our sinfulnesse from our filthinesse by the same blood Eph. 1. 17. Secondly we are made sonnes and have a sonne-like inheritance we are made Gods portion and God is made our portion vers. 5. 11. Thirdly we have all we can desire in this life we have accesse to God for any thing Chap. 2. 18. Chap. 3. 12. who will bee sure to doe every thing for us we need freely and to put us upon praying for every thing wee need and also upon believing and waiting that we may misse of no mercy his grace hath designed us God will take care of us as of his own houshold Chap. 2. 19. He will be as sure of our growing up as he is of the foundation he has laid to bottome us upon vers. 20. 21. II. We further suck in and better rellish the sweetnesse of the Gospel by comparing our present state with our former We were dead but are alive We were darknesse but now are light We were cursed with all spirituall curses in Adam but now are blessed with all spirituall blessings in Christ Wee were without God without hope strangers to life and blessednesse but now wee are in God and full of hope and every way nigh unto him and every excellency in him Chap. 2. 1. 2 3. vers. 6. 12. 13. and Chap. 1. 3. 2. To admire that God and that Christ who have done this for us who have made such a sweet change in our condition 1 Admire that great love wherewith they loved us which was working from all eternity to effect that for us which now they are carrying on amaine Chap. 2. 4. Chap. 3. 19. 2 Admire that abundant free-grace that has made no spare of any thing for us but has acted fully according to the strength of love Chap. 1. 7. Chap. 2. 5. 7. There were but two pretious lives The life of God and the life of Christ and grace hath given us them both To recover us from death the life of Christ was given for us and to keep us in life the life of God is given to us 3 Admire that rich mercy wherein all our former sinnes and every dayes unkindnesses even against Christ and his pretious Gospel and God our Father and the sweet Spirit are continually buried Chap. 2. 4. 4 Admire that various that manifold that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Chap. 3. 10. which laid all the plot of love and which worketh us up daily more and more into the heart of God and nearer and nearer to our happinesse notwithstanding all the pull backs in our selves in the world in our spirituall enemies in the varieties of our conditions which all almost distemper us that though we are untoward under every thing and in danger by every thing yet we lose nothing 5 Admire the mighty power which hath thus translated us from darknesse to light which daily preserves us from â—â—lling back againe and is often mightily working in us to raise us up to further degrees of perfection Chap. 1. 19. 20. Chap. 3. â—0 3. To walk worthy of this blessed Gospel state Chap. 4. 1. wherein God is our Father and Christ our head wherein we have so many pretious priviledges at present and hopes for the future wherein we professe our selves broken to the world and to all the powers of nature in our selves too to live like men that live upon a new principle from God and in God and to God Walking it notes our whole course all the service wee are now to perform to Christ whose we are and whom alone we are now to serve in care over our own hearts in all duties of worship in our callings in our converse in every thing This walking worthy principally appeares in our manner of acting towards men whereof there are three sorts 1 Our fellow-Christians 2 the World and 3 Persons that stand in outward relations to us First Our fellow-Christians and specially those in Church-Communion with us for they are those God hath more specially set us to walk with they are those with whom we are chiefly to worship and whom we must especiall love and of whom wee must especiall take care and watch over Now the manner of our acting towards them must bee 1. With all humblenesse and meeknesse with low thoughts of our selves and in a meet manner Chap. 4. 2. 2. With long-suffering forbearing one another in love vers. 2. We must not be apt to apprehend injuries or seek recompence for injuries but suffer long and forbeare one another and not simply because it is the will of Christ who hath forborn us much and forgiven us much that wee should so doe but from the love we beare one to another from a tender brotherly affection and in a tender brotherly manner 3. The Apostle tells us what should be our great aime and endeavour in our actings one towards another vers. 3. To keep up unity the unity of the spirit to keep it in the bond of peace endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace we must not keep a sinfull unity a carnall unity in the bond of peace no the bond of peace must bind up no such unity in it but there must be warre with and opposition against all such unity but the unity of the spirit that unity the foundation whereof God hath laid among us who hath made us perfectly one in spirituals being all of the same body having all the same spirit of life running in us having all the same hope to attaine the same end all the same Lord to serve all the same way of union with him subjection to him and owning of him all the same God and Father who begate us all vers. 4. 5 6. to which might bee added wee have all also the same enemies and the same dangers Now God having laid such a foundation of unity in all our spirits we must endeavour to keep up unity so farre as it is spirituall and not to rent one from another in that wherein God hath made us one Humblenesse takes away the root of contention which is the bane of all societies quickly eating out both the sweetnesse and benefit of them for that still flowes from pride pride begets pride feeds contention A man that has low thoughts of himselfe has little minde to contend It is height of spirit that blowes up the fire of contention Meeknesse takes away the occasion of contention which arises much from a rough harsh manner of expression a meek spirit as it seldome takes occasion of contention but quietly lets it passe so it seldomes gives others occasion to contend with it Long-suffering and forbearance puts a stop to the breaking forth of contention when occasions are given But besides all these there must be an endeavour an industry used to keep up true and spirituall unity 4. The Apostle directs us how to make use of our severall gifts profitably according to the end for which they were given which is
