of it's owne or the Churches safety seeing the head of the Church who hath the key of David openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth that is governeth and protecteth his Church irresistably if we take the word irresistably in opposition unto a final complete and victorious resistancy why should we feare the malice and enmity of weak men as long as we have the love and favour of so potent a Saviour if he be our friend no matter though we have all the world for foe If he be with and for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 In that terrible invasion of Israel by Shalmanaser which ended in the utter ruine desolation and captivity of the whole nation described Isay 8. ult to be a time of trouble and darknesse and dimnesse of anguish far surmounting their former troubles though very great and grievous cap. 9.1 yet the prophet goeth to support the sinking spirits of the believing and penitent party with the promise of comfort and liberty v. 2 3 4. the ground of all which he makes to be Christs soveraignty vers 6. though the remnant of Christs people amongst the captiv'd Israelites walked in darknesse and dwelt as it were in the shadow of death yet they shall see a great light vers 2. the light of sprituall comfort and deliverance shall shine upon them they shall joy according to the joy of harvest vers 3. they shall be freed from the bondage of their spirituall enemies the yoke of their burden the staffe of their shoulder the rod of their oppressours shall be broken as in the day of Midian vers 4. for unto us a child is borne unto us a son is given upon whose shoulders the government of the Church the whole world is cast vers 6. And this government is managed as by unconceivable wisdome He is the wonderfull Counsellor so by unspeakable love the Zeale of the Lord of Hostes will performe this And the ground of this assertion is his relation unto us He is our everlasting Father v 6. If the Church be full of disorder and Confusion 1 Cor. 14.32 if the Spirits of the prophets be not subject to the prophets 1 Cor. 12.17 if the whole body affect to be the eye and the hearing why his government is upon the throne of David and his king dome to order it if the Church be in a weake and tottering condition his government is upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdome to establish it vers 7. We find Psal 80. that when the hedges of the Church of Israel were broken downe the hedge of discipline the hedges of God and the Magistrates protection vers 12 13. so that all they which passe by the way did pluck her The Beare out of the wood did wast it and the wild beast of the field did devoure it Why then the alone refuge and Sanctuary of her genuine members was the exaltation of Christ vers 17 18. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for-thy selfe So will we not go◠back from thee As if the Psalmist should have said if our blessed Saviour be highly exalted a name given him above every name and hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth why then we may wax confident of our perseverance for he wil imploy this his power and authority to preserve us from Apostacy and defection the shipwrack of faith and a good conscience so that we shall never draw back unto perdition Heb. 10.39 And this will satisfy and compose our spirits let the world goe how it will let all things be turned topsy turvy so as we goe not back from thee O Lord of Hostes so long as there is not in us an evill heart of unbeliefe we hope we shall possesse our soules in patience Though the vineyard of the Lord be burnt with fire and cut downe though there be scarce left among us so much as the face of a Church visible men may throw us out of our earthly enjoyments they may shut us up in a deep and darke dungeon and there exclude the light of the Sunne from us but in such a condition the power of our Mediatour should uphold our spirits He hath the Key of David and openeth and no man shutteth if he open heaven gates unto us not all the men in earth not all the Devils in hell are able to shut or barre them against us If we be cast upon a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time why at that time Michael shall stand up the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and at that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the booke Dan. 12.1 This place of Daniel you may expound by Revel 12.7 where we have a warre raised in heaven that is in the Church of God by the Dragon and his Angels that is Satan and his adherents but they are encountered by Michael and his Angels who give them a totall rout and overthrow vers 8. They prevailed not neither was their place found any more in heaven They had no more power to tyrannize over the Church And it is observable that the Instruments of this great victory are none but poore martyrs for such as these were the Angels of Michael that is Christ described to be vers 11. They loved not their lives unto death The strongest weapons of their warfare are their sufferings The victory that overcometh the world is the faith and patience of the Saints 1 John 5.4 The shedding of their blood drawes blood from their adversary and their death puts life into the cause which they dye for so that we may say of them as of the King of Sweden at the Battell of Lutzen they conquer when they are killed If that befall our Church which Paul foretold of the Church of Ephesus that grievous wolves enter in among them not sparing the flock Act. 20.29 If foxes spoyle the vines and tender grapes Cant. 2.15 If hereticks false teachers seduce weake Christians especially new converts why he is the great shepherd of the sheepe and is able to represse them and chase them away If never so malitious potēt adversaries assayle the house the Church of God why Christ is the Lord of the house and he is faithfull to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 therefore there is no need of any other garrison for it's protection then his power and care Psalm 2.1,2,3,4,9 the Kings of the earth set themselves the rulers take counsell together against the Lord against his anointed saying Let us breake their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Thou shalt breake them with a rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessell If ten Kings
God of this world John 14.30 and 16.11.2 Cor. 4.4 the prince of the power of the aire Ephes 2.2 For he hath the keyes of Hell and death Revel 1.18 He hath the keyes of hell he can cast the Dragon that old serpent the Devill and Satan into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seale upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand yeers should be fulfilled Rev. 20.3 He hath the keyes of death and one day will unlock the graves of all men In a second place we are to prove that Christ's fulnesse of Authority the all-power that was given to him in heaven and in earth was a consequent of his resurrection and this I shall make good by foure places of scripture The first is Ephes 1.20,21,22 Where we have Christs soveraigne authority or dominion set forth unto us a comparatis ab object o principalitatis or perfectionis and lastly a distributione 1. By a comparison of similitude 2. By the chiefe objects of it 3. By a distribution of it 1. A comparatis by a comparison of similitude It is as it were a placing of him at Gods owne right hand in the heavenly places v. 20. At the right hand of majesty on high Heb. 1.3 at the right hand of the throne of God Heb. 12.2 For what is this his sitting at the right hand of God but the highest degree of his exaltation whereby he enjoyeth the highest glory of his mediation and that is properly and formally a kingly glory which doth also redound unto other of his offices so that he exerciseth a kingly priesthood and a kingly prophecy as you may see in Ames Med. lib. 1. cap. 23. Num. 32 33 34. The phrase is metaphoricall in allusion to the custome of great potentates who placed at the right hand of their thrones their most inward and powerfull favourites or their heires and successors or such great persons as were next in dignity and office unto them Solomon to honour his mother seated her on his right hand 1 Kings 2.19 Vpon the kings right hand did stand the Queene in gold of Ophir Psalm 45.9 When the mother of Zebedees Children desired that her sonnes might sit the one on the right hand and the other on the left hand of Christ in his kingdome what did she crave but the two chiefe dignities in his kingdome Math. 20.21 Eccle 12.12 1 Esdr 4.29 By Christ's sitting then at the right hand of God is understood as the unspeakable glory and dignity so also the imperiall and soveraigne Authority or dominion which Christ hath as man next under God over the whole creation And unto this interpretation of the phrase we are guided by the scripture it selfe The Apostle in his quotâ—tion of that of David Psal 110. v. