he was well and duly apprehensive of the benefit and comfort and succour and support that would spring up to him from the consideration of a suffering Christ why this is by my conformity to Christ I account all things saith he but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. There you have the very point in hand held forth He speaks concerning the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ I account all things but loss and dung for the excellency of this knowledge Why That I might know the fellowship of his sufferings and be made conformable unto his death I tell you Beloved it 's no matter what condition soever a person come into if it be but such a condition as wherein Christ hath been before him only so as wherein Christ hath been as one that hath gone before us and made it a way for us to walk in Indeed the way of his mediation the way of his meritorious sacrificing that 's not a way that ever he walk'd in so as to constitute it a way for his people to walk in they are never able to live in that way But the way wherein Christ hath been before us and the condition which he hath been brought into as a condition in which he would lead his people into this is that that will comfort us in any such condition let the condition be what it will Christ hath been in this condition before us so that now here 's the comfort to a Beleever a Saint in Christ I suffer thus and thus as the Apostle speaks I suffer as an evil doer so did Christ Christ was before me I suffer as an evil doer unto bonds I am persecuted so was Christ my Lord I am reproach'd and scorn'd and revil'd in the World so was my Lord Jesus Christ I am cast into Prison so was my Lord Jesus I am brought to the place of execution Christ was hanged as a malefactor There 's much to support the soul in this condition And then Secondly consider this This is the comfort that slowes out from the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to support in a suffering state Christ suffered nay but more than this we are to consider further that he suffered penal sufferings legal sufferings O this this hath added to the other that we are to know concerning Jesus Christ that he suffered in a legal way His obedience was legal obedience not evangelical obedience as ours should be so his sufferings were legal sufferings why he suffered upon the account of Divine Justice he suffered according to what the strict Justice of God did and could inflict upon him for sin and transgression and here was the bitterness of the cup a thing that would be seriously weighed and considered of by us He suffered for sinners he put himself as it were into the state and condition of a sinner of a malefactor The guilt of the sins of his people was set over to him Thus it was and upon this account you must conceive that there was not that rejoycing on Christ's part in his sufferings as that which sometimes discovers it self even in Beleevers who have rejoyced at the stake and kist the stake and bid it welcome and have been as full of joy and rejoycings as their hearts could hold why there was reason for it It was not so with Christ but he was in an agony and cryes out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Why Brethren there was reason for it Alas Beleevers do not sip one drop of that cup and that 's their mercy and that 's it that gives them comfort upon the consideration of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus because the cup that was tempered unto him to drink of it was a legal cup it was a cup that the hand of Divine Justice temper'd up for him Son thou hast put thy self into the place of sinners and cursed malefactors that have deserved to drink of the wine of my wrath to all eternity I 'll temper a cup for thee forasmuch as thou hast undertaken to appear on their behalf thou shalt have a cup to drink off in their steads and the hand of Justice tempers up this cup. Now one drop of this legal cup would have made all the Nations drunk and have been made to spew and fall to fall down to Hell one drop of this cup of Justice but Christ must drink it up He must make by suffering satisfaction to the Infinite Justice of a provoked Majesty Here 's the business now and alas we are apt to pass over these things slightly and not consider what the greatness of the love of Christ is in undergoing such a task in drinking such a cup But judicious Christians will weigh these things and endeavour to understand concerning what was undergone by Jesus Christ. 'T is an astonishing consideration that it should be thus ordered out concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Now here 's the comfort to poor beleeving souls under all their sufferings blessed be God I suffer not in a legal way I suffer not from the hand of Divine Justice I suffer not in order to satisfaction that 's done to my hand Here 's my comfort As I am not called out to pay debts with duties I am not called out to pay debts with sufferings Here 's the comfort of a Beleever which flows out from the well-improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ that whatsoever his sufferings be they are not satisfactory sufferings they are not sufferings upon a legal account but they are sufferings in a way of fellowship with Christ as one that did suffer but not as a sufferer in order to satisfaction to God's Justice So that now upon the account of the suffering of our Lord Jesus as a legal sufferer and as one that took the cup from the hand of Divine Justice which was tempered up by that hand upon this account the poyson is taken out of sufferings the terror of the bitterness of death is past the bitterness of suffering is taken out the sting of the suffering is plucked out what 's the sting of the suffering The sting of death is sin the sting of a suffering is sin There 's nothing that makes suffering so bitter to a sensible soul an understanding Christian there 's nothing that makes it so bitter as the consideration of guilt I but the guilt is taken away and so the sting is taken out the venom of the suffering is gone The cup may be bitter but it 's a wholsome cup. This is now a second thing to consider whereby you may come to understand how much a well-improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ doth contribute to the promoting a Christians comfortable and bold and confident suffering and you will never be able to quit your selves in a suffering day in a suffering state as becomes the Gospel if so be that these considerations concerning Christ be not well digested 3. Yet further Christians are
