all doe If the Lord be with us who can be against us He that delivered up his owne sonne to death for us how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 31 32. So that wee are freed from all annoyance from the curse of the Law the rigour of the law free from desertion and corruption and the Lord hath given us himselfe and his Son and his Spirit and his Câ—venant and Kingdome and his Church and people and Ordinance and all is yours 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. And how comes all to be ours By the blood of the Lamb that hath purchased all good things and the removall of all evill therefore how comfortable may the soules of Gods people be if they did attend to the blood of the Lamb. And therefore let not those that have any part and portion in the blood of Christ Jesus be discouraged let them in Gods feare meditate more of this blood and of the power and vertue of it As you desire your lives may be more comfortable and serviceable to God and man and your death more peaceable so be much in meditation of this blood And if you be doubtfull of your spirituall estate then more seriously meditate of it who hath suffered and what and for what end he layd downe his life and lay all together and see if all will not amount at length to the begetting of Faith where it is wanting and to the reviving of it where it is that we may live fruitfully and holily and dye comfortably Rev. 13. 8. latter part of the vers The Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world HERE is something yet to be handled in this Verse and that is the antiquity of the sufferings of Christ He doth not only say that Christ was a Lamb and slaughtered but his death is described by the antiquity of it From the beginning of the world Or as it is here translated and very fitly from the foundation of the world though I would not put any great weight in the very nick of the foundation for the foundation of the world was laid the first day of the creation when the Lord made the highest heavens and the lowest earth the highest heaven the kingdom of the blessed Saints and Angels of whom it is said Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world There was a kingdome in the foundation of the world and therefore the Angels were created the first day and it is true Christ was slaine even then also else those Angels had not been in that kingdome But whether you take it for the foundation in the creation or in the nick of the creation it is not greatly material for the death of Christ reached both to the fall of Adam and in some respect before it and the explication of that will shew the truth thereof and I would not be exquisite nor curious in opening of it The Note is this The slaughter of Christ was from the foundation of the world So it is said here The Lamb that is Christ The Lamb of God slaine from the foundation of the world the Lamb is Christ evident it is that in fulnesse of time he was slaughtered about 4000. years after the world was made but yet the holy Ghost saith He was slaine from the foundation of the world so that though it was actually accomplished and performed in fulnesse of time yet as time began the suffering of Christ began also slaine he was therefore from the foundation of the world First In respect of Gods eternall purpose who from the foundation of the world and before the foundation of the world appointed Christ to this slaughter We are redeemed saith Peter not with silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without spot who verily was fore-ordayned before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. Before the foundation of the world and from the foundation of the world many times in Scripture are both one in meaning before the foundation of the world he was ordained to be slaughtered the Apostles words are expreâ—sly so as of a lamb slaine he was ordained and from the foundation of the world implyes long before the time he was slaughtered and then you know not where to put the period but some reference it hath to the foundation of the world Secondly He is truly said to be slaughtered from the foundation of the world in regard of the promise of God made to Adam since the world began the same day that Adam was created he fell or certainly soon after but most probable the same day the same day that he fell it is clear the Lord gave him a promise of the death of Christ in Gen. 3. 15. for that is the meaning of the promise He shall break thine head speaking to the Serpent he shall crush the head of the Serpent For the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head Thou shalt bruise his heel Hee l implyes the humanity of Christ which was to be trâ—dâ—n upon and indeed it was all that the tempter could doe but that bruising the heel was the crushing of his humanity his soul and body was rent asunder that was promised from the foundation of the world Thirdly From the foundation of the world Christ was slaine in the foreruning types of him for it is said that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and that was a type of this Lamb Gen. 4. 4. the sacrifice of Abel was a type of Christ suffering now because offering that sacrifice was by faith Heb. 11. 4. And faith hath ground from the word of God though there was no written word yet there was from the mouth of God to Adam that taught Adam he and his sonnes to offer sacrifice in type of Christ that was to be slain who should break the head of the Serpent and therefore as a type of the bruising of the heel of the promised seed which God had set before them they were to offer sacrifice to shadow forth that great worke of Christ Abel beleived on Christ how far expresly or distinctly I do not know but had he not beleived he had not sacrificed by faith nor had not been accepted Fourthly He was slaine from the foundation of the world in regard of the virtue and efficacy of his death from thence the lively virtue and efficacy of the death of Christ did express it selfe from the very foundation of the world that Abel did offer a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain it was from his faith what was his faith fastened on by which his sacrifice was accepted for it is said the Lord had respect to him and to his offering it is Christ alone it implyes he looked not for acceptance by his sacrifice it is impossible that the blood of buls should take away sinne but
