have of the answer of mercy and of the treasures riches and wisdome of Christ is because that through the infinite worth of Christs death and bloud they are absolutely reconciled to GOD the Father Col. 2.2 That their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. Col. 1.21 22. Yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Contemplation THe saying of Ahaziah King of Israel to Jehu was Is there peace His answer was What peace The reply of the wounded Conscience is Is there not peace The answer is given there is peace God who was an enemy is now become a friend his hatred against sinne was so great that it could not be pacified or asswaged by any humane creature The barres of Hell the gates of death the iron bands of sinne the fiercenesse of the Morall Law is removed by a person infinite the same vertue and worth which hath procured Redemption hath procured Reconciliation The strength of Sampson was more then the gates of Azzah the vertue and worth in Christ hath been above the enmity betwixt God and man What is like to this great and wonderfull worke of Reconcilement As nothing can parallell the work of Redemption and Union with GOD through Christ so nothing can equall the work of Reconciliation to God by the hand of Christ When we see the Rain-bow we admire yet wee cease to admire when we consider the hand that made it When we behold the famous work of Reconciliation we may wonder yet cease to wonder when we consider the hand that did it How comfortable is the calmenesse of weather after stormy times How passing comfortable is the peace of Conscience from Reconcilement to God after the stormy times of temptation Out of the sweet comes Corroboration and out of this comes the greatest consolation When Balacke saw the standing of Israel in the Wildernesse he said How comely are thy tents O Israel and thy habitations O Jacob When the faithfull through the eye of faith behold the fruits of reconciliation to God they say how great delight and comfortablenesse ariseth from that peace which is made betwixt God and their soules Hence from the worke of Reconciliation comes the worke of a Christians moving to God-ward with freenesse of spirit Hence comes the Gospell of Reconciliation which speaks better things then the Law the Law speakes evill as Micah against Ahab as Doâ—g against the Priests of the Lord as the Jewes against our Saviour but now the Gospell speakes graciously and sweetly of peace of grace of mercy being that man to God is reconciled through the hand of the Mediator Jesus Christ turne therefore thine eare from the Law to the Gospell and walke thou in the comfort thereof till thou come to see thy Redeemers face in Sion and the brightnesse of the countenance of thy loving God and Father blessed for evermore Then shalt thou be satisfied with his favour filled with joyes and his sight and Image shall be thy great contentment Then shalt thou say with the Psalmist Psal 16 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnesse of joy at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore CHAP. X Concerning Justification Definition 1. ZAdick Just in hiphill signifieth righteousnesse in hisdiâ—k justificare that is to account some man just or righteous Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 2. Justification is the gracious sentence of God through Christ apprehended by faith whereby he doth free the sinner from sins death and condemnation and repute them just to life glory and salvation Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 5. ult That as sinne hath raigned unto death even so might grace reigne through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. This gracious sentence in Justification proceeds from Gods decree that it might be pronounced in Christ our Saviour to his people and virtually sealed to the soule by the holy Spirit that the Saints might be assured of the condonation of iniquitie and the imputation of divine and heavenly righteousnesse Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Rom. 5.18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life 4. By the same grace wherby Christ was called unto the office of a Mediator the elect are called to union and communion with Christ and by that accounted just in the sight and presence of God Hebr. 3.1 2. Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Who was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all his house 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. 5. The efficient cause of our justification is the rich and free grace of God the mereitorious cause is themerit of Christ the instrumentall cause is faith apprehending and resting on the promises of God the end is the glory of God the salvation of beleevers and the illustration of divine mercy Rom. 5.17 For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gifts of righteousnesse shall reigne in life by one Jesus Christ 6. Christ is dead and all are dead that the righteousnesse of one might be imputed to all 2. Cor. 5.15 And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Rom. 4.24 But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead 7. Christ willingly died and was willingly crucified and willingly bare the sence of his Fathers wrath for our sakes that he might break the bonds and chains of death that he might satisfie the justice of his Father and bring in everlasting peace attonement and reconciliation Isa 53.6 7. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everie one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquitie of us all He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lambe to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumbe so he opened not his mouth 8. Christ changeth our estate and condition and clotheth us with his pure