put upon the serious consideration of their dying day and having a dissolution made between soul and body Whence is this but either from the total want or a very great weakness that is in their Faith either their want that they have none at all and then no marvel that the thoughts of Death be terrible to them why they are under the guilt of sin and they must go to Hell when they dye O it 's a sad thing and I would there might be a fixedness of heart upon this it is a sad thing to think of it that there should be nothing but a little breath between a poor creature and eternal destruction and if that be but with-held for a quarter of an hour the soul goes down to eternity if God take away their breath they dye and return to dust and when they dye they dye in a state of guilt and so damn to eternity Now no marvel that such persons cannot indure to meditate such terror And then others that are weak in their Faith and are not comfortably setled in their confidence concerning the Grace of Christ in them and their reconciled state No marvel if they be shaken and perplexed about it when they come to have the thoughts of death Now Faith improved to a good degree will inable a soul to meditate this terror to think of it I with a holy rejoycing and content to think that a day will come that will make a dissolution between the soul and body that so upon that dissolution there may be a more full injoyment of the Lord Jesus according to what the Apostle speaks in Phil. 1. having a desire I desire to depart when a mans Faith will inable the soul to this to look upon death as a thing to be desired not only as that which there is a necessity lying upon the creature to undergo not only so there is a necessity lies upon me it being enacted so that a soul dies out of a necessity he cannot help it if he could help it he would be glad with all his heart to keep off the stroke of death but he dyes out of choice this is the Faith that we should press after and this is that that Faith well improved will inable to meditate this terror and to bear up under the apprehensions of it reckoning upon this That as to live is Christ so to dye it will be gain as the Apostle speaks and therefore he professeth that he has a desire rather to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all And then again there is a terribleness in judgement so it is called in 2 Car. 5. The terror of the Lord the day which is appointed wherein God will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained even the Lord Jesus And all the Sons and Daughters of Adam that ever were from the beginning of the Creation to the time of that appearing of his shall all be convented and made to stand before his Judgement-seat and we that are here this morning shall all stand before this Judgement and shall give an account to God of our preaching and bearing and how we have carried our selves in the Assemblies and under the dispensations of the Ordinances when there shall be an appearing before the great Judge of all the World Truly this day is a terrible thing and it is called as I said The terror of the Lord. Now I say this is a terror that a Faith-less soul will not be able to meditate he is not able to bear up under the thoughts of it and therefore doth all that it can to drive them away black melancholy thoughts thoughts of death and of judgement Such thoughts as these cannot be indured to set a foot over the threshold nor to come under the roof of the house no we will have nothing to do with such black thoughts And then those that are weak in Faith they are ready to be startled at the apprehensions of this It 's a terror to them to think of a day of Judgement I but I say that a well-improved Faith a Faith that is of a good growth it will inable to meditate this terror and to bring the soul to the free usage and possession of this blessed priviledge that belongs unto Beleevers A person of a well-grown Faith will be able to think of this with joy and gladness be glad to think of the day wherein the Lord Jesus shall appear in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ A man of a well-grown Faith will be able to meditate this terror and to rejoyce at the thoughts of it It is the day of his gladness therefore to this purpose our Saviour saith when these and these things shall come do you lift up your â—…eads When mens hearts shall fail them with looking after those things that shall come upon the earth and when others shall cry out with Balaam Alas who shall live what will become of us now It is an amazing thing to think when the Heavens shall be raised and the Lord shall appear with his mighty Angels to think what startling there will be and running this way and that way O! what a dreadful day is this I am not able to stand before this Judge of all the World O it 's an amazing thing to think what skreeking and crying there will be on the part of ungodly sinners that are strangers to Christ and Grace But a poor soul that is well improved in Faith and Grace he will be able to bear up with boldness and our Saviour speaks to that purpose when mens hearts shall fail them and grow dead as a stone within them and they shall be fall of astonishment upon the appearing of the Lord Jesus Then lift up your heads with joy the day of your Redemption draweth nigh So that this is another thing that a well-grown Faith will inable to To meditate terror the terror of God The terror of the Law The terror of Death The terror of Judgement O beloved this is the Faith that we should press to and this growth in Faith that you may be inabled to have the free usage of this blessed priviledge and that when others shall be over-whelmed in their spirits you may be able to bear up with comfort You hear of this as that wherein we are to evidence a growth in Faith when we are able to meditate Terror Lastly This I would only say such a Faith we should press to such a growth in Faith and that we may be aâ—… not only to look for but to long after the serious appearing of Christ which follows upon the former O it is not every Faith that will inable to this to be in holy longings after the coming of the Lord Jesus Yâ—…u come behind saith the Apostle in no gift waiting for that coming of Christ waiting for it and hastening to it It is that
