33.14 At the same time the Church of the Jews shall be call'd the Lord our Righteousn ss So here Thy Righteousness that is the Lord thy Righteousness c. So this Prophecy reaches to that time of the Gospel when the Jews shall be called especially considering what follows The Glory of the Lord shall be thy Rereward that is there shall be a time when the Lord's presence with and providence towards his Church shall be as eminently haply more eminently on with and towards the Jews than when they came out of Egypt Then the Lord their Ruler went before them in a Cloud and Pillar of Fire and when Pharaoh pursued them the Cloud and Pillar went behind them so then the Glory of the Lord was their Rereward And now in this time not only the Lord as Ruler not only David their King but the Lord their Righteousness shall go before them and the Glory of Power and Grace shall be their Rereward 2. Verse 10. Then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the noon-day Compare Isai 60.1 Thy light is come the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee One observes that the word in the Original is of the Dual number and so translates it Sicut Duo meridies As two Noons as if two Suns should shine together there shall be greater light then ever was before The Lord shall appear in greater Glory so that it 's no more said the Lord liveth that brought them up out of Egypt but that brought them out all Lands Jer. 16.15 which was not fulfilled at their return from Babylon but must be in the last days of the Gospel 3. Verse 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in drought as he did in the Wilderness and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered Garden and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not The best exposition is Psa 72.7 In his days shall the Righteous flourish and abundance of Peace as long as the Moon endureth They shall be in a flourishing condition their Souls shall wonderfully prosper their Garden the Paradice of God shall yield them Fruit enough The Tree of Life shall yield them all manner of Fruits to nourish and refresh their Souls And the Waters of life better than the Jews Honey out of the Rock shall flow abundantly And observe that the flourishing state shall continue He shall guide thee continually and Waters fâ—il thee not And in the other place so long as the Moon endureth or till there be no Moon that is no change in the Chuâ—ches Prosperity and Peace The Moon is often changing then the lâ—ght of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun Isa 3â— 26 That iâ— as there shall be a greater so a never-failing â—ight Light fails in the Moon but not in the Sun Light shall not fail Waters shall nâ—t fail Now was it thus with the Jews after their return from Babylon Can we find any thing like a full accomplishment of this Prophecy No ceâ—tainly We must wait for the full accomplishment of it hereafter 4. Verse 12. And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places The Captivâ—ty in Babylon lasted but one Generation the waste places thereby could not be very old Thou shall raise up the Foundation of many Generations That is either 1. Which have lain waste many Generations much longer then during the Babylonish Captivity so had not its full accomplishment after their return from thence Or 2. After their return from Babylon the Foundation of their Temple was laid and then the work was interrupted which after some Generations was reviv'd and that Temple built and the top-stone lay'd So one in answer to this under the Gospel says the Foundation was lay'd by the Apostles but Spiritual Temples have not been built up answerable to the Apostles Foundation Satan and the Man of Sin have hindred this work but at last there shall be a Temple and glorious Church built upon those Foundations like to them that were laid by the Apostles and the top-stone shall be laid crying to it Grace Grace The Grace that shall appear to be in it shall make to cry Grace Grace to it 3. Calvin gives the sence thus We may refer it to the times to come thou shalt raise up the Foundations that shall continue very long c. As if he had said other Buildings have not long continued as the Temple c. but this shall continue many Ages It hath been but a day of small things with the Church yet these small things small Assemblies and the small numbers of witnesses have continued in all Ages since the Apostles much more that large and glorious Temple and City of God which is to be built up will continue many Generations till at last it will be translated into Heaven when as before Christ presented it to himself a glorious Church so at last he shall present it to the Father when he shall deliver up the Kingdom to him and God will be All in All. 5. There is more yet in this Verse Thâ—u shalt be call d the Repairer of the breaches the restorer of the Paths to dwell in All breaches made in the Church either by the Persecution and Violence of Enemies or by the Saints divisions shall be made up And the Restorer of Paths to dwell in By Paths we are to understand the ways of God's Commands and Ordinances the way of Divine worship instituted by God And all ways and paths of will-worship made and invented by Men Anti-christian Paths shall be for ever forsaken And the Paths of the Apostles and Primitive Christians which they walk't in shall be perfectly restored to the Church which for a long time the Man of Sin hath hedged up Compare with this Ezek. 43.11 Shew them the form of the House and the fashion thereof and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the forms thereof and all the Ordinances Forms and Laws that they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof