the Volume of thy Book it is written of me Lo I come to do thy will O God that is I come to give thee satisfaction according to thy own heart by that which we agreed upon My own death 2. They agreed of the time of payment therefore it is said Gal. 4. when the fulness of time was come God sent his Son that is when the time that was agreed upon between the Father and Christ was come then Christ was sent forth not that Christ had time given him because he was not able to pay our debt before but God saw that the fittest time after the Church had been so long under Ceremonies and hard services then Christ comes forth to purchase a Redemption from sin and those things to that we might see more of the great Benefits we have by him 3. It was agreed what power the Lord Jesus should have to carry on the work of Redemption and all power was given to him Mat. 28. and John 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Now Christ as God had of himself power over all things but now as Mediatour God the Father gives him power over all flesh and so Ephes 1.22 God the Father is said to have given Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Now Christ as God was Head over all things without any giving of it to him but Christ as Mediator hath it given to him to be Head over all things to the Church that is for the benefit of the Church that so the Lord Jesus is the Head over all things hath command over the good Angels Devils men and all creatures for the good of the Church whose Head he is in another manner then he is Head of all things so I say this was agreed that the Lord Jesus should have universal power and dominion for the managing of this great Work 4. It was agreed in this Covenant between the Father and Christ that the sins and failings of Christs members should not break the Covenant that the Father and Christ had made for their salvation therefore it is said in that 89. Psalm from 23. to 32. that the Covenant should stand fast with Christ and saith God if Christs children break my Commandements I will visit their Iniquity with a Rod I will have liberty saith God to chastise them and whip them home when they play the Prodigals and wander from my House but then it shall not break the Covenant that they sin against me but I will pardon their iniquities and remember their sins no more Upon the account of this Covenant between the Father and Christ the Lord Jesus is said to trust God the Father as Mediatour Heb. 2.13 Behold I put my trust in him and again behold I and the children which God hath given me Christ as Mediatour trusted God the Father to carry him through the great work of his Mediation 2. He trusted him that he would accept of his death 3. He trusted him that in the appointed time he would bestow all the good things purchased by his death upon them for whom he died which good things were especially forgiveness of sins the Spirit Sanctification and eternal life God the Father had trufted Christ with the salvation of his people with which he would not have trusted all the Angels in Heaven and therefore Christ might well trust God the Father in this matter Christ knew Gods infinite Love to those for whom he died and knew the Covenant between the Father and him on their behalf and so trusted the Father fully in the business relying upon the love and faithfulness of God his love to the Elect and his faithfulness to keep Covenant with him CHAP. XIV The Saints Comfort against Death DEath in it self is the King of Terrours a very terrible thing 1. In it self it is part of the curse in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die thou shalt be lyable to temporal and eternal death when I please to execute it but indeed death is not kept up to the Saints as a curse but as a servant to carry them home to their Fathers House 2. Death is an abhorrency to Nature that nature dreads it exceedingly it parts the soul and body that have been such intimate acquaintance it leaves the body to be a dead carcass fit for nothing but to be laid among the clods of the earth 3. It s terrible to flesh and blood as it depriveth men of the comforts of this present life it carrieth us from all the comforts of wife children friends estate Sigismund the Emperour when he was near death charged them that were about him that they should not name death in his hearing belike the thoughts of it were very terrible to him 4. Death is terrible to many mens thoughts in respect of the suddeness of it sudden death comes sometimes 1. by a sudden decay of nature such diseases as the Apoplexy may be breeding in the body that shall pluck down this earthly Tabernacle in one moment 2. Sometimes by Accidents from without as fire enemies falls and the like 3. Sometimes by a sudden stroak of Gods hand when there is no natural cause but men might live a great while Thus God cuts off many in the midst of their dayes not but that all men live to the time appointed and set down by God but that the Lord cuts them off from that time when they might according to the course of nature live a great while-longer Thus the Lord smote Herod suddenly with death the hundred and fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians in one night Esay 37.36 5. The unavoidableness of death makes it terrible to the thoughts that the stoutest spirits see they cannot grapple with it what man is he that liveth and shall not see death who can deliver himself from the power of the grave Psalm 89.48 Death fetches a General out of his Tent when he lyeth environed with armed men Death fetches the Prince out of his Palace goes through all his Life-guard and none can withstand him so that men of brave and stout spirits have no courage to deal with death but their valour is turned into fear and amazement 6. The pains and pangs of death make it terrible to the thoughts of flesh and blood to think what a strange confusion then will be in the spirits when the eye-strings and heart-strings crack and man can exercise no more his spirit and understanding 7. That which above all makes death terrible unto many is the consequence of it that after death comes the Judgement the particular day of Judgement presently O saith many an unwakened conscience O what shall I do to appear before God to make up my accounts to him so that the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. that the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law that is that the greatest sting of death is for a