's a Mystery which God was pleased to keep secret in his own bosom for many thousands of years some little whispering there was of it upon the fall of Man The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head And what a pittance was here Though infinite mercy appeared in making this little appearance The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head Then afterwards a little more of this but a Mysterie and still a Mysterie and an unsearchable Mysterie a Mysterie which they that are most insighted in will have cause to say Alas how little a thing is known of him and what a depth is here and how scant and short is our line that we are not able to fathom the depth O it is such a Knowledge the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as that all those Dimensions are most properly reckoned to it heights and depths and breadths and lengths and yet it is a Knowledge that passeth knowledge Such is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We had need then to be endeavouring a growth in it and to resolve thus I have not attained nor know nothing as I ought to know I am not yet sufficiently skill'd in this Mysterie If Paul that was such a knowing man were alive at this day he would be still pursuing after this Knowledge the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I but what account is to be given of this Knowledge that we should be so set to endeavour a growth in it Consider besides that that I have now spoken as touching the smallness of that measure attained Consider yet further First of all There is great reason that Christians and Believers should endeavour a growth in this Knowledge First It is the most excellent Knowledge that ever was discovered to the World and you have the Apostles word for it who was able to make a Judgment of Knowledge and Knowledge Phil. 3. 8. O saith he I do here give my Judgment and saith he This is my standing Judgment I am an Hebrew of the Hebrews of the seed of Abraham I am an Israelite of the Tribe of Benjamin as touching the Law a Pharisee And he was a man that could speak with Tongues more than all the Apostles And he was a man of profound Knowledge Though I be rude in speech yet not in knowledge Why he had a vast portion of Knowledge yet when he comes to compare one thing with another For my part saith he I account all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. All but lâ—…ss and dung such an excellency there is in the knowledge of Christ and truly all other knowledge may well be lookt upon as inconsiderable knowledge and all other Injoyments in the World but even accounted as loss and dung compared with the Knowledge of Christ. Consider the Subject of this Knowledge Christ himself Consider him in his Person The brightness of his Father's Glory the express Image of his Person one that was in the Form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God Consider him yet notwithstanding this account of him as one that hath a transcendent love to his Father love to the World that he was most willing to comply with his Fathers pleasure in taking upon him the nature of Man The Lord to become a Servant the Prince of Life to become subject to Death O the blessed and only Potentate to be made a Curse he that knew no sin becomes willing to be made sin he that was the Lord of all to become a Servant of all What shall I say The consideration of the subject of this Knowledge it commends it to us as the most excellent Knowledge that ever was communicated to the World And then consider but this Lord Jesus Christ as in his Person so in his Qualifications in his Love in his Meekness in his Fatience in his Humility in his Gentleness in his Holiness and Righteousness in every respect Consider him in his Office such a Priest such a Prophet such a King as the World never had the like Consider him in his Actions and Performances consider him in his miraculous Actions in his moral Actions consider him in his military Actions and Performances such a Saviour of such wonderful power And of such Aâ—…chievements and Accomplishments as the like was never heard of in the World that he should rout Hell it self all the Devils in Hell It was a great matter in David to come into the Camp and to get the Victory over a Gyant a Goliah that was yet but a man But for this Captain this noble Souldier to come into the Camp and to ingage against all the powers of Hell and Darkness all the Devils in Hell that were all of them in Arms against him and yet he routs them and makes a spoyl of them and leads them a company of base slaves after him he makes a shew of them openly and triumphed over them in his Cross he gets a Conquest This is the most noble Captain and the most worthy Souldier that ever the World had Consider him I say in those military Performances moral Performances miraculous Performances the wonderful cures that he wrought such a Physitian that the World never had the like could Cure with a look with a word with a touch he could cure Bodies Souls There 's never a Physitian in the World could purge a sin out of a mans Conscience I but Christ can purge the Soul from sin Now Brethren I can at present but name these things and then to come to tell you what an excellent Knowledge the Knowledge of Jesus Christ is As in respect of the subject of it so in respect of the benefit and usefulness of it never any knowledge in the World will profit like unto this knowledge Here I have many things to say but I only at present give you but a little touch of them The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ O it is the most profitable and useful and beneficial Knowledge Mark by the Law comes the knowledge of sin So the Apostle in Rom. 7. I had not known sin except the Law had said thus and thus I but when a man comes to know his plague and disease what is he the neerer if he doth not know his remedy If you should now be tryed as indeed it is necessary you should if you have not been brought to it If you should be brought to know what vitious natures you have what cursed corruptions made to see what deep and dreadful guilt you have contracted upon you if you should come to have the discovery made as those that God hath a favour to they have such disâ—…overies made to them the spirit of God comes 〈◊〉 as a convincing spirit if you should come to have the knowledge of your sins O now I am made to see and know that I am a vile damned wretch I come to know my sin and I know no more