instruction to us that never any evill can befall us but there is a remedy prepared before it come upon us The Lamb was slaine from the beginning of the world Though we lived before Christs time and much more if after it there is no sinne that Adam nor his wife committed but there was a remedy prepared for it before the foundation of the world it was of infinite value it was provided from eternity and promised from the foundation of the world it was shadowed in types and exhibited in sundry representations and in the lively efficacy of it in the hearts and lives of his people since the world began All that we read of Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob of David and Solomon of Kings Priests and Prophets and Apostles what have they all been but lively representations and foot-steps of the power of the blood of the Lamb the Lord provided his slaughter of the Lamb for the redemption of all his people out of the world before the world began It is many a conceit that Christians have this and that might have fallen out better if such means had been taken in time such a mans life had been saved according as Martha said unto our blessed Saviour in John 11. 21. Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not dyed why so Christ had been able to heal him By what virtue shall he raise a man from death to life Is it not by the virtue of his death and resurrection If it be was not his death and resurrection before the world began For it is of infinite value and therefore though he came four dayes after Lazarus death was past yet he came timely enough for he brought virtue with him and so let no man say if I had known as much now as before I should not have done thus By what virtue should you have been preserved if there be any saving benefit it must be by the blood of the Lamb for it is from that that we look for all our redemption from all afflictions and temptations from his blood then there was remedy enough before but it was not applyed because God hath some other work more heavenly and spirituall and usefull to us then the accomplishment of our hearts desire then the repairing of our losses and crosses So then this is of speciall use to us that if his blood be shed from the foundaâ—ion of the world then the remedy is never too late If we thinke if we had not known many things we might have saved a world of sorrow why did we not was it because there was no balm in Gilead or no vettue in the blood of the Lamb or that the vertue of it is dryed up No God forbid but the Lord hath some other exercise for us to make us conformable to Christ he would have us more weaned from the world and more Christ-like and more Lamb-like more spirituall and every way more conformable to Christ and for that his blood was sufficient for he came not to save us from crosses but from curses from any thing that might hurt our soules as might break our heads as might hurt our union with Christ and communion with his spirit for that it may be of value it was of value 4000. yeares before his coming in the flesh and do you think it is not of value 4000. yeares after it is not yet 2000. yeares since his coming but 1600. and some odde then be perswaded that the blood of Christ is still lively and fresh to remove all sinne and crosses and to leave a gracious Tincture on all crosses to do us more good then if we were without them This is the efficacy of this blood which is a stay to Christians that are troubled with the power of their corruptions and temptations they are not able to overcome and resist such temptations why not able If all the powers of hell come against you verily there was a remedy provided long ago and it was abundantly efficacious foure thousand yeares before and it is of more efficacy now though they had the Gospel before yet not in that clear manifestation and therefore if you read that Abraham sacrificed and he pleased God but I doubt my prayers and my prophecyingâ— please not God why do they not Abraham knew of the meanes whereby he should please God 〈◊〉 walked with God but I shall never keep â—uch fellowship with him he was reconciled to God and there was no meanes of reconciliation but by the blood of the Lamb it is able to put strength 〈…〉 faith Abraham 〈…〉 Countrey and his Fathers he use onely because 〈…〉 blood of the Lamb and if he prevailed so far why not we â—f he was fully satisfied in the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 by believing him that had promised what 〈◊〉 it that his death iâ— not of infinite value 〈◊〉 as well as before If Joseph was able to withstand his wanton 〈◊〉 doubtless there is the like power now how shall I crucifie the Sonne of God and put him to open 〈◊〉 Thus poor Christians work upon this infinite vertue and lively power of the death of Christ it wondeâ—fully calmes and purifies the heart it mightily strengthens against all corruption and what ever riseth in the hearts of Gods people that prevailes against them it is because the blood of the Lamb is not applyed otherwise it could not be they should be dead-hearted and blind-spirited and many times at a losse in this and that practice and wrestling with this and that temptation it springs only from want of applying the efficacy of this blood which hath been of such infinite vertue from the beginning of the world Rev. 13. 9 10. If any man have an eare let him heare He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity Hee that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword here is the patience and the faith of the Saints IF any man have an eare let him heare What should he heare For when he doth often use this phrase in the second and third Chapter he tells you what they shall heare Heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Now he doth not put in that object of hearing but yet taking his meaning he meanes that which the Spirit hath sayd unto you in the former description of the Beast especially that which he said to them in the words before going to wit the universality of the worshippers of the Beast and the certain destruction of those that do worship him and the preservation of the elect children of God from that contagion It is meet to be heard that such a Beast would come into the world as the Roman visible Church and that he hath in him the resemblance of all the old Empires of the Lyon of Babell of the Beare of Persia of the Leopard of Greece and of other Beasts and of that other Beast the old Roman Pagan Empire And it is not unworthy to be heard the wound that should be given gim by
