followed and an Execution have taken hold of us It is God's Right and Royal Prerogative That his Will should be our Supream Law and his Glory our last End but how have we debased God to exalt our selves how have we as it were spoiled him of his Soveraignity and justled him out of his Throne to establish our wicked wills and obtain an absolute unlimited and an independent liberty But Jesus Christ died to make satisfaction for the wrong Man had done God Psal 69.4 Then restored I that which I took not away The first Adam affected to be as God in Knowledge and Independency the second Adam was condemned for saying he was the Son of God Mat. 27.64 65 66. and making himself equal with God John 5.18 John 10.36 So Christ paid the Debt he did not contract and pacified the Wrath be did not provoke And how much should pardoning mercy engage our hearts to God The best of men are but reconciled Enemies released Prisoners pardoned Malefactors What mercy is it that he who seeth our sins with indignation should yet himself cover them in mercy Jer. 13. last Psal 85.2 That the God that wrote down sin Isa 65.6 should himself blot it out Isa 43.25 Sin is a terrible writing it self and it draws after it another more dreadful writing Job 13.25 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the sins of my Youth The Sentence of Death did use to be written and then read to Criminals Sin recorded will procure a written Sentence of Condemnation Punishment is the Eccho of sin In this sense Sanctius takes the Hebrew word Isa 59.12 Our sins answer to us How bad will it be to possess the sins of Youth The word rendred Youth Job 29.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies also Reproach It is too often that Youth is perverted so that it is a Reproach to God and to us too How necessary therefore is a Pardon to cross God's Book cancel our Bond and reverse the Sentence of Death God that wounds us with the threatnings of his Law heals us by the stripes of Christ He received Wounds that God might be Just in justifying them that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. How gracious is God that at once removes from us the Incentives of Wrath and presents to us the Fuel of Love Luke 7.47 48. How precious should Justification be to us that hath a sweet retrospect to Election and as accompanied with a comfortable prospect of Glory Whom God predestinated and called them he justified Thus we may with admiration look back And whom God justifies them he glorifies Rom. 8.30 And so we may with Joy look forward Pardon springs from everlasting Love flows to and issues in eternal Life What Thankfulness therefore doth it call for If he justifies we are no more to fear Crimes past so they are no more to go on in sin for time to come Hath not Christ born sufferings enough on the Cross that men will load him with new Affrints and Provocations Those do not think Christ's Sufferings to be bitter and heavy that can make light of and take delight in sin The Heart is to be Christ's habitation Eph. 3.17 and not the receptacle of any sweet and secret Lust We that daily need mercy should not daily provoke anger As the work of Creation is attended with providence which is a continual Creation so the new pardon we need and God bestows is a continual Justification as the Creation would sink without a day by providence to uphold it so Justification would cease without a daily pardon to continue it There may be a Pardon before a Trial to prevent Condemnation as well as a pardon after Sentence to hinder Execution That the Blood of Christ which meritoriously purged sin on the Cross Heb. 1.3 may be applied to you and sprinkled on you to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God is the unfeigned and servent desire of Your Lordship 's most Humble and Obliged Servant SAMVEL TOMLYNS Hilcot July 1. 1696. A SERMON PREACHED On the late Fast on the 26th Day of June 1696. PSAL. LI. 9. Hide thy Face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities IN the Text we have the Psalmist's Petition for Pardon but it may be objected 1. What need had David to beg Pardon had not God given it already Nathan told David the Lord had put away his iniquity 2 Sam. 12.13 I answer Though God had pronounced the Sentence of Justification by his Prophets yet it seems not to be pronounced in and sealed to David's Conscrence by the Spirits Peace is the Fruit of the Lips as spoken by God's Ministers yet it is the Effect of the Spirit as created in the Soul by it Isaiah 57.19 The Priest did use to sprinkle the Leper Lev. 14.7 But though David looked on himself as a Spiritual Leper yet he was not satisfied with the Priest's sprikling him with the Blood of the Sacrifice but he sues to God himself to sprinkle him with the Blood of his Son the thing signified so it is not enough for Ministers in God's Name to pronounce Pardon but the Spirit must Ratify it and Establish Peace in the Soul else the storm will not cease the wound be healed the burden be removed and the Soul land at the Port of Assurance The Psaimist in the Text doth in an humble way Address to God That he would hide his Face from his Sins and blot out his Iniquities he doth imply that if God's Eye was fixed on his Sins his Anger might be fired by them there was Fuel for God's wrath if God would but behold it there was matter enough for Accusation cause enough for Condemnation if God would but read it but he begs God would turn away his Face and shut his Eyes not observing or imputing what would be destructive to him the latter expression in the Text enlarges and encreases the Sense and heightens the Mercy he doth not only Pray that God would hide his Face from his Sins but that he would blot out all his iniquities A Man may turn away his Face from an Object and yet the thing still remain as it was and be as visible as legible as before but David sues to God not only to hide his Face from seeing sin but that he would so blot it out that it may not any more be visible legible or remain to be imputed Doctrine Awakened humbled Souls do cry for this as the most valuable Mercy that God would hide his Face from their Sins and blot out all their iniquities But what is it for God to hide his Face from Sin Answer It is not to see and observe it with the Eye of Vindictive Justice So it is said God doth not behold Iniquity in Jacob nor see Perverseness in Israel Numb 23.21 God passes by Sin as if he did not see it Mic. 7.18 and he passes over the sinner as if he did not observe his iniquity God covers
