take an Oath to be true to the Captain of our Salvation Rom. 6.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God 2. In the Lords Supper we come to quicken our Zeal and renew our Holy Resolutions to adhere and cleave to Christ renouncing Sathan that we may stedfastly persevere in the Duties of our Heavenly Calling There our Baptismal Vow is ratified We are apt to forget it 3. The Armour is Faith Hope and Love 1 Thess. 5.8 Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love and for an helmet the hope of salvation Faith owns Christ to be what he is and so breedeth a constant adherance to him Love casteth out fear of persecution and maketh us delight in him and Hope waiteth for the Eternal Reward 4. The manner of using this Armour it must be with Sobriety and Watchfulness 1 Pet 5.8 Be sober be vigilant 1. Sobriety or Moderation as to the good things of the present World least we be inticed to a neglect of God and Heavenly things 2. Vigilancy noteth tenderness of 〈◊〉 Conscience Conscience standeth Porter at the Door examining what goeth in and what cometh out Men that have no great tenderness of Conscience fear not much the loss of their Souls and are most easily wrought on by Sathan A Sermon on Joshua vi 26 Cursed be the Man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho He shall lay the Foundation thereof in his first-born and in his youngest Son he shall set up the Gates thereof THese words relate to the History of Iericho's destruction In which the place and the manner of its being destroyed are notable 1. The Place Iericho was 1. A strong and well-fenced City one of those which frighted the Spies who were sent to view the Land To appearance it seemed impregnable 2. 't was a Frontier a Key to let in all or stop all that entred into the Land of Canaan on that side 3. A wicked Place and People above others deliciousness of the Situation contributing to the Luxury of the Inhabitants 2. The manner of its destruction It was by the marching of Israel about the City seven days and the Priests going before them blowing with Rams horns a Type of God's blessing on the labours of his Ministers in stirring up his People against the Kingdom of sin Satan and Antichrist But Faith must use such means as God hath appointed though to appearance they be never so despicable Against Midian Gideon useth the Stratagem of lamps in pitchers which the Apostle calleth treasure in earthen vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 So here by the blast of the Rams-horns the walls of this seemingly Impregnable City fell flat to the ground 2 Cor. 10.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God in the pulling down of strong-holds The Text giveth an account of what Ioshua did and said on this occasion What he did in the beginning of the vers He adjured the People at that time that is exacted this oath or solemn consent from them To submit themselves and their posterity to the imprecation or curse denounced by him in the name of the Lord. What he said in the curse it self Cursed be the Man before the Lord that raiseth up and buildeth this City Jericho So that in the words you have a terrible Denunciation 1. Generally propounded 2 particularly exemplified 1. Generally expressed Cursed be the Man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho Where 1. The Crime That riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho That is That shall presume and take the boldness to build the walls of this City 2. The punishment Cursed be he before the Lord That is the Lord seeing ratifying and appointing this doom and sentence For it is not a Passionate imprecation but a prophetical prediction coming not from any private motion but the inspiration of God And therefore it is called the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua 1 King 16.34 But why is such a curse interminated against those that shall build this City I answer though we are not to render a reason of God's counsels yet this seemeth to be the cause It was the first City of all Canaan that was destroyed and that miraculously And God would have the ruines remain as a monument to posterity of his Power justice and goodness of his Power for whilst this spectacle the rubbish of the ruined walls remained it incouraged their Faith and upbraided their unthankfulness to God who had wrought so wonderfully for them Of his justice on the Canaanites And his grace and goodness towards his People 2. It is particularly explained He shall lay the foundation thereof in his first Son and in his youngest Son he shall set up the gates hereof That is he shall be punished for his presumption in this act by the death of his two Sons the first in the beginning of the work the second in the finishing thereof the setting up of the Gates being the last thing Others probably understand He shall be punished with the loss of all his Children from the Eldest to the youngest So that the curse is his posterity shall be rooted out Now for a long time none had the boldness to attempt this work upon which so fearful a curse was imposed till at length some hundreds of years afterwards in Ahab's time one Hiel the Bethelite audaciously sets upon it And accordingly this curse was verified in him to the utter overthrow of his family 1 King 16.34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho He laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born and set up the gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub according to the Word of the Lord which he spake by Joshua the Son of Nun. Strange that seeing his first Son drop away he desisted not from that design But such is the precipice of bad projects and ingagements once step in and seldom stop in the way of wickedness This History teacheth us two Lessons 1. That it is dangerous to slight God's threatnings The curse denounced many hundred years before took place The force and vertue of the prediction was not worn out and antiquated though the attempt was long after it was first pronounced 2. How dangerous it is to build again what God hath or would have to be ruined and destroyed This latter Lesson I shall insist upon and observe Doct. That to seek to erect what God hath and would have destroyed involveth us in a fearful curse In following which point I shall shew 1. What God hath and would destroy 2. The Reasons 3. The Use. 1. What it is that God hath and will destroy The question is large but I will restrain it to the matter I intend And because the accommodation of Scripture to particular cases needeth to proceed upon good evidence that right may be done
the Heart for Duties of Religion SERMON VIII TITUS II. 12 We might live soberly c. II d Branch Sobriety in Meats and Drinks IF you ask which is worst Excess in Meat or Drink Gluttony or Drunkenness I answer Drukenness is more odious and doth more sensibly deprive a Man of the use of Reason and put him upon Actions unseemly and is the cause of more Diseases and Disorders in the Body but then Gluttony is very dangerous partly because it is not of such a great Disreputation among Men as Drunkenness and Shame is one of the Restraints of Sin partly because it insensibly creeps upon us as Austin complained Ebrietas longe à me est crapula autem nonnunquam surrepit servo tuo Lord I abhor Drunkenness but Gluttony creeps unawares upon me If it be required again which Sin is worst he that is immoderate in the use of Pleasure or he that is immoderate in Worldly Cares I answer gross Intemperance brings more Dishonour to God and Worldly Cares more spiritual Disadvantage to our Souls A Worldling doth not dishonour God openly so much as a Drunkard but then he is more uncapable of Conviction and of heavenly things and by distracting his Heart with Cares he shrewdly endangereth his Salvation As for Drunkards and Sensualists their Face declareth their Shame and their Crime is written in their Foreheads and so they have less of Defence against the Stroaks of the Word Therefore our Saviour saith Mat. 21.31 That the Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you These things premised I come to speak of Sobriety in the use of Meats and Drinks I join them both together because Grace is exercised in the Restraint of both Christians as we are your Remembrancers to God so we must be God's Remembrancers to you and every part of Conversation falls under some Rule of Religion The Apostle saith 1 Pet. 1.15 As he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation in every Point and every Affair of Life and therefore eating and drinking being one part of human Conversation it is necessary to give you some Directions It is very familiar with Men to miscarry by Appetite more familiar with Man than with Beasts There is no Beast but Swine will over-eat themselves they know their stint and measure But Lord how far is Man fallen Nature is not only blind in point of Worship but weak in point of Appetite The Relicks of Inordinacy are in the Regenerate The holiest Men had need of Caution as Christ saith to his Disciples Take heed and beware that your Hearts be not over-charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness Luke 21.34 And the Apostle bids Timothy to flee youthful Lusts to be chaste and pure as he was 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee also youthful Lusts but follow after Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call on the Lord with a pure Heart Yea those that are wisest and most accomplish'd many times are swallowed up in this Gulf. Who would have thought that Adam and Eve endowed with the Image of God should have miscarried by Appetite by eating or that Solomon who had such large Gifts and Knowledg from the Cedar to the Hyssop should miscarry by Women and that Persons of excellent Abilities are many times of a riotous Conversation Certainly we are weakest where we think our selves strong When the upper part of the Soul is sufficiently fortified with Counsel and Knowledg the Devil dare not assault us in point of Error but then he draws us away by Appetite and the Baits of the Flesh and therefore we had need speak of Sobriety in Meats and Drinks Now Sobriety becomes all Persons especially Magistrates Ministers Women and Youth Magistrates and Ministers because of the Dignity of their Office Women because of the Imbecility of their Sex and Youth because of the slipperiness of their Age. 1. For Magistrates Prov. 31.4 5. It is not for Kings O Lemuel it is not for Kings to drink Wine nor for Princes strong Drink Give strong Drink to him that is ready to perish It is an Allusion to the Custom among the Iews if a Man were condemned to die it was their Courtesy to give him spiced Wine to attenuate and thin the Blood that it might sooner pass out of the Body and to inebriate the Senses that he might be less sensible of his Paâ—n Now it is not for Kings to drink Wine not for the Judg but for the condemned Person So Eccles. 