certainly perswaded that whatsoever they do according to his pleasure is accepted in the hands of Christ Mediatour Ephes 1. Vnto the praise and glory of his grace whereby he hath freely accepted us in his beloved 18. The effects of divine grace and favour are the remission of sins the imputation of righteousnesse the donation of the Spirit of peace and consolation and everlasting blessednesse in the kingdom of hope and fruition 2. Thess 2.13 God hath chosen us from the beginning unto salvation by sanctification of the Spirit and the faith of truth 14. Now the same Lord Jesus Christ and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 19. Christ died for the sins of his Saints and is risen again for their righteousnesse and justification so that he is not onely become our salvation but his Father is gracious and propitious to us for his sake Rom. 4.25 He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Matth. 17.5 This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased hear him 20. As by the sin of Adam we were estranged from God and destinated to destruction so by the obedience of Christ we are received into favour and imputed righteous to justification Rom. 5.19 As by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so by the obedience of one man many were made righteous 21. God began to imbrace through free favour whom he loved freely before the foundation of the world then it appeared apparently when he reconciled us to himself through the precious blood of his beloved Son Ephes 2.4.13 Through his great love wherewith he loved us now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometime afar off hath he made nigh by the blood of his Son 22. God through his benevolence hath not onely given the body of Christ but the soul of Christ to feel the sence of his wrath for the redemption of mankind that although we were lost we might be found and although through the law we could hear nothing but condemnation yet now through Christ we may hear the sentence of salvation Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that abideth not in all things which are written in the Law to do them 2. Tim. 1.10 But now is made manifest by the glorious coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought in life and immortalitie into light by the Gospel 23. In this hath appeared the immense love of God towards men whilest he was sent into the world for their deliverie whilest he was made a sacrifice to pacifie the wrath of his Father which was so hot against them 1. Joh. 4.10 In this is love not that we have loved God but that he hath loved us and hath sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 24. God was most clementious and propitious in the beloved Christ making him the Redeemer of humane generation whilest the beloved Christ was willing to redeeme them Heb. 10.6 7. Burnt-offerings and sacrifice thou wouldest not for sin then said I behold I come In the volume of thy book it is w itten of me that I should do thy will O God 25. The free grace of God is the stay of the mind the prop of the soul and the hope of the conscience in the midst of all sorrow and tribulations Lament 3.21 22. This call I to mind therefore have I hope It is the Lords mercy we are not consumed but his compassions fail not 26. If any man shall set himself before the tribunall seat of an angry God he shall not stand being there is nothing in him that may merit favour or deserve love at the hands of God Psal 130.3 If Jah shall observe iniquities O Lord who shall stand 27. Christ through his obedience hath obtained favour he hath satisfied for our sins he hath born the punishment for us and through his obedience God is well pleased 2. Cor. 2.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Contemplation O Christian look to the Rock from whence thou art hewen and to the hole of the pit from whence thou art digged all that thou receivest is from free favour and grace of a loving Father had he not favoured thee where hadst thou remained or where hadst thou been assuredly in the bottomlesse pit under the heat of everlasting burnings bound by the black swadle bands of the devill lockt up under the blacknesse of darknesse to the judgement of the great day arraigned by the power of justice and condemned by the morall Law never to have heard the sweet sound of reconciliation or the heavenly harmony of the gracious doctrine of redemption except the bowels of overflowing mercie had yearned and the gracious countenance of thy loving Father had been manifested The clouds open and distill their drops to the refreshing and replenishing of the sublunarie creature Thy gracious Father hath yearned by the bowels of his compassion and hath replenished and refreshed thy soule with his abundant kindnesse Thy dayes might have been dayes of sorrow and thy nights nights of terrour The terrours of death the horrors of hell and the afrightment of a wofull conscience might have sadded thee had not free love and superabundant grace prevented Is not his grace better to thee then kingdomes then Consulships then riches then Honours then dignities or dominions The Disciples wondred at the rare and famous buildings of the Temple and mayest not thou wonder at the excellencie and incomparablenesse of the free grace of God thy celestiall Father O how sweet is his grace unto me is it not as an ointment poured out as the sweetest drops distilling from the fullest clouds and as the sweetest dewes upon the tender hearb Did the babe spring in the wombe of Elizabeth at Maries salutation and doth not joy spring in my conscience because of free grace in everlasting redemption Here is grace incomparable here is mercie ineffable and here is bountie unalterable is not this the River from whence my soul hath water is not this the Sunne from whence my mind hath light is not this the heart from whence my will receiveth vitall motion I am adopted to be a sonne elected to salvation redeemed from bonds united to the Lord Jesus Christ But from whence flowes all these but from the rivers of free love and the fountain of gracious love and bountie My life my hope my peace my rest my faith my all is from Christ all in all as the Apostle saith Rom. 11. last verse For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be praise and glory for ever Amen CHAP. II. Concerning Election 1. ELection is the selecting or chusing of some certain men that the glorious and supereminent grace of God may
