say it is such Raiment as is only to be had and bought of this Wonderful Counsellor the Amen the Faithful and True Witness and not such White raiment as is to be bought here below by which some persons distinguish themselves from others and in which they glory as if they were because of this better then others and what this white raiment here commended to us is we may be helped to know and understand by the Holy Spirit in the Scripture of Truth namely that it is righteousness even the righteousnesses of the Saints according to what we find spoken Rev. 19. 8. It was granted unto her the Lambs Wise that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white For the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints viz. that wherewith they are cloathed and adorned And so frequently in the Holy Scriptures righteousness is compared to a Garment cloathing or covering as where Job saith I put on righteousness and it cloathed me Job 29. 14. And again let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousness Psal 132. 9. So it is said The Lord hath covered me with the robe of righteousness Isa 61. 10. And the joyning here Gold and Raiment together aptly answereth to that motive and inducement given by the Holy Ghost to perswade us to receive Wisdoms instruction viz. That with her are durable riches Gold tried in the fire and righteousness white raiment Prov. 8. 18-20 So that the White raiment here commended to us appeareth to be righteousness But this righteousness which is the White raiment is not as after may be shewn our own righteousness according to the law or any works of righteousness of ours For by the deeds of the Law can no flesh living be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 20. But the White raiment here spoken of is 1. The righteousness of God without the Law even that righteousness which Christ hath wrought by and compleated in himself for us and is become there-through for this is his name Jehovah our righteousness Jer 23. 6. And so Jesus Christ himself through and by means of that righteousness he hath wrought and compleated for us in himself is likened and compared to a Garment and believers are instructed to put him on as Rom. 13. 14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ And as many as are baptized into Christ are said to have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. And it is both taken for granted they have put on the new man Christ and they are instructed still and further to put him on Col. 3. 10. Ephes 4. 23 24. And they that follow after righteousness are such as seek the Lord for it even the Lord of whom the righteousness of the Servants of the Lord is Isa 54. 17. And in whom it is Isa 45. 24. And who is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. Yea that righteousness which is come by him it is unto all that have sinned and upon all that believe as their Ornament and Raiment Rom. 3. 21-23 And in the Prophet he is oftentimes prophesied of under this Title or expression of righteousness As I bring near my righteousness it shall not be far off Isa 46. 13. And my righteousness is near and near to be revealed Isa 51. 5. 56. 1. with Rom. 3. 21 22. And Christ is and in him appeareth the righteousness of God and he is become righteousness for us 1. In taking our Nature upon him and therein being made sin and a curse for us and so by cying our death even tasting death by the Grace of God for every man and so this righteousness is without the Law without the works or Sacrifices thereof though Christ did no sin in the days of his flesh but always did those things that pleased the father and observed the Law yet that could not be righteousness for us but to the end he might prepare and become righteousness for us he must have our sins laid upon him and therefore God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us by imputing the trespasses of the World to him that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 19-21 As well as also he must dye our death according to that If righteousness come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. In which is implied that to the end he might bring in everlasting righteousness he must dye and be cut off from the Land of the living Dan. 9. 24-26 righteousness could not come by the Law namely by our keeping the Law of ten words or by any works of ours according thereto for by the Law is the knowledge of sin in all we do in our best as well as in our worst works nay righteousness could not come by Christ's keeping and observing of it though he did always keep it and never transgress it in thought word or deed for then he died without any just or sufficient cause he died in vain And again righteousness could not come by the Law of the former Priesthood or by any gifts Offerings or Sacrifices appointed by it for then Christ died in vain It was not possible the bâ—ood of Bulls and Goats could take away-sin Where ore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt-offerings and Sacâ—ifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God namely to do that which the Law could not do to take away sin and bring in righteousness Heb. 10. 