Jesus Christ in carrying on our souls Salvation is adding miracle to miracle there is a chain of miracles in the matter of our salvation from first to last As. 1. It was a miracle that God in his Eternity before we had a being should have once thought of us especially that the Blessed Trinity should sit in councel and contrive that most admirable and astonishing plot of the Salvation of our souls Oh what a miracle was this 2. It was a Miracle that God for our sakes should create the world and after our fall in Adam that God should preserve the world especially considering that our sin had unpin'd the whole frame of the Creation and that God even then sitting on his Throne of Judgment ready to pass the doom of death for our first Transgression should unexpectedly give a promise of a Saviour when justly he might have given us to the devil and to Hell according to his own Law Gen. 2.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death 3. It was a Miracle that Gods Son should take upon him our nature and that in our nature he should Transact our peace that he should Preach Salvation to us all if we would believe and to the end that we might believe that he would work so many signs and Miracles in the presence of his Disciples and of a world of men was not Christs Birth a Miracle and Christs Life a Miracle and Christs Death a Miracle and Christs Resurrection a Miracle and Christs Ascension a Miracle was not Christs Ministry a miracle and was it not a miracle that Christs Word should not be credited without a world of miracles to back it and confirm it to the Sons of men 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the miracle as well as mystery of godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into glory 4. It was a Miracle that God should look upon us in our blood what a sight was it for God when thy navel was not cut when thou wast not salted at all Ezek. 16.4.5 6. nor swadled at all when thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person yet that then even then the Lord should pass by thee and see thee polluted in thy own blood and should say unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live yea say unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live O miracle of mercies If creation cannot be without a miracle surely the new creature is a miracle indeed So contrary is our perverse natures to all possibilities of Salvation that if Salvation had not marched to us all the way in a miracle we should have perished in the ruines of a sad eternity Election is a miracle and Creation is a miracle and Redemption is a miracle and Vocation is a miracle and indeed every man living in the state of grace is a perpetual miracle in such a one his reason is turned into faith his soul into spirit his body iinto a Temple his earth into heaven his water into wine his Aversations from Christ into intimate Union with Christ and Adhesions to Christ O what a Chain of Miracles is this Why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean say thus you that are yet in your blood why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean O Lord I believe help thou my unbelief After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem John 5.39 Some would have this feast to be Pentecost and to speak truly the most of our Commentaries run that way others take this for the feast of the Passover and the rather because the Evangelist John reckons the time of Christs publick Ministry by the several Passovers now if this feast were not a Passover we cannot find in the Gospel so many Passovers as to make up Christs Ministry three years and an half On this ground I joyn with the latter Opinion and so here I end the second year of Christs Ministry and come to the third and to his Actings therein in reference to our souls Salvation CHAP. III. SECT I. Of the third year of Christs Ministry and generally of his Actings in that year HItherto all was quiet neither the Jews nor the Samaritans nor Galileans did as yet malign the Doctrine or Person of Jesus Christ but he preached with much peace on all hands till the beginning of this year I shall not yet speak his sufferings neither shall I speak much of his doings many things were done and spoken this year which I must pass least I be too prolix only such things as refer more principally to the main business of our souls Salvation I shall touch in these particulars As 1. In the Ordination of the Apostles 2. In his Reception of Sinners 3. In the easiness of his yoak and the lightness of his burthen which he imposeth on men SECT II. Of Christs Ordination of his Apostles 1. IN the Ordination of his Apostles are many considerable things the Evangelist Luke layes it down thus Luke 6.12 13. And it came to pass in those dayes that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God and when it was day he called unto him his Disciples and of them he Chose Twelve whom also he named Apostles Till now Christ taught alone but because after his Ascension he must needs have a Ministry till the end of the world in the first place he choseth out some whom he would have on purpose to wait upon him all the time of his Ministry till he was taken up into Heaven In this Election or Ordination here is first the person by whom they are Chosen Jesus Christ 2. The place were they are chosen viz. in a mountain 3. The time when they were Chosen after his watching and praying all night and when it was day 4. The company out of whom they were Chosen they where his Disciples and out of them he makes this Election 5. The number of them that were Chosen they were Twelve nor more nor less 6. The end to which they were chosen it was to an Apostleship he Chose Twelve whom he also named Apostles 1. The person by whom they are Chosen is Jesus Christ They Chose not themselves but were chosen of Christ this call was immediate and therefore most excellent but now we look not after such calls and therefore I shall not insist on that only by the way Ministers of the Gospel must be Ministers of Christ either immediately or mediately called 2. The place where they were chosen it was on a mountain mountainous places have their situation nearest to Heaven which shews that they were called to high and heavenly things mountains are open and in view which shews their Ministry must be publick they cannot lye hid in a mountain a City that is set upon a hill
the Lord Psal 32.5 and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah It is no more than to ask thy Soul what are thy repentings kindled together hast thou seriously and sincerely repented thee of sin as sin hast thou turned from all sin unto God with constancy and delight Surely this is peculiar and proper to the Child of God by vertue of Christ's Death 3. If Christ's death be mine then am I engraffed into the likeness of Christ's death then am I made conformable to Christ in his death that I may know him and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death Phil. 3.10 The same that was done to Christ in a natural way is done and performed in the Believer in a spiritual way i.e. as Christ died so the Believer dies as Christ died for sin so the Believer dies to sin In that he died he died unto sin likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin Observe here the Analogy and proportion Rom. 6.10 11. and resemblance betwixt Christ and us both die unto sin Christ by way of expiation suffering and satisfying for the sins of others we by way of mortification killing and slaying and crucifying our own sins I look upon this sign as the very touchstone of a Christian and therefore I shall insist upon it Two questions I suppose needful to resolve the grounds of our Hope concerning our interest in the death of Christ 1. Whether indeed and in truth our sins are mortified 2. Whether we encrease or grow in our mortification For the first whether indeed and in truth our sins are mortified It is a skill worth our learning because of the many deceits that are within us sin may seem to be mortified when the occasion is removed or sin may seem to be mortified when it is not violent but quiet or sin may seem to be mortified when it is but removed from one sin unto another or sin may seem to be mortified when the sap and strength of sin is dead as the Lamp goes out when either the Oil is not supplied or taken away Now that in this scrutiny we may search to the bottoom and know the truth and certainty of our mortification it will appear by these Rules 1. True mortification springs from a root of Faith Every thing in the world proceeds from some cause or other and if the cause be good the effect must needs be good but if the cause be evil the effect must needs be evil A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit and an evil Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit. Mat. 7.18 In this case therefore let us examine the cause if we can make out this truth that we belive in Christ that we roll our selves on the Lord Jesus Christ for life and for salvation and that now we begin to feel in us the decay of sin we may conclude from the cause or rise that this decay of sin is true mortification surely it hath received the deadly wound it is a blessed effect arising from a good and right and genuine cause 2. True mortification is general not only one sin but all sins are mortified in a true Believer As death is unto the Members of the body so is mortification unto the members of sin now death seized upon every member it leaves not life in any one member of the body so neither doth mortification leave life in any one member of sin my meaning is it takes away the commanding power of sin in every member Mortifie your members which are upon the earth saith the Apostle your members Col. 3.5 not one member and then he instanceth Fornication Vncleanness Inordinate Affections Evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry Christians that have their interest in Christ's death must not only leave Pride but Lust not only Uncleanness but Covetousness Sin must not only be slain in the understanding but in the will and affections mortification is general You will say this is an hard saying doth any man any Believer leave all sin yes in respect of ruling power he leaves all sin all gross sins and all other sins only with this difference all gross sins in practise and actions and all frailties and infirmities in allowance and affection It is good to observe the degrees of mortification the first is to forbear the practise of gross and scandalous sins in word and deed Jam. 3.2 If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and this perfection by the help of Grace a godly man may reach to in this life The second is to deny consent and will to all frailties and infirmities Rom. 7.19 The evil which I would not that do I Rom. 7.19 I may do evil and yet I would not do evil there is a denial of it in the will The third is to be free from any setled liking of any evil motion not only to deny consent and will but also to deny the very thought or imagination setledly and deliberately to delight in sin I know to be void of all evil motions arising from the flesh or of all sudden passions within or of all suduen delights in sin or of all deadness or backwardness to good things by reason of sin it is an higher pitch than any man can touch in this present world for whilst we live the Law of the members will be working and we shall find cause enough to complain of a body of death only if when these motions first arise we presently endeavour to quench them to reject them to detest them and to cast them away from us therein is true mortification and thus far we must look to it to leave all sin 3. True mortification is not without its present combats though at last it conquer many a time corruption may break out and lust may be strong and violent but thâ—s violent lust is only for the present whereas a lust unmortified ever reigneth It is with sin in a Believer as it is with a man that hath received his deadly wound from his enemy he will not presently flie away but rather he will run more violently upon him that hath wounded him yet be he never so violent in the middle of his action he sinks down because he hath received his deadly wound so it is with a Believer's sin and with a mortified lust it may rage in the heart and seem to bear sway for a time but the power and strength of sin is mortified it sinks down and wants ability to prevail by this sign may we know whether the corruptions and stirrings of our hearts proceed from a mortified or from an unmortified lust a lust though mortified may rage for a time but it cannot rule it may strive but it cannot totally prevail it may be in the heart as a thief in the house not to reside or dwell but to lodge for a night and be gone And that which is ever to be observed after
