glorious but to shew that he will by that make thee glorious also Christ is the great Epitome of all the designs of God so that in him thou mayest see what thou art designed unto and how high and rich thou shalt be in the other world Beloved now are we the Sons of God 1 John 3.2 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him he is now like us but then saith the Apostle we shall be like unto him Phil. 3.21 he will change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious body Oh consider what a frame of eternal comfort may we raise up from this ground of Christ incarnate God in the flesh 5. God in the flesh is the first opening of his eternal plot to do us good the Seed of the woman was the first word of comfort that ever was heard in the world after man was fallen the Plot was of old but the execution was not till after the Creation and then was a dim discovery of it even in the beginning of time though no clear manifestation till the fulness of time Well take it as we please whether in the beginning of time or in the fulness of time whether in the promise or in performance this discovering of Christ incarnate is the first opening of all Gods heart and Glory unto the Sons of men and from this we may raise a world of comfort for if God in the execution of his Decrees begins so gloriously how will he end if God be so full of love as to come down in flesh now in this world Oh what matter of hope is laid up before us of what God will be to us in that world to come if the Glory of God be let out to our souls so fully at first what Glorious openings of all the Glory of God will be let out to our souls at last Christians what do you think will God do with us or bring us unto when we shall be with him in heaven you see now he is manifested in flesh and he hath laid out a world of Glory in that but the Apostle tells us of another manifestation for we shall see him as he is he shall at last be manifest in himself 1 John 3.2 now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now we know in part but then we shall know even as also we are known To what an height of knowledg or manifestation this doth arise I am now to seek and so I must be whilst I am on this side Heaven but this I believe the manifestation of God and Christ is more in Heaven than is or ever hath been or ever shall be upon earth thine eyes shall see the King in his Beauty Isa 33.17 or in his Glory saith Esay there is a great deal of difference betwixt seeing the King in his ordinary and seeing him in his Robes and upon his Throne with his Crown on his head and his Scepter in his hand and his Nobles about him in all his Glory the first openings of Christ are glorious but O what will it be to see him in his greatest Glory that ever he will manifest himself in we usually say that workmen do their meanest work at first and if the Glorious incarnation of Christ be but the beginning of Gods works in reference to our souls salvation what are those last works O my soul weigh all these passages and make an application of them to thy self and then tell me if yet thou hast not matter enough to raise up thy heart and to fill it with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Mat. 2.10 when the wise men saw but the Star of Christ they rejoyced with an exceeding great joy how much more when they saw Christ himself Your Father Abraham said Christ to the Jews rejoyced to see my day John 8 5â and he saw it and was glad he saw it indeed but afar of with the eyes of Faith they afore Christ had the promise but we see the performance how then should we rejoyce how glad shouldst thou be O my Soul at the sight and effect of Christs Incarnation if John the Baptist could leap for joy in his Mothers belly when Christ was but yet in the womb how should thy heart leap for joy who canst say with the Prophet Luke 2.28 unto me a Child is born and unto me a Son is given if Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel took him up in his arms for joy and blessed God how shouldst thou with joy embrace him with both arms who knowest his coming in the flesh and who hast heard him come in the Gospel in the richest and most alluring expressions of his Love If the Angels of God yea if multitudes of Angels could sing for joy at his Birth Luke 2.14 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will towards men how much more shouldest thou whom it concerns more than the Angels join with them in consort and sing for joy this joyful song of good will towards men Awake awake O my Soul awake awake uttter a Song tell over these passages that God is come down into the world that God is come down in flesh that God is come down in flesh in order to thy reconciliation that God is come down in the likeness of man that he may bring thee up into the likeness of God and that all these are but the first openings of the Grace and goodness and Glory of God in Christ unto thy Soul and Oh what work will these make in thy Soul if the Spirit come in who is the comforter SECT VIII Of Calling on Jesus in that Respect 8. LEt us call on Jesus or on God the Father in and through Jesus Now this calling on Jesus contains Prayer and Praise 1. We must pray that all these transactions of Jesus at his first coming or incarnation may be ours and is not here encouragement for our Prayers If we observe it this very point of Christs Incarnation opens a door of rich entrance into the presence of God we may call it a blessed Portal into Heaven b. 10. 20. not of Iron or Brass but of our own flesh this is that new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his flesh with what boldness and freeness may we now enter into the Holiest and draw near unto the Throne of Grace why Christ is incarnate God is come down in the flesh though his Deity may confound us if we should immediately and solely apply our selves unto it yet his humanity comforts our faint and feeble souls God in his humility animates our souls to come unto him and to seek of him whatsoever is needful for us Go then to Christ away away O my soul to Jesus or to God the Father in and through Jesus and O desire that the
have preached his resurrection oh no he himself would stay in person he himself would make it out by many infallible proofs that he was risen again he himself would by his own example learn us a lesson of love of meekness of patience in waiting after sufferings for the reward Methinks a few of these passages should set all our hearts on a flame of love we love earth and earthly things we dig into the veins of the earth for thick clay but if Christ be risen set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Oh if the love of Christ were but in us Colos 3.1 2 as the love of the world is in base worldlings it would make us wholly to despise this world it would make us to forget it as worldly love makes a man to forget his God Nay it would be so strong and ardent and rooted in our souls that we should not be able voluntary and freely to think on any thing else but Jesus Christ we should not then fear contempt or care for disgrace or the reproaches of men we should not then fear death 1 Cor. 15.55 57. or the grave or hell or devils but we should sing in triumph O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory now thanks be to God which giveth us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. SECT VII Of joying in Jesus in that respect 7. LEt us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection This is the great Gospel-duty we should rejoyce in the Lord and again rejoyce Phil. 4.4 yea rejoyce evermore A Christian estate should be a joyful and comfortable estate none have such cause of joy as the Children of Zion sing O daughter of Zion 1 Thes 5.16 shout O Jerusalem be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O daughter of Jerusalem Zach. 3.14 And why so a thousand reasons might be rendred but here is one a prime one Christ is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep A commemoration of Christ's resurrection hath ever been a means of rejoycing in God 1 Cor. 15.20 Some may object what is Christ's resurrection to me indeed if thou hast no part in Christ the resurrection of Christ is nothing at all to thee but if Christ be thine then art thou risen with him and in him then all he did was in thy name and for thy sake Others may object supposing Christ's resurrection mine what am I better how do not all the priviledges of Christ flow from the power and vertue of his resurrection as well as death tell me what is thy state what possibly can be the condition of thy soul wherein thou mayst not draw sweet from Christ's resurrection As 1 Pet. 3.21 1. Is thy conscience in trouble for sin the Apostle tells thee the answer of a good conscience towards God is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Rom. 4.25 2. Art thou afraid of condemnation the Apostle tells thee he was delivered for our offences and he was raised again for our justification 1 Pet. 1.3 3. Dost thou question thy regeneration the Apostle tells thee he hath begotten us again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4. Art thou distressed persecuted troubled on every side the Apostle tells thee wherein now consists thy confidence comfort courage to wit in the life of Christ in the resurrection of Christ 2 Cor. 4.10 11. We alwayes bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus might also be made manifest in our body for we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh And thus Beza interprets those following words knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus 14. i.e. unto a civil resurrection from our troubles Paul was imprisoned and in part martyred but by the vertue of Christ's resurrection he foresaw his enlargement And this interpretation Beza grounds on the word following and foregoing wherein Paul compares his persecutions to a death and his preservation from them to a life as he had done before also chap. 1. v. 9 10. 5. Art thou afraid of falling off or of falling away why remember that the immutable force and perpetuity of the new covenant is secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Isa 55.3 I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David this the Apostle applies to the resurrection of Christ as the bottoming of that sure covenant and as concerning that he raised him up from the dead he said on this wise I will give you the sure mercies of David Act. 13.34 6. Art thou afraid of death hell and the power of the grave why now remember that Christ is risen from the dead and by his resurrection death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.55 57. so that now thou mayst sing O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory now thanks be to God which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ It is the voyce of Christ thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Isa 26.19 awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead David was so lifted up with this resurrection Psal 16.9 10. that he crys it out therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Job 19.23 24 25 26 27. But especially Job was so exceedingly transported with this that he breaks out into these extasies O that my words were now written O that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms shall destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me No man ever since Christ did speak more clearly of Christ's resurrection and his own than Job did here before Christ Observe in it O my soul Job's wish and the matter wished his wish was that certain words which had been cordial to him might remain to memory and this wish hath three wishes in one 1. That they might be written 2. That they might be registred in a book enrolled upon record as publick instruments judicial proceedings or whatsoever is most authentical 3. That they might be engraven in stone and in the hardest stone the rock records might last long
yet time might injure them and these words he would have last for ever O that they were graven in the rock for ever Moses and Job are said to have lived at one time now Moses writ the Law in stone and considering that these words were Gospel there was no reason the Law should be in tables of stone and the Gospel in sheets of paper no no it were fit that this should be as firm and durable as that Oh that my words were written Oh that they were printed in a book c. 2. The matter wished or the words he would have written are these I know that my Redeemer liveth and that I shall live again Here 's first his Redeemer and his rising 2. His own rising and his seeing God O this was the matter of his joy his Redeemer must rise again and he must rise too and see his Redeemer it was a point that exceedingly ravished and revived Job and therefore he iterates the same thing over and over I shall see God and I shall see him for my self and I shall see him with my eyes Job 8.56 and not with others As Christ said of Abraham Your father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad So it appears of his Servant Job he saw Christ's day both his first day and his latter day and he rejoyced and was glad Away away all scrupulous doubtfull dumpish thoughts consider what joyes were of old at the foresight of Christs resurrection but especially what joy was all the World over when he rose again from the dead Greg. hom in pasca Job 20.20 Luke 24.41 Apostoli die dominico exhilirati non solum ipsum festivissimam esse voluerunt verum etiam per omnes hebdomadas frequentandum esse duxerunt Juno cent 1 Epist ad Decent 11. 4. then came the Angels from heaven and appeared in white then the Sun danced for joy so it is storyed or shone sooner and brighter than ever it did before then I am sure the Diciples were exceeding glad when they saw the Lord yea so glad that they believed not for joy it is worthy our observing to see how all the primitive Saints were affected with this news and because of it with the very day on which Christ arose some call it The first day of joy and gladness and because of the joy occasioned on this day the Apostles say they devoted the first day of the week to the honour and service of Jesus Christ Augustine applyes the words of the Psalm unto this day This is the day which the Lord hath made let us be glad and rejoyce in it Psal 118.24 Ignatus who lived in the Apostles age and was John's Disciple calls it the Queen the Princess the Lady Paramount among the other weekly dayes Chrysostom calls it a Royal day and Gregory Nazianzen orat 42. saith it is higher than the highest and with admiration wonderfull above other dayes Certainly the Lord's day was in high esteem with the antient Church and the principle motive was because of Christs resurrection from the dead O that on these dayes we could rejoyce in the Lord and again rejoyce it is observed that Many Christians look upon broken-heartedness and much grieving and weeping for sin as if it were the great thing that God delighteth in and requireth of them Baxters method for a setled Peace and therefore they bend all their endeavours that way they are still striving with their hearts to break them more and they think no Sermon no Prayer no Meditation speed so well with them as that which can help them to grieve or weep but O Christians understand and consider saith my Authour that all your sorrows are but preparatives for your joyes and that it is an higher and sweeter work that God calls you to and would have you spend your time and strength in Delight thy self in the Lord psal 37.4 and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart Never take your hearts to be right till they be delighting themselves in their God when you kneel down in Prayer labour so to conceive of God and bespeak him that he may be your delight do so in hearing and reading and meditating and in your feasting on the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ at his Supper Especially improve the happy opportunity of the Lords day wherein you may wholly devote your selves unto this work O spend more of this day in spiritual rejoycing especially in commemoration of Christ's resurrection yea and of the whole work of redemption or else you will not answer the institution of the Lord. SECT VIII Of Calling on Jesus in that Respect 8. LEt us Call on Jesus that is to say 1. Let us pray that Christ's resurrection may be ours and that we may be more and more assured of it Phil. 3.10 Let us say with the Apostle O that I may know him and the power of his resurrection O that I may find the working of that power in my soul which was shewed in the resurrection of Christ from the dead O that the Spirit of holiness which quickened Christ from the dead would by the same glorious power beget holiness and faith and love and all other graces in my poor soul O that Christ would by his resurrection apply his active and passive obedience to me O that he would be to me the Lord of the living and the Prince of life that he would overcome in me the death of sin and that he would regenerate quicken renew and fashion me by the power of godliness to become like himself O that all the vertue power priviledges and influences of Christ's resurrection might be conferred on me and that I might feel them working in me every day more and more 2. Let us praise God for Christ's resurrection and for all the priviledges flowing from Christ's resurrection into our souls 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Christ is risen by his resurrection he hath justified sanctified quickened saved our souls and therefore Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ surely God requires a thousand thousand Hallelujah's and that we should bless him upon a thousand-stringed instrument here is fewel enough the Lord kindle a great fire in every one of our hearts to burn out all our lusts and to enflame all our hearts with a love to Jesus Christ Can we ever too much praise him for all his actings in our behalf are not all God's creatures called upon to rejoyce with us and to bless God for his redeeming of us Sing O ye heavens for the Lord hath done it shout ye lower part of the earth Isa 44.23 break forth into singing ye mountains O forrest and every tree therein for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel This is the duty we shall do in heaven and
shall be here no more time passeth on many hundred diseases are ready to assault you you that are reading hearing talking or walking you must very shortly be carried on mens shoulders laid in the dust and there left to the worms in darkness corruption you are almost there already it is but a few days or months or years and what is that when once thy are gone and past and Oh what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and then lose his soule Math. 16 26. 7. Consider the great account that you are to give of earthly things it is the sin of most of the sons of men to look on creature-comforts but they consider not the account thy must give for them Oh here 's a prevailing motive to take off your eyes Consider the last accounts what if you were now to die and to go the way of all flesh and then to make up your reckoning what good would it do you to remember all those contentments pleasures you once enjoyed upon the earth If the factor after many years spent in forreigne countries at last returns home with this bill of accounts thus much for singing so much for dancing this for courting that for feasting who would not blame him for so fond a reckoning oh it will be a sad reckoning if the bill come in that you have spent most of your time in looking and gazing upon earthly things SECT III. Directions how to look off all other things 1. STudy every day more more the vanity of the creature Read over the Book of Ecclesiastes well it is enough through the assistance of Christ to teach you that lesson A serious and fruitful meditation of that word Vanity of vanities Eccles 2.2 saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanity what work might it make in your hearts men usually look on these things through some false glass or at a distance which makes them so admire them but if they could see them truly in themselves oh how uncomely would they be or if they could see them as compared to Christ oh how vain would they be honours and greatness in that respect would appear as bubbles pleasures and delights in that respect would appear as shadows 2. Converse but a little with any evil thing on this side Christ Have as little to do with the world the sinful pleasures profits riches manners of it as possibly you can the lesser the better things of this world have a glutinous quality if you let the heart lie any while amongst them it will cleave unto them and if it once cleave to them there will be no way but either Repentance or Hell fire must part them 3. Be more and better acquainted with Jesus Christ get nearer to him be more in communion with him get more tastes of Christ and heaven and earth will relish the worse for them Oh when I look on Christ and consider that he that was the Lord of heaven and earth put himself into so poor and low a condition meerly for the redeeming of his Elect how should this but deaden my heart to the world Phil. 3.8 I account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord and account them but dung that I may win Christ If Christ be in view all the world then is but dung and dross and loss in comparison the Glory of Christ will darken all other things in the world 4. Set before you the examples of such Saints who accounted themselves pilgrims and strangers upon earth The Apostle gives you a Catalogue of such who confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth and see how they are used Heb. 11.12.37.38 they were stoned they were sawn asunder were tempted were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented who were these they were they of whom the world was not worthy Oh when you read or hear how joyfully these servants of the most high went through their wilderness condition methinks this should take off your hearts from earthly things 5. Go in your meditations to heaven and keep there a while the mind that is in heaven cannot attend these earthly things would a man leave his plough harvest in the field to run with children a hunting after butter-flies no more will a soul that is taking a survey of heaven and heavenly things fix his eyes on such poor things below non vacat exiguis c. is the character of a truly prudent man the children of that Kingdom above have no while for trifles and especially when they are imployed in the affairs of the Kingdom Oh when a Christian hath but a glimpse of eternity and then looks down on the world again how doth he contemn and vilipend these things Eccles 2.2 How doth he say of laughter thou art mad and of mirth what is this thou doest whilst the Saints are tasting heaven they feel such sweet that they care not for other things Christians how would this meditation wean your hearts and make you laugh at the fooleries of the world and scorn to be cheated with such childish toyes If the devil had set upon Peter in the mount when he saw Christ in his transfiguration and Moses and Elias talking with him would he so easily have been drawn to deny his Lord what with all that glory in his eye so if the devil should set upon a beliveing soul and perswade his heart to profits or pleasures or honours of the world when he is taken up in the Mount with Christ what would such a soul say Get thee behind me Satan would'st thou perswade me from hence with many trifling toyes would'st thou have me sell these joys for nothing is there any honour or delight like this or can that be profit which loseth me this Some such answer would the soul return Oh if we could keep the taste of our souls continually delighted with the sweetness of Heaven as a man would spit out aloes after hony so should we spit out all these baits of the world with disdain 6. Cry mightily unto God that he would take off your hearts and eyes Psal 119.37 turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity prays David either God must do it or you will be wearied in the multitude of your endeavours but if the Lord draw off the eye it will be drawn indeed Psal 11â 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness prays David again if the heart bend down-wards then go to God to erect it and to incline it heaven-wards if it be after covetousness then cry to God and say Lord not after covetousness but after thy testimonies incline my heart I have hitherto stood only at the door of the Text to call you in if now you will enter and be intent and fix your eyes I 'le shew you a blessed a most glorious sight But first I
by paying the ransom and price of our salvation the holy Ghost saveth by a particular applying of that ransom unto men Now whereas the Son pays the price of our redemption and not the Father nor the holy Ghost therefore in this special respect he is called our Saviour our Jesus and none but he This object though contained in a word is very comprehensive herein is set forth to our view the offices of Christ the two Natures of Christ the qualities of Christ the excellencies of Christ O what variety of sweet matter is in Jesus he hath in him all the powders of the merchants an holy soul cannot tyre it self in viewing Jesus Cant. 3.6 we know one thing tyres quickly unless that one be all which so is Christ and none else he is all and in all all belonging to being and all belonging to well-being Col. 3.11 in things below Jesus some have this excellency and some have that but none have all and this withers contemplation at the root contemplation is soul recreation and recreation is kept up by variety but O what variety is in Jesus variety of time He is Alpha and Omega variety of beauty he is white and ruddy variety of quality he is a Lion and a Lamb a servant and a Son variety of the excellency in the world he is Man and God O where shall we begin in this view of Jesus Who shall declare his Generation or who shall count and reckon his Age All the Evangelists exhibit unto us the Saviour Esa 53.8 but every one of them in his particular method Mark describes not at all the genealogy of Jesus but begins his history at his Baptism Matthew searcheth out his original from Abraham Luke follows it backwards as far as Adam John passeth further upwards even to the Eternal Generation of this Word that was made flesh so they lead us to Jesus mounting up four several steps in the one we see him only among the men of his own time in the second he is seen in the Tent of Abraham in the third he is yet higher to wit in Adam and finally having traversed all ages through so many generations we come to contemplate him in the beginning in the bosom of the Father in that eternity in which he was with God before all worlds And there let us begin still Looking unto Jesus as he carries on the great work of our salvation from first to last from everlasting to everlasting SECT II. The main Doctrine and confirmation of it BUt for the foundation of our building take this Note Inward experimental looking unto Jesus such as stirs up affections in the heart Doctrine 2 and the effects thereof in our life it is an Ordinance of Christ a choice an high Gospel-ordinance Or thus Inward experimental knowing considering desiring hoping believing loving joying calling on Jesus and conforming to Jesus it is a complicate foulded compounded Ordinance of Jesus Christ I need not much to explain the Point you see here is an Ordinance or a Gospel-duty held forth many other Duties we have elsewhere described but this we have kept for this place and the rather for that this is a choice Duty a compounded Duty an high Gospel-ordinance No question but Watchfulness Self-trial Self-denial Experiences Evidences Meditation Life of Faith c. do well in their place and order yet as oars in a boat though it be carried with the tyde may help it to go faster it is Jesus lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent which strikes more soundly into the beholder than any other way Looking unto Jesus is that great Ordinance appointed by God for our most especial good How many souls have busied themselves in the use of other means and though in them Christ hath communicated some vertue to them yet because they did not trade more with him they had little in comparison such a one as deals immediately with Christ will do more in a day than another in a year and therefore I call it a choice a compleat a complicate an high Gospel-Ordinance Now what this Ordinance is the Text tells you it is a Looking unto Jesus 1. Jesus is the Object and Jesus â I ground this on all the Texts jointly as on Isa 45 22. Isa 65.1 Micha 7.7 Zach 12.10 Numb 21.8 John 3.15 Heb. 12.2 Phil. 3.20 2 Cor. 3.18 Mat 1.21 c. Isa 45.22 Isa 65.1 Psalm 25.15 Psalm 34 5. Heb. 12.3 as Jesus as he is our Saviour as he hath negotiated or shall yet negotiate in the great business of our salvation 2. Looking unto is the act but how it is such a Look as includes all these acts knowing considering desiring hoping believing loving joying enjoying of Jesus and conforming to Jesus It is such a look as stirs up affections in the heart and the effects thereof in our life it is such a look as leaves a quickening and enlivening upon the spirit it is such a look as works us into a warm affection raised resolution an holy and upright conversation Briefly it is an inward experimental Looking unto Jesus For confirmation of the point this was the Lords charge to the Gentiles of old Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth And I said behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name And according to this command was their practise Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord saith David and they looked unto him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed Thus in the Gospel after this command Looking unto Jesus it follows Consider him that hath endured such contradiction of sinners against himself And according to this command is the practise of Gospel-believers 2 Cor. 3 18. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Instead of the vail of Mosaical figures God hath now given to his Church the clear glass of the Gospel and hence all believers under the Gospel do by contemplative Faith behold Christ together with the glorious light of his mercy truth goodness and the rest of his Divine Attributes and by means thereof they are made like unto him in the glory of Holiness and in newness of life The reasons why we are thus to Look unto Jesus will be as so many motives which we shall reserve to an use of Exhortation but the reasons why this Looking unto Jesus is 1. An Ordinance 2. An Ordinance of Christ may be these 1. Why an Ordinance here is only this reason the will of the Lord Even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight Ordinances are certain impositions set forth by an external mandate of a Lawgiver having Authority to command It is the will of Christ to impose this Law on all the sons of men that they should Look up unto him and concerning this what have we to do to enquire
coming to Christ as a river of much waters is strong in coming home to the Ocean 13. That Christ gives the sense of his own worth and excellency unto them they see now in Christ is wisdome surpassing the brightness of the Sun even all the treasures of wisdome in Christ is power excelling the strength of rocks he is not onely strong but strength it self in Christ is Honour transcending all the Kings of the earth for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Christ is beauty excelling the Rose of Sharon and Lilly of the valleys he is fairer than all the flowers of the field than all the precious stones of the earth than all the lights in the firmament than all the Saints and Angels in the highest heavens 14. That Christ gives the sense of their wants and of the worlds vanity and of his sutable goodness unto them In looking unto Jesus they see themselves in themselves miserable and all other things miserable comforters they have learnt the meaning of that Psalm Psal 146.3 4. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man and in whom there is no help his breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his God whose hope is in the Lord his God 15. That Christ gives all things every thing unto them All things are yours saith the Apostle whether Paul 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods All things are yours First all the Ministers of Christ from the highest to the lowest whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas they are your servants they are men that watch over you for your salvation Secondly the world is yours indeed the world stands but for your sakes if your number were but once compleated quickly would the world be set on fire you will say ay! but how is the world ours we find not this for who hath the world at will why though you have not yet the misery you find in the world the want of wealth as well as the enjoying of it is yours i e. it tends to your advantage Thirdly life is yours it is a fitting a preparing a squaring of you for a better life even for eternity Fourthly death is yours for you shall die just then when it is best for you death shall serve but as a servant to your advantage 1 Tim. 4.8 Fifthly things present and things to come are yours godliness hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come Sixthly I will add the Lord himself is yours take God and look on him in his greatness in his mighty power even this great God the Lord of heaven and earth is yours he is yours and all that he hath is yours and all that he doth is yours and all that he can do is yours I will be thine saith God to Abraham I will be to thee an exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 Here is a Catalogue an Inventory of a Christians riches have Christ and have all when an Heathen was but asked where all his treasure was he answered where Cyrus my friend is and if any ask you where all your treasure is you may answer where Christ your friend is in this respect you may truly say Ephes 3.8 there is no end of your riches they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ Paul could find no bottom of these riches O who would not look unto Jesus If Christ be yours besides those particulars enumerated in this Text 1 Cor. 3.22 23. God is yours the Father is yours the Son is yours the Spirit is yours all the promises are yours for in Christ they are all made and for him they shall be performed Come let the proud man boast in his honour and the mighty man in his valour and the rich man in his wealth but let the Christian pronounce himself happy only happy truly happy fully happy in beholding Christ enjoying Christ having Christ in Looking unto Jesus You have the Motives of our wants in case of neglect and of our riches in case we are active frequent serious and lively in this Duty But for our further encouragement to fall upon it I shall add a few Motives more SECT VII More Motives to encourage us in this work 1 COnsider your looking on Jesus will maintain your communion with Jesus and is not this worth the while Why Christians what is this communion with Christ but very heaven aforehand hereby we enjoy his person and all sweet relation to his person his death and all the saving fruits priviledges and influences of his death hereby we are brought into Christs banquetting-house Cant. 2.4 held in his galleries his banner over us being love hereby we are carried up into the Mount with Christ that we may see him as it were transfigured and may say with Peter Master it is good for us to be here and let us here build Tabernacles Oh it 's an happy thing to have Christ dwell in our hearts for us to lodge in Christs bosome Oh it s an happy thing to maintain a reciprocal communication of affairs betwixt Christ and our souls as thus he bare our sins take we his healing he endured wounds for us drink we the spiritual balsom that sprang out of his wounds he took upon him our unrighteousness do we cloath our selves with his righteousness he endured pains for us come we to him and take his rest to our souls he embraced our curse and condemnation do we embrace his blessing justification and salvation To this end do we look on Jesus if he hide his face by desertions rest not till we find him if we find him hold him fast let him not go disturb him not out of our hearts by our corruptions Thus if we would prize the presence of Christ how comfortably should we maintain and encrease our Communion with Christ 2. Consider that your daily necessities call for a frequent looking up unto Jesus you have need of Christ you have need that he pray in you and need that he pray for you to your heavenly Father you have need that he work in you and need that he work for you his own blessed will you have need that he present you and yours blameless before his Fathers presence in life and death and at the judgment day there 's not a moment in your life wherein you stand not in continual need of Jesus Christ And can a hungry man forget his bread can the heart that pants for thirst forget the River can a man in bonds forget freedom can a child in distress forget a Father in honour and wealth Oh then let your necessities drive you to Christ and mind you of Christ Is not he the fountain that supplies all wants Christians consult your own
Thy Heritage Thou retainest not Thy Anger for ever Jer. because Thou delightest in Mercy And I am the Lord which exercise Loving-Kindness Judgment Righteousness in the Earth for in thâse things I delight saith the Lord. 2. Because of that Delight which God hath to be actively glorified by His Creatures voluntary Service and Subjection John 10.18 Ezek. 33.11 Herein is My Father glorified if ye bear much Fruit and I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that he turn from his Way and live He delighteth most in unbloody Conquests when by His Patience and Goodness and Forbearance He subdueth the Hearts Affections and Consciencâs of Men unto Himself He esteemeth Himself more glorified in the Services than in the Sufferings of Men and therefore in this Eternity he resolves not to destroy all Men lest there should be no Religion upon the Earth When the Angels fell they fell not all many were still left to glorify Him actively in their Service of Him but when Adam fell all Mankind fell in him so that there was no Tree in all this Paradise lest to bring forth any Fruit unto God And this is most certain that God would rather have His Trees for Fruit than for Fewel Hence He resolves that Mankind notwithstanding Sin should not be utterly destroyed Hereupon the Trinity calls a Counsel and the Question is What is to be done with poor Man The Learned here frame a kind of Conflict in God's holy Attributes by a Liberty which the Holy-Ghost from the Language of Holy Scripture doth allow them they speak of God after the manner of Men as if he were reduced unto some Straits and Difficulties by the cross Demands of His several Attributes Justice calls upon Him for the Condemnation of a Sinful and therefore worthily Accursed Creature which Demand is seconded by His Truth to make good that Threatning In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the Death Mercy on the other side pleads for Favour and Compassion towards Man wofully seduced and overthrown by Satan and this Plea is seconded by Love and Goodness and the like Attributes at last when the Business comes to Determination Wisdom finds out a way which the Angels of Heaven gaze on with Admiration Astonishment how to reconcile these different Pleas of his Attributes together A Jesus is resolved on One of the same Blessed Trinity who by His Father's Ordination His own voluntary Susception and the Holy Spirits Sanctification should be fitted for the Business To this purpose this Jesus should be both a Surety and an Head over sinful Men a Surety to pay Mens Debts unto God and an Head to restore God's Image unto Man And thus in Him Mercy and Truth have met together Righteousness and Peace have Kissed each other Psal 83.10 This is the great Mistery of the Gospel this is that which the Angels as I tell you pry into nay this is that which the Angels and Saints too shall admire and bless God for to all Eternity this is that which set the infinit Wisdome of God on work from all Eternity If all the Angels in Heaven and all the Men in the World had been put to it to find out a way to answer this question how shall sin be pardoned the sinner reconciled and God glorify his justice they could never have done it this cost God dear it cost him the heart-blood of his own Son and that 's a sure sign that Gods heart was much in it and indeed we are not Christians until in some measure we see and have our hearts taken with the glory of God in this mistery O the wonder of Heaven and Earth here 's the case man is fallen through sin and ever since the fall man and sin are as inseparably joyned together as fire and heat yet God will have mercy on the man and he will take vengeance on the sin the Eternal Wisdome of God hath found out a way to translate this mans sins on another Person who is able to bear them and to interest this mans person in anothers Righteousness which is able to cover him so that now all 's one in regard of man as if the Law had been utterly abrogated and all 's one too in regard of God as if the creature had been utterly condemned And all this is done in our Jesus on him was executed the curse of the Law by him was fulfilled the righteousness of the Law for him was remitted the sin of man and through him were all things made new again the world was in Christ as in its Surety making satisfaction to the Justice of God and God was in Christ as in his Embassadour Rom. 11.33 reconciling the world unto himself again ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã O the depths of the riches both of the Wisdome and Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out You have seen the Project and the counsels of God for mans salvation before all worlds Rom. 11.34 it is but dimly for who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellour SECT VI. The foreknowledge OF the knowledge of God in this respect we read in Scriptures Acts 2.23 Rom. 8.29 Rom. 11.2 1 Pet. 1.2 Christ is said to be delivered by the determinate Counsel and foreknowledg of God And it is said of Christs members the called according to his purpose whom he did foreknow and elsewhere in the same Epistle God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew And Peter writes to the strangers Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father Understand that foreknowledge is ascribed to God in respect of the creature properly but in respect of God there is nothing past nothing to come all things past and all things to come are present to him and therefore in that sense he cannot be said to foreknow any thing Now the Lord in respect of us is said in Scripture to foreknow things or persons two wayes Psal 139.16 1. Generally by a general knowledge of which Davids speaks thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them 2. Specially by a more special foreknowledge which is a knowledge with love and approbation the very same which barely comprehendeth that we call Election Rom. 9.13 2 Tim. 2.19 Rom. 11.2 so Gods choosing is expressed by loving Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated And this is that which the Apostle speaks of the Lord knoweth who are his i.e. the Lord from everlasting knoweth his with love and with approbation hath God cast away his people which he foreknew i. which he before loved and approved hence we gather that after the Project was laid and the Councels of God were agreed upon it then God foreknew or foresaw whom to embrace in his eternal love as his own
eternity See here I have loved a remnant of mankind both of Jews and Gentiles with an everlasting love I know they will sin and corrupt themselves and so become enemies to me and liable unto eternal death now thou art a mighty person able to do what I require of thee for them if thou wilt take upon thee their nature and sins and undertake to satisfie my Justice and Law and take away that hatred that is in them towards me and my Law and make them a believing holy people then I will pardon them and adopt them in thee for my sons and daughters and make them co-heirs with thee of an incorruptible crown of life And then said Christ loe I come to do thy will O God Heb 10.5.9 then Christ as it were struck hands with God to take upon him the nature and sin of man and to do and suffer for him whatsoever God required of him Certainly this was the whole business of our salvation first transacted betwixt God the Father and Christ before it was revealed to us Hence we are said to be given unto Christ I have manifested thy name said Christ unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world John 17.6 thine they were and thou gavest them me this very giving implies as if the Father in his Eternity should have said to the Son these I take to be vessels of mercy and these thou shalt bring unto me for they will destroy themselves but thou shalt save them out of their lost estate And then the Son takes them at his Fathers hand and looking at his Fathers will this is the Fathers will which hath sent me Jâhn 6.39 that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing he thereupon takes care of such he would not for a world any of them should be lost which his Father hath given him they are more dear than so In Isaiah 53.10 11. and in Psal 40.7 Christ is brought in as a Surety offering himself for us and readily accepting of Gods will in this very matter and hence it is that he is called Gods servant and his ears are said to be opened Isa 5.11 Psal 40.6 Isa 42.16 In Isa 42.6 this very Covenant is expresly mentioned Thus God speaks of Christ Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles Yea this Covenant and agreement seems to be confirmed with an Oath in Heb. 7.28 and for this service Christ is required to ask of God Psal 2 8 and he will give him the heathen for his Inheritance Observe how the Church of God is given to Christ as a reward of that obedience which he shewed in accepting of the office of a Surety for us This stipulation some make to be that counsel of peace spoken of by the prophet Heb. 7.28 and the counsel of peace shall be between them both Zach 6.13 ver 12 i.e. between the Lord and the man whose name is the Branch And for this agreement it is that Christ is called the second Adam for as with the first Adam God plighted a Covenant concerning him and his posterity so also he did indent with Christ and his Seed concerning eternal life to be obtained by him I deny not but that some promises were made only to Christ in his own person and not to descend to his children as Sit on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foot-stool Heb. 1.13 Isa 53.10 Psal 2.8 Heb. 1.5 Jer. 32 38 and he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands and ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession But there are other promises made to him and his as that grand promise I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son it is first made to him and then to us and that special promise of spiritual grace John 1.16 of justification Isa 50.8 of victory and dominion Psal 110.2 of the Kingdome of glory Luke 24 26. they are every one first made to him and then to us The business from eternity lay thus here is man lost said God to his Son but thou shalt in fullness of time go and be born of flesh and blood and dye for them and satisfie my justice and they shall be thine for a portion and they shall be called the holy people the redeemed of the Lord Isa 62.12 This shalt thou do said the Father and upon these termes they shall live that believe This was Gods Covenant with the Son of his Love for us to whom the Son answered as it were again Psal 40.6 7. Content Father I will go and fulfil thy pleasure and they shall be mine for ever I will in the fullness of time die for them and they shall live in me burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou hast not required no it was self-offering then said I loe I Come in the volume of the Book it is written of me to do thy will O my God In what Book was it written that Christ should come to do the will of God Not only in the Book of the Law and the Prophets but also in the Book of Gods decrees In this sense the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 His Father from before all time appointed him to be our high Priest and he from all eternity subscribed to his Fathers pleasure in it In Galath 3.15 Gâl 3.15 Brethren I speak after the manner of men though it be but a mans Covenant yet if it be confirmed no man disanulleth or addeth thereto Now to Abraham his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ There is a question whether this Covenant here mentioned was made onely betwixt God and Christ or onely betwixt God and us or both betwixt God and Christ betwixt God and us The occasion of this question is in these words Now to Abraham Jer. 3.31 his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ 1. Some argue hence that there is no Covenant or promise made to us but only to Christ or with Christ Christ stood for us articled with God for us and performed the conditions for life and glory so that the promises are made all to him yet this indeed is confessed that because we are Christs and are concerned in the Covenant it is therefore sometimes called a Covenant made with us I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not that the Covenant is really made with us but only with Christ for us and when we feel our selves
