New man is renewed and that is after the Image of Him that Created him after God or the likeness of God Fourthly Here is the particulars wherein this Image or Resemblance of the New Creature unto the Creator doth consist and that is in Righteousness and true Holiness Agreeable hereunto are the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord So that Holiness doth most resemble the Image of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore it ever becometh the Lords people to be an holy people The second Reason grounded on Ephe. 1.4 A second Ground and Reason why it ever becometh Gods people to be an holy people is because God hath chosen them thereunto in Christ before the foundation of the world as the Apostle teacheth the Ephesians According saith he as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love In this Scripture we may note these three particulars First God's choyce of his people Secondly Upon what account this choyce is made and that is not our works foreseen but Christ's merits he hath chosen us in him Thirdly To what end this choyce is made and that is that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love But if it be asked how hath God chosen his people in his Son unto holiness before the foundation of the world I Answer God did from Eternity see the lost condition of his people through their transgression of his Law and their defaceing his Image of holiness in which he did at first Create them He also did foresee and in himself purpose and decree a satisfaction to his Justice in and by Jesus Christ his obedience to his just Law which man had transgressed and by his suffering death for sin in the same humane nature that had sinned that thereby a perfect Righteousness and Justification might be wrought for man-kinde that all those who through grace and the operations of the holy Spirit are in time brought over to believe in Jesus Christ should be justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law Act. 13. and sanctified to the obedience of Christ and to acceptance with the Father through him And so God beholding his people from Eternity in that Righteousness that Christ by his perfect obedience to the Law should in time obtain and in that satisfaction which he should make to divine Justice by his sufferings on the Cross God also beholding his people in that work of Regeneration and Sanctification which in time Christ by his Spirit should work and effect in them did accept and choose them in this means to be a people to the praise and glory of his grace in relation whereunto are these words of the Apostle to the Ephesians For we are his Workmanship saith he Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 2.10 So that Gods people ought ever to be an holy people because they are chosen thereunto from Eternity And this is the second Reason The third Reas n grounded on 1 Thes 4 7. 2 Tim 1.9 A third Ground and Reason why it ever becometh God's people to be an holy people is because they are called thereunto with an holy calling as the Apostle to the Thessalonians saith God hath not called us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness The Apostle also writing to Timothy speaking in the words before of God Who saith he hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began In these words we have the Lords act of saving his people set forth unto us in two particulars First he Saved us Secondly he Called us whereby the term Saved I do apprehend that free and full Redemption from Sin and the Wrath of God due to man for sin which Jesus Christ the unspotted Lamb of God hath by his perfect and unsinning obedience wrought for Man-kind Rom. 3.24 25. Ephes 1.5 6 7 8. for which obedience sake the Father doth give to his people a free and full Remission of their sins with everlasting Salvation And by the term Called I understand the operating power of Christ's Spirit bringing persons into the way of Salvation and investing them with the holy Calling whereby they may receive the priviledges of the Gospel that is Adoption Sanctification and Justification as John 1.12 1 Cor. 6.11 which the Spirit of Christ doth work either immediatly as in the Apostles or more ordinarily in the Ministry of the Word plainly and purely set forth to the understanding to the producing Faith Regeneration and Sanctification whereby the Creature is called forth to walk with God in that way whereunto it hath pleased the Father to annex the promise of salvation according to those words of the Apostle to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the Beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Believers therefore are the persons that are saved and called not according to their works but according to the purpose and grace of God given in Christ Jesus before the world began so that mans works are no ways meritorious of Salvation nor any original ground of Gods love to man but Justification Sanctification and Glorification together with all the means appertaining thereunto are God's free gift to man upon the account of Jesus Christ to the end that man in a diligent improvement of the same might bring forth the fruit of holiness to the praise glory of his name God hath called his people unto holiness with an holy calling therefore it becometh them always to be an holy people sutable to their Call And this is the third Reason The forth Reason grounded on Levit. 20.7 8. A fourth Ground and Reason why it ever becometh God's people to be an holy people is because God hath enjoyned holiness upon his people by special command The Lord said to the Children of Israel to whom he had given his Laws Statutes and Ordinances Sanctifie your selves therefore and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God and ye shall keep my Statutes and do them I am the Lord which sanctified you As if he should have said I am the Lord your God which have chosen you unto my self to be an holy people and to that end I have sanctified unto you the means of holiness therefore sanctifie your selves through a careful and diligent improvement of the means that you may be holy So the Apostle Peter gives the like