your troubled soul found rest and peace from his Blood yea the soul saith truly This I have felt in some measure why here is true Faith and Assurance and yet many a poor soul not considering that this is the saving work but seeing that it comes short in many things doth question whether it be in Christ or no whereas open and unravel but the work of Grace and say Have you gone this step and the other step and it can say truly that These things God hath wrought in me How much means is used to many and yet they can find no comfort and peace of conscience The Covenant of Grace is clearly opened to them servent prayers are put up to God for them the experiences of other Saints are made known to them but all will not do it for indeed the Lord only can speak peace to the soul he is the God of peace But let those that have peace of conscience and Assurance be thankful for it as a great mercy for all Saints have it not indeed it is a great mercy it yields much present refreshment to the soul what will make us glad if the light of Gods Countenance will not And so doth Assurance of Gods Love stand us in great stead in time of Afflictions it keeps the soul from sinking in great Afflictions it keeps Satan from many advantages yea when we come to die and look that King of Terrours in the face Assurance of Gods Love makes grim Death look smilingly in our Eye CHAP. X. The Ministry of Angels and their serviceableness to the Church THough curious and unscriptural Notions about the Angels are to be avoided yet these things that the Scriptures reveal of them and their Ministry are very profitable to be known The Angels are called spirits and a flame of fire Heb. 1.7 They are active and quick at the Lords work they are as a flame of fire not only for their terribleness but for their quikness how quick fire goes out of a Gun and how quick is a flash of lightning The Angels were very forward to perform their service to the Lord Jesus an Angel brought news to Mary that she should be the mother of our Lord Luke 1.27.28 An Angel at Christs birth told the Shepherds the glad tidings of Christs coming into the world and a multitude of them praised God saying Glory be to God in the Highest on earth peace and good will to men Luke 2.9,13,14 They had command to worship the Lord Jesus Heb. 1.6 When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him but why must all the Angels of God worship Christ when he came into this world and was made flesh 1. To own and acknowledge Christ to be God now in that mean estate the form of a servant that he had put himself into for worship only belongs to him that is God 2 To acknowledge the benefit of confirmation that they have by the Lord Jesus by whom they are made immutably happy 3. To shew an example unto men to worship and honor Christ when as the Angels that are more excellent creatures do it 4. To shew their admiration of that glorious and wonderful way of Salvation by Jesus Christ And then at Christs death the Angels came and ministred unto him and strengthened him And as the Angels were forward to do service to Christ so they are to minister to the Saints for the Lord hath made them ministring spirits to them that shall be Heirs of Salvation The Lord makes use of them to keep his people out of many dangers Psalm 21.11,12 He hath given his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone indeed God is so careful of his people that he would not trust all the Angels in heaven wholly with the safety of his people but hath given them unto Christ to be their Leader and Commander and bring them unto Glory who will lose none of all that the father hath given him who hath Infinite Power and Wisdom to manage all their concernments but the Angels are Ministers under Christ to be helpful to the Saints as the Pastors of Churches are Overseers and have the charge of the flock under him also And so the Angels lift up the Saints many times as Nurses do little children that they don't dash their feet against a stone whom every little thing would throw down They have their Orders from Christ whose Ministers they are to do his pleasure therefore Christ is said to sit between the Cherubins Psal 99.1 to shew how he hath the Angels fit to send upon his Designs and how often doth he send them to encamp round about the Saints in their dangers and deliver them and because of the Angels serviceableness to the Saints they are called their Angels Matth. 