roots did not that immortal seed preserve them Of this sign we are sure if any of the former belongs to us but to this we cannot actually seal till the end of our life Come now are these O my soul the grounds of thy hopes hath Gods word come with power on thy heart hath the Lord so effectually called thee that thou hast left all to follow Christ dost thou believe on the Lord Jesus for life and for salvation art thou holy is thy life holy dost thou walk exactly as the grace of God which bringeth to salvation teacheth Canst thou with inlarged thankfulness amplifie the love and grace of God in thy election surely these effects are the very fuel of hope they are the blessed and clear evidences so thy souls election and therefore hope well take strong consolation it is clear as the Sun that God hath predestinated thee to life and that thy name is written in the Book of Life and that none in Heaven or on Earth or in Hell shall be able to blot it out again Away with all sad dumpish dejected thoughts Look unto Jesus hope in Christ that that very salvation concerning which that great transaction was betwixt God and Christ belongs even to thee and that one day thou shalt see it and enjoy the happiness of it to all Eternity SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect 5. WE must believe in Jesus as carrying on that great work of salvation for us in that Eternity It is not enough to know and consider and desire and hope but we must believe Now this is the nature and property of faith to apply all these ancient and future doings and dealings of God to our selves as if they were now present Some difference there is betwixt hope and faith as hope hath respect to that which the Word pomiseth rem verbi but faith respects the word it self verbum rei hope eyes chiefly the mercy and goodness of the promise but faith eyes mainly the authority and truth of the promiser hope looks upon its object as future but faith only looks upon the object as present both make a particular application to themselves but hope in a waiting for it and faith in a way of now enjoying it Hence faith is called the substance of things hoped for it is the substance or confidence of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 as if we had them already in hand faith gives the soul a present interest in God in Christ in all those glorious things in the Gospel of Christ even in the things of eternal life Faith is an appropriating an applying an uniting grace it is a blessed thing to have the sight of God there is much power in it but to see God in his Glory as my God to see all the Majesty greatness and goodness of God as those things that my soul hath an interest in to see how the eternal counsels of God wrought for me to make me happy why this is of the nature of Faith And herein lies the sweetness of faith in that we believe not Christ only to be a Saviour and righteousness but my Saviour and my righteousness And therefore Luther affirmed that the sweetness of Christianity lay in pronounes when a man can say my Lord and my God and my Jesus I live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 who loved me and gave himself for me O my soul believe for thy self believe and be confident of it that those Eternal projects counsels love purpose decree and covenant betwixt God and Christ were all for thee hast not thou a promise Nay was there not a promise before the world began and that very promise the promise of eternal life Mark the words Titus 1.2 in hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Here 's a promise and a promise of Eternal life and a promise of Eternal life made by God by God that cannot lie and that before there was a World or any man in the World If thou enquirest to whom then was this promise made Sweet soul it was made to Christ for thee many promises thou hast in Scripture made more immediatly to thy self but this was the grand promise and all the other promises they are but a draught of that grand promise that God the Father made to his Son before the World began O cries the Soul I cannot believe what is it possible that God in his Eternity should have any thought of me What of me being not yet born Rom. 9.11 neither having done any good or evil What of me born in these last times of the world the least of Saints the greatest of Sinners less then the least of all Gods mercies that of such a one the great God the Majesty of Heaven and Earth should have a thought a project a counsel a knowledge of approbation a purpose a decree Nay enter into a Covenant with his Son for my salvation I cannot believe it Alas What am I to God or what need hath God of me If all the Nations of the Earth are to him but as a drop of a bucket Isa 40.15 and as the small dust of the Ballance O what a minime am I of that drop or what a little little atome am I of that small dust and is it probable that the greatness of God the goodness of God the power of God the wisdom of God the Eternal Counsels of God should work for me to make me glorious blessed happy to make me one with himself and one with his Son and one with his Spirit what care take I of every dust of the Earth or of every sand one the Sea-shore and yet these are my fellow-creatures there 's a thousand times more disproportion betwixt God and me and would God take care of me before I was or before the World was what would he busie himself and his Son about such a worthless wretched worm would he decree Christ to come from the Father for me to be my Redeemer my Jesus my Saviour I cannot I dare not I will not believe O stay my soul and be not faithless but believing I 'le take thy argument in pieces As Jer. 29 11 1. Thou sayst hath God any thoughts of me Yes saith God I know the thoughts that I think towards you thoughts of peace and not of evil and before the World was my thoughts Prov. 8.3 and my delights were with the Sons of men 2. Thou sayst I have no thoughts no care of my fellow-creatures Isa 55.8 as of the dust or sand or atoms and what then my thoughts are not as your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord for as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts What if thou hast no thoughts or care of the smaller creatures yet God extends his thoughts and care and providence not only to thee but
That he should pass by so many on the right hand and on the left and that I should be one whom the Lord did Elect what such a vile and sinful Wretch as I am was there ever like Love was there ever like Mercy may not Heaven and Earth stand amazed at this O what shall I do to be thankful enough to this dear God Thus thou that knowest thy interest in Christ study praise and thankfulness Say in thy self who made me to differ from those Cast-away Souls Alas we were all framed of the same Mould hewed out of the same Rock It is storied of one of the late French Kings that in a serious meditation considering his own condition of being King and Ruler of that Nation Oh said he when I was born a Thousand other Souls were born in this Kingdome with me and what have I done to God more than they O my Soul what difference betwixt thee and those many Thousands of Reprobates that live with thee in the world at this day nothing surely nothing but the free mercy goodness and love of God in Jesus Christ O then praise this God yea sound forth the Praise of the Glory of his Grace Remember that was Gods design and that is thy Duty SECT IX On conforming to Jesus in that Respect 2. WE must Conform to Jesus we must fix our Eyes on Jesus for our Imitation that also is the meaning of this looking in the Text. And in respect of our Predestination the Apostle speaks expresly Rom. 8 29. he did Predestinate us to be conformed to the Image of his Son This is one end of Predestination and this is one end of looking unto Jesus nay it is included in it A very look on Jesus hath a Power in it to conform us to the Image of Jesus 2 Cor. 3.18 We are changed by beholding saith the Apostle Oh when I see Gods love in Christ to me even from all Eternity how should this but stir up my Soul to be like Jesus Christ where there is a dependance there is a desire to be like even among men how much more considering my dependance on God in Christ should I desire to be like Christ in disposition all the question is what is this Image of Christ to which we must be conformed I Answer Holiness and Happiness but because the latter is our reward and the former is our duty therefore look to that But wherein consists that I Answer in that resemblance likeness and conformity to Christ in all the passages forementioned And in every of those must we conform to Christ As 1. Christ is the Son of God so must we be Gods Sons As many as received him to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God Joh. 1.12 Mal. 1.6 1 Pet. 1.17 O what duty lies upon us in this respect If I be your Father where is mine Honour and if ye call on the Father pass the time of your sojourning here in fear God looks for more honour fear reverence duty and obedience from a Son than from the Rabble of the World if thou art Gods Son thy sins more offend God then the sins of all the reprobates in the world why alas thy sins are not meer transgressions of the Law but committed against the mercy bounty and goodness of God vouchsafed unto thee thy sins have a world of unthankfulness joyned with them and therefore how should God but visit Amos 3.2 you onely have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore will I visit you for all your Iniquities O think of this you that are Gods Sons and conform to Christ for he was an Obedient Son 2. Christ the Son of God delights in the Father and his delight is also with the Sons of men so must we delight in the Father and delight in his Children Psa 37.4 Psa 16.3 Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thy Heart And the Saints that are on the Earth are they in whom is all my Delight saith David It is storied of Dr. Taylor that being in prison he could delight in God and he rejoyced that ever he came into Prison because of his acquaintance with that Angel of God as he called Mr. Bradford O this is Heaven upon Earth not only God but the very Saints of God are sweet Objects of delight Mark them and if they be Saints indeed they are savory in their Discourse in their Duties in their Carriages their Example is powerful their society profitable how should we but delight in them 3. God and Christ laid this Plot from all Eternity that all he would do should be to the praise of the glory of his Grace So must we purpose this as the end of all our actions whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do we must do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 But especially if from God we receive any spiritual good then give all again to the glory of his grace Dan. 2 20 23 Blessed be the Name of God for ever and ever said Daniel for Wisdom and might are his and I thank thee and praise thee O God of my Fathers who hast given me Wisdome and Might an excellent spirit of Wisdome and Might wrought in Daniel and he acknowledges all to the Giver wisdome and might are his Christians if you feel grace in your hearts I beseech you acknowledge it to Christ He does all he subdues Lusts heals VVounds staies inward Issues sets broken Bones and makes them to rejoyce and therefore let him him the glory of all do you acknowledge grace in it's latitude to the God of all grace 4. God and Christ counselled about our Salvation there was a great conflict in the Attributes of God justice and mercy could not be reconciled till the Wisdom of God found out that glorious and wonderful expedient the Lord Jesus Christ so let us Counsel about our Salvation the flesh and the spirit whereof we are compounded draw several wayes the Flesh draws Hell-ward and the Spirit Heaven-ward come then call we in heavenly and spiritual Wisdome to decide this Controversie you may hear its Language in Job 28.28 Job 28.28 Behold the fear of the Lord that is Wisdome and to depart from evil is Vnderstanding If we would draw heaven-ward and save our souls come then let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his Commandments Eccles 12.13 for this is the whole duty of Man Keep his Commandments in an Evangelical sense i look at the expedient Jesus Christ who hath kept them for us and in whom and through whom our imperfect Obedience is accepted with God 5. God and Christ loved us with an everlasting Love So must we love him who hath first loved us this is the nature of spiritual Love that it runs into its own Ocean O love the Lord all ye his Saints who hath more cause to love him then you
stepped in he will not leave man without hope he tells the Devil who begun this mischief I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel At the very instant when God was pronouncing judgment upon the several delinquents in the fall nay before judgment was pronounced on the persons tempted Jesus is hinred the Covenant of grace is proclaimed O the infinite riches of the mercy of God in Christ But you will say how comes Jesus in how carried he on the great work of our salvation in this dark time I answer 1. By assuming and taking upon him the form and shape of man and so discharging some special offices in that respect We read often of Christs apparition before his Incarnation and then especially when he had to do with this great Negoâiation of mans Eternal happiness Some think it not improbable that Christ assumed the form of man when he first created man and so he made man not only in his own image which he had as God In holiness and true righteousness but in respect of that form which he had assumed Howsoever this we find that after man had sinned Christ then appeared first to Adam then to Abraham then to Isaac then to Jacob then to Moses c. first he appeared to Adam in the garden and they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day God as he is God hath neither voice to speak nor seet to walk but assuming the form and shape of a man he exercised both and so he was the first that published that first promise to the World It shall bruise thy head 2. He appeared to Abraham in the plain of Mamre where the Lord talked with Abraham and Abraham calls him the Judge of all the Earth which can be ascribed to none but Christ the Judge of quick and dead Some from that saying of Christ your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad do gather that Abraham saw Christ not only with the eyes of faith as all the rest of the Patriarchs and Prophets did but also in a visible shape which he assumed like unto that whereunto he was afterwards to be united And so it was Christ that renewed the Covenant with Abraham saying I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee 3. He appeared to Isaac Gen. 26.2 and to Jacob Gen. 32.24 30. and to Moses Exod. 20.1 2 3. and to many others of which I shall comment in order And these apparitions of Christ were as praeludiums of his Incarnation But this is not the way I shall insist upon 2. Christ carried on the great work of our salvation in that dark time not by himself exhibited as when he was Incarnate but onely promised The great King would first have his Harbingers to lead the way before he himself would come in person As the Lord had observed this method in creating the World that first he would have darkness and then light and as still he observes this method in upholding the world that first he will have dawning and then clear day so in the framing and upholding of his Church he will first have Christ held forth in Ceremonies Rites Figures Types Promises Covenants and then like a glorious Sun or like the day-spring from on high he would visit the world to give light to them that sit in darkness To this purpose we read that as Christ so the Covenant of grace which applies Christ to us was first promised and then promulgated the Covenant of promise was that Covenant which God made with Adam and Abraham and Moses and David and all Israel in Jesus Christ to be Incarnate crucified and risen from the dead and it was meet that the promise should go before the Gospel and be fulfilled in the Gospel that so a great good might earnestly be desired before it was bestowed In a time of darkness men desire light as the morning-watch watcheth and longeth for the morning so the obscure revelation of Christ in a promise raised the hearts of the Patriarchs to an earnest desire of Christ his coming in the flesh But in this obscurity we may observe some degrees before the Law given by Moses the promise was more obscure the Law being given even to the time of the Prophets the promise was a little more clear in the time of the Prophets even to John the Baptist it was clearer yet as the coming of the messias did approach nearer and nearer so was the promise clearer and clearer still Just as the approach of the Sun is nearer or further off so is the light that goes before it greater or lesser In like manner was the Revelation that went before Christ more dim or clear as the rising of the Sun of righteousness was more remote or nigh at hand It was the good pleasure of God to manifest the riches of his grace by degrees and not all at once we see to this very day that God in his several approaches of mercy and goodness draws nearer and nearer to his Church Even now in this marvellous light of the Gospel we have our divine Ceremonies and Sacraments we see him afar off we know but in part but time shall come even before his second coming that we or our children shall see him more clearly perfectly immediatly My present businesse is to hold forth Jesus in the Covenant of grace as promised and because the promise receives distinction of degrees according to the several breakings out of it to the dark world we will consider it as it was manifested 1. From Adam till Abraham 2. From Abraham till Moses 3. From Moses till David 4. From David till the Babylonish Captivity or thereabout 5. From the Captivity or thereabout till Christ In every of these periods will appear some further and further discoveries of Gods mercy in Christ of the Covenant of grace of our Jesus carrying on the great work of mans Eternal salvation in that dark time You heard before of the Covenant betwixt God and Christ concerning our salvation but that was not the Covenant of grace which God immediately made with man as fallen but a particular Covenant with Christ to be the Mediator Or so far as it was a Covenant of grace it was then made betwixt God and Christ and after to be made betwixt God and us for a time we were hid in the womb of Gods Election and not being then capable to enter into Covenant with God Christ undertook for us but yet so that when we come to be regenerate we are then to strike Covenant our selves And hence we read expresly of Gods Covenanting with sundry particular persons as with Adam and Abraham and Moses and David c. Of which in
so the Seed of the Woman must be taken collectively that the opposition may be fit 2. The enmities fore-spoken do strongly evince it now the enmities pertain both to Eve and to all her posterity if godly to the end of the world hence all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.18 And I will put enmity saith God between thee the woman is that all no but also between thy Seed and her Seed and who can deny but these enmities have been ever since betwixt Satans brood and the Saints we are all wrestlers against Principalities and Powers and Rulers of the darkness of this World Ephes 6.12 and against spiritual wickednesses in high places 5. What is that Hu in our Bible translated it it shall bruise thy head Some observe this Hu it is of the masculine gender and Zera Seed is of the masculine gender Jesaphera shall bruise is of the masculine gender which confutes the Translation that renders it thus she shal bruise thy head and which confirms our Translation which is thus he or it or that same Seed i. one singular person of that same Seed shall bruise thy head Well then who is this he or what one is he even Jesus the Son of the Living God Here is the first hint of Jesus that ever was read or heard of in this world This was the Proto-evangel or first Gospel that ever was published after the Creation O blessed news fit for Gods mouth to speak and to break first to the world now fallen O dear parents how would you have dispaired if before sentence you had not heard this blessed tydings O our first Parents upon Earth where had you and we been if this blessed Text had not been Come set a Star upon it write it in letters of Gold or rather write it on the very Tables of our Hearts here is the blessedst news that ever was or ever shall be but for this we had been all Fire-brands of Hell yea but for this Adam and Eve and all their Sons and Daughters that are now gone out of this World had been smoaking and frying in Hell-fire Away with all gross mistakes Erroneous conceits and as you love your Souls yeild to this blessed sense This it or he is one of that same Seed and this one of that same seed is Jesus and only Jesus and none but Jesus and for this sense we have these arguments 1. Some observe that this Sentence is separated from the former with a Period or great stop however God goes on to speak of the Seed of the Woman yet he says not and that Seed shall bruise thy head for so we might have thought he had spoken of that Seed collectively as he did before but stopping there and not repeating the same word again he gives it thus it or he shall bruise thy head i. some individual person of that same Seed some singular one of that same common Seed of the Woman shall bruise thy head as David alone of all the Host of Israel goes forth to fight with Goliah and overcomes him so Christ alone of all the Seed of the Woman was so to fight with the Serpent by his own power as to overcome him and to bruise his head 2. The Seventy in their Translations of this place with which agrees the Chaldee Paraphrast renders it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã he which needs most denote some singular person or Son of the woman and the rather because the Seed spoken of before is rendered ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to which if the relative had rightly agreed it should have been ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and not ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Hereto we may add that to this it or he the Seed of the Serpent is not opposed as it was in the former sentence but the Serpent it self one singular Antagonist here is singularis ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a duel or a combate of two hand to hand only Christand the Serpent he shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel 3. The bruising of the head doth plainly discover this it or he is Jesus Christ for non can bruise the Serpents head but only God the God of peace saith the Apostle shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Now there was none of the Seed of the Woman Rom. 16.10 that was ever God but only Christ God-Man Man-God blessed for ever and therefore it must needs be Christ and only Christ that can bruise this Serpents head O there 's a Divine Power a power and vertue of God in it to bruise the Serpents head observe but the manner of this Duel Christ treads on the Serpent and by this means he comes to have a bruise in the heel whilst with his heel he bruiseth the Serpents head a wonderful thing that Christ should lay at the Serpents head with no other weapon but only with his heel it were much for any man to strike at any common Serpent with a bare and naked foot rather would he take a dart or club or any other Weapon but with a foot to bruise Satans head that great and fierce and monsterous Serpent this exceeds any mans power or any mans daring to attempt hence it is that some one person of more than human strength must do this deed and who is that of the Seed of the Woman but only Jesus Christ 4. God himself in other places of Scripture doth expresly declare that this Seed here promised is Christ and only Christ mark but where this promise is repeated to the Patriarches as when the Lord said to Abraham Gen. 22.18 in thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed and when the Lord said to David I will raise up thy Seed after thee which shall be of thy Sons and I will establish his Kingdom 1 Chro. 17.11 and you may see it clear that this Seed is Christ and only Christ concerning that promise to Abraham the Apostle so interprets it now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not Gal. 3.16 and to Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ and concerning that promise to David the Prophet so interprets it He shall sit upon the Throne of David Isa 9.6 7 and upon his Kingdom to order it to establish it who is that in the former verse his name is Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace i. Christ and none but Christ for unto us a Child is born and unto us a Son is given c. and who is that but Jesus Christ 5. The accomplishment of this Promise in Christ is expresly and clearly made out in the New Testament Was not Jesus Christ of the Seed of the Woman born of a Virgin was not his heel bruised himself Crucified and did he not bruise the Serpents head break the Power and
this faith accompanied with works observe but saith the Apostle when God bade him offer his son Jam. 2.23 compared with 21.22 did he not do it and was not that an exceeding great work surely his faith wrought with his works and by faith was his works made perfect 7. Who is the head both as undertaker and purchaser and treasurer upon whom this Covenant is established 2 Cor. 1.20 I answer Christ and none but Christ All the promises of God in him are Yea and Amen unto the glory of God by us This was very darkly held forth in the first manifestation of the Covenant to Adam but now in this second breaking forth of it it is very fully expressed and often repeated thus Gen. 12.3 Gen. 12 3 in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed and Gen. 18.18 Gen. 18.18 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in Abraham and Gen 22.18 Gen. 22.18 See the same in Gen. 26.4 and 28.14 in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed In comparing these texts we have a clear understanding thereof in thee in Abraham shall all the families and nations of the earth be blessed but lest Abraham himself should be thought author of this universall blessing therefore is the explication in thee i. in thy seed Gal. 3 16 and this seed saith the Apostle very expressely is Jesus Christ now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ So then here is the sense out of thy posterity shall spring the Messiah by whom not only thy posterity but all the nations of the earth shall be blessed You may remember in the first promise Christ was called the seed of the woman but now the seed of Abraham Christ was the Son of Eve or if you will the Son of Mary and so the seed of the woman and Mary was a daughter of Abraham and so Christ and Mary and all upwards were of the seed of Abraham But where shall we find mention of the passion of Christ in this expressure of his Covenant to Abraham in the first manifestation it was included in that phrase of bruising his heel and surely this is essential to the covenant of grace in any overture of it some answer that this is thrice put on in the passage of this covenant with Abraham Gen. 15.17 first in the federal confirmation by the smâaking furnace and burning lamp that passed between those pieces of the sacrifice as the sacrifice was divided so was Christs body torn and as the smoaking furnace and burning lamp passed between the divided pieces so the wrath of God run betwixt as I may say and yet did not consume the rent and torn nature of Christ Gen. 17.10 11 2. In that federal confirmation by the sign of circumcision there could not be circumcision without shedding of blood and where God commands shedding of blood in any of his antient ordinances it doth certainly reach to the blood of Christ and his everlasting testament 3. In the resolved Sacrifice of Isaac which was a plain type of the death of Christ See it in these particulars 1. Isaac was Abraham's son his only son his innocent son Gen. 2â 10 the beloved son of his Father and yet Abraham freely offers up his son so Christ was the son of God his only Son his innocent son like to us in all things sin only excepted and the beloved son of his Father this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and yet God more freely offers up his Son out of his own bosome 2. Abraham by Gods commission rose early in the morning to sacrifice his Son and the Jews by Gods permission rise early in the morning to condemn the Son of God and hence he is called the Hind of the morning Psa 22.1 compassed with dogs that hunted and pursued his life 3. Abraham must offer his Son upon the Mount the very Mount on which Solomon's Temple was built John 2.19 which typified the body of Jesus Christ Joh. 2.19 So God offered his Son upon the Mount if not on the same Mount as Augustine thinks yet on a Mount not far distant from it Golgotha was the very skirt of Moriah the one being within the gate of the City and the other not far without the very nearest to the City of all 4. Abraham first laid the wood on Isaac and then he laid Isaac on the wood so God first layes the Cross on Christ Joh. 19.17 18 He bearing his Cross went forth into a place called the place of a skul and then he layes Christ on the Cross there they crucified him saith John or there they bound him to the Cross and fastned his hands and feet thereto with nails 5. Isaac must be offered alone the servants must stay at the foot of the hill little knowing the business and sorrow in hand Isa 63.3 so Christ must tread the wine press alone the disciples fear and fly and little consider the agony of their Master 6. Abraham carries in his hand the sword and fire against his Son so God carries in his hand the sword and fire the sword signifying the Justice of God the fire his burning wrath against the sins of men and both these were bent against Christ in whom the justice of God is satisfied and the flame of his wrath extinct and quenched Gen. â2 16 17 18. That this was a plain type of Christs passion is hinted at in the blessing that God speaks to Abraham after this tryal by my self have I sworn saith the Lord for because thou hast done this thing and hast not with-held thy Son thine only Son that in blessing I will bless thee and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed All believers are blessed in the death of Christ who was that seed of Abraham typified by Isaac Abrahams Son for as Abraham intended so God truely sacrificed his Son his onely Son to take away sin Thus far of the Covenant of promise as it was manifested from Abraham to Moses SECT IV. Of the Covenant of promise as manifested to Moses THe next breaking forth of this gracious Covenant was to Moses The revenging justice of God had now seized on mankind for many generations even thousands of years so that now it was high time for God in the midst of wrath to remember mercy and to break out into a clearer expression of the promise or Covenant of grace To this purpose the Lord calls up Moses to Mount Sinai and there of his infinite love and undeserved mercy he makes or renews his Covenant with him and the children of Israel I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Exod. 20.2 thou shalt have no other gods before me For the right
Obedience God hath ever the first work as first Jer. 31.33 Eze. 36 26 31 Ezek. 36.25 Ezek. 36.27 Zech. 12.10 I will be your God and then ye shall be my People first I will take away the stony heart and give an heart of Flesh and then you shall loath your selves for your iniquities and for your abominations first I will sprinkle water upon you and then ye shall be clean from all your filthiness first I will put my Spirit into you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and then ye shall keep my Judgments and do them first I will pour out my Spirit of Grace and supplication upon you and then ye shall mourn as a man mourning for his only Son first I will do all and then ye shall do something A perplexed troubled spirit is apt to cry out O! alas I can do nothing I can as well dissolve a Rock as make my heart of stone a heart of flesh Mark now how the Covenant stands well ordered like an Army I will do all saith God and then thou shalt do something I will strengthen and quicken you and then ye shall serve me saith the Lord. 4. It is well ordered in respect of the end and aim to which all the parts of the Covenant are referred Eph. 1.6 the end of the Covenant is the praise of the Glory of his Grace the parts of the Covenant are the Promise and the Stipulation the Promise is either Principal or Immediate and that is God and Christ or secondary and consequential and that is Pardon Justification Reconciliation Sanctification Glorification and the Stipulation on our parts are Faith and Obedience we must believe in him that Justifies the ungodly and walk before him in all well pleasing Observe now the main design and aim of the Covenant and see but how all the streams run towards that Ocean God gives himself to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace God gives Christ to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace God gives pardon justification sanctification salvation to the praise of the Glory of his Grace and we Believe we Obey to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace and good reason for all is of Grace and therefore all must tend to the Praise of the glory of his grace it is of Grace that God hath given himself Christ pardon justification reconciliation sanctification salvation to any Soul it is of grace that we believe By grace ye are saved through faith Eph. 2.8 not of your selves it is the gift of God O the sweet and comely order of this Covenant All is of Grace and all tends to the praise and glory of this grace and therefore it is called a Covenant of grace Many a sweet soul is forced to cry I cannot believe I may as well reach heaven with a finger as lay hold on Christ by the hand of faith but mark how the Covenant stands like a well marshalled army to repel this doubt Phil. 1.29 if thou canst not believe God will enable thee to believe to you it is given to believe O the Covenant of Grace is a gracious Covenant God will not only promise good things but he helps us by his Spirit to perform the condition He works our hearts to believe in God and to believe in Christ all is of Grace that all may tend to the praise of the glory of his grace 5. Wherein is the Covenant sure I answer it is sure in the performance and accomplishment of it Isa 55.3 Hence the promises of the Covenant are called the sure Mercies of David not because they are sure unto David alone but because they are sure and shall be sure unto all the Seed of David that are in Covenant with God as David was the Promises of Gods Covenant are not Yea and Nay various and uncertain but they are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 sure to be fulfilled Hence the stability of Gods Covenant is compared to the firmness and unmovableness of the mighty Mountains nay Mountains may depart and the hills be removed by a Miracle but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed Isa 54.10 saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Sooner shall the Rocks be removed the Fire cease to burn the Sun be turned into darkness and the very heavens be confounded with the earth than the promise of God shall fail psal 19.7 The testimony of the Lord is sure saith David Christ made it and writ it with his own blood to this very end was Christ appointed and it hath been all his work to ensure Heaven to his Saints Some question whether it be in Gods present power to blot a name out of the Book of Life We say no his deed was at first free but now it is necessary not absolutely but ex Hypothesi upon supposition of his eternal Covenant Hence it is that the Apostle sayes If we confess our Sins He is Faithful 1 John 1.9 and Just to forgive us our Sins It is Justice with God to pardon the Elect's Sins as the Case now stands Indeed Mercy was all that saved us primarily but now Truth saves us and stands engaged with Mercy for our Heaven And therefore David prayes Send forth Mercy and Truth and save me We find it often in the Psalms as a Prayer of David Psâl 57.3 Ps 31.1 3 24. 119.40.143.1 Deliver me in Thy Righteousness and Judge me according to Thy Righteousness and Quicken me in Thy Righteousness and In Thy Faithfulness answer me and In Thy Righteousness Now if it had not been for the Covenant of Grace surely David durst not have said such a word The Covenant is sure in every respect Isa 55.3 I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you saith God even the sure Mercies of David 6. Whether is Christ more clearlier manifested in this Breaking-forth of the Covenant than in any of the Former The Affirmative will appear in that we find in this Manifestation these Particulars 1. That He was God and Man in One Person David's Son and yet David's Lord The Lord said unto my Lord Sit Thou on My Right Hand Psal 110.1 until I make Thine Enemies Thy Foot-stool 2. That He suffered for us and in His Sufferings How many Particulars are discovered As first His Cry My God My God Why hast Thou forsaken Me Secondly Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.46 Psal 22.8 Mat. 27.43 Ps 22.16 17 18. Mat. 27.35 Psal 16.10 Acts 2.31 Psal 68.18 Ephes 4.8 The Jews Taunts He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him let Him deliver Him if He delight in Him Thirdly The very Manner of His Death They pierced My Hands and My Feet I may tell all My Bones they look and stare upon Me they part My Garments among them and cast Lots upon My Vesture 3. That He Rose again for us Thou wilt not leave My Soul in Hell neither wilt Thou suffer Thine
Cloaths against cold and nakedness House against wind and weather Riches against poverty Physick against sickness Friends against solitariness but God is an alsufficient good he is all in all both to the inner and outward man Are we guilty of Sin there is mercy in God to pardon us Are we full of infirmities there is Grace in God to heal us Are we strong in Corruptions there is power in God to subdue them in us Are we disquieted in Conscience there is that Spirit in God that is the Comforter that can fill us with Joy unspeakable and glorious And for our outward man all our welfare is laid up in God he is the God of our Life Psal 42.8 he is the strength of our Life Psal 27.1 he is a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Which though it be in regard of the inner man yet there it is spoken of the inward man which the Lord shall quicken after death and doth now keep alive by his mighty power for in him we live Acts. 17.28 and move and have our being O my Soul that thou wouldst but ruminate and meditate and consider this promise in all thy wants discontents when means fail and the streames run no more O that thou wouldest then go to the Fountain where the waters run sweeter and more sure Gen. 41.16 for as Joseph said to Pharaoh it is not in me God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace So may Silver and Gold and such things say to thee It is not in us God shall give enough out of himself have God and have all want God and there is no content in the enjoyment of all It was the Apostles case as having nothing and yet possessing all things 2 Cor. 6.10 Surely he lived to God and enjoyed God and he was an all-sufficient good unto him God may be enjoyed in any condition in the meanest as well as the greatest in the poorest as well as the richest God will go into a wilderness into a prison with his people and there he will make up all that they are cut short of Thy discontents therefore arise not from the want of outward means but from want of inward fellowship with God and if thou dost not find a sufficiency it is because thou dost not enjoy him who is thy all-sufficient good O stir up Faith and consider the Covenant think seriously on this promise I am God all-sufficient I am the Lord thy God 2. Here is the propriety of Saints the Lord thy God O what is this that God is thy God Heaven and Earth Angels and Men may stand astonished at it What that the Great and Mighty God God Almighty and God all-sufficient should be called thy God! Heb. 11.16 It is observable what the Apostle speaks God is not ashamed to be called their God Would not a prince be ashamed to take a Beggar a Runagate a base and adulterous Woman to be his Wife But we are worse than so and God is better than so sin hath made us worse than the worst of women and God is better holier higher than the best of Princes and yet God is not ashamed to own us nor ashamed that we own him as our own I am thy God It is as if the Lord should say use me and all my Power Grace Mercy Kindness as thine own go through all my Attributes consider my Almighty Power consider my Wisdom Councel Understanding consider my Goodness Truth Faithfulness consider my Patience Long-suffering Forbearance all these are thine as thus My Power is thine to work all thy works for thee and in thee to make passage for thee in all thy straits to deliver thee out of six troubles and out of seven my Wisdom is thine to counsel thee in any difficult cases to instruct thee in things that be obscure to reveal to thee the Mysteries of Grace and the wonderfull things contained in my Law my Justice is thine to deliver thee when thou art oppressed to defend thee in thy Innocency and to vindicate thee from the injuries of men what needs more O my Soul think of these all other Gods Attributes say in thy self all these are mine nay more think of God in Christ for otherwise what hast thou to do with God in a Covenant of grace and say in thy heart Jesus Christ is mine my Saviour my Redeemer my head my elder brother his doings are mine and his sufferings are mine his Life and his Death his Resurrection and Ascention his Session and Intercession all are mine nay more if Christ be mine why then all good things are mine in Christ I say in Christ for they come not immediatly but through the hands of a sweet Redeemer and though he be a man who redeemed us yet because he is God as well as Man there is more of God and Heaven and free-love in all our good things than if we received them immediately from God Ravens have their food and Devils have their being from God by creature-right but we have all we have from God in Christ by Covenant-right this surely this very promise is the main and principal promise of the Covenant it is the very substance Soul and life of all O then how careful shouldest thou be to improve the strength of thy mind thoughts and affections on this only subject 4. Consider Jesus in that promise made to David 1 Sam. 23.5 He hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure 1. An everlasting Covenant consider this in the eternal efficacy and not in the outward administration it is Christ that hath built and prepared a Kingdom that shall never fade a spiritual and an heavenly Kingdom which shall never cease and as he hath prepared it so if thou believest he hath entred into a Covenant with thy soul to bestow it on thee it is an everlasting Covenant and he will give thee everlasting Life 2. It is ordered in all things the Covenant of grace is so marshalled and ordered that it stands at best advantage to receive and repel all thy objections Many and many an objection hast thou raised how often have such thoughts been in thee Oh I am miserable I shall not live but die my sins will damn me I am lost for ever And again If God hath made with me a Covenant why then have I something to do on my part for this is the nature of the Covenant to bind on both parts but alas I have failed I can do nothing I can as well dissolve a Rock as make my heart of stone a heart of flesh I can as well reach heaven with a finger as lay hold on Christ by the hand of Faith Have not such arguings as these been many and many a time in thy heart O consider how the Covenant is ordered and marshalled in respect of the Author of it of the Persons interested in it of the parts of which it consists of the end and aim to which it refers
conceive the most usual and ordinary course of Faiths working and of the souls conforming to Jesus Christ in its closing with Christ As thus 1. Faith hearing the great things proposed in the Covenant of Grace it stirs up in the heart a serious consideration of their blessed condition that are in covenant with God Blessed art thou O Israel a People saved by the Lord What Nation in the Earth is like thy People Deut. 33.29 2 Sam. 7.2.3 even like Israel whom God went to redeem for a People unto himself Time was saith the Soul that I counted the proud blessed and the rich blessed and the honourable blessed time was when I placed my blessedness in other things as in Riches Preferments Favour Credit with men but now these are become vile and things of no value Faith makes us change our voice and to speak as the Psalmist Blessed are the People whose God is the Lord. Psal 144.15 2. Faith stirs in the heart a longing desire after this condition good being believed cannot but be desired and longed for Desire naturally springs from the apprehension of any good being made known hence Faith we say is both in the understanding and in the will as it is in the understanding it opens the eye to see and clearly to discern the Blessing of the Covenant as it is in the will it pursues and desires the attaining of the Grace revealed nor are these desires faint desires but very earnest eager violent sometimes it is called a thirsting after God and sometimes a panting after God and sometimes a gasping after God it is such a desire as cannot be satisfied by any thing without God himself 3. Faith stirs in the heart some hope to enjoy this condition I say some hope for Faith being as yet in the Bud or in the Seed though its desire be strong yet hope of obtaining is but feeble and weak hence Faith is taken up with many thoughts fain would the Soul be joyned to Christ but being as yet dismayed with the sense of Sin it stands like the Publican afar off as yet Faith can scarce speak a word to God only with Jonah it can look towards his holy Temple As a poor weak babe who lies in the Cradle sick and weak and speechless only it can look towards the Mother for help the cast of the eye expresseth in some sort what it would say thus Faith being weak it would speak to God but it cannot or dares not only it hath its eye towards Heaven 2 Chr. 20.12 as Jehoshaphat sometimes said Our eyes are towards thee It feels a need and fain would have but sense of unworthyness and the sense of the Law strikes such a fear into the heart that it dares not come near Consider Israels Case and we shall find it parallel to this God proclaims on the Mount I am the Lord thy God what was this but Gods offer to be in Covenant with Israel and yet the terrour of the Thunder was so great that Israel durst not come near a poor Soul hearing the Lord to offer himself to be in Covenant in him Come soul I am the Lord thy God Why alas it dares not come near What am I the Lord or what is my Fathers House that I should enter into a Covenant with the most high God The Soul is unquiet within it self it is hurried to and fro and finds no rest it hears of Peace with God but feels it not there is much ado with the Soul to sustain its hope only Faith sets the mind again and again to consider the promises invitatiâââ and all other incouragements which God hath given in his Word 4. Faith stirs in the heart some resolves to go to Gods Throne and to sue for Grace Faith speaks within as they did Jonah 3.9 Amos. 5.15 Who can tell whether the Lord will return And it may be the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph So Who can tell saith the Soul It may be the Lord will saith the Soul and this begets some resolves as those Lepers in Samaria knew they were sure to perish if they sate still therefore they resolved to try whether the Aramites would save them Or as Esther knowing all was undone if she would not stir she would try whether the King would hold out his Golden Scepter So the poor Soul knowing there is no way but perishing if it continue in its Natural State therefore it resolves to go to God Doth the Lord say Seek my Face Why Jer. 3.22 thy Face Lord will I seek Doth the Lord say Come unto Me Why Behold Lord I come unto Thee for Thou art the Lord our God And now the Soul betakes it self unto God it sends up Complaints of it self it laments its own sinful Rebellions it puts out a whole Volley of Sighs Groans and strong Cryes towards Heaven it confesseth with Grief and bitter Mourning all its former Iniquities it smites with Repenting Ephraim upon its Thigh it lyes down at God's Foot-stool it puts its Mouth in the Dust it acknowledgeth God's Righteousness if He should condemn and cast off for ever and yet withal it pleads for Grace that it may be accepted as one of His It sayes unto God Lord I have nothing to plead why Thou may'st not Condemn me but if Thou wilt receive me Thy Mercy shall appear in me O let Thy Mercy appear take away all Iniquity and receive me graciously Thus the Soul lyes at God's Throne and pleads for Grace 5. As Faith is thus earnest in suing to God for Grace so it is no less vigilant and watchful in observing what Answer comes from the Lord even as the Prisoner at the Bar not only cries for Mercy but he marks every Word which falls from the Judges Mouth if any thing may give him Hope or as Benhadad's Servants lay at catch with the King of Israel to see if they could take occasion by any thing which fell from him to plead for the Life of Benhadad So the poor Soul that is now pleading for Life and Grace it watcheth narrowly to see if any thing may come from God any Intimation of Favour any Word of Comfort that may tend to Peace O let me hear Joy and Gladness I will hear what the Lord will say for He will speak Peace unto His People 6. As Faith waits for an Answer so accordingly it demeans it self 1. Sometimes God answers not and Faith takes on and follows God still and cryes after Him with more Strength as resolving never to give over till the Lord either save or destroy Nay if the Lord will destroy Faith chuseth to die at God's Feet as when Joab was bidden to come forth from the Horns of the Altar and to take his Death in another Place Nay saith Joab but I will dye here Or as when Christ saw no Deliverance come in His Agony He Prayed more earnestly So a poor Soul Luke 22.44 in the Time
only Psal 68.18 John 1.16 but for us He received Gifts for Men said the Psalmist not for Himself meerly but for Men Of His Fulness we receive Grace for Grace saith John His Wisdom to make us wise His Meekness to make us meek and His Patience to make us patient 3. By Faith we look at Christ as Faithful to distribute such Grace unto us as He received for us Heb. 4.2 He is Faithful in all the House of God He is Faithful in dispensing all the Treasures of Grace committed unto Him for His Churches Good He keeps nothing back His Faithfulness will not suffer Him to keep that to Himself which He hath received for us Psal 68.18 Hence as the Psalmist saith He received Gifts for Men so the Apostle renders it He gave Gifts unto Men As he receives so he gives Ephes 4.8 being faithful in all that is committed to Him 4. By Faith we seek God and beg Performance of his Promises according to our need Do we want Wisdom Meekness Patience or any other Grace Faith carries us by Prayer unto the Fountain and in this way waits and expects to receive the Grace we want As the Child by sucking the Breast draws forth Milk for its own Nourishment and thereby it grows in Strength so do we by the Prayer of Faith suck from Christ and from the Promise of Grace and by that means derive Strength to our inner Man to fulfil the Covenant which we have made with God 6. As Faith strengthens us so if at any times by occasion or temptation we fail in our Covenant-keeping Faith recovers us and restores us again to our former Estate I do not say the Covenant can be broken betwixt God and Us we may offend God and fail in the Service of God but till we refuse God and leave God and chuse another Master Lord and Husband besides God there is no Dissolution of the Covenant of Grace Now this a true Believer cannot do He may fall and fall often yet he doth not fall but he rises again he may turn aside but yet he returns again into the way of the Covenant What a sweet Point is this Christians We may and sometimes we do walk weakly in keeping of Covenants our feet slip and we step aside out of God's Path yet Faith brings us back again to God It casts Shame on our Faces that after all the Grace shewed us we should so ill requite God It reminds us of those Promises Return unto Me and I will return unto you Ye have done all this Wickedness Zech. 1.3 1 Sam. 12.20 22. yet turn not aside from following the Lord For the Lord will not forsake his People for his Great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People In the minding of these and such other Promises Faith doth encourage us to return unto God to take words unto our selves and to plead the Covenant of his Grace towards us This VVork of Faith brought Peter back to Christ whereas Judas wanting this Faith lies down in desperate Sorrow never able to rise up or to recover himself O my Soul Art thou acquainted with these Acts of Faith enabling thee in some good measure to keep Covenant with God Then is there a sweet Conformity betwixt Thee and Jesus 3. God in Christ hath highly honoured us as we are his People so we through Christ should honour Him highly as He is our God This is the main End of the Covenant and I shall end with this O my Soul be like to God bear the Image and Resemblance of God thy Father in this Respect He hath humbled Himself to advance thee O then humble thy self to advance Him endeavour every way to exalt his Name We are willing to be in Covenant with God that we may set up our selves that we may sit upon Thrones and possess a Kingdom But we must think especially of setting up the Lord upon his Throne Ascribe Greatness to our God saith Moses Deut. 32.3 make it a Name and a Praise unto Him that he hath vouchsafed to make us his People and to take us into Covenant with Himself Honour Him as he is God but honour Him more abundantly as he is our God Who should Honour Him if his People will not The World knows Him not The Wicked will not seek after God Psal 10.4 God is not in all his Thoughts And Shall God have no Honour Shall He that stretched out the Heavens and laid the Foundations of the Earth and formed Man upon it have no Glory O yes The Lord Himself answers This People have I formed for My Self Isa 43.21 they shall shew forth My Praise Surely God will have Praise from his own People whom he hath taken unto Himself He will be glorifyed in all those that come near Him Lev. 10.3 But How should we honour God I answer 1. We must set Him up as chief and highest in our Esteem Kings acount not themselves honoured if they be not set above other Men And hence God's People have used such Expressions concerning God as do single Him forth beyond the Comparison of all Creatures Thus Moses Who is like unto Thee amongst the Gods Who is like unto Thee Exod. 15.11 2 Sam. 7.22 glorious in Holyness fearful in Praises doing Wonders Thus David Thou art Great O Lord God for there is none like Thee neither is there any God besides Thee according to all that we have heard with our Ears Thus Solomon Lord God of Israel 1 King 8.22 there is no God like unto Thee in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath who keepest Covenant and Mercy with Thy Servants Thus Micah Who is a God like unto Thee Micah 7.18 which passest by the Transgressions of the Remnant of thine Heritage And thus should we rise up in our Thoughts and Apprehensions of God until we come to an Holy Extasie and Admiration of God 2. We must count it our Blessedness and highest Dignity to be a People in Covenant with God Are we Honourable Yet esteem this as our greatest Honour that God is our God Are we low and despised in the World Yet count this Honour enough that God hath lifted us up to be his People Christians if when we are counted as things of nought we can quiet our selves in this that God is our God if when we are persecuted imprisoned distressed we can say with Jacob I have enough because the Lord hath Mercy on me and hath taken me into Covenant with Him surely then we do bear Witness of God before Heaven and Earth that He is better to us than Corn or Wine or Oyl or whatsoever this World affords 3. We must lie under the Authority of every Word of God and we must conform our selves to the Examples of God that is we must labour to become Followers of God and imitate his Virtues It is a part of that Honour which Children owe to their Parents