coming to Christ as a river of much waters is strong in coming home to the Ocean 13. That Christ gives the sense of his own worth and excellency unto them they see now in Christ is wisdome surpassing the brightness of the Sun even all the treasures of wisdome in Christ is power excelling the strength of rocks he is not onely strong but strength it self in Christ is Honour transcending all the Kings of the earth for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Christ is beauty excelling the Rose of Sharon and Lilly of the valleys he is fairer than all the flowers of the field than all the precious stones of the earth than all the lights in the firmament than all the Saints and Angels in the highest heavens 14. That Christ gives the sense of their wants and of the worlds vanity and of his sutable goodness unto them In looking unto Jesus they see themselves in themselves miserable and all other things miserable comforters they have learnt the meaning of that Psalm Psal 146.3 4. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man and in whom there is no help his breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his God whose hope is in the Lord his God 15. That Christ gives all things every thing unto them All things are yours saith the Apostle whether Paul 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods All things are yours First all the Ministers of Christ from the highest to the lowest whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas they are your servants they are men that watch over you for your salvation Secondly the world is yours indeed the world stands but for your sakes if your number were but once compleated quickly would the world be set on fire you will say ay! but how is the world ours we find not this for who hath the world at will why though you have not yet the misery you find in the world the want of wealth as well as the enjoying of it is yours i e. it tends to your advantage Thirdly life is yours it is a fitting a preparing a squaring of you for a better life even for eternity Fourthly death is yours for you shall die just then when it is best for you death shall serve but as a servant to your advantage 1 Tim. 4.8 Fifthly things present and things to come are yours godliness hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come Sixthly I will add the Lord himself is yours take God and look on him in his greatness in his mighty power even this great God the Lord of heaven and earth is yours he is yours and all that he hath is yours and all that he doth is yours and all that he can do is yours I will be thine saith God to Abraham I will be to thee an exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 Here is a Catalogue an Inventory of a Christians riches have Christ and have all when an Heathen was but asked where all his treasure was he answered where Cyrus my friend is and if any ask you where all your treasure is you may answer where Christ your friend is in this respect you may truly say Ephes 3.8 there is no end of your riches they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ Paul could find no bottom of these riches O who would not look unto Jesus If Christ be yours besides those particulars enumerated in this Text 1 Cor. 3.22 23. God is yours the Father is yours the Son is yours the Spirit is yours all the promises are yours for in Christ they are all made and for him they shall be performed Come let the proud man boast in his honour and the mighty man in his valour and the rich man in his wealth but let the Christian pronounce himself happy only happy truly happy fully happy in beholding Christ enjoying Christ having Christ in Looking unto Jesus You have the Motives of our wants in case of neglect and of our riches in case we are active frequent serious and lively in this Duty But for our further encouragement to fall upon it I shall add a few Motives more SECT VII More Motives to encourage us in this work 1 COnsider your looking on Jesus will maintain your communion with Jesus and is not this worth the while Why Christians what is this communion with Christ but very heaven aforehand hereby we enjoy his person and all sweet relation to his person his death and all the saving fruits priviledges and influences of his death hereby we are brought into Christs banquetting-house Cant. 2.4 held in his galleries his banner over us being love hereby we are carried up into the Mount with Christ that we may see him as it were transfigured and may say with Peter Master it is good for us to be here and let us here build Tabernacles Oh it 's an happy thing to have Christ dwell in our hearts for us to lodge in Christs bosome Oh it s an happy thing to maintain a reciprocal communication of affairs betwixt Christ and our souls as thus he bare our sins take we his healing he endured wounds for us drink we the spiritual balsom that sprang out of his wounds he took upon him our unrighteousness do we cloath our selves with his righteousness he endured pains for us come we to him and take his rest to our souls he embraced our curse and condemnation do we embrace his blessing justification and salvation To this end do we look on Jesus if he hide his face by desertions rest not till we find him if we find him hold him fast let him not go disturb him not out of our hearts by our corruptions Thus if we would prize the presence of Christ how comfortably should we maintain and encrease our Communion with Christ 2. Consider that your daily necessities call for a frequent looking up unto Jesus you have need of Christ you have need that he pray in you and need that he pray for you to your heavenly Father you have need that he work in you and need that he work for you his own blessed will you have need that he present you and yours blameless before his Fathers presence in life and death and at the judgment day there 's not a moment in your life wherein you stand not in continual need of Jesus Christ And can a hungry man forget his bread can the heart that pants for thirst forget the River can a man in bonds forget freedom can a child in distress forget a Father in honour and wealth Oh then let your necessities drive you to Christ and mind you of Christ Is not he the fountain that supplies all wants Christians consult your own
face so the conformity of thy heart and inwards to the Law of God thou obeyest God's Will and delightest in that obedience Thou sayest with David I delight to do thy Will O God yea psal 40.8 thy Law is within my Heart 2. Thou hast a covenant-relation to God and a covenant-interest in God and thou art by covenant as one of the people of God Christ hath thy soul thy body thy affections thy love to the very uttermost God hath a propriety and a peculiarity in thee thou art Christs by Marriage thou hast past over thy self unto him to be his Jewel his Spouse his Diadem his Crown his Servant his Child for ever 3. Then art thou clearly taught to know the Lord thou knowest him in another manner than thou didst before I will establish my Covenant with thee Ezek. 16.60 61. and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. There is a double knowledge 1. A speculative knowledge and thus men may know much but they are not affected according to the things they know 2. A practical knowledge and thus if we know the Lord we shall see in him that excellency and beauty that our Hearts will be affectioned towards him and we shall be able to say that we love him with all our Heart and with all our Soul and with all our Strength 4. Then hath God pardoned thy sins and He will remember thy sins no more But how should I be assured of that Why thus 1. If thou hast sincerely confessed bewailed and forsaken thy sins Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do evil And presently it follows come now and let us reason together saith the Lord Isa 1.16 18. though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll Isa 55.7 To the same purpose 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 2. If thy heart after many storms and troubles be calmed and quieted through saith in Christ Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 What hast thou peace with God and hath God still'd thy soul with peace this is an argument of thy sins pardon 3. If thine Heart be singularly inflamed with the love of Christ the Woman that Had many sins forgiven her by Christ Luke 7.47 she loved him much Upon that account she wept and washed his feet with her tears and so wiped them with the hairs of her head she kissed his feet and anointed them with Ointment nothing was too good for Christ who had forgiven her all her sins 4. If thy heart and soul and all that is within be singularly enlarged to praise God for his pardons Ps 103.1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities If thine heart feel his pardons thy mouth will sing his praises and hereby thou may'st be assured that God hath pardoned all thy sins Come now are these O my soul the grounds of thy hopes a lively faith in Jesus an accomplishment in some measure of the promises of the Covenant why these are the fewel of hope if this be thy case act thy hope strongly on Christ and on the covenant of grace say not hope is onely of things future and therefore if I be already in covenant What need I hope For whether thou art in covenant or no it is the main question here nay though it be granted that thou art in covenant and that hope is swallowed up in the compleat presence of its object yet it is not at all diminished but rather encreased by a partial presence As in massie bodies though violent motion be weakest in the end yet natural motions are ever swiftest towards the center so in the hopes of men though such as are violent and groundless prove weaker and weaker yet those that are stayed and natural or rather gracious are evermore stronger and stronger till they procure the utmost presence and union of their object The nearer we come to a fruition of a good the more impatient we are to want it O then hope in Jesus draw on thy hope yet more and more in this Covenant of grace be not content onely with an hope of expectation but bring it on to an hope of confidence or assurance thou canst not fail if thou hangest thy hope on Jesus Christ is not fastened as a loose nail or as a broken rotten hedge in the covenant of grace he is there As a nail in a sure place Isa 22.23 24. and they shall hang on him all the glory of his Fathers house the off-spring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons Come soul thou art a vessel of small quantity hang all thy weight on Christ he is a nail that cannot break SECT V. Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect 5. WE must believe on Jesus carrying on this great work of our salvation in a way of covenant Many a time Satan comes and hurles in a temptation What Is it likely that God should enter into a covenant with thee yea sometimes he so rivets in this temptation that he darkens all within and there 's no sight of comfort in the soul O but now believe now if ever is the season for faith to act little evidence and much adherence speaks saith to purpose We read of some who could stay themselves upon the Lord whiles they walked in darkness upon the margin and borders of a hundred deaths Psal 23.4 Ps 88.7 David fears no evil though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death for his faith told him that God was with him Heman could say thy wrath lieth hard upon me thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves sure he thought God could do no more to drown him not only a wave or two but all Gods waves were on him and over him and yet he believes Lord I have called daily upon thee Hezekiahs comforts were at an hard pinch ver 9. Mine eyes fail with looking upwards O Lord I am oppressed Isa 39.14 yet praying argues believing Lord undertake for me Christs sense of comforts was ebbe and low when he wept and cryed that he was forsaken of God yet then his faith is doubled as the cable of an Anchor is doubled when the storm is more than ordinary Mat. 27.46 my God my God Poor soul thou standest wondering at this great condescention of God What That God should enter into covenant with me What that God should make such great and precious promises with me Surely these comforts and these priviledges are too high for me or for any soul breathing It may be so and yet be not discouraged
