say it is such Raiment as is only to be had and bought of this Wonderful Counsellor the Amen the Faithful and True Witness and not such White raiment as is to be bought here below by which some persons distinguish themselves from others and in which they glory as if they were because of this better then others and what this white raiment here commended to us is we may be helped to know and understand by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture of Truth namely that it is righteousness even the righteousnesses of the Saints according to what we find spoken Rev. 19. 8. It was granted unto her the Lambs Wise that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white For the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints viz. that wherewith they are cloathed and adorned And so frequently in the Holy Scriptures righteousness is compared to a Garment cloathing or covering as where Job saith I put on righteousness and it cloathed me Job 29. 14. And again let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousness Psal 132. 9. So it is said The Lord hath covered me with the robe of righteousness Isa 61. 10. And the joyning here Gold and Raiment together aptly answereth to that motive and inducement given by the Holy Ghost to perswade us to receive Wisdoms instruction viz. That with her are durable riches Gold tried in the fire and righteousness white raiment Prov. 8. 18-20 So that the White raiment here commended to us appeareth to be righteousness But this righteousness which is the White raiment is not as after may be shewn our own righteousness according to the law or any works of righteousness of ours For by the deeds of the Law can no flesh living be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 20. But the White raiment here spoken of is 1. The righteousness of God without the Law even that righteousness which Christ hath wrought by and compleated in himself for us and is become there-through for this is his name Jehovah our righteousness Jer 23. 6. And so Jesus Christ himself through and by means of that righteousness he hath wrought and compleated for us in himself is likened and compared to a Garment and believers are instructed to put him on as Rom. 13. 14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ And as many as are baptized into Christ are said to have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. And it is both taken for granted they have put on the new man Christ and they are instructed still and further to put him on Col. 3. 10. Ephes 4. 23 24. And they that follow after righteousness are such as seek the Lord for it even the Lord of whom the righteousness of the Servants of the Lord is Isa 54. 17. And in whom it is Isa 45. 24. And who is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yea that righteousness which is come by him it is unto all that have sinned and upon all that believe as their Ornament and Raiment Rom. 3. 21-23 And in the Prophet he is oftentimes prophesied of under this Title or expression of righteousness As I bring near my righteousness it shall not be far off Isa 46. 13. And my righteousness is near and near to be revealed Isa 51. 5. 56. 1. with Rom. 3. 21 22. And Christ is and in him appeareth the righteousness of God and he is become righteousness for us 1. In taking our Nature upon him and therein being made sin and a curse for us and so by cying our death even tasting death by the Grace of God for every man and so this righteousness is without the Law without the works or Sacrifices thereof though Christ did no sin in the days of his flesh but always did those things that pleased the father and observed the Law yet that could not be righteousness for us but to the end he might prepare and become righteousness for us he must have our sins laid upon him and therefore God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us by imputing the trespasses of the World to him that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 19-21 As well as also he must dye our death according to that If righteousness come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. In which is implied that to the end he might bring in everlasting righteousness he must dye and be cut off from the Land of the living Dan. 9. 24-26 righteousness could not come by the Law namely by our keeping the Law of ten words or by any works of ours according thereto for by the Law is the knowledge of sin in all we do in our best as well as in our worst works nay righteousness could not come by Christ's keeping and observing of it though he did always keep it and never transgress it in thought word or deed for then he died without any just or sufficient cause he died in vain And again righteousness could not come by the Law of the former Priesthood or by any gifts Offerings or Sacrifices appointed by it for then Christ died in vain It was not possible the bâ—ood of Bulls and Goats could take away-sin Where ore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt-offerings and Sacâ—ifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God namely to do that which the Law could not do to take away sin and bring in righteousness Heb. 10. 4-10 To this end he was the Lamb of God who was slain for us he was delivered for our offences And it was needful that Christ should suffer for our sins being put to death in the flâ—sh that this raiment of righteousness might be prepared for us for we had sinned against God in our fiâ—st father Adam and were thereby become liable unto the judgment of God and had deserved death in an utter separation from the presence of God and God who is a God of truth and without iniquity and to whom it is impossible to lye and therefore he cannot by any means in clearing clear the guilty had said and threatned In the day thou eatest thereof in dying thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17. And cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them namely as is explicated by the Apostle that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. And therefore man having sinned and thereby fallen under curse and death unless the justice of God be satisfied and his truth fulfilled there can be no righteousness for us no accepting of us no forgiveness of our sins nor mercy to be shewn to us For Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law shall pass till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. Therefore to the end that Christ might
bring in and become righteousness for us God laid on him the iniqâ—ities of us all and he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him he was made under the Law for us that were under it and God went to Law with him and executed the judgement of the World upon him Joh. 12. 31. And put him to death in the flesh for us and he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man that is to say he died the death of all and tasted death for every man in the room and stead of every man he died that death which was the due desert of every man which they should have died and which was the Wages of their sinning against God and this he did for every man even for the good and behoof of every man So that we thus judge saith the Apostle that if one died for all then were all dead all have died that first death not in their own persons but in the last Adam who undertook for and was the representative of all Mankind 2. Cor. 5. 14. And his death is as acceptable with the father and as virtuous and satisfactory as if all had died in their own persons and infinitely more comfortable to us for had that death been died by us we had perished in it for ever But now by his stripes we are healed in whom mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Isa 53. 5. Psal 85. 10. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree that the blessing of Abraham viz. righteousness and life might be in Christ Jesus for the Nations Gal. 3. 13 14. And there was a necessity for Christ's so humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross that righteousness might come by him both because God is a God of truth and his word cannot be broken and he is infinite in holiness and purity a God of such pure eyes that he cannot behold iniquity nor clear the guilty unless he take vengeance on our sins and until his justice be satisfied and truth fulfilled which is all now done in Christ in whose flesh God condemned our sin Rom. 8. 3. As well as also Christ must needs have suffered because there is no other person or thing that could redeem us No man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his Soul the redemption of the Soul is so precious No Offering appointed by the Law could purge away our sin God took no pleasure in them to any such end thousands of Rammes and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl would not have made our peace Lebanon was not sufficient to burn nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt Offering All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Yea the Heavens were not clean in his sight to this purpose nor any of the Heavenly Spirits but Christ must be abased and dye or us or else there could be no righteousness for us Acts. 17. 3. Heb. 10. 4-12 Psal 40. 6. 8. Isa 40. 15-17 And that it was needful Christ should suffer is signified to us in that when he was in his great agony and distress and cried out Father if it be possible let this Cup pass c. Yet still it was continued to him and not removed from him doubtless to instruct us that it was impossible the Cup should pass from him and yet righteousness be prepared for us and mercy shewn to us Mat. 26. 39. This way then he hath prepared righteousness for us and herein God appeareth to be just and his righteousness is herein declared and shewn forth Rom. 3. 25. Aswell as also we may hereinsee the vanity and unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all we could do to prepare a clothing and covering for our selves and the solly and ignorance of those that think to make a garment for the clothing themselves or to make their peace with God by any of their works sacrifices gifts sufferings Alass they are insufficient to this purpose In the cross o Christ pride is hidden from us and from all that no flesh might glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29 â—0 31. And yet here also is a lifting up for all in that in which they are cast down and good cause and reason though not to glory in our selves yet to rejoyce and glory in the Lord who died for us that righteousness might come by him and in the Father who raised up righteousness from the east Isa 41. 2. And herein we may see the infinite grace of God in the abasing his Son and of Christ in so greatly humoling himself for us and be moved with thankfulnesS to lay aside our pride and stouâ—-heartedness and submit and humble our selves to receive and accept of this righteousness of God without the law prepared and compleated by Jesus who died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and who also rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And this leadeth us to a further consideration 2. He who died for our sins is also raised again as the publick man and is in our nature and for us justified in the Spirit even in the Spirits raising him from the dead acquitted from all our sins imputed to him and so he is raised for our justification acquittance and discharge Rom. 4. 25. 1 Tim 3. 16. And in this God hath evidenced and declared his righteousness in releasing him and taking him from prison and judgment who had died our death and paid our debt it was not possible he should be holden of death because he had fully satisfied his justice and fulfilled his truth and God hath therefore in raising him evidenced and manifested his righteousness and testified to all men that he is welpleased in and satisfied with his personal abasement and sufferings in that he hath raised him from the dead He hath declared him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. And Christ not by the blood of bulls and goats but by his own blood in the virtue whereof he is raised and hath offered himself his raised body a spotless sacrifice through the eternal spirit unto God which is an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto him entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 9. 12-14 Ephes 1. 2. That is to say He hath finished the transgression to wit the transgression of the first publick man in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and made an end of sins of the necessary branches thereof he hath purged away the guilt of this sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God so as now the wrath
