though once pleased in the act her affections are crucifi'd to corruption so is corruption to them they are dead to each other sin in Saints is 1. Dead judicially dead in sentence they adjudge it to death resolve it shall die they sin not with an esteeme of sin their judgement 's against it they have laid hatred to the roote of sin which will be the death out â— T is in them Civiliter mortuus civilly dead a man is dead saith the Civill Law when hee 's in subjection to another is not acted and animated by the power of his owne will but by the will of him that rules over him so here sinne in Saints ha's not its own will is not its own Master is in subjection to them because their love thereof its life is withdrawne better be stowed laid out 3. Sin in them as loathed not loved is naturally dead things are naturally dead two wayes inchoate consummate inchoate as when a tree is smote at the roore with an Axe which is an omen it will wither die be fruitlesse for future though for present it have leaves and fruit upon it hence 't is said to be dead because it has received its deadly blow so a man is said to be a dead man when he has received a deadly wound though hee may stirre struggle strive and live a while after to doe some hurt to him that did the deed so a man alive in Christ by vertue of his union with him has a deadly blow given to the roote of his sin not onely in the judgement having lost its repute there but in the affections also it shall never any more â—oost and roote there never recover its strength againe and though it have a little life for a while and may be injurious to the subject where 't is yet cannot last long and bring forth as before but withers growes lesse and lesse till quite exhausted wasted notwithstanding its shew of leaves 2. A sin not beloved has a death consummate and it is so dead by this signe viz. when it brings not forth in its season i. e. when advantages and opportunities of sinning occur accord agree and come together In winter Trees and Plants seeme as dead but if in the spring wee see neither Doct. Sibâ— fruit nor leaves wee then say they 'r dead indeed so when a Christian has an advantage an opportunitie to fall into sin may doe it yet not work himselfe into outward blame and shame and sin do's not then beare fruit and bring forth in that fit season 't is dead indeed for what the season of the spring is to trees and plants the same or the like is an occasion of sinning unto sin Josephs case and his carriage Gen. 39. 7. to 13. in that case cleeres this well hee had an advantage an opportunity all advantages and a fit season to sin in a wanton Mistris who woed him often saying Lie with mee a continuation of her suit shee did it day by day her actuall assault shee caught him by his garment would have no nay a place of privacie there was none of the men of the House within no likelihood of accruing shame or blame in publicke and himselfe an high Officer a man of credit able to have crushed a rumor and bruit in the birth yet sin in him was then dead it could not live being loath'd Hee hearkened not unto her to lie by her or to be with her saith the Text he shunned and hated both the sin and the occasion Vitanda est glacies si nolis Cadere with the appearances thereof would not lie by her would not be with her a good patterne of pietie for others hee shunn'd the sin as crosse to God not men How can I doe this great wickednesse and sin against God yet then in that case his lust was life-lesse brought not forth Christs Spouse sins not with a love of sin the evill shee do's shee hates There 's no spot in thee SECT 7. 6. THey sin not with the whole man their fall is not Toti a toto in totum they sin not with a cleare freedom and full consent of the will there 's still some reluctance giving out drawing back of some of the inward powers they sin not with all their strength greedily with both their hands not earnestly as the Prophet speakes Micah 7. 3. their conflicts with sin when falling thereinto are an attestation of this the minde or soule we say is the man but the minde sins not With my minde I serve Christ and Rom. 7. 5. 19 20. the evill I would not that doe I saith the Apostle they sin against their wills cannot will sin they nill and null in the strength of Christ all sinfull thoughts words and works And if I doe that I would not 't is no Ver. 20. more I Quasi dicat there was a time when I willed what I acted and did what I would and could in sin but now I am not the man I am not I 't is no more I that sin sin is in mee but against my will I cannot will to sin choose to sin might I gain a world for so doing Christs Spouse sins not viz. not with cleare freedom and full consent of will Hence is said to be spotlesse not to sin for as to will Note sin is to commit sin in the account of Justice so to nill sin is not to commit sin in the account of mercy Man in the first Adam when he Matth. 5. 