the Volume of thy Book it is written of me Lo I come to do thy will O God that is I come to give thee satisfaction according to thy own heart by that which we agreed upon My own death 2. They agreed of the time of payment therefore it is said Gal. 4. when the fulness of time was come God sent his Son that is when the time that was agreed upon between the Father and Christ was come then Christ was sent forth not that Christ had time given him because he was not able to pay our debt before but God saw that the fittest time after the Church had been so long under Ceremonies and hard services then Christ comes forth to purchase a Redemption from sin and those things to that we might see more of the great Benefits we have by him 3. It was agreed what power the Lord Jesus should have to carry on the work of Redemption and all power was given to him Mat. 28. and John 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Now Christ as God had of himself power over all things but now as Mediatour God the Father gives him power over all flesh and so Ephes 1.22 God the Father is said to have given Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Now Christ as God was Head over all things without any giving of it to him but Christ as Mediator hath it given to him to be Head over all things to the Church that is for the benefit of the Church that so the Lord Jesus is the Head over all things hath command over the good Angels Devils men and all creatures for the good of the Church whose Head he is in another manner then he is Head of all things so I say this was agreed that the Lord Jesus should have universal power and dominion for the managing of this great Work 4. It was agreed in this Covenant between the Father and Christ that the sins and failings of Christs members should not break the Covenant that the Father and Christ had made for their salvation therefore it is said in that 89. Psalm from 23. to 32. that the Covenant should stand fast with Christ and saith God if Christs children break my Commandements I will visit their Iniquity with a Rod I will have liberty saith God to chastise them and whip them home when they play the Prodigals and wander from my House but then it shall not break the Covenant that they sin against me but I will pardon their iniquities and remember their sins no more Upon the account of this Covenant between the Father and Christ the Lord Jesus is said to trust God the Father as Mediatour Heb. 2.13 Behold I put my trust in him and again behold I and the children which God hath given me Christ as Mediatour trusted God the Father to carry him through the great work of his Mediation 2. He trusted him that he would accept of his death 3. He trusted him that in the appointed time he would bestow all the good things purchased by his death upon them for whom he died which good things were especially forgiveness of sins the Spirit Sanctification and eternal life God the Father had trufted Christ with the salvation of his people with which he would not have trusted all the Angels in Heaven and therefore Christ might well trust God the Father in this matter Christ knew Gods infinite Love to those for whom he died and knew the Covenant between the Father and him on their behalf and so trusted the Father fully in the business relying upon the love and faithfulness of God his love to the Elect and his faithfulness to keep Covenant with him CHAP. XIV The Saints Comfort against Death DEath in it self is the King of Terrours a very terrible thing 1. In it self it is part of the curse in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die thou shalt be lyable to temporal and eternal death when I please to execute it but indeed death is not kept up to the Saints as a curse but as a servant to carry them home to their Fathers House 2. Death is an abhorrency to Nature that nature dreads it exceedingly it parts the soul and body that have been such intimate acquaintance it leaves the body to be a dead carcass fit for nothing but to be laid among the clods of the earth 3. It s terrible to flesh and blood as it depriveth men of the comforts of this present life it carrieth us from all the comforts of wife children friends estate Sigismund the Emperour when he was near death charged them that were about him that they should not name death in his hearing belike the thoughts of it were very terrible to him 4. Death is terrible to many mens thoughts in respect of the suddeness of it sudden death comes sometimes 1. by a sudden decay of nature such diseases as the Apoplexy may be breeding in the body that shall pluck down this earthly Tabernacle in one moment 2. Sometimes by Accidents from without as fire enemies falls and the like 3. Sometimes by a sudden stroak of Gods hand when there is no natural cause but men might live a great while Thus God cuts off many in the midst of their dayes not but that all men live to the time appointed and set down by God but that the Lord cuts them