our Improvement in the knowledge of Christ truly we walk unworthy of this provision if we do not put on with all industriousness to such a purpose that we may grow in the Knowledge of God Let me but express my self thus If so be you have a Vessel moving upon the waters if the water be shallow and it be a low water the Vessel is ready to touch upon the ground but if so be the water grow higher and higher and the Tyde comes in and springs up then the Vessel rises higher and higher So should it be with the souls of Believers being that God hath made a stream come in more strongly and the Tyde to rise higher as he hath done in the course of holy Scripture truly the endeavour of a Christian should be sutable to such provision he should endeavour to be upon his Improvements and to grow in the Knowledge of Christ. These things being thus accounted to you in order to your convincement that we should endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour I should now come to tell you what this Knowledge is for the nature of it I must tell you this That truly there are many have the Knowledge of Christ and are grown up to a great measure of it and yet for all that their Knowledge will be their confutation at last I must tell you this That howsoever we may be apt to lift up our selves in high conceits of our Knowledge yet the very Devils are exceeding much in their Knowledge of Christ We know thee who thou art The holy one of God I tell you There 's never a Devil that 's now under the chains of darkness but they can speak most learnedly concerning the Lord Jesus concerning his Person concerning his Nature concerning his Office And how many learned men are there that are able to discourse concerning Christ concerning his Incarnation and concerning his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and this and that and are able to inlarge themselves this way and yet they do many of them go down with their Knowledge to Hell Therefore it is necessary for us to be well instructed in this Point that we may know what this Knowledge is I would have spoken something to it only thus It is not a notional Knowledge Take heed of a notional historical Knowledge a Knowledge that you attain unto meerly by common report and by a common eradiation of the Understanding but look to it that it be a Heart-knowledge a cordial Knowledge a practical Knowledge such a Knowledge as is a transforming Knowledge For the truth on 't is If any man think he knows any thing of Christ he knows nothing as he ought to know if his Knowledge don't transform him This is the ruine of souls They know much of Christ they are able to discourse of the Doctrine of Justification and Sanctification and of Adoption and other Mysteries of the Gospel and all lies floating in the brain and that 's nothing of its effectual operation upon the heart and conscience of a sinner This is that that I would a little further speak to you about that so we may not mistake our selves and go with a Knowledge that lies dead upon our hands and so come to fall under the deep and most dreadful ruine SERM. XI I Was speaking concerning this Knowledge for the kind of it Now I would strengthen this cause I have in hand concerning the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I would strengthen the cause what I could and I shall do my best endeavour that you may be as fully convinc'd as may be How much it concerns Believers and Saints to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Besides all that hath been already spoken to the purpose which indeed doth carry very convincing light with it and is beyond all gain-saying There is besides all that hath been already spoken some things further to be held forth unto you whereby you may yet stand more fully convinc'd of it That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus is a Knowledge that we should vigorously endeavour a growth and Improvement in As now to instance Having spoken the last time of things that concern us in reference to Christ so I shall now further communicate those things to you that concern this matter in reference to our selves If so be we be but that we profess to be if we be such as have the faith of the Gospel and are planted under the hopes of the Gospel truly it doth very much concern us in respect of our selves to endeavour vigorously a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that in these several respects which I would intreat you seriously to weigh and consider As First Our Duty is to endeavour a growth in th Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. First That we may be men and women of more able Judgments be more Judicious and able to manage our Judgment of things 2. That we may have the more benefit and comfort of our Consciences and with respect to our consciences our duty is to endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 3. With respect unto Gospel-grace and that there may be an increase in it 4. With respect unto Gospel-priviledges and Benefits and Comforts 5. With respect to Gospel-duties 6. With respect unto a Gospel-conversation In the general these things I now do further offer to your consideration and shall endeavour to give some insight into them and what they do import that so if the Lord will please to prosper my endeavours among you that you may come to set on more strenuously with strength and endeavour after a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Consider first It is required of us such as profess Godliness and the Faith of the Gospel that they be a wise judicious and understanding People Be not saith the Apostle unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is 'T is that which hath been earnestly prayed for So David Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding How earnest was Solomon in that behalf that he would give him a wise and an understanding heart How earnest was Paul with God on the behalf of the Church of the Ephesians That their understandings might be enlightned God would have his People to be like himself he is a judicious God a God of Judgment and he would have his People to be an understanding and judicious People of discerning spirits able to make a right Judgment of persons and persons of things and things This is the Will of God Now consider There is no Knowledge in all the World that contributes so much to this that we may come to be a wise understanding and judicious People as the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ doth I remember what Moses speaks in Deut. 4. That they should be acknowledged upon the account
