them saith the Lord. But this shal be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more Fiftly Sometimes the everlasting Covenant sith God doth not only become our God and Father But our God and Father to eternity Not only forgiving and pardoning sinne but forgiving and pardoning sinne and iniquitie for ever and evermore Not only writing the law of life and love in the hearts of his people but he Characters it in their hearts by a Character that cannot be deleted or extinguished Isay 55.3 Incline your eare and come unto me heare and your soule shall live And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Isaiah 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills shall be removed But my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Sixtly And in the text it is called the law of the Spirit of life 1. Not only because it gives eternall life to the sonnes of Adoption 2. Because that it frees the sonnes by Adoption from the Law of sinne and death But also because it is established in the hand and breast of the Lord of life Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death 2 Why is it termed the Law 1. To answer The truth of prophecie which hath beene delivered by the Holy Ghost Isaiah 2.3 And the people shall say come yee and let us goe up to the Mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his waies and wee will walke in his pathes For out of Sion shall goe forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem 2. To distinguish it from the Law of Nature The Law Ceremoniall and the Law Morrall Jer. 31.33 But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People 3. Metaphorically or Respectively as the Lawes in France are not the Lawes of Spaine nor the Lawes of Spaine the Lawes of England So the Law of the spirit of life is not the Law of Sinne and Death 4. To denote that although the Saints are not under the Law of accusation arraignment execution and condemnation Neverthelesse they are un-the Law of grace Faith Peace Mercy and Reconciliation Rom. 6.14 For sinne shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the Law but under grace Thirdly Why the Law of the Spirit First Because the Spirit reveales it John 15.14 He shall glorifie me because he shall receive of mine and declare it to you Secondly Because the Spirit of God ingraves it in the hearts of all those that are in Covenant with the Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Thirdly Because the promise of the Law or Covenant is consonant to the fruits and workings of the Spirit of life and glory Gal. 5.22 But the Fruits of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meeknesse Temperance against such there is no Law Fourthly Why in Christ Jesus Not without grave consideration First If all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus then the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus but all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus therefore the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.3 Blessed be the God and Fatther of our Lord Jesus who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1. â—0 But of him are yee in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisedome and Rightâ—eousnesse and Sanctification and Redemption Is wisedome without him that is the treasure of wisedome No Is Righteousnesse without the Lord of Righteousnesse No Is Redemption without our blessed and most gratious Redeemer No Is Sanctification without him that Sanctifieth his by his blood most deare No Or is the Covenant of Grace and life without the Lord of life No In man there is not only the excellency of memory the rarenesse of affection but also the highnesse of understanding in the Sunne there is not only beauty splendor but rarenesse of efficacie So there is not only Redemption Justice Sanctification and Wisedome But also the Covenant and Law of life and mercy Secondly This Covenant or Law is established by the death of Christ Mediator Therefore it is meet and expedient that it should be in Christ Mediator Heh 9.15 And for this cause hee is Mediatour of the New Covenant or Testament that by meanes of death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the the promise of eternall inheritance Heb. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinckling which speaketh better things then that of Abell Thirdly Because that he hath performed all that the Morrall Law requireth the Morrall Law required of thee absolute compleat and intire Righteousnesse it demands of thee exact perfect and strickt obedience it binds thee over that thou shalt not speake one word before the barre of Justice that thou shoote no arrow below the glory of God that thou answers eternall infinite equall commands of the Father but thou art come too short of his glory thy obedience is not answerable to his requires and thy arrowes are on this side the throne of grace and mercy but the Lord Christ became the surety he hath payed all thy debts though more in number then the sand upon the Sea shore he hath borne the sence of anger of wrath of heate and justice when thou stoodest quivering before the barre of justice then he answered for thee When Angels stood wist and silent sith they could not beare the heate of everlasting burning nor answer the severity and and purity of infinite and eternall Justice when men were whist and silent sith they were involved in their blood clothed in old rotten raggs of Righteousnesse and could not answer the puritie and Righteousnesse of the God of Righteousnesse when all Creatures might give in their voice we have Gold Silver Brasse Tinne Lead and Iron We have Pearles Jewels and rare Treasures the beautifull Diamonds the costly Rubies and the richest Saphirs Yet all these cannot redeeme one from
the Pitt Justifie one in thy presence bring one to the riches of Inheritance or to answer thy exact demands or requires but we all confesse the truth of him as it is written of him and not of us Psalm 40.7 8. Then said I loe I come in the volume of thy booke it is written of me I delight to doe thy will O God yea thy law is within my heart Fourthly It hath beene expedient that the Law of life should be placed in the Lord of Life as the old Covenant or the law of Death was placed in the Loines of Adam It was not convenient that the Law of Faith should be in the Children of Incredulitie that the Law of love and mercy should be in the Children of Wrath and Furie that the Testament of life and Reconciliation should be in the Sonnes of Death and Condemnation had this Covenant beene made with us as the old Covenant was made with Adam we had broken this Covenant as well as Adam Therefore such hath beene the eternall wisedome of the Father to establish the Covenant in Christ sith he was the sonne of Mercy the sonne of Love the sonne of Grace and Bountie He was he that was able to make us at once with the Father to naile our sinnes to the Crosse to burie them in his grave to cast our sinnes into the Sea of Oblivion he was he that was able being the mind of the Father to reveale the mind of the father being the sonne of the bosome to make knowne what hath beene in his Fathers bosome being the treasures of wisedome to manifest hidden Knowledge and Wisedome Hence the Law of the Spirit of life is said to be in Christ and not in us according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Fiftly Why freed Me not only because of manifestation to the Churches of Christ that he had interest in the Liberty and Redemption by Jesus Christ but also that he might have great consolaion in the midst of all sorrowes and tribulations as if he had said though the Law hath made Warre against me hath slaine me hath found me polluted sinfull and defiled and made me cry out who shall deliver me from the body of this death notwithstanding from that I am rescued and delivered according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Why saith hee from the law of sinne 〈…〉 some understand this to bee law ceremoniall but I understand this to bee the law morrall that it is not proper to call the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death I prove it thus First That which was the only cause of death to the Beasts and the figurative imposition upon them to signifie eternall life to the redeemed and reconciled that is not properly called the law of sin and death to us but the law ceremoniall was the onely cause of death to the beasts and the figurative imposition to signifie eternall life to them that are reconciled and Redeemed Ergo. Secondly That which by the Holy Ghost is not called the law of sinne and death is not the law of sinne and death but the holy Ghost hath not called the law ceremoniall the law of sinne and death therefore it is not the law of sin nor death The Holy Ghost hath attributed this to the morrall law Rom. 7.11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement deceived me and by it slew mee Rom. 3.20 21. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh bee justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sinne but not the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the law and the Prophets 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law That law which figures out eternall life Redemption reconciliation that cannot bee the law of sinne and death but the law ceremoniall figured out eternall life Redemption and reconciliation therefore that cannot bee the law of sin and death the ground is this because the figure really answereth to the thing figured the end of Heave offerings signified the exaltation of our Lord upon the Crosse the peace offerings the reconciliation by Christ in the day of his Crosse the burnt offerings the satsfying of the justice of the Father to witt the appeasement of wrath in the time of his crosse If I should speake of the Cherubims they signifie nothing else but mercy in that they were covered with gold designes the riches of Christ in that they spread their wings one towards another denotes the faith of the Saints towards the throne of grace and mercy in that the mercy seate was placed above the arke of presence signifies that Christ the Lord of life and salvation is exalted above all things and that his presence extends it selfe to his poorest and meanest servants in that God answered from the mercy seat betweene the Cherubims mâ—kes knowne to the Saints Adopted that they are to receive answer of prayers from the breast of Christ to their poore soules The Law The gleanings of Ephraim was better then the vintage of Abiezer the law of life and reconciliation is better then the law of death and condemnation the one accuseth before the barre of Justice the other excuses before the thron of grace the one arraignes before the throne of Gods tribunall the other acquits before the mercy seate the one condemnes the soule and conscience of sinne iniquity and transgression the other frees the soule from sinne iniquity and transgression the one is the cause of curse and execration the other the cause of blisse and benediction the one affrights amazeth and consternateth the other comforteth refresheth and consolates one made the children of Israel flee from mount Sina the other makes us approach neare to Mount Sion Heb. 12. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. For ye are not come to the mountaine that might be touched and that burned with fire not unto blacknesse and darkenesse and tempest which voyce they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more for they could not indure that which was commanded and if so much as a beast touch the mountaine it shal be stoned or thrust through with a dart And so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly feare and tremble But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God and heavenly Ierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and God the judge of all and to spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then
