Combatants of these two Armies have different and inconsistent Laws and these Laws are so relative and in such affinity with the several interests of the Soveraigns that of necessity perpetuates the War so as no end can be expected except by absolute victory of one or other side All Christs Soldiers are new Creatures renewed in the Spirit of their Mind have the same Mind in them which was in Christ Jesus are under Spiritual and Holy Laws subject to his Will according to that Portion of his Spirit which he hath given them spiritually not carnally minded walk and live according to the Law of the Spirit and not of the Law of the Flesh they are not led with malice revenge envyings slanderings back-bitings murmurings and cruelties which are the works of the Flesh Gal. 4.19 20 21. But they are led after the Laws of the Spirit and live in all gentleness meekness holiness charity and kindness as the works of the Spirit Ephes 4.19 Ephes 4.22 to end Gal. 5.22 23. But on the other hand these under Antichrists Banner neither are nor can be subject to the Laws of the Spirit for they are of the Flesh and live after the Flesh To be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal Mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so that they which are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.6 7 8. The Flesh Lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary one to the other Gal. 5.17 So we see that the Laws of these pretenders to Dominion are so opposite to one another that it is impossible to reconcile them Thirdly The third thing which perpetuates this War is that no treaty capitulation or agreement can be between these parties this enmity is so laid by God himself that Satan must bruise Mans Heel and the Seed of the Woman must bruise Satans Head to the end of the World Such enmity is between God and Mammon that the love of the one is inconsistent with the service of the other Know ye not that the Friendship of this World is enmity to God whosoever therefore will be a Friend to the World is the Enemy of God Jam. 4.4 Love not the World nor the things of the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.15 Thus the Interests and Laws of these two parties being so inconsistent there is no Room for any treaty hopes or possibility of accommodation for that the Spiritual Man hath antipathy to the Lusts of the Flesh and the Carnal Man cannot be subject to the Law of holiness because of the enmity of his mind and therefore the holy Apostle is so far from accommodating the matter between Lust and Holiness Flesh and the Spirit that he would not have the Spiritual Man to keep any Communication with the unfruitful works of Darkness What fellowship hath God with Belial a clean thing with an unclean who can touch pitch and not be defiled therewith evil communication corrupts good manners Wherefore he forbids all tampering with the specious pretensions of the World or Earthly things Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances taste not touch not handle not these things all which perish in the using after the Doctrine and Commandments of Men Col. 2.20 21 22. The Holy Apostle Paul in another place is more severe where he commends the Repentance not to be repented of and in the effects of sorrow and repentance he saith Behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly manner what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what revenge yea what zeal 2 Cor. 7.11 In which we see what expressions of vehement zeal against corruption and sin which are the works of the Flesh by these expressions vehement desire indignation and revenge is implied such implacable
disposition that nothing can satisfy except a total ruine and exterpation of the Enemy and their adherents in root and branch and thus it must be with Christians they must not be Neuters or luke-warm but must be mortified to the flesh and the Body of Death Corruption and Sin must be so subdued in them that they must be Dead to the World and the World to them so as they can take no more pleasure therein than the living can have in the Dead with which they can have no Communication I am Crucified to the World and the World to me nevertheless I live but not I and the life that I live in the Flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 chap. 5.24 Hence we see all the Combatants of Christ are wholly his and not divided and can by no means Parley with the Enemies of his Cross the Devil the World and the Flesh and this is their indispensable and commanded duty that they must fight till they overcome for to such alone is the prize of Eternal Life He that overcometh shall sit with me in my Fathers Kingdom even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Kingdom Rev. 3.21 They must live to the Spirit and not to the Flesh with that holy fear over themselves having an Eye on the Enemies Camp and watching against Sin and the Flesh that they may not again return to their folly and that they may place no Earthly thing in their Hearts above Christ and all the days of their appointed time they must wait till their change come As this Christian warfare is continuing and must only end with our lives we are to consider for our encouragement that Christ doth not leave Christians unprovided for such great expedients but provides them a great Train of Artillery as the necessaries of their warfare which is held forth to us in that description of the Armour of the Spirit by the Apostle put on the whole Armour of God c. Eph. 6.13 to 19. First The Loyns girt with Truth which is inward sincerity and constant loyalty to the Cause of Christ Secondly