4-10 To this end he was the Lamb of God who was slain for us he was delivered for our offences And it was needful that Christ should suffer for our sins being put to death in the flâ—sh that this raiment of righteousness might be prepared for us for we had sinned against God in our fiâ—st father Adam and were thereby become liable unto the judgment of God and had deserved death in an utter separation from the presence of God and God who is a God of truth and without iniquity and to whom it is impossible to lye and therefore he cannot by any means in clearing clear the guilty had said and threatned In the day thou eatest thereof in dying thou shalt dye Gen. 2. 17. And cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them namely as is explicated by the Apostle that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. And therefore man having sinned and thereby fallen under curse and death unless the justice of God be satisfied and his truth fulfilled there can be no righteousness for us no accepting of us no forgiveness of our sins nor mercy to be shewn to us For Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law shall pass till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. Therefore to the end that Christ might
is a Garment for beauty and Glory Hence it is said The Lord God hath covered me with a Robe of righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself as a Priest with Ornaments Isa 61. 10. 4. 2. Exod. 18. 2-4 2 King 22. 10-30 Rev. 7. 9-13 14. Christ hath washed them from their sins in his own Blood and hath made them Kings and Priests unto their God and as such he is clothing them and they by faith are putting on this beautiful and glorious Raiment Rev. 1. 6. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5-9 And the fruits of this righteousness render them comely among men so as being clothed and filled therewith they have a good report of all men as it is said of Demetrius 3 John 12. Though yet they hate them and hereby those that speak evil of them as of evil doers shall be occasioned to glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 9-11 12. And hereafter they shall be gloriously arayed herewith as with a Robe and as Kings shall reign with Christ on earth they shall then inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace then shall God bring forth their Righteousness their white raiment as the light and their judgment as the noon day Rev. 5. 10. 20. 4-6 Psal 37. 6-11-22-29-34 Isa 32. 1. Such like instructions are contained in this end here proposed to move and ingage us to buy this white raiment here commended to us We should now come to speak to the third thing here counselled unto to wit To anoint our eyes with eye-salve but to this in due time God assisting This which hath been said shall suffice for this first instruction And we now come to speak to the second Viz. 2. That Christ Jesus and this preparation in him may be had and partaken of by those that are miserable and wretched and poor and blind and naked and know it not while it is called to day This is imported to us in this counsel in that he saith who is the Amen the faithful and true witness I Counsel thee c. And this will further appear if we diligently mind and consider these things 1. That the ground and cause of all was for every sinful soul of mankind 2. The preparation is made ready in Christ the last Adam for all 3. This is discovered to all and especially where the Scriptures are vouchsafed in due time and they are invited 4. It may be had freely without any worth or worthiness 1. The ground and cause of all this provision in Christ was for all men for every sinful soul of mankind That is to say Christ was made of a Woman made under the Law for the good of all and to the end he might become a fountain for all according to their needs and capacities Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. He came into the World and was abased therein and further that he might become the Saviour of the world Joh. 3. 17. 4. 42. 1 Joh. 4. 14. And this was not whispered or spoken in secret or in the ear by our Saviour but publickly spoken and loudly proclaimed by him that we might know he was not ashamed of reporting this good news Jesus cried and said If any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not in this day of grace and patience for I came not to judge the world but to save the world Joh. 12. 44-47 It was in love in infinite pity and compassion to the world of mankind and so to those that are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked that God gave his only begotten Son And therefore it is thus expressed by his Son and that disciple whom Jesus loved God so loved the World so infinitely in expressibly yea inconceivably merciful and kind was he that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 8-11-14 As to say 1. Jesus Christ took upon him the nature of all men and was as the Son of Abraham and David and so the witness and evidence of the truth and mercy of God to them in whom God hath shewed himself to be a God keeping covenant and mercy Luk. 1. 54 55-68-75 Acts 13. 32 33. So also the Son of Adam Luk. 3. 23-38 Yea the Second man who was foreordained of God and interposed himself for the good of mankind while there was none in a personal being but one even the First man in whose loyns all were and who was the representative of all mankind and so in his room became the Publick man for the good recovery and bringing back of mankind to God which had departed from him in the First man and so were justly banished from him in the righteous sentence of his Law 1 Cor. 15. 47. Yea He the Second man is the last Adam of whom the first was the figure or type 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 5. 