God and the Apostles by Christ they were his Deputies and Representatives as he was God's that is the Notion of Apostle or one sent in the New Testament not as bare Messengers but as Proxies see Hammond and we read of Messengers of the Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Churcheâ— Deputies and Representatives Yea they had Power to send others as Christ had The World was bound to acknowledg them for such To despise Christ was to despise God whose Deputy he was and to despise them was to despise Christ to hear them was to hear Christ and to hear Christ was to hear God Mat. 10.40 He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me And Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me But why doth Christ urge this Argument in this place They were sent and sent as I was sent I Answer It is an Argument as to God and it is a ground of Hope to the Apostles An Argument fit to be urged to God in Prayer they are sent as I was Thou didst send me to redeem the World out of thy Grace and they are sent to preach this Redemption and therefore it is fit they should be preserved and sanctified It is a fit ground of Hope for the Apostles to meditate upon they were sent as Christ was If they be in great Poverty want the help and assistance of the World so did Christ. All God's Witnesses prophesy in Sackcloth Well then here we have the first rise of a Gospel-Ministry Christ was sent by God the Apostles by Christ and others are their Successors authorized and sent by them The Points which I shall handle are two First The Necessity of a Call to the Ministry Secondly The Dignity of those that are so called Both are implied in the word sent Before I enter upon the Discussion let none take offence that I apply that to the Ministry in general which is spoken of the Apostles in the Text I have sent them Which I do for two Reasons 1. Partly because we may compare ordinary Ministers and the Apostles together if their Mission be compared with Christ's As Christ's Mission had something extraordinary and peculiar by which it was distinguished from the Mission of the Apostles so the Apostles Mission hath something peculiar but both agree in this that they must be sent this they have in common Rom. 10.14 How can they preach except they be sent Mark the Apostles were sent as Christ was sent tho Christ was sent to redeem as well as to prophesy and teach and so Ministers are sent they must be authorized as well as the Apostles tho the Apostles had somewhat peculiar and proper to that Office as the Infallibility of Doctrine power of working Miracles the largeness of their Circuit which was the whole World whereas ordinary Ministers are set over one Church and fastned to one place Again the Apostles were appointed to write Scriptures and Pastors and Teachers to apply Scripture The Apostles were authorized by Christ himself received their Call immediatly from his Mouth ordinary Ministers are called by a Power derived Yet they both agree in this that they serve in the Work of the Gospel and that they are Officers that must be called and sent as not only they are the King's Officers who are immediatly appointed by the King but those also that are appointed by subordinate Powers 2. Partly because a part of the Comparison lieth in this that as Christ was sent by God and had Power to call others so the Apostles were sent by Christ and had a Power to send and constitute others and so the Succession was to continue That this was a part of their Power appeareth because Christ when he gave them their Commission saith He will be with them to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 that is with them in their Persons and their Successors who are taken into the same Patent and Commission and have a Power to call others to the end of the World and therefore the Apostles ordained Elders in every City Acts 14.23 And those Elders ordained others as the Apostle giveth leave to Titus so to do Tit. 1.5 For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Christ was not only sent to be a Prophet himself but to authorize others So the Apostles not only were sent to preach the Gospel themselves but to authorize others and they others even to the end of the World This being premised I come to handle First The Necessity of a Call That none can enter upon this Work or upon the Office of the Ministry without a Call is I suppose out of controversy All the Difficulty will be to shew you what a Call is Gifts meerly do not make a Call but something else Now a Call is either Extraordinary or Ordinary 1. Extraordinary and that is an immediate Call from God himself by Voice Vision or Oracle or by Christ in Person So was Moses called to his Office so the Baptist so the Apostles and so also was Paul called because he had not seen Christ in Person which it seemeth was necessary to the Call of an Apostle he was called by Christ appearing from Heaven and therefore he saith Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of Men neither by Man but by Jesus Christ c. Now this extraordinary Call may be pretended but cannot be expected in these latter dayes Many have pretended to an extraordinary Call Eusebius in his â— th Book tells us of some that pretended they had a Book sent from Heaven according to which they were to instruct their Disciples And Sozomen speaketh of a Monk that pretended that the Instruction that he offered to the Church was written by an Angel And since in all Ages especially in ours do Men pretend to Illâ—minations Teachings and Voices within Thus it may be pretended but it cannot be expected For an immediate extraordinary Calling hath only place in establishing a new Doctrine But now the Canon of Faith is closed up This Doctrine of the Kingdom is to be preached to all Nations till the end come Mat. 24.14 And the Ordinances of the Church are setled and put into a stated course till Christ come and therefore we cannot reasonably expect new Miracles and new Calls And besides every extraordinary Call is manifested by some Vision Miracle or special Effect and Gift of the Holy Ghost by which the Truth of that Calling may be made out to others and hath been always sealed with extraordinary Effects which are ceased in these Days 2. The Ordinary Call then is that which we should chiefly regard and that is two-fold either Inward or Outward 1. The Inward Calling that is to be regarded in the first place Be sure you be Ministers of Christ's making There
apt to content your selves with a sleepy profession Paul counted this terrour or matter of fear to be an help to him and should not we who are so much beneath him in holiness Will you that must shortly be in another World will you be careless and please the flesh and give up the boat to the stream 2. Do you perswade your Family Children Servants Friends and Neighbours with your Children about it tell them what a dreadful thing it is they have a conscience apt to fear Dives in the parable is represented as desirous of his brethrens welfare lest they should come into that place of Torment Luke 16.27 28. Then he said I pray thee therefore Father that thou wouldst send him to my Fathers House for I have five brethren that he may testifie unto them lest they also come into this place of Torment Shall we be less charitable than a man in Hell is represented to be If we have a friend or a Child falling into the fire we save him by violence though we break an Arm or a Leg your Children by Nature are Children of wrath pluck them as brands out of the burning SERMON XIX 2 Cor. 5.11 But we are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your Consciences 12. For we commend not our selves again to you but give you an occasion to Glory on our behalf that you may have somewhat to answer them who Glory in appearance and not in heart THe Apostle having proved his sincerity and fidelity in his Ministry now asserts it with confidence 1. By an appeal 2. An apology 1. An appeal to God as the Supream Judge 2. To the Corinthians as inferiour witnesses and he appealeth to the most impartial and discerning faculty in them their Consciences who are most apt to give infallible Judgment and to take Gods part and own what is of God 2. By an Apology or answer to an objection which might be framed against him by his adversaries verse the 12 th where First The objections were intimated We commend not our selves again to you Secondly His vindication from the end The reason why he spake so much of his fidelity and integrity But give you occasion to glory in our behalf that you may have somewhat to answer them Thirdly a description of the false Apostles at Corinth or those vain-glorious teachers who went about to lessen the Apostles Authority They glory in appearance and not in heart Let me explain these passages 1. The intimation of the objection for we commend not our selves again to you The Adversaries were wont to say upon all occasions he runneth out into his own praises which doth not become a modest and a sober man for boasting is the froth of pride and how can Paul be excused from pride This was the objection against Paul that he did commend himself too much 2. Pauls answer and vindication was from his end 'T was not to set forth his own praise but to arm them with an argument and an answer against the false teachers whereby they might defend his ministry and the doctrine they had heard from him 't was not pride and ostentation in Paul but a necessary defence of the credit of his ministry Their Faith and obedience to the Gospel depending thereupon 3. The false Apostles are described by their Hypocrisy and ambition They Glory in appearance and not in heart For the opening of this clause observe First That there were false Apostles at Corinth who sought to depretiate Paul and to lessen the Authority of his Doctrine 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. For such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness whose end shall be according to their works Secondly These false Apostles were great boasters and apt to Glory when ever they are spoken of we hear of this glorying That wherein they Glory we may be even as they Thirdly Their glorying as that of all Hypocrites was in some external thing Called a glorying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 11.18 Seeing that many Glory after the flesh I will Glory also And here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But what fleshly and external thing they gloryed in is not expresly mentioned Some leave it in the general that they boasted before men otherwise than their Conscience and the truth of the thing did permit Omne id quod inter homines Humana sapientes maximi fieri solet Grot. Others instance in particular birth wealth abilities of speech frothy eloquence 1 Cor. 2. In a coloured shew of mans wisdom and eloquence and not in true godliness Some think in the multitude of their followers or in the applause of their hearers Some a shew of Zeal Holiness and Fidelity when they were destitute of the truth of godliness and that sincerity which is truely a comfort Some in their taking no maintainance to gain credit and advantage that appeareth by 2 Cor. 11.9 Of all the Churches planted by the Apostles Corinth was the richest And Macedonia the poorest yet Paul preaching at Corinth was maintained from Macedonia 2 Cor. 11.9 Wherefore As he himself puts the question that I may cut off occasion from them that desire occasion that wherein they Glory we may be found even as they 2 Cor. 11 12. But what if it be such things as had a nearer Connection with and respect to Religion As their acquaintance with Christ that they had known him in the flesh and owned him while yet a live which is supposed to be intended in that expression 1 Cor. 1.12 I am of Christ Others received the Doctrine of Life from Peter Paul Apollos They immediately from Christ himself This boasting these Corinthian Doctours used to keep up their own fame among the people and to weaken the credit and esteem of Pauls Apostle-ship for this objection lay against him that he had not as other Disciples conversed with our Lord Jesus Christ while he was upon Earth Now Paul that he might give the Corinthians occasion to Glory in his behalf and furnish them with an answer to those that gloryed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in external priviledges when their Consciences could give little Testimony of their sincerity Paul had more valuable things to boast of namely that he was much in Spirit much in labours much in afflictions for the honour of the Gospel To all which he was carryed out by the hopes of Eternal Life the terrour of the Lord at the day of Judgment and the Love of Christ these were more valuable Considerations whereupon to esteem any one than bare external priviledges could possibly be nay in their outward priviledges he could vye with them for though he was none of Christs followers whilest he was here upon earth yet herein he was equal to them if not exceeded them by having seen Christ
he was Wise Powerful and Good but they were unhappy in their determination of his Worship they sat a brood and proved but Fools They professed themselves to be Wise but became Fools Rom. 1.22 While they intended him Honour they carved to him the greatest contempt whilst they would express him in the Image of the Creatures they dishonoured him Natural Light is but small in it self and Corruption maketh it less They knew nothing of the misery of Man and the Remedy by Christ our Fall in Adam Original Sin and the Work of Redemption were Mysteries to them they could not dream of these things when they were revealed they counted them Foolishness They spoke of Vertue as a moral Perfection of Vice as a stain of Nature but nothing of Righteousness and Sin as relative to the Covenant of God God used the Heathen as Instruments to put Nature to the highest extent How may we pity them that they could go no further and admire God's Mercy to us that we being weaker than they in natural Gifts are yet stronger in Grace that a Boy out of a Catechism should know more than they Their Misery was great in abusing the Light of Nature our Misery will be greater and Damnation double if we abuse the Light of Nature and Grace 2. Above the Jewes whom God acquainted with his Statutes above all other Nations They knew little of the Name of God in comparison of what we know Therefore Moses desires to know God's Name Exod. 3.13 And it is said Judges 13.18 Why askest thou after my Name seeing it is secret The Divine Glory was hidden and under a Vail In those Appearances of Christ little was known in respect of what was known at his Incarnation It is spoken in reference to the present Dispensation Some notice they had of this Mystery God acquainted them with his Name by degrees as Exod. 6.3 I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty but by my Name IEHOVAH was I not known to them God had made himself known by other Names to the Fathers by the Name of God Almighty the Name IEHOVAH that should be an Appellation among his gathered People giving a Being to his People and making good his Promises Afterwards I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Jacob as more relating to the Covenant Afterwards Jer. 23.5 6. I will raise up to David a Righteous Branch this is the Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOVSNESS Then God will be known by his Grace justifying his People and accepting them for Christ's sake But in the New Testament all is open and clear he is called the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes. 1.5 Then God the Father and the Mediator were clearly made known Alas the Jewish Church knew little of the Doctrine of the Trinity the Distinction of the Persons the Quality of the Mediator the Way of Salvation What they knew was obscured and the Doctrine of the Messiah horribly depraved Vse Let us bless God for the Word and take heed unto it as to a Light shining in a dark Place What would be our Condition if we had not the Scriptures among us We should be no better than Salvages in the Wilderness or as the Body without the Soul the Earth without the Sun God might immediately have revealed himself to Man he that made the Heart can instamp it with the Knowledg of his Will But he would state his Doctrine into a setled Course that we might not coin Oracles to our selves or obtrude Fancies on others We have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 He knoweth to what Liberty we incline in preaching Divine Things No more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those divers Ways and Manners wherewith God spake in times past to our Fathers by the Prophets Heb. 1.1 After the closing of a perfect Canon there needed nothing but ordinary Revelation This is sufficient to Salvation if there were no Book else if the World were full of Books and this only were wanting there were no certain way nor Rule to Heaven Here is God's Heart discovered to us and our Hearts to our selves it is a ray of the Face of God in Christ. John 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son of God that lay in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him Satan hath been ever maligning this Light that he might more securely domineer in the World Christ undertook he would declare God's Name to his Brethren and here he hath done it O let it it come with Divine Authority upon your Hearts in all the Precepts Promises Threatnings of it that you may come to a nearer sight of God and your selves 4. Observe The Necessity of a Divine Light before we can understand the Things of God I have manifested thy Name c. 1. There must not only be an outward sure Rule of Doctrine but an inward Light We can have no savory Apprehensions of the Things of God till Christ himself become our Teacher the Son of God must always be the Interpreter of his Father's Will He is the Word that speaketh to the Heart All Men by Nature are ignorant of the Name of God without any saving-Knowledg Ephes. 5.8 Ye were sometimes Darkness not only in the Dark but Darkness it self but now ye are Light in the Lord that is enlightned by his Spirit This is proper to the Elect those who are given to him The Church is Christ's open School the Scriptures our Book the Ministers are the Ushers and Christ is the inward Teacher Some are only taught by the Ministers others are taken aside and taught by Christ himself in private His Publick Lectures are read to all Hearers but the Elect are taught of God John 6.68 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternal Life Others may hear the Word but they perish in their own blindness and unbelief Some play the Truants in Christ's School they will not hear they pass Judgment on themselves Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed The whole City was met to hear but none believe but the Elect and the Apostle doth not say As many as believed were ordained to Eternal Life but as many as were ordained believed It is not given to all Matth. 13.11 It is given to you to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given All the Difference is in the Will of God so that the Scholars in this kind are the Called according to his Purpose Christ's teaching is of no larger extent than his Father's Election Some School-masters besides their common Care do teach such Children a-part as they love most they take them and point with the Finger So doth Christ manifest himself to those that are