of the World then the power of Christ is spread as a Tent over us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 12.9 Christ the Captain of our Salvation can be present with and mighty in all his Soldiers and ride in triumph through the World on poor Worms He that hath wounded the Head of the Old Serpent and broke the strength of Satan is able to foil all his scatter'd Forces that yet remain Rev. 6.2 He rideth forth Conquering and to Conquer and turneth the Battel even to the Gates of Hell Isa 28.6 Christ the true David doth succour his People out of the Heavenly City 2 Sam. 18.3 and send to his Fighting Soldiers the Supplies of his Spirit Phil. 1.19 8thly Christ is alive and lives for evermore Rev. 1.18 And Christ doth not live idly but to make intercession for all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He lives to execute his Testament sprinkle his Blood and apply his Redemption Paul reasoneth thus Rom. 5.10 If we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more shall we be saved by his Life Christ hath gone through with the most hard difficult and painful part of his work he gave his Life a Ransom he poured out his Soul unto the Death and will he neglect or omit the easiest part of his work He may live and save us he needs not to bleed again to go forth into any more Storms or to be set up as a Mark of God he may sit in his Throne he may wear his glittering Crown and reign in his Glory and do al the rest that is requisite to accomplish and compleat our Salvation Because Christ liveth his People shall live also John 14.19 Christ liveth and therefore his Interest shall not die in the World Our Redeemer liveth to quicken our Spirits Job 19.25 26. Now by his Spirit to receive our departing Souls and to revive our dead Bodies Christ is alive to woo his Spouse Cant. 8.8 and marry her Romans 7.4 to assault and subdue his Enemies Isa 42.13 14. Rev. 6.2 I shall come now to the use of the Doctrine Vse 1. Shall Men be most eminently saved in Christ's Days then we may be inform'd of the wonderful Mercy of God of the admirable Grace of Christ that we have such days of the Messiah The days due to Sinners are days of Punishment days of Vengeance Luke 21.22 A day of Evil a day of Destruction is properly called a Sinners day Psal 37.13 The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming Ezek. 21.25 And thou Prophane Prince of Israel whose day is come when Iniquity shall have an end By these Passages of Scripture we may see what days Sinners deserve and what days they might have looked for If God had dealt with the World according to the rigour of his Justice the Threatnings and Curse of his Law there would have been no other days but the days of the first Adam In his days Sin reigns unto Death and Death reigns Rom. 5.14.21 How terrible would it have been if there had been no other days but days for Sin and Death to Reign in It is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have an Accepted time and a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Otherwise Men would do nothing else but sow the Seeds of Woe here and reap a full Harvest of Misery hereafter They would sin in this World and suffer in the World to come they would walk contrary to God in time and God would walk contrary to them to Eternity Vse 2. If Sinners are saved most eminently in Christ's Days O then examine your selves whether Christ's Salvation be applied to you whether God doth cloth you with the Garments of Salvation Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord that hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation Have you obtained the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.10 Try your selves by proposing to your own Souls these following Questions 1. Were your Eyes ever opened liberty of sight makes way for liberty of Soul the opening of Mens Eyes is the first step that Christ takes towards their Salvation Isa 42.7 He is appointed to open the Blind Eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darkness out of the Prison-house As those Jews that were born in Babylon if they were not better inform'd would account Chaldea to be the Native Country of their Fathers and that they had always dwelt there and so be contented to stay in the Land of their Captivity They therefore needed to have their Eyes opened that they might know that Chaldea and the other Countries under the Babylonish Empire were the Land of their Captivity That God in wrath had slung them out into this strange Country Jer. 10.16 That their sins had driven them hither and scattered them among their Enemies Even so Sinners need to have their Eyes opened that they may know whose they are and where they are Men do not acknowledge and consider that they are under the Law of Sin the power of Satan and the wrath of God Sinners do not know themselves to be Condemned Men and Women shut up under a Sentence of Death and reserved to the Day of Wrath and Execution Job 21.30 Men are as careless and unconcerned as if they had not degenerated and fallen from God as if their Natures were not corrupted and depraved as if Mankind never knew a better state but were always as vitious loose and wicked as now they are Could Sinners be so quiet yea be so merry and jovial as they are if they knew they were God's Prisoners and that the Day of Judgment and Vengeance was at hand Consider therefore how it is with you did God ever open your Eyes and let in Light into your dark Prison Did you ever feel the Chains of Guilt that are about you the burden of Iniquity that is upon you Have you ever applied the Threatnings and Curse of the Law to your own Souls and so have in the bitterness of your Souls cried out that you are undone None are fit to be Christ's Patients but such as are broken in Heart or are capable of Christ's Comforts if they be not first Mourners in Zion Isa 61.1.2 The Prodigal came to himself and was sensible of his Misery before he took a Resolution that he would arise and come to his Father Luke 25.17.18 Did you ever see your worst and most dangerous Enemies to be within you Have you been made sensible of your vain Minds hard and whorish Hearts and carnal Affections 2. Were you ever effectually called 2 Tim. 1.9 He hath saved and called as with an holy Calling Hath God called you so as to save you from your unbelief and impenitency Hath God spoken to you with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Hath he laid the hand of his Power on your Hearts The Angels spake to Lot with a strong hand they did not only exhort him to hasten
