is ever heard and therefore the Saints shal alwaies be assisted supported inabled to be faithful to the end and in the end If Christ may not be heard then thou maiest not be helped and if he wil loose his prayer then thou maiest loose thy comfort and grace But that is incredible this is impossible Besides how dishonorable is this Doctrine of falling away unto the Lord Jesus and the work of his Mediation which in the Issue advanceth the power of our sin and the policy of Satan above the vertue of the death of Christ and the power of the prayer of Christ For it saith thus much That the policy of Satan is more able to undermine us than his prayer to preserve us His temptation to destroy us than the Intercession of Christ to save us No Be the assaults never so fierce the allurements never so subtil corruptions never so strong Nay let all the power of Darkness do the worst The prayer of Christ wil yet shore up the meanest Saint in the greatest safety Luk. 22.32 Satan hath desired to winnow he would have winnowed all the Grace out of his Heart but our Savior he made provision for him and concludes but I have prayed that thy Faith fail not and there leaves it as though there was not then the least shadow or fear of any miscarriage For it might have been said may be Satan wil be too hard not only for my Grace but for thy prayer No our Savior leaves it beyond al question for it s so far from any appearance of probability that the thought of it is no less than blasphemy Use 2 for Direction To take heed how we deal injuriously or carry our selves offensively towards the meanest beleever Be his place never so low his condition never so base his abilityes never so feeble and despicable in thine Eye The prayer of Jesus is to preserve them from evil and therefore wil be against thee who intendest to do evil against them It was the Argument of our Savior Math. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I tel you that in Heaven their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven If this was a reason of force as no question it is that they should not despise those whose Guardians are the glorious Angels the Special Attendants at the Court of Heaven How much more that the Son of God doth pray dayly for them who is far above al principalities and powers and advanced at Gods right Hand Use 3. Consolation unspeakeable and glorious even to the meanest of the Saints when they are beset with greatest enemies and that in greatest necessities and most unable to succor themselves know there is support that will never fail thee Thy sins plead against thee 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Here is an Advocate who pleads for thee and wil undoubtedly carry the cause Thy conscience that accuseth Satan he condemnes But they al come too late There is one between them and home who intercedes and makes perfect satisfaction and also ful communication thereof therefore Paul flings the gantlet May be thy Heart and prayers and life and al seem to fail thee Here is one who lives alwaies and prayes alwaies and is heard alwaies and therefore able to save to the uttermost them that come Object True happy they who have a share in that Intercession but so sinful a creature so silly a wretch so loathsom an one as I unworthy that Christ should ever have me in his thoughts much less should ever pray for me Answ Yes for thee if thou hast but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed not only for Peter for his Apostles but for thee silly Woman Ignorant Child c. Use 4. TERROR This is a thunderbolt to break the heart and Split the hopes of al worldlings under Heaven Doth then thy conversation witness doth thine own heart confess it That The day is yet to dawn the hour yet to come that ever God spake to thy Soul or plucked thee out of the world As thou were 't thou art of the Earth and speakest of the Earth in the old course and led aside with old lusts Know thou must Christ hath shut thee out of his Prayrs and thy Soul out of peace and self out of Heaven for ought any living can tel and I do not say how sleepest thou but how canst thou live and hear and know this thy condition That thou dost not sit down in silence and thy Soul sink and die away within thee in everlasting discouragement in the expectation of evil that hangs over thy Head and have thy life hang in doubt that when thou goest our thou shouldest never return and when thou liest down thou shouldest never rise up again Why there is nothing to hinder but the hand of Justice should plague and nothing to stay it Thy sins and Devils to make a prey and spoil of thee and nothing to hinder it Bear not up thy self with the Opinion of others or their approbation how their Hearts are to thee and how wel they speak of thee But know The Heart of Christ he hath discovered it and professed it He prays not for the world nor for thee if one of them Do not deceive thy self nor suffer Satan to delude thee with vain pretences That notwithstanding thy sins and deserts yet there is redemption wrought by Christ vertue and Salvation in the Blood of Jesus He died for sinners and his Death is able to redeem because Salvation is laid upon one that is mighty True that is thy misery There is enough to be had but he never suffered any thing did any thing intended any thing nay purposed to speak a good word for thee but to leave thee to shift for thy self to the hand of Justice to plague to the hand of Devils to torment to the hand of thy sins to rule damn thee And he professeth he would not spend his breath much less his Blood I think thou hast thy load though I could yet lay it heavier Hy thee for thy life out of the compass and company of the world if ever thou wouldest be within the power of the prayer of Christ to thine own knowledg Use 5 Exhortation to beleevers To have our hearts ravished and our thoughts swallowed up with everlasting admiration of this indeared love of the Lord Jesus to such poor creatures That he should provide and reserve the rarities of the Riches of his Grace for such miserable worthless Worms As Philip in the like case Why wilt thou shew thy self to us and not unto the world why pray for us speak intercede for us in Heaven and not for the world when there be so many wise Rich honorable that thou never intendest any good unto nor ever put test them within one sentence of thy prayer Lord who am I silly Woman Ignorant Child disobedient rebellious servant that yet thou shouldest cal me out of the world and make it
day he shal never be acquitted neither here done nor then declared So that such a person hath the Tombstone of everlasting destruction turnd upon him sealed past Hope and help And therefore the Apostle puts it upon an impossibility Heb. 6.4 How far that goes I wil not now dispute whether in regard of the covenant of the Gospel the counsel of the Lord the Decree of the Almighty that he shal never have Grace give him to repent for then it should not so much aggravate the hainousness of the sin because from impenitency and final presevâ—rance in any sin it s not possible such should be recovered and this great evil upon this ground should have no other impossibility than many other And withal the impossibility should then ly in Gods counsel and definitive purpose not in the Nature of the evil which answers not the terrible expression of the wrath of God in the Text. But however it is it is safe and sure to Joyn Issue with the word of truth and to take that upon trust It s impossible such a one should be renewed by repentance And therefore its impossible a man whom Christ hath ordained to beleeve and repent should ever fal into that evil 4. However the Lord many times for reasons best known to himself and his infinite good pleasure suffers some and many of those whom he will afterwards effectually cal to be overtaken with most loathsom abominations yet he ever over-rules and over-works al those Hellish miscarriages of theirs for the furtherance of his own work in them when he seriously sets upon the accomplishment of it Somtimes there is no waies to cure Poyson but with Poyson no means to crush the pride and self-confidence and overweening conceit of a mans own worth but to leave him to himself that he may bedaub himself with some dirty and detestable distemper that so his own experience may evidence his own baseness and force him to put his Mouth in the Dust and cover himself with confusion when through his own self deceiving apprehension he could never either see it or bring his heart to be humbled for it before the Lord. Thus many who in former times have soothed up themselves with the glorious appearance of a formal profession so that they could keep out or wipe off al the convictions that were presented before them At length the Lord leaves them to some noysom lusts one is overtaken with bruitish Drunkenness another with some base uncleanness and so the breaking of the impostume and the venting of those vile evils constraines their consciences to condemn themselves for rotten when the evidence of the word could not and this hath been the occasion of the through conversion of some men Somtimes again the Lord takes some men out of a sink to make them mirrors of the power of his saving mercy to al posterity The greatness of their sin was the occasion why their Hearts were pierced for al sin Act. 2.36 37. 