communication of the Divine nature to them cause them to become the servants of righteousnesse Of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 6. 18. Being made free from sinne ye became the servants of righteousnesse This is the work of Sanctification Of this the Apostle speaks Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himselfe for us that he might purifie us unto himselfe c. Christ takes off the yoke of sinne and puts on the neck the yoke of grace This the Apostle fully expresses Rom. 8. 2. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death 3 The condemnation of sinne The wages of sinne is damnation Rom. 6. ult Jesus Christ is a horne of salvation to his 〈…〉 for he hath 〈◊〉 the wine 〈…〉 anger and suffered the 〈…〉 their sinnes for them Of 〈…〉 speaks in 1 Pet. â— 2â— Who his 〈…〉 sinnes in his body c. And the 〈…〉 affirms Rom. 8. 1. That there i◠〈…〉 to them that are in Christ Jesus Thus in respect of sinne Christ is a horne of salvation 2. In respect of Satan Satan is a sworne adversary to the Elect. He goeth about continually like a roaring lion seeking how he may devoure them 1 Pet. 5. 8. There are three things in respect whereof Christ is salvation to them from Satan 1. The Dominion of Satan The Elect are by nature as well as others the bondslaves of Satan Eph. 2. 2. they are his servants by nature and by their own voluntary sinfulnesse they have enslaved themselves to his bondage more Of this the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 26. Now Jesus Christ is salvation to the Elect from this estate He doth at the conversion of the Elect cut the cords and unloose the chaines by which the devil holds them fast in bondage Of this our Saviour speaks Luke 11. 21. By his death he did triumph over him Col. 2. 15. and at the moment of our conversion he doth actually put us into the possession of this victory Acts 26. 18. He doth then turn us from the power of Satan unto God 2. The temptations of Satan Satan as he tempted Christ the Head of which we reade Mat. 4. 1 2 3. so doth he not cease to assault and tempt all his members The more visible Christs image is in any person the more violently doth the devil assault him The Apostle speaks of this as in many other places so fully in Eph. 6. 12. Now in this respect Christ is salvation to them He stands by them that these temptations may not prevaile over them He interposeth himself between them and the teeth of this roaring lion that he may not have his will on them Of this our Saviour speaks Luk. 22. 31 32. 3. The accusations of Satan The devil is called in Scripture The accuser of the brethren Rev. 12. 10. and he is a diligent creature at this work for he accuseth them day and night before the Lord. There are many imperfections and weaknesses in the children of God they do too often step aside out of Gods way we have too many sad instances of the truth of this in Scripture which I need not name The Devil takes occasion from these to accuse us not onely to men but to God He that turnes every stone to hurry us into sinne doth when he hath overcome us represent all to God against us in the ugliest shape he can that he may hinder mercy from us Yes he is so malicious that when he can have nothing visibly to lay to our charge he will pretend something as we see in the case of Job Chap. 1. 9 c. Ch. 2. 4 c. Christ now is a horne of salvation to us in this respect He stands continually pleading for us at Gods right hand as soone as Satan puts in a Bill Christ puts in an answer and so doth cast out and nullifie all his Accusations Thus is he salvation to them in respect of Satan 3. In respect of â—â—n 〈…〉 by men both in theâ—◠〈…〉 spiritual estate 1. In their outward 〈◊〉 Men 〈…〉 against them they 〈…〉 because they 〈…〉 image they have so much of the 〈…〉 Because I have chosen you out of the 〈◊〉 therefore doth the world hate you John 15. 19. The great ones of the world they rise up often against them and vex them c. Now Christ is salvation to them in this regard Sometimes breaking the hornes that devoure them Sometimes melting the hearts of their devourers making their enemies their friends Sometimes removing them from them that would break them alwayes delivering them from the evil and hurt of the attempts made against them turning them for their greater and best good He makes their vinegar better then their wine Of this the Apostle was confident in his own case Phil. 1. 19. This shall turne to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Christ is a horne even of temporal salvation to the Elect in this regard He makes your troubles as good friends to you as your comforts He makes your worst conditions work together for your best good 2. In your spiritual estate Christ is salvation to you from men in two respects First In regard of the corruptions of the world Wicked men give wicked examples and by the example of one wicked man others are corrupted Now albeit the Godly are sometimes infected in regard of some particular acts yet are they saved from the general corruptions of wicked men amongst whom they live Jesus Christ keeps them from soyling themselves as others do This is that which is recorded of the Angel of the Church of Pergamus Rev. 2. 1â— and of those few in Sardis chap. 3. 4. Thâ—s was Noah saved in that corrupt age in which he lived Gen. 7. 1. Secondly â—n regard of the evil counsels of men Wicked men are of the same minde with the devil their father They are daily tempting inticing alluring and perswading the godly to walk with them in their wayes Joseph was tempted by his Mistresse Gen. 39. 7. This is put in amongst the Catalogue of the sufferings of the old Martyrs that they were tempted Heb. 11. 37. Christ the great Counsellor of his Church saved all these from yielding to such temptations Though they are sometimes ensnared yet they are againe brought off by Christ from those ensnarements and Christ gives them power afterward the more to resist them and to abhor them II. Positively Christ is salvation 1. In respect of grace 2. In respect of glory Jesus Christ is eternal salvation unto the Elect. All that salvation which hath been mentioned before is in reference to this which is the upshot of all He therefore saves them from sinne from the devil from men that he may bring them to this eternal happinesse He is called in Scripture eternal life 1 John 5. 20. The Authour of eternal salvation Heb. 5. 9. The salvation of Israel Psal 53. 6. The Captaine of our salvation Heb.
