to these also he exerciseth much Long-suffering and Patience if you weigh First the Multitude of their Sins they are more than can be numbred more than the hairs of their head Psal 40. 12. Sins of Thoughts Words and Deeds Sins against Law and Gospel the first and second Table Sins in Duty and out of Duty Sins every day every moment Gen. 6. 5. Sins to the last hour of their Lives till their Tabernacle be pull'd down and the body of Death destroyed and this is not only the Condition of one or of a few Souls but of all the Elect every man that liveth 1 Kings 8. 46. There is none that sinneth not Secondly The Aggravation of their Sins taken First From the persons sinning The redeemed of God such as have been bought with a great price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. The pardon of whose former Sins cost so dear the Sons and Daughters of God Deut. 32. 19. Souls loved and chosen out of all the World to be his yea they only elected and all others left Amos 3. 2. Adopted to a glorious state to be Kings and Priests unto God to be Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ to be a name and a Glory to him and yet for these to be always grieving always provoking always reproaching of him is hard indeed but not too hard for Christ to bear Secondly From the person against whom they sin they sin against their Father who loved them with an everlasting Love drew them with the Cords of Love and led them in the paths of Love who hath given his Son for them and to them and fixed his unchangeable Love upon them imparted the royal Priviledges of Sons to them and yet to Sin against him who is the Father of Christ and their Father whose Glory was dearer to him than his own Blood is an aggravated Sin indeed They sin against God the Son who gave himself for them and bought them with a great price They sin against the holy Ghost who visited them in their low Estate and brought them the good News of Salvation who broke open their Prison-doors and let them forth into a glorious State of Liberty who quickned enlightned comforted and helped them in all their Soul-straits now to sin against this God the Father Son and Spirit cannot but exceedingly provoke the Soul of Christ Thirdly the State in which they sin O! how inconsistent is this with such an high and glorious Condition Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no more Dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace The Sins of such are the works of Darkness in the day time Acts of Enmity in a state of Reconciliation and grievous Bondage in times of Liberty Fourthly The dangerous Effects of their Sinning 'T is a corrupt Tree that brings forth sad Fruit even the Grapes of Sodom and the Wine of Gomorrah their Sins rob God of his Glory and bring a greater Dishonour to him than all the Sins of the World besides Rom. 2. 23. They grieve the Spirit of Christ whereby they are seal'd up to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They depress and load yea break the Heart of God Amos 2. 13. They endeavour to frustrate divine grace and render the Death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. 4. They do as it were reduce the Lord to a great strait what to do to save their Souls Hâ—s 6. 4. they Shipwrack all their Duties and put a Vanity upon all their Profession Labours and Sufferings such run in vain Gal. 2. 2. They sadden the Hearts and weaken the hands of the Godly and become stumbling blocks in their way Psal 119. 158. And they do a great deal of mischief to the wicked in prejudicing them against the Lord Jesus and his holy ways in hindring their Reception of the Gospel and depriving them of the Fruits and Labours of Christ towards their Conversion in justifying them in their wayes encouraging them in their Sins and in causing them to blaspheme the holy Name of God Fifthly The blessed Advantages they have enjoy'd against their Sins they have many Obligations against it and many Experiences of the Evil of it and yet still continue in it O this doth make the burden of the Sins of the Godly exceeding heavy to Christ and yet that he should bear them so patiently and not consume them That though provoked daily by the Brambles and scratching Abominations of his People yet his Fury should not be kindled into a terrible Flame to burn them up doth manifestly demonstrate his meekness to be exceeding great Secondly Christ's forbearing of his People is another Evidence of his Slowness to Anger He is not easily provoked Neh. 9. 17. How long doth he forbear before he strikes he first threatens and then waits calls and exhorts shakes the rod and then strikes gently Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious Thirdly His readiness to be reconciled to them when angry Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive O consider his perswading them to Repentance how doth he labour to convince them of their Sin and invite them to return he entreats reasons and beseecheth them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Lo how affectionately doth he receive them when they return how willingly doth he listen his Ear to their confession of Sin and bemoaning of their condition Jer. 31. 18. Fourthly The moderation of his Anger when raised shews his meekness Isa 27. 7 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East-wind Job 11. 6. Lastly His actual forgiving all their Iniquities Psal 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Luke 7. 47. Isa 44. 22. Vse Now if the Lord Jesus Christ be so full of meekness to his very Enemies so rich in gentleness sweetness of Nature and Patience to his People then learn this needful Lesson of him to be of a meek and patient Spirit Behold how quietly he took up his Cross and bore reproaches and Indignities from the worst of men yea how still he was under the infinite weight of his Father's wrath Learn meekness from his Gentleness as the Elephant doth from the Lamb when the Elephant is in his greatest Fury set but a Lamb before him and his wrath will presently be allay'd Learn of Christ to bear Injuries to restrain your Anger not to be angry but when Duty and the Cause of God calls you to it 'T is onely Sin should be the Object of a Christian's Anger Moses was calm at his own Reproaches but could not be still when God was dishonoured Learn from Christ to moderate the measure of your Anger he corrects in measure Let not your Anger exceed the desert of the Provocation Learn from him to time your Anger As a word fitly spoken so Anger seasonably exerted is beautiful and learn from him to remove it when the Cause is gone Anger should be as Physick
have left thee to the Will of thine Enemies yet I will redeem and secure thee I will raise up thy Walls and re-establish thy State for thy Walls are before me though thou seest them not I can and will preserve them thou art Weak but I am strong I faint not though thou faintest I am never weary though thou art tyred and as sure as I have Strength I will give it thee they that wait on the Lord shall renew their Strength Isa 40. 28. Again you cannot see the way to get out of your Troubles your Wisdom is non-plust but mine is not so There is no searching of my Vnderstanding O then do not give up thy Hopes O Jacob or conclude I have forgotten thee He hath promised he will not cast off his People nor leave them comfortless 1 Sam. 12. 22. Joh. 14. 18. And he is not as a man that he should lye c. Numb 23. 19. He hath given them his Seal to it 2 Cor. 1. 22. Eph. 4. 30. Nothing can separate his love from them Rom. 8. 35. 38 39. Object But I am afraid I am none of Christs nor have the Spirit because of the Filthiness Obdurateness and Irregularity of my Heart Answer If ever thou hadst the Spirit thou hast it still John 4. 14. Isa 59. 21. Gracious Souls may sometimes seem to themselves to be carnal and sold under Sin Rom. 7. 14. They may not see any good thing dwell in them ver 18. but be like to the slain that lye in the Grave Psal 88. 