presseth after it but lying under the sense of his own weakness is cast down with doubts and fears of his not being accepted with God because he cannot attain to Holiness in the perfection thereof But although the full perfection of Holiness will not be attained till this vile Body be changed and this Mortal hath put on Immortality yet notwithstanding when the Creatures Endeavours after Holiness do arise from the work of Grace and renewed Mind and are performed in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ the spots and stains of Sin being beheld with grief of heart and the Blood of Christ thereunto applied by Faith both Persoâ— and Performance shall assuredly be accepted and through the sanctifying Grace of Christ shall appear in the comely Ornament of Holiness without spot before the Throne of God who did from eternity behold and accept his people in his Son and not in themselves as hath been before considered CHAP. IV. Of the Use of Exhortation A Fourth Use that presenteth it self unto us from the aforementioned Considerations is an Use of Exhortation Hath God chosen his people in Christ that they should be holy hath he called them thereunto with an holy Calling hath he commanded them to be holy in all manner of Conversation Then let us be exhorted to strive to answer Gods end in electing calling and commanding us to be holy by pressing after Holiness in the use of that means that God hath ordained to accomplish that End let us put on that noble Spirit of Blessed Paul that Servant of God I press towards the Mark saith he for the price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 Holiness is an high Calling yea it is an high Calling of God in Jesus Christ well becoming the people of God Men are most earnest after a Comodity when they consider these two particulars in it first the Necessity of it secondly the Excellency of it wherefore to press on the Exhortation on our Spirits let us consider Holiness in these two particulars First Holiness is of great necessity for saith the Scripture without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Hebr. 12.14 Want of Holiness deprives a Soul of the comfortable enjoyment of God Adam when he had defiled himself with Sin was thrust out of Paradice from the comfortable enjoyments and paradicical priviledges he was there invested with It is true that wicked men may and many times do enjoy a great measure of this worlds felicity in respect of the Riches Honours and Pleasures thereof while Gods faithful Servants suffer hard things which made David at a stand till he went into the Sanctuary of God and gained understanding in the Promises of true Felicity in eternal life made to the sanctified ones and then he understood the End of those wicked and unholy men That as to true peace with God and assurance of his favour as to enjoyment of Communion with him in Grace here or in Glory hereafter there is no Promise made to them in that their unsanctified estate and therefore he puts on this resolution But as for me I will behold thy Face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17.15 There is no beholding God without Holiness with true satisfaction to thy Soul Wherefore let that Exhortation of the Apostle be an Exhortation to us Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. O let the consideration of the necessity of Holiness strengthen the Exhortation upon our Spirits so as to quicken us in our motion after the attainments thereof Secondly let us be exhorted to put on this Ornament of Holiness upon the consideration of the Excellency of it the which is very great in several respects first it is very beautiful in the sight of God it beareth his Image and adorns the Soul with the likeness of himself it beautifieth the Profession of Truth and filleth the Soul with Love both towards God and towards all men yea those excellent fruits of the Spirit as Love Joy Peâ—ce Long-suffering Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against which there is no Law What are they but effects of Sanctification 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Pet. 1.2 therefore let all persons that make profession of Christ be exhorted to worship the Lord in the Beauties of Holiness Ps 110.3 Ps 96.9 Secondly Holiness is of great Excellency in respect of its Descent it is of an heavenly Birth those only are the persons invested with it that are born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God Joh. 1.13 Joh. 3.3 5. It is the Church that is sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 and for the Church he gave himself that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water through the Word that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Ephes 5.26 27. Holiness is therefore of great Excellency as also the Excellency of Holiness doth demonstrate it self by its Valuation nothing below the precious Blood of Jesus Christ could be a valuable price to purchase it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. yea those excellent Vertues that are in Charity must needs accompany 〈…〉 viz. it suffereth long and is kind 〈…〉 not it vaunteth not it self is not pâ—â—â—eâ— up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth it may be said though I speak with the tongues of Men and Angels though I understand all Mysteries though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor and give my Body to be burned and have not Holiness it profiteth me nothing O! therefore follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Thirdly Holiness is of great Excellency in regard of the priviledges it brings to the Soul it gives peace of Conscience and Comfort in a dying hour it gives Boldness to appear before the great tribunal Seat of Justice to behold the Face of the Judg with assurance of his Favour when the great Men of the Earth and the rich Men and the chief Captains and the mighty Men and every Bond-man and every Free-man that is not adorned with Holiness shall call to the Rocks and Mountains to hide them from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Revel 6.15 16. O! what would many a poor Soul give to be found in this Ornament of Holiness when Death shall summons him to the Grave and this Consideration is upon his Spirit that the next thing he hath to do after Death is to arise and come too Judgment when all his Riches Honours Pleasures and delightful Vanities carnal Friends and Companions in Iniquity with all those goodly things his Soul hath lusted after shall be turned into
