against God and enmity through wickednesse naturally resideing there and which the Prince of the powers of the aire the Spirit that worketh in the children of disobediance increaseth and stirreth up 2. That this evil is not totally taken away even in the godly but helped only in pairt for they see and know but in pairt 1 Cor. 13 vers 13. 3. That hence it cometh to passe that through the working of corruption the soul of a beleever can sometime win to no right thought of God at all or at best to some very narrow and unsutable conceptions of Him and his wayes yea sometimes all the thoughts that they can get of God are vaine and idle if not misshapen and blasphemous 4. That as we are we cannot see God for no man hath seen Him Mat. 11 27. Iohn 4 46. for He is an invisible God 1 Tim. 1. 17. Heb. 11 27. He dwelleth in light which no man can approach unto Him no man hath seen nor can see 1 Tim. 6 16. 1 Iohn 4 12. 5. That all that knowledge of God which iâ—… saveing is to be found in Christ who is the brightnesse of his glory the expresse image of his person Heb. 1 2. and the image of the invisible God Col. â—… 15. and is for this end come out from the bosome of the Father that He might acquant us with Him and with all his secrets Iohn 1 18. Mat. 11 27. so far as is needful for us to know He is God incarnate that in Him we may see the invisible Thus God is manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3 16. and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us Iohn 1 vers 14. 6. That therefore if we would see and know God we must go to Christ who is the temple in which God dwelleth and manifesteth his glory and in and through Him must we see and conceive of God The light that we get of the knowledge of the glory of God must be in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4 6 that is in the manifestations that Christ hath made of himself in his Natures Offices Ordinances Works Dispensations of grace mediate and immediate c. And thus doth God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse cause this light of the knowledge of his glory shine into our hearts viz. in the face of Iesus Christ that is in the dispensations of grace in the gospel which is the glorious gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4 4. and as it were the face of Iesus Christ for as by the face a man is best known and distinguished from others so Christ is visibly discernably and manifestly seen and known in and by the gospel dispensations there are all the lineaments and draughts of the glory of God which we would know lively and clearly to be seen So then if we would make use of Christ for this end that we may win to a right sight of God and suteable conceptions of his glory we would consider those things 1. We would live under the sense and through conviction of the greatnesse and incomprehensiblenesse of God as being every way past finding out and also under the conviction of our own darknesse and incapacitie to conceive aright of Him even as to what He hath revealed of himself 2. We would know that what the works of Creation and Providence declare and preach forth of God though it be sufficient to make Heathens and others that do not improve the same to a right acknowledging of him inexcuseable as Paul teacheth us Rom. 1 20. yet all that is short of giving to us that saving knowledge of Him which must be had and which is life eternal Iohn 17 2. 3. We would know that what of God is to be found-out by the works of creation and providence is more distinctly seen in Christ and in the gospel Here is a greater and more glorious discovery of God and of his glorious attributes his Iustice Power Wisdome Goodnesse Holiness Truth c. than can be found by the deepest diveing naturalist and most wise moral observer of providence that is not taught out of the Gospel 4. Yea there is something of God to be seen in Christ in the gospel which can be observed â—…o none of his works of creation or common providence there is the grace of God that bringeth salvation that is made to appear only by the gospel T it 2 â—…1 and there is a peculiar kindenesse and love of God toward man which is only discovered by Christ in the gospel Tit. 3 4. There is that manifold wisdome of God that mysterie which was hid from the beginning of the world in God that Principalities and powers in heavenly places the greatest and wisest of naturalists must learne by the church wherein that is preached and proclaimed by the dispensations of the gospel Ephes. 3 9 10. His mercy pardoning poor sinners justice being satisfyed can not be cleared by nature Nature cannot unfold that mystery of justice and mercy concurring to the salvation of a sinner only the gospel can cleare that riddle 5. We would remember that all the beames of that glory which are necessary and useful for us to know are to speak so contracted in Christ and there vailed to the end that we may more steadyly look upon them We may go to our Brother who is flesh of our flesh and there through the vaile of his flesh see and behold what otherwayes was invisible as we can look to the sun better shineing in a pale of water than by looking up immediatly so can we behold God and his glory better in Christ where there is a thinne vail to speak so drawne over that otherwise blindeing yea killing glory than by looking to God without Christ for alas we could not endure one glance of an immediat ray of divine glory it would kill us out right 6. We must then go to Christ and there see God for He who seeth Him seeth the Father also Iohn 14 9. Particularly we must go to the face of Iesus Christ that is that whereby He hath made himself known the noble contriveance of the glorious gospel wherein all things are so carryed on as that God is glorified in his Son in the salvation of poor sinners The whole work of salvation is laid on Christ and the Father is glorified in Him who is his servant and his chosen whom He upholdeth and furnisheth for the work Esai 42 1 2. He is called the Covenant it self He is the undertaker in the covenant of Redemption and in the covenant of Grace all is founded on Him all the good things of it are given out by Him all the grace by which we close with it and accept of Him according to it is given by Him Now in this gospel contrivance are all the lines of the glorious face of Christ to be seen and in that face must we see and discerne the glory of God all the rayes of which are centred in Christ and there will
and the basis of mans blessednesse advanceing him both to a conformity to God and qualifying him for the fruition of Him by the generality of those called to be saints that they may be haved is not onely upon deliberation and choice laid aside as having nothing in it to recommend and endeare it to the souls of men but hated floured fled from and forsaken as if it came on purpose to marre mens tranquillity and torment them before the time While I say it is thus some faithful Servants who make conscience to carry on His work who came to destroy the works of the Devil and went about while in the world healing all that were oppressed of him set themselves to pray preach and perswad the things concerning the Kingdome of God yea to write and warne and weep men into a compliance with their own happipinesse they endeavour solicitously to informe mens minds that they may reforme their manners and rescue them with feare who are runing upon their own ruine but alas with so little successe that they doe the work of the Lord with grief and have much sorrow of those of whom they ought to have joy and after all their beseechings obtestings requestings and cryings this is the way walke yee in it turne you turne oh why will you dye have this as the last returne to all their importunities Nay there is no hope speake no more to us of that matter do not offer to perswade us to relinquish the old road or disswade us from following our lovers for when ye have done all after these we will go we resolve to abide what we have been children of imperswasion But if his Servants in following their work closly seem to have gained a little ground upon men and almost perswaded them to be Christians Satan to the end he may make all miscarry and counter worke these workers together with God and poison poor