Humane Nature incourageth us to come unto him even after his Resurrection he was pleased to send this comfortable message to the sons of men Iohn 20.17 Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God now as long as he is not ashamed to call us Brethren Heb. 11.16 God is not ashamed to be called our God O the sweet fruit that we may gather of this Tree the real distinction of two Natures in Christ As long as Christ is man as well as God we have a motive strong enough to appease his Father and to turn his favourable countenance towards us here is our happiness that there is one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 1.5 the Man Christ Jesus 5. consider the Union of the two natures of Christ in one and the same Person as he was the branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth so these two natures were tied with such a Gordian knot as sin hell and the grave were never able to untie yea though in the death of Christ there was a separation of the soul from the body yet in that separation the hypostatical Union remained firm unshaken and indissoluble in this Meditation thou hast great cause O my Soul to admire and adore wonderful things are spoken of thee O Christ he is God in a Person of a God-head so as neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost were made flesh and he is man in the nature of man not properly the Person the humane nature of Christ never having any Personal subsistence out of the God-head this is a mystery that no Angel much less man is able to comprehend we have not another example of such an Union as you have heard only the nearest similitude or resemblance we can find is that of the Branch and Tree into which it is ingraffed we see one Tree may be set into another and it groweth in the Stock thereof and becometh one and the same Tree though there be two natures or kinds of fruit still remaining therein so in the Son of God made man though there be two natures yet both being united into one Person there is but one Son of God and one Jesus Christ If thou wilt consider this great mystery of Godliness any further review what hath been said in the object propounded where this union is set forth more largely and particularly but especially consider the blessed effects of this union in reference to thy self as our nature in the person of Christ is united to the God-head so our persons in and by this Union of Christ are brought nigh to God Hence it is that God doth set his Sanctuary and Tabernacle among us and that he dwells with us and which is more that he makes us houses and habitations wherein he himself is pleased to dwell by his holy Spirit Ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dewll in them and walk in them and I will be their God John 17 20 21 22 23. and they shall be my People 2. Cor. 6.16 Was not this Christs Prayer in our behalf I pray not for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me By reason of this hypostatical union of Christ Gal. 4.6 the Spirit of Christ is given to us in the very moment of our regeneration And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit As the members of the Body howsoever distinct amongst themselves and all differing from the head yet by reason of one soul informing both the head and members they all make one compositum or man so all believers in Christ howsoever distinct Persons amongst themselves and all distinct from the Person of Christ and especially from the Godhead which is incommunicable yet by one and the same spirit abiding in Christ Eph. 4.4 1 Cor. 6.17 and all his Members they become one there is one body and one spirit he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit O my Soul consider of this and in considering believe thy part in this and the rather because the means of this union on thy part is a true and lively faith faith is the first effect and instrument of the Spirit of Christ disposing and enabling thy soul to cleave unto Christ and for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3.14 17. 6. Consider the birth of Christ this man-God God-man who in his divine generation was the Son of God in his humane generation was born in a stable for the saving of the Children of men who were as the oxe and mule having no understanding It were a fruitful meditation to consider over and over that sweet resemblance of Christ being a Vine me-thinks I hear the Voice of my beloved Cant. 2.10 13. rise up my love the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs and the vine with the tender grapes gives a good smell arise my love my fair one and come away if Christ knocks at the door who will not awake and arise if Christ comes in view who will not look unto Jesus if Christ the Vine calls us to come see the vine with the tender grape who will not taste the goodness smell the sweetness and after a little taste of that goodness and sweetness that is in him who would not long after more till we come from the first fruits to the last-fruits of the Spirit even to those visions and fruitions of Christ in Glory Consider O my soul of this Vine till thou hast brought Christ near and close unto thy self Suppose thy heart the Garden wherein this Vine was planted wherein it budded blossomed and bare fruit suppose the holy Ghost to come upon thee and to form and fashion in thee Jesus Christ thus Paul bespeaks the Galathians my little Children of whom I travel in Birth again untill Christ be formed in you would not this affect would not the whole soul be taken up with this come receive Christ into thy soul or if that work be done if Christ be formed in thee O Cherish him I speak of the Spiritual birth O keep him in thy heart let him there bud and blossome and bear fruit let him fill thy soul with his Divine Graces O that thou couldst say it feelingly I live yet not I but Christ
enjoyments for never was Christ so enjoyed in this life but thou hast cause to desire yet more of Christ It is worth thy observation that Spiritual desires after Christ do neither load nor cloy the heart but rather open and enlarge it for more and more Who was better acquainted with God than Moses Exod. 33.18 Phil. 1.23 and yet Who was more importunate to know him better I beseech thee shew me thy glory And Who was more acquainted with Christ than Paul and yet who was more importunate to be with him nearer I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Further and further union with Christ and communion with Christ are most desirable things and are not these the fruits of his incarnation the effects of his hypostatical personal union more and more peace and love and reconciliation betwixt God and us are desirable things and are not these the fruits of Christs birth the effects of his budding out of the earth was it not then That Righteousness looked down from Heaven That Mercy and Truth met together and Righteousness and Peace kissed each other an higher degree of holiness sanctification likeness to God and Christ are desirable things and are not these the fruits of his circumcision and presentation to the Lord the effects of all those consequents that follow after his birth Come Soul and stir up thy desires true desires are not wavering and dull but resolute and full of quickness observe how the nature of true desires in Scripture is set forth by the most pathetical and strong similitudes of Hunger and Thirst and those not common neither but by The panting of a tyred Hart after the rivers of waters and by the gaping of dry ground after some seasonable showers O then How is it that the passages of thy desires are so narrow and almost shut up Nay How is it that thy vessels are so full of contrary qualities that there is scarce any room in thy Soul for Christ and all his Train Will not the desires of the Patriarchs witness against thee How cryed they after Christs coming in the Flesh Bow the Heavens O Lord and come down Psal 144.5 Psal 144.5 Oh that Thou wouldest rent the Heavens that Thou wouldest come down Isa 64.1 Isa 64.1 Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness let the Earth open and bring forth Salvation Isa 45.8 Isa 45.8 Is it possible that their desires should be more vehement after Christ than ours They lived on the dark-side of the cloud but we on the bright-side the vail was upon their hearts which vail is done away in Christ they saw Christ afar off and their sight was very dim and dark But we all with open face as in a glass behold the glory of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3.18 One would think the less any thing is known the less it should be desired O my soul either thou art more ignorant of Christ than the Patriarchs of old or thy heart is more out of frame than theirs suspect the latter and blame thy heart it may be thy turpid and sluggish nature hath layed thy desires asleep if an hungry man will sleep his hunger will sleep with him But O stir up and awake thy desires Present before them that glorious object the incarnation of Jesus Christ it is an object which the very Angels desire to look into and Art not thou more concern'd in it than the Angels is not the fruit of the incarnation thine more especially thine Come then stir up those motions of thy appetite by which the soul darts it self towards the absent good draw nearer and nearer till thou comest to union and enjoyment cry after Christ Judg. 5.28 Why is his Chariot so long in coming Why tarry the Wheeles of his Chariots SECT IV. Of Hoping in Jesus in that Respect 4. LEt us Hope in Jesus carrying on the great Work of our Salvation at his first coming or incarnation Only here remember I speak not of every hope but only of such an hope as is grounded on some certainty and knowledge This is the main question whether Christs incarnation belongs unto me the Prophet tells us that Vnto us a Child is born and unto us a Son is given Isa 9.6 But how may I Hope that this Child is born to me and that this Son is given to me what ground for that Out of these words of the Prophet I shall draw a double Evidence which may be instead of all our first Evidence from the former words Vnto us a Child is born our second Evidence from the latter words unto us a Son is given 1. From the former words I lay down this position unto us a Child is born if we are new born the surest way to know our interest in the birth of Christ it is to know Christ born in us or formed in us Gal. 4.19 as the Apostle speaks The new birth is the effect of Christs birth and a sure sign that Christ is born to us Say then O my soul Art thou born anew is there in thee a new nature a new principle is the Image of God and of Christ in thy soul so the Apostle stiles it 1 Cor. 15.59 the bearing of the Image of the heavenly why then was Christ incarnate for thee if thy new birth be not clear enough thou may'st try it further by these following rules 1. Where this new birth is there is new desires new comforts new contentments Sometimes with the prodigal thou wast content with husks but now nothing will satisfie thee but thy Fathers mansion and thy Fathers feasts sometimes thou mindest only earthly things but now the favour of God the light of his countenance society with him and enjoying of him are thy chief desires This is a good sign David's heart and flesh Psal 84.2 and all breathed after God My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Men truly regenerate do not judge it so happy to be wealthy great and honoured in the world as to have the light of Gods favour shine upon them O my soul dost thou see the glory of the world and thou fallest down to worship it dost thou say in the increase of worldly comfort it is good to be here Then fear thy self but if these things compared with Christ are vain and light and of poor and mean esteem then hope well and be assured that thou art born again and that Christ is formed in thee 2. Where this new birth is there is new words new works new affections a new conversation 2 Cor. 5.17 Acts 9.11 1 Cor. 6.11 Old things are passed away behold all things are become new Paul once a persecutor but Behold now he prayeth And Such were some of you but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified now ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by
what then Command that these stones be made Bread He knew Jesus was hungry and therefore he invites him to eat Bread only of his own providing that so he might refresh his Humanity and prove his Divinity Come sayes he break thy fast upon the expence of a Miracle turn these stones into Bread and it will be some Argument thou art the Son of God There is nothing more ordinary with our Spiritual enemy than by occasion of want to move us to unwarrantable courses If thou art poor then steal if thou canst not rise by honest meanes then use indirect means I know Christ might as lawfully have turned stones into Bread as he turned water into Wine but to do this in a distrust of his Fathers Providence to work a Miracle of Satans choice and at Satans bidding it could not be agreeable with the Son of God And hence Jesus refuseth to be relieved he would rather deny to manifest the Divinity of his Person than he would do any act which had in it the intimation of a different spirit O Christians it is a sinfull impious wicked care to take evil courses to provide for our necessities Come it may be thou hast found a way to thrive which thou couldst not do before O take heed was it not of the Devils prompting to change stones into Bread sadness into sensual Comforts if so then Satan hath prevailed alas alas he cannot endure thou shouldst live a life of austerity or self-denial or of mortification if he can but get thee to satisfie thy sences and to please thy natural desires he then hath a fair field for the Battle it were a thousand times better for us to make stones our meat and tears our drink than to swim in our ill-gotten Goods and in the fulness of Voluptuousness But what was Christ's Answer why thus it is written man shall not live by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the month of God 1. It is written He easily could have confounded Satan by the Power of his Godhead but he rather chuses to vanquish him by the Sword of the Spirit surely this was for our Instruction by this means he teacheth us how to resist and to overcome nothing in Heaven or Earth can beat the Forces of Hell if the Word of God cannot do it O then how should we pray with David Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and take not from me the words of truth let them be my songs in the house of my pilgrimage so shall I make answer to my blasphemers 2. Man shall not live by bread c. Whiles we are in Gods work God hath made a promise of the supply of all provisions necessary for us now this was the present case of Jesus he was now in his Father's work and promoting of our interest and therefore he was sure to be provided for according to God's Word Christians are we in God's service God will certainly give us bread and till he does we can live by the breath of his mouth by the light of his countinance by the refreshment of his promises by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God every word of God's mouth can create a grace and every grace can supply two necessities both of the body and of the Spirit I remember one kept straitly in prison and sorely threatened with famine he replied That if he must have no bread God would so provide that he should have no stomach if our stock be spent God can lessen our necessities If a Tyrant will take away our meat God our Father knows how to alter our faint and feeble and hungry appetites The second temptation is not so sensual the Devil sees that was too low for Christ and therefore he comes again with a temptation something more spiritual Ver. 5 6. He sets him on a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him if thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written he shall give his Angels charge concerning thee c. He that was content to be led from Jordan into the Wilderness for the advantage of the first temptation he yields to be led from the Wilderness to Jerusalem for advantage of the second the Wilderness was fit for a temptation arising from want and Jerusalem is fit for a temptation arising from vain-glory Jerusalem was the glory of the World the Temple was the glory of Jerusalem the pinacle was the highest piece of the Temple and there is Christ content to be set for the opportunity of temptation O that Christ would suffer his pure and sacred body to be transported and hurried through the air by the malicious hand of the old Tempter But all this was for us he cared not what the Devil did in this way with him so that he might but free us from the Devil Methinks it is a sweet contemplation of an Holy Divine He supposed as if he had seen Christ on the highest Battlements of the Temple and Satan standing by him with this Speech in his mouth Well then since in the matter of nourishment Dr. Hall thou wilt needs depend upon thy Fathers providence take now a further tryal of that providence in thy miraculous preservation cast down thy self from this height behold thou art here in Jerusalem the famous and holy City of the World here thou art on the top of the Pinacle of that Temple which was dedicated to thy Father and if thou beest God why now the eyes of all men are fix'd upon thee there cannot be devised a more ready way to spread thy Glory and to proclaim thy Deity than by casting thy self headlong to the Earth all the World will say there is more in thee than a man and for danger if thou art the Son of God there can be none what can hurt him that is the Son of God and wherefore serves that glorious Guard of Angels which have by Divine Commission taken upon them the Charge of thy Humanity Come cast thy self down here lies the temptation Come cast thy self down saith Satan but why did not Satan cast him down He carried him up thither and was it not more easie to throw him down thence O no the Devil may perswade us to a fall but he cannot percipitate us without our own act his malice is infinite but his power is limitted he cannot do us any harm but by perswading us to do it our selves and therefore saith he to Christ cast thy self down To this Christ answers Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Though it is true Ver. 7. that God must be trusted in yet he must not be tempted if means be allowed we must not throw them away upon a pretence of God's protection we read of one Heron an Inhabitant of the Desert that he suffered the same temptation and was overcome by it he would needs cast himself down presuming on God's promise and he sinfully died with his fall Christ knew well
which makes the encounter so much the more dangerous As 1. A Garrison of Soldiers ready at hand to appease occasional tumults 2. The temper of those mens spirits with whom the business was Cham. in loc they were men set upon gain the World's God 3. The great Confluence of the people it being the most solemn Mart of the Passover O what a Zeal was this that neither the weakness of the means on the one side to effect it nor the greatness of the power on the other side to hinder it did at all dismay him or cause him to desist seem he never so weak or be they never so strong he whips them out of the Temple and bids them be gone This action of Christ fulfils that Prophesie of Malachy Mal. 3.1 2 3. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple but who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like Refiners fire and like Fullers Sope and he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and as Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness From the main we may observe that a perswasion of Christ's presence in our Church-assemblies is a special means or motive to bring all into order But what is this presence of Christ in Church-assembles If by Christ's presence we mean his bodily presence it is true that Christ in his Humanity whipped the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple of Jerusalem then in his Manhood he was upon Earth and accordingly he vouchsafed his bodily presence to their assemblies and publick places but now his Manhood is in Heaven Acts 3.21 and the Heavens must contain him till the times of restitution of all things Now therefore we cannot expect his bodily presence unless we will maintain the Doctrine of Transubstantiation or of Consubstantiation which far be it from us 2. If by Christ's presence we mean his spiritual presence then the question is what is this spiritual presence of Christ for if we say it is his presence as he is God I should then query how God is said to be present with men in one place more than another God in his essence is fully every where and inclusively no where Heaven is his Throne and Earth is his Footstool and yet nor Earth nor Heaven nor the Heaven of Heavens is able to contain him whiles we speak spiritually of Christ's presence in the assemblies of his People we cannot mean his Universal presence but his especial presence and therefore as yet I suppose we have not the meaning of it 3. If by Christ's presence we mean the presence of his Spirit either in himself or especially in his workings stirrings actings and movings in our Spirit I should then subscribe only I think this is not all that is included in his especial presence true it is that when Christ was upon Earth he told his Disciples that he must go away for if he went not away the Comforter would not come unto them John 16.7 But if I depart said he I will send him unto you and accordingly when that Church-assembly was convened at Pentecost God sent the Holy Ghost much people being then gathered at Jerusalem that it might be divulged to all the World To all the Assemblies of the Saints Christ promised his Spirit though not alwayes in a visible manner Mat. 8.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name saith Christ there I am in the midst of them Christ in his Spirit is in the midst of us stirring and moving in our spirits or the spirit of Unity is with united spirits O he is a sweet Spirit a Spirit of Love and Concord and Peace and Glory and therefore where should he be but with those that make harmony upon Earth He is with them and amongst them and in them 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you and worketh in you 4. If by Christ's presence we mean the presence of his Angels I shall then say we have said enough as a King is said to be where his Court is where his Train or Retinue are so Christ the King of Kings is there especially present where the Heavenly Guard the blessed Angels keep their sacred Station and Rendezvouz wheresoever it is Now that this is Christ's special presence it will appear in sundry Texts 1. When Jacob saw that vision in Bethel of the Ladder reaching from Earth to Heaven Gen. 28.16 17 and of the Angels of God ascending and descending upon it Surely saith Jacob the Lord is in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid and said how dreadful is this place this is none other but the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven He calls it God's House where God and his holy Angels who are of his Houshold are especially present and he calls it the Gate of Heaven Heaven's Guild-Hall Heaven's Court namely because of the Angels for the Gate Guild-Hall or Court was wont to be the judgment-Hall and the place where Kings and Senators used to sit attended by their Guard and Ministers The Caldee addeth This is no common or private place but a place wherein God taketh pleasure and over against this place is the Gate of Heaven 2. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai to give the Law some place the specification of God's presence in the Angels to which purpose are alledged these Texts Who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels Acts 7.53 Gal. 3.19 Heb. 2.2 and have not kept it and again The Law was ordained by Angels in the Hand of a Mediator Again the Apostle calls the Law the Word spoken by Angels I have already delivered my thoughts concerning these Angels but some I say conclude from hence that the special presence of the Divine Majesty consists in the encamping of his sacred Retinue the blessed Angels for that the Lord of himself who filleth Heaven and Earth could not descend or be in one place more than another There 's yet another Text very pertinent to this And he said Deut. 33.2 the Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them he shined forth from Mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of his Saints from his right hand went a fiery Law for them Psal 68.17 the words translated ten thousand of his Saints are in the Original ten thousands of Sanctity or holy ten thousands or holy Myriads which in my apprehension points to the Angels rather than his Saints and the Psalmist puts it out of question The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy Place 3. After the Law given this presence of God was fixed to the Temple and what that was Isa
man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him Ver. 51. and he went his way and in the way one meets him and tells him Thy Son liveth which recovery he understands to be at the same time that Christ had spoken those Salutary and healing words Ver. 53. and himself believed and his whole house Mat. 8.5 6. 2. * If I mistake not in the year I shall not contend because in this year only I shall mention his miracles Ver. 7. Acts 10 34 35. Now was it that a Centurion came unto Christ beseeching him and saying my servant lyeth at home sick of the palsie grievously Tormented Many Suitors come to Christ one for a Son another for a daughter a third for himself but I see none come for his servant but this one Centurion and if we observe Christs answers to his suit we see how well pleased is Christ with his request And Jesus saith unto him I will come and heal him When the Ruler entreated him for his Son Come down ere he dye Christ stirr'd not a foot but now this Centurion complains only of his servants sickness and Christ offers himself I will come and heal him he that came in the shape of a servant would rather go down to the sick servant than to the Rulers Son He is no respecter of persons but he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him It may be this poor sick servant had more grace or very probable it is he had more need and therefore Christ to chuse will go down to visit this poor sick servant Nay sayes the Centurion Ver. 8. I am not worthy Lord that thou shouldst come under my roof q. d. Alas Lord I am a Gentile an Alien a man of blood but thou art holy thou art omnipotent and therefore only say the word and my servant shall be whole Mark this O my soul it is but a word of Christ and my sins shall be remitted my soul healed my body raised and soul and body glorified forever The Centurion knew this by the command he had over his own servants Ver. 9. I say to this man go and he goes and to another come and he comes and to a third do this and he doth it In way of Application Oh that I were such a servant to my heavenly Master Alas every of his commands sayes Do this and I do it not every of his inhibitions sayes Do it not and I do it He sayes Go from the world and I run to it He says Come to me and I run from him Wo is me this is not service but enmity Oh that I could come up to the faith and obedience of this exemplar that I could serve my Christ as these Souldiers did their Master Ver. 10. Jesus marvels at the Centurions faith we never find Christ wondering at Gold or Silver or costly and curious works of humane Skill yea when the Disciples wondered at the Magnificence of the Temple he rebuked them rather but when he sees the grace or acts of Faith he so approves of them that he is ravished with wonder he that rejoyced in the view of his Creation rejoyceth no less in the reformation of his Creature Cant. 4.7 9. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair there is no spot in thee my sister my spouse thou hast wounded my heart thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes Cant. 4.7 9. To conclude he that both wrought this faith and wondered at it doth now reward it Go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it unto thee and his servant was healed in the self same hour Luke 7.11 3. Now it was even the day after that Jesus goes into the City of Naim The fruitful clouds are not ordained to fall all in one field Naim must partake of the bounty of Christ as well as Cana or Capernaum Thither come he no sooner enters in at the gate of the City but he meets a funeral a poor widow with her weeping friends is following her only Son to the grave Jesus observing her sad condition he pities her comforts her and at last relieves her here was no Sollicitor but his own compassion in his former Miracles he was sought and sued to his Mother at the Marriage-feast begged a supply of Wine the Ruler came to him for a Son the Centurion came to him for a servant but now Christ offers a cure to give us a lesson that whiles we have to do with the Father of mercies our miseries and afflictions are the most Powerful Suitors Christ sees and observes the Widow's sadness and presently all parts of Christ conspire her good his heart melts into Compassion of her his tongue speaks chearfully and comfortably to her Weep not his feet carry him to the Bier his hand toucheth the Coffin and he said young man I say unto thee arise see how the Lord of Life speakes with Command ver 14. the same voice speaks to him that shall one day speak to us and raise us out of the dust of the earth neither sea nor death nor hell can detain their dead when he charges them to be delivered we see not Christ stretching himself on this dead Corpse as Eliah and Elisha upon the Sons of the Shunamite and the Widow of Sarephta nor see we him kneeling down and praying as Peter did for Dorcas but we hear him so speaking to the dead as if the dead were alive and so speaking to the dead that by the word he speaks he makes him alive Young man I say unto thee arise ver 15. and he that was dead sate up and began to speak So at the sound of the last Trumpet by the Power of the same voice we shall arise out of the dust and stand up Gloriously This mortal shall put on immortality and this corruptible shall put on incorruption And least our weak faith should stagger at the assent of so great a difficulty by this he hath done Christ gives us tastes of what he will do the same Power that can raise one man can raise a thousand a million a world Christ here raised a Widows Son and after Jairus's Daughter and then Lazarus and lastly at his resurrection he raised a many at once he raised one from her Bed another from his Bier another from his grave and many at once from their rotteness that it might appear no degree of death can hinder the efficacy of his Almighty Power 4. Now it was that in the Synagogue he finds a man that had a Spirit of an unclean Devil Luke 4.33 ver 34. This I take it is the first man that we read of as possessed with a Devil And he cryed let us alone what have we to do with thee c. In these words the devil dictates the man speaks and whereas the words are plural Let us alone it is probable he speaks of himself and the rest of the men in the
not Christ come down sinners could not have gone up into Heaven and therefore that they might ascend he descends 2. I come down from Heaven not to do mine own will Heb. 3.1 2. but the will of him that sent me his Father had sent him on purpose to receive and to save sinners and to this purpose he is called the Apostle of our profession who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house His Father could not send him on any errand but he was sure to do it his Fathers mission was a strong demonstration that Christ was willing to receive those sinners that would but come to him Again Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst John 7.37 let him come unto me and drink the very pith heart and marrow of the Gospel is contained in these words the occasion of them was thus on that last day of the Feast of Tabernacles the Jews were wont with great solemnity to draw water out of the fountain of Siloam at the foot of Mount Sion and to bring it to the Altar singing out of Isaiah Isa 12.3 With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation now Christ takes them at this Custom and recalls them from earthly to heavenly waters alluding to that of Isaiah Isa 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Incline your ears and come unto me and your souls shall live The Father saith come the Son saith come the Spirit saith come yea Rev. 22.17 the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him drink of the water of life freely All the time of Christs Ministry we see him tyring himself in going about from place to place upon no other errand than this to cry at the markets Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters if any sinners love life if any will go to heaven let them come to me and I will shew them the way to my Fathers bosom and endear them to my Fathers heart Again hither tend all those Arguments of God and Christ to draw souls to themselves Thus God draws 1. From his equity Hear now O house of Israel Ezek. 18.25 is not my way equal or are not your wayes unequal q. d. I appeal to your very consciences is this equal that sinners should go on in sin and Trespass against him that is so willing to receive and save poor sinners 2. From our ruine in case we go on in sin Ezek. 18.31 Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have Transgressed and make you a new heart and a new Spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel 3. From his own dislike and displeasure at our ruine I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth Ver. 32. saith the Lord God wherefore turn your souls and live ye 4. From his mercy and readiness to pardon sinners Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Hos 14.4 John 3.16 5. From the freeness of his love I will love them freely and God so loved the world so fully so fatherly so freely that he gave his only begotten Son c. and I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely 6. From the sweetness of his Name Rev. 21.6 Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 48.18 19. The Lord the Lord merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity Transgression and sin 7. From the benefits that would follow O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments then had thy peace been as a River and thy righteousness as the waves of the Sea thy seed also had been as the Sand and the off-spring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof 8. From his Oath As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live O happy creatures saith Tertullian for whom God swears O unbelieving wretches if we will not trust God swearing Ezek. 33.61 Ezek. 33.11 Mich. 6.3 Isa 5.4 Isa 5.3 9. From his expostulations Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel O my people what have I done to thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me what could I have done more for my vineyard than I have done wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wild grapes Mich. 6.2 10. From his appeals Judge now O ye inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem and hear O ye mountains the Lords controversie and ye strong foundations of the earth Deut. 5.29 for the Lord hath a controversie with his people and he will plead with Israel 11. From his groans Oh that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep my commandments alwayes Deut. 32.29 that it might be well with them and their children for ever And oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end 12. Hos 11.8 From his loathness to give men up How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee O Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together O the goodness of God! And as God the Father so God the Son draws Arguments to win souls to himself 1. From his coming it was the very purpose and design of his coming down from Heaven to receive sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying sayes Paul and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners 2. From his fair demeanour and behaviour towards sinners this was so open and notorious that it was turned to his disgrace and opprobry Mat. 11.19 Behold a friend of Publicans and sinners And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured at him Luke 5.30 and his Disciples saying Why do ye eat and drink with Publicans and Sinners 3. From his owning of sinners and answering for them in this respect Luke 5.31 32. And Jesus answering said unto them they that are whole need not a Physitian but they that are sick I came not to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance 4. From his rejoycing at sinners conversion indeed we never read of Christs Laughter and we seldom read of Christs joy but when it is at any time recorded it is at the Conversion of a poor soul he had little else to comfort himself in being a man of sorrows but in this he rejoyced exceedingly Luke 10.21 In that hour Jesus rejoyced in Spirit
ruddy Cant. 5.10 the chiefest of ten thousands As in the fairest beauty there is a mixture of these two colours white and ruddy so in Christ there is a gracious mixture and compound of all the graces of the Spirit there is in him a sweet temper of gentleness purity righteousness meekness humility and what not In him are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Col. 2.3 and I may add of all other gifts and graces not a grace but it was in Christ and that in an higher way than in any Saint in the World and therefore he is called fairer than all the children of men Observe There was more habitual grace in Christ than ever was or is or shall be in all the Elect whether Angels or Men. He received the Spirit out of measure there was in him as much as possibly could be in a creature and more than in all other creatures whatsoever As the Sun is the Prince of Stars as the Husband is the head of the Wife as a Lion is the King of the Beasts so is this Sun of Righteousness this Head of the Church this Lion of the Tribe of Judah the chiefest of ten thousands if we look at any thing in Heaven or Earth that we observe as eminently fair by that is the Lord Jesus in respect of his inward beauty set forth in Scriptures he is the Sun of Righteousness the bright Morning-Star the Light of the World the Tree of Life the Lilly and the Rose fairer than all the Flowers of the Field than all the precious Stones of the Earth than all the Lights in the Firmament than all the Saints and Angels in Heaven You will say What 's all this to us Certainly much every way the Apostle tells you That the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.2 hath freed me from the Law of sin of Death let us enquire into these words the law of the Spirit of life the Spirit of life is here put for life as else where After three dayes an half Rev. 11.11 the Spirit of life coming from God shall enter into them Now life is that whereby a thing acteth and moveth it self and it is the cause and beginning of action and motion and this Spirit of life or life it self being here applied to Christ it is that in Christ which is the beginning and cause of all his holy actions and what was that but his Original holiness or the holiness of his humane Nature But why is the holiness of Christs nature called the Spirit of life I answer 1. Because it was infused into his manhood by the Spirit of God The holy Ghost shall come upon thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee Luke 1.35 shall be called the Son of God 2. Because it is a most exact and absolute and perfect holiness the Scripture-phrase setting out things in perfection or fulness usually adds the word Spirit unto them as the spirit of pride the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error so then the meaning of the Spirit of life is all one with the most absolute and most perfect purity and holiness of the nature of Christ It is briefly as if the Apostle had said the law of the Spirit of life or the power of the most absolute and perfect holiness of the nature of Christ hath freed me from the law of sin and death hath acquitted me from the power of my sinful nature and from the power of death due to me in respect of my sinful and corrupt nature We might draw from hence this conclusion that The benefit of Christ's habitual righteousness infused at his first conception is imputed to believers to their justification As the obedience of his life and the merit of his death so the Holyness infused at his very conception hath its influence into our justification it is by the obedience of his life that we are accounted actually holy and by the purity of his conception or habitual grace that we are accounted personally holy But I must not stay here Thus much of the Holiness of Christ's Nature SECT IV. Of the Holiness of Christ's Life Rom. 5.19 2. FOr the holiness of Christs life the Apostle tells us that by the obedience of one many shall be made righteous here 's the obedience of Christ and its influence on us 1. The obedience of Christ is that whereby he continued in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Matth. 5.17 John 8.29 Acts 3.14 Observe Christ's life was a visible commentary on Gods Law For proof Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets saith Christ but to fulfil them And the Father hath not left me alone saith Christ for I do alwayes those things that please him Hence Christ in Scripture is called Holy and Just and the Holy One Acts 2.27 The most Holy Dan. 9.24 by his actual holiness Christ fulfilled in act every branch of the Law of God he walked in all the Commandments of God he performed perfectly both in thought word and deed whatsoever the Law of the Lord required I do not cannot limit this obedience of Christ to this last year of his Ministry for his whole life was a perpetual course of obedience he was obedient unto death Phil. 2.8 saith the Apostle ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã even until his death and yet because we read most of his holy actings this year and that this was the year wherein both his active and passive obedience did most eminently shine and break forth the year wherein he drew up all the dispersions of his precepts and cast them into actions as into sums total therefore now I handle it and I shall make it out by the passages following only in this one year As 1. Now he discovered his charity in feeding the hungry as at once five thousand men with five Loaves and two Fishes John 6.9 10 11. John 6.9 10 11. and at another time four thousand men with seven Loaves and a few small Fishes Matth. 15.32 Matth. 15.32 2. Now he discovered his self-denial and contempt of the World in flying the offers of a Kingdom when the people were convinc'd that he was the Messiah from that miracle of feeding five thousand men with five Loaves presently they would needs make him a King but he that left his Fathers Kingdom for us he fled from the offers of a Crown and Kingdom from them John 6.15 as from an enemy When Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed again into a Mountain himself alone 3. Now he discovered his mercy in healing the Womans Daughter that had an unclean spirit Mar. 7.26 27. the Woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by Nation and in that respect Christ called her a Dog and yet Christ gave her the desire of her soul O the
the injury we have done unto God as our Judge and the other is a performance of a service which we owe unto God as our Maker O then how large and full and comprehensive is this life of Christ 2. Consider the excellency the glory of this Object Christ's life is glorious and hence it is that the righteousness of Christ is the most glorious garment that ever the Saints of God did wear It is Marlorat's saying Marlorat Rev. 12.1 that the Church which puts on Christ and his righteousness is more illustrious than the Ayr is by the Sun John thus sets her out in his Vision And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet I take this to be a lofty Poetical description of Christ's imputed righteousness imagine a garment were cut out of the Sun and put upon us how glorious should we be O but the righteousness of Christ is much more glorious No wonder if the Church cloathed with the Sun tread the Moon under her feet i.e. if she trample on all sublunary things which are uncertain and changeable as the Moon I count all things but dung saith Paul that I may win Christ Phil. 3.8 9. and be found in him not having my own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith When Paul compares Christ's righteousness with the glory of the world then is the world but dung O the glory O the excellency of the righteousness of Christ 3. Consider the suitableness of this object Christ's life and the virtue of it is most suitable to our condition Thus I might apply Christ to every condition if thou art sick he is a Physitian if thou fearest death he is the way the truth and the life if thou art hungry he is the bread of Life if thou art thirsty he is the water of Life But not to insist on these words It is the daily complaint of the best of Saints O my sins I had thought these sins had been wholly subdued but now I feel they return upon me again now I feel the springs in the bottom fill up my soul again Oh I am weary of my self and weary of my life Oh what will become of me In this case now Christ's life is most sutable his righteousness is a continual righteousness it is not a Cistern Zech. 13.1 but Fountain open for thee to wash in as sin abounds so grace in this gift of righteousness abounds much more Christ's life in this respect is compared to changes of Garments Thou criest O what shall become of me Oh I feel new sins and old sins committed afresh why but these changes of garments will hide all thy sins Zech. 3.4 if thou art but cloathed with the robes of Christ's righteousness there shall never enter into the Lords heart one hard thought towards thee of casting thee off or of taking revenge upon any new occasion or fall into sin Why here is the blessedness of all those that believe Oh then believe Say not would Christ be incarnate for me would he lead such a life on earth for my soul Why yes for thy soul never speak of thy sins as if they should be any hinderance of thy Faith If the wicked that apply this righteousness presumptiously can say Let us sin that grace may abound and so they make no other use of Grace but to run in debt and to sin with a licence how much rather mayest thou say on good ground Oh let me believe Oh let me own my portion in this righteousness of Christ that as my sins have abounded so my love may abound that as my sins have been exceeding great so the Lord may be exceeding sweet that as my sins continue and encrease so my thankfulness to Christ and glory in God and triumph over sin death and the grave may also encrease Why thus be encouraged to believe thy part in the Lord Jesus Christ SECT VI. Of Loving Jesus in that respect 6. LEt us love Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us during his Life Now what is Love but a motion of the Appetite by which the Soul unites it self to what seems fair unto it And if so O what a lovely Object is the Life of Christ who can read over his Life who can think over his worthiness both in his person relations actions and several administrations and not love him with a singular love That which set the Daughters of Jerusalem in a posture of seeking after Christ was that Description of Christ which the Spouse made of him My Beloved is white and ruddy Cant. 5.10 11.12 13 14 15. the chiefest of ten thousands his head is as the most fine Gold his Locks are bushy and black as a Raven his eyes are as the eyes of Dovâs by the Rivers of water washed with milk and finely set his cheeks are as a bed of Spices and sweet flowers his lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrhe c. By these are intimated unto us the government of Christ the unsearchable counsels of Christ the pure nature of Christ without any impurity or uncleanness the gracious promises of Christ the soul saving instructions of Christ the holy actions and just administrations of Christ the tender affections and amiable smilings of Christ the gracious inward and wonderful workings of Christ so that he is altogether lovely or he is composed of loves from top to toe there is nothing in Christ but 't is most fair and beautiful lovely and desirable Now as this Description enflamed the Daughters of Jerusalem so to act our loves towards the Lord Jesus Christ take we a copy of the Record of the Spirit in Scriptures see what they say of Christ John 5.39 this was his own advice Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me O my soul much hath been said to perswade thee to Faith and if now thou believest thy part in those several actings of Christ why let thy Faith take thee by the hand and lead thee from one step to another from his Baptism to his Temptations from his Temptations to his Manifestations and so on Is not here fewel enough for Love to feed upon Canst thou read the history of Love for such is the history of Christ's Life and not be all on a flame Come read again there is nothing in Christ but 't is lovely winning and drawing as 1. When he saw thee full of filth he goes down into the waters of Baptism that he might prepare a way for the cleansing of thy defiled and polluted soul 2. When he saw the Devil ready to swallow thee up or by his baits to draw and drag thy soul down to hell he himself enters into the List with the Devil and he overcomes him that thou mightest overcome and triumph with Christ in his Glory 3. When he