Out of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace John 1. 16. Christ doth not exhale vapours from the earth but sends down vapours from himself to the earth All his materials are in himself and from himself if Jesus Christ could not raine upon us till we did furnish him with materials we should be out of hopes of receiving one drop from him to the day of our death We can furnish him with materials for fire and brimstone but the ingredients of his comfortable raine are from himself alone 3. The raine is not necessary at all times There are seasons when the husbandman craves no raine He is sometimes afraid of showers and wishes for Sun shine rather then showers As snow in Summer and raine in harvest so honour is not seemly for a foole Prov. 26. 1. But now Jesus Christ is never unnecessary This raine can never faill unseasonably There 's no time but the drops of Christs doctrine come welcome to the soul There 's no moment wherein the influences of Christs Spirit are not grateful to the soule That day that is not a rainy day is a mournful day The earth may be too full of raine but the soule can never be too full of this heavenly moisture Si dixisti sufficit periisti 4. The raine is sâ—metimes hurtful to the earth Immoderate raine is as prejudicial as immoderate drought A poor man that oppresseth the poore is like a sweeping raine that leaveth â—â— food Prov. 28. 3. As parching heat doth sometimes dry up the fruits of the earth So excessive raine doth often drown the fruits of the earth Sometimes men and cattel are drowned sometimes houses with their inhabitants are swept away by overflowing showers But now Jesus Christ is never prejudicial to the soul If ever this raine do any annoyance to men it is by accident because it is not received or improved The distillation of Christs Doctrine is sometimes the savour of death 2 Cor. 2. 15. but this is onely because men are not bettered by it The Scepter of Christ doth break many in pieces Psalme 2. 9. but this is because men do not submit to it The influences and strivings of Christ by his Spirit are sometimes the occasion of the hardning of mens hearts and so consequently of their destruction but this is because they do resist and oppose them This raine hath intrinsecally no hurtful destructive property in it If it ever prove destructive it is because of some evil quality in them upon whom it falls 5. The raine is no distinguishing Argument between good and bad It falls promiscuously upon the righteous and unrighteous This our Saviour tells us Matth. 5. 45. The raine indeed sometimes falls in one place when it doth not fall on another Amos 4. 7. but on whatsoever City or Village it falls it comes down equally on all As fat drops fall upon the sluggards field as upon the field of the most diligent man But now this spiritual raine is more distinguishing Though all where the Gospel is preached have the same common Doctrine and all have some common influences of Christs Spirit yet there are special drops distilled upon the Elect which others never partake of Some are hardned others are softned some are rained upon to conversion others are rained upon for obduration some are melted and dissolved others are stiffned and enraged The peculiar drops of special grace are not communicated to all alike from Jesus Christ Arminians may talk of Universal grace that Christ doth no more for Peter then for Judas but the Scripture speaks of peculiar grace which is not communicated to all Why is it that thou wilt reveal thy self to us and not unto the world John 14. 22. There is hidden Manna which Christ never intended to bestow on all There are secret drops which Christ lets fall on one soul in a Congregation and doth not distill upon others This raine falls with a most exact distinction He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy saith the Apostle Rev. 2. 17. and whom he will he hardeneth Rom. 9. 18. Christ hath excluded some from the benefit of his prayers John 17. 19. And they that are shut out of the benefit of his prayers are excluded from the saving merit of his blood His propitiation is not extended further then his mediation 1 John 2. â— 2. The peculiarity of the descending of this raine is cleerly shewed by our Saviour in the answer he gives to that question of his Disciples concerning his preaching to the people in Parables Mat. 13. 10 11 12 13 14 15. Though the raine of Christs Doctrine fall down indifferently upon all yet the special grace of understanding applying and improving that Doctrine is not given unto all 6. The rain can make nothing spring where nothing hath rooted The showers are able to make both grasse and corne and other plants grow up but if either the earth be barren or if there be no foundation of roots the showers can do nothing the raine can make nothing grow up out of rocks It cannot make wheat grow where none was sowen But now Jesus Christ doth not onely make seed grow where seed is sowen but he makes seed grow where none was sowen Christ by the drops of his Doctrine and by the influences of his Spirit makes the rocks bring forth fruit He doth not onely cause plants to spring in good soyle but by the dropping of his grace turnes a barren soyle into a fruitful soyle one good shower from Christ will make the barren Heath as good ground as the fruitful valley The Word of Christ is called seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. it doth not onely make seed grow but it is seed it self Christ by raining down turnes the Thorne-tree into an Apple-tree He changes the thistle into wheat Other raine brings up something where something was but this rain brings up something where nothing was Other showers bring forth figs from Fig-trees but these showers bring forth figs from thistles Other raine brings up a crop where a crop was sown but this raine brings forth a crop where none was sown Those three thousand you reade of Act. 2. 37. had not one root in them when Peter began to preach but before he had done raining upon them their hearts were a nursery of all living plants The Uses of this Point 1. How justly may Christ expect fruitfulnesse from his people My beloved saith the Prophet had a vineyard planted in a very fruitful hill And he fenced it and gathered out the stones c. and he looked that it should bring forth grapes Esay 5. 1 2 3. It is but equal that they that live under Christs Doctrine and Scepter and under the influences of his Spirit should bring forth both good fruit and plenty of fruit the people of God are compared to a tree planted by the rivers of water which bringeth forth his fruit in his season Psal 1. 3. Christ is spiritual raine he is both
stinking They defile all that comes neer them whatsoever they meddle with whatsoever toucheth them is defiled by them 2. They that are spiritually dead have no use of any of their spiritual senses The soul hath senses as well as the body but he that is dead cannot use any of these They cannot heare they cannot see they cannot taste they cannot smell they cannot feele they cannot heare Christs voice in the Gospel they cannot see the glory of Christ nor of grace they cannot feel the heavy weight of sinne they cannot taste the sweet and delicate pleasures of Jesus Christ they cannot smell the fragrancy of Christs sweet ointments They have no pleasure in those things that are most plesant in themselves and most desirable to such as are spiritually alive They are to all spiritual things and all spiritual things are to them as if they were not 3. This spiritual death if it be not removed is a certaine forerunner of eternal Death Blessed and happy is he that hath part in the first resurrection of him the second death shall have no power Rev. 20 6. but he that continues still in this spiritual death shall for ever be under the power of the second death the eternal death And this is the state of all such as want Jesus Christ Use 2. That that spiritual life which is in the soul of a beleever shall never totally and finally die It may be at deaths door it may be ready to die so it was with the Church of Sardis Rev. 3. 