particularly he is called and compared to gold 1. Because as Gold is taken out of the earth before it becometh so precious and inriching to us Job 28. 5 6. So our Lord Jesus Christ fell into the ground and died and was taken out of the earth the heart of the earth that he might become inriching to us Herein indeed there is a dissimilitude between the natural gold and this spiritual as there are many between the old and new creation and things appertaining to both the earth is the original place of the former but it is not so of the latter Christ came down from Heaven from above he was in the form of God and was glorious with the father 's own self before the world was Job 3. 31. 6. 38 51. 17. 5. he is as to his divine consideration over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. from everlasting to everlasting he is God Psal 90. 1 2. But now that he might become unsearchable riches for us it was absolutely necessary that he should suffer and rise again from the dead Act. 17. 3. Luk. 24. 26. ye know saith the Apostle the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who being rich the proper and onely Lord and Heir of all things by divine and eternal generation for your sakes became poor that ye thorow his poverty might be enriched 2 Cor. 8. 9. So he faith of and concerning himself except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and dye it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit Joh. 12. 24. he might have remained alone in the injoyment of his own glory and glorious perfection though he had not fallen into the earth but he could not have brought us back to God but we must have remained in our miserable poverty for ever he could not have been communicable riches to us as we had departed from God and fallen by our iniquities if he had not died for our sins and been buried and if also he who was delivered for our offences had not been raised again and taken out of the earth in that same body in which he was put to death and laid in a Sepulchre he could not have been Gold for us we could not have been partakers of him and of that glory in him If Christ be not raised again we are yet in our sins preaching and hearing faith and hope is vain and they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished and we must be banished from God for ever necessarily and so continue poor and miserable everlastingly But now Christ is risen from the dead and so truth substance and substantial riches is sprung out of the earth in his resurrection and righteousness looketh down from Heaven and God giveth us that which is good Psal 85. 10 12. and in him bodily even in that body which the father prepared for him and in which he bare our sins on the tree and was taken from Prison and from Judgment dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead and in him we are compleat compleatly provided for and furnished with all that may truly inrich us Colos 2. 9. 10. He is now ascended up on high and hath led captivity captive and received gifts in the man for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them He is ascended and gone up to a glorious place and to a glorious state in him it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell But in that he ascended what is it what is signified hereby and imported to us herein as needful hereto but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth into the womb of the Virgin and into a great abasement into many sorrows and sufferings he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross yea he went down into the heart of the earth his soul was in hell and his flesh in the grave in the belly or womb of the earth He that descended is the same also that ascended farr above all Heavens that he might fill all things with the virtues and influences of his sufferings and sacrifice and fulfill all things Psal 68. 18. with Ephes 4. 9 10. It is through his falling into the earth that he hath exalted and advanced our nature so highly that he is in it become the great God and our Saviour the Lord and Christ the heir of all things and inheritour of God's holy mountain Because he humbled himself therefore God highly exalted him and gave him a name above every name And he is gone up into Heaven and and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him Heb. 9. 12. Philip. 2. 6 9. 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. The Captain of our salvation is become perfect for us through suffering Heb. 2. 10. The Lord did in a wonderful and supernatural way create a new thing in the earth and it is this fruit of the earth which is excellent and comely for our escape Jer. 31. 22. Isa 4. 2. But this may be further spoken to in what is said and affirmed of this gold to wit that is tried in the fire 2. He is called and compared to gold because as natural Gold is the most excellent metal which God hath created so this faithful and true witness is the most excellent one there is none to be compared to him Gold is more precious then Iron Brass Silver or any other metal Isa 60. 17. Numb 31. 22. So he is precious excellent as the Cedars namely as the Cedars excel other trees so doth he other persons and things Cant. 5. 15. He is the beginning the principal one God's first born the first begotten from the dead that in all things and amongst all persons he might have the preeminence for it hath pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell Psal 89. 27 Col. 1. 18 19. He is White and Ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. he is fairer then the children of men Psal 45. 2. Whatever beauty or comely proportion they may have their fairness is not to be compared to his he is fair with the beauty of holiness and there is no blemish or spot in him no sin in him or wrinckle of sorrow and infirmity upon him 1 Pet. 1. 19. He is more excellent then the Angels he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they for unto which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son this day have i begotten thee All the Angels of God are required to worship him He who is raised from the dead even the man Christ Jesus is set on the right hand of God in the Heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and God hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things c. And therefore
own goodness but that they should make mention of his righteousness and shew forth his praises who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God Cant. 5. 9-16 6. 1. with Chap. 1. 5 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. And his desirableness and loveliness to the eye is signified in several descriptions and declarations given of him in which he is like to though infinitely exceeding Gold even pleasant to behold So he is said to be beautiful beauty and fairness are very delightful and desirable the eye is affected therewith and apt to lust thereafter hence it is said The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them to Wife Gen. 6. 2. Upon this account because beauty is so pleasing to the eye even Holy men for saving themselves have polluted themselves As Abraham and Isaac because their Wives were fair and beautiful Gen. 12. 11-15 26. 27. Esther 1. 11. And the Holy-Ghost warneth us Not to lust after the beauty of the Whorish Woman to intimate to us that beauty is very taking with us Prov. 6. 25. 2 Sam. 11. 2. But oh how great is his beauty He is beautiful even to admiration Zech. 9. 17. Hence the Spouse saith Behold thou art fair my beloved yea pleasant Cant 1. 16. Hence also when the Spouse declareth his amiableness she saith first in general My beloved is white and Ruddy that is to say he is Immanuel God with us in our Nature and for us he was over all God blessed for ever and yet he took part with us of flesh and blood and bare our sins in that his own body which the father prepared for him and died our death and is acquitted from our sins and death for us and is in our Nature become fairer then the Children of Men. Cant. 5. 10. Psal 45. 2. Beautiful and comely with the beauty of holiness Again he is called the Light and compared to the Sun John 1. 9. Mal. 4. 2. Psal 84. 11. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11. 7. Oh! he inlightneth the eye cheareth the Heart comforteth the Soul reviveth the drooping and broken Spirit and manifesteth all things to us in their right and proper Colours He is the light of the World the great manifestation of God and of all things to us John 8 12. This man is more precious and delightful to behold and look upon then fine refined Gold Isa 13. 12. And who so looketh into the perfect Law of liberty in which his beauty is evidently set forth before our eyes Whoso pryeth into this peepeth wistly and consideringly and stoopeth down here to behold it and continueth it will cause him to desire after and delight in Christ and or ever he is aware it will make his Soul and his soul will make him like the Chariots of Aminadab Jam. 1 25. It will make him sick of love unsatisfied restless and diseased till he more know him yea till he fully and compleatly injoy and he made partaker of him he being the Object in whom is the light and health of his countenance Cant. 2. 3 5. 5. 8. Psal 42. 5 11. 43. 5. Oh that we did more know the loveliness of this pleasant Object this would make us desire this one thing of the Lord and seek after it that we might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire into his holy Temple Psal 27. 4 5. Joh. 4. 10. In such like respects he is compared to Gold 2. We have in the next place to inquire and consider what is meant by this expression tried in the fire therein is signified 1. The wonderful afflictions and sorrows which Christ indured and underwent for us and for our sakes herein he was like gold thrown into the fire as that signifieth great and grievous pains and sufferings He was tormented as in the fire for our transgressions bruised for our iniquity the chastisement of our peace was upon him Isa 53. 5. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief even made up as it were of sorrows and therefore he is eminently and emphatically called the afflicted one Psal 22. 24. There was no sorrow like unto that sorrow done unto him wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce anger Herein he was like gold ried he was cast into the fire indeed and it 's but the shadow of it as it were wo pass through All Gods waves and billows went over him his wrath lay hard upon him and he afflicted him with all his waves Psal 88. 3 16. hence he cried out my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death before men laid hold on him Maâ—t 26. 37. 38. Mark 14. 33 34. Joh. 12. 27. The father left him to feel the weight of our sins and the fierceness of that fire we had kindled against our selves and this made him cry out and roar by reason of that horrour that overwhelmed him So hot and great was the fire of God's wrath into which he was throne that his heart was like wax before the fire it was melted in the midst of his bowels and his strength dried up like a potsherd and God brought him into the dust of death Psal 22. 1 2 -14 15. It plesed the Lord to bruise him he put him to grief he made his soul an offering for our sins he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Isa 53. 10. Rom. 8. 32. And he indured great things from the hands of men he was a reproch of men and despised of the people reproch did break his heart and he was full of heaviness wherewith his soul was even melâ—ed Psal 69. 20. with Psal 119. 28. They did despitefully use him mock deride and scourge him and with wicked hands did crucify and slay him The heathen did rage and the people imagined a vain thing the King 's of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against him Many Bulls compassed him strong ones of Bashan beset him round they gaped upon him as a roaring and a ravening Lion Yea dogs compassed him the Assembly of the wicked inclosed him and his own people were the betrayers and murderers of him Psal 2. 1. 22. 6 7 12 13-16 Acts 7. 52. And now also was the power of darkness the Prince of this World came with the fiery darts and he who had the power of death did torment him Luk. 22. 53. Joh. 14. 30. with Ephes 6. 16. Christ was in an horrible pit in a pit of noise the noise whereof caused horrour and in the miry clay his soul was in hell and his body or flesh in the grave he tasted death by the grace of God for every man even that very death which every man should have