could not content or satisfy himself with the joy of Riches sensual Delights or Worldly Honour such joy did not go deep would not stay or last long It was nothing but the joy of God's Salvation that could satisfy him Isa 25.9 We will be glad and rejoyce in thy Salvation Hester could take no Pleasure in her Honour in her Palace in all her outward Enjoyments when the Decree was passed to destroy her and her People Esther 7.3 4. If Sin reign in you Eternal Death must reign over you and the wrath of God abide on you What outward thing can comfort relieve or revive you Will it chear a Man condemned to Death to tell him you will give him one sweet Draught of Wine one good Meals Meat before he be Executed 8. You cannot dwell safely if you are not saved In the Text it is promised that those that are saved shall dwell safely and indeed no others can dwell safe from the fear of Evil Prov. 1. last Those that are in their Sins and under Guilt may fear still to be arrested by God their great Creditor and to be arraigned before him as their Sovereign Judge The dread of the First and Second Death may torment them an d hold them continually under grievous Bondage Heb. 2.15 Your Tabernacles Sinners will moulder down your Earthly Comforts will melt away your Stewardships will be taken from you God will change your Countenances and send you away into a miserable Eternity into a dark and doleful Prison You are Tenants at God's Will you are not sure of one Days continuance in the World God may quickly require and take away your Souls If David panted and longed so much for a short Temporal Salvation Psal 119.81 82. how much more should we long for a Spiritual and Eternal Salvation Psal 14. last We so need this Salvation that it is absolutely necessary for us Acts 4.12 We must be saved we can have no Pardon but from the God of Salvation Psal 51.14 and we can receive no Blessing but from the God of Salvation Psal 68.10 We must see God's Salvation Psal 11. last or our own Destruction Job 21.20 If we cannot commit our Spirits into the Hand of God as a Redeemer Psal 31.5 we must fall into his Hand as a Judge Heb. 10.31 No outward Enjoyments here can either be safe for us or sweet to us if they flow not from the God of Salvation God doth afford us a Day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 this is caused by the Day Spring from on high Luke 1.78 by the exercise of Christ's Prophetical Office Psal 22.22 John 17.6.20 He declares the Father's Name to us he teaches us that God hath chosen and appointed some to Salvation 1 Thes 5.9 2 Thes 2.13 that he hath prepared Salvation Luke 2.29 30 by anointing and sending his Son to obey suffer and satisfy God hath raised up this Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 he hath perfected the Captain and Author of Salvation Heb. 2.10 Heb. 5.9 As Christ is saved himself Zech. 9.9 so he is in a fit and full capacity to save others The word of Salvation is sent to us Acts 13.26 The Gospel of Salvation is a Supernatural Doctrine we should have been utterly ignorant of it if God had not sent it to us What Grace is this that the word of Salvation should be sent to us that had destroyed our selves Hos 13.9 that were so blind that we did not seek after God and so vile and filthy that God might for ever have ceased to seek after us that are without strength to help our selves and yet are ungodly and so do provoke God never to help us or favour us Rom. 5.6.8 That it should be sent to us that did not seek after or send for it Light came it was not sent for John 3.19 O that God should send it to us and not to so many other Nations in the World they hear not the Trumpet of the Jubilee the Call of the Shepheard the Voice of the Bridegroom O shall the Spirit strive with us Gen. 6.3 and Christ's Servants endeavour to compel us by Earnest Intreaties and Importunity and yet shall all this be in vain will you not believe their Report or come to Christ for Life Shall a Treaty of Peace end in an Eternal War and a day of Salvation issue in your everlasting Destruction Salvation is brought near to you and placed in Zion and will you put the word of Salvation away from you and thereby judge your selves unworthy of Everlasting Life Acts 13.16 The Cord of a Promise is let down into our Dungeon Christ's Chariot comes among us Cant. 3.9 40. He comes near to us preaching Peace Ephes 2.17 He knocks at our Doors Rev. 3.20 4. You cannot escape if you neglect this Salvation Heb. 2.3 There is no other Physitian to heal you no other Redeemer but Christ to set you free no other Fountain in which you may wash no other Foundation on which you may build no other Wing Shadow or City of Refuge to secure you God will not suffer your contempt of Christ and neglect of Salvation to go unpunished God will wound the Head of such as go on in their Trespasses Psal 68.21 Christ's Hand will find out all his Enemies Psal 21.4 those that turn away from Christ Prov. 1.32 shall certainly be turned into Hell Psal 9.17 God bringeth near his Salvation offers it and promises it to all that will look to Jesus Christ for it Isa 45.22 Those therefore are worthy to perish that turn away from Christ and despise his Salvation 5. Consider there is but a Remnant that shall be saved Rom. 9.27 few that will walk in the narrow way that find the strait Gate Matth. 7.13 14. And those that are saved will be saved with a great deal of difficulty 1 Pet. 4.18 The Righteous are scarcely saved they must bear the Cross endure many Tribulations have frequent Combats and Conflicts and continual Warfare with Spiritual Enemies They must run with the greatest speed fight with the greatest zeal against Sin 1 Cor. 9.26 They have a Civil War with Lusts within a Foreign War with the World and Satan without 6. Consider what a great Mercy it is to obtain this Salvation it is a most valuable Grace for God to choose and appoint any to Salvation 1 Thes 5.9 2 Thes 2.13 when he might have appointed all to perish and left them to Destruction O what a Mercy is this for God to pluck out of a perishing World Gal. 1.4 to fish out of a dead Sea to cut off from a corrupt Stock to call out of an infected House and a barren Wilderness The Church represents it as a rich Stream of Mercy and spring of Joy to be cloathed with Salvation Isa 61.10 This is a great Mercy for 1. Such are armed against Spiritual Conflicts that have for a Helmet the Hope of Salvation Ephesians 6.17 1 Thes 5.8 This may guard their Heads from all anxious perplexing Thoughts
