Scriptures for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 24 25. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29.30 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and compassion on whom I will have compassion Rom. 9.15 16. So that it is not of him that wilâ—eth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Ephes 5.8 In hope of eternal Life which God that cannot Lye hath promised before the World began not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 3.5 6. Secondly This Salvation is to such as are incapable of helping themselves and under most miserable circumstances Christ is that charitable and kind Samaritan to the wounded man by the Thieves who brings help when the Levite and Priest whose Office preach charity passed by without giving any â—elief See that â—â—mous and often repeated place â—n instance of mercy and relief when Man was exposed to all imaginable misery in most contemptible and helpless condition where the bowels of mercy are liberally extended and relief is brought from meer love and pity Ezek. 16. to 9. And that other famous Scripture demonstrate the freedom and fulness of love when Man was in the worst of circumstances when we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved throug his Life Rom. 5. to 12. Nothing can be a greater instance of love pity and compassion than the relieving of one in a helpless state so that Christs redeeming of Souls is unparallelled who relieved Enemies without their own help or capacity to relieve themselves and that famous Scripture of causing the Dead Bones to take flesh sinews and life and become a numerous host is a clear emblem of the Infinite and Free love of God and mans incapacity to relieve himself Ezek. 37. And in that famous place of Gods interposing for his People when all friends and relations are treacherous and helpless Micah 7.4 5 6. From all which we may see the eminent instances of Mans self incapacity and miserableness and of the fulness and freedom of Gods Love and early mercies for him Thirdly The third excellency and encouragement in this great Salvation is that it brings with it all suitable helps and supplies to assist us to promote that great Salvation we find the Apostle discovering to us Gods eternal purpose of Mans Redemption he resolved to bring Man to a conformity with his own Will and Image For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8.29 Whereby we find God purposed to have the ransomed and such as shall be saved by Christs Blood to be compleatly supplied with all things necessary to adorn and compleat that great Salvation and this is most manifest in the Scripture He that spared not his own Son but gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he with-hold from such as fear him seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof then all things else shall be added thereunto Mat. 6.33 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and he that hath no money come come ye buy and eat without money and without price and let your Soul delight it self in fatness Isa 55.1 2. Here we find a full free and cheap Market of all supplies from whence may clearly be implyed Gods purpose to have his people whom he adopteth heirs of his Kingdom to be compleatly furnished with all things necessary thereunto Fourthly The fourth and sixth may be comprehended in one that this great salvation is compleat and full in that it hath the enjoyment of God in union of the Father by the Son in the Spirit and the Heirs of that Inheritance are made sharers of all Heavenly excellencies In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore this is more particularly expressed by the manifold priviledges of the glorified Saints and their blessed Inheritance First As it is the restoring of Man from the deepest state of misery and exalting him to the highest pitch of happiness as hath been already shewed Secondly These of that estate are entituled to all things as hath been alreardy shewed Thirdly They shall be exempted from all manner of misery sorrow and grief They have compleat happiness and enjoyment of all things as being eternally united to God by Jesus Christ The fifth and last mystical excellency of this great Salvation is in the method taken by Heavenly Wisdom in the accomplishing of it to wit by Christ the Mediators taking upon him the humane nature and therein making an attonement for Sin in the Flesh This is so great a mystery that it merits all admiration that Jesus Christ though he was from the beginning and from all eternity cloathed with all Majesty and Glory and the first born of all the Creation the Heir of all things by whom the World was made and by whom it subsists who being the brightness of the Fathers glory and express Image of his Person and by himself upholding all things the only begotten Son of God whose Throne is in glory for ever more who laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Workmanship of his Hands nevertheless according to the Counsel of his own Will he abased himself to enter into a Virgins Womb and came into the World and under the infirmities of humane Nature suffered the highesâ— indignities that the vilest wretches could have been exposed unto And at last though he knew no sin he gave himself unto Death to make satisfaction for our sins this is that mystery which was hid from the beginning of the World Ephes 3.9 This is the riches of the glorious mystery of love to the Gentiles Col. 1.25 26. Christ the hope of glory And oppositely it is said by the holy Prophet and Apostle Paul Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what great things he hath treasured up for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.3 And though the Tongues of Angels and Men are not able sufficiently to express and unfold this great mystery nevertheless we may sincerely view it in these four heads First The unsearchable dimensions of the love of God to Sinners in his eternal purpose of redeeming the World by Jesus Christ before the World began To make all men see