by night acknowledging him to be a Teacher from God one who had the will of God revealed unto him by God himselfe and came to make it known unto the sonnes of men Hee giveth Christ the ground which induced him thus to believe which was because of the signes hee shewed the wonders hee did which no man could doe unlesse God were with him Those things he did were beyond the working of any humane power therefore God must needs be with that person who doth them he comes as one that would be a disciple though hee comes not so openly as others did and at his first salute hee acknowledgeth Christ to be a Teacher sent from Heaven by God rendring his reason withall whereby hee could not chuse but so judge which was no meane one neieher but drawn from the mighty things Christ did wherein the very power of God did appear to the eye of reason evidencing unto it that living Spring from whence he came and the Presâ—â—â—â— of that living Spring with him This is expressed in the first and second verses In the third verse Christ applyeth himselfe to his particular state wishing him to consider the ground whence this acknowledgement of his did arise telling him plainly that true Faith must arise from another root then sight of his miracles Iesus answered and said unto him verily verily c. as if hee had said Mark what I say I know what I speak Verily verily it is most certainly so unlesse a man be born againe he cannot see the kingdome of God What is the Kingdome of God The kingdome of God is that state of life and blessednesse which God hath brought to light by Iesus Christ As the kingdome of the Devill is that state of death and misery man lies in by nature so the Kingdome of God is the state of life and glory man is advanced to by grace Philip preached the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the Name of Iesus Christ Act. 8. 12. He opened the life and blessednesse that belongs to this Kingdome and the name of Christ who is to bring us into it To see this Kingdome is an act of Faith which is the eye wherewith wee behold every spirituall thing this eye no man hath but he that is born againe he that is born from above This eye doth not lie hid in nature and so only wants somewhat to cleare it and draw forth the act of it but it belongs to a new birth he that is begotten and born of God hee hath this eye in him and none else Therefore Nicodemus consider thy mistake Thou thinkest because thou seest by an eye of reason that I am come from God and art drawne by thy reason and ingenuity to acknowledge and owne it that therefore thou believest No no Nicodemus if thou hast Faith it ariseth from another ground then the sight of my miracles it comes from a new birth in thee though God may make this usefull to thee also to help thee to believe but if thy Faith have no better ground-work then this it is like the fore-mentioned Faith of those in the former Chapter vers. 23. whom I dare not I cannot owne as Disciples Oh weigh and consider this all wise and ingenuous men behold your snare and take notice of this also which may help to enervate the force of it That sight and acknowledgement of any spirituall thing which wee are drawn to by a power of reason by such evidences as reason it selfe cannot withstand as miracles were wee have just cause to suspect as not true and spirituall It is the sight of reason not of Faith it is such an act of Faith as proceeds from the naturall man not from the spirituall man it is that act the eye that was in us before puts forth not the new eye Oh see how men are quite out in seeking after the truths of God in every kind They call for reason for evidences to have it brought by such hands as no man could justly refuse Ah! they should call for new eyes or least for Gods discovering his truths in a spirituall way to their eyes which all the miracles in the world cannot doe They may by miracles bee brought to a rationall sight and so to a present acknowledgement of truths but never to a spirituall sight which alone â—s satisfactory and which alone wâ—ll be lasting Verse 4. Nicodemus apprehends this spirituall truth very carnally and grossely of a fleshly birth of the fleshly part and it seemeth a direct absurdity to him what Christ had now affirmed He thinks he hath caught the great Master whom hee acknowledged just now a Teacher come from God in a trap and hee so expresseth it as if Christ had overshot himself and could not tell how to make good what hee had laid downe How can a man be borne againe when hee is old is there any possibility of this can hee enter the second time into his mothers wombe and bee borne Verse 5. Christ doth not abate any thing of what hee hath said but affirmeth it againe with the same vehemency further opening and confirming it Iesus answerd Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be borne of water and of the Spirit hee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Doest thou come to be a Disciple to learn the way to happinesse wouldst thou enter into that state of blessednesse that I come to preach thou must be born againe and not carnally not of carnall things but of water and of the spirit For the better apprehending of this let us enquire a little into these ensuing particulars 1. What is meant by water 2. What it is to be borne of water 3. What it is to be borne of the Spirit 4. What this entring into the Kingdome of God is which none none can doe but that person which it born of water and of the Spirit 1. What is meant by water By water is meant the knowledge of God in Christ the sight of God in the face of Christ wherein eternall life consists If thou hadst known the gift of God c. thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Ioh. 4. 10. What is this living water Why this is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Ioh. 17. 3. The heavenly doctrine of life and salvation is often expressed in Scripture by this tearm of water My doctrine shall drop as the raine my speech shall distill as the dew Deut. 32. 2. Is. 55. 10. Heb. 6. 7. As God is the fountaine whence all the life and sweetnesse of the creature flowes whether naturall Is. 65. 9. or spirituall Ier. 2. 13. So those beames of eternall light those streamings forth of life which issue out from God in the knowledge of Iesus Christ they are waters from this fountaine 2. What it is to be born of water It notes that fundamentall and radicall change which is made in the
