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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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