pleased in him of this he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. though they gathered together against him and unjustly condemned him and said and intimated that he was not the Son of God yet God did stand at his right 〈…〉 and to save him from the judges of his soul Psal 109. 30 31. he wiped off as it were all that dirt reproch and ignomy wherewith they covered him and testified he delighted in him in sending from above and taking him out of great waters Psal 18. 16 17. And in setting him on his own right hand and glorifying him in the Gospel He is purified in and through this fire from all the guilt of our sins and from all the weakness and mortality of our Nature and from all the hidings of Gods face and from all the calumnies slanders and dishonours of his enemies yea from all trouble and grievance and is now an inconceivably glorious one full of lustre and splendour And this will be furher shewed in what followeth 4. This Gold is said to be tried to denote and signifie that this work this trying work is over and past though the virtue and glorious fruit of it remaineth and abideth for ever It is not said Gold trying but tried in or out of the fire for as before is said he is acquitted of all our sins that were imputed to him and hath overcome abolished and got rid of all our weakness and mortality and all occasions of grief and trouble and is not as some ungodly and Antichristian Spirits affirm blasphemously dying in some or in any in every Age of the World Those that so say make his sufferings and Sacrifice like those directed to under the Law they even count the blood of the Covenant a common thing like the blood of Bulls and Goats take away sin and therefore was daily offered but herein his Blood and Sacrifice is distinguished from and infinitely preferred before all legal Blood and Offerings in that his is not to be itterated or repeated and so by consequence he can suffer no more as the Apostle intimateth in the dissimilitudes he maketh between the former Priests and their Offerings which they offered according to the Law and our High-Priest and his Offering when he saith Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entreth into the Holy place every year with blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World which to imagine and affirm is the greatest and first-born of absurdities as the Apostle doth intimate but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 25 26. Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more Dominion over him For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Rom. 6. 9 10. And this Christ proposeth unto John to strengthen him against his fears He saith John laid his right hand upon me saying Fear not I am he that liveth and was dead and behold consider and set thine heart unto this give attention hereto I am alive for evermore Amen This is a true and faithful saying Rev. 1. 17 18. Were he always trying always suffering and offering there could be no perfection by his Blood if he were always dying in some in every Age or always to be offered up a propitiatory Sacrifice then would his Blood and Sacrifice be like that Blood and those Sacrifices under the Law which could not make the comers thereunto perfect for the Law made nothing perfect But Christ hath once and but once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet 3. 18. And by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. And offered up one Offering that of his one body once for all and this man when he had offered up one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from ever suffering any more or offering any more Sacrifice or Offering for sins Heb. 7. 27. 10. 10-12 And hath by his one Offering once offered perfected for ever them that are sanctified whereof the Holy-Ghost also is a Witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. And this Holy-Spirit convinceth the World of righteousness evidenceth that Christ hath compleated righteousness a perfect righteousness in and by himself for us and therein sheweth and demonstrateth the unprofitableness of ours in that he is gone to the father and we see him no more no more coming down to suffer or offer any new Offering or to repeat that Offering of his own body for us nor hath he given or left behind him instruction to any one who may pretend himself to be his Vicar to offer him up a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick or dead John 16. 10. Heb. 10. 10-14 In this Phrase then or manner of speaking is implied and intimated to us the preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings and herein is evidenced that his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is drink indeed that we might eat his Flesh and drink his Blood and rejoyce and glory in nothing save in the Cross of Christ in that he is tried not trying but come out of and delivered from the fire taken from prison and judgment and is ascended up where he was before John 6. 54-62 And it is also a powerful admonition to us not to count it a common thing not to despise or set light by it for there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sins he can dye no more so that If this Blood and Sacrifice be rejected and trodden under foot till the day of Grace and patience be at an end there remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation Heb. 10. 26-29 It was witnessed of him who was dead that he liveth and he was made a Priest after the power of an endless life and that by his Oath who sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech and so ever liveth to make intercession for them that come to God by him And is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7 8. 16-25 Rev. 2. 8. This is Gold not trying but tried in or out of the fire 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Rom. 6. 3 4. 5. In this Phrase and expression in saying Gold tried in the fire is also signified that he is become Gold for us who was tried even that same person in that same body the same that was tried the same is become Gold for us precious and inriching even as it is with natural and earthly Gold that precious Metal of the Earth The same substance that is cast in the same
were not ashamed Gen. 2. 25. But Adam in listening to the temptation and lye of the Serpent was by him deceived first in the female and then in the male and eating of the forbidden fruit and therein seeking out many inventions to better his condition and to be as Gods to attain to an higher state and to have a self-sufficiency in himself sinned against God And by this one man sin entred into the World and death by sin and so death pâ—ssed upon all men in whom all have sinned Rom 5 12. So he brought shame upon himself and all his posterity and now he was ashamed and afraid because naked Gen. 3. 10 11. There is now a nakedness upon mankind naturally they are without and destitute of that original clothing that was upon them that righteousness and uprightness All have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were Created Rom. 3. 23. They are destitute of the understanding of a man as at first Created by God Every man is bruitish by his Knowledge and void of sound Wisdom Job 11. 12. Prov. 8 4 5. 30. 2 3. There is none that understandeth Jer. 10. 14. They are destitute of the righteousness in which they were Created of that love to God and one another They have lost the Image of God in which they were Created Rom 3. 9 10 11 12. Yea and they have sinned and are sinners and as they come into the World they are polluted and defiled They are conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity Psal 51. 5. Who can being a clean thing out of an unclean not one Job 14 4. 15. 14 25. 4. And so they are naturally inclined to all that is evil Every imagination of the thought of mans heart being only evil and that continually Out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries blasphemies an evil eye covetousness pride foolishness and these things desile the man Yea he is very abominable drinking in iniquity like water even as a thirsty man drinketh in water to cool his thirst and refresh him so man drinketh in iniquity or as a Fish continually drinketh in water Job 15. 16. Gen. 6. 5. 8. 21. Mat. 15. 19 20. Mark 7. 20-23 And when they come to act they do abominable works such as are shameful and of which they are ashamed when the eyes of their understandings are opened and they see things in their right and proper colours Psal 14. 1 2. Rom. 6. 21. Aswell as also there is the guilt of sin upon them and they are by nature obnoxious to the wrath of God and lyable to his judgment Rom. 3. 19. Ephes 2. 3 And the fruits of sin in weakness shame death c. A shameful nakedness is upon them in Soul and body from the Crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is nothing upon them but filthiness and uncleanness sinfulness and misery And this might hide pride from us and take us off from boasting in our birth and parentage or in any work of ours or in any thing natural to us and help us to cease from man for whereof is he to be accounted for we are all as an unclean thing sinful shameful Creatures And it may also cause us to admire at the riches of Gods Grace towards us who prepared for us such excellent raiment for the covering us when we were in our blood and so polluted a 〈…〉 defiled at so dear a rate and cost as by the abasement of his onely begotten Son who therefore was cut off that he might obtain justification and forgiveness and bring in everlasting righteousness Yea and they remain and continue naked and destiture of all that is good and lye open to the storms of God's anger and their nakedness is more shameful who after means is vouchsased and light extended love darknessrather then light and believe not on the name of the only begotten Son of God on such the wrath of God abideth be they never to wise rich and honourable in this world and they shall 〈◊〉 see life Joh. 3. 18 36. The Lord after he had affo 〈…〉 means to lead men to repentance looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are together become filthy stinking and shameful there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 2 3. Rom. 3. 1 2 9-11 Their iniquity is greater then formerly it was and their shame more shameful in that there is lewdness found with such in their filthiness and they refuse to be washed and cleansed when God is purging them and causing the scum to swim aloft Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 4 5. Hos 11. 3-5 And this exposeth men to the wrath of God upon a new account though yet while it is called to day Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation and covering for such like shameful evils even for the sins of the whole world so taking away the sin of the world that judgment may not be speedily executed but that he may procure and exercise further patience and extend further means to open their eyes and to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God 1 Joh. 2. 2. Joh. â— 29. Act. 26. 18. Yea those Angels and Churches who after the tastes of the graciousness 〈◊〉 the Lord depart from him have a shameful nakedness upon them for in departing from him they depart from their raiment which will only cover the shame of their nakedness and cloth them as afterwards Hence the Apostle severely reproveth the Galatians and sheweth the greatness of their iniquity in that after they had known God or rather were known of God and were by him called into the grace of Christ for all forgiveness and righteousness That yet they should listen to those witches that came amongst them and by them be perverted to seek to be justified by the law and to perfect by the flesh what was begun in the spirit Gal. 1. 6-8 3. 1-4 4. 8. 5. 1-8 Thus also his Church in former times did shamefully herein and laid themselves naked and open to God's displeasure on this account Hence the Lord by way of complaint thus expostulateth with them O Generation see ye the word of the Lord have I been a wilderness unto Israel A land of darkness Wherefore say my people we are Lords we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing We will come no more unto thee Can a Maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire Yet my people have forgotten me who was their clothing and ornament days without number Jer. 2. 31 32. with Isa 6â— 10. Hos 2. 2-7 Jer. 3. 20-25 Thus it was with this Angel and Church of Laodicea who treacherously departed from the Lord as a Wife from her Husband and entertained other lovers besides him and though he had stood