Gospel that know him not Observe that Scripture 1 Ioh. 16. The time will come when they will excommunicate you cast you out of their Synagogues and they that kill you shall think they do God service in so doing And why because they know neither the Father nor me they know not me nor my Father and therefore they will do these things to you and yet they will think they do God very good service This is the mischief that follows upon the ignorance of Christ. 6. Consider this That sad speech of the Apostle 2 Cor. 14. If our Gospel be hid and Christ who is held forth in the Gospel why then the Gospel is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not 7. I argue thus If it be as our Saviour speaks eternal life to know the true God and him whom he hath sent Jesus Christ our Lord Ioh. 17. why then it follows on the contrary This is eternal death to be ignorant of the true God and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent 8. And then I add further That this will be the aggravation of the guilt of such persons as minded not the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ never set their hearts to seek after it this will be the aggravation That light did come into the world and yet they love darkness rather than light that there was a blessed beaming out of the light of the Knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ and yet no regard at all unto that Knowledge nor no improvement of those means whereby that knowledge might be attained This will be the condemnation and the aggravating of the guilt and the strengthening of the condemnation 9. I add yet further That such persons as are awanting to the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ especially in a day wherein this Knowledge may be had and attained I say this such persons they lye open to a dreadful stroke of judgment in this world according to that which the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 14. If any man be ignorant let him be ignorant It runs in the same form and frame with that dreadful passage in Rev. 22. Him that is unjust let him be unjust still let him that is filthy be filthy still This is spoken not in an approving way but in a judicial way Let them that are filthy be filthy still And I have had occasion lately to speak upon this Scripture that this Judgment is now in execution amain at this very day That they that have been unjust and formal and hypocritical and would not own the holy wayes of God when they were discovered to them and clearly made known but dote upon their own fancies Judgment is gone out upon them let them be filthy still let them be vain and formal and superstitious and what not and let them so live and so die So in this form the Apostle gives out the Judgment If any man be ignorant one that lives under the means of light and knowledge of our Lord Jesus having a price in his hand to get Knowledge and hath no heart to it doth not care for the commodity hath it not in any due esteem he would rather be acquainted with the mysteries of a Trade than with the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God be more acquainted with the politicks of the World than with the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and so sets light by this Knowledge that Judgment such are in danger to have it go out against them If any man be ignorant and have a mind to be ignorant and his heart is not touched with the sense of the knowledge of Christ nor his affections doth not move and stir within him after that knowledge that he may come to be made partaker of it If any man be ignorant let him be ignorant let him go on in his blindness let the Devil blindfold him and hood-wink him he will not see he shall not see till he come to see in a judicial way And then I close up this branch of the Discourse thus Think but this and let this be seriously considered of by all that neglect the good knowledge of Christ and do not set their hearts upon it are not carryed out in desire after an advance in it The day will come when they that will not know Christ now care not to be acquainted with him and with the Mysteries of his Kingdom the day will come when Christ will know them I but so as that he will not know them Here 's a paradox but yet it is a truth the day will come when Christ will know them so as never to know them to all eternity he will know them with a knowledge of apprehension in a judicial way he will know them to have been such as cared not to know him he will know them to have been such as never set their hearts upon this good knowledge this excellent beneficial knowledge that they might be partakers of he will know them to be such as have neglected all those blessed means which have been afforded to them that they might come to advance in the Knowledge of Christ I and he will know them so as not to know them and profess unto them Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I never knew you you would not know me you would not know the Mysteries of my Kingdom I do declare here before all the world I never knew you nor I never will I will never know you not to the days of eternity I never did know you I never will know you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Let these things be considered which I have thus spoken with respect unto such as do not mind the Knowledge of Christ. But now 2ly And it may be this may more concern the generality of the Auditory But before I come to that some may be apt to say O but I hope we are without the reach of this lash for we do know we know Christ and we can give an account of Christ many are apt to think thus and to fancy thus with themselves that they are good Proficients in this Knowledge But I say take heed that the light that is in us be not darkness and the knowledge that is in us be not found to be ignorance What knowledge is it It may be a formal notional knowledge as I spake before many they can clatter over a form of words concerning Christ they can say their Belief from one end to the other and not miss a word and this is all their Religion they understand nothing of what they say they have gotten a form of words setled upon their memories but alas they understand nothing of what they say But I shall speak more to that But the second way that this reproof goes and this complaint it looks upon the faces of persons concerning whom there is better hope that they may know and know to some good