souls by a perversion of the Gospel beyond the power of an antidot hath raised up instigat and set on work a race of proud Rationalists for they are wiser then to classe themselves amongst those poor fools those base things those nothings to whom Christ is made all things to whom Christ is made wisdome that he may be righteousnesse sanctification and redemption to them nay they must be wise men after the flesh wise above what is written a crucified Christ is really unto them foolishnesse and weaknesse though the power of God and the wisdome of God they will needs go to work another way they will needs glory in his presence and have a heaven of their own hand-wind O my soul enter not into their secrets and O sweet Jesus let thy name be to me the Lord my righteousness thou hast wone it weare it and gather not my soul with such who make mention of any other righteousness but of thine onely to bring-in another Gospel amongst men then the Gospel of the grace of God as they determine to know some other thing then Christ and him crucified so with the inticeing words of mans wisdom they bewitch men into a disobedience to the truth setting somewhat else before them then a crucified Christ And this they do that they may remove men from those who call them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel A Christ it is true they speake of but it is not the Christ of God for all they drive at O cursed and truely Antichristian designe is that he may profite them nothing while they model all Religion according to this novel project of their magnified morality This is that which gives both life and lustre to that image they adore to the Dagon after whom they would have the world wonder and Worship That there is such a moralizeing or muddizeing if I may be for once admitted to coine a new word to give these men their due of Christianity now introduced and comeing in fashion many of the late pieces in request do evince Now that Christianity should moralize men above all things I both give and grante for he who is partaker of the divine nature and hath obtained precious faith must adde vertue to his faith But that it should be only conceived and conceited as an elevation of nature to a more cleare light in the matter of morality wherein our Lord is onely respected as an heavenly teacher and perfect paterne proposed for imitation is but a proud pleasing fansie of self conceited darkened and deluded dreamers robing God of the glory of his mercy and goodnesse our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory of his grace and merit The Spirit of the efficacy of his glorious and mighty operations and themselves and their pilgrimes who give them the hand as guids of the comfort and frute of all This is the pilgrimage we are perswaded to undertake to the holy Land this is that reasonablenesse of Christianitie which with great swelling words of vanitie is ventilat to the allureing and ensnareing of such who had almost escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust and the pollutions of the flesh through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ This is the way which they who undertake to publish to the world the true causes of the decay of pietie take to revive and introduce that pietie which they complain is wanting O impious invention not only encroaching upon the unsearchable mysterie of the Gospel but subversive of the whole method and blessed and beautiful contrivance of salvation and rendering salvation impossible to the greatest proficients in this studie and the grand patrons and practitioners in this new art the greatest opposers of that grace of God which bâ—…ingeth salvation unto all men It is true they will not plainly plead for profanitie Nay they may and do make a great noise about the practise of pietie as if they were the only patrons thereof that with lesse observation and greater facility they may beguile themselves and their followers of the reward they may possibly perswade even to a pinching of the body that they may puffe up and pamper their fleshly minde and while they overdrive men to the practise of will worship and performance of those things which have a shew of wisdome it is that they may withdraw them from holding that blessed head from which all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God yet the grace of God that onely liveing principle of all true pietie which they dispute out of the souls of men that they may debauch them into a contempt of the Spirits working in men to will and to do takes frequent vengance on this their invention by leaving them not onely to play the Devil in disguise that they may be known by their fruits but also to lay aside that garbe of external godlinesse for the Devil nor his Domesticks cannot long weare a strait doublet that it may appeare how it is verified in them from
Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life OR A Short Discourse Pointing forth the way of making use of Christ for justification and especially and more particularly for Sanctification in all its parts from JOHAN XIV Vers. VI. Wherein several cases of conscience are briefly answered chiefly touching Sanctification By JOHN BROWN Preacher of the Gospel ROTTERDAM Printed by H. G. for Iohn Cairns book seller in Edinburgh and are to be sold there 1677. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO The Right Honourable and Religious Lady The Lady STRATHNAVER MADAM IEsus Christ himself being the cheife corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord as it ought to be the principal concearne of all who have not sitten down on this side of Iordan to satisfy their souls once created for and in their owne nature requireing in order to satifaction Spiritual immortal and incorruptible substance with husks prepared for beasts to be built in and upon this corner stone for an habitation of God through the Spirit So it ought to be the maine designe and work of such as would be approven of God as faithful labourers and co-workers with God to be following the example of him who determined not to know any thing among those he wrote unto save Iesus Christ and him crucified O! this noble heart-ravishing soul-satisfying mysterious theme Iesus Christ crucified the short compend of that uncontrovertibly great mysterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles beleeved on in the world received up into glory wherein are things the Angels desire to look into or with vehement desire bend as it were their necks and bow down their heads to look and peep into as the word used 1 Pet. 1 12. importeth is a Subject for angelical heads to prie into for the most indefatigable industrious Spirits to be occupyed about The searching into and studying of this one Truth in reference to a closeing with it as our life is an infallible mark of a soul divinely enlightened and endued with spiritual and heavenly wisdom for though it be unto the jewes a stumbling block unto the Greeks foolishness yet unto them who are called it is Christ the power of God the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser then men the weakness of God is stronger then men O! what depths of the manifold wisdom of God are there in this mysterie The more it is preached known beleeved aright the more is it understood to be beyond understanding to be what it is a mysterie Did ever any Preacher or beleever get a broad look of this boundless ocean wherein infinite Wisdom Love that passeth all understanding Grace without all dimensions justice that is admirable and tremenduous and God in his glorious Properties Condescensions high and noble Designes and in all his Perfections and Vertues flow over all banks or were they ever admitted to a prospect hereof in the face of Iesus Christ were not made to cry out O the depth and height the breadth and length O the inconceivable and incomprehensible boundlesness of all infinitly transcendent perfections Did ever any with serious diligence as knowing their life lay in it study this mysterious Theme and were not in full conviction of soul made to say the more they promoved in this study and the more they descended in their diveings into this depth or soared upward in their mounting speculations in this height they found it the more an unsearchable mystery The study of other Themes which Alas many who think it below them to be happy are too much occupyed in when it hath wasted the spirits wearyed the minde worne the body and rarified the braine to the next degree unto a distraction what satisfaction can it give as to what is attained or encouragement as to future attainments And when as to both these something is had and the poor soul puft up with an aery and fancyful apprehension of having obtained some great thing but in truth a great Nothing or a Nothing pregnant with Vanity and vexation of Spirit foolish twines causing no gladness to the Father for he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccles. 