admiration of the times because of his wisedome and discretion Christ the wonder and admiration of his Churches because of his speeches and declaration My soule he that is thy peace thy rest thy love thy mercy he shall be thy cōmander he that is thy prince of glory thy Lord of life he is thy gratious protector hee that is thy vine thy head c thy bridegroome he shall be thy leader rule for grace and peace came by him when the Law came by Moses Ioh. 1.17 Redemptiō Justification and Reconciliation came by him when Condemnation adjudication came by Moses Consolations comforts joyes and springs of solace came by him when terrors horrors feares and servitude came by Moses Therefore thou shalt glory and expresse the praise of glory concerning the words of freedome and liberty Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death 2. The Law of the Spirit of life It hath beene said of Paradise that it was the rarest place in the habitable world in respect of Altitude in respect of Amaenetie in respect of Profunditude and in respect of Jucunditie the same may be spoken concerning the Spirit of life and glory it is extolled in respect of Altitude sith it is in Christ who was placed in the high and heavenly places of Amaenetie sith it is the delight of the beloved Saints and peculiar of Profunditude sith it soundeth the lowest and deepest misery of Jucunditie sith it makes the drooping soule most joyous and chearefull Therefore the same that was the joy and glory of the blessed Apostle is the joy and glory of the drooping soule joying and glorying in the words of the Apostle Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death The Law of the Spirit of life Pretious are the gifts and graces which come from the Father of everlasting light rare are the treasures which come from the Lord of life and peace rare and pretious is the Law of life which is from and of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus What is so jucundious what is so amaenious or what is so joyous as the spirit of Adoption which sealeth the soule up to the day of eternall Redemption or what can be so pleasant so delightsome or joyfull as the spirit that consolates the soule in the midst of all distresses or what can be so rare so wonderfull and admirable as the law of of the spirit of life that frees us from the law of sinne and death the seale of the spirit doth rejoyce thee in the day of thy Adoption the disconsolated are consolated in the day of Consolation the wanting vacuous are filled with joys in the day of impletion and the soule is filled with all fulnesse and sweetnesse in the day of liberation hence comes in our joyfullnesse and fullnesse that as we receive our peace from the Prince of peace our righteousnesse from the Lord of righteousnesse so we receive the law of life from the spirit of life in Christ Jesus If thou hast the revelation of the mistery of the Kingdome it is by the spirit Mat. 16.11 He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven but to them it is not given If to thee is given to know the deep and profound things of God it is by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God If to thee is given to know the mind of God before the world was it is by the spirit Ephes 4.7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the gifts of Christ Ephes 3.5 That to other Generations hath not been known to the sonnes of men is now revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the spirit So if there is a revelation of the mistery of glory to Babes and Sucklings and denied to the learned Doctors and Rabbies of the world it is by the spirit Mat. 11. 25.26.27 At that time Jesus answered and said I thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hide these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes even so Father for so seemed good to thy sight All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the sonne but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the sonne and he to whom soever the sonne will reveale him None can write the law of God in the hearts of the Saints but the spirit of Christ as none can seale to the Conscience the everlasting love of God the Father and the precious treasures of Jesus Christ but the spirit of glory as none can give the spirit of oration to them that cannot pray the spirit of consolation to them that sit in mourning weeds but the spirit of Comfort so none can write the mind of God in the conscience or the will of Christ in the spirit of the Saints but the spirit of assurance or obsignation Hence it is recorded by the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.3 Yee are our Epistles written in our hearts which is known and read of all men manifest to be the epistle of Christ c. The same spirit that reveales unto the Saints the unsearchable riches of Christ that engraves the heavenly and gracious mind of the Father in the consciences of the Redeemed the same quickens the soule by the mighty power of life and vivification when we lay dead in sinnes and trespasses when wee were troden in our bloods by the Horsmen of Hell and Death when we were involved in the depth of the gulfe of miseries then by the same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead we were quickned therefore not without cause is he called the spirit of life First In the respect of Christ Secondly In respect of the life that the Saints receive through uniō by the spirit Thirdly In respect of that life the Saints receive through Faith Love and hope by the spirit in the act of communion When our Lord was in the grave neither hell nor death nor law nor justice nor all the force of the creature could retaine him for he shewed himselfe the Lord of life by rising from the dead Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead I am alive forever more Amen and have the keyes of Hell and death Lord over sin by the blood of his crosse Col. 2.14.15 Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to his crosse and having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them all Conquerer over the Divill by the power of his death Heb. 2.24 For as much then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood he also himselfe tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill Victorer over the law and over all accusations by his intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is it that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Triumpher over Captives and leading captivitie captive by the power of his assention It was impossible our Lord should be retained by the bonds of death the barts of hell and the power of the Devill not only because it hath beene the determinate counsell of the Father not to leave his soule in grave nor suffer his holy one to see corruption Acts 2.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Because of that pittie he had to his beloved Spouse his dearest members his tender branches Ephes 2.6 And hath raised us up together made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus because of the dignity of himselfe being King of his Church Lord of life Mediatur of the Covenant Acts 2.24 Whom God hath raised up having gloosed the paines of death because it was not possible he should be houlden of it But also because of the mighty and infinite power of the spirit of glory which rais'd up our Lord of life Prince of glory O my soule consider consider what the spirit of life hath done for thy foule Had not our Lord been raised from the dead by the spirit of life sinne would have crusht thy conscience to the lowest gulfe of misery the Devill like a roaring Lion would have devoured thee the law of terrors would have bound thee to the barre of eternal justice to eternitie death would have delivered thee to the second death forevermore and all evills would have ceased upon thy spirit for ever and ever Thē mightest thou have said with the Psalmist The sorrowes of death had compassed thee and the evills of hell had found thee thou foundest woe and sorrow then mightest thou have spoken with Hezekiah That thou wast forsaken as a Shepards Tent that justice would have beene as a Lion to breake all thy bones thou mightest have mourned as a Dove chattered as a Crain to the dayes of eternity Saying That thou should'st behold his gracious face no more behold his gracious countenance no more but remaine in everlasting chaines under darkenesse for evermore Shouldest thou have beene so happie as Jonah no he was but in the bellie of the Whale but thou shouldest have beene in the bellie of hell he was in the depth of the sea but thou shouldest have beē in the depth of the bottomlesse pit the waves of the sea and the bellowes thereof incompassed him but the waves of greatest sorrowes and bellowes of exceeding wrath should have incompassed thee he was heard out of the bellie of the Whale and his prayer came into his holy temple but thy prayer should have beene shut out from his glorious presence and should not have appeared before the throne of grace a Goard was provided for him to hide his head from the heate of the Sunne but no shelter nor shadow had beē provided for thee to hide thy soule frō everlasting burnings Where had beene the glorying of the Saints had our Lord not beene raised from the dead we should have had no cause to glory in the blood and death of his crosse no cause of triumphing in a glorious presentation in a hapy reconciliation in an absolute abolition of the hand writings which were written against us Where had been our redemption from death and the feare thereof from the grave and the sting thereof from out of the hands of the Devill and and the slavery thereof from the law and the execration thereof where had been our royall Robes of Righteousnesse our garments of glorious salvation justificatiō in his glorious presencs if the holy one had seen corruption the branches of the rarest vine should have withered the members to the head of purest gold would have perished and the spouses to our blessed and dearest Bridegroome would have been clothed with shame reproah for ever But blessed thrice blessed be that name is blessed forevermore sith he hath raised the head and the members the branches the vine the bridegroome the spouses together He that left not our Lord in the grave hath not left the Redeemed of the Lord in the pitt of distruction he that suffered not the sonne of the bosome to see corruption will not suffer the sonnes by adoption to be swallowed up by everlasting perdition Therefore you sonnes daughters of men we will not only glory in Christs incarnation in Christs crucifixtion in his grave buriall glorious assention but also in his victorious triumphous Resurrection The risse of the son of righteousnesse is more to us then the sun of morning light that delights the eye sence of sublunaries this the soules of distressed consciences that causeth the hearbs plants trees to rise out of the earth this causeth the branches spouses members of Christ to rise out of the lowest pitt that removeth darknesse bringeth in a light Diurnal this removeth darkenesse bringeth in a light eternall That is the plenitude above and the riches of the earth beneath this is the riches of the Church Militant and the plenitude of the Church Triumphant Therfore will we glory in the spirit of life according to the Text Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death The spirit of life Sweet and pleasant is the expression of Job Will the wilde Asse roare when he hath grasse or will the Oxe low when he hath fother or will the dead soule mourne for life when it hath the spirit of life Noe it will joy it selfe in the spirit of joy and consolate it selfe in the spirit of consolation triumphing with the Apostle because the spirit of life hath freed it from the law of sinne and death according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For he law of the spirit of Life◠in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Secondly It is called the spirit of life sith that the spirit is the cause of union with the Lord Jesus by which the Saints receive both life spiritual and life eternall My prisoners of Hope and Bond men to the throne of mercy know and consider that it is not in your powers to injoy union with me and Jesus Christ whom I have sent the spot of your sin the blott of your transgressions and the impurity of your iniquities hath prevented the exactnesse rigidnesse and perfection of my law most pure hath hindered the eternitie