off from that time when they might according to the course of nature live a great while-longer Thus the Lord smote Herod suddenly with death the hundred and fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians in one night Esay 37.36 5. The unavoidableness of death makes it terrible to the thoughts that the stoutest spirits see they cannot grapple with it what man is he that liveth and shall not see death who can deliver himself from the power of the grave Psalm 89.48 Death fetches a General out of his Tent when he lyeth environed with armed men Death fetches the Prince out of his Palace goes through all his Life-guard and none can withstand him so that men of brave and stout spirits have no courage to deal with death but their valour is turned into fear and amazement 6. The pains and pangs of death make it terrible to the thoughts of flesh and blood to think what a strange confusion then will be in the spirits when the eye-strings and heart-strings crack and man can exercise no more his spirit and understanding 7. That which above all makes death terrible unto many is the consequence of it that after death comes the Judgement the particular day of Judgement presently O saith many an unwakened conscience O what shall I do to appear before God to make up my accounts to him so that the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. that the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law that is that the greatest sting of death is for a
mans sins to be unpardoned unforgiven the strength and power that sin hath to damn is from the Law that it is the breach of Gods holy Law but he tels us that Believers are freed from the damning power of sin and from the curses of the Law through Christ Jesus as terrible as death is to nature flesh and blood and to a man that fears hell because it is the day of execution to all that are out of Christ yet a Saint may look upon death with comfort for though it be a dark entry yet it leads to our Fathers House where are many Mansions though it be a rough passage yet it lands us safe in Heaven infinite advantage comes to a Believer by death 1. Perfect enjoyment of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost the sight of whose blessed face shall fill us in Heaven with unconceivable joy for ever 2. Clear understanding of God his Grace and the mysterie of all his dealings with us in the world now we see all these darkly but the Apostle saith then we shall see face to face now how poor and confused is our knowledge how little a portion know we of the Almighty and of his Grace to us then all will be clear 3. Freedom from sin which though it doth not raign in Believers now yet then it shall not in the least remain but they shall be Holy throughout 4. Freedom from afflictions whereof all Gods children are partakers more or less in their Pilgrimage 5. Freedom from all Temptations either to sin or for sin 6. Spiritual and full enjoyment of the Saints and not of Saints in their weaknesses and mistakes which yet we in our Pilgrimage do rightly judge to be a great mercy but then we shall enjoy communion with Saints full of the Spirit Saints made perfect Many particulars might be added to these which shall be omitted for brevities sake but two questions must here be briefly resolved Quest 1. How comes it to pass that many natural men will often wish they were dead and many time die like lambs and others murder themselves Answ 1. It s seldom a real desire that ignorant people have to die but a sinful customary expression 2. If they be in good earnest it ariseth from ignorance 1 Ignorance what a serious thing it is to die 2 Ignorance of their own condition they think they are in Christ and that so death will be an end of all troubles to them 3 Ignorance of the torments of hell as if they were not greater then the troubles they have here for which they wish themselves dead 3 Those that murder themselves are either so distracted by excess of Melancholy or so dejected by some outward crosses or so overwhelmed with despair or so confounded in their understandings by Satan that they are not able to put forth scarce a serious or rational thought but are carried with a strange confusion and hurry of thoughts into any thing 2. But then it will be asked Why many gratious persons seem to be wonderfully a fraid of death before it come and die with very little Comfort seemingly upon their spirits but rather trouble Answ 1. So far as a Saint is flesh and blood and so far as there is corruption in him so far death will be terrible to him yet in the mean while the regenerate part in him desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ as that which is best of all but as Ridley said when he came to die I am not afraid but the flesh will have its course 2 A Saint knoweth more then other men what a serious thing it is to die he considereth the account that is to be given to God and the straitness of the way that leadeth to eternal Life and many