Grace and Authority Mat. 7.29 The People were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes All he did was with Heavenly Majesty and Authority a Soveraign Majesty was to be seen in Christ's teaching proper to himself Besides his Faithfulness as a Minister with such Clearness Evidence and Demonstration there was sufficient Declaration to the World at his Baptism Mat. 3.17 Lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased agreeing with the Prophecy of him Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold my Elect in whom my Soul delighteth At his Transfiguration before three Persons that for the Holiness of their Lives were of great Credit Mat. 17.5 Before all his Disciples John 12.28 Father glorify thy Name Then came there a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again To the World at his Resurrection Acts 17 31. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead To which Resurrection the Jews were conscious Those that reported it wrought Miracles these Men sought not themselves had no Advantage but visible Hazards their Witness was agreeable to the Writings of the Prophets the Doctrine built on it very satisfactory there is in it what every Religion pretendeth to tho in a higher way tho Miracles are now ceased yet it is confirmed by the Truth of the Word God continually confirmeth it by the Seal of the Spirit and there is an inward Certioration whereby Believers are satisfied John 18.37 For this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth Every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice that is enlightned by the Holy-Ghost receiveth and believeth it but those that have a mind to wrangle God will not satisfy And then for his Miracles they were not Miracles of Pomp and Ostentation not destructive Miracles but Actions of Relief When the Pharisees said He casteth out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 He proveth that his main aim was to cast out Satan ver 26. If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself Would Satan consent that his Kingdom should fall He would not go to dispossess himself All his aim was to promote Holiness and the Kingdom of God I note this 1. That you may know that the Apostles had sufficient Means to convince the World of the certainty of the Christian Doctrine The inward Testimony of the Spirit the Apostles would not alledg it by Miracles and rational Probabilities they were fitted to deal with the World and to appear as Witnesses for him when they were to give an Account Acts 5.32 And we are Witnesses of these things and so is the Holy-Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him This inward Witness is proper to Believers the other may be alledged to Infidels By the Spirit is meant there a Power to work Miracles 2. That you may know the way of God's working with Men Usually all these three concur to the working of Faith there is the Light of the Spirit external Confirmation and the use of fit Instruments 1. The Light of the Spirit without which there can be no Grace nor Faith 1 John 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is true That is That Word which the Spirit himself hath revealed is Truth for he is not only the Author and Inditer of the Word but the Witness he worketh in the Hearts of the Faithful so that he persuadeth them of the Truth of the Word 2. There is external Confirmation Tho Miracles cease yet we have the Testimony and Consent of the Church who by undoubted and authentick Rolls hath communicated her Experience to us which is visibly confirmed by the Providence of God not suffering the Truth to be oppressed 3. There is the use of fit Instruments specially gifted for this Purpose Tho the Effect of the Word doth mainly depend on the Spirit yet there is a Ministerial Efficacy in the Messengers Acts 14.1 They so spake that a multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed Not that the Faith of the Hearers doth meerly depend upon the excellency of the Preacher Yet certain it is that one way of preaching may be more fit to convert than another both in regard of Matter and Form Pure Doctrine for the Matter is more apt to convert than that which is mixed with Falshood as pure Water cleanseth better than foul and good Food nourisheth better than that which is in part tainted He that can divide the Word aright and prudently apply it is more powerful to work than he that seeth by an half Light or presseth Truth loosly and not with Judgment and Solidity Not as if they could infallibly convert but they are more likely they do not carry the Grace of Conversion in their Mouths Then for the Form with more plainness clearness strength of Argument God hath given to some Gifts above others not to bind himself to them but in the way of Instruments they are more powerful tho the weakest Gifts are not to be despised And in the quality of the Persons Holy Persons are more polished Shafts in God's Quiver 3. I observe it to press you to regard all these things 1. The Power of the Spirit if you would profit in Christ's School The watering-Pot will do nothing without the Sun nor the Word without his Testimony 1 Cor. 3.7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the Increase The Spirit is to confirm Truth to you by way of Witness and Argument By way of Witness 1 John 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost There is a secret Persuasion especially when you are reading and hearing that insinuateth it self with your Thoughts doubtless this is the Word of God Acts 16.14 Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to those things that were spoken by Paul By way of Argument working such things from whence you may conclude it is God's Word John 8.32 Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye free When ye are freed from the bondage of Sin then ye are enlightned to see the Truth of the Gospel by experience ye shall know the Truth 2. Take in the advantage of external Confirmation By Miracles Christ's Testimony was made valuable to the Apostles You have not only authentick Records wherein these Miracles are recorded which as an History may be believed but the Testimony of the Church which hath experience of the Truth and Power of the Gospel for many Ages The Lives of the Godly who are called God's Witnesses 1 Cor. 14.26 The Providences of God in delivering his Church in their miraculous Preservations Psal. 58.11 Verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Answers of Prayers grounded on the Word Upon all these
know that I love the Father He will be the Sinners Surety for his Father's sake Vse 2. Glorify God the Father it is the end of the whole dispensation of Grace Glorify him in your Expectations the Father himself loveth you Glorify him in your Enjoyments all is from the Father of Lights James 1.17 There is no Defect in Christ John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me God hath loved him not only as his own Son but our Saviour John 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my Life that I might take it again SERMON XI JOHN XVII 8 For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me CHRIST in this Verse further explaineth the Argument that was urged before which was taken from their Proficiency in his School and that they had a right Sense of and Faith in the Dignity and Quality of his Person This Faith is set forth by all the Requisites of it First The Means by which it is wrought that is The Word the Doctrine given to him by his Father and by him to his Apostles For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest me Secondly The Nature of Faith which consisteth in Knowledg and Acceptation They have known surely and they have believed them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the two Acts of Faith Thirdly The Object of Faith the Mission of Christ and his coming out from the Father That I came out from thee and they have believed that thou hast sent me First I begin with the Means of Faith For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest me The only difficulty is how the Word was given unto Christ. Some think it is meant of the divine and infinite Knowledg and Wisdom which was communicated to Christ by eternal Generation But that is very improper Quaecunque Christo dantur secundum humanitatem dantur It is meant of that giving which Christ had as Mediator as the Ambassador hath his Instructions according to which he is to act Now saith Christ I have taught them according to the Instructions which I received as Mediator These are said to be given to be infused and revealed to his Human Soul 1. Observe The Word is the proper means to work Faith We see here the Apostles had no other means of Salvation than Christ's Word when Christ giveth an account of their Faith he doth not mention his Miracles but his Doctrine Again he doth not speak only of the internal manifestation of the Spirit I have manifested thy Name but also of the outward Revelation I have given to them the Words which thou gavest me We have a general Saying Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God This is the usual Method and way of Grace's working God will insinuate the Efficacy of his Spirit by outward Counsel and Instruction and by the Ear transmit his Grace to the Heart that he might work fortiter suaviter Vse 1. It reproveth the Folly of two sorts of Men there are some that think the Word cannot work unless it be accompanied with Miracles and others that think the Spirit will work without the Word 1. Those that think the Word will not work without Miracles and therefore expect a reviving of Miracles to authorize that Ministry which they mean to receive Vain Thoughts In the Primitive Times when Miracles were in force we read of some converted by the Word without Miracles but of none converted by Miracles without the Word Acts 11.20 21. Some of Cyprus and Cirene when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians preaching the Lord Jesus And the Hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord They wrought no Signs only preached the Lord Jesus There is not one Instance in the whole Word of any one converted by a single Miracle It is natural to us to idolize visible Helps and Confirmations Those mentioned Acts 11. were not Apostles but private Brethren who in that extraordinary Time used their Gifts and were successful 2. Those that expect the Illapses of the Spirit without waiting upon the Word It is true God can work immediatly but the Question is about his Will God is not tied to means but we are bound and tied God may use his Liberty but this doth not dissolve our Duty and Obligation we are to lie at the Pool if we expect the stirring of the Waters There is a great deal of difference between the want of Means and the contempt of them I should always suspect that Grace that is wrought in us in the neglect of the Means The regular way of Faith is by the Word it hath pleased God to consecrate it God could have converted the Eunuch without Philip but we are to submit to his Will Paul that received his Consternation miraculously had his Confirmation from Ananias Christ had preached him into Terror from Heaven but he sendeth him to Ananias for Comfort Vse 2. It stirreth us up to attend upon the Word It is God's Instrument Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth the meaning is it is a powerful Instrument to work Faith As the first Sermon that ever was preached after the pouring out of the Spirit converted three thousand Souls An Angel could slay an hundred and eighty five thousand Men in a Night by his own natural Strength but it is easier to kill so many Men than to convert one Soul All the Angels in Heaven if they should join all their Forces together they could not convert one Soul to God but yet this Power will God discover in the Ministry and cooperation of weak Men. Those that do not delight to hear the Word have no mind to see the Miracles of Grace The Power is of God yet it is wonderfully joined with the Word it is not inclosed in it but sent out together with it when God pleaseth It is God's Ordinance and under the Blessing of an Institution 2. Observe again The Certainty of Christian Doctrine The Word delivered to the Apostles was received from the Father by Christ. It was no Invention of his own but brought out of the Bosom of the Father John 7.16 My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me So John 14.10 The words that I speak I speak not of my self that is not as Mediator It was prophesied of Christ who was the great Prophet of the Church Deut. 18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee and will put my Words in his Mouth and he