the infinite and the purity of my divine justice letteth Could your darkenesse bring it selfe to my glorious light I dwell in the light unaccesable 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light whom no man hath seene nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting amen Can your impurity reach my infinite and eternall purity I am a God that can behold no iniquitie Haback 1.13 Thou art of pu rer eyes then to behold evill and canst not looke on iniquitie wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal◠trechearously and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he Can thy death atting and touch my life being from eternitie to eternitie I am alone the fountaine of living waters Jer. 2.13 For my people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Cisternes broken Cisternes that can hold no water Or can your lownesse and profunditie reach the highnesse of my sublimitie I dwell in the high and the holy place Isaiah 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy J dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Could Dives passe the gulfe of hell to the bosome of Abraham No can a bird without wings reach the hight of the sunne No can a man without eyes behold the highest orbs No or can thy soule that is involved in the law of horrid iniquitie unite it selfe to me No this way of union was not found in the habitable world but in my habitation of glory this was not found in the depths below but in the heights above this was not found in thy breasts and invention but in my breasts of heavenly compassion well saith the scripture Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living the depth saith it is not in me and the sea saith it is not in me God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof Therefore this was my wisedome to give this Glory to my beloved sonne John 17 22. and the glory which thou gavest me J have given them that they may be one even as we are one That by his blood he might make them which are afarre off nigh to me Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ That by the death of his crosse he might make of two one Ephes 2.15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmitie even the law of Commandements contained in Ordinances for to make in himselfe of twain one new man so making peace And that he might bring them to me that never knew the riches of my grace Ephes 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one spirit unto the father Untill I came to live in my people to make thē a habitation dwelling place till I made them habitations of glory for the spirit of my glory they were as farre from me as my dwelling place is from the lowest hell as the clearest light is from the greatest darkenesse and the barre of my Justice from the throne of mercy But my spirit gives them a being in the heavenly places my spirit removed all the letts betwixt me and my people my spirit gives them to injoy a being reall in me and in the dearest of my breast 1 Thes 1.1 Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the Church of Thessalonica which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Hence all the branches receive their life from the vine Christ Jesus hence also the members receive their vitall motion from their head Christ Jesus hence the spouse receiveth her being from the bridgroome Jesus Christ through and by the spirit of life therefore comes in the glorying and expression of my people according to the text For the law of the spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly because of the life of Faith and love and hope which is given thee by the Spirit of life It was not the shadow of Peter that healed the sick and weake but the overshadowing grace from the throne of eternall mercy it was not the handkerchiefes and neckcloathes of Paul that drave out devills but the omnipotent power of the eternall mediatour it was not the water in Baptisme that washeth away sinne but the blood of Christ so it hath not been in the purity strength of the sonnes of death to free themselves from the Law of sinne and death but in the power of the law of life according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me from the law of sinne and death You that have been Prisoners without hope as by the blood of my Testament I have sent you out of the pit where there is no water so by the law of my life I have freed you from the law of sin death I have made you to live the life of faith when I hide my face the light of my dearest love and gratious countenance when I covered my selfe with darknesse and wrapt my selfe in a clowd when I seemed to bid farrwell as though I would see you no more then I made you to live by faith which was in mee when as my servant Ionas was in the depth of the Sea in the gulfes beneath invironed in the mighty waters and in the bellie of the devouring whale I made him to call upon my name and to looke towards my holy Temple when thou wast in the depths of the sea of miseries in the ocean of miserable iniquity notwithstanding I have made thee looke to the throne of my grace and bounty highest mercy when I suffered thee to be mocked scoffed derided scorned to be stoned deprived of bread convenient shutt out from amongst the dearest and nearest friends bringing thee to the gates of deepest miseries and to the prison where thou shouldest have lost thy liberty notwithstanding I have made thee live by faith which is in mee I have brought thy faith into Christ there thou livest there thou delightest there thou restest there thou dwellest there thou joyest and there abidest as the seate of the Eagle is upon the rock undervaluing all inferiour places so thy habitation is in Christ the rocke of righteousnesse and thou undervaluest all sublunarie and inferiour things As I have made the promises yea and Amen to the praise of my glory so I have made thee to rest upon those promises to eternall glory As I am becom thy most benignous and gratious Father in my Covenant to perpetuitie so will I make thee live by love through my Covenant to Eternitie If I have
thee the life of faith faith is my guift Ephes 2.10.8 For we are his workemanship created in Jesus Christ unto good workes which God hath before ordained that we should walke in them For by grace are yee saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God I gave to thee the life of love when I gave the sonne of love Joh. 3.16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten sonne that whosoever beleeveth one him should not perish but have everlasting lif I gave to thee the life of hope when I gave to thee the lively hope through the resurrection from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundance mercy hath begotten us againe to a lively hope by the resurection of Jesus Christ from the dead When I have made mine to walke in sheepe skins and Goates skins in dennes and caves of the earth for my names sake I gave them hope of everlasting righteousnesse raigning by grace unto eternall life Rom. 5. last For as sinne hath raigned unto death even so might grace raigne through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. When I gave them neither favour Love nor Footsteps in or amongst the Creature I have given to them a Citie whose maker and builder is my selfe Heb. 11.16 But now they desire a bettter Country that is an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a Citie When I made them undergoe Shipwracks Stonings Defamie Reproach Disdaine Contempt Malice Wrath Envie Backbitings Slanderings Scornings by them that under the profession of my praise and glory are enemies to the throne of my praise and glory I gave them hope in the eternall waight of my glory 2 Cor. 4.17.18 For our light afflictions whcih is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal waight of glory while we looke not one things that are seen but one things that are not seen for the things which are seene are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternall Hence they expect a new heaven a new earth in which is righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3.13 We waite for a new heaven and a new earth in which is Righteousnesse Hence they expect the light of my presence and pleasures for evermore Psalm 16. last Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fullnesse of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Hence they looke for the Crowne of glory the Crowne of life and the Crowne of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4.8 Hence forth is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing And not without cause sith I have not only given unto them my oath and promise but the law of the spirit of my life to free them from the law of sin and death Heb. 6.18 19. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Which hope wee have as an Ancor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vaile Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin detah The Father hath given to Christ the highest sublimitie and shall I cease to mention so great a dignity as the plenitude of sentence to conceivemēt is misticall so Christs kingly dignitie is unutterable though the rationalls cannot behold the Sun with full spectation yet the Sun must not hinder them from beholding though of Christ the Lord of life we make no full dimention yet the excellencie of the law of life must not hinder us from declaring hence admirable hath beene the expression of life from the law of life sith by that wee are freed from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sinne and death The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus It was said of Jonathan and Saul that they were lovely and amiable in their lifes were not devided in their deaths It may be said of Christ that he was Amiable lovely being the Lord of life and that his love was not seperated from his death for in his death he abolished sinne totally overcame the divell victoriously and stopped the mouth of the accusing law wonderfully in his life we injoy eternall life a life spirituall in the heavenly places Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sinne and death The rarenesse or pretiousnesse of the covenant consists in three things First In the freenesse of the Covenant Secondly in the eternity of the Covenant Thirdly in the place or collocation of the Covenant The rarenesse of this Covenant or law of life in Christ is in that it is a free covenant or law of life in Christ The effects of my covenant are free I became a God freely to mine in covenant What beauty what glory what splendor what righteousnesse what holinesse what performances have I seene in them the best of their righteousnes were menstruous cloathes and defiled garments Isa 64 6. But wee are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse are as filthy ragges and we all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde have taken us away The purest of their robes are no better then rattered raggs of the old Adam the rarest of their purities impurities of their righteousnes unrighteousnesse and of their godlinesse ungodlinesse It was I that washed them from their blood in the bloud of my deare sonne when they were involved in their blood Apo. 1.5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead the prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne blood It was I that cloathed them in the robes of pure righteousnesse when they were cast out naked to the shame of their faces Ezek. 16.8 Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakednesse yea I sweare unto thee and entred into a covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine It was I that looked upon mine in the daies of shame and reproach when neither men nor Angells did regard them Eze. 16.5.6 No eye pittied thee to doe any of these unto thee to have compassion upon thee but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast borne and when I