table or behind a solid partition it stirreth the needle as effectually as if it were within view Shall not he contradict his sences that will say It cannot work because I see it not Oh my Saviour thou art more mine than my Body is mine my sense feels that present but so as that I must lose it but my faith so feels and sees thee present with me as that I shall never be parted from thee 2. It is a very near union You will say how near If an Angel were to speak to you he cannot satisfie you in this only as far as our understanding can reach it and the Creatures can serve to illustrate these things take it thus Whatsoever by way of comparison can be alledged concerning the combination of any one thing with another that and much more may be said of our union with Jesus Christ To give instance out of the Scripture see what one stick is to another being glewed together see what one friend is to another as Jonathan and David who were said to be woven and knit each one to other see how near the father and the child are how near the husband and the wife are 1 Cor. 6 17. 1 Sam. 18.1 Isa 62.5 see what union is between the Branches and the Vine the members and the head nay one thing more see what the the soul is to the body such is Christ and so near is Christ and nearer to the person of every true believer I live yet not I saith Paul but Christ liveth in me John 15.5 1 Cor. 12 12. Gal. 2.20 q. d. as the soul is to the body of a natural man that acts and enlivens it naturally so is Jesus Christ to my soul and body O there is a marvellous nearness in this mystical union 3. It is a total union i.e. whole Christ is united to the whole believer soul and body If thou art united to Christ thou hast all Christ thou art one with him in his nature in his name thou hast the same Image Grace and Spirit in thee as he hath the same precious Promises the same access to God by prayer as he thou hast the same love of the Father all that he did or suffered thou hast a share in it thou hast his life and death all is thine so on thy part he hath thee wholly thy nature thy sins the punishment of thy sins thy wrath thy curse thy shame yea thy wit and wealth and strength all that thou art or hast or canst do possibly for him It is a total union My beloved is mine and I am his whole Christ from top to toe is mine and all that I am have or can do for evermore is his 4. It is an inseparable union it can never be broken I will make saith God an everlasting Covenant with them Jer. 32.40 and I will not turn away from them to do them good I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me This is a glorious promise some poor souls may say True Lord thou wilt not turn away from me I know thou wilt not Oh but I fear I shall turn away from thee Oh alass I turn every day towards sin and Satan Nay saith God I will put my fear in their heart that thou shalt not turn away from me q. d. We shall be kept together for evermore and never be separated Hence Paul triumphantly challenges all enemies on earth or rather in hell to do their worst to break this knot Rom. 8.5 Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ shall tribulation Distress Famine Nakedness Peril or Sword Come all that can come and see if that blessed union betwixt me and Christ shall ever be broken by all that you can do Thus for this union 2. There is a spiritual communion with God in Christ Both these are the effects of Christs personal or hypostatical union first union to his person and then communion with his benefits union in proper speaking is not unto any of the benefits flowing to us from Christ we are not united to forgiveness of Sin Holiness Peace of Conscience but unto the person of the Son of God himself and then secondly comes this communication of all the benefits arising immediately from this union to the Lord Jesus that as Christ was Priest Prophet and King so we also by him are after a sort Priests Prophets and Kings for being made one with him we are thereby possessed of all things that are his as the Wife is of the wealth of her Husband now all things are yours saith the Apostle whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World c. Hitherto have we took a view of Christ in his Mothers Womb 1 Cor. 3 21.23 and O what marvails there Did ever womb carry such a fruit Well might the Angel say Blessed art thou amongst Women and well might Elizabeth say Blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb but the blessing is not only in conceiving but in bearing and therefore we proceed SECT VI. Of the Birth of Christ 6. THe birth of Christ now follows Now was it that the Son of Righteousness should break forth from his bed where nine months he had hid himself as behind a fruitful cloud this was the worlds wonder a thing so wonderful that it was given for a sign unto believers seven hundred and forty years before it was accomplished Isa 7.14 therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son A wonder indeed and great beyond all comparison that the Son of God should be born of a Woman that he who is the true Melchizedech without Father and without Mother must yet have a mother-Virgin that he that is before Abraham was should yet be born after Abraham a matter of two thousand years that he who was Davids Son therefore born in Bethlehem should yet be Davids Lord wonderful things are spoken of thee Heb. 7.3 O thou Son of God before he was born the Prophets sing the Sybils prophesie the Patriarchs typisie the Types foretel God promiseth and the Son of God performeth when he was born Angels run errands Gabriel brings tidings the glory of Heaven shines a Star displaies and wise men are the Heralds that proclaim his Birth But come yet a little nearer Let us go to Bethlehem as the Shepherds said and see this thing which is come to pass if we step but one step into his loding Heavens wonder is before our eyes now Look upon Jesus Luke 2.15 look on him as in fulness of time he carried on the great work of our Salvation here now you may read the meaning of Adams Covenant Abrahams promise Moses revelation Davids succession these were but vailes but now shall we draw aside the Curtains come take a view of the truth it self O wonder of wonders whom find we in this lodging a Babe in a Cratch a Mother-maid a
11.26 Moses reason of esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt was for that he had respect unto the recompence of reward he had respect in the original he had a fixed intent Eye there was in him a Love of the reward and yet withal a Love of God and therefore his Love of the reward was not mercinary but this I say though there were no reward at all a Child of God hath such a principle of Love within him that for Loves sake he would Obey his God he is led by the Spirit and therefore he Obeys now the Spirit that leads him is a Spirit of Love and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 3. The Sons of God imitate God in his Love and Goodness to all Men. Our Saviour amplifies this excellent property of God He causeth his Sun to shine upon good and bad and thence he concludeth Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5.48 Goodness to bad men is the highest degree of Grace and as it were the perfection of all O my Soul Canst thou imitate God in this Consider how thy Father bears it though the wicked provoke him day by day yet for all that he doth not quickly revenge vengeance indeed is only his and he may in justice do what he will that way and 't is the opinion of some that if the most patient man in the world should but sit in Gods Throne one day and see and observe the doings and miscarriges of the Sons of Men he would quickly set all the World on Fire yet God seeth all and for all that He doth not make the Earth presently to gape and devour us He puts not out the glorious Light of the Sun He doth not dissolve the Work of Creation He doth not for Mans Sin presently blast every thing into Dust What an excellent pattern is this for thee to Write after Canst thou but forgive thy Enemies Do well to them that do evil to thee O this is a sure sign of Grace and Sonship It is storyed of some Heathens who beating a Christian almost to Death asked him What great matter Christ did ever do for him Even this said the Christian That I can forgive you though you use me thus cruelly here was a Child of God indeed It is a sweet resemblance of our Father and of our Saviour Jesus Christ to Love our Enemies to Bless them that Curse us to do Good unto them that Hate us to Pray for them that Despitefully use us and Persecute us O my Soul look to this 5.44 consult this ground of Hope if this Law be written in thy Heart write it down amongst thy Evidences that thou art Gods Son yea that even unto thee a Son is given To Review the Grounds What is a Child born to me and a Son given to me What am I indeed new born am I indeed Gods Son or Daughter do I upon the search find in my Soul new desires new comforts new contentments What are my words my works and affections and conversation new is there in me a new nature a new principle hath the Spirit by way of infusing or shedding given me a new Power a new Ability a Seed of Spiritual Life which I had not before do I upon the search find that I fear God and love God and imitate God in some good measure in his love and goodness towards all Men can I indeed and really forgive an Enemy and according to opportunity and my ability do good unto them that do evil unto me Why should I not then confidently and comfortably hope that I have my share and interest in the birth of Christ in the blessed incarnation and conception of Jesus Christ Away away all despair and dejections and despondencies of Spirit If these be my grounds of Hope it is time to hold up head and heart and hands and all with cheerfulness and confidence and to say with the Spouse I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine SECT V. Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect 5. LEt us Believe on Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation at his first coming or incarnation I know many staggerings are oft in Christians What is it likely that Christ should be incarnate for me That such a God should do such a thing for such a sinful woful abominable wretch as I am Ah my Soul put thy propriety in Christs incarnation out of dispute that thou mayst be able to say As God was manifest in the flesh and I may not doubt it so God is manifest in me and I dare not deny it But to help the Soul in this choice Duty I shall first propose the hinderances of Faith 2. The helps of Faith in this Respect 3. The manner how to act our Faith 4. The encouragements to bring on the soul to believe its part in this blessed incarnation of Jesus Christ For the first there are but three things that can hinder Faith As 1. The exceeding unworthiness of the soul and to this purpose are those complaints What Christ incarnate for me for such a dead Dog as I am What King would dethrone himself and become a Toad to save Toades and am not I at a greater distance from God than a Toad is from me hath not sin made my soul more ugly in Gods Eye than any loathsome Toad can be in my Eye O I am less than the least of all Gods Mercies I am fitter for Hell and Devils than for Vnion and Communion with God and Christ I dare not I cannot Believe 2. The infinite exactness of divine justice which must be satisfied a soul deeply and seriously considering of this it startles thereat and cries O what will become of my soul one of the least sins that I stand Guilty of deserves Death and eternal Wrath The wages of sin is death and I cannot satisfie though I have trespassed to many millions of talents I have not one mite of mine own to pay O then how should I believe What thoughts can I entertain of Gods Mercy and Love to me-ward God's Law condemns me my own Conscience accuseth me and Justice will have its due 3. The want of a Mediator or some suitable Person which may stand between the Sinner and God If on my part there be unworthiness and on Gods part exact and strict and severe Justice and withall I see no Mediator which I may go unto and first close withall before I deal with the infinite glory of God himself how should I but despair and cry out O wretched man that I am O that I had never been or if I must needs have a being Oh that I had been a toad or serpent or any venomous creature rather than a man for when they dye they perish and there 's an end of them but the end of a reprobate sinner is torments without end O wo and alas I cannot believe
suffer but also to do for he both satisfied the Curse and fulfilled the Commandments O remember this as Christ and as Christ in the flesh so Christ in the flesh made under the Law is principally to be in the eye of of our Faith If we put all together our first view of Faith is to look on Christ God in the flesh made under the Law 4. Faith going to Christ as God in the flesh and as made under the Law it is principally to look to the end and meaning of Christ as being God in the flesh and as fulfilling the Law Now if we would know the meaning of Christ in all this the Apostle tells us of a remote and of a more immediate end 1. Of a remote end God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Gal. 4.4 5. to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons This was Christ's meaning or the remote end of Christ Alas we were strangers from the Adoption and we lay under the Law as men whom sentence had passed on Now from this latter we are redeemed he was under the Law that we might be redeemed from under the Law nor is that all but as we are redeemed so are we adopted the Children of God And this end I rather attribute to the Life of Christ that we might receive the Adoption i.e. from the estate of Prisoners condemned that we might be translated into the estate of children adopted O the mercy of God! who ever heard of a condemned man to be afterwards adopted would not a condemned Prisoner think himself happy to escape with Life But the zeal of the Lord of Hosts hath performed this we are in Christ both pardoned and adopted and by this means the joy and glory of Gods heavenly inheritance is estated upon us O let our Faith look mainly to this design and plot of Christ he was made under the Law yea and under the directive part of the Law by his life he fulfilled every jot and title of the Law by his active obedience that we might be entitled to glory that we might be adopted to the inheritance of the Saints in glory 2. For the more immediate end of Christ the Apostle tells us Christ was made under the Law Rom. 8.4 or fulfilled all Righteousness that the Law might be fulfilled in us In Christ's life were we represented and so this fulfilling of all righteousness is accounted ours that the Law might be fulfilled in us O my soul look to this Herein lies the pith and the marrow of thy Justification of thy self thou canst do nothing that good is but Christ fulfilled the Law in thy stead and if now thou wilt but act and exercise thy Faith thou mayst thereby find and feel the vertue and efficacy of Christ's righteousness and actual obedience flowing into thy own soul But here is the question how should I manage my Faith or how should I act it to feel Christ's righteousness my righteousness I answer 1. Thy way is to discover and discern this righteousness of Christ this holy and perfect life of the Lord Jesus Christ in the whole and in all the parts of it as it is laid down in the written Word Much hath been said of it in those four years of Christ's Ministry but especially in the last year I shall say more anon in our conformity unto Christ whither also thou mayst have recourse 2. Thy way is to believe and to receive this discovery as sacred and unqestionable in reference to thy own soul as intended for thee for thy use and benefit 3. Thy way is to apprehend apply and to improve this discovery according to that judgment and proposal to those uses ends and benefits to which thou believest they were designed Yea but there lies the question how may that be done I answer 1. Setting before thee that discovery that perfect life of Christ in the whole and all the parts of it thou must first endeavour to be deeply humbled for thy great inconformity thereto in whole and in part 1. Still keeping thy Spirit intent on the Pattern thou must quicken provoke and encrease thy sluggish and drowsie soul with renewed redoubled vigilancy and industry to come up higher towards it and if it were possible compleatly to it 3. Yet having the same discovery rule and copy before thee thou must exercise faith thereupon as that which was performed and is accepted on thy behalf And so go to God and there represent offer and tender Christ's holy life and active obedience unto him And that first to fill up the defects of thy utmost endeavour Secondly to put a righteousness price value and worth upon what thou dost and attainest to Thirdly to make Christ's righteousness thy own that thou may'st say with the Psalmist in way of assurance O God my righteousness O my soul if thou would'st thus live by Faith or thus act thy Faith on Christ's Life Christ's Righteousness Christ's active obedience what a blessed life would'st thou live then mightst thou find and feel Christ's righteousness thy righteousness I say thy Righteousness in respect of its efficacy but not in respect of its formality for so sinners would be their own Mediators But of some of these Particulars I shall speak more largely in our conformity to Christ's holy Life 2. For encouragements to bring on souls thus to believe on Christ consider 1. The fulness of this Object Christ's life is full it is very comprehensive it contains holiness and happiness sanctification and justification if Christ's Garments were healing how much more so main and essential a part of Christ even the half of Christ as it were for so is Christ's Life It is vehemently to be suspected that the true reason why so much is said of his Death and so little in comparison of his Life it is either because we understand not the fulness of his life or because we are carnal and selfish affecting freedom from hell more than holiness on earth some benefit by Christ more than conformity to Christ O come see the fulness of Christ's life in reference to our sanctification was it not an exact model of perfection a most curious exemplification of Gods whole Word an express Idea Image Representation of the whole mind of God a full president for all others to walk by to work by to live by and in reference to justification is not Christ's life the object of Faith and justifying nay is not Christ's life the object of justifying faith as well as Christ's death resurrection ascension session intercession The assertors of Christ's active and passive obedience for us can tell us of two things in the Law intended one principal viz. Obedience and another secondary viz. malediction upon supposition of disobedience so that sin being once committed there must be a double act to justification the suffering of the Curse and the fulfilling of Righteousness anew the one is satisfaction for
of men that he is the Standard-bearer and there is none like to him that if you will have but Jesus Christ you need no more yet do not many of you say in your hearts as Pilate here What shall I do with Jesus that is called Christ or as the devils said elsewere What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God nay hath not many times the secret grudgings of your reluctant souls accounted the gracious offers of speedy repentance to be but as a coming of Christ to torment you before your time Why alas what is this now but to prefer Barabbas before Jesus you that swear as the Devil bids and as Christ forbids you that prophane Sabbaths that revel drink to excess or it may be to drunkenness surely your vote goes along with the Jews Not this Man but Barabbas 2. Give me leave to look on the love and mercy of God in Christ our Jesus was not only content to take our nature upon him but to be compared with the greatest malefactor of those times and by publick sentence yea votes and voices of the People to be pronounced a greater delinquent and much more worthy of death than wicked Barabbas Levit. 14 4 5 6 7. O the love of Christ we read in Leviticus that in the dayes of the cleansing of the Leper the Priest was to take two Birds or two Sparrows alive and the one of them must be killed and the other being kept alive must only be dipt in the blood of the Bird that was slain and so it must be let loose into the open field Barabbas say some but all Believers say we are that live Sparrow and Jesus Christ is the Sparrow that was slain the lot sell upon him to dye for us all our sins were laid upon his soul so that in this sence Jesus Christ was the greatest sinner in the World yea a greater sinner than Barabbas himself and therefore he must dye and we being dipt in the Blood of Christ must be let loose and set at liberty was not this love he dyed that we might live it was the voice of God as well as men Release Barabbas every believing Barabbas and crucifie Jesus Another hour is gone let us make stand for a while and the next time we meet we shall see further sufferings SECT IV. Of Christ Stripped Whipped Cloathed in Purple and Crowned with Thorns ABout nine which the Jews call the third hour of the day was Christ stripped whipped cloathed with purple and crowned with thorns in this hour his sufferings came thick I must divide them into parts and speak of them severally by themselves 1. When Pilate saw how the Jews were set upon his death he consented and delivered him first to be stripped Mat. 27.27 Then the Souldiers of the Governour took Jesus into the common Hall and gathered unto him the whole band of Souldiers and they stripped him They pulled of his cloaths and made hm stand naked before them all He that adorns the Heaven with Stars and the Earth with Flowers Gen. 3.21 and made coats of skins to cloath our first Parents in is now himself stripped stark naked I cannot but look on this as a great shame it appears so by our first Parents Adam and Eve who no sooner had sinned and knew themselves naked but they sowed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons Gen. 3.7 If Adam was so ashamed of his nakedness before his own Wife who was naked too as well as he what a shame and blush was it in the face of Christ when in the common Hall in