new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the Stony Heart out of your Flesh and I will give you a Heart of Flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Ezek. 36. all He that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up to death for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 31. to the end I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life things present nor things to come nor Principalities nor Powers nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.31 to the end Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.9 Thou calledst in trouble and I delivered thee I answered thee in the secret place of Thunder I proved thee at the Waters of Meribah Exod. 17.6 The People of God are his Temple and he dwells amongst them therefore he assists comforts and protects them For ye are the Temple of the living God 2 Cor. 6.16 Know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except you be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And are built upon the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a Holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God thorough the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. Christ is as a Sun over his House whose House we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing in the hope unto the end Heb. 3.6 Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive besides thee O Lord what good he hath prepared for those that wait on him 1 Cor. 2.9 The great Physitian of Souls hath not only offered his temporal Mercies in general afflictions but also hath proportionate his Promises to the particular Cases and Conditions of his People in their afflictions which may be chiefly in these First Under Sickness Weakness or Infirmities of Old Age. Secondly In Poverty Want or Oppression Thirdly Under Captivity Restraint or Imprisonment Fourthly Under Revilings Reproaches or Slanders Fifthly Under unkindness or forsaking from Friends or Relations First In Sickness or Weakness As it is Christs own saying in another sense what hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World and loose his own Soul So it may be said what comfort can a Man have of Honour Friends Riches and all other enjoyments of the World when by Sickness Infirmity or natural Decay and Weakness he is not able to find a relish of these Enjoyments his Palate is so out of order that all are insipid and tastless to him And as it s said by Christ What shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul what will not the greatest Misers the Lovers of Honour or Wealth give to ease the gnawing pains of a lingering and loathsome Disease when by sickness or pain all the Channels of Comfort are stopt and a Man can have no breathing but is tortured and racked by fainting fits or tearing pains how cheap would he sell all his pretensions to breath freely and he eased of his Pains and Sickness which drain all the Faculties from the Sensor Use of any other enjoyments And how miserable is the richest wisest most honourable and best related when the Heart is stunned with faintings and the body with torturing pains nevertheless this is the Christians comfort that there is Balm in Gilead and a Physitian in Israel and one who not for filthy lucre but one who of free love hath not only promised to cure them but also never to leave nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 Am I a God at hand and not afar off he is present when trouble is near Jer. 23.23 Behold I will bring it health and cure I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth I will restore health unto thee I will heal thee of thy wounds because they call thee an outcast saying this is Zion whom no Man seeketh after Jer. 30.17 Which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb even to your old Age I am he even to your hoar hairs will I carry them I have made and I will bear even I will carry and I will deliver you Isa 46.3 He alone hath that universal Medicine who hath â—hte Keys of Hell and Death and none can rescue out of his Hands of this David in his Affliction and Decay of Strength being sensible applieth himself to the proper Physitian I am a Wonder unto many but thou art my strong refuge cast me not off in time of Old Age forsake me not when Strength faileth now when I am Old and Gray headed forsake me not Psal 71.7 18. I have seen his Ways I will heal him I will restore Comforters unto his Mourners I create the fruit of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him Isa 57.18 19. He maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his Hands make whole Job 5.18 Come and let us return unto the Lord he hath torn and he will heal he hath smitten and he will bind us up after two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hos 6.1 2. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and hope in his Mercy to deliver the Soul from Death and keep them alive from famine Psal 33. â—8 19. The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in Sickness Psal 41.3 They cry unto the Lord in their trouble he saved them out of their distresses he sent his Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions Psal 107.19 20. Secondly In Imprisonment As all Afflictions for the time are grievous and not joyous Restraint or Imprisonment wants not its aggravations for that it restrains a Man from that freedom of Nature in converse which is most desirable by Man as the Philosopher defines him to be a sociable Creature It restrains him from the Comfort of such in whom he delights Relations Friends and Acquaintance It deprives him of the Improvement of his Talent for Religion or Vertue for God his own Family and Common-wealth It abridgeth his Comfort in other Enjoyments It lessens health creates sickness and oppresseth the vitals often to fatal effects and here in this House of Darkness the Lord appears to support his People by manifold Promises either of deliverance or his strength and presence to comfort and uphold them and often to
erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows 1 Tim. 6.7 8 9 10. Thirdly all Humane Enjoyments are short of Christ the Inheritance of the Saints let us narrowly survey with all the Advantagious Aggravations of Humane Excellency all that can be pretended choice good or desirable in the Creature and we shall find them all short to and far exceeded by the inherent excellencies in Christ the Lord of Glory in these particulars First for that all Created Beings have their rise and being from him and he alone is of himself he is the first and the last all things were made by him and without him was nothing made which was made by him were all things Created that are in Heaven and which are in Earth visible or invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him Col. 1.16 Secondly he is was and alone subsists of himself â—nd all other things were made by him so by him do they subsist in him we live move and have our being Rev. 1.18 Thirdly he is perfect himself all things were made for him and he not for them all things were Created by him and for him Col. 1.16 Fourthly he excelleth all things in Antiquity he is the Antient of Days the First-born of every Creature and First-born from the Dead tbat in all things he might have the Preheminence Col. 1.19 Fifthly in Wisdom he is Wisdom it self and the Fountain of Wisdom in whom are hid all the Treasures of Knowledee and Wisdom If any Man lack Wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not read Isaiah 2.6 Col. 2 3. Isa 1.5 Sixthly in Beauty he is the Morning Star the Rose of Sharon the Image of the invisible God who is the brightness of bis Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 Seventhly In power he is Omnipotent and all things else but of limited Power he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 15. Who hath measured the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and metted out Heaven with a Span and comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure who hath weighed the Earth in Scales and the Hills in a balâ—â—nce the Nations are as a drop of a Bucket and are counted as the small dust of a Ballance he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing all Nations before him are as nothing they are accounted to him less than nothing and vanity Psal 90.2 3 4 5 6. Is 40.12 15 17. Fourthly the fourth difference between things Temporal and Eternal is that Temporal things leave a Man at his Grave and in this Life but Spiritual and Eternal continue with the Saints to all Eternity So as when this miserable Life is ended the Saints are happy in their Death and their Spiritual Life of blessed enjoyments then begins Blessed are the Dead which dye in the Lord they cease from their Labour and their works follow them Rev. 14.13 These Spiritual enjoyments are not seen or apprehended by Carnal sense but are spiritually discerned and are eternal While we look not after things that are seen but after things which are not seen for things which are seen are Temporal but things that are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 The Kingdom of Heaven consists not in Eating and Drinking chambering and wantonness Ryotting and Drunkenness but in Peace and Joy of the Holy Ghost This State of Possession of Spiritual things is briefly comprehended under these Heads First it Commenceth when all Humane Enjoyments fail and continueth to all Eternity Secondly it is incorruptible and not subject to changes Thirdly It is a compleat fulness of all Happiness First when Enjoyments of this Mortal Life leaves a Man at his Grave after he hath experienced the uncertainty vanity and vexation of Spirit touching Humane Enjoyments then he enters upon the quiet possession of Eternal Happiness as in the foregoing Scripture all the People of God are Sealed Marked and Secured from after danger and made firm Pillars in the House of God eternally in the Heavens hurt not the Earth neither the Sea until we have sealed the Servants of the Lord in their Fore-Heads Rev. 3.12 which mark is a white Stone and in it a new Name the Name of Christ and the City of God which is their being renewed by the Spirit of Regeneration Rev. 7.3 Chap. 2.17 They are under an everlasting Covenant with God I will make a Covenant of Peace with them and it shall be an everlasting Covenant and I will place my Sanctuary amongst them for evermore Ez. 37.26 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who shall condemn it is Christ that dyeth yea rather that is risen again and maketh intercession for us Rom 8.1 31 34. But on the other hand the Lot of the Wicked after they have enjoyed their good things in this Life like the rich glutton they are confined to everlasting wrath and misery Remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and Lazarus his evil things therefore thou art now Tormented and he Comforted Luke 16.20 to end The Righteous are brought out of great Tribulation and have their Robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb and are Cloathed with the Righteousness and Glory These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made themselves white in the Blood of the Lamb therefore they are before the Throne of God Day and Night to serve him in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell amongst them Rev. 7.14 to 18. And on the other hand the wicked are Chained in everlasting Darkness and tormented with inexpressible Torments so that they desire Death rather than Life if any Man Worship the Beast and his Image or receiveth his Mark in his Forehead or in his Hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and shall be Tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoak of their Torments ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no Rest Day nor Night Rev. 14.9 Chap. 6.12 to end Chap. 9.4 to end Chap. 21.8 27. Secondly this State and Inheritance of the Godly is incorruptible and therefore not Subject to changes or Alterations Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again into a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead unto an Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the