of Sin and the Spirit that was signified by the Water that flowed out of Christ's side is a sovereign Remedy against the Filth and Reigning power of Sin And Jesus Christ the Tree of Life beares Leaves for the Healing of the Nations Revel 22.2 No other Tree hath Healing Leaves but only Jesus Christ his Word Doctrine Promises are Healing Leaves We do not Work to Cure our selves tho' we are Patients yet we cannot be our own Physitians but we are Justified by Christ's Condemnation and live by his Death 4. We are not Washed in any Water of our own providing or in any Bath of our own making but God the Father hath opened a Fountain for sin and uncleanness Zech. 13.1 and this Fountain is opened where we could never have thought of or imagined any such thing even in the pierced side and wounded heart of the Son of God His Head was Crowned with Thornes his Hands and Feet were nailed to the Cross his Side was pierced and Blood did flow from thence to Purifie our Souls This is noble and precious Blood indeed that affects Conscience and reaches so far as to purifie it The Blood of Sacrifices the Ashes of an Heifer and Clean Water availed only to the Purification of the Flesh to take off Ceremonial Uncleanness but Christ poured out his own Blood and thereby made a Precious Laver a Costly Bath This Blood purgeth Conscience from sins that are dead Works as they are the Fruits of Spiritual Death and the Seeds of Eternal Death Though Conscience be stupid and doth not feel the weight of these dead Works yet if they remain unpurged they will revive and sting the Soul to death they will return upon it and sink it to Hell There is no other means to purifie and pacifie Conscience but this Blood and we exceedingly need it There is a Fountain of Iniquity in us that continually flows to defile us Jer. 6.7 As a Fountain casts out its Waters so Jerusalem casts out her Wickedness It is well for us that there is a Fountain without us in Christ to take off that Guilt that is contracted by the Flowings of that Filthy Fountain that is within us Christ's Blood though it is little in quantity yet it is mighty in Virtue There is a deep Sea of Merit in it Micah 7.18 19. Thoug it was poured out of his Body but a few hours yet it is a Fountain that Flowes in all Ages and Generations to take away Sin And is not this most sweet and comfortable that Jesus Christ did not only shed his Blood but sprinkles it also Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness Clean Water to wash the Body is common but clean Water to purifie the Soul is rare and no where to be found but in Christ This is wonderful Grace that Christ would not only shed his Blood but undertakes also to sprinkle it He shed it with unexpressible Pain and Anguish but he Sprinkles it with much Pleasure and Delight As he pitied Souls and shed his Blood for them so he Loves Soules and Sprinkles it on them and Washes them in this Fountain from their Uncleanness Revel 1.56 We are not clothed by our own Works or Righteousness Our Webs cannot become Garments Isa 59.6 Our best Performances cannot clothe us Our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags they cannot hide our Shame cover our Nakedness they are too narrow and short to do it Isa 64.6 Shall we be proud of or trust upon filthy Rags Our own Righteousness is but a Garment full of Patches So Piscator renders the Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vestimentum frustrorum panni veteris attriti A Garment of Pieces of old and worn-out Cloth How long have we been serving in the Oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 and so our Garment may be called Old Cloth Sometimes we do good Works and then are apt to turn aside and to commit evil Works There are interruptions in our obedience Sin doth too often intervene so that these patches of the Old Man do much blemish and disfigure the Garment of our Righteousness There are Breaches in our Walls and Spots in our Garments As we need clean Water to Purisie us Ezek. 36.25 so we also want clean Linnen to Clothe and Adorn us Revel 19.8 Jesus Christ invites us to come to him to buy White Rayment that the shame of our Nakedness may not appear Revel 3.18 Christ was the Angel that commanded the Filthy Garments to be taken from Joshuah the High-Priest he caused his Iniquities to pass away and Clothed him with change of Rayment Zech. 3.4 The Garments of our Bodies do put us in mind of our Sins and bring to Remembrance our Transgression therefore they are called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bidge from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bagad that signifies to Rebel Because if Man had not Apostatized from and Rebelled against God he had not needed Clothing or Garments But the Righteousness of Christ may well be called the Garment of Praise Isa 61.3 It is a Garment for Beauty and Glory and so to be exceedingly praised when God puts it on us then we begin heartily to praise God Christ is stiled the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 he hath healing Beames for wounded Consciencies The Church is said to be Clothed with the Sun Revel 12.1 And is not this a Glorious Garment Doth it not deserve praise in it self and call for the highest Praises from us God provided Coats of Skins and Clothed our First Parents with them Gen. 3.21 The matter of those Coats was the Skins of Beasts that probably were slain and offered in Sacrifice to God This might instruct and teach them that the Spiritual Cloathing of their Souls was to be borrowed from the Obedience and Righteousness of the Great Atoning Sacrifice As many as are Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Our First Parents did sow Fig-leaves together to make Aprons to hide their shame Gen. 3.7 but when God provided Coats of Skin for them then they threw away their Aprons of Fig-leaves as useless So every Man Naturally seeks some Aprons of Works and righteousness of his own to cover his Nakedness when Conscience accuses them for sin and the Law of God Condemns them for Iniquity The Whore in Prov. 7.14 pleads That she had Peace-offerings with her and that day she had paid her Vowes and with this Apron she thought to hide the Filthiness of her Adultery But when Men come acquainted with Jesus Christ and have that Glorious Clothing revealed to them which he hath proved for Souls then they cast away their Aprons of Works and their own Imaginary Righteousness Paul saith That those things that he reputed his Gains that he thought would gain him the Favour of God Acceptance with God a Title to Everlasting Life these he counted loss for Christ Phil. 3.7 8 9. that is he cast them away not only as unprofitable