1 18. what peace can all yeeld to a soul reflecting on posting-away time now near the last point and looking forward to endless Eternity Oh! the thoughts of time wasted with and faire opportunities of good lost by the vehement pursueings and huntings after shadowes and vanities will torment the soul by assaulting it with pierceing convictions of madness and folly in forsaking All to overtake Nothing with dreadful and soul-terrifying discoveries of the saddest of disappointments and with the horrour of an everlastingly irrecoverable losse And what hath the laborious Spirit than reaped of all the travail of his soul when he hath lost it But on the other hand O with what calmness of minde serenity of soul and peace of conscience because of the peace of God which passeth all understanding will that poor soul look back when standing on the border of Eternity on the bygone dayes oâ—… houres it spent in sâ—…eking after praying â—…seing all appointed meanes for some saying acquantance with and interest in this only soul up making and soul satisfying Mystery and upon its yeelding up it self through the efficaâ—…ious operations of the Spirit of grace wholly without disputing unto the powerful workings of this mystery within and in becoming crucified with Christ and living throughâ—… crucified Christ's living in it by his Spirit and power and with what rejoyceing of heart and gloriou singing of soul will it look forward to Eternity and its everlasting abode in the prepared mansions remembering that there it s begun study will be everlastingly continued its capacity to understand that unsearchable mystery will be inconceivably greater and the spiritual heavenly and glorious joy which it will have in that practical reading its divinity without book of ordinances will be its life and felicity for ever And what peace joy in the holy Ghost what inward and inexpressible quiet and contentment of minde will the soul enjoy in dwelling on these thoughts when it shall have withall the inward and well grounded perswasion of its right through Jesus Christ to the full possession of that All which now it cannot conceive let be comprehend the foretastes whereof filleth it with joy unspeakable and full of glory and the hope of shortly landing there where it shall see and enjoy wonder praise and rest in this endless and restless felicitating work making it to sing while passing thorow the valley of the shadow of death O if this were beleeved O that we were not drunk to a distraction and madness with the adulterous love of vaine and aery speculations to the postponing if not utter neglecting of this maine and only upmaking work of getting real acquaintance with and a begun possession of this
mystery in our souls Christ the grand mystery formed within us living and working within us by his Spirit and working us up unto a conformity unto and an heart-closeing with God manifested in the flesh that we may finde in experience or at least in truth and reality have a true transumpte of that Gospel mystery in our souls Oh when shall we take pleasure in pursueing after this happiness that will not flee from us but is rather pursueing us when shall we receive with joy and triumph this King of glory that is courting us dayly and is seeking accesse and entry into our souls Oh why cry we not out in the hieght of the passion of spiritual longing desire O come Lord Iesus King of glory with thine owne key and open the door and enlarge dilate the chambers of the soul that thou may enter and be entertained as the King of glory with all thy glorious retinue to the ennobling of my soul satisfying of all the desires of that immortal spark Why do we not covet after this knowledge which hath a true and firme connexion with all the best and truely divine gifts O happy soul that is wasted and worne to a shadow if that could be in this study and exercise which at length will enliven and as it were bring in a new heavenly spiritual soul into the soul so that it shall look no more like a dead disspirited thing out of its native soile and element but as a free elevated and spiritualized Spirit expatiating it self fleeing abroad in the open aire of its owne element and country O happy day O happy houre that is really and effectually spent in this imployment what would souls sweeming in this ocean of all pleasures and delights care for yea with what abhorrency would they look upon the bewitehing allurements of the purest kinde of carnal delights which flow from the mindes satisfaction in feeding on the poor apprehensions groundlesly expected comprehensions of objects suited to its natural genius and capacity O! what a more hyperbolically exceeding and glorious satisfaction hath a soul in its very pursueings after when it misseth cannot reach that which is truely desireabâ—…e How doth the least glimpse through the smallest cranie of this glorious and glorifying knowledge of God in Christ apprehended by faith raise up the soul to that pitch of joy and satisfaction which the knowledge of natural things in its purest perfection shall never be able to cause and to what a surmounting measure of this joy and contentation will the experienceing feeling by spiritual sense the sweet and spiritual relish of this capivating and transcendently excellent knowledge raise the soul unto O! must not this be the very suburbs of heaven to the soul When the soul thus seeth apprehendeth God in Christ and that as its owne God through Christ for as all saving knowledge draweth out the soul unto an imbraceing closeing with the object so it bringeth in the object to the making up of the recâ—…procal union and in-being it cannot but admire with exultation and exult with admiration at that condescendence of free grace that hath made it in any measure capable of this begun glory and will furâ—…her mak it meet by this begun glory to be a 〈◊〉 of the inheritance of the Saints in light and what will a soul that hath tasted of the pure delights of this river of gospel manifestations hath seen with soul-ravâ—…shing delight in some measure the manifold wisdome of God wrapped up therein and the compleâ—…t and perfect â—…ymmetrie of all the parts of that noble contexture and also the pure designe of that contrâ—…vance to abase Man and to extoll the riches of the free grace of God that the sinner when possessed of all designed for him and effectuated in him thereby may know who alone should weare the crown and have all the glory what I say will such a soul see in another gospelâ—… calculated to the meridian of the natural crooked and corrupted temper of proud man who is soon made vaâ—…ne of nothing which in stead of bringing a sinner fallâ—…n from God through pride back againe to the enjoyment of Him through a Mediator doth but foster that innate plague and rebellion which caused and procured his first excommunication from the favour and banishment out of the paradice of God that shall attract its heart to it and move it to â—… compliance with it When the poor sinner that hath bin made to pant after a Saviour and hath bin pursued to the very ports of the city of refuge by the aveâ—…ger of blood the justice of God hath tasted and seen how good God is and felt the sweetness of free love in a crucified Christ and seen the beauty and glory of the mystery of free grace sutably answeringâ—… and overcoming the mystery of its sin and misery O what a complacency hath he therein and in the way of gospel salvation wherein free grace is seen to overflow all banks to the eternal praise of the God of all grace How saltless and unsavoury will the most cunningly