that to a gracious end that we sinners might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15-19-21 He is the Lamb of God who had imputed to him and did bear in his own body to and on the tree the sin of the World even the guilt of the disobedience of our first Father in whom we all sinned and of all the necessary branches thereof God caused them all to meet on him that he might put away and abolish them by the sacrifice of himself Joh. 1. 29. with Rom. 5. 12-14 1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa 53. 6. Heb. 9. 26. Dan. 9. 24. 3. And God went to law with him for them and executed the judgment of the world upon him Joh. 12. 31. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities Isa 53. 5. God spared him not but delivered him and brought him into the dust of death for our offences and he by the grace of God tasted death for every one of that nature in which he was for a little while made inseriour to the Angels even for every man without difference Heb. 2. 9. And gave himself aransom and price of redemption to God for all men 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 We thus judge saith the Apostle That if one died for all then were all dead and be died for all even for all that were dead 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. And such is the excellency and preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings sustained by him in that body which the father prepared for him wherein he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross that he is in the virtue thereof raised again from the dead and hath given himself an offering and a sacrifice for a sweet smelling savour to God All which doth demonstrate and is a fundamental evidence that this preparation in Christ may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and blind ones For if Christ who was delivered for our offences and died for our sins be not raised again we are yet necessarily in our sins and preaching faith and hope are in vain and to no purpose 2. Through and by means of his death in the virtue whereof he is taken from prison and from judgment there is in Christ a perfect and compleat provision for mankind There is in him and he is become unsearchable riches And he hath compleated and brought in everlasting righteousness according to that motive and argument laid down and set before men and the sons of man to move them to hear and receive wisdom's instruction Prov. 8. 18. with vers 4-10 Rev. 5. 12. Truly there is a rich preparation and treasury of all spiritual blessings prepared and treasured up in Christ for every sinful creature of mankind without difference or respect of persons Isa 25. 6. Luk. 14. 12-21 Col. 1. 28. Matt. 11. 27 28. There is in him unsearchable riches for all and this was preached and proclaimed among the Gentiles Ephes 3. 8. 9. And in him there is forgiveness of sins even of rebellious sins for all that need it while it is called to day And this our Saviour commanded his Apostles to preach in his name unto all nations yea to begin at Jerusalem which was a bloody city even the slaughter house of the Prophets which killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them according to what the Martyr Stephen saith Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers Ezek. 22. 2-4 24. 6-9 with chap. 7. 23. Act. 7. 52. Yet for such as these there is forgiveness of sins in Christ and through this man to be preached unto them Matt. 23. 37. Act. 1. 8. And God hath caused righteousness to spring up before all nations Isa 61. 11. He hath provided and made ready this White raiment even the wedding garment for all and it is contained in that provision prepared in which all things are ready And therefore when the King demanded of the person who was without it friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment The man was speechless he had nothing to say by way of excuse for himself which he might have had and needed not to have been speechless if there had been none prepared for him But the invitation was all things are ready and so righteousness this white raiment which we are counselled to buy Matt. 22. 4-11-14 So it is said the Jews who were zealous of the law and established a righteousness to themselves according thereto attained not righteousness because they submitted not or humbled not themselves to accept of God's righteousness which is now manifested by the saith of Christ to be far and unto all without difference even prepared for them in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 20-22 and 10. 2 3. with Jam. 4. 6. 7. Yea Christ is become a rich treasury and fountain a blessed object in whom there is prepared forgiveness healing all riches and clothing for those Angels and Churches of his that after tastes of his graciousness have wandred from him and lightly esteemed him and followed after other lovers whose evil and iniquity herein is more highly displeasing and provoking to him then the iniquity of others that have not known God or rather been known and owned of him as they have been And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the son of man be listed up saith our Saviour Joh. 3. 14. The Serpent of Brass was commanded to be lifted up and was set up by God's appointment for the healing of such as were stung by the fiery serpents because their soul lothed that Manna which at first they admited at and was so welcome to them and the sweetness and goodness whereof they had ostentimes proved and tasted Numb 21. 5-9 with Exod. 16. 15-31 Even so must the son of man be lifted up in preaching as one in whom there is durable riches and righteousness forgiveness of their sins and healing of their diseases and a covering for their shameful nakedness who have lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation and of the rock that begat them have been unmindful and forgetful after they have met with joy and peace in believing To such may be applied what Eliphaz saith to Job If ye return from your wandrings and revoltings to the Almighty ye shall be built up yea the Almighty shall be your gold and ye shall have silver of strength for then shall ye have your delight in the Almighty Job 22. 23-26 And though such have dealt very treacherously and done very shamefully in forsaking their resting place yet there is forgiveness of their sins and a robe to cover the shame of their nakedness with him Hos 2. 5. 14. 1-4 Isa 1. 10-15-17 And he is therefore exercising longsuffering and rebuking and chastening and hedging up their ways with thorns that they
had nothing to give or part with that might in the least be compared unto or valued with this Gold tried in the fire and white raiment and yet they are counselled to buy and it is intimated in the counsel that such may have it and therefore it is supposed and signified that they may have it freely This provision was freely prepared as with respect to us all was of grace and not of or from any merit of ours we had deserved nothing of good from the hand of God nay we had deserved to have been utterly expelled from the favour and merciful presence of God 2 Sam. 14. 14. We were dead at Law condemned to dye and dead in sins and trespasses filthy and polluted ones and altogether unable to help our selves as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again 2 Cor. 5. 14. But the God of all grace without any goodness of ours to move him thereto and contrary to our deservings so loved us as to give his Son by his grace his free love to tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And in him who is raised again from the dead for our justification all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely by his grace through that redemption in Christ Jesus They are redeemed without money Isa 52. 3. Rom. 3. 23 24. And in Christ before we know it there is freely prepared the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the likeness of Adam's transgression The free gift is of many offences unto justification Rom. 5. 15 16. And a full fountain of grace and truth yea there God hath freely given to us all things Joh. 1. 14-16 1 Cor. 2. 12. Psal 68. 10. And proclamation is made and invitation given to men of this preparation freely and men are invited to come that have no money nor price no goodness nor worthiness of their own yea he that is a Thirst and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 18. 21. 6. Our Lord Jesus in the last day the great day of the feast of Tabernacles stood and cried even with a loud voice that all might hear If any man thirst whether out of necessity or from a former tast of his graciousness let him come unto me and drink There was that in him prepared for any Thirster that might cool his thirst refresh and comfort him And it might be freely had by any Thirster by such an one as had no gracious frames or qualifications Joh. 7. 37. And to those that receive Christ Jesus he giveth with him all things freely Rom. 8. 32. Yea he is ready to forgive and accept and love freely such as he hath been provoked with for their treacherous departing from him upon their returning again to him from whom they have revolted As he saith I will heal their backslidings I will love them freely Hos 14. 1-4 He frankly forgiveth them whose sins are many Luk. 7. 42-48 And this doth evidence that this provision may be had and is a great consolation to the poor not only to such as are naturally so but to such as are so in a spiritual consideration to such as have no goodness greeness graces who have nothing in themselves to incourage them yet such are invited and may partake of this inriching satisfying covering and adorning preparation proposed to and set before them and may therefore incourage such to come to the waters How many are there that are so poring upon their own unworthiness and nothingness as that thereby they discourage and hinder themselves and at last conclude there is no hope for them This consideration might incourage them and cause them to lift up the hands that hang down and to come to this fountain of the grace of God Joh. 4. 10. And this Instruction as thus demonstrated to wit That Christ and this provision in him may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and poor c. Yea by any sinful worthless creature of mankind while God is exercising longsuffering and vouchsafing means and striving with and calling to them may be of usefulness to us 1. To take us off from listening unto or entertaining those false witnesses of God in Christ who shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men and even in their Doctrines say Christ died not for all men nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man but only for the fewest of mankind and so by necessary consequence there is nothing prepared in Christ for the greatest part of mankind No gold no forgiveness no righteousness c. When our Saviour inveigheth against the scribes and Pharisees the first woe he denounceth upon them in the hearing of the multitudes and his disciples was because they shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men which was indeed their great evil and cause of the following evils for which they are so sharply and severely rebuked Matt. 23. 1-13 And at another time when there were gathered together an innumerable company of people insomuch that they trode one upon another He said first of all to his disciples in their hearing Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees their evil doctrine which is hypocrisie Luk. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Oh! Let us also beware of such doctrines as deny the grace of God in Christ to mankind as declared in the Scriptures and hold we fast those wholesome words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness As well as also it may take us off from others who though they plainly deny not that Christ died for all and is raised again or that any man may in coming to him be inriched by him yet they confess not this they speak it not out nor make it the subject matter of what they say so to exalt Christ that men might run to him but press men first to do such and such duties and then direct them to Christ when they are thus and thus qualified like those teachers to whom God said This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest even Christ as witnessed in the law and by the Prophets and this is the refreshing but they would not hear but the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept c. And hereby they caused God's people to go astray and to forget their resting place Isa 28. 12 13-16 Jer. 50. 6. Instead of directing men to Christ and calling and moving them to come to this fountain they press men to establish a righteousness to themselves and to be justified by the Law or to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the spirit like those evil workers who came amongst the Galatians chap. 3. 1-4 5. 1-4 1 Joh. 4. 3. 2. Seeing this provision may be had and had freely by such it sheweth unto us the great and admirable grace of Christ and of the Father in him