unto thee c. O my soule if I glory I will not glory in that which is written in tables of stone but in that which is written in the fleshly tables of thy heart not in that which is the ministry of death but in that which is the ministry of life not in the ministry of condemnation but in that which is the ministry of salvation not in that which gendreth to bondage but in that which tendeth to libertie not in that which hath a vaile and darkenesse but in that which hath light and glory not in that which disconsolates and discomforts the drooping conscience but in that which consolates comforts the drooping spirit Thou gloriest in the pretiousnesse of his riches in the rarenesse of his promises in the beauty of his righteousnesse and shalt thou not glory in the pretiousnesse rarenesse riches of the law of life in Christ did David desire the waters of Bethlehem above all waters did Abraham desire a sonne above the Land of Canaan and shalt thou not desire this law of life above all lawes if others pitch their tents by Sinai thou shalt pitch thy tent by Sion if others follow Moses thou shalt follow Christ if others delight in that which drives them from God thou shalt delight in that which drawes thee neere to God The law of sinne and death hath not freed thee from the law of sinne and death the law of curse or execration hath not freed thee from the law of death and condemnation the law of terrours and horrors hath not freed thee from the law of terror horrour but the law of life by which thou art dead to the law that thou mayest live unto God Gal. 2.19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Hence thou therefore shalt hearken to the Commission of the Father Mat. 17.5 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voyce out of the cloud which said this is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased heare ye him Who hath the words of eternall life but he John 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Into whose lips hath grace been infused but into his Psalme 45.2 Thou art fairer then the children of men grace is powred into thy lyps therefore God hath blessed thee forever Or who hath the words of peace and reconciliation but he Ephes 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were affarre off and to them which were nigh Hence will I glory in the glorying expression of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death Hath freed me Israel had ten portions in the King when Judah Benjamen had but two but it cannot be spoken according to that tenour of the saints beloved for they have a like inheritance in God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith they are chosen by one Lord redeemed by one Christ sealed by one spirit of life injoying the law of life being freed from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and death Christ is then operative in the soule when by faith he is particularly applied The transcient passage of the beauty or splendor of an object is through the eye unto the mind the passing consolable delectation which is in Christ is through a Christians application to the soule in Christ are treasures passing the treasures hid in the sands the emenency and superemency of all heavenly and divine compassions passing the compassions of humaine generation the excelency yea the superexcellency of worth merit and value passing all the valuable things which are wrapt up in the breast of things terrestiall But what are those treasures passing treasures the eminency the superemency of those heavenly and divine compassions the excellency the superexcellency of that his merit worth and value without a speciall or particular applyment The comfort of the eye is in seeing of the eare in hearing of man in moving the comfort of the soule is in applying What joy is there to a Rebell to thinke there is a Kingdome and yet out of that he shall be banished what comfort is there to a man to know there are rich treasures wrapt in our mother earth and he of those shall be deprived or what joy or comfort can come to the soule or conscience though there are all excellencies wrapt within Christs bosome if they of him shall not be injoyed other creatures were before man was created light overspread the earth before light in the sun was placed but comfort to the faithfull doth not arise before that Christ by faith is applied Our sad houres our dolefull dayes our gloomsome times are then removed when the vertuall efficacy of Christ through faiths application is received our comfort till we come to heavens City our joy till we come to heavens felicity and our solid refreshment till we come to heavens glory is through faiths applying Christ ours all in all Though the waves of iniquitie doe roare the floods of transgression fall the wind of bitter affliction blow heard upon us yet if once by applying we cast anchor into Christ solid joy doth inviron the heart and conscience as light doth incompasse the body of a rationall then the terrible the dreadfull the iâ—efull God against sinne and transgression appeares most bounteous most benignous most clementious through his marvilous compassion then the covenant of eternall grace and mercy puts to repulse the law of death and miserie then the worth and merit of Christ pleads redemption from the foule black jawes of the Devill reconciliation between the God of infinite purity and man who through sinne hath procured an infinite miserie and justification in the sight of our heavenly and compassionate father Anchor being cast in Christ all becomes a Christians his wisedome his death his blood his power his spirit and his Kingdome If the Bridgroome be the Brides by combination then his lands his livings his jewels his gold his silver is hers If Christ be ours then his heavenly benedictions his spirituall blessings his superabundant and heavenly treasure are become ours also All are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.22 O my soule apply whole Christ particularly that thou mayest injoy him fully Was he deprived of all before Pilate accused of the Souldiers buffited of the high Priests disdained and not for thee he indured that which thou shouldest have sustained he suffered for that which hadst deserved Oh what did he sustaine Oh what hath he not sustained Oh what did he suffer Oh what hath he not suffered did he not undergoe the burthen of thy sinne which was insufferable by a strength and power invincible at what time the vaile of the temple rented
as I have loved you Nothing is so pretious as Christs blood nothing so victorious as his death nothing is so pure as his righteousnesse so nothing is so tender as the love of our dearest Lord that bought us who hath left the highest throne of glory for the bondslaves of miseries but the prince of glory who hath stood betweene light and darkenesse betwixt heaven and hell betwixt eternall justice and the children of unrighteousnesse but the Lord our righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinne the just for the uniust that hee might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the spirit Who hath beene surety for mine in respect of the acquirie of Redemption to make up the breach of union to answer the righteousnesse for justification to atchieve glorious communion beatification bediction felicitie and the fruition of my presence but he that shall stand for ever mediatour and intercessour in my presence or who hath indured that mocking that buffeting that scorning that arraigning that condemning but he in whom there is no condemnation but eternall life and salvation Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved He hath laid downe his life for them that were deprived of the hope of life hee spilt his dearest blood for them that were involved in their blood hee hath ventured his death for the lives of them that were the children of death had a child of wrath died for a child of wrath that should not have been excellent had a child of death dyed for a son of death that should not have beene superexcellent but for the beloved of the father to die for miserable catives and captives that is transcendent The death of mee the Lord of life is more then a thousand Lords the death of mee the prince of peace is more then the death of tenne thousand princes the death of mee who am King of Kings is more then the death of all the Kings and Monarches under heaven I looked and behold the Angels hid their faces all creatures hid their heads Sith none could make up the breach of union a glorious presentation in my fathers presence conquer death through death overcome the devill through power blot out impurity through righteousnesse remove sinne through blood make peace through atonement and by grace and glory bring the poore soule to eternall glory Isay 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessour therefore his arme brought salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him 2 Cor. 3. last But wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Out of my love I give rare gifts and graces to my Saints and servants Who hath opened the treasures of wisedome and knowledge if not I who hath broken open the treasure-house of heaven opened the throne of grace unlocked the mercy seate if not I who hath placed the heavenly minds in the heavenly places blessed the people delivered from the curse with spirituall blessings and made them that have tasted my love attaine to the height of my love but I. I powre my water upon the thirsty I give my bread to the hungry my cloath of righteousnesse to the naked and my dearest mercy and love to the lovelesse I power out my spirit upon my servants shew my visions to the young and give my dreames to the old Acts 2.17 And it shall come to passe in those dayes saith the Lord I will power out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie and your yong men shall see