to the end of the World Into whatsoever place and time of the World our Lot is cast we may have an assurance of Christ's Presence that is of his Assistance and Blessing as much as if he were actually and corporally present with us To Ministers Now if they improve their Interest they might have Christ in their Company as the Apostles had they are taken into the same Patent and Charter So also to all Believers Mat. 18.20 Where-ever two or three are met together in my Name I am present in the midst of them Whenever we are met together in any religious Work and Business Christ's gracious presence is with us in this sence he will never depart from Believers Now this gracious Presence was not vouchsafed till his corporal Presence was removed Partly because Christ will do nothing unnecessarily When he was personally present to solve their Doubts to instruct them in all Cases the Spirit was not poured out in such abundance as it is usual still with God to make up to us in spiritual Supplies what we want in outward Helps Partly because his Disciples had carnal Thoughts of his bodily Presence and rested in it which was to be confuted by his absence Partly to make way for his unlimited universal Influence his bodily Presence could only be in some Places but now he is ascended he filleth all things Eph. 4.10 As the Sun if it should come down and shine on one particular Field it could not diffuse its Beams far and near but now it is fixed in the Firmament nothing is hidden from its Light So Christ exalted scattereth his Beams and Influences every where into all parts and corners of the World Partly because it was meet that Christ should enter into his Glory and Kingdom before he declared his Efficacy to Men by the more plentiful pouring out the Spirit as Princes use at their Coronation to give Gifts and send abroad Ambassadors So when Christ was in his Royal Palace he gave Gifts unto Men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Ephes. 4.8 11. Vse 1. For confutation of the Lutherans who to establish their Doctrine of Consubstantiation make Christ's Ascension to be not a local Remove but only a change of the manner of his Presence they say he is still corporally present but not visibly as if the Humane Nature of Christ were made invisibly Omnipresent and not locally removed and carried into Heaven This is a Doctrine contrary to Scriptures for it is expresly said Acts 1.11 that he was taken up into Heaven And by virtue of this taking up he is no more in the World no more in the Earth nor in any place thereof For it is said Acts 3.21 That the Heavens must contain him till the time of the restitution of all things there is his personal-Presence fixed And therefore if any say Lo here or Lo there believe him not it is flatly contradictory to Scripture that Christ should be corporally present on Earth till he cometh to Judgment and it is contrary to the Truth of Christ's Body though it be glorified it is not deified a Body cannot be Omnipresent and without Quantity for then it is no more a Body And it is a Doctrine barren and of no use the Presence of Christ's Body is not so absolutely necessary to the comfort of a Christian John 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing Nearness or distance of place doth not help or hinder his Presence with us or Efficacy upon us The Degree of his gracious Operation doth not depend upon the Degree of his Personal Presence as if Christ were like the Sun shining more or less hot according to the difference of his Posture and Scituation Christ doth not work like a natural Agent by Contact but according to his free Pleasure and the wise Dispensation of his own Will and our Communion with him is wholly Spiritual and Mystical not Gross and Carnal the Flesh profiteth nothing Yea it is against our Comfort Christ hath Business to do for us in Heaven and it is our Advantage that he is no more in the World If he were not in Heaven he were not a Priest Heb. 8.4 If he were on Earth he could not be a Priest And again Heb. 7.26 we had need of a Priest who is made higher than the Heavens that is that is ascended into the Third Heaven those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those Holy Places not made with hands now to appear in the Presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 But to leave this Vse 2. To press Christians to look for the Spiritual Presence of Christ tho they do not enjoy his Bodily You may make use of Christ now he is in Heaven as the Disciples did on Earth to ask him Questions to seek his Counsel to commend your Prayers and Persons to God It is no disadvantage to Faith that Christ is removed out of sight but only an occasion given whereby it may discover it self with more praise Therefore let us believe in Christ tho we see him not we shall one day see him in the Heavens to our Comfort and to the Terror of the Wicked in the mean time let Faith serve instead of Vision It will be your commendation whom having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1.8 God hath removed Christ out of sight to make way for the Exercise of Faith and Love and it is much better by Faith to converse with him in Heaven than by sight to see him upon Earth John 20.29 Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believe Thomas would make his Senses the Judg he must feel the Wounds and put his Finger in the print of the Nails and thrust his Hand into his Side which discovered the weakness of his Faith Faith is not grounded on Sense but Testimony Be not discouraged tho you never saw him in the Flesh you shall one day see him in Heaven tho you could not hear his gracious Words yet you have Whispers and Counsels from his Spirit You saw him not hanging on the Cross yet he is crucified before your Eyes Gal. 3.1 In the Word and Sacraments he is notably and plainly laid forth to Faith The Gospel is a Magical Glass as it were wherein God will have the Soul look that we may see our absent Friend Sic Oculos sic ille Manus sic or a ferebat there are the very Postures of Christ. Therefore let us make use of our present Advantages you may expect as powerful Influences from him as if present in Person as the Sun doth not come down from Heaven but only his Influence There is a derivation of Virtue from his Person yea Christ is not like the Sun the farther absent from us in Body the more powerful is his Influence Ephes. 4.10 When he ascended up on high he filled all things Briefly then if you have any thing to do with Christ you know where to seek him Those
Patern or Exemplar of it As we are one The Explicatory Questions are two I. What kind of Unity this is that is prayed for II. Under what respect it is prayed for in this place I. What this Unity is How one One in Judgment or one in Heart or one Body knit together with the same Spirit I answer All these For consider for whom Christ prayeth for the Disciples o◠that Age and principally for the College of the Apostles now saith he Let them be one There is a double Unity Mystical and Moral 1. Mystical Union is the Union of Believers with Christ the Head and with one another with Christ the Head by Faith and with one another by Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So it agreeth with the Letter of this Place nay with the Meaning This Union of Believers in the same Body is often compared with the Mystery of the Trinity and it is elswhere expressed by one Body as Col. 2.19 And not holding the Head from which all the Body by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God a place full to this purpose where all Believers in regard of their Union with the Head and with one another are set forth as one Body governed under one Head by one Spirit by which they increase and grow up till they come to such a kind of Unity as is among the Divine Persons I cannot exclude this because where Christ's Prayers are indefinite it is good to interpret them in their full latitude and according to the extent of his Purchase And yet I think this is not principally intended because as I said Christ chiefly prayeth for the Apostles and Disciples of that Age not for the Church Catholick or Universal 2. There is a Moral Union and that is two-fold 1. Consent in Doctrine 2. Mutual Agreement and Concord of Affection As it is said of the Church Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and one Mind One Heart that noteth Agreement in Affection and one Mind Agreement in Judgment for both these doth Christ pray 1. Let them be one in Doctrine and Judgment Christ had intrusted them with the weightiest Affair the Sons of Men are capable of with the promulgation of the Gospel a Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Bosom of the Father and gave it to the Apostles and they to the Church and Christ obtained that which he prayed for There is such an exact consent and harmony between the Doctrine of the Apostles that is a sufficient Foundation for the Faith and Unity of the Church For the Faith of the Church 1 Cor. 15.10 11. I laboured more abudantly than they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me Therefore whether it were I or they so we preach and so ye believed We have no cause to stumble and take offence at the Doctrine delivered by the Apostles tho God used several Instruments of different Gifts and Opportunities of Service yet all were conducted by an Infallible Spirit So we preached all of us c. So for Unity and Concord in the Church Ephes. 4.3 4 5. Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism c. 2. Let them be one in Heart and with joint consent carry on this great Charge that is committed to them So did the Apostles by unanimous consent divide their Labours for the Edification of the World and kept a Fellowship among themselves Gal. 2.9 They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of Fellowship that we should go unto the Heathen and they to the Circumcision with such Concord and Agreement was this great Work managed between them For all this did Christ pray And this suiteth with the Patern in the Text As we are One. As between the Father and the Son there was a mutual Agreement in the carrying on the Work of Redemption so between the Apostles in carrying on the Doctrine of Redemption II. In what manner doth Christ pray for it Here some take this only as a new Petition different from the former he had prayed for Preservation now for Unity But there is a causal Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore some connexion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken specificativè keep them by making them one the Safety of the Church dependeth much upon the Unity of it Or terminativè keep them that they may be one I had intended because of the necessity of the Matter to have spoken of the Union of the Church with Christ and then with one another But because he chiefly prayeth for the Apostles tho others are not excluded and because the Union of the Church as one Body animated with the same Spirit will fall under discussion in Vers. 21 and 23. I shall adjourn it to that place Only now I shall Observe 1. Obs. How much Christ's Heart is set upon the Vnity and Oneness of his Members Here he prayeth for the Apostles in Vers. 21. he prayeth the same for all Believers Upon this Occasion let us see how much it was in the Aim of Christ. 1. Therefore was he Incarnate He united the Divine and Humane Nature in his own Person that he might unite us to God by himself and with one another God and Man had never been one in Covenant if they had not first been one in Person The Hypostatical Union maketh way for the Mystical It was the main End of Christ's coming into the World Ephes. 1.10 That in the fulness of Time he might gather together in one all things in Christ. The Angels and blessed Spirits and the Saints in all Nations have Communion with us in Christ under the same Head He would gather the Elect rational Creatures into a Body one with God in Christ Saints and Angels As all the Heads of a Discourse are summed up in the conclusion so Christ would draw all into one Body He took a Natural Body that he might have a Mystical Body Christ would not only leave us the Relation of Friends and Brethren but Fellow-Members He would gather together all into one not only into one Family but into one Body Brothers that have issued from the same Womb that have been nursed with the same Milk have been divided in Interests and Affections and defaced all feelings of Nature Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau are sad Instances But this Mischief is not found in Members of the same Body there is no Contestation and Disagreement Who would use one Hand to cut off another Or divide those parts which preserve the mutual Correspondence and Welfare of all Again Brothers if they do not hurt one another they do not care for one another each liveth to himself a distinct Life apart and studieth his own Advantage But it is not
it hateth because I testify of it that the Works thereof are evil We are to contest with Publick Miscarriages Interests and Powers stir up the Malice and Rage of Men Sore Eyes cannot endure the Light nor a guilty Conscience the Word John 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh he to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved The Ethiopians curse the Sun Rev. 10.11 The two Witnesses tormented them that dwell on the Earth This drouzy World would fain take a Nap and sleep were it not for some bawling Preachers Proud covetous carnal Men Men wedded to their Interests will hate us if we preach in good earnest as a good Thresher maketh the Straw to flie about his Ears Nay and Errors are more touchy than Sins a Drunkard is more patient of Conviction than a Seducer Errors take away the Light of Reason and leave nothing but the Pride of Reason A Drunkard standeth upon lower ground his Practices cannot endure the Test of the Light of Nature but every erroneous Person thinketh he standeth upon the upper Ground because of the height of his Pride and the plausibleness of his Notions 2. By the Providence of God Preachers are like Gideon's Lamps in earthen Pitchers possibly the Apostle may allude to it when he saith We carry this Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 Now as when the Pitcher is dashed to pieces the Lamp breaketh out to the amazement of the Adversaries so the Sufferings of Ministers are a great Confirmation to their Doctrine Vse 1. Advice to us 1. To prepare for Sufferings 2. When they come do not count it strange I. To prepare for Sufferings It will do us no hurt to be prepared for Sufferings It hath ever been the Lot of God's People to be obnoxious to the World's hatred and we our selves cannot look for any Exemption I shall lay down several Probabilities to shew when God is about to bring Trouble on the Church 1. Observe That after God hath laid in many spiritual Comforts there comes a time to lay them out again and after great Receipts we are put upon great Expences The Disciples first enjoyed Christ's Presence and Ministry and then were exposed to a dreadful Persecution John 11. Christ biddeth them make use of Light because Darkness was coming upon them Never was the Gospel powerfully preached but Trials came 1 Thess. 1.5 For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy-Ghost and in much Assurance And it follows Verse 6. Ye received the Word with much Affliction God will try how we can live upon the Comforts of the Gospel Castles are first victualled and then besieged Heb. 10.32 After ye were illuminated ye endured a great Fight of Afflictions The Churches of Asia had horrible Desolations after a powerful Ministry The Germans after a sufficient Promulgation of the Gospel suffered many sad Years 2. Observe After Trials and Reformations there come Trials and Probations that after we have submitted to the Ways of God we may honour them with Sufferings The Ten Persecutions were after Christ had set up the Ordinances of the Gospel The Marian and Bloody Days were after King Edward's Reformation God will have every Truth honoured in its season When the Witnesses had finished the Testimony of their Prophecy after a short time they were slain Rev. 11. 3. Observe When Reformations stick in the Birth God will promote them by Troubles he taketh his own Fan into his hand Mat. 3.12 Whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor When Men cannot or will not effect it God will purge his Floor and cleanse the Church from prophane mixtures Christ came with his Whip to cleanse the Temple Joh. 2.15 Grosthead prophesied That the Church should not be reformed but ore gladii cruentandi God usually tendreth a Reformation to the World with a Judgment in his hand and if the Reformation be obstructed the Judgment will proceed Ezek. 24.12 13. She hath wearied her self with Lies and her great Scum went not forth out of her her Scum shall be in the Fire In thy filthiness is lewdness because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my Fury to rest upon thee When the Pot is put over the Fire if the Scum remaineth still he overturneth all 4. Observe When there are great Differences among God's own People the End is bitter We warp in the Sun-shine The Dog is let loose that the Sheep may run together A piece of Wax when it is broken put it together never so often it will not close but put it into the Candle and the Ends stick close together Ridley and Hooper could agree in a Prison A little before Dioclesian's Persecution the Church was rent and torn by intestine Broils Pastor against Pastor and People against People Ease begets Pride and Wantonness and that maketh way for Contention God may soder you in your own Blood and effect Union by making you Objects of the same Hatred and Persecution Nazianzen was wont to call the Enemies of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the turbulent Enemies many times prove the best Reconcilers and the Wolves bring the Sheep together 5. Observe Libertines and Fanatical Persons when they encrease in Power and Numbers become cruel Jude 11. Wo unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain The Donatists are of detestable and accursed memory because of their insolent Cruelties Hos. 5.5 The Revolters are profound to make Slaughter Men that have cast off the holy Faith after some Profession the Lord keep us from their tender Mercies The Arrians grew bloody Want of Truth is usually made up by a supply of Rage Lees and Dregs are usually very tart and sowre 6. Observe When Religion hath received Wounds in the House of her Friends and occasion is given to the World by Scandals to think evil of the Ways of God God taketh his Scourge in his hand and the Devil hath an Advantage he stirreth the Malignant World against the Children of God As a Sect of Monsters the Gnosticks by their impure and libidinous Courses made Christianity odious and then the Heathens rose up against them as Pests of Mankind Satan is a Liar but never his Lies carry more pretence 7. Observe When there is a decay of the Power of Godliness and Formality and Contempt of the Word take place which are the usual Effects of Prosperity As soon as we come out of Miseries we run into Disorders therefore God is wont to return us into our old Chains and Captivity that we may wanton it no more Hos. 5. ult I will go and return to my Place till they acknowledg their Offence and seek my Face In their Affliction they will seek me early I will try them by Adversity I will try what my Rod will do to better my People As also to discover Hypocrites When