out of Prison Isa 49.9 that he should be wounded to heal us and be bruised to bind us up Isa 53.9 10. Isa 61.1 that a Vail should be cast over Christ's Innocency by our Iniquity taken on him that a Vail might be cast over our sins by his Righteousness imputed to us There was an Offence committed that might have remained on us and have destroyed us But O what kindness is this that there should be a Free Gift of Righteousness to relieve and justifie us Rom. 5.15 Christ Redeemed us from Destruction by devoting himself to Death for us in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to Redeem in the Arabick Fada fignifies to Devote ones self to Death This Fada is the same word with the Hebrew Phada and by comparing the two significations of the word in the two Languages we learn this excellent Truth †Vid. Oriental Lexicon That we are Redeemed by Christ's devoting himself to Death for us What we our selves should have fully wrought out that Christ hath bought and freely gives us Dan. 9.24 Rom. 5.19 O how should we admire God Who is a God like to him glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 Yet who is a God like to him pardoning iniquity and passing by Transgression and Sin Mic. 7.18 19. As he is Holy he hates sin yet as he is Gracious he pities Sinners His Holiness doth not hinder or obstruct his Mercy 3d. Vse Examine your selves whether you can truly call Jehovah by this sweet and comfortable Name Is he your Righteousness Are you invested with this Righteousness and discharged from your Sins Put these following Questions to your selves for Trial. 1. Did you ever come to your selves Luke 15.17 Did you ever feel your selves to be bound with Cords of Guilt laden with Iniquity ready to sink into the Bottomless Pit Men must be Condemned before they are Justified be cast down before they are lifted up apply the Curse to themselves before they apply the Blessing hear the Sentence of Death denounced against them by the Law before they partake of Justification of Life by the Gospel as the World was first without the Law and then the Israelites were under the Law and then Christ came with Righteousness and Peace So every Justified Sinner is first without the Law he is alive and full of hopes because he is without the Law Rom. 7.9 he knows not the Spirituality of the Commands of the Law nor the Severity of its Threatnings he hath a Calm and Peace because he never imputed his Numerous sins to himself or bound his Heinous Iniquities on himself The Soul is a dead Sea without motion towards God and yet is a calm and quiet Sea without dread and fear of God But when God intends good to the Soul first the Commandment comes Rom. 7.9 and then Sin Revives and a Storm is raised in the Soul but in due time Faith comes Gal. 3.25 and then the Soul is calmed and quieted being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 If you were nevere burdened you cannot be eased if you were never broken you cannot be bound up if you were never mourners you cannot be Comforted if you never tasted the bitterness of Sin you cannot tast the sweetness of the Grace of Christ and experience his purifying Blood and his reviving Righteousness If you are Justified How did you come by Pardon and Peace Can you call them Naphtali that you got them by wrestling It is said Israel shall be Justified and saved Isa 45.17 last Jacob wrestled with the Angel for a Blessing his Conscience might accuse him for Fraud and Lying in procuring the Blessing from blind Isaac yet he held the Angel fast said he and would not let him go except he did Bless him Gen. 32.26 And for this his Name was changed and he was called Israel Gen. 32.28 When we find Sin stirring in us when Conscience accuses the Law curses God according to the first Covenant condemns To Believe on Christ for Righteousness is as Peter's walking on the Sea in a storm If we have ever felt the smart of our wounds the Schorching heat of God's Wrath the Burning Poyson of the old Serpent in our Consciences If 〈◊〉 were ever arrested arraigned condemned shut up surely in the anguish of your Souls you have cryed out We are destitute of Righteousness and where shall we find it we have contracted guilt and provoked Wrath And where shall we be Found 2. Were you ever divorced from and dead to the Law and Covenant of Works as your First Husband and then Married to Christ we are first joined to the Law and the Covenant of Works as our First Husband and it makes us a jointure of Life upon condition of perfect Obedience The Apostle compares the Law to a Husband but the froward Heart of Man is not subject to this Husband The more the Commands of the Law are urged on it the more it contradicts and Rebels The motions of Sin are said to be by the Law Rom. 7.5 but the Fruits of Righteousness are by Jesus Christ Phil. 1.11 The Law cannot Sanctifie or Justifie us this is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.3 the thing that is impossible to the Law Have you therefore been divorced from and become dead to the Law Rom. 7.4 as it is a Covenant of Works Have you despaired of finding righteousness in your selves and of obtaining a Blessing from the Law and so have looked and fled to Jesus Christ †Heb. 12.24 as those that have been pursued by sin and the wrath of Ged Paul saith Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Works of the Law but by the Faith of Christ Even we have Believed in Jesus Christ that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the Works of the Law For by the Works of the Law shall no Flesh be Justified 3. Are you Sanctified Justification and Sanctification always go together as in the Natural Body the Blood and Spirits do flow out together so the Blood and Spirit of Christ are always joined John 19.34 Blood and Water Signifiing the Spirit came together out of Christ's Side He comes by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 else he would be but half and imperfect Saviour As the same day that the Waters went off form the Earth and were gathered into the Sea the Earth was adorned with Grass Herbs Flowers Trees Gen. 9.11 So when a deluge of Wrath goeth off from the Soul it is presented adorned with the grace of the Spirit and called a Tree of Righteousness Isa 61.2 Those that are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus are also Justified by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 If God Loves the Soul he makes it Lovely If Christ washes you he also makes you Kings and Priests Revel 1.5 6. You are no longer Vassals to your Lusts but as Kings rule in your own Hearts You check vain thoughts