Heavens for us 1 Pet 1.3 4. This is that Treasure laid up where Moth consumeth not nor Thieves can purloyn this is a State where no change case or Circumstance of time or things can alter for I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. Thirdly this State is a State of Compleat Happiness we have formerly seen the emptiness of all Human and Temporary Enjoyments That therein Happiness cannot be expected from the uncertainty and vexatiousness even under the Enjoyments thereof but here in this State is fulness of Joy and â—â—easures for evermore he that spared not his own Son but freely gave him up for us all how shall he not also with him freely give us all things Rom. 8 32. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy Borders but thou shalt call thy Walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise the Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Darkness shall the Moon give the light but the Lord shall be to thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory thy Sun shall no more go down nor thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thy Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Is 60.19 20. they shall Hunger no more neither Thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heat and the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them to living Fountains of Waters and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes Rev. 7.14 15 16 17. Chap. 2 3 4. We are come unto Mount-Sion the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the general Assembly of the First-Born which are written in the Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. Cbap. 3. The Seventh and great end Christ hath in Chastising his People is that which is the great end of the Gospel which is to raise Mens Hearts up to and fix their desires on that great prize of Salvation and Eternal Life as all Actions of Men have their Scope at which they chiefly Level this is the chief thing and ought principally to be driven at for these Reasons First this Great Salvation is for Gods Glory Secondly It is of all things most Profitable therefore most desirable Thirdly It hath the greatest Encouragements attending it Fourthly The Prize contended for is unvaluable First by Mans Salvation ariseth to God great Glory for as Christ is the Alpha and Omega and First-Born of his Brethren and though Originally perfect in himself and Glorious without Addition from Creatures being the express Image of his Person in whom the God-Head dwells bodily by whom all things were made and for him and to his own Glory and all things upheld by him his great goodness is such that he promotes Mans Happiness and sets it before him as his own Glory gave himself to Death for Man and made himself the Captain of that great Salvation by enduring all the Indignities of Human Contempt and his Fathers Wrath by personating Man and taking the Chastisements of his Sins upon him and this he proposeth as his Glory looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the Glory that was set before him endured the Cross dispising the shame and is set down at the Right Hand of God Heb. 12.2 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should Repent and live this being not only our Interest but Christs Glory how much and chiefly should we be concerned to promote it Secondly this is Mans most profitable concern all Men Level their Designs and Actions to the most Advantageous Interest and this of Eternal Life according to Christs Advice is most profitable What hath a Man profited if he gain the whole World thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be taken from thee then whose shall these things be that thou hast wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight in Fatness Luke 12 16. to 21. Is 55.2 Thirdly As this is most Advantagious so it is that in which most encouragement of help and assistance is offered and promised The whole Book of the Holy Writ is full of the great promises of Encouragement and Assistance to the People of God in their pursuit of this great Salvation yea it is Christs great desire that all Men should be saved How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Brood under her Wings Luke 13.34 Is it not and hath it not been the Coursâ— and Care of Christ all the Prophets and Apostles to gather and bring Men to the Kingdom of God Christ made a purchase of Sinners but on his own Expences he is that kind Samaritan who Helps Cures Supplies and Recovers when other helps fail when Priests Levites and others pass by without Compassion or Relief he it is who of his own good will brings Deliverance as we see in the often repeated Scriptures Luke 10.10 to 37. Eze. 16. to 9. When we were without strength yea Enemies and Sinners Christ dyed for us so great is Christs Love to Sinners that nothing can stop the Current of his Mercy from them Rom. 5. to 11. First the Multitude of Sins do it not I have blotted out as a Cloud thy Transgressions and as a thick Cloud thy Sins return unto me for I have Redeemed thee Isa 44.22 Secondly the greatness of Sins cannot hinder his Love though your Sins be as Scarlet I will make them white as Snow though they be red like Crimson I will make them as Wooll Is 1.18 Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my Thoughts higher than your Thoughts Is 55.7 8 9. Thirdly Cloudiness and Darkness of Condition cannot do it who is amongst you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Is 50 10. Come my People enter into your Chambers shut the Doors about thee hide thy self for a Moment until the Indignation be over-past Isa 26.20 I will go and return to my place untill they acknowledge their offences and