visions and your ould men shall dreame dreames My gifts are not of gold but of that which is more pretious then the gold of Ophir my gifts are not jewels gemmes and pretious stones But that which is more rich then jewels gemmes and pretious stones My gifts are not earthly treasures morrall righteousnesse worldly wealth and things terren and sublunarie but heavenly treasures and heavenly righteousnesse celestiall wealth and things sublime and heavenly Hence mine receive abundance from me the the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt in me bodily Collosians 2.6 verse For in him dwelleth all the fullnesse of the Godhead bodily Hence mine receive grace and truth from the fulnesse of grace and truth as I have spoken and mine confesse John 1.16 And of his fulnesse have wee all receiued and grace for grace Out of my love I will not forsake mine in the midst of all their tribulation and temptations though the heaven should frowne and the earth should lowre the conscience should terrifie justice should amaze death should trouble sinne should burden the Devill should roare the flesh should assault all evills should environ notwithstanding I will not forsake my peculiar though principalities though powers though death though famine though perill though sword though hell though law though sinne though the grave and all evills should beset mine yet will I not leave them I love them in wants as if they had abundance in tribulation as if they were free from tribulation in temptation as if they were free from temptation And in sheep skins and goats skins as if they had cloath of gold beset with the rarest jewels What if they are stoned for my name sake what if they be banished for my testimony what if they should be wracked for the witnesse of the word of my truth what if they had not a hole with the fox nor a nest with the birds yet I will not shut them out of my presence Have I not given a testimony concerning them Heb. 11.36 37 38 39. And others had triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandered about in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflictet tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in the desarts and in mountains and denns and caves of the earth And all these have obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promise When Paul and Silas my servants were in prison did I not make them sing songs of my dearest love When Peter was in prison was not the Angel of my presence by him when my servant Steeven was stoned did I not make his face to shine as an Angel and when my servants were in the fire furnace have I not delivered them from the furnace of fiety afflictions I am the rock when there is no rocke I am the refuge when there is no refuge I am their hope and horne of salvation when there is neither hope nor horne of salvation Hence mine may conclude with my servant Psal 18.18 They prevented me in the day of my calamitie but the
in thy presence condemned by their injudiciall sentence to free them from condemnation I stood in the place of Manasseth that Idolater in the roome of Paul that Blasphemer in the stead of Peter that denier when mine could not beare the heate of thy burning wrath and indignation I stood and beare their iniquities when they could not tread the winepresse of thy fury I trode the winepresse for them thou laydst the sins of mine upon my shoulders thou didst cast thy darts through my sides I was wounded I was chastised I was broken to peeces for them being made sinne for them who being thy sonne knew no sinne that they might bee made the righteousnesse of God in mee Now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 I have made death temporall a bed of downe a place of rest and a sweete passage to my glory did Israel passe through the red sea and the waters did not overwhelme them did Judah and Rheuben passe through the waters of Jordan those did not offend them and shall not mine passe through the gates of death and shall that destroy them no I have taken away the death of death spiritual I live in mine by hope I have made them to cast Ankor in the throne of my grace and dearest mercy in whom wee have an Ankor of the soule safe and firme entring into that which is within the vaile Heb. 6.19 Which hope we have as an Ankor of the soule both sure and steadfast and which entreth into that within the vaile I live in them by love I have made them live in Me by my love So that there love to me is above treasures riches and honours above Father Mother wife and children above bonds chaines and fetters above temptations anguish or tribulation above the malice of the Divell the terrours of the law the horrours of hell the darts of the world and the warres of the flesh I have made them to leave all thinges terrene and earthly and to pitch on those things which are high and heavenly My love to them in their value and estimation is above Rubies Saphires pretious gemmes carbuncles and pretious Iewels ten thousand mountaines of gold in their sight are undervalued I am the chiefest of ten thousand the loves of men and women are disaccounted sith my love to them is above the loves of Jonathan and David The freenesse of my love hath made them love me intirely and freely and the eternity of my love hath made them love Me eternally hence have I spoken of them John 17.28 And I have made knowne to them thy name and will make it knowne that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them I have made them live the life of faith though their faith overcoms the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the wold even your faith 1 Joh. 5.4 though their faith repulseth the fiery darts of Satan above all taking the shield of faith whereby ye shall bee able to quench the fiery darts of Satan Ephes 6.16 Though their faith is more pretious then gold that is tryed in the fire That the tryall of your faith being much more pretious then of gold that perisheth though it bee tryed with fire might bee found unto praise and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 Notwithstanding it is mine I make them to beleeve in my Father and in my selfe whom hee hath sent I made them my beloved injoyers of eternall life glorie and beatitude I made them to abide in me by faith whilst I abode in them by love the truth thereof is witnessed by my Apostle I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me I also have taken away death eternall for I have reconciled mine to the Father by an everlasting reconciliation I have brought with mee the everlasting robes of righteousnesse I have taken away all their sinnes iniquities and transgressions by my blood most pretious I have made them one by union that they might enjoy a being in Me and in my Father Hence the second death shall have no power of them I my selfe have spoken it Apoc. 20.6 Blessed and holy is hee that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests to God and of Christs and shall raigne with him a thousand yeares What hath the world to say to my people true it is they have beene drunkards persecuters blasphemes they have beene alienated from my glory estranged from my love and without my presence in the world but I have washed them in the purest fountaine I have made their scarlet die whiter then the snow their bloody crimson whiter then the wooll are they defiled like the Menstruous cloath no are they leprous as was Naaman the Assirian no they are purer then the purest Nazarene What hath the flesh to pleade against mine true it is before I came to live in them their minds were clouded with Egyptian darkenesse there wils resisted my words of reconciliation their affections were involved in things terrene and sublunarie their hearts harder then the rockes or milstone and their consciences were the habitation of the blacke fiends of darkenesse but since I tooke up my rest in them I appeared the glorious light of the Gospel of life and redemption I have removed their darkenesse I have made them conformable to my sacred and holy wil I have set their affections aloft in the heavenly places I have softened their obstinate and obdurate hearts and have clensed their consciences from sin by my blood most pretious Now old things are past away and all things are become new now they are my workmanship created in Me to good workes that they should walke in them Now my peace my joy my love my grace and my liberty dwells in them Am I not King and Lord commander in the soule Am I not prince and Lord defender of the conscience Am I not Master and governour of the affections yea though sinne is in their flesh yet my grace is in their spirits for I am in them both grace and glory therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit What can the world say against those that are my redeemed and reconciled They will take away their good name I suffer the Angels of light to bespot their garments I permit the legalists to defame to blemish their conversations but the servant is not greater then his Master nor the Disciple then his Lord. If they take away their name I have given them a name which is written in the booke of life charectered it upon my breast for
hence hath he left the Legacie of dearest and pretious love My peace I give unto you my peace I leave unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your hearts be troubled nor feare Therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The second voice of Christ is the voice of Adoption As our Justification our Redemption our Vnion our Reconciliation our vocation and Glorification are in Christ So our sonneship or Adoption is in Christ If the Father of glorious mercy account thee a branch it is because thou art in Christ the vine if hee account thee a member it is because thou art in Christ the head If hee account thee one of the espoused it is because thou art in Christ the Bridegroomed If he account thee a son it is because thou art in his deare and welbeloved Sonne hence I come to draw thy soule to me I make to thee thy priviledge According as I have related by my servant Iohn 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold how great love the Father hath given to us that we should bee called the Sonnes of God That though thou wast a slave of hell a vessell of wrath a child of perdition a bondslave to the law and under the ridged and severe tyranny of the devill notwithstanding I have chosen thee to be one of mine by the covenant of my freest grace and bounty I have redeemed thee for my selfe and called thee by my name I have adopted thee to be one of my sonnes and children by adoption when I tooke up my rest in my beloved I preached peace to the peacelesse liberty to the bondmen grace to the gracelesse riches to the poore and assurance of sonship to them who are and have not beene my sonnes by adoption hence though no creature pitty thee though Angels shut their eyes against thee and all the sublunarie Creatures should bid thee adew and farwell notwithstanding I come to imbrace thee and to love and delight in thee for ever since the day that I adopted thee have I not filled the soule with the joyes comforts and solaces of my spirit have not I sealed thee to the day of Eternall redemption by the seale of Adoption have not I given thee the spirit of prayer and supplication have not I given thee the assurance of life and salvation Now then there is no condemnation to thy soule which art in Christ Jesus for thou walkest not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thirdly the voice of God in JustificatioÌ„ how in justificatioÌ„ yea beloved