The meaning is the paths of the Temple the goings out and comings in shall be restored and be as well known to the Saints as the ways are now to the places of meeting and they shall walk freely in them Lastly Observe the expression they shall dwell in thesâ— paths they shall continue and abide in them they shall not turn out of them to the Right-hand or to the Left-hand but as Isa 30.21 Thou shalt hear a Voice behind thee saying this is the way walk in it when thou shalt be ready to or should without this Voice be turned to the Right-hand or Left See what these paths are Isa 38.8 where is a Prophecy of Christ's Kingdom An high way and a way it shall be called the way of Holyness the unclean shall not pass over it No Prophane or Hypocritical Persons for they are most unclean and within are like Painted Sepulchres but
He shaketh the Earth and doth great things past finding out ond Wonders without number And as the consideration of Christ's Power should make us ready to serve him so to serve him with our might Eccles 9.10 What thou do'st do with thy might be not heartless cold lukewarm in the service of so powerful a Lord. The works which he doth for Saints he doth them with his might The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the Earth to shew himself strong c. 2 Cbron. 16.9 As he is strong so he delights to shew himself strong on behalf of those whose Hearts are perfect with him CHAP. VII THere are in Christ the Riches of Glory Job 40.9.10 Hast thou an Arm likâ— God Deck thy self now with Majesty and Excellency this is the Glo y of Christ he hath the Arm of God and like God he is decked with Majesty and arrays himself with Glory and Beauty he is clothed with Majesty and Honour and decked himself with light as with a Garment If the King's Daughter be all Glorious within much more is the King himself who is the Lord and King of Glory who is most Glorious in himself and hath the command of his Glory being able to maintain and communicate it as he pleases Christ hath the Glory of being every way the chiefest that is in Dominion Strength Wisdom c. being altogether Lovely therefore altogether Glorious There is an Hâ—brew word for Glory which signifies Weight true Glory arises out of that which is of VVeight and VVorth the World's Glory is but a shadow which flies away as a Bird Hos 9.11 and is but as the Grass of the Field Christ is the substance If Saints shall have an exceeding weight of Glory how much more then hath Christ If their's be Glory from an Hyperbole to an Hyperbole as 2 Cor. 4.17 then how many Hyperboles are there in Christ's Glory Christ is the gathering together of all Glory as the Sea was the gathering of the Waters as the scatter'd light created the first day was on the fourth day gathered into the Body of that great light the Sun which rules the day so the scattered Glory which was here a little and there a little amongst creatures is gathered in Christ into a fulness of Glory which makes him the beginning or Head of the Creation of God Col. 1.17 18. If Sion be the perfection of Beauty how much more is Christ And these Riches of Glory are Unsearchable we may well say here we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness i. e. the darkness in which his Glory dwells in relation to us and by reason of the darkness of our Minds Job 26.14 How little a portion is heard of him When we have thought or spoken out our all we may conclude these are but part of his ways and of his Glory Now to speak what we can of his Glory let 's consider how he himself describes it Luke 9.26 The Son of Man shall come in his own Glory in his Fathers Glory and with the Angels that is the Glory he shall have given him of the Creatures for the Creation which is in bondage to men's lusts and those abuses which it's weary of shall serve to set forth the Glory of Christ which is its earnest expectatiâ—n Rom. 8. 1. There is his own glory his eternal essential glory which he had with the Father before the world and still hath being in the form of God and it is no Robbery to think so when the man of Sin shews himself that he is God that is robbery but not so when Christ is equallized with God The best description of his Glory is to say he is above all Eph. 4.6 the face of his Glory we can't see only the back parts thereof in his word and works c. whence we may conclude as the Psalmist He that made the Eye shall not he not see c. Psa 94.9 He that made all was not he before all and is not he above all so far above all in power that he is the Almighty In Knowledge that he is Omniscient in Duration that he is Eternal he is the brightness of his Fathers glory and Express Image of his Person That is his own Glory which he shall come in Heb. 1 3. 2. There is his Fathers glory which he shall come in that is Glory which he had and shall have from his Father and Glory becoming so glorious a Father Labans Son spoke it enviously of Jacob of that which was our Father's hath he gotten him all this glory we may say it wel of Christ of that which was his Fathers hath he gotten him all his Glory There is 1. The Glory he had from the Father in his humble Estate for in that he had much Glory which was manifested forth in his Miracles in which he had a Witness from the Father When John's Disciples asked Christ art thou he that should come Math. 11.5 he answers go tell John the blind see the Lame walk c. and those works will tell what I am Joh. 9.30 herein is a marvellous thing he hath opened mine Eyes and yet ye know not whence he is Cbrist in his humble Estate had Glory under a Vail and there was a Cloud upon the face of his Glory Under the Law God made a