what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ Ephes 3.9 Rom. 8.28 29 30. Secondly By his greatest and almost incredible humiliation in abasing himself to descend from the highest pitch of glory to the lowest step of humane miseries temptations ignominies and sufferings that humane nature could be exposed unto and to make himself a Servant in his sojourning in the World to teach the Gospel and the mystery of this great Salvation Thirdly His further condescention of abasement to the Wrath of God and suffer death for Mans Sin though he knew no sin that by his Suffering Death and Resurrection he might not only by satisfaction of Justice for Man redeem him from wrath to come and procure him eternal happiness but also to be a patern of patience and obedience to all for whom he suffered and both these last heads are contained or expressed in that of Isaiah he shall grow up before him as aâ— tender plant and as a Root out of dry ground he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we shall desire him he is despised and rejected of Men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him and we esteem him not surely he hath born our grief and yet we esteemed him stricken smitten of God and afflicted he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearers is dumb he opened not his Mouth he was taken from Prison and from Judgment he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death because he had done no violence neither was deceit found in his Mouth he poured out his Soul unto death and was numbred with the Transgressors Isa 53. to 11. This further instance of Christs Humiliation Abasement for Mans Salvation is further expressed by the Psalmist My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the People all men that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the Lip and shake the Head Ps 22. to 18. This sheweth in a Type what indignity reproach and misery the Saviour of the World should be exposed unto in the accomplishing of Mans Salvation and this was actually performed and brought about at Christs Suffering he was mocked reviled and flouted at when apprehended and brought to the Cross He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him Mar. 15.27 28. Mat. 27.35 43. Because Christ suffered leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not sin neither was guile found in his Mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. Fourthly This mystery of love and redemption of Man is magnified by Christs unparallelled indulgence and goodness that he did not only abase himself unto the greatest indignities in the flesh but he doth good for evil he doth not only make an Attonement by his death for the sins of Enemies but he also exalteth them from the greatest depth of misery to the highest form of glory an union with himself Father Angels and Saints as it is more fully expressed elsewhere This Doctrine and Truth of Mans Eternal Salvation so accomplished by Jesus Christ is not only given to us for our everlasting consolation but also for our instruction and direction in Faith Patience and new obedience in our sojourning state for although eternal Life our Redemption and Salvation is freely given and procured by his alone merit nevertheless he makes every man by a blessing on his Graces given to him instrumental of his own Salvation we are commanded To work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and as the Lord waits to be gracious so he commands and expects to be called upon for all his Mercies which he intends to bestow upon his People in that famous Scripture where he makes a new Covenant and Promises new and clean heart and to pour out his Spirit though he doth it freely and for his own name and glory yet he doth not intend his People should be bare Spectators and only passive in the receipt of mercies but that they should be active and solicitous in the duties of Faith Patience New Obedience and Prayer I will yet for this saith tbe Lord be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them and seeing all the days of our sojourning here we must wait until our change come and that as our duties are still incumbent upon us so we are obnoxious unto temptations and difficulties and for our help and directions steddily to steer our course we cannot have a more proper mean than to set Christ before us as a Patern who is the Captain and Author of our Salvation and that in his Doctrine and Practice First in his Doctrine his Doctrine is Preaching up Holiness Patience in Sufferings Mutual forbearance Peaceableness in Losses Contempt of the World Zeal for the Kingdom of God and Faith in the Providences of God and under all Despensations Mutual Love and Charity and Relief to the Distressed as a Duty even to Enemies His Doctrine is all for Holiness be ye Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy Math. 5.48 Patience in sufferings Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of Evil against you for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven for so Persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Math. 5.11 12. If ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ Happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God are on you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 1 Pet 4.14 to end He teacheth mutual forbearance and not to return evil but to do good for evil ye have heard it said an Eye for an Eye c. but I say unto you that you resist not evil with evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy Right Cheek turn to him the other also if any Man sue thee at Law to take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also if a Man will compel thee to go with him a Mile go with him two hence we are taught the great Spirit of Meekness whereof Christ was the Pattern and are commanded to bridle our Passionate Resentments of Injuries done us Math. 5.38 39. He Preacheth up the Duty of Charity and Charitable supplying of the Indigent give to