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies my footstoole thus varieth the words 1 Cor. 15.25 he must raigne till he hath put all enemies under his feet From which variation we may observe that with Paul for Christ to sit at the right hand of God toraigne are all one Thus Peter also having in his sermon Act. 2. v. 34 35. cited the very same place of of the Psalmist in v. 36. he expounds it by Gods making Jesus Lord and Christ The same exposition also he giveth of it 1 Pet. 3.22 He is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels authorities and powers being made subject unto him To be at the right hand of God is to have Angels authorities powers made subject unto him The largest comment that we have in scripture upon the phrase is in the place now under debate Here the Apostle having affirmed v. 20. that the working of Gods mighty power set Christ on his owne right hand c. In v. 21 22. he fully explaineth what is meant by his sitting at Gods owne right hand why to be farre above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come To have all things put under his feet to be given to be head over all things to the Church 2. We have Christs kingdome soveraigne authority or dominion set forth here unto us ab objecto principalitatis or perfectionis from it's chiefe or principall objects 1. The most powerfull 2. The most renowned of it's objects 1. The most powerfull of it's objects far above all principality and power and might and dominion Cartwright upon the place Where it is evident that the Apostle heapeth up divers words of one and the same signification thereby the more effectually to set forth the supereminent power of our Saviour Christ above all A great deale of Curiosity there is in interpreters touching the distinction of these termes some understanding them partly of things in earth and partly of things in heaven Others only of things in earth others only of things in heaven and here the Papists with a great deale of Confidence talke out of a counterfeit or forged Dyonysius concerning the distinction of the Orders of Angels as if they had with Paul been rapt up into the third heaven and there exactly muster'd all the heavenly Hostes Hilary Augustine and Bernard doe here with a great deale of modesty and ingenuity confesse their Ignorance herein Indeed there is no ground in Scripture for the severall signification of every of these words And for men in interpretation of Scripture to flee unto groundlesse conjectures would bring in a strange if not a mad kind of Divinity Divers learned expositors both Papists and Protestants say that if the termes be not Synonyma but have severall significations that then the Apostle speakes of them not by way of assertion but by way of concession or supposition in reference say some unto the Jewes say others unto the Gnosticks both which might hold such a distinction between the celestiall spirits or else with relation unto the fables of the Greeke Poëts their Divines who maintained perhaps such a difference betwixt their Imaginary Deities as if the Apostle should have said Suppose though not grant this distinction of principality and power and might and dominion yet Christ is advanced far above them all in dignity and authority 2. We have the kingdome or supreme dominion of Christ illustrated from the most renowned of it's objects Every name that is every person of name or renowne Famous or renowned persons were termed by the Hebrewes * Apud Hebraeos viri celebres dicuntur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est viri nominis quos graeci vocant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quo modo etiam in vernaculo nostro sermone loquimur Beza Cornel. Alapide hath also the same note but he fetcheth it out of Beza as it will appeare to any one that will compare them together persons of name and here we have a distribution of these famous or honourable
and lively description of Christs exaltation 1. from the antecedent 2. from the parts or branches thereof 1. We have the antecedent of it Christs humiliation He humbled himselfe and became obedient unto death even the death of the crosse Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him c. Not only Papists but divers Protestants as Peter Martyr and Zanchy are of the opinion that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quapropter wherefore denoteth a meritorious cause and not only a bare antecedent Doctor Featly to compose the controversy distinguisheth of Christ considered as a mediatour and as man Albeit saith he as mediatour he merited for us yet as man he might also merit for himselfe I should rather say that by his humiliation he merited his exaltation not for himselfe but for us in our behalfe and for our behoofe He merited it as it was the exaltation of a publique person the head of the Church The first light of this I confesse I had from Mr Cartwright in his answer unto the annotations of the Rhemists upon Philippians 2. v. 9. Whereas the Rhemists had alleadged Revel 5 9. Thou art worthy to take the booke c. for thou hast slaine and hast redeemed us v. 12. The place saith Mr Cartwright is nothing to this question For the worthinesse there spoken of is not considered in regard of that wich Christ was worthy to receive for himselfe but in regard of that which he was worthy to receive for us Now he was worthy for himselfe after the personall unitie to know all misteries and to receive all glory without regard of any worke that ever be did But to be worthy to receive it that we might be partakers of it could not be with safety of Gods justice but by his obedience and that to the death of the Crosse And this is the worthinesse which the Angels do so dignifie and commend in Jesus Christ v. 12. 2. Christ's exaltation is here made to consist in two particulars Transcendency of renowne v. 9. Supremacy of Authority vers 10 11. 1. Transcendency of renowne Gave him a name which is above every name The Lord rold David 2 Sam. 7.9 the type of Christ that he had made him a great name like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth But here we see that he hath given Christ the Antitype a name farre surmounting that of the greatest men upon the face of the earth A more glorious a more unspotted a more powerfull name 1. A more glorious name How narrow is the fame of the most renowned of the sonnes of men in comparison of that of Jesus Christ which is like the circuite of the sunne universall successively unto the whole world Hath the persons of any men been adored and worshipped with that Zeale and sincerity as Jesus Christ hath been by his Saints What mortall wight or immortall Angell hath been so much upon the tongues and hearts of men as he Whose life hath been read or heard with that assent that admiration and those affections as his No name you see hath been so celebrated and magnified as his And indeed none deserveth the praise and glory that his doth For what are the conquests of the greatest warriers unto that victory of his over our spirituall adversaries on the Crosse Where he spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Col. 2.15 No scepter like unto the rod of his strength Psal 110.2 no earthly throne like to his on the right hand of the majesty on high The exploits of the greatest conquerours by the most formidable armies are but triflâ—… compared with his atchievements by the ministery of a few weake despised men 2. Christs name is more unspotted then any other name whatsoever and therefore in this respect it out shineth all other names farre more then the light of the sunne doth that of the dimmest taper The greatest chieftaines in the world have had some blot some odious but or other upon their names that have darkened all their glory Thus the name of Alexander the great was sullied with pride drunkenesse and Luxury the name of Hanniball stained with cruelty the name of Julius Caesar spotted and blur'd with ambition and tyranny But the name of Christ is as a most glorious so a spotlesse name Heb. 7.26 which is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners In a third place It is a most powerfull name that hath all the world at a beck and that unto the very end of it The power of mens names hath seldome out-lived their persons Those that in their life time have most flourished in military glory whose very names hath awed not only their owne but bordering kingdomes yet we see their authority hath died with them After death their names have had a weake influence upon those of their servants and subjects whom they have most obliged In the Charnell house the greatest coward may tread upon the dust of the greatest conquerour The great name of Alexander could not secure his mother sister wives concubine posterity from violent and untimely ends The great name of * Three daies the corps of this great Monarch is said to have laine neglected while his servants attending to imbeazle his moveables in the end his youngest Son Henry had it conveyed to the Abbey of Cane where first at the entry into the Towne they who carried the corps left it alone and ran to quench an house on fire afterward brought to be intombed a Gentleman stands forth and in sterne manner forbids the interment in that place claiming the ground to be his inheritance descended from his Ancestors taken from him at the building of that Abbey appealing to Row their first founder for justice Whereupon they were faine to compound with him for an annuall rent Such adoe had the body of him after death who had made so much in his life to be brought to the earth and of all he attained had not now a roome to containe him without being purchased at the hand of another men esteeming a living dog more then a dead lyon Daniel Hist England p. 50 51. William the conquerour could not procure him in his own dominions a respectfull quiet and undisturbed funerall But now the name given unto Christ in his exaltation was no empty powerlesse thing but accompanied with the vast empire and authority 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies as Beza noteth dignitatem celebritatem nominis cum re ipsâ conjunctam He gave him such a name that thereat every knee should how of things in Heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confesse that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father v. 10 11. In which words we have the supremacy of Christs authority set forth unto us by three particulars à correlato ab adjuncto occupato à fine 1. From the generall subordination of all creatures unto it 2. From