Daughters of men unto whom he tenders Holiness in the Gospel as John the Evangelist teaches He came unto his own and his own received him not but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Joh 1.11 12. And hence it is that God hath chosen his people in Christ that they should be holy even because the perfection of Holiness is inherently in Christ with sufficiency of the Spirit of Grace to effect Holiness in his people through believing If then thou wouldst press after Holiness so as to attain such a degree thereof that thou mayst have the comfortable sight of God and be enabled to stand before him with joy then observe these ensuing particulars The Eye fixed on Christ by Faith is a great help towards the attainment of Holiness 1. In all thy undertakings look unto Jesus have an eye of faith fixed on him he is the Center where Holiness is centered if we look short of the Center we are like to fall-short of our purpose let us therefore take the counsel of the Apostle Let us run with patience the Race set before us looking unto Jesus the Authour and Finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God Heb. 2.1 2. Yea whether we read the Word pray or perform any other Christian Duty whatsoever let us still look to Jesus with desire that we may have more Knowledg of him more Faith in him and more Love and Obedience to him let us look unto Jesus with an Eye of Faith fixed on him and behold his performances on our behalf let us behold his humility who was very God and yet assuming the human Nature became also Man and taking upon him the form of a Servant became obedient not only to the divine Precepts of his Fathers Law but also unto Death even the most shameful Death of the Cross O let us look unto Jesus and behold him in his Sufferings and in the Cause and End of his Sufferings The Cause of his Sufferings was our Sins the End of his Sufferings was to free us from Divine Wrath due to us for Sin and to obtain Eternal Salvation for us To look unto Jesus and with an Eye of Faith to behold him as aforesaid Gods way is a sure and a safe way is to take Gods way to hearken to his Call and to observe his counsel for our better attainments unto Holiness and Heavens Happiness as saith the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Isai 42. I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name Isai 65.1 Secondly let us not only look unto Jesus and behold him but also consider him this is a piece of Divine Counsel A due Consideration of Christs sufferings a great help towards the attainment of Holiness also consider the Apostle and High-priest of our Profession Christ Jesus Heb. 3.1 O let us consider the Greatness of his Burthen in his Sufferings of Death wherein he did not only suffer a natural Death but also did bear the burthen and weight of Divine Wrath due to Mankind for Transgression the which being set home upon his precious Soul by the hand of Divine Justice forced him into that Agony that his Sweat was as if it were great Drops of Blood falling down to the ground and to cry out Luk. 22.41 Matt. 27.46 O my God my God why hast thou forsaken me as if the sense of Divine Wrath had so overwhelmed his precious Soul that all the appehensions of his Fathers Love had been ecclipsed from him One sin set home to the Soul by the hand of Divine Justice is a heavy burthen how great then is the weight which Christ underwent for us Surely saith the Prophet he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted but he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all Isa 53.4 5 6. Certainly if the Sons and Daughters of Men did but look through all their outward transitory and fading Felicities unto Jesus Christ with a serious consideration of those hard things he hath undergone to procure Redemption for their poor sinful Souls it would more draw up and endear their Affections to the Lord and produce in them a delightful endeavour to honour him in the way of Holiness Thirdly as we should look unto Jesus and consider him in his great Undertakings for us so ought we to consider his Faithfulness towards his Father in respect of the Trust he reposed in him and towards Man also in the prosecution of poor fallen Mans Redemption Had he shrunk back in those great and hard Undertakings how had the Father lost his Glory and Man his true Felicity but he like a faithful and valiant Souldier set his Face like a Flint * Isai 50.6 7. against all the oppositions the World and Devils could raise against him until he had faithfully compleated his Undertakings to the Glory of his Father so that he could boldly make up his accounts saying Father I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Joh. 17.4 5. O let us look unto Jesus with a serious consideration of his Faithfulness to our Cause and it will both quicken and direct in the way to Holiness and we being faithful after his example shall have boldness in the day of account Consider Christs Love which is strong of great power Fourthly let us look unto Jesus and consider with a due consideration his tender affectionate Love and yerning bowels of Compassion towards Mankind manifested in his great Undertakings for us Surely if ever that Saying of Solomon in his Song of Songs be made good in any it was abundantly manifested in Christs Love to Man his Love indeed was strong as Death Cant. 8.6 the many Waters of Affliction nor Flouds of the Ungodly nor Death the King of Terrors could not be able to quench the Flames thereof greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his Life for his Friend but so great was the Love of Christ to poor worthless Creatures that while we were ungodly and enemies to him he died for us Rom. 5.6 8 10. so that Redemption Justification Sanctification and Glorification are the effects of