28. stood in the glory of his best perfection the image of the invisible God made out but a mutable will a will he had to stand or fall which hee pleased and hence did he will his fall freely but a man in the second Adam ha's a better standing greater strength and a better and more accomplisht will hence no man in Christ can will his fall will wandering from God and a wavering heart in the sence before asserted viz. with the wills cleare freedom and full consent so that Capell Tempt pag. 36. God imputes no more to us then is approved and allowed by us You have now seene what spots the Saints have not what sins they commit not But have Saints no sins do's Saint-ship and Son-ship make sinlesse No If wee say wee have no sinne wee deceive our selves 1 Joh. 1. 8. and the truth 's not in us saith John hee that Donatus-like sayes I have no sin for Christ to cleanse mee Non habeo Domine quod ignoscas from ha's no truth in him is like to his father who lyed ab origine from the beginning 1. Christs purest Spouse has the tincture of sin in her selfe it has befallen Christians in this case as it fares with a man who has fallen into a ditch notwithstanding he has bin washed from the mud yet may wee smell hee has been defiled Christs time of suffering was the Disciples time of sinning But secondly a Christian as
as though they were Holiest Majesty pleaseth to overlooke greatest impuritie sinnes of Saints are superlative as acted under the received Soveraigntie of Christ their King yet behold a wonder Saints sinne and doe not sinne have spots and are spotless Exod. 15. 11. it s his saying who 's wonderfull in Pro. 10. 12. holinesse There 's a sin-covering Love which has covered and conquered corruptions of Saints yea multitudes by multipli'd pardons her sinnes which were many are forgiven Luk. 7. 47. her this bids the godly Bee of good cheere Saints sins are ever before them yet cast behinde their God My sinne is ever before mee Psal 51. 3. sayes the soule in Languor and then makes melody with her fathers love Thou in love to my soule â—sa 38. â—7 hast cast all my sins behinde thy backe Their Crimson sinnes have lost their colour and had their Sepulture in their Saviours wounds their foule sinnes are lost in this open fountaine to whom themselves are a fountaine sealed yea Zech. 13. 1. his fountaine of purest springs and fairest gardens Thus speakes hee whose lippes like Lillies drop sweet Cant. 4.12 15 smelling Myrrhe There 's no spot in thee Cant. 5. 13. The word in the Originals of three Languages imports any out-ward blemish in the body as blind lame or deformed in any limbe or Levit. 21. 18. 21. Deut. 15. 21. and 17. 1. Rev. 14. 1. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 undè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Chaldee Mumâ— quo verbo Lâ—x illud frequenter reddunt Macula â—â—abes vitium part and is here fitly appli'd by the Holy Ghost to blemishes in the soule h. e. sins vices and spots of the inward man Christ when he wooes his Bride to winne her works over those miracles on her soule which he was wont to worke upon bodies of old makes the blinde to see the deafe to heare the dumbe to speake the lame to walke and the dead to live againe sets all to rights where he comes to cohabite Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spotlesse and a Christian is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too they are both immaculate their union grounds it so in the Text the Spouse is said to have no spot in 1 Pet. 1. 19. Eph. 5. 27. Vâ—â—ij expers irreprehensibilis in quibus nec momos invenit quod carpat Cornelius a Lapide her too That place in the first of John the third ninth verse gives you a light into the opening of this phrase of speech Hee that 's borne of God doth not commit sinne for his seede remaineth in him and he cannot sin because hee 's borne of God he sins not viz. unto death as some will he sins not viz. he resists sin as others he sins not viz. as a servant or subject of sin say a third sort Propriè significat rem aliquam certis qualitatibus orno dicitur enim à nomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qualis Leig Câ—â—r Sac. the Greek is very emphaticall and signifies so to sinne as to make a trade of sin to make it ones work and businesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. d. hee do's not act the sin do's not sin artificially as doe others ha's no art in sinning though he act it he do's not art it do's not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make much of sin not curiously and industriously adorne and set it forth with all art and skill as the word properly imports One place more in he eight of John and the thirtie fourth verse where tâ—e same word is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin but the best of men commit sinne even of them who are Christs own servants freed from sin the meaning then of that place is this hee sins as a servant of sin who makes sin makes a trade of sinning So in the Romans that which our translation ha's Fullfill not the lusts of the â—om 13. 14. flesh the Greek ha's it Doe not make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the lusts of the flesh Hee that committeth sin is of the Devill sayes the Scripture that is that creates sin for sin is the Devills Creature his workmanship and his Children his John 3. 