5. So Heman thought himself one free among the dead whom the Lord would remember no more in the Winter there 's little visible difference between the living and the dead Tree neither is there betwixt a Saint and a Sinner in time of Desertion and Temptation God's Children may be led captive by Sin and brought into Bondage by their Lusts Rom. 7. 23. and then 't is hard to say how unlike they are to them that never knew God and therefore Christian judge not thy self by thy changeable Frames if thou dost not repent of thy Change thy leaving thy old Courses and chusing God and Grace a Corinth 7. 10. If thou dost not approve of any Sin or secretly love thy filthy ways Romans 7. 15. 20. If thy Heart be discontented with thy state of back-sliding and longeth after a return to thy resting place then thou art gracious Jer. 31. 18. Psal 14. 7. If thou dost find a War betwixt thy Members and thy Mind the Law of the Spirit of Life warring against the Law of Sin and Death thy state is good Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Gal. 5. 17. The Plesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary one to the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes a vehement and continued Desire a Desire which is still in Action and working till we have it accomplisht not a sudden Motion or momentary Passion Look how Corruption and Lust works against Grace so doth Grace against Corruption for these two are contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the one lays Seige against the other as a Souldier in a Trench against a Fort. Now if it be so with thy Soul that thou findest in it two parties as Twins in the Womb opposing each other and dost experience something in thy Will against Sin as well as for it and something in thy Affections an Enemy to thy Corruptions as well as a Friend if thou longest as much for Freedom from Sin as from Hell and thy Heart cannot be at peace whilst the Body of Sin remains in thee then lift up thy head O Soul Judgment shall be brought forth to Victory and the top stone shall in due time be laid with shouting Grace Grace to it Fourthly Then you that are Christ's take heed you abuse not his Love Rom. 6. 15. What then Shall we sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid That is shall we yield our Souls to the Service of Sin as vers 16. or give a willing Consent to the Commission of it God forbid That is far be it from us noting it to be a vile and abominable thing to Sin under Grace and against Grace this is a most disingenuous thing to abuse love and requite Evil for Good it is most unjust to injure him that loveth you 't is a costly Sin and will have a bitter reckoning at last 't is a Spot notoriously like the Spot of Reprobation Jude v. 4. But if it may consist with Grace yet it will break your Bones and scourge you soundly e're God hath done what did David Solomon and Peter get by abusing divine Love Fifthly Admire Christ's love his love is admirable passing Knowledge you use to admire things that are strange and beyond your reach but what more miraculous and unparellel'd than this That the Lord of Glory who hath Angels at his Service should set his Affections on poor polluted Dust and Ashes on Fleas and Worms as Abraham and David acknowledged themselves to be that so illustrious a person as the Lord Jesus should fall in love with so deformed a piece as man in whom was neither Beauty nor Riches Vertue nor Honour and be enamoured of him so greatly as to take him into his Bosom and a conjugal Relation with himself 't is so stupendious a Miracle that 't is said he shall be admired of all that believe when he comes 2 Thes 1. 10. O Christians gather in all your Valuations from Creatures for your Creator and Redeemer Isa 63. 1. Sixthly Adventure on the Love of Christ swim on these deep Waters roll your selves on these divine Depths and confide in his new Covenant love for 't is unchangeable love to the end many waters cannot quench it Cant. 8. 7. Trust his Love I say in the way of Obedience Joh. 14. 21. 23. If his love be free then 't is not for your sake Deut. 7. 17. Not for your Beauty or Holiness but for his own good Pleasure Of his own Will begat he us Jam. 1. 18. He loves you Believers because you are his own Joh. 13. 1. And because it hath pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. If he loves those that love him then surely he will kindly resent the Ardency of thy Affections to him O adventure on this Love Seaventhly love him who hath so loved you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Psal 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints The Reason is laid down from the 19. verse to this O how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee c. The greatness and Excellency of Christ's Love deserves yours O love him at all times and in all things with a free supream steady rational and expressed love Lastly Be full of love to others for Christ's sake Eph. 5. 2. Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved you 1 Joh. 4. 11. Love all men such a love is in God he
Obedience of Christ are believers made righteous Rom. 5. 18 19. For this is necessary to Salvation that the Commandements be kept Math. 19. 17. And the Law fulfilled Math. 5. 17. Thirdly By his suffering all things we were liable to by the first transgression or any actual Sins flowing from it Phil. 2. 8. This he did in all the sufferings of his Life and at his death he bore the sins of believers for them 1. Pet 2. 24. He was wounded for our Transgressions Isa 53. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. And became a Sacrifice to God for Sin Isa 53. 10. Heb. 9. 26. The end of which was atonement Heb. 2. 17. He also paid the price that God demanded for their deliverance 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. Math. 20. 28. He gave himself a ransom for us Lastly By his Intercession Christ compleats his Purchase and carries on the salvation of his people Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea rather is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh Intercession for us Though by this he doth not purchase for his people yet he doth procure and apply mercy to them As I have largely shewn already therefore shall wave it now Thirdly What are those great and glorious things which Jâ—sus Christ hath procured by his blood First He hath purchased Believers themselves unto God Acts 20. 28. Feed the Flock of God which he hath purchased with his blood Rev. 5. 9. For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood Every saved soul is part of Christs purchase They are set apart for God Psa 4. 3. A peculiar People to God 1 Pet. 2. 9. Though the Father hath ordained them to life yet they are not actually his till purchas'd by Christ Hence it is that Believers Conversion is not casual or dependent upon Men or means but is the effect and fruit of Christ's blood purely designed and unavoidably perfected by Redemption-grace And hence also their Salvation is sure being founded on the purchase of Christ As sure as Christs blood cannot be spilt in vain so sure shall every Believer have his Salvation perfected because it depends upon the Obedience Merit and Suffering of Christ Hence also all the Means of Salvation and the Efficacy of them are certain to believers Eph. 4. 8. Secondly He hath Purchased pardon of Sin and peace with God Col. 1. 20. Having made peace by the blood of his Crosse Chap. 2. 13. Heb. 8. 12. Rom. 5. 1. There is a full Pardon of Sin of all the sins of believers and of every believers purchased by the blood of Christ Here are four things I shall speak to First That there is a full Pardon of sin procured The Scripture sets this forth by clear and pregnant arguments and by several terms that leave no room for the least Suspition to the believing Soul 'T is called sometimes Remission of Sin Luke 24. 47. And that Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies Dismission or Releasing All unchanged Souls are in Debt to God bound over to wrath and laid up in Prison but by Jesus Christ there is a discharge of this Debt procured the bond Cancell'd the Prison opened and the Sinners set free Isa 61. 