18.10 The Lord giveth them great Power for to perform this service and Ministry to the Saints we see that the Angel Act. 20.7,10 that was sent to fetch Peter out of prison he did but touch him and his chains fell off and when they came to the Iron gate it presently opened the Lord giveth the Angels power over the fiercest creatures that when Daniel was thrown into the Lions Den the Lord sent an Angel and shut the Lions mouthes that they should not hurt him Dan. 6.32 And as they serve the Saints in other things so in destroying of their enemies as an Angel smote Herod with death Act. 10.23 Yea 1 Kings 19.35 in that great strait that Hezekiah and the people of God were in when that huge Army of the Assyrians came against them the Lord the text saith sent an Angel that smote in one night on kundred fourscore and five thousand of them whom they left all dead corpses It s a wonderful Execution When Lazarus died he was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom Luke 16. As they do rejoyce in the conversion of a soul so in the finishing of our course and are joyful to bring us home to our Fathers house yea the Scripture tels us that the Lord will send the Angels at the last day to gather his people together from the four Winds who will know them all in the utmost corners of the earth having been ministring spirits unto them may be stirring affections and freedom of speech from the apprehension of popular applause in some Auditories but gracious men know a difference between those inlargements and the soul-humbling assistance of Gods spirit 10 Gods Spirit gives to his servants many times a more then ordinary assistance in their labors amongst the Saints for their sakes for their quickning comforting strengthning and edification whose building up was one great end of the ordinance of the Ministry Eph. 4.10,11,12 11 Gods Spirit gives his servants affections in preaching as Zeal Compassion to souls and the like but though something of this may
mans sins to be unpardoned unforgiven the strength and power that sin hath to damn is from the Law that it is the breach of Gods holy Law but he tels us that Believers are freed from the damning power of sin and from the curses of the Law through Christ Jesus as terrible as death is to nature flesh and blood and to a man that fears hell because it is the day of execution to all that are out of Christ yet a Saint may look upon death with comfort for though it be a dark entry yet it leads to our Fathers House where are many Mansions though it be a rough passage yet it lands us safe in Heaven infinite advantage comes to a Believer by death 1. Perfect enjoyment of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost the sight of whose blessed face shall fill us in Heaven with unconceivable joy for ever 2. Clear understanding of God his Grace and the mysterie of all his dealings with us in the world now we see all these darkly but the Apostle saith then we shall see face to face now how poor and confused is our knowledge how little a portion know we of the Almighty and of his Grace to us then all will be clear 3. Freedom from sin which though it doth not raign in Believers now yet then it shall not in the least remain but they shall be Holy throughout 4. Freedom from afflictions whereof all Gods children are partakers more or less in their Pilgrimage 5. Freedom from all Temptations either to sin or for sin 6. Spiritual and full enjoyment of the Saints and not of Saints in their weaknesses and mistakes which yet we in our Pilgrimage do rightly judge to be a great mercy but then we shall enjoy communion with Saints full of the Spirit Saints made perfect Many particulars might be added to these which shall be omitted for brevities sake but two questions must here be briefly resolved Quest 1. How comes it to pass that many natural men will often wish they were dead and many time die like lambs and others murder themselves Answ 1. It s seldom a real desire that ignorant people have to die but a sinful customary expression 2. If they be in good earnest it ariseth from ignorance 1 Ignorance what a serious thing it is to die 2 Ignorance of their own condition they think they are in Christ and that so death will be an end of all troubles to them 3 Ignorance of the torments of hell as if they were not greater then the troubles they have here for which they wish themselves dead 3 Those that murder themselves are either so distracted by excess of Melancholy or so dejected by some outward crosses or so overwhelmed with despair or so confounded in their understandings by Satan that they are not able to put forth scarce a serious or rational thought but are carried with a strange confusion and hurry of thoughts into any thing 2. But then it will be asked Why many gratious persons seem to be wonderfully a fraid of death before it come and die with very little Comfort seemingly upon their spirits but rather trouble Answ 1. So far as a Saint is flesh and blood and so far as there is corruption in him so far death will be terrible to him yet in the mean while the regenerate part in him desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ as that which is best of all but as Ridley said when he came to die I am not afraid but the flesh will have its course 2 A Saint knoweth more then other men what a serious thing it is to die he considereth the account that is to be given to God and the straitness of the way that leadeth to eternal Life and many times is not so assured of Gods love in Christ and this damps his spirit as to death 3 Though a Saint sometime seems to be unwilling to die yet before the Lord takes them away he usually makes them not only willing but desirous to die to be with Christ and that is a wonderful thing how God can in one moment turn the scales in these things and make that Saint that even now trembled at the thoughts of death now to say Lord here am I When wilt thou send for me home This the Saints have sometimes experience of 4 Their Comfort at death may be damped much and seeming trouble appear to standers by through some secret strong temptations of Satan or through violence