14. And the truth falleth not short of the type in those things most materially intended thereby but rather exceedeth it as the Apostle giveth us to understand Rom. 5. 15 16. Heb. 9. 13 14. And hence when Christ was actually born the Angel saith Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for to you men as distinguished from and opposed to us Angels Heb. 2. 16. is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord And the multitude of the heavenly host confirm and set their seal to the truth hereof praising God and saying glory be to God in the highest on earth peace goodwill not evil will towards men Luk. 2. 10-14 Hence also he is so frequently called the Son of Man yea only so called when one person is spoken of indeed when spoken to Ezekiel and Daniel are so called but he is never so called when spoken to but always when spoken off or speaking of himself I say He is so often called the Son of Man even of that kind or species of creatures because he partook of the nature of man and undertook their cause and was the Heir of man's misery to the end he might become their Saviour And by means of the King 's making a marriage for his only begotten Son in which our nature was married to the Divine nature in the person of the word the Son of God all things are ready and prepared for all mankind Which doth clearly intimate to us that he came into the world in a publick capacity and condition for the good and behoof of all men Matt. 22. 1-4-8 Luk. 14. 16-23 Isa 25. 6. 2. And being made of a woman he was therein and by the will of God made under the Law and had the guilt of our old sins the wages whereof was the first death imputed to him and laid upon him When God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself he did not impute their trespasses to them But he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us who knew it and were guilty of it and
living Waters but such as are insensible also such as are poor miserable wretched blind naked and know it not and this is generally true as with respect to Gods preventing men with his Grace that bringeth Salvation to all men when he first calleth to and counselleth men in and with his glorifying his Son unto them they are dead in trespasses and sins they are deaf and wretched and blind they know not the sadness of their condition hence he calleth to such Hear ye deaf and look ye blind that ye may see Isa 42. 18. They are at first dead to whom the Son of God sendeth forth his voice destitute of all Spiritual liâ—e and light they are ignorant and out of capacity by and wisdom or light of theirs to know what their condition is John 5. 25. And hence men generally have such a good esteem of themselves and of their condition and ways and think highly of themselves as the Jews who though they did search the Scriptures yet would not come to Christ that they might have life and therefore had not the love of God in them yet they thought themselves to be in a good Case and that Eternal life did appertain to them John 5. 39 40. And those that made mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness For they were obstinate and their neck as an Iron Sinew and their brow Brass yet they called themselves of the holy City and stayed themselves upon the God of Israel Isa 48. 1 4. Yet to such as these he calleth and giveth good Counsel to simple ones who know nothing yea who love and that for a long time their simplicity and to fools who hate knowledge Prov. 1. 20 23. He counselleth foolish ones who know not him and therefore know not themselves for he is the light of the world yea indeed all the Sons of Man are foolish and ignorant until or further then they are inlightned by him Hence that cry and call Unto you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Man Oh ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart to signifie to us that the Children of men are simple and fools and yet are called upon and invited to come to Christ Prov. 8. 4 6. This may give us somewhat to answer those that abuse the Scriptures and pervert them to the hurt of themselves and others when the Holy-Ghost inviteth every thirster to come to the waters to buy and eat this is onely meant say they of such as are sensible of their sad condition and such as are gracious thirsters which hunger and thirst after righteousness when as indeed it appeareth most directly to be spoken to such as thirsted out of necessity only and who were seeking rest and satisfying in vain things that could not profit them and therefore were reproved for so doing and this I am sure is no gracious frame or qualification for it is added Why do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and your labour or that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 1 2. So when our Saviour saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden this is spoken say they of such as laboured for Christ and were weary of and willing to part with their sins when as such are hereby invited who did seek rest where it was not to be had such as sought to know the father by the wisdom of this world and so failed of their expectation Hence our Saviour calleth them all of them to him who knoweth the father and none but he and him to whomsoever he will reveal him and in coming to him he would give them rest from their burdening and unprofitable labour Mat. 11. 