1. Sometimes 't is call'd not imputing sin not laying it to the sinners charge Psa 32. 1 2. imputeth not iniquity that is doth not charge and reckon it and lay it on his account As a Merchant that sends his Bill to his Debtour and charges several sums upon him 'T is true every Believer is a Debtor in himself but God chargeth the Debt on another and not on them Sometimes 't is termed a covering or hiding of sin not from the sinners but from Gods judicial Eye Psal 85. 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Psal 78. 38. He being full of compassion forgave their iniquity Caphar to cover or conceal from this Root is derived Caphoreth the covering of the Ark or Mercy-seat in which was the Law or knowledge of sin but by the blood of Christ was covered or purged away Sometimes 't is expressed by not remembring sin any more Jer. 31. 34. I will remember their sin no more I will be propitiously merciful or pacifiedly favourable to their sins and their sinful errours and unrighteousness will I remember no more or I will not remember them again Here are two Negatives which make the denyal the more vehement 'T is an allusion to men that forgive and forget and it signifies that God will not upbraid or reproach them with them any more hence Paul challengeth all the world to lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Rom. 8. 33. Further 't is set forth by a taking away of sin Exod. 34. 7. Forgiving iniquity transgression and sin The word in the Original is lifting up or taking away all sorts of sins and iniquities Again 't is signified by blotting out of sin so that it shall never be seen more Isa 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions Like the Merchant when the debt is paid crosseth the Book throws Ink on it blots it out that it may not be read any more so God the Father casts the blood of Christ on a Believer's sin and blots it out so that Justice can lay no more to their charge Again 't is called a casting of sin behind his back Isa 38. 17. He doth remove them out of his sight as far as the East is from the West Ps 103. 12. He will cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Mic. 7. 18 19. O the latitude of Believers pardon and the full discharge of all their sin Sometimes God seems to be throwing off his people and giving them a final farewel but oh he returns again and casteth their sins not them into the depth of the Sea where they shall be certainly drowned as the Egyptianâ— were never to be seen more Thus you see there 's a full pardon procured for God's people not the least ground for a Question left to them Secondly There is not only a full pardon procured but a pardon of every sin All the sins of Gods people are forgiven Col. 2. 13. 14. Having forgiven you all trespasses blotting out the handwriting that not one debt may be seen as a Book or Bill that is blotted out can be never more sued against one 1 Joh. 1. 7. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin Jer. 50. 20. The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be nove and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve The most cruel Enemy upon the strictest search shall not find one they shall be all forgiven And indeed if Grace be free there is the same reason why all shall be
not at all your hopes of such great and glorious things upon uncertainties if you miss and fail in your propriety to this Estate you are undone for ever There 's no repairing the loss of Christ when you come to dye All your after-wit cannot mend this bad bargain when time is past If you build upon the sand till the building time be over you will have an Eternitie to repent your folly there 's no room for another adventure when the door of Heaven is shut If you have too carelesly and groundlesly laid your hopes of Christ and Glorie and and so are secure till the time be past you can no more make tryal of a better building O how great will the faâ—l of mistaken hopes be at last when the Hypocrite shall say too late wo is me I am deceived all my hopes for Heaven have Proved a Lye I did suppose my title was good and others thought so too I could tell of Experiences and dreamt of closing with Christ I have had my Convictions Desires Tastes Affections Parts Priviledges and high hopes of Glory But alas now I see my building is upon the sand wo to me all must down again I have run in vain and now I must sit down in sorrow to all eternity O lamentable when time is gone to come to such a pass And surely this will be thy case whoever thou art that hast not sure grounds of thy interest in Christ Therefore Christians take not up upon probable hopes but put it out of doubt that Christ is yours and this state is yours Quest But saies the Soul I confess it will be sad and doleful to hear of these excellent treasures and miss of all at last But how might I do to be satisfied in this matter to know that Christ is mine and his Riches mine For the resolution of this Case I shall speak to four things 1. How and in what manner a title to Christ and those glorious treasures are to be obtained 2. Who they are that do obtain them 3. What is requisite towards the obtaining of them 4. What are the certain and specifical fruits and effects of such an obtaining 1. How or in what manner may the soul come to have a Right to Christ Answ There are three usual ways by which persons obtain a Title to a thing 1. By Birth 2. By Purchase 3. By Gift First By Birth On this a natural Relation is founded A Child comes to have a right to his Fathers Inheritance by Birth This way the Blessing and Birth-right fell to the First-born So Esau had his Title to the Birth-right and Blessing could he have kept it Gen. 27. 32. So Manasseh had a right to the Blessing because he was the First-born Gen. 48. 18. Secondly Another way of obtaining a Title to a thing is by Purchase So Jeremiah bought a Field Jer. 32. 25 Thus men get a Title to Estates by Purchase when they part with a considerable value for them Thirdly Another way of Right to a thing is by Gift and Adoption So Jacob came to an Estate in the Land of Goshen and Joseph to the Government of Egypt and Moses the Son-in-Law to Pharaoh by gift and Adoption These are the three usual ways by which an interest is obtained By the first of these man can lay no claim to an interest in Christ By Birth we are Children of wrath Eph. 2. 3. By Purchase man can never get a claim to Christ There 's no buying this Pearl of price Therefore a Title to Christ must come the last way by Gift Faln man having lost his first Estate with all right to life and capacity to regain it by fulfilling the terms in order to it it must needs follow that now if ever he obtain life again it must be on a new account even of Grace The breach of the first Covenant forfeited all and bound over the Offender to death and damnation till which penalty be removed which lost man could never do there cannot possibly be any purchase made of new life and Salvation Rom. 5. 12. Sin hath passed over all men and Death by Sin for that all Men have sinned and by this fall all power of doing good is lost Rom 7. 18. So that now of necessity there must be a change of the first term on which life was to be had there being no possibility in lost man to fulfill them and if ever Salvation comes it must be by grace Eph. 2. 7. and gift The new Covenant gives out all his mercies freely Rev. 21. 7. There 's no place for creature worth and merit in order to Salvation under the Gospel he that will be saved must accept it as a gift That 's the first the way of obtaining Christ He is the Fathers gift and his own gift Gal. 2. 20. God gives Christ to whom he pleaseth not for any distinguishing worth in the Creature but from the good pleasure of his will Eph. 1. 11. 2. Who are they that obtain Christ and Salvation by him Answ It is they that come to and receive Christ by Faith Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God Christ is offerd in the Gospel by grace and is received by faith the acceptance as offer'd of God is that which interests the Soul in him This is called a comming to Christ Mat. 11. 