this is the Admirable worke of the spirit of glory that we are assured that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ imcomparable that wee are reconciled by the death of Christ unspeakable that wee are assured that wee are justified by the righteousnesse of Christ undeclarable I being justified in Christ how should I injoy any thing but salvation Am I not made compleate in him that is the head of all principalities and powers Am I not cloathed with the righteousnesse of the Sonne of righteousnesse more bright then ten thousand Sunnes Am I not washed purified and clensed in the purest rarest and most pretious fountaine which is in the Kingdome of the deare Sonne of God hence I shall enjoy the horne of salvation the great free and eternall salvation in Christ Now then there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Moreover these three things preserves the Saints from death and condemnation 1. The love of Christ 2. The power of Christ 3. The glory of Christ What said I the Love of Christ yea search the hights above sound the depths beneath extend thy thoughts abroad to all the parts of the sublunarie Orbe and thou shalt finde no love like the love of Christ is the love of a mother so deare to her child is the love of a husband so deare to the wife of his bosome as Christs love is to his Church no with the same love wherewith the Father hath loved Christ with the same love hee hath loved the Church and chosen the Father loved Christ from eternity Christ hath loved the Church from eternity the Father through his tender love did not leave his beloved in the day of his Crosse when he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thou wilt not leave my soule in grave neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Psal 16.10 Loe the Lord Christ will not leave his poore servants his dearest jewels his pretious Saints in the dayes of greatest miserie and calamity Psal 9 10. The Lord is a refuge to the poore a refuge in due time in the day of trouble The Fathers love to the Lord Christ was so great that he set him above principalities above might above power and above all things that all things in heaven earth might bow bend before him Wherefore God hath exalted him and given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven of things on earth and of things under the earth Phil. 2.9.10 The love of the Lord Christ is so deare to his that hee hath exalted them above all to him that overcommeth I will give to sit with me in my throne as I have overcome and sit with my Father in his throne Revel 3.21 The Father loved Christ so intirely that hee filled him with the riches of righteousnesse the treasures of wisedome and the plenitude of all heavenly excellencies Christ loves his Church so affectionately that hee fills her with heavenly joyes he enriches her with all spirituall and heavenly gifts blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1.3 therefore through my love there is no condemnation to mine they not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Secondly Because of the power of Christ there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ His power is not onely the cause of our vivification from the dead of our Collocation in the heavenly places of our faith in his name But also of our conservation to eternall life and salvation John 17.2 He defends thee by an internall and efficatious power when thy spirit says that thou art overcome the spirit saith thou art more then a conquerer through him that loved thee every day thou art a conquerer through his blood a victoret through his death a tryumpher through his righteousnes neither the darts of hell the fire bales of the Devill the strength of the law the warres of the flesh nor the puissant strength of the world can vanquish thee for thou art defended by a strength invincible thou art protected by a power unconquerable thou art inviâ—oned by a might insuperable and thou art garded with a force
inexpugnable Am I not thy Rocke thy shield thy Buckler defender Am I not thy Sun thy shaddow thy horne of Salvation deliverer Am I not he that carries thee above one Eagles wings that breakes the bow the speare and sheild and vanquisheth overcommeth and concultateth under my feete all the enemies of thy salvation my strength is above powers my might above dominions my glory above principalities and my Puissancie above all the opposers of thy life and addoption Hence there is no condemnation to thee for thou art kept by my power to salvation not walking after the flesh but after the spirit Thirdly the glory of Christ is the cause why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Christ speakes after this manner to his Saints Beloved I have written your name upon my breast I have in graven them in the booke of life I have presented your cause in the presence of my Father by my blood most pure by my death most victorious by my righteousnesse most acceptable therefore for the glory of my grace I will not leave you I that am the Lord of life the welspring of living waters that eternall and everlasting life given of my Father I have layd up your lives in the throne of my grace I have treasured them up in the throne of my mercy and for the glory of my mercy I will not desert you have I bestowed so great cost as to adventure my life bloud my death my righteousnesse and my glory for thee did I leave my height of glory to fetch thy Soule from the lowermost hell from the gates and barres of eternall death from the black clawes clutches and swadle bands of Sathan have I given thee communion with my Father and with my selfe in all the treasures of heavenly righteousnesse and made thee one of my members one of my branches one of my espoused and dearest friends and shall I now forsake thee I am that faithfull Yea and Amen and will keepe my promise I will bee with mine to the end of the world Mat. 28. verse last There is therefore no condemnation to mine they walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Wee proceede to the second part of the text which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The blessed Apostle argues by evedent arguments that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus The first Argument is If that to the Saints victorie over sinne and death is given to them by Jesus Christ then is there no condemnation to them that are in Christ But to the Saints victorie over sin and death is given to them by Jesus Christ therfore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 7. the last I thanke God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the minde I my selfe serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sinne If the law of the Spirit of life hath freed us from the law of sin and death then is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed us from the Law of sinne and death therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death If God hath sent his Son to redeeme his owne from sinne and that sinne was condemned in the flesh of Christ for there sakes then is their no condemnation to them But God sent his owne sonne to Redeeme them and that sinne might be condemned in his flesh therefore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh If they who are in Christ Jesus walke not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit then there is no condemnation to them But they that are in Christ Jesus walke not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit therefore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Those that are in Christ Jesus walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They live the life of faith of love of hope of peace of grace of mercy consolation through their union they live the life of freedome liberty in the state of grace the life of praise and prayer to the thron of glory through their Redemption they live the life of assurance of Mercy grace and peace through there Adoption they live the life of purity boldnesse and joy through their justification they live the life of holinesse of chastitie and sobriety through their Sanctification My branches walk through the strength of sweetnesse my members walke in the power of my wisedome my spouses walke in the joyfulnesse of the light of my Countenance Since the day that I washed them in my blood most pure they will not polute their bodies since the time that I gave them assurance that they were the sonnes of God they doe walke as deare and loveing Children since the moment that they have beene fild with my joyes my comforts my consolations my influences of divine grace and solace they are filled with praises honorings and praisings of my holy name My Spirit leades them into all truth when the Spirit of truth shall come he shall teach you all truth Iohn 14.26 He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you My Spirit leades them into all obedience For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.14 My spirit leades them not to contentions to backbitings to slanderings to railings to whisperings to lyings to reproachings to Envie Malice hatred cōtempt Disdain Revenge But to mildnesse gentlenes curtisie Meeknes lenity to joy to peace to love to gratiousnes of spirit sobrietie Gal. 5.18 19.20 21 22 23. But if ye are led by the spirit ye are not under the law Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornicatiō uncleannes laciviousnes c But the fruits of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meekenesse temperance against these there is no law There is not a prayer from my grace to the throne of grace but my spirit hath beene the cause thereof there is not a praise from the praise of my glory but my spirit is the instrūent therof If they call my Father their Father it is by the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to feare but ye have received the spirit of Adoption wherby we cry Abba Father