of their disease CHAP. XV. The Holiness of Believers HOliness is most properly to be urged upon Believers more then upon natural men the great thing and the first thing that they are to do is to believe in Christ and after they are in Chrst then they are to be urged to walk holily in him Believers are to be holy both in soul and body not only in the thoughts of their hearts but in all the actions of the outward man The Apostle Paul urgeth the holiness of the outward man of the body as well as the heart by six arguments all laid down in the sixth chapter of the first epile to the Corinthians His first Argument is v. 13. How the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body that is the Lord he is for the body of believers as well as the soul he hath a care of their bodies of their outward man and bestowes many mercies upon the outward man and therefore saith the Apostle there is all the reason in the world that the body the outward man should be for the Lord. His second Argument is in the 14. verse he saith that God will raise up our bodies at the last there is much in that if God will at last raise up the bodies of Believers and glorifie them and make them like to Christs glorious body O how should they glorifie God with their bodies now in the mean while His third Argument is That our bodies are the members of Christ v. 15. His fourth Argument is That our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost v. 19. His fift Argumentis That we are not our own neither bodies nor souls v. 19. His last argument is that we are bought with a price v. 20. All these Arguments are very strong for a Believers glorifying of God with his body as well as with his soul both which are the Lords Several Arguments may be brought for the Saints holiness in general as 1 the Grace of God in Christ should be such a prevailing Argument to holiness that where there is any Gospel-ingenuity we should reason as the Apostle doth We were dead and we judge that Christ having died for us to save us that it s but reason we should live to him saith he in that place 2 Cor. 5.14,15 the love of Christ constrains us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies it keeps in it stops restrains bridles we have corrupt and wicked hearts by nature but when
A MANUALL OF Practical Divinity For the Benefit of weak CHRISTIANS the informing their Judgements the quickning their Affections and directing their Conversation WITH Several Things that may be of use for the Convincing and Awakening those that are yet in their natural Estate By MARTIN FYNCH Pastor of the Church of Christ at Tetney in Lincoln-shire LONDON Printed by R. W. for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls 1658. To the READER I Published some years since a little Treatise called Milk for Babes in Christ which foundsome acceptance with some new born Babes in Christ especially in the West Countrey and those parts as I am informed have taken off a great part of two Editions of that Book and some there to whom I am a stranger do desire I should publish someting further for whose sake with others I have written these few sheets wherein there is some more Milk for Babes in Christ and a little stronger Meat for those that are more grown Christians but I can pretend to little of that might I but feed any of Christs Lambs it were much for such a poor Creature as I am What you have here is especially for weak Christians whom sometimes weak gifts may edifie God doth not all by men of great parts but useth also the weak things of the world that no flesh might glory in his presence It s God that makes our gifts to be accepted of the Saints and usefull to them yea God makes the weak gifts of his servants sometimes very acceptable and refreshing to his people what is wanting in our writings he can supply by the presence and supply of his own Spirit in the reading of them The wind bloweth where it listeth so doth Gods Spirit breath in whose books as well as preaching he pleaseth and more or less as it pleaseth him without which all our writings prove to others jejune and dry One writes and another one preacheth and another thou knowest not which shall prosper the ones labors or the others or whether both shall be alike good for all our works are in the hand of the Lord. The Assistance of Gods Spirit in writing or preaching the spiritual Affections God giveth the sincerity simplicity and humility of a mans own heart and some faith that God giveth of his blessing satisfie a mans own heart much in such undertaking Nothing becomes those that the Lord makes any use of in these things more then an unfeigned humility of heart having no confidence in themselves and performances and a true dependance upon the Lord in all they do Those that cannot add one cubit to their own stature by all the Light and gifts they have without the gracious Influences and workings of the Spirit upon their hearts what can their Light and Gifts help others communicated by preaching or writing without the concurrence of the same Spirit What then are we or any of our Labors that we should not say We and they are nothing And if God will accompany any of them with his blessing it s his free Grace How easily can God blast all those Sermons and Books that are preached and printed in the pride of a mans own heart How often hath the Lord said in such cases there is so much self there I will not be there and so the performance is lost We know Gods Spirit hath not so wrought in the preaching of the word for conversion of souls as it hath done formerly It may be reading of good books is not so blessed to mens souls neither as it hath been few are converted yet more