25 29. And this is sutable to what we have noted in this place we see here such are called upon and incouraged to buy and purchase and good counsel is given to them whose case and condition was very bad and lamentable and yet they knew it not they were insensible 〈◊〉 of it and thought otherwise and better of themselves then was meet 4. In that he giveth such Councel to these that were ignorant of their state he signifieth to us that the way to make men sensible of their condition when their case is wretched and miserable and they know it not is to commend to them and lift up before them Christ and those treasures in him and to direct them thereunto and not at first to preach the Law or otherwise to use it then according to the glorious Gospel The Gospel of Christ is the Arm of the Lord in which his power is put forth and Spirit given to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death so Christ sath The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor and therewith to preach recovery of sight to the blind to preach their eyes open in preaching the Gospel Luke 4. 18. So our Savionr saith The Holy Ghost shall reprove and convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment in and with glorifying Christ this way he should shew unto them and open their eyes to behold the sinfulness of their sin in not believing on Christ and the vanity and unprofitableness of their Idols of their works of righteousness judgment c. John 16. 8 14. In like manner also the Apostle Paul was sent with this Gospel to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and so to shew them what a sad condition they were in how well thoughted soever they were of themselves Acts 26. 18 23. Prov. 8. 4 6. Hence also the Gospel is called The Word of Life Phil. 2. 16. The Words of Christ are Spirit and life to them that believe not John 6. 63. The Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple that know nothing Psal 19. 7. 119. 130. The Gospel is light the Medium for discovering all things in their right and proper Colours and for giving sight to us also 2 Cor. 4. 4. Surely the lifting up Christ is the way to make men run unto him that were formerly insensible of their sad condition without him because they were ignorant of and unacquainted with his excellency Isa 5â— 5. Cant. 5. 8 16. with Chap. 6. 1. In lifting him up thereby the Spirit of God sheweth unto us and convinceth us of our deadness as the Apostle hereby judged and reasoned and herein shewed all were dead condemned to dye and helpless in their misery and insensible of their condition in that One dyed for all and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 5. Particularly from the Counsel it self we may note these instructions 1. That there is a rich treasury and full and compleat provision answering to the needs of those that are poor c. and know it not 2. That this provision may be had by such as are poor c. 3. That to the end they
bring in and become righteousness for us God laid on him the iniqâ—ities of us all and he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him he was made under the Law for us that were under it and God went to Law with him and executed the judgement of the World upon him Joh. 12. 31. And put him to death in the flesh for us and he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man that is to say he died the death of all and tasted death for every man in the room and stead of every man he died that death which was the due desert of every man which they should have died and which was the Wages of their sinning against God and this he did for every man even for the good and behoof of every man So that we thus judge saith the Apostle that if one died for all then were all dead all have died that first death not in their own persons but in the last Adam who undertook for and was the representative of all Mankind 2. Cor. 5. 14. And his death is as acceptable with the father and as virtuous and satisfactory as if all had died in their own persons and infinitely more comfortable to us for had that death been died by us we had perished in it for ever But now by his stripes we are healed in whom mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Isa 53. 5. Psal 85. 10. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree that the blessing of Abraham viz. righteousness and life might be in Christ Jesus for the Nations Gal. 3. 13 14. And there was a necessity for Christ's so humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross that righteousness might come by him both because God is a God of truth and his word cannot be broken and he is infinite in holiness and purity a God of such pure eyes that he cannot behold iniquity nor clear the guilty unless he take vengeance on our sins and until his justice be satisfied and truth fulfilled which is all now done in Christ in whose flesh God condemned our sin Rom. 8. 3. As well as also Christ must needs have suffered because there is no other person or thing that could redeem us No man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his Soul the redemption of the Soul is so precious No Offering appointed by the Law could purge away our sin God took no pleasure in them to any such end thousands of Rammes and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl would not have made our peace Lebanon was not sufficient to burn nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt Offering All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Yea the Heavens were not clean in his sight to this purpose nor any of the Heavenly Spirits but Christ must be abased and dye or us or else there could be no righteousness for us Acts. 17. 