affections will often break out at the window when the door is closed Thus Stephen look'd up to Heaven he sent a Post a greedy pitiful and hungry look up to Jesus Christ out at the window Acts 7.55 at the nearest passage to tell him that a poor friend was coming to him why thus let us look up to Jesus by calling on him now this calling on him contains Prayer and Praise 1. We must pray that all these transactions of Jesus during his Life or during his Ministry upon earth may be ours we hope it is so and we believe it to be so but for all that we must pray that it may be so There is no contradiction betwixt Hope and Faith and Prayer but rather a concatenation Lord I believe yet help my unbelief or Mark 9.24 be it to me according to my Faith how weak soever it will bear that sense 2. We must praise God for all those passages in Christ's life Thus did the multitude they praised God with a loud voice Luke 19.37 38 for all the mighty works that they had seen saying blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest What my Soul hath Christ done all this for thee was he made under the Law to redeem thy soul and adopt thee for his Son to the inheritance of Heaven came he down from heaven and travelled he so many miles on earth to woo and win thy heart spent he so many Sermons and so many Miracles to work thee into Faith O how shouldest thou bless and prize and magnifie his Name how shouldest thou break out into that blessed Hymn To him that loved us Rev. 1.5 6. and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus as he acted for us in his Life Looking to Jesus intends this especially we must look as one looks to his Pattern as Mariners at Sea that they may run a right course keep an eye on that Ship that bears the Light so in the Race that is set before us we must have our eye on Jesus our blessed Pattern This must be our constant Query Is this the course that Jesus steered Or that I may enlarge In this Particular I shall examine these three Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. Why we must conform 3. How we must conform to this Life of Jesus For the first wherein we must conform I answer 1. Negatively we must not cannot conform to Christ in those works proper to his Godhead as in working Miracles I deny not but that the works of Miracles were by way of priviledge and temporary dispensation granted to the Apostles and some others but this was but for Ministry and Service not for their Sanctity or Salvation nor must we conform to Christ in those works of mediation as in redeeming souls in satisfying Divine Justice for our sin No man can redeem his Brother Psal 49.7 nor give to God a ransom for him There is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Nor must we conform to Christ in those works of his Government and influence into his Church as in dispensing of his Spirit in quickning of his Word in subduing of his enemies in collecting of his Members all these are personal honours which belong unto Christ as he is Head of the Church and to these works if we should endeavour to conform we should Crack our Sinews dissolve our silver cords and never the nearer Nor need we to conform to Christ in some other Particulars in his voluntary poverty he became poor for our sakes 2 Cor. 8.9 In his Ceremonial performances as in going up to Jerusalem at the Feasts in his perpetual grave deportment we never read that Jesus laughed and but once or twice that he rejoyced in spirit Alas the declensions of our Natures cannot come up to this Pattern nor do I look at these passages as any acts of moral obedience at all 2. Affirmatively or positively we must conform to Christ's life 1. In respect of his Judgment Will Affections Compassions Look we at his Spirit observe what mind was in Jesus Christ and therein do we endeavour to conform Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle which was in Christ Phil. 2.5 Phil. 2.5 And we have the mind of Christ saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 2.16 2. In respect of his Virtues Graces habitual Holiness Mat. 11.29 Learn of me saith Christ for I am meek and lowly in heart Christ was of a meek and gentle Spirit 2 Cor. 10.2 I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ saith Paul And Christ was of an humble and lowly Spirit Being in the form of God Phil. 2.6 7. he thought it no robbery to be equal with God yet he made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant I might instance in all other Graces for he had them all in fulness John 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received Grace for Grace 3. In respect of his words talk spiritual and heavenly Language The very Officers of the Priests could say of Christ Never man spake like this man John 7.46 and sometimes they all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luke 4.22 He never sinned in word neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled 1 Pet. 2.22 23 reviled not again The Apostle speaking thus of Christ he tells us that herein Christ left us an example that we should follow his steps Ver. 21. 4. In respect of his Carriage Conversation Close-walking with God The Apostle sets forth Christ as an high Priest who was holy harmless undefiled Heb. 7.26 1 Pet. 2.9 and separate from sinners and in like manner saith Peter Ye are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light that ye should shew forth the virtue i.e. that in your lives and conversations you should express those graces and virtues which were so eminent and exemplary in Jesus Christ that you should not only have them but that you should hold them forth ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the word signifies properly to preach so clearly should we express the virtues of Christ as if our lives were so many Sermons of the life of Christ In respect of all his acts practises duties of moral obedience we find in the life of Christ many particular carriages and acts of obedience to his heavenly Father whereof some were moral and some ceremonial now all these are not for our imitation but only such moral acts as concerning which we have both his pattern and precept Come let us
life his way on earth was a continual lecture of humility a little before his death he gave such an example of humility as never was the like He poured water into a bason John 13.5 and began to wash the disciples feet O ye Apostles why tremble ye not at the wonderful sight of this so great humility Peter what dost thou wilt thou ever yield that this Lord of Majesty should wash thy feet methinks I hear Peter saying What Lord wilt thou wash my feet art not thou the Son of the living God the Creator of the world the beauty of the heavens the Paradise of Angels the Redeemer of men the brightness of the Fathers glory and I what am I but a worm a clod of earth a miserable sinner and wilt thou notwithstanding all this wash my feet leave Lord O leave this base office for thy servants lay down thy towel and put on thy apparel again beware that the heaven or the Angels of heaven be not ashamed of it when they shall see that by this ceremony thou set'st them beneath the earth take heed least the daughter of King Saul despise thee not when she shall see thee girded about with this towel after the manner of a servant and shall say that she will not take thee for her beloved and much less for her God whom she seeth to attend upon so base an office Thus may I imagine Peter to bespeak his Master but he little knew what glory lay hid in this humility of Christ it was for us and our example an humble Christ to make humble Christians 3. In him was patience O when I think of Christ's labours in preaching weariness in travelling watchfulness in praying tears in compassionating and then I add to all these his submission of Spirit notwithstanding all the affronts injuries and exprobrations of men how should I but cry out O the patience of Christ 1 Pet. 2.23 the Apostle tells us that when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously I have already given a touch of these graces in Christ which now I may set before me In him was wisdom and knowledge and justice and mercy and temperance and fortitude and every vertue or every grace that possibly I can think of A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi 3. I look at the conversation of Christ in word and deed for his words they were gracious Not an idle word ever came out of the lips of Christ himself tells us that of every idle word we must give an account O then how free was Christ of every idle word Mat. 12.36 he knew the times and seasons when to speak and when to be silent he weighed every word with every Circumstance time and place and manner and matter Eccles 3.7 There 's a time to keep silence and a time to speak said Solomon when he returned again to his wisdom and hence we read that sometimes Jesus being accused he held his peace Mat. 26.63.27 12. and when he was accused of the chief Priests and Elders he answered nothing but other whiles he pours out whole Cataracts of holy instructions he takes occasion of vines of stones of water and sheep to speak a word in season he is still discoursing of the matters of the Kingdom of Heaven and he speaks such words as give grace unto all the hearers round about him so for his deeds and actions they were full of grace and goodness the Apostle Peter gives him this character which I look upon as a little description of Christ's life who went about doing good Acts 10.38 it was his meat and drink to do all the good he could it was as natural to him to do good as it is for a fountain to stream out he was holy and heavenly unspotted every way O the sweet conversation of Christ how humbly carries he it amongst men how benignly towards his Disciples how pitiful was he towards the poor to whom as we read he made himself most like 2 Cor. 8.9 He became poor that we might be made rich he despised or abhorred none no not the very Leapers that were eschewed of all he flattered not the rich and honourable he was most free from the cares of the world his prescriptions were Care not for the things of the morrow and in himself he was never anxious of bodily needs above all he was most solicitous of saving souls Much more I might add if I should go over the particulars in the Gospel but by these few expressions of Jesus Christ we may conceive of all the rest 2. Let us be humbled for our great inconformity to this copy what an excellent pattern is here before us and how far how infinitely do we come short of this blessed pattern O alas if Christ will not own me unless he see his Image written upon me what will become of my poor soul why Christ was meek and humble and lowly in spirit Christ was holy and heavenly Christ ever went about doing good and now when I come to examine my own heart according to this original I find naturally a meet antipathy a contrariety I am as opposite to Christ as Hell and Heaven 1. For my thoughts within I am full of pride and malice I am full of the spirit of the world what is there in my heart but a world of passions rebellions darkness and deadness of spirit to good and 2. If the fountain be so muddy can I expect clear streams what words are these that come many a time from me Christ would not speak an idle word but how many idle evil sinful words come daily flowing from my lips Out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaketh and if I may guess at my heart by my words where was my heart this Sabbath and the other Sabbath when my discourse was all on my calling or on the world or it may be on my lusts or on my Dalilah's on my right-hand-sins or on my right-eye-sins and 3. What actions are these so frequently performed by me if I must read my state by my conversation Whose image and superscription is this the last oath I sware the last blasphemy I belched out the last act of drunkenness idolatry adultery I committed or if these sins are not fit to be named the last piece of wrong I did my neighbour the last prank of pride I played on this stage of the world the last expence of time when I did no good in the world neither to my self nor others the last omission of good as well as commission of evil O my soul whose Image is this is it the Image of Christ or of Sathan If the worst Scholar in the School should write thus untowardly after his copy would he not be ashamed if in my heart and life I observe so many blots and stains so
God of this world blinds the eyes of men O take heed of fixing our eyes on this worlds vanity our own corruptions are also great hinderances to this view of Christ away away with all carnal passions base humours sinful desires unless the soul be spiritual it can never behold spiritual things 3. Let us fix our eyes only on this blessed Object a moving rolling eye sees nothing clearly 1 Pet. 1.12 When the Angels are said to look into these things the word signifies that they look into them narrowly as they who bowing or stooping down do look into a thing so should we look narrowly into the life of Christ our eye of faith should be set upon in a steady manner as if all the world could not move us as if we forgot all the things behind and had no other business in the world but this 4. Let us look wishingly and cravingly there is affection as well as vision in the eye Acts 3.5 as the lame man that lay in Solomon's porch looked wishly on Peter and John expecting to receive something of them so let us look on Christ with a craving eye with an humble expectation to receive a supply of grace from Christ Why Lord thou art not only anoynted with the the oyl of gladness above thy fellows but for thy fellows I am earthly minded but thou art heavenly I am full of lusts but the Image of God is perfect in thee thou art the fountain of all grace an head of influence as well as of eminence thou art not only above me but thou hast all grace for me and therefore O give me some portion of thy meekness lowliness heavenly-mindedness and of all other the graces of thy Spirit Surely thou art an heaven of grace full of bright shining stars Oh that of that fulness thou wouldst give me to receive even grace for grace I pray Lord with an humble expectation of receiving from thee Oh let me feel the dropping of the two-olive trees into the golden candlesticks yea even into my soul 5. Be we assured that our prayer if it be in faith is even now heard never any came to Christ with strong expectations to receive grace or any benefit prayed for that was turned empty away besides Christ hath engaged himself by promise to write his Law in our hearts to make us like himself As he which hath called us is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 so should yea and so shall we be holy in all manner of conversation Oh let us build on his gracious promise Heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or title of his Word shall fail only understand we his promise in this sence that our conformity must be gradual not all at once We all with open face beholding as in a glass 2 Cor. 3.18 the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory i.e. from grace to grace or from glory inchoate in obedience to glory consumate in our heavenly inheritance 6. If notwithstanding all this we feel not for the present this conformity in us at least in such a degree let us act over the same particulars again and again the gifts of grace are therefore communicated by degrees that we might be taken off from living upon a received stock of grace and that we might still be running to the spring and drink in there why alas we have a continual need of Christ's letting out himself and grace into our hearts and therefore we must wait at the well-head Christ we must look on Christ as appointed on purpose by his Father to be the Beginner and Finisher of our holiness and we must believe that he will never leave that work imperfect whereunto he is ordained of the Father We may be confident saith the Apostle of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in us will perform it or finish it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Oh then be not weary of this work until he accomplish the desires of thy soul I have now done with this subject only before I finish one word more Sometimes I have observed that many precious souls in their endeavours after grace holiness sanctification have been frequent in the use of such and such means duties ordinances wherein I cannot say but they have done well and for their help I therefore composed that piece called Media but of all the ordinances of Christ this Looking unto Jesus is made least use of though it be chief of all It is Christ when all is done that is that great Ordinance appointed by God for grace and holiness and certainly those souls which trade immediately with Jesus Christ will gain more in a day than others in a moneth in a year I deny not other helps but amongst them all if I would make choice which to fall upon that I may become more and more holy I would set before me this glass i.e. Christ's holy life the great examplar of holiness we were at first created after his Image in holiness and this Image we lost through our sin and to this Image we should endeavour to be restored by imitation And how should this be done but by looking on Christ as our pattern by running through the several Ages of Christ and by observing all his graces and gracious actings in this respect I charge thee O my soul for to what purpose should I charge others if I begin not at home and with thee that thou make conscience of this practical Evangelical duty O be much in the exercise of it not only in the day intend Christ but when night comes and thou lyest down on thy bed let thy pillow be as Christ's bosom in which John the beloved Disciple was said to lean there lean thou with John yea lye thou between his breast and Let them lye all night betwixt thy breasts thus mayest thou lye down in peace and sleep Cant. 1.13 Psal 4.8 and the Lord only will make thee to dwell in safety and when day returns again have this in mind yea in all thy thoughts words and deeds even look unto Jesus as thy holy examplar Say to thy self If Christ my Saviour were now upon earth would these be his thoughts words and deeds would he be thus disposed as I now feel my self would he speak these words that I am now uttering would he do this that I am now putting my hand unto O let me not yield my self to any thought word or action which my dear Jesus would be ashamed to own yea if it were possible for thee to be so constant in this blessed duty going and standing sitting and lying eating and drinking speaking and holding thy peace by thy self or in company cast an eye upon Jesus for by this means thou canst not chuse but love him more and joy in him more and trust in him more and be more and more familiar with him and draw more and more grace and vertue and sweetness
the Day of his espousals And this we shall do the next hour SECT V. Of Christ brought forth and sentenced ABout ten Christ was brought forth and sentenced 1. For his bringing forth I shall therein observe these particulars As 1. We find Pilate bringing forth Jesus out of the common Hall and shewing this sad spectacle to all the People John 19.5 Then came Jesus forth wearing the Crown of Thorns and the purple Robe and Pilate saith unto them behold the Man he thought the very sight of Christ would have moved them to compassion they had lash'd him almost unto death they had most cruelly divided those azure channels of his guiltless Blood they had cloathed him with Purple crowned him with Thorns and now they bring him out by the hair of the head say some and expose him to the Publick view of the scornful company Pilate crying unto them Behold the man q. d. Behold a poor silly miserable distressed man behold I say not your King to provoke you against him nor yet the Son of God which you say he makes himself to be but behold the man a mean man a worm and no man behold how he stands disfigured with wounds behold him weltring and panting in a crimson river of his own gore blood and let this sufficient yea more than sufficient punishment suffice to satisfie your rage what would you have more if it be for malice that you are so violent against him behold how miserable he is if for fear behold how contemptible he is As for any fault whereby he should deserve his death I find no fault in him he is a Lamb without spot a Dove without gall O come and behold this man I can find no fault in him Some Doctors affirm that while Pilate cryed out behold the man his servants lifted up the purple robe that so all might see his torn and bloody and macerated body he supposed his words could not so move their hearts as Christ's wounds and therefore said he Behold the man as if he had said again Look on him and view him well is he not well paid for calling himself King of the Jews now see him stript and whipt and crowned with thorns and scepter'd with a reed anoynted with spittle and cloathed with purple what would you more 2. We find the Jews more inraged against Jesus John 19.6 When the chief Priests and Officers saw him they cryed out saying crucifie him crucifie him The more Pilate endeavours to appease them the more were the people enraged against him and therefore they cry away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him Ver. 15. Jer. 12.8 Now was fulfilled that prophesie of Jeremy My heritage is unto me as a Lion in the forrest it cryeth out against me The Naturalists report of the Lion that when he is near to his prey he gives out a mighty roar whereby the poor hunted beast is so amazed and terrified that almost dead with fear he falls flat on the ground and so becomes the Lions prey indeed And thus the Jews who were the heritage of the Lord were unto Christ as a Lion in the forrest they hunted and pursued him to his death and being near it they give out a mighty shout that the earth rung again Away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him O ye Jews children of Israel seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is not this he concerning whom your fathers cryed O that thou wouldst rent the heavens Isa 64.1 that thou wouldst come down that the mountains might flow down at thy presence How is it that you should despise him present whom they desired absent How is it that your cry and theirs should be so contrary The Panther say they is of so sweet a savour that if he be but within the compass of scent all the beasts of the field run towards him but when they see his ugly visage they fly from him and run away so the Jews afar off feeling the sweet savours of Christ's Oyntments they cryed Draw me Cant. 1.2 we will run after thee come Lord Jesus come quickly but now in his passion looking on his form they change their note He hath no form or comeliness there is no beauty Isa 53.2 that we should desire him away with him away with him 3. We find Pilate and the Jews yet debating the business Pilate is loath to pronounce the sentence and the chiefest of the Jews provoke him to it with a threefold argument As 1. They had a law and by their law he ought to dye John 19.7 Ejus absolvere cujus est condere legem because he made himself the Son of God thus the Doctors of the Law do accuse the Author and Publisher of the Law but they consider not the rule concerning Laws He may lawfully abolish who hath power to establish nor did they consider that this Law concerned not himself who is indeed and in truth the Son of God the Text tells us that Pilate hearing this argument was the more afraid Pilate saith Cyril was an heathen idolater and so worshipping many Gods he could not tell but that Christ might be one of them and therefore in condemning Christ he might justly provoke all the Gods to be revenged of him This was the meaning of Pilate's question Whence art thou what is thy Off-spring of what Progenitors art thou sprung And from thence forth Pilate sought to release him 2. The Jews come with another Argument they threaten Pilate John 19.12 If thou let this man go thou art not Cesar's friend a forcible reason as the case then stood it was no small matter to be accused by so many audacious impudent men of high treason against Cesar and therefore under this obligation Pilate seems to bend and bow whom the fear of Christ's Divinity had restrained him the fear of Cesar's frown provoked to go on to sentence and condemnation Oh he was more afraid of man whose breath is in his nostrils than of God himself who made the heavens and framed the world Matth. 27 24. And yet before he gives sentence he takes water and washeth his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it 3. In reference to this they engage themselves for him which was their last argument Matth. 27.25 His blood be upon us and our children q. d. act thou as Judge let him be condemned to dye and if thou fearest any thing we will undergo for thee let the vengeance of his blood be on us and on our children for ever Thus far of the first general John 19.13 2. For the sentence it self When Pilate heard that he sate down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the pavement because erected of stones but in the Hebrew Gabbatha This word signifies an high place and raised above it was so on purpose that the Judges might be seen of men when
earthly men included in him and Christ had all his elect whose names are written in heaven and therefore called Heavenly men included in him so that now whatsoever Christ did it is reckoned by God as if done by us and for us When Christ arose he arose as our head and as a common Person and in God's account we arose with him and in him As among all the sheaves in the Field there was some one sheaf that in the name and room of all the rest was lift up and waved before the Lord so when all were dead Christ as the first-fruits rose again from the dead and by this act of his resurrection all the Elect from the beginning of the World to the end are risen with him and in him He is the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 though the Saints are a sleep yet are they vertually risen already with Christ because he is their first-fruits Let this ever be remembred that Christ rose again as the first-fruits as the second man as an head as a common Person 2. That Christ rose again by his own Power this he meant when he said John 2.19 destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up He saith not destroy you and some other shall raise it up no no but I even I my self will do it yea and I will do it by my own Power and vertue here is a plain argument of the Divine nature of Christ for none ever did ever could do that but God himself some were raised before Christ was incarnate but not any by himself or by his own proper Power only a Power was imparted to some Prophet by God for that time and turn and so they were raised but Christ rose again not by a Power imparted to some but by his own Power The Widows son of Sarephtah was raised by Elias and the Shunamites son was raised by Elisha both these were raised by others and those others that raised them did it not by their own power but by a power given them from above and therefore though in their life-time they raised others yet being dead they could not raise themselves but Jesus Christ did not only in his life-time raise others but also being dead and laid in his grave and pressed with stones and watched by Souldiers and sought to be deteined by all the Power of darkness yet he as a conqueror by his own Power raised himself he caused all things by the strength of his own arme to give way unto himself I have Power to lay down my life and I have Power to take it up again an equal Power to take it up as to lay it down John 10.18 But against this it may be objected The God of our Fathers raised up Jesus Acts. 5.30 Acts. 3.24 whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death In many places the resurrection of Christ is ascribed to his Father how then is he said to raise up himself by his own Power I answer it is true that the Father raised him and yet this contradicts not but that he raised up himself Whatsoever the Father doth I do saith Christ Christ's resurrection is the indivisible work of the blessed Trinity it is a work common to all the three persons there is but one power of the Father and of the Son so that of both it is truly verified the Father raised him and the Son raised himself Mat. 28.2 3. That Christ rose again with an Earthquake and behold there was a great Earthquake for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven The earth shook at his death and now it trembles at his Resurrection plainly speaking that it could neither endure his suffering nor hinder his rising As a Lion with a Roar is said to make the Bed wherein he lies to tremble so this Lion of the tribe of Judah was able with his voice or sight to make his Bed the earth wherein he lay to tremble no sooner he shakes himself but he shakes the earth at his first motion the earth moves and now was fulfilled that prophesie Psal 114.7 Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Jacob. It is not for us curiously to enquire into the cause of this earthquake certainly the cause was above Natures reach it was not any hollow wind got into the bowels of the earth but either it was Christ's rising or the Angels descending the earth either danced for joy that Christ was risen or it trembled for fear that men would no believe his resurrection The Evangelist seems to lay it on the Angel for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven sure the power of Angels is very great they can move all corporeal things almost in an instant they can stir up tempests they can shake the earth move the waters only all their power is subjected to God's will Bless the Lord all ye Angels that excel in strength Psal 103.20 that do his Will it was the Will of God that now an Angel should take hold on the pillars of the earth and make it shake no wonder if for fear of him the keepers shake Mat. 28.4 and become as dead men and if one Angel be able to shake the earth and to shake the Keepers those armed Souldiers that were set to watch the Tomb what then will Christ himself do when he shall come to judgment the second time with many thousand thousands of Angels Oh now terrible and fearful will his coming be As at Christs Resurrection so at the last Resurrection there will be earthquakes in divers places Mat. 24.7 Christ hath shewed and he will shew himself to be the absolute Lord of heaven and earth see how the earth trembling under his feet doth as it were pay him homage and behold there was a great Earthquake Mat. 28.2 4. That Christ rose again Angels ministring to him An Angel came and rolled back the stone from the door and sate upon it Christs Power was not included in the grave or on the earth but extended to Heaven and to the Hosts therein however the chief Priests and Pharisees conspired together to close him in the earth they sealed the stone and set a watch they made all as sure as possibly they could yet the Angels of heaven are ready to wait on him as their Sovereign Lord. An Angel descended to role away the Stone not that Christ was unable to do it himsef he shook the earth and could he not lift up a stone O yes but thus he would manifest his Power by declaring his Power over the mighty Angels he needed but to say unto his Angel do this and he doth it I find some difference amongst Authors why an Angel should role away the Stone some think it was only for the womens sake that they might go into the Sepulchre and take a view of the empty Tomb and so be satisfied that Christ was
enough for me to all the objections either of Papist or Lutherans that the creature might yield to the Creator and the Creator needed not to pass through the Creature Christ came in when the doors were shut either causing the doors to give place the Disciples not knowing how or else altering the very substance of the doors that his body might pass through them without destruâtion I know not but he that thickened the waters to carry his body might also attenuate the doors to make way for his Body 3. For the persons to whom he appeared they were his Disciples they that were shut up in a conclave not daring to step out of doors for fear of the Jews to them now Christ appeared It is Christ's usual course to appear to them who are full of fears and griefs and most in dangers Isa 43.2 Psal 23 4. when thou passest through the wateâs I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overslow thee yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil saith David for thou art with me He was with Joseph in prison with Jonas in the deep with Daniel in the Lions den with the three Children in the fiery furnace Lo I see four men said Nebuchadnezzar walking in the midst of the fire and the form of the fourth is likâ the Son of God Dan. 3.24 And thus he was with Paul when he stood before Nero though all men fââsake me yet Christ the Lord stood by me strengthned me And do not his apparitions thââ day speak thus much when Mary was full of grief then Christ appeared to her when the two disciples travelling towards Emmans talked together of all those things which had happened and w râ sad then Christ appeared to them And when all the Apostles were afraid of the Jews 2 Tim. 4.16 17. and therefore shut the doors that none might enter then Christ appeared to them they were his Disciples his sad distracted timerous Disciples to whom Christ appeared 4. For the manner how he appeared it appears in these passages 1. He stood in the midst 2. He said peace be unto you 3. He shewed unto them his hands and his side 1. He stood in the midst Herein he represents himself as a common good Luke 24.17 things placed in the midst are common and he stands in the midst as a common Saviour and hence it is that our faith is called a common faith Tit. 1.4 to Tytus my son after the common faith Juâ 3. and our salvation is called a common salvation I gave all diligence to write unto you of the Common salvation And in that way as salvation is common Christ Jesus is called a common Saviour behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you unto all you is born in the City of David a Saviour Luk. 2.10 11 which is Christ the Lord. This posture of Christ standing in the midst declaâes that he despiseth none but that he takes care of them all Some observe that all the while Christ was on earth he most-what stood in this posture at his birth he was found in a stable in the midst of beasts Luk. 2.49 John 1.26 Luke 22.27 in his Childhood he was found in the Temple in the midst of the Doctors in his manhood John the Baptist told them there standeth one in the midst of you whom ye know not and he said of himself I am in the midst of you as one that seveth at his death that very place fell to his turn for they crucified him in the midst betwixt two theeveâ one on the right hand and the other on the left Luke 23.33 And now at his rising there we find him again the Disciples in the midst of the Jews and he in the midst of his Disciples After this in Patmos John saw him in heaven in the midst of the throne Rev. 7.17.1.13 and in earth he saw him in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks Mat. 25.33 and in the last day he shall be in the midst too of the sheep on his right hand and of the goats on his left But I find there is yet more in it that he stood in the midst for the midst is Christ's place by nature he is the second Person in the Trinity and the midst is Christ's place by office he dealeth betwixt God and man and the midst is Christ's place in respect of his Person he is God-man one that hath interest in both parties it was the middle Person who was to be the midle one that undertook this mediation betwixt God and us We read in the Roman history that the Romans and Sabines joyning battle together the women being daughters to the one side and wives to the other interposed themselves and took up the quarrel and by their mediation who had a peculiar interest in either side they who before stood upon highest terms of hostility did now joyn themselves together into one body and state God and we were enemies but Christ stood in the midst to reconcile us unto God and to slay this enmity and to this purpose Christ is called ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Mediator a tearm peculiar to the Scriptures not to be found amongst prophane Authors O what comfort is here to see Jesus Christ stand in the midst now may the Disciples behold him as their blessed peace maker their Mediator as one that hath slain the enmity Eph. 2.16 not only that enmity betwixt men and men Jâws and Gentiles but also betwixt God and men This he did by his death and now he declares it at his resurrection for so the Apostle there goes on having slain the enmity by his Cross he came and preached peace ver 17. and so the evangelist here goes on after his resurrection Jesus came and stood in the midst and said unto them peace be unto you You see how he stood 2. What he said this is the next passage he said peace be unto you a seasonable salutation for now were the Disciples in fear and trouble they had no peace with God or man or with their own consciences and therefore a more welcome news could not have come I suppose this refers to all these As 1. It speakes their peace with God sin was it that brought a difference betwixt God man John 1.29 now this difference Jesus Christ had taken away by his death Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the World he had taken it away in its condemning power or as âo it 's separating power betwixt God and them this was the great design of Christs coming to make peace betwixt God and man his Father imposed this office upon him and Jesus Christ undertook it and discharged it and he proclaims it in the first place to his Disciples Peace be unto you 2. It spakes their Peace
that treadeth in the wine-fat q. d. here 's nothing but skars and wounds and blood if thou art so mighty to save How comes thy apparrel to be so red and sprinkled or stained with blood to which Christ answers I have troden the wine-press alone and I will tread them in mine anger I was troad and pressed till the very blood streamed out of my hands and feet and side so pressed that they pressed the very soul out of my body See here Behold my hands and my feet and my side that it is I my self I have tread the wine-press alone But as I was troad so I will tread up he gets and he treads on them that troad on him his enemies of Edom and Bozrah are now like so many clusters under his feet and he tramples upon them as upon Grapes in a fat till he makes the blood spring out of them and all to sprinkle his garments as if he had come out of the wine press indeed See here a double sight his own blood and his enemies blood here 's the blood of the Lamb that was slain and the blood of the Dragon that was troaden upon here 's a show both of his passion and his resurrection of his suffering and triumphing another text of this nature And one shall say unto him What are these wounds in thy hands then he shall answer Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends Zach. 13.6 I know in the stead of Christ some have imployed these words to the false Prophets as if they had passed through the Churches discipline and so had received their wounds But others refer them to Jesus Christ of whom without controversy the next verse speaks and of whom the first verse of this chapter speaks and to whom after a long Parenthesis the Prophet seems to return And one shall say unto him who was the fountain opened what are these wounds in thy hands or as the Septuagint in the midst of thy hands a wonder it is to see those prints and skars in the hands of Christ and therefore is the question What are these wounds to which Christ answers Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends i.e. in the house of my beloved the children of Israel my brethren according to the flesh the people of the Jews why these are the wounds they gave me and which now I shew as the signs of my victory and as the marks of my resurrection Thus far of the first head the apparition of Christ 2. For the fruits of this apparition they contain Thomas's confession and Christ's commendation of him in some respects 1. Thomas's confession And Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord my God a few words but of great weight 1. He acknowledgeth Christ a Lord Mat. 28.18 into whose hands are put the very keys of heaven all power is given unto me in heaveâ in earth 2. He acknowlegeth Christ God whom he saw with his eyes and felt with his hands he looks on not as a meer man but as God and as the second person in the God-head 3. He acknowledgeth Christ to be his Lord and his God this apropriating of Christ is the right character of a faith by which he brings home all the benefits of Christ unto his own soul I shall a while insist on all these 1. He acknowledgeth Christ a Lord How is he a Lord I answer 1. By essence as God is Lord so Christ is Lord the Father is Lord the Son is Lord and the Holy Ghost is Lord and yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. 2. By creation Christ is before all things saith the Apostle and by him all things consist Col. 1.17 This very thing is an argument of his Lordship To us there is but one Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 8.9 by whom are all things and we by him 3. By redemption unction office and Mediatorship unto which he was designed by his Father Act. 2.36 and therefore the Apostle saith that God hath made him Lord and Christ he is a Lord by his office and by the accomplishment of his office in dying rising and reviving he became Lord both of quick and dead For to this end Christ both dyed and rose Rom. 14 9. and revived that he might be Lord both of dead and living And thus he is a Lord in two respects 1. A Lord in Authority to command whom and what he will he only is Lord over our persons over our faith over our consciences to him only we must say Lord what wilt thou have me to do Lord save us or we perish 2. A Lord be is in power he hath power to forgive and power to cleanse he hath power to justifie and power to sanctifie he hath power to quicken and power to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him he hath power to hold fast his sheep and power to cast out the accuser of the brethren he hath power to put down all his enemies and power to subdue all things unto himself in every of these respects Christ is a Lord. True say blasphemers he is Lord by office but he is not Lord by essence as God is Lord No peruse some texts in the Old Testament where the title of Lord is essentially spoken of and we shall find the very same texts and titles applyed to Christ in the New Testament As for instance in Isa 6.5 Woe is me saith Esay for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hoasts now this John refers to Christ these things saith Esaias when he saw his Glory Isa 6.5 and speak of him In Psal 68.17 18. the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men now this the Apostle applyes to Christ when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men In Psal 110.1 Psal 110.1 the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand Joh. 12.41 until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool Now this Jesus Christ applies to himself Psal 68.17 saying that David in spirit called him Lord saying the Lord said unto my Lord. In Isa 40.3 the voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord now this the Evangelist applies to Christ Eph. 4.8 This is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Esay saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord. No wonder if Thomas call Christ Lord why both the Old and New-Testament agree in this that Christ is Lord Lord by creation and Lord by redemption Lord by office and Lord by essence Mat. 2.44 45. Isa 4.5 Mat. 3.3 2. He acknowledgeth Christ to be God as well as Lord my Lord and my God But how is he God I answer not only by participation similitude or in some
respects as Angels and men are called gods but simply absolutely essentially and without any restriction Sometimes we read in Scripture that Men or Angels Exod. 7.1 good and bad are called Gods And the Lord said to Moses see I have made thee a God to Pharoah And thou shalt be instead of God to Aaron Thus Nebuchadnezzer is called the mighty one Exod. 4.16 Ezek. 31.11 2 Cor. 4.4 Exod. 22.28 Psal 82.6 Psal 138.1 or the God of the Heathens and Satan is called the god of this world Thus Magistrates are called gods thou shalt not revile the gods I have said yee are gods Angels are called gods before the gods will I sing praises unto thee but in all these there is some restriction or improper speech Moses is called Pharoah's God and Aaron's God not absolutely but with restriction to Pharoah and Aaron Nebuchadnezzer is called the god of the heathen and Satan the god of this world not absolutely but with restriction to the heathen and this world Magistrates are called gods and good Angels are called gods Heb. 1.5 not absolutely but in respect of some offices or excellency which they partake of from God Only Jesus Christ is called God without any restriction Ver. 8 Rom. 8.32 and not only in respect of some office or similitude but absolutely essentially properly as being from all eternity God of God as being God of the substance of the Father before all worlds What is Christ only God as an Angel is God Joh. 2.16 1 John 5.20 I challenge here all blasphemers in the world Vnto which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Or unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever or to which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son my own Son my only begotten Son unto which of the Angels said he at any time this is the true God the great God who is over all God blessed for ever Amen Tit. 2.13 Rom. 9.5 unto which of the Angels are those divine Attributes given as of eternity immutability omnipotency omniscience omnipresence and yet are all these given to Christ for eternity I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was for immutability Prov. 8.23 Heb. 1.15 Mat. 11.27 John 2.25 Mat. 28.20 thou art the same and thy years shall not fail For omnipotency all things are delivered unto me of my Father For omniscience he needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man For omnipresence lo I am with you alway unto the end of the world Men Brethren and Fathers I am forced to make this defence of the divinity of Christ because of the blasphemy of those Arians Photinians Eunomians now again raked out of hell O who would think that such a generation of men should be amongst us in this Island where the Gospel hath shined so brightly for so many years we maintain Christ is God and Christ is Lord we say with Thomas my Lord and my God Ah say blasphemers Christ is God and Christ is Lord as Magistrates and Angels are called Gods and Lords I hope I have said enough to difference betwixt Christ and them howsoever I conclude with the Apostle Though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be Gods many and Lords many yet to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1 Cor. 8.5 6. 3. He acknowledgeth Christ to be his Lord and his God And Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord and my God Now his saith broke out from the things seen and felt he is raised up to believe things neither seen nor felt he sees the prints and skars in the manhood of Chrst and now he believes that Christ is God yea that Christ is his God my Lord and my God Observe here that faith gives the soul a propriety in God and Christ As God loves some with a special and peculiar love so faith answers God and Christ's particular love by a particular application my Lord and my God and my Christ Faith is an apropiating an applying an uniting grace in the actings of faith on God or on Christ as God we may observe these steps 1. It sees God in his Glory and Majesty in his Greatness and Goodness and all other his attributes it sees God as the infinite fountain of all good and it considers what an infinite dreadful thing it were to be separated from this God it sees God and the sight makes a deep impression on that very soul the love of that God is more to the soul than all the world and the least displeasure of that God is more trouble to that soul than all the miseries that all creatures under heaven are able to bring upon it 2. It discovers the reality of this Glory and Majesty of this greatness and goodness of God Before any faith is planted in a soul the very use of reason may come to understand much of God and Christ but in comparison it looks upon God and Christ as notions conceits and imaginary things only faith convinces the soul throughly of the certainty and truth of such things where true faith is the things we believe are more certain to us than things we see or feel or handle faith is so sure in its apprehensions of God and Christ that it will venture soul and body the loss of all upon that account it will bear any hardship yea it will venture the infinite loss of eternity upon them 3. It enables the soul to cast it self upon God in Christ for all the good and happiness it ever expects Alas saith the soul I have formerly rested on worldly things I looked upon them as the only real sure excellences that I had to enjoy but now I find they are vain things deceitful things no better than reeds of Egypt vanity of vanities and nothing is real sure excellent on this side God and Christ Cant. 6.2 and therefore I will rely upon him and none but him it is only God is an all-sufficient good it is only Christ that is the rock that will never fail on him will I role my self unto him will I make an absolute resignation of all I will betrust him with all I have and all I am I will commit all unto him for ever and ever 4. As faith relyes all upon God in Christ so it apropriates all God and all Christ unto it self I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine there is a mutual propriety betwixt Christ and the Church and betwixt Christ and the soul Christ hath a propriety in me Psal 73.35 and I have a peculiar propriety in Christ Christ is mine so as I have none in the world so mine whom have