devised and patch together mode of salvation be that men studying the perversion of the gospel and seeking the ruine of souls with all their skill indusery and learning are setting off with forced rhetorick and the artifice of words of mans wisdom and with the plausible advantages of a pretended sanctity and of strong grounds and motives unto diligence and painfulness to a very denying and renunceing of Christian liberty when once itis observed how it entrencheth upon and darkneth the lustre or diminisheth the glory of free grace and hath the least tendency to the setting of the crown on the creatures head in whole or in part The least perception that hereby the sinners song ascribeing blessing honour glory and power unto him that was sâ—…ain hath redeemed them to God by his blood out of every kinâ—…ed and tongue and people and nation and hath made them unto their God kings and prieâ—…ts shall be marred will be enough to render that device detestable and convince the soul that itis not the gospel of the grace of God nor that mystery of God and of Christ but rather the mystery of â—…niquity What a peculiar savouriness doth the humbled beleever finde in the doctrine of the true gospel grace and the more that he be thereby made Nothing and Christ made All that he in his highest atainments be debaised and Christ exalted that his most lovely peacoke feathers be laid the crown flourish on Christ's head that he be laid flat without one foot to stand upon and Christ the only supporter and carryer of him to glory that he be as dead without life and Christ live in him the more lovely the more beautiful the more desireable and acceptable is it unto him O what a complacency hath the graced soul in that contrivance of infinite wisdom wherein the mystery of the grace of God
is so displayed that nothing appeareth from the lowest foundation stone to the upper most cope-stone but grace grace free grace making up all the materials and free grace with infinite wisdom cementing all The gracious soul can be warme under no other covering but what is made of that web wherein grace and only grace is both wooft and werpe and the reason is manifest for such an one hath the clearest sight and discovery of his owne condition and seeth that nothing suiteth him and his case but free grace nothing can make up his wants but free grace nothing can cover his deformities but free grace nothing can help his weaknesses shortcomings faintings sins and miscarriages but free grace therefore is free grace all his Salvation and all his Desire itis his glory to be free grace's debtor for evermore the crown of glory will have a far more exceeding and eternal weight and be of an hyperbolically hyperbolick and eternal weight and yet easily carryed and worne when he seeth how free grace and free love hath lined it and free grace and free love sets it on and keeps it on for ever this maketh the glorified Saint weare it with ease by casting it down at the feet of the gracious and loving purchaser and bestower His exaltation is the Saints glory and by free grace the Saints receiving and holding all of free grace is He exalted O what a glory is it to the Saint to set the crown of glorious free grace with his owne hands on the head of such a Saviour and to say not unto me not unto me but unto thee even unto thee alone be the glory for ever and ever With what delight satisfaction and complacency will the glorified Saint upon this account sing the Redeemed and Ransomed their song And if the result and effect of free grace will give such a sweet sound there and make the glorified's heaven in some respects another thing or at least in some respect a more excellent heaven than Adam's heaven would have been for Adam could not have sung the song of the Redeemed Adam's heaven would not have been the purchase of the blood of God nor would Adam have sitten with Christ Redeemer on his throne nor would there have been in his heaven such â—…ich hangings of free grace nor such mansions prepared by that gracious and loving husband Christ who will come and bring his boughâ—…-bride home with Him Seing I say heaven even upon the account of free grace will have such a special lovely desireable and glorious lustre O how should Grace be prized by us now How should the Gospel of the Grace of God be esteemed by us What an antipaâ—…hy to Glory as now prepared and dressed up for sinful man must they show whose whole wit and parts are busied to daâ—…ken the glory of thâ—… Grace which God would have shineing in the Gospel and who are aâ—… so much paines and labour to dresse up another gospel though the Apostle hath told us Gal. 1 7. that there is not another wherein Gospel-grace must stand by and law grace take the throne that so man may sacrifice to his owne net and burn incense to his own drag and may at most be graces debtor in part and yet no way may the saved man account himself more graces debtor than the man was who wilfully destroyed himself in not performing of the conditions for Grace as the new Gospelers or rather Gospel spillers meane and say did equally to both frame the conditions make known thâ—… contrivance and tender the conditional peace and salvation But as to the difference betwixt Paul and Iudas it was Paul that made himself to differ and not the free grace of God determineing the heart of Paul by grace to a closeing with and accepting of the bâ—…rgan It was not grace that wrought in him both to will to do It waâ—… he not the grace of God in him What more contradictory to the gospel of the grace of God And yet vaine Man will not condescend to the free grace of God Pelagianisme Arminianisme needeth not put a man to much study and to the reading of many books to the end it may be practically learned though the patrons hereof labour hote in the very fires to make their notions hang together and to give them such a lustre of unsanctified and corrupt reason as may be taking with such as know no other conduct in the matters of God for nâ—…turally we are all borne Pelagians and Arminians these Tenets are deeply engraven in the heart of every Son of fallen Adam what serious servant of God findeth not this in his dealing with souls whom he is labouring to briâ—…g into the way of the Gospel Yea what Christian is there who hath acquantance with his owne heart and is observing its byasses and corrupt inclinations that is not made to cry out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from these dregs of Pelagianisme Arminianisme and Iesuitisme which I finde yet within my soul Hence it may seem no wonderful or strange thing though after so much clear light it may be astonishing to think that now in this age so many are so openly and aâ—…wedly appearing for this dangerous and deadly errouâ—… to us to hear and see this infection spreadâ—…ng and gaining ground so fast there needeth few arguments or motives to worke up carnal hearts to an imbraceing thereof and to a cheerful acquiesceing therein little labour will make a spark of fire worke upon gunpowder And me thinks if nothing else will this one thing should convince us all of the errour of this way that nature so qâ—…imely and readyly complyeth therewith for who that hath any eye upon or regaird of such things seeth not what a world of carnal reasonings objections prejudices and scruples natural men have in readiness against the Gospel of Christ and with what satisfaction peace and delight they reason and plead themselves out of the very reach of free grace and what work there is to get a poor soal in any measure wakened and convinced of its lost condition wrought up to a compliance with the gospel way of Salvation How many other designes projects and essayes doth it follow with a piece of natural vehemency and seriousness without wearying were it even to the wasteing of its body and spirits let be its substance riches before it be brought to a closeing with a crucified Mediator and to an accounting of all its former workings attainments and painful labourings and gaine as losse for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ and as dung that it may win Christ and be found in Him not having its own righteousness which is of the laâ—… but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faiâ—…h Phil. 3 7 8 9. Aâ—…d mâ—…y it not seem strange that now after so many have found through the grace of God the sweet experience of