28. A letting Christ into the heart Eph. 3. 17. A believing in him 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believes in the Son of God hath the witness in himself That is the witness of right to Christ and life ver 11. And this is the record God hath given us Life Eternall and all this in his Son For where a gift is freely tendred to all that will receive it there needs nothing to make that Person fit for that gift but accepting the offer as tenderd to him Neither doth this acceptance make a Person worthy of the gift but fulfills the terms in order to an Interest in it If a sum of money be offered to a poor man and he is called to receive it this receiving doth not merit it but appropriate it So that the Persons to whom Christ is tenderd is to sinners to all sinners to the chiefest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. And to every one of them Isa 55. 1. Ioh. 7. 37. And the terms on which he is held out is freelâ— without money and without price and nothing is required to entitle them to this glorious gift but their receiving it as tendred 3. What is necessary to the obtaining of Christ and and so of those glorious Treasures in him Without which Persons cannot will not come to him Answ There are prerequisites to the Souls obtaining of Christ Though they do not merit Christ yet are necessary to the receiving of him First That the Sinner be brought to see his absolute need of Christ and his everlasting undoneness without him This course the Spirit of God took
these several duties 1 Duty First Be exhorted to Thankfulness to the rich Grace of God for giving such a Treasure and Treasury as Christ is be continually offering up Praises and Thansgivings to God Flames of holy Affection be admiring the Grace of God as the Fountain and Spring of these waters of Life as the deep Mine of those glorious Treasures now to scrue up your Affections and wind up your Hearts to make way for holy Melody admiring triumphing and blessing God for giving Christ consider these following Particulars as motives to this choice duty First Consider what you were without Christ O! Christians look back and see what once you were Eph. 2. 11. Remembring that in times past you were Gentiles in the Flesh The worst of men an idolatrous sort of men Worshippers of Devils you were wild Olives Enemies to God in your minds Col. 1. 21. hateful and hateing one another Tit. 3. 3. Lying in your blood to the loathing of your persons Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. dead in Trespasses and Sins wretched miserable poor blind naked Rev. 3 17. Children of Wrath heirs of Hell born to Wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. under the Curse and Condemnation of the whole Law Gal. 3. 10. O lamentable state Obnoxious to Death liable to everlasting Destruction every moment no guard about you open to Devils liable to the pourings out of divine Fury and the openings of the deep Treasures of infinite Vengeance to have no security from the greatest Evils nor capacity ever to be deliver'd out of them obnoxious every minute to a fearful looking of a fiery Wrath and Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10. 27. This was once your state Believers you were stubble ready for everlasting Burnings Fuel for that Fire that can never be quenched and Food for the Worm that never dyeth O! sad case indeed and was not freedom and deliverance from such a state a Mercy worth your highest Thanks Had you but lookt into the place of Torment and dipt your Finger into that lake of Fire and Brimstone you would have wonder'd at Redemption-mercy and adored that Grace of God that pluckt you out of it and is not your acknowledgment of preventing Grace as due now as it would have been to an actual deliverance out of these Miseries Secondly Consider what you are by Grace if you are related to Christ you are brands pluckt out of the Fire Zach. 3. 2. Bond-slaves redeemed from the Pit Zach. 9. 11. Condemned Wretches sav'd from Wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Translated from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan into the Kindgdom of God Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Made Sons and Daughters to God called to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2. 12. Gal. 4. 6. Crown'd and invested with a Right to his Presence and most glorious Priviledges Eph. 2. 18. 19. Under the Eye of God under divine Care infinite Grace is an Undertaker for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. O glorious State Consider further how you lye upon the Heart of God as a Seal and Signet there Cant. 8. 6. Reckoned amongst his Jewels accounted his peculiar Treasure Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus made Vessels â—itted for Mercy fill'd with Mercy devoted to Mercy Rom. 9. 23. And Heirs of Glory Jam. 2. 5. O wonderful wonderful Grace this is matter of Praises to God to all Eternity Time would fail to read over your Inventory and to look through your Treasury 't is Work for an Eternity to do O believe what you cannot see and admire what you cannot know and study out what you yet understand not of your blessed state both privatively and positively consider'd and when you have found out a little of your Happiness then look on those beneath you put your Mercies into the scale with the World's Miseries rate your Redemption-interest with the lot of Christless Souls matter of the same Lump with you think on your Acquaintance Friends Relations Neighbours that have enjoyed the same Gospel-Priviledges with you and yet these are left to their Blindness to perish in the Error of their ways and must down into the deep for ever but you are exalted and lifted up to Glory O! What cause is here for Praises blessings Thansgivings and Hallejuahs to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Thirdly Consider the greatness of that Grace which hath made you to differ Ah! Believers Redemption-grace saw nothing more in you than in Judas Demas and those that perish you were of the same Lump cut out of the same piece there was not a Jot of Difference between you and the damned but only the good pleasure of Grace only divine Mercy laid it's hand upon you O that astonishing word because it pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. It was only the free grace of God that chose Jacob and left Esau Rom. 9. 13. It was not for your sakes Christians that the Lot was cast so well for you No Be it known to you O house of Israel be ashamed and confounded for ever in your own Eyes Ezek. 36. 32. The moving Cause the Wheel within the Wheel that made you adopted and others rejected was only the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1. 5. 7. It was from hence God so loved the World out of this Womb sprung all your Mercies it was Height of Grace Length Breadth Depth Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. 19. O ye heirs of Glory be affected astonished ravished with the sense of this rich grace of God towards you in giving Christ not only for you but to you and revealing him in you and uniting him to you by the Spirit from the same Mass of fallen man to single out some for pardon and leave others for Punishment O wonderful The Sense of this made the Apostle break out in such a holy Extasie Rom. 11. 33. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God O the depth A note of Exclamation and silencing wonder O consider this Love of God to your Souls 't is free Love without any Influences from the Creature full Love without Circumference or Bounds eternal Love without Beginning and without end Fruitful Love abounding in the rich Gifts and Procurements of it O the Gifts and Tokens God sends to you now and O the large store he lays up for ever for you 't is sympathyzing Love full of Bowels delighting Love full of pleasure in you 't is resting Love He will rest over them in his Love 't is immutable Love without Changes giving Love forgiving Love caring Love securing Love returning Love overcoming Love O! where shall I make an end How can you come to the bottom of this Deep wade a little further till you have lost your selves in holy wonder Can you see your brave houses fine Cloaths comfortable Relations and have such high