shall not be confounded v. 6 that is shall not be disappointed of his hope all other foundations will faile men and prove but as a Spiders web Job 8.14 so that whosoever relieth on them shall be covered with shame and confusion of face In the words I believe there is a litotes by deniall of Confusion and shame is understood the affirmation of extraordinary comfort and confidence He that believeth on him shall not be ashamed or confounded that is he shall lift up his head with a full joy triumph and unshaken confidence whereas others shall hide their heads and not be able to looke the lambe in the face as being utterly abashed at the vanity and deceitfulnesse of those foundations upon which they have built and relied From this in the third place the Apostle inferreth the honour and glory of those that by faith leane upon him as a foundation He that believeth on him shall not be confounded unto you therefore which believe he is an honour v. 6 7. indeed for a man to have his expectation concerning the eternall happinesse of his soule fully answered at the last day when the hopes of the great and wise men of the world shall be utterly frustrate must needs make much for a mans honour in the sight of men and Angels Vnto you which believe he is an honour because you have honoured him received his testimony set your seale as it were to his veracity therefore he will honour you derive unto you his honour and glory make you in together with him the Sons of God heires of Heaven spirituall Kings and priests Revel 1.6 To conclude what I have to say at present touching this fulnesse of Christs office over the Church Submission unto it is a thing from which we are of our selves averse The resolve of the Jewes is the naturall language of every carnall mans heart We will not have this man to reigne over us Luk. 19.14 Well therefore let us humbly implore the over-ruling influence of heaven to worke us unto an unfeigned acknowledgment of and sincere obedience unto the full authority of Christ for no man saith the Apostle can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is an easy matter formally and verbally to professe it but to acknowledge it cordially and affectionately out of a true faith and full perswasion of heart impossible unlesse we be taught swayed and acted by the Holy spirit 2. I shall proceed to that use and application which may be made of the fulnesse of Christs authority in generall over the whole universe wherein I shall not wholly exclude his fulnesse of authority over his Church but shall sometimes have reference thereunto 1. Then for information we may hence inferre the dignity of the members and ministers of Christ 1. The dignity of the members of Christ they are the servants subjects friends favourites brethren nay spouse of him that hath all power in heaven and in earth and to be so neerely and intimately related unto a person of such power and authority is in heavens Herauldry a farre greater honour then to be absolute and universall monarch of the whole earth This is an unspeakable comfort unto all true believers in their lowest condition and should be a strong engagement to walke suitably unto the height of such relations as becommeth the servants of so great a master the subjects nay friends and favourites of so redoubted a king the spouse of so powerfull and glorious a husband 2. We may hence inferre the dignity of the ministers of Christ They have their office and commission from him that hath a commission from the father to governe all creatures in heaven and in earth They are the only Embassadours of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the keepers of his great seales the sacraments the stewards and rulers of his house 1 Cor. 4.1 Heb. 13.17 And from this dignity of the ministeriall function we may presse both ministers and people unto their severall and respective duties 1. The Dignity of ministers should mind them of and move them unto their duty not to walke beneath the eminency of that relation which they have unto their great Lord and master the prince of all the Kings of the earth His name is above every name and therefore they who are chosen vessels to beare his name Act. 9.15 should be very carefull not to cast any reproach or dishonour upon his name not to occasion the blasphemie thereof by any either indiscretion or scandall in their conversation It would be a very great and foule incongruence if whereas Christ who hath a fulnesse of all authority hath given them an office worthy of double honour yet notwithstanding they should render their persons vile and contemptible 2. The dignity of ministers should be a powerfull incentive unto their people to give them all due respect double honour as the Apostle phraseth it 1 Timoth. 5.17 I cannot enforce this use better then in the words of one of the best of our English Prelates Bishop Lake He that looketh upon the persons of ministers only will not much esteeme either them or their words but adde whose ministers they are and that requireth reverence to be yeelded to their persons and obedience to their doctrine Especially if we consider that all those to whom they come are at his mercy from whom they come for he hath power over them all and such power he must have that sends so it is not a message sent by a King to a neighbour King but by a King to his vassals the more are they to be respected and their words heeded States and Princes in all ages have had a very deep resentment of injuries done unto their Embassadours How severely did David revenge the disgrace that Hanun put upon his messengers 2 Sam. Chapters 10 11 12. And the Romans extinguished Corinth though the eye of Greece for violating their Embassadours and yet the violation was so small as that Florus could not tell whether it were voce or manu What severity then may they expect in the day of retribution the greatest part of whose religion is to heap indignities upon the messengers of Christ Jesus whom he hath sent with the offer of peace and pardon unto the sonnes of men For if earthly Potentates be so tender and touchy in the point of their Embassadours honour and safety can they dreame that Christ who hath all power given unto him in heaven earth should be so tamely insensible of the affronts that are offered unto his Embassadours as without repentance to suffer them to passe unpunished and unrevenged Doth not he himselfe tell us that a bare contempt of his ministers much more all violent and other injurious treatings of them reflect in the upshot upon himselfe and his father He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10.16 They have their commission from him and he hath
his from his father He sends them and his father him As my father hath sent me even so send I you Joh. 20.21 If then we slight wrong or violence them both he and his father may justly interpret it as done unto themselves 2. Here is an use of terrour unto all the enemies of Christ whether open and professed or secret and dissembled Can there be a point of greater folly then for impotent dust and ashes to be against him that hath all power in heaven and earth all judgment committed unto him authority to sentence all his enemies unto eternall flames and torments All opposition of him is like the dashing of an earthen vessel against a great stone or rock for he is the head of the corner and whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder Math. 21.44 All his enemies all unregenerate and unbelieving persons whatsoever may be said to fall on him Vnto them he is a stone of stumbling rock of offence 1 Pet. 2.8 And they shall all of them be broken either to their conversion or destruction But now as for reprobates such as die in finall unbeliefe and impenitency Christ is an enemy unto them he falleth on them as a great stone from an high place and therefore he shall grind them to powder they shall utterly and irrecoverably be destroyed What King saith our saviour going to make war against another King sitteth not down first and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand or else while the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an Embassage and desireth conditions of peace Luk. 14.31,32 These foolish soules that wage warre against Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords if they would consult their owne safety so farre as to consider how unable such poore wormes as they are to cope and encounter with him that hath all the hostes of the Lord under his command They would speedily lay aside all farther thoughts of hostility and send their teares and prayers as Embassadours and desire conditions of peace upon Christs own termes It was a vaine bragge of * Plutarch Pompey that as oft as he did but stampe with his foot upon the ground of Italy he should bring men enough out of every corner both footmen and horsemen But much more may truly be averred of Christ he hath heaven earth and hell at a beck and can whensoever he please arme the whole creation against all that oppose him or his But indeed his justice doth not goe alwaies in the same path or pace His patience many times grants a reprive unto his greatest enemies during their lives here on earth Latter ages have hardly afforded a more bloudy and cruell adversary unto the Church of Christ then the Duke of Alva and yet Christ suffered his hoare head to goe downe to the grave in peace But there will come a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God and Christ And then Christ will put all his enemies under his feete His father will make them all his footstoole Then the stoutest and proudest of his enemies shall be sufficiently sensible of their Impotency and when it is too late repent their mad and successelesse assaults of his kingdome And the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chiefe captaines and the mighty men and every bond-man and every free-man shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and shall say to the mountaines and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that setteth on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb Rev 16.15,16 How will the boares out of the wood that have wasted the vineyard of the Lord and the wild beasts of the field that have devoured it Psal 80.13 The Foxes the little Foxes that spoile the vines the tender grapes how I say will they be filled with despaire and confusion when they shall come to be censured for this by the Lord of the vine-yard How will they be able to look in the face the Lord of the harvest whose chiefe designe hath been to hinder the sending of labourers into the harvest to obstruct their worke and labour there in how will those Tobiak's and Sandallat's c. be confounded who have used all their interest and power in the world to oppose the building repairing and reforming of the house the Church of God when for this they shall be called unto an account by the sonne that is Lord of the house When those that have all their lives long been obstinate profaners and impugners of the sabbath and all other ordinances when they shall see their judge the Lord of the Sabbath and all other ordinances how unspeakable will their horror and amazement be One great part of the torments of those that have waged warre against the saints will be that the doome of the everlasting state of their soules is to proceed out of the mouth of the King of Saints No tongue can decypher no heart imagine the terrours that will overwhelme those wolves that have worried the sheepe of Christ when they shall see themselves drag'd unto the tribunall of the great shepherd of the sheepe At that last day the lot of all Christs enemies will be fatall and dismall and Christ himselfe giveth so comprehensive a character of his enemies as takes in all that in the Church visible are not active for his cause and glory all that concurre not with him in promoting the salvation of mens soules all that endeavour not according to their callings to gather in unto his Church He that is not with me saith he is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad Math. 12.30 But now the condition of none of Christ's enemies will be so unsupportable as that of those who are visibly subjects and yet cordially enemies who professe service and subjection and yet practise nothing but enmity It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sydon for the land of Sodom for infidels Turkes and Pagans then for such because they adde unto their hostility falsehood treachery and mockery They deale with Christ as the souldiers that said unto him Haile King of the Jewes but it was in a way of scorne for they crowned him with thornes smote him with their hands Joh. 19.2,3 How bitterly did Christ himselfe expostulate with such hypocrites Why call ye me Lord Lord and doe not the things which I say Luk. 6.46 If men were but duely sensible of Christs soveraigne authority they would tremble at their hypocrisy in professing that Christ is their King when in the meane while they are wholly swayed by the worst of his enemies the basest of their lusts As for those citizens of Christ the members of his Church visible that hated him and sent a message after him saying we
were partiall in the Law chap. 2. ver 9. we may allude unto the expression and say of many ministers in our dayes that they are partiall towards the ordinances of Christ Some will preach but at no hands meddle with the Sacraments Others will preach and baptize but then they wholly lay aside the Lords Supper as if the administration of it were become a thing scandalous in a minister Another sort are diligent in preaching and forward in dispensation of the Sacraments but then they have no care at all of discipline Why are not all these preaching Sacraments and discipline the ordinances of him that hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth How dare these men so farr transgresse their commission from him as to neglect any one of them The command of ministers to administer all ordinances is a vertuall and implied command of the people to embrace and receive all ordinances If it be our duty to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded vers 20. They are not then left at liberty to observe what they please Christ's power should awe them as well as us unto universality in their obedience For if they refuse but one ordinance they interpretatively deny his Soveraignty whereas a full and universall conformity unto all his ordinances exalts him now he sits upon his throne crowned with glory and honour Cant. 3.11 Behold King Solomon with the crowne wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his espousalls and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Believers in whom Christ is formed Gal. 4.19 who do the will of his father Mat. 12.50 are the mother of Christ and submission unto his scepter and goverment is all the crowne they can set upon the head of him whom God hath already made their King And from this submission no power or greatnesse whatsoever is a priviledge or exemption for what a bubble is any earthly power in comparison of all power in heaven and earth what poor wormes are the greatest Monarchs in respect of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore the Psalmist exhorts the Kings and Iudges of the earth to kisse the Son that is to doe homage unto him Ps 2.10,12 Canutus a King of this land with his own hands set his crowne upon the head of the image of a Crucifix in Winchester His superstition herein was abominable but the intent of his action which I Iudge in charity was to expresse his acknowledgment of Christs soveraignty was very laudable What honourable mention doth Ecclesiasticall story make of such Princes as have submitted unto the discipline as well as doctrine of Christ and how famous have they been in all succeeding ages witnesse what is said of Philippus the first Christian Emperour for his being content to stand amongst the number of the penitents who made confession of their sins as also the praises of Theodosius for that he confessed his fault against the inhabitants of Thessalonica in sight of the people with teares How is Iohn Ducas the Greeke Emperour commended for his patient acquiescence in and penitent submission unto the bold severity of Blemmydes who shut the Church doores against his beloved Concubine Marcesina though she was in all her glory attended with most gallants of the Court The publick acknowledgment which the King of Navarre afterwards King of France made of his fault in vitiating the daughter of a Gentleman of Rochell would have rendred him as renowned as any of those if his other Apostacy like a dead fly in the oyntment of the Apothecary Eccles. 10.1 had not sent forth a stinking savour and eclipsed the glory of all his former actions Thus you have seen how the supreame and lordly power of Christ over all things should stirr up ministers unto a discharge of their function It may in the last place serve further as a motive to observe a due manner in the performance thereof to doe it with diligence and with confidence 1. With diligence for how can they but expect to be cursed that doe the worke of so powerfull a Lord negligently what can they looke for but condemnation that are lazy and slothfull in the service of him that hath all Iudgment committed unto him and hath authority to throw them into hell as well for idlenesse in their callings as profanesse in their lives The Lord of the harvest will punish all loyterers and reward none but such as have been diligent and faithfull labourers in the harvest When the Lord of the vineyard shall in the even of the world the day of judgment take an account of those that he hath sent to labour in his vineyard what will become of those that have been unmindfull of their errand and have stood all their lives long idle wholy neglecting the dressing pruning and fencing of the Lords vineyard what answer can those pastors make unto the great chiefe shepherd that have taken no care at all to secure their flocks from wolves and foxes Heretiques Schismaticks Ministers are but as the ushers of Christ that one master the principall teacher of his Church and will he thinke you take it well of them that are not industrious in the instruction of his disciples The doome of the slothfull and unprofitable servant that laid up his talent in a napkin or hid it in the earth was to be throwne into utter darknesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.24,25,26,27,30 In warr it is death for sentinels to be taken sleeping and if in the Church the watchmen of Christ the porters of the house be supine remisse and drousy doe you thinke that Christ the master of the house will hold them guiltlesse Ezek. 33.7 Mark 13.34,35 2. From the fulnesse of Christs authority ministers may be encouraged to discharge their function with confidence and that touching the protection of their persons successe and reward of their labour 1. They may hence gather confidence touching the protection of their persons so farr as Christ judgeth it convenient for he that hath all power given unto him in heaven and earth is able easily to put a restraint upon the greatest power on earth so that if he think convenient it shall not make the least opposition 2. Ministers may hence learne to be confident touching the successe of their labours for he hath the key of the house of David and can open unto them a great and effectuall door though there are many adversaries 1 Cor. 6.9 If he set before the Angell of the Church of Philadelphia an open doore no man can shut it Rev. 3.8 If he give the Gospell a passage no man can hinder it Lastly Ministers may depend upon Christs soveraignty for the reward of their labour The recompence they have from the most of men is contempt affronts and abuses of all sorts But when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare he is able to give them a crowne of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 2.