preaching through Mercy amongst us then ever none will complain of too much preaching though they do of too much printing But what is the reason that so few are converted Is not there excellent gifts for preaching possibly excelling in some respect the gifts and clearness of the light of former Ages but yet there must be the Arm of the Lord revealed the mighty drawing of the Father without which men cannot come to Christ And it may be that before the Lord accompany the preaching of the word with much success the Lords Servants shall not only in a doctrinal way know that its God that giveth the Increase but their hearts shall be so possest with the consideration of it that they shall lie more low before the Lord in their work and cry mightily for the pouring down of the Spirit But how many mistaking these things will slight outward means because its Gods Spirit that maketh all succesfull this temptation hath not only taken with many grosly ignorant persons who hearing of Gods eternal Election and of his distinguishing Grace throw up all outward means presently and in the sullenness of their spirits say There is no Hope but also many professors of Religion have withdrawn themselves from a constant and conscionable attendance upon the means of Grace Therefore this I have observed that it is expedient when ever we speak to persons of that necessary doctrine of the inward and efficacious workings of the Spirit to be that which makes all ordinances succesfull even then to give due cautions that according to the word this is no ground of neglecting any outward Ordinances and duties But who seeth not a formal spirit on the one hand and a wanton spirit on the other breaking in upon us The Lord put a stop to the spirit of error amongst us recover the dying withering languishing spirits of Professors send forth a reconciling Spirit among his people give more light into the Discipline of his house send forth more labourers into his harvest and bless them that are already at his work Tetney in Lincoln-shire 16. of Vulg. MARCH 1658. MARTIN FYNCH The CONTENTS THE wicked and miserable estate of man by nature chap. 1 How men deceive themselves and think that their estate is good chap. 2 Great Salvation in Christ for sinners ch 3 The freeness of the Salvation we have by Christ chap. 4 The Convictions and workings that are oftentimes upon men that are never converted chap. 5 The ways and temptations by which many souls miscarry under legal workings and a spirit of Bondage chap. 6 The saving work of Gods Spirit upon the heart chap. 7 The woful backsliding of many Professors and the way of their Recovery chap. 8 Of Assurance and Peace of Conscience chap. 9 The Ministry of Angels and their serviceableness to the Church chap. 10 The glorious times that shall be before the last day of Judgement chap. 11 The Influences of the Spirit chap. 12 The Covenant between God the Father and the Lord Jesus our Surety chap. 13 The Saints comfort against Death chap. 14 The Holiness of Believers chap. 15 The way of Believers joining in Church-fellowship chap. 16 The right use of the Law chap. 17 The true Humility that is in the Lords people chap. 18 General Directions chap. 19 How the Lord is pleased effectually to call some after they have been long in
deceive us because of the inlightnings they have and reformation of life and smooth carriage but the common sort of narural men do plainly bewray themselves to be out of Christ and it is a sign of a carnal man to judge every body to be Saints that make such sleight and overly profession of Christ as the common sort of people do if we be Saints and know what the new birth is we shall not think it is such an easie and common thing to be true Saints but that strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to eternal Life and few there be that find it Some deceive themselves by building their hopes of salvation upon their gifts parts and knowledge when as Satan and many Reprobates outstrip many Saints of God in those things and yet have no saving nor experimental knowledge Others build their salvation upon the esteem that they have with others that are Saints but thou maist be but a Judas or Simon Magus for all that the Apostle bids us in that case every man to prove his own work to see what work of Grace he can find in his own heart and then he saith he shall have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another Gal. 6.4.5 Others again build their salvation upon this that they have left some gross sins as swearing drunkenness whereas it may be their hearts are 〈◊〉 bad aâ— ever but only they were forced to leave those sins they so galled their Consciences but yet their reformation never proceeded from faith CHAP. III. Great Salvation in Christ for sinners GOD that might have damned all mankind for sin and might have left us in that lost estate for ever hath so loved the world that he hath sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have eternal Life Some things we shall here take notice of concerning him in whom God accepts us and giveth us eternal Life Christ our Mediator is God Joh. 1.2 Phil. 2.7,8 1 Tim. 3.16 He is God by nature God the Father acknowledgeth him to be God Heb. 1.8 when he saith to Christ Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever he knows the hearts of men Joh. 2.22 All the Angles every one of them is by the command of God the Father to worship him which shews he is God Heb. 1.6 He laid the Foundations of the earth and the Heavens are the work of his hands Heb. 1.10,11,12 He is God and therefore he is mighty to save he is God and therefore hath everlasting arms to hold his members from falling into