view of the whole band or company of Souldiers he stands all naked My confusion is continually before me and the shame of my face hath covered me Psal 44.15 saith David in the Person of Christ It is reported in the Ecclesiastical story that when two Martyrs and holy Virgins they call them Agnes and Barbara were stripped stark naked for their execution God pitying their great shame and trouble to have their nakedness discovered made for them a veil of light and so he sent them to a modest and desired death but our Saviour Christ who chose all sorts of shame and confusion that by a fulness of suffering he might expiate his Fathers wrath and consecrate to us all kinds of sufferings and affronts he endured the shame of nakedness at the time of his scourging see here a naked Christ and therein see the mercy of Christ to us he found us like the good Samaritan when we were stripped and wounded and left half dead and that we might be covered he quietly suffered himself to be divested of his own robes he took on him the state of sinning Adam and became naked that we might first be cloathed with righteousness and then with immortality oh what a blessed use may we make of the very nakedness of Christ 2. Pilate gave him to be scourged this some think he did upon no other account but that the Jews being satiated and glutted with these tortures they might rest satisfied and think themselves sufficiently avenged and so desist from takeing away his life That he was scourged is without controversie for so the Evangelist relates Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him John 19.1 and that Pilate might give him to be scourged on that account is very probable because that after the scourging he brings him out to the Jews proclaming I find no fault in him and before his scourging Ver. 6. Luke 23.15 16. he speaks it more expresly He hath done nothing worthy of death I will therefore chastise him and release him And it adds to this that howsoever the custome was that those that were to be crucified must first be whipped yet if they were adjudged to dye their stripes must be less and if they were to be set at liberty they must be beaten with more stripes Hier. in Mattheum Tom. 9. And Pilate endeavouring to preserve his life they scourged him above measure even almost to death In this scourging of Christ I shall insist on these two things 1. The shame 2. The pain 1. For the shame it was of such infamy that the Romans Exempted all their Citizens from it Act. 22.25 26. Is it lawful for you said Paul to scourge a man that is a Roman And when the Centurion heard that he went and told the chief Captain saying take heed what thou dost for this man is a Roman the Romans looked upon it as a most infamous punishment fit only for theeves and slaves and not for free-born or priviledged Romans and the Jews themselves would not suffer it above so many stripes lest a brother should seem vile unto them Deut. 25.2 3. If a wicked man be worthy to be beaten that the Judge shall cause him to lye down forty stripes he may give him and not exceed lest if he should exceed and beat him above these with many stripes then thy brother should seem
that he is both our justification and sanctification Physitians tell us that about the heart there is a film or skin like unto a purse wherein is contained clear water to cool the heat of the heart and therefore very probable it is that that very skin or pericardium was pierced through with the heart and thence came out those streams of blood and water O gates of Heaven O windows of Paradise O Palace of refuge O Tower of strength O Sanctuary of the Just O flourishing bed of the Spouse of Solomon methinks I see water and blood running out of his side more freshly than those golden streams which ran out of the garden of Eden and watered the whole world Here if I could stay I might lengthen my Doctrine during my life oh it were good to be here it were a large field and a blessed subject 4. About five which the Jews call the eleventh and the last hour of the day Christ was taken down and buried by Joseph and Nicodemus But enough I must not wear out your patience altogether Thus far we have propounded the blessed object of Christ's suffering and dying for us our next work is to direct you as formerly in the art or mystery how you are to look unto him in this respect CHAP. III. SECT I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation in his death 1. LEt us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation during his sufferings and death This is the high point which Paul was ever studying on and preaching on and pondering on For I determined not to know any thing among you 1 Cor. 2.2 save Jesus Christ and him crucified Christ crucified is the rarest piece of knowledge in the world the person of Christ is a matter of high speculation but Christ further considered as cloathed with his garments of blood is that knowledge which especially Paul pursues he esteems not reckons not determines not to make any profession of any other science or doctrine than the most necessary and only saving knowledge of Christ crucified O my soul how many dayes and months and years hast thou spent to attain some little measure of knowledge in the Arts and Tongues and Sciences and yet what a poor skill hast thou attained in respect of the many thousands of them that knew nothing at all of Jesus Christ and what if thou hadst reached out to a greater proficiency couldst thou have dived into the secrets of Nature couldst thou have excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East country and all the wisdom of Egypt 1 Kings 4.33 and the wisdom of Solomon who spake of beasts of fowls of fishes of all trees from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall yet without the saving knowledge of Christ crucified Christ suffering bleeding and dying all this had been nothing see Eccles 1.18 only that knowledge is worth the having which refers to Christ and above all that is the rarest piece of Christ's humiliation which holds him forth suffering for us and so freeing us from hell sufferings Come then and spend thy time for the future more fruitfully in reading learning knowing this one necessary thing Study Christ crucified in every piece and part O the precious truths and precious discoveries that a studying head and heart would hammer out here much hath been said but a thousand-thousand times more might yet be said we have given but a little scantling of that which Christ endured Volumes might be written till they were piled as high as heaven and yet all would not serve to make out the full discoveries of Jesus's sufferings Study therefore and study more but be sure thy study and thy knowledge be rather practical than speculative do not meerly beat thy brains to learn the history of Christ's death but the efficacy vertue and merit of it know what thou knowest in reference to thy self as if Jesus had been all the while carrying on the business of thy souls salvation as if thou hadst stood by and Christ had spoke to thee as sometimes to the women Weep not for me but for thy self thy sins caused my sufferings and my sufferings were for the abolition of thy sins SECT II. Of considering Jesus in that respect 2. LEt us consider Jesus carrying on this great work of our salvation during his sufferings and death Zach. 12.10 Heb. 12.2 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced saith the Prophet i.e. they shall consider me and accordingly is the Apostle looking unto Jesus or considering of Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy of our salvation set before him endured the cross and despised the shame Then indeed and in that act is the duty brought in it is good in all respects and under all considerations to look unto Jesus from first to last but above all this Text relates firstly to the time of his sufferings and hence it is that Luke calls Christ's passion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a theory or sight And all the people that came together to that sight Luke 23.48 smote their breasts and returned Not but that every passage of Christ is a theory or sight worthy our looking on or considering of Christ in his Fathers purpose and Christ in the promise and Christ in performance Christ in his birth and Christ in his life O how sweet what blessed objects are these to look upon but above all consider him saith the Apostle that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12.3 Ver. 2. Consider him who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame of all other parts acts or passages of Christ the holy Ghost hath only honoured Christ's passion his sufferings and his death with this name of theory and sight Why surely this is the theory ever most commended to our view and consideration O then let us look on this consider of this As in this manner 1. Consider him passing over the Brook Cedron it signifies the wrath of God and rage of men the first step of his passion is sharp and sore he cannot enter the door but first he must wade through cold waters on bare feet nor must he only wade through them but drink of them through many tribulations must he go that will purchase souls and through many tribulations must they go that will follow after him to the Kingdom of Glory Consider him entring into the Garden of Gethsemane in a garden Adam sinned and in this garden Christ must suffer that the same place which was the nest where sin was hatched might now be the child-bed of grace and mercy into this garden no sooner was he entred but he began to be agonized all his powers and passions within him were in conflict Consider O my soul how suddenly he is struck into a strange fear never was man so afraid of the torments of
hope This is to undervalue Christ's redemption this is to think there is more in sin to damn than in Christ's sufferings to save whereas all thy Sins to Christ are but as a little cloud to the glorious Sun yea all the Sins of all the men in the world are but to Christs merits as a drop to the Ocean I speak not this to encourage the presumptuous sinner for alass he hath no part in this satisfaction but to comfort the humble sinner who is loaden with the sense of his Sins what though they were a burthen greater than he can bear yet they are not a burthen greater than Christ can bear there is in Christ's blood an infinite treasure able to sanctifie thee and all the World there is in Christs death a ransome a counterprice sufficient to redeem all the sinners that ever were or ever shall be the price is of that nature that it is not diminished though it be extended to never so many as the Sun hath fulness of light to enlighten all the world and if the blind do not see by it it is no any scarcity of light in the Sun but by reason of his own indisposition so if all men are not acquitted by Christ's death it 's not because that was insufficient as if it had not vertue enough to reach them as well as others but because they by their unbelief do reject this remedy Oh what large room hath saith to expatiate in sit down and dive and dive yet thou canst not come to the bottom of Christ's blood but as the Prophet Ezekiel saw still more and greater abominations so mayest thou in the sufferings of Christ observe more and more fulness See what a notable opposition the Apostle makes Rom. 5.15 16 17 18 19 20 21. between the first and second Adam proving at large that Christ doth super-abound in the fruits of his grace above the first Adam in the fruits of his sin he calls it grace and the abundance of grace and this abundance of grace reigneth to life Ver. 17. so that these Texts should be like so much oyl poured into the wounds of every broken-hearted sinner Oh is there any thing that can be desired more than this 5. There is in it remission of sins so saith Christ Mat. 26.28 This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Remission of