Cloud to be the Sign of his Presence which was then his Pavilion this was a Type of that Cloud of Flesh and humane Infirmities wherein Christ in his Dâ—vine Glory was covered in his humble State although under his Feet then there was a paved work of Saphire stone like the body of Heaven in clearness Exod. 24.10 which was a figure of those Beams of Divine Glory which did shine from Christ's works and goings when he was in the World declaring him to be the Lord from Heaven much of his Glory came forth in his Speech never Man spake like this Man he spake like one having Authority in this State he had the Glory of Grace and Vertue of perfect Righteousness Zeal Power Patience Humility Holiness and Love c. and these were his Glory we are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory that is as John 1.16 we receive of his Fulness Grace for Grace Grace is Glory 2. There is the Glory of his Exalted State and if so much of his Glory did shine forth from under his Sufferings in his low Estate what then is the glory of his Exalted State there is the glory of his Soul and Spirit which in the kind of Spirits is most Excellent being far above Angels There is the glory of his Body which of all bodily things is most Excellent having a brightness above the brightness of the Sun and above the strength of all Creatures If we consider him in his Person as God man so he hath the glory of being the Father's King whom he hath set over all the works of his hands having given him all power in Heaven and Earth and
made him the King of Glory 't is one thing to have the Glory of a King another to be the King of Glory that is a King made up all of Glory for they did some things which were their Shame and not their Glory These were but as the Moon which rules the Night having their Spots but Christ is the King of Glory made up all of Glory like the Sun that rules the Day Particularly 1. Christ hath the glory of being Universal King Antichrist mainly strives for it This is Christs peculiar Glory all things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth are subject to him he is in Heaven at the right hand of the Majesty on High his Eyes run to and fro on the Earth beholding the Evil and the Good his left hand is under the Head of the Saints and his right hand doth imbrace them be they never so much under yet beneath them are everlasting Arms to uphold them and be their Enemies never so high yet the everlasting Arms are above them and his Hand shall be in the Neck of his Enemies Gen. 49.8 2. A Triumphant King all his Enemies must be made his Footstool and he must see his desire and designs upon them he shall bind Satan and the Hands and Hearts of wicked Men that they shall not hurt nor destroy in all his Holy Mountain 3. A King Reigning in Righteousness Righteousneâ—s is the best Glory of Kings the King of Kings shall be most Glorious in his Righteousness as he is a Priest after the Order of Melchisedec so a Prince also after his order being the King of Righteousness he shall not Judge after the sight of the Eyes but Righteous Judgment Isa 11.3 4. as David was a King the goodness of whose Government did extend to the Saints being a King for them and not against them Psa 16.3 So is Christ much more he is a King to relieve the Oppressed and hearing also the cry of Oppression so as that he shall break Oppressors in pieces but shall save the Poor and Needy and such as have no Hâ—lper in his days the Righteous shall flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth He shall be a King not like Saul who was for having good things extended to him from the Israelites He shall take off your Olive yards c. but like David who was for the extending of his Goodness c. 4. Christ is a King having an Incorruptible Crown Earthly Kings must dye and their Kingdoms must at last come to an end but Christs Kingdom shall never have an end Earthly Kings after they have lived a while in Glory lye in glory Isa 14.18 that is in some stately Monument but Christ shall always live and never lye in Glory much less then shall he lye down in shame this is the meaning of the Rainbow about his Throne like an Emerald Rev. 4.3 Anti-christ's Throne that Throne of Iniquity which establisheth Mischief by a Law hath not a Rainbow about it but a hand-writing against it the Bow in the Cloud secures the Earth from being overwhelmed again by a Flood so the Rainbow about Christ's Throne notes its security from Destruction it shall destroy but never be destroyed it shall breake in pieces but never be broken 3. There is the Glory which Christ shall have from Creatures 1. From the Holy Angels they are his Servants ascending and descending upon the Son of Man Joh. 1.51 they have their standing in and their stability by Christ and they do not stand idle in Christ but ascend and descend that is they 're running and going at Christ's Command and are always imployed in the business of the Son of Man being his Ministers by whom he doth his work in the World they ascend to know and descend to do they ascend to receive Command and descend to Execute them they descend about their work but ascend in their end doing all to the Glory of God and when Christ shall come these shall be his Attendants and be round about his Throne Dan. 7.10 Thousands thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him 2. From the new created World Christ will not come into this old corrupt prophane World which is like a moth eaten Garment the Heavens do contain him till the times of Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 such a restitution there must be that there may be a better World to receive Christ and be in subjection to Christ the