that of Abell O ye prisoners of hope weigh consider and ponder whether the Law of sinne and death is like to the law of peace and life hath it revealed redemption to bondmen Adoption to slaves of hell and children of the devill reconciliation to those that shooke and quivered in my presence justification to those that were found unrighteous in my sight sanctification to those who have beene unholy before me and glorification to those that were shut out from the blessed fruition and communion of my Kingdome what mention hath it made of the death of the Lord of life and the incomparablenesse thereof of the blood of my dearely beloved sonne and the richnesse thereof of the crosse of the prince of glory and the conquest thereof If I speake of rest to my restlesse prisoners it is by the Gospel of Adoption If I speake of peace to Captives it is by my word of reconciliation If I speake of grace to them that are bound in the black chaines of darkenesse it is by my message of grace and salvation Is the voyce of my servant Moses like the voyce of my beloved sonne no he was slow of speech my son is swift to deliver my minde of grace to my people he was not eloquent but my beloved he hath the rarest sentences of grace and bounty Aaron his brother spake for him to Pharaoh but my beloved for all in matter of Mediation and to al in the matter of reconciliation hee was unwilling to speake to and for my people but my beloved hath beene willing to speake for my chosen and Adopted John 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me Heb. 5.7 Who in the dayes of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I gave to Moses the law of terrours to terrifie them that are wilfull sinners the law of horror to smite a horror into them that are incorriggable transgressors of severe equity to pronounce woe and miserie to them that live in sinne and iniquity I have honoured my sonne above my servant Heb. 3.5 6. And Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to bee spoken after but Christ as a Sonne over his owne house whose house are we if wee hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firme unto the end Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himselfe to be made an high Priest but he that said to him thou art my son to day have I begotten thee The Son by eternall generation is above the son by Adoption I thought non worthy in heaven above in the earth below o under the earth worthy to deliver my minde my will my pleasure to my people but him whom I have made king Lord over my people there is none fit ot declare the words of eternall life but the fountaine welspring of life the words of peace Attonement reconciliation but he that by his blood hath purchased peace attonement and reconciliation the words of liberty freedome and redemption but hee that acquired by his death liberty freedome redemption Apoc. 5.9.10 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred tongue people nation and hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests we shall raigne on the earth The words of protection justification and sanctification by his death blood and righteousnesse sith hee hath protected his justified them through righteousnesse and sanctified them thorough his words John 17.17 hee hath spoken of peace that procured peace John 14.26 But the comforter which is the holy Ghost whom my Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I said unto you Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I it unto you let not your hearts be troubled neither let it be affraid Words of life and victory that obtained life and victory Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and I have the keyes of hell and death Words of joy and consolation being the pretious river and welspring of consolation John 16.22 And ye now therfore have sorrow but I wil see you again your heart shal rejoyce your joy no man taketh from you Who can speake words of my gratious glorious presence but Jmmanuell my presence who can speak words of life but him that is the spring of eternall life and Lord of life by conquest from the dead or who can speak words of liberty freedom redemption but him that I have appointed to be the deliverer of my people the Doctors have wondered at his sentences the people admired at his gratious speeches the Churches delectation was in the rarenss of his voice Cant. 5. the last His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely this is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Ierusalem If he speake from the throne of my grace and bounty his words are onely grace and bounty If hee speake from the throne of mercy and pitty he speakes nothing but of grace and pitty is it not thus recorded Mat. 12.18 19 20. Behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my soule is well pleased I will put my spirit upon him and he shall shew judgement unto the Gentiles he shall not strive nor cry neither shall my man heare his voice in the streets a bruised reede shall hee not breake and smoaking flax shalhe not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory His words are life to the lifelesse grace to the gracelesse pitty to the pittilesse and truth to the hopelesse his words are freedome to the bound health to the sick healing to the wounded binding to the broken and riches to the poorest under heaven The words of Achitophel were like the words of an Oracle But the words of my beloved are Oracles his words surpasseth the words of Solomon he spake of the nature of trees of plants of hearbs and of all sublunarie things from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop upon the walls The words of Christ are of grace of mercy of peace of truth from the highest mercy to the deepest miseries all were happie that might stand at the footsteps of Solomon to heare his wisedome but they are happie that may stand at the feet of Christ to heare the wisedome of Christ the Queene of Sheba came from the South to heare the wisedome of Solomon The Prisoners of Hope departs from the barre of Justice to heare of the riches and glory of Christ Solomon was the wonder and
passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine owne blood yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live Had they obtained mercy before I by mercy became their God Father by covenant No Hosea 2. the last And I will sow her unto me in the earth and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy and I will say to them which were not my people thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God Were they my people before I said they shall be my people No. Rom. 9.25 26 As he saith also in Osea I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved which was not beloved it shall come to passe that in the place where it was said unto them ye were not my people there they shall be called the Children of the living God Or were they espoused to me for ever before I espoused them to me for ever Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto mee in righeousnesse and judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercy Let mine behold the freenesse of my love in the pardon of sinne through the Covenant of grace and mercy If I had not pardoned their sinnes had I not cast them out of my presence as I cast Adam out of Paradise Had I not cast them out from the communion of my glory of blessednes as I cast out my Angells from the fruition of my glory and happinesse Had I not caused hell to swallow them as the earth did Corah Dathan and Abiram when all the fountaines were shut I opened to them a pretious fountaine in the sides of my dearest Sonne I gave the blood of the most pure spotlesse and undefiled without spot wrinckle and unstained incomparable inestimable and unutterable though I judge the worth of his bloud above the worth of a Thousand worlds above the price of ten thousand jewells above the riches of all the celestiall wights yet I gave that for mine that they by that might bee clensed and I might see sinne no more that they by that might be reâ—onciled and I might remember sinne no more hence have I blotted out their sins iniquities as the thickest cloud Isay 44.22 I have blotted as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins returne unto me for I have redeemed thee Hence I deleted their transgressions for my names sake Isay 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my owne sake and I will not remember thy sinnes Hence I cast all their sins into the bottom of the sea Micah 7.18.19 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and pâ—sseth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mâ—rcy he will turne againe he will have compassion upon us hee will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the dâ—â—th of the Sea In my Covenant of free grace I have given Christ to be mediatour what is more pretious theÌ„ gold or what is more excellent then light or what is of greater value then his intercession in the behalfe of my redeemed Is it a small matter for the son of a King to mediate in the behalfe of trayterous and rebellious subjects or it is a small matter that hee that is King of Kings should become mediator in the behalfe of poore distressed sinres As I have commended my highest love that hee should shed his blood for sinfull wretches Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us So I have commended my dearest love that hee should be mediatour for wofull transgressions 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man the man Christ Jesus Whilst neither Angells Cherubins nor celestiall wights were able to present my people one how er spotlesse in my sight pure presence he is able to the dayes of eternity to present all the prisoners of my hope intire before the light of my countenance for he hath washed them in his blood most pure undefiled He hath set them before mee in the heavenly places they are in his brest without spot presented I can behold none but the son of my love being the God father of love I can behold none but the Lord of Righteousnesse sith I am the God and Father of Righteousnes when I looke upon him who was my delight before the world was how can I chuse but delight in them who were sons of wrath and children of the devill When I cast mine eye upon him that was the Complacencie of my breast bosome I cannot chuse but have effection towards them who have beene distant from my bosom Whilst I fixe mine eye upon the mediatour of the Covenant I will not hearken to the clamours of the world the roarings of the devill the accusations of the Law the terrors and complaints of the conscience nor to any evills whatsoever I will alone hearken to his plea and Mediation he saith my death is sufficient to redeeme and ransome mine from eternall death my bloud incomparable to remove all iniquities my passion able to remove thy terrible indignation had I not made a full and intire reconciliation had I not obtained the throne of grace and mercy had I left either sinne spot wrinckle staine blemish or defilement unremoved had not the value of my blood beene above all bloods the worth of my death above all deaths and price of Atonement above all Atonements then thy wrath thy furie and indignation might have broken out against my chosen as the inundation of the mighty waters but now I know thou lovest mine whom I have purchased and delightest in mine whom I have ransomed My mediation surpasseth the mediation of Aaron that was the sonne of man this by me the sonne of God hence I sit at the right hand of God to make intercession for mine Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Aaron entred into the holy of holiest below but I enter into the holy of holiest into the heavenly places Heb. 9.24 But Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us Aaron was annoynted with oyle made with the confection of the Apothicary but I was annoynted with the oyle of gladnesse above my fellowes Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved righteousnesse and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes Aaron he only killed beasts for burnt offerings for peace offerings and heave offerings but I was slaine for the peace of my people that I might bring mine to injoy everlasting fruition and communion of my Fathers