to promise Gal. 3. 16 17 29. 4. 28. and 5. 1. And so here Christ declareth himself to be the Amen To cure these of that Lukewarmeness they were polluted with and assureth them that in opening and giving entertainment to him he would come to them and sup with them and they with him And that he that overcometh should sit with him on his Throne Rev. 3. 14 20 21. Oh were this considered by us that God hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for us all how would this make us confident that with him he will freely give us all things also How would this cause us to mount up with wings as Eagles to run and not be weary to walk and not faint and incourage and ingage us to listen to his counsel whom God hath given for a Covenant to the people For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield and will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Rom. 8. 32. Psal 84. 10 12. The Faithful and True Witness This may be an explication of the Amen and shew us what is further meant by and contained in that expression These two words Faithful and True may mean one and the same thing or we may say He is the faithful Witness in that work whereto the Father appointed him hence the Apostle instructeth the Holy Brethren to consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession who was faithful to him that appointed him namely in that hard and difficult work of humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross Heb. 2. 9 18. 3. 1 2. He is in his Cross a faithful witness of the greatness and sincerity of the fathers affection to us Isa 55. 3 4. Who is meant by the faithful Witness here spoken of may be plainly seen and wherein is he so firstly and fundamentally Rev. 1. 5. Jesus Christ the faithful Witness and the first begotten of the dead And so 1. As he died for our sins by way of propitiation and as the Peace maker so he is a faithful witness of the fathers love and that he is not willing any should perish but that all should come to Repentance He is the great sign and undoubted evidence of the heat and ardency of Gods love towards us poor sinners even towards every poor sinful Creature of Mankind in that he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man in this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son c. John 3. 16. This is the great sign of Gods love to us and it is an evil and adulterous thing to seek after any other Mat. 12 39. The Jews require a sign but we Preach Christ crucified Christ the power of God the great witness and manifestation of his power and goodness toward us 1 Cor. 1. 22 24. and he is the faithful witness therein of the truth and faithfulness of the father in performing his promises according to the tenour of them for he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things also Isa 55. 3 4. Rom. 8. 32. Yea in what he hath suffered he is the faithful witness also of the freeness and ardency of his own love toward us his love was so fervent as that many Waters could not quench it nor could the Flouds drown it it was strong as yea stronger then Death such his Grace that he laid down his life for us he died for all and such the preciousness of his Blood that in the virtue thereof he is raised again hath purged away our sins made peace slain the enmity broken down the middle wall of partition between God and Mankind taken out of the way all that was in it contrary to us abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and obtained into himself all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things and confirmed a new Testament and everlasting Covenant Oh what a faithful witness is he of the greatness and fervency of his own and his fathers love and how powerful therefore is the view of him in his Cross to cure us of our lukewarmness do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise is he not thy father that hath bought thee Oh how doth this love constrain us to love him and to cleave to him with full purpose to give him our hearts and let our Eyes observe his ways and how doth this incourage and imbolden us to follow him fully who hath delivered us from our enemies that we might serve him without fear and who is become the treasury of all Gods fulness that we might come with boldness to the Throne of his Grace and hold fast our profession Yea and to return to him when we have fallen by our iniquities for herein he sheweth us he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth and so not in the death and destruction of poor wretched miserable blind naked luke-warm ones Oh fear not to come unto and walk before him and be perfect let not your hands be slack by this ye are saved if ye keep in memory what at first was declared unto you unless ye believe in vain viz. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 2. 4. O foolish Galatians saith the Apostle who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the Truth that ye should not continue in tunning well but grow remiss before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you Gal. 3. 1. with Chap. 5. 7. 2. The faithful Witness and Martyr as a Peace-preacher who laid down his life in Testimony to the Truth of that Gospel which he received from his father and declared to us on this account he gave his back to the smiters and his Cheeks to them that plucked off the hair he hid not his face from shame and spitting he set his face as a flint to indure whatever afflictions reproches persecutions he might undergo for the truth for which purpose he was born and to which end he came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth John 18. 37. and to this he did bear witness to the death and sealed to the truth of that Gospel with his Blood This the Apostle setteth before Timothy to incourage him to fight the good fight of faith that Jesus Christ witnessed a good confessiom before Pontius Pilate when he knew what things he should suffer on that account 1 Tim. 6. 12 14. Away
died he tasted the whole of it and indured the bitterness of it and of all appertaining to the first death and hell Psal 40. 2. with Acts 2. 27 31. Heb. 2. 9. And so exquisite were the torments he indured that he offered up supplications and prayers with strong crying and tears and cryed so long that he was weary of his crying and prayed his Father to deliver him out of the mire that he might not sink and that the deep might not swallow him up nor the pit shut her mouth upon him Psal 69. 2-4-14 15. The torment he indured made him fore amazed it even astonished him and made him afraid the sorrows of death compassed him and the pains of hell got hold on him he found trouble and sorrow Mark 14. 33. Heb. 5. 7. Psal 116. 3. 18. 4. 5. Oh he was like gold indeed cast into and tried in the fire and herethrough was he made perfect for us 2. Tried in the fire signifieth that this gold was proved herein and appeared to be so right and excellent as that he could and did indure and abide the fire and therefore also is he called and compared to gold because it was one of those things and the first named that would abide the fire Numb 31. 22 23. He was proved to purpose herein the Word of the Lord was tried Psal 18. 30. He is a tried stone Isa 28. 16. And he did not shrink from or perish in this fire but indured to the end his love and graciousness was tried and evidenced to be strong as death yea stronger then the fire it self which had a most vehement flame He in what he suffered and indured is the Amen the Faithful and true witness and testifier of his sincere and ardent affection to us Though the fire he was thrown into was exceeding hot yet his love and charity towards us was so servent as that it did exceed and was hotter than the fire it self He for the joy set before him indured the cross despising the shame he gave His back to the smiters and his cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair He hid not his face from shame and spitting He set his face like a flint as one that hardened himself against sorrow as Job 6. 10. and even challenged his adversary that contended with him to come near and try his strength against him his love was so perfect that there was no fear in it no fear that hath torment 1 Joh. 4. 18. Isa 50. 6-10 though he knew the bitterness of the wrath and fierceness of the fire he was to tast of and pass through yet he was not discouraged He did not fear in the days of evil when our iniquities that were imputed to and were to be taken away by him did compass him about Psal 49. 5. but he stedfastly set his face and established it to bear all things and endure all things that were needful to be born and endured that we might not be expelled from God Luke 9. 51. with Ruth 1. 17 18. 1 Cor. 13. 7. thus it appeared in his great agony and day of his distress that he was proved indeed and yet did and was resolved to abide the fire Now saith he is my soul troubled exceedingly sorrowful even unto death invironed and incompassed about with sorrows and pangs and what shall I say Father save me from this hour shall I desire this absolutely as if he should say Shall I pray that the Cup might be removed that I may not taste it No but for this cause came I unto this hour Father glorifie thy name This he resolved to pray for and desire whatever he suffered and indured that his father would glorifie his goodness love power wisdom and faithfulness for the good of Mankind John 12 27 28. Yea this Sun of righteousness came into the World as a Bridegroom cometh out of his Chamber and rejoyced as a strong man to run a race Psal 19. 5. Wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Lo I come to do thy Will I delight to do thy Will though he must in doing it indure and undergo such great torments sorrows and sufferings Well might he say Lo behold it for his love was herein proved and appeared to be great even to admiration such as may make us even astonied at it Psal 40. 6-8 Heb. 10. 5-9 It appeareth he was tried in the fire and did abide it he was Gold tried indeed and this will still appear if we consider a little particularly His love and faithfulness was tried in leaving such Glory and so greatly emptying himself and making himself of no reputation He the Word was with God yea was God the proper Lord and Heir of all things by Divine and Eternal Generation by whom and for whom all things were Created visible and invisible who was over all God blessed for ever he was glorious with the fathers own self enjoying the Glory of God in Heaven The Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way before his works of old he was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the Earth was then was he by him one brought up with him and he was daily his delight rejoycing always before him Prov. 8 22-30 Now for such an one to make himself of no reputation for such an one to come down from Heaven and to abase and humble himself to the induring such sufferings and undergoing such shame and sorrows Oh! here he was Gold tried in the fire indeed He being in the form of God in the essential form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God yet made himself of no reputation Phil. 2. 6-8 Without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness God became man the Word was made flesh the Lord became a Servant he that was rich became poor he that was in Heaven descended and came into the Earth and tabernacled among men Oh! here was the trial of his love and faithfulness here he was proved to purpose and yet did abide it and was faithful to him that appointed him and loving and gracious to us it is a great trial amongst men when one that is lifted up and advanced above his brethren is put upon it to part with and lay aside that Glory but his Glory was infinitely more excellent and his person inconceivably more worthy then that of any Earthly King or Emperour and yet he so humbled himself and came down and emptied himself for us His love and faithfulness was tried and he was Gold tried in that he indured all this from the hand of his father as inflicted or permitted and ordered by him it is a great probation and toucheth the quick when a most intimate lover woundeth with the wound of an enemy with the chastisement of a cruel one as Jer. 30. 14. what he indured was from the hands of his father who infinitely loved him in whose bosom he was and with whom he was well pleased and yet by him he was