Heavens must be dissolved and the Elements melt with fervent heat to purge away their Dross and that all may run into a more pure and glorious Form fâ—â— this fire shall be as in some respects a consuâ—ing fire so also a Râ—â—â—â—r's fire Men do much by fire for refining 〈◊〉 â—â—d calling them into what form they pâ—â—â—sâ— and also fâ—r Extracting Spirits great Transmutations of things are made by fire what great things will the Lord do by this fire at the last the new Heavens and the new Earth shall come forth of thâ—s fire for the Earth and the works therein shall be burnt up nevertheless we according to his promises look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein Righteâ—usness dwelleth 2 Pet. 3.10 13. and the Lord promises Isa 60.17 for Brass I will bring Gold for Iron Silver c. which shall have an accomplishment several ways as if we consider the new world in general it shall be in comparison with the old as if Gold were brought out of Brass Silver out of Iron Iron out of Stones 1. And if in particular we consider men first as Men in the Constitution of their Bodies in a natural and moral Capacity in respect of Wisdom Understanding and Knowledge of Natural things and in their behaviour so shall there be such difference from what Men are now as if Gold were brought out of Brass and Silver out of Iron 2. In a politick Capacity so there will be the like difference which seems to be expresly hinted in that Promise seeing it immediately follows I will make thine Officers Peace and thine Exactors Righteousness in which respect there will be for Brass Gold for Iron Silver In the times of Degeneration as we may observe in that Image Nabuchadnezzar saw Gold degenerates into Silver Silver into Brass Brass into Iron but in the time of Regeneration Math. 19.28 it will be contrary then the Iron and the Brass and the Silver will regenerate into Gold and better Gold than the Head of that Image In that the Lord Promises I will restore Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Isa 1.26 3. In a Spiritual capacity as Saints and in respect of Church-State so for Brass will the Lord bring Gold for common Stones there shall be precious Stones I will make the Windows of Agates and the Gates of Carbuncles and all the Borders of pleasant Stones Isa 54.12 Then shall be that Church into which nothing shall enter which worketh abomination
or maketh a lye neither Hypocrites nor profane Persons there the dark Saint shall be full of light the weak shall be strong the too much Earthly and Carnal Saints shall be Spiritual and Heavenly and the divided Saints shall be all one and this shall in an especial manner be accomplish'd among the Jews When the Jews were cast off what was their condition We see it set forth Ezek. 22.18 Son of Man the House of Israel is become Drossie all they are Brass and Tin and Iron and Lead they are even the dross of Silver but when they shall be called then they shall not be the dross of Silver but pure Gold nay compare them in their most glorious and pure Estate which formerly they were in as when they had the Law given them on Sinai when the Tribes were brought into such excellent order and they had Moses their Leader and Aaron the High-Priest when they were fed with Angels food and had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire and the Tabernacle in which was the Ark I say compare them in this Estate with what they shall be at last and we may well conclude that they are but as Brass to Gold for then they had but the shaddow but when they shall be called they shall have the Body and Substance Then they had the Law given by Moses and written in Tables of Stone but at last given by Christ and written in Tables of their Hearts and Christ will be their High Priest and Prince upon a Throne and the shall have the Cloud and Pillar of Fire too Upon all the Glory there shall be a Defence and as their Estate shall be more excellent then ever heretofore so they shall be an eternal excellency and then all Nations shall bow before Christ and be made to serve him and some of the chiefest in the Nations the Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring Presents The Kings of Sheba and Saba shall offer Gifts In the beginning of Christ's Kingdom not many Mighty and Noble were called it being in great contempt and under great Persecution but when this shall become a great Mountain and fill the whole Earth and God shall beautify the place of his Sanctuary and make the place of his Feet glorious then many Mighty and Noble shall be called and brought into it Jer. 33.21 Their Nobles shall be of themselves Rev. 21.24 there is mention of Kings bringing their Glory and Honour into the new Jerusalem where they shall find better Glory then they bring Isa 49.7 Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord which is Faithful Isa 60. There are four Promises made concerning Kings with reference to these times verse 3. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising verse 10. Kings shall minister unto thee There is a time of their ministring unto the great Whore but at last some of them will hate the Whore and love the Saints and minister unto them verse 11. Thy Gates shall be open continually that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles that their Kings may be brought verse 16. Thou shalt suck the Breasts of Kings Now when this shall be then shall the Church be prepared as a Bride be adorn'd for her Husband and have Glory suitable to Christ's Glory When he shall come all the Saints shall come with him Zach. 14.5 The Saints in Heaven and all the Saints on Earth shall be all gathered unto him they shall come from the East and West and sit down in the Kingdom of God 2 Thess 2.1 I beseech you by the coming of Christ and our gathering unto him As the Lord was present in the midst of the Camp of Israel in the Ark which was the sign of his presence and all the Tribes were gathered in order about him and the Levites next to him so when Christ shall come all the Saints shall be round about his Throne and be all Priests near unto him then Christ shall come in the Glory of the Bridegroom and the Church shall be in the Glory of his Bride the Angels shall be the Friends of the Bridegroom and Saints the Bride the Lambs Wife Then Christ shall have his mystical as well as his personal Glory for as Head and Husband he accounts not himself pefect but in the perfection of his Spouse and Members the Church being the fullness of him that filleth all in all this shall be the New Jerusalem and that City and Temple mention'd in Ezek. 40. c. set forth under legal expressions The Law had the Shadow of good things to come but the Body is of Christ that City and Temple is the Body of legal shadows when we read of a Temple Court Chambers Priests and their Garments of Burnt-offerings and Peace-offerings by all we must understand that which is the Body of these legal shadow Christ shall be the Priest by whom Believers are reconciled to God and the Saints shall be made Priests to God Christ the Prince and all the Saints shall reign with him every one shall have a Chamber a Mansion there now they long for the Courts of God then shall they be in those Courts and be Pillars there Ezâ—k 43.27 The Priest shall make your Burnt-offerings and Peace-offerings the meaning is I will accept you Now what hath been spoken to set forth the Riches of Glory that are in Christ shews what reason there is to have the highest esteem of Christ as better then all other beloveds well might David say Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Here we may consider further 1. The sight of Christ's Glory shall be the Saints blessedness Blessed are your Eyes for they see if there was so much blessedness in seeing him in his humble State then what blessedness shall it be to see him in Glory the Wicked that dye in their sins shall see Death John 8.51 He that believes on me shall never see Death unbelievers shall see it The Greek word imports a seeing by contemplation and speculation the death of the wicked is a contemplative death as we read of some they live a contemplative life being for speculation and not for practice so we may say of the wicked in Hell they dye a contemplative death as we read of the hurt of the second death so very much of the hurt thereof comes by contemplation the same words are used Rev. 11.12 when the Witnesses ascend in a Cloud 't is said that their Enemies behold them they see and have the speculation of their Glory and Joy but do not intermeddle with it they have a terrifying and tormenting vision but not a beatifical vision of their Glory and the wicked see death and their contemplative death is a proportionable punishment of contemplative wickedness which abounds as we may suppose beyond practical thoughts being more then actions they are contemplating on that which continues
and heightens their torment they think upon the vain course they led upon the seasons of Grace they slighted the great Salvation neglected by them they contemplate on the eternity of their Misery and they think on the happiness of those that they persecuted and hated Dives is said to see Lazarus afar off the wicked think on the blessed estate of the Godly but on the other side the Saints never see Death but Light and Life they shall see Christ and be ever with him beholding his Glory Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they be with me to behold my Glory to be in everlasting contemplation of it and the Light of him shall satisfy and they shall be ever seeing him there shall not be any Cloud upon his Glory true he shall come in Clouds but when he comes Clouds shall go away when he ascended a Cloud received him out of the sight of the Disciples when he descends a Cloud shall usher him into their sight and then Clouds shall for ever pass away that Saints may for ever see him and then they shall see Christ and all other things by Christ The Lamb is said to be the light of the new Jerusalem by this light they shall see Christ himself as by the light of the Sun we see the Sun and by Christ's light all other things as the Scripture and all those things contained therein The Jews before Christ came knew him by Types and Signs but after Christ came they knew these Types and Figures by Christ now we know Christ by the Scriptures but when he shall appear we shall know the Scripture by Christ now we know the Creator by the Creatures then shall we know the Creatures by the Creator now the invisible things of God are known by the things that are made then that which is invisible to us of the things that are made shall be known by the Light and Glory of him that made them And their seeing shall be a beatifical Vision Christ shall then see the Saints and be satisfied and they shall see him and be satisfied Exod. 24.11 The Elders of Israel saw God and did eat and drink not as when they made the Calf but either they did eat of the Sacrifices or did eat and drink Spiritually they delighted in the Glory of the Lord and fed their Eyes and feasted upon the brightness of his Glory which was better to them than the most pleasant meat In answer to this Christ promises that we shall eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom this is the Portion of the Saints in Heaven they shall see Christ as God manifest in the Flesh and the God-head in Christ After the general Judgment they shall see God immediately as All in All and not only through the Man-hood of Christ. 