live to our selves nor to the lusts of men but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5. 15. So that this is that which the Lord now cals us to to wit to live now no longer to those things from which we were redeemed by an invaluable price We are redeemed from the bondage of sinne and Satan and from the world and not onely redeemed from these but purchased to life as a reconciled people to God to be as the friends of God Abraham was called the friend of God Though a man make no bones of breaking out against an enemy yet now being reconciled especially to him in whom we live or move and have our being it is for us to walke as those that are reconciled to God as those that are united to Christ as those that are sanctified by his Spirit as those that have the grace of Christ applyed to our soules as those that are dead to sinne and alive to righteousnesse It is for us to walk as those that look for a purchased possession to the glory of Gods grace when this life shall be no more If we be dead with Christ why are we not free from all that which is evil and free to all that is good Col. 2. 20. It is a staine and blemish to the blood of Christ to see a child of God live in any durty corruption to see a child of God a worldling to yeild to any temptation it is a staine to the blood of Christ To see a child of God set loose from the Father or the Sonne or the Spirit it is a staine to the blood of Christ for the blood of Christ is a purchase to redeem us from all evill and to purchase to us all good For a fifth use it may teach us to apply effectually the blood of Christ as we for our parts in our Ministery so you in your meditations and repititions there is the ground of your peace No conscience that hath been troubled with sence of sinne but there lies his grief the wrath of God that is upon his unbeleiving soule He is condemned the wrath of God abideth on him If you ransack it to the bottom there is it that crusheth the spirit all other will be cast off in case we be clear in this principle about the satisfaction of Gods justice provoked against us by our many and great transgressions what shall satisfie the soule now There is nothing in the world so fit to beget faith as the preaching of the cross of Christ If I be lift up from the earth I will draw all men unto me John 12. 32. If Christ be drawn up on the Crosse held forth for his drawing of people that are troubled about the wrath of God and the removing thereof and about satisfaction to God about all our iniquities this will draw soules unto him For how will you uphold any man to bear his burden of the apprehension of Gods wrath with any tolerable ease No way but by holding forth Christ the innocent Lamb of God crucified upon the crosse and his blood spilt as a price of satisfaction to Gods justice as a price of redemption from all evill and purchase of all good then saith the soule me-thinks there is some hope even for me For who shall hinder the power of the blood of Christ and who shall hinder the free passage of Gods grace if the Lord Jesus hath undertaken it and hold it forth especially to men that are sick and oppressed and cast downe and ready to perish for want of succour In such a case while this is held forth there is the blood of Christ held forth which was shed to purchase the spirit of grace as it is written in Gal. 3. 13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a cuâ—se for us that we might receive the promise of the spirit The same blood of Christ that hath redeemed us from the curse and hath purchased the communion of the spirit he is wont in the preaching of the crosse of Christ to open Heaven to the soule to open the doors of the heart to beleive on this blood thus hâ—ld forth and so by this means you shall finde a support some satisfaction to all turmoils and agonies of consciende It is a wonder to see how this blood of Christ is mighty through God to make our peace while the spirit doth conveigh the efficacy thereof to the quieting and establishing the soule In fellowship with Christ and reconcilement with the Father that the soule sees Christ hath not dyed in vaine that he hath not heard the word in vaine nor waited upon Christ in vaine but sees there is life and peace and all in the blood of Christ And therefore wonder not now that the Apostles were so carefull in preaching the crosse of Christ ther 's the ground of all our reconciliation That satisfies the justice of God and that satisfies the soule the spirit applying it begets faith to receive it and there is they stay of the soul So this is the principall duty as for us to teach so for the people of God continually to attend unto to ponder upon this especially those whose hearts are at a losse about satisfaction of Gods wrath and pardon of their sinne It is that which in a speciall manner they stand in need to attend unto For a sixth use If any man shall aske how shall I know that all this belongs to me what it is for thee we cannot yet tell in case a man have had no impression upon his soule yet it may be to thee for ought thou canst tell because all the Elect are not yet called home but are to be called Therefore it is not the thing to say they have no hope in it because they are not yet washed by it for they may be before they dye But if for the present you would know whether you have part in it or no you see what the nature of it is where the blood of Christ comes where it is sprinkled you see what it doth it hath a redeeming power in it and a purchasing power It doth redeem thee from all evill from the power of sinne and Satan and of this world and of thine owne heart and withall from the wrath of God and the curse of the Law so that the Conscience is more pure and peaceable then before and both these go together But mind what I say further if this blood hath had this free passage in thine heart it hath purchased reconcilement with the Father union with the Sonne communion with the Spirit conformity to Christ and comforting thee in Christ Conforming thee to Christ in his death and comforthing thee in Christ and the fruits of his death the favour of God and the pardon of sinne and the blessed priviledges that his death hath purchased I say this is the efficacy of the blood of Christ where it is received in power If these