second Adam as Mediator the Difference between whom was great the first Adam but a Creature this a Creator or Quickning Spirit the first Adam had his Rise from the Earth this second Adam as to his person from Heaven whence saith Paraeus 't is evident the Apostle doth not speak here of the matter of Christs Body but of the Original and Dignity of his Person for he grants in this whole Discourse that Christ's Body is one and the same with ours else how can his Resurrection be a proof of ours and 't is said As by man came death so by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. And if Christ had not a real natural Body then he could not be the Seed of the Woman neither had his Death been a real Death or a satisfactory Propitiation if the same Nature that sinned had not also suffered And therefore it must needs be that Christ had a Natural Body He Eat Drank Spake Walked was weary smitten bound crucified which are also demonstrations of a Natural Body And as he had a perfect Body so had he a Soul also contrary to the Doctrine of Apollinaris or else he could not be a perfect Man and in all things made like unto his Brethren for 't is said when God made Man He breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Hence saith Lactantius A Soul-less Body is no Humane Body 'T is said His Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 26. 38. Had not Christ a real Soul he had not been a living man nor could be said to have died when he cried out Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit Luke 23. 46. And having said so he gave up the Ghost This Spirit the Lord Jesus gave up into his Father's hands was not his Divine Nature for that was one with and ever with the Father and therefore must needs be his Soul which was his Life and that departing he is said to dye and give up the Ghost Besides That Knowledge in which he is said to increase with those Humane Affections that manifestly appeared in him and those Acts of his Natural Will plainly proves his Soul these being the Essential Faculties of a Rational Spirit Neither could he have perfectly transacted the Office of a Mediator and undergone all the Sufferings that were to be borne for the Sin of Man had he not consisted of a Humane Soul as well as Body part of these Penalties yea the greatest part being Spiritual and such as none but the Soul could be fully sensible of And in point of Justice the Soul of man having sinned there must be a Soul also in the Redeemer to undergo Sufferings wherefore he must needs be perfect man in the Essential Parts of the Humane Nature Body Soul He had also the Properties of the Humane Nature both Essential and Accidental The Essential Properties of man as well of the Soul as Body were in him The Essential Properties and Faculties of the Soul which are the Understanding Will Affections were seated in his Nature he had a created Understanding that eminently shin'd out in his youthful years being able at Twelve years old to dispute with the Learned Doctors of his Day even to the astonishment of his Hearers Luke 2. 46 47. And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers And ver 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature He had likewise Natural Affections so as without sin He loved the young man in the Gospel for those Excellencies that were in him Mark 10. 21. And had a peculiar degree of Affection to John above the rest of the Disciples Joh. 19. 26. He had compassion on the multitude Mat. 9. 36. And was grieved for the Heart hardness of his Disciples Mark 3. 5. And had indignation against Peter's tempting him to decline his Redemption-work Mark 8. 33. He had also the Essential Properties of a Humane Body such as do flow from the Essence thereof and are so absolutely necessary to it as that without these the Body would cease to be a Body as Quantity Figure Members Dimensions He had a Material Body consisting of Flesh and Bone with its Lineaments and Members Face Hands Feet he had a Stature in which he grew as other men do Luke 2. 52. A Body circumscribed in a place that must needs have a Circumference and be in one place at once circumscriptively not definitively as Spirits are Neither does its Union with the Divine Nature or its glorified state in Heaven alter this Essential Property of a Body Nor is the Omnipotency of God a sufficient Argument to warrant the Body of Christ to be in Heaven and Earth and in divers places at once seeing God's Absolute Power never crosseth his Actual Power or infer a contrariety to his Truth and to the natural Being of things Neither did he assume the Parts and Essential Properties of Man only but the Infirmities also and accidental Properties of the Humane Nature though not those which were Personal and Vicious and procur'd by Personal Sins or defection in their particular Natures as Diseases Blindness Lameness Deformity which were not the absolute and universal Products of Original Sin incident to every one but arising from some particular Causes and peculiar to some Persons onely these our Lord Jesus did not take upon him but such Infirmities as were accidental to the whole Nature for that he himself also is compassed with Infirmities Heb. 5. 2. not sinful as culpable Ignorance and Errour but Natural Infirmities such as were incident to our Natures Sin excepted and such as were the Effects and Punishment of Sin these Christ took on him as inculpable Ignorance Humane Passions of Sorrow Fear Anger in the Soul Hunger Thirst Weariness Pain bloody Sweat and Death in the Body Mark 13. 32. Mark 11. 13. Math. 26. 38. Math. 9. 36. Mat. 16. 23. Joh. 19. 28. Joh. 4. 6. Heb. 5. 8. Luke 22. 44. Mat. 27. 50. And O what enriching Priviledges and full Consolation do flow to Believers from the Words assuming the Humane Nature into Personality with himself And what glorious Excellencies are in Jesus Christ as he is God-Man in one Person infinite Treasures which can never be traced out nor fully understood by the Children of men as will appear if we consider the kind of this Union and the Consequents of it First Consider the kind of this Union between the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ and O what a glorious Mystery is it First It is a real Union 't is not Nominal in Name onely or Metaphorical in Shew or Similitude but in Reality and Truth The Divine and Humane Nature do constitute one Person which is Jesus Christ We have already proved that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man he is really so in one