2. Christ shall be a fountain of Glory to the Saints they shall receive of his fullness Glory for Glory as the Sun communicates the Glory of his Light so shall Christ the Sun of Righteousness which he beginning to do here shall do it perfectly to the filling of Souls and Bodies with Glory they shall have the Glory of being one in the Father and the Son Joh. 17.21 3. Christs Glory is a Pattern of the Saints Glory who are predestinated to be conformed to the Image of the Son Rom. 8.29 they shall see and be like him and be satisfied with his likeness If Saints now suffer so did Christ and as Christ is glorified so shall they if we suffer 't is no worse with us than 't was with Christ and when Christ shall appear it shall be as well with us as to a like Glory tho' not an equal Glory with his they shall appear with him in Glory there shall be a Manifestation of the Sons of God which the Creature hath an earnest expectation off that they may be delivered from their bondage unto the power of the Man of Sin into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.18 19 20. 1. A Gracious Liberty which they have being under Grace and in a State of Grace being free from the Curse of the Law from the raigning power of Sin and from being led Captive by Satan at his will this is a Liberty where with Christ hath made free 2. A Glorious Liberty where with Christ shall make them free not only from Sin as a King but from Sin as a Tyrant and from any temptations and buffetings of Satan not only from pleasing Men and walking as Men but from all persecutions from Men for Righteousness sake they shall not hurt nor destroy c. such a glorious Liberty shall be to the Sons of God a triumphant Liberty as under Solomon's Reign when there was neither Adversary nor evil Occurrent And as the Creature so the Saints also having the first fruits of the Spirit do groan for the Adoption even the Redemption of the Body There is a two-fold Adoption Rom. 8.23 First by receiving power to be Sons through believing in Christ Joh. 1.12 2. In receiving the Portions of Sons and that Inheritance which belongs to them as Joynt-Heirs with Christ There is also a two-fold Redemption 1. Of the Soul from under the power of Sin Satan and the World 2. Of the Body from Persecution and Trouble which is the State Saints shall be in after the fall of Babylon when there shall be none to make them afraid as also there shall be Redemption from Death and the Grave so that their vile Bodies shâ—ll be fashioned like Christ's Glorious Body Only 1. Consider if you would see Christ and be like him in Glory see that you be found in him having his Righteousness Psa 17.15 I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness that is thy Righteousness those that will not submit to the Righteousness of God must not look to be Exalted to his Glory yet an inherent qualifying Righteousness also is by many and may well be understood in that Expression whom he Justified them he Glorified 2. You must be Holy without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord you must be sanctified into a likeness with him in Grace else look not to be satisfied with his likeness in Glory 3. Confess Châ—ist and stand for his Glory In his Temple should every one speak of his Glory Psal 29.9 So should we in his Spiritual House they that delight not now to be speaking of his Kingdom and talking of his Power and of the Glorious Honour of his Majesty must not look to have an Inheritance in his Kingdom In his Temple is the joyful sound of his Glory such as now hear the joyful sound shall have the joyful sight of his Glory 4. Do all to his Glory confess he is Lord to the Glory of the Father be just to his Glory be sober to his Glory be charitable and mercifull to his Glory Pray Hear Eat Drink do all to his Glory all things are of thee of thine own have we given thee 1 Chron. 29.14 all Waters are from
not enough for a Christian to know the personal Excellencies of Christ For although if Christ were revealed in his Personal Excellencies of Grace and Glory which follow upon the Hypostatical Union this were enough to allure the Heart unto Christ to close in with him for so he were a fit Object for Men and Angels to imbrace Angels that are wholy clean and without Sin would think it an Addition to their Happiness to have him for their Head and Husband which Happiness 't is probable they have but Men are guilty of Sin and they cannot draw near to Christ to take delight in his Personal Excellencies except Sin be first done away Christ as considered in his Personal Excâ—llencies is not an Object â—â—â—ted so Sinners wherefore 't is not enough so to know Christ When Christ was transfigured in the Mount Math. 17. His Face shining as the Sun and his Rayment as white as the Light Peter thought tâ—â—n that they had seen enough of Christ and seems to be contented with this Representation of Christ's Glory ver 4. 