10.16 17. Wo unto thee O Land when thy Princes eat in the Morning Blessed art thou O Land when thy Princes eat in due season for Strength and not for Drunkenness Magistrates cannot be good or bad alone when they are given to sensual Delights â—t is more odious in them for it unfits and diverts them from publick Business when they spend their time in Excess they are totally indisposed for Counsel and wise Debates and weighty Affairs therefore the Carthaginians forbad Wine to Magistrates during the time of their Magistracy And by Solon's Law a drunken Prince was to be slain 2. For Ministers their Work lies with God therefore they had need live in constant Sobriety Under Pain of Death neither Aaron nor his Sons the Priests were to drink Wine or strong Drink when they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation Levit. 10.9 Do not drink Wine nor strong Drink thou nor thy Sons with thee when ye go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation lest ye die It shall be a Statute for ever throughout your Generations It is probable Nadab and Abihu their Miscarriage in offering strange Fire was occasioned by Fumes of strong Drink for presently God makes that Law for Aaron and his Sons So the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.3 A Bishop must be sober not given to Wine because of the Excellency of his Ministration which requires Meditation and Freedom of Contemplation which is hindred by the Fumes of Wine and strong Drink 3. For Women because of the Weakness and Modesty of their Sex In some Nations it was Death for Women to be intemperate because by this means they make Shipwrack of that Modesty which is the Ornament of that feeble Sex and therefore Excess in them is more filthy and shameful 4. For Youth they need chiefly to be press'd to this Sobriety because of the Slipperiness of their Age their Judgments are weak and green and their Affections are violent Nature is strong in them and Satan is diligent to seduce them he prizeth young Affections and they are but newly come to the Use of their Reason from living the Life of Sense and the natural Heat of the Stomach that is found in Youth is a great Provocation Though all need to be fortified yet especially these But what is this Sobriety that is required I answer You may know it by the Sin that is contrary to it and we sin against Sobriety when we offend by Quantity Quality and in the manner of Usage 1. There
whenever we have to do with him Our Affections should be mix'd as Christ's Titles are It is said of the Church Acts 9.31 They walked in the Fear of the Lord and in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost This doth well together fear God and rejoice in God Do not dally with a Saviour and please your selves in cherishing a loose Comfort when you neglect Duty and are touched with no Awe of God and then do not indulge a legal Dejection the great God whom you dread and reverence is your Saviour Therefore are the Titles of Christ mix'd to beget a sweet Temperature of Fear and Love So much for the conjunct Consideration of the Words II. Let us come to handle them apart particularly but briefly First of the Stile of his Power The Great God Here is a pregnant Testimony of the Deity of Christ. Doct. That Iesus Christ together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is the Great God He is called the great God partly in opposition to those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that are only called Gods the Vanities of the Gentiles there are many that are called Gods 1 Cor. 8.5 6. For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him And partly in opposition to the Gods of Man's making so the Devil is gotten to be a God The God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them which believe not 2 Cor. 4.4 So we read of those whose God is their Belly Phil. 3.19 As the Strength of Mens Desires run out so they set up many Gods either Mammon or Bacchus And partly in Opposition to those representative Gods Magistrates who are called Gods Psal. 82.6 I said ye are Gods They resemble God in their Power and Soveraignty and Administration of Justice and large Opportunity of doing Good But the chief Reason why Christ is called the great God is to shew that he is not inferiour to the Father to remove the Scandal of his Abasement He is not a God by Courtesy or Grant but by Nature equal in Power and Majesty and Glory to God the Father To confirm this I shall prove First That considering his Work he ought to be God no inferiour Mediator could serve the turn Secondly That he is God and able to perform this Work First Consider his Work and so he ought to be God The Work of the Mediator could be dispatched by no inferiour Agent Consider the Mediator in all his Offices as Prophet Priest and King 1. For his Prophetical Office As a Prophet he was to be greater than all Prophets and Apostles It is above Man's Capacity to be the greaâ— Doctor of the Church In regard of his outward Work the Discovery of the Gospel and of the Riches of God's Grace it could be made by none but he that was in the Bosom of the Father Iohn 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him None could tell us what Bowels what Affections what Purposes of Grace the Father had concerning Sinners but Christ that was in his Bosom Mat. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him As an external Law-giver in the Gospel Christ the great Doctor of the Church ought to be Authentick a Law-giver from whose Sentence there is no Appeal a Lord in his own House Heb. 3.4 5 6. For every House is builded by some Man but he that built all things is God And Moses verily was faithful in all his House as a Servant for a Testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own House Moses was but a Servant who received the external Law from Christ upon Mount Sinai it was Christ whose Voice shook the Mount Heb. 12.26 But chiefly in regard of his inward Work as he is to be a Fountain of Wisdom to all the Elect 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Iesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Men may teach the Ear but Christ must teach the Heart Blind Men cannot see the Sun though it shine never so clearly Light is come into the World but Darkness comprehends it not we must have Eyes as well as Light now it is only Divine Power can open the Eye of our Understanding and give us spiritual Illumination 2. As for his Kingly Office a finite Power would never suffice for that Christ is to break the Force of Enemies to raise the Dead to pour out the Spirit to bestow Grace and Glory all these are Christ's Donatives as King of the Church As a King he is to be an Original Fountain of Life to all the Elect As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me John 6.57 All these things are the Glory of God which he will not give to another and they cannot be performed by any but God The Creatures are limited they have not such a Vastness in them that out of their Fulness we might receive Grace for Grace as we do from Christ Iohn 1.16 Of his Fulness have we all received and Grace for Grace 3. For his Priestly Office this shews he ought to be God Of this there be two Acts his Oblation and Intercession 1. For his Oblation and Sacrifice he must offer up himself one for all and that but once and that to expiate Sin and procure the Favour of God for ever now who could do this but God And he must offer up himself he must be Priest as well as Sacrifice therefore must have a Power over his own Life to lay it down and take it up and that no Creature hath for whether we live or die we are the Lord 's And thus had Jesus Christ an absolute Power of Life and Death over that Nature he assumed therefore it is said Heb. 9.14 Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God Then one must be offered for all 2 Cor. 5.14 If one died for all then were all dead Therefore that Person which suffered was to be virtually all those for whom he suffered that is infinitely as good and better than all Look as they said to David Thou art better than ten thousand of us so Jesus Christ that was given one for all must be such a Person as is better than all Men. A General given in Ransom will redeem thousands of private Souldiers so the Worth of Christ's Person made him equivalent in Dignity to the Worâ—h of all those whose Persons he sustained In all Ages his Death is a standing Remedy God had more Satisfaction than if Angels and Men had been made a Sacrifice And mark it was done but
doth the Gospel teach us To live soberly righteously and godly To injoy God to live with Man and the government of our selves We have enough if we have all this But we have all this in as ample manner as heart can wish for and therefore he that cometh from the dead must either preach the same Doctrine and then it is needless and superfluous or contrary things and then how shall we believe him who are forewarned Gal. 1.8 But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Christ enters a caution against them 2. Better Arguments cannot be urged nor more perswasively The Gospel is the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 And surely God knoweth all the Wards of the Lock and what kind of Keys will fit the Heart of Man He hath laid forth the riches of Wisdom and Grace upon this Blessed design and hence it is that we have such Mysterious Doctrines such Dreadful Threatnings such Sweet Promises such strong Obligations from the Death and Incarnation of the Son of God from the Example of Christ which doth secure our Direction and incourage our Practice Out of what Rock was Man hewen if all this will not work upon him What must God do Provide a better Heaven a hotter Hell another Son to dye for us or a more forcible and incouraging Example than that of Jesus Christ What 's the matter that the wicked Sinner will not be allured and made tame charme the charmer never so wisely What do we need more to move us Shall God pipe to you in a sweeter strain than that of Gospel-Grace or Gospel-Promises Is the giving himself and his Christ a price too cheap to purchase your hearts Or must he thunder to you in a more dreadful accent than the horrours of Everlasting Darkness Are these but poor and mean Scarecrows to tell you of a Pit without a bottom of a Worm that never dyeth of a Fire that shall never be quenched Or what is the matter that the Sinner stirreth not Is the Scripture a dead Letter And needeth it to be actuated and enforced by a living voice God hath provided us Apostles and Prophets to write Scriptures so Pastors and Teachers to explain and apply Scriptures Eph. 4.11 He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Men who are concerned as well as our selves the value of whose credit we know