cast into the fire and did chearfully and constantly abide it yea he was angry with and sharply reproved him that indeavoured to deliver him from this fire or some part of it The Cup which my father hath given me to drink shall I not drink it John 18. 10 11. Here he was proved indeed and hence he crieth out Why hast thou forsaken Me me whom thou lovest so intirely so inexpressibly so inconceivably the Son of thy love of whom thou hast given such Testimony That I am thy well beloved Son Psal 22. 1. This was a trial of his confidence in his fathers love and of his obedience to him and yet he did abide faithful and never was jealous or distrustful of his fathers affection but in the midst of the fire and when through the heat of it he cryeth out and roareth yet he cryeth out Oh my Father and my God my God Mat. 26. 42. 27. 46. And though he was a Son his only begotten Son his infinitely beloved and delighted in Son yet he learned and shewed forth obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 9. His love and faithfulness was proved in that he upon his own account had not deserved any thing of affliction or trouble from his father For he always did those things that pleased him John 8. 29. And God gave that Testimony of him That he was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased He knew no sin he did no sin but was Holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and yet that he was so dealt withall and so tormented doubtless this was a great trial The Messiah was cut off but not for himself not for any fault of his he had deserved no such thing Well might the Apostle say The love of Christ passeth Knowledge Dan. 9. 26. Ephes 3. 19. Oh how different is our carriage when we are in trouble and affliction we are apt to complain and fret against God and to be discontented when we indeed suffer justly and would be rid off and delivered from the burden though it is thank-worthy that a man taketh it patiently when he is corrected or buffeted for his faults 1 Pet. 2. 20. Yet we are apt to be murmuring and complaining when we bear the punishment of our own sin such unreasonable Creatures are we Lam. 3. 39. But this man did nothing worthy of death or of bonds and yet he indured willingly But this was a great trial and this may be included also in that My God my God why hast thou forsaken Me me who never offended or displeased thee at any time Psal 22. 1. On this account and in this respect he was greatly tried and yet he did willingly and readily indure the fire and offered himself to be thrown thereinto yea he acknowledgeth thou art Holy though thou castest me into the fire who am thine Holy one O thou that inhabitest the Praises of Israel Psal 22. 1-3 He was tried in induring such great afflictions and sorrows for such persons as he did for such ungodly ones who did not worship God nor desire any mercy from him for such sinners who had sin in us and were greatly polluted and defiled therewith and therefore such as he could not delight in or have fellowship with yea for such as were enemies also unto him in our minds and haters of him This was a great trial to suffer for such to be cast into the fire for such unclean ones for such unworthy and ungrateful ones who were not onely undesirous and insensible of the favour but full of enmity against him and haters of him that so testified his love towards us Amongst men scarcely for a righteous man who giveth to every one that which appertaineth to him and requireth from every man that which is due 〈◊〉 himself will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye yet this would be a great trial and it is but a peradventure Whether any one would so do or no It is questionable whether any would lay down his life for a good man that is beneficial and bountiful and full of good Works and is not so exact and rigorous as the righteous man but giveth to others what he is not at all obliged to and forgiveth and remitteth what he might justly expect demand or receive from another But oh how was he proved and yet did indure and abide faithful to the interest of our Souls Greater love then this hath no man then to lay down his life for his friends but while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly and herein he commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us yea while we were enemies God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them but to him and he willingly yielded up himself to become a Sin-offering for us he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners the chief of sinners such as were persecuters of him and blasphemers of his Name and Gospel Oh great trial Oh inâ—inite unparalled Grace John 15. 13. Rom. 5. 8-10 Heb. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 19-21 1 Tim. 1. 13-15 He was tried also in this in that he not only indured such great affliction for his enemies even for every sinful Creature of Mankind but in that also he met with so much exercise and occasion of grief from them he suffered for them and from them he was despised and rejected of men of those for whose â—ake and good he came into the World a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him as persons ashamed of him who indured the Cross despising the shame for us he was despised and we esteemed him not Surely he hath born our grief and carryed our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted we thought and reckoned that all he underwent was laid upon him for his own proper and personal transgressions and provocations but he was wounded for our transgressions c. Isa 13. 2-6 Those for whom he suffered were instruments of grievance to him not only did they lightly esteem him so as to prefer a murderer before him but also Heavyly afflicted him and this was a great trial and was so accounted and taken notice of by him They rewarded me evil for good saith he to the spoiling of my Soul or depriving me of my life though when they were sick wiâ—hâ—ut strength sick to death I humbled my Soul for them c. Psal 35. 12-16 with Rom. 5. 6. For my love they are my adversaries And they have rewarded evil for good and hatred for my love Psal 109. 3-5 Oh herein he was proved and found faithful he did abide the fire he was not discouraged or hindred thereby but gave his back to the
smiters for the smiters and gave himself to prayer for his persecuters though he was oppressed unjustly proceeded against and unworthily and despightfully intreated and used by them whose good he aimed at and pursued and afflicted Yet he opened not his mouth but was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers so he opened not his moâ—th against them Isa 53. 7. Yea he prayed and dyed for them who with wicked hands did crucify and slay him And being raised again was sent and did come to bless them in turning every one of them from their iniquities Isa 53. 12. Acts 3. 13 14 15-26 Yea at that time when he was numbered with transgressors and hanged between two Thieves and most unmercifully and inhumanely intreated mocked at and reproached then said Jesus Father forgive them Luk 23. 34. Oh wonderful trial Oh matchless love He was greatly tried also in the greatness and depth of the abasement whereto he was abased for us a small condiscension in such an excellent and glorious person for such unworthy ones would have been admirable But as that would not have sufficed for our recovery so such was the cordialness of his love and servency of his affection to us that he did not avoid or shrink from that great abasement whereto it was absolutely necessary he should humble himself that we might be redeemed from the curse of the Law and our loss might be again recovered for us he laid not hold on the Nature of Angels when many of them had sinned to keep them from falling or to recover them though that had been wonderfully beneath him but he was made a little lower then the Angels his own Creatures in a Nature inferiour to theirs yea he did not partake of our Nature as it was when first Created by God but as it was become through our seeking out foolish inventions and was in all things like unto us sin only excepted he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality and was subject to all our infirmities to hunger thirst weariness painfulness and was poor and needy and took upon him the form of a Servant who was Lord of all and was made in the likeness of men yea of sinful flesh and being found in fashion as a man he still and further humbled himself and became obedidient to death even the death of the Cross that cruel shameful and accursed death Phil. 2. 6-8 He came down from Heaven and descended into the lower parts of the Earth not only into the Womb of the Virgin but into greatest and deepest afflictions Sorrows and troubles yea his Soul was in Hell and his Flesh in the Grave Acts 2. 27-31 He was tried and found faithful in that such was his power in himself and with the father that he could have acquitted himself from those sufferings which he indured from his enemies He was not at first necessitated to undertake for us but his Grace and free love moved him thereto and he could afterwards have confounded his foes and that way or otherwise have delivered himself out of their hands as he did do many times in the days of his personal ministration and some proof and demonstration he gave of his power to have destroyed them had he pleased when they came to apprehend him for when he told the band of Men and Officers who were sent to take him that he was the person they sought for as soon as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground John 18. 3-6 So when Peter drew out his Sword out of its place and smote off the ear of the High-Priest's Servant after our Saviour had bid him put it up again c. He addeth Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more then twelve Legions of Angles as intimating that such was his interest with his father that had he prayed he might have been rescued from their destruction with a great and Heavenly Host of those Glorious Angels and needed not Peter's Sword to avenge his quarrel but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled in his breaking the head of the Serpent and healing that first breach between God and Manking and doing and becoming that whereby we might be brought back to God Mat. 26. 52-54 He was not forced to suffer what he did but he might have avoided all had he so pleased and this is a great trial of love and patience We may pretend to patience in sufferings when we cannot help our selves but if the power were in our hands we should be apt presently to get rid of the trouble but though Christ was such a mighty one yet he readily and chearfully undertook for us at first and patiently indured to the last such an hot fire He was not a Passive simply but Active and forward also in all his abasement not only was he sent into the World but he came and came rejoycingly Lo I come I delight to do thy Will Psal 40. 6-8 Not only was he made flesh but he laid hold on the Seed of Abraham in that body the father prepared for him Heb. 2. 16. Not only was he put to death but he died yea to shew his forwardness he breathed forth and commended his Spirit into the hand of his father before they died who were crucified with him and he so soon died that the Governour admired at it Mark 15. 44. He emptied himself and made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and he further humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 1. 7 8. Oh that that mind that was in Christ Jesus where more in us Ver. 6. Here was a trial indeed and herein was love inexpressible love incomparable He was tried in his obedience to his father and in his love to us and in his power in grapling with such and so many and great enemies in his so great abasement and in the day of his calamity when the fathers wrath lay heavy upon him They prevented him in the day of his fog when his God forsook him and hid his face from him Psal 18. 18. They persecuted him whom God had smitâ—en Psal 69. 26. When he was weakest and his Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death then was their hour and the power of darkness then his and our enemies appeared in their strength against him He had all our sins even all the trespass 〈…〉 f the World upon him He bare our sins in his own body to the Tree and this was so great a burden that his heart even failed and these were such a multitude that they were more then the hairs of his head Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet 2. 24. And these must be born and taken away there must be an abolishing of them or else there could have been no deliverance for us Heb. 9. 26. He had our death to die and