that was against us and nailed to his cross now he spoiled Principalities and Powers and carried the keys of death and hell at his own girdle now he came out of the grave as a mighty Conqueror saying as Dehorah did in her song O my soul Judg. 5.21 thou hast trodden down strength thou hast marched valiantly Again was it not to become the first-fruits of them that sleep Christ was the first that rose again from the grave to dye no more and by vertue of his resurrection as being the first-fruits all the Elect must rise again As in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.22 23. but every man in his own order Christ the first-fruits and afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming Some may wonder can the resurrection of one a thousand six hundred years ago be the cause of our rising yes as well as the death of one five thousand six hundred years ago is the cause of our dying Adam and Christ were two heads two roots two first-fruits either of them in reference to his company whom they stand for And now O my soul thou mayst say with Job I know that my Redeemer liveth Job 19.25 and that I shall see him at the last day not with other but with these same eyes If Christ live then must I live also if he be risen then though after my skin worms shall destroy this body Ver. 26. yet in my flesh I shall see God Again was it not that he might be declared to be the Son of God was it not that he might be exalted and glorified this is the main reason of all the rest see thou to this O give him the glory and praise of his resurrection so muse and meditate and consider on this transaction as to ascribe to his Name all honour and glory what is he risen from the dead Hath God highly exalted him Psal 2.11 and given him a name above every name O then let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father 3. Consider of the manner of Christ's resurrection he rose as a common person in which respect his resurrection concerns us no less than himself We must not think that when Christ was raised it was no more than when Lazarus was raised his resurrection was the resurrection of us all it was in the name of us all and had in it a seed-like vertue to work the resurrection of us all O the priviledge of this communion with Christ's resurrection if I believe this truly I cannot but believe the resurrection of my body and the life everlasting why Jesus Christ hath led the dance and though of my self I have no right to Heaven or Glory yet in Christ my Head I have as good right to it as any heir apparent to his lands 2. He rose by his own power and so did none but Jesus Christ from the beginning of the world it was never heard that any dead man raised himself Indeed one Instance we have that a dead mans Corps should raise up another dead man They cast the man into the Sepulchre of Elisha 2 King 13.21 and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet dead Elisha raised up a dead man from the grave but dead Elisha could not raise up himself from the grave only Christ arose himself and at the same time he raised many others and here was the argument of his God-head John 10.18 I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up again how should we but trust him with our life who is the resurrection and the life He that believeth in him though he were dead yet shall he live O my soul he was able to raise himself much more is he able to raise thee up only believe and live for ever 3. He rose with an earthquake O the power of Christ in every passage what ayled thee O earth to skip like a Ram was not the new Tomb hewn out of a Rock and was not a great stone rolled to the door of the Sepulchre the ground wherein he lay was firm and solid Job 18.4 Psal 99.1 and shall the rock be removed out of his place O yes the Lord reigneth and therefore the earth is moved Oh what a rocky heart is this of mine how much harder is it than that rock that moves not melts not at the presence of God at the presence of the God of Jacob the Sun they say danced that morning at Christ's resurrection the earth I am sure then trembled and yet my heart is no way affected with this news I feel it neither dance for joy nor tremble for fear O my soul be serious in this meditation consider what a posture wouldst thou have been in if thou hadst been with those Souldiers that watched Christ so reallize this Earthquake as if thou now felt it trembling under thee 4. An Angel ministred to him at his resurrection An Angel came Mat. 28.2 and rolled back the stone from the door and sate upon it Angels were the first Ministers of the Gospel the first Preachers of Christ's resurrection they preached more of Christ than all the Prophets did they first told the woman that Christ was risen Luke 24.6 and they did the first service to Christ at his resurrection in rolling the stone from the doors mouth O my soul that thou wert but like these blessed Angels how is it that they are so forward in God's Service and thou art so backward One day thou expectest to be equal with the Angels and art thou now so far behind them What! to be equal in Reward and behind them in Service Here 's a Meditation able to check thy Sloath and to spur thee on to thy Duty 5. Many of the Bodies of the Saints arose out of their Graves at His Resurrection as the Angels ministred so the Saints waited on Him In this Meditation trouble not thy self whether David Moses Job Abraham Isaac and Jacob were some of those Saints as some conjecture upon some Grounds It is a better Consideration to look upon them as the Fruit of Christ's Resurrection and as an Earnest of thy Own The Vertue of Christ's Resurrection appears immediately and it will more appear at the general Resurrection Day As sure as these Saints arose with Him and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many so sure shall thy Body rise again at the Last Day and if thou art but a Saint it shall go with Him into the Heavenly Jerusalem and appear before God and His Son Jesus Christ in Glory 6. Christ rose again with a true and perfect Body with an Incorruptible and Powerful Body with a Spiritual and an Agile Body with a Glorious Body brighter than the Sun in his utmost Glory On these things may the Soul expatiate O it is a worthy blessed
soul-ravishing Subject to think upon and the rather if we consider that Conformity which we believe Phil. 3.20 21. We look for a Saviour saith the Apostle the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Bodies that they may be fashioned unto His Glorious Body O my Soul that this Clay of thine should be a Partaker of such Glory That this Body of Dust and Earth should shine in Heaven like those Glorious Spangles of the Firmament that this Body that shall rot in Dust and fall more vile than a Carrion should rise and shine like the Glorious Body of our Saviour on Mount Tabor Surely thou owest much to Christ's Resurrection O consider of it till thou feellest the Influence and comest to the Assurance of this Blessed Change 4. Consider of the several Apparitions of Jesus Christ especially of those written by the Evangelist John As 1. Muse on His Apparition to Mary Magdalen Oh the Grief before He appeared And Oh the Joyes when He appeared 1. Before she apprehended nothing but that some or other had took away her Lord these were all the words she uttered before he appeared They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him so she told Peter and John And when Two Angels appeared in White asking her Woman Why weepest thou she gives the same Answer to them They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him A Soul in desertion knows not what to do but to weep and cry Oh my Lord is gone I have lost my Lord my God my Jesus my King In this Meditation consider O my Soul as if thou hadst been in Maries Case Was it not a sad Case when the Angels of Heaven knew not how to comfort her Suppose any Son of Consolation had stood by and had such a one perswaded O Mary suppress thy Sadness refresh thy Heart with this Blessed Vision thou didst seek but One and thou hast found Two a dead Body was thy Errand and thou hast light on Two alive Thy Weeping was for a Man and thy Tears have obtained Angels Observe them narrowly the Angels invite thee to a Parley it may be they had some happy News to tell thee of thy Lord Remember what they are and where they sit and whence they come and to whom they speak they are Angels of Peace neither sent without Cause nor seen but of Favour they sit on the Tomb to shew they are no Strangers to thy Loss They come from Heaven from whence all happy News descendeth they speak to thy self as if they had some special Embassage to deliver unto thee No no these Cordials are in vain neither Man nor Angel can do her good or comfort her drooping Soul Either Christ Himself must come in Presence or she cryes Miserable Comforters are ye all Alas small is the Light that a Star can yield when the Sun is down A sorry Exchange it is to go gather Crumbs after the Loss of the Bread of Life Oh What can these Angels do They cannot perswade me that my Master is not lost for my own Eyes will disprove them They can less tell me where He may be found for they themselves would wait upon Him if they knew but where I am apt to think they know not where He is and therefore they are come to the Place where He last was making the Tomb their Heaven and the Remembrance of His Presence the Fewel of their Joy Alas What do Angels here I neither came to see them nor desire to hear them I came not to see Angels but the Creator of Angels to whom I owe more than both to Men and Angels 2. After He appeared she was filled with Joy for so it was that when nothing else would satisfie or comfort this poor Creature Jesus Himself appears At first He is unknown she takes him for the Gardiner of the place but within a while he utters a voice that opens both her ears and eyes And Jesus saith unto her Mary It was the sweetest sound that ever she heard many a time had she been called by that name but never heard she a voice so effectual powerful inward feeling as at this time hereby the cloud is scattered and the Sun of Righteousness appears this one word Mary lightens her eyes dryes up her tears chears her heart revives her spirits that were as good as dead One word of Christ wrought so strange an alteration in her as if she had been wholly made new when she was only named And hence it is that being ravished with his voice and impatient of delayes she takes his talk out of his mouth and to his first and only word Mary she answers Rabboni which is to say Master q. d. Master is it thou with many a salt tear have I sought thee and art thou unexpectedly so near at hand thy absence was hell and thy presence is no less than heaven to me Oh how is my heart ravished at thy sound if the babe leaped in the womb of Elizabeth when she but heard the salutation of Mary how should my heart but leap at thy salutation I feel I am exceedingly transported beyond my self Instead of my heavy heart and troubled spirit I feel now a sweet and delightful Tranquility of mind thou art my solace and souls delight whom have I in heaven but thee and whom desire I upon earth in comparison of thee and yet I am not satisfied not only fruition of thee but union with thee is that which my soul longs after not only thy presence but thy embraces or my embraces of thee can give content come then and give me leave my Lord my God to run to the haunt of my chief delights to fall at thy sacred feet and to bathe them with my tears of joy O my Jesus I must needs deal with thee as the Spouse dealt with thee Now I have found thee whom my soul loves dearly I will hold thee Cant. 3.4 and I will not let thee go I know not in all the Book of God a soul more depressed with sorrow and lifted up with joy O meditate on this if Christ be absent all is night but if Christ appear he turns all again into a lightsome day there is no sorrow like that which apprehends Christ's loss and therefore in hell it is looked upon as the greatest pain of the two say Divines it is a greater torment to lose God and to lose Jesus Christ than to endure all those flaming whips unquenchable fires intollerable cold abominable stench and on the other side there is no joy in heaven like to that which apprehends Christ's presence In thy presence there is fulness of joy Psal 16.11 and at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore I had rather be in hell with Christ said one than in heaven without Christ This is the very top of heavens joy the quintessence of glory the highest happiness of the Saints O my soul seek with
gone to Heaven surely this was the meaning God would rather that the main points of faith should be learned by hearing than by seeing however Christ's own Disciples were taught the same by sight that they might better teach others which should not see yet the ordinary means to come by faith is hearing Rom. 10.14 17 18. how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God And as for the Jews saith the Apostle have they not heard yes verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world 3. He ascended principally by the mighty power of his God-head thus never any ascended up into heaven but Jesus Christ for though Enoch and Elijah were assumed into heaven yet not by their own power nor by themselves it was God's power by which they ascended 2 Kings 2.11 and it was by the help and Ministry of Angels there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and Elijah went up by a Whirl-wine into Heaven Acts 1 9. 4. He ascended in a cloud While they beheld he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight Hereby he shews that he is Lord of all the creatures he had already trampled upon the earth walked upon the sea vanquished hell or the grave and now the clouds received him and the heavens are opened to make way for this King of Glory to enter in Mat. 24.30 Mat. 26.4 When Christ shall come again it is said that he shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven Which verifies that saying of the Angel Acts 1.11 This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven He went up in clouds and he shall come again in clouds 5. He ascended in the found of a trumpet not on earth sounding Hosanna but in Heaven Psal 47.5 crying Hallelujah So the Psalmist God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet Certainly great joy was in heaven at Christ's ascending thither the very Angels struck up their Harps and welcomed him thither with Hymns and Praises 6. He ascended in triumph as a Roman Victor ascended to the Capitol or as David ascended after his conquest up to Zion Now we read of two triumphal Acts in Christs Ascension whereof the first was his leading of his captives and the second was the dispersing of his gifts the Apostle and the Psalmist joyn both together Psal 68.18 Ephes 4.8 When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 1. He led them captive who had captivated us Death was led captive without a sting Hell was led captive as one that had lost her victory the Law was led captive being rent and fastened to his Cross as it were Ensign wise the Serpents head being bruised was led before him in triumph as was Golias's head by David returning from the victory and this was the first Act of his triumph 2. He gave gifts unto men this was as the running of Conduits with wine or as the casting abroad of new Coyn or as the shutting up of Christs triumph in his ascension up to heaven what these gifts were we shall speak in the Mission of the holy Ghost only thus much for the present SECT II. Of the place whither he ascended 3. WHither he ascended the Gospel tells us into heaven only Paul saith that he ascended far above all heavens But the meaning is Ephes 4 10. he went above all these visible Heavens into those heavenly Mansions where the Angels and the Spirits of the just have their aboad Or if the highest heavens be included I see no absurdity in it the highest Heaven we usually call The Kingdom of Heaven which is either Heaven material or heaven sâiritual and first for the material Heaven in some sense he may be said to ascend above that both in respect of his Body because the Body of Christ is more glorious than any material Heaven And in respect of his soul because the Soul of Christ is more blessed than all things else whatsoever And 2 For the spiritual Heaven i.e. all Angelical or Heavenly perfections he is said to ascend above them all both in respect of his humiliation because he hath vilified himself below all things and therefore he is worthily exalted above all things and in respect of his perfection because the humane nature of Christ is more excellent than any creature it being joyned to the Godhead by an hypostatical union Some there are that understand this place of Christs ascending far above all Heavens not so much by a lâcal motion as by a Spiritual mutation and exaltation of his person as earth heightned unto a flame changeth not its place only but form and figure so the person of our Saviour was raised to a greatness and glory vastly differing from and surmounting any image of things visible or invisible in this Creation so it is fitly expressed Heb. 7.26 He was made higher than the Heavens he was heightened to a splendor enlarged to a capacity and compass above the brightest and beyond the widest Heavens he transcended all in the spirituallity of his Ascension but I shall not much insist on that SECT III. Of the Reasons why he Ascended 4. WHy he ascended the Reasons are 1. On Christ's part that through his Passion he might pass to glory Luke 24.26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to enter into his glory I shall not insist on that controversie whether Christ merited for himself this is without controversie that by his Passion I will not say he properly merited but he obtained glory because he humbled himself so low God exalted him above the Grave in his Resurrection above the Earth in his Ascension and above the Heavens in placing him at his right hand And he ascended that all those Prophesies which were foretold of Christ might be accomplished Thou hast ascended on high And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives Psal 68.18 Zach. 14.4 which is before Jerusalem on the East The types of this were Enoch's translation Elijahs's ascension Sampson's transportation of the gates of Gezza into an high mountain the high Priests going into the Holy of Holies Seeing that we have a great high Priest Heb. 4.14 that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God Why all these prophesies types figures must needs be accomplished and therefore on his part it was necessary that Christ must ascend and go into Heaven 2. The Reasons on our part are 1. That in our stead he might triumph over sin death and hell In his Resurrection he conquered but in his
exalted without some preceding decent and humiliation Ephes 49. That he ascended saith the Apostle what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth 4. In respect of our evidence and assurance this is the sign that Christ hath finished the work of our redemption upon the earth first he was to act as our Surety and then he was to ascend as our Head our Advocate as the first-fruits the Captain the Prince of life the Author of salvation the forerunner of his people 4. That he might throughly convince the world of believers of their perfect righteousness The Spirit when he comes saith Christ shall convince the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not on me of of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more John 16.8 9 10. If Christ had not fulfilled all righteousness there had been no going to heaven for him nor remaining there certainly God would have sent him down again to have done the rest and the disciples should have seen him with shame sent back again but his ascension to heaven proclaims openly 1. That he hath compleatly finished the work he had to do for us here that no more was to be done in this world for us that the satisfactory work to justice was in it self finished 2. That God was well pleased with Jesus Christ and with what he had done and suffered for us yea God was so infinitely taken with him and his oblation after his sufferings as that he thinks it not fit to let him stay above forty days longer in this world he cannot be without him in heaven but he takes him up into glory and gives him a name above every name 3. That we have our share in heaven with him he went not up as a single person but vertually or mystically he carried up all the Elect with him into glory or otherwise how should the Spirit convince the world by his ascension of their righteousness or otherwise how should the Son of God convince his Father by his Ascension of his righteousness I look upon Jesus Christ going into Heaven as a confident Debtor after payment going into a Court and saying Who hath any thing to lay to his charge all is paid let the law take his course when Christ entred into heaven he seemed thus to challenge Justice Make room here for me and mine who should hinder hath the law any thing to say to these poor souls for whom I dyed if any in heaven can make objection Rev. 8.1 here I am to answer in their behalf Methinks I imagine a silence in heaven as John speaks at this speech only Mercy smiles and Justice gives in the Acquittance and God sets Christ down at his right hand 4. That he hath a new design to be acted in heaven for us he is taken up into glory that he may act gloriously the second part of out righteousness I mean that he might apply it and send down his Spirit to convince us of it He acted one part in the flesh in the habit of a beggar cloathed with rags but now he is gone to act the person of a Prince in robes of glory and all this to manage our salvation in the richest way that may be Three great things Christ acts for us now in glory First he is in place of an advocate for us He liveth to intercede for us Heb. 7.25 He is always begging of favour and love for us he lyes there to stop whatever plea may be brought in against us by the devil or Law yea he is there to get our fresh pardons for new sins Secondly he is the great provider and caterer for us John 14.2 he is laying in a great stock and store of glory for us against we come there In my Fathers house are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you Jesus Christ went before to take up God's heart for us and now he is drawing out the riches of love from God his Father and laying them in bank for us Phil. 4.19 which made the Apostle say My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Thirdly he sends down his Spirit to convince us that Christs righteousness is ours indeed the means of procuring this was the life and death of Christ but the means of applying this righteousness are those following acts of Christ's Resurrection Ascension Session Intercession c. By his death he obtained righteousness for us but by his Ascension he applies righteousness to us now it is that in especial manner he convinceth us of righteousness Because he is gone to his Father and we shall see him no more 5. That he might receive his Kingdom over us in the place appointed for it look as Kings are crowned in the chief Cities of their Kingdoms and keep their residence in their palaces near unto them so it was decent that our Saviour should be Crowned in Heaven and there sit down at Gods right hand which immediatly follows after his Ascension to which we now come SECT IV. Of God's right hand and of Christ's Session there 2. FOr the Session of Christ at God's right hand which is a consequent following after his ascension into Heaven I shall examine 1. What is God's right hand 2. What is it to sit there 3. According to what nature doth Christ sit there 4. Why is it that he sits at the right hand of God his Father in Glory 1. What is this right hand of God I answer 1. Negatively it is not any Corporal right hand of God if we speak properly God hath neither right hand nor left hand for God is not a body but a spirit or spiritual substance 2. Positively the right hand of God is the Majesty Dignity Dominion Power and âlâây of God The right hand of the Lord is exalted Psal 118.15 Exod. 15.6 Psal 89.13 Isa 48.13 the right hand of the Lord doth valianity Thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in Power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed in pieces the enemy Thou hast a mighty arm Strong is thy hand and high iâ thy right hand Mine hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens I know some of our Divines make this right hand of God something inferior to God's own power but others speak of it as every way equal and I know no absurdity to follow on it 2. What is it to sit at the right hand of God I answer it is not any corporal Session at Gods right hand as some picture him with a crown of gold on his head sitting on a Throne as if he had no other gesture in Heaven but sitting still which Stephen contradicts Acts 7.56 saying I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on thâ right hand of God The words sitting or standing are both metaphorical and borrowed
the Church against her enemies and at last destroy all the enemies of the Church Such is the power of Christs Session that by it he holds up his Saints in the midst of their enemies so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them true indeed that many times they are used as Lambs amongst Wolves but so Christ orders that the blood of Martyrs should be the Seed of the Church hereby his Church like a tree settles the faster and like a Torch shines the brighter for the shaking And as for the enemies of his Church there is a day of reckoning for them he that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision The day is a coming that he will speak unto them in his wrath and vex him in his sore displeasure Psal 2.4 5. In the mean while Christ is galling and tormenting them by the Scepter of his Word and at last he will put them all under his feet The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make my enemies thy foot-stool Psal 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet that the enemies of Christ must be made his foot-stool notes the extream shame and confusion which they shall everlastingly suffer in victories amongst men the party conquered goes many times off upon some honourable terms or at worst if they are led captive they go like men but to be made a stool for the conqueror to insult over this is extremity of shame and as shame so it notes burthen which the wicked must bear the foot-stool bears the weight of the body so must the enemies of Christ bear the weight of his heavy and everlasting wrath such a weight shall they bear that they would gladly exchange it for the weight of rocks and mountains rather would they live under the weight of the heaviest creature in the world then under the fury of him that sitteth upon the Throne And withal it notes an equal and just recompence to the wicked the Lord useth often to fit punishments to the quality and measure of their sins committed he that on earth denyed a crumb of bread was in hell denyed a drop of water and thus will Christ deal with his enemies at the last day here they trample upon Christ in his Word in his ways in his members Isa 51.23 Heb. 10.29 Isa 63.18 Heb. 6.6 they make the Saints bow down for them to go over yea they have laid their bodies as the ground and as the street to them that went over they tread under foot the Son of God the blood of the Covenant they tread down the sanctuary and put Christ to shame and therefore their own measure shall be returned into their own bosome they shall be constrained to confess with Adoni-hezek as I have done so God hath requited me yea Judg. 1.7 this shall they suffer from the meanest of Christs members whom they here insult over the Saints shall be as Witnesses and as it were co-assessors with Christ to judge the wicked both men and Angels and tread them under their feet they shall take them captives whose captives they were and shall rule over their oppressors Isa 14.2 all they that despised them shall bow themselves at the soles of their feet 6. That he might send down the holy Ghost to this purpose Christ told his Disciples whiles he was yet on earth that he must ascend into heaven and Reign there it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away John 16.7 the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him to you Christ is now in heaven and sits at Gods right hand that he may send us his Spirit by whose forcible working we seek after heaven and heavenly things where now Christ sits But on this I shall insist larger it being our next subject SECT VII Of the time when the holy Ghost was sent 3. FOr the mission of his Spirit no sooner was Christ set down at God's right hand but he sends down the holy Ghost It was an use amongst the Ancients in days of great joy and solemnity to give gifts and to send presents unto men Nehem. 8.12 thus after the wall of Jerusalem was built it is said that the people did eat and drink and send portiâns and at the feast of Purim they made them days of feasting and joy Eph. 9.22 and of sending portions one to another and Gifts to the poor Thus Christ in the day of his Majesty and Inauguration in that great and solemn Triumph when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and did withall give gifts unto men Eph. 4.8 Concerning this mission of the Spirit or these gifts of Christ to his Church I shall discover the accomplishment as it appears in these Texts And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind Act. 2.1 2 3 4. and it filled all the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Out of these words I shall observe these particulars the time when the persons to whom the manner how the measure what and the reasons why the holy Ghost was sent 1. For the time when the holy Ghost was sent it is said when the day of Pentecost was fully come this was a Feast of the Jews called ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã from fifty days because it was ever kept on the Fiftyeth day after the second of the Passeover We find in Scripture sundry memorable things reckoned by the number of fifty As fifty days from Israels coming out of Egypt unto the giving of the Law And the fiftyeth year was that great feast of the Jubilee which was the time of forgiving of debts and of restoring men to their first estates And fifty days were in truth the appointed time of the Jews Harvest their harvest being bounded as it were with two remarkable days the one being the beginning the other the end thereof the beginning was ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the second of the Passeover the end was ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the fiftyeth day after Levit. 23.10 Levit. 23.17 called the Pentecost upon the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã they offered a sheaf of the first-fruits of their harvest upon the Pentecost they offered two wave-loaves the sheaf being offered all the after-fruits throughout the Land were Sanctified and the two loaves being offered it was a sign of the harvest finished and ended and now we find that as there were fifty days betwixt ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and the Pentecost so there were fifty days betwixt
particulars 1 He came suddenly which either shews the Majesty of the Miracle that is gloriously done which is suddenly done or the truth of the miracle there could be no imposture or fraud in it when the motion of it was so sudden or the purpose of the miracle which was to awake and affect them to whom it came usually sudden things startle us and make us look up We may learn to receive those holy motions of the spirit which sometimes come suddenly and we know not how I am perswaded the man breathes not amongst us Christians that sometimes feels not the stirrings movings breathings of the spirit of God Oh that men would take heed of despising present motions Oh that men would take the wind while it blows and the water while the Angel moves it as not knowing when it will or whether ever it will blow again 2. He came from heaven the place seems here to commend the gift as from earth earthly things arise so from heaven heavenly spiritual eternal things And this is one sign to distinguish the spirits Beloved believe not every spirit 1 John 4.1 but try the spirits whether they are of God If our motions come from heaven if we fetch our grounds thence from heaven from Religion from the sanctuary it is the spirit of God or if it carry us heaven-ward if it make us heavenly minded if it wean us from the world and if it elevate and set our affections on heavenly things if it form and frame our conversations towards heaven we may then conclude the motions are not from below but from above O that Christians would be much in observation of and in listning to the movings workings hints and intimations of that Spirit that comes from heaven Certainly that Spirit is of God that comes down from heaven and that lifts up our Souls towards heaven 3. He comes down from heaven like a wind The comparison is most apt of all bodily things the wind is least bodily it is invisible and comes nearest to the nature of a Spirit it is quick and active as the Spirit is But more especially the holy Ghost is compared to a wind in respect of its irresistable workings as nothing can resist the wind it goes and blows which way soever it will so nothing can resist the Spirit of God wheresoever it hath a purpose to work efficaciously I will not say but the heart of a man may resist and reject the work of the Spirit in some measure Act. 7.51 2 Cor. 10.5 and in some degrees Stephen told the Jews they had always resisted the holy Ghost and the Apostle tells of strong holds and of every high thing that exalteth it self against God so there is a natural contrariety a constant enmity and active resisting of Gods Spirit by our spirits we must therefore distinguish between a prevalent and a gradual resisting the spirit in conversion so works that he takes away the prevalent but not the gradual resisting A man before he be converted is froward and full of cavils and prejudices he is unwilling to be saved he cannot abide the truth he doth what he can to stifle all good motions yet if he belong to the election of grace God will at last over-master his heart and make him of unwilling willing he will omnipotently bow and change the will and work on his soul by his mighty power efficaciously insuperably and irresistably Again the holy Ghost is compared to wind John 3.8 in respect of its free actings the wind bloweth where it listeth saith Christ and so the Spirit bloweth where it listeth who can give any reason why the Spirit breathes so sweetly on Jacob and not on Esau on Peter and not on Judas is it not the free grace and good pleasure of God springs it not from the meer freedom and pure arbitrariness of his own only workings to you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven saith Christ but to them it is not given Mat. 13.11 And I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent Mat. 11.25 26 and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight These and the like Texts are as so many hammars to beat in pieces all those Doctrines of free-will and of the power of man to supernatural things grace makes no gain of mans work free-will may indeed move and run but if it be to good it must be moved and driven and breathed upon God's free grace The Spirit blows where it listeth 4. He came like a rushy mighty wind as the wind is sometimes of that strength that it rends and rives in sunder Mountains and Rocks it pulls up trees it blows down buildings so are the operations of the holy Spirit it takes down all before it it brings into captivity many an exalting thought it made a Conquest of the World beginning at Jerusalem and spreading it self over all the earth it is mighty in operation able to shake the stoutest and the proudest man and to break in pieces the very stoniest heart indeed our words without this spirit are but weak wind we may spend our selves and never waken Souls but if the Spirit blow he will amaze the consciences of the stoutest peers and drive away our sins as the wind drove away the Grashoppers and Locusts that over-spread the land of Aegypt Some Analogy there is betwixt this vehement wind and the spirits workings the spirit first comes as a spirit of bondage and then as a spirit of Adoption the spirit of bondage is as a vehement wind that terrifies to shew that we are not fit to receive the grace of God unless the door be first opened by fear and humiliation others say that the vehement rushing of this wind shewed how irresistably the Apostles should proceed in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ they had a Commission to go into all the World and to teach all Nations and they had a promise that though many might oppose yet the gates of hell should not prevail against the Church the spirit should go along with them and he in them and they in him should prevail mightily like a rushing mighty wind 5. He filled all the house where they were sitting there were none there that were to filled with the holy Ghost this room contained a congregation of none but Saints All the men and women an hundred and twenty as some think in this room were visited from on high for the holy Ghost came upon them and dwelt in them well might David say Blessed are they that dwell in thy house I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the Tents of wickedness They that abode in this house were under a promise that the Spirit should come and now was the promise accomplished for it filled all the house where they were sitting I say
quickenings stirrings of the spirit of God commanding thy faith love zeal and other graces to be in exercise hath he not many a time at some dead lift at some mighty straight at some prevailing temptation when thou wast even ready to yield to Satan Heb. 4.16 come in as betwixt the bridge and water and given thee grace to help in time of need O the sweet in-comes of the Spirit of God! as he is an holy Spirit so he makes holy hearts and if there be any holiness in thy heart what is it but an emanation influence effect of the Spirit of God if ever thou hadst any flowings of exciting quickening grace say This is above nature above flesh and blood it comes from the holy and blessed Spirit of God Some other effects thou mayst consider of as of the comforts of the spirit what hast thou not sometimes felt the joyes unspeakable and full of glory hast thou not sometimes known a mornings joy after a nights sorrow an healing of thy broken heart a reviving of thy dead Spirit a drop of heavens joy given thee as the hansel or earnest of thine inheritance why all these are but the workings of the promised comforter And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever John 14.16 Another effect is the seal of the spirit and what hast thou not sometimes had the seal of the Spirit stamped on thee I will not say this is absolutely necessary but hast thou not sometimes been assured of thy salvation by a reflect act of faith or by a work of grace habitual or actual or by an irradiation of the spirit on thy graces sometimes the spirit is pleased to shine with its bright and glorious and heavenly beams into our souls and then we are assured hence the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians Eph. 1.17.18 19. That they might have the spirit of revelation And to what end That they might know what is the hope of his calling i.e. that they might know upon what certain grounds and foundation their hopes were built and hence the Psalmist prayes for himself Psal 13.16 Cause thy face to shine upon thy Servant and again God be mercifull unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us psal 67.1 Selah If the spirit shine upon our graces then it seals O consider of this shining-sealing work and leave not till the Spirit dart in a spiritual light and give thee a revelation knowledg and perswasion of thy effectual calling Many other reasons are of the spirits mission but amongst them all consider O my soul and ponder on these few think over Christ's Ascension Session and Mission of the Spirit but in every thought be serious fruitful and particular say Christ is gone up into heaven for me and he is sate down at God 's right hand for me and he hath sent down his spirit into my heart O what workings would there be within if thou wert but lively and active in the meditations of these several passages SECT III. Of desiring after Jesus in that Respect 3. LEt desire after Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these particulars who seeing Christ to ascend into Heaven would not be glad to ascend up with with him who seeing Christ to sit down at the right hand of his Father would not be glad to sit down with him who seeing Christ to scatter his gifts and spirit amongst his Saints would not cry Come holy spirit O Christ give me thy spirit thou that givest gifts unto me come and bestow those gifts on me even upon me The believing soul cannot hear of Christ in any true discovery of his grace and glory but it must needs send out many breathings after him Oh that Christ were mine Oh that I had any interest in this transaction it is true these transactions are past but the vertue of them continues still and accordingly the vertue power and influence of these transactions must be the object of our desires now what is the vertue of Christ's Ascension but that we might ascend and what the vertue of Christ's Session but that we might sit down with him in his Throne and what the vertue of the mission of his Spirit but that we might partake of the holy Ghost Oh let these be the objects of our desires come let us pant and breath after these things As 1. Let us see Christ ascending and so desire to ascend with him when Christ ascended it was not meerly for himself but also in our stead he ascended as a common person as the high Priest ascending into the Holy of Holies he carried all the names of the Twelve Tribes on his breast so Jesus Christ ascending into heaven he carried the names of all Believers in the world on his Breast thereby shewing that they were likewise to come after him in this case how should we long after him and cry after him as Elisha after Elijah when he saw him ascending My Father my father 2 Kings 2.12 Isa 14.14 15. the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof How should we cry after him O my Lord and my God see that my name be written in thy Breast O that vertually I may ascend with thee and that really and bodily I may at last ascend after thee There are many can say in their heart I will ascend above the heights of the clouds Psal 14.3 4. I will be like the most High but the prophet tells us Such shall be brought down to hell and to the sides of the Pit O the desires and eager pursuits of men after ambition what topping and advancing is there of one over another in the mean time the Psalmist's Question is quite forgotten Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Isa 14.12 he that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity Down O my soul with thy top and top gallant strike sail to God and Christ know that God resists the proud How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer son of the morning even he that would exalt his Throne above the stars of God is brought down to hell Come come a desire after Christ and his Ascension is the way to Heaven if thou wilt ascend after Christ set thy desires upon Christ if thou wilt arrive at true glory breath after Christ ascending up into his glory let others ascend up into their heaven upon earth but O my soul desire thy interest in Christ's Ascension into the Heaven of Heavens O when will it once be that by the vertue of Christ's Ascension I shall ascend is Christ gone up and am I yet behind is my Head my Husband my Lord in Heaven and am I a poor member of his body grovelling here on earth what is Christ gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet are all the Angels sounding
a man would read he must have all these or more than one of these so God hath appointed us three necessary means for our illumination and direction the Word the Ministry and the Spirit What God hath joyned let no man separate if any will foolishly go and set one of these against another when God hath set them all together and made them all necessary assigning to each a several part in the work of our illumination they may abuse God and themselves and go without the light while they despise the necessary causes of it God's evidences must not be separated much less must one be pleaded to the neglect of all the rest as the work within us is not the first testimony but a secondary confirming testimony so doth it not make the first unnecessary or void besides that by the external testimony we must convince other men which by the witness within us we cannot do But this only by the way 2. For the encouragement of our Faith to believe in Christ as in reference to his Ascension Session and Mission of his Spirit 1. Consider of the excellency of this Object what is it but Christ Christ in his Ascendant Culminant Regnant Power Christ in his Marching Conquering Triumphing Postures in his Free and Large and Magnificent Gifts When he Ascended on high he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto Men. O the Glory O the Excellency of Christ in these Respects Verily they are enough to tire out Men and Angels with the only Act of wondering and surveying of their vastness Here is Gospel-Work for all Eternity to dig into this Gold-Mine to roul and turn this Soul-delighting precious Stone to behold enquire and search into these depths and heights of Christ exalted and I believe this is the satiety the top and prime of Heavens Glory to see and wonder at the vertues of him that sits on the Throne at the right hand of God to be filled but never Satiate with the Glory of Christ What Christ ascended Christ set down in Glory and Christ sending down his Holy Spirit here 's a Compendium of all Glories here is one for an heart to be taken with made up of nothing but of several Mysteries of Glory 2. Consider the Power Vertue and Influence of this Object into our souls Salvation oh what a stately Tower have we here erected to see Heaven on Faith may stand as it were on this Mount and see it self in glory Oh the flowings the rich emanations of Grace and Glory that come from hence come let us draw the Well is deep all the drops and dewings that fall on Men or Angels are but as chips in comparison of that huge and boundless body of the fulness of Grace that is in Christ one Lilly is nothing to a boundless and broad Field of Lillies Christ is in these respects the Mountain of Roses oh how High how Capacious how Full how Beautiful how Green could we but smell him who feeds among the Lillies till the Day break and the shadows fly away could we but dive into the Golden Veins of these unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ we should say It is good to be here Oh it 's good to gather up the fragments that fall from Christ his Crown shines with Diamonds and Pearls oh why do we toyl our selves in gathering sticks when to morrow we shall be out of this World and go to Christ come where is our mouth of Faith let us lay to it here let us suck and be satisfied with these Breasts of consolation let us milk out and be delighted with the abundance of his Glory 3. Consider of the suitableness of these Objects to our several conditions you may remember the first cry Was it not love enough for Christ to come down and to visit us here but that he must go up and take us with him no no his love was so great and vast that for our sakes he moves up and down this ravished the Spouse Behold he comes leaping upon the Mountains and skipping upon the Hills Cant. 2.8 Cant. 2.8 Gregory that measured his leaps thus gives them be first leaps from his Fathers Mansion to his Mothers Womb from her Womb to the Cratch from his Cratch to his Cross and from his Cross to his Grave from his Grave up again to Heaven great leaps indeed that shewed both his readiness to love and willingness to save infinite love can never be out-tired with greatest actions But another cries how should I believe that Christ is exalted and that by vertue thereof I shall be exalted when I see my self in a forlorn condition forsaken of God Psal 62.9 and abject amongst Men Alas Man at his best is altogether Vanity yea Men of low degree are Vanity and Men of high degree are a Lye to be laid in the Ballance I am altogether lighter than Vanity how then should I believe any such condition is a Worm a fit or a capable Subject to wear a Crown Yes the Lord is great and he can do great things He raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust 1 Sam 2.8 9. and lifteth up the Beggar from the Dunghil to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the Throne of Glory for the Pillars of the Earth are the Lords and he hath set the World upon them he will keep the Feet of his Saints Why there is my sadness cryes another He will keep the Feet of his Saints if I were but a Saint I could believe this Power but alas I am unholy an unsanctified piece of Clay I am a sinner a sinner of the Gentiles chief of sinners I deserve to be thrown down to Hell rather than to be invested with Glory and to sit in Heaven True but yet the Holy Ghost is given to make thee holy of thy self thou art vile and most vile but hath not the Holy Ghost entred in and took possession of thy Spirit hath he not washed thee with water yea throughly washed away thy blood hath he not anointed thee with oyl and covered thee with silk and decked thee with gold and silver and made thee comely through his comeliness which he put upon thee Why this is the office of the holy Ghost and if thou hast but the in-dwelling of the Spirit this is thy state I know there is a part of thee unregenerate and it will be so whiles thou art on earth but withall there is in thee a new nature another nature there is something else within thee which makes thee wrestle against sin and shall in time prevail over all sin and this is the Spirit of Christ sanctifying of thee Being sanctified saith the Apostle by the holy Ghost Rom. 15.16 Other complaints might be thus brought in but if we understand the meaning the design of Christ in his Ascension Session and mission of his Spirit how might a true faith answer all oh believe believe thy part in Christ's Ascension Christ's Session Christ's Mission of