hell O what a glorious head hath the Church though we are but like Nebuchadnezzars Image the feet of clay and Iron yet our head is of pure gold Christ Jesus our Surety and Mediator is man he was made flesh 1 Joh. 2. came in the likeness of sinfull flesh took our nature after it was corrupted Rom. 8.3 Because the Children that God hath given him were pertakers of flesh and blood he also took part of the same Heb. 2. This is no small comfort to us that Christ hath taken our nature and was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted he knows what it is to be tempted and can succour them that are tempted O This is wonderfull that Christ should put on the poor suit of our nature and after we had so stained it by sin O That God should be so mindfull of us as to send his Son in our nature to die for us that God who was infinitly happy before ever we were that he should â—o it That God that had so many thousand Angels to sing praises to him and could have created millions of creatures more glorious then the very Angels to praise him for ever and that could have created a thousand worlds before this of men to praise him that glorious God that took infinite delight in his Eternal Son the Lord Jesus before ever the world was Prov. 8. that this blessed God should send his Son in our Nature and humble him to death even the death of the Cross This is wonderfull indeed The Lord Jesus was a publique person Rom. 5. therefore he is called a Surety Heb. 7. A Saviour Luke 2.23 An Advocate 1 Joh. 2.1 A Captain of Salvation Heb. 2.10 The Covenant of the People Isa 42.6 A Ransom 1 Tim. 2.6 A high Priest Heb. 4.4 What he did was for others for our sakes he sanctified himself He was delivered for our offences rose again for our Justification Rom. the fourth and the last There is infinite merit in Christ to justifie all that believe in him that nothing needs to be added to his Righteousness for Justification in him in him alone without works shall the house of Israel be justified and shall glory Isa 45. ult The Believers under the old Testament looked for acceptance with God only through Christ and therefore offered up the Sacrifices that were Types of him prayed in his name Dan. 9.10 He set open his window prayed towards Jerusalem which was a Type of Christ and prayed verse 17. that God would look upon his Sanctuary which was desolate for the Lords sake that is for the Lords Jesus sake Christ hath purchased all Sanctification and is the Author of it to sinners The precious Faith by which we believe to everlasting Life is from Christ 2. Pet. 1.1 There the Apostle saith that precious Faith is obtained through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord and so Heb. 10.2 And Repentance is from him Act. 5.31 And of his fulness we receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 yea Phil 1.11 All the fruits of Righteousness all Grace whatsoever is said to come by Jesus Christ he was filled with Grace to communicate to us He is that Fountain and River of Life that serveth all the City of God that spiritual Joseph that laid in with abundance to serve all Aegypt The Lord Jesus had experience of all kind of sufferings and temptations that he might be a pittifull and a mercifull high Priest for us Heb. 2. ult Heb. 4. ult He was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin It was requisiite that the Lord Jesus our high Priest should be tempted in all points 1 That he might know the malice of the Devil experimentally by his own feeling 2 That he might overcome Satan The Lord Jesus the Captain of our Salvation fought a single duel with Satan that we might see his strength and that Satan might be overcom that so the Saints when they are set upon by Sathan might have faith in him that he who hath overcome him and broke the Serpents head where his wound is uncurable will prevent all his designs against them 3 That he might sympathize with the Saints and succour them when they are tempted in that fourth of the Hebrews v. 15. the Apostle saith We have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was tempted as we are
all spiritual Duty from an unfailing strength and spring of Grace in the Lord Jesus And if those that believe in the Lord Jesus are brought into a better state then Adam at first was in then much more is the Lord Jesus the Author of all this to them worthy of more Glory then Adam for the Lord Jesus had not only all those created gifts that Adam had but besides he was God equal with the Father and as Mediatour he was exalted far above Adam for he had fulness of Grace in him John 1.16 the Spirit without measure John 3. had power over all flesh John 17.2 Mat. 28. He doth not speak there of his Power as God but of his Power as Mediatour for that only could be given him as he saith thou hast given me power over all flesh Whatsoever a Believer hath it is through Christ for whatsoever God doth for a poor creature either to justifie sanctifie quicken or comfort he doth all for us in Christ He blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in him Eph. 1.3 We are by nature dead in trespasses and sins and God makes Christ our Life Eph. 2.1 Gal. 1.20 We are naturally in darkness and God makes Christ our Light Eph. 5.8 He makes Christ our Sun to shine upon us the glorious Sun of Righteousness that is so full of Light and heat to us we are naturally in a famisht and starved condition like the Prodigal and God makes Christ our food he giveth us Christ as the true Manna bread of Life John 6. We are naturally poor and beggerly and God makes Christ our riches and Treasure Prov. 8.17,18,19 We are naturally naked and God makes Christ our cloathing putting on