3. Heb. 10. 4-12 Psal 40. 6. 8. Isa 40. 15-17 And that it was needful Christ should suffer is signified to us in that when he was in his great agony and distress and cried out Father if it be possible let this Cup pass c. Yet still it was continued to him and not removed from him doubtless to instruct us that it was impossible the Cup should pass from him and yet righteousness be prepared for us and mercy shewn to us Mat. 26. 39. This way then he hath prepared righteousness for us and herein God appeareth to be just and his righteousness is herein declared and shewn forth Rom. 3. 25. Aswell as also we may hereinsee the vanity and unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all we could do to prepare a clothing and covering for our selves and the solly and ignorance of those that think to make a garment for the clothing themselves or to make their peace with God by any of their works sacrifices gifts sufferings Alass they are insufficient to this purpose In the cross o Christ pride is hidden from us and from all that no flesh might glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29 â—0 31. And yet here also is a lifting up for all in that in which they are cast down and good cause and reason though not to glory in our selves yet to rejoyce and glory in the Lord who died for us that righteousness might come by him and in the Father who raised up righteousness from the east Isa 41. 2. And herein we may see the infinite grace of God in the abasing his Son and of Christ in so greatly humoling himself for us and be moved with thankfulnesS to lay aside our pride and stouâ—-heartedness and submit and humble our selves to receive and accept of this righteousness of God without the law prepared and compleated by Jesus who died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and who also rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And this leadeth us to a further consideration 2. He who died for our sins is also raised again as the publick man and is in our nature and for us justified in the Spirit even in the Spirits raising him from the dead acquitted from all our sins imputed to him and so he is raised for our justification acquittance and discharge Rom. 4. 25. 1 Tim 3. 16. And in this God hath evidenced and declared his righteousness in releasing him and taking him from prison and judgment who had died our death and paid our debt it was not possible he should be holden of death because he had fully satisfied his justice and fulfilled his truth and God hath therefore in raising him evidenced and manifested his righteousness and testified to all men that he is welpleased in and satisfied with his personal abasement and sufferings in that he hath raised him from the dead He hath declared him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. And Christ not by the blood of bulls and goats but by his own blood in the virtue whereof he is raised and hath offered himself his raised body a spotless sacrifice through the eternal spirit unto God which is an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto him entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 9. 12-14 Ephes 1. 2. That is to say He hath finished the transgression to wit the transgression of the first publick man in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and made an end of sins of the necessary branches thereof he hath purged away the guilt of this sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God so as now the wrath
that to a gracious end that we sinners might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15-19-21 He is the Lamb of God who had imputed to him and did bear in his own body to and on the tree the sin of the World even the guilt of the disobedience of our first Father in whom we all sinned and of all the necessary branches thereof God caused them all to meet on him that he might put away and abolish them by the sacrifice of himself Joh. 1. 29. with Rom. 5. 12-14 1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa 53. 6. Heb. 9. 26. Dan. 9. 24. 3. And God went to law with him for them and executed the judgment of the world upon him Joh. 12. 31. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities Isa 53. 5. God spared him not but delivered him and brought him into the dust of death for our offences and he by the grace of God tasted death for every one of that nature in which he was for a little while made inseriour to the Angels even for every man without difference Heb. 2. 9. And gave himself aransom and price of redemption to God for all men 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 We thus judge saith the Apostle That if one died for all then were all dead and be died for all even for all that were dead 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. And such is the excellency and preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings sustained by him in that body which the father prepared for him wherein he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the cross that he is in the virtue thereof raised again from the dead and hath given himself an offering and a sacrifice for a sweet smelling savour to God All which doth demonstrate and is a fundamental evidence that this preparation in Christ may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and blind ones For if Christ who was delivered for our offences and died for our sins be not raised again we are yet necessarily in our sins and preaching faith and hope are in vain and to no purpose 2. Through and by means of his death in the virtue whereof he is taken from prison and from judgment there is in Christ a perfect and compleat provision for mankind There is in him and he is become unsearchable riches And he hath compleated and brought in everlasting righteousness according to that motive and argument laid down and set before men and the sons of man to move them to hear and receive wisdom's instruction Prov. 8. 