purpose and yet not know to such a degree as they ought to do and so are culpable as not answering the duty of the Text which requires a growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You may be able to make a Judgment by the things that have been so largely handled in the Doctrinal part of this Text Much hath been spoken according to what my line would reach to concerning the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And here now is this to consider of whether we be not deserving blame upon this account that though we know something and it may be something to good purpose in the saving knowledge of Christ yet we have not set our hearts to make the advance in this knowledge and that progress and to come to such a measure and degree in knowledge as we ought and might have done according to time and means and truly I think that there is none of us but we may find this cause to complain Ah sweet Saviour how little do I know of thee I remember how that holy Agur doth bemoan himself even upon such a like account Prov. 30. Surely I am more bruitish than any man I have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy Thus he bemoans himself O surely surely we may most complain and say O sweet Saviour how little a matter do I know of thee Some little smatterings there are but alas it 's nothing to what might be known and apprehended concerning thee And what 's the fruit of this That Believers holy Persons such as have the grace of God in truth have not more advance in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Mysteries of his Kingdom what are the consequences and truly the consequences are the evidences that there is not that advance and that growth in this holy Knowledge How sad are the consequences that Christians know no more of God are not more insighted in the Mysteries concerning Christ. 1. Whence it comes to pass That we advance no more in faith for undoubtedly if we grow more in Knowledge we should grow more in Faith Did we but more clearly apprehend and understand the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus what a curious cast there is in the business of salvation by Jesus Christ did we but more clearly understand and apprehend and know the continuance of that Mysterie it would most largely contribute to the promoting of a Beleevers faith and the unbelief would fall flat down on its face before this Knowledge if so be it were but duly improved 2. Again This is the consequence We love the Lord Jesus with a poor inconsiderable degree of love Why Because we know but little little of his excellencies little of that pretiousness that is inhim and as our knowledge is so will our love be much knowledge much love little knowledge little love Surely if we had but more through acquaintance with Christ we should come to have our hearts more fired with the love of Christ our hearts would burn within us if so be that we had but more intimate acquaintance with him and had but a more clear understanding of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. And so for Desire O if so be there were but that advance in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus our desires would sparkle and flame out most strongly after this desirable Christ. When the Spouse had informed the Daughters of Ierusalem what a choice one what an incomparable one he was then they cry out O thou fairest among Women tell us whither thy Beloved is gone that we may seek him with thee 4. Whence is it that there is so much straightheartedness to the pretious priviledges of the Gospel that we do not prize them more that we do not set our hearts more upon them That great priviledge of Justification of Adoption of access to God of acceptance with God and that God should not be ashamed to be called our God to which I spake the last day Whence is it that we be not taken more with holy admirings of these great and glorious priviledges but because we are not more insighted in the Mysterie of the Gospel concerning Christ. Whence is it that we do not make more account of Justification forgiveness of sins which is a most pretious mercy We do not know Christ as we should and what it cost him to bring over to us the forgiveness of our sins 5. Whence is it that we are so apt to be tampering with that accursed thing with sin that we are so apt to be upon complyance with it and upon gratifications of it and of the lusts of it We know not Christ did we know Christ what he suffered that he might satisfie the Justice of God for the sins of his People what soul-conflicts he had and how he was pressed under the burden of the wrath of God that he might deliver his People from the everlasting Curse and Condemnation it would make us fear and tremble and take heed how ever we deal with that accursed thing and throw away that bloody knife that cut the very throat and stabb'd the very heart of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 6. Whence is it that we are so apt to be meddling with the World and apt to have our hearts set upon these beggerly vanities here below Whence is it but because we know not our Lord Jesus Christ as we ought to know Did we but know what a pretious Christ he was we would set light by the World and account nothing of it in comparison of the Lord Jesus 7. Whence is it that poor souls are so apt to be tossed with every wind of Temptation and to be unsetled upon every occasion as touching their peace and inward comfort but because they are very short in the knowledge of the Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and the riches of Grace that discovers it self in him As let the guile be what it can be that may be represented to the Conscience the Conscience may yet upon the true knowledge and apprehension of the Grace of God in our Lord Jesus bear up with boldness and make a challenge unto men and devils and say Who shall lay any thing unto our charge when we know that concerning Christ concerning his Death concerning the merit of his Sacrifice concerning his Acceptance with the Father concerning his pleading in the behalf of his People at his Father's right hand We have that knowledge of the Lord Jesus that we bear up with glorious confidence and with blessed boldness and we are not afraid to look men and devils in the face we know who it is that is once for all entred into the holy place that is not made with hands and appears before God in heaven representing the merit of his Sacrifice and for our parts we now can triumph with a holy boldness and say Who shall lay any thing to our