2. A Christian may be in regard of his spiritual life as a tree in the depth of winter no difference to all outward appearance between him and a dead plant but it is impossible that the spiritual life shall utterly be extinguished because Jesus Christ who is our spiritual life lives for ever Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. hid as in a root for safety and security Because I live ye shall live also John 14. 19. while the root liveth the plant cannot die while the fountaine runneth the streames cannot cease while the olive-trees convey their oyle through the pipes into the lamp the lamp cannot go out A living Christian may grow very weak but he cannot die Jesus Christ must cease to live before the life of grace in a Saint do utterly perish while the cause continueth the effect will Use 3. That there is a true spiritual union between Iesus Christ and a beleever This is one of the great mysteries of the Gospel that Christ and a beleever should be made one it s set out by many examples as of root and branches Iohn 15. init head and members Eph. 5. 3. foundation-stone and the superstructory stones Eph. 2. 20. meat and eaters Iohn 6 56. husband and wife Eph. 5. 32. This very doctrine makes it good He could not be our life if he were not united to us and we to him 'T is by vertue of our union with him that we come to draw life from him As the soul and body are united so are Christ and a beleever the whole mystical body is called by his name 1 Cor. 12. 12. so also is Christ speaking of the Church Use 4. Deadnesse of Spirit want of spiritual Activity is very inexcusable in a beleever The ground of this inference is very cleare Jesus Christ is his life Christ hath life enough in him and he is willing enough to communicate more and more of this spiritual life If the fountaine of this life were a meer creature something might be said for thy deadnesse and coldnesse but now seeing Jesus Christ is thy life thy deadnesse is inexcusable in thy self and it is also dishonourable to Christ The life and greennesse of the branches is an honour to the root by which they live Spiritual greennesse and fruitfulnesse is in a beleever an honour to Jesus Christ who is his life Psal 92. 12 13 14 15. The righteous shall flourish as a Palm-tree c. To shew that the Lord is upright c. The fulnesse of Christ is manifested by the fruitfulnesse of a Christian Use 5. It is the duty of a Christian to live comfortably on this Doctrine It affords very much comfort 1. Against the weaknesse of this life in our selves What Christian is there but finds this life very weak in him at some times well when it is weakest in thee it is then strong in Jesus Christ And God looks upon thy spiritual life not only as it is in thee but as it is in Christ 2. Against the fear of the wanting of the Ordinances of life 'T is a great losse to lose the Ordinances Lev. 26. 31. Well though thou lose these yet thou doest not lose thy life These are but the pipes Christ is the Olive-tree These are but the chanels Christ is the fountaine Man liveth not by bread alone but by the word of blessing Thy soul liveth by Christ not by Ordinances They are but the instrumental cause Christ is the efficient 3. Against the feare of Satans workings to destroy this spiritual life 'T is his great designe to take away this spiritual life He labours to stifle it by sinne he stirs up his instruments to remove the Ordinances Well he cannot prevaile He must destroy Christ before he can destroy our life He must either wither the root or he cannot kill the branches Use 6. Let beleevers be careful to carry themselves towards Christ as he who is their life 1. Acknowledge him the Authour of your life 2. Go to him when you want life 3. Strengthen your union with him Eph. 4. 15. 4. Live to him who is your life Rom. 14. 8. Use 7. It should invite all to lay hold on Christ All men are dead by nature There 's no other way to live a spiritual life If Christ be not thy life of grace he will never be thy life of glory COL 3. 4. When Christ our life shall appear then III. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. June 1. 1651. shall we also appeare with him in glory I Have handled the first Proposition as it relates to the life of grace viz. that Jesus Christ is a beleevers spiritual life I shall now consider of it as it refers to the life of glory and so summe it up into this conclusion viz. Doct. Jesus Christ is the eternal life of every beleever Christ is the everlasting life of all those that are eternally saved As he is their life of grace so he is also their life of glory He is often called in Scripture not only a Saviour but Salvation The salvation of God Luk. 3. 6. An horn of salvation Luk. 1. 69. And all because he is the salvation of all the Elect. I must here put in that Caution which I did before viz. That the Father and Holy Ghost are not to be excluded they are our life as well as Christ The Spirit and the Father are Saviours as well as the Sonne Opera Trinitatis ad
extra sunt indivisâ— Prophets Act. 10. 43. Apostles 1 John 5. 11. Christ himself Joh. 14. 16. do all bear witnesse to this truth That Jesus Christ is life eternal to every true beleever In what respect Christ is our life of glory I shall shew in the following particulars viz. 1. In regard of merit and acquisition Jesus Christ is the procurer of this life of glory Heaven is called a purchased Redemption or Possession Epb. 1â—4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ is the purchaser of this possession and his blood is the price of the purchase As he hath by his death purchased the Elect so hath he also by his blood purchased this life for those redeemed ones 1 John 4. 9. in this was manifested the love of God towards us because he sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that we might live through him Had not Jesus Christ shed his blood no sinner had ever tasted of this life eternal Eternal life is the free gift of God and yet it is merited by Christ Christ who is the price and meritorious cause of life is the free gift of Gods grace and therefore our salvation is both free and yeâ— merited 2. He is our life efficaciously Though salvation be purchased for the Elect yet must the Elect of God be fitted and prepared for this salvation before they can be put into the possession of it The Apostle speaks of making the soule meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The best of men are unfit for salvation as well as unworthy of salvation Though heaven be prepared for them yet cannot they enter into heaven till they be prepared This fitnesse or preparedness stands in the changing of our nature by the working of grace in the heart and in the merciful acceptation of God covering our infirmities and reckoning our weak endeavours for perfect obedience Natura mentis humanae quantumvis perfect a naturalibus donis absque gratiâ non est susceptibilis gloriae Parisiens lib. de vâ—rt cap. 11. The Apostle tells us that a man must be wrought for glory 2 Cor. 5. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Elect of God come into the world rough and unpolished filthy and defiled as well as others and they are not fit for this life till they be refined and polished Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of heaven Aquinas saith well Gratia haec divina eò infunditur electis ut peragant actiones ordinatas in finem vitae aeternae Now Jesus Christ doth fit and work the Elect for this glory He doth by his Spirit change their nature he doth by his grace renew the spirit of their minde he doth set up his own image in their soules and by working grace fit them for the enjoyment of that life of glory which he hath purchased 3. He is our life He is the fountaine of our eternal glory 1 John 5. 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Sonne 'T is in him as in the head as in the root as in the fountain or spring All our glory is laid up in Jesus Christ as in a publick treasury Iesus Christ and all beleevers make up one mystical body of which he is the head and they the members therefore is their glory laid up in him 4. Jesus Christ is our life in regard of preparation As he doth prepare us for heaven so doth he prepare heaven for us This is attributed to his Ascension Iohn 14. 