fruits be in us they are lively pledges of the love of God in our hearts If these things be smothered and dâ—ubed and overwhelmed with many Temptations and worldly businesses distracting cares and temptations though it is true the children of God may be at many losses yet mark what I say the blood of Christ is a living Spring and a running Fountaine though it may be troubled yet it will runne cleare againe if it do not it is a signe it was not from the blood of Christ but from a delusion But if it were from the blood of Christ thou shalt finde hee will purifie and pacifie thy conscience for he will not loose the value and efficacy of that rich blood great is the power of it and he will not loose the vertue of it I know there may be many pangs to Temptations and Christians in this new world may meet with new Temptations and Christians are at a losse because passions breake in we have lost all our peace and comfort of our union and the power of it it may be so it is not unusuall but minde what I say truly if the blood of Christ have any efficacy in us or power upon us you will find that the fountaine of the blood of Christ is higher then any other fountain A fountaine that springs from a low place may be stopped but if it comes from a high place higher then the highest no creature here below can hinder it nor created thing below it can intercept the flowing of it The Lord will redeeme thee from the world and from these passions and lusts and from the Satanicall and malignant distempers and the Lords blood will restore thee to reconcilement with the Father and bring thee to union with the Son and the comfort of the Spirit and the sence of it And therefore know if he have left thee to live in such distempers and thou dost blesse thy selfe in them and canst not looke further and there is nothing in the blood of Christ that much takes up thy heart for redemption from evill or purchasing good it is much to be feared thou hast not yet tasted of the blood of Christ what there may be in heaven wee know not but no man on earth can give thee a comfortable signe of a good estate If a man blesse himselfe in these engagements and in these imbondagements to the enemies of his soule and thinks his captivity is his liberty hee doth not know what the Lord Jesus hath purchased there is little hope such a man hath redemption from the blood of Christ This is the condition of all the people of God in the greatest temptations unlesse it be in some extreame hurry of passion it is a captivity to him and a burden to him that he wants Christ Jesus and that is a good signe of a mans liberty purchased by Christ This Christ who hath reconciled others to God and done great things for them in a way of grece and hath also reconciled him to God and delivered him from death to see this captivity and to groane under it it is a signe this man hath had some other liberty in times past For otherwise there is no man naturally but he thinks this is his freedom to have his owne minde not crossed to have his full liberty in the world to have good bargains and not to be pinched in this and that and not for conscience to fly in his face it is a sign a man is yet a natural born captive But when a man feels his captivity and looks at it as his burden that he feeles not the favour of God and union with Christ and communion with the Spirit It is a signe God hath called him to liberty but he hath sold himself for a captive again now he cryes as the Apostle Rom. 7. 24. O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death There he is carryed captive I see another law in my members warring against the law of my minde and bringing me into captivity to the law of sinne which is in my memebers vers 23. Here is a sign of redeeming love by the blood of the Lamb. O the wofull captivity that naturall corruption is to a redeemed soule and the great liberty it is to a carnall heart that hee thinkes it a liberty to have his thoughts free and none to tell him But to a good conscience that hath been washed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb the body of death is a wofull bondage to him This body of death it is not actuall transgressions but a powerfull body of carnall corruption that hangs about us that though we do not break out into actuall sinnes as other men do yet we see a body of death in us and this is our captivity So then if the Lord hath redemed a soul and purchased these comfortable blessings as brings us to the sence of our wofull condition by reason of the losse of this liberty all these are witnesses of the redeeming love of Christ Lastly it may be a use of consolation to every such soule thus farre even so farre as there is no bounds and limits to it it is a marvellous satisfaction to a soule in temptation nothing more then this I now speak of One would think it were a great misery to live in horrour of conscience continually and so it is but if a man be redeemed by the blood of this Lamb then it is not terrour of conscience that can separate thee from God for Christ himselfe was under terrour of conscience as much and more then thou art without sin that he sweat drops of blood and cries out and bemoans it in a holy manner Why will you say but will you have me set such things at my heele the desertions of God at my heele Is the favour of God to be set aâ— the heele it will not hinder your union with your head though you have lost the sense of it All that Christ suffered all his desertions it did not hinder his fellowship with the second person in Trinity neither will it hinder yours The Serpent bruiseth our heel makes us go heavily and lamely Psal 43. 2. Thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy It makes us go heavily while God forsakes us as a man goes that is crushed by an enemy but yet it will not break his head And what great consolation is this it is not terrour of conscience that can separate a man from Christ Nay I may speake a greater thing then that it is not the power of your corruptions that can break your head though they will make you go more lamely and heavily yet pride and passions c. do not separate union It must therefore raise up the heart of a Christian above his temptations above corruptions above the world above all the enemies of his soule what can they