Criminals are sowed up and sealed up in a bag to be produced at the Trial of an Offender so are the Sins of Men Job 14.17 So many Sins as Men have committed and are unpardoned so many witnesses have they provided against the day of their Trial. Jer. 14.7 O Lord our Iniquities testifie against us Read Isa 59.12 Our Sins are not only as dead records but as living witnesses not only as matter of accusation but as accusers they cry to Heaven to kindle wrath against us and pluck down vengeance on us Gen. 18.20 21. Sodom's Sins did cry to Heaven against it Little do Sinners think that they are daily filling Gods Book with complaints and accusations and filling his Treasury with Wrath and piling up Fuel to burn and Torment themselves It is nothing else but the speaking Blood of Christ that can stop the mouths of these witnesses and silence the clamours of their Sins 7. Every Sin deserves Eternal death Rom. 6. last Death is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wages of Sin The word signifies Soldiers wages Luke 3.14 They that cleave to Satan as their General that stay in his Tents Fight on his side against God shall have Eternal death as wages paid to them Tribulation is due to the Body Anguish to the Soul and Conscience of every Transgressor Rom. 2.9 God will repay fury Isa 59.18 he will render anger to his adversaries Isa 66.15 8. Consider there is Judgement to come Heb. 6.2 God seeth all Mens Provocations Hos 5.3 Prov. 15.3 Jer. 13. last And he will be a swift witness against them Mal. 3.5 God hath not in vain Registred the Sins of Men the Book of God and the Eye of the Soul shall be opened no Sin shall be forgotten Amos 8.7 all shall be brought to light Eccles 11.9 1 Cor. 4.5 and be brought into Judgment Eccles 12.14 There will not only be a Resurection of Bodies but a Reviving and Remembrance of Sins If your Sins are not pardoned but remain before God's Face Psal 90.8 They will shortly be reviewed by God and set in order before your face Psal 50.21 If you inherit the Sins of your whole life Job 13.26 you will be Heires of Shame Misery and Eternal Torments 2. Motive Consider what great advantages we have in these times of the Gospel as to a participation of this Righteousness of God 1. It is now wrought out and perfected Jesus Christ hath been a Faithful High-Priest Heb. 2.17 And a Righteous servant Isa 53.11 God devolved the greatest trust on Christ and he undertook took the hardest and most noble work even to make Restitution to God for the wrong we had done him and to make Reconciliation for us to appease the Wrath we had provoked and to divert form us the Punishment we had deserved The Jews thought of old that their High-Priest was trusted with their greatest concerns and for fear he should be a Sadducee or out of heedlessness neglect any part of his Office on the day of Atonement they used Solemnly to swear him to a full and faithful discharge of his Office in the great Work of that day But our Lord Jesus Christ was by fervent love to his Father and his People Heartily and throughly engaged in this great Work he undertook and hath fully discharged it He glorified God on Earth he finished the Work he gave him to do John 17.4 He would not dye till he could say all was finished John 19.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How honourable a word is this to Christ And how Comfortable a word is this to us Jesus Christ as the slain Goat did bear our Sins and as the Scape-Goat he did bear them away As God did lay Sins on Christ Isa 53.6 so he purged them Heb. 1.3 and put them away He hath been a most Righteous servant to God his very Sufferings that in a Moral sence were Punishments yet in a Legal sence were Righteousness Jesus Christ is perfected himself Heb. 5.9 And he hath by one Offering for ever perfected us Heb. 10.14 There is signal evidence and demonstration that Jesus Christ hath finished his Work for he could not else have confidently commended and committed his Soul to his Father Luke 23.46 He would not else have been welcome to him and Received by him John 16.10 The World was to be convinced of Christ's Righteousness by this argument that he did go to the Father and they did see him no more on Earth How could he have ventured into the glorious Presence of God if he had not Righteously performed what he undertook Would not the Father have sent him back again into the World if he had omitted or left any thing undone But Christ saith he should be seen on Earth no more in the form of a Servant to do any Work in a state of Humiliation 2. The Father Raised him up from the Dead 1. Pet. 1.21 He Released our Surety out of the Prison of the Grave which he would not have done if the debt had not been fully paid Therefore an Angel came down from Heaven to roll away the Stone from Christ's Grave Matth. 28.2 This was an Officer from the great Judge of Heaven and Earth to free our surety and to evidence that God was satisfied and did allow Christ's Resurrection 3. The Father exalted Jesus Christ by his own right Hand Acts 5.31 And gave him Glory that we might be encouraged and emboldened from thence to act our Faith and hope in God 1 Pet. 1.21 4. Jesus Christ is sat down at the Right Hand of God in the Heavenly Sanctuary Heb. 1.3 Heb. 12.2 What an honour was this to our High-Priest to sit down in the true Holy of Holies When the High-Priest under the Law might not sit down in the Typical Holy of Holies And Christ's siting down did shew he had done his Work and might now take his rest This the Apostle makes the great difference between Christ and the Priests of the Law If they stood dayly Ministring and Offering Sacrifices that could never take away Sin But Christ When he had Offered one Sacrifice for ever be sat down on the Right Hand of God Heb. 10.11 12. The Priests of the Law did go on in their Ministry they stood Offering Sacrifices their Work was never at an end they could never sit down But Christ hath Finished his Work and therefore is sat down and expects that all his Enemies shall be made his Footstool Heb. 10.13 5. Jesus Christ as he is released so he Preaches the opening of the Prison to us Isa 61.1 God's Prison is not Forced or Broken but opened in a Righteous way our Ransom being paid Matth. 20.28 Christ therefore now comes to the Prison-door and saith to the Prisoners Come forth you that were hid in Prisondarkness now shew your selves and appear with boldness and confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary Isa 49.9 2. The Righteousness of Christ is now brought Dan. 9.24 To bring Everlasting Righteousness Eternal Redemption is now