2 3. I go to prepare a place for you Not as if the place of glory were not created till the Ascension of Christ There were many souls in heaven glorified before Christ did corporally ascend thither Abel Abraham Isaac Iacob and the Prophets the meaning of it is onely thus much that Iesus Christ did not ascend only for himself to dwell in glory alone but he ascended for our sakes in our stead and place to possesse the purchased inheritance for us and to keep it for us till we actually come to be possessed of it our selves 'T is by way of allusion to the practices of great Kings who send their harbingers before them to make ready for them against their coming Iesus Christ is pleased to stile himself so in reference to the Elect. And therefore the Apostle calls him our forerunner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tells us that he is entred into the vaile for us Heb. 6. 20. and hence it is that we are said to sit down together with Christ in heavenly places Eph. 2. 6. 5. He is our life as the way to life He calls himself the way Iohn 14. 16. No man comes to the Father but by Christ This is that new and living way which the Apostle mentions Heb. 10. 19 20. 'T is through the vaile of Christs flesh that we enter into the Holy of Holies Iacob in his vision at Bethel saw a ladder which reached from heaven to earth Gen. 28. 12. upon this ladder the Angels of God ascended and descended This ladder is Iesus Christ so he tells us himselfe Iohn 1. 51. hereafter ye shall see heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Sonne of man He hath not only shewed us the way to heaven by his example but he is the way himself in which we go to God 6. He is our life in regard of distribution and communication As he hath purchased life for us and keeps possession of it for us so he it is that shall put us into possession of it when we come to enjoy it I will come againe and receive you unto my self Iohn 14. 3. The Apostle speaks of this in 2 Tim. 4 8. There is laid up for me a Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day 'T is to be understood of Christ he that hath purchased the Crown for us will in that day visibly set it upon our head Come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdome c. Matthew 25. latter end 7. He is our life formally Iesus Christ is the matter of eternal life Our eternal life and glory stands in the full enjoyment of Iesus Christ in heaven The seeing of God the enjoyment of Christ is our very glory Rev. 22. 3 4. The Throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their foreheads The glory of heaven is called the eating of the tree of life Rev. 2. 7. Iesus Christ is the tree of life the enjoyment of him is the souls glory Iob therefore reckons up all his eternal glory by this very thing I know that my Redeemer liveth c. I shall behold him not with anothers but with these very eyes Full and perfect â— immediate
feed the inward man Those that have the fattest bodies have not alwayes the fattest soules But Christ is spiritual meat and drink He feeds the soul the conscience the spiritual part His blood purgeth the conscience Heb. 9. 14. it refreshes the conscience it chears the conscience his body strengthens the soul repaires the decayes of the inward man 2. Christ is heavenly meat and drink Joh. 6. 32. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven Other meat and drink is terrene and earthly Your bread grows out of the bowels of the earth Your wine is the blood of an earthly grape The flesh you eat is fed of the tender grasie that springs out of the earth If the earth should prove barren you would soone feele a famine The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. 'T is true the blessing comes from heaven but all the materials of meat and drink are earthly But Jesus Christ is the bread of heaven and the wine of heaven The Manna came from the clouds onely but Christ from the beatifical heaven even from the bosome of the Father 3. Christ is incorruptible meat and drink All earthly meat and drink is of a fading perishing nature The best bread grows mouldy in a little time the best flesh in time putrifies and taints the best wine growes eager and sowre in a little time and becomes unfit for the body of man The very Manna it self when it was kept till the morning of the next day contrary to Gods command bred wormes and standk Exod. 16. 20. But Jesus Christ knows no corruption His flesh blood is now as sweet and pleasant after so many Ages as it was the first houre it was eaten and drank John 6. 27. And it will be as farre from corruption at the end of the world as now it is The Manna in the golden pot corrupted not though kept for many Generations Christ is Manna in that golden-pot the humanity in the golden pot of the Divinity shall see no corruption 4. Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal The rich man died and was buried Luke 16. 22. All that Generation that fed on Manna and drank the water out of the rock died John 6. 49. But Christ preserves the soul from Death John 6. 50. This is the bread of God that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die It immortalizes the soule that feeds on it He that beleeveth on me hath eternal life ver 51. And then 5. Christ is soul-satisfying meat and drink He that beleeveth on me shall never hunger and he that cometh to me shall never thirst John 6. 35. There is a hunger of desire and a hunger and thirst of total emptinesse and want He that hath this meat and drink shall never totally want him It is not so with other meat and drink A man may have his belly filled with other meat and drink and may have a good quantity before-hand and yet may at last want a morsel and die for want of a draught of water But he that once hath this spiritual meat and drink though he eat but a little shall never be utterly destitute Jehn 7. 37 38. The widows handful of meal and spoonful of oyle was never spent till God sent raine upon the earth 1 Reg. 17. 16. He that hath but a handful of Christs flesh and a spoonful of his blood shall never see want but shall have enough to satisfie him to all eternity 6. Christ is such meat and drink as gives life to the Dead Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death much lesse can it give life and restore breath to a dead body Put the most delicate meat the strongest drink into the mouth of a dead man and they will not give him life if the soul be quite departed They may recover from a swoon they cannot from death But the flesh and blood of Christ quicken the dead Christ by putting his flesh and blood into the mouth of the dead soul conveys life into it His flesh and blood make the lips of the dead to speak As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickneth whom he will John 5. 21. if thou hast any spiritual life in thee thou didst receive it from the enlivening vertue of Christs flesh and blood communicated to thee by the Spirit of life 7. Christ is such meat and drink as will never surset All other meat and drink if it be taken immoderately and unseasonably tends to sicknesse and suâ—fetting The more lushious and delicate they are the sooner do they surfet the body Hence is Solomons advice Prov. 25. 16. drunkennesse and surfeting bring more to their long home then pining famine But the flesh and blood of Christ never surfet A man cannot eat and drink too much of Christ nor can they eat and drink him unseasonably There is no killing no annoying vertue in Jesus Christ this meat and drink will never clog never cloy the stomack Christ is an occasion of death to none but to those that refuse him 8. Christ is such meat and drink as is suitable for all persons at all times Other meat and drink is not fit for all persons nor for the same person in all conditions That that will nourish a man may kill a childe That that strengthens a man in health may kill him in sicknesse There is meat for strong men milk for babes c. But Jesus Christ is meat and drink for all persons for all conditions He is meat for the strong man he is milk for the babe He is proper for the healthful person and he is fit for the sickly person He is the labouring mans food and he is the sick mans diet His blood is Physical drink to him that is sick cooling drink to him that is parched with heat he is strong cordial-drink to him that faints He is a suitable nourishment 9. Jesus Christ is meat and drink that is freely bestowed He is not purchased by our money nor procured by our industry but freely communicated Other meat and drink is procured at dear rates Men must Till and Plow and Sowe their land men must breed up cattel men must plant vines dig springs and fountaines otherwise they can expect neither meat nor drink The Egyptians in a time of famine pawn'd their lands for food they gave their cattel for bread and at last sold their land out-right that they might have food Gen. 47. 15 16 17 18 19 20. But Christ is meat and drink though the most costly in himselfe yet costlesse to us Nothing is required on our part but receiving of him If any should offer money Christ would say as Peter to Simon Magus Act. 8. 20. Thy money perish with thee He that will not take this meat and drink as an