not called from Pharaohs dungeon but from the dungeon of darknesse to be a sonne of God the Father and a brother to the Prince of grace and glory therefore I shall see my Fathers face and behold his glory Rev. 22.4 And they shall see his face and his Name shall be in their foreheads Verse the fift And they shall reigne for evermore CHAP. VI. Concerning Adoption Definition ADoption is the gracious sentence of God through which he doth accept of the faithfull for sonnes and daughters in Jesus Christ 1. Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sonnes of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not In Adoption there is a gracious manifestation of the good will and pleasure of God that he would adopt us in Christ for his peculiar who by sin were the children of wrath and of the devill and were by nature the children of wrath as well as other Ephes 2.3 4. But God who is rich in mercie for his great love wherewith he loved us Ephes 1.5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will Adoption proceeds from Gods decree it is collocated in Christ and sealed to the Saints through the Spirit of adoption Rom. 8 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Adoption is not onely for Christs sake who hath merited the same for us but it flows also from Gods benignitie and bountie towards his elect and chosen Galat. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father The faithfull do not onely look for eternall life through the title they have by redemption but also through the title they have by adoption Rom. 8.23 And not onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groane within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body The sweetnesse and consolation of the faithfull ariseth when instead of the sons of the devill they through faith apprehend themselves to be the sonnes of God Joh. 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that beleeve on his Name 7 As the Lord Christ in justification is applyed as a garment to cover sinnes so in Adoption he is applyed as the Prince of our life and salvation Hebr. 2.10 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings 8. This conjunction is so strong that although Christ is properly the Son of God by nature hence tearmed the first begotten of God notwithstanding by this grace of adoption and communion with God in Christ all the faithfull are called the sonnes of God 2. Cor. 6.18 And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie 9. Although Adam was the sonne of God by creation yet not by the mysticall conjunction and union with Christ as we are by adoption Joh. 17.21 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 know that thou hast sent me 10. The dignitie which we have through adoption doth not onely superabound that common relation which every creature hath to Godward but also that which Adam possest before he relinquisht his puritie and integritie 11. God hath taken the adopted into the number of his own flock or family and given to them his name and hath undertaken to be their eternall protector in the time of danger Revel 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is the new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new Name Isa 4.4 5. the 4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgement and by the spirit of burning The 5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glorie shall be a defence 12. The inheritance to which the faithfull are adopted is eternall life glorious communion and everlasting blessednesse Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternall life to as many as thou hast given him 13. That blessednesse which belongeth to the Saints redeemed and beloved is not communicated to them for their merits or deservings but through free grace through which they have obtained the dignitie of sons through adoption or filiation Isa 56.3.5 Neither let the sonne of the stranger that hath joyned himself to the Lord speake saying The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people neither let the Eunuch say Behold I am a drie tree The 5. Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better then of sonnes and daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off 14. Divine Adoption is not ordained to succession but to the participation of an inheritance assigned Ephes 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glorie of his inheritance in the Saints 15. The proper adjunct of adoption is the testification of the holy Spirit which is given to the faithfull Hence they are said to be sealed by the Spirit 2. Cor. 1.21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God The 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 16. God hath adopted his elect unto himself not that he had no other Son for Christ was tearmed his beloved and onely begotten Sonne but amongst the sons of men he had no other untill they were adopted to be beloved in Christ Gal. 3 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus 17. Through the Spirit of Christ we have faith through which we lay hold on the death of Christ Mediatour and the promise of God our benevolous and gracious Father by which we are adopted to be sons and daughters Galat. 3.26 vide 18. By Adam we were alienated from God wherefore God hath sent his onely begotten and beloved Sonne that through him he might chuse many sons out of humane generation Hence