person that heard and knew this joyful sound but they would have a tongue to say Now unto him be glory both now and for ever Amen Those references which I made before to the Doxologie in the Epistle to the Romans Ephesians Timothy Jude and other places which might have been referr'd unto they are all a sufficient proof of this Doctrine that I have now delivered unto you That such a spirit doth act in all those that know the Lord Jesus Christ to any purpose that this is the proper spirit and genous of the Gospel and of a Gospel spirit for to have Honour and Glory and Dominion and Majesty given up to Christ. Paul was most lively to this discovery as appears by those Scriptures when he comes to fall upon the mentioning of Christ he would make a diversion of purpose leaving the prosecution of his cause that he might give up honour to the Lord Jesus Christ as in 1 Tim. 1. saith he speaking before I was such and such a Persecutor and a Blasphemer and the chiefest of sinners Howbeit saith he for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which hereafter should believe on him to eternal life Now mark you the diversion out of the pregnancy of his Gospel spirit he leaves the Argument he was driving and breaks forth upon this Doxologie as if he should say O I have mentioned Jesus Christ Now to the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen He cannot mention him without a Doxologie O unto this only wise God this Lord Jesus Christ be glory for ever and ever Amen Now there is infinite cause and reason why there should be such an apprecation understand the word Appreâ—…ation a praying to Christ. I have said already it is the spirit of the Gospel and they that are acted by that spirit will be most pregnant this way they cannot hold The Disciples â—…id We cannot but speak the things that concern the honour of God and the Glory of Christ we are not able to hold our peace and when the Disciples were rebuked and the Children for crying Hosanna c. Why saith Christ if they should hold their peace the very stones would speak they must be crying out Glory to God Honour to Christ. This was that which was prophesied in Psal. 72. where you have that that concerns Christ v. 15. He shall 〈◊〉 tâ—… sole of the poor and needy from deceit and violence and pretious shall their blood be in his sight he shall live and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba Typically understand it according to the time of Solomon who should be very much inriched with offerings but understand it in the Mystery of Christ To him shall be given of the gold of Sheba â—…e gold of Praise and honour and Glory Prayer also shall be made for him continually and daily shall he be praised Understand this of Christ in the Mystery Prayer also shall be made for him continually What Prayer Doth Christ in heaven need the prayers of his People Understand They shall be continually praying up his Glory an apprecation of Glory to Jesus O let him be glorified O let him be exalted O let his Name be magnified Prayer shall continually be made for him that his Name may be lifted up in the World that his Kingdom may be inlarged that his Throne may be established that upon his head the Crown may flourish It was the manner of old to vote up and to make apprecation Let the King live for ever why O King O Jesus live for ever O Jesus be thou glorified for ever O Jesus let thy throne flourish O Jesus let thy Crown flourish upon thy head why this is the apprecation And as I was saying there is infinite cause why it should be thus and that this language should sound in every mouth where there is any touch upon the heart To him be glory now and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amen First This is that which doth most fully comport with God the Father's design concerning his Son For mark you Christ having 〈◊〉 the Father by his most voluntary and 〈◊〉 subjâ—…â—…o him in the service of the 〈◊〉 and in 〈◊〉 oâ—… the saving of souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father in this great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saving 〈◊〉 world why the Father now sets hiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to glorifie him and that 's the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God to have the Name of his Son Jesus Christ lifted up that Christ may be glorified and God the Father and God the Spirit do not account themselves honoured and glorified if the Lord Jesus â—…ist be not glorified So that I say in that regard â—…s most righteous that it should be thus that there should be an apprecation and a wishing and voting up of Honour and Glory to Christ because it is that wherein we do most fully comport with the design of the great God concerning his Son our Lord Jesus Christ he having humbled himself and becoming obedient unto the death of the Cross God hath exalted him and given him a Name which is above every name and he will have Honour and Glory given to Christ. 2ly Consider this Christ is most worthy of it in respect of himself he is most worthy to have an apprecation made of Glory to him and that every breathing soul should breath out after this manner and say To him be glory now and for ever Amen Worthy of it O most worthy of it that every thing that hath breath should give Glory to him Do but consider that passage in Rev. 5. 11 12. I heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands Do but weigh this think with your selves what a vote here was The voice of many Angels and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands and what 's theâ—…r voâ—…e Saying with a loud voice WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing honour glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throné and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Mark what a spirit here is Here 's the vote of Angels and Saints in the fullest conjunction Nemine contra dicente not one contradicting voting up Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever He is worthy worthy is the Lamb. Upon what account worthy Worthy because the Lamb yea I say worthy is the Lamb because he is the Lamb the Lamb