to have a good opinion of a thing till we make trial The Testimony of the Church hath inclined us to think that the Scriptures are the Word of God not that the Church can make and unmake Scripture when it pleaseth as a Messenger that carrieth Letters from a King doth not give Authority to them 3. How the Church hath witnessed to the Truth of the Scriptures in all Ages Partly by Tradition partly by Martyrdom 1. By Tradition Holy Books were indited one after another according to the necessity of Times and still the latter confirmed the former Moses was confirmed by Joshua Chap. 23.6 Be ye couragious to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses And Joshua and others by succeeding Prophets and all were confirmed by Christ Luke 24.44 These are the Words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and 〈◊〉 the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me For the New Testament it was confirmed by all the succeeding Ages of the Church Christians different in other things yâ—t agreed these to be the Writings of the Apostles So that we have a more general consent than we have about any other Matter probable in the World Men of excellent Parts and Learning that were not apt to take Matters on trust all assent to Scripture as the publick Record for the trial of Doctrines When Heirs wrangle they go to the Last Will and Testament 2. By Martyrdom The Patience and Constancy of the Martyrs who have ratified this Truth with the loss of their dearest Concernments yea even of Life it self Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death It is possible that a Man may suffer for a false Religion and sacrifice a stout Body to a stubborn Mind but because there is counterfeit Coin is there no true Gold The Devil's Martyrs are neither so many for number nor for temper and quality so holy so wise so meek as Christ's Champions The Christian Religion can shew you Persons of all Ages Young and Old of all Sexes Men and Women of all Conditions of Life Noble and of low Degree of all Qualities Learned and Unlearned Persons that could not be suspected to be mopish or melancholy or tired out with the Inconveniences of an evil World but were in a capacity to enjoy temporal Things with the highest delight and sweetness and yet counted not their Lives dear to them to confirm the Truth of this Word What is dearer to Men than Life And this not out of any desire of vain Glory their Death being accompanied with as many disgraceful as painful Circumstances not out of any sensless stupidity or fierceness of Mind they being of a meek Temper and blamed for nothing else but their constancy in asserting that Truth which they professed not out of any confidence in their own strength in bearing those horrible Cruelties that were inflicted upon them but humbly committing themselves to God and imploring his Strength did deliberately and voluntarily give up themselves to be cruelly butchered and tormented as a Testimony of the Power of this Truth upon their Hearts some of them kissing the Stake thanking the Executioner others wrestling a while with Flesh and Blood and natural desires of Life yet the Love of the Truth prevailing came at length to encounter the Horrors of a cruel Death with a well-tempered Constancy and Resolution which certainly in so many thousands even to an incredible Number could not be without some Divine Power and Force upon their Souls That all this should be done by Persons otherwise of a delicate tender Sense and a meek and flexible Spirit what should move them to it but the Power of the Truth This being a Religion of little Reputation in the World which the Philosophers and Disputers of that Age sought to batter down with Arguments the Politicians with all manner of Discouragements the Orators with a Flood of Words the Tyrants with Slaughters and Torments the Devil by all manner of Crafts and Subtilties What had the poor Christians before their Eyes but Prisons and wild Beasts and Gibbets and Fires and Racks and torturing Engines more cruel than Death They had Flesh and Blood as well as others a Nature that continually prompted them to spare themselves as well as others Life was as dear to them and their care of their Families and Little-ones as great their respect to Parents and Friends as much in them as any yea more Religion requiring natural Affection in the highest Exercise and intendering their Hearts with a sense of their Duty Yet rather than give their Bibles to be burnt or be led away from their Religion they could trample upon all Certainly such an invincible constancy could not be imputed to any rigid Sullenness or foolish Obstinacy or distempered Stiffness but meerly to the love of Truth which prevailed over all other Concernments Let it shame us that they could part with Life and all their Interests for Christ and his Truth and we cannot part with our Lusts they with their well-being and we not with our ill-being Could they suffer the Persecutors to destroy their Bodies and will not we suffer the Fire of the Word to consume our Lusts Reason and Conscience is calling upon us to quit these things and yet we hug them to our great Prejudice we to whom a little Duty is so irksome a little pains in Prayer so tedious what would we do if the Fires were kindled about us and we were every day to carry our Life in our Hands and could look for nothing but Halters and Stakes and Instruments of Destruction Surely our Spirits are too silken and soft for such a Religion so abstracted from Ease and Pleasure and worldly Interests III. The Malignant World hath owned it the deadly hatred of the Devil and the constant opposition of wicked Men is a proof of it The Malignant World know it and therefore they hate and oppose it The Reason of the Argument is because the Heart of Man is naturally averse to God 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now that which all wicked Men do universally and constantly oppose and malign certainly that is of God As Christ saith of his own Disciples John 15.19 If ye were of the World the World would love its own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you So may we reason If the Scriptures were of Men if devised by them and suitable to their Lusts and Humours the Men of the World would receive them with a great deal of stillness Flesh and Blood would love its own But carnal Men have constantly
this sense he is the Apostle of our Profession an Ambassador sent from Heaven God's Representative in this sense he is called the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 The solemnest Messenger that ever God sent into the World Isa. 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tidings unto the Meek c. Christ was anointed principally for this Work to preach the Gospel he came from Heaven to shew us the Way of Life Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in Time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last Days spoken unto us by his Son He hath spoken to us by Apostles Pastors and Teachers Why doth he make mention only of Christ Because in the Roll of Gospel-Preachers Christ is the First Christ's Name is first enrolled he was first in Commission and he sent forth Apostles and the Apostles others The Mystery of Redemption was never clearly known till Christ came to preach it then all the deep Counsel of God for Man's Salvation came out which was hidden before Christ brought out of God's Bosom the Doctrine of the Gospel APPLICATION We learn hence many Things As 1. The distinction of the Persons in the Trinity Christ is a distinct subsistence from the Father for he that sendeth and he that is sent are distinct Mark it implies a Distinction but not an Inferiority against the Arrians Persons equal by mutual consent may send one another as the Elders of Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas but it doth not follow that they were inferior to the Elders of Antioch So here it implies Distinction but not Inferiority 2. The Knowledg of Christ's Person he was sent into the World therefore is God-Man He was one that was sent therefore had a being before he was Incarnate and was sent into the World therefore there was an Assumption of the Humane Nature 3. It sheweth us the Love of God he would not intrust an Angel nor Arch-Angel with our Salvation but sent his Son 1 John 4.10 Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins There is nothing too near nor too dear for us It will take the more wih us if we consider the infinite complacency and contentment God had in Christ yet he sent his Son Man's Love is defensive he loves his Children out of design of Immortality because he lives in them God had no reason to do so he had many reasons to the contrary yet he sent his Son to die for us when we were Enemies And his Son is sent What to do Not only to treat with us not only to borrow a Tongue to speak to us but to take a Body to die for us to be substituted in our room and stead 4. It informs us of the great condescention of Christ that he submitted to be sent Psal. 40.7 8. Then said I Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my Heart He was ready when God would send him like a Servant ready to be dispatched upon his Errand That Christ would be sent that he would take our Nature not while it was innocent but when it was guilty liable to the Wrath of God when all Mankind were proclaimed Traytors and Out-Laws and whoever partaked of our Nature was to partake of our Sorrow yet then was Christ sent he came in the similitude of sinful Flesh Rom. 8.3 Christ did not partake of the infection of our Nature he was not a Sinner by being born of our Stock the Infection was stopped by the Holy Ghost but he took our Nature when it was sinful tainted with Sin and in this Message and Errand he laid aside his Majesty and by an unspeakable dispensation he abstains from the full use and exercise of the Godhead not from Godhead it self Therefore he prays John 17.5 And now O Father glorify thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was He begs for his Glory again which he had laid aside for a while It cannot be meant of the Divine Nature for to that nothing can be given it cannot be meant of Humane Nature because that is not capable of the Glory which Christ had before the World was the meaning is he desires to be restored to the full use of the Godhead from which he had abstained by an unspeakable Dispensation a long time and by the interposition of his Humane Nature the Glory of the Godhead was as it were eclipsed as a Candle in a Dark Lanthorn and therefore he desires that the Vail might be taken away and he might return again to the full use of the Godhead having done his Work It is irksome to us to go back a few degrees in Pomp and Pleasure even upon just and convenient Reasons but how did Christ condescend and stoop when he was thus sent into the World by God for our sakes 5. Here is some ground of Comfort to them that believe you may offer to God a Mediator of his own chusing one that was authorized by himself When you plead with God you may say Lord thou hast sent thy Son Or when you plead with your own Hearts you may urge thâ—m with this God sent him to be helpful to my Soul These things may be observed from the first thing the Mission of Christ. SERMON XXXI JOHN XVII 18 As thou hast sent me into the World even so have I also sent them into the World Secondly I Come to the Mission of the Apostles So have I sent them into the World as thou hast sent me The words intimate a comparison between God's sending of Christ into the World and Christ's sending the Apostles into the World But how doth the Comparison hold good Christ was sent to Redeem they to Preach the Apostles were no Redeemers Christ was sent not only as a Prophet but as a Priest as we have seen before And again for the manner Christ was sent by being Incarnate God-Man in one Person he must be Man if sent but they were Men and therefore there is a difference Christ was sent as the Supream Officer of the Church as God with Original Authority they as Ministers and Servants Christ could teach immediatly outwardly by his Word inwardly by his Spirit they only outwardly How then could it be said As thou hast sent me into the World so have I sent them into the World I Answer There is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some Likeness but not an Equality As the Union of the Apostles is compared with the Unity of the Trinity so the Mission of the Apostles with the Mission of Christ. The Similitude holdeth in several Things they were Authorized Ministers and Officers of the Church as Christ was Christ was authorized by
Church-Communion That is the Sphere of your Activity where God hath appointed your dwelling there you are in the greatest capacity to serve God and to promote the Ends of Church-Fellowship and Communion And do not only own the Persons but the Calling of the Ministers as a Gospel-Institution Pray for it how importunately doth Paul beg the Peoples Prayers every where and countenance and plead for it in the Gates Wicked Men could never obtain that Power they have over Ministers were there not some backwardness and faintness in the People of God to own them Herod could have put John to death But he feared the Multitude because they counted him for a Prophet Mat. 14.5 The putting down the Ministry will not only be imputed to the violence of others but to your coldness and ingratitude Therefore let the World know by some publick Vindication that you are not afraid to own Christ's Institutions If we have a Charter given us by a Prince how zealous are we that it might not be infringed Whatever the World thinks of it this is Christ's Royal Gift in the day of his Inauguration Ephes. 4.11 When he ascended up on High he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Therefore stand and plead for it more Paul took notice 2 Tim. 4.16 At my first Answer no Man stood with me but all Men forsook me It is a Crime to forsake Ministers in their Defence much more to forsake the Ministry Are we so backward that we do not think Christ's Gift worthy a publick Vindication Nothing hath been accounted so near and dear to the Church of God that hath put them upon such frequent Prayers and zealous Endeavours as this that their Ministers may not be taken from them Therefore own their Calling and own the Institutio◠Before I come to speak to the Dignity of Ministers I shall answer an Objection or two against what hath been said Object 1. If none but such as have an outward Call are to preach What Call had the first Reformers I Answer 1. The first Reformers most of them had a lawful Call being Pastors and Teachers before the Reformation And tho they had it from Antichrist as some plead or the Popish Clergy yet that did not make it less valid The Apostles say of Judas Acts 1.17 He was numbred with us and had obtained part of this Ministry Wicked Judas in foro Ecclesiae was a true and lawful Apostle and whatever he did by Virtue of his Office was valid and lawful So the Roman Clergy they have obtained part of this Ministry with us and in foro Ecclesiae at least before the Reformation were lawful Ministers it is disputable whether as yet God hath given such a total Divorce that all their Ecclesiastical Acts are Nullities 2. Others were stirred up by the special instinct of the Holy Ghost to undertake the Work and being received of their own Churches their Call was valid For things of Order must give way to things of absolute Necessity and where an ordinary Calling cannot be had God calleth Men out of Order It is the Duty of all Saints to contend for the Faith and when God by a special instinct stirreth up Holy Men to do this Work they are thereby authorized especially when there is a general Defection and Corruption among the Officers of the Church Who would expect the Reformation of Stews from Bawds and Panders It is necessary the Church should have Pastors and Teachers and where Ordination cannot be had the Election and Consent of the People sufficeth God especially accompanying them with his Presence and the Men being furnished with Gifts and necessary Qualifications both as to Life and Doctrine for that Office 2 d Object or Case What shall be done in case of propagating the Gospel where no lawful Call can be had or all die at a time I Answer In extraordinary Cases God supplieth the Want by extraordinary Ways that may be done at one time that is not lawful at another especially in matter of Order as eating the Shew-bread in case of Necessity Edesius and Frumentius travelling into the Indies had an opportunity of spreading the Gospel tho the last afterwards returned and was ordained by Athanasius Natural Bodies have their ordinary Qualities yet ad fugam vacui they act contrary to them as Water will ascend contrary to the gravity of it Before Deacons were instituted the Apostles served Tables tho it was a thing not meet for them Acts 6.2 It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve Tables Philip of a Deacon was made an extraordinary Evangelist Acts 8. SERMON XXXII JOHN XVII 18 As thou hast sent me into the World even so have I also sent them into the World I Now come to speak of the Dignity that is put upon them that are called to the Work of the Ministry they are sent by Christ as his Deputies and Ambassadors as those who impersonate Christ and represent him to the World 2 Cor. 5.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore we are Ambassadors for Christ as tho God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God Ministers are sent out as Christ's Proxies Here I shall shew 1. Who are sent 2. From whom 3. To whom 4. Why or about what Business 1. Who are sent Principally the Apostles but secondarily the ordinary Ministers of the Gospel The Apostles as Ambassadors extraordinary but we as Leigers and Agents The Apostles were immediatly sent by Christ and furnished with extraordinary Gifts as Infallibility of Doctrine Gifts of Miracles Gifts of Tongues as Ambassadors are set forth with more Pomp and State than Agents But now Ministers are sent by a Power derived and delegated from Christ and we have not like Authority and Infallibility as the Apostles had but the substance of the Commission and of the Work is the same we are to open the Mind of God to Men and in Christ's Name and Authority to pray you to be reconciled to God And therefore both Apostles and ordinary Ministers of the Gospel ordinary Pastors and Teachers of the Church are sent 2. From whom they are sent From Christ who is the King of the Church tho with the Consent of all the Persons in the Trinity The Father sendeth Christ sendeth the Holy Ghost sendeth Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of Men neither by Men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead Paul raiseth up his Commission as far as the Grant and Consent of God the Father And the Holy Ghost sendeth Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers So Acts 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Paul and Barnabas for the Work whereunto I have called them In short then we are sent by the Decree and Will of the Father qualified by