1 Tim. 1.16 5. When the time appointed and determined before in the counsel of the Lord is come then the prayer of our Savior ever takes place and makes the means effectual and prevailingly successeful for the good of such for whom he hath taken the care Joh. 10.16 I have other sheep which are not yet of this fold such as in his counsel were ordained to life yet not called to the saving knowledg of the truth them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice These wandering sheep that are gone astray from the walks of the Lord yet he must bring he must pluck the Adulterer from his lusts and the Drunkard from his Cups and worldling who hath been Buried in his earthly occasions these shall hear his voice they are within his Ken and under his care and he provides for their good though they intend no good unto themselves So Christ to Paul he is then pitying while he is persecuting he comes to save him when he purposeth to destroy himself why persecutest thou me Act. 9. So Again he sends a Physitian to him Ananias go c. vers 11. Reas 1. From the Soveraignty of Gods wil who looks at nothing in the creature for which he should be moved to do good unto it but only his good wil and pleasure according to which â—e curves out his compassion as suits with his own liking Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it it s not in the power of Israel And therefore hence it is He shews mercy because he wil shew mercy and he it is that raiseth up a mighty Salvation for his people when they were in the depths of their sins and confusions also Luk. 1.69 Ezek. 16.6 I saw her in her Blood and then I said Live 2 The Riches of Gods mercy in Christ and the scope of our Saviors coming it is to destroy the work of Satan and to bring life out of death and light out of Darkness Rom. 5. and last That where sin abounded Grace hath abounded much more That is the aim of the place why then was the Law given since the Law could not save but only Christ Answ It was that sin might abound when corruption was discovered opposed and provoked then it was made out of measure sinful That where sin hath abounded Grace also might much more abound q.d. The Lord Christ would redeem his people let the Devil and sin do their worst So the Apostle again disputes Rom. 5.8 God commended his love to us that when we were sinners Christ died for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord painted and limned out the surpassing excellency of his love in most lively Colors It s the scope also of the coming of our Savior He came not to call the righteous but sinners to Repentance He was not to find them blessed but to make them so Isa 49.5 Christ was formed from the Womb to be his servant that he might bring Jacob again It s he that leaves the ninty nine in the Wilderness and goes to seek up that which was lost in the Wilderness If the Soveraignty of Gods good pleasure appointed this The Riches of his free Grace and the scope of our Saviors coming intended this then certainly our Savior would carefully accomplish it but the antecedent is such therefore the consequent Use 1 of Instruction Here see the different dispensation of the dealing of the Lord in the waies and works of his providence towards men of the same quality and that in the same condition men as sinful one as another and under the power of their sin and in an unregenerate state both of them Yet the counsel of God and the care of our Savior Christ is farr different even surpassing mans imagination and thought Be they both unbeleevers now for the present adversaries to his Grace and opposers of his word and the work of his spirit and it may be with greater out-rage and violence the one more than the other And yet the Lord may do
great a work unto his care and trust and laid it upon him as his charge which by mutual consent and convenant he willingly undertook Joh. 6.39 This is my Fathers will that hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose none but should raise it up at the last day And therefore adds verse 40. He that beleeves in me Shall have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Yea he gives up his account of his work John 17.12 Those that thou hast given me I have kept and lost none And therefore compares himself to the good Shepherd that layes down his self for his Sheep Joh. 10. 3. Gives him ful commission for the accomplishment of this work unto the ful even as he is the Son of man hath given right and liberty to the humane Nature of ours now received into personal union to use and improve any of the Attributes of the Deity for the further benefit of the Saints the good of his Church and the furtherance of those spiritual ends which may best â—et forwards the glory of God and the everlasting wellfare of his people This so wonderful a union doth advantage the Humane Nature to so high a priviledg to use al the excellencies of the Deity at al times answerable to al necessities to fetch supply suitable to the wants desires comforts of the Saints This is the meaning of those places Math. 28.18 All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth To have al power it to be Omnipotent for more than all cannot be conceived noâ— possessed more than that God hath not and that because it is an in-communicable Attribute he cannot communicate but the meaning is though it be not omnipotent yet it hath liberty to set that on work for the benefit and best good of Gods servants Hence what the Father doth the son is said to do also Joh. 5.26 As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the son to have life in himself Verse 19. What ever things he doth those the son doth likewise for as the Father raiseth up the dead even so he Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all Flesh to give unto them eternal life He that must rescue them from Hel and sin and death and from divine Justice he must have power over al That the power in Heaven may not prejudice and frustrate the work in Hel hinder it on earth oppose it 4. The Father leaves the immediate dispensation of al the work unto him to act it according to his own pleasure For so our Savior As the Father raiseth and quickeneth so the son quickeneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 And adds verse 22. For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed al judgment to the son Not that the Father hath not power for the execution of the work For he that gives it hath it in a principal and soveraign manner But he hath committed the immediate execution thereof unto the Lord Jesus and so of the whol work of our Redemption Joh. 5.27 That as Pharaoh said concerning Joseph when he appointed him next unto himself in the kingdom of Egipt Gen. 41.40,44 I am Pharaoh and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot no man shal do any thing which way so ever he turn himself c. Only I am Pharaoh So the Father to Christ he delegates the execution of al in Heaven and Earth unto him only he is greater This is the meaning of that place 1 Cor. 11.3 I would have you know that the Head of every man is Christ the head of the Woman is the man and the head of Christ is God Whence know 1. That the Apostle speaks not only of faithful men and Women but of al men and Women according to their sex For the scope is to shew that Women should be subject not only gracious but al. And this he shews from the feebleness and underness of their Nature and sex 2. That these different degrees of excellency are only to be attended in regard of subordination in order one to another and immediate dispensation from one to another for that Head implies not only excellency and dignity in the general but power to move al in subord nation to it authority to rule all in subjection 〈…〉 So that it is not excellency but power and 〈…〉 and that not at large for so Angels are the 〈◊〉 of men but as they be in subordination and not 〈◊〉 â—â—ch as be far removed but such as have the next 〈◊〉 dispensation in way of providence â—eâ—ch â—ver other For otherwise Christ is head not ofâ—â—â— but of Woman and Angels also so God himself is But the Apostles meaning and intent was to shew the orderly and next dispensation in the several degrees the immediate influence and dispensation of power and authority for the ruling of the femal sex is in a way of providence and appointment from man the immediate dispensation of power to man is from Christ to Christ from God the Father who hath sent him And thus Christ is and doth to al only distinguishing the manner and end of his dispensation To the wicked in way of Justice for their ruine and destruction To the godly in way of mercy for their spiritual good That 's the meaning of that All is yours c. And hence the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Christ is said when he hath conquered al enemies the last is death damned all the wicked and delivered up is Children into the hands of his Father he then is said To deliver up his Kingdom to the Father i.e. Only in regard of this outward dispensation For then God the Father shal in and through Christ communicate himself to all his Saints Use 1. We have here matter of wonderment at the Rich and unconceiveable compassion of the Father to miserable undone man who should be careful to provide for his good who is so negligent to provide for his own Spares nothing â—o purchase his Salvation who hath done what he can to destroy himself Had he sent the meanest of his creatures to succour us his servants to visit us his Angels to administer to us it had been more than we could have expected But to send his Son out of his own Bosom yea out of his own Bowels to work out our Redemption to make known the way of life and and to make it good unto our Souls Nature would not do this reason cannot reach this mercy the heart would not dare to beg this Sit we down in the everlasting admiration of his mercy As Elizabeth and Mary when he came to visit her Luk. 1.43 Whence comes it that the mother of my Lord should come to me So thou As David when he attended the dealing of the Lord towards lost man who had made himself the most vile and forlorn of al his creatures looks upon his own baseness and Gods kindness Lord what is man that thou