8. works they will doe said Christ to the boasting Jewes There 's no spot in thee some spots are not the childrens wee 'l shew which they are next in what sence they 'r spoken spotlesse how and why so called SECT 2. 1. UNpardonable spots are not the Spouses shee cannot out-sin pardons shee may sin away the comforts of her body but can shee sin away her soule an unpardonable sin is a sin unto death such killing crimes shee perpetrates not sinnes against the Father and sins against the Sonne may be forgiven but sins against the Spirit shall ne're be forgiven shee s on the other side the grave of the last sin mentioned shee has no sin that God has not pardoned hence her sin is not now iniquities of Israel are sought for and there are none and Judahs Jer. 50. 20. Mr. Caryll on Job Chap. 7. v. 21. p. 717. sins shall not be found because pardoned as was promised as Jeremiah hath it pardon of sin destroys sin as to forgive a debt is to make it no debt so a pardon'd sin is in Gods account no sin pardon of sin is our acquittance from sin our quietus est sealed in the bloud of the Lambe all proscesse at Law is to to such staid prohibited as to them They have a Propitiator hee 's their propitiation saith John in Hebrew Copher he coffers up as 1 Joh. 2. 2. it were and covers all their sins hee 's their covering the Apostle seemes to speake him so in allusion to the Arke covering the two Tables within it The mercy-seate covering the Arke and the Cherubims covering the mercy-seate and one another so Christ has covered a Christians sins all his sins and the curse sins demerit and him has the Father set forth for the remission â—om 3. 25. of their sinnes set forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pointing out the same thing even with the finger as the word is for remission 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the relaxion â—iodaâ—e or releasement of sin as of bonds or fetters as the Greeke has it Christs Love cannot sin an unpardonable sin O Spouse speak thou â— full descripâ—â—on of the sin â—gainst the â—oly Ghost canst thou doe despight to the Spirit of grace persecute the known truth and the Author thereof sinning willfully what canst thou after Heavenly illumination partnership in the Spirit tasts of Heavenly gifts with the good word of God and the Powers of the world to come decline Father Sonne and Spirit prove an Apostate fall away and sin remorslesse thou canst not sweet Lambe is never Bride of his served him so had such straitned bowells towards him such sinners cannot be renewed by repentance shall never have
neernesse and dearnesse of love as the word in the originall imports Christ considers accounts and concludes them as under the enjoyment of their distant and absent as well as present beauty and purity Sweet Christ can kisse them as eyeing them in their comelines which is to come when it shall be their glory to be lost in his glory and their throne that he has his throne and their greatest joy to live with him the joy-maker such heads are destinated unto the Diadem you have seen in Tertul. what sence Saints are sinlesse in what sence not the Lord make these things advantage to you godly gaine CHAP. 4. SECT 1. 1. WAtch thy way-ward heart that thou makest not God a lyer every sin is a lye t is cald in Scripture a lying vanity Jonah 2.8 and for a man to observe it is to forsake his owne mercies Saints sinning give God the lye Infidelity is a lye and gives God the lye and which is more maketh God a lyer he that believeth not God ha's 1 Joh. 5.10 made him a lyer and he that sai's he has not sinned makes God a lyer 1 Joh. 1.10 be not slow of heart to beleeve do's Christ account thee all faire make not thy selfe all â—oule do's he say thou art sinlesse and wilt thou canst thou sin senslesly 'T is true corruption edged with a temptation gets as it were the hill and the winde and upon such advantages too oft prevailes we can stay no more from sinning then the heart from panting the pulse from beating our lives we may feare abound more with sins then the firmament with stars or the furnace with Sparks which caused that saying Libera me Domine a malo homine meipso Lord free me from that evill man mine owne selfe in our hearts our sins are voluminous in our lives our errata's are in a sence infinite t is not falling into the water that drowns but lying in it so falling into sin sinks not thy soule but living in it and although sins of Saints are not in the account of God because pardoned yet when Trap. they see the sins of others have they cause to say with the good Martyr 〈…〉 Whether or why am not I such whether M. Bradford or no ha's God cleansed me and if so why ha's God done this for me What am I more then they Domine non sum dignus quem tu diligas Augustin that God should thus love me charge no sin upon me make not God a lyer though thou canst not escape sin whilst in the body yet do not make sin make a trade of sin not art it not sin artificially presumptuously delightfully willingly with the whole man industriously that were to damme up the way of donations divine SECT 2. 