will give thee a name better then of the sons and daughters He will protect thee by an invincible protection and crowne thee with everlasting and glorious salvation The best of the land of Egypt was given to Josephs brethren the best of the treasures of mercy and righteousnesse is given to thee Gifts were given to the sonnes of Keturah but the possession was Isaacs gifts are given to the sons of men but the possession amongst the Lords inheritance is given to thee O my soule thou hast obtained a lot above all lots and a mercy above all mercies Therefore exalt his name with the Church saying His mercy endureth for ever his mercy endureth for ever And make mention of his love with the Apostle Behold how great a love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sonnes of God 1. Joh. 3. CHAP. VII Concerning Redemption Definition 1. CHiefly our knowledge consists in this that having lost what was given in the creation is again restored to us by the hand of Christ in the act of Redemption who shed his blood to redeeme us from evils Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 2. The knowledge of Christ our redeemer is known by the fall of Adam and by the materiall cause of our Redemption 3. Redemption is the bringing of man to the state of libertie from the slavery of sin and Satan by the exhibition of a inst price Matth. 20.28 Even as the Sonne of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many 4. The end of Redemption is application and the fast measure rule and reason of application is the fame gracious will of God which hath been the cause of mans Redemption Galat. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himself for me 5. Man being lost he must seek for the Redemption of his soule through the hand of Christ Christ is the adoption of the elect the conservation of the Church the instauration after dissipation and the redemption of his from Satan sin and all miseries Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquitie and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works 6. We receive the vertue of that redemption by Christ through the power of the Spirit of Christ who joyneth us with Christ Hence is he called the Spirit of sanctification and adoption and the seal of our redemption and salvation 2. Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts Ephes ◠14 7. When as in the loyns of Adam whole humane kind was lose so that the noblenesse and excellencie of our estate of integritie cannot profit us when we think upon it but rather turn to our greater shame untill God the Father appear in the person of his onely begotten Son to the saving or freeing of our souls from all calamities 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 8. After the fall of the first Adam whole mankind was inthralled his knowledge of God unto salvation sure would profit him nothing without a Saviour Hence saith our Saviour Joh. 17.3 This is life eternall to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 9. Whilest we are condemned by the Law dead in sin naked wanting righteousnesse poore wanting riches and bondmen wanting libertie we must seek for these at the hands of our Redeemer in whom and at whose hands we may receive these in the time of necessitie Hebr. 4.14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Sonne of God let us hold fast our profession For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like us yet without sinne Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 10. Not rashly nor by hap or chance or by the will of man that Christ should have this name Jesus but from the wil of God delivered by the Angels that he should save his people from their sinnes Mat. 1.21 And shee shall bring forth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sinnes 11. God was an enemy to man till by the death of Christ he was restored into favour Man was accursed till by the sacrifice of Christ his iniquitie was expiated he was separated untill by the body of Christ he into Conjunction hath been received Ephes 2.16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse having slaine the enemy thereof 12. God loves us first after by Christ he redeemeth us unto himselfe and untill Christ by death redeem us from him that hath the power of death iniquitie doth remaine which may deserve the indignation of God so that through it we may stand accursed and condemned in his sight Rom. 3.19 Now wee know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped all the world may become guiltie before God Gal. 4.4 5. Verse the 4. But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made under the Law Verse the 5. To redeeme them that were under the Law that wee might receive the Adoption of sonnes 13. When as we are redeemed by the death of Christ it is not so understood as though now he should begin to love us whom before he hated but that now loving us he doth redeeme us to be his people Gal. 1.4 Who gave himselfe for our sinnes that he may deliver us from this present evill world according to the will of God and our Father 14. It was not sufficient for the taking away of cōdemnation that Christ should undergoe death but also that he might feele the sence of his Fathers wrath upon him for us that so our Redemption from wrath might be fully accomplished 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes ye were healed 15. The Father hath abolished the power of sinne when the curse of God rested on the flesh of Christ then Christ was a satisfactory sacrifice to his Father for sinne that the strife being ended through his sacrifice we may cease to feare the anger of God