glade in his house of prayer and their sighes and groans come up with acceptance upon his Altar O blessed Altar that sanctifies the gold This is that Altar whereto the mocking moralist hath no right It is by him that the poor beleever offers up his sacrifice to God continually what ever he doth in word oâ—… deed he desires to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus as he knowes He lives to make intercession and to appeare in the presence of God for his poor people both to procure influences for duety and plead for acceptation so he depends upon him for both as knowing he can never otherwise heare or have it said unto him well done good and faithful servant It may be he can do little he hath but a mite to offer but he puts it in the mediators hand to be presented to God he hath not gold nor silver nor purple to bring he can do no great things he hath but goats hair or rams skins but he gives them the right tincture he makes them red in the blood of Christ and so they are a beautiful incarnat Lastly This Gospel holinesse respects Jesus Christ as its last end as it hath its being from him so it is all directed toward the praise of his grace while the beleeving soul in whom Christ dwells designes no lâ—…sse and aims at no lower mark then assimilition to God and fâ—…uition of him while he is endeavouring alwayes and in all things to be unlike himself and what he was that he may be like God it is not to be like him on that wicked and wretched designe which man had at first in his eye whereby he lost his God and unmade a man but it is that thereby he may be in better case to glorâ—…fy him and that God may be the more endeared to his own soul because of what he hath done for him and commended and madâ—… precious to the souls of others while they take notice of what a change grace hath not onely made in his most eminent appearances for God he contracts himself into a disappearance that God may appeare and be seen in the shinâ—…ing glory of his grace bestowed upon him for the godly man of all men is â—…he most humble this is the garbe he cloaths himself with if his face shine in his accesses to God that pride may be hâ—…d fâ—…om his eyes he wots not of it the very thoughts of â—…obing God of his glory and clothing himself with thâ—… spoils of his honour are terrible to him and looked upon as that wherein thâ—… soul resembls Satan most manifestly and therefore that great practitioner who ouâ—… stript all others in doing and suffâ—…ring for God dare not stand up to intercept the glory due to his Master but ascribes all to him with a neverthe lesse neverthelesse not I but the grace of God which was with me what hast thou which thou hast not received prevents his boasting and imposeth the necessity of blessing the donor the marke he aims at in his exerciseing himself to godlinesse is mainly this that men seeing his goods works may glorify his Father which is in heaven As he knowes he acts not in his own strength but in his who counts him worthy of the high calling and fulfils all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in him and the work of faith with power so he considers for what all this is it is that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us and we in him according to the grace of our God the Lord Jesus Christ and he hath a sweet complacency in complying with this God-exalting and grace-magnifiing designe when grace hath set a crown upon his head and made him a king for the meanest beleever is truely a more illustrious Prince then the greatest Potentat of the earth not onely because under his rags lyes hide a title to a crown and his expectation is to sit with Christ upon his throne but because he is already crowned with loving kindenesse and tender mercies and doth while on the earth sit together with Christ in heavenly places Christ is possessed of glory in his stead as his representee and head and a man is all crowned and acknowledged as king when his head is crowned he knowes he is made a preist alâ—…o to sacrifice it to the giver and therefore he casts downe his crown before the throne with this thou art worthy to receive glory and honour c. and he esteems the priviledge of doing soâ—… as great as the prerogative of haveing it set on when he works hardest to adorne himself with the beauty of holinesse it is not so much that his beauty may appeare perfect as that that grace to which he is a debtor for all his comelinesse may shine in its lustre and his vertues who hath called him to glory and vertue may be shewed forth he designes not in his diligence in duty to be taken notice of as a singular saint but his great and shineing singularity which he doth most ambitionat lyes in this that Christ in the communications of his grace and efficacy of his influence may be admired in him as in all that beleeve In a word as all he hath is of him and from him so all he does or designs is for him and to him it is Christ to him to live in whom Christ lives now this is the very nature of pure religion and undefiled and that which compleats the image of God and puts it beyond all debat that his soul hath received the stamp and impression of the royal seal on it and that his heart is the epistle of Christ written not with inck and pen but with the Spirit of the liveing God when his glory and the exaltation of the manifold grace and manifold wisdom of God in the contriveance of salvation is upmost in his thinkings desireings Projectings and endeavourings and hath the first place in the roll of his wishings while other men seek their own things it is his own his onely own his one his all to seek the things of Christ that blessed seeker who came to seek him and save him and being found of him he endeavours to carry as one no more his owne the glorifieing of him in his body and Spirit which are his because bought by him is his begun heaven and the greatest errand he hath in heaven is to get a more cleare sight of that blessed object of all admiration and adoration and to be in better case to cry him up for ever Now this is but a short and general Character drawn by an unskilful hand of that holinesse which will abide the test and be found true when tried by the touch stone of the word But let us on the other hand take a short view of what our moralists substitute in its place as in their account both more beautiful to the eye and more beneficial to the souls of men wherein I intend to be breife I
Him in a day of tryall Confession of Him must be made with the mouth as with the heart we must beleeve Ro. 10 9. Let corruption speak against this what it will because it is alwayes desireous to keep the skinne whole yet reason cannot but say that it is equitable especially seing He hath said that whosoever confesseth Him before men He will confesse them before his Father which is in heaven Mat. 10. 32. And that if we suffer with Him we shall also reigne with Him 2 Tim. 2. 12. Is He our Lord and Master and should we not owne and avouch Him Should we be ashamed of him for any thing that can befall us upon that account What Master would not take that ill at his servants hands Hence then we see that there is nothing in all the conditions on which He offereth Himself to us that can give the least ground in reason why a poor soul should draw back and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer or think that the conditions are hard But there is one maine Objection which may trouble some and that is They cannot beleeve faith being the gift of God it must be wrought in them How then can they goe to God for this and make use of Christ for this end that their souls may be wrought up to a beleeving consenting to the bargan and hearty accepting of the offer To this I would say these things 1. It is true that faith is the gift of God Ephes. 