2. RUminate sensibly what this Lambe suffered to take away sin and make thee spotlesse he himselfe was made sin for us who knew no sin nor did sin neither was guiâ—e found in his mouth and when he was reviled he reviled not againe when he suffered he threatned not who his own self bear our siâ—s in his owne Cor. 2 5. â—â— â— Pet. 2. â—1 22 23. body on the treâ— saith the Scripture that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him he was a sinner not only by imputation Heb. 12.2 Luk. 23.5.11 but by reputation he was numbred among the transgressors he it is that did drink hell drie to the bottome ha's left no hell behind for thee He was slighted set at nought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made no body derided 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they blew their noses at him he was railed on buffeted scourged had his agonies his bloudy sweating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clottie bloud issued through his flesh and skin in an aboundant measure and that without any externall violence Sanguinem congellatum quasi extruserit meerly by the force of his own saddest thoughts within him was strongly accused 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with great intention of Spirit and Mark 8. 12. Expletur Lachrimis egeriturque dolor Phil. 2.7 great contention of speech he sighed deepely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had a straightned heart and made himselfe of no reputation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did exhaust Evacuavit se ex omni gloria aequalitate cum Patre Zanch. exanimate evacuate annihilate and empty himselfe of his all for a season he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 price and counter-price for lost undone soules and at last had his decease 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his exodus his departure out of that Egypt and Egyptian bondage a coercive cogent Ex omni ad nihil seipsum redegit Beza 1 Tim. 2.13 Luk 9.31 Esay 52.14 consideration to cause compliance with Christ O Saints in Sion behold your King First as weeping for and over you his face was foule with weeping and his visage marred more then any mans yea then any of the sons of men O what a sweetnesse of strength attractive there is in the sight of a Jesus as standing and knocking at the hearts door with a tear in his eye crying Open unto mee even unto mee my Sister I am thy Brother not a stranger and my locks are wet with the dew and drops of the night shal sweet Christ put his hand to the hole of the door and thy bowels not move for him shall no drops of Myrrhe sweet smelling Myrrhe fall from thy hands and fingers when thou layest hold on the handles of the locke Secondly Look Cant. 5.4.5 wishly on Christ as bleeding for in thee in drawing thy soule he drew till the bloud came clottie bloud Luk. 22.44 he then was begging strength to bear the rod for sins that were not his own Messiah was cut off but not for himself saith Daniel my sins and thy sinnes squeesed the bloud out of his blessed sides hands and feet and pierced him in the most nervous tender parts such foes were we to this good friend yet Jesus Christ is burnt up with love to poor sinners to make them rich Saints and wilt thou cast water on this fire by resistance Canst thou then hast thou bowels of iron and suckedst a Tyger when thou wast young Thirdly Cast thine eye on Christ as dying on a crucified Christ Christ on the Crosse now even now stretching out his arms holding out his breast opening his bosome and heart crying out who will whosoever will come let him come and lodge in this heart of mine Iohn 7.37 the sower crosse was sweet Christs death-bed there he made his last will and which is more then other dying friends can doe he dyed drawing pulling sinners into his own heart O saints and sinners M. Rutherford t is a most vile thing to meet dying Christ with disdaine Christ dying leap'd for joy that by dying he could keep sons alive Now tell me O my friend when thou seest him set a full
cup of wrath death and hell to his head and seest him sigh sing and smile for thy good canst thou break that cup of trembling on his fair face and not have thy heart fettered with Christs silken love-cords which are softer then oyle sure his love applyed to thy heart heartily will make thee ingenuous free thankful respectfull Solomons honey and Sampsons Dalilah are sweet drinks that swell some who are after glad to vomit them up againe and are pained with sickness at the remembrance of them but 't is not so here that love that Christ ha's from us is better bestow'd and stout-hearted sinners I le tell you your doom Christs love comes neer you but you fly from it you wil need mountains to fall upon you and hide you from his presence sweet Lambe that he is that 's an hell-like Laâ—ere erit impossibile apparere intolerabile Anselmus sorrow yet must be suffered when to hide t will be impossible and to appear intolerable O think on the day of Christs appearance when hee 'l speak with a voice like thunder I am he behold the man whom ye have crucified the sides that you Ego sum ecce hominem quem crucifixistiâ— ecce latus quod pugugistis ecce vulnera quae in fiaeistis Rev. 1.7 have pierc'd my hands and feet lo see the wounds you made and this will he say when he comes with clouds every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall waile because of him They shall look Iisdem quibus videmus oculis flemus and lament then a good conscience towards God will more bestead then all the treasures in the world SECT 3. 