the Holy Ghost and commissioned by the Authority of Christ as King of the Church And therefore the Apostles were to tarry at Jerusalem till Christ was ascended and seated on the Throne and seized upon the Kingdom and poured out the Holy Ghost upon them None are sent but such are also called and chosen by the Holy Ghost by whom also they are gifted with respect to God the Father's Consent and Christ's Authority 3. To whom are they sent I Answer To all without any distinction of Nation Sex Person or Condition Mark 16.15 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature Men send an Embassy to Kings and Princes but Christ to every mean Creature without any restraint It is true the Motion and Course of the Gospel is directed by a special Providence to some Places and not to others Acts 16.7 After they were come to Mysia they assayed to go into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not But doth the Holy Ghost hinder the preaching of the Gospel We must distinguish between the Grant of Power and the Exercise of it Tho there be a general Grant that the Pale of the Church shall be inlarged yet this Grant is to be made good as the Lord will There is a general Grant that the Gospel shall be preached unto all Nations but as for the Exercise and making good this Grant God will have the World to know that the Preaching of the Gospel is a Priviledge and a special Favour and therefore he sendeth it to some and not to others as a Token of his Love It is a thing that doth not come by chance or by the Counsels of Men but by his special Grant and Designation Therefore it is notable that the Apostles were guided by the Spirit not only in their Doctrine but in their Journeys and the external Means are distributed by the Will of God as well as internal Grace that where-ever it cometh we may acknowledg it as a special Favour to some it cometh later to others sooner but to all as God will He oweth it to none and therefore tho the Pale be inlarged and there is a general Grant that all Creatures that live within the precincts of the round World shall have the Gospel in their turn yet to some it is sent before others Acts 3.26 Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you The Jews had the first Offer and liberty of Choice or Refusal So Acts 13.26 Men and Brethren Children of the Stock of Abraham unto you is the Word of this Salvation sent he doth not say it is brought by me but sent The Preaching of the Gospel is governed by God's special Providence and Care As the Scriptures came not in old time by the Will of Man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 So it is not preached by the Will of Men. It is not your Purses that procure it nor your Goodness that deserveth it but good Ministers are sent to you by Christ's special Love and Care and so should you acknowledg it I tell you many have laboured for the Gospel fought for the Gospel and yet they have missed it because they do not consider him that hath the Stars in his Hand and directeth and guideth their Motions God will have this Mercy taken out of his own Hand as a special Token of his Love therefore because they do not acknowledg God tho they fight strive and labour for it yet the Gospel is taken from them 4. For what are they sent or the End and Scope of the Gospel Ever since the Fall there is a quarrel between God and Man and God might send Heralds to proclaim War as he sendeth Ambassadors of Peace to pray you to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5.20 that is the purport and drift of our Message to gain Men to lay down the Weapons of their Defiance and to accept of Christ that in him they may find Life and Peace God might send Messengers into the World as he sent Jonah to Nineveh to warn the World of their Destruction or as he revealed the Law upon Mount Sinai to make Men sensible of their Bondage and obnoxiousness to Divine Wrath and Justice But he sendeth Messengers of Peace with an Olive Branch in their Mouths to tell the World of God reconciled and God pacified by Christ and invite them to be in Favour and Peace with God that so they may enjoy Communion with him in Grace here and Glory hereafter Col. 1.27 28. Christ in you the Hope of Glory Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus There is the Subject of our Ministry Communion with Christ and Reconciliation with God by Christ as the Hope of Glory the manner of managing it with Wisdom warning every Man the Persons with whom we treat every Man without distinction and our Aim and Scope that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Vse 1. It informeth us of four Things 1. The Excellency and Dignity of the Ministry They are Christ's Ambassadors they are sent not as a Post or Letter-Carrier but as honourable Messengers An Ambassador usually is one of the Nobility sent by a Prince or the Supream Power of a Nation not to private Men but to their Fellow-Princes or States not upon a light Cause but to treat of Matters of Moment and not in a low or base manner but with an Equipage and Pomp answerable to the Dignity of him that sendeth Or in short an Ambassador is an Eminent Person sent from some chief Prince with Dignity and Authority to transact Affairs of the greatest Moment and because he representeth the Person from whom he is sent therefore Credit and Honour is to be given to him suitable to his Place and Office Now the greater the King or Potentate is from whom he is sent the more Honour is done him if from an Emperor it is more Honour than from an ordinary Prince and the greater and more welcome the Business is still the greater Honour If the Nature of the Business be to require Satisfaction for Injuries to denounce War yet still he is respected according to his Place but if it be a Matter of Peace he is more welcome or if it be to establish a Correspondence of Traffick between Nation and Nation much more if it be about a Treaty of Marriage and to propound Terms of the highest Amity and Friendship he is much more respected and yet more especially if the State or Prince to whom he is sent be inferior to the other that sent him Now these are the Terms upon which the Ministers of the Gospel are sent they are Christ's Ambassadors they are sent from the greatest Monarch that ever was from Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they are sent to miserable and wretched Men to Rebels to the
with thee and yet hast thou not known me Philip that is not known so distinctly God the Father and me as coming out from him But God's Children are not altogether unteachable 4. We have no reason to trust the Judgment of Carnal Men in matters of Godliness for they do not know God Can blind Men judg of Colours I urge it that you may not be discouraged tho the World scoff at Holiness who would take notice of the Judgment of Fools 5. That Ignorance is not only the Badg of silly weak Persons but of great Men and those that are carnally Wise. Mat. 11.25 I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Whatever parts they have they have no saving-Knowledg of God The Godly Man is the only knowing and wise Man all others they are but Fools however they swell with an opinion of Knowledg and count it a reproach to be so called II. The second Illustration is by the Efficient and Exemplary Cause of our Knowledg but I have known thee c. All along our Likeness to Christ and Unlikeness to the World is asserted Observe That Christ's Knowledg is the Pattern and Cause of ours We have all things at the second hand I have known and they have known All the Candles are lighted at this Torch Or to use a comparison more Celestial all the Stars receive their Light from the Sun Therefore he is called The Father of Lights James 1.17 and the Sun of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 Christ giveth us Knowledg two ways by his Word and by his Spirit Now none is fit to establish a Word none to pour out the Spirit but Christ. 1. None can give us a sufficient Revelation of the Father but Christ that came out of his Bosom that knew all his Counsels John 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him Our Knowledg is by the Senses by Sight and Hear-say Now no Man hath seen God but Christ that was God-Man who came out of his Bosom So Mat. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him To know him perfectly and comprehensively so neither Men nor Angels know him To know him originally so as to establish a Revelation with Authority and so as fit to offer the Light and Knowledg of him to the Creature so none but Christ knows him our Faith is built on God Humane Authority begets but an Humane Faith and Credulity It was necessary that in the Bedroll of Gospel-Preachers the Son of God should have the first place that in the latter Times he should preach to us by his Son that the ultimate Resolution of Faith might be into Divine Authority John 7.29 But I know him for I am from him and he hath sent me And chap. 10.15 As the Father knoweth me even so know I the Father It is for our Confidence that the full discovery of this Doctrine was reserved for the Son of God 2. None else can give us a capacity to learn Jesus Christ is such a Teacher that he doth not only give the Lesson but the Wit and Skill to learn 1 John 5.20 We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Vnderstanding that we may know him that is true No matter what the Scholar is when we have such a Master We use to inquire whether any one hath a Capacity to learn He openeth the Scriptures and openeth the Understanding to learn Luke 24.27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself And Vers. 45. Then opened he their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures There is a double Vail upon the Doctrine and upon the Heart Christ removeth both Vse 1. If that the true Knowledg of God is only to be had from Christ it directeth us in the use of all Ordinances to look up to him there must our Trust be fixed in Reading Hearing Meditating We must use Helps and Means else we tempt God but our Trust must be elsewhere In Reading Psal. 119.18 Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law There are wonders in the Law but our Eyes must be opened to see them otherwise we shall have but a superficial and literal Knowledg when Men think to find more in Books than in Christ. So in Hearing Cathedram habet in Coelis Isa. 2.3 Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his Ways You come to the Word to be taught by Man and yet not to be taught by Man in Obedience you use the Means but your Confidence is on Christ that you may hear his Voice to the Soul that he that brought the Gospel out of the Bosom of God may bring it into your Hearts The Dial is of no use without the Sun except the Sun shine you cannot see what is a Clock by the Dial. So in Meditation and Study Christ is Wonderful Counsellor Isa. 9.6 Prov. 8.14 Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom I am Vnderstanding I have strength How are Men befooled that go forth in the confidence of their own Wit Flesh and Blood are apt to stumble in God's plainest Ways Carnal Hearts turn all to a Carnal Purpoâ—e Prov. 26.9 As a Thorn goeth up into the Hand of a Drunkard so is a Parable in the Mouth of Fools The same Cloud that was Light to the Israelites was Darkness to the Egyptians Luther calleth the Promises bloody Promises through our perverse Applications Truth is only renewing as taught by Christ. Ephes. 4.21 If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus We cannot tell how to master Corruptions without this the Light of common Conviction is like a March-Sun that draweth up Aguish Vapors it discovereth Sins but cannot quell them We should be apt to forsake Truth upon every Temptation unless it were for Christ's teaching Psal. 119.102 I have not departed from thy Judgments for thou hast taught me 1 John 2.20 Ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things When Men lead us into Truth others may lead us out again Those that have made trial can best judg of the difference between being taught of God and Men. 1 Cor. 2.4 My Speech and my Preaching was not with inticing words of Man's Wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power When the Arrow cometh out of God's Quiver it sticketh in our sides Then we see Truths with Application Vse 2. It teacheth us how to direct our Prayers to Christ. Seek to him with Confidence and with all earnestness of Affection 1. With Confidence we despair many
Cant. 2. 2. 243  13. 97 Isaiah 11. 6 7. 164 34. 16. 181 43. 11. 132 51. 9. 16 52. 7. 280 63. 1 2 3. 122 Jerem. 6. 16. 240  20. 176 Daniel 7. 13. 122 Matth. 6. 13. 213 7. 29. 257 8. 8 9. 28  12. 370 9. 6. 86 12. 4. 154 15. 6. 117 19. 27 28. 114 20. 23. 350 22. 5. 115 23. 29 30. 129 24. 14. 193 26. 39. 101 28. 20. 271 Mark 13. 9. 193 Luke 1. 17. 258 4. 4. 276  17. 207 21. 13. 193 23. 43. 252 John 1. 4. 232 3. 3. 349 5. 19. 87 6. 27. 86 264 7. 17. 262 8. 27. 207 10. 36. 86 12. 28. 11  42 43. 311 13. 10. 230  27. 287  34. 162 14. 1. 296  28. 25 15. 19. 197 16. 8 9 10 11. 312  15. 110  26 27. 11.  28. 98  30. 40 17. 5. 269  12. 76 153  20. 100  22. 164  26. 100 Acts 1. 12. 121  18. 177 2. 21. 31  33. 63 5. 30 31. 313 6. 3. 273 9. 6. 304  15. 275 13. 12. 272 273 16. 7. 279 19. 14 15. 274 20. 28. 265 Romans 4. 25. 87 5. 5. 384 6. 23. 19 8. 23. 349 11. 29. 146 15. 3. 13 1 Corint 2. 4. 92 2. 14. 243 375 6. 17. 302 10. 31. 51 11. 32. 211 12. 4. 164 15. 24. 22 73 157  28. 334  32. 193 2 Corinth 3. 3. 321  18. 281 4. 4. 130 374. 5. 9. 117 12. 9. 131 Galatians 4. 45. 41 264 265  29. 198 6. 14. 222 Ephes. 1. 10. 161  23. 304 2. 3. 363  14 15 16. 164  19. 109 3. 12. 298  17. 355 4. 6. 164  24. 141 5. 14. 232 6. 20. 282 284 Philippian 1. 1. 274  23. 352 3. 15 16. 163 Colossians 1. 24. 304  27 28. 280 2. 3. 328  15. 123 3. 3. 347  14. 162  24. 349 2 Thess. 1. 7 8. 315 1 Tim. 4. 12. 281 2 Tim. 3. 18. 29 Titus 2. 14. 108 3. 3. 365 Hebrews 1. 1. 241 2. 3. 319  18. 134 3. 1. 41 25 157 267 4. 1. 147  2. 234  16. 151 6. 12. 132 8. 3. 134  4. 124 12. 9. 146  24. 129 10. 14. 146  22. 94 12. 14. 140  15. 198 James 5. 10. 193 2 Pet. 1. 19. 245 1 John 1. 5. 137 3. 1. 340 1 John 3. 9. 148  12. 197 5. 6. 84 252 Revelat. 5. 8. 118 21. 27. 154 ERRATA PAge 2. line 3. for free read first P. 5. l. 12. r. he prayeth as God-Man P. 16. l. 31. f. agrue r. argue P. 32. l. 50. f. this r. his P. 35. l. 36. f. sure r. sore P. 46. l. 15. f. then r. when l. 25. f. general r. several P. 48. l. 15. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 20. f. this r. the. P. 57. l. 39. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 71. l. 38. f. tamen r. attamen P. 86. l. 58. r. John 6.27 P. 113. l. 33. r. this is one P. 123. l. 41. dele P. 125. l. 2. r. Accusations P. 134. l. 19. f. it r. I. P. 136. l. 35. f. in r. of P. 141. l. 30. f. an Act r. a Care P. 143. l. 8. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 149. l. 54. f. Goal r. Goel P. 154. l. 56. f. Gift r. Reward P. 163. l. 33. r. to a sick Person P. 183. l. 32. f. must r. might P. 186. l. 5. f. liberaâ— r. liberatio P. 195. l. 36. r. whippeth it out again by the VVorld God will c. P. 211. l. 38. after themselves add in the depth of Sorrow P. 222. l. 26. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 241. l. 17. f. Creatures r. Nations P. 249. l. 21. f. lessen r. beseem P. 250. l. 67. f. Promises r. promised P. 263. l. 10. r. as a thing done P. 312. l. 27. r. as to be put to silence P. 359. l. 15. f. Men r. even P. 370. l. 6. f. Love r. loose P. 374. l. 43. f. no r. not P. 382. l. 16. dele l. 34. f. mere r. more P. 388. l. 5. f. Representation r. representative P. 392. l. 35. f. these r. there SERMONS UPON THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE ROMANS SERMON I. ROM VI. 1 2. What shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein THE drift of the Apostle in this Chapter is to shew That free justification by Faith in Christ greatly tendeth to promote Holiness which he first proveth from the tenor of Christianity and then exhorteth the justified to get increase and exercise this Holiness in all their actions In these Words there are three things 1. An Objection supposed 2. A Rejection of it with abhorrence and indignation 3. A Confutation of it First The Objection is a preposterous Inference from what the Apostle had said Chap. 5.20 That where sin abounded grace did much more abound The Apostle propoundeth it by way of interrogation What shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound The words may be conceived as a slander raised by Jewish prejudice to make the Doctrine of the Gospel odious as if it did foster people in sin an unjust calumny Or as a temptation incident to loose carnal and careless Christians who are apt to abuse Grace and have such wretched reasonings in their own hearts that they might take the more liberty to sin that the Grace of God might thereby appear more illustrious and abundant You may therefore look upon it as produced either as a check to an Objection already made or as a prevention of an Abuse that might afterwards be made Secondly He rejecteth this Inference as absurd and blasphemous by a form of speech familiar to him Gal. 2.17 Rom. 3.8.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let this thought be far from us or this is a thing that all Christian Hearts should abominate Thirdly Paul's Reason against it or Confutation of it represented in an emphatical Interrogation How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Where Observe First That to continue in sin and live longer in sin are equivalent expressions for in the Objection the expression is shall we continue in sin But in the Apostles Answer and Argument to the contrary it is can we live any longer therein Secondly Observe that before Grace we lived in sin for when he saiâ—â— any longer he implieth that we were given to sin enslaved by sin before but shall we continue this course far be it from us to think so or say so much more to do so Thirdly Observe the Argument lyeth here we that are dead c. All that have given their names to Christ are or should be dead to sin now to be