Justified in such a Righteous way therefore they may Glory Isa 45. last against all Accusations and Accusers against all Dangers and Threatnings 2. The Justified are Redeemed from the Curse and delivered from the wrath to come 1. They are Redeemed from the Curse by Christ's being made a Curse Gal. 3.13 The Apostle used the Abstract taking it from Deut. 21. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is Hanged is the Curse of God God did take order for the Burying of him the same day that he was Hanged Deut. 21.22 23. Cocceius doth think that this very Law pointed at Christ and doth Teach us that Jesus Christ by bearing the Curse so abolished it that it was Buried with him the same day in his Grave As sin is covered and hid Psal 32.1 so the Curse also must be Buried out of God's sight 2. They are delivered from Wrath and that because Jesus Christ was delivered up to Sufferings and Death God delivered up Christ to Death Rom. 8.32 and therefore Jesus Christ can deliver us from Wrath 2 Thess 1. last The sins of the Elect met with Christ and fell on him with great violence the Reproaches of them that reproached God fell on him Rom. 15.3 The Ark was sitted to save Noah from the Flood that drowned others it was Pitched within and without Gen. 6.11 14. so that no water could come in So Christ was pitched within with a perfect sinless Righteousness and without with a spotless Obedience and so is able to protect us from the Deluge of God's Wrath. 3. Those that are Justified have peace with God and may dwell safe from the fear of evil Prov. 1. last As in the Text it is said Israel shall dwell safely The chastisement of our peace was laid on Christ We may put away our sins because God laid them on Christ It is a great thing to have Conscience purged from dead works Heb. 9.14 and to be purified from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 not to have Conscience as a continual accuser and tormentor Augustin in his Confessions saith He could remember his old sins without horrour A Man doth not fear a Cancelled Bond. The Israelites did not dread the drowned Egyptians when they saw them dead on the Sea-shore Exod. 14.30 The smart the anguish the burden of an accusing Conscience is not to be expressed I have Read of one Pausanias a Lacedemonian Captain that killed a Virgin that was brought to him but would not be exposed to his Lust After this Cruel Fact he was seized with such Horrour that though he being a Heathen himself had tried all the ways of Purification in use among them yet he could not recover any Peace but was a continual Terrour to himself Pausanias a Grecian Writer hath this History in his Laconica Varenius in his History of Japan cap. 5. tells us of one Angarus a Native of Japan that Murder'd a Man and was seized with such Terror and Anguish of Mind that he could not shake off or get rid of But hearing of a New Religion Taught in China and in the East Indies he took a Voyage and Sailed to meet with Francis Xavioeur that by his Instructions he might get some Healing of his wounded Conscience and was the first Instrument to bring the Christian Religion into Japan O! what an excellent Fruit is this of Christ's Blood to be delivered from the beginnings of Hell in Soul Torments and to have the First-fruits of Heaven in Spiritual Peace and Joy 4. Those that are clothed with Christ's Righteousness have a sure and permanent state of Justification so that new Acts of Guilt shall not subvert and destroy it or lay their Persons under the Sentence of Eternal Death There is a simple hatred and guilt and there is a hatred and guilt redounding on the persons of Offenders Believers by and for new acts of Sin deserve to be hated of and condemned by God but guilt and hatred do not redound on their Persons but fall on their Sins It is very observable that though Simeon and Levi had been guilty of heinous crimes in killing the Shechemites yet they being probably Good Men in the Main Jacob doth not Curse their Persons but Curses their Anger and their Wrath Gen. 49.7 this was so cruel that it might have brought a Curse on them but Jacob that was guided by the Holy Ghost layes the Curse on their evil and extravagant Passions but not on their Persons It is expresly said There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Jesus Christ can have no Accursed or Condemned Members such are passed from death to life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Jesus Christ hath Merited for Believers the Pardon of all their Sins and Christ still appears in the Presence of God to Answer Accusers and to prevent Condemnation Heb. 9.23 24. It would be very hard for any to assert that New Acts of Sin do stop or obstruct the Intercession of Christ for Believers If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.12 His Righteousness doth render his Intercession powerful and prevalent for their pardon the Lamb of God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking away the sin of the World John 1.29 The Blood of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth cleanse away sin It is God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.33 that is Justifying or that Justifieth These three expressions do note a continued act of God and Christ that Christ is still taking away sin cleansing from it to distill Justifying Believers from their Iniquities The Israelites that were the Church of God had an Atoning Sacrifice day and dight Burning on the Altar Numb 16.9 Psal 50.8 which did not only signifie their continual need of Pardon that sin might not fix and settle on them but did also import the perpetual influence and efficacy of the Blood of Christ for the keeping of Believers in a Justified State and acceptance with God If by reason of wrong steps taken God ceaseth to Justifie and the Blood of Christ to speak on the behalf of offending Believers they must certainly be Condemned If the guilt of one sin redounds on the person and sticks on the Soul a state of Justification is destroyed For how can a Man be Justified and Condemned at the same time if every new sin redounds on the Person and shuts it up under Guilt Then how can there be any such thing as a state of Justification continuing one hour But it is said ordinary Infirmities are pardoned without explicit or particular acts of Repentance but it is not so with greater sins But should not persons do well to consider whether God hath two ways to pardon whether a General Repentance will serve to remove some Sins but a more particular Repentance is requisite that God may pardon more heinous and grievous sins if these affect the person and lay him under Condemnation till deeper Repentance and more