rise up in opposition to the Kingdom of Christ to the spiritual Worship of Christ to a holy reformation and to do all that ever they can to hinder that God and Christ may not be worshipped in the beauties of holiness This is to cry up To him be shame instead of saying To him be glory both now and for ever No but to him be shame and to all his People and let them be the reproach and scorn of the World 2ly And so to close up If so be that we will approve our selves to be acted by a Gospel spirit consider how it must appear it must appear by holy apprecations and votings up of Glory to Christ and to say To him be glory the Father gives him Glory the Father reckons Glory to him the Spirit gives Glory to him The Spirit shall glorifie me he shall take of mine and shew it unto you The Angels give him Glory Worthy is the Lamb that was slain The twenty four Elders and the four Beasts make apprecations of Glory an innumerable number thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand they say Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to have Glory Now if you be men and women of a Gospel spirit let it appear by having your hearts set to this to give Glory to Christ wish him Glory in having the Government in your own hearts O to thee be Glory sweet Saviour the Glory of thy Kingdom in my own soul wish him that Glory the Glory of his Kingdom inlarged in the World of having that performed which is foretold the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever wish him that Glory make an apprecation vote it up to him shew the spirit of the Gospel by having your hearts most strongly devoted to have Christ exalted in all his offices Priestly Prophetical and Kingly office that he may come to be the glory of the World that he may sway the Scepter according to what is promised This is the great thing that Christians should be set upon I speak not this as if I would cry down Civil Magistrates but that Government which is belonging to Christ and according to what he is anointed of the Father to according to what is purposed to him it is that we are to wish to him all that honour and Glory that the Father hath designed him this is that we should wish to him and say as the Apostle here To him be glory now and for ever And this is that which we are to do not in word and tongue as the Apostle saith O my little children let us not love in word and tongue only but in deed and truth So I say to you my Friends Let it not be in word and tongue only but in heart and reality O let your lips speak it let your lives speak it To him be glory so live so walk and carry your selves as that you may give a real proof and demonstration of it that your hearts may be devoted to have Christ honoured and exalted in the World I 'll conclude all with an itteration of this Doxologie and if ever tantologie though it is no tautologie but if ever there were any place for tautologie here were the properest place for it to be used but it is none I have a pattern for what I shall now perform from the holy Spirit of God in Psal. 136. O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Mark you how many verses you have in that Psalm 26. verses and so many times you have this itteration For his mercy endureth for ever Will you call this tautologie why then the Spirit is guilty of tautologie twenty six times you find it there O give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever he did thus and thus for his mercy endureth for ever he slew great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever he slew famous Kings for his mercy endureth for ever and he remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever Here 's my pattern and let me a little follow it and I have done and charge me with tautologie if you can Thus I say then take up the language of the Text which I would do not using the words without the Spirit And thus I say Jesus is the Son of God Now to him be glory for ever Amen Jesus the Saviour of the world To him be glory now and for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus came into the word to seek and to save that which was lost To him be glory now and for ever Amen Jesus who was full of grace and truth Now to him be glory for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus that went about while he was here in the world doing good preaching the Gospel healing all manner of sicknesses and diseases and delivering them that were oppressed of the Devil To him be glory now and for ever Amen Our Lord Jesus who took upon him to satisfie even by death and suffering the Justice of his Father to fulfil the Law and to expiate sin and to purge the Conscience and to deliver from damnation those that were obnoxious to it Now unto him be glory both now and for ever Amen Jesus he is risen again and he is ascended up on high he is set down at the right hand of the Father and there he appears to make intercession for his People Now to him be glory now and for ever Amen This Jesus he improves at the Fathers right hand all the interest that he hath for the good of his People he communicates the Knowledge of the Mysterie of the Will of God and he makes Revelations unto his Church and People of those things that do concern it unto the end of the World and thus he is beneficial to his poor People here on earth he takss care of his Churches and hath a tender respect of all his interest Now unto him be glory both now and for ever Amen This Jesus is now in Heaven in Glory and he longs after the injoyment of all his redeemed ones and he hath undertaken to keep them while they are in the World and to lose not one of them but he will bring them to the enjoyment of himself and he will have them to see and to share in that Glory which he is now possessed of now he is in Heaven O what cause have we to say To him be 〈◊〉 both now and for ever Amen This Jesus who died and rose again and lives at God's right hand and as I said improves all his interest for his People O to this Lord Jesus Christ Be glory both now and for ever Amen And so I have done FINIS ERRATA PAge 39 line 25 for hearing read being p. 41 l. 8 for sayes r. sees p. 49 l. 7 f. contiguity r. contiguity p. 50 l. 31 f. Kod r. Rod p. 52 l. 8 f. can r. cannot p. 56 l. 15 f. trust r. faith p. 62 l. 25 f. firedness r. fixedness p. 65 l. 15 f. less r. let p. 74 l. 30 f. said r. sav'd p. 84 l. 3 f. that r. their l. 18 f. proposition r. opposition p. 90 l. 4 f. and r. as p. 109 l. 27 dele Christ at the beginning of the line p. 112 l. 5 dele the day of p. 116 l. 18 f. seâ—… r. get p. 127 l. 19 20. dele that I might be so discours'd of as p. 130 l. 8 f. faithful r. faithless p. 132 l. 13 f. eradicated r. eradiated p. 152 l. 31 f. in r. l p. 158 l. 16 f. which r. with p. 174 l. 17 f. that 's r. there 's p. 195 l. 23 f. fidelial r. fiducial p 197 l. 3 f. in r. it p. 209 l. 27 f. established r. chastised p. 228 l. 12 f. for r. from p. 234 l. 123 r. things p. 239 l. 28 f. perfect r. present p. 244 l. 27 f. such r. sure p. 250 l. 32 r. no p. 257 l. 30 f. born r. brother p. 28â—… l. 16 f. denoted r. devoted p. 292 l. 32 f. affective r. afflictive