us his Robe of Righteousness We are impotent and weak and he makes him our strength Thus he makes Christ all in all to us both Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption CHAP. IV. The freeness of the Salvation that we have by Christ THe Dispensation of Grace and Eternal Life in Christ Jesus is every way free to us the Lord hath shewn the greatest kindness when there was not the least desert that every one that is saved by this Grace may say O that ever such an ugly creature as I should have the best Robe put upon me such a Prodigal as I have been find such unexpected kindness such a Blackamore as I am that ever I should have the kisses of the fairest of ten thousand this is wonderful indeed That God should chuse us to eternal Life when he might have appointed us unto wrath this can never be requited that such a person as Christ the eternal Son of God should undertake to bring us to glory this is free indeed and that the Lord should do this without the least desire or engagement on the creatures part and that the Lord Christ should not shun the greatest sufferings in order to our Salvation but be wounded bruised bear the curse of the Law and the wrath of God can this ever be requited And that the Lord should do this after we had spent so fair an estate as we had in Innocency and we had wasted it as the Prodigal did what manner of love is this And that the Lord Jesus went through the work of our Redemption without grudging did he ever say Shall I die for such base wretches as these are but when Peter would not have had him died he took him up sharpely and said Get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.21,22,23 we read not that he took him up so when he denied him can this ever be requited for ever And that the Lord Jesus should think of every thing and purchase every thing that was requisite to make us happy in his Death he purchased all Grace he gave himself for us to deliver us from this present evil world Gal. 1.4 He knew that was a great enemy and he purchased Grace to keep us from the evil of that and if we mind Christs Prayer John 17. we may see how Christ thought of every thing for us And that Christ after his bloody Sacrifice should make intercession for us and bear our Names before Jehovah and that he should take such care to send the Comforter in his absence to abide with us for ever this is not after the manner of mens love O Lord our God free free every way free O let us say that believe in Christ we must take this as free love we never deserved it and we can never requite it O I will love thee for ever and praise thee for ever And what are we for whom the Lord hath done all this all the while before we are converted We hate God and are Rebels against him and after we are converted we perform but little Duty we are but little in prayer little in praises little in heavenly meditation sometimes we have a holy thought and then abundance of vain thoughts for it sometimes we have a savoury word and then abundance of vain discourse for it and those few duties we do have a great deal of weakness and sin in them our prayers full of deadness formality unbelief we are proud when we have enlargements so sinful in our best performances that all Saints will confess their Righteousness is as menstruous raggs O let this discovery of the freeness of Gods Grace in Christ draw the worst of sinners that are yet in their Natural estate to come to Christ if Christ and Grace were not free how should Paul Mary Magdalen Zacheus and such have ever been converted Object 1. But the sinner will say I have been a sinner of a thousand may I be welcome to Christ I have scoffed at the Saints and railed at them Answ So was Paul before his conversion I saith he was a Persecutor a Blasphemer and injurious to the people of God where ever he came yet he obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1.12,13 yea he confesses to King Agrippa that before his Conversion he was mad against the Church and yet the Lord turns this man in his full speed and there was no qualification to move the Lord to it he was going to persecute the Saints when the Lord met him and converted him Object 2. But I have no good in me to commend me to Christ Answ Christ expects none untill you be in him by faith Christ doth not look for Grapes of thorns how should you be holy until you be in Christ Object 3. Ay but whereas others though they be not converted yet they have parts and understanding and can speak of Religion but I have no parts nor knowledge Answ The Lord hath promised to make the ignorant understand Doctrine if God convert theeâ— he can make thee understand the things of Religion presently Object 4. Ay But I am a poor man or woman that live in obscurity the Lord surely will never convert me for of what use can I be to God he will call Scholars and great men that may be more serviceable then ever