in his heart by faith in his life by obedience should enjoy eternall life The Jewes presently opposed him herein and the matter is argued pro and con between Christ and them ver 52 53 54 55 56 57. and at last Christ closeth up the disputation with affirmation of his eternity ver 58. Before Abraham was I am Because he was before Abraham therefore if a man keep his sayings he shall never see death Secondly that person in whom dwelleth all fulnesse of the Godhead bodily is immutable and this immutability we have most clearly and fully predicated of Christ in Psalm 102.26,27 If we will allow the Apostle Paul Heb. 1.10,11,12 to be a competent interpreter of the Psalmist and the predication hereof is in conjunction with two other excellencies of the divine nature one but now mentioned Eternity ver 24. The other presently almost to be insisted on the creation of all things ver 25. From all which he concludeth the perpetuity indeficiency and unbarrennesse of the Church ver 28. 1. He affirmeth the eternity of Christ His duration is coëxtended with the duration of all the creatures Thy yeares are throughout all generations Next he signally asserts his creation of all things ver 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the worke of thy hands And 3. As for his unchangeablenesse he doth not barely affirme it but illustrate it also by a comparison of dissimilitude with the change of those creatures which seeme most exempted from mutation ver 26 27. They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall waxe old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed But thou art the same and thy yeares shall have no end And from all this he draweth this conclusion that the Church of Christ shall still in all ages be fruitfull and bring forth children unto God The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee ver 28. Where by the Children and seed of the servants of God he doth not understand such as descend from them by carnall propagation but such as retaine their faith and imitate their piety Because Christ is Eternall omnipotent unchangeable therefore his Church which is conjoyned with him by an indissoluble bond shall be perpetuall and never totally faile from off the earth never be extinguished by the greatest calamities that are incident unto mankind Thirdly If all fulnesse of the Godhead dwell in him then also omnipotency Vnto us a child is borne unto us a sonne is given who is the mighty God Isai 9.6 And this is brought by the Prophet as an argument for confirmation of those sweete and precious promises of consolation redemption and subduing of enemies whereby he goeth about to comfort the godly and faithfull in Israel and that in the utter devastation and depopulation of their country vers 2 3 4 5. In reference unto his omnipotency it is that God speaking of him in the Pialmist saith I have laid help upon on t that is mighty Psalm 89.19 that is mighty to save Isai 63.1 able to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7.25 Hence is it also that he is stiled by Zachariah an horne of salvation that is a strong and mighty Saviour Luk. 1.69 one that is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or think Eph. 3.20 able to keepe our soules which we have committed unto him 2 Timoth. 1.12 able to keepe them by his power through faith unto salvation Fourthly Christ is omnipresent He was in heaven as God when as man he conversed with men here upon earth Joh. 3.13 and therefore he is a very present helpe in trouble Psalm 46.1 Though the heavens must receive his manhood untill the time of restitution of all things Acts. 3.21 Yet as God he sits on the throne in the Christian Churches here on earth Revel 4. and will be with the faithfull ministers thereof unto the end of the world Math. 28.20 and he will be in the mid'st of all assemblies of her members gathered in his name Math. 18.20 Fifthly if there dwell in him all-fulnesse of the Godhead then also omniscienc◠He knew what was in the heart of man Joh. 2.25 He knoweth all things Joh. 21.17 He is the wonderfull counseller Isai 9.6 And therefore can foresee and disappoint all designes and machinations against his Church and Gosple His people need not feare the depths of Satan Revel 2.24 for with him there is an ineffable depth of the riches both of wisdome and knowledge unsearchable judgments and waies past finding out Rom. 11.33 To passe on from the Attributes of God unto his workes I shall at this time make mention of two the Creation and preservation of all things 2. Then the creation of all things is attributed unto Christ Joh. 1.3,10 Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2 and therefore we may commit the keeping of our soules unto him in well-doing as unto a faithfull creatour 1 Peter 4.19 2. The preservation of all things is attributed unto him By him all things consist Col. 1.17 He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 Therefore he can preserve by the power of his grace all his people from totall and finall defection and keep them by his power through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 He can put his feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from him Jerem. 32.40 Enough hath been said to prove that the personall union is a sufficient argument for the all-sufficiency of Christ to carry on his great designe of saving the soules of such as belong unto the election of grace In a second place it is also a proofe of his Willingnesse and readinesse to do the worke Can two saith the Prophet walke together except they be agreed Amos 3.3 So may we say can the Godhead dwell in the manhood except the Godhead intend reconciliation with some persons in the manhood to wit the men which the Father had given unto the Son out of the world Joh 17.6,9 God is a consuming fire and yet the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth bodily in the humanity of Christ and therefore we may shape an affirmative answer unto the question propounded by the Prophet Isaiah chapt 33. v. 14. and may say that some among the sons of men shall dwell with the devouring fire shall dwel with the everlasting burnings The cohabitation of the Godhead with the manhood in the person of Christ is a full evidence that as it is Revel 21.3 the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people And God himselfe shall be with them and be their God Such an infinite person as the Sonne of God would never have assumed us unto himselfe in his incarnation if his designe had not been to have communicated himselfe unto us by making us his house his sanctuary his holy temple his habitation through the Spirit
me said unto me I will shew thee what these be And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walke to and fro through the earth Zech. 1. vers 8 9 10. Here we have the then low and depressed condition of the Church set forth by diverse particulars It was night with her a darke and sad time she was in a valley or bottome And this bottome was covered with the shadow of black and thick trees It was in the bottome among the myrtle trees But now the King and protector of the Church is ready for her succour and reliefe And therefore he is said to be riding And he is like a consuming fire all in a flame with anger against her enemies and therefore he is said to ride on a red horse He is wayted and attended on by Angels whom he employeth in his errands They walke to and fro through the earth vers 10. And they give up their account unto him vers 11. Behind him were there red horses speckled and white They were behind him as souldiers following their captaine and there were some for all dispensations Junius Red horses ad praestanda judicia for execution of his judgments White horses ad beneficia ejus praestanda for conveyance of his benefits And speckled horses ad utrunque conjunctim for actions of a mixt nature partly for protection of his Church and partly for punishment of her adversaries Christs soveraignety over the Angels is you see a very comfortable doctrine unto the people of Christ As it is usefull for their consolation so farther it may serve for dehortation of them from the adoration and invocation of Angels which perhaps the Apostle particularly aymed at against the Gnosticks and other seducers