18. with vers 4-10 Rev. 5. 12. Truly there is a rich preparation and treasury of all spiritual blessings prepared and treasured up in Christ for every sinful creature of mankind without difference or respect of persons Isa 25. 6. Luk. 14. 12-21 Col. 1. 28. Matt. 11. 27 28. There is in him unsearchable riches for all and this was preached and proclaimed among the Gentiles Ephes 3. 8. 9. And in him there is forgiveness of sins even of rebellious sins for all that need it while it is called to day And this our Saviour commanded his Apostles to preach in his name unto all nations yea to begin at Jerusalem which was a bloody city even the slaughter house of the Prophets which killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them according to what the Martyr Stephen saith Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers Ezek. 22. 2-4 24. 6-9 with chap. 7. 23. Act. 7. 52. Yet for such as these there is forgiveness of sins in Christ and through this man to be preached unto them Matt. 23. 37. Act. 1. 8. And God hath caused righteousness to spring up before all nations Isa 61. 11. He hath provided and made ready this White raiment even the wedding garment for all and it is contained in that provision prepared in which all things are ready And therefore when the King demanded of the person who was without it friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment The man was speechless he had nothing to say by way of excuse for himself which he might have had and needed not to have been speechless if there had been none prepared for him But the invitation was all things are ready and so righteousness this white raiment which we are counselled to buy Matt. 22. 4-11-14 So it is said the Jews who were zealous of the law and established a righteousness to themselves according thereto attained not righteousness because they submitted not or humbled not themselves to accept of God's righteousness which is now manifested by the saith of Christ to be far and unto all without difference even prepared for them in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 20-22 and 10. 2 3. with Jam. 4. 6. 7. Yea Christ is become a rich treasury and fountain a blessed object in whom there is prepared forgiveness healing all riches and clothing for those Angels and Churches of his that after tastes of his graciousness have wandred from him and lightly esteemed him and followed after other lovers whose evil and iniquity herein is more highly displeasing and provoking to him then the iniquity of others that have not known God or rather been known and owned of him as they have been And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the son of man be listed up saith our Saviour Joh. 3. 14. The Serpent of Brass was commanded to be lifted up and was set up by God's appointment for the healing of such as were stung by the fiery serpents because their soul lothed that Manna which at first they admited at and was so welcome to them and the sweetness and goodness whereof they had ostentimes proved and tasted Numb 21. 5-9 with Exod. 16. 15-31 Even so must the son of man be lifted up in preaching as one in whom there is durable riches and righteousness forgiveness of their sins and healing of their diseases and a covering for their shameful nakedness who have lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation and of the rock that begat them have been unmindful and forgetful after they have met with joy and peace in believing To such may be applied what Eliphaz saith to Job If ye return from your wandrings and revoltings to the Almighty ye shall be built up yea the Almighty shall be your gold and ye shall have silver of strength for then shall ye have your delight in the Almighty Job 22. 23-26 And though such have dealt very treacherously and done very shamefully in forsaking their resting place yet there is forgiveness of their sins and a robe to cover the shame of their nakedness with him Hos 2. 5. 14. 1-4 Isa 1. 10-15-17 And he is therefore exercising longsuffering and rebuking and chastening and hedging up their ways with thorns that they
And this instruction may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us the sinfulness and provoking nature of their sin and justness and severity of their punishment who close their eyes or remain blind when such Salve is prepared for them and brought nigh unto them in due season Such have no cloke for their sins but are willingly ignorant who reject or despise this remedy provided for them of God And how shall they escape that neglect so great salvation If there were no Salve prepared for the blind or if it were not brought nigh unto them or might not be had freely men might have some excuse they might say Alas we are blind and how then should we seek for healing and poor and miserable and how then should we buy it But what will they now have to say who perish for lack of knowledge especially where the Scriptures are vouchsafed If they shall be inexcusable unto whom the Word and Oracles of God have not been afforded nor committed Rom. 1. 