that may disturb our setled and established state of happiness They who share in the Truth of all kinds of Graces in the Perfections of al kinds in the Immutability of al those perfections They partake of the like glorious Grace with our Savior This last indeed is the end and perfection of Grace It was given to Adam and he should have used it that he might have been immutable in the use of it But missing it he lost his Grace and fel short of glory Now that which the first Adam should have done and failed the second Adam hath done and so hath obtained it 2. They receive this by Gift He it is in whom al Grace as a fountain is setled To whom the immediate dispensation and communication of it is committed by God and from his free gift they must receive it For look we at the Saints as they ly in the Loynes of Adam 1. They have forfeited this glory put away this Grace from them and by reason of their rebellion have justly deserved the Lord should depart away 〈◊〉 withdraw the presence of his Grace which he formerly furnished them withal Rom. 3.23 We have sinnâ—â— and are deprived of his Glory Yea they take shame and confusion as their due and portion Dan. 9.7 O Lord to us belongeth shame and confusion of face as it appeareth this day Yea they ly down in shame Jer. 3.25 2. They have nothing of worth that may purchase it they can do nothing that can deserve it For when they have done all they can they are not only unprofitable servants Luk. 17.10 Psal 143.2 But that is not al should the Lord reckon with them for what is done who could abide they are so far from having hope to receive glory from God as that they might justly expect a Curse at his hand and he could not but in Justice send it 3. And lastly such is the baseness of the hearts of men and the crosseness of their corrupt Natures to his glorious Grace that as they wil hot so in truth they cannot receive it No man can receive any thing unless it be given from above Joh. 3.27 Joh. 14.17 The world cannot receive the spirit because they have not seen him nor known him Object But our Savior hath entered into covenant with God the Father to become the Shepheard of his Sheep to undertake the charge and care of his Elect to bring them to Grace and so to glory Joh. 17.2 To as many as are given to Christ he should give eternal life to them Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come and I wil lose none If therefore a debt and agreement unto which our Savior is bound how is it then a gift which is in his liberty to deny Answ True It s that which Justice and righteousness cal for that haveing tyed hmself by promise ingaged his faithfulness and truth To seek and to save to â—â—ing other of his sheep and to bless c. He cannot fail â—â—â—â—g his faithfulness and deny himself and not 〈◊〉 â—nd the honor of his own word But let it be demanded why the Lord did Engage himself to undertake the work of our Salvation It wil appear that there is nothing but free Grace breathing in al the work he freely undertook it out of his free good wil performed it and out of his free Grace applies it So that there is nothing but free Grace and the free gift of Grace in what Christ hath wrought for us or wrought in us You have both the particulars opened we will give you the Reasons of both together REASONS 1. Taken from the proportion between the first and second Adam the Type and the Truth As the first Adam conveyed his sin and wrath by a covenant of works the second must convey holiness and life by a covenant of Grace and the free gift thereof The first Adam begat a Son in his own image wholly defiled and defaced with original corruption and so made him Heir apparent to the curse and condemnation thereby The second Adam must instamp the image of holiness upon his without which none shal see life Hebr. 12.14 Thus the Apostle disputes 1 Cor. 15.49 As we have born the image of the Earthy the first so we shal bear the image of the Heavenly 2. For this end the human Nature of our Savior hath received and is become the first subject of al Grace that from thence it might be derived unto the Nature of his Children For this end in our Nature he hath performed what ever divine Justice hath required purchased and provided a way and means for the communication of al Grace to his Therefore undoubtedly he wil give it and they receive it Otherwise he should miss his end and they their good 1. For this end he hath received al Grace For had not the second person by the power of the Deity brought our Nature to God and assumed it into personal union with himself so that the fulness of the God-Head might dwel Bodily in it and so the fulness of al Grace communicated thereunto It had not been possible that ever the Sons of Adam who are become enemies to God and the work of his Grace should have been made partakers thereof being wholly cross thereunto Col. 2.10 Ye are complete in Christ because in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-Head Bodily Ye need no other King to rule nor Prophet to teach nor Priest to sanctifie Yea for this end in our Nature he hath purchased al provided a way to convey al Grace For had he not died and by death satisfied the Law ' the strength of sin had never been subdued nor could our corruptions be mortified Had he not by his resurrection triumphed over the power of Grave and Satan and al sinful weaknesses we had never had our hearts raised and quickned to Newness of life But when he died we by his death dy to sin and sin died when he rose we by his resurrection must rise to Newness of life For this end these were performed and this must also be attained Rom. 6.8 Therefore it is that this gift of Grace is committed to him and the dispensation and immediate communication belongs to him Therefore the Spirit is said to take of Christs Joh. 16.14 He shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you There is no killing vertue quickening vertue could be applied or received but only through his death first in him thereby then in us 3. He that gives the faithful the Spirit of Grace and glory must needs also give them all glorious Grace But our Savior doth so This is the reason the Apostle alledgeth 2 Cor. 3.18 As by the spirit of the Lord. Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life hath freed us from the Law of sin As it is in the Scion knit unto the stock It is partaker of the same sap with the stock So here They are said to be implanted into the similitude
that we oppose not whatever this Spirit shall express we eye him only and expect only what we need and joyn nothing with him or his excellency then are we perfect in one Abide perfectly in him be acted perfectly by him perfectly advance al the excellencies of God through Christ then are we perfectly one with God the Father in and through Christ As the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. When be shall deliver up his Kingdom that is cease the excecution of any Ordinance or Dispensation in an immediate manner by any Ordinance or any Grace by any Ordinance then the Father shall be all in all instead of al Ordinances Word Sacraments Sabbath Prayers Covenants Promises but the Father wil infinitly let out of himself to our Savior and immediately through our Savior unto the Souls of his USE 1. Comfort This is Ground of strong Support to perswade our hearts no Temptations from without no corruptions from within no oppositions be they never so fel and fierce never so mighty and violent shal ever be able to hinder our Communion with God in Christ and so our everlasting happiness Were the Root of it either in the means we use or abilities we have or in the power of the Creatures on Earth or Angels in Heaven or Grace in our hearts It might indeed either be wonderfully hindered or else utterly lost as in Adam But it issues from a Fountain which is beyond not only Heaven but that which is above Angels there yea the highest Stars even the first Origination of the eternal blessed In-being of the Father in the Son which is without al Creatures nothing can further it above al nothing can hinder it before al nothing can reach it This seems to be Pauls ground Rom. 8. and last Nor things present nor things to come Principalities Powers Life Death Angels c. Why good Angels do not hinder It 's from the Love of God in Christ therefore it 's beyond the reach of al created Power 2. Exhortation See the lowest corner of the Foundation stone of our Eternal happiness and look to it and stay there Look at al means as from Christ The Law as kept in the Ark The Truth as in Jesus dispensed as in the Head of the Second Covenant Eph. 4. 2. Look at Christ as from the Father John 14.24 The words ye hear are not mine but the Fathers that sent me This sending and speaking by Christ is because the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son Verse 23. That the World may know that thou hast sent me and loved them as thou lovest me HERE we have the last thing in the Verse laid out to wit The several ENDS which the Lord aimed at in the Order and Degrees whereby this Vnity of Relation was brought in Christ was in them the Father in Christ and this In-being of the Father in the Son brings in this perfection of the Unity of the Faithful These last words set forth a Double â—nd of this Dispensation 1. That the World may know that thou hast sent me 2. That thou lovest them as thou lovest me To the first of these we have spoken formerly in verse 21. where it was first mentioned and so first came into consideration to be opened and handled and therfore we shal say no more of that at this time but refer your thoughts unto our former Expressions That which now offers it self to a further and more ful enquiry is thus expressed That thou hast loved them that is That the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me We have Three Particulars here to open and then the meaning of the Text and the mind of the Lord wil appear The Father hath loved the Son He loveth the Faithful as he loves the Son the Lord Jesus When the Faithful attain their full perfection of Vnity the World shall know that he loved them as he loved the Lord Christ To the First of these We must know That when we attribute these Perfections either to the God-head or Persons they are not attended in propriety of Speech as though the Godhead or Persons were subject to such passions and affections as are in man signified by such words But they are spoken by way of resemblance and similitude that there be some actions affirmed of the God-head and Persons and put forth by them which men out of the Disposition of Love do put forth Sometimes again Love as it is affirmed to proceed from God 〈◊〉 Christ discovers not only nor so much the act of God properly but the Fruits and Effects which issue and proceed from Gods Love and are expressed upon our Savior Christ and blessings which flow from and are procured by his own Merits Which may be truly called the cause of the things or the fruits of Gods Love not properly the cause of any Act as it issues from the Lord. John 10.17 The Father loveth me because I lay down my life for my Sheep Nothing without God is the cause of any act of Gods Wil or Understanding but the laying down of his life may be the cause of that Glory which the Father had intended and he according to the Fathers intention had purchased Phil. 2. He humbled himself to the Death the death of the Cross wherefore God hath exalted him and hath given him a Name c. Or else the manifestation of the approbation or satisfaction which the Father took in his Death The first of these I conceive to be principally intended in the place and so we shal speak unto it The Lord Jesus is the Object of the Fathers Love His heart was wholly after him his thoughts wholly set upon him not once looked off him taken up wholly with him from al Eternity The infinite and Eternal Favorite of an Infinite and Eternal Father upon whom he spent as I may speak with Revereace his whol affection John 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand We shal 1. Open it 2. Give in the Reason 3. Make the Use The Lord Christ is said and that truly to be the Object of this Fathers Love two waies Partly As the Second Person God with the Father As God-Man taking our Nature upon him 1. The first respect If we look at the Lord Jesus as the Second Person his Eternal Love then issues from his Eternal Generation So himself speaks and confesses verse 24. Thou hast loved me before the Foundation of the World and so termed the only begotten and welbeloved Son And it shews it self as the special operation of the most pâ—â—e and perfect Love doth in three Particulars 1. Love affects Union and where it can it attains it with most strength So it is here after an unconceivable manner the Father is intimately endeared unto his Son that his Eye is never off him himself never from him Therefore it is in Prov. 8.22 the Father is said to possess him in the beginning of his way He