that urged the worship of Angels vers 18. Suppose they be most excellent and powerfull creatures Principalities and Powers yet they are still the subjects and servants of Christ our mediatour He still is their head and soveraigne and therefore it were a very foolish part to forsake him and flie unto their mediation I shall conclude all that I have to say on these words with that of Calvin in locum Sed interim tenendum est sursum deorsum cancellos nobis circundari ne à Christo vel tantillum divertat fides nostra This one thing must be kept in remembrance that the Apostle here sets us limits up-wards and down wards Upwards towards the Angels Principalities and powers And down-wards towards philosophy and vaine deceit after the tradition of men and after the rudiments of the world that so our faith may not swerve a jot from our head and redeemer Christ Jesus in whom dwelleth all fulnesse of the Codhead bodily In Christ as man Secondly there was a fulnesse of grace There was in Christ saith Pererius upon Joh. 1.14 a threefold fulnesse of grace For there was in him habituall grace the grace of headship and the grace of union and in all these three he had a fulnesse 1. The habit uall grace concreated with the soule of Christ was most full because it was in the highest degree and in the highest manner and in the greatest excellency wherein it could be had secundum rationem gratiae and according unto the end whereunto grace was ordained which is the union of an intellectuall nature with God He was full of grace having every vertue grace gift operation effect of grace 2. The grace of headship was most full in Christ as reaching unto all the elect not onely men but angels also 3. The grace of union was in him not onely full but * He meaneth terminatively as it is terminated unto an infinite person For formally in it felfe the union is finite infinite Because the union was made in the person of the word which was of infinite perfection and vertue He nameth also another cause for which this grace of union may be said to be most full Because the word hath assumed into the unity of it's person not onely the soule of man but also his body and all the parts thereof All things whatsoever that appertaine unto either the verity or integrity of the humane nature Neither is this union of them with it for a certaine determinate time but for perpetuity so that they never are to be separated therefrom Thus Pererius For the fuller opening of this branch of Christs fulnesse I shall handle these two following particulars Christ as man was 1. the object 2 the subject of a fulnesse of grace 1. He was the object of a fulnesse of grace taking grace for the love and favour of God And to shew this Solomon a type of Christ was by the command of the Lord himselfe tearmed Jedidiah Cornell Alapide that is beloved of the Lord 2 Sam. 12.24 and Ephes 1.6 He is tearmed absolutely and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Beloved Because he is beloved above all others and none are beloved but in and for him Because it is he whom the father loveth and hath loved from everlasting not for any other but for himselfe as being his naturall sonne in whom there is a perfect resemblance of him Agreeable unto this is that which Christ under the name of wisdome speakes of himselfe in Prov. 8.30 Then was I by him as one brought up with him and I was dayly his delight c. Two things are here remarkable unto our present purpose 1. in the Hebrew 'tis in the plurall number * The new Annotations delights to signify that he was his greatest delight And 2. we have the connexion of this delight of the father in the sonne and that on both the fathers and the sonnes part 1. It is connexed on the fathers part with his creation of all things Then was I dayly his delight that is when he prepared the heavens when he set a compasse upon the face of the depth when be established the clouds above when he strengthned the fountaines of the deepe when he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not passe his commandement When he appointed the foundations of the earth vers 27 28 29. And the reason of this connexion of the fathers complacency in the sonne with his creation of the heavens the fountaines of the deepe the sea the foundations of the earth was to intimate that the father tooke more pleasure in his sonne then in the view of all his creatures then in all the glory and beauty that was in heaven and in earth Next we have the connexion of it on the sonnes part and that 1. naturall and necessary with his owne delight in the father Rejoycing alwaies before him vers 30. 2. gratuitous and voluntary with his complacency in the sonnes of men Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men vers 31. The great and wonderfull interest he hath in his father's love is as some conceive set forth by
clearly demonstrates the matchlesse eminency of the Fathers love unto us and so is a very pressing argument for our thanksgiving See what our Saviour himselfe speakes in exaltation and as it were admiration of this love Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten sonne c. The particle so points out such an height of love as is unexpressible Ransacke all the Poëts and in all their fictions you can find no paralell unto this love That he should seeme for a time to suspend his love unto his beloved that he might extend his love unto enemies unto traytors and rebels that he should deliver up the sonne of his love unto the utmost severity and rigour of the law for the ransome of Children of wrath that he should not spare him for this intent that he might spare them that hee should make him a curse to redeeme them from the curse of the law Galat. 3.13 that hee should scourge him to heale them Isai 53.5 punish him to save them give him up unto death that they might enjoy eternall life that he should desert him in point of consolation that they might not be eternally lost but embraced in the armes of his love for ever O this speaketh the most transcendent love that ever God shewed towards any miserable creature And therefore the most enlarged thankes and praises will fall infinitely short of it In the next place if we consider the connexion of this fulnesse of Gods love unto Christ with Christ's fulnesse of love unto us we shall find very great reason for the direction of our thankes and praises unto Christ himselfe as well as unto the Father We have these two fulnesses of love connexed by Christ under the name of wisdome Prov. 8.30,31 Though he was by God as one brought up with him and was daily his delight rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and his delights were with the sons of men Which passage we may expound by those words of our Saviour Joh. 15.3 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you O what an astonishable condescention is there in this love of our Saviour that the darling and onely beloved of the great God of glorious heaven should fetch a spouse from this miserable earth should cast his eye and set his heart upon such forlorne creatures and depraved sinners as we are that he which is in the bosome of the Father should take such despicable wretches as we are into his owne bosome marry us unto himselfe and rejoyce over us as a Bridegroome rejoyceth over his bride Isai 62.5 Such was the happinesse of Christ in the fruition of his Fathers eternall love as that it was uncapable of any further improvement But yet notwithstanding this his happy state and condition he stooped so low as to make his rebellious servants the objects of a boundlesse affection Was not this as it were a debasing of himselfe and such a mercy unto us as is above recompence All that we can do is humbly and thankfully to acknowledge admire and adore it to resigne up our selves unto the service of him and unto suffering for him if he honour us with a call thereunto and to make it the chiefest matter of our care to decline whatsoever is unsuitable unto this high place of grace and favour with him and will reflect any dishonour or reproach thereon 4. The height of Christs grace and favour with God should prevaile with us for obedience unto his doctrine and submission unto his directions This use was made of it by Christ himselfe Prov. 8.30,32 c. I was dayly his