overcome and this was so great a death as that we had perished in it for ever had we died it according to the first Sentence 2 Cor. 1. 10. He had the Devil who had the power of death and his Instruments to grapple with and overcome Satan thrust sore at him that he might fall Psal 118. 13. He had the Law as it was against us to satisfie and indure the curse of and so to blot out that hand-writing that was contrary to us And Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or title of the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 18. Here he was proved to purpose in his love power and patience and herein he did abide the fire and made it evident and apparent that God laid help upon one that was mighty and he gave a wonderful proof of his patience and submission For in â—aiting he waited for the Lord until he inclined his ear and heard him and brought him out of the horrible pit and miry clay Psal 89. 19. 40. 1 2. Here was a trial of his strength and here it appeared to be very strong for though all these compassed him about like Bees yet they were extinct as the fire of Thornes for in the name of his God he hath destroyed them He hath made purgation of our sin Heb. 1. 3. He hath abolished our death 2 Tim. 1. 10. He hath 〈◊〉 death destroyed him that had the power of death that in the Devil Heb. 2. 14. He hath led Captivity Captive spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Psal 68. â—3 Col. 2. 15. He hath overcome the World John 16. 33. He hath broken down the middle wall of partition that was between God and Mankind having abolished in his flesh the enemity the Law of Commandments in Ordinances Ephes 2. 14 15. Col. 2. 14. His own right hand and his Holy Arm hath gotten him the Victory Psal 98. 1. He hath delivered us in himself from the hand of all our Enemies that we might serve God without fear of them Luke 1. 74. And he is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Sing Praises to our God sing Praises Sing Praises to our King sing Praises Psal 47. 5 6. and 68. 18. Yea to add no more to this he was tried and proved in the fire in that all he indured was of no real personal advantage to himself He could not be added to by it but it was wholly for the sakes and good of others This excellent one who is charity did not seek his own things 1 Cor. 13. 5. Oh! this was Grace indeed free love no fore-worthiness of ours did move him to undertake this difficult work no future advantage to himself did strengthen and incourage him to enter into and abide in this fire to the last but it was the good and commodity of others of us unworthy ones of us unable ones to make any retribution for such an admirable kindness He that was rich for our sakes became poor that through his poverty not he but we might be inriched 2 Cor. 8 9. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 3-6 The Messiah was cut off but not for himself Dan. 9. 26. He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Rom. 4. 25. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He did not look on his own things but the things of others Philip. 2. 5-8 He got no real addition of Glory or happiness to himself by all his indurings and therefore when he had finished the work which the father gave him to do induring the Cross and suffering the curse he then prayeth and now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory I had with thee before the World was John 17. 4 5. He did through sufferings enter into his own Glory which was his before but now he entred into it in our Nature and for us That the World through him might be saved Luke 24. 25 26. And God raised him from the dead and gave him Glory that our Faith and Hope might be in God and that so we might not perish but might have everlasting life 1 Pet. 1. 20 21. John 3. 14-17 Oh! in all this was love love without comparison love beyond comprehension Let us look upon it that we may be ashamed of our love or rather bewail our want of love and not proclaim our goodness and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing Is this the manner of man thus to express love Surely we have let slip the view of and departed from the consideration of his love while we are doting upon and boasting of and lifting up our selves by and glor 〈…〉 ing in our love Oh! consider also how he hath been tried that we may not complain of or faint under our trials But that we may run with patience the race set before us look we unto Jesus who for the joy set before him indured the Cross despising the shame c. And consider diligently the excellency of this Gold and how it hath been tried that we may be zealous and buy it whatever it cost us 3. His being tried in the fire doth signifie that he was herein and herethrough purifi'd and refin'd and came forth as Gold out of the fire full of lustre splendor and glory Job 23. 10. Indeed he never had any pollution of his own or any mixture of sin cleaving to him he was the Holy one of God he knew no sin in partaking of our Nature for he was made partaker of it by a wonderful work of new Creation so as that he and he only partook not of the filth or pollution of our sin he did indeed partake of our sorrows sufferings afflictions He was in all points tempted like unto us yet without sin Heb. 4. 15. He had no sin of his own to answer for he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 22. But yet he had our sins laid upon him and was by imputation spotted as it were with our spots and deformed with our afflictions and wrinkles Though he knew no sin yet God made him to be sin for us and imputed the trespasses of the world unto him the guilt of our natural and necessary sin and sinfulness even the guilt of the disobedience of the first man Adam in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and defiled and of all the unavoidable branches thereof this was imputed to and laid upon and accepted by him as his to answer for and he his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord laid on him the
iniquities of us all Isa 53. 6. and he confesseth these as his own when he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up Psal 40. 12. and saith to his father my guiltiness is not hid from thee Psal 69. 5. he becoming our surety and undertaking for us all our debts were charged upon him and our trespasses were imputed to him and he bare our sins in his own body and so by the imputation of the father and by his own gracious acceptation our sins became his own sins Heb. 7. 27. he is that Lamb of God that did bear the sin of the world John 1. 29. But he was tried in the fire therein and thereby was he purified from our sins from the guilt of them and so he is pure 1 Joh. 3. 3. He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin 1 Joh. 3. 5. He appeared once in the end of the World to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and is without sin and shall so appear the second time unto salvation to all them that look for him Heb. 9. 26. 28. To this purpose the Apostle saith Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit to wit He was justified acquitted and discharged from the guilt of our sins in the spirit 's raising him from the dead who died for our sins and was buried 1 Tim. 3. 16. and He through the eternal spirit hath offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9. 14. he having fully paid our debt and compleatly satisfied for our sins in his bearing the judgment of the world and being tormented for our transgressions he is released by the father and taken from Prison and from judgment and hath by himself made purgation of our sins and purged them from before the presence of God made peace and attonement for them and redeemed us in himself from the curse of the law and through that redemption that is in him all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely inasmuch as he as our surety and as the publick man and last Adam is justified and is through his personal abasement and sufferings become a lamb without blemish and without spot Heb. 1. 3. 7. 27. Col. 1. 20. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 3. 23 24. and chap. 5. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Yea and also he partook of our infirmities he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality Heb. 2. 14. he himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matt. 8. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren the sons of men such an one as they were become as the fruit of sin as distinguished from sin it self Heb. 2. 17. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and was deformed as it were with that reproch shame and dishonour which appertained to us Psal 69. 19 20. and was in that body subject to corruption though he did not abide so long in death as to see it as is implied in that the Apostle saith God raised him from the dead now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. he partook of our infirmities sorrows griefs and had a mortal body in which he was crucified and put to death and died and was buried his visage was marred more then any man's and his form more then the sons of men Isa 52 14. 53. 2. He was covered over with the wrath of God for our sins and by his permission and ordering he was covered over with shame from men so as he had no form nor comeliness no appearing beauty outwardly to make him desirable When his God forsook him then he was a reproch of men and despised of the people all they that saw him laughed him to scorne they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head saying He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he delight in him Psal 22. 6 8. as intimating that though he made his boast of God and said he was his Father yet he would not own him as his Son and therefore said they God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 10 11. and how he was covered with reproches as if he had been a gluttonous person and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and Sinners as if he had cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils as if he was a deceiver of the people as if he was guilty of blasphemy against God and of stirring up sedition amongst the people the Scriptures of the Evangelists abundantly shew to us But in this respect also he is tried in and came purified out of the fire and hath in himself overcome and abolished that death he died 2 Tim. 1. 10. and put off all mortaliry and weakness in his resurection that mortal body of his hath put on immortality his body that was so marred and without sorme is now become a glorious body and he therein and he only is a spiritual man death in him is swallowed up into victory and he is become the first-fruits of them that sleep and his triumphing Song is Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin this he hath purged away and the strength of sin is the law this he hath answered and satisfied and hath gotten himself the victory and thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 42-47-55-57 he hath put off all weakness grief sorrow pain mortality and restored our nature in himself into the image of God in a more glorious manner then ever it was in the first creation even into perfect righteousness integrity immortality and eternal life and he is in our nature glorified with the father 's own self with the glory he had with him before the world was Therein he is become eternal life for us who was delivered for our offences and such glory and lustre is upon that body that it is above the brightness of the sun at mid-day such as we are not capable to behold unless wonderfully and miraculously strengthned It was so glorious as that the sight of it struck Saul blind three days Acts 26. 13. 22. 11. 9. 17. and this seen in a vision by John caused him to fall down at his feet as dead Rev. 1. 17. and when Daniel also saw him in vision there remained no strength in him but his comliness was turned into corruption and he retained no strength Dan. 10. 5-8 and he was tried in and came purified out of the fire from all the wrath of God and from all the reproches and shame and dishonour cast upon him by his enemies God hath actually testified of him that he is the Son of his love and that he is well