hath purchased and bestowed the same glorious Grace upon them which he hath received from his Father Nor yet doth he count it enough that he hath pressed the Father with such uncessant importunity to intreate that they might be kept in that Oneness of relation to the Father and the Son as they are one with another and one in another which notwithstanding in reason might have been conceived to have been a large provision a goodly portion and inheritance even for the choicest of Gods servants to be so left by God the Father and the Lord Jesus with so faire an estate that in reason they might have been able to maintain themselves wel and not only made a shift to live Christianly but honorably and with much content since the Lord had left them wherewithal and aforehand in the world so fully stocked and stored But alas this is little in the Eye of the Lord Christ do we but consider the endless compassions which he extends towards such He laies in with God the Father for their welfare in another world stores up for eternity in their behalf Father I will they be where I am He wil not forsake them before he see them wel arrived and in safety therefore doth not ascend to Heaven and leave them to the wide world to sink or swim and shift for themselves No he hath laid in provision of prayer answerable to al their occasions their changes and necessities in life in death after Death In life Lead them keep them in their Graves raise them out of their Graves bring them to glory and preserve them in glory for ever He wil not have his glory but they must see it nay his glory wil not satisfie unless he may see them If our Savior pray for this their being with him then prayes he for and provids and also succeeds al means to attain this As wise Merchants victual their shipps for the longest time our Savior victuals even for a Voyage of eternity for life for death for Grace for Glory for a Momentany passage of time in this world and for eternity in another he laies out for their present needs but Oh how great is that goodness thou hast laid up for them that feare thee like Joseph provide for the seven years Famin laies in provision of prayer for their everlasting supply The Saints may find even refreshing baits by this prayer of our Savior in their most famishing distresses feast their hearts with it Hence it is the Lord Christ is said Hebr. 7.25 To be able to save them to the uâ—most that come to God by him that is by the vertue of his eternal intercession of which this prayer is one part This was signified by those two types The Pillar of fire and the Pillar of cloud which went before the Israelites in their travailes It s said The Lord went before them in a Pillar Exord 13.21 22. He took not away the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night from before his people until he brought them into the promised Land Thus the Lord Jesus leads his people into the way everlasting and withdraws not the power of his prayer and presence and provision of al mercies until he bring them to himself So again Moses left the people in the desert and died before he came into the good Land but Joshua brought them to the place of rest of which it was said they shal remove no more 2. Sam. The Law leaves a man in sin and misery even to perish while he is in his passage but our Joshua brings his to rest that yet remains for there is yet a rest remaining for Gods people When he went away and withdrew his Bodily presence yet his Bowels yerned towards his I wil not leave you as Orphans Joh. 14.18 He sends the comforter his blessed spirit to lead them into al truth To guid them in the way while they are wildering here towards the end of their Hopes And his care is even in Heaven to prepare mansions of rest for their welcome and refreshing after their weary-some travailes Joh. 14.2 In my Fathers House are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you and I wil come again and receive you And before he comes he sends post to meet his poor servants and to inquire of their welfare Joh. 16.22 I will see you again and your heart shal rejoyce This was the meaning of the vision Gen. 18.14 16. Jacob saw a Ladder Angels ascending and descending and the Lord standing at the top and he said I wil bless thee and be with thee where ever thou goest and I wil not leave thee until I have performed that which I have spoken to thee of REAS. I. 1. It s the charge which he hath undertaken and unto which he stands bound by free agreement with God the Father that he wil see to the everlasting welfare of his servants and therefore in faithfulness he cannot but with al care perform it That by no means in no case they do miscarry It was the main scope of his sending by the Father and of his coming into the world Joh. 6.38 39. I came not to do mine own wil but the wil of my Father that sent me that of those which he hath given me I should loose none but raise it up at the last day Nay for this purpose he received Power and Commission From God the Father Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him power over al flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him He hath given Jesus Christ power over al enemies of the salvation of his people that they should never be able to hinder them over al means which might procure their good that they should never be wanting to help and further them in the good waies of Gods Grace power over al wants weaknessess infirmities that they should never be able to discourage their hearts in a Christian course He wil not fail of his end they cannot fail of their comforts 1 Cor. 15.25 26. He must reign until he hath put al his enemies under his feet the last enemy that is to be destroyed is death The Lord wil see the last enemy destroyed and see them beyond death and danger So that our Savior wil come last out of the field as Conqueror and wil not leave his people their Souls under distresses or their bodies in their Graves and make them Conquerors and triumph over al their Adversaries O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory thanks be given to God who hath given us the Victory through Jesus Christ 2. The love of our Savior constraines him to lay out himself and the improvement of his power and prayers and al he hath for their good in al conditions until they come to be with him Joh. 13.1 Having loved his own he loved them to the end In love there is no lack if he love them to the end he wil care
for them and their comforts unto the end He loves and tenders in al their necessities and occasions therefore wil undoubtedly relieve and succour them in al Therefore the Apostle concludes so confidently nor life nor death nor Principalities noâ— Powers shal ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ If death cannot put an end to his love It skils not though it put an end to our lives his love wil quicken and raise If he love us in prison he wil devise means to free us Love us in temptation he wil provide Grace and Comfort to strengthen sustain us in al our trials It was an argument which they pleaded and by which they supported their hearts for help in the death of Lazarus Joh. 11.3 He whom thou lovest is Sick and then he recovered him He whom thou lovest is overwhelmed with temptations and distempers therefore he shal be comforted and delivered 3. The necessities of the Saints prevail with our Savior to pity to help and to pray for them who are not able to help themselves in the shock and stress of the violence of their assaults He comforts the Abjects 2 Cor. 7.6 Beares the Lambs and little ones in his Armes Isa 40.11 Their enemies be many and mighty which do pursue them with deadly hatred Their strength and ability but weak to oppose and their Grace but smal and unable to maintain them if they should live meerly upon the stock and therefore the Lord lends them daily supply For in a mans own strength no man shal be strong 1 Sam. 2.9 He speaks to them as unto Paul His Grace is sufficient when there is nothing but Insufficiency in themselves Renewed necessities renewed mercies his power pitcheth his Tent in weakness USE 1. CONSOLATION To sustain and shore up the fainting hearts of the Saints under their heaviest trials and in the midst of the many alterations and temptations which may attend them in their daily course to the discomfort and discouragement of their Hearts It s the care of our Savior to provide for their comfort when happily they cannot either care or provide for themselves and their own relief and succour ignorant and unskilful to foresee weâ—k to oppose unable to bear the miseries and hopeless to deliver themselves from under them behold the Lord Jesus hath said in help before-Hand for you in Heaven Object Oh but thou saiest Though the assaults be fierce and distempers strong and discouragements sad yet if I had a heart to seek a spirit to send to Heaven for some relief I could conceive there mere some ground of Hope But when I have no help in my self and yet no heart to seek for help elswhere what can I expect but utter confusion Answ Christ hath laid in provision of prayers for thee when thou canst not pray for thy self he wil provide help and a heart to pray also When Peter was Marvailously foiled by the sodain surprisal of that over-bearing assault that carried him Head-long to the commission of so many notorious evils Our Savior leaves a receipt with him to which he might resort for some relief after his fal Simon Simon Satan hath desired to winnow thee but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luk. 22.31 32. It may be thy condition as it was Peter's case Thy assaults may be Fierce and thy overthrow and Failings so Foul that thou mayst sit down