2 8. and that it is He alone who worketh in us both to will to do Phil. 1 29 and none cometh to the son but whom the father draweth Iohn 6 44. and it is a great matter and no small advancement to win to the reall faith and through conviction of this our impotency for thereby the soul will be brought to a greater measure of humiliation and of despaireing of salvation in it self which is no small advantage unto a poor soul that would be saved 2. Though faith be not in our power yet it is our duty Our impotency to performe our duty doth not loose our obligation to the duty so that our not beleeving is our sin and for this God may justly condemne us His wrath abideth on all who beleeve not in his Son Jesus and will not accept of the offer of salvation through the crucified mediator And though faith as all other acts of grace be efficiently the work of the Spirit yet it is formally our work we do beleeve but it is the Spirit that worketh faith in us 3. The ordinary way of the Spirit 's working faith in us is by pressing home the duty upon us whereby we are brought to a despairing in ourselves and to a looking out to Him whose grace alone it is that can work it in the soul for that necessary 〈◊〉 and breathing without which the soul will not come 4. Christ Jesus hath purchased this grace of faith to all the elect as other graces necessary to their salvation and it is promised and convenanted to Him that He shal see his seed and shall see of the travell of his soull Esai 53 10 11. and that by the knowledge of him that is the rationall and understanding act of the soul griping to and laying hold upon Him as he is offered in the gospell many shall be justified Ibid. Hence he sayeth that all whom the father hath given to Him shall come unto Him Ioh. 6 37. and the Apostle tels us that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him Ephes. 1 3. 5. Not only hath Christ purchased this grace of faith and all other graces necessary for the salvation of the elect but God hath committed to Him the administration and actuall dispensation and outgiving of all those graces which the redeemed stand in need of Hence He is a Prince exalted to give repentance and forgivenesse of sinns Act. 5 31. all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him Mat. 28 18 19. Hence He is called the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 v. 2. and He telleth his disciples Iohn 14 13. 14. That whatever they shall ask in his name He will do it He is made Prince and a Saviour having all judgment committed unto him Iohn 5 22. and He is Lord of all Act. 10 36. Rom. 14 9. 6. Hereupon the sinner being convinced of his lost condition through sin and misery of an utter impossibility of helping himself out of that state of death of Christ's alsufficiency and willingnesse to save all that will come to Him and of its owne inability to beleeve or come to Him for life and salvation or to lay hold on and leane to his merites and satisfaction and so despaireing in himself is to look out to Iesus the author of eternall salvation the foundation and chiefe corner stone the author and finisher of faith I say the sinner being thus convinced is thus to look out to Iesus not that that conviction is any proper qualification prerequisite as necessary either to prepare dispose and fit for faith or far lesse to merite any manner of way or bring on faith But because this is Christ's methode to bring a soul to faith by this conviction to the glory of his grace The soul naturally being averse from Christ and utterly unwilling to accept of that way of salvation must be redacted to that straite that it shal see that it must either accept of this offer or die as the whole needeth not a physitian so Christ is come to save only that which is lost and his method is to convince the world of sin in the first place and then of righteousnesse Iohn 16 8 9. 7. This looking out to Iesus for faith comprehendeth those things 1. The Souls acknowledgement of the necessitie of faith to the end it may partake of Christ and of his merites 2. The souls satisfaction with that way of partaking of Christ by a closeing with Him and a resting upon Him by faith 3. A sense and conviction of the unbeleefe and stubbornnesse of the heart or a seeing of its own impotency yea and unwillingnesse to beleeve 4. A persuasion that Christ can overmaster the infidelity wickednesse of the heart and worke up the soul to a willing consent unto the bargane 5. A hope or a half hope to speak so that Christ who is willing to save all poor sinners that come to Him for salvation and hath said that He will put none away in any case that cometh will have pity upon him at length 6. A resolution to lye at his door till he come with life till He quicken till He unite the soul to Himself 7. A lying open to the breathings of his Spirit by guarding against every thing so far as they can that may grieve or provok Him and waiting on Him in all the ordinances He hath appointed for begetting of faith such as reading the scriptures hearing the word conference with godly persons and prayer
for the breathings of his Spirit and open at his call least afterward they be put to call and seek and not attaine what they would be at as we see in the Spouse Cant. 5 2 3 4. 5 6. c. 7. They would also guaird against the quenching of the Spirit 1 Thes. 5 12. or greiving of the Spirit Ephes. 4 30. by their unchristian unsuteable carriage for this will much marre their sanctification It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification is carryed on in the soul and when this Spirit is disturbed and put from his work how can the work go on When the motions of this indwelling Spirit are extinguished his work is marred and retarded and when He is grieved he is hindered in his work Therefore souls would guard against unbeleefe despondency unsuteable unchristian carriage c. 8. Especially they would beware of wasteing sinns Psal. 51 10. Sins against light and conscience such as David calleth presumptuous sinâ—… Psal. 19 13. They would beware also of favouring any known corruption or any thing of that kinde that may hinder the work of sanctification Secondly It were usefull and of great adâ—…antage for such as would grow in grace and advance in the way of holinesse to be living in the constant conviction 1. Of the necessity of holinesse without which no man shall see God Heb. 12 14. nothing entering in into the new Ierusalem that defileth Revel 21 27. 2. Of their owne inability to do any one act aright how they are not sufficient of themselvs to think any thing as of themselvs 2 Cor. 3 5. and that without Christ they can do nothing Iohn 15 5. 3. Of the insufficiency of any humane helpe or meanes or way which they may think good to choose to mortifie aright one corruption or to give strength for the right discharge of any one duty for our sufficiency is of God 2. Cor. 3 5. and it iâ—… through the Spirit that we must mortifie the deedâ—… of the body Rom. 8 13. 4. And of the treachery and deceitfulnesse of the heart which is bent to follow by wayes being not only deceitfull above all things but also desperatly wicked Ier. 17 9. That by this meanes the soul may be jealous of it self and despaire of doing any thing in its owne strength and so be fortified against that maine evill which is an enemy to all true sanctification viz confidence in the flesh Thirdly The soul would keep its eye fixed on those things 1. On Christ's alsufficiency to helpe in all cases that He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7 v. 25. 