whom the birth of Christ was first preâ—ched Luke 2. 8. Jesus Christ is the desender of his sheep he preserves them carefully from them that would devoure them The Devil hath been way-laying them and attempting upon them ever since the fall of Adam and yet the eye o◠〈…〉 was so diligent and watchful 〈…〉 â—ver able to get the least lamb o◠〈…〉 shall he ever be able to gaine one o◠〈…〉 they be all folded up in heaven The sheep of Christ are all sealed in their foreheads so we reade Rev. 7. 3 4. Why are they sealed First they are sealed for distinction Secondly they are sealed for secrecy Thirdly they are sealed for security Neither men nor devils can break open this seale This similitude is used Cant. 4. 12. A garden enclosed a spring shut up a fountaine sealed under all those expressions is set out the fence which Christ makes about his sheep for their preservation Though Christ sometime suffer their bodies to be torne and devoured by men and though he suffer their soules to be assaulted yet he will not suffer their soules to be destroyed He did once lay down his life for them John 10. 11 15. and having died for them he will preserve them There is a six-fold defence which Christ sets upon every sheep for his preservation from Satan 1 His death The grave of Christ is a fold in which the sheep sleep safely his Sepâ—lcher is a hedge about the Church I mean the vertue and merit of his death Jesus Christ by his death hath overcome the Devil and all his Host Col. 2. 15. he hath taken him captive and delivered the sheep out of his hands Now so long as the death of Christ is in force and in force it shall be for ever and ever the sheep shall be defended The sea of Christs blood doth encompasse every sheep of the fold and Satan must either wade thorough or dry up 〈…〉 before he can annoy the sheep as 〈…〉 eternal salvation Roare and rage he may mine or teare in pieces he cannot the bottomlesse sea of Christs blood flows continually about them 2 His intercession The Scripture makes mention of the Advocateship of Christ for his people Heb. 7. 25. He lives for ever to make intercession therefore he is able to save 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Advocateship of Christ hath three properties First it is full Secondly 't is constant Thirdly 't is effectual This intercession is the sâ—eeps safe-guarâ— Christ must â—e outed from the work of mediation before any of his sheep can be eternally hurt and outed he cannot be for his Priest-hood is an everlasting Priest-hood Ps 110. 4. Thou art a Priest for ever c. 3 The presence of Christ We learn from Scripture that Jesus Christ is ever present with his sheep he is not one moment absent from the fold â—e by his spiritual presence lodgeth with them every night and walks with them all the day Of this presence of Christ the Holy Ghost speakâ— Rev. 14. 1. He stands on the Mount Sion he stands not in a running posture but in a watching posture The devil must drive Christ from his standing before he can snatch away any of the sheep for he stands there as a guard to them 4 The mystical union between him and the sheep The Scripture makes mention of this union John 17. 23. I in them and Thou in me Every sheep grows in the Shepherds side as a member of his body Now this union is an indissoluble union As the natural union between the Sonne and the Father can 〈…〉 so neither can the 〈…〉 Christ and the sheep 〈…〉 and mighty hedge about the sheep 〈…〉 must drag Christ to hell before he can 〈…〉 any of the sheep thither for they are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh 5 The promise of Christ Jesus Christ hath engaged his Word and this engagement is recorded in the Scriptures that the gates of Hell shal not prevaile against the Church Maâ— 16. 18. This promise is not a rash indiscreet but a deliberate sober advised promise 'T is not the promise of a fraudulâ—nt person but of a faithful Saviour for he is the Amen the faithful and tâ—ue witnesse Rev. 3. 14. This promise is the Churches safety Satan must disannul this before he can devour the sheep and disannulled it cannot be for his Word endureth for ever in heaven 6 His recommending of them to his Father Jesus Christ a little before his death made his last Will and Testament In this Testament amongst other things he did solemnly commâ—nd the tuition of his sheep to his Fathers care intreating him by all the dearnesse between them that he would preserve them from the devil and all his evil designes against them This is set down fully John 17. 11. 15. he had received them from the Father upon his recommendation v. 9. and he had kept them safe while he was with them now he intreats the Father that as he had kept them upon his recommendation so he would now likewise for his sake undertake the tuition of them v. 12. While I was in the world I kept them c. So long as Christs Testament is in force so long as God 〈…〉 of Christs bequeathment and accept of iâ— he will for ever the sheep shall be safe 4. A Shepherd gathers his sheep when they are sâ—attered When either by dogs or stormes or by their own voâ—untary wandring they have been dispersed the Shepherds work is to gather them againe Ezek 34. 12. Jesus Christ is a good Shepherd in this respect the sheep are wanton they wander and stray Christ reduceth them brings them to the fold How often doth every sheep wander so often as they wander doth Christ reduce them You know the parable Luke 15. 4 5 6 c. And he will never leave till he have gathered them into heaven where they shall scatter no more He gathers them from their first dispersion in unregeneracy when they wander upon the mounts of profanenesse and unbelief c. When they are scattered by persecution temptation c. he still gathers them He gathered them when they were scattered in Babylon in the dispersion in the Apostles dayes of which you read Acts 8. He hath Gentile sheep scattered Jewish sheep dispersed both these will he gather the Gentiles John 10. 16. the Jews 2 Chr. 16. 6 7 8 9. One end of the Ministery is to gather the scattered sheep who were never converted One end of the Minâ—stery and discipline is to gather them that wander after conversion See the office of Christ to this purpose Eph 1. 10. He is the Centre in which all things meet All are to be gathered together by him to him and in him his meaning is all the Elect are gathered to a head as the word signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ who is the Head of the body and at theâ— day 〈…〉 he will gather them all 〈…〉 that they shall be