by their faithfulness in other things that have the same Temptations Affections and Necessities as we have Men with whom we may more familiarly converse and with less fright than with one from the dead Oh but one that cometh from the dead is supposed to testifie his own sight and knowledge and so to speak more feelingly And have not Gods Messengers some experience Cannot they say we declare to you the things which we have seen and heard and felt Have they not been scorched by the Spirit of Conviction tasted Comfort felt a change in their own hearts What can any Messenger from the dead say that hath not been told you over again and again a thousand times Would he say that all shall dye That you see with your Eyes that presently after Death cometh Judgment That you pretend to believe already that the Torments of Hell are terrible and insupportable This God hath told you over and over And if we receive the witness of men the witness of God is greater 1 Iohn 5.9 That you must repent and be converted This is that that is sounded in your Ears every day Therefore we are better provided already than to need the horrour of an Apparition or a warning from one among the dead 3. It is not because he could propound these Truths with more certainty for these things are already propounded to our Understandings and we have sensible confirmation 1. They are propounded to our understandings with a fair and full credibility The Holy Scriptures have in themselves a self-evidencing light by which they make it out to the Consciences of Men that they are of God Every thing that hath passed the hand of God discovereth its Author all Gods works have his Signature and Impression upon them which is legible and visible to every attentive beholder Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Psal. 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work Not a pile of grass but sheweth its Maker Praesentem refert quaelibet herba Deum and surely his Word which he hath magnified above all his name Psal. 138.2 is not altogether without such an impress and stamp of God upon it therein being revealed things most worthy of the Truth Wisdom Goodness and Holyness of God and suitable to that Wisdom and Truth that is in us so far as there is any in us What shall I speak of the most satisfactory way of Reconciliation with God The fairest draught of Moral perfection far beyond all that which is of meer Humane Recommendation Here is no dead fly in this box of Ointment but all pure and holy without mixture nothing so accommodate to the necessities of Man and fit to bring us to the injoyment of that which the reasonable Nature aimeth at What shall I speak of the Majesty of the Stile the genuine simplicity of the Narrations the Harmony of the Parts the Sublimity of the Doctrines the Impartiality and Purity of the Precepts the overflow of God's Love in the Promises the glorious Rewards the certainty of the Prophesies All which are so many innate Characters and Evidences of the Divine Authority of these Writings by which they clearly insinuate themselves with wonderful force and power into the Consciences of Men 2 Cor. 4.2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness not handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God There was an evidence in the Truth it self preached by the Apostles so there is in the word written by the Apostle for the voice could add nothing to it and the Writing take nothing from it A Man of Art and Judgment discovereth himself in every Book he writeth Aristotles Writings shew him a Person of great knowledge Can a Book have God for its Author and have nothing to discover its Author 'T is unreasonable Masters in Writing or Painting shew their hand the Scripture doth not stand or fall to the courtesies of Man Well then if these things be so as certainly they are so we have more certainty by the Word it self than possibly we can have by a Messenger from the dead yea or a voice from Heaven for it hath such a signature of God upon it that we need go no
answer me speedily We must have a present Answer and shall God stand waiting when there 's danger of his dishonour Therefore now while it is to day turn unto God To Morrow is a very uncertain thing Besides if you were certain of to Morrow it is folly to lye under the Wrath of God any longer If really you are convinced of a Sinful State why do you not repent and return to God now In every Sinful Action thou art laying thy Soul at pawne and one Sin more may fill up the Measure of your Iniquity Besides every day will make you more unfit to turn to God and it is base self-love to think of indulging the Flesh longer provided at length you can be saved 3. The Scripture sheweth the profit of it 1. What a Remedy it is against Sin Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Every Man is a Sinner but every Man shall not dy by Sin There is in Sin reatus culpa poena macula 1. Reatus the Guilt that is blotted out Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Sin is written in two Books one in Gods keeping the other in our own He doth not say that we may blot out our Sins out of Gods Book that is not the Debtors but the Creditors work to cross the Book Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins There is an hand-writing against us but it is blotted out when we repent Our own Book is the Book of Conscience Heb. 10.22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience The Worm of Conscience gnaws us till we repent then the Spirit blotteth it out of our hearts 2. Macula the stain the more a Man sinneth the more he is inclined to Sin as a brand that hath been once in the fire is apt to take fire again We lose tenderness by every act of Sin and the smart of Repentance is a means to kill the Sin as breaking up the fallow Ground doth destroy the Weeds Ier. 4.3 Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thorns 3. Culpa the Blame God will not upbraid us with former Sins Mark 16.7 Go tell my disciples and Peter It is judged in one Court already not a word of Peters miscarriage tell him I am risen 4. Poena the Punishment that is done away by Repentance we may look for days of Refreshment 2. The Comfort it will bring God hath Comforts for his Mourners Matth. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Never such sweet revivings as after Godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation never to be repented of Many have repented of their Carnal Mirth but never any of their Godly sorrow you will never curse the day of your new birth 4. The Scripture offereth Grace and help of God to work this in us Ezek. 11.19 20. I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirits within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh That they may walk in my statutes and keep mine ordinances and do them and they shall be my people and I will be their God Men will say they cannot repent come and wait upon God and he will give you to repent Acts 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life God doth not only give occasions of Repentance time of Repentance means of Repentance but power to repent yea repentance it self Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins So that if we would turn wrangling into Prayer and bemoan our selves and say Ier. 31.18 Turn us O Lord and we shall be turned If we would follow him close we need not be discouraged 5. The Scripture layeth down powerful Arguments to quicken us to Repentance which have a marvelous tendency and influence that way I shall single out three The Death of Christ The Day of Judgment and the Torments of Hell 1. The Death of Christ. A serious Consideration of the Death of Christ will further Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation 1. Here is the highest instance of the Love of God and the purest Fountain of Tears is Gods Love Mary wept much because much was forgiven her Nothing thaweth the Heart more than the warm beams of Mercy Wrath causeth Sorrow to flow like Water out of a Still by the force of Fire but Love gently melteth the Heart and causeth it to run out at the Eyes in a Flood and Stream of Tears Here is the highest instance of Gods Love Christ is the greatest gift that ever he gave the World when he gave us Life and Breath and all things though he gave them to us yet he gave us nothing from himself But now out of his bosome he gave us Christ that is Love Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son It cannot be told it can only be wondred at Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us So great a Person for such vile Creatures How can an ingenuous heart think of this I have sinned against God that gave his Christ I have grieved his Spirit that loved me and dyed for me Saul had an hard Heart and yet he wept when David told him how he had spared him when it was in his power to kill him 1 Sam. 24.16 Had God done no more for us but spared us that should melt us but he commended his Love that Christ dyed for us 2. Here is the truest spectacle of Sin for all that was done to Christ Sin did it What could Men or Devils do Men could do nothing Iohn 18.6 Assoon as he said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground Poor Dust and Ashes swooned at the breath of his Mouth Not Devils he could cast them out with a Word Not Gods Justice that hath no place against Innocency No it was we not Iudas nor Pilate nor the Romans nor the Iews but we that have pierced him Zechar. 12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced This will give us the truest spectacle of Sin The old World was a sad spectacle but that is no wonder a filthy World to be washed with a Deluge Sodom was another sad spectacle Hell was rained out of Heaven but it is no wonder to see combustible matter burn But Christ was a green Tree the Son of God Holy and Undefiled who was made Sin only by a voluntary susception but when he was made Sin God spared him not Now the hainousness of Sin appeareth 1. In the value of the Sacrifice 2. The Extremity of