wean us from worldly happiness To make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 Vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory Rom. 9.23 In time you shall be delivered see that you have the beginning and first-fruits and that you daily grow in grace 2. With earnest Longing Rom. 7.23 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death 2 Cor. 5.2 In this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from heaven 3. As to Faith 1. Fix it and be at a greater certainty against all doubts and fears not only as to your interest but the truth of the promise of eternal Life These doubts may stand with a sincere Faith but not a confirmed Faith we have much of the Unbeliever in our bosoms venture all your happiness temporal and spiritual upon this security 2. Improve it it is the work of Faith to overcome the World and the Flesh 1 Joh. 5.4 5. This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God to over-rule our sense and appetite and to teach us to make nothing of all that would disswade us against our heavenly interest Acts 20.24 But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God This is the true Mortification SERMON VIII ROM VI. 9 10. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him For in that he dyed he dyed unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God THAT I may the better explain the drift of these words let us take the Apostles Method along with us His intent is to prevent an abuse of the Doctrine of the Gospel which publisheth the free Grace of God to Sinners Where sin abounded grace did much more abound From hence some did infer That therefore under the Gospel they might take liberty to sin the more their sins were and the greater they were the more they should occasion God to manifest the abundance of his Grace upon them The Apostle answereth this 1. By way of Detestation Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid 2. By way of Confutation the Argument by which he confuseth it is our Baptismal Vow and Engagement How shall they that are dead to sin live any longer therein To clear this he explaineth our Baptismal Vow in the two branches of it dying to sin and living to righteousness the one direct and the other consequential directly we are baptized into the death of Christ vers 2. but so as that we also rise again to newness of life vers 4 5. for we are united to Christ as dying anâ— rising and we are by virtue of the Union to express a conformity to both vers 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection He proveth the former part vers 6 7. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin for he that is dead is freed from sin The latter he begins to prove vers 8. If we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him How live with him As our spiritual death was answerable to the Death of Christ so our spiritual Life must be answerable to his Resurrection from the Dead as we have a Copy and Pattern for the mortifying sin in his Death so we have also a Copy and Pattern for newness of life in his Resurrection and therefore we do not in vain believe that we shall live spiritually and eternally with him Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him for in that he dyed he dyed unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God The better to state the Analogy and Proportion between Christs Resurrection and our rising to the Life of Grace first and then of Glory afterward The Life of Christ after his Resurrection is set forth by two thiâ—â—â— 1. The Perpetuity or Immortality of it 2. The Perfection and Blessedness of it 1. The Perpetuity and Immortality of it is delivered in three expressions First Actual dying again is denied Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more Christs Resurrection was not a return to a single Act of Life or Life for a while to shew himself to the World and no more but to an immortal endless estate Secondly His further liableness or subjection to death is denied Death hath no more dominion over him That is thus expressed for two reasons 1. Death had once dominion over Christ when he gave up himself to dye for us he for a while permitted yea subjected himself to the power of it but Christ overcame death and put an end to its power by his Resurrection Acts 2.24 Whom God raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was impossible that he should be holden of it 2. To shew that Christ dyed not only to expiate sin but to take away the dominion and power of it in Believers therefore it is said Death hath no more dominion over him he took away sin by which death reigneth he did enough both as to the satisfying Gods Justice and our Deliverance Thirdly Any further need of his dying again is denied In that he dyed he dyed unto sin once that is he hath done his work his Death needeth not to be repeated he dyed to sin once not in regard of himself for in him was no sin but as charged with the sins of his people he sufficiently took away sin both as to guilt and power 2. The Perfection and Blessedness of his Life is intimated In that he liveth he liveth unto God This expression may imply either the Holiness of his Life in Heaven or the Blessedness of it First The Holiness when Christ was raised from death to life again he liveth to God wholly seeketh to promote his Glory in the World he liveth with God and to God with God as he is sat down at the right hand of Majesty and administreth the Mediatorial Kingdom for his Glory as indeed God hath a great deal of Honour from Christ as Mediator Phil. 2.11 That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father 2. The Blessedness of it Christ always lived to God even before his Death Joh. 8.29 And he that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone but I do always those things that please him Why then is he said after his Resurrection to live to God Answ. As freed from
is the Priviledge of the holy Which by the way is a great shame that we should be so defective in good so fruitful in evil less observant of the Laws of the Universal King than the Subjects of any Prince How often do we pawn our hopes of everlasting Life upon less occasions than Esau did his Birthright and set Christ at a lower price than Judas did 3. All that have their fruit to Holiness are capacitated for this blessed Estate First They earnestly desire this blessed Estate they hunger and thirst after righteousness after a larger measure of Gods sanctifying Grace or likeness to God Mat. 5.6 The thirst after Honour Greatness and Preferment in the World are tortures to the Soul wherein they are harboured but they that thirst after more Holiness shall be satisfied Secondly They are prepared for it For purity of heart is the root whereof Happiness is the fruit Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Thirdly They have the Pledge and Earnest of it 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts and 2 Cor. 5.5 Now he which hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit The sanctifying Spirit is given us by God as the Earnest of the Glory which he will give us for it is the seed of it and breedeth an inclination thereunto Vse 1. If this be the Reward of the Holy then it informeth us That certainly there is such a thing as everlasting Life and Happiness for God would not feed us with Fancies or flatter us into a Fools Paradise 1. The Nature of Man sheweth it why else did he make a reasonable Creature Man of all Creatures would be most miserable if obnoxious to so many infelicities and were not capable of true Happiness some way or other Certainly he made him to be happy is it to be happy here in what here is no happiness is it in eating drinking and sleeping these are to strengthen us for our service which tendeth to our end better be without meat if we could be without the need of it as it will be hereafter 1 Cor. 6.13 Meats for the belly and the belly for meats but God shall destroy both it and them Beasts have not the cares and sorrows of mind that man hath to get and keep what they need Wherein then lyeth the dignity of Men above the Beasts Surely there is a Life to come 2. The Government of God sheweth it why doth he use such Methods by his Precepts and Promises but to bring us to our eternal End Why hath he required moral Duties of Temperance Sobriety Contentation with a little such Evangelical Duties of Self-denial Obedience to Christ such instituted Duties as Praying Hearing Sacraments and Seriousness in all such constant diligence in his Service but that by all these we might come to the blessed Hope Believers use them to these Ends Acts 26.7 Vnto which promise the twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come and Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 3. The Graces planted in us by his Spirit shew it What use is there for Faith and Hope if there be no Object to be believed and hoped for Heb. 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen As the Apostle saith Our preaching is in vain and your faith is also vain 1 Cor. 15.14 Now is Faith and Hope a dotage and the whole Doctrine of the Gospel a Forgery and all the sufferings which Gods Servants have endured for him a meer frenzy and madness Surely then there is a Reward and an everlasting Reward for the righteous Vse 2. To perswade us 1. To have our Fruit to Holiness Heaven is the perfection of what is begun by Sanctification and the more we increase in it the more our Right is clear Let us labour therefore to be throughly sanctified and to fill our lives with the fruits of Holiness Heaven is described to be the inheritance of the sanctified by the faith which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Acts 26.18 the sanctified is there put for the perfected Our Blessedness is in a fair progress when we are drawn from caring for the body to the saving of the Soul from things earthly to heavenly from the life of the World to the life of God in a word from Sin to Holiness 2. To fix your hearts more in the hope of eternal Life It is the want of this hope that maketh men swerve from Holiness some want it in Habit some in Act. First Some want it in Habit because they want Faith for no men will look for that which they do not believe Now these wallow in sin and filthiness 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins He that is blind as to heavenly things which lye at a distance can never purifie his heart nor walk holily for they will not trouble themselves with it On the contrary 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Secondly Some want it in Act do not revive upon themselves the remembrance of the blessed Hope or keep their hearts in Heaven as much as they should do because they lose their taste or suffer it to be interrupted and deadned by worldly cares and voluptuous living When the heart runneth out inordinately after secular ends and contentments our affections are estranged from heavenly things alas we presently find the inconvenience we lose our taste of the powers of the World to come so also by negligence and carelesness Now a good Christian should always stand with his loins girt and lamps burning looking for his Masters coming the Pledge and Earnest of eternal Life which we have received is of more worth and value than all the pleasures and contentments of the World and should not be lost for trifles We did rejoyce at our first entrance on Christianity in these hopes now we must keep this firm to the end Heb. 3.6 If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end and vers 14. If we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Often draw up your hearts from things transitory to things eternal and heavenly Vse 3. Direction to us in the Lords Supper We come to this Duty to bind our selves to two things First To have our Fruit to Holiness as those who are free from sin and are become his by Covenant with him Here we resume and ratifie the Vow made in Baptism and so we are 1. to arraign accuse and judge our selves for our former neglect that we have made no more progress in purifying our Souls and fitting our selves for the eternal Estate 2. to beg
them and if others do injuries to us to forgive them as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us The second Operation which the Holy Ghost produceth in us is righteousness or justice in all our dealings giving every one his due honour whom tribute and praise to whom praise belongeth not borrowing without a mind or ability to pay which is but a specious robbery and 't is a shame so many Christians are guilty of it I am sure 't is contrary to the Spirit of God for when God hath done so much to manifest his justice to the world all that have the Spirit of God should be very righteous far from Oppression Fraud or Detention of what is another mans The Third Thing is Truth or Fidelity whereby we carry our selves sincerely and free from Hypocrisie and Dissimulation or lying cozenage and deceit God is a God of Truth and the Holiness be worketh in us is true holiness the Apostle groundeth his Exhortation upon that Wherefore put away lying Eph. 4.24 25. and speak truth every man to his neighbour 'T is a sin inconsistent with sincerity more than any other Well then this is the Gospel-spirit now the Holy Ghost doth not only plant these graces in us at first but doth continually increase them and assist us in the exercise of them he doth plant them in us at first Faith is his gift and 't is he doth change our hearts and kindle an holy love in us to God and raiseth the heart to the hope of Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 begotten to a lively hope This is his first work for men must be good before their actions can be good then he doth increase Grace making all outward means effectual to this end and purpose this is called the supply of the spirit of Christ Jesus Phil. 1.19 meaning thereby a further addition of grace wrought in us by the spirit whereby we grow and advance in the way to Heaven These Impressions are weak in us at first but they are increased by the same Author or Agent in the use of the same means Lastly he doth assist us in the exercise of the same grace still working in us what is pleasing in the sight of God Heb. 13.21 he concurreth to every action and we do not only live in the spirit but walk in the spirit Gal. 5.25 all along we are quickned by his influence Let us in the next place consider from whom we receive it 't is said here the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus it belongeth to Christ to give the spirit 1. He is the head ef the renewed state Christ was filled with the spirit to this end to be the head or quickning spirit to his Mystical Body 1 Cor. 15.45 The first Adam was made a living soul the second a quickening spirit not only as he giveth us the life of glory but the life of Grace also so Eph. 1.22 23. he is head over all things to the church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all He is an Head not only to govern and defend the Church but to give them spiritual life and motion as the Head doth to the members for he filleth all with grace all believers are supplied from this fountain and continually supplied till they be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.17 18 19. That is with all the Grace he meaneth to impart to us Well then the spirit is given by Christ John 4.14 Whoso drinketh of the water that I shall give shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life 'T is a living Conduit John 7.38 39. 