not to set up our selves by them but to perfect this unity to build up one another in Faith in knowledge and that so we may in all things grow up into Christ the head vers. 7. to 16. Secondly The World towards them we must walke wisely Chap. 5. 15. First taking heed of partaking with them in any evill nay of countenancing the least evill in them Chap. 4. 17. Chap. 5. 7. 11. Secondly redeeming the time from them as much as may be for converse with God Thirdly doing as much good as we can to them while we are with them both which are included in that phrase of redeeming the time vers. 16. Thirdly those in neare relations to us whether brought home to Christ or in their naturall condition we are to observe the strict Lawes of that relation we stand debtours to them in which wee are not to faile in towards them bee they superiour or inferiour how ever they act towards us Chap. 5. vers. 22. to the end of the Chapter and Chap. 6. to vers. 10. Our engagement to Christ does not set us free from our relations and duties in any kinde to men but onely layes a bond on him to furnish us with free spirits and power to fill up what wee owe in every relation Christ gives us not freedome from but freedome unto every thing that is of God 4. To stand upon our guard not to be driven from the sweetnesse of the Gospel nor from acknowledging and admiring God in every step of his love mercy wisdome power and grace nor from this walking worthy of the Gospel by any enemy any temptation or any thing that befals us in any kind Chap. 6. 10. 11. but to stand armed against our enemies who are spiritually mighty and lay the sorest temptatious and baits in spirituall things vers. 12. We are to stand armed thus 1. With an understanding having its light clear about it and with a will having an holy disposition ready to act in any kind God shall please to call it out unto vers. 14. To have an understanding ready to put forth it selfe knowing how to carry it selfe how to obey how to suffer how to embrace how to resist and a will graciously disposed to either whensoever God shall call it forth Our loynes commonly are ungirt our light is to seek our grace hangs loose about us that we are unfit to act for God at all much more unfit to doe it in the face of that opposition which we are still likely to meet with in every spirituall undertaking And for want of this piece of armour we lie open to our spirituall enemies 2. With an holy resolution to act for Christ according to that light hee shall give in to the conscience to meddle with no evill to omit no duty of any kinde this is that brest-plate that keeps the heart or conscience pure and safe vers. 14. when the Devill doâ—s not finde us resolved against sinne or resolved for duties bee it how it will with us hee commonly takes us in his snare 3. With affections taken with the sweet truths of the Gospel as pardon of sinne c. and ready to hold out these truths for the Gospel to make out its way into mens hearts vers. 15. Troubles and â—fflictions wee meet with within and without will quickly damp our affections if they bee not well fenced with these 4. With Faith over all these defending even these as well as our selves in other respects by Faith by Faith interposing the power of Christ between us and every enemy that may come to assault us in these or in any other respects that may come to ungird us and make us unfit to act to damp our holy resolution for God to deaden our affections towards the sweet truths of the Gospel which prepare the way for Christ or to wound us with any temptation whatsoever Faith is a true shield it defends both the person and the rest of his armour as we know a shield does the Devill cannot prevaile in any point against a believing soule vers. 16. Alas we can doe nothing our selves doe no good avoid no evill all our strength lies in trusting God with our selves in every condition and with every spirituall advantage and help hee hath given us to manage it as he pleaseth for us 5. With hope of salvation by grace both for eternity and from any present distresse in GODS time Because many seeming miseries may befall the believing soule contradictions to his Prayers Desires Faith yea to all the motions of GODS Spirit in him hee must have an helmet of hope vers. 17. as well as a shield of Faith And this will keep up his spirit that hee shall not feare looking up to GOD what ever befals him 6. With the sword of the Spirit the Word of GOD the living Word the Word which is Spirit and Life This will kill all false reasonings and every thing that exalts it selfe against CHRIST this will make enemies flye from the soule for they hate the Word of life they know it is their death and it will also make the soule it selfe subject unto CHRIST vers. 17. And all this and every thing else must bee done by Prayer vers. 18. wee can doe nothing not gaine this armour not put it on not use it all must be done by Prayer by intreating another to doe it for us wee cannot believe wee must prâ—y for Faith neither can we pray we must believe for prayer we cannot doe either both must flow from the spirit and be done in the spirit praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit Oh how are we stripped when every motion sends us out of our selves to another and yet withall tells us wee are altogether unable to goe out of our selves or step the least step towards that other And wee must watch unto prayer catch opportunities to breathe out our hearts to GOD to doe that in us which he bids us doe not being discouraged with any difficulties but persevering in our requests for our selves and all the people of God vers. 18. Behold ô Christian thy spirituall employment thine easie and painfull employment easie to thy spirit painefull to thy flesh and as yet somewhat painfull to thy spirit also by reason of the cumberance of thy flesh the weaknesse of thy spirit the power and fury of thine adversaries FINIS