of the incense out of the Angels hand before God notes the complacency that God takes through Christ in the obedience of his Saints Put these together and see whether Christ do not bring forth pleasant fruit All the Vineyards in the world cannot shew such grapes for pleasantnesse as these are 2. He brings forth profitable fruit The wine that comes out of this Vine doth chear and refresh and strengthen and make glad and that not the outward man but the soule and conscience also which no other wine can do If I should go over all these fruits againe and shew you the advantage which beleevers have by them you would then say they were profitable fruits Healing fruits and strengthning fruits and quickning fruits They remove all fears they bring in all joy c. 3. He brings forth plenty of fruit I have named many but I have named but a few in respect of what I might name All the graces of his Spirit are the fruits which he brings forth saith love meeknesse perseverance c. All the promises are his fruits eternity will be too short to measure all the fruits which grow on this Vine This is the second resemblance 3. In regard of the shadow which he casts over the Church The Vine is a shadowy plant it is in regard of the 〈…〉 fittest of any plant for sâ—adowing 〈…〉 Arbors of the vine Micah 4. 4. 〈…〉 shadow to his Church The Scripture calls hiâ— a shadow Esay 32. 2. A hiding place from the winde a covert form the tempest the shadow of a great rock in a weary land the words are spoken of Christ as is clear from the first verse Behold a King shall reigne in righteousnesse he who is there called a King is afterwards called a shadow I sate under Cant 2. 3. his shadow so Jesus Christ is called the Churches onely shadow 1. He is a shadow to defend them from his Fathers wrath God is in himself a consuming fire So the Apostle Heb. 12. 29. His anger is declared against all the sinnes of men He can as well cease to be as cease to be displeased against sinne in whomsoever it is Now Jesus is the Beleevers shadow to preserve him from being burnt by his wrath Yea Christ hath by satisfying his Fathers Justice for sinne quenched this wrath as to beleevers and this satisfaction is such a thick shadow that whensoever the beleever retreats to it and sits under it the wrath of God cannot reach him to hurt him the Screen of Christs perfect satisfaction doth continually stand between God and the beleever to preserve him from the fury of Divine anger The wrath of God must kindle upon Christ before it can kindle upon the beleever and upon Christ it cannot kindle He hath once born the wrath of God and by bearing it hath for ever quenched it Since Christ hath made himselfe a sacrifice for sinne once God hath many wayes declared that he is well pleased with him Abide under his shadowy vine ye that are beleevers the wrath of God cannot come neeâ—e you 2. He is a shadow to defend them from the deâ—isâ— rage Satan is full of rage against the godly They have broke out of his prison they have renounced his service they have proclaimed perpetual war against him and his kingdom they have by the grace of conversion blotted his Name out of their hearts this fills him with rage against them He is continually way-laying them he is daily fighting with them he never ceaseth to tempt them that he may destroy them 1 Pet. 5. 8. Jesus Christ is a shadow to preserve his Church from the fury of this destroyer By his death he hath broken his head Col. 2. 15. By his intercession he doth safegard his from all the attempts he makes upon them Luke 22. 31 32. The devil must overcome Christ he must pluck off all the leaves of this Vine before he can devoure the soule of a beleever Retreat to Christ by faith when Satan hunts you and continue here and you may laugh at Satan and all his assaults 3. He is a shadow to defend them from the fury of men The world is a bitter enemy to the servants of Christ They cannot walk after the fashion of the world they cannot but reprove the wickednesse of the world both by their lives and by their speeches too as they have occasion This makes the men of the world madde against them you may see this both in the Old and in the New Testament In the Old Testament Gen. 19. 9. they were ready to tear Lot in pieces because he reproved their filthy wickednesse In the New Testamen◠〈…〉 4. because the godly cannot drink of 〈…〉 â—â—ters they do therefore do they 〈…〉 Jesus Christ is a shadow to preserve them from the worlds fury He did by his death obtaine victory as well over the world as over the devil John 16. 33. and he doth shadow his Church in the world from the rage of the world Some particular members of his Church are perhaps overcome by the world but the body of the Church can never be overcome And for the particular persons or Churches that are ruined by them their ruine tends to their own personal salvation and to the preservation of the whole body the blood of particular persons or Churches is a sanctified seed which tends to the enlargement of the Church Universal 4. In regard of the influenâ—ial Communications from him to the Branches This is that which is especially meant in this place beleevers are compared to the Branches Christ to the Vine As the Vine doth communicate sap and nourishment to the Branches so doth Christ communicate spiritual sap and nourishment to beleevers All the Churches springs are in Christ Psal 87. 7. Beleevers have nothing but what comes from him Beleevers can do nothing that is good but by assistance from him He is the strength of their strength the wisdome of their wisdome God hath put all their stock and portion into his hands They have their dependance on him they have all their supply from him This is that which is laid down ver 5. of this Chapter Without me or severed from me ye can do nothing Of this I shall speak more in the next Doctrine 3. The excellency of Christ above all other vines He hath the preheminence in these seven respects 1. Christ is a Vine immediately of Gods planting Other Vines are the plantations of men 'T is true In the Creation God did by the Word of his power without the help of any creature cause the Vine as he did all other plants to spring Gen. 2. 4 5. But since the creation of man upon the earth these plants are the work of his hands We read of a vineyard planted by Noah after the flood Gen. â—9 20. and we see that since to this day vines are still set by the hands of men But Jesus Christ â—s the meer plantation of God alone God prepared him a body
a proper sense as if the bread were changed into the substance of his body c. They are angry with the Protestants because they will not beleeve it Amongst many reasons which overthrow that fond interpretation this and such like other figurative speeches may help us to understand that Christ sometimes calls himself the light sometimes the door and here the Vine not as if he were substantially changed into these things but to shew the spiritual resemblance which is between him and these corporal things Why there should be any more change of substance when Christ saith this is my body then when Christ saith I am the door I am the Vine I cannot see but God hath upon the blinde Papists fulfilled that threatning 2 Thes 〈…〉 â—â—dicially blinded their 〈…〉 antiscriptural opinions 〈…〉 2. See the excellency and 〈…〉 All these comparisons are but to convinc◠〈◊〉 carnal soules of Christs transcendent excellency Christ hath in a spiritual sense al the good properties of the Vine and of all the fruits of the Vine He hath all the excellencies of Wine I name foure I. Wine nourisheth It helps digestion Christ is a great nourisher the soul would decay and dwindle to nothing if Christ did not continually nourish it and feed it 2. Wine is a comforter Psal 104. 15. Jesus Christ is the great comforter of the soul When the soul droops and languisheth when it 's cast down and dejected the love and presence of Christ doth chear it again Ps 21. 6. David confesseth it in Ps 23. 3. He restoreth my soul Jesus Christ is the souls restorer 3 Wine emboldneth Being a spiritual creature it doth raise the spirits and being moderately used puts courage into the fearful Jesus Christ doth embolden the soul His presence and his grace fills the soul with a holy courage he that was fearful dares now speak for God and act for God the very tydings of Christs coming expels feare from the hearts of his people Esay 35. 3 4. There is no true valour in the soul till Christ be there All the souls confidence is built on Christ and on Christ alone We have no boldnesse in prayer no boldnesse in approaching to God in any Ordinance but is communicated by and from Jesus Christ Heb. 10 19. 4 Wine is healing Some kind of wines are prefer bed for the healing inward of distempers c. The Samaritan poured oyle and wine Luk. 10. 34. Christ is a great heales he heales broken hearts and wounded spirits and all inward distempers whatsoever There is no health in the soul till Christ be there Vnto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2. Christ is that tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22. 2. Christ is an excellent and precious person Never look upon the Vine never see the fruit of the Vine but meditate on Jesus Christ JOHN 15. 5. Ye are the branches XV. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Octob. 24. 