3 LOve him and live to him who Plus valebit conscientia pura quam marsupia plena Bern. accounts thee lovely truly without halting wholly without halving let Christs love be thy patterne a Sea of love ha's a bottome an Heaven of love a brim but infinite love is limit-lesse such is his the infinite love of God in Christ moves in a circle of life Christs heart is the spring and fountaine there all rivers and streams of love meet as a congregation of all good and ther 's the Ocean the Sea of love and lovelinesse Christs Chariot runs on wheels of love and the pace is easie and sweet and he breath 's with Probatio dilectionis exhibitio est operis Greg in Evang. Hom. 30. Mat. 22. 37. his Aura levis his gentle gales that are cheering that thou maist breath like him Christs love is an Elixar which by contaction if there beany dispositioÌ„ of goodnes in the same mettal t will render't of the same property it selfe is 't is a rarity a great one and a merveilous Lenocinium inticer of desires Luk. 8.4.7 Melancthon One conflicted under the pangs of death and at last comforted breath'd out her thoughts thus now and not till now understand I the meaning of those words Thy sins are forgiven thee then and not till then it should seem was heart rais'd and ravished with unspeakable love to this lovely Lamb which love is the fruit of remission of sin t is a sad thing to have a selfish circular love that ha's no center but self ascends no higher goes no farther Among the Romans they who were saved were wont to crowne him that saved them and to honour him as a father all their dayes so Christians should take the Crowne of glory of all their salvations and good â—uot verba â—â— absurda actions and set it on Christs head who best becomes it he that speaks of himself seeks his own glory said Christ selfe-seekers and Thrasos boasters of your selves wher 's your esteeme of Christ is this your best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 example you give 1 Tim. 4. 12. Magno conatu magnas agere nugas Magni nugatores 1 Tim. 6.4 do's this make the stampe on your coyne then it 's not current with Christ Some are in Pauls language proud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blown and swolne up knowing nothing aright and as they ought to know a tumor in the body is a symptome sad enough in the soul saddest of all doters on questions and strife of words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 question-sick the best successe whereof will be languor in the end such must be withdrawne from us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stand off keep at a distance from such knowledge Socrates without love is like raine in the middle region that was a grave speech I know that I know nothing Some get the tree of knowledge but loose the tree of life saies one Apostates from first love frowne on your faces some are at first warme next luke-warme of a middle temper but at last freezing could in affection to Christ SECT 4. 4 Follow thy husband begin Principlum fervet medium â—epet exitus ulget Hymnus evangelisisslmus w th thanksgiving sing to this Jesus the Canticle most evangelicall as thou didst put no bounds to thy self sinning being now saved from it put no bounds to thy thanksgiving Ingratitude say some is a Monster in nature a Solecisme Let thy modus be sine modo Bern. Luk. 1.68 Arbor honoreâ—ur cujus nos unbra tuetur in manners a Paradox in grace damming up the course of donations divine and humane We respect the tree who 's shade's our defence Thanksgiving was Luthers Sancti crapula the stomack should be full out and then there 's no ease or rest till the heart 's unladen in Christ ha's God let thee see thou' rt sinlesse that he has put away thy sin then cover 1 That thou maist do and suffer as much and more now sin is pardoned as thou wouldst have done and suffered for a particular knowledge of it before thou hadst it then thou wast all action to have it nothing was irksome which was a leading meanes to it O then what running to God and the godly for information what praying hearing reading and enquiring was there then then thou thought'st it more worth then are worlds and what 's the mercy the lesse because out of Christs hand into thine owne 2 Be active in sanctification because formerly thou wast passive in regeneration and in Gods the Agent mans the Patient then 2 Cor. 7.1 making satisfaction for the transgression having through great and precious promises received the divine nature where 's the clensing from all filthinesse of flesh spirit 3 Spend and end all thy dayes in meditation and admitation of what the Lord thy God ha's done for thee who was once under the curse the law the lash cry as the Prophet O who is a God like to our God that parclons iniquity transgressions and sins Micha 7.18 19. who delights in mercy and casts our sins into the depths of the Sea wonder thou art not so vile as the vilest in Gods esteeme that he beares thee any good will gives thee one good word