laid aside when there is no need of it True meekness may easily be discerned by its ends and grounds it must not proceed from a willingness to be aveng'd on others but to amend and reform them CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving THE next thing which discovers the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and greatness of his Personal Treasure is Sixthly His Liberality He is of a bountiful Disposition and this you know is of an endearing Nature Rom. 5. 7. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Psal 13. 6. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Now this Liberality of Christ appears First To all his Creatures Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 136. 25. Psal 145. 15. Whose heart is so large whose hand so wide as Christ's ver 16. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. And by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. There is never a moment but he is laying out upon his Creatures and that must needs be a large Treasure that maintains the whole World Secondly To his Enemies He doth good to those that hate him He gives large portions of this World's goods to Esau's And uncharitable Dives's do many times fare deliciously and are cloathed gorgeously by his Bounty The wicked prosper Jer. 5. 28. Nay he doth not only give them the fat things of this Life but the great things of his Kingdome O the Privileges and Favours that Hypocrites enjoy as well as Saints He sends his Gospel to every Creature and causeth the very Dews of Sion to fall upon his Adversaris Thirdly Especially to his Children for to these he gives First Good things Whatever they have of him shall be good Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good Their very Afflictions are for good their Wormwood and Gall is good Rebukes of God upon them stripping and humbling Providences nay their very Corruptions by this Bounty prove to their advantage Secondly All good things He gives Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. All the good God sees fit for them and they are capable to receive shall be distributed to them Thirdly Great things Not Common but choice Mercies passing Knowledge Mysteries not onely to the World but to themselves Things unsearchable and things unutterable Things that cannot be known as they are nor valued as they deserve What one Nation saith David to God is like thy People whom God went to redeem for a People to himself to make him a Name and to do for them great things and terrible 2 Sam. 7. 23. Redemption-work brings forth great and terrible things for redeemed Souls O the great things that God doth and Christ gives to every ransom'd Soul Job 37. 5. Things which we cannot comprehend as you will see if you give but a general Survey on the Inventory of Christ's Gifts I shall instance in some of the most remarkable First That unvaluable Gift of Light He is the Light of the World Joh. 8. 12. How deformed is Darkness how beautiful is Light Eccles 11. 7. He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory c. Luke 2. 32. He is the bright Morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom the light of Life and all true Wisdom comes now this is a great and excellent thing Eccles 2. 13. Wisdom excelleth Folly as far as Light excelleth Darkness and this you know is very far Wisdom is preferred before Rubies and the most excellent things Prov. 8. from ver 10. to 20. That must needs be great which all the World cannot purchase but this is Wisdom now all true Wisdom comes by Jesus Christ he is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. So who hath brought to light the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hidden things of God and that could by no ways be known but by Revelation No man hath known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him Matth. 11. 27. He giveth Knowledge and Wisdom to whom he pleaseth that special Wisdom which none of the Princes of this World can attain unto 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Secondly Life He hath brought Life to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is not this a great gift All that a man hath will he give for his Life Job 2. 4. O! then what is Life from the dead to his people Eph. 2. 1. He is our Life Col. 3. 3. I am come that they may have Life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10. 10. Thirdly His Love all the World and Houses full of Treasures cannot be compar'd to Love Cant. 8. 7. Should Christ give all the World and withhold his Heart it were but a mean gift Favours are valuable by the love whence they come Isa 63. 9. In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them Psal 63. 3. Deut. 33. 3. All Believers are set as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. He hath loved them with an everlasting Love they have his Heart and none else Fourthly Himself There being nothing greater than himself to demonstrate the Largeness of his Heart to his people he gave himself Eph. 5. 25. Who loved the Church and gave himself for it that is sold himself to purchase them gave himself to divine Justice to satisfie the Law and to taste of Death for them all that he had as Mediator he parted with for them and hath given himself to them also Heb. 8. 10. And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People They have his person Hos 3. 3. Thou shalt not be for another so will I also be for thee All his Beauties and personal Perfections as described Cant. 5. ver 9. to the end all Believers have a Marriage right unto him by way of Gift again he hath given them his Purchase all that he hath bought with his Blood Math. 26. 28. This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for you Fifthly His Laws and Scepter to guide them through the World and to steer out their Course of Duty and Safety and this is a great thing Hos 8. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law Rabab the excellent or honourable things of my Law for this word notes Quality as well as Quantity and if the things of God's Law are so great what are the Truths of the Gospel called so great Salvation Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous Psal 147. 19. Sixthly His Spirit This he gives to all his People Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13 We are all by one
be undone for him your Souls are safe your best Interests are secur'd and all that God sees fit for you is beyond the reach of Men and Devils Secondly All the trust committed to Christ for you shall be made good He will perform it to a tittle The Father hath intrusted your Souls your Graces your Comforts your Names your Supplies your Strength your Interest your Peace your Welfare and your Glory with him who is faithful and cannot wrong you O Believers if he will not suffer men or Devils to do you harm surely he himself will not wrong you Psal 105. 14. Thirdly All your Relation-Rights shall be made good to you Look what is due to you from the Lord Jesus as your Friend as your Brother as your Husband and as your Head shall be made good to you Fourthly All that is due to you upon the strictest terms of the Gospel shall be communicated to you All that Christ hath purchased or God hath promis'd you shall have in due time Christ can defraud no man Luk. 12. 42. Fifthly Here 's Comfort to you under all the wrongs you meet with on Earth that you have a faithful Friend in Heaven Here the best of men are a Lye they are not what you conceive them to be they don't answer the expectation you have from them But Christ will never fail you of that Trust you have reposed in him he will be infinitely better but cannot be worse than your expectations Vse 5. Let this exhort first Sinners If Christ be so faithful O then chuse him for your Friend The fidelity of your present Friends cannot be compared with Christ Secondly Believers Trust in Christ Commit your Souls and all your Concerns to him Learn faithfulness from him and labour to be like him in your fidelity to God and Men. So much of the first Branch concerning Christ's Personal Riches CHAP. XVII Shewing that Christ is become a Purchaser in the behalf of Believers How he hath made this Purchase and what he hath purchased I Now come to the Second Branch of Christs Unsearchable Treasure which is his purchas'd Riches Those Treasures which he hath as Mediatour procured for all that come unto him And in the prosecution of this I shall shew 1. That the Lord Jesus became a Purchaser in the behalf of his People 2. How and by what means he made this Purchase 3. What he hath procured by this Purchase And in this I shall use what brevity I may having spent a greater time already on this Subject than I intended First The Scriptures do hold forth the Lord Jesus to be a Purchaser One that hath bought and procured great and glorious things by a Price Acts. 20. 28. Feed the Flock of God which he hath Purchased with his own blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is which he hath acquired or gotten to himself to be a peculiar People by the blood or cruel bloody death of his Son So Grotius So Heaven is called the purchased Possession Eph. 1. 