delight Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keepe my wayes vers 33. Heare instruction and be wise and refuse it not It is also pressed by his father in his transfiguration Math. 17.5 This is my beloved son in whom I am well-pleased Heare ye him that is in the language of scripture obey him accept him not onely as a priest to satisfy for you as a redeemer to save you but also as a prophet to instruct you as a King and soveraigne Lord to governe and guide you The onely begotten sonne is alone in the bosome of the father and therefore best acquainted with his mind and will and consequently best qualified and enabled for the revelation thereof He onely can declare him for no man besides him hath seen God at any time Joh. 1.18 Unto him therefore in his word let us onely have recourse for instruction in things towards God And unto such instructions let us lend an open eare and heart let us yield a ready and full conformity without farther consulting with flesh and bloud 5. Because Christ is in such great grace and favour with God it will be discretion to have all our addresses unto and worship of God in his name through his mediation He is the powerfull favourite of heaven and therefore all accesses unto the God of Heaven are by him all dispatches from heaven unto earth passe through him not a promise not a saving mercy not a word of peace and comfort is conveyed unto a believing soule but through his mediatorship The greatest part of publicke ceremoniall worship under the law was lawfull and acceptable unto God onely at the Temple in Jerusalem Sacrifices were to be offered onely upon the Altar there Isai 20.4 and 56.7 The Temple and Altar were herein types of Christ in whom alone the whole morall worship and service of God is acceptable out of him God rejecteth and looketh upon the most glorious performances as heathenish abominations as the butchery of a man the cutting off a dogs neck the offering swines bloud the blessing of an Idol Isay 66.3 It is in the beloved alone that God accepteth of and is well pleased with as our persons so our services all prayers preferred all duties performed in his name will speed well and find a gracious and favourable reception It is related in Plutarch of Themistocles that when he fled from the fury of his Citizens unto Admetus King of the Molossians whom yet he had formerly provoked he tooke the Kings little young sonne in his armes and went and kneeled downe before the Altar in his chappel which humble manner of sueing the Molossians tooke to be most effectuall and such as was not to be refused When being pursued by the guilt and cry of our sinnes the rigorous sentence of the law the accusations of Sathan and the terrours of our owne conscience for them we runne unto an incensed God for mercy there is no way to appease him but to take his deare sonne in the armes of our faith and to lodge or offer him as it were upon the Altar of his bosome This is such an enforcing manner of supplication as that God in his new covenant of grace hath engaged himselfe unto a complyance with it 6. Because Christ is so eminently gracious with God the father we should be stirred
his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all And then the meaning of the words is untill the mysticall body of Christ grow to ripenesse and perfection untill all that belong to the election of grace all that be ordained to eternall life be gathered and added unto the Church and untill every member arrive unto a full growth unto a full measure of grace and glory And this I conceive to be the most probable sence of the words for as Cornel. A lapide well observeth the Apostle saith untill we come to a perfect man and not untill we come unto perfect men because he speakes not of Christians considered severally but rather of the whole Church which he compareth unto one perfect man of which man the Church is as it were the body Christ himselfe the soule and head Now when the body commeth unto it's fulnesse of growth the head also commeth thereunto as also the strength vigour quicknance and efficacy of the soule its union with and information of the body which though the soule it selfe be indivisible is divisible and consequently coextended with the body Even so in like manner when all the members that shall be added unto the Church shall come unto their full growth and perfection in grace why then Christ considered under a mysticall capacity as head of his Church may be said to come unto his full growth age or stature too And his union with his Church and members will then absolutely be full and compleate I come in the last place unto the uses of exhortation From the all-fulnesse of Christ's grace we may be exhorted unto two duties 1. Humiliation for the imperfection of our graces 2. Diligence and constancy in the growth of our graces 1. Unto Humiliation for the imperfection that is in our owne graces and to give the better edge unto this exhortation I shall propound two motives 1. The perfection of the holinesse of the second Adam should mind us of that perfect holinesse which we lost in the first Adam And reflexion on such an unvaluable losse cannot but strike the heart of any one with a deepe measure of godly sorrow that is not ignorant of the worth and necessity of grace 2. All aberrations from the rule are blemishes and therefore seeing our graces fall so infinitely short of that perfection which is in the patterne of grace Christ Jesus all our graces are defective and sinfull and so present matter for spirituall mourning Can we behold the Sun of righteousnesse and not blush at the menstruous rag's of our own righteousnesses Can we looke upon the bottomlesse fountaine of holinesse in Christ and not be ashamed of our shallow brooke that would soone waxe dry if it were not continually supplied from the aforesaid fountaine Alas what are our drops unto his ocean our sparks or beames unto his sunne His gifts and graces were in comparison of ours unmeasurable God gave not the spirit by measure unto him But what a narrow measure is there in the brightest gifts and endowments of the most glorious saints that ever lived upon the face of the earth And this measure ariseth from mixture with contrary lusts and corruptions The Holy Ghost replenished the heart of Christ from the very conception The word was no sooner made flesh but it forthwith was full of grace and truth But Satan hath filled our hearts from the very wombe with a body of sin and death armies of lusts and corruptions like the Midianites which lay on the ground like grashoppers for multitude Judg. 7.12 As soone as we were conceived we were forthwith full of all the seeds of sinne ignorance and errour In Christ were unsearchable riches of grace But we are like the foole in the Gospell Luk. 12.21 that was not rich towards God Like the Church of Laodicea Revel 3.18 that was wretched miserable poore blind naked In him were hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge In us there are to allude unto the expression of the Prophet upon another occasion Esay 45.3 treasures of darknesse the treasury of an evill heart Math. 12.34,35 The sonne of man was cloathed with a garment of holinesâ—e downe to the foote Revel 1.13 Whereas the robe of our graces is farre more narrow and scanty then the filthy garments of our corruptions Christ was a lambe without blemish and without spot Whereas alas there is a spot in the dearest Children of God Deut. 32.5 the spot of Originall and Actuall sinne their purest graces and most spirituall duties are bespotted and distained by the adhesion of sinfull lusts and corruptions The eyes of Christ are pure white and precious like orient Jewels or sparkling Diamonds His eyes are as the eies of doves by the rivers of water washed with milke and fitly set or as it is in the margent sitting in fulnesse that is fitly placed and set as a precious stone in the foile of a ring Cant. 5.10 But now our eyes are not onely darke and dimme but impure and uncleane 2 Pet. 2.14 full of Adultery Grace was poured into his lips Psal 4.2.5 his lips are full of grace t is in the old translation But now our tongues are full of deadly poyson Jam. 3.8 Our mouthes are full of cursing and bitternesse Rom. 3.14 God anoynted Jesus Christ with the