2. On his compassionednesse to such as are out of the way and ready nesse to helpe poor sinners with his grace and strength and this will keep up the soul from fainting and dispaireing 3. On the commands to holinesse such as those cleanse your hands and purify your hearts Iam 4 8. and be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1 15 16. and the like That the authority of God and conscience to a command may set the soul a work 4. On the great recompense of reward that is appointed for such as wrestle on and endure to the end and on all the great promises of great things to such as are sanctified whereof the Scriptures are full that the soul may be encouraged to run thorow difficultyes to ride out stormes to endure hardnesse as a good souldier and to persevere in duty 5. On the other hand on the many sad threatnings and denunciations of wrath against such as transgresse his lawes and on all the sad things that such as shake off the fear of God and the study of holinesse have to look for of which the Scripture is full that by this meanes the soul may be keeped in awe and spurred forward unto duty and made the more willing to shake off Leazynesse 6. On the Rule the word of God by which alone we must regulate all our actions and this ought to be our meditation day and night and all our study as we see it was Davids and other holy men of God their dayly work See Psal. 1. and 119. Fourthly In all this study of holinesse and aimeing at an hiegher measure of grace the beleever would lavell at a right end and so would not designe holinesse for this end that he might be justified thereby or that he might thereby procure and purchase to himself heaven and God's favoure for the weight of all that must lie on Iesus Christ who is our Righteousnesse and our holinesse must not dethrone Him nor rob Him of his glory which He will not give to another But would study holinesse to the end he might glorifie God Father Son and holy Spirit and please Him who calleth to holinesse and thereby be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the saints in light Col. 1 10 12. and be made a meet bride for such a holy bridegroome and a member to such an holy head that hereby others might be edified Mat. 5 16 1. Pet. 2 12. and 3 1 2. that the soul may look like a temple of the holy ghost and like a servant of Christ's bought with a price 1 Cor. 6 17 18 10. 20. And have a clear evidence of his regeneration and justification and also that he may expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his favours and benefites Fiftly The soul would by faith lay hold on and grip fast to the ground of sanctification that is to say 1. To what Christ hath purchased for his people 2. To what as a publike person He hath done for them And so by faith 1. Challenge a right to and lay hold on the promises of grace strength victory and throw-bearing in their combating with corruption within and Satan and a wicked world without 2. Reckon themselves dead unto sin through the death of Christ and alive unto God through his resurrection Rom. 6 4 11. and that the old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed vers 6. and that they are now not under the law but under grace vers 14. That by this meanes they may be encouraged to continue fighting against a vanquished enemy and not give over notwithstanding of disappointments discouragements prevailings of corruption c. and the beleever may know upon what ground he standoth and what is the ground of his hope and exspectation of victory in end and so he may run not as uncertanely and so fight not as one that beateth the aire 1 Cor. 9 26. Sixtly In this work of sanctification the beleever would be much in the lively exercise of faith fight by faith advance by faith grow up and bring forth fruit by faith and so 1. The beleever would be oft renewing his grips of Christ holding Him fast by faith and so abideing in Him that he may bring forth fruit Iohn 15 4 5. 2. Not only would he be keeping his union fast with Christ but he
further confirme the hope and faith of the beleever to look to Christ hinging on the crosse and there vanquishing and evercomeing this 〈◊〉 as a publick person representing the elect who died in him and virtually and legally did in him overcome that Jailour and break his fetters and the soul now beleeving may yea should reckon it self in Christ dying as it were upon the crosse and there overcomeing all those spirituall enemies likewise sayeth the Apostle Rom. 6 11. Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin From hence even while fighting the beleever may account himself a conquerour yea more then a conquerour through Him that loved him Rom. 8 37. Now faith acting thus on Christ as a publick person dying and overcomeing death and sin the beleever may not only inferte the certainty of victory knowing that our old man is crucified with Christ Rom 6 6. but also from the crosse of Christ draw strength to stand fight against the struglings of this vanquished and killed enemy They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. But how even by the crosse of Christ for thereby is the world crucified unto me sayeth the Apostle Gal. 6 14. I unto the world your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6 6. 13. The beleever being dead indeed unto sin through the crosse of Christ is to look upon himself as legally freed from that yock of bondage under sin death The law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth Rom. 7 1. but by the body of Christ beleevers are become dead to the law vers â—… That law of sin death which hath dominion over a man that liveth still in nature and is not yet by faiâ—…h planted in the likenesse of Christs death noâ—… buryed with him by baptisme into death Rom. 6 4 5. hath not that dominion over beleevers it had once for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made them free from the law of sin death Rom. 8 2. So that now the beleever is free from that tyranny and that tyrant can exerce no lawfull jurisdiction or authority over him and therefore he may with the greater courage repell the insolencies of that tyrant that contrare to all right and equity seeketh to Lord it over him still They are no lawfull subjects to that cruell and rageing Prince or to that spirituall wickednesse 14. So that the beleever renunceing that jurisdiction under which he was formerly and being under a new husband and under a new law even the law of the Spirit of liâ—…e in Christ Iesus is to look upon all the motions of sin as illegall and as treasonable acts of a tyrant The old man being crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed the beleever is not any more to serve sin Rom. 6 6. And being now dead they are freed from sin vers 7. and are married to another even to Him who is raised from the dead so they should not serve sin but bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. therefore look upon all motions of the flesh and all the inclinations and stirrings of the old law of sin as acts of treachery and rebellion against the right and jurisdiction of the beleevers new Lord Husband and are therefore obliged to lay hold on this old man this body of death and all the members of it as traitours to the rightfull King Husband and to take them prisoners to the King that He may give out sentence and execute the same against them as enemies to his kingdome and interest in the soul They being now no more servants of sin but of righteousnesse Rom. 6 18. they ought no more to yeeld their members servants to uncleannesse iniquity unâ—…o iniquity vers 19. and being debters no more to the flesh to live after the flesh Rom. 8 12. they are to mortifie the deeds of the body through the Spirit vers 13. and to crucify the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 5 24. that is by bringing them to the crosse of Christ where first they were condemned and crucified in their full body and power that a new sentence as it were may goe out against them as parts of that condemned Tyrant and as belonging to that crucified body 15. So that the beleever that would carry faithfully in this matter and fight lawfully in this warfare and hope to obtaine the victory through Jesus Christ must bring these Traitours that appeare in their sinfull motions and lusts in the soul working rebellion against the lust authority and equitable lawes of the lawfull Prince Iesus before the tribunal of Him who hath now gote all power and authority in heaven and earth Mat. 28 18. and hath all judgment committed to Him Ioh. 5 22. And to this end both died and rose revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. that He may execute justice upon the Tâ—…aitor head and members that He may trâ—…mple these devils under and bruise the head of these serpents within us The beleever then is by faith in prayer to carry these open enemies to Christ and declare and witnesse against them as Traitours by what mischief they have done in the soul by their hindering the righteous lawes of the king to be obeyed and constraining forceing what by arguments or allurements and what by forceable inclinations and pousings to disobedience and a counteracting of Christ and he should urge and plead upon the fundamentall lawes of the land viz the articles of agreement betwixt the Father and the Son and the faithfull promises of the Covenant of grace and upon Christs office as King and Governour and his undertaking as Mediator upon the merites of his death and sufferings upon his dying as a common person upon the constitution of the gospell whereby they are in law repute as dying in him and so free from the law of sin and death and upon their relation to Him as their new Lord Head Husband King Commander c. Upon these arguments I say to plead for justice against the rebell that is now brought to the barre and so by faith leave the prisoner in His hand that He may in his own time and way give a second blow unto the neck of this implacable and rageing enemy that he may noâ—… rise up to disturbe the peace of the soul as before or to trouble impede and molest the soul in paying the homage and obedience due to his lawfull Master and Soveraigne King Jesus Cautions Directions For furder clearing of the premises I would propose a few particulars for caution direction as 1. This work of laying the burthen of this businesse on Christ by faith would be gone about with much singlenesse of heart aimeing at the glory of God and the carying on of his work in the soul and not for