and their Redemption from the gift of Sin and their Justification unto Life to consist in Christ by vertue of his Death Burial and Resurrection as a Propititation and Atonement by him made unto his Fathers satisfaction and acceptation upon the conditions of Faith and Repentance that is to say upon their embracing of him believingly unto a dependency upon his Merits alone for their Justification from Sin unto Life and Repentance unto a purpose of Heart to live to Christ in his Laws and Counsel contained in his VVord and hence it is that Baptism is sometimes called the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of Sins Luk. 3.3 First because by Gods Requirement it is to be attended with Repentance in the Subject unto a purpose of heart to live to God as contained in the Covenant Secondly because by Baptism God doth visibly signifie both unto the Believer acting in Baptism and also his Church that he accepts that person unto a free Remission of its Sins and also to all his Church-Priviledges contained in his Covenant Thirdly because a Believer in Baptism doth signifie both to God and Man its Acceptance of Christ and Repentance unto a purpose of Heart to live to Christ by whom he receiveth the Atonement contained in the Covenant Fourthly because a Believer doth in Baptism resemble Christ in his Death Burial and Resurrection by which our Atonement was obtained Therefore saith the Apostle we are buried with him in Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection knowing this that our Old Man is crucified with him that the Body of Sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin Rom. 6.4 5 6. Whence note that the Gospel-Baptism is a Resemblance of the Death Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ unto Believers Christ descended down into Death and the Grave taking upon him the weight and burthen of the Sins of sinful Men that went astray a Believer descendeth in Baptism down into the Water an Eliment of Death where it gaineth power and and is therein by the Administrator buried or overwhelmed taking upon the Command and the Example of Christ for its Rule thereunto his Will for to obey and taking upon him the Merits of Christ whereby his Sins are done away Christ ariseth out of the Grave by the Glory of God the Father purposely to live unto the Glory of God the Father but one thing here among the rest I mind He leaves his heavy burthen of Sin behind The Believer ariseth up out of the Water as out of a Grave by the Glory of God the Father's Grace with purpose of heart to live unto the Glory of God the Father through the power of Grace and here one thing as before I mind He leaveth all his former Sins behind all done away by vertue of Christs Blood by Faith applied in this similitude And now saith Ananias to Saul why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy Sins calling on the Name of the Lord Act. 22.16 not that the Water in it self washeth away Sin but the particular application of Christs Death Burial and Resurrection with the Ends Use and Efficacy thereof by Faith as they are to the Eye of Faith represented by the Act of Baptism with three Motions in the Water as going down into the Water buried in the Water and arising up out of the Water as aforesaid the which Baptism with the form of Words thereto is the Gospel-Baptism approved by the Divine Counsel of God to be the visible sign and token of his Covenant made in Christ unto Believers wherein God signs to them his Acceptation of them unto the Priviledges of his Covenant they sign to God their Acceptation of the Covenant and Christ the Mediator thereof to live to him according to his Mind and Will contained in the Covenant The Apostle Peter speaking of Noahs Ark and eight Souls therein saved by water saith Like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Two things are here laid down as Instruments of Noahs Safety the Ark and the Water They get into the Ark and the Water carrieth up the Ark above the deluge to their preservation But we are principally concerned to look unto the original Ground of their Preservation which was First Gods Command and Counsel to Noah discovered Secondly Noahs Faith in embracing and acting accordingly Noah believes God makes Preparation and gets into the Ark and therefore Hebrews 11. attributes their Safety unto Gods Command and Counsel and to Noahs Faith By Faith Noah being warned of God c. Noah herein had the Answer of a good Conscience towards God he acted sutable to his Will revealed and was preserved Like Figure whereunto Baptism now saveth us saith Peter not the washing away the filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Three things are here considerable in these words of Peter First Baptism is here said to be of a saving nature Secondly wherein it cometh so to be of a saving nature and that is said to consist in the Answer of a good Conscience towards God Thirdly how it cometh to be of a saving nature and that is by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ But why by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ First because that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a sure confirmation to us that Jesus Christ hath suffered Death shed his Blood for the obtaining a free and full Remission of Sins unto a Justification from the Guilt thereof and from the Condem thereunto belonging even to as many as believe on his Name Secondly by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have a sure Confirmation 1. That he ever liveth to be a Mediator between God the Father and Man as the chief Prophet to his People 2. That he ever liveth to make Intercession for his People as their High-Priest 3. That he ever liveth to be the sole Head King and Lawgiver for Rule and Government unto his People for their Direction Protection and Preservation into a full possâ—ssion of Salvation according to the Covenant Thirdly by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have sure Confirmation that he ever liveth to raise us up out of the Grave 1 Thess 4.14 2 Cor. 4.14 by his power unto an estate of Immortality and eternal Life we being on him and conforming to him according to the conditions of the Covenant Herein God commended his Love unto us saith the Apostle in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us much more than being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him for if when we were Enemies