holy Ghost and he went about doing good c. Acts 10.38 But that the greatest part of men have received no such anoynting is witnessed by their unactivenesse for the glory of God and good of the Church They are as unprofitable burdens unto the earth as the Sodomites whose iniquity was fulnesse of bread and the abundance of Idlenesse Ezek. 16.49 2. We may hence be exhorted unto diligence and constancy in the growth of our graces For let our progresse in them be never so great yet still we shall come farre behind out patterne and never be able here to reach his all-fulnesse Those that learne to write will labour to come as nigh their copy as they can And in all handy-crafts learners endeavour a full conformitie unto their rules and patternes And therefore we may conclude that we can never be too conformable to the holinesse of Christ which God hath propounded unto us for a samplar to imitate He was full of grace and therefore we can never be gracious enough In him were hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge And therefore we can never be knowing enough We desire a full conformitie unto the glory and happinesse of Christ And therefore it is very irrationall to thinke upon a stay or stoppe in the way thereunto to wit a conformity unto his grace and holinesse What is spoken of the degrees of grace and light in the Church Cant. 6.10 may be applied unto every Christian In his first conversion he looketh forth as the morning When he arriveth unto further maturity he is faire as the moone that hath a mixture of spots with her fullest light But in the state of glory he will
fulnesse unto us And they shall be foure 1. The actuation of our faith which is our receiving or acceptance of Christs fulnesse 2. an increase in spirituall poverty 3. hunger and thirsting after Christ's fulnesse 4. A diligent use of ordinances which are instruments on Christ's part by which he conveyeth unto us of his fulnesse 1. The Actuation the stirring up of our faith which is our receiving and acceptance of Christs fulnesse There is a fulnesse of light in the sunne but it illightneth none but those who open their eyes to admit make use of it's light There dwelleth an all-fulnesse in Christ But what advantage can we expect thereby unlesse we open our hearts to receive of it This all-fulnesse is the vniversall foode of the whole Church It is a feast of fat things of fat things full of marrow Esay 25.6 But our hungry soules will receive but little satisfaction thereby unlesse by faith we feed on the severall dishes that are therein It comprizeth abundant provisions not onely for the necessities but also comforts and delights of all his people But we must reach out the hand of faith to supply thence all our wants or else notwithstanding this abundance we may yet be in an indigent and comfortlesse condition The Church hath in Christ breasts of Consolation an abundance of glory but she must suck before she can be satisfied with these breasts She must milke out before she can be delighted with abundance of glory Esay 66.11 Christ is the bread of life but the bread of life cannot quicken nourish unlesse we eat of it In him are the waters of life but these waters cannot refresh and comfort unlesse we drinke liberally of them And he that believeth out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water John 7.37 Those of the children of men that put their trust under the shadow of the Lords wings that is true believers shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and he shall make them to drinke of the river of his pleasures Psam 36.7,8 The woman of Samaria said to our Saviour Sir thou hast nothing to draw with and the well is deepe Joh. 4.11 Christ indeed is a deepe well But God his name be praysed for it hath provided something to draw with the bucket of faith Let us let downe this bucket into this well Let us actuate and exercise our faith upon the all-fulnesse that is in Christ and hereby with joy we shall draw water out of the wells of salvation Indeed this well is of infinite depth the bucket of our faith is of a narrow capacitie and our wants are continually renewed for the supply of which we must alwaies be letting downe and drawing up this bucket of faith We must not suffer it to be idle but set it alwaies a worke What the Apostle speakes concerning the revelation of one part of Christ's fulnesse the fulnesse of his righteousnesse Rom. 1.17 may be applied unto the revelation and communication of other parcels thereof They are revealed and communicated proportionably unto the growth and progresse of our faith From faith to faith A second help that will conduce much unto the enlargement of our participation of Christ's fulnesse is an increase in spirituall poverty humility self deniall and apprehension of our utter emptinesse in spirituals For this emptieth a man of himselfe and the more a man is emptied of himselfe the more roome is made for the fulnesse of Christ and so a soule is the better fitted and prepared for the reception thereof Every valley every lowly soule shall be filled Luk. 3.5 The humble valleys are covered over with corne Psalm 65.13 whiles the high hills are barren Pride selfe sufficiency selfe-dependancy unqualifieth a man for receiving from Christs fulnesse for they fill a man with himselfe and the fuller a man is of himselfe the lesse place there is for Christ The rich saith Mary he hath sent empty away Luk. 1.53 Those who are rich and full onely in a proud opinion he slightingly dismisseth them they get nothing of his fulnesse and no wonder for they relish it not they make no reckoning of it To allude unto that of Solomon Prov. 27.7 The full soule loatheth the honey combe the soule that is full in fancy conceit Whereas on the other side a soule throughly convinced of its owne wants and emptinesse cannot but be deeply sensible that without a supply from Christ it is lost and undone for ever and therefore its emptinesse presents unto it a continuall argument for mourning And a mourning and humbled soule God will never leave unsatisfied and uncomforted I have satiated saith he the weary soule and I have replenished every sorrowfull soule Jer. 31.25 The third meanes qualifying and fitting of us for receipts out of Christs fulnesse is hunger and thirst after it For this in some sort enlargeth the capacity of the soule makes it more capacious and comprehensive of Christs fulnesse then otherwise it could be Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psalm 81.10 Desire is the mouth of the soule if that be widened we have Gods promise for the filling of our soules Dissatisfaction is the inseparable curse of inordinate and unlawfull desires But holy and heavenly desires are still rewarded with the blessing of satisfaction Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled Math. 5.6 He hath filled the hungry with good things Luk. 1.53 He satisfyeth the longing soule and filleth the hungry soule with goodnesse Psalm 107.9 I will powre water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground Isa 44.3 A thirsty soule is here resembled unto dry ground unto the earth in a great drought when it doth as it were gape for raine upon such a soule saith God I will powre not drops but flouds David in Psalm 63.1 professeth a very earnest desire after communion with God in Christ O God thou art my God early will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is and hereupon vers 5. he promiseth unto himselfe sweet and full satisfaction My soule shall be satisfyed as with marrow and fatnesse That which Paul speaketh of himselfe and Timothy in reference unto the Corinthians 2 Cor. 6.11 is applicable unto Christ in order unto all Christians His mouth is open unto us his heart enlarged We are not straightned in him but we are straightned in our owne bowels that is in our narrow affections which are not in any measure of proportion corresponsive unto the all fulnesse that dwelleth in him The last help which I shall advise unto for enlargment of our participation from Christs fulnesse is a diligent use of ordinances for these are the Instruments by which Christ conveyeth of his fulnesse These are the two golden pipes by which the two Olive branches the two natures of Christ or his two offices Regall and