I will shew thee my faith by my works 26. In the justification of the Saints through faith we must consider the remission of sinne and transgression The imputation of divine and celestiall righteousnesse the gracious acceptation of the Saints prayers and praises and that free and gracious reconciliation with God our bounteous and celestiall Father 27. True justifying faith hath alwaies joyned with it a certain perswasion of the bountie and exceeding mercy of God the Father in Christ Jesus Hebr. 6.18 19. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Which hope we have as an ancre of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vaile 28. Though the Saints after their justified estate and condition may aske the pardon of sin and the forgivenesse of iniquitie notwithstanding the end thereof must be the further assurance thereof the exaltation of the riches of grace and the praise of the blood of Christ which is the cause of condonation or remission The grounds are these that diffidence and unbeleef may be removed and the exaltation of the love of God in Christ may be exalted 29. The new creature presented in Christ unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God through reconciliation made perfect and pure in the presence of God through justification endewed with the heavenly pure grace of sanctification is so freed from sinne iniquitie and transgression that God beholds no more sin in it then in the Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 30. O admirable change O garment most sumptuous O royall and beautifull robe of Christs puritie and divine righteousnesse wherewith the Saints are adorned his chosen invested and his beloved friends and brethren enrobed that they may be for ever and evermore presented glorious in the sight of God who is most righteous and holy Revel 3.4 Thou hast a sew names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Revel 7.13 14. And one of the elders answered saying unto me What are these which are arayed in white robes and whence came they And I said unto him Sir thou knowest And he said to me These are they which came out of great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe Contemplation THe Church of Christ is all glorious within through the rare induements of the Spirit of grace she is all glorious without through the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to her God her Father beholds her compleat in the garment of her elder brother if she sin she is washed if she is washed she is purified if she is purified she is spotlesse being she is purged by the blood of the Lambe Christ Jesus The robe of righteousnesse wherewith she is attired is not beggerly but rich not impure but pure not finite but infinite Though the world judge her poore naked and miserable yet she is holy pure and cleane she is as she is made to be compleat in Christ who is her head and bridegroome we beleeve there is an holy Catholique Church we see it not for it is invisible notwithstanding Gods imputation is not to be gainsaid by the rabble of unlearned Doctors If God speak the thing it is so if God impute her just shall it not be so If the Son make her free she is free indeed if God account her just she is just indeed If a King forgive a rebell who shall impute that fault to him If God acquit his Church who shall lay any thing to her charge When Jacob was clothed with the garment of Esau his nakednesse appeared not to the sight of his old father Isaac The Church being clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ her nakednesse appears not in the sight of God her heavenly Father through this garment wherewith she is so strongly invested she is worthie to follow the Lord Christ from earth to heaven not onely by the ascent of heavenly meditation but by ascent of soule after her pilgrimage is ended For what ends to participate of all the rich and celestiall treasures which have been prepared for her before the foundation of the world and to see the face of her loving Father in celestiall glory What now shall fear her shall wrath shall anger divine justice or indignation No for she is beloved through her well beloved Christ the very Angels rejoyce because she is rich and full of treasures beautifull and exceeding amiable through the beautie and amiablenesse of Christ which is given to her Had Benjamin a suit passing the suites of his brethren and hath not the Church a righteousnesse passing the righteousnes of Pharisees Hence she loveth knoweth nor acknowledgeth any other righteousnesse save the righteousnesse of Christ she detesteth even her own works in matter of justification she will weare no linsie-wolsie garments for her pride is great and her ambition much in that particular All her glorie is in the Lord her righteousnesse all her thoughts is now to love and praise her Saviour and cease from working any more in the way of justification confessing that of and from and in him she injoyeth it ascribing continually to him the praise of righteousnesse She giveth the glory of glory to the Prince of glory she rendreth the praise of life to the Lord of life she ascribeth the honour of peace to the Mediator of peace and she attributeth the dignitie of righteousnesse to her Lord of righteousnes She is in Christ as a branch in the Vine through union She is in Christ as a man in the Sunne by glorification she is in Christ as a man in his garment through Justification Shee desireth none to rest in her but Christ the hope of glory she requesteth to be in none but Christ her everlasting righteousnesse for his righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of God and it is his Fathers pleasure that he should become the Lord her righteousnesse Upon which consideration he is tearmed the God of her righteousnesse Psal 4.1 Heare me when I call O God of righteousnesse for thou hast set me at libertie when I was in trouble have mercy upon me and hearken unto my prayer CHAP. XI Concerning Sanctification Definition 1. SAnctification is a reall transmutation from the filthinesse of sinne unto the puritie of the Image of God Ephes 4.22 23 24. That yee put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your minde And that yee put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 2. There are two degrees of