confounded in thy self thy Hope thy Heart and thy Prayer may fail also Yet remember whither to repair for thy support It was spoken to Peter but it was performed for al may be applied to al the Saints The Lord Jesus hath prayed that thy faith sail not His Prayer is laid in before-hand to stay thy heart at a dead lift In some dangerous and infectious places men take Antidâ—tes and Presâ—â—â—atives that though they should by occasion take some poison unseen or unsuspected which â—â—ghâ— annoy their Natures and drive them into some â—â—â—â—ous and troublesome sickness yet this would stil and maintain the heart in the heaviest time I Hope it s not deadly my Antidote wil out-bid the force of it free me from the deadly danger thereof Such is the Preservative oâ— our Saviors Prayer which works out any Poyson otherwise it had cost Peter his life So our Savior directs In the world ye shall have perâ—ecution But be of good comfort I have overcome the world In temptations be comforted though they have over-bidden thy feebleness Christ hath overcome the violence of them Joh. 16. and last In thy distempers be humbled and yet comforted Christ hath overcome the power of them they may plague thee they shal not prevail against thee The snares may delude but Christ wil deliver Oh but they indure stil live and are mighty Answ His mercy endures for ever his Prayers live and wil out-bid al their might T is true they are through mercy somtimes abated but they return again with more violence and take again But know Christ wil provide again Joh. 16. I will see you again And the vertue of his prayers hath eternal and everlasting Efficacy and therefore wil for ever help thee As thy corruption may for ever plague while thou livest but the power of Christs Prayer wil out-live thy life and the life of thy sins and set Heaven Gates open before thee USE 2. Instruction The worst condition of a beleever is better than the best Estate of the wicked The poverty of the Saints better than their wealth The discouragement of the Saints better than al their contentments and comfort Because in al the Lord Jesus hath provided for their good and out of al wil work their welfare and happiness A little that the righteous hath is better than a great deal of the wicked for God blesseth his store Though the Diet be but mean yet the dressing is much and the sweetness of the sauce makes it more pleasant and cordial than better provision that wants both Ps 37.16 17. Gods love that sweetens al and the vertue of our Saviors Prayer that perfumes and gives a pleasing rellish to al. It turnes the Water of the Saints into wine nay make their Water better than Wine For thy Love is better than Wine But there is a Canker that Breeds in the best comforts of the wicked their table is their snare their proâ—perity their ruin and a curse accompanies the choicest of their most comfortable blessings From hence it is that holy Asaph beares up his heart in that heavy temptation when he was so much taken aside by the prosperity of the wicked that his Foot had wel-nigh slipt he thus recovers himself Thou wil lead me by thy counsel and after bring me to Glory Ps 73.24 Thou leavest them in their Errors they have an easie way but a wrong way that wil lead them to confusion Ps 17.14 15. USE 3. Of Direction Let the practise of our Savior be our DIRECTION How to steer our Course to
spiritual and eternal welfare of al the faithful requires this of necessity to appertain to him that must procure our good So our Savior reasons to quiet the hearts of his disciples because of his departure Joh. 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient I should go away for if I go not away the comforter wil not come but if I depart I will send him unto you They could hardly beleeve it as that which carried the face and appearance of any propability with it that our Savior puts out of question know it of a truth which upon trial ye wil find to be certain Ye would conceive at the sudden push that there could be nothing more inconvenient and cross to the furtherance of their comfort But its expedient Hence those phrases The Spirit was not yet given because Christ was not yet ascended Al the gift of the Spirit was in vertue of that work and the further perfection of that in Christ the further communication of al from Christ Now our Savior is far above al principalities and powers beyond the power nay the opposing presence nay the least appearance of any hinderance that may be cast in the way by Satan to prejudice or stop the work of our Redemption by Christ for us or the work of Redemption from Christ in us Resurrection is the only proper cause and immediate spring of the Application of spiritual good and therefore had he not risen our Faith had been in vain for as his death purchased right unto al so did his resurrection make Application of it for by that he rescued himself and so us his members then in him from the power of darkness that though they pursued yea crucified Christ could not overcome him but he rose again But when he ascends he was then beyond the ascent of his enemies yea beyond the fight the shew the appearance of temptation Far above And so when we shal be made to ascend we shal be like to our Savior and he freed from the annoyance the shew or appearance of evil Hence observe the Apostle his Connexion He hath ascended on high he led Captivity captive Hell Sin and Death were like a miserable captived company that now were under the Spear durst not hush nor stir He then gives Gifts to men When Christ was crowned Emperor over al the Enemies then he sends his royal Gifts Coronation Mercies abroad 4. This is for the great Contentment and Advancement of our Savior John 14.28 If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go to my Father for my Father is greater than I. Any Preferment puts us into Places which are above our own ordinary Now there is none greater than Christ but the Father therefore to go with him and be with him is the highest Advancement USE 1. Of Instruction Therefore they who have made choyce of a Christ have no cause to be ashamed If he were a base Christ ye might have some color to seek another to make a change but it 's not so But though he went from the Cross to the Grave yet he went from thence to Heaven and there is now in the highest Honor. His suffering was but his entring into Glory nay the addition to his Glory therefore that should not so much discourage as content and cause us to bless God for our Portion A dead Savior was better to Joseph of Arimathea than his life his reproaches better than the riches of the World to Moses But now when he is exalted in Heaven attended by Angels received into Glory advanced to the right hand of his Father what madness is it now to think we could once have done better The Crown of Thorns which our Savior wore was to be chosen before the Credit of the World what should we judg of the Crown of Glory The Poverty of Christ is better than the Wealth of the World the Shame of Christ better than the Honor of the World the Contempt and Humiliation of a Christ better than the greatest Pomp and Advancement that the Earth can attain How much more should our hearts be comforted and satisfied now with the Honor Life Happiness and Heaven where our Savior now is upon whom ye have trusted and depended How good is your Choyce How great should be your Content USE 2. Here is invincible Assurance of the final safety and glory of the Saints out of all those pressures with which they seem not only to be assaulted but overwhelmed almost beyond strength If the Head be above Water the Body cannot be drowned though it be under Water Christ is in Heaven and he wil never leave his Members in Hell nor Grave So that a man may boldly and comfortably conclude He wil make this sick and weak Body like to his glorious Body this sinful Soul like unto his in al Holiness and happiness As Christ of himself thou mayest in Christ bear up thy self against the Gates of Hel. Behold I was dead and live for evermore and have the Keys of Hell and Death Rev. 1.18 Behold I was dead in my sins sunk in my distresses overborn with distempers and temptations but I shal be for ever comforted quickened delivered for evermore Nay ye have the Promise and Engagement of our Savior Because I live ye shall live John 14.19 He is far above all Principalities and Powers and we shal be as he is He hath not only promised what he wil do but he is gone on purpose to make way for us to prepare a place for us and to bring us thereunto So he chears the hearts of his Disciples John 14.2 3. He deals truly and faithfully and tenderly with us If it were not so he would have told us He is gone on purpose to make room and to see that al things be ready And if we know not the way nor can help our selves in it he professeth he will come again When we are and stands he wil again support us when we are foiled and overborn with Temptations he wil again deliver us and receive us to himself though cast out of Earth and Societies of men he wil receive us to himself shelter us under his wings put us into his own bosom cast up the reckoning that the Apostle doth Rom. 6.9 10 11. He dieth no more death hath no more Dominion over him c. Reckon ye also shal I yield to my Corruptions No distempers shal have no more Dominion over me Yea grow in upon greater and more glorious confidence Rom. 5. If justified by his death how much more shal we be saved by his life He hath abidden the shock of Satans assaults the source and power of darkness and when the Justice of God delivered him into their hand and they brought him to the death of the Cross yet he thence delivered himself and he lives for evermore to save to the uttermost them that come to him USE 3. Therefore be willing to die and to go to Christ The Members long to