19 20 21. How much rather inexcusable will they be and of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall they be counted worthy who remain in blindness and ignorance unto whom he hath given and shewed his word and afforded more choice advantage and means Psal 147. 19 20. Rom. 3. 1 2. For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt saith the Prophet I am black astonishment hath taken hold on me Is there no balm in Gilead Is there no Physician there Why then is not the hurt of the daughter of my people recovered Jer. 8. 20-22 Great is their sin and terrible will be their judgment so persisting that hate knowledge and will not chuse the fear of the Lord Or after their eyes have been opened wink therewith and close them and will not behold the Majesty of the Lord nor make use of this Medicine prepared lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and Christ should heal them Matth 13. 13-15 Prov. 1. 20-29 Isa 27. 11. Oh that we may none of us be guilty of such like folly and madness as this is 2. In that this Eye-salve is prepared and brought unto the blind and to such of them also as are become blind after their eyes have been opened we may herein perceive and see that God hath no pleasure in the destruction of such He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth And much rather unwilling is he that those little ones should return unto and remain in blindness who have known God or rather been known of him 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 Matt. 18. 11. He hath every way of his goodness provided for us miserable and helpless ones that we might not remain in our miserable condition but might be brought back to God Psal 68. 10. 1 Pet. 3. 18. There is a Medicine prepared and in due time brought nigh unto us and which may be had freely by us to the end we might be healed and cured For this gracious Counsellour hath no pleasure none at all in our misery and destruction while it is called to day For he came not to judge the world but to save the world And in him we may see the Father and be assured that he is not willing that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance John 12. 44-47 2 Pet. 3. 9 15. Therefore he hath not onely provided durable riches that we might be inriched thereby 2 Cor. 8. 9. and durable clothing that we might be covered and adorned therewith Rom. 13. 12-14 but Eye-salve also for giving sight unto us Isa 42. 1-6-7 And may not he then say to us as he did to his people in former times Judge I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard what could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it Isa 5. 3 4. May he not appeal to us and say What iniquity have you found in me Have I been a wilderness unto Israel a land of darkness Jer. 2. 5-31 May we not herein read and be assured of his gracious heart towards us and know that he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth though he be rebuking and threatning of them Ezek. 18. 32. Rev. 3. 19. Oh that we may never despise such testimonies of Love and riches of goodness but that we may thereby be led to repentance and moved and prevailed with thankfully to accept of his abundant grace Rom. 2. 4 5. 3. It may also be useful unto us to perswade and prevail with us to suffer the word of exhortation and to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see Let us not by observing lying vanities forsake our own mercy but be we exhorted to receive and keep our fathers commandment and forsake we not the law of our mother but let us bind them continually upon our heart like a Salve to a Sore and â—ye them about our neck that they may lead us and guide us for the commandment is a lamp and the law light Prov. 6. â—0-23 He is a gracious Counsellour who giveth to us this good counsel one who hath given intallible proof of the truth and sincerity of his love to us in that he laid down his life for us that he might take it up again And who is desirous of our good and would not that we should continue in our blindness and ignorance and hath therefore prepared for us and is bringing nigh to us this Eye-salve that we might make use of it that we might embrace it and our hearts might retain his words that we might live Consider we the easiness of his Yoke and lightness of his Burden which he putteth upon us His Commandment herein is not grievous he doth not require we should purge away our sin by Sacrifice or make our peace with God by any wisdom or strength of ours He calleth not upon us to get and provide for our selves Eye-salve or to go and seek it we know not where We might then say Alas we are blind and poor how should we do such things But behold the easiness of his requirings he onely saith Anoint thine eyes with Eye-salve apply it and let it not depart from thine eyes If he had commanded us some hard thing there had been reason sufficient for us to have done it if possible because our good is so much concerned herein and ours onely For it doth not adventage him at all how much rather when he saith Anoint and see Micah 6. 6-8 Matth. 11. 28 30. 1 John 5. 3. 2 King 5. 13. Let us then hear his counsel and receive his instruction that we may be wise in the latter end Prov. 4. 1-5 19. 20. Or otherwise we must needs be and remain in a miserable condition And this will further appear in the last Particular viz. 3. That to the end Christs Angels and Churches may win him and those heavenly Treasures hid in him