How much are Men dismayed and terrified at the Thoughts of Death Therefore they are very unwilling to step beyond Death in their thoughts or to Travel into Eternity in their Meditations They Fear to meet with a terrible Host of Sins an Ocean of Wrath a Lake of Fire and Brimstone They bode no good to themselves at their departure out of this World God the great Creditor Records their debts and Conscience his Officer doth sometimes charge them and arrest their Souls They have no Spiritual Balsom then to heal their wounds No arm to lean on to support their Souls None to roll away the Burden of their Guilt to pacify or quiet their accusing and condemning Conscience To Bail them when they are arrested for a debt of Ten thousand Talents they cannot look inward but they see an Evil Treasure and a Conscience loaded with Dead Works They cannot look upward but they see God's frowning Face and Fiery Throne They cannot look forward but they see a deep pit a dark Prison and Revenging Justice armed for their destruction The Covenant of Works is a continual Root of doubts and feares Legalists are still questioning and asking Who shall descend into the Deep to satisfy them That the Gates of Hell are shut that they shall not enter by and pass through them into the Regions of Darkness and Misery Or they inquire Who shall ascend up to Heaven to assure them that the Doer of Heaven is open to let them into Glory Rom. 10.6 7. They have still perplexed minds and anxious thoughts they cannot see themselves secured from a Miserable or assured of a Blessed Eternity They fear they shall make a ruining and undoing change be totally Shipwrackt and cast away Body and Soul for ever They cannot totally suppress the thoughts of Eternity or Comfortably entertain them They can neither stupify nor pacifie Conscience How often are Sinners terribly awakened and alarm'd when Death looks them in the Face O! what a bitter cry of Destruction do they then lift up Isa 15.5 All their Sins as the adversaries of Zion once did Lam. 1.31 do overtake them between the Straits when they walk through the narrow Valley of the shadow of death as Jesus Christ himself was in an Agony near his end Luke 22.44 When he saw what an Host of Infernal Enemies he must Fight through what an Ocean of Wrath he must Swim through this put him into a Bloody sweat When he beheld the Frowning Face of God the Fiery Throne and the Flaming Sword of Justice this drew strong Cryes and Teares from Christ Heb. 5.7 So if Sinners be not stupified if they see themselves going to an Eternal execution that they will be ever Suffering and never die That there will still be Food for an Everlasting Worm and Fuel for an Eternal Fire This will fill them with Consternation and Horrour Condemned Transgressors must bear their Iniquities yet cannot stand or bear up under this load They cannot stay yet dare not to depart they cannot hide yet are not fit to appear they must stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 yet cannot stand in the Judgement Psal 1.5 They must appear before that Tribunal Cor. 5.10 where yet they cannot Confidently or Comfortably appear 1 Pet. 4.18 They dread the next step they shall take when out of the Body where their Lot will fall and what their Treatment will be to Eternity Beleivers indeed do confidently commit and commend their Soules into the Hands of their Redeemer Psal 31.5 But wicked Men full sorely against their wills must fall into the Hands of an angry Creditor and of an inexorable Judge Heb. 10.31 They must answer for their own Sins there is no other to pay their Debts Satisfie for their Offences Plead for their Reconciliation All their Iniquities will overtake them in another World and meet them at the Tribunal of God None of them are blotted out or passed over God hath Sworn by himself he will never forget any of them Amos 8.7 God will open the Treasury of his Wrath and shut up the Bowels of his Mercy he will remember Iniquity and therefore forget to be Gracious God will enter into Judgement with Sinners and stand up to plead against them Isa 3.13 14. Delinquents must appear Criminals must be brought unto Judgement Eccles 11.9 and all their thoughts words and actions must appear and be brought into Judgement Eccles 12. last God will pass a Just Condemning Sentence and terribly Execute it on them As the Sun was Eclypsed and darkness covered the Earth when Christ Died so the Gracious Countenance of God will be Eternally Eclypsed towards Sinners Christ met with Affronts Indignities Blowes before the Tribunal of Men And what must Sinners look for at the Tribunal of God Jesus Christ was denied any refreshment when he thirsted So Sinners shall not obtain a drop to cool their scorched tongues Luke 16.22 23 24 25. As the Waters did persue all that were out of the Ark till they were drowned So Sin shall hunt persue find out and overtake Sinners for their Eternal Destruction Psal 140.11 Ezek. 35.63 Numb 2.23 All that is grateful and sweet in the being of Sinners shall be consumed yet they themselves shall still exist to suffer more Punishment and Torment God's Controversie with Sinners will never be at an end His Sword will never be sheathed The dreadful storm of Vengeance will never cease God's Eternity will be dreadful for he ever lives to punish and the Soul 's own Immortality will be terrible to it For it shall ever exist to be punished So that Sinners would rather sleep in the dust for ever than to have a Resurection to Condemnation John 5.28 and had rather be annihilated than suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire If departing Souls did see whither they were going and know what they must suffer Would not their Chambers sound with these dreadful words We must dwell with Everlasting Fire we must inhabit with Eternal Burnings 8. It is bad not to have Christ to be our Righteousness if we consider how many foolish devices sinners seek out to quiet and ease their Consciences and yet by all these they do but delude and cheat their Souls Some Fast often eat course Food wear Hair-cloth Whip themselves severely lie on the Ground Those that have not rest in Christ they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are still walking about in devices and inventions of their own Heb. 13.9 to pacifie God the Judge and to bribe Conscience his Officer How woful is the Case of some ignorant Protestants of the blind Papists of the deluded Jews the deceived Mahumetans and Heathens Papists think by severity and cruelty to their Bodies to expiate the sins of their Souls Some go in Pilgrimage to the Images of Saints some build Churches and Chappels and appoint Priests to Pray for their Souls while they live in Sensual Pleasures and serve their Lusts Some endow Religious Houses with Lands that