in the power of the law of life sith Christ in that is become thy life Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly The father hath given the Lord Jesus Christ to bee the shepheard of his flocke through his Covenant of life and mercy Elkanah gave to Penninah and her children portions but to Hannah hee gave a double portion Abraham gave to the sonnes of Keturah gifts but to Jsaack he gave the possession though to others the Father gives riches and honours notwithstanding he gives to his everlasting Beatification Not only in condonation of transgression in peace of conscience through Christs intercession but also by giving them into the hands of the great shepheard of his sheep that they might injoy an eternall tuition protection All we were wandering sheepe we had lost the image of God and beare the Image of the devill deprived of the title of eternall life being bound with chaines to eternall death bound to beare the burden of iniquity to undergoe the dreadfull and terrible sentence of the morall law wee were blinde without sight naked without cloathing spoiled and bereft of all the rare and noble injoyments which wee injoyed poore sillie sheepe wandering upon the craggie mountaines of iniquity the rockes of misery the desert and wildernesse of calamity Was the groat lost not we amonst the lost were the sheepe gone out of the way and we not gone astray Notwithstanding such hath beene my tender mercy my superemenent grace my yearning bowels of compassion towards you That I have sent the great and gratious shepheard of Israel to seeke the lost sheepe of the house of Israel the Lord of life to seeke the sons of death and the son of my love to call and seeke the Children of wrath Eze. 34.16 I will seeke that which was lost and bring againe that which was driven away and will binde up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong I will feede them with judgement Rather then mine should rest upon the lofty mountaines of impurity my beloved shall seeke them up by the word of reconciliation rather then mine should abide upon the craggie rockes of iniquity my beloved shall seek thē up by the word of great salvation Rom 10.7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend up into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall discend into the deep that is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith it the word is neigh the even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which wee preach Ther is no such Shepheard as the Shepheard of Israel he loves his sheep to the death Hath it been recorded that any King hath layd down his life for rebellious Subjects Hath it been inrowled that any Bridegroome hath lost his life for his Bride or any Shepheard hath layd down his life for his sheep but my beloved the King of my Church chosen the Bridegroome to his beloved spouses and the great shepheard of his sheepe hath layd down his life for his wandring sheepe John 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my selfe I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it againe this commandement have I received of my father He is the carefull shepheard of my flock neither the heate of the day nor the cold of the night hindred Jacobs care of Labans flock the heate of my wrath furie and indignation nor the coldnesse of the effections of his peculiar can prevent his care over my scattered and dispearsed flocke Were the shepheards carefull of their flock in the day of Christs comming and will not Israels shepheard be carefull of his flocke after his comming he is not only as a father to mine to carrie them in his armes Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace me As an Eagle that beares them upon his wings Deut. 32.11.12 As an Eagle stireth up her nest fluttereth with her wings spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beares them upon her wings So the Lord alone did lead him and their was no strange God with him But as a shepheard who carries his upon his shouldiers to the fould of grace and glory John 10.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also J must bring and they shall heare my voice and there shall be one fold one shepheard Whilst mine are subject to chances and all evils he is their defender whilst they are subject to goe astray he is their gatherer hence he answereth my Commission Mat. 15.24 But he answered and said J am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Jsrael The poorest and meanest of his flocke by him are sustained the strongest and fatest of his flocke by him are supported he leads them by his precious promises clothes them with his heavenly grace and gives them a rich inheritance amongst his Saints Ephes 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being opened that yee might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints If they are scorched by the heate of tribulations he is their cloud of preservation if they want light in the darkest night he is their fire by night for consolation Isaiah 4.6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heate and a place of refuge and for a cover from storme and from raine For thou hast been a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall His sheep are neere to him through union John 27.23 J in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me They are deare to him through redemption 1 Pet. 1.18.19 For as much as yee know that ye were not redeemed with corruptable things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as a Lambe without blemish and without spot They are precious to him through donation John 17.9.10 J pray for them J pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them And they are gracious in his sight and presence through acceptation Ehes 1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved They are precious Jewells in his account and estimation they are his tender flocke in
at that time the heavens opened at what time the earth trembled at that time through his satisfaction he removed thy trembling estate and condition at what time the light of the sunne was obscured at that time the merit of thy Saviour shined the glory of the sunne of righteousnesse and the beauty of the sunne which is collocated in the midst of the planets at one time were darkned in which time Christ stood in thy place and for thy sake hath suffered What might I mention concerning Christ the more the mind conceiveth the more the tongue relateth the more the soule by faith apprehendeth the more the mind is elevated The Moone is below the sunne the sunne below Saturnee Saturne below the Primum Mobile the Vegitive creature is be low the sensitive the Sensitive below the Rationall and the Rationall below him that lives by faith in the Lord Jesus How divine is such a Christian in contemplation how heavenly in Mediation how rare iâ— declaration how sweet in conversation never a speech comes from such a Christian but it is inflamed with the fire of the Holy Ghost hence all his words are in extolling Christs righteousnes advancing Christs goodnesse valuing Christ blood Christ hath drawn his mind to a high pitch of conceivement hath the sunne the power of exalation the splendor of a Diamond in the drawing of the affection is ther not enough in Christ which drawes the Christian to high meditation Though thy mind did rest like the Cocke upon the dunghill of this world though thy affection was as fast inclosed in the creature as a mould in the earth yet from so low a condition a Christian is brought when once Christ by his vertue in the conscience takes possession then not honoures but Christs honour not riches but Christs riches not righteousnesse but Christs righteousnesse alone for a Christians presentation the eie is distant from the sunne the eye neverthelesse by the light thereof is drawn to behold his beauty though Christ is distant from a Christian yet by his efficacy he drawes the eye of faith to behold his glory what only to behold the glory of his victory tryumphant the glory of his mediation delectant and not the glory of his session magnificent applying faith is never below the throne of grace and glory it is never below the seate of Gods eternall mercy where there is not faiths applycation death of spirit hath domination our life by Christs treasures of wisedome by the vertue of his death and rising againe from the dead is through faiths applycation Let a Christian observe the death of spirit in the hearts of Justiciaries and inquire the reason why it is so and he shal find that it is because they apply not whole Christ to their consciences Some thing they will have of their own righteousnesse in Justification some thing of their owne performances in matter of reconciliation let us speake of Christ freely and bouldly and they stand as people agashed and amazed I deny nâ—t that they have a name to live But as sure as the sunne shines in Europe when it is come to the Meridian so sure are they dead yea as a tree twice plucked up by the rootes through the hand of the workeman He that hath the life of faith he applies all the excellencies of Christ unto himselfe what saith such a beleeving christian hath Christ redeemed others and not me reconciled others and not me justified others and not me Surely if any be redeemed if any justified if any reconciled then I am one of that number Through applying faith the soule is sicke of love at the very sight of his riches of his wisedom of his righteousnesse of his graces and consolations it cries out O my beloved my well beloved where rests where remaines where abides my welbeloved is the love of a woman so to her husband of a father to a child of a subject to his Prince comparable to that love of the soule to Christ who hath found in Christ al the kinds of sweetest consolations this applyment of Christ makes the soule desire more of Christ he who hath felt the sweetnesse of the hony combe he desires to tast of the sweetnesse of that againe he who hath seen the light of the sunne desires to see it againe he that once hath tasted of the sweetnesse in Christ through application desires to tast thereof againe Hence are the outcries of such beleevers O that I might feele the vertue of Christs blood in my conscience more efficatiously that doht purge my conscience from dead workes to serve the living God The blood of Christ which through the eternall spirit was offered without blame to God shal purge your consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 O that I might feele more effectually the power of that reconciliation which once upon the crosse he fully perfected and finished that he would give me to understand more fully that I have all my sinns pardoned and remittted Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation by faith in his blood to demonstrate his righteousnesse by the forgivenesse of sinnes which are past through his long suffering Rom. 3.25 O that I might be more assured that Christs righteousnesse is mine then should I injoy the sweetest peace of conscience sith I should be fully assured that God with me should be well pleased and that I should be found worthy to abide in the City of our God for ever there to praise and honour him for ever more They washed and made white their robes in the blood of the lambe therefore they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night Apoc. 7.14.15 O that I might be replenished with the fullnesse of his grace then should my empty pitcher bee filled with joy and my mournfull heart with consolation and yee are now in heavinesse But I will see you againe and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you John 16.22 O that I might have his spirit to dwell in me then should I be able to call and cry Abba Father to make my petitions strongly to my heavenly father to know assuredly that I am one of those who are purchased with the pretious blood of Jesus Christ Ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if the spirit of God dwell in you but if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 O that I might feele the mighty power of the death of my saviour and redeemer then should I dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse as the Phenix by the Sunne is consumed and by vertue of the beames thereof is revived so if I feele the power of the death of my Redeemer death shall be abolished and the life of righteousnesse in me by the life of Christ renewed Ye are buried by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ is raised from the dead unto the glory of his