times is not so assured of Gods love in Christ and this damps his spirit as to death 3 Though a Saint sometime seems to be unwilling to die yet before the Lord takes them away he usually makes them not only willing but desirous to die to be with Christ and that is a wonderful thing how God can in one moment turn the scales in these things and make that Saint that even now trembled at the thoughts of death now to say Lord here am I When wilt thou send for me home This the Saints have sometimes experience of 4 Their Comfort at death may be damped much and seeming trouble appear to standers by through some secret strong temptations of Satan or through violence of their disease CHAP. XV. The Holiness of Believers HOliness is most properly to be urged upon Believers more then upon natural men the great thing and the first thing that they are to do is to believe in Christ and after they are in Chrst then they are to be urged to walk holily in him Believers are to be holy both in soul and body not only in the thoughts of their hearts but in all the actions of the outward man The Apostle Paul urgeth the holiness of the outward man of the body as well as the heart by six arguments all laid down in the sixth chapter of the first epile to the Corinthians His first Argument is v. 13. How the body is not for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body that is the Lord he is for the body of believers as well as the soul he hath a care of their bodies of their outward man and bestowes many mercies upon the outward man and therefore saith the Apostle there is all the reason in the world that the body the outward man should be for the Lord. His second Argument is in the 14. verse he saith that God will raise up our bodies at the last there is much in that if God will at last raise up the bodies of Believers and glorifie them and make them like to Christs glorious body O how should they glorifie God with their bodies now in the mean while His third Argument is That our bodies are the members of Christ v. 15. His fourth Argument is That our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost v. 19. His fift Argumentis That we are not our own neither bodies nor souls v. 19. His last argument is that we are bought with a price v. 20. All these Arguments are very strong for a Believers glorifying of God with his body as well as with his soul both which are the Lords Several Arguments may be brought for the Saints holiness in general as 1 the Grace of God in Christ should be such a prevailing Argument to holiness that where there is any Gospel-ingenuity we should reason as the Apostle doth We were dead and we judge that Christ having died for us to save us that it s but reason we should live to him saith he in that place 2 Cor. 5.14,15 the love of Christ constrains us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies it keeps in it stops restrains bridles we have corrupt and wicked hearts by nature but when
their natural estate and have been very wicked chap. 20 READER What literal faults escaped either in the copy or the printing let your Candor and understanding in reading mend them the Author being so far from the Press must be excused Some Books printed and sold by Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls AN Epitome of all the Common and Statute Laws of England in Fol. The Faithful Counsellor or the Marrow of the Law in English in 4. to The Priviledges of the People vindicated in 4. to All three by William Sheppard Serjeant at Law The Retired Mans Meditation or the Mysterie and Power of Godliness by H. Vane Knight The Prerogative of Popular Government A Political Discourse in two Books the former containing the first Preliminary of Oceana enlarged interpreted and vindicated The second concerning ordination against D. H. Hammond Dr. L. Seaman and the Authors they follow In which two Books is contained the whole Common-wealth of the Hebrews or of Israel Senate People and Magistracy as also the different Policies introduced into the Church of Christ during the time of the Apostles by James Harrington Esquire Vindiciae Justificationis Gratuitae Justification without Condition or the free Justification of a Sinner Explained Confirmed and Vindicated by W. Eyre Minister of the Gospel at New-Sarum Mr. Baxter's Aphorisms of Justification Examined and Answered by J. Crandon in 4o. Seasonable Instructions for these evil times also Christ as a Father sitting up with his Children in their swooning state being the sum of many Lectures painfully preached upon the 1. Chap. of Paul to the Colossians c. by Nicholas Lockyer Mr. of Arts. An Exposition of the whole Book of Canticles wherein the Text is explained and useful Observations raifed thereupon by J. Robotham in 4o. The Extents and Limitation of Gospel-liberty wherein is laid down an exact way to end the present dissentions and to preserve future Peace among the Saints whereunto is added good news from heaven to the worst of