21. 21. The workes of Sanctification makes us not the more beloved of God the Father or purer in his sight or presence The ground is this Sith the absolute free and eternall love of God the Father and the righteousnesse of Christ praeceeds the worke of Sanctification 22. The imperfection of sanctification is not imputed to the Saints and Redeemed sith they are absolutely done away in the bloud of the Lord Jesus The ground is this sith the end of the effusion of the bloud of Jesus is the pardon or remission of iniquitie and impietie 23. Whilest the faithfull present themselves in the sight and presence of God the Father they must not looke to their owne weaknesses infirmities and imperfections but to Gods sweet and loving acceptation in Christ in whom God alone is well pleased Ephes 1.6 The ground is this Sith the end of Gods acceptation is that through which the Saints may have or enjoy the remission or condonation of iniquitie weaknesse and infirmitie Contemplation THe Lord Christ the Author and finisher of our saith the fountaine and well spring of our refreshment the ground of all our hope and dependance is the cause and finisher of our sanctification The lower Spheares are moved by the first Motion our affections are moved by the power and might of the Lord Jesus Doth the mightie waters move without the motiō of the Moone or the body move without the Intellectualls or the soule move to Christ without the exceeding and operative power of Christ O my soule thou hast to deale with that roaring Lyon the Devill the bonds and cords of iniquity the strong gates and barres of death and all evills and with the flesh which is an enemy against the Spirit of life and glory But thy knees are feeble thy hands are weake and thy spirit failes thee in the day of battaile Therefore thou canst not ride the wilde Asses colt or tame the wilde Hindes of the Wildernesse or bring the untamed Unicorne to thy becke and command The day is Christs not thine Thou art a triumpher but by his power thou art a victorer but by his might thou art an overcomer but by his strength Thy righteousnesse thy life thy peace thy joy thy love thy hope and communion is from Christ all Thy mortification thy vivification thy sanctification is from Christ all in all Is his bloud the cause of remission his righteousnesse the cause of Justification his Spirit the cause of thy Adoption and not his life and death the cause of thy sanctification To thee is given the life of faith the life of love and obedience to live unto God blessed for ever To thee is given power from the death of Christ who could not be retained by the bonds of death blessed for evermore Where then are the fiery darts of Satan the presumption of the flesh the high lookes of Principalities and Powers Sith thou art made a Victorer through the Lord of Victory and hast obtained a Triumph through our Lord Triumpher As the weake falls before the mighty and valiant and light gives way to darknesse so doth hell the flesh the Devill and evills give way to the Spirit of glory and sanctification In the day of the Crosse that roaring Lyon the Devill could not stand before the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah In the day of the Resurrection the blacke King of darknesse and terrours could not stand before the Lord of life light and salvation In the day of thy fight or combats the powers of hell or the barres of death cannot stand through thy Lord that loves thee O my soule Where now is thy thought lower then the throne of grace No. Where is thy contemplation lower then the Mercy-Seate No. Where is thy affection below the heavenly places no. Thy Lord hath drawne thee and thou art drawne thy Lord hath allured thee and thou art allured In the time of his love he brought thee from earth to heavenly places from hell and death to possesse a Being of heaven and life Where thy Lord is there wilt thou be if he was upon the Crosse there wouldst thou behold him if he were in the grave there thou wouldst lodge with him if he be at the right hand of his Father there wilt thou dwell with him All thy Songs are Praise and Glory all thy phrase power and wisdome all thy meditations wisdome and strength be ascribed to thy Lord of life and light So that thou sayest with the Angells Amen Benediction and Glory and Wisdome and Thankesgiving and Honour and Power and Strength to our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7.12 CHAP. XII Concerning Glorification Definition 1. GLorification is a reall transmutation from the misery punishment guilt and impuritie of sin into eternall felicitie and everlasting beatitude and glory Apoc. 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away Psal 16. last Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore 2. Respectu termini à quo It is called a freedome from sinne and a conservation from anger death and the kingdome of darknesse 1. Thes 1.10 And to wait for his Sonne from heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come Matth 4.16 The people which sate in darknesse saw great light And to them which sate in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up 3. Respectu termini ad quem It is called beatification benediction life eternall glory the kingdome of our God and of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. Joh 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Ephes 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Apoc. 12.10 And I heard a loud voice saying In heaven now is come salvation and strength and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night 4. Such shall be the glory of the faithfull in the kingdome of their God and Father that no eare hath heard no mind conceived nor any tongue can speak of that glory so inenarrable and incomparable 1. Cor. 2.9 But as it is written eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them which love him 2. Cor. 4.17 18. vide 5. Though the glory of the Saints hath been intended before the world was neverthelesse it hath been in time by the Lord Christ procured and purchased and after time of the glorious Saints shall be possessed and enjoyed Ephes 1.14 Which is the earnest of our