sins is attributed to Christ's death as a cause it is not thy tears or prayers or rendings of heart that could pay the least farthing Heb. 9.22 Without shedding of blood saith the Apostle there is no remission God will have tears and blood also though not for the same purpose for all thy tears thou must flie to Christ only as the cause it is true thou must mourn and pray and humble thy self but it 's Christ's blood only that can wash us clean Oh remember this God will not pardon without satisfaction by the blood of Christ And surely this makes Christ's death so desirable Oh my sins afflict me cries many a one Oh I am loathsome in mine own eyes much more in Gods surely God is offended with my dulness slothfulness and my thousand imperfections I am all the day long entangled with this sin and that sin and the other sin but let this contrite spirit look on Christ's death and therein he may find all sin is pardoned see here what an Argument is put into thy mouth from these sufferings of Christ well mayest thou say O Lord I am unworthy but it is just and right that Christ obtain what he died for Eph. 2.13 14. O pardon my sins for his death's sake and for his precious blood sake 6. There is in it reconciliation and peace with God In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us Rom. 5.10 Eph. 2.16 Col. 1.20 When we were enemies we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son that he might reconcile both viz. Jews and Gentiles unto God in one body by the Cross And having made peace through the blood of his Cross by him â—o reconcile all things to himself This certainly should admirably support the drooping soul it may be thou cryest My sins have made a breach betwixt God and my soul I have warred against heaven and now God wars against me and oh what odds if the Lord be angry yea but a little what will become of my poor soul is a little stubble able to contend with the consuming fire how then should I contend with God but come now and look on Christ's death as the means and meritorious cause of reconciliation and thou canst not but say O this death is desirable When God the Father looks at a sinner in the bloody glass of Christ then saith God Oh now fury and wrath is not in me I have no more quarrel or controversie with this soul seeing Christ hath suffered it is enough I have as much as my justice can demand my frowns are now turned into smiles and my rod of iron into a Scepter of grace Why this is it that makes Christ's death and blood so desirable to the soul what shall Jacob so rejoyce in seeing Esau's face altered to him shall he say to Esau I have seen thy face as the face of God how much rather may the humble and believing sinner be filled with gladness when through Christ's blood shall be thus appeased and reconciled with him 7. There is in it immunity and safety from all the judgments and dangers threatned against our sins Surely if there were such force in the blood of the type that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel how much more in the blood of Christ Rev. 12.11 Satan himself is said to be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and God's revenge due to our sins is said to be removed by the blood of Jesus therefore it is called The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 the blood of sprinkling was for safety and Christ's blood is for safety it cries not for revenge as Abel's blood cryed but for mercy and for deliverance from all misery 8. There is in it a blessed vertue to open Heaven and to make passage thither for our souls Having boldness or liberty to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Heb. 10.19 it is the blood of Christ that rents the Vail and makes a way into the Holy of Holies that is into the Kingdom of Heaven without this blood there is no access to God it is only by the blood of Christ that heaven is open to our prayers and that Heaven is open to our persons this blood is the key that unlocks Heaven and lets in the souls of his Redeemed
its swinge and breaking out the heart that lodged it abhors its self in dust and ashes cries mightily unto God for mercy and pardon repairs the breach with stronger resolution and more invincible watchfulness against future assaults but a Lust unmortified possesseth it self and rules and reigns in the heart and soul it abides there and will not away I shall not deny but there may be a cessation of its actings for a time but that is not any want of good will as they say but only of matter means opportunity enticement company provocation or the like and after such cessation or forbearance the heart usually entertains it again with more greediness it lies and delights in it as much as ever it hardens it self most obstinately in it as if it were impossible to leave it or live without it with any kind of comfort 4. True mortification is a painful work The very word imports no less to kill a man or to mortifie a member will not be without pain hence it is called a crucifying of the flesh Gal. 5.24 Mat. 5.29 30. and a cutting off the right hand a plucking out the right eye they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh if thy hand offend thee cut it off and if thy eye offend thee pluck it out in this respect this death unto sin carries with it a likeness to the death of Christ it is attended with agonies and soul-conflicts both before and after our conversion 1. Before conversion before the first wound be given it why then ordinarily there is some compunction of Spirit some pricking of heart what a case do we find the Jews in when after Peters Sermon they were pricked at their hearts and what an agony do we find the Jailor in when he came trembling in and falling down at the Apostles feet and crying out Sirs What shall I do to be saved With such agonies as these Acts 2.7 Acts 16.30 is the beginning of mortification usually attended I do not say that they are alike in all whether for degree or continuance but in ordinary true and sound conversion is not without some of these soul-conflicts 2. After conversion after the first round there are some agonies still for though a Believer be delivered of sin in respect of the guilt and reigning power yet he hath still some remainders of sinful Corruption left within him which draw many a groan and many a sign from his trembling heart Rom. 8.23 we also have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the Redemption of our bodies such are the groans of mortifying Saints Saints dying unto sin like the groans of dying men whose souls being weary of their bodies do earnestly desire a dissolution and thus Paul groaned when he said O wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliver me from the body this death Oh what a Touchstone is this how will ihis discover true mortification from that which was counterfeit Some may think they are dead unto sin when in deed and in truth they are not dead but asleep unto sin and it appears by this because there were no pangs in their death you know this is a difference betwixt death and sleep there are pangs in the one but not in the other O my soul examine what pangs were there in thy death unto sin what agonies what soul-conflicts hast thou felt what compunction of heart what affliction of Spirit hast thou endured for sin what trouble hast thou had to find such a law in thy members rebelling against the law in thy mind Rom. 7.23 and bringing thee into captivity to the Law of sin why surely thou art not so mortified as to be freed wholly from the power of sin it may be it doth not rule in thee as a Prince yet certainly it tyrannizeth over thee it oft-times carries thee contrary to the bent of thy regenerate mind to the omittting of what thou wouldst do and to the committing of what thou wouldst not do and is not this an affliction of Spirit doth not this cause frequent conflicts in thy spirit if not thou mayest well suspect that sin is not dead but asleep or if it be dead to thee yet thou art not dead to it I confess death-pangs are not all alike in all some have a more gentle and others a more painful death so it is in this Spiritual death unto sin and that herein there may be no mistake I shall propound this question What is the least measure of these pangs these soul-agonies and conflicts that are necessarily required to true mortification I answer 1. There must be a sense of sin and of Gods wrath due unto sin such a sense we find in Jesus Christ he was very sensible of the weight and burden of those sins and of the wrath of God that lay upon him which made him cry out My God My God why hast thou forsaken me thus souls in the act of Mortification sometimes cry out O my sins and Oh God's wrath 2 There must be sorrow for Sin Such an affection we find also in Jesus Christ My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 7.10 he was beset and surrounded with sorrows so every mortified sinner at one time or other he feels an inward sorrow and grief even that Godly sorrow which the Apostle speakes of a sorrow according to God i. e coming from God well-pleasing to God and bringing to God back again 3. There must be a desire of being freed and delivered from sin Luke 12.50 such a desire we find also in Jesus Christ I have a Baptism to be Baptised with and how am I straitned until it be accomplished A regenerate soul earnestly desires to be freed not only from the guilt but also from the power of sin O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me c 4. There must be answerable endeavours in effectual strivings against sin Heb. 12.4 Ye have not resisted unto blood striving against sin How did our Saviour wrestle in the Garden offering up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears Heb. 5.7 so will a regenerate soul wrestle with God about tâ—â— death of sin praying watching going out in the strength of God and engaging in a continual war a deadly fewd against it and these are the least of those soul-conflicts wherewith this mortification or death unto sin is attended Now try we the truth of our Mortification by these signs Doth it spring from a right root of Faith is it general and universal in respect of all sins is it accompanied with combates doth the flesh lust against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and in this combate doth the spirit at last prevail and triumph over the flesh do we find it a painfull work both before and after conversion why then may I say with the Apostle now I know Christ