be with the Head the Body where the Life is our Life is in Christ the Wife where the Husband is As Thomas said Let us go and die with him much more let us die to raign with him If Christ be in Heaven why are we on Earth Saies Paul I desire to be dissolved to be uncloathed to put off these rags that I may put on the Robes of Immortality We have been too long with the world our sins c. let us long to be with him USE 4. See the Hainousness of their sin and heavy plague which appertains to such as rebel against this Christ now in Glory We have done with the first Part of the Point we are now to enquire the meaning of the other Vâ—z That Christ hath unconceivable Glory given him of the Father This is taken for granted and presupposed That they may behold the Glory which thou hast given me therefore he hath Glory and it 's given of the Father And of this now we are to enquire with Modesty and Godly fear as being a search and inquisition far exceeding the meanness of such poor Anâ—s as we be creeping here upon ouâ— Molehils sitting here upon our dunghils compassed about with the Mud-wals of Mortality Misery and Corruption An enquiry suitable for such as are come to the highest form the souls of the blessed now ascended and the glorious Angels who are before the Lord and see his Face They may search into the surpassing excellency of his Glory which is far removed out of our sight who sit here upon the Face of the Earth at so far a distance from thence It shal beseem us then to be wise unto Sobriety not to peep into Gods Secrets Yet because that which is writ is writ for our learning it 's not only in our Liberty but our Duty and matter of necessity to look after such things and to learn them with what pains and endeavor we may We shal then open the Sense of the Words 1. What is meant by Glory in the General 2. In what respect it 's attributed to Christ as God or Man or both 3. Wherein that peculiar Glory consists which is thus attributed to him 4. How it 's said to be given him of the Father I. What is meant by Glory in the General Answ It commonly and usually implies three things in Scripture 1. The world and excellency that is in any thing whereby it obtains Superiority and Eminency above other of meaner quality and condition Thus the Apostle cals the Graces given to us in Adam Our Glory Rom. 3.23 We have all sinned and are deprived of the Glory of God 2 Cor. 3.18 We are transformed from one degree of Glory unto another that is of glorious Grace Thus we cal a man of special Spiritual Abilities a glorious Christian an eminent Christian So in verse 22. foregoing The Glory thou gavest me I have given to them So it is said Joh. 1.14 We beheld the Glory of Christ what that is he ads and explicates full of Grace and Truth 2. The Expressions or putting forth of such Abilities in the most eminent and choice Operations thereof because in such Actions the lustre and beauty of all such excellencies shines forth and discovers it self These are termed the Glory of any thing Thus Acts 22.11 The shine of the Light that compassed Paul is called The Glory of the Light The lustre and majesty which appeared upon Moses Face when he came from the Mount is called The Glory of his Countenance 2 Cor. 3.7 And that beauty of the Light of the Sun whereby it out-bids the rest of the other Stars is called The Glory of the Sun I Cor. 15.41 And when our Savior raised Lazarus from the dead the expression of that power he cals The Glory of God John 11.40 Said I not unto thee if thou would'st beleeve thou should'st see the Glory of God that is the glorious expression of Gods Power and it 's the best and only explication of that place 2 Thes 1.9 They shall be destroyed from the glory of his power The infinite and utmost expression of Gods power shal put forth it self in the destruction of the ungodly 3. The acknowledgment of all these Excellencies and of al the expressions thereof in al the eminencies that are discovered therein This is Glory And thus we are said to give glory to God or Man in such acknowledgments which are suitable and agreeable in some measure to the worth of the things My Son give Glory to God The Second Sense is most properly intended in this place The first is not altogether excluded but in part only considered II. In what respect is Glory attributed to Christ as God or Man or both Answ It is given to the Person of the Son both as God and Man now sitting at the right hand of God the Father 1. As God That Glory which no meer Creature is capable of that must appertain to him that is more than a Creature and in that respect But of this Glory no meer Creature is capable For it 's such a glorious power which he possesseth and which is here understood whereby he subdues al things even death unto himself Phil. 3. last 2. This also is evident by the Question which our Savior Christ makes and the Argument he brings for the evidencing and evincing this Sense that indeed he was God as wel as man and that this Glory of his exaltation did in that behalf belong to him Matth. 22.42 43. He asked the Pharisees What think ye of Christ the Messias whose Son is he They say unto him the Son of David that is they looked at him as meer man Against which he thus reasons How then doth David in spirit call him Lord In Spirit that is by the dictate and direction of the Holy Ghost as Mark 12.36 The Lord that is God said unto my Lord that is unto my Seed which is my Lord Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Now if his Son how is he his Lord If Davids Seed be Davids Lord then Davids Seed is more than meer Man For if he had been meer Man the Child is inferior and subject to the Father is not Lord over the Father as it 's said He was subject to his Parents But Davids Seed is Davids Lord and therefore more than meer Man As Christ is Davids Lord so is he exalted for it 's so affirmed so attributed to him He said to my Lord sit at my right hand But as God he is Davids Lord therefore as God he is exalted 3. It 's plain also by that Prayer and Expression of our Savior John 17.5 Father Glorifie me thy self with that Glory which I had with thee before the World was Now that must needs be the Glory which did appertain unto him as God For his Humane Nature was not before the World and therefore did not nor could not partake of any Glory And hence it is undeniable it
must be meant of that Glory which he had before the World was and did in the Phrase and according to the meaning of the Scripture lay aside in the daies of his Humiliation and abasement in the form of a Servant and did now assume when he ascended and while now he sits at the right hand of God the Father That Glory which he had before the World was must be a Glory belonging to the God-head But that which our Savior desires and according to his desire obtains in his Ascention and Glorification in Heaven is that which he had before the World and therefore it doth appertain to his God-head 2. As this Glory belongs to him or God so as Man Because this glorious Power is executed by him as Man now ascending and sitting in Heaven So that his Man-hood doth concur as an Instrument working with his God-head in the administration of it John 5.27 The Father judgeth no man but hath given all power to the Son to execute Judgment in as much as he is the Son of Man that is Because the Humane Nature is assumed into personal Union and therein he hath satisfied Divine Justice and so purchased Redemption and so al the power as that being the only way by which this Redemption purchased comes to be applied to the Saints III. Wherein this Glory consists which is thus attributed to the Person of our Savior Answ For the right understanding of this Third Particular wherein the pith and life of the Point lies This is a Rule that must be premised and carefully carried along with us in our thoughts as that which wil guide through the following Explication namely That Glory is here to be attended in the several Branches of it which the Lord Christ did lay aside by voluntary Dispensation out of his own free wil and mutual Agreement with God the Father Glorifie me with the Glory I had with thee That which was laid aside by him that may be taken up again and given to him by the same Agreement And hence all those infinite Excellencies that are in God the absolute might of Soveraignty over the Creature is not properly any part of Glory unto which he was exalted Because this is a property of the Divine Nature and so doth necessarily appertain to every person that hath this Nature as necessarily as to be God This he had of his own and this could not be given to him nor laid aside by him And this was the first signification of glory before mentioned But our Savior by voluntary dispensation did lay aside the right of present-taking Dominion and exercising Dominion over every creature in that Nature he did assume And hence Satan and his instruments he in and by them did not only assault our Savior by their outrages and temptations but by violence of power did out-bid and over-bear him for the present Thus as it were with a violent hand he carried him into the Wilderness and set him upon a Pinacle of the Temple yea not only assaulted but prevailed and had the better for the present brought him to his death and held him captive in the grave by the space of three daies Our Savior by agreement with God the Father laying aside and ceaâ—ing his own right of taking and exercise dominion over Devils and men and creatures but giving way hereunto by agreement with God the Father for the while that the work of our Redemption was to be accomplished Hence are these passages This is your hour and the power of darkness Luk. 22.53 q. d. This is the time when ye have allowance to Tirannize and I wil not exercise dominion over you for he could have crossed and confounded with a word but suffer my self to be foiled for the present and held captive by you This is the power of darkness when I lay aside the exercise and expressing of my power Hence he returned that answer Knowest thou not that I could but ask my Father and he would give me more than twelve Legions of Angels but how then should the Scripture be fulfilled That agreement that was transacted between me and the Father and now recorded in Scripture Math. 26.53 Hence it s said Though he was in the form of God Had the might and soveraignty of God and was equal in that with the Father had it as his own without any robbery or taking that which was not his right Yet he emptied himself Laid aside the Right either of taking or exercising that power TOOK upon himself The meâ—nness of the Nature and relation of a surety and servant and under-went really the condition of a servant and surety and so submitted himself To the Death of the Cross Because it was the lowest service he was to do in the work of our Redemption Thus our Savior laid aside his glory Now the Father gives and he assumes glory to himself 1. In that he freed him from the former Tiranny and power of darkness and exalted him far above al principalities and powers and what there is named in this or another world Beyond al Gunshot not only beyond their power but their assaults yea their presence and sight 2. In that al power and Grace belongs to him in way and right of comunication