to rejoyce in this that the enemy is already conquered by the Captaine and that we share in his victory and that the very God of peace shall quickly bruise Satan under our feet Rom. 16 20. CHAP. VII How Christ is to be made use of in reference to Growing in grace I Come now to speak a little to the other part of Sanctification which concearneth the change of our nature and frame and is called Vivification or Quickening of the new man of grace which is called the New man as having all its severall members and parts as well as the old man and called New because posteriour to the other and after regeneration is upon the growing hand This duty of growing in grace as it is called 2. Pet. 3. uâ—…t is variously expressed and held forth to us in scripture for it is called an abideing and bringing forth fruit in Christ Iohn 15 5. adding to faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. 2 Pet. 1 5 6 7. a going on to perfection Heb. 7 1. a growing up in Christ in all things Ephes. 4 15. a working out our salvation Phil. 2 12. a perfecting of holinesse 2. Cor. 7 1. a walkeing in newnesse of life Rom. 6 4. a yeelding of our selves unto God as alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God Rom. 6 13 18. a bringing forth of fruit unto God Rom. 7 4. a serving in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7 6. a being renewed in the spirit of our mindes and a putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes. 4 23 24. Col. 3 10. and the like some whereof do more immediatly expresse the nature of this change as to the root and some as to the fruit and effects thereof and some the progresse and advancement that is made or to be made therein And all of them point out a speciall piece of work which lieth on all that would see the face of God viz. to be holy gracious and growing in grace This then being a speciall piece of the exercise and dayly work of a Christian and it being certane as some of the places now cited do also affirme that without Christ they cannot get this work either begun oâ—… carryed on the maine difficulty and question is how they are to make use of Christ for this end For answere whereunto though by what we have said in our former discourse it may be easie to gather what is to be said here yet I shall briefly put the Reader in minde of those things as usefull here 1. The Beleever would consider what an ornament this is to the soul to have on this new mâ—…n which is created after the image of God Ephes. 4 23. what an excellency lyeth here to recover thâ—… lost glory holinesse and the image of God and what advantage the soul reapeth hereby when it is made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1 12. and walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1 10. and strengthened with all might according to his glorious pover unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse vers 11. and when the abounding of the graces of the Spirit make them that they shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 1 8 and to be a vessell unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work 2. Tim. 2 21 what glory and peace is here to be found obedient unto the many commands given to be holy What hazard is in the want of holinesse when without it we cannot see God Heb. 12 14. How unanswereable it is unto our profession who are members to such a holy Head to be un holy What profite joy and satisfaction there is iâ—… being temples of the holy ghost in walking after the spirit in bringing forth fruit unto the glory of the Father c. The consideration of these and other motives unto this study of sanctification would arme the soul with resolution and harden it against opposition 2. It would be remembered that this work though it be laid upon us as our duty and we be called thereunto of God yet it is beyond our hand and power it is true at conversion the seed of grace is cast into the soul new habites are infused a new principle of life is given the stonny heart is changed into an heart of flesh yet these principles and habits can not act in themselves or be brought into act by any thing that a beleever considered in himself and without divine helpe can do But this work of sanctification and grouâ—…h in grace must be caryed on by divine help by the Spirit of Jesus dwelling and working within and therefore it is called the sanctification of the spirit 2. Thes. 2 13. 1. Pet. 1 2. The God of peace must sanctifie us 1. Thes. 5 23. We are said to be sanctifiâ—… by God the Father Iud. 1. and by the holy ghost Rom. 15 16. See also 1. Cor. 6 11. We would remember that of our selves we can do nothing 2. Cor. 3 5. and that He must work in us both to will and to do of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2 13. Albeit no beleever will question the truth of this yet it may be it shall be found after tryal that one maine cause of their not growing in grace and making progresse in this work is their not acting as beleeving this but setting about the work as if it were a work which they themselves could master and do without speciall divine help Therefore the beleever would abide live and act in the faith of this truth 3. Therefore beleevers would not in going about this work either trust to their own strength to the habites of grace to their former experiences to their knowledge and pairts or the like nor yet would they trust to any externall meane which they are to go about because the wisdome strength and helpe which their case calleth for is not to be found in them yet they should not think of laying these meanes and dutyes aside for then should they sin against God they should prejudge themselvs of the helpe strength and supply which God useth to convey to the soul in by the use of the meanes and withall they should tempte the Lord by prescribing another way to Him than He hath thought good to take The beleever then would use the meanes and duties prescribed and that diligently seâ—…iously and constantly and yet would leane as little to them and exspect help reliefe as little from them as if he were not useing them at all as we said above And indeed this would be a right way yea the most advantagious and profitable way of going about dutyes to be diligent in the use of them because of Gods command and yet to place
out hope and exspectation in God alone and to look above the ordinances for our help 4. Albeit it be true that the power and grace of God alone doth beginne and carry on this work of sanctification in the soul yet though he might did He but see it for his glory carry on and finish this work in the soâ—…l without the intervention of second causes or meanes he hath notwithstanding thought it fit forth â—… glory of his name to worke this work by meanes and particulary by beleevers setting about the work He worketh not in man as if he were a block or a stone but useth him as a rationall creature endued with a rationall soul having useful and necessary facultyes and having a body fitted by organs to be â—…ubservient to the soul in its actions Therefore the beleever must not think to lye by and do nothing for he is commanded to