1652. I Go on to the description of beleevers in reference to Christ as it is laid down in these words Ye are the Branches The Observation will be this viz. Doct. That all true Beleevers are spiritual Branches ingraffed into Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the royal Stock and all Beleevers are mystical Branches of this Stock The Scripture asserts this priviledge in many places Rom. 6. 5. If we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his Resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is there compared to the Root and Beleevers to the Branches or Cions that grow in this Root Erasmus therefore translates it very fitly Insititii ingraffed or implanted The Apostle sets down this mystery under another apt similitude of the foundation-stone of a house and the superstructory stones Eph. 2. 20 21. Christ is compared to the foundation and the Beleevers to stones built upon that foundation Ye are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone in 〈◊〉 the whole building fitly framed together 〈◊〉 â—nto â—â— holy Tâ—mple in the Lord. There are 〈◊〉 wayes of being Branches of Christ The one is by external profession onely In this respect all that are members of the visible Church are Branches of Christ Thus the Apostle saith that all the Gentiles when they were called into the Church by the preaching of the Gospel were graffed into Christ Rom. 11. 17. the Metaphor is often used in that Chapter This is not that ingraffing which I shall now handle For though it be an honour and priviledge to be a branch of Christ in this general way yet is it not a saving priviledge A man may be a Branch of Christ in this respect and yet at last be cut off and burned So our Saviour saith in the verse after the Text. The other way of being graffed or made a Branch of Christ is by the grace of union Thus all true Beleevers and onely true Beleevers are made Branches This is that which the Apostle elsewhere calls being members of Christ Eph. 5. 30. and dwelling in Christ John 6. 56. and putting on Christ Gal. 3. 27. That they are made Branches of Christ besides these testimonies of Scripture it will appeare from the Sacraments both of Baptisme and the Supper This is the plaine language of both the Sacraments 1. Baptisme speaks it 'T is the seal and signe of this ingraffing This is clear from two texts before cited the one Rom. 6. 5. If we have been planted together into the likenesse of his death How is that see verse before We are buried with him by Baptisme unto death The other iâ— Gal. 3. 27. As many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Nor as if all baptized persons were really made Branches but because this is sealed in Baptisme as the priviledge of all Beleevers They are as certainly made Branches of Christ invisibly and mystically as all that are baptized are made members of the Church visibly and externally 2. The Supper of the Lord doth also speak it Our eating and drinking of Christ Sacramentally is a seat and pledge of our being ingraffed into him spiritually This is cleare from that Text I cited before John 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him We are therefore nourished by his flesh and blood because we are united to his body In the handling of this Doctrine two things are to be opened by way of Explication 1. How we are made Branches of Christ 2. What benefit we have by being so For the first How men are made Branches of Christ There are three things which concur to this work of the souls ingraffing into Christ The Word of God The Spirit of God Justifying Faith 1. The Word of God The Word preached is the ordinary and common mediate instrument whereby this great
of the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan which place was assigned unto them by lot as we reade in the book of Joshuah Then were the Jews in a more conspicuous manner formed into one Polity or Common-wealth and from that time the separation began That which made this separation was the Ceremonial worship which God established in that Church or Nation according to which they and their posterity were to worship God This separation continued from that time untill the death and resurrection of Christ During all this long tract of time there was a manifest separation between the Jew and the Gentile But now Christ hath as a corner stone made a firme union between these two so that the Jew and Gentile are brought together under the same worship This is done by the abolition of the Ceremonial Law Christ hath taken down this wall of separation and so made both one Church The Apostle treats largely of this in Eph. 2. 13 14 15 16. He is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle wall of partition between us c. The Jew and the Gentile are now made one house by the death of Christ 2 In reference to the spiritual union of beleeleevers one with another We reade often in Scripture of spiritual fellowship and communion between beleevers The Apostle Phil. 2. 1. speaks of the fellowship of the Spirit and Phil. 1. 5. He makes mention of their fellowship in the Gospel So 1 John 1. 7. saith the Apostle If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another This spiritual communion or fellowship doth consist First In mutual affection one to another One Saint loves another though they have never seen the faces one of another Secondly In participation of the same graces and priviledges They are all like one another They partake of the same gifts of the same Graces the same Reconciliation the same Adoption the same Sanctification the same Salvation that belongs to one belongs to them al. This is that which the Apostle mentions Eph. 4. 4 5 6. From hence it is that the Scripture calls the salvation of the Elect Common-salvation Jude 3. because it's common to all the Elect. The same graces which are wrought in one Saint are wrought in another though perhaps different in degree Thirdly In the performing of mutual offices one to another They pray one for another they give thanks for the good of one another they grieve for one anothers evils they beare one anothers burthens they rejoyce in one anothers comforts they supply one anothers wants both outward and inward as far as they are able The Apostle speaks of these mutual offices which beleevers by vertue of that fellowship which is between them owe one to another in that 1 Cor. 12. 26 Now it is in and through Christ that union and communion of Saints one with another is made Our communion with Christ is the foundation of our mutual communion which we have one with another John 17. 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one 'T is this uniting corner stone that brings every particular stone of the building into one For our mutual union one with another is in him who is the head of the union The Apostle speaks fully to thâ—s in Eph. 1. 10. That he might gather together in him all things both which are in heaven and which are in earth The Greek word is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to gather to a head All the Saints of God that are were or shall be both those that are gloriously triumphing in heaven and those that are yet militant on earth are gathered together to a head in Jesus Christ Membership with him is the foundation of mutual membership which we have one with another This is the second 3. In regard of Direction The corner stone is that which gives the builders direction how to lay and place all the other stones If the several stones of the wall be not laid level to the corner stone the whole building is spoiled He that would build right must have his eye to the corner stone Jesus Christ is a beleevers Direction and Rule in all spiritual things that which is not done by Christs Command or example or by some direction from him is not wel done Learne of me saith our Saviour for I am lowly and meek-hearted and ye shall finde rest to your souls Mat. 11. 29. Jesus Christ is the beleevers pattern His Word and his example we must have an eye continually upon if we would not miscarry He that saith he abideth in Christ he ought so to walk as he walked 1 John 2. 6. Lay all things level to Christ and then act vigorously I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you John 13. 15. Nothing will either be lasting or comfortable which doth not runne parallel with the line of Christ 4. In regard of Beauty Skilful builders place the strongest stones in the corner because of bearing and the fairest stones because of beauty If the corner stones be graceful the whole building is the more comely Psal 144. 