The Breast-Plate of Righteousness to be blameless and of upright conversation towards God and to avoid scandal to the wicked and be an example of Justice and Godliness Thirdly Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace to be peaceable charitable humble and meek and conformable to the Laws of the Spirit and not of the Flesh Fourthly The Shield of Faith believing God in his Attributes of Omnipotency Holiness Justice Goodness and Faithfulness and in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the World in all his Promises and Providences by which we may be able to resist the fiery Darts of Satan in answering all objections of unbelief and discouragements from Temptations in the World Fifthly The Helmet of Salvation to believe that Eternal Life is the prize at the end of the Christian race and this is cure against all Trials from want or difficulties in the Way to Heaven to be as assured of Eternal Life as we are cloathed with that Helmet of Defence It is Christ that died who shall condemn Sixthly Praying and Watching as good Souldiers on their Posts waiting for the word of Command to march at all times after the General and Captain of our Salvation Jesus Christ and to be ready with Oyl in our Vessels and Lamps burning waiting for the approach of the Bridegroom to enter into the Marriage feast of the Lamb. Thus seeing this War is constant and for the greatest prize even Eternal Life and though against the most Potent Enemies Principalities and Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places yet Christ the unconquerable Champion is Captain and the Camp is furnished with such compleat warlike provision Christians ought to fight chearfully for these following reasons First Salvation and Eternal Happiness is the prize contended for And we have Christs Promise if we fight in Faith and continue to the end we shall obtain it John 3.16 17 18. Gal. 6.9 Secondly As we are to fight and contend for Eternal Life so it is not only promised to us on our chearful fighting but it is also obtained for us by Christ who on the Cross fought that good fight and freely gives us the booty and prize when we were not capable to do any thing for our selves For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us much more then being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5.6 8 9. Ezek. 16. to 9. This is that great bait for ambition and desire this is that all which should swell the Thoughts and Affections of all Men. This rightly considered is sufficient to invite all Courage Patience and new Obedience to fill all Hearts with Joy gladness and thanksgiving and stifle all murmurings repinings and discontents under trials or difficulties of worldly concerns and in our Way to Heaven This should induce all to a hearty submission to the yoak and chearful fighting under Christs Banner These Combatants of Christ have the greatest booty rewards and priviledges that any Soldiers can pretend unto and that both of Spirituals and Temporals and those Spirituals are in many respects First They are under an everlasting Covenant with God and God with them I will make with them an everlasting Covenant Rom. 11.27 29. Isa 60.20 21. Hos 2.19 20. Isa 59.20 21. Secondly They have remission of all sins though of the highest and blackest Nature though never so numerous and as a Cloud or a thick Cloud Mat. 11.28 29 30. Isa 1.18 ch 44.22 23. Thirdly They have comfort in Spiritual Darkness and Desertion their case can never be so cloudy melancholly and dark to them but Gods word hath a promise for it Light is sowen to the righteous and joy to the upright in Heart Isa 50.10 Mal. 3.12 Fourthly They are Heirs of all things and shall inherit all things they have the Promise of the things of this Life and of that which is to come Gal. 3.29 chap. 4.17 18. Eph. 1.11 14. Col. 1.12 13 14. Rev. 21.7 Rom. 9.7 8 Fifthly They shall be united to God in Christ in Spirit Knowledge and Glory and be inseparable from him in Christ Jesus John 17.21 to 25. Sixthly They shall be set down with Christ and God in Glory and continue with them for evermore Rom. 8.35 38 39. Rev. 3.21 Thus we see the unquestionable Spiritual advantages of the Godly which no other Interest can bring and as the Saints advantages and excellencies are Inexpressible as to Spirituals so the security and advantages are no less in Temporals as we have already in this Treatise discovered First In general Secondly His Promises in all particular cases As First In Sickness Secondly In Imprisonment Thirdly In Poverty Fourthly Under the unkindness and forsaking of Friends Fifthly Under reproaches
of Scripture Promises p. 77. The Records of Scripture contain 1. Gods love to sinners 2. All Spiritual and Temporal Blessings 3. Life Eternal and Christs Love p. 78 79 Promises of Spiritual Blessings Eternal Life promises of Temporal Mercies in general p. 79 80. Promises of Temporal Mercies in particular p. 80 Promises when all helps fail p. 80. Method to be taken under Afflictions 1. to look on sin as the cause of all evil p. 81. 2. Affliction from God p. 82. 3. What Gods purpose is in chastising his people 1. To purge away their sin p 83 84. 2. To call his people to him 3. To Distinguish his People from Bastards p. 84 85. 4. To fix on their Hearts the emptiness of Human things as 1. Not our own but given of God p. 86. 2. By shewing the uncertainty thereof p. 86. 3. The emptiness thereof in particular cases 1. Honour 2. Wealth 3. Friends 4. Health Honour and Riches p. 87 88. 3. Friends p. 88 89. 