divine and spotlesse righteousnesse that in his Fathers sight and presence we might find acceptation Ephes 1.6 vide 9. This is the streame of sweetest consolation that the Lord Christ was accounted unjust that we might be counted just and that he stood in the place of the unrighteous that we might stand in the place of righteous 1. Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit 10. Christ the Sonne and Lord of righteousnesse who is our life and everlasting righteousnesse overcoming death shineth by the Gospel maketh us now to sit with himself in the heavenly places that there might be nothing wanting to our felicitie and to the praise and riches of his grace and bountie Ephes 2.6 7. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus 11. Now the Sonne and Lord of righteousnesse doth shine and we have the perfect beautie of his divine and pure righteousnesse revealed in the Gospel of life and reconciliation such as is the clearnesse of noonday although in former ages it hath been hidden and obscured Ephes 3 8 9. Vnto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ 12. Adam whilest he stood in his integritie innocency and puritie was not so pure in the sight of God as the Saints who are presented spotlesse in the flesh of Christ and imputed righteous through the righteousnes of Christ the Lord and Prince of righteousnesse The ground is this sith the righteousnesse which is given to the Saints through union with Christ surmounteth that which was given to Adam when he was created 13. The righteousnesse of God is not sufficiently manifested and declared unlesse by that the Saints and redeemed may be accounted sufficiently just in his sight and that God should communicate righteousnesse to the undeserving 14. This is our trust and glory that Christ the Sonne of God the onely author of our salvation is become our righteousnesse and that we in him are the sons and heirs of the celestiall kingdome made partakers of the divine nature and called to the hope and expectation of everlasting beatitude 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Rom. 8.17 And if children then heires heires with God and joynt heires with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together 2. Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust 15. The sinner is received into communion with Christ whilest by the grace of God he is reconciled and by the blood of Christ he is purged from transgression and not otherwise doth he stand before the tribunal seat of God save by the righteousnesse of God his Saviour and of Jesus Christ his blessed and sweet Redeemer The ground is this sith no righteousnesse can answer the righteousnesse of God but the pure and infinite righteousnesse of Christ 16. There is an inseparable conjunction between the pardon and remission of sins and the imputation of divine and absolute righteousnesse which is conveyed to the Saints through communion with the Lord Jesus so that their imperfections are covered the spots and filthinesse thereof are deleted lest they may come into question by eternall and absolute judgement 17. If we seek by what meanes the heart is fixed and the conscience satisfied by no other way or meanes shall we find it save by the power of the crosse of Christ interest in his death the efficacie of his resurrection and the imputation in pure and everlasting righteousnesse 18. Whosoever doth desire to be just before God he must seeke to be freed from sinne by the precious and incomparable blood of Christ and from the riged force of the Morall Law by his active and passive obedience Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth 19. By his puritie all our spots are covered and the uncleannesse of our imperfections to us is not imputed and our transgressions in Christs grave buried that they might never plead against us before the barre of Justice 20. When we are inserted and ingrafted into Christ then doth he dignifie us making us one in himselfe that we may glory that we are admitted into fellowship and communion with the Father with himself and with his people who are sanctified by the Spirit and accounted a glorious people through his glorious and perfect righteousnesse 1. Joh. 1.3 vide 21. Although justification is for and in Christ the beloved Mediatour notwithstanding the Saints are not justified in the sight of God untill faith is given to the Saints by which the Lord Christ is apprehended Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 22. Christ is the adaequate object of faith so farre forth as faith doth justifie Galat. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have beleeved in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified 23. Faith upon no other consideration is said to justifie save because it apprehendeth the superabundant grace of God in reconciliation applieth Christs death blood and resurrection to the Saints and resteth upon the promises of God which are yea and Amen to the glory of the Father 2. Cor. 1.20 vide 24. This is the life of saith through which a sinner doth come to the possession of his own salvation whilest by the doctrine of the Gospel he doth acknowledge himself reconciled to God redeemed and ransomed by the inenarrable blood of Christ sealed by the Spirit of life and obsignation and filled with joyes unspeakable and glorious 1. Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet beleeving ye reioyce with ioy unspeakable and glorious 25. We are justified before men by holinesse and uprightnesse of conversation but before God by the imputation of righteousnesse in justification Jam. 2.18 Yea a man may say thou hast faith and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works and