have had both in inward and outward Mercy 26. Beware of covetousness and greediness after the things of this world for there is no satisfaction in the creature we think if we had so much as some others have we could be satisfied but this is certain nothing but God can set bounds unto the desires of mens hearts after worldly things but our hearts if they be set upon the world will cry Give still all the world cannot redeem us from death nor all our Silver or Gold buy off any of the pangs of death and though men are earnest upon the world for their Children that they may leave them great matters to be some body in the world yet we must know that the happiness of our Posterity doth not lie in our leaving them great estates for if they never have Christ it usually makes them more sinfull in this world and more miserable in the world to world to come yea God oftentimes raiseth poor Children to greater Estate in the world then they ever come to and blasteth and crusheth the great Estate that men leave without his fear and though the next Heirs it may be may keep it together yet their Heirs may suddenly consume and too often the more money men lay up for their Children the fewer Prayers they lay up for them besides as Christ bids us beware of covetousness upon that account Luke 12.17 a mans life that is the comfort of it doth not consist in the multitude of that we possess not only the true comfort of a mans life doth not lie in multitude of riches but in Communion with God but the outward comfort of a mans life doth not consist in the multitude of riches many men of ordinary estates do enjoy more outward comfort then men of great Estates How many great men have no comfort in their Estates either God denies them of Heirs and that is a torment to them or gives them not Power to eat of that which they possess or God sendeth them such pains and sickness of Body that they spend their days with grief and their years with sighing Some way or other God sends them such crosses and troubles that eat out all the comforts of their Estates therefore let our Conversation be without covetousness and be content with the things which we have though it be little for God hath said He will never leave us nor forsake us 27. Beware of distracting cares fears sorrows about earthly things for these heart-distracting cares are mighty contrary to the life of faith they work not only death of soul but the sorrow of the world and grief about these things do hasten death of the body they drink and suck up the juyce of our natural Spirits All our distracting cares cannot add one Cubit unto our statures they cannot keep any of those crosses off yea they provoke God to bring those troubles and crosses that we in an unbelieving way care and perplex our Spirits about they make the troubles of our Pilgrimage more then otherwise they would be for they provoke God to continue the rod longer upon our backs and make the afflictions we have more tedious as a man in the stocks to take on and gall his legs to get out makes his suffering a great deal more then it would be if he sat quiet there is no way but to submit to God in all that befals us and not to distract our hearts in a carnal way about troubles before they come and be impatient and murmuring when they do come yet a Christian will find this a hard lesson to learn 28. Beware of the leaven of Hypocrisie as Christ calls it leaven indeed that leaveneth and sowreth our duties exceedingly beware not only of gross Hypocrisie such as declareth a man to be an Hypocrite but lay aside all other Hypocrisie that is more secret as in such particulars as these 1 When we are to pray before others not to depend upon the assistance of Gods Spirit as we do at other times but to fetch in some fine expressions by the strength of memory which we have used or read heretofore this is an evil to be watched against 2 It s the working of Hypocrisie in our hearts when we are enlarged in secret prayer to have a thought in our hearts to wish that such and such might hear us that they might think highly of our gifts 3 And so when we purposely give others occasion to commend us in conference 4 Or when we undervalew our selves not in the humility and truth of our hearts but purposely that others might commend us 5 Or when we boast of things beyond or live and speak at too high a rate of those things that God hath wrought by us too highly commend those that God hath wrought upon by us that we might have more praise 29. Watch against spiritual pride seeing that we have nothing but what we have freely received Spiritual pride is of all things most contrary to the dispensation of Grace in Christ wherein the Lord hath taken a way to save us wherein we are nothing but his free Grace is all in all let all Saints look upon themselves as the greatest of sinners for though we have not commited many great sins as Murder and the like that others have committed yet we have the same corrupt nature that the worst of men have and our sins have aggravations that make us greater sinners as the light we have of the love of God to us in Christ the Ordinances and means of Grace all these aggravate the sins of Believers and though we may be higher in Gifts and in place then many Saints yet be not high-minded but fear knowing that you are therefore a City set upon a hill which cannot be hid and God having given you eminent Gifts and brought you to some eminent place God will be more dishonoured by your falls and miscarriages which is a mighty humbling consideration that religion may have more dishonor by you then by twenty other Saints failings 30. Reprove sin for though some may turn again and rent you yet sometimes you may be an instrument of converting a soul and if this fall out but once in all thy life it s a great Mercy however it is thy duty to leave it to the Lord to give success in it 31. Be not peremptory and too earnest for the suddain removing of any affliction for if that it lasts long usually the more good is done thy soul by it 32. Be not weary of prayer and other duties because you do not always find such extraordinary joys and communion with God as sometimes you have done as sometimes the Lord hath been so present in prayer with a Saint that he cryed out Lord I could spend eternity thus Eternity thus Then hours and days to be in duty is no wearisomness to the Spirit though to the body but at other times the souls is tyred with a short walk a short duty but continue in