14. Vntil the Redemption of the purchased possession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is exceeding significant in the Originall both words being near of a signification until or to the purchasing of the purchas'd so 't is in the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Buying or ransoming by a price yea a full sum so much as the worth of the thing requires As prisoners are redeemed by a full price So Erasmus and Aretius It signifies also a full and compleat Redemption as the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implies being added to the Primitive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I have shewn is an obtaining by purchase or an asserting or vindicating a thing to be ones Propriety by right and purchase which fully proves Christ to be a Purchaser so 1. Thes 5. 9. To obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the getting or purchasing of Salvation by Christ So 1. Cor. 6. 20. Ye are bought with a Price 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is a buying in the Market or publick place by paying the price demanded So that these expressions fully Prove Christ to be a Purchaser one that hath procured great things by buying them at a Price Secondly How and by what means hath Christ procured and purchased these great things First By giving himself in the room and stead of fallen Man to procure their Atonement and Salvation Eph. 5. 25. As Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He delivered over himself freely and knowingly To what See Ver. 2. For an Offering and Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first word signifies any Sacrifice the second a bloody Sacrifice saies Zanchy So Christ made over and delivered up himself to this end to become a bloody Sacrifice for his People and to fulfil the Fathers Terms for the saving of all that come to him This he did considerately and willingly Heb. 10. 7. This was according to the agreement betwixt the Father and the Son Isa 49. ver 2. to 10. Secondly By a perfect and perpetual Obedience of all those Laws that were or are required of us in order to our holinesse and Salvation and by a subjection to and Obedience of the special Law of a Mediatour This hath two parts First His Obedience of what was required of Man by any Law By the Law of Nature or by any Instituted Law either Moral Ceremonial or Judicial All this did Christ submit to and perfectly obey as in the stead of all Believers Mat. 3. 15. It became him to fulfill all Righteousnesse Whatever holinesse or Obedience was required of Man in the state of Innocency or since his fall And therefore 't is said Gal. 4. 4. He was made under the Law as a Man or Minister bound by his own consent to the full Obedience of it Secondly His obeying all those things that were required of him as Mediatour Phil. 2. 7. That he should make himself poor and of no reputation and take upon him the form of a Servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He emptyed himself of his Glory He stript himself of all his royal robes and made himself of no account This was not required by any Law natural or positive but by the Law of a Mediatour Again he humbled himself to the death Phil. 2. 8. He had power or liberty absolutely considered to lay down his life or not to do it but with respect to his Mediatorship he had a Commandement to lay it down Joh. 10. 18. Further 'T was by this Law Christ was bound to do all that he did for his People Joh. 17. 19. Only for their sakes sanctifie I my self So ver 9. I pray for them I pray not for the World So he was not to strive or open his mouth but patiently to bear whatever was laid upon him Isa 42. 2. Isa 53. 7. Mat. 12. 19. And by this
undeserving in themselves into a state and Relation of Sons and Heirs bringing them into a new Family and Condition And such is the Adoption of the Sons of God 't is a Translation of called and sanctified Souls out of the Family of Satan into the Family of God Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3. 2. Now are we the Sons of God And this Adoption-Priviledge is the Fruit of the Death of Christ Gal. 4. 4 5. When the fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons For though this Adoption be an act of Grace in God to take Souls into Sonship with him yet 't is by Jesus Christ Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ That is To be redeemed and made fit for it by Jesus Christ Now in the Adoption of Sanctified Souls into the Family of God there are these five things A change 1. of Relation 2. Of Obligation 3. Of Disposition 4. Of Condition 5. Of Duty First There 's a change of Relation they were the Children of the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Heirs of Hell and under the Power of the God of this World Eph. 2. 2. Who rules in the Children of Disobedience They were of the kindred of Hell of that Family whose Head and Ruler is Satan This was their state when Redemption-grace found them Now Adoption alters this relation and being taken out of this Family by effectual calling they are by Adoption entred into a new Relation and made the Sons and Daughters of God Gal. 4. 4. Now they can call God their Father Christ their Husband the Saints their Brethren verse 5. Eph. 2. 19. Ye are no more Strangers and Forreigners but Fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Secondly A change of Obligation they were bound to the Law of Satan under the Law of Sin and Slavery of the World led Captive by Satan at his Will Col. 1. 13. But when Adoption-grace comes it delivers them from this Obligation and they are brought under the power of God and Scepter of his Kingdom Acts 26. 18. Rom. 6. 14 17 18. Heb. 1. 8. Thirdly a change of Disposition they have the Nature and Spirit of Children Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts c. They were by Nature Enemies but now are Children they have a disposition to love God to honour and obey him 't is their Meat and Drink to do his will Joh. 4. 34. Mal. 1. 6. To serve Christ before was burdensome but now delightful The Love of Christ constrains them 'T is as natural for them now to obey Christ as ever it was to rebel against him they are never satisfi'd but when God is well pleas'd Fourthly A change in their State and Condition they are brought into a state of Glorious Priviledges in respect of 1. Liberty 2. Rights and Interests 3. Boldness 4. Instruction 5. Correction 6. Provision 7. Protection 8. Inheritance And by these the state of an Adopted Soul appears to be a glorious state First They are brought into a state of Freedom Joh. 8. 36. If the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word Imports that Freedom that is opposed to Servitude as it appears also by the word ver 33. Christ tells them ver 32. The truth shall make them free And they answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any Man So that by freedom here Christ intends a delivering of them from that bondage they were in by reason of sin and Satan and he tells them that this is that freedom that comes by him all that are the Children of God are free Men and Women 1 Cor. 7. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty The Apostle tells them ver 8. That the Ministration of the Spirit is much more glorious than that of the Law or letter that is the Ministry of the Gospel is far more Excellent than that of the Law which he proves by several arguments And here he tells us that the Lord is that Spirit that is the Lord Jesus is the Author of that Spirit or Spritual Ministration under the Gospel and where that Spirit or Administration is or where the Soul is brought into this Gospel-state there is liberty Rom. 8. 