't is good to be here let 's make Tabernacles settle our abode but Christ knew 't was not good to abide there something more was to be known of him so he leads them down from the Mountain they had not seen enough of Christ they must know him in another manner therefore ver 9. Christ says tell the Vision to no Man until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead Intimating that it was not enough to know Christ in his Glory but he must be known in his State of Humiliation as dying c. buried and risen again when the Apostâ—â—s thought they had seen enough of Christ in beholding his Personal Excellencies Christ then leads them to the Consideration of his Death Christ must be known in his Personal Excellencies but that is not enough we must look on him as dying as cloathed with his Garments of blood so he is a sit Object for Sinners The Prophets of old did not only represent him in his Glory but as dying Isa â—3 1 2. Who is this that cometh with dyed Garments from â—ozrah glorious in his Apparel and 〈◊〉 in his Apâ—arel This Christ himself in his Preaching of himself declares Math. 16.34 From that time Jesus began to tell his Disciples that he must suffer this the Disciples were a long time Ignorant off and so long were very rude and ignorant indeed and knew but little of the Mystery of the Kingdom of God although Peter could say in the name of the rest of the Disciples thou art Christ the Son of the Living God yet here he was Ignorant of this Mystery and when Christ speaks of his Death Peter rebukes him and says far be it from thee for which Christ called him Satan and said thou savourest not the things of God you know nothing of Christ aright unless you be acquainted with the Mysteries of his Death 2. 'T is not enough to know the History of Christ Crucified 't is not sufficient to meditate and contemplate on the great injuries done by the Jews the grievousness of his sufferings and the shame he was put to this may move the heart to a relenting and compassion to him as it will also to read the Stories of other Martyrs it may move the heart to indignation against the Jews for Crucifying of him this may beget admiration of his noble and heroical love which men may think to be Grace this is not enough This seems to be the fault which Christ reproved in those Women Wâ—ep not for me but for your selves and children Luke 23.28 You weep for me only out of natural pitty and compassion so indeed you may weep for your selves and your own miseries so you may weep for your Children and their calamities but you should not look on my sufferings as such as your selves undergo or your Children endure you must have more spiritual more raised thoughts of my sufferings not weep at them but rejoyce in them or weep for your Sins but rejoyce in my sufferings by which your Sins are done away 3. You must know the mystery of the Cross of Christ that is not only that he dyed but the ends for which he dyed and the benefits thereof that he dyed for our offences Rom. 4.25 That as Caiaphas Prophecyed Christ dying the whole Nation did not perish but some were saved by his death Now that thus you must look on Christ is evident because thus Christ is the object of justifying Faith Christ in his Personal Excellency is not the object of justifying Faith but the formalis ratio the proper respect and consideration that maketh Christ the object of Faith as justifying is his dying for Sin his sheding his blood that by it there might be the remission therefore Christ is a pleasing and grateful object to the Soul Christ as humbling himself and becoming obedient to death is an object suited to a humble Soul As the Brazen Serpent was lifted up c. so Christ on the Cross John 3.14 so the Scripture sets him forth Rom 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiatian through Faith in his Blood Look on Christ as by his Blood there is a propitiation for Sin so that then our care must be to know Christ as Crucified A humbled Soul must have recourse to Christ who is glorified and sits on the Right hand of God and yet to him as once upon the Cross 2. Now that I may in some measure unfold the Mystery unto you consider a threefold Mystery of Wisdom Love and Vertue 1. Of Wisdom in these particulars 1. Christ was delivered by the determinate Counsel and foreknowledge of God for a most Glorious and Blessed end that sinners in him might have the forgiveness of sins Act. 2.23 And he Blest with all Spiritual Blessings Eph. 1.3 Of Grace here in acceptation v. 5. and in receiving the Holy Spirit in the saving Graces and Workings of it Act. 2.38 Repent and be Baptized in the name of Christ and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost And of Glory hereafter Heb. 2.10 He is the Captain of Salvation by whom many Sons are brought to Glory This end see in Eph. 1.9 10. that is to make a perfect Reconciliation and to close up all breaches betwixt God and the Elect betwixt them and the Creatures there was Enmity even betwixt them and the good Angels Christ was sent that by him a Recapitulation might be made that all might be gathered under one head i. e. Christ for the end c. Isa 42.1 so that in meditating on the story of Christ Crucified we must look back to the Eternal Counsel and Decree of God consider that everlasting Design and Plot that was laid therein the Covenant made betwixt God the Father and Christ 2. See a Mystery of Wisdom in a sweet and admirable Conjunction of Justice and Mercy such a thing that if the Angels had laid their heads together and studied to Eternity to