his Sufferings 1. In the value of the Sacrifice Nothing could expiate Sin but the Blood and Shame and Agonies of the Son of God A Man would have thought that a Word of Christs Mouth would have pacified God but so great was the offence that though he cryed with strong cries God would not hear him till he had endured his Wrath. Christ prayed Matth. 26.39 O my Father If it be possible let this cup pass from me But God would not bate him a farthing If you would know Sin go to Golgotha 2. The Extremity of his Sufferings His outward Sufferings were much If you consider the Majesty of his Person he was the Great God that filled Heaven and Earth with his Glory and yet was sold for thirty pence the price of a Slave His back was mangled with Whips his Body nailed to the Cross he was scorned in all his Offices a variety of Sorrow was poured in by the Conduit of every sense seeing smelling tasting hearing and feeling If you consider the Excellency of his Constitution his Body being framed by the Holy Ghost was of a more exact temper his Senses more lively they that enjoy Life in a higher measure than others the more delicate the Sense the higher the Pain the back of a Slave is not so sensible of stroaks as of one that is nicely and tenderly bred His Senses were kept lively and in their full vigour he refused the stupifying Cup that was given to him He kept his strength to the last this appeared by his strong cry when he gave up the Ghost Luke 23.46 And when Iesus had cryed with a loud voice he said Father Into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said thus he gave up the ghost But what is this to what is inward The Agonies of his Soul under the Curse and Wrath of God due for Sin his Desertion of the Father it is more to see the Sun eclipsed than to see a Candle put out he complained that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death Matth. 26.38 His Soul dwelt with God in a Personal Union Christ knew how to value his Fathers Wrath he had an excellent Judgment and tender Affections When he sweat drops of curdled Blood he needed support from an Angel Now put all these Circumstances together and see if Sin be a light thing Object But many think this lesseneth Sorrow Christ hath endured so much what need they be troubled Answ. 1. These know not what Faith and Love meaneth Can a Man love Christ and not mourn for that which was the cause of his Sufferings Thou art the Man that laid all this upon Christ. 2. Slight thoughts of Sin are a disparagement of Christ's Sufferings you make nothing of that which cost him so dear 3. Christ's Death doth not nullifie our Duty in this kind but ratifie it He died not only to expiate the guilt of Sin but also to shew the heinousness of it God might have taken another course This for Humiliation 2. As to Reformation The Death of Christ furthereth this 1. By way of Obligation Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me The great Argument that quickneth us to the Spiritual Life is that it is a thing pleasing and acceptable to him If we knew any thing pleasing and acceptable to a Man that had redeemed us out of a miserable thraldom we would do it They are unthankful Wretches that dare to deny Christ any thing 2. By way of Purchase Our Liberty from Sin was bought at a dear rate not with Silver and Gold You disparage your Redeemer and seek to put him to shame if you live in Sin for you go about to make void the purchase and to overturn the whole business which Christ hath been establishing with so great a cost He paid dear for that Grace which you slight you tye the Bonds which he came to loosen 3. By way of Conformity to the purity of our Sacrifice He was without spot and blemish A Carnal Christian dishonoureth his Head and puts him to an open shame as if the Church were but a Sanctuary for naughty Men and Christianity a design to make us less Careful and Holy What a spotted Christ do we hold forth to the World We are to look upon Christ crucified so as to be crucified with him 2. The Day of Judgment The serious Consideration of that day is an help to Repentance Acts 17.30 31. He hath commanded all men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness As Hell worketh on Fear so this on Shame It helpeth Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation It is a means to prevent the Shame of that Day if we do not call Sin to mind God will call it to mind Psalm 50.21 I will set thy sins in order before thee The Book of Conscience shall be opened and not only ours but Gods Book too Now it will cost us grief to look upon our Sins then grief with desperation terms of Grace are ended and we can have no hope A Sinner now blots the Book that is in his own keeping but then he cannot We will not own the Convictions of the Word when it sheweth our Face but then Iude 15. He will convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds that they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Confession now is neglected but then all shall be brought to light out of our own Reins 1 Cor. 4.5 Iudge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknâ—ss and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God Let us take shame before it be imposed on us Sins repented of will not be mentioned to our confusion but only to the glorifying of the Riches of the Lords Grace They that repent their Sins shall be then blotted out Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the days of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 2. Reformation It includeth Faith and Obedience 1. Faith Let us get our discharge before that day cometh then we shall have boldness 1 Iohn 2.28 And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming The Members of Christ's Mystical Body need not to be affraid of Christ's Judgment their Advocate shall be their Judge their Hearts are sprinkled with his Blood as the Door-posts against the destroying Angel They that are not careful to be found in Christ surely they do not believe that God will make inquisition for Sinners Is the day of Judgment a Fable Scripture
of our discharge but as he dyed for our offences so he rose again for our justification Rom. 4.25 As having perfectly done his work As the Eather delivered him to Death so he brought him back again from the Dead The Apostle layes a great weight upon this Rom. 8.34 Yea rather that is risen from the dead There is some special thing in Christ's Resurrection comparatively above his Death which hath influence on our Justification Was not Christs Death enough to free us from Sin Yes but the visible evidence was by his Resurrection It is as it were an acquittance from those Debts of ours which he undertook to pay As Simeon was dismissed when the Conditions were performed and Ioseph satisfied with the sight of his Brother Gen. 43.23 He brought Simeon out unto them 2. Christs Office is allowed so that he is the great shepherd of the sheep that is the Blessed Saviour into whose hands God hath put his Flock to be justified sanctified and saved and from whom we may expect all that comfort which a flock hath from a good and faithful Pastor We are put into his hands as he is Mediator not by way of alienation for they are in the Fathers hands still Iohn 10.29 My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand But oppignoration laid at pledge in his hands A Shepherd is not Lord of the Flock but as a Servant to take care of them They are not his as Mediator by way of Original Interest and Dominion but in point of trust and charge He hath an Office about them and giveth an account of them at the last day He is sometimes called simply without any addition The shepherd 1 Pet. 2.25 Ye are returned unto the shepherd and bishop of our souls Sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The good shepherd as Iohn 10.11 And here The great shepherd and the chief shepherd 1 Pet. 5.4 because of the Dignity of his Person and Office And surely if we put our selves into the hands of this Shepherd we can lack nothing Psalm 23.1 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want We may look for all manner of supplies from Christ. 3. God is so far appeased that there is a new Covenant procured and constituted called here the everlasting covenant partly because it shall never be repealed and continueth unalterable and the called obtain by it the title and possession of an Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9.15 They which are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance And partly because Christs Blood is the foundation of this Covenant and the vertue of it never ceaseth therefore this Covenant is Everlasting also and made effectual and able to obtain its ends which is the Eternal Salvation of sinful Man once converted and reconciled to God This Covenant also is called the Covenant of Gods Peace because it is a publick Demonstration that God is pacified Isa. 54.10 But my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed Ezek. 37.26 I will make a covenant of peace with them Partly because in this Covenant this Peace and Reconciliation is published and offered to us that Man may not stand aloof from God as a condemning God So it is said Eph. 2.17 Christ came to preach peace to those that are near and to those that are afar off Acts 10.36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Christ he is Lord of all Partly because in this Covenant the terms of this Peace between us and God are stated God bindeth himself to sinful Man to give him Remission of Sins and Eternal Life begun by the Spirit and perfected in Heaven upon the Conditions of Faith Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God and Repentance Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out as our Entrance and new Obedience as to continuance Heb. 5.9 He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him IV. How we come to be Interested in this Peace and Reconciliation or the conveyance of it to us For this Peace may be considered as to the Impetration and Application of it 1. As to the Impetration and laying down of the price that was done by Christ on the cross Therefore it is said 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Then was God propitiated and the Merit and Ransom interposed by vertue of which we are pardoned and reconciled 2. As to Application when God is actually reconciled with us and we enter into his Peace and are restored unto his Favour This may be considered either as to the first gift God is never actually reconciled to us nor we to him till he give us the regenerating Spirit that is our receiving the atonement Rom. 5.11 It was made on the Cross but received at our Conversion and Regeneration Or else it may be considered as to the further measure of his sanctifying Grace called here perfecting us for every good work and working in us that which is pleasing in his sight This is given with respect to our reconciled Estate as we are actually at Peace and in Covenant with God 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ. The summ is this At the Death of Christ there was such a foundation laid that we need no other ransom nor propitiation He hath so far satisfied Divine Justice that he hath obtained the New Covenant The first Grace is given us meerly with respect to the Merit of his Sacrifice for Christ purchased the Mercies promised and power to performe the conditions Farther Grace is given us because we are already reconciled unto God which is a ground of the greater Joy and Confidence For our actual Reconciliation giveth us a title to all consequent acts of Friendship which can be expected or received For in Gods way we shall have further Sanctification and after that Salvation V. The Reasons why all increase of Grace comes from God as the God of Peace 1. From the Giver God will not set us up with a new Stock of Grace till satisfaction be made for the breach of his Law We must not look upon him as pars offensa the Offended Party but as Rector Mundi the Governour of the World Private Persons may forgive offences as they please but the Governour and Judge of the World would not pass by the offence of Man till the ends of Government be secured or that the Law fall not to the ground which it doth not whilst God standeth upon the satisfaction of Christ and the submission of the Sinner The right of passing by a wrong and the right of releasing a punishment are different things Because punishment is a common Interest