for the good of his therefore called Head of the Church And this follows the former Mark the Coherence He hath exalted him and given him to be Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Head that hath life and motion in it To plot and contrive al for defence Eph. 2.22 For had not the second person suffered and satisfied there had never been way nor right to communicate Grace to his or to improve of set on going the power and providence of God for his And therefore it s his propriety to be Head not the Father nor the spirit Hebr. 10.20 Joh. 5.26 To have life of himself And verse 21. To quicken whom he wil. 3. And immediate dispensation and execution of al power over al creatures for the bringing home of his Elect. Thus the Father judgeth no man but hath committed al to him not that the Father hath not power for the execution of the work for he that gives it hath it in a principal manner but he hath committed the immediate execution thereof unto Christ 1 Cor. 11.3 The Apostle speaks not of the Faithful but of al. For that is the scope These different degrees are to be attended in regard of Subordination and immediate dispensation For Head Implies Excellency and power to move all in Subordination to it Authority to rule al in subjection So it s not excellency but power and authority not at large but in Subordination in the next and immediate dispensation 1. Hence he crosseth and confoundeth al the power and Policy of al the enemies of his Church brings to nought the rage of Devils and Malice of Men and each instrument that is formed Eph. 4. Being ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive Nay makes them al
serviceable to his Church 1 Cor. 3.18 All is yours and you Christs and Christ Gods This is the order Christ is Gods Servant and all your Servants through Christ 2. Hence he restores his Elect from the power of Darkness and translates them into the liberty of his own by an invincible and irresistable power breaks in upon the rebellious heart of a sinner and brings him home unto himself No man comes to the Father but by me Rev. 1.18 I was dead and I am alive and live for evermore and I have the Keyes of Hell and Death Joh. 10.16 I have other Sheep that are not of this fold and those I must bring He sends and succeeds al Officers and ordinances 3. Hence from this immediate dispensation of al power he sends his spirit the Comforter into the hearts of his that he may supply al their wants furnish them to al their works and fit them with fulness of power and spirit to each holy performance It s requisite I go because If I go not the Comforter wil not come but if I go I wil send him The glorification of our Savior makes way for the mission of the Spirit and observe what he adds Joh. 16.13 14. He shall take of mine and give it to you And what wil he give All things that the Father hath and mine therefore I said he shal take of mine They are al Christs for the immediate dispensation and it s from the vertue of a glorified Savior that the spirit takes them and conveies them 4. He gives unto his Eternal life Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given me al power over all flesh that I may give unto them eternal life And this as the second person in the former sence For as meer man he gives not eternal life This is the end and Errand And when this is done then he professeth He hath finished the work he gave him to do when he hath gathered and glorified his Saints he hath done al he hath to do in this world 2. His Human Nature is made glorious 1. Because it hath the ful source of al the influence of the divine operations and Graces thereunto as much as any creature is capable of 2. It hath liberty and authority to set on work or put forth any attribute for the good of the Saints It knows al the necessities of the Saints and can have resort and set on work al the sufficiency of God to yeeld supply Math. 28.18 USE 1. 1. TERROUR To the wicked the enemies to and opposers of the Lord Jesus and his Kingdom See whom ye have despised he is now advanced to al power and therefore wil use al his power for your ruin Upon this ground Peter shook the hearts of the Jews Act. 2.36 He now being exalted sheds abroad c. Let the House of Israel know assuredly that this Jesus whom ye have crucisied God hath raised and made him Lord and Christ Math. 25.31 When Christ-shal come at the day of Judgment c. He shal come with power and great glory thousands before him and ten thousand thousands ministring to him Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 And they shal creep into holes and clefts of the rocks and corners of the Dungeons and not be able to behold the dreadful looks of Christ Rev. 6.15 16. But he shal fetch them thence dragg them out of their Dungeons draw them out of their holes When it shal be said they have feared and fled and hid themselves bring hither saies Christ mine enemies those who have been enemies to my Grace Gospel Children Glory bring them hither and slay them before my Face And however the Lord Jesus abates much of the dreadful expressions of his direful anger and almighty power Now they are terrified and then quieted Now in horror and then calmed Yet then he shal destroy them from the glory of his power that is from the expression of al his power and that unto the utmost for their ruin Christ wil do his best USE 2. DIRECTION It leads us by the hand the right way whither to go and shews us the ready means how to derive quickning power and inlivening vertue Do as Stephen in his greatest streight Act. 7.56 He looked and saw Christ standing at the right hand of God Hebr. 7.16 He is the Author of endless life and therefore without end look this way Hence do two things 1. Know that he stands possessed of al right of communication and hath the immediate execution of al efficacious power and dominion over al creatures Math. 28. This is the commission he hath and in vertue of this he sends quickens succeeds and therefore look at him as a glorious Savior When he ascended then was the time of his coronation gifts then he gave gifts As we say of men honest and able when we repaire to them for relief it s replied Alas they are out of commission So if we look at Christs Graces in his humiliation and in the daies of his suffering they are out of commission But when he comes to ascend he is then in commission and so carries al before him Being ascended he sheds abroad c. Say there is no power in me neither word nor ordinances but al power and all things are given to thy ministry therefore blessed Lord by thy power subdue our sins and quicken our Souls 2. Know that in vertue of this glory he is bound to do al for thee nay hath promised to dispence al unto thee Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shal live also I am with you Eph. 2.4 He sets us in heavenly places with Christ USE 3. Comfort Here is matter of unspeakable and unmatchable comfort to refresh the fainting hearts of the servants of the Lord which have an interest in this Christ and are possessed of him who stands possessed of al that glory that Heaven and Earth hath or the God of Heaven and Earth can give The Chymists they dream of a Catholicon and Medicine of that excellent confection and composition and of that soveraign vertue and efficacy that it wil cure any Disease recover and remove any distemper They conceit that which they could never yet compass nor yet the skil and industry of al men could ever find out That which they dreamed and desired for the Body The Lord hath provided for the good and spiritual refreshing of the Souls of his Here is a Cordial that wil undoubtedly Cure thee of al discomforts whatever thy temptation thy condition thy miseries are can be shal be hast thou but a share in this Christ to whom the Father hath given this glory in Heaven It cannot but give thee content dost thou but know the value and vertue of the receipt and dost understand the right way to use it and art careful to take it for thine everlasting refreshing See the proof of it a little in the particulars following Have this glory of Christ in thine Eye and keep the savor of it in thy heart Thou canst not but have
of Wrath and expectation when thou shalt be arraigned and condemned by the righteous Sentence of Gods revenging Justice Satan accuseth Conscience gives in witness against thee and the Justice of God passeth Sentence Look up to this Glory that Christ stands possessed of now in Heaven and al these Accusations will vanish immediately nor wil once appear to plead against a beleeving sinner Upon this ground Paul flings out the Gantlet against al Adversaries and there is not an Action that can pass nay not so much as a motion made against him that can find audience in Court Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods Chosen it's God that justifies nay it 's Christ that hath died nay rather risen again nay sits at the right hand of God Justice cannot condemn Christ hath satisfied and is freed and now is at Gods right hand and is at the better hand with Justice triumphs there Devils cannot cavil they are silenced Conscience accuse that is answered nay those dayly failings which might seem to interrupt the Terms of Agreement betwixt God and the Soul and make new Controversies These are taken up and intercepted by the Lord Jesus Nay the main Pith of this Glory was as ye have read before That the immediate execution of Gods whol Counsel towards the Sons of Men is by his means comes through his hands And if there be any thing against his Members his Spouse he wil be sure to stop that proceeding So Paul disputes Rom. 5.9 If reconciled by his Death how much more shall we be saved by his Life 5. By this all Graces shall be strengthened and made glorious answerable and in some measure proportionable to the Glory that Christ hath possessed The Father gives glorious Power and Grace to him and he dispenseth glorious Grace and Power to us This is the ground of the Inference The Spirit was not sent because Christ was not ascended That the larger measure of the Spirit in the more spiritual and efficacious operations thereof was not yet given because he was not yet in the Throne of Glory and invested with the fulness of that power which then he should re-assume and challenge to himself And this Peter renders to be the reason of those extraordinary Gifts that were given and admirable Works that were done by the Apostles When al the People wondered and stood amazed to hear each man speak in his own language the magnificent things of God the holy Apostle