12. More Art is bestowed on the corner stone then on any other part of the building Iesus Christ is the beauty of the spiritual building If this one stone were taken away the whole building would be an uncomely heap One Christ hath more bâ—auty in him then ten thousand Sainâ—s Psalm 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men The fairest Saint is but an Ethiopian if compared with Christ He is in respect of his beauty compared to the Lily and Rose which are the most beautiful of all flowers Cant. 2. 1. The blinde world looked upon him as deformed Esay 53. 2. There is no forme nor comelinesse in him but those that know him admire his beauty Look upon him in his Divine Nature and so he is more beautiful then the Sunne Look upon him as man and so he is exceeding beautiful No doubt but his body for the outward feature of it was very comely 'T is a Rule which Divines have That which God doth immediately he doth most exactly And for his soule that had more grace in it then is in all the sons of men laid together His soul was unsoyl'd by sinne and it was richly furnished with all grace God shewed more of his Art and skill in Iesus Christ then upon all the stones of the building besides The beautiful Angels are black if compared with Christ This is the first particular 2. For the second Christ differs from all other corner stones in five respects 1. He is a living stone The corner stones of all material buildings are inanimate But Christ hath life in him 1 Pet. 1. 4. He hath life in himself and he communicates life unto the whole building From him all the stones of the spiritual house are called lively stones ver 5. Ye also
saved by him as well as we but it was more darkly In the Gospel the heavens were opened wider then ever God did never manifest himself so fully and clearly to the world as he hath done by Jesus Christ The Apostle speaks of this Heb. 1. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hence is that of the Prophet to the Gospel-Church Isa 60. 1 2. 19. 20. All former light was but like the dawning light of the morning in respect of this mid-day light of the Gospel The Gospel Revelation is full and perfect John 1. 18. God was declared before but never so fully as by Christ The fathers looked for additions but Christ brought to light the whole will of God No further Revelation is to be expected till we come to heaven 2 Pet. 1. 19. MAL. 4. 2. The Sunne of righteousnesse shall arise with healing in his wings SEcondly for the second Christ is called the Sunne of righteousness in two respects 1. In regard of himself He is the holy and just one He hath not nor ever shall have the least spot of unrighteousnesse in his own person he was born righteous and innocent That holy thing that shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God so saith the Angel to the Mother Virgin Luke 1. 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It hath the force of the abstract And he lived and dyed righteous The Apostâ—e speaks of him Heb. 7. 26. As of one holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners He was without spot and without guile made like unto us in al things sin only excepted Satan himself though he be the father of lies and full of bitter enmity against Jesus Christ is forced to give this testimony to him that he is the holy one of God Mark 1. 24. He could neithâ—r have redeemed himself from death nor have saved us from the wrath of God if he had not been perfectly righteous 2. In regard of his Elect He is their righteousnesse so the Prophet calls him Jer. 23. 6. Jesus Christ is the beleevers righteousnesse two wayes 1. He is their righteousnesse in regard of justification It is thorough the Imputation of his righteousness unto them that they are made righteous in the sight of God God looking upon them as invested with the righteousnesse of Christ accounts them righteous Of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 3. 21 22 25 26. All ar unrighteous in themselves and it is through him alone that they come to be righteous 2. He is their righteousnesse in regard of sanctification Of this the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1. 30. where he tells us that Christ is made unto us of God sanctification as well as righteousnesse Jesus Christ may be as truly called our righteousnesse of sanctification as well as of justification He is so in four respects 1 He is the meritorious cause of it Eph. 5. 25 26. Grace is as truly the purchase of Christ as glory he hath brought holinesse for us as well as heaven sanctification is no lesse the price of Christs blood then salvation We are 1 Cor. 1. 2. sanctified in Christ Jesus propter Christum saith Piscator i. e. propter satisfactionem illius 2 He is the material cause of it It is by the blood of Christ that the filthinesse of the soule is done away Christs blood is the soules laver in which it is washed and made white Heb. 9. 14. And then 3 He is the exemplary cause of it Our sanctification is according to that copy or pattern of holinesse which is in Christ himselfe This is the meaning of that speech of the Apostle Joh. 1. 16. As the print which is made upon the wall answers the engraving or stamp which is upon the seal so doth the believers holinesse answer our holinesse of Christ not in degree and measure but in kinde and quality 4. He is the efficient cause of it 'T is Christ that doth by his spirit through the Ordinances work holinesse in his Saints He stubs up the roots of sinne and sets the routs of grace in the soul Of this the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 6. 11. And it is he that doth both preserve it and carry it on from one degree to another til it come to perfection So that both in regard of his own person and in regard of his elect he is called the Sunne of righteousnesse This is the second particular 3 For the third Christ excels the natural Sun in these eight particulars viz. 1. The natural Sunne shines but in one hemisphere at once Though it circuit about the earth in a little time yâ—t it doth not shâ—ne in all places at once Yea there are some parts of the world in which the Sunne doth not shine for many moneths together Though it be a great body yet the wings of it are not large enough to compasse the earth all at once when it riseth to us it sets to our Antipodes But now Jesus Christ is able to shine over the whole earth at once Though there be many parts of the world in which Christ hath never appeared yet his wings are large enough to over-spread the whole earth This Sunne of righteousnesse shines in England and in America and all the Christian world over at the same moment of time That which is said of the land of Judea concerning the King of Assyria Esa 8. 8. That the stretching out of his wings should fill the bredth of the land is true of Christ in reference to the whole world The stretchings out of his wings are able to cover the breadth of the whole world at one moment 2. The naturall Sunne gives light but not sight If a man want the benefit of seeing he hath no more benefit by the Sunne in respect of seeing then if there were no Sunne at all but the Sunne-beames descend with never so much power upon a blind Bartimeus his eyes will not thereby be opened But now this Sunne of righteousnesse hath a power to give sight as well as light he did in the dayes of his flesh open the eyes of many that were naturally blinde you read of one Joh. 9. of two others Mat. 20. 30. 34. And he doth still open the eyes of them that are spiritually blinde It was he that by Ananias opened the eyes of Saul Acts 9. 17. The truth is no man doth ever spiritually see till the beames of the Sunne descend upon him he is the spiritual day-spring that gives them power to see who are under the power of the grosse darknesse of sin and iniquity 3. The natural Sunne hath endamaging qualities as well as healing qualities It is many times offensive and prejudiced both to men and fruits 1. It doth fully and deface the beautiful countenance of men Cant. 1. 6. If the eye of the Sunne do but look upon us directly it changes the colour of the face into a sworthy hue 2. The hot beames of the Sunne do sometimes by their vehement shining make men