I will not say that the very blood which Christ shed on the Cross is now in heaven nor that it speaks in heaven these cryings are merely Mataphorical yet this I maintain as real and proper that the power merit and vertue of Christ's blood is presented by our Saviour to his Father both as a publick satisfaction for our sin and as a publick price for the purchase of our glory 3. Christ's Intercession consists in the presenting of his will his request his interpellation for us John 17.24 grounded upon the vigor and vertue of his glorious merits Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me This was a piece of Christ's prayer while yet he was on earth and some say it is a summary of Christ's Intercession which now he makes for us in his glory he prayed on earth as he meant to pray for us when he came to heaven he hints at this in the beginning of his Prayer for he speaks as if all his work had been done on earth John 17.4 5. and as if then he were even beginning his work in heaven I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do and now O Father glorifie thou me with thy own self with the glory which I had with thee before the World was I know it is a question whether Christ now in heaven do indeed and truth and in right propriety of speech pray for us some able Divines are for the Negative others for the Affimative For my part leaving a liberty to those otherwise minded according to their light I am of opinion that Christ doth not only intercede by an interpretative Prayer as in the presenting of himself and his merits to his Father but also by an express prayer or by an express and open representation of his will and to this opinion methinks these Texts agree I will pray the Father John 14.16 John 16.26 27. and he shall give you another Comforter and at that day ye shall ask in my Name and I say unto you that I will pray the Father for you when he saith I say not that I will pray for you it is the highest intimation that he would pray for them as it is our phrase I do not say that I will do this or that for you no not I when indeed we will most surely do it and do it to purpose Austin confirms this orat pro nobis orat in nobis oratur a nobis c. He prays for us he prays in us and he is prayed to by us he prays for us as he is our Priest Aug. Prefat in psalm 85. and he prays in us as he is our Head and he is prayed to by us as he is our God Ambrose tells us That Christ so now prays for us as sometimes he prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail Amb. super ad Roman 8. Methinks I imagine as if I heard Christ praying in heaven in this Language O my Father I pray not for the World I will not open my lips for any one Son of perdition but I imploy all my blood and all my prayers and all my interests with thee for my dear beloved precious Saints it is true thou hast given me a personal glory which I had with thee before the World was and yet there is another glory I beg for and that is the glory of my Saints O that they may be saved why I am glorified in them they are my joy John 17.10 13 24. and therefore I must have them with me where I am thou hast set my heart upon them and thou thy self hast loved them as thou hast loved me and thou hast ordained them to be one in us even as we are one and therefore I cannot live long asunder from them I have thy company but I must have theirs too I will that they be with me where I am If I have any glory they must have part of it this is my prayer that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Why thus Christ prayed while he was on Earth and if this same prayer be the summary of Christ's intercession or interpellation now he is in heaven we may imagine him praying thus it were too nice to question whether Christ's prayer in heaven be vocal or mental certainly Christ presents his gracious will to his Father in heaven some way or other and I make no question but he fervently and immoveably desires that for the perpetual vertue of his sacrifice all his members may be accepted of God and crowned with glory nor only is there a cry of his blood in heaven but Christ by his prayer seconds that cry of his blood an argument is handed to us by Master Goodwin thus As it was with Abel Goodwin Christ set forth so it is with Christ Abels blood went up to heaven and Abels soul went up to heaven and by this means the cry of Abels dead blood was seconded by the cry of Abels living soul his cause cryed and his soul cryed as it is said of the Martyrs that the souls of them that were slain for the Testimony which they held cryed with a loud voice saying how long Lord Holy and True dost thou not judge and avenge our blood that dwell on the earth Rev. 6.9 10. even so it is with Christ his blood went up to heaven and his soul went up to heaven yea his body soul and all his whole person went up to Heaven and by this means his cause cryes and he himself seconds the cry of his cause Jesus Christ in his own person ever liveth to make Intercession for us he ever liveth as the great Master of requests to present his desires that those for whom he dyed may be saved 4. Christ's Intercession consists in the presenting of our persons in his own person to his Father so that now God cannot look upon the Son but he must behold the Saints in his Son are they not members of his body in near relation to himself and are not all his Intercessions in behalf of them and only of them but how are all the Elect carried up into heaven with Jesus Christ and there set down before his Father in Jesus Christ I answer not actually but mystically when Christ intercedes he takes our persons and carries them in unto God the Father in a most unperceiveable way to us for the way or manner I leave it to others for my part I dare not be too inquisitive in a secret not revealed by God only this we say that Christ presents our persons to his Father in his own person and this was plainly shadowed out by that act or office of the high Priest who went into the holy of holies Exod. 28.12 with the names of all the Tribes of Israel upon his shoulders and upon his breast
and God be Omnipotent that he can do and can have whatsoever he pleases then Christ being one God with his Father he must needs prevail it is but ask and have let him ask what he will 5. That Christ is God's darling upon this very account because he intercedes for his People Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life John 10.17 that I might take it again I lay it down by suffering and I take it again by rising ascending up into heaven and interceding there and therefore doth my Father love me O the love of God to Christ and of God in Christ to all his Saints God so loved the world that he gave his Son and Christ so loved the world that he gave himself and now again because Christ gave himself and his gift is as a sweet smelling savour unto God therefore God loves Christ O what a round of love is here God loves Christ and Christ loves us and the Father loves Christ again for loving of us there is not an act of Christ in his work of our redemption but the Father looks on it with love and liking Mat. 3.17 Isa 53.11 at his baptism lo a voice came from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased at his death He seeth of the travel of his soul and he is satisfied at his ascension he heareth of the intercessions of his soul and he is delighted Christ's intercessions are God's musick and therefore as sometimes Christ spoke to his Spouse Cant. 2.14 so God speaks to Christ Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely Now Christ's intercessions must needs prevail when God love's Christ for his intercessions sake if before the world was made Prov. 8.29 30. the Son was his Fathers darling for it is said When he appointed the foundations of the earth then I was by him and as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight In the Original delights intimating that the eternal Son was variety of delights to his Father O then what delights what variety what infinite of delights hath God in Christ now interceding for us what a dear darling is Christ to God when not only he stands by him but he represents to him all the Elect from the beginning to the end of the World q. d See Father look on my breast read hear all the names of those thou hast given me as Adam and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob of the Twelve Tribes and of the Twelve Apostles of all the Martyrs Professors and Confessors of the Law and Gospel I pray for them I Pray not for the World but only for them for they are mine methinks I hear God answer What my Son and what the Son of my womb and what the Son of my vows hast thou begotten me thus many Sons and are all these mine why then ask what thou wilt and have what thou pleasest I am as strongly inclined and disposed to give thee grant as thou wouldst have it it is my joy my delight my pleasure to save these souls and surely the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in thy hands 6. That Christ is God's Commander I speak it with reverence as well as petitioner it is a phraze given to the servants of God command ye me and may we not give it to the Son of God Christians God is as ready to do us service as if we had him at command Isa 45.11 1 John 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us and in this sense we may boldly say that God the Father is as ready to hear Jesus Christ as if he had him at command not that in deed and reality he commands God but that in deed and truth he commands all below God and he commands all in the stead of God And to this purpose is that voice of God I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion Psalm 2.6 and why my King I dare not say he is God's King as if God were Christ's inferior or Christs subject God forbid why then my King I answer he is God's King because appointed by God or he is God's King John 5.22 because he rules in the stead of God The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son God hath given away all his prerogatives unto Jesus Christ so that now the King of Saints can do what he will with God and with all the world only it follows Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance as if the Father should have said I cannot deny thee and yet O my Son I would have thee ask do what thou wilt in Heaven Earth and Hell I have not the heart indeed I have not the power to deny thee any thing onely acknowledg this power to be originally in my self that all that honour the Son may honour the Father and all that honour the Father may honour the Son These are the terms betwixt God the Father and God the Son Oh then how powerfull and prevailing are Christs intercessions with his Father if he ask who hath power to command there is little question of prevailing in his suit We have heard in our days of a suit managed with a petition in one hand and a sword in the other and what the effect is all now can tell As a King who sues for peace backt with a potent Army able to win what he intreats for must needs treat more effectually so Christ sueing to his Father for his Saints with a power sufficient to obtain what he sues for he must needs effect what his desires may be it is well observed that Christ is first said to sit at God's right hand and then to intercede he treats the salvation of sinners as a mighty Prince treats the giving up of some Town which lyes seated under a Castle of his that commands the Town or he treats the salvation of sinners as a Commander treats the surrendring of a person already in his hands it is beyond God's power I speak iâ with submission to deny his Son in any thing he asks Exod. 32.10 if the Lord sometimes cryed out to Moses like a man whose hands are held Let me alone how much more doth Christ's intercession bind God's hands and command all in Heaven Earth and Hell hence we say that God the Father hath divested himself of all his power and given the keys into Christ's own hands I am he that liveth and was dead Rev. 1.18 and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of hell and death there is no man goes to Hell but he is lockt in by Jesus Christ and there is no man goes to Heaven but he is lockt in there by Jesus Christ he hath the keys of all men's eternities hanging
continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood and the work of his Priesthood is interpreted ver 25. To make intercession for ever The meaning of this is that God would not have him continue to be a Priest in title only or in respect onely of a service past and so to have only the honour of Priesthood perpetuated to him out of the remembrance of what he once had done But God would have him to enjoy as the renown of the old to a perpetual spring of honour by this new work of intercession and so to preserve the verdure of his glory ever fresh and green and the sum of the Apostles reasoning is this that seeing himself was to be for ever so his work of Priesthood should be for ever that so his honour might be preserved and continued for ever also 5. It is Christ's love to his Saints his heart is so inamoured with his Saints that therefore he intercedes for them for ever Love is as strong as death it is never weary of doing good for the party beloved now Christ's Saints are Christ's love My sister my love Cant. 5.2 Mal. 3.17 John 15.19 Isa 43.20 my dove the Saints in Christ's books are so many jewels And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hoasts in that day when I make up my jewels the Saints are Christ's only choyce the very flower of the Earth You have I chosen out of the world and ye are my people my chosen All the World is Christ's refuge and Kings are but morter to him onely the Saints are Christ's chosen they are they whom the Lord in his eternal councels hath set a part for himself But know saith the Psalmist that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly psalm 4.3 The Saints are Christ's image i.e. the resemblance of Christ in all that which is his chief excellency I mean in his righteousness and holiness as if I would take the picture of a man I would not draw it to resemble his back-parts but as near as I could I would draw it to life the very face and countenance so are the Saints the very picture the image the draught of God in his top excellency The Saints are in covenant with Jesus Christ and therefore in nearer relation than any others hence it is that they are called the portion of God the treasure of God the peculiar people of God those that God and Christ satisfie themselves in those that God and Christ have set their hearts on the children of God the Father the very Spouse and bride of God the Son in some respect nearer than the Angels themselves for the Angels are not so married to Christ in a mystical union as God's people are now is it any wonder that those who are so very dear to Christ should be in the prayers of Christ if they were so much in his heart that sometimes be shed his blood for them will he not now intercede for O yes to this end he carries them on his breast or heart as near as near may be that they may be in a continual remembrace before the Lord for ever his very love compels him to this office to intercede for them 6. It is Christ's delight to intercede for his Saints before the world was Prov. 8.31 Psalm 40 7 8. His delights were with the sons of men and when the fulness of time came then said he Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God and what was that but to be with the sons of men he knew that was his Fathers pleasure and in respect of himself he had a delight to live with them and to dye for them and no sooner he entred into Heaven but there he delights to officiate still in behalf of the sons of men he carries their names on his heart there and though some of their persons be on earth and he in his bodily presence is in Heaven yet distance of place cannot deaden his delights in the remembrance of them he is ever minding his Father of his people in the neather world he tells him that they are his all in all upon the earth all his joy and all his delight and all his portion as men use to give portions to their children so God having but one Son by eternal generation he hath given the Elect unto him as his portion and hence he makes it his great business in Heaven to provide mansions for his portion to take up God's heart for his portion to beg favour and love for his portion Here 't is the joy of Christ in Heaven in going to his Father and telling him Why Father I have a small portion yet on earth and because they are on earth they are still sinning against thy Majesty but I have suffered and satisfied for their sins and hither am I come to mind Thee of it and contiunally to get out fresh pardons for new sins come look on my old satisfaction didst Thou not promise Isa 53.11 12. is it not in the Articles of agreement betwixt Thee and me that I should see of the travel of my soul and should be satisfied didst Thou not say that because I poured out my soul therefore Thou wouldst divide me a portion with the great and the spoyle with the strong O my Father now I make intercession for the transgressors give me out pardons for an hundred thousand millions of sins Thou hast said and sworn that Thou hast no pleasure in the death of sinners and it is my pleasure my joy my infinite delight to save sinners these are my seed my portion my redeemed ones and therefore let them be saved Thus Christ intercedes and his delight in his Saints as knowing it to be his Fathers mind draws him on to this intercession indeed this reason hangs upon that primary and first reason it is God's will that Christ should intercede as it is Christ's delight to do the will of his Father in Heaven I delight to do thy Will O my God 7. It is Christs compassion that causeth intercession Christ is such an high Priest Heb. 4.15 saith the Apostle as cannot but be touched with the feeling of our infirmities He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin When he was on earth he felt our infirmities frailties miseries and as a man that hath felt the Stone or Gout or Fever or especially that hath felt soul-troubles cannot but compassionate those that are in the like condition so Christ having had the experience of our outward and inward sufferings he cannot but compassionate us and hence it is his very compassion's moving that he intercedes to his Father in our behalf It is observed that the very office or work of the High-Priest was to sympathize with the people of God onely in the case of the death of his kindred he was not as others to sympathize or mourn but Jesus Christ goes beyond all
communion which the Saints shall have with Christ never will their eyes be off-him never will their thoughts wander after any other objects O the intimacy that will be then betwixt Christ and Christians Oh what communication of glory will there be to each other These shall walk with me saith Christ for they are worthy Rev. 3.4 O my soul if this be the business of Christ's intercession if all these particulars are contained in the bowels of this one transaction how is it that thou art not in a fainting swoon how is it that thou art not gasping groaning sick unto death with the vehement thirst after thy part and portion in Christ's intercession if there be such a thing as the passion of desire in this heart of mine O that now it would break out Oh that it would vent it self with mighty longings and infinite aspirings after this blessed Object why Lord I desire but help thou my faint desires blow on my dying spark it is but little and if I know any thing of my heart I would have it more Oh that my spark would flame why Lord I desire that I might desire Oh breath it into me and I will desire after thee SECT IV. Of hoping in Jesus in this respect 4. LEt us hope in Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation in his intercession It is good that a man should hope Indeed if it were not for hope Lam. 3.26 the heart would not hold only look that our hope be true hope very hypocrites have a kind of hope but if God's Word be true The hope of unjust men shall perish Prov. 11.7 Job 27.8 9. Job 8.13 14. What is the hope of the hypocrite Will God hear his cry wheâ trouble cometh upon him No no The hypocrites hope shall perish his hope shall be cut off and his trust shall be as a Spiders web O my soul hope in Jesus but rest not till thou canst give a reason of thy hope till thou canst prove that they are the hopes which Grace and not only Nature hath wrought that they are grounded upon Scripture-promises and sound evidences that they purifie the heart that the more thou hopest the less thou sinnest that they depend on sure and infallible causes as on the truth power and mercy of God on the merits mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ what is this last amongst the rest I mean the intercession of Christ the spring of thy hope canst thou follow the stream till it brings thee to this Fountain or Well-head of hope that now thou canst say O this intercession is mine come search and try it is worth the pains and to put thee out of question and in a more facile way of discerning I shall lay down these signs As 1. If Christ's intercession be mine then is the Spirits intercession mine or if thou wouldst rather argue from the effect to the cause then thus if the Spirit 's intercession be mine then is Christ's intercession mine In this case we need not to ascend up into Heaven to learn the truth rather let us descend into our own hearts and look whether Christ have given us of his spirit which makes us cry unto God with sighs and groans which cannot be expressed he that will know whether the Sun shine in the Firmament he must not climb into the clouds to look rather he must search for the beams thereof upon the earth which when he sees he may conclude that the Sun shines in the Firmament O come and let us ransack our own consciences let us search whether we feel the Spirit of Christ crying in us Abba Father certainly these two are as the cause and the effect Christ's intercession in Heaven and his Spirits intercession on earth are as twins of a birth or rather such is the concatenation of these two that Christ's intercession in Heaven breeds another intercession in the hearts of his Saints It is the same Spirit dwelling in Christ and in all his Members that moves and stirs them up to cry Abba Father Here then is my Argument if Christ hath put his spirit into thy heart and if the Spirit hath set thine heart on work to make incessant intercessions for thy self then is Christ's intercession thine There is a kind of a round in the carrying on of this great work of intercession as 1. Christ intercedes for his people O that my Spirit might go down 2. God harkens to the intercession of Christ Away holy spirit get thee down into the hearts of such and such 3. The spirit waits on the pleasure of them both and no sooner down but he sends up his intercession back again Christ cries to God and God sends the spirit and the spirit goes and ecchoes in the hearts of Saints to the cries of Christ Gal. 4.6 Much of this is contained in that one Text God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our heart ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã crying as if he meerly acted our tongues Abba Father here is God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost and all are acting their parts on the elect people of God the Son intercedes O that my spirit may be given to these the Father willingly grants Away holy spirit and as my Son asketh enter and take possession of those sinful hearts the holy spirit obeys and no sooner in the hearts of his Saints but he cryes in them Abba Father God hears Christ and the spirit hears God and the Elect hear the spirit and now because the Spirit speaks in the Elect Mosea 2.21 God hears the Elect much like unto this is that of the prophet And it shall come to pass in that day I will hear saith the Lord I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the earth and the earth shall hear the corn and wine and oyl and they shall shall hear Jezreel O my soul to the test hath God sent forth the spirit of his Son into thy heart hast thou the in-dwelling of the Spirit and now by the help of the spirit canst thou pray with earnestness confidence and an holy importunity canst thou cry Abba Father Canst thou cry with earnestness Father with confidence and Abba Father or Father Father with an holy importunity why these are the very signs of the spirits intercession O my soul that thou wouldst deal faithfully with thy own self canst thou by the help of the spirit go to the Father in the name of Christ as Christ is gone before into the holy of holies to intercede so canst thou with boldness follow after Heb. 10.19 and enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Canst thou say God hath given me his spirit and his spirit hath shewed me Christ as my Mediator at the right hand of God and now under the wing of such a Mediator I can by the Spirits assistance go with boldness ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã with assuming a liberty to speak any thing I
will in the ears of God Surely this is the fruit the effect of Christ's intercession and therefore thou mayest comfortably conclude Christ's intercession is mine 2. If at any time in the midst of duties I am savingly affected then is Christ's intercession mine Sometimes it pleaseth God to appear in ordinances and the soul is comforted quickened enlarged affected why now I look on this as the efficacy of Christ's Blood and as the power of Christs intercession at that very instant that I feel any good in any ordinance of Christ why then even then is Christ prevailing with God his Father for what I feel then even then may I boldly say Now is the Lord Jesus who is at God's right hand in heaven remembring me a poor worm on earth Oh now I feel the fruit of his intercession Oh what is this spirit power grace comfort sweetness I drink of but a tast of the hony-comb with the end of my rod dropping from the intercessions of Jesus Christ and if this presence of Christ's Spirit be so sweet what is himself then I know we had need to be wary in laying down this sign it is clearly proved by an eminent Divine Mr. Burges of Assurance Mat. 13.20 Mark 16.20 John 5.35 that sweet motions of heart in holy things are not infallible Evidences of grace the third kind of hearers are said to receive the Word with joy they found some sweet and power in the Ordinances of Christ and Herod heard John gladly and many for a season rejoyced in John's light and Ministry Certainly affections in holy administrations with delight and joy may be in those who yet have no true grace so it may be that the novelty and strangeness of a doctrine may much affect and delight or the nature of the doctrine as it is comfortable without any respect to spiritual operation may exceedingly affect or the Ministers abilities because of his parts eloquence elocution affectionate utterance may much delight and stir up the hearers affections fine head-notions may produce some affectionate heart-motions but what symptome of grace in all this The sign therefore I lay down of my propriety in Christ's intercessions is not every sweet motion or every excited affection but that which is holy spiritual heavenly saving I may discern much of this if I will but look into the grounds and effects of my excited or stirred up affections if the ground thereof be fetched from Heaven and in their effect they tend towards Heaven if they wean my heart from the world if they elevate and raise up my affections to things above if they form and frame my conversation heaven-wards then may I be assured these motions and affections are of the right stamp for all such motions are but sparks of that heavenly fire the the flame whereof is mindful of its own original they are the fruits of Christ and they go back to Christ they work towards their center they tend towards the place from whence they came and in this respect O that I could never hear a Sermon without a savory affection of what I hear O that I could never go to prayer without some warmth and heat and life and fervency Oh that in every duty I were savingly affected that I felt the savour of Christ's ointments whose name and whose intercession is as an ointment poured forth in times of the Old Testament if they offered up a sacrifice and a material fire came down from Heaven and burnt up the sacrifice to ashes it was a certain testimony that the sacrifice was accepted Now in the time of the Gospel we must not expect material fire to come down upon our duties but hath the Lord at any time causâd an inward and spiritual fire to fall down upon thy heart warming thy spirit in duty and carrying it up heaven-ward Surely it so thou mayest safely conclude these are the very effects of Christ's intercession his intercession is mine 3. If in my heart I feel a holy frame disposition inclination to pray and cry and intercede for others especially for the miseries and distresses of the Church of God then is Christ's intercession mine We should as near as we may in every thing conform to Christ and this conformity is an evidence or sign to us of our interest in Christ O my soul go down into the inmost closet of thy heart look what disposition there is in it towards the members of Christ and thou mayest conclude there is in Christ's heart the very same disposition towards thee Ah! do I think there is love in my bosom towards the Saints and that there is no love in Christ's bosome towards me what can I think that my narrow straitened sinful bowels are larger than those wide compassionate tender bowels of Jesus Christ as a drop of water is in comparison of the Ocean and as a gravel-stone is in comparison of the sand so is my heart to Christ's and my love to Christ's and my bowels to Christ's Come then and try by this sign Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life if we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death Hereby perceive we the love of God 1 John 3.14.16 because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren is not this plain if I love the brethren Christ loveth me if I feel in my heart an holy disposition to go to God and to pray and cry and intercede for a Saint in misery surely the Lord Jesus hath as much bowels towards me to go and intercede for me and to present my prayers unto God the Father his intercession is mine 4. If I am called justified sanctified then is Christ's intercession mine are not these the subject matter of Christ's intercession I pray saith Christ that thou shouldst keep them from the evil I pray that thou wouldst sanctifie them through the truth John 17 15 17 20 24. neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word or preaching Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me in glory He first prayes that we may be called and justified and then he prayes that we may be sanctified and saved he holds at both ends of this golden chain of our salvation the one end is hanged at his breast where the names of all his Saints are written and the other end is at his heart that he may be the Author and finisher the first and last the beginning and ending of our souls salvation alas there is nothing in us in our reach here below the first stirrings of grace is up in Heaven at the right hand of the Father and the far end of any gracious thought is as far above us as the heart of Christ is above the earth Come then sith all hangs on this great pin of Christ's intercession let us search and try are we called do we
such custom neither the Churches of God 2. Because it favours too much of the error of Arrius Nestorius and indeed of the Romanists themselves 3. Because our prayers are most-what directed to Christ in his person or divine subsistence whose part is rather to give than to ask or if they are directed to Christ as Mediator and not simply as the only begotten Son of God then I see no incongruity though in the former respect some inconvenience but that we may pray to Christ to intercede for us for so he is God and man and he is considered according to both Natures only the difference of both Natures is still to be kept and maintained intercession is the office of the whole person of Christ and of the two natures of Christ But he performs this office one way according to his Divine nature and another way according to his humane nature I list not to quarrel about niceties it is thus agreed on all hands and that is enough to our purpose that we may call on Jesus or on God the Father in and through Jesus that Christ's intercessions may be ours and that he would make it out to us in a way of assurance every day more and more 2. Let us praise let us bless God and bless Christ for every transaction in Heaven for us It is a wonder to observe what songs of praise were chanted to Christ in Heaven for that one transaction of opening the Book and loosing the seven Seals thereof first The four beasts Rev. 5.8 9 11 12 13 14. and then the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of the Saints and they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood And then the Angels round about the Throne whose number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands came on saying worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing And then every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea came on saying blessing and honour and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever and the four beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever I cannot tell what other transactions may be in Heaven we have but hints of them here nor shall we fully or particularly know them till we come to Heaven but for this one transaction of Christ's intercession we cannot imagine less praise to be given to Christ than for any other O then let us do this duty on earth as it is done in Heaven what is Christ praying for us O let us be on the exercise of praising him is Christ interceding for us let us give him the glory of his intercession Heaven is full of his praises O why should not earth ring with the sound thereof Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his intercession I cannot think but in every action of Christ there is something imitable of us And as to the present work I shall instance only in these few particulars As 1. Christ appears in Heaven for us let us appear on earth for him Is there not equity as well as conformity in this duty O my soul consider what thy Christ is doing consider wherein the intercession of Jesus Christ consists is not this the first part of it why he appears in Heaven before Saints and Angels and before God his Father in thy behalf and art thou afraid to appear before worms mortals dust and ashes in his cause or for his truth shall Jesus Christ own thee in Heaven and wilt thou not own Jesus Christ here in this world shall Jesus Christ as thy great high Priest take thy very name carry it upon his breast into the presence of God and wilt not thou take the Name of Christ and hold it forth in profession and practise to all men Oh what a mighty engagement is here to stand to Christ and to appear for Christ and to own his cause in these backsliding-times in that Christ who sits at the right hand of God is willing and ready to appear in person for us both as a Mediator and Sponsor and Solicitor and Advocate and Leiger Embassador 2. Christ spends all his time for us and our salvation let us spend all our time for him and in his service the Apostle tells us that He ever lives to make intercession for us Heb. 7.25 it is not for a day or a month or a year but he lives for ever upon this account for ever i.e. during all the time from his Ascension until the end of the world he is still interceding he spends of all that time for us and shall we think it too much time to spend a few dayes that we have here to live upon the earth for him one thinks this the greatest Argument in the world to make us to walk closely with God in Christ He spends of his eternity for us and shall not we spend of our whole time for him surely people do not think what Christ is doing in Heaven for them if you who are Saints would but seriously consider that Christ this Sabbath this day of rest is at his work that without any weariness or intermission from morning till evening and from evening till morning he is ever ever interceding how would this engage you in his service Ah Christians if you should continue praying praising reading hearing all this day without any intermission or breaking off Oh what weariness O how would you say When will the day be done when will the Sabbath be at an end Well but Christ is not weary of serving you this Sabbath and the last Sabbath and the other Sabbath and every Sabbath when you had done your duties he took your persons and duties and presented all unto his Father he prayed over your prayers and continued praying and saying Lord accept of a short poor lean imperfect service done on earth for my sake and for those merits sake which I am continually presenting to thee here in heaven Oh why do we not come up to this conformity Oh why are we so uncomformable to the actings of Christ he is preparing Mansions for us in Heaven and are we digging in this world he is making mention of our names to God and are we sinning against him and God his blood cryes O that these souls may be saved and shall our sins cry It is just that these souls should be damned O mind the exemplar Christ spends
all his time for you do you spend all your time for him we cannot but judge this to be most equal that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him who ever lives to make intercession for them 3. He prayes for us and for all believers to his Father let us pray for our selves and for all our brethren and for all sorts of men though they be our enemies for we were no better to âesus Christ Learn of me saith Christ and so far as he is imitable let us follow him doth Christ pray let us pray doth he pray for us and others let us pray for our selves 1 Tim. 2.1 and then let us pray one for another I exhort therefore saith the Apostle that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men Isa 27.4 Rom. 15.30 Isa 62.7 And come lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left said the King to Isaiah and Wrestle together in prayer for me said Paul and Give the Lord no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth said the Prophet Christ intercedes and there is no question but we should intercede for the living Saints Brethren pray for us 1 Thes 5.25 said the Apostle whosoever thou art that readest I beseech thee remember me in thy prayers it may be thou art nearer God and more in favour with God than such a poor sinner as I am as Mordecai set Ester on work to intercede for him with the King and for his people so 't is our duty to crave the prayers of such who are upon better terms possibly with the Lord than we our selves are at the present Only I could wish thy prayers at such a time when thy heart is got nearest to God by special stirrings of faith and love I suppose thou canst not have a spirit and power of prayer but sometimes or other thou art as it were in the lap of Christ upon the Spouses knee in the Beloveds bosom O then make a request for an unworthy one O then if ever intercede for me because then I read Christ's own intercession in thy intercession what is thy prayer then but as the eccho of Christ's prayer the Amen to Christ's intercessions which he makes in heaven Christians 't is our duty to put one another upon praying one for another Christ intercedes for us and so should we intercede for his called or uncalled if so they belong to the election of grace 4. Christ takes our prayers and mingles them with his own prayers intercessions incense and so presents all as one work mingled together unto God the Father O let this be our care to put up all our prayers to God in the Name of Christ and to stay our selves upon the intercessions of Christ when all is done let us beg the acceptance of our prayers not for our sakes nor for our prayers sake but for his sake who perfumes our prayers by interweaving them with his prayers Many a poor soul is many time afraid to pray to God for want of the due consideration of this conformity such a one goes to prayer and he looks upon it as it lyes upon his own heart or as it comes from himself and then he cries Oh what a poor weak sinful imperfect impenitent prayer is this well but if this weak prayer of thine be once mingled with the glorious and heavenly prayer of Jesus Christ the weakness will soon vanish and thy prayer will find acceptance with God the Father it is with your prayers and duties as it is with your fire your kitchin-fire is troubled with abundance of smoak but if ever it could ascend into the element of fire above it would smoak no more so your prayer while it lies upon your own hearth there 's a great deal of smoak in it but if ever it get up into the hands of Jesus Christ there it is in its own element and so it is freed from all its smoak and so the weakness of it is done away O conform to Christ in this point he will not present thy prayers to God but he will first mingle it with his own prayers no more shouldst thou present a prayer to God but in Christ's Name considering that all thy prayers find acceptance in for and through the intercession of Jesus Christ If it were not for this I profess I knew not how to answer the cavils of our dissolute adversaries who throw down prayers as of no use at all for us they object Thou canst not pray say they by thy own confession without some defect imperfection Object sin and if so there is need of a new prayer to beg pardon for the defects of that prayer and then another prayer to heal the flaws of that prayer and then another to do as much for that and so in infinitum by this means there would be an infinite progression without any stop at any prayer to all Answ I answer This Objection were valid if there were no intercession of Christ to stay our selves and our prayers on but as we grant requests many times for some friends sake rather than for the parties sake so God doth alway grant requests for Christ's sake never for our own sakes Thou objectest there are many defects in our prayers as made by us but I answer there is no defects in the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ for whose sake alone they are granted of God and therefore our prayers being made in Christ's Name they may stay their heads in Christ's bosom in this respect we need not still to run our selves in a Circle this being the last resolution Christ's merits and Christ's intercession Christ offers up our persons and wooden prayers in his golden Censer to his Father Christ's intercession therefore is that which doth the deed Now to say our prayers are of no use it is all one as to say his intercession is of no use not that we are so good that he cannot take exception against us and our prayers but because Christ is so good and his intercession for us is so good that he neither can not will take exception against him or his intercession for us and in this case Christ and Christians make one person as it were in law his intercession for us and our intercessions for our selves are but one intercession and indeed he so mingles them that they seem but one for the smoak of the incense and the prayers of the Saints ascend up together before God out of the Angels hand Rev. 8.4 Rev. 8.4 5. Christ pleads the cause of his people and answers all the accusations of Satan against them Oh let us plead for them for whom Christ pleads and answer the accusations of Satans or his instruments against their persons or their wayes We have a strange generation of men abroad whose very Religion consists in rayling reviling reproaching the Servants of the living God not the best
thine eternal election I have not lost a Saint in their several ages I produced them and gave them a being and in their times I remembred them and presented their conditions and necessities before thee and now I have not a Saint more in the Book of life there is not another name written to be born on earth and to what purpose should I now continue the world the Saints are they for whom I made the world the Saints are they that hold forth the light of my glory in the world the Saints are they for whom my eternal counsels before the world did work the Saints are they for whom I was content to shed my precious blood when I was in that world below and now their number is compleated I am resolved to unpin the fabrick of the world and take it down it stands but for their sakes and therefore now let the seventh Angel blow his trumpet that the mystery of God may be finished I swear by him that lives for ever Rev. 10.7 ver 6. that time shall be no longer Rev. 11.15 2. No sooner this said but the seventh Angel sounds This seventh Angel saith Pareus is the Arch-angel that proclaims Christ's coming with a great and mighty shout 1 Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the trump of God The Lord shall descend with a shout but before he descend and I believe upon the very discovery of his coming down there will be a shout in Heaven for so it follows And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven Pareus in loc if we may believe Commentaries these are the voices of blessed souls and blessed souls and blessed Angels in heaven no sooner Christ bids the Angel sound q. d. summon those blessed souls that were slain for the Word of God Rev. 6.10 Rev. 22.20 and therefore cried How long Lord holy and true summon those blessed souls that have cryed so long Come Lord Jesus come quickly summon all souls and summon all Angels and bid them wait on me now I resolve to go down and to judge the world no sooner I say Christ bids the Angel sound but presently at the joy of this command all the voices in Heaven give up a shout why this is the long-look'd for day the day of perfecting the number of the Saints the day of joyning the souls and bodies of the Saints together the day of convening all the families both of Saints and Angels under one roof the day of bringing up the Bride unto the Lamb and of compleating the Marriage in its highest solemnity and therefore no wonder if at this news great voices and cryes such as are used by Mariners or gatherers of the vintage were made in Heaven O what an addition of joy is this to Heavens joy it self the spirits of the just and the blessed Angels that have lived together in heavens bliss had never such an adventitious joy as this before now they shout and sing a new and blessed Song Rev. 11.15 The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever We may call this Heavens triumph for the finishing of God's mystery Now is it that Christ will vindicate his Kingdom and overthrow the power of his enemies they had long set themselves against the Lord and against his anointed the Kings of the earth and the Rulers confederated they ruled all and as much as in them lay excluded Christ but now the Kingdoms of the world will return to Christ and he alone shall rule and thence the winged Choristers of Heaven chant forth this Anthem The Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11.16 17 18. 3. After this shout The four and twenty Elders which sit before God on their seats fall upon their faces and worship God saying we give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty wâââh art and wast and are to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hâ ãâã ââned and the nations were angry c. By these four and twenty Elders we unââ ãâã âll Gods Saints of the Old and New Testament comprehended under the tweâââ ãâã âriarchs and twelve Apostles others would have them to be only those Saints ãâã Old Testament and therefore called Elders whosoever they are we find they are so glad at this news that Christ will now judge the world that presently they rise off their seats and fall on their faces and first they praise and then they pray 1. They praise God for taking to himself his own power Christ connived as it were till now at the power of his enemies Antichrist and not Christ seemed to rule and to sit in the Temple of God but now Christ is resolved to rule himself and to make all his enemies his footstool and therfore now We give thee thinks O Lord God Almighty Rev. 11.18 2. They pray Christ to go on to judgment 1. Because the nations were angry q. d. they have been angry long enough they have set themselves against Christ and against his Church and therefore now it is time to bridle their wrath and to break them with a rod of Iron O let thy wrath come 2. Because the time of judgment is now accomplished which God had decreed in his eternal counsel and which the Father had put in his own power This time was not for mortals to know Mortalibus ignotum caelestibus vero nunc revelatum a Christo Paraeus in loc Psalm 110.1 but now 't was revealed to these celestial spirits by Christ and therefore they beg Go on Lord Jesus reward now thy Servants Prophets Saints and destroy them which destroyed the earth 4. God the Father is well pleased with Christ's purpose of judging the world The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool I know these words were spoke to Christ at his ascension into Heaven yet that hinders not but that now God speaks them again to Christ Heb. 2.8 for as yet saith the Apostle we see not all things put under him and God's purpose was that Christ should rule until he had put all things in subjection under his feet Nay why not these words spoken now rather than before Christ indeed reigned as King ever since his Ascension but now more especially he is to manifest his Kingdom for now is he to judge among the heathen Psal 110.6 now is he to wound the heads of many countries now is he to overthrow Pope Turk and all his enemies and he alone with the Father and the Spirit is to reign in his Elect Saints and Angels Thus all agree that Christ in the latter dayes shall be fully honoured in his Kingly power hitherto Christ hath been much honoured in his Prophetical and Priestly office but not so much
tempestuous round about him Whence this fire should come I shall not dispute only one tells us with some confidence * Suarez de renovatione mundi in 3. part Thomae Psal 97.3 Isa 66.15 2 Thes 1 7 8. Dan. 7.9 10. 2 Pet. 3.10 2 Pet. 3.11 12. that 't is begotten in the middle Region of the Air by Divine command and that first it goes before him ushering the Judge to the Judgment-seat and that there it stayes during the judgment and that ended and the doom passed on all flesh then it sets on fire all the world Let this pass as it may Scripture goes thus far that a fire goeth before him Behold the Lord will come with fire and with his chariots like a whirlwind And the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire In which respect Daniel saw his throne like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him and at last this fire shall have that effect that the very Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up O Christians what cause have we to make the Apostles use on this point Seeing all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat 4. He descends lower and lower till he is inwrapt with clouds Matth. 26.64 Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven When he went up into Heaven it is said that a cloud received him out of their sight Act. 1.9 and the Angels then said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come Act. 1.11 12. Dan 7.13 in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven He went up in clouds and he shall come down in clouds I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven Here is the first sight of Christ to men on the earth when once he is come down into the clouds then shall they lift up their eyes and have a full view of Jesus Christ a cloud first received him out of their sight and a cloud now discovers him to their sight Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven Matth. 24.30 and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory is it not plain that the first appearings and sight of Christ at his second coming from Heaven is in the midst of clouds Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him Rev. 1.7 and they also which pierced him Some controversie there is about these clouds as whether they be Angels when the Psalmist speaks of all sorts of Meteors as of Waters Clouds Winds Flames some say all these are Angels and of the Angels he saith who maketh his Angels spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire For my part I take it in the literal sense that upon the very backs of clouds Christ shall come riding along at the general day and howsoever this may seem a small matter unto us yet I cannot look on any circumstance of this transaction as small and trifling the very clouds on which Christ rides speaks terror and comfort 1. Oh what a terror is this to the wicked Heb. 1.7 Matth. 24.30 Id de impiis solum intelligo ad quos planctus luctus ille miserandus solum pertinet Aretius in locum They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds and then shall all the Tribes of the earth mourn These Tribes of the Earth are the Tribes of the wicked no sooner shall they look up and see Christ in his clouds but with unconceivable horror will they cry it out O yonder is he whose blood we neglected whose grace we resisted whose counsels we refused whose government we cast off O yonder is he that comes now in clouds in tempestuous clouds O see how he storms do not those very clouds in which he rides speak or threaten a storm In the eighteenth Psalm is a description of Christ's coming to judgment But O how terrible in the seventh verse we find the earth trembling in the eighth verse a fire devouring in the ninth verse the heavens bowing downwards in the 12 13 14 15. verses are thick clouds darkning the skie thunders lightnings hailestones flying through the air the foundations of the world discovered thus the Mighty God our Jesus descends Oh how should the wicked but tremble at this when but a consideration of this hath sometimes startled God's own people behold Habakkuk with quivering lips trembling joynts Hab. 3.16 bones mouldering into dust when he had onely a Prophetick representation of Christ's second appearance all the dreadful things that attended the presence of God in Egypt at the red Sea on Mount Sinai through the Wilderness are made but types but shadows of the terrible march of the Captain of the Lord of Hosts and therefore shall the wicked mourn 2. Here is the patience and faith and joy of Saints Rev. 1.7 And all the kindreds of the earth shall mourn over him even so Amen This I cannot but understand of the wicked onely some tell us of a double mourning on that day the one of joy and love and the other of sorrow and despair I shall not deny but there may be some sweet tears upon this sweet Subject Christ's apparition in the clouds Such a shine will be from Christ in the cloud that the very shine will pierce the hearts of men with the golden-headed arrow of love and how may this work tears Rev. 1.7 Hinc consequitur Christum in eo judicio cicatrices vulnerum ostensurum tanquam trophaeum infallibile contra omnes suos bostes Aret. in loco from this Text of John Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all the kindreds of the earth shall wayle c. Some Divines gather that Christ at that day will shew in his glorified body the wounds of his crucifying as an infallible trophy of his victory over all his enemies and hence the wicked who pierced or crucified the Lord of glory by their sins will weep and waile I can think no less but that Christ at that day will open his bosom and shew those wounds of love which he had in his heart from all eternity together with those wounds which he received on the Cross as they are glorified in his eternal love and then as at the discovery of Joseph he and his brethren fell upon the necks