this is the Storm falling on the Remnant of the Woman's seed during the time of the witnesses lying dead Rev. 11. and 12. being compared 't will appear that those keeping the Commandments of God and testimony of Jesus are Heirs of those Promises that are made of the Spirit of Life to enter into the witnesses which shall make them stand upon their Feet These shall ascend in a Cloud and be above the Earth-quake and so in this great Storm be preserved as seed of that Glory which shall follow to the Church 3. This is some ground to hope that God hath some special favour for England because the Sabbath hath been called the Holy of the Lord and Honourable more here than in any other Nation And so to strengâ—hen thiâ— Hope be the more zealous of a sâ—rict obsâ—rvâ—tion of it Here the Doctrine of the Sabbath hath been better taught and a strict of sâ—lvation of it hath been enjoyned couâ—tenanc'd and encouraged by Humane Laws and the prophanâ—tion of it hath been made punishâ—ble and although the best have come too far short of what is here required yet a generation haâ—h been here coming nearer to this pattern than other Churches abroad have done aâ—d God haâ—h said them that Honour me I will honour God will have a day to honour those that honour him on his day I will make thee to ride upon the High â—laces of the Earth 4. Make the Sabbath a delight and then God himself will be your dâ—light Delight your selves in the Lord's work delight your selves in the Law and so you shall in the Lord's favour in the Light of his Countenance if Grace be put in your Hearts so that you delight to Honour God then gladness shall be put in your Hearts more than when their Corn and Wine and Oyl increased Thus you may delight in him in trouble our rejoycing is the Testimony of our Conscience a good Conscience witnessing our Sincerity towaâ—ds God in worshipping him is a continual Feast Thus you shall delight in him in a state above troubles and shall go to God your exceeding Joy and shall enter into the Joy of the Lord and the Lord himself shall be your Joy 1. Then you shall delight in God more clearly manifesting himself and better known The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord. And there shall be none to hurt you for endâ—avouring to know him The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it Isa 40.5 i. e. His love betâ—er known As now 't is shed abroad in the heart so then it shall be shining upon the Person The Church at last shall be a Philadelphia Christ mentions not any thing that he had against that Church a Type haply it was of the Glorious Church in the day of Reformation Now what says Christ of that Rev. 3.9 I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worship before thy Feet and to know that I have loved thee and if they indeed then much more the Saints themselves shall know that they are beloved of God and so delight themselves in the Lord. 2. They shall delight themselves in the works and ways of God towards them The Providences of God shall be all delightsome Providences Not good dispensed in and by Evil but good apart from evil Aâ— Israel shall dwell alâ—ne so good shall come alone and not evil with it Then God's works shall be like his thoughts of good and not of evil to grant an expected end So his works are good and there 's no afflicting evil in them and God will give the Saints their expected end that is what from his word they did expect to be accomplish'd here in the World not the last and utmost end that is fulness of Joy in Heaven 1. The groaning Creature shall have its expected end the liberty of the Sons of God in which its Liberty is wrapt up Then upon all shall be written Holines to the Lord and not be then the Lusts of the Flesh tho Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life as all in the World is so now Men lust after Worldly Pleasures and satisfy their Lusts with them the Voluptuous Man doth so and the Glutton and Drunkard The Lusts of the Eye being coveted by an Evil Covetuousness The Covetous Man makes his Riches the Lusts of his Eye and the Pride of Life Men that have much are usually proud of it This is the Creature 's bondage and burden to be so but then the Sons of God that possess and use them well will honour God with their Substance their Fields are like those of Canaan Fields of Offerings they shall Consecrate their gain to the Lord c. when thus the Creature shall have its expected end 2. The groaning Saint and Servant of God shall have his expected end the Adoption the Redemption of his Body They shall sit under their Vines and none make them afraid and stand before the Lord c. and shall have Peace flowing in like a River and Grace flowing in abundantly I wil pour out a Spirit of Grace and Supplication Now 't is but dropt out upon the Saints then it shall be poured out As Christ was anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows so the Saints shall be anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above their Fore-Fathers with the Oyl of Grace and Gladness above them 5. Thus shall they be fed with the Heritage of Jacob their Father What is that 1. God himself was Jacob's Heritage as he said to Abraham he would be his exceeding great Reward so Rev. 21.3 I will be with them and be their God for they shall be satisfied with favour 2. Canaan the Land flowing with Milk and Honey was Jacob's Heritage and what was Typed out hereby will be given to the Church and is meant Deut. 32.13 He made him ride on the High places of the Earth that he might Eat the encrease of the Field and he made him suck Honey out of the Rock c. Butter of Kine Milk of Sheep fat of Lambs the fat of Kidneys of Wheat Thou didst drink the pure Blood of the Grape these were a Type of Christ and that fulness of Grace and Glory that is in him There is Honey and Oyl out of this Rock Righteousness and Peace the Joys of the Holy Ghost the substance of that shadow fat of Lambs Kidneys of Wheat He is the Bread of Life and hâ— the pure Blood of the Grape Christ will feast them at his Table in his Kingdom Christ himself his Grace and Glory the blessings of his Kingdom Righteousness Peace and the Joys of the Holy Ghost is the Heritage of the Saints and this they shall be fed with Jacob had an Inheritance viz. Canaan but there were times when he was not fed with his Heritage as 1. when he fled from his Brother Esau who threatned to be avenged on him and to kill him then he was