Peter carries them hither as to the first root and rise of al those miraculous Dispensations Acts 2.34 36. That Christ whom ye have crucified God hath raised and made him both Lord and Christ and having received the Promise of the Spirit having as man received the Spirit without measure as much as Nature was capable of and as God possessed and recovered the same Glory which he had with the Father before al Worlds He now sheds abroad this which ye now see and hear Great Princes reserve the greatest Gifts and Entertainment unto the daies of greatest Solemnity as Coronation or Conquest The day of Christs Ascention and sitting and so possession of Glory is the day of his Coronation and Conquest returns into his own Country and there triumphs and then gives Gifts enlargeth himself in the Graces of his Spirit Eph. 1.20 22 23. when Christ was set in Heavenly places and advanced to his Glory It was that he might be Head of his Church and might fill all in all By this he comes to be Head and hath all Graces By this he comes to communicate himself not in sparing manner but fully and freely he fils all in all 6. By this thou mayest be enlarged in all Services not only receive more Graces but exercise what thou hast received in a more active and excellent manner than ever otherwise thou should'st or could'st have attained unto The Glory of our Savior over-shadowing thee wil make thee pray gloriously lead a glorious life and perform glorious Duties Thus our Savior disputes John 14.22 Verily verily I say unto you he that beleeveth in me shall do the Works that I do that is in regard of the Doctrine he then delivered or Works he then wrought Nay greater works than these shall he do Why Because I go to my Father He goes to possess al Glory in al the fulness of the Execution of al power and dispensation thereof And therefore having more dispenseth more vertually by the power of his sitting at the right hand of God than he did when he was bodily present in the daies of his Humiliation Peter by the vertue of his death and that glorious power which Christ possessed in Heaven he converted at once three thousand which our Savior never did while he preached Christ healed the Sick and cured Diseases of such as came to him but Peter such as he sent his Hand-kerchief unto Nay our Savior ads Whatever ye ask in my Name in the Name of Christ now in Glory as he is gone to his Father If ye ask any thing never so miraculous hard improbable impossible to Flesh and Blood he wil bring it about And upon this Tenure it is that promise is made to the Church of Thyatira That she shall rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Rev. 2.26 27. A poor handful of People the mighty and invincible power of a multitude of Nations See the Reason it is As I have received from my Father This power of this glorious Dispensation is such as he hath received in a more ful and eminent manner he wil so also communicate it And therefore our Savior professeth it is expedient that he should go away for if he go not he wil not send the Comforter but if he do he wil send him and then he shal lead you into all truth John 16.7.13 The last resolution rests there Al is Christs that the Father hath and he shal take of Christs and give to them 7. By this thou maiest be sure thou canst not miss of Eternal Life This was the end why Christ receives God the Father gives this Glory that he may give it unto the Faithful John 17. Thou hast given me power over all Creatures that I may give unto them Eternal Life Christ cannot miss of his End nor thou of Glory And if al power can bring to Eternal Life thou canst not but enjoy it Christ must fail of his intent if thou fail of thy happiness and therefore you shal find our Savior so solicitous to settle the hearts of his Disciples in this and himself so unweariable to accomplish it John 14.2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled c. They were and al the Saints find a hard shock here they are troubled what wil become of them at last and how shal they once arrive at the Haven the storms so strong the waves so fierce oppositions from without so great corruptions from within so out-ragious Why our Savior saies Be not troubled I go to
nay not into consideration That I may smash my Course with joy It s my Meat and Drink saith he Let â—t be as thy daily Bread as thy food have no wil but this So Barnabas perswaded Act. 13.23 To cleave to God with a decree of heart Decree this set it down and determine this for a conclusion that admits no exception or alteration My God I must have my god I wil have his commands I have and must and wil obey Whether I shal have honor and credit whether I shal please my self or carnal Reason or corrupt desires friends or world that I pass not for I must please the Lord That I set down for a decree 2. Let al make way to this and work for this So Christ with us Al things work together for our good So make our Sorrows our miseries our comforts our peace prosperity whatever we have in the world besides make them al work together for this to further our obedience As the Marriner tacks about useth Cross winds all to further his voyage It was the Fathers wil and Christs work that he should lose none and he did lose none he left Heaven his Honor his Life nay the sense of his Fathers Love but he lost not one of the poorest Saints held them in his hand God forsook him he would not forsake them Let the power of darkness pluck away ease and peace yea his life and al. My Soul it heavy unto the Death Yet he would not suffer them notwithstanding al their Malice Wrath Rage Subtilty to pluck one of his out of his hands So do thou Lose Credit Comfort Peace Prosperity yea thy Life but lose not one of Gods Commands but obey it not one Promise but trust in it He hath kept thee at al times Keep thou the word of his patience Thou gavest them me saith Christ and I have kept them So say thou Thou gavest me these commands and I have obeyed them these promises and I have trusted in them Not my wil as Natural saith Christ to be preserved but thy wil as God that man may be redeemed So say thou not my wil as Man as Father as Master as Servant not my wil which would have mine ease and Profit and Credit But thy Wil be done 3. Be unmovable in the Work of Christ So our Savior though he suffer the power of Darkness to pluck a way his Honor his happiness and Life yet he held his Children in his Armes and would not suffer any to take them out of his hand So deal thou in like manner Let Devils and Men pluck away thy Credit and dishonor thee thy Wealth and impoverish thee yet let them not pluck away any one of Gods commands of Christs Promises from thee Christ put a necessity upon it I must bring these sheep lay thou the like necessity upon thy Soul It is a rule of Christ I must obey it Christ I must love and fear and follow Do not retire strike Sail turn back nay do not stop in the way but go on It s not necessary to live but to love Jesus We have done with this Point from the connection of the words We shal now proceed to the other part of that work which our Savior professeth and ingageth himself unto that he will further do for time to come I will make it known The profession and resolution of our Savior to provide for their further inlightening and inlargement in this knowledg implies two things 1. What the wants of the Saints are as touching this knowledg 2. What the care and ingagement of our Savior is to supply the same The first is here supposed and that by necessary inference For had they attended the ful measure of this knowledg that need hath our Savior to make known more if they had been perfect in the skilful understanding of that lecture what need was there that our Savior should be dayly learning and informing them It s plain therefore though they had much of this knowledg there was yet much wanting unto them of which they had as dayly need so dayly use of Hence we have two Points of Doctrin 1. There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name in the most able Saints 2. Christ lends dayly supply of knowledg to them according to their dayly needs To the First There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name in the most able Saints The most knowing Christians such as may seem to be in the highest form neer our Savior taught and trained up under his Wing yet have need that more of the Name of the Father should be made known to them The Point is plain in the words we shal need say no more to evidence it from the text but address our selves to the further explication of it What this Name is Viz. The Name of Gods Fatherly love and mercy and Faithfulness And what it is to know it or to have it made known we have opened formerly when the Lord Christ causeth al the good and incomparable excellency of this Fatherly mercy and Faithfulness to pass before the Eye of the Soul and sets on that suitable sweetness so effectually upon it as that it affects and draws the heart to look that way by the Eye of Faith so to Eye it as to own it and fasten upon it This is the knowledg here meant and much of this is wanting even in those that are most eminent It s a general ground which takes in the Particulars with advantage When the holy man Job laid forth at large the waies of God in his Providence limmed out to the life his excellencies he ends with this and vailes as it were what he was not able to express These are part of his waies but how little a portion is heard of him Job 26 14. q. d. There is little of that unconceivable excellency heard of or reported though the Earth and Heaven be ful of his goodness and his mercy over al shines with the greatest lustre in al his works yet this is but a little portion of him and we know little of this And hence Moses who conversed Face to Face with God unto whom the Lord did familiarise himself as to a friend yet he finds his necessity most here and makes it his chief suit if I have found Favor in thine Eyes Lord shew me thy glory If ever he shewed himself to a mortal man it might seem he did in an especial manner express himself to him And therefore it was his preheminence above the Prophets to whom he would make known himself in a vision and dream My Servant Moses is not so to him I wil speak Mouth to Mouth apparently Visibly familiarly and openly Numb 12.8 Deut. 34.10 And yet he begs this as the greatest honor Lord shew me thy glory And Gods answer shews his Aim Exod. 34.5 6. I will cause my goodness to pass before thee strong gracious merciful aboundant in goodness and truth c. The greatest