4. Health p. 89. The Dignity of Christ above all other things 1. He of himself and all things from him 2. He infinite in power 3. Infinite in wisdom 4. Matchless in Beauty 5. Of everlasting continuance 6. Conqueror over all Enemies even Death it self p. 90 91. The sixth reason why God afflicts his people is to fix their Hearts on himself and promises in these Cases 1. Darkness or desertion 2. Under greatest sins 3. Under Relapses p. 92 93 94 95 96 97. God's promises to his people in Temporals in generals p. 98 99 100. His promises in particular cases 1. In Sickness 2. In Poverty 3. In Captivity 4. Slander or Reproaches 5. Under forsaking of Friends 1. Sickness p 103 104. 2. Imprisonment p. 105 106. The Lords goodness to to his Prisoners appear 1. In giving them a clear sight of himself 2. By shewing his immediate hand in their Deliverance by making Enemies means of their help In delivering by his immediate Hand p. 107 108 109. The Lords promises in poverty that 2 ways 1. In supplying their wants 2. By blessing a little to increase it p. 110 111 112. Promises under unkindness of Friends p. 112 113 114. Promises under Reproaches p. 115 116 117. The Lord by Afflicting his people instructs them of the different methods he takes with his People and the wicked in 4 respects 1. He Corrects his People in love for their good but the wicked in Judgment 2. He corrects his People with reluctancy but pursueth the wicked with fury 3. He corrects his People in moderation but the dregs of his wrath is poured out on the wicked 4. God afflicts his People for a small time but the wicked are punished eternally p. 117 118 119 120 121 122. The Lord by chastising his People instructs them to distinguish between Spiritual and Temporal Mercies in these instances 1. Temporal Mercies are Transâ—ent and Subject to changes but the spiritual are permanent 2. Temporals are imperfect 3. All human enjoyments are short of Christ which is the inheritance of the Saints 1. They are Created he the Creator 2. He subsists of himself they by him 2. He perfect they imperfect 4. He the ancient of days 5. Excells in wisdom he is wisdom it self 6. In beauty 7. He is Omnipotent p. 122 123 124 125 126 127. The Saints Kingdom begins when the World fails and it continues to all eternity It is incorruptible not subject to change p. 128. It is compleat p. 129. The great end why Christ chastiseth his People is to make them prize Eternal Life p. 129. 1. God is glorified thereby p. 130. 2. Our advantages are great p. 131. 3. Our encouragements to seek it great nothing can stop the Current of his Mercies neither the greatness nor multitude of sins No extremity of Condition can do it p. 131 132. The greatness of Salvation consists 1. In Restoring Man from the greatest misery to greatest happiness p. 133. 2. The blessed are Heirs of all things p. 133. Exempted from all evil p. 133. Have Compleat Happiness p. 133. Other encouragements to seek Salvation against all Temptations 1. It is freely by Christ 2 The World made for Gods glory 3. Instances of Christs sufferings 4. The sure estate of the Redeemed above that of Mans first Estate 5. The Excellent Priviledges of the Saints p. 134. 1. Our Salvation freely of God 2. Man in the World freely Redeemed by Christ p. 135 136 137 138. 3. Examples of Christs abasement p. 139 140. Christ makes Man instrumental in his own Salvation p. 142. We are not only to have Christs Doctrine but to imitate in Holiness Patience Suffering Love and Charity and love Enemies p. 143. 144. Duty of love p. 145 146. Faith on God and Providences p. 147 148. Bearing the Cross commanded p. 149 150. Instances of Christs and Saints sufferings p. 150 151 152 153. Promises of Assistance p. 154 155 156. bearing the Cross is the road to Heaven 157 158. three objections answered 1. Loss of the World dear rate for Heaven 2. It seems contrary to Scripture which promises prosperous days to the Church 3. It seems inconsistent with the goodness of God to afflict his People at such a rate p. 159. 160. The wickeds prosperity stumbling in the days of David Job and Malachi p. 160 161 World and things in it vanity spiritual things above sensual and in what do these things consist 1. Christ the Saviour of the World 2. In spiritual grace bestowed by him 3. In the sanctified use of Spiritual and Temporal Mercies 4. Eternal Life obtained by Christ p. 162 163. What Faith is and the qualities of it p. 164. What Holiness and the qualities of it p. 165. What Mortification is and wherein consists 1. Self-examination 2. Preparation 3. To spare no sin p. 166 167. Mortification must have transplanting into Christ p. 167. Christians must have their Armour on them Christians must advance and not fall back in their warfare 1. As a Duty Commanded 2. God promiseth assistance in the Duty of Perseverance p. 185 186 187. 188. 1. Their Duty p. 168 169 170. 2. Gods promise of Assistance p 171 172. 3. How they thrive in perseverance p. 190 191. The several steps of Mortification and Renovation from p. 171 to 189. All the wicked's enjoyments are Curses p. 192. No satisfaction without Christ 1. For that nothing else is perfect or permanent p. 193. 194 195 196 197. Christian contentment cannot fail p. 197. four differences of Gods dispensing the things of this Life to the Godly and the Wicked p. 199 200. 201. The freedom of these Eternal Excellencies p. 201. The fulness thereof p. 202. No Contentment in Cloaths p. 203 204 205. In eating drinking and lusts of the flesh no satisfaction but on feeding in the Paradise of God p. 206. Riches of the World exchanged with riches of Glory Children and Relations exchanged with fellowship in the new Jerusalem Lusts of the eye exchanged with vision of God and Angels p.