written in the books according to their works These Books are the Book of Conscience and the Book of Gods Remembrance The Remembrance of our Actions shall be forced upon us Conscience is Gods Register and keepeth a Diary and sets down every thing This Book though it be in the Sinners keeping cannot be razed what Conscience writeth is written to Eternity unless it be blotted out by Repentance and a serious application of the Blood of Christ. Well then consider a sleepy Conscience will not alwaies sleep if we suffer it not to awaken here it will awaken in Hell where there is no Remedy for the present it sleepeth in many in regard of motion check or smiting but not in regard of Notice and Observation This secret spy is privy to more than it speaketh of it is laid up as matter for the Worm that never dyeth to feed upon 8. If the stings of an evil Conscience be not alwayes felt yet they are soon awakened by serious Thoughts of Death and Judgment to come and then forced upon us There is a fire smothering in our bosoms and it is soon blown up into a flame Sometimes by the word Acts 22.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Belshazars edge was taken oft in the midst of his carowsing Dan. 5.6 Then the kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the joints of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another Sometimes by some great Troubles Isa. 59.12 For our transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us For our transgressions are with us and as for our iniquities we know them Therefore we roar like beasts and mourn like doves ver 11. In a Tempest that which is at the bottom cometh a top Or by Death whatever silence there be in Conscience before yet Death usually reviveth these fears 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin Men are wise and more serious as they are entring on the Confines of Eternity near things affect us the baits of the Flesh have then lost their allurement the Devil that was before a Tempter will then be a Tormentor things overlooked before are then seriously considered then the stings of Sin work most sensibly and in a lively manner and the deluded Sinner begins to see what he would not take notice of before 9. If Conscience do not speak to you you must speak to it and call upon it to do its Office Call your selves to an account for the Expence of your Time and Employment Psalm 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still Psalm 77.6 I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search Take a time to parley with your selves and consider how matters stand between you and God When the Clock striketh not it is a sign the Plummets are down and we must wind them up again Every day we must do something as Iob sacrificed for his Sons day by day Iob 1.5 It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts And God himself reviewed every dayes work and saw that it was good Gen. 1.4 10 12 c. So should we review every dayes work and cast up the account at the foot of every page Short reckonings prevent mistakes Pythagoras taught his Scholars that they should never give way to sleep till they had posed themselves with these Questions Quid feci c. What have I done What good have I omitted Wherein have I transgressed Conscience What hast thou to say to me And Seneca telleth of his Friend Sextius that before he would betake himself to rest he would ask his Soul Quod hodie malum tuum sanasti cui vitio obstitisti qua parte meliores What evil hast thou got rid off to day What Sin hast thou resisted Wherein art thou better than thou wert before And he saith of himself Quotidie apud me causam dico toâ—um diem mecum scrutor dicta facta mea remetior that he scanned all his Actions and Speeches in the day Shall Heathens be more serious and shall Christians who are acquainted with Eternity never take time to set Conscience awork Oh let us be ashamed of our slightness and negligence 10. We can never have a sound Conscience till we be sincere with God in a constant uniform course of Self-denying-Obedience 1 Iohn 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him and this is described in the Text by keeping a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men So 2 Kings 20.3 I beseech thee O Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And this not in an Act or two but in a Mans whole Course Psalm 106.3 Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doth righteousness at all times Not by starts and good moods only but constantly and at all times And our Obedience must be self-denying as well as constant and uniforme that Religion is worth nothing that costs nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing When we value Gods Interest above our own and we can deny our selves upon the hopes of Glory then is our sincerity most evidenced But if we embrace only the safe cheap and easie part of Religion and cannot deny our Ease Profit and Honour we do not set up Christs Religion but a Christianity of our own making Matth. 16.24 Then said Iesus unto his disciples if any one will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 11. If we would have Conscience to do its Office there must be great heed and watchfulness for it is corrupt as well as other Faculties and from a Judge it may become an Advocate excusing the partialities of our Obedience To evidence this more fully with respect to Conscience Men may be considered three wayes as acting without Conscience or according to Conscience or against Conscience 1. A Man may act without all Conscience so a Man may do either good or evil 1. Good as those that act rashly inconsiderately or customarily As when Men pray give Almes go to Church Conscience did not send them thither but Custom inducement of Friends perswasions of Parents or the like These do that which is good but they do it not well Luke 8.18 Take heed how you hear Conscience doth not put them upon it To this first sort may be reckoned those that intended to do evil but by accident do that which is good as Iosephs Brethren Gen. 50.20 But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good And those that performe the Duties of Christianity so far as the interest of the flesh will give them leave for the flesh it self will command you to
the meanest and most abject form of Mankind not in any glorious Estate and Majesty Survey the whole course of his Life He was born of a Poor Virgin and instead of a better place laid in an Inn which probably being taken up by Persons of great Quality he was laid in the basest place of the Inn in a Manger His Birth was revealed to Poor Shepherds not to Emperours and Kings not to Caesar at Rome Presently after his Birth he was banished together with his Mother into Egypt and exposed to the Troubles and Toils of a long Journey into a strange Countrey for refuge Afterward till he appeared in his Ministry we read little of him His supposed Father a Carpenter and he himself called so Mark 6.3 Is not this the Carpenter He made Yoaks and Ploughs saith Iustin Martyr Certainly it is probable that as he submitted to other paâ—ts of the Curse so this In the Sweat of thy Brows shalt thou eat thy Bread In the course of his Ministry he suffered many affronts and reproaches Surely his Life was a Life of Sorrows we find him begging Water when thirsty Iohn 4.9 That a Fish payed Tribute for him Mat. 17.27 He had little Money and had no certain Residence and Place of abode but lived by Contribution Mat. 8.20 The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head At his Death never was Child of God under so much Misery as Christ himself His own Heavens his own Father his own Godhead did hide their Face and Consolation from him Gods wrath pressed the weight of Punishment with the full Power of Justice both upon his Soul and Body Those for whom he died despised him He himself being emptied of all things which make men respected in the World was depressed lower than any Man and was as a Worm to be trod upon He was made a matter of common talk and reproach in all Mens Mouths condemned by the ruling part of the World and set at nought by the basest of the People derided and scorned in his most holy behaviour his bitter sufferings made matter of Sport and Laughter malice feeding it self with pleasure upon his pain and misery and expressing it self with the basest signs of mocking which disdain could devise flouring at his saving doctrine and insulting over him as if he had neither been the Son of God nor an honest Man And all this was counted little enough for satisfaction of Justice exacting of him the due punishment of our sins II. That this was his own voluntary Act. He made himself of no Reputation You may read that Men set him at nought Act. 4.11 This is the Stoâ—â— which was set at nought of you Builders nay we read Heb. 2.7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels It was an act of God himself Yet on Christs part it was voluntary undertaken for the Glory of God and the Good of Men. It was not imposed upon him by constraint without his consent or against his Will An act of love and an act of Obedience are truely consistent A punishment is imposed upon us against our Will but here was a voluntary susception of our burden none of this was due to him upon his own account but ours It was no punishment for his self-exalting but an act of gracious condescention This appeareth in Scripâ—ure two ways 1. In that what he was to do and undergo was proposed to him and he willingly accepted of the terms and conditions When no kind of Sacrifices and Offerings were sufficient to take away sin and save sinners then he said Lo I come to do thy will Heb. 10.6 7. It was told him what it would cost him if he would deliver and save Man kind all was written down in God's Book that he must be made under the Law take upon him the form of a Servant make his Soul an offering for sin How did he like these conditions I was not saith he rebellious neither turned away back Isa. 50 5. No he refused not the terms but cheerfully submitted to them I delight