2. 'T is his law that is written upon our hearts by the spirit The new Covenant is made with sinners in Christ Heb. 8.8 9 10. Behold the days come saith the Lord I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my covenant for this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts Now he that taught us the Christian Faith and Religion doth impress it upon us by his spirit we find a power more than can be from the words alone in the effects on our selves This cometh from Christ whose Law it is but it is immediately wrought by the spirit 3. Christ promised it therefore Christ giveth it John 15.26 The comforter shall come whom I will send you from the father by vertue of his Merit and Intercession Christ from the Father sendeth forth the all-conquering spirit to subdue the world to himself he promised aforehand to send down this sanctifying spirit into mens souls to do this work upon them 4. He giveth it on his own conditions that is to say of Faith John 7.37 38. if any man thirst let him come to me and drink he that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water but this he spake of the spirit which they that believe in him should receive And repentance Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Now these are the conditions of the new covenant which Christ brought out of the Bosom of God 3. By what law By the Gospel this is the law of the spirit of Christ there is some little of the spirit given by the light of nature to help men to read the book of the creatures Rom. 1.19 God shewed it them they might see somewhat of God in the creatures his Wisdom Power and Goodness and God excited their minds to behold it and did dart in some light into their consciences There was more of the spirit given by the legal Covenant they might see much more of the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God in his Statutes and Laws than Heathens could in the book of Nature but generally it wrought unto bondage the free spirit was but sparingly dispensed and to some few choice servants of God but these were but as a few drops of grace the great Flood of grace was poured out by the Gospel The Apostle puts the Galatians to the Question by what Doctrine they received the spirit Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you received you the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith He appealeth to their conscience and experience what kind of Doctrine conveyed the spirit to them the preaching of the Law or the preaching of the Gospel and this is meant not only of the Spirit that wrought Miracles but the sanctifying spirit he speaketh of both ver 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the spirit and worketh miracles among
find out a ransome for us The Goodness of God that he sent his own Son The Power of God that by this means the guilt and power of sin with all the consequents of it are dissolved 3. VSE is Direction in the Lords Supper First here is the flesh of Christ which is food for souls John 6.51 The bread that I shall give is my flesh which I shall give for the life of the world In it he hath purchased grace and pardon of sin which are the foundations of Immortality 2. The Lords Supper is a feast on a sacrifice a commemoration of Christs sin-offering or a standing memorial of his Passion a Table spread for us in the sight of our enemies how must we be conversant about it as the Jews about the sacrifices First there is required an humble broken and contrite heart confessing our sins Psal. 46.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Secondly sensible thankful and comfortable owning of Gods love in Christ. When they had eaten the Passover they were to rejoice before the Lord Deut. 16.11 So should we after this feast prepared by God to feed and nourish our souls to eternal life SERMON V. ROM VIII 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit HERE is the second end of our deliverance by Christ That we might have Grace to keep the Law of God The first was That sin might be condemned in the flesh In the words we have 1. A Benefit 2. The persons that receive it First the Benefit That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us How is this to be understood of Justification or Sanctification They that expound it in the former way make this the sense That Christ's active Obedience or fulfilling the Law might be imputed and reckoned to us as if done by us But I cannot like this Interpretation First because 't is contrary to the Apostle's scope who speaketh not of Christ's active obedience but the fruits of his Death or his being made a 〈◊〉 Offering for us Secondly the words will not bear it For the Apostle doth not say that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled for us but fulfilled in us Thirdly the Doctrine its self is not 〈◊〉 unless rightly interpreted For tho God upon the account of Christ's passive obedience and satisfaction doth forgive our sins and his active obedience as well as his passive is the meritorious cause of our Justification as being a part of his Humiliation yet that cannot be said to be fulfilled in us which was done by Christ for God cannot be mistaken and reckon us to fulfil the Law which we have not and will not lie and say we did it when we did it not 'T is enough to say Christ obeyed and suffered for our sakes so as we might have the fruit and benefit of it Fourthly the Consequent is pernicious to say the Law is fulfilled in us as obeyed by Christ for then we needed not to fulfil it our selves 't is done to our hands already and needeth only to be imputed to us by Faith but Christ who suffered that we might not suffer yet did not obey that we might not obey but his Obedience being part of his Humiliation is an Ingredient into his satisfaction for our sins Christ fulfilled all righteousness and suffered that our imperfection of obedience might not be our ruin 2. It must be meant then of Sanctification That by the merit of Christ's Death we are freed not only from the Guilt but Tyranny of sin that we might obtain Grace to obey the Law or live holily which will appear by the answering of Two Questions 1. What is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the righteousness of the Law I answer the Duty which the Law requireth or any thing which God seeth fit to command his people The Law is holy just and good and certainly was not given in vain but to be a Rule to Believers in Christ. 2. How is it fulfilled in us For there is the difficulty that pincheth Can we fulfil the righteousness of the Law The Law may be said to be fulfilled Two ways 1. Legally as a Covenant of Works 2. Evangelically as the Rule of Obedience 1. Legally No man that was once a sinner and is still a sinner can possibly fulfil the Law for he cannot be a sinner and no sinner at the same time nor fulfil the Law to a tittle He that hath broken with God cannot continue to be innocent and he that hath flesh and spirit in him cannot be absolutely perfect That was determined before ver 3. what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh and this is directly opposed to that 2. Evangelically And so the Law can and may be kept or fulfilled sincerely tho not perfectly The prevalency of the better part constituteth our sincerity Justified Souls have flesh and spirit but they walk after the spirit The mixture of infirmities sheweth it is not done perfectly for the corrupt Principle hath some influence yet not a prevailing influence and God counteth that as done which is sincerely done Rom. 13.8 He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law And Gal. 6.2 and so fulfilling the law of Christ And Gal. 5.14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self So the Apostle supposeth the Gentiles might in a Gospel-manner fulfil the Law Rom. 2.27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature if it fulfil the law judg thee who by the letter and circumcision doest transgress the law So that in our measure we do fulfil the Law by the Grace of Christ not perfectly for he supposeth them to have flesh or sin in them but sincerely as they obey the inclinations of the better part Walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Doct. That Christ was made a Sin Offering for us that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us I shall prove it by these Considerations 1. That Christ came not only to redeem us from wrath but also to renew and heal our Natures 2. That our Natures being renewed and healed we are to walk in newness of life according to the directions of the Law of God 1. That Christ came not only to redeem us from wrath but to renew and sanctify us I prove it 1. From the conâ—tant drift and tenor of the Scriptures From his Nature and Office Mat. 1.21 He shâ—ll be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Denominatio est a potioribus From his chief work which is to save his people from the guilt and power of sin Guilt inferreth damnation which is the evil after sin but he hath his Name from saving us from the evil of sin its self For the great promise made to Abraham was in that Gen. 12.3 In thy seed shall all
partly under the vail of the natural life 'T is a life within a life they live in the flesh as others do but they do not live after the flesh they eat drink sleep trade marry and give in marriage as the rest of the world do but all these things are governed by Grace and carried on to high and eternal ends The spirit and life is not seen and felt by others but only discovered in the effects as these things are carried on holily and with a sincere respect to Gods Glory 1 Cor. 10.31 Besides the effects are imperfect and clouded with a mixture of remaining infirmities the best Christians shew forth too much of the flesh and do not act as those that have the spirit of God dwelling in them now this is a great hindrance to the converting of the world and a means of hardning to prying Atheists who think all strictness is but a pretence 1 Cor. 3.3 While there is yet strife envyings and divisions among you are ye not carnal and walk as men Matth. 18.7 Wo to the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but wo to the man by whom the offence cometh 'T is dangerous to scandalize the world but the chief cause is their secret enmity to holiness they censure and traduce good men by reproaches and base misprisions and cannot endure that those that take a contrary course should have an excellency owned that might alarm their consciences to reverence 1 Pet. 4.6 Judged according to men in the flesh but live to God in the spirit as deceivers and yet true So reputed in the world as a company of dissemblers the worlds malice will not give them leave to see any good in those whom they dislike 3. It sheweth how much it becometh Christians to give such a demonstration and proof of the spirits dwelling in them that others may be able to say they are not in the flesh but in the spirit So did these Romans to Paul they gave ground for his charity to think them justfied so should all that are sincere do Now these others may be either the godly or the carnal world First for the godly who are best able to judg they have cause to think so when you are companions with them in the Faith Holiness and patience of the Gospel the men in the world are tied to one another like Sampsons Foxes by their tails tho their heads look several ways by their mutual interests and common agreement in mischief and enmity to the godly but the godly themselves should be joined together in the communion of the spirit loving one another with a Christ-like love and seeking each others good as their own and being affected with mutual sympathy towards each others condition as if it were their own case and with one mind and mouth glorifying God and promoting the interests of his kingdom and by their personal holiness bringing his honour in request in the world surely whoever do so we are to judg them heirs with us of the same grace of life and to bless God for them Secondly for the carnal world you must keep up the majesty of your profession that they may see there is a generation of men whose life is not spent in carnal pleasures and delights who are not as other men nor as themselves once were and do things which can be accomplished in them by no other Means or Agent than the Spirit of God Who in their common business act upon reasons and principles of Religion and turn all duties of the Second Table into duties of the first discharging all their respects to men out of the love of God and fear of God and are led by conscience rather than Interest and begin and end with God in all they do and cast their whole lives into an holy and heavenly mould making straight steps to their feet and walk with a temper becoming Religion in all the inequality of conditions they pass through in the World looking for no great matters heâ—e but fetching their main supports and comforts from the World to come 1. Those that do so will in time overcome malice and prejudice and convince the world that God is in them of a truth and they a heavenly and holy people and have a spirit and a presence that others have not Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour 2. They will reprove the World Heb. 11.7 Noah condemned the world by his ready obedience to Gods warning 3. They will make the world wonder 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange you run not into the same excess of riot with them 'T is no wonder to see men proud covetous revengeful carnal self-seeking corrupt Nature will sufficiently prove this As 't is no wonder to see the Sun move tho 't was a wonder in Iâ—shuah's time when the Sun stood still so 't is no wonder to see men loose and wicked but 't is a wonder to see men holy heavenly mortified self-denying 4. You will justifie the ways of God against the cavils of Atheists and prophane carnal men Matt. 11.19 Wisdom is justified of her children and Israel justified Sodom Ezek. 16. 2. Vse is to exhort us to get this holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts that he may work in us a Divine Nature or that spiritual and Divine Temper which will teach us to live above and against the inclinations of the flesh 1. The means of infusing the Divine Nature into us is the Doctrine and example of Christ First his Doctrine which discovereth higher things than the flesh inclineth us unto and is the only cure of the carnal spirit This word was indited by the holy spirit For holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghost 2 Pet. 2.21 He inspired the Holy Apostles first to speak and then to write the Doctrine of Christ he led them into all truth John 6.13 The same Spirit attested this Doctrine by miraculous gifts Heb. 2.4 is conveyed by it Gal. 3 2. Received ye the spirit by the works of the law or the hearing of faith He prepareth and assisteth the ordinary Ministry that they may be fitted to convey this great gift Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you overseers and 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the spirit He writeth this Doctrine upon the heart Heb. 10.8 and 2 Cor. 3 3. Doth so renew and sanctifie our souls that we may live unto God Secondly The example of Christ for he had the days of his flesh John 1.14 and Heb. 5.7 lived in the world as men do but not after the flesh and God in our nature is the fit pattern for us to imitate that we may be in the world as he was in the world and not please the flesh as he pleased not himself To this example we are to be conformed but