of earth other and wept so will this discovery in the appearances of Christ bring a sweet confusion upon the Spirits of Saints then shall a Saint fall at the feet of his Saviour and weeping say O my Jesus thou art my Father Brother Husband Self while there were other things I loved other things besides thy self but alas they are everlastingly gone and have left me alone yet now thou ownest me O my Jesus thou breakest my heart oh I cannot but weep out tears of love and tears of joy at this appearing O welcome welcome sweet Jesus into these clouds oh welcome welcome sweet Jesus into this neather world In these Clouds I must leave our Saviour for a while and the rather because I believe he will descend no lower onely before I pass one word of Use to all his Saints Vse You see him still upon his old design though the world now end yet hitherto there is no end of his great transaction his first coming and his second coming is to save your souls his first coming was to purchase his second to give you the possession of Salvation What are you not glad of this Gospel-news that Christ will come at last from this Empyreal Throne to his judgment-seat to give you the possession of salvation is not the promise of his coming comfortable is it not comfortable to believe in him and to hope for him why muse then what comfort will it be to see his person with all his glorious train coming for you Psal 50.1 2 3 4. The Mighty God the Lord hath spoken and called the Earth from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof out of Zion the perfection of beauty hath God shined our God shall come and shall not keep silence a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him he shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that he might judge his people It is indeed a most terrible day unto the wicked but oh how sweet and pleasant and comfortable to his Saints Christians do we not long to have Christ's Spirit come into our souls with life do we not droop while Christ is absent from our souls are not the feet of them beautiful that bring glad tydings of peace and of salvation by Jesus Christ Oh then what will it be to see the King not in his Embassadors but in his own person coming for us to fetch us into Heaven if we have but a dear friend returned from some far Country how do all run out to meet him with joy Oh saith the child my father is come saith the wife my husband is come and shall not we when we see our Father our Husband our Head our Saviour returning with great glory and glorious Majesty cry out he is come he is come shall not we at the first view of him in his clouds cry out O yonder is he whose blood redeemed us whose Spirit cleansed us whose prayers prevailed for us whose Law did govern us yonder comes he in whom we trusted and now we see he hath not deceived our trust yonder is he for whom we waited long and now we see we have not waited in vain I verily believe thus it will be with us one day we shall have comfort then oh let us comfort our selves with these words and ever and anon cry Come Lord Jesu come quickly Cant. 8.14 make hast my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the Mountain of spices SECT III. Of Christ's summoning of the Elect to come under judgment 3. FOR Christ's summons of the Elect to come under judgment no sooner is he in the clouds his Throne of judicature but there he stands and thence he sends his holy Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet Mat. 24.31 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of the heaven to another Christ's summons are effectual if he will have the elect to meet him they must come to this purpose he sends his Angels and they return with his Saints back again to the judgement-seat In the carrying on of this affair we shall discuss these particulars 1. His mission of the Angels 2. The manner of the mission 3. The resurrection of the world 4. The collection of the Saints wherein 1. whence 2. whither they are gathered 1. For Christ's mission of his Angels he shall send his Angels This was their office from their first creation they were still sent of God this way and that way and indeed herein is one difference betwixt Christ and the Angels he was to fit on God's right hand but they were sent abroad to Minister to the Saints and people of God Heb. 1.13 14. To which of the Angels said he at any time sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation Now according to their office Christ puts them upon imployment at this day q. d. O my Angels you that wait upon me that excel in strength Psal 103.20 Psal 50.5 that do my commandments and hearken to the voice of my Word go your wayes now into all the four winds of the World gather all my Saints together unto me those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice search into all the dusts of the earth and leave not behind one dust that belongs unto any Saint search into the bottom of the Sea see what becomes of those drowned bodies of my dear ones if either worms have eaten those in graves or fishes have devoured them in the deep why now restore them am not I as able to recover them as I was to create them is it not as easie for me to raise the dead as to make Heaven and Earth and all of nothing go then and gather together all those dusts and let every dust be brought home to its own proper body and compact those dusts as soft as they are into solid bones and prophesie upon those bones and say unto them O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord thus saith the Lord behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live Ezek. 37.4 5 6. and I will lay sinews upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord why this is my will and pleasure and therefore be gone O my Angels do your office what have not I commanded you 2. The Mission or commission or dismission given the Angels swift messengers of his will fall on the execution and to that purpose immediately they sound the Trumpet so it follows And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet Here is the manner of their mission they go and as they go they give a shout what this shout is or how it is
made is a curious question and sets many wits on work in this Scripture it is set out by the sound of a Trumpet * Anselmus in elucidario Suarez tuba ex aere Doctor Slater who faith I see not but we may take it properly c. Cornelius a lapide Mat. 24.31 1 Cor. 15.52 1 Thes 4.16 Now some would have it to be a material Trumpet because the Scriptures frequently call it a Trumpet He shall send his Angels with the sound of a Trumpet saith Christ and in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump we shall be changed saith Paul for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised And the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God But whether this Trumpet shall be of Silver or of Brass or of the Air or of the Cloud and Meteors whereon Christ rides they cannot agree â Piscator Estius Aretius alii fere omnes others more probably look upon this Trumpet as nothing else but a metaphor or a sound formed in the Air like the sound of a Trumpet A voice it is without all controversie and metaphorically it may be called a trumpet both from the clearness and greatness of the sound so loud shall it be that 't will pierce into the ears of the dead in their graves It will shake the world rend the rocks break the mountains dissolve the bonds of Death Cui omnia obediunt elementa petras scindit inferos aperit c. Chrysost in 1 Cor. 15. burst down the gates of Hell and unite all spirits to their own Bodies An horrible terrible voice shall it be But how should Angels who are spirits make a voice by a collision of the Air which the Angels can move at their pleasure and who can tell say some but there may be some new-created instrument trumpet-like adapted for the Angels at the sides of which by a force and collision of the air this great shout may be to convene all the World or who knows say others but that the Lord Jesus may fill the Angels even as trumpets are filled with a loud blast and that through them this loud blast shall come rushing like a mighty wind upon the dead Saints and so awaken their bodies out of the dust we all know this was usual in all the Jews solemnities to convene the people by the found of a trumpet And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Make thee two trumpets of silver Numb 10 1 2 3 9. That thou mayest use them for the calling of the Assembly And when thou shalt blow them all the Assembly shall assemble themselves and if ye go to war then ye shall blow an alarme with the Trumpets and in the same way say they Christ now will convene all the World with the sound of a trumpet or with the sound of some such instrument of divine power and vertue whereby the dead shall be raised and their bodies and souls re-united Amidst all those Authors if I may deliver my opinion I suppose the Text that will clear all to us above all that is written is that of 1 Thessalonians 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout 1 Thes 4.16 with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God Give me leave to insist on it that we may come up yet to a more full and perfect knowledg of this passage In these words is shewed or held forth the coming of Christ in three particulars with a shout with a voice and with a trumpet some think this to be one and the same set out in variety of expressions but I am of another mind It is agreed by most that the transactions at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai were a representation of the proceedings which shall be at the great day of Judgment now in that transaction we read of a three-fold voice The voice of God the voice of Thunder and the voice of a Trumpet Exod. 19.16 compared with Exod. 20.1 and accordingly we find the Apostle speaking of a three-fold voice Of the voice of Christ of the voice of Thunder and of the voice of a Trumpet 1. The Lord himself shall descend with a shout Arius Montanus and the vulgar translate it with a command Lyra and others think this to be the voice of Christ himself saying John 11.48 with a loud voice Arise ye dead and come to Judgment Thus Jesus cryed with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and with such a voice will he call on the dead at the last day Jâhn 5.25 So much Christ himself hath taught us The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live The hour is because by his voice he raised some at his first coming and the hour is coming because in the like manner he will raise up all men at the last day Marvel not at this saith Christ for the hour is coming John 5.28 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and they shall come forth As at the creation of the World he said Let there be light and there was light so at the dissolution of the World he will say Let the dead arise let the Sea give up the dead that are in it and Death and Hell deliver up the dead which are in them and it will be so 2. The Lord shall descend with the voice of the Archangel Two questions here 1. Who is this Archangel 2. What is this voice For the first some argue this Archangel to be Gabriel others Raphael others Michael The Jews have an antient tradition that there are seven principal Angels that minister before the throne of God and therefore called Archangels The Scriptures seem to speak much that way Revel 4.5 Rev. 5.6 Zach 4.10 Rev. 8.2 calling them seven Lamps of fire burning before the throne and seven hornes and seven eyes of the Lamb and the seven spirits of God sent forâh into all the earth and seven eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth and yet more plainly seven Angels that stand before God Now which of these Seven is the Archangel here spoken of is hard to determine only probable it is that all the Archangels and all the angels are hereby understood as comprehended under that one to which agrees Matth. 24.31 Mr. Aynsworth observes that when things are done by a multitude where one is chief that the action is frequently ascribed either to the multitude or to him that is chief indifferently as Jehoiadah brought forth the Kings Son and he put the Crown upon him 2 Kings 11.12 or they brought forth the Kings son and they put upon him the Crown 2 Chron. 23.11 so David offered burnt-offerings 2 Sam. 6.17 or they offered burnt offerings 1 Chron. 16.1 and
quo tellus ardeat A time shall come when Sea and earth and all the frame of this great World shall be consumed in flame 3. The Sybills grant this to which the Roman missal seems to allude joyning them with the Prophet David though I know not by what warrant Dies ira dies illa solvet saeculum in favilla teste David cum Sybilla A day of Wrath a day of fire So David with the Sybills doth conspire But to wave all these one Text of Scripture is to me more than all these 2 Pet. 3.10 The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise 2 Pet. 3.10 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Hence all our Divines agree that a fire shall seaze on the Universe only some difference is amongst Divines whether the World shall be wholly annihilated or renewed by fire Jerome and Augustin and many after them say the end of this fire is for purifying and refining of the Heaven and Earth for all corruptible qualities shall be burnt out of them but they in their substance shall remain still if we ask them to what end shall this neather world be renewed some say for an habitacle of the restored Beasts others for a fitter accommodation of men â Mundus in melius immutatus aperte accommodabitur hominibus in melius immutatis August de civit Dei l. 20. c. 16. and the glorified Saints others for a perpetual Monument of God's Power and Glory Polanus and some of our Moderns are of Opinion that * Polan Syntag l. 6. c. 70. These Heavens and this Earth when purified with those fires and super-invested with new endowments they shall be the everlasting habitations of the blessed Saints But on the contrary others are of the other opinion that all the World with all the parts and works except Men Angles and Devils Heaven and Hell the two mansions for the saved and damned shall be totally and finally dissolved and annihilated And of this opinion were Hilary Clement and all the ancients before Jerome and of our Moderns not a few For my part I rather incline this way because of the many Scriptures that are so express I shall only mention these Job 14.12 Psal 102.25 26. Isa 34.4 Man lyeth down and riseth not till the heavens be no more Of old thou hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hands they shall perish but thou shalt endure All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved and the heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll and all the host shall fall down as the leaf falleth from the Vine Rev. 6.14 and as a falling fig from the fig-tree To which prophesie John seems to allude And the heavens departed as a scrowl when it is rolled together and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places Again Mat. 24.36 2 Pet. 3.10 heaven and earth shall pass away saith Christ but my Word shall not pass away The day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein 1 John 2.17 shall be burnt up And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever and I saw a great white Throne Rev. 20.11 and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away and they was found no place for them Now I would demand whether being no more as Job and perishing as David and rolling together and falling down like a withered leaf as Isay and passing away as our Saviour and Peter and flying away as John do not include to utter abolition If to these Scriptures I should add one reason I would argue from the end of the Worlds Creation was it not partly for the glory of God and partly for the use of man now for the glory of God the manifestation of it is occasioned by the manifestation of the world unto man if man therefore should be removed out of the world and no creature in it be capable of such a manifestation what would become of his glory And for the use of man that is either to supply his necessity in matter of dyet physick building apparel or for his instruction direction recreation comfort delight now when he shall attain that blessed estate of enjoying God and seeing God face to face these ends or the like must needs be frustrate This argument is weighty and we need no more Only we shall hear an Antagonist's objections and give them their answers and so conclude The Texts more especially objected against this opinion are two the first is that in Rom. 8.21 Rom. 8.21 The creature it self shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God here say theâ is an earnest expectation attributed to brute Creatures that they shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God But I answer that no immortal being of the brute creatures is here promised but only a simple deliverance and dismission from the servitude they were in to ungrateful men The Birds Beasts and Fishes do now suffer for our dyet Horses Mules and beasts of that nature do now groan under the burthens of our pleasures or necessities their annihilation therefore to them must needs be a kind of deliverance and at last they shall be delivered at the time of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God the Text will bear it thus â ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã pro ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 1 Cor. 10.2 as sometimes ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã pro ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Rom. 4.11 1 Cor. 2.15 So Chrysostome expounds it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã pro ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã The Creature shall be delivered by the glorious liberty of the Sons of God i.e. When such a deliverance comes to men these shall be freed from their servitude by being not at all having done all the business for which they were ordained or created The second Text is that in 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Pet 3.13 We look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness These words say some imply a purging rather than abolishing a taking off the corrupt qualities only not the substance But I am of another mind and if I must give my sense of the place I say 1. Negatively that by new heavens and new earth is not meant renewed heavens and earth 2 Pet. 3.7 10 is it not punctually in the seventh verse that the heavens and the earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and doth he not descend unto particulars in the tenth verse that the heavens which are
now shall pass away with a great noise 11 12. that the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and that the earth also and the works therein shall be burnt up and doth he not infer thereupon in the eleventh and twelfth verses that all these things shall be dissolved and in the thirteenth verse that we are therefore to look for new heavens and a new earth dissolution mends not a fabrick but destroyes it how then should that which is dissolved be said to be reserved and let stand surely if Peter had thought of this refining only some words of his would have intimated so much The end of these creatures was for man's use and man using them no more to what end should they be reserved to say for a monument of what hath been or for the habitation of the Saints or for an out-let for the Saints descending sometimes from the highest heavens to solace themselves here below are but groundless surmises and deserve no answer at all 2. Positively by new heavens and a new earth is meant the heaven of heavens and place of glory Now these heavens are termed new not in regard of their new making but of our new taking possession of them for our new habitation and they are called heavens and earth because they come in stead of that heavenly covering and that earthly habitation which we now enjoy so that the Text may well bear this paraphrase we look for new heavens i.e. the supreme court of God's presence and a new earth i.e. a new habitation for us which shall infinitly exceed the commodities and happiness of these heavens and earth which we now enjoy thus John in his Revelations Rev. 21.1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more Sea This new heaven and new earth is the place or habitation prepared for the blessed Saints and people of God A new heaven where the Moon is more glorious then our Son and the Sun as glorious as he that made it for it is he himself the Son of God the Son of righteousness the Son of Glory a new earth where all their waters are milk and all their milk honey where all their grass is corn and all their corn is Manna where all their glebe and clods of earth are Gold and all their Gold of innumerable Carats where all their minutes are ages and all their ages Eternity where every thing is every minute in the higest exaltation as good as can be Of these new heavens and this new earth I can never say enough not know enough till I come there to inhabit it Something only we shall discover of it in our next Sections for now are the Saints entred in with Jesus Christ Vse Only one word of use Christians what 's the matter that we are so busie about this world why look about you not one of these visible objects shall that day remain or have a being those houses wherein we dwell these Temples wherein we meet this Town this Country this Isle and the Seas and waters that surround it shall be all on fire and consume to nothing the Sea shall be no more and time shall be no more or if we look higher yond Sun and Moon and Star shall be no more that glorious Heaven which rolls over our heads shall be rolled together as a scrol Isa 34.4 Isa 51.6 and all the hoast shall fall down as a leaf falleth from the Vine and as a falling Fig from the Fig-Tree the heavens shall vanish away like smoak saith Isaiah comminuentur in nihilum as Hierome reads it they shall be battered into nothing Alas alas what do we toyling all the day it may be all our life for a little of this little almost nothing earth you that have an hundred or two hundred or a thousand Acres if every acre were a Kingdom all will be at last burnt up so that none shall say here was Preston or here was London or here was England or here was Europe or here was the Globe of Earth on which men troad let others bâast as they will of their inheritances but Lord give me an inheritance above all these visibles heaven shall remain when earth shall vanish that Empyreal Heaven those seats of Saints those mansions above prepared by Jesus Christ shall never end but for my riches lands possessions moveables goods real or personal they will end in smoak in nothing what wilt thou set thine eyes upon a thing that is not Prov. 23.5 upon this the primitive Christians took joyfully the spoiling of their goods it was but a loss a little before the time and they knew in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance O let this be our care here we have no abiding City but O let 's seek one to come even that one that will abide for ever and ever Amen SECT VIII Of Christ's surrendring and delivering up the Kingdom to God even the Father 8. FOR Christ's surrendring and delivering up the Kingdom to God even the Father no sooner is he in heaven but these things follow 1. He presents the Elect unto his Father of this the Apostle speaks you hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable Col. 1.12 22. and unproveable in his sight to this end Christ dyed that he might wash us and cleanse us by his blood and then that he might present us without spot unto his Father We may imagine Christ as going to his Father with his bride in his hand and saying thus O my Father here is my Church my Spouse my Queen here are the Saints concerning whom I covenanted with thee from Eternity concerning whom I went down from heaven and dyed on earth and ascending up I have interceded these many hundred years concerning whom I went down to Judge the World and having sentenced them to life eternal I now bring them in my hand to give them the possession of thy self These are they whom thou gavest me in the beginning of the World and now I restore them to thy self at the end of the World for they are thine Thus he presents them to his Father Indeed we read that Christ presents the Saints to himself as well as to his Father Eph. 5.25.27 Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle but this I take it was done before when first a Soul believes it is contracted to Christ when the soul is sentenced to glory then is the solemnity and consummation of the Marriage then doth Christ present the Soul to himself and I know not but that the Ministers of Christ may have a part in this matter for I have espoused you to one husband said Paul to his Corinthians that I may present you as a chast Virgin to
the creation of the World and what is Six thousand years to Eternity certainly the truth of Origen's opinion touching the existency of other worlds before this Orig. l. de Prin cipiis 3. c. 5. and the future succession of other Worlds after this will then be known If no worlds before this yet if God in Christ hath done such great things in only Six thousand years what he may do in the next Six thousand years and so in the next Six thousand years who now can tell we see not these things but the Saints in seeing the face of Christ shall see all things 4. They shall see Christ in all his glory ways counsels decrees executions transactions as working for their happiness Now this ãâã more then the former there 's a great deal of difference in seeing an object as excellent in it self and in seeing an object as conducing to my happiness As one that is a stranger and another is an heir rides over such a demesgne the stranger rides over it and takes delight to see the situation rivers trees and fruits but the heir looks upon it after another manner this saith he is the land for which my Father laid out so much and all to enrich me and all to bestow it on me as my Inheritance So the Saints admitted into the glorious sight of Christ they take not only a view of Christ of the Essential glory of Christ of the transactions of Christ things excellent in themselves but they see all these as to make them happy they say of Christ and of all his actings these are mine and for my happiness A stranger may look upon a King and see beauty and Majesty and glory and honour in him but the Queen looks upon the King and his beauty as her own so the Saints look upon the King of Heaven they see Christ and all in Christ as their own to make them happy for ever and ever 5. They shall see Christ as he is but what do we not see him now as he is oh no 1 John 3.2 we now see him not as he is indeed and truth but only as he is in hear-say and report we now see him only as he is shadowed out to us in the Gospel of peace and what is the Gospel but the pourtraiture of the King which he sent to another Land to be seen by his Bride so Kings and Queens on earth wooe one another whilst the Bride is on earth she never seeth him as he is in his best Sabbath-Royal Robe of immediate glory she seeth him rather by the second hand i.e. by messengers words mediation he rather sends his pourtraiture then comes himself but in heaven the Saints see him as he is they see Christ himself in his own very person they see the red and white in his own face they see all the inside of Christ and thousands of excellencies shall then be revealed that we see not now the mysteries of that glorious Ark shall then be opened his Incarnation his two Natures in one person his Suffering as Man and his sitting in the seat of God as God all these shall be seen 6. They shall see Christ without interruption and without intermission to all Eternity If once the eye be set on the face of Jesus Christ it will never be taken off again Some conceive this to be the reason why the Saints in heaven can never fall away because they shall have a continual view of Christ as God Surely to have but one glimpse of Christ in this respect though it were gone presently it were a great happiness beyond all that the World affords it was sometimes the desire of a Philosopher to see the nature of the Sun though he were to be burnt by it so if Christ should but grant us this happiness you shall come to see me but the sight of me will destroy you this were a desirable thing but to have such an excellent glorious sight as shall never end that Christ should not only pass by but stand still so as the soul shall never lose his sight O how glorious is this if a man do but look upon a delightful Object he is loath to have his eye drawn from it surely the eye of Saints shall be eternally opened to see the divine nature of Christ turn them which way they will they shall never turn aside the busied eyes of their understanding from off the Deity of Christ he fills heaven he is that fair Tree of life the branches whereof in all that huge and capacious borders of heaven have not room to grow in for the heaven of heavens cannot contain him O the wonders of heaven There is Abraham Moses Elias the Prophets the Apostles and the glorified Martyrs but the Saints have neither leisure nor hearts to feed themselves with beholding of creatures no no all the eyes of heaven which are a fair and numerous company are upon only only upon the Lord Jesus Christ the Father hath no leisure to look over his shoulder to his Son the Husband hath no leasure to look over his shoulder to his Wife Christ takes all eyes off from such created things surely 't is enough for the Saints and Angels in heaven to study Christ for all Eternity it shall be their only labour to read Christ to smel Christ to hear see and taste Christ to love joy and enjoy Jesus Christ for ever and ever Thus far of the second point how the Saints shall behold the glory of Christ 3. Wherein is the comprehensiveness of this expression that the beholding of Christ is our all in all I answer 1. It comprehends the immediate seeing and looking upon all that Majesty and Glory which Jesus Christ hath 2 Cor. 5.7 In this sense Paul took it when he complained we walk by faith not by sight q. d. on earth we have faith and in heaven we have sight it is some comfort that now I see Jesus Christ by faith but comparatively to that sight which the Saints have in heaven it is as no comfort at all alas I am not I cannot be satisfied so long as I am absent from the Lord I look upon my self as one from home And as a Prince in a strange Land sits down sadly because he hath not the sight of his Father so I am forced to complain O I cannot see my Lord I would fain behold him I am a stranger on earth a Pilgrim in this world I am not where I would be I am absent from him whom I most desire O I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I walk with him here on earth by faith but to walk with him in the streets of heaven by sight is far better O I long I pant I breath I desire I think every day a year and every year an age till I be in heaven at home in my Father's arms that I may behold and see him and that immediately I say immediately in his glory This
all the World what a thing will this be when Christ shall pass a sentence of death on others and speak words of life unto thee when thou shalt see him frowning upon the world and oh those frowns will break the heart and shalt behold him smiling in the fulness of his love upon thy self that Christ at such a time should be delighting-thee with all the imbraces of love and with this sweet invitation to Heaven Come thou blessed inherite the Kingdom it were enough to a spirit a soul half dead the very meditation of this must needs be sweet 6. Consider Christ and the Saints Judging the rest of the world no sooner are the Saints sentenced but Christ turns to the wicked and bids them go into everlasting fire in which sentence the Saints shall joyn with Christ himself Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 when the Saints appear it is not only by a Summons but with commission not only to be judged but to judge not only shall they stand at Christs right hand but they shall sit down on the Throne of the Son of God to judge the wicked Angels and the World O the torment O the vexation of wicked men and Devils when they shall see those very men whom they scorned oppressed persecuted to be now advanced not onely to glory but to be their judges it is as if some Noble man had wronged some Poor man and that the King should therefore deliver the Noble man into the power of the poor man Psal 112.10 to take his own revenge Surely The ungodly shall see this and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth for indignation and melt away but on the contrary Psal 58.10 The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance he shall wash his foot-steps in the blood of the ungodly O my soul dost thou believe this truth and art thou confident that thou shalt sit with Christ on his very Throne to judge the World why then be joyfull in afflictions exercise thou patience in the censures and judgments of the World know thou for thy comfort that there is a turn and time of judging and therefore say 1 Cor. 4. â With me it is a small matter that I should be judged of you or of man's Judgment as the original hath it of man's day Is it not enough to command patience if God's day be at hand when I shall judge my unjust judges hark what the Apostle saith Jam. 5.7 8 9. Be patient Brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh behold the judge standeth before the door Come exercise patience let the World be judging if they will needs slander reproach and persecute thy soul they had better abuse any judge on earth than thee though thou art the poorest weakest meanest of God's Saints upon the earth they will know one day that they have abused their own judge in abusing thee And therefore be thou quiet silent patient Say as David let him alone and let him curse yea let him judge for the Lord hath bidden him it may be the Lord will look on mine affliction and will requite good for his Judging this day this is his day but the day of the Lord is my day and then shall I sit with Christ on his Throne to judge the World Oh the sweet that I may suck from this hony-comb of Christ and his Saints judging the World 7. Consider Christ and his Saints going up into Heaven No sooner hath he done his work with the World and sent them away but then he shall conduct all his flock like a faithful shepherd to their fold then shall he go with all his troops following him into Heaven Hath not Christ said so If I go away I will come again John 14.3 and receive you unto my self that where I am there you may be also O those songs of joy and shouts of praise that will fill the World at that day And thus as they go along Heaven opens unto them and they enter in what welcomes they have there is past my telling if we may imagine and guess O the welcome that Christ will give Come my spouse and come my dear come all my Saints here be those Mansions that I went before to prepare and make ready for you here be those everlasting habitations wherein you and I will dwell together here is your Fathers house the building of the wall is all of Jasper Rev. 21 18. and the worst piece of it is all of pure Gold like unto clear Glass why this is your home your house made without hands here you and I will spend our time eternity it self in joying enjoying and beholding of each other And as thus Christ salutes them so will the Angels those Created Citizens of Heaven salute them too for if joy be in Heaven at the conversion of one sinner what joy will there be at the glorification of all these Saints what welcome entertainment will the Angels give to these new guests at their first enterance into Heaven O my soul if thou art one of them that shalt have this welcome what wilt thou say when thou art admitted in thither if weeping were in Heaven wouldst thou not weep for joy sure these things are no fictions of man's brain but truths and realities and as they are true and real so they are exceeding full of joy all the excellencies of this World are but a dream in comparison of them even the Sun in its brightness is but darkness to this glory that shall then be seen Come think over these things and be so enlarged in thy thoughts that before they go thou mayest feel the sweet and taste of this goodness of the Lord. 8. Consider all the several transactions that will follow in Heaven then will Christ present all his elect to God his Father then will he give in all his commissions which he hath received from his Father Then will the Son himself be subject to the Father that God may be all in all I cannot stay to enlarge on these Onely remember though God may be all in all that excludes not Christ for he also is All in all to all his Saints even to all eternity Immediate visions and fruitions of Christ as God is the very top of Heavens joy Christ is all and in all Christ is the center of Heavens happiness Christ is the well-spring that fills the capacities of Saints and Angels Christ is the object of happiness it self there is as much happiness in Christ as happiness is what ever belongs to glory is in Christ In him dwels all the fulness whatever excellency is in Heaven it is in Christ not onely in perfection but connexion for all those
respect 4. LET us hope in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his second coming Hope is of good things to come hope is an act of the will extending it self towards that which it loves as future onely the future good as it is the object of hope is difficult to obtain and therein it differs from desire for desire looks at future good without any apprehension of difficulty but hope respects the future good as it is gotten with difficulty Lazy hopes that will not be in use of means though difficult are not true hopes we see many desirable things set before us of which we may say Oh that we had our part and portion of them but shall we go on and search and find out the truth whether we have any part or portion in them or whether we have any hopes of any such thing oh this is worthy our pains come then let us yet make a further progress let us not only desire that it may be thus and so but let us say on some sure and certain grounds we hope it is thus and so we hope Christ will come again John 14.3 and receive us to himself that where he is there we may be also Heb. 9.12 Indeed there is the Christians stay and comfort such an hope is a sure Anchor that will hold the ship in a storm onely because our souls lie upon it we had need to look to it that our hopes be true the worst can say They hope to be saved as well as the best but I fear the hopes of many will be lamentably frustrated Our Saviour brings in many pleading with confidence at the last day for life who shall be rejected with miserable disappointment Many shall say to me at that day Lord Lord c. and I will confess unto them I never knew them depart from me Now to clear this point that our hopes are of the right stamp and not counterfeit hopes I shall lay down some signs whereby we may know that Christ's coming is for us and for our good and for the grace that is to be given us at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.3 4. 1. If we are born again then will his glorious coming be to glorifie us Blessed be the God and Father of Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible Whoever hath the true hope of Heaven John 3.3 he is one that is begotten again so our Saviour Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Many things may be done as Herod heard John the Baptist and did many things but except a man be born again those many things are in God's account as nothing When Peter had told Christ that he and his fellow-disciples had forsaken all Math. 19.28 and followed him Then Jesus said verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye shall also sit upon twelve Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel q. d. Peter you have forsaken all and followed me but know that bare forsaking is not enough but you who have felt the Work of God regenerating your souls upon which ye have followed me ye shall sit upon twelve Thrones In those who are alive at the last day there will be a change and this change will be to them instead of death 1 Cor. 15.51 Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed Certainly in those who at the last day shall sit on Thrones with Christ there must be a change likewise in this life i.e. a new spirit and a new life must be put into them Oh what a change is this suppose a rational soul were put into a beast what a change would be in that Creature suppose an angelical nature were put upon us what a change would there be in us oh but what a change is this when a man is born again of water and of the spirit I must tell you that the highest degree of glory in Heaven is not so different from the lowest degree of grace here as the lowest degree of grace here is different from the highest excellency of nature here because the difference betwixt the highest degree of the glory of Heaven and the lowest degree of grace is only gradual but the difference that is betwixt the lowest degree of grace and the highest excellency of nature is a specifical difference Oh there 's a mighty work of God in preparing souls for glory by grace and this change must they have that must sit on Thrones Come then you that hope for glory try your selves by this is there a change in your hearts words and lives is there a mighty work of grace upon your spirits are you experienc'd in the great mystery of regeneration why here 's your evidence that your hopes are sound and that you shall sit upon Thrones to judge the world Heb. 9.28 2. If we long for his coming then will he come to satisfie our longings Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for they shall be satisfied how satisfied but in being saved Christ was offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation unto them that look for him or long for him shall he appear the second time unto salvation it is very observable how this looking for Christ is in Scripture a frequent description of a true believer in Christ Who are true sincere and sound Christians but such as live in a perpetual desire and hope of Christs blessed coming 2 Pet. 3.12 they are ever looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God Here are two signs in one verse looking for and hasting unto true believers are not only in a posture looking for the coming of Jesus Christ but also as it were going forth to meet Jesus Christ with burning Lamps Luther could say Mat. 6.10 That he was no true Christian neither could he truly recite the Lord's prayer that with all his heart desired not this day of the coming of Christ. It is true that whether we will or no that day will come but in the Lord's prayer Christ hath taught us to pray that God would accelerate and hasten the day of his glorious coming thy Kingdom come i.e. the Kingdom of glory at the Judgment as well as the Kingdom of grace in the Church It is true that the day of the Lord is a terrible day the Heavens and Earth and Sea and Air shall be all on a bone-fire and burn to nothing nevertheless we according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth we that have laid hold upon God and laid hold on him by the right handle according to his promises we look for
in a peculiar and eminent manner the day of redemption And grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 1 John 3.2 3. They must be adopted It is true they are adopted in this life We are now the Sons of God saith the Apostle yet it doth not appear what we shall be the glory which Christ will put upon us at the last day is so far transcendent and superlative to what now we are that we know not what we shall be sons and more than sons and therefore the Apostle calls the last day Rom. 8.23 the day of adoption 4. They must be justified I know they were justified by Faith before and this justification was evidenced to some of their consciences but now shall they be justified fully by the lively voice of the Judge himself now shall their justification be solemnly and publickly declared to all the world The Syriack word to justifie is also to conquer because when a man is justified he overcomes all those bills and indictments which were brought in against him now this is manifestly done in the day of judgment when Christ shall before Men and Angels acquit and absolve his people oh what a glorious conquest will that be over Sin Death and Hell when the judge of the whole World shall pronounce them free from all Sin and from all those miserable effects of Sin Death Hell and Dominion 5. They must inherit the Kingdom prepared for them so is the sentence at that day Come ye Blessed Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom Not only are they freed from Hell but they must inherit Heaven Now herein is an high step of salvation and a great part of the design of Christ's coming to bring his Saints into Heaven he went thither before to prepare it for them and now he comes again to give them the possession of it come enter into heaven Heaven what is Heaven surely it is not one single Palace but a City a Metropolis a Mother-City the first City of God's creation When the Angel carried John in the spirit to a great and high Mountain Rev. 21.10 11. he shewed him the great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God But a City is too little Luke 12.32 therefore it s more it s a Kingdom Fear not little Flock it s your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom and at this last day he bids his Saints to inherit the Kingdom Luke 20.34 35 36. Or if a Kingdom be too little it is called a World the Children of this world marry and are given in marriage but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more There 's another world besides this and for eminency it is called the world to come O the bredth and largeness of that world as the greater circle must contain the less Heb. 6.5 so doth that world contain this alas all our dwellings here are but as caves under the earth and holes of poor clay in comparison In the bosome of that Heaven is many a dwelling place John 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions there lodges many thousand of glorious Kings O what fair fields and mountains of roses and spices are there surely gardens of length and bredth above millions of miles are nothing in comparison O the Vines the Lillies the Roses the precious Trees that grow in Immanuel's land an hundred harvests in one year are nothing there The lowest stones in every mansion there are precious stones Rev. 21.18 the very building of the wall about it is Jasper and the City is pure gold like unto clear glass O glorious inheritance Tell me Christians in what City on Earth do men walk upon gold or dwell within the walls of Gold though none such here yet under the feet of the inhabitants of Heaven there is Gold All the streets and fields of that City Kingdom World Rev. 21.21 are pure gold as it were transparent glass But alas what speak I of Gold or Glass all these are but shadows indeed and in truth there is nothing so low as Gold or precious Stones there is nothing so base in this high and glorious Kingdom as Gardens Trees or Roses comparisons are but created shadows that come not up to express the glory of the thing I shall therefore leave to speak this because unspeakable 6. They must live with Christ in heaven they must see and enjoy Christ there to all eternity This is a main end of Christs coming I will come again John 14.3 John 17.24 and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also And Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold the glory which thou hast given me O let faith eye this above all the former what will my Saviour come again and shall I see his face Oh what a pleasant sight will this same be if Heaven if the inheritance be such a wonder to the beholders what a beauty is that which is in the samplar oh what an happiness to stand besides that dainty precious Prince in Heaven to see the King on his Throne to see the Lamb the fair Tree of life the flowre of Angels the spotless Rose that Crown the Garland the joy of Heaven the wonder of wonders for eternity oh what a life to see the precious Tree of life to see a multitude without quantity of the Apples of glory to see love it self and to be warmed with the heat of immediate love that comes out from the precious heart and bowels of Jesus Christ Oh what a dearness to see all relations meet in one to see the Saviour the good Shepheard the Redeemer the great Bishop of our souls the Angel of the Covenant the Head of the body of the Church the King of ages the Prince of peace the Creator of the ends of the Earth the Song of Angels and glorified Saints Not only must they see Christ but they shall enjoy him whom they see they fly with doves-wings of beauty after the Lamb and in flying after him they lay hold upon him and they will not leave him they can never have enough of the chaste fruition of the glorious Prince Immanuel and they never want his in-most presence to the full they suck the honey and the hony-comb they drink of the floods of eternal consolations and fill all empty desires and as if the souls of Saints were without bottom a fresh they suck again to all eternity Now ãâã is salvation indeed the soul that attains this full enjoyment is saved to the uttermost 3. In respect of Christ himself that he may be glorified Now in two things more especially will he be glorified at that day 1. In his justice 2.