to do thy Will O God He delighted in the thoughts of it long ere it came about Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the Habitable part of the Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. And when it was to be actually done he repented not 2. The Scripture assigneth this work unto the love and condescention of Christ himself as the next and immediate cause of his ingaging in it and performance of it Gal. 2.20 I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Eph. 5.25 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto hiâ— that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood The Apostle telleth us 2 Cor. 8.9 Ye know the Grace of our Lord Iesus that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich He condescended to a poor and low condition and suffered therein for our good that we might be partakers of the riches of the Grace of God III. That this was for our sakes Christ hath a double Relation 1. As our Mediator Redeemer and Saviour 2. As the pattern and example of holiness in our Nature Both ways it was for our sakes 1. As our Mediator So he emptied himself that we might be filled with all Grace He was born of a Woman that we might be born of God Gal. 4.4 5. When the fulness 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 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him He was made a Curse that we might have the blessing Gal. 3.13 14. Christ 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 might come on the Gentiles through Iesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through Faith He was forsaken for a while thâ—t we might be received for ever And to speak to the very case 2 Cor. 8.9 He was made poor for us that we through his poverty might be rich There are some things in the mediation of Christ which belong to Ministry others to Authority Those which belong to Ministry as to be in the form of a Servant and die He must be a Man for that Some things belong to Authority as to bring us back to God to make our peace with God to convey the Spirit to vanquish Satan to raise the dead to deliver us from Hell to make us everlastingly blessed he must be a God for
true Religion will give rest and quiet to the Soul Thirdly That the Christian Religion doth abundantly provide for true Peace of Conscience and Ease of Mind 1. Because it discovereth the Matter of true Peace 2. The Way how it may be attained 1. The Matter of true Peace is Pardon and Life or sufficient Provision to appease our guilty fears and satisfie our desires of Happiness 1. Man being Gods Creature and therefore his Subject and having faulted in his Obedience and Subjection to him and knowing the Judgment of God counteth himself worthy of Death Rom. 1.32 And this fear of Death and Vengeance that ensueth it is â—o ingrained and implanted in the Conscience that unless some fit course of 〈◊〉 and Justification be propounded and that with good Authority man is 〈◊〉 restless and troubled and knoweth not what to do to get rid of the 〈…〉 Soul Micah 6.7 Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit 〈…〉 for the Sin of my Soul Now the great design which the Scriptures 〈…〉 to set forth a grant of Pardon upon Gracious and Commodious Terms 〈…〉 will but accept of it It is the excellency of the Christian Religion above 〈…〉 Religions Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth Iniquity 〈…〉 by the Transgression of the Remnant of his Heritage he retaineth not his 〈…〉 ever because he delighteth in Mercy If the Question were put to you which 〈◊〉 put to the Spouse Cant. 5.9 What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved What is there in Christ above other Gods of the Nations that you make so much 〈◊〉 about him What is it draweth your Hearts so to love him and cleave to him in the greatest Hazards and Extremities This you might Answer He hath set afoot a pardoning Covenant so suited to the Necessities of Man and the Nature of God that all the World cannot shew the like 2 For the other Matter of our Peace a fit Happiness to satisfie our Desires Man having an Immortal Spirit gropeth about for an Immortal and Eternal good Acts 17.27 or such an Estate in the other World as may comfort him against the labours and sorrows and the frailty and shortness of the present Life All Nations have a conceit of the Immortality of the Soul if at any time they doubt of it they cannot wholly blot the sense of it out of their Hearts Surely all desire it and it would give much ease to their Mind if it might be undubitably made out to them that there is such an Immortal Estate They that fully knew it not were pleased with the shadow of it and sought it in fame they would not have their Memory die with them As those that want Children take Pleasure in little Dogs and Cats so did they embrace a poor Shadow for the Substance To be sure most men die Anxious and when they leap into Eternity they know not where their feet shall light But now it is said 2 Tim. 1.10 That Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel He hath made a clear Revelation of that which was not so certainly known before The Heathens guessed at it sometimes they seemed to see it and sometimes doubted of it as men travelling sometimes see a spire of a steeple before them at a distance and anon they lose the sight of it again and so cannot tell certainly whether they see it yea or no. The Law like a Dumb-man made many signs and set forth Eternity by long Life and Heaven by Canaan But now the Gospel clearly speaketh it out and scattereth all the Mists and Clouds about Eternity 2. The Way how we surely may be made partakers of Pardon and Life and there it telleth us First What Christ hath done Secondly What we must do Christ hath sufficiently laid the Foundation and all that we must do is but to apply what he hath purchased and provided for us 1. What Christ hath done The Word that is nigh thee referreth to things already done for us Christs Death and Resurrection 1. His Incarnation and Death for Christ needeth not to be brought down from Heaven any more He once descended from Heaven and was made Flesh and dwelt among us for a double end Partly to reveal these things to us and the way how to obtain them with sufficient Evidence and Certainty One great Errand that he had in the World was to reveal the Will of God to lost Mankind for their recovery and to bring them to the fuller Knowledge of God and the Pardon of Sins and the Truth of the Unseen World and the way thereunto Luke 1.77 To give Knowledge of Salvation unto his People by the Remission of their Sins And not only so but partly also to be a Mediator and Reconciler between God and Man and lay down his Life as a Sacrifice for Sin and a ransom for Souls Eph. 5.2 Who hath given himself for us an Offering and Sacrifice to God Mat. 20.28 He gave his Life a ransom for many We have both Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Iesus Christ. Well then herein lay the Advantage of the Gospel above the Law that required all to be done by us but the Gospel referreth us to things already done for us by another who was sent from God to reveal his Fathers will to us and to redeem us to God He suffered the Penalty due for our breach of the Law there is nothing required of us but our thankful Acceptance and hearty consent to follow Christs Conduct and Direction well then he needeth not be brought down from Heaven any more or descend to help and redeem the World 2. His Resurrection and Ascension For that is the second Question Who shall descend into the Deep to bring up Christ again from the Dead No that needeth not He is risen already and gone again to Heaven to assure us of the Truth of his Doctrine and the value of his Sacrifice and the reality of the other World For he himself is entred into the Glory he spake of and so giveth us a visible Demonstration of the Truth and reality of it And also he is sate down at the right Hand of God that he might apply Salvation to us by his powerful and all-conquering Spirit But it is the Resurrection we must chiefly insist upon for God by raising him from the Dead hath declared him to be a sufficiently authorized Messenger and set him forth to be the Person to be believed in heard and obeyed in his Name When Christ was crucified and buried though a Grave stone was sealed and a guard of Souldiers set to watch it yet Angels appeared and rolled away the Stone and spake to those that enquired after him Yea Christ himself often appeared to his Disciples conversed with them forty days instructed them in things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and then went to Heaven and poured out the Spirit and for an
feared Heb. 5.7 Are you mocked reviled buffetted contumeliously used So was Christ. Are you scourged put to Death by violence So was Christ. 2. From the manner with Meekness and Constancy With Meekness not as Swine but as Sheep Isa. 53.7 As a sheep before the shearer is dumb so he opened not his mouth 1 Pet. 2.23 Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Though he had not in the least kind offended either God or Man yet he was handled as a Sinner and when foul Crimes were laid to his Charge he did not repay his Slanderers in their own Coin but resigned himself to God to deal with him and his Persecutors as he saw fitting he vented no Carnal Passion So for Constancy he continued till all was finished and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross Phil. 2.8 When he was tempted to descend from the Cross he would not but stayed there as long as it was necessary to shew us that we should not descend from our Cross and free our selves from Tribulation by Sin till all be finished If God keepeth us long in an oppressed State without Relief or Deliverance do not make hast but tarry his leisure If by Providence you are unequally yoked bear your Cross as long as God seeth fit to continue it to you If it be a long Imprisonment a long tedious Sickness or any other Affliction do not descend from your Cross till God take it off and help not your selves by Sin out of Affliction 3. From the End the bitterest Trouble will at length have an end Christ was a Man of Sorrows all his Days Tempted Despised Persecuted Censured Scourged Crucified but at length the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is finished cometh and there is a kind of Triumph over all his Enemies and Calamities To teach us to finish our Course with perseverance and patience that at the last we may say we are come to the end of our Sorrows His laborious Pilgrimage was now over and there will a time come when ours shall be over also Christ's Life was a continual Cross and constant Affliction but at length all was finished and the Sorrows of thirty three Years recompenced with Glory and Honour and great Fruit and Success in the Affairs of his Kingdom What