Christ for they were lifted up with high thoughts and conceits of themselves They said They were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing they needed therefore to buy and to be clothed with this Garment that their shame might not appear namely to put on and be clothed especially and firstly with all humility of mind Acts. 20. 19. To put on humbleness of mind Col. 3. 12. And needful it is for us all to be inwardly apparalled herewith to have a low esteem of our selves of our knowledge parts gifts attainments or otherwise we shall sit loose from Christ as they We are Lords we will come no more unto thee Jer. 2. 31. Those that are puft up with their fleshly mind notwithstanding their voluntary humility do not hold the head Jesus Christ but treacherously depart from him Col. 2. 18 19. Good therefore it is for us all and especially for the Angels 1 Pet. 5. 1-5 To put on this to judge our selves unworthy Creatures less then the least of God's mercies and favours Gen. 32 10. The chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. The least of Saints Ephes 3. 8. To count that we have not yet attained neither are already perfect Philip. 3. 12 13. To say when we have done all that is commanded us we are unprofitable servants Luke 17. 9 10. To be nothing 2 Cor. 12. 11. And therefore to come to Christ as the only foundation of our faith as he died for sinners ungodly ones and enemies yea as by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man and is raised again as the reason of our hope as the beginning of our confidence To come unto and abide in him as the fountain of our light and teaching as our only Rabbi and to learn the truth as it is taught in Jesus To put on him as our righteousness to appear before God in whose righteousness is prepared for all that have sinned To feed upon him as our bread even on his flesh as given for the life of the world To have our approch to God by and through him as our only way and to come in through that low door opened for every poor sinful Creature of Mankind to be comforted in all our tribulations and sadnesses with Gods consolations even with the consolations of and in Christ and not to have some secret thing with us to comfort us Job 15. 11. with 2 Cor 1. 3-5 To have our rejoycing in Christ where all may rejoyce with us and to have no confidence in the flesh in any priviledges thereof or in any works of righteousness of our own Philip. 3. 3-8 And to think soberly of our selves yea and this humility is also to be exercised in all our words and demeanour Ephes 4. 2. And this humility is the Spirit effecting and bringing unto us that it might be put on by us in glorifying Christ and commending unto us the freeness of Gods love in him shewing that he hath prepared righteousness for us and imputeth it to every one that believeth freely without any works of ours Where is boasting then It is excluded By what Law Of works Nay but by the Law of faith Rom 3. 21-28 And that he saved us from our ignorance of him and enmity unto him according to the rule of his mercy and so not by any works of righteousness of ours By Grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast It is by Grace as the motive whereby he was moved to bring salvation to us as opposed to debt he was not indebted to us for any goodness of ours or by any purpose or promise on his part necessitating him thereto but it was freely by his Grace he saved us and by Grace as the Argument and motive wherewith he prevailed with us even through the discovery of the freeness and greatness of his love as commended to us continually in this that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Ephes 2. 1-8 with Rom. 4. 4. Tit. 3. 3-5 And so what ever the believers have received it is by Grace for who maketh thee to differ and what hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. And so his forgiving the sins of those that come to God by him and cleansing them from their filthiness and giving unto them a new heart and new Spirit it is not for their sakes but for his own name sake and were this known and taken notice of by them it would cause them to be ashamed and confounded and powerfully hide pride from them and cloth them with humility Ezek. 36. 21-32 And indeed nothing doth so powerfully work and tend to the humbling of us as his Grace and to this end he giveth more Grace Grace abounding our natural pollution and corruption wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble Jam. 4. 5 6. yea and to the effecting this humility in us he proposeth to us and setteth before us the humility of Christ That we might learn of him who was lowly not in his outward carriage only but also in heart and in so doing we shall find rest to our Souls Mat. 11. 29. Philip. 2. 4-6 7. Zeal for God to be clad therewith as with a Cloak Isa 49. 7. This was that which this Angel and Church were much wanting in and destitute of they were Luke-warm and neither Cold nor Hot as we have seen before This was needful therefore to be bought by them in and with humility and unless that be put on this cannot be had by us for while men have high thoughts of themselves and their attainments this disposeth them to lukewarmness and hindreth them from being zealous Now that zeal that is to be bought of Christ it is principally Fervency of Spirit in selling all that we have for Christ that we may win him and be found in him as before is shewn And fervency of Spirit in seeking after the knowledg of him and promoting the things of his Kingdom contending earnestly and fervently for the faith of the common salvation and not giving place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with us and so highly valuing and prizing Christ and his Gospel and fervently loving him and it as not to love our lives unto the death for his sake and his Gospels but willingly to lay them down and lose them when called thereunto The zeal of Gods house did even eat up Christ and such zeal is to be bought of him as whereby we may not please our selves but deny our own wisdoms wills designs affections enterprizes yea and forsake all that we have that we may be his Disciples and follow him in the regeneration Rom. 12. 11. Luke 14. 26 27-33 And this zeal he is effecting in us especially and principally by
amongst the Jews did falsly accuse Christ with being a vicious person the men of that generation those who were the men of the times then they said of the Son of Man Behold a gluttonous person and a wine bibber a friend of Publicanes and sinners But saith he Wisdom is justified of all her Children All the Children of Christ and the Gospel know that this is but a slander Luk. 7. 31-35 Matt. 11. 16-19 There is no other Doctrine besides that so sheweth the vileness of sin and necessity of our being washed therefrom in the blood of Christ as doth this Doctrine of the Gospel For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Titus 2. 11-14 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Rom. 5. 18. with chap. 6. 1-3 But this slander of theirs is the issue of their ignorance and prejudice and what better fruit can be expected from such evil and bitter roots 3. This instruction may also shew unto us the great evil of those that deny that Christ hath died for all and by the grace of God tasted death for every man for these render it impossible for the greatest part of men to be made partakers of that darable riches and righteousness in Christ The Doctrine of the Gospel maketh the gate unto life strait enough and yet no straiter then is needful But these shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to enter The little finger of this Doctrine is heavier then the loyns of the Gospel to the greatest part of man kind Nay indeed as with respect to one part of men there is no straitness in the gate at all and with reference to the other and greatest part there is no gate open for them at all were their doctrines as true as they are counted by many But these herein are false witnesses of God and like the evil spies that brought an evil report upon the Land of Canaan and thereby discouraged the hearts of many of their brethren Take we heed and beware of those evil and pernicious doctrines that cause to err from the words of knowledg and way of truth 4. Seeing we cannot have these heavenly commodities without buying in selling all that we have let us so seriously consider the excellency of them that we may be made willing to let go all things as loâ—s and dung 〈◊〉 for the excellency of the knowledg of them that we may be made partakers of them For the great and eternal worth and excellency of these considered will make this yoke easy ano this burden light And this leadeth us to the last instruction propounded to be considered by us viz. 4. That to the end the wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked may buy this gold tried in the fire and this white raiment here commended to us it is good and neeful for them that they anoint their eyes with eye salve that they may see This though the last mentioned and counselled unto is surely needful to the former for without knowledg the soul cannot be good Prov. 19. 2. How should any man so highly prize any commodity as to part with all his substance for it that seeth no worth or excellency in it And how should Christ's Angels and Churches part with all they have for those heavenly treasures if they see no beauty in them why they should desire them There is no earnest desire after or high prizing of that which we are ignorant of and see no worthiness in Now then in this Instruction here propounded we shall speak unto these three things contained therein which may be usefully and profitably considered by us As to say 1. That Christ's Angels and Churches may be blind and ignorant of the excellency of Christ and those treasures in him 2. That there is eye-salve prepared for such blind ones also wherewith anointing their eyes they may see 3. That to the end they buy Christ and that in him it is neeful they anoint their eyes herewith that they may see 1. That Christ's Angels and Churches may so depart from him as to become blind and ignorant of the excellency of Christ and of those treasures hid in him Thus it appeareth here in this place in which our Lord saith to the Angel Thou art blind and counselleth every one that hath an ear to hear what the spirit saith to the Churches as intimating this was spoken to them all for their admonition and that it might so befall them also if they did not look diligently lest they failed of or fell from the grace of God God's people may become foolish and not know him they may be sottish children and have no understanding Jer. 4. 22. Yea the Pastours may become brutish and not seek the Lord. Jer. 10. 19-21 The blindness here spoken of is not the being destitute of natural or artificial wisdom the wisdom of this world for this men may have and yet be sufficiently blind in this consideration we have to speal of for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God Where is the wise Where is the Scribe Where is the disputer of this world Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world 1 Cor. 3. 19. and chap. 1. 18-21 But the blindness here spoken of is a being without the wisdom that is from above a being destitute of spiritual understanding And so this Angel was blind if not wholly yet in a great measure and in so great a measure as that our Saviour the wisdom of God signifieth that he was blind Those that are watchmen amongst God's people and who have high conceits of themselves for knowledg and piety may yet have their eyes blinded with darkness His watchmen saith the Lord are blind they are all ignorant there may be blind guides blind leaders of the blind and how sad is it when it is thus Then surely their leaders cause them to err and they that are led of them are destroyed Isa 56. 10. 3. 12. 9. 16. Matt. 15. 14. 23. 24. Jer. 2. 8. This Angel and Church might be in such a condition as the Apostle Peter speaketh of when he saith He that lacketh these things to wit these great and precious promises ministred in and with the Gospel he in whom these are not and abound not dwell not richly so as he addeth not to his faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly-kindness and to brotherly-kindness charity such an one is blind and cannot see afarr off he is poreblind He may see some things near hand but he is so blind he cannot see these things afarr off he cannot see within the vail he cannot see into Heaven where Christ is nor those things above where he sitteth Deut. 30. 11 12.