bottomless they pass our understandings yet they recreate our hearts they give matter of admiration yet they are not devoid of consolation O God raise up our souls to thee and if our Spirits be too weak to know thee make our affections ardent and sincere to love thee Surely the death of Christ requires this and calls for this many other motives we may draw from Christ and many other motives are laid down in the Gospel and indeed the whole Gospel is no other thing than a motive to draw man to God by the force of God's love to man in this sense the holy Scriptures may be called the book of true love seeing therein God both unfolds his love to us and also binds our love to him but of all the motives we may draw from Christ and of all the arguments we may find in the Gospel of Christ there is none to this the death of Christ the blood of Jesus is not this such a love-letter as never never was the like read the words For his great love wherewith he loved us Ephes 2.4 or if you cannot read observe the Hyeroglyphicks every stripe is a letter every nail is a capital letter every bruise is a black letter his bleeding wounds are as so many rubricks to shew upon record Oh consider it is not this a great love are not all mercies wrapt up in the blood of Christ it may be thou hast riches honours friends means Oh but thank the blood of Christ for all thou hast it may be thou hast grace and that is better than corn or wine or oyl Oh but for this thank the blood of Jesus surely it was the blood of Christ that did this for thee thou wast a rebellious soul thou hast an hard and filthy heart but Christ's blood was the fountain opened and it took away all sin and all uncleanness Christ in all and Christ above all and wilt thou not love him Oh that all our words were words of love and all our labour labour of love and all our thoughts thoughts of love that we might speak of love and muse of love and love this Christ who hath first loved us with all our heart and soul and might what wilt thou not love Jesus Christ let me ask thee then whom wilt thou love or rather whom canst thou love if thou lovest not him if thou sayest I love my Friends Parents Wife Children Oh but love Christ more than these a friend would be an enemy but that the blood of Christ doth frame his heart a Wife would be a trouble but that the blood of Christ doth frame her heart all mercies are conveyed to us through this channel Oh who would not love the Fountain consider of it again and again our Jesus thought nothing too good for us he parts with his life and blood he parts with the sense and feeling of the love of God and all this for us and for our sakes Ah my soul how shouldst thou but love him in all things and by all means It is reported of Ignatius that he so continually meditated on the great things Christ suffered for him that he was brought entirely to love him and when he was demanded why he would not forsake Christ rather than suffer himself to be torn and devoured of wild beasts he answered that he could not forget him because of his sufferings Oh his sufferings said he are not transcient words or removable objects but they are indelible characters so engraven in my heart that all the torments of earth can never raze them out And being commanded by that bloody Tyrant Trajane to be ript and unbowelled they found Jesus Christ written upon his heart in Characters of Gold Here was an heart worth Gold Oh that it might be thus with us If my hands were all of love that I could work nothing but love if my eyes were all of love that I could see nothing but love if my mind were all of love that I could think of nothing but love all were too little to love that Christ who hath thus immeasurably loved me if I had a thousand hearts to bestow on Christ and they most enlarged and scrued up to the highest pitch of affection all these were infinitely short of what I owe to my dread Lord and dearest Saviour Come let 's joyn hands He loved us and therefore let us love him if we dispute the former I argue from the Jews when he shed but a few tears out of his eyes at Lazarus's grave then said the Jews John 11.36 behold how he loved him John 11.36 how much more truly may it be said of us for whom he shed both water and blood and that from his heart Behold how he loved us why then if our hearts be not Iron yea if they be Iron how should they chuse but feel the magnetical force of this Loadstone of love for to a Loadstone doth Christ resemble himself when he saith of himself And I if I be lifted up from the earth John 12.32 will draw all men unto me SECT VII Of joying in Jesus in that Respect 7. LEt us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of Salvation in his sufferings and death what hath Christ suffered for us hath he drunk off all the cup of God's wrath and left none for us how should we be but cheered Precious souls why are you afraid there is no death no hell Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus There is no divine justice for them to undergo that have their share in this death of Christ Oh the Grace and Mercy that is purchased by this means of Christ Oh the waters of comfort that flow from the sufferings and obedience of Christ Christ was amazed that we might be cheered Christ was imprisoned that we might be delivered Christ was accused that we might be acquitted Christ was condemned that we might be redeemed Christ suffered his Fathers wrath and came under it that the victory might be ours and that in the end we might see him face to face in glory is not here matter of Joy It may be the Law and sin and justice and conscience and death and hell may appear as enemies and disturb thy comforts but is there not enough in the blood of Christ to chase them away Give me Leave but to frame the objections of some doubting souls and see whether Christ's death will not sufficiently answer and solve them all 1. One cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me my sins are ever before me against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight Psal 51.3 4. I have sinned against a most dear and gracious and merciful God and Father in our Lord Jesus O the aggravations of my sins are they not sins above measure sinful It may be so but the blood of Christ is a fountain opened for sins and for uncleanness in him we have redemption through his blood
Cross But hast thou taken the same course with the body of sin that the Jews did with the body of sin hast thou arraigned it accused it condemned it and fastened it to the Cross hast thou arraigned it at the Bar of God's judgment accused it by way of humble and hearty confession condemned it in passing the sentence of eternal condemnation upon thy self for it and fastned it to the Cross in beginning the execution of it in setting upon the mortification of it with a serious and unfeigned resolution to use all means for its mortifying and killing why then be not disheartned it may be thou feelest it stirring and strugling within thee and so will a crucified man do and yet in the eye of the Law and in the account of all men that see him he is a dead man surely so is the body of sin when it is thus crucified though it still move and stir yet upon a Gospel-account and in God's estimation it is no better than dead and it shall certainly die it shall decay and languish and die more and more is not the promise express He that hath begun the good work Phil. 1.6 he will perfect it to the day of Jesus Christ Of this Paul was confident in behalf of his Philippians and of this let all true Believers rest confident in respect of themselves Thus far we see wherein we must conform to Christ viz. in his Graces in his Sufferings and in his Death For the Query what is the cause of this conformity I answer The death of Christ is the cause of this conformity And that a fourfold cause Eph. 5.25 26 27. 1. It is a meritorious cause Christ's death was of so great a price that it deserved at God's hands our conformity to Christ Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that by his death he might sanctifie it and cleanse it and present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 1 Pet. 2.21 2. It is an exemplary cause He suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps he died for us leaving us an example that we should die to sin as he died for sin we may observe in many particulars besides those I have named a proportion analogy and likeness betwixt Christ's death and ours Christ died as a servant to note that sin should not rule or reign over us Christ died as a curse to note that we should look upon sin as a cursed thing Christ was fast nayled on the Cross to note that we should put sin out of case yea crucifie the whole body of sin Christ died not presently yet there he hung till he died to note that we should never give over subduing sin while it hath any life or working in us 3. It is an efficient cause it works this conformity by a secret virtue issuing from it Thus Christians are said to be engraffed with Christ in the likeneâ—s of his death Rom. 6.5 Phil. 3.10 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of a passive signification importing not only a being like but a being made like and that by a power and vertue out of our selves so the Apostle elsewhere interprets That I may know him and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death Not conforming my self but being made conformable by a power out of my self But how then is the power of mortification attributed to men as Quest Col. 3.5 Gal. 5.24 Mortifie ye your members which are upon the earth And They which are Christ's have crucified the flesh I answer there is a twofold mortification the one habitual the other practical Answ the former consists in a change of the heart turning the bent and inclination of the heart from all manner of sin now this is the only and immediate work of the Spirit of Grace breathing and working where it will the latter consists in the exercise of putting forth of that inward grace in the acting of that principle in resisting temptations in suppressing inordinate Lusts in watching against sinful and inordinate acts now this is the work of a regenerate person himself co-operating with the Spirit of God as a rational instrument with the principal Agent and therefore the Apostle joins both together If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body Rom. 8.13 ye shall live 4. It is an impelling or a moving cause as all objects are for objects have an attractive power Achan saw the wedge of Gold and then coveted it David saw Bathsheba and then desired her As the brazen Serpent did heal those who were bitten by the fiery Serpent tanquam objectum fidei meerly by being looked upon so Christ crucified doth heal sin beget grace encourage to sufferings by being looked upon with the eyes of Faith Heb. 12.1 2. Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking uâ—to Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith The Apostle was to encourage the Hebrews to hold on the well-begun profession of Faith in Christ and to that purpose he sets before them two fights to keep them from fainting 1. A cloud of witnesses the Saints in heaven on which cloud when he had staid their eyes a while and made them fit for a clearer Object he scatters the cloud and presents the Sun of Righteousness Christ himself and he wills them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to turn their eyes from it to him looking unto Jesus q. d. this sight is enough to make you run the race and not to faint why Jesus is gone before you and will you not follow him O look unto Jesus and the very sight of him will draw you after him Christ crucified hath an attractive power And I if I be lifted up John 12.32 will draw all men to me Thus of the causes of our conformity we see how it is wrought 3. For the last Query what are the means of this conformity as on our part I answer 1. Go to the Cross of Jesus Christ It is not all our purposes resolutions promises vows covenants endeavours without this that will effect our conformity to Christ in his sufferings and death no no this conformity is a fruit and effect of the death of Christ and therefore whosoever would have this work wrought in him let him first have recourse to Christ's Cross O go we more immediately to the Cross of Jesus 2. Look up to him that hangs upon it contemplate the death of Jesus Christ consider seriously and sadly his bitter shameful painful sufferings Much hath been said only here draw it into some Epitome As 1. Consider who he was 2. What he suffered 3. Why he suffered 4. For whom he