the flames of God and do we not yet love him hath Christ all this while opened his brest and heart to us saying Friends Doves come in and dwell in the holes of this rock And do we scratch his brest do we turn our backs upon him and requite his love with hatred surely this is more than sin for what is sin but a transgression of the law but this sin is both a transgression of Law and Gospel What to spurn against the warm bowels of love to spit on grace to disdain him who is the white and ruddy the fairest of Heaven Oh the aggravation of this sin ' its an heart of flint and adamant that spits at Evangelick love Law-love is love but Evangelick love is more than love it s the gold the flower of Christ's wheat and of his finest love Oh the many Gospel-passages of love that we have heard Oh the sweet streams of love that we have followed till now that we are come to a Sea of love to an heaven of love to an infinite eternal everlasting love in heaven I want words to express this love of Jesus a Sea of love is nothing it hath a bottom an Heaven of love is nothing it hath a brim but infinite eternal everlasting love hath no bottom no brim no bounds and do we not yet love him do we not yet feel the fire of love break forth if not it is time to turn our Preaching into Praying O thou who art the Element or Sun of love come with thy power let out âne beam one ray one gleam of love upon my soul shine hot upon my heart cast my soul into a love-transe remember thy promise to circumcise my heart Deut 30.6 that I may love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul Surely the great Marriage of the Lamb is coming on he will come and welcome all his Saints into his presence he will bid them inherite the Kingdom and put them in a possession of the inheritance and then we cannot choose but love our Jesus with all our hearts and with all our souls onely begin we it here let us now be sick of love that we may then be well with love let us now rub and chase our hearts our dead cold hearts before this fire till we say with Peter Why Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee SECT VII Of joying in Jesus in that respect 7. LET us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his second coming Christ delights to have his People look upon him with delight for a soul to be always under a spirit of bondage and so to look upon Christ as a Judge a Lyon or an offended God it doth not please God the Lord Jesus is tender of the joy of his Saints Rejoyce and be exceeding glad saith Christ rejoyce evermore rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Mat. 5.12 1 Thes 5.16 Phil. 4.4 Psal 68.3 and again I say rejoyce Let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before God yea let them exceedingly rejoyce All that Christ doth to his Saints tends to this joy as the upshot or end of all if he cast down it is but to raise them up if he humble it is but to exalt if he kill it is but to make alive in every dispensation still he hath a tender care to preserve their joy This is the Benjamin about which Christ's bowels beat Let my Children suffer any thing but nothing in their joy I would have all that love my Name to be joyfall in me Oh say some but Christ's day is a terrible day when Christ appears he will make the Heavens and Earth and Hell to shake and tremble Our God shall come and shall not keep silence Psal 50.3 a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him True but what 's all this terror but an argument of my Father's power and justice against sinners if thou art Christ's and hast thy part in him not one jot of all this terror belongs to thee The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 He knows how to make the same day a terror to his foes and a joy to his people he ever intended it for the great distinguishing and separating day wherein both joy and sorrow should be manifested to the highest O then let the heavens rejoyce the sea the earth the floods the hills for the Lord cometh to Judge the earth Psal 97.7 8 9. with righteousness shall he judge the World and the people with equity If you find it an hard thing to joy in Jesus as in reference to his second coming think of these motives 1. Christ's coming is the Christians encouragement so Christ himself layes it down You shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory and when these things begin to come to pass Luk. 21.27 28. then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh The signs of his coming are the hopes of your approaching introduction into glory and what should you do then but prepare for your approaching with exceeding joy many evils do now surround you every where Satan hath his snares and the World his baits and your own hearts are apt to betray you into your enemies hands but when Christ comes you shall have full deliverance and perfect redemption and therefore look up and lift up your heads The Apostle speaks the very same encouragement 1 Thes 4.16 71 18. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air wherefore comfort one another with these words Christ's coming is a comfortable doctrine to all believers and therefore all the Elect that hear these words should be comforted by them Comfort ye comfort ye my people 2. Christ our Saviour must be our Judge the same Jesus that was born for us and lived for us and dyed for us and doth now pray for us will come at last to judge us is not this comfortable you that have heard all his transactions can you ever foget the unweariness of Christ's love in his constant and continual actings for your souls how long hath he been interceding for his Saints how long hath he been knocking at their hearts for entrance it is now above a thousand six hundred years that he hath been praying and knocking and he resolves not to give over till all be his till all the Tribes in ones and twos be over Jordan and up with him in the heavenly Canaan And if this be he that must be our Judge if he that loves our
will declare my iniquity saith David I will be sorry for my sin His confessions were dolorous confessions he felt sin and it wrought upon him as an heavy burthen They were two heavy for me Ver. 4. There 's nothing in the World can make an heart more heavy than when it feels the weight and heaviness of sin 2. Our confession must be a full confession we must pour it out Thus David stiles one of his Psalms A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed Psalm 102. Preface and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. We must pour out our complaints as a man poureth water out of a Vessel Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord. Water runs all out of a Vessel Lam. 2.19 when you turn the mouth downward never a spoon-ful will then stay behind so should we pour out our hearts before God and if it were possible leave not a sin unconfessed at least for the kinds if not for the particular sins 3. Our confession must be with full aggravation we should aggravate our sins by all the circumstances that may shew them odious Thus Peter when he had denyed Christ it is said that he thought thereon and he wept He thought thereon Matth. 14 72. or he cast in his thoughts one thing upon another q. d. Jesus Christ was my Master and yet I denyed him he told me of this before-hand that I might take heed of it and yet I denyed him I professed to him that I would never do it I would never forsake him and yet I denyed him yea this very night and no longer since I said it again and again that I would not deny him and yet I denyed him yea I fail'd Although others deny thee yet will not I and yet worse than all others I denyed him with a witness for I affirmed desperately that I knew not the man nay I sware desperately that I knew not the man nay more than so I sware and I cursed too If I knew the man let Gods curse fall upon me and all this I did within a few strides of my Lord at that very time when I should have stood for my Lord in that all the World forsook him why these were the circumstances of Peters sin and meditating on them He went out and wept bitterly And thus we should aggravate our sins in our confessions O my sins were out of measure sinful O they were sins against knowledg and light against many mercies received against many judgments threatned against many checks of conscience against many vows and promises thus oft and in this place and at that time and in that manner I committed these and these sins but of all the aggravations let us be sure to remember how we sinned against the goodness and patience and love and mercy of God surely these circumstances will make our sins out of measure sinful The Angel that reproved the Children of Israel at Bochim after the repetition of his mercies towards them Judges 2.2 and of their sins against him he questions them in these words Oh why have ye done this q. d. The Lord hath done thus and thus mercifully unto you oh why have ye done thus unthankfully towards him why was his mercy abused his goodness slighted his patience despised do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise in like manner should we confess and aggravate our sins O my God thou art my Father was I ever in want and thou didst not relieve me was I ever in weakness and thou didst not strengthen me was I ever in straits and thou didst not deliver me was I ever in sickness and thou didst not cure me was I ever in misery and thou didst not succor me hast thou not been a gracious God to me all my bones can say who is like unto thee Lord who is like unto thee and shall I thus and thus reward the Lord for all his mercies towards me hear O Heavens and hearken O Earth Sun stand thou still and thou Moon be thou amazed at this hear Angels and hear Devils hear Heaven and hear Hell and be you avenged on such a sin as this is O the sinfulness of my sin in regard of these many circumstances 3. We must condemn our selves or pass sentence against our own souls Lord the worst place in Hell is too good for me Lord here is my soul thou mayst if thou pleasest send Satan for it and give me a portion among the damned This self-judging or self-condemning is exemplified to this life in Ezra for Ezra 9.5 1. He fell on his knees he did not bow down his knees but like a man astonished he fell on his knees he had before rent his garment and mantle and pluckt off the hair of his head and off his beard and sate down astonished and now at the evening sacrifice he falls on his knees and on the ground in great amazement Ver. 5. 2. He spread out his hands unto the Lord q. d. here is my breast and here is my heart-blood I spread my arms and lay all open that thou mayst set the naked point of thy sword of justice at my very heart Ver. 10. 3. He is dum and speechless as it were before the Lord And now our God what shall we say after all this for we have forsaken thy commandments q. d. shall I excuse the matter alas it is inexcusable what shall we say after all this shall we call for thy patience we have had it but how did we abuse it should we call for mercy indeed we had it but our stubborn hearts would never come down O our God what shall we say I know not what to say for we have sinned against thee 4. He layes down his soul and all the Peoples souls at God's feet q. d. here we are Ver. 15. thou mayest damn us if thou wilt Behold we are all here before thee in our trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this Behold here we are rebels we are here are our heads and throats before the naked point of thy vengeance if now thou shouldst take us from our knees and throw us into Hell if we must go from our prayers to damnation we cannot but say that thou art just and righteous Oh its mercy its mercy indeed that we have been spared its just and righteous with God that we should be damned In this more especially lyes self-condemnation it makes a man to trample upon his own self it makes a man freely to accept of damnation Levit. 26.41 42. They shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity and then will I remember my covenant with Jacob they save God as it were a labour judging themselves that they may not be judged 4. We must plead pardon and cry mightily to God in Christ for the remission of all our sins This is the
I believe we are never more in heaven whiles on earth then when we are in this exercise of praising God and blessing God for Jesus Christ Come let us praise God for Christ and especially on this day called therefore the Lord's day because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ it is the design of God to glorify Christ redeeming us as much or more than he glorified himself creating us and therefore he purposely unhinged the Sabboth from the last day to the first day of the week that it might be spent as a weekly day of praise and thanksgiving for the more glorious work of our redemption that love might not only be equally admired with power but even go before it It is the advice of a godly Divine that we should improve the happy opportunity of the Lord's day wholly to devote our selves to his work And he adviseth Ministers and others that They spend more of those days in praise and thanksgiving Baxters method of peace and comfort and be briefer in their confessions and lamentations that they would make it the main business of their solemn assemblies on those days to sound forth the high praises of their Redeemer and to begin here the praises of God and the Lamb which they must perfect in heaven for ever That they would spend a greater part of those days in Psalms and solemn Praises to their Redeemer that some Hymns and Psalms might be invented as fit for the state of the Gospel-Church and worship to laud the Redeemer come in the flesh as expresly as the work of grace is now expressed O that these directions were but in practice O that our Churches and Families would make our streets to resound with the Eccho's of our praises O that this were the burthen of each duty on these dayes Now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his resurrection In this particular I shall examine these Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. How this conformity is wrought 3. What are the means of this conformity as on our parts For the first wherein we must conform I answer in a word in our vivification There is a resemblance of our vivification to Christ's resurrection and if we would know wherein the Analogy or resemblance of our vivification to Christ's resurrection doth more especially consist the Apostle's answer is very express Rom. 6.4 Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Christ's resurrection was to newness of life it was a new life a life different from that which he lived before and so is our vivification a new life it is a life of a new principle of new actings of a new state of a new relation of a new income and of a new kind or manner 1. It is a life of a new principle before vivification our principle was the flesh or word or devil In time past ye walked according to the course of this world Eph. 2.2 according to the Prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience but now we have a new principle a Spirit of holiness or sanctification the Spirit of God even the same spirit which dwelt in the humane nature of Christ and raised him If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you Rom. 8.11 it is an in-dwelling Spirit even as the soul dwells in the body so doth the holy Ghost dwell in the soul of a regenerate person animating and actuating and enlivening it This is the new principle that God puts in us after vivification 2. It is a life of new actings According to our principle so be our actings Rom. 8.5 They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit If some men hear of a good bargain they mind it they find their souls going on with much activity there is something in them proportionable to that which is propounded but if they hear of Divine love and of the riches of Grace they find their souls flat unmoveable and dead they mind no such things now on the other side they that are vivified according to their principle they put forth their power more or less if they hear of the glorious things of the Gospel they find inward workings unless it be under a temptation they find their souls drawn out to close with the goodness of the thing propounded They mind the things of the Spirit i.e. they muse and meditate and think on these things they affect them and love them and like them they care for them and seek after them with might and main they live in the Spirit they walk in the Spirit they are led by the Spirit Gal. 5.26 Rom. 8.1.14 Rom. 7.6 they serve in newness of the Spirit How might we try our vivification even by these actings of our principle within what do we mind the things of the Spirit do we find things heavenly and spiritually to be sweet and savoury and best pleasing to us is the Sabbath our delight do we long for it before it come do we rejoyce in it when it is come do we consecrate it as glorious to the Lord Isa 58.13 do we come to the exercises of Religion whether publick or private with much delight and with chearfulness as to a feast what is this but the life of God but if these things be harsh and unpleasant if the Sabbath be a burthen if holy exercises be irksome and tedious Psal 41.4 if in attending on the Word we are heavy and drouzy and we find no relish no sweet no savour in the ointments of Christs no goings out of the soul with an activity to the things propounded O then deceive not our selves we have no good evidence of our vivification 3. It is a life of a new state before vivification we are in an unjustified estate sins are unpardoned we are unreconciled And such were some of you said the Apostle to his Corinthians but now ye are washed now ye are sanctified 1 Cor. 6.11 now ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God This justification denotes a state and is universal and unalterable I know Arminians deny such a state for as by their Doctrine no man can be absolutely Elected till he die so neither absolutely justified for say they he may fall into such sins as that though formerly justified yet now he may be condemned yea to day he may be justified and to morrow thrown out of that estate But against this we hold that those that are once justified are never again
his praise and bidding him welcome into glory and am I sinning here on earth and by my sins crucifying again and again the Lord of glory O that I might ascend with Christ O that I were now on the wing towards heaven Oh what is it that hinders my ascension but this clog of clay so long as this body remains a natural body I cannot ascend oh therefore that the change were come Oh that this natural body were spirituall that this corruptible had put on incorruption and this mortal had put on immortality then could I move upwards as well as downwards such is the supernatural property of a glorified body that it ascends or descends with equal case or if this be not possible for my present condition if this body if mine must first descend before it ascend if it must down into the grave before it go up into glory why yet Oh that my better part were on the wing Oh that my soul were mounting upwards Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver my soul from this body of death or if the union be so strong for a while that neither soul nor body can really or substantially ascend Phil. 1.23 yet O that I were still ascending in a spiritual way O that my affections were still on things above and not on things beneath yea I could wish a nearer union even by a dissolution why Christ is ascended and I would fain be where Christ is though it cost me dear I desire to be dissolved I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is for better 2. Let us see Christ sitting down at the right hand of God and so desire to sit with him when Christ sate down it was not in his own pure Personal right simply as it is his inheritance Eph. 2.5 6. but with relation to his Saints and Members He hath quickened us together wtth Christ and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus I confess Christ's sitting at God's right hand as taken for the sublimity of his power is not communicable unto us for that is Christs own prerogative to which of the Angels said he at any time Heb. 1.13 Sit on my right hand Yet his sitting in heaven as it is indefinitely expressed is in some sort communicable unto us for he sate down as a common person thereby shewing that we were to sit down with him in our proportion Rev. 3.21 Him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Christ sits in his Fathers Throne and we sit in Christ's Throne Christ sits at the right hand of God and wâ sit at the right hand of Christ Oh how desirable is this The Mother of Zebedees Children understood this mystery very darkly Mat. 20.21 22 23. yet worshipping Jesus she desired a certain thing of him what thing why grant saith she that these my two Sons may sit the one at thy right hand and the other on thy left hand in thy Kingdom Christ blamed them because they know not what thy asked and yet he tells them that to sit on his right hand and on his left is given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father O my soul desire after this for this is worthy of thy desire this is a great thing an high exaltation another manner of honour than any that this world affords Courtiers desire no more but to sit at the Princes right hand but O the vertue of Christ's Session that thereby thou shouldst sit at the right hand of God! this is the very height and excellency of heavens glory only take heed of apprehending it after a carnal and natural way this very exaltation consists in the Image of God and communion with God it is the spiritual part and power and glory of heaven if any thing be desirable above another surely this above all Eph. 1.20 21. what that Christ should be exalted above all Principalities and Powers and mights and dominions and every thing that is named in this world and in the other what that Christ should sit down in his Fathers Throne Eph. 4.10 in the highest part of Heaven far above all heavens and that I a poor worm dust and ashes should sit with him in Heaven should be one with him in glory should be as near him in honour and happiness as such a poor creature is possibly capable of Oh how should I but hunger and thirst after this if I might have a wish I would not wish low things why this is the very top and height and quintessence of Heaven Christ in his Fathers Throne and I in Christ's Throne in desiring this I desire all and therefore whatever thou givest or denyest Lord give me this and I have enough for ever 3. Let us see Christs mission of his holy spirit and so desire a share in that gift we cannot expect to sit with Christ but we must first have the spirit of Christ and therefore as we would have that let us desire after this The greatest gift we can expect in this world is the spirit of Christ Consider O my soul all things here below are either temporal or spiritual things and of things spiritual this is the sum the in-dwelling of the Spirit O Lord give me thy self and that contains all gifts O give me the spirit Psal 4.6 and thou canst not but with him give me all things there be many that say saith the Psalmist Who will shew us any good earthly things are desired of many but is any thing on earth to be compared with this gift from heaven if it were only the beauty of holiness it were certainly a most desirable thing if we rightly understand it holiness though but one effect of the spirit is a most rare thing holiness fills the soul with joy peace quietness assurance holiness entertains the soul with feasts of fat things and of refined wines holiness carries the soul into the banqueting-house of apples and flaggons holiness gives the soul a dear communion with God and Christ holiness brings the soul into a sight of Christ an access to him a boldness in his presence holiness admits the soul into the most intimate conferences with Jesus Christ in his bed-chamber in his galleries of love and that which is an argument of more beauty than all the creatures in the world have besides holiness attracts the eye and heart and longings and ravishments the tender compassions and everlasting delights of the Lord Jesus and if holiness be thus lovely Oh what is the holy spirit it self what is the Rise the Spring the Fountain of holiness what O my soul that not only grace but the spirit of Christ should dwell in thy spirit that thou shouldst be God's building and that not as the rest of the world is for his creatures to inhabit 1 Cor. 3.9
Prayers and Incense then he went out of the holy of holies and laid aside his Garments again but our great high Priest is ascended into the holy of holies never to put off his princely-priestly garments nor does he only once a year sprinkle the mercy-seat with his sacrifice but every day he lives for ever to intercede Oh what comfort is this to a poor dejected Soul if he once undertakes thy cause and get thee into his prayers he will never leave thee out night nor day he intercedeth eyer till he shall accomplish and finish thy Salvation the smoak of his incense ascends for ever without intermission 6. The high-Priests then interceded not for sins of greater instances if a man sinned ignorantly there was indeed a Sacrifice and Intercession for him but if a man sinned presumptuously Numb 15.30 he was to be cut off from among his people no Sacrifice no Intercession by the high Priest then but we have such an high Priest as makes Intercession for all sins every sin though it boyl up to blasphemy so it be not against the holy Ghost shall by the vertue of Christ's intercession be forgiven In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David Zach. 13.1 and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness i.e. for sins of all sorts Verily I say unto you all sins shall be forgiven unto the Sons of Men Mark 3.28 i.e. Scarlet sins or crimson sins sins of the deepest dye shall by Christs Intercession be done away the voice of his blood speaks better things than the Blood of Abel it intercedes for the abolition of bloody sins 7. The high Priests then interceded not without all these materials viz. A Temple an Altar a Sacrifice of a young Bullock for a sin-offering Levit. 16.3 and a Ram for a burnt offering a Censer full of burning coals of fire taken off the Altar a putting the incense upon the fire that the cloud of the incense might cover the mercy-seat a sprinkling the mercy-seat with the blood of the Bullock and of the Goat with their finger seven times such materials they had and such actions they did which were all distinct as from themselves but Jesus Christ in his Intercessions now needs none of these materials but rather he himself and his own merits are instead of all As 1. He is the Temple either in regard of the Deity the gold of the Temple being sanctified by the Temple or in regard of his humane body destroy this Temple saith Christ and I will build it again in three dayes it was destroyed and God found it an acceptable Sacrifice and smelt in it a sweet savor as in a Temple 2. He is the Altar according to his Deity for as the Altar sanctifies the gift so doth the God-head sanctifie the man-hood The Altar must needs be of a greater dignity than the oblation and therefore this Altar betokens the Divinity of Jesus Christ 3. He is the Sacrifice most properly according to the Man-hood for although by communication of properties the blood of the Sacrifice is called the blood of God Acts 20.28 yet properly the human Soul and flesh of Christ was the Holocaust or whole burnt-offering roasted in the fire of his Fathers wrath 4. His merits are the cloud of Incense for so the Angel Christ is said to have a golden Censer and much Incense Rev. 8.3 4. that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the Throne and the smoke of the Incense which came with the Prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand the merits of Christ are so mingled with the prayers of his Saints that they perfume their Prayers and so they find acceptance with God his Father We see now the difference betwixt Christs Intercessions and the Intercessions of the high Priests of Old SECT VII What the Properties of this Intercession of Christ are 7. WHat are the properties of this Intercession of Jesus Christ I answer 1. It is heavenly and glorious and that appears in these particulars 1. Christ doth not fall upon his knees before his Father as in the days of his humiliation for that is not agreeable to that glory he hath received he only presents his pleasure to his Father that he may thereto put his Seal and Consent 2. Christ doth not pray out of private charity as the Saints pray one for another in this life but out of publick Office of mediation there is one God 1 Tim. 2.5 and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus 3. Christ prayes not out of humility which is the proposing of requests for things unmerited but out of authority which is the desiring of a thing so as withall he hath a right of bestowing it as well as desiring it 4. Christ prays not merely as an advocate but as a propitiation too Christ's Spirit is an advocate but only Christ is advocate and propitiation Christs Spirit is our advocate on earth but only Christ in his Person applyeth his merits in heaven and furthers the cause of our salvation with his Father in heaven In every of these respects we may see Christs intercessions is heavenly and glorious 2. It is ever effectual and prevailing as he hath a power to intercede for us so he hath a power to confer that upon us for which he intercedes John 14 16. John 16.7 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter If I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you If Christ prayed on earth he was ever heard but if Christ prayed in heaven we may be sure the Father ever heareth and answereth there when Christ as man prayed for himself he was heard in that which he feareth but now Christ as Mediator praying for us he is ever heard in the very particular which he desireth James 4.3 We sinful men many a time ask and receive not because we ask amiss that we may consume it upon our Lusts but Jesus Christ never asks amiss nor to wrong ends and therefore God the Father who called him to this Office of being as it were the great Master of Requests in behalf of his Church John 11.41 42. he promiseth to hear him in all his requests Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know thou hearest me alwayes saith Christ 3. It is of all other the transactions of Christ till the very end of the World the most perfective and consummate indeed so perfective that without it all the other parts of Christ's Mediatorship would have been to little purpose As the Sacrifices under the Law had not been of such force and efficacy had not the high Priest entred into the holy place to appear there and to present the blood there unto the Lord so all that ever Christ did or
suffered upon earth it had been ineffectual unto us had he not entred into heaven Heb. 9.24 to appear there in the presence of God for us Surely this Intercession is that which puts life into the death of Christ this Intercession is that which strikes the last stroak during this World in the carrying on of our souls Salvation Goodwin Christ set forth Rom. 8.34 and makes all sure It is a witty observation that one makes of these several steps of Christs actings for us as first there was an all-sufficiency in his death who shall condemn it is Christ that dyed 2. A rather in his Resurrection yea rather that is risen again 3. A much rather in his life and session at God's right hand for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of Christ much rather being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5.10 4. The Apostle riseth yet higher to a saving to the utmost and puts that upon his intercession wherefore he is able to save us to the utmost Heb. 7.25 seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us If in the former were any thing wanting this intercession of Christ supplies all it is the Coronis which makes all effectual it saves to the uttermost for it self is the uttermost and highest step on earth Christ begins the execution of his office in heaven he ends it in his life and death Christ was the meritorious cause but by his intercession Christ is the applying cause of our souls salvation In this very Intercession of Christ is the consummation and perfection of the Priest-hood of Christ O then how requisite and necessary must this needs be 4. It is gracious and full of bowels Christ his intercession and indeed Christ's Priestly office is erected and set up on purpose for the relief of poor distressed sinners There is no mixture of terror in this blessed office of Jesus Christ and this doth distinguish it from his other offices Christ by his Kingly office rules over the Churches and over the World but all obtain not mercy whom he thus rules over Christ by his prophetical office comes to his own but many of his own received him not but now wherever the Priestly office of Jesus Christ is let forth upon a Soul that soul shall certainly be saved for ever O this Priestly office of Christ is an office of meer love and tender compassion Heb. 4.15 Christ saith the Apostle is such an high-Priest as cannot be but touched with the feeling of our infirmities Oh he is a merciful Heb. 2.17 and a faithful high Priest in things partaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the People He is mercifull and exceeding compassionate in all our afflictions he is afflicted Isa 63.9 and in his love and in his pity he Redeemed us and in his love and pity he intercedes for us SECT VIII Wherein the Intercession of Christ consists 8. WHerein more especially doth the Intercessions of Jesus Christ consist some suppose that Christs very being in heaven and putting God in mind of his active and passive obedience by his very presence is all that intercession that the Scripture speaks of But I rather answer is these particulars As 1. Christs intercession consists in the presenting of his Person for us he himself went up to heaven and presented himself the Apostle calls this an appearing for us Christ is not entered into the holy place made with hands but into heavân now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 I believe there is an Emphasis in the Word appearing for us But how appears he for us I answer 1. In a publick manner whatsoever he did in this kind he did it openly and publickly he appears for us in the presence of God the Father he appears for us in the presence of his Saints and Angels heavens eyes are all upon him in his appearing for us 2. He appears for us as a Mediator he stands in the middle betwixt God and us hence it is that he is God-man that he might be a Mediator betwixt God and man 3. He appears for us as a Sponsor and a pledge surely it is a comfort for a man to have a friend at Court at the Princes elbow that may own him and appear for him but if this friend be both a Mediator and Surety a Mediator to request for him and a Surety to engage for him Phil. 9.10 ver 18 19. Oh what comfort is this thus Christ appeared in every respect he is a Mediator to request for us and he is a Surety to engage for us as Paul was for Onesimus a mediator I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus and a Sponsor if he hath wronged thee or owe thee ought put that on my account I will repay it So is Jesus Christ for his Saints he is the Mediator of a better Covenant Heb. 8.6 Heb. 8.6 and he is a Surety of a better Testament Heb. 7.22 Heb. 7. â2 4. He appears as a Solicitor to present and promote the desires and requests of his Saints in such a way as that they may find acceptance with his Father He is not idle now he is in Heaven but as on earth he ever went about doing good so now in glory he is ever about his work of doing good he spends all his time in Heaven in promoteing the good of his people as from the beginning it was his care so to the Worlds end it will be his care to solicite his Father in the behalf of his poor Saints he tells God thus and thus it is with his poor Members they are in want in trouble in distress in affliction in reproach and then he presents their sighs sobs prayers tears and groans and that in such a way as that they may become acceptable to his Father 5. He appears as an Advocate if any man sin 1 John 2. â we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous An Advocate is more than a Solicitor an Advocate is one that is of Counsel with an other and that pleadeth his Case in open Court and such an advocate is Jesus Christ unto his people 1. He is of Councel with them that is one of the Titles given him by the Prophet Isaiah Wonderful Councellour Isa 96. He councells them by his Word and Spirit 2. He pleads for them and this he doth in the high Court of Heaven at the Bar of God's own Justice there he pleads their case and answereth all the accusations that are brought in by Satan or their own Consciences but of this anon 6. He appears as a publick agent or Ledger-Embassadour what that is some tell us in these particulars 1. His work is to continue peace and surely this is Christ's work he is our peace saith the Apostle that is the author of our peace Eph. 2.14 he purchased our peace and he maintains our peace with