and obedience as if delivered by Christ himself in person Otherwise he would not have mentioned that respect without detestation Acts 14.14 The Apostles rent their Cloaths when they would have given them Divine Honour Well then attention credit and obedience is due to their Message 2. The value and authority of this office They sustain the person of God and supply the place of Christ upon Earth As though God did beseech you by us and in Christs stead This is added to bespeak credit and respect to their Message 1. Credit Salvation is a weighty thing and we had need be upon sure grounds and not only have mans Word but Gods for it Mans Word breedeth but humane credulity and that 's a cold thing 'T is faith actuateth and enliveneth our notions and opinions in religion and maketh them operative 1 Thes. 2.13 The Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe The Apostles word as it concerned them was evidenced to be of God Partly by the evidence of the Doctrine its self which had Gods impress and stamp upon it and to minds unprejudiced did commend its self to their Consciences 2 Cor. 4 2 3 4. And partly by the power and presence of God with them Acts 5.31 32. And 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Per modum efficientis causae per modum argumenti enlightening the mind perswading the heart outwardly by miracles inwardly by the operation of the Holy-Ghost The objective Testimony was made up of both The internal sanctifying work and the external confirmation by miracles For 't is said 2 Cor. 3.3 They were the Epistle of Christ prepared by their Ministry written not with Ink but the Spirit of the living God He writeth the Law upon the heart Heb. 8.10 And Jer. 31.33 As it was the Ministration of the Spirit and carryed a sanctifying vertue along with it that their faith might be grounded upon the authority of God opening their heart to receive the Word Acts 16.14 Now the ordinary Ministers the truth of their Doctrine is evidenced by its conformity to the direction of the Prophets and Apostles Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word there is no light in them That 's the standard and measure by which all Doctrines must be tryed to prevent the obtrusions of errour Well then though other Doctrine be brought to us by men yet our Faith standeth not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God It must be resolved into a Divine Testimony Though men bring it yet God is the Author what the Embassadour saith the King saith if he be true to his Commission And therefore this word of reconciliation must be received as the Word of God When you come to an Ordinance the awe of God must be upon your hearts Acts 10.33 We are all here beforâ— thee to hear all things commanded thee of God 2. Respect They speak in God's Name and in God's stead as if God were beseeching and Christ calling upon you Luke 10.16 He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 'T is Christ maketh the request for your hearts The Father sent him and he us 'T is a wonder that after so much evidence of the Christian Faith and the World hath had such sufficient Tryal of its Goodness Efficacy and Power any should suspect the voice of God speaking in the Scriptures But 't is a greater wonder that believing the Scriptures to be the Voice of God and the Testimony of God we should so slight it and carry our selves so neglectfully in a business of such Importance as if either we suspected what we profess to believe or the hatred and love of God were such inconsiderable things that we did not much consider the one nor the other If an Oracle from Heaven should warn you of danger bid you seek the Peace of God or you are undone for ever would not you seriously address your selves to this business God doth by us beseech you we in Christs stead pray you to be reconciled 'T is God's Word that we hear and God's Message that is sent to you As Peter prescribeth Ministers to speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4.11 so you must hear as the Word of God ought to be heard with reverence and attention and serious regard as if God and Christ himself had spoken to you to press you to it This Word which you hear slightly as it is the Testimony of God to you so one day it will be the Testimony of God against you This Word shall judge you John 12.48 It doth not fall to the ground but will be producâ—d as a Witness against your negligence and carelesness 3. The Manner Here is beseeching and praying in and by this Ministry which God hath instituted God cometh down from the Throne of his Soveraingty and speaketh Supplications We must treat with men after the manner of Christ when he was here upon Earth calling Sinners to Repentance with all the affectionate importunity imaginable 1. With Love and Sweetness The manner must suit with the matter We have an Authority to Exhort yet in regard of the rich grace we offer we must beseech and intreat with all gentleness and importunity Paul in a like case doth the like elsewhere Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a Living Sacrifice Church Power and Civil Power differ much They go altogether by way of Injunction and Command We must beseech They compel we must persuade The Power of Christ's Embassadors is a Ministry not a Domination We are to deal with the Will and the Affections of Men which may be moved and inclined but not constrained Again there is a difference between the Law and the Gospel the Law doth not beseech but only command and threaten You shall have no other Gods before me Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. But we as in Christs stead pray you to be reconciled The Law is peremptory I am the Lord. The Gospel wooeth before it winneth and reasoneth with us The Gospel being a Charter of God's Love we must use a dispensation suitable invite men to God in a loving sweet way And surely if men despise God's still Voice their condemnation will be very just When Nabal slighted David's kind Message he marches against him in fury 1 Sam. 25.13 14. to cut off all that belonged to him It we despise the 〈◊〉 Voice we must expect the Whirlwind I stretched out my hands and no man regarded Prov. 1.24 I will laugh at their calamity How can we expect that God should hear our prayers if we be deaf to his requests and when we in his stead pray you to be reconciled and still you refuse to hear 2. Meekness and Patience Praying and
not without Success and Fruit. This Phrase Kept thy Word is very significant it implieth not only outward Hearing but Knowledg Mat. 13.23 He that receiveth the Seed into good Ground is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it c. Nay not only Knowledg but Assent and Believing embracing the Promises of the Gospel Luke 8.15 Having heard the Word keep it and bring forth Fruit with Patience Not only Assent but the Fruits of Love and Obedience 1 John 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Liar and the Truth is not in him Not only single Obedience but constant Profession and Perseverance Prov. 16.20 My Son keep thy Father's Commandments and forsake not the Law of thy Mother They have not failed as Judas Now there is a twofold keeping of the Word a Legal keeping and Evangelical The Legal keeping is absolute and perfect Obedience if there be but the least failing Moses accuseth and condemneth you The Evangelical keeping is filial and sincere Obedience Those Imperfections Christ pardoneth when he looketh back and seeth many Errors and Defects in Life as long as we bewail Sin seek Remission strive to attain Perfection All the Commandments are accounted kept when that which is not done is pardoned Thy Word He doth not say my Word but thine He elsewhere referreth his Doctrine to the Father John 7.16 My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me So here he mentioneth the Divine Authority of his Doctrine 1. Observ. Christ speaketh good of his People to his Father Satan is an Accuser he loveth to speak ill of Believers but Christ telleth his Father how his Lambs thrive It is a grief to your Advocate when he cannot speak well of you in Heaven and say They have kept thy Word I am glorified in them How grievous is it when your very Advocate is forced to be an Accuser Isa. 49.4 I have laboured in vain and spent my Strength for nought I have sent my Gospel and it doth no good it is Christ's complaint against the Obstinacy of the Jews Again whom will you imitate Christ or Satan To slander and accuse is the Devil's Property we should be more tender in divulging the Infirmities of the Saints it is the Devil's work Christ when he prayeth for his Enemies he mollifieth their Crime and softneth it with a gentle Interpretation Luke 23.34 Father forgive them they know not what they do Christ excuseth Satan accuseth 2. Observ. Again They have kept thy Word Christ speaketh good of them tho they had many failings The Disciples often miscarried were of weak Faith passionate when when they met with Disrepect Luke 9.54 Lord wilt thou that we command Fire to come down from Heaven and consume them But Christ returneth this general Issue They have kept thy Word So James 5.11 Ye have heard of the Patience of Job Yea and of his Impatience too when he cursed the Day of his Birth but the Spirit of God putteth a Finger on the Scar. It is a ground of Hope notwithstanding many Weaknesses and Failings Christ loveth not to upbraid us with Infirmities We commend with Exceptions and when we seem to praise we come in with a But like a Stab under the fifth Rib Yea we blast much Good with a little Evil as Flies only go to a sore place 3. Observ. It is the Duty of God's People to keep his Word It is the greatest Commendation Christ could give his Disciples They have kept thy Word Mark Christians It is not your Duty to hear the Word only but to keep it not to know the Word only but to keep it Rickets cause great Heads and weak Feet We are not only to dispute of the Word and talk of it but to keep it We must neither be all Ear nor all Head nor all Tongue but the Feet must be exercised Now what is it to keep the Word We are said to keep it when we watch over it that it be not lost by our selves nor taken away by others It noteth three things that it must be impressed on our Hearts expressed in our Lives retained in our Conversations 1. To keep the Word is to feel the Force of it in our Hearts that our Hearts may be more bent and set towards God for else the Word is lost to our selves A Man may better his Knowledg by the Word but yet he doth not keep it nor feel the Virtue and Force of it The Brains may be warmed when the Heart is not and we may keep the Notion when the Motion is gone and lost Oh consider We know God as we love him we know him aright when we know him as we are known he knoweth us to love us to chuse us to gain us to himself and to Christ. So should we know him for our Portion to have no rest till we have an Interest in Christ. 2. It must be expressed in our Life Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it To keep the Law is to live according to the Prescript of it 3. There must be a Perseverance to retain it in our Conversations Rev. 3.18 Thou hast kept my Word and hast not denied my Name Do we thus keep the Word all dependeth on it John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments Christ conjureth us by all the Love we bear to him Vers. 23. If any Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him If there be any Faith in the Heart by which we esteem Christ we must not only keep it in Memory but keep it in Faith Do you honour him in your Lives Can we venture any thing to keep the Word when the World would take out Crown from us Vse We may know when Christ will speak good of us not when we hear and when we are taught but when we keep the Word yet this we must do understand and keep his Word not Customs not Traditions of Ancestors nor Fancies we must receive his Word as his Word 1 Thess. 2.13 For this cause thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe SERMON X. JOHN XVII 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee IN this Verse there is another Argument why he should be heard for the Apostles which may be taken either from the Towardliness of the Disciples or the Fidelity of Christ The one is implied in the other the Towardliness of the Apostles in discerning the Divine Nature and Mission of Christ the Fidelity of Christ in referring all to his Father they know it and I have taught it them for he urgeth not only their Proficiency they have known but his own Faithfulness he had glorified his
Father in his Doctrine Both which are Arguments they that have made such progress are to be respected and I that have been faithful have deserved it in their behalf I shall first open the words Now. Heretofore they were ignorant but now I can say this for them they have known c. as a School-master when he hath taught a Child looketh for his Reward when the Work is done They have known Things above Reason are known by Faith and Revelation by my Teaching and Illumination they are brought to conceive and acknowledg it for he saith before I have manifested thy Name to the Men that thou gavest me out of the World That all things whatsoever thou hast given me It doth not refer to what he had received from God by Eternal Generation as the only begotten Son of God but to what he had in Commission as Mediator and he saith all things whatsoever as implying his Authority over the World Vers. 2. Thou hast given him Power over all Flesh His Interest in the Elect Thine they were thou gavest them me Vers. 6. His Doctrine it was given him in charge by the Father Christ taught no other Doctrine but what he received from his Father John 7.16 My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me It was not of his Invention but delivered according to the Instruction received from his Father His Power to work Miracles that it was not by Magical Imposture or the help of the Devil but by the Power of God The Pharisees would not believe it Luke 11.20 If I by the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you Mat. 12.28 If I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come unto you The imposition of the Mediatory Office John 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God John 1.41 We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ. The union of the two Natures That I came out from thee and was sent from thee Vers. 8. And the Apostles knew this Mat. 16.16 Simon Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God The Apostles knew Christ to be very God and very Man in one Person the Vail of his Humane Nature and natural Infirmities did not hinder their Eyes from seeing him Are of thee That is ratified by thee as the Supream Judg invented or found out by thee as the Supream Author all is from thy Soveraign Favour and Gracious Decree flowing from thee as the Supream Cause and Power Of thee as an Author of thee as a Cause of thee as a Judg. Observations 1. Observe Christ's faithfulness to his Father in two things In revealing his Mind In referring all Things to his Glory In revealing his Mind he acted according to his Instructions The Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me John 12.50 Whatsoever I speak even as the Father said unto me so I speak In referring all things to his Glory John 7.18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own Glory but he that seeketh his Glory that sent him the same is true and no Vnrighteousness is in him Now if we would glorify God we should learn of our Lord and Master not speak from our own Fancy nor to our own Ends either way we may be false Prophets when we speak false Doctrine or for wrong Ends the one leads the People into Error the other into Formality or a dead powerless Course Though usually both are coupled together Acts 20.28 There shall arise from among you Men speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Perverse Doctrine and a perverse Aim are seldom severed as a Bow that is warped can hardly shoot right Vse 1. Be perswaded of the Truth of what you deliver and look to your Aims the best of us know but in part and are apt to err and we are renewed but in part and are apt to warp and to look asquint on our own Interests little do you know what struglings we have to satisfy our own Souls and then regulate and guide our Aims 2. It is useful also to Hearers If you would glorify God you must learn of Christ not live according to your own Wills nor for your own Interests The End falleth under a Rule as well as the Action You are not to be led by Fancy but Scripture not to aim at your own Profit but God's Glory It is hard to say which is worst to baulk the Rule or pervert the End He that doth Evil with a good Aim maketh the Devil serve God though ignorantly and sinfully but he that doth good with an evil Aim maketh God serve the Devil You make me to serve with your Iniquities It is sad to wrong God as the highest Soveraign by breaking a Law upon any pretence whatsoever and it is worse to wrong God as the utmost End the one is the effect of Ignorance the other of Disobedience Natural Light sheweth that the supream Cause must be the utmost End A Man may err in a positive Law but this is the standing Law of Nature and Reason that all our Endeavours should be to God 2. Observe The Proficiency of the Apostles in Christ's School they knew that all things whatsoever was given him was of God At first they were rude and ignorant and Christ saith Now they know And they had many Disadvantages they were conscious to all the natural weaknesses which Christ discovered in his Conversation his Hunger Thirst Weariness and yet they have known c. How did they come to know this I Answer Partly by the Internal Light of the Holy Ghost Mat. 16.16 Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Vers. 17. And Jesus answered Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven The Saving-Knowledg of Christ's Person and Offices cannot be gotten but by special Revelation from God we must see God as we see the Sun by his own Beam and Light Partly by the consideration of his Miracles in which some Beams of the Godhead did shine forth and by which his Humane Nature was as it were counter-ballanced John 3.2 Rabbi we know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no Man can do these Miracles that thou dost except God be with him Partly by special observation of the singularity and excellency that was in Christ's Person his Conversation Miracles Doctrine which made his Testimony more valuable and in a rational way served to beget respect to him and an humane belief that he was a Person of great Holiness and strict Innocence without partiality Mark 12.14 Master we know that thou art true and carest for no Man for thou regardest not the Person of Men but teachest the Way of God in Truth With such Fidelity as to God He came not in his own Name John 5.42 I am come in my Father's Name With such