suffered 5. For what end he suffered 6. With what mind he suffered Every one of these will make some discoveries either of his Graces or of his gracious actings in our behalf and who can tell how far this very Look may work on us to change us and transform us into the very image of Jesus Christ 3. Let us humbly bewail our defect exorbitancy irregularity and inconformity either to the graces sufferings or death of Christ As thus Lo here the profound humility wonderful patience fervent love abundant mercy admirable meekness constant obedience of Jesus Christ Lo here the tortures torments agonies conflicts extream sufferings of Christ for the spiritual immortal good of the preciouâ— souls of his redeemed ones Lo here the death of Christ see how he bowed the head and gave up the Ghost why these are the particulars to which I should conform But Oh alas what a wide vast utter distance disproportion is there betwixt me and them Christ in his sufferings shined with graces his graces appeared in his sufferings like so many stars in a bright winter's night but how dim are the faint weak Graces in my Soul Christ in his sufferings endured much for me I know not how much by thine unknown sorrows and sufferings felt by thee ' but not distinctly known to us said the ancient Fathers of the Greek Church in their Liturgy have mercy upon us and save us his sorrows and sufferings were so great that some think it dangerous to define them but how poor how little are my sufferings for Jesus Christ I have not yet resisted unto blood and if I had what were this in comparison of his extream sufferings Christ in his sufferings died his passive obedience was unto death even to the death of the Cross he hung on the Cross till he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Rom. 6.10 he died unto sin once But alas how do I live in that for which he died To this day my sin hath not given up the Ghost to this day the death of Christ is not the death of my sin O my sin is not yet crucified the heart-blood of my sin is not yet let out Oh wo is me how unanswerable am I to Christ in all these respects 4. Let us quicken provoke and rouze up our Souls to this conformity let us set before them exciting Arguments ex gr The greatest glory that a Christian can attain to in this world is to have a resemblance and likeness to Jesus Christ Again the more like we are to Christ the more we are in the love of God and the better he is pleased with us It was his voice concerning his Son This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and for his sake if we are but like him he is also well pleased with us Again a likeness or resemblance of Christ is that which keeps Christ alive in the world As we say of a child that is like his Father This man cannot die so long as his Son is alive So we may say of Christians who resemble Christ that so long as they are in the world Christ cannot die he lives in them and he is no otherwise alive in this nether world than in the hearts of Gracious Christians that carry the picture and resemblance of him Again a likeness to Christ in his death will cause a likeness to Christ in his Glory If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6.5 we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection As it is betwixt the Graft and the Stock the Graft seeming dead with the Stock in the winter it revives with it in the Spring after the Winter's death it partakes of the Spring 's resurrection so it is betwixt Christ and us if with Christ we die to sin we shall with Christ be raised to Glory being conformed to him in his death we shall be also in his resurrection Thus let us quicken and provoke our souls to this conformity 5. Let us pray to God that he will make us conformable to Jesus Christ Is it Grace we want let us beg of him that of that fulness that is in Christ we may in our measure receive grace for grace Is it patience or joy in sufferings that we want let us beg of him that as he hath promised he will send us the comforter that so we may follow Christ chearfully from his cross to his crown from earth to heaven Is it mortification our souls pant after this indeed makes us most like to Christ in his sufferings and death why then pray we for this mortification But how should we pray I answer 1. Let us plainly acknowledge and heartily bemoan our selves in God's bosom for our sins our abominable sins 2. Let us confess our weakness feebleness and inability in our selves to subdue our sins we have no might may we say against this great company that come against us 2 Chr. 20.12 neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee 3. Let us put up our request begging help from heaven let us cry to God that vertue may come out of Christ's death to mortifie our Lusts to heal our Natures to stanch our bloody issues and that the Spirit may come into helps us in these works Rom. 8.13 for by the Spirit do we mortifie the deeds of the body 4. Let us press God with the merits of Christ and with his promises through Christ for he hath said Sin shall not have dominion over us for we are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.2 and Paul experienced it The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ hath freed me from the Law of sin and death 5. Let us praise God and thank God for the help already received if we find that we have gotten some power against sin that we have gotten more ability to oppose the lusts of the flesh that we are seldom overtaken with any breaking forth of it that we have been able to withstand some notable temptations to it that the force of it in us is in any measure abated that indeed and in truth vertue is gone out of the death of Christ Oh then return we praises to God let us triumph in God let us lead our captivity captive and sing new songs of praises unto God and even ride in triumph over our corruptions boasting our selves in God and setting up our Banners in the name of the most High and offering up humble and hearty thanks to our Father for the death of Christ and for the merit vertue and efficacy of it derived unto us and bestowed upon us 6. Let us frequently return to our looking up unto Jesus Christ to our believing in Christ as he was lifted up How we are to manage our Faith to draw down the vertue of Christ's death into our souls I have discovered before and let us now be in the practice of those rules certainly
the heads of the Saints Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness 1 Tim. 4.8 which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not for me onely but unto them also that love his appearing 4. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you as Tophet was prepared of old so was this Kingdom prepared of old it was the first creature that ever God made In the beginning God created heaven Gen. 1.1 his first work was to make Heaven for himself and his Saints to dwell in he prepared it for them and then he prepared them for it but why for them were not the Angels the first creatures that possessed it nay were they not created in it or together with it yes but yet the Angels are not properly the heirs sons members spouse of God and Christ as the Saints are the Angels are but ministring spirits and the servants of the Bride-groom but the Saints are the Bride her self heirs and co-heirs with Christ 5. Prepared for you from the foundation of the world This was the great design of God and Christ from all eternity before the foundations of the world and at the first stone laid and ever since they have been carrying on this mighty work it is not a business of yesterday onely No no the eternal thoughts of God have been upon it Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world Oh what thoughts are in Saints when this sentence is propounded Oh what joy enters into them now they are to enter into their Masters joy methinks if it were possible that tears could be in a glorified estate the Saints should not see Christ reach out a Crown to set it on their heads but they should weep and hold away their heads but Christ will have it so This honour have all the Saints praise ye the Lord. SECT VI. Of Christ and the Saints judging the rest of the World 6. FOR Christ and his Saints judging the world no sooner shall the Saints be sentenced Justified Acquitted Anointed Crowned but presently they must be enthronized and sit with Jesus Christ to judge the world In the unfolding of this we may observe these particulars 1. As Christ is on a Throne so now must the Elect be set on Thrones Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne Thrones are for Kings and Judges and in that Christ hath now lifted up his Saints to this condition he will have them sit with him as so many Judges and as so many Kings or if it be more honour to have Thrones by themselves than to sit with Christ in his Throne John in his vision saw many Thrones And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them Rev. 20.4 and judgment was given unto them And Christ himself told his Apostles Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones Mat. 19.28 judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Hence some argue that amongst all the Saints the Apostles shall have their Thrones seated next to Christ howsoever the rest shall not be deprived of their Thrones for not onely twelve Thrones but twelve and twelve are set about the Throne of Christ And round about the Throne were four and twenty Thrones or seats and upon the Throne I saw four and twenty Elders sitting cloathed with white rayment Rev. 4.4 and they had on their heads crowns of Gold Onely four and twenty Thrones and four and twenty Elders are numbred but thereby is represented the whole Church of Christ It is plain enough that all the Saints shall appear plainly in the glory of Christ's Kingdom having Thrones with him in the Air during the time of his judgment 2. The goats on the left hand shall then be called to receive their doom No sooner the Saints enthronized but then shall Christ say Ye blessed Angels bring hither all those mine enemies who have said I shall not rule over them that I may bruise them with my Iron mace and break them in pieces like a Potters vessel O the fear and trembling that will now seize on reprobates do but see the case of prisoners when the Judge speaks that word Come Jaylors bring hither those prisoners to the bar But alas what comparison can we make to suite with the condition of these reprobates now shall their hearts fail them for fear now shall they seek death oh how gladly would they die again but shall not find it now shall they cry to rocks and mountains Fall on us Rev. 6.16 and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. As a prisoner in a desperate case had rather remain in his fordid stinking dungeon than coming into the open air for execution so the reprobates newly raised from the earth would fain return again into the earth glad to remain though not on the face of it with pleasure yet in the bowels of it with rottenness and solitude like malefactors pressing to death they cry out for more weight Hills cover us mountains fall upon us yet more weight more rocks more mountains hide us press us cover us dispatch us But all in vain the command is out Angels and Devils will force them to the bar for the Lord hath spoken it Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them Luke 19.27 bring them hither 3. They shall look on Christ and his Saints now sitting on their Thrones As prisoners that stand at the bar in the face of the Judge so must these reprobates look the Judge and all his Assessors in the very face 1. For the judge they shall look on him Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him We heard before that no sooner Christ in the clouds but they saw him then as the prisoners that see the Judge riding to his Judgment-seat Oh but now they shall see him in the Judgment-seat ready with sparkling eyes and thundring voice to speak their sentence Prisoners at the bar must not turn their backs on the Judge when he begins their sentence no more must reprobates In Majestate visuri sunt in humilitate videre noluerunt ut tanto distrinctius virtutem sentiant quanto contemptius infirmitatem deriserunt They must see him in Majesty whom they would not deigne to look upon in humility that by so much more they may feel his power by how much more they derided his weakness Oh the difference betwixt Christ's first coming in the flesh and in his second coming in the clouds then he came in poverty now in Majesty then in humility now in Glory then with poor-Shepherds now with mighty Angels then the contempt of Nations now the terror of the World then crowned with