sinners on earth Gospel-holiness or a Saving Sight of God and the glorious Priviledge of the Saints Both by Walter Graddock Preacher of the Gospel in 4o. A Description of Jerusalem and the Suburbs thereof as it florished in the time of Jesus Christ with a Map by H. Jesse in 4o. A Little Cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly Varieties and soul-reviving influencs wherein there is a remedy for every Malady viz. Milk for Babes Meat for strong men being an abridgment of the Sum and substance of the true Christian Religion No Power but of God and yet a Power in every Creature wherein is shewed that the Almighty God is not wanting to us in impowering of us but we are wanting to him in not improving our Talents for him Both written by Robert Purnel A Store-house of Provision for further Resolution in several Cases of Conscience viz. of living above Ordinances of walking in Fellowship with the unbaptized of Laying on of hands c. Also a small Catechism for Babes and little Ones all three by H. Jesse Zions Glory discovered in the Churches and Ordinances before the fulness of the Jews come in by J. Proud A Treatise containg three things viz. A Discovery of the unsupportable Burthen of sin to a heart that is throughly convinced of sin 2. The Restlesness of a soul to return to God who is so sensible of his with-drawing 3. A Discovery of the sweet entertainment that wandring hearts meet with in their Returns to God by P. Hobson The Right Constitution of a Common-Wealth with some Errors of Government and Rules oâ— Policy as laid down by Machiavel and others in 8o. A Brief History containing most of those notable Occurrences and Revolutions that happened in those late Contests between King and Parliament being a short mention of things from 1637. to 1648. by T. May Esquire Milk for Bubes in Christ or Meditations Observations and Experiences with divers cases of Conscience resolved the glorious Priviledges of them that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that blessed number Also Election before the foundation of the world asserted and the Faith of Gods Elect what it is by Martin Finch Preacher of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church of Christ at Tetney in Licoln-shire 8o. An Anti Diatribe or the Apologie of some Ministers and godly people asserting the Lawfulness of their administring the Lords Supper in a select Company proving also the necessity of Examination in order to a more holy Church fellowship being an answer to Mr. Humphrey's general Admission by H. Saunders Minister of Hollesworth in Devon Lazarus and his Sisters discourse of Paradise or a Conference about the excellent things oâ— the other world A Discoverer of some plots of Lucifer and his Councel against the Children of men An Essay upon two of Virgil's Eclogues and two Books of his Aeneids translated by James Harrington Esquire The Gate of Tongues unlocked and opened or a Seed-time of all Tongues and Sciences being a Short way of teaching and throughly learning the Latine English French c. Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus his Divine Pimander in 17 Books together with his second book called Asclepius containing 15. Chapters with a Commentary done into English by Dr. Everard Some Sermons preached on several occasions by P. Sterry viz. The clouds in which Christ comes in a Sermon from Rev. 1.7 The Teaching of Christ in the soul from Mâ—t. 23. and 10. The coming forth of Christ in the power of his death from Psal 18.1 Divine Astrologie or a Scripture Prognostication of the sad Events which ordinarily arise from the good mans fall by death being the substance of a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Col. Will. Vnderwood by George Cokayn Preacher of the Gospel Soper-lane London Christian Experiences from Scripture-evidences under these several heads viz. 1. Comfort for Believers against their fears and dismayings 2. Comfort for Believers from their spiritual Incomes 3. Mans fruitlesness without saving faith 4. Counsel unto Saints as sojourners and strangers 5. Mans folly in determining by present Events or State of things by R. Coler Preacher of the Gospel in Wiltshire A Lamenting word shewing how there is a Dissertion come upon us and what are the Evils with whom they are found that have procured it unto us A Collection of the Armies Declarations Engagements Remonstrances c. These written by T. Collier viz. The Right Constitution of a visible Church of Christ with its Order and Ordinances The Day Dauning relating to the Calling of the Jews and Christs second Coming The Confession of Faith of several Churches of Christ in the West signed by several Officers of the said Churches A Catechism for the Instruction of youth A Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an enquiring Christian about the Authority of the Scriptures and the Principles of the Quakers The Personal Appearing and Reign of Christs Kingdom on the Earth stated An Antidote