21. Now this liberty that all the Children of God are brought into is a two-fold liberty 1. A liberty from Servitude 2. A liberty to service Or as a Reverend writer expresseth it A liberty from the Family of Satan and liberty in the Family of God There are some things which all Adopted Souls have a liberty from and some things they have a liberty in or to First All that are Adopted in Christ are set free from that slavery they were in under the Law Sin Satan and the World They are freed from Bondage under the Law from Bondage-work and Bondage-wrath All that are under the Law of Moses as all are who are out of Christ are oblig'd to Bondage-work to the work of slaves not of free Men. First they are bound to do work that is above their strength which they can never perform Rom. 8. 3. The Law was weak through the flesh that is there was an impotency in fallen Man ever to fulfil the Law or attain life by it The Law required perfect and perpetual Obedience but this could never be performed by sinful Man and therefore legal-work was hard work work never to be done by fallen Man and this is bondage-work Secondly Legal-work is mercenary work Do this and live Gal. 3. 12. The Man that doth them shall live in them Like a Servant if he doth his work he shall have his wages if not he must expect nothing and this is hard indeed that the poor weak Creature that is utterly destitute of all strength worth and ability must have no more than can deserve Thirdly 'T is rigorous work prest by arguments of severity threatnings of death and Hell to all the Transgressours of it Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Fourthly 'T is fruitless work works that cannot make the comers thereunto perfect Heb. 9. 9. 'T is Labour in vain Heb. 10. 1. Fifthly 'T is work without Wages no reward at all could ever be received from it Gal. 3. 21 22. For had there been a Law which could have given Life verily Righteousness had been by the Law But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin c. There is no Life no Crown no
Kingdom at all is the reward of all such labours Sixthly 'T is work that will surely end in death Let men work never so hard yet they must dye and be damn'd at last for falling short and this is bondage-work indeed but the Children of God are freed from this work Rom. 7. 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we are held that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the letter Again As they are freed from bondage-work so are they freed from bondage-wrath The wrath of God is upon all the Children of disobedience all Christless Souls are Children of wrath bound over to an Inheritance of wrath Eph. 5. 6. Chap. 2. 3. Because the Law worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. It brings all its Servants under wrath under the curse and under death Rom. 6. 23. But from this also are all the Sons of God freed Heb. 2. 14. And destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil And not only from the Devil but from the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 6. 14. Chap. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 13. Again they are free from all yokes of bondage laid on their Consciences by Men. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men Do not give up your Faith and Conscience to their Commands obey not them contrary to the Command of Christ Gal. 1. 10 11. if I yet pleased men I should not be the Servant of Christ This is the first part of liberty the Children of God are brought into even a liberty from Servitude Secondly They have a liberty to service in the Worship of God Their service of God is free and ingenuous Service their offerings are free-will Offerings Psa 119. 108. Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth That is those offerings or vows which my mouth hath freely offered The Children of God are a willing people Psa 110. 3. They serve the Lord freely from the heart Rom. 6. 17. They obey from the heart that form of Doctrine deliver'd to them They delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 22. The strictest Service of God is to them the most desired liberty the Commands of God are no wayes grievous to them that is to their inner Man indeed so far as flesh and Corruption get head they drag heavily to duty when the spring of their motions even their child-like love to God is abated and all the Indispositions of a child of God flow from decaies of love to God and some abatement of the Adoption-Spirit in him The Children of God are never in their Element or as they would be but when their hearts slow out after God and they can run the paths of his Commandements this they pray and labour for Psa 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart So ver 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Their hearts move naturally after God when in their right temper As the Waters run towards the Sea and the Sun runs his race Their service of God comes from a new Principle even from Faith that works by love and is directed to new and higher ends than all the services of Hypocrites The sense of divine love constrains them to duty that they cannot but chuse the things that please God further than they are bound back by Corruption and Temptation their works are wrought in God from a Principle of life raised and revived by grace They have no mercenary aimes in their Duties to attain any carnal selfish end below God but their Motives are high and heavenly pure and spiritual as the Love of God and care they have to please him They see a beauty in Holiness and a pleasantness in the ways of God and find a sutableness in their hearts to love these though under never sâ— great discouragements and disadvantages aâ— to flesh and blood hence 't is a Child of God cannot cast off God and his Worship though he see nothing of good or comfort coming in by them nor be perswaded to consent to any thing that is sinful though to save his purse person yea life it self All the threatnings of Men or visible dangers in his way can't bring his heart to comply with ungodliness or speak or do any thing against God his people or wayes 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against the truth None but a Judas can come with a Band of men and Officers against Christ to apprehend him or his people for owning him Micaiah would speak nothing against the truth though to please a King 1 Kings 22. 17. Nor Jacobs Soul enter into the secret of the wicked in their sinful enterprise A fearful Peter may forsake the professing of Christ for a time but he will not be seen on the side of those that do oppose him no this is far from the true Spirit of Gods Children We read of the Christians in the primitive times that left their preferments rather than they would be seen against Christ people and the whole Legion chose rather to lay down their lives than to oppose their fellow Christians Such shufflings and Compliances are opposed to the Spirit of the true Children of God they can run after God in a Wilderness but cannot be drawn against God by all the World Secondly They have new Rights and Interests Believers being once entred into the Family of God by Christ are presently invested with new and Glorious Rights whicâ— they never had before nor any besides the Chilâ—ren of God have or can ever have which will appear in these fix things First They have a right to the special and blessed presence of God the Father Son and Spirit Psa 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence The upright that is the faithful the Children of God these shall dwell in thy presence in thy special presence for all Men and Devils are in the general presence of God but the Saints shall be in Gods special presence and not step into it only as strangers may but continue for ever as Sons Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Psa 26. 6. Secondly They have a right to the purchase of Christ to all the fruit of his Obedience and sufferings His blood is theirs with all the procurements of it Isa 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed whatever Christ dyed for according to the agreement betwixt the Father and him is the Right of his Children Joh. 17. 9. Thirdly They have right to the Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises Whereby that is by the knowledge of him as ver 3. Or through Faith in him that is by Jesus Christ we come to have