is a little momemtary Suffering to the rest of Eternity For a little while he was the despising of Men and the leaving off of the People but afterwards God exalted him and gave him a Name above all Names The perfidious Iews rejoyced for a while but a sad Reckoning came afterwards Iudas had a small time to enjoy his thirty Pieces Pilate within a while rued his Facility and yielding to the Importunity of the Iews But as to Afflictions holily suffered stay a little and all the bitter part will be over 4. All was fulfilled which God determined to be done for the expiation of Sin So that no more Ransom is to be paid our Debt is satisfied Divine Justice hath no more demand to us Sin Satan and Death are spoiled and disarmed and way is made for our Salvation to be owned as coming from Christ alone This is the main Circumstance and therefore I shall explain it a little 1. Negatively 2. Positively 1. Negatively And there 1. In regard of Christ himself And 2. In respect of us 1. In regard of Christ himself Not as if all the necessary Acts of his Mediation were now past Death was just at hand and was comprized in the Expressionâ— his lying in the Grave was but the continuation of his Abasement till the time of his Exaltation should come But in the way of satisfying Justice he had no more to do whatever was done afterwards was by way of Reward not to satisfie Justice but to satisfie the World of the Dignity of his Person He was to Rise from the Dead and ascend into Glory that 's for our more abundant Comfort His Resurrection was his solemn Acquittance our Surety was let out of Prison Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification His Ascension was that we might have a Friend at God's right hand to appear for us Heb. 8.12 We have such an High-priest who is sate on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us That being in a glorified and exalted condition he might powerfully apply his Purchase and by his Spirit communicate the Fruits thereof to Believers And he is to come to Judgment to bless and reward his People and to punish his Enemies But all the Sufferings are now compleated or about to be compleated which he was to suffer for our Sins 2. In respect of us It is not so finished but that something is to be done by the Creature Though the Satisfaction be never so perfect yet there is a necessity of Application The Sacrifice and Atonement is sufficient but it must be applied in the way appointed by God The means of Applying are partly Internal which qualifie the Subject and make us capable of the benefit of this Atonement and Satisfaction which are Faith and Repentance and also new Obedience as the consequent of both for Repentance is a returning to our Duty to God and Faith a thankful owning of our Redeemer by whom we return and if we are serious and real all will end in new Obedience and Holiness or else we are liable to Wrath still Faith is necessary Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood Repentance is necessary Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out New Obedience is necessary Heb. 5.9 He is become the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him And partly External by the Word and Sacraments The Word Iohn 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also may be sanctified through the truth The Word calleth upon us to accept of Christ and that Life and Mercy which is offered to us in him The Sacraments which are Baptism and the Lord's Supper By Baptism we profess and are obliged to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Or to apply him to our selves as a Garment to the Body that he may communicate to us his Righteousness Life and Spirit And by the Lord's Supper we come more abundantly to take part in this Consolation 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blâ—ss is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ That is hereby we are solemnly made Partakers of the Body and Blood of Christ and the
the Creation and upon the Seventh Day he Rested So Christ will not come down till he had finished the Work of Redemption on the Sixth Day and on the Seventh he Rested in the Grave and Rose early in the Morning on the First Day of the Week to shew the Truth of his Satisfaction And the Holy-Ghost his Work is perfect all the time of his Life he continueth increasing our Graces but in the everlasting Sabbatism when Sin shall be no more his Work is brought to an end And then he shall present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Iude 24. But what were the Reasons why Christ would not give over till all was perfected 1. Love to his Father Iohn 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Christ loved the Father with unspeakable Love and was in like manner beloved by him Therefore when this Cup was put into his hands by his Father he would drink it off to the very bottom 2. Love to the Church Eph. 5.25 26. Even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word c. And Rev. 1.5 6. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood The Church was given for a Spouse to Christ but we were polluted and defiled with Sin he would not only cleanse it but make it a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 Christ loved the Church and therefore it was not grievous to him to wash it with his Blood Because Iacob loved Rachel he served seven Years for her in Heats and Frosts by Night and Day and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 So the Son of God loved the Church and therefore endured all these Indignities and grievous Passions 3. He had respect to that eminent Glory set before him Heb. 12.2 Looking to Iesus the author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is now sate down at the right hand of the throne of God Though the Way was rough the Prize was excellent and so he run through all the Pain and Shame and attained the eternal Crown of Glory He endured cruel Pains in his Body and bitter Sorrows in his Soul such as never any Man did suffer never any Angel could have born as he did so dear did it cost our Saviour to make a Propitiation for our Sins That which in all this did strengthen and encourage him was the Joy set before him namely that happy and glorious Estate which followed upon his Sufferings so that his Burden was made the lighter and his Sorrows much abated Oh let us think of this 'T is not a lessening his Love to us for he needed not to put himself into this condition Herein he was our Example to teach us how to sweeten the Cross and as our Mediator he is gone to Heaven to prepare a Place for us Iohn 14.2 3. I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also 2. Let it raise in us a Confidence of the Benefits purchased For Christ expresseth himself as a Conqueror and in a kind of Triumph over the Devil and all the Enemies of our Salvation The Wrath of God is appeased Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him The Law is satisfied Gal. 4.4 5. God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Satan is vanquished Iohn 12.31 Now is the judgment of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Guilt is removed Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Sin is subdued Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Death is unstinged 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is sin and the strength of Sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. The Curse is removed Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Surely where Christ beginneth he will make an end We cannot have too high Thoughts of the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.13 14. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the â—lood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Let us stand still now and behold the Salvation of God and Eccho to Christ's Cry It is finished it is finished What can the Law crave more than the Blood of the Son of God What will make us perfect as appertaining to the Conscience if this will not Being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him Christ hath so far obtained Pardon and Acceptance for us that he hath made an end of Sin for all that are willing to accept of his Grace upon God's Terms 3. Let it quicken us to Perseverance in our Duty notwithstanding Sufferings till all be ended that when we come to die we may be able to say Iohn 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work thou gavest me to do 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness If Christ out of Love to us would finish the Work of our Redemption What shall separate us from the love of Christ Rom. 8.39 4. It teacheth us how to comfort our selves in Death It finisheth all our Labours and Sorrows as Christ sheweth when he was about to give up the Ghost Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds Believers have a Joy set before them as well as Christ. The Wicked cannot say It is finished their Evils are then begun 5. Let us believe Things to come The Event sheweth that all these Things were true which the Prophets had so long before foretold The Holy-Ghost cannot be deceived nor can God lie We are certain that Things yet to come shall be fulfilled as well as these which are past Those who lived before Christ's time had not such an Experiment of God's Truth as we have We have seen the Coming of Christ let us so fix our Minds on future Things as to draw them
off from Earthly He bowed his Head and gave up the Ghost I come to the later part of the Text. Some read it that first he Died and then bowed the Head there being no Spirit left to support it but Christ first bowed the Head and then died he did as it were becken to Death to come and do its Office He yielded up the Ghost his Soul was truly separated from his Body The form of Resignation we have Luke 23.46 Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Wicked Men because they die against their Wills their Souls are said to be taken away Luke 12.20 Thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee Job 27.8 For what is the hope of the Hypocrite thò he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul But Christ yieldeth it up and for a Godly Man to give up the Ghost noteth his Faith Submission and Willingness to depart out of the Body As the Prophet saith of Christ Isa. 53.12 He hath poured out his Soul unto death Death did not surprize him Doctr When all things were finished Christ freely and willingly gave up the Ghost His Life was not taken away but resigned there was much of Violence but no Coaction The Term Giving up the Ghost doth not imply the bare Death of Christ but that he died willingly and freely Nihil in hoc Christo est nisi profusa liberalitas misericordiae remissionis peccatorum I can see nothing in this Christ but a prodigality of Love and Mercy He had freely emptied his Veins in the Garden every Pore became an Eye and wept Blood for your sakes and now he cometh to pour out his Soul Reasons why Christ was so willing to die 1. Out of Obedience to his Father The Divine Decrees had laid a necessity upon him and where the Father saith Must Christ saith I will Matth. 26.54 55. Thinkest thou not that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more than twelve Legions of Angels which was the just number of a Roman Army But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be Christ willingly took this Necessity upon him it was but Necessitas ex Hypothesi had it not been for his Eternal Consent it would never have been said Thus it must be Luke 22.37 This that is written must be accomplished Luke 24.46 Thus it is written and thus it behoveth Christ to suffer It was a Necessity of his own making he was not compelled to Accept of the Conditions from God nor forced by the Violence of Man â—o yield up his Life Iohn 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again This commandment have I received of my father 2. Out of Love to us The Jews crucified him but Love made him die we had else perished for ever The Law laid it upon us but Love made Christ take it upon himself Isa. 53.4 Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our Sorrows Justice demanded it of us but Christ said I will be responsible exact it of me Mat. 20.28 Even as the son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many He took Life to lay it down at the demand of Justice Justice said I must have a Ransom Christ said Take it of me let these go Iob 33.24 Then he is gracious unto them and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom The Father received it and Christ payed it As the Angel said to Abraham Gen. 22.12 Lay not thine hand upon the lad neither do thou any thing unto him Justice would have reached forth a deadly stroke to us but Christ catched the blow 3. This would finish his Labours Death was Christ's last Enemy of his Person as well as of his Kingdom He had been harassed and worn out with Sorrows the Grave was a place of Rest it was finished as to him Isa. 57.2 He â—â—all enter into peace they shall rest in their beds Death was the end of Christ's Journey and all his Labours in the Flesh. The Grave was a dark dismal place till Christ went into it ever since it is but a Chamber of Rest and Christ keepeth the Key of it Isa. 26.20 Enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment 4. This furthered his Triumph and made it every way more compleat By dying Christ carried the War into his Enemies Land and foiled Death in its own Territory and made Death it self Mortal by lying in the Grave The Cross and the Grave were the means of Christ's Triumph by these the Devil thought to foil him and by these he triumphed He conquered Satan and Sin when they seemed to have most power upon him like angry Bees they stung him and disarmed themselves Heb. 2.14 That through death he might destroy him that had the power of Death that is the Devil Col. 2.15 And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 On the Cross Eph. 2.16 Having slain the enmity thereby that is by his Cross formerly spoken of When he was slain himself then he slew Death and the Law Christ's crucifying was his Exaltation and Preferment It is twice expressed by lifting up Iohn 3.14 So shall the son of man be lifted up John 12.32 33. I if I be lifted up will draw all men after me This he said signifying what death he should die The Grave was consecrated and sanctified by Christ's lying there Duo in cruce affixi intelliguntur saith Origen Christus visibiliter sponte suâ— ad tempus Diabolus invisibiliter invitus in perpetuum There were two crucified at once Christ visibly of his own accord for a time only the Devil invisibly against his will for ever Christ received a slight hurt in his Heel but he bruised Satan's Head 5. He was hastening to his own Glory Heb. 12.2 For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross despising the shame and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God He was thinking of his Welcom to Heaven Oh what sweet Embraces there would be between the Father and him Psal. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footstool Dan. 7.13 14. I saw in the night-visions and behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of days and they brought him near before him And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed How the Angels should usher him into Glory
though there were two left with shining Garments to give satisfaction to his Disciples Acts 1.10 11. While they looked steadfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven This same Iesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so return in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Christ was thinking how his Father would embrace him put the Crown upon his Head bid him sit down at his right hand and how there he was to be Royally attended And this doth not derogate from his Love to us for he went to prepare a Place for us and as our fore-runner is entred into Glory and because he lives we shall live also 1 Use. To commend the Love of Christ to us 1. That he should die this was an incomparable condescention of his Love Simeon suffered himself to be bound for his Brethren Gen. 42.24 Lot proffers his Daughters to save his Guests Gen. 19.8 But Christ would lay down his Life If it were in our choice who would die Who would be tumbled into a Pit of Darkness a cold Hole where he should see the Sun no more We would live for ever It is not put to our choice but it is in our wishes But Christ might have chosen whether he would die or no and yet he died 2. Christ had more reason to love his Life than we have He had a delicate Body and the Social Presence of the Godhead The poorest Worm in the world desires to keep its Life Iob 2.4 Skin for skin yea all that a man hath will he give for his life That is a Man would part with all for Skins were the Barter of those days And the more excellent the Life is the more desire Men have to keep it as young Men whose Marrow is in their Bones to them Life is Life indeed The Woman that was broken and spent with old Age yet spent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all her living on Physicians Luke 8.43 Christ had reason to love Life upon a Natural Respect he was about 33 Years old and upon a Spiritual Respect his Human Nature enjoyed the near presence of the God-head but when he was in his full vigour and strength he willingly died 3. That Death which he died was a sad bloody Death the saddest Death that any Man could die He was weaken'd with the Agonies in the Garden They pierced his hands and his feet Psal. 22.16 The Sinewy Parts of his Body were pierced with Nails his Life dropping out by degrees the Irons open'd a passage for his Soul And which was more than all he suffered under the wrath of God Mat. 27.46 My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me 4. It was a shameful Death he suffered as a Malefactor Isa. 53.12 He was numbred with the transgressors He was Crucified between two Thieves In medio latronum tanquam latronum maximus as if he were the greatest of them He was treated as a Sinner we are made the Sons of God Iob was called Hypocrite by his Friends but he would maintain his Righteousness till death Iob 27.6 My Righteousness will I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Eusebius Vercellensis chose rather to starve in Prison then that it should be said he had eaten with the Arians Christ takes it patiently to die as a Thief an Impostor a Traytor Iohn 18.30 If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee The High-Priest charged him with Blasphemy Mat. 26.65 Then the High-priest rent his clothes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses Behold now ye have heard his blasphemy The Disciples began to doubt of him and to look on him as an Impostor Luke 24.21 We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel By God himself when he had taken our Sins upon him he was dealt with as a Transgressor 1 Pet. 4.1 He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin He was as a Sinner before Heb. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many An ingenious Man â—alueth his good Name above all Enjoyments There was enough to clear Christ's Innocency yet in the repute of the world he suffered as a Malefactor Oh how unlike is Christ to the Men of the World Christ is Innocent and accounted a Transgressor they are Transgressors yet would fain be accounted Innocent as Saul said to Samuel 1 Sam. 15.30 I have sinned yet honour me now I pray thee before the elders of my people and before Israel We are more careful of Credit than Conscience and would not be accounted Sinners yet do not fear to be so What a comfort is this to Believers that Satan cannot lay more to your charge than his Instruments did to Jesus Christ. 5. He submitted to this Death most willingly He thirsted and longed to pay the Ransom for us here was not so much pain and shame as there was willingness Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins There was not only the Acts of the Father in giving Christ but a peculiar Act of Christ He gave himself How freely did Christ empty his Veins and let out his Soul it was no more to Christ to pour out his Soul than for the Minister to pour out the Wine We pray as if we were afraid to be heard we hear as if we were loth to be saved we serve God as if we were loth to please him there is a grudging in our Acts of Duty but Christ was free and willing to die for us 6. His Blood was spilt in Malice it might have cried for Vengeance yet it crieth for Pardon it had the Perfume of an infinite Merit Heb. 12.24 The blood of sprinkling speaketh better things than that of Abel As to Abel's Blood that crieth for Vengeance Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy Brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground Christ's Blood cries for Pardon As to the Actors his Blood would not have been a Curse to them if they had harken'd to the Voice of the Gospel But to speak of our selves we by our Sins had made our Lord to serve and die yet doth not his Blood speak against us as Abel's did against Cain but it speaks to God to pacifie his Wrath and to pardon us Our Sins cry Lord forgive not Isa. 2.9 The mean man boweth down and the great man humbleth himself therefore forgive them not They speak in our Conscience ye deserve Death But Christ's Blood speaketh words of Peace and Comfort to cleanse it and make it quiet when Wrath is ready to break out from Justice it still cryeth Father it is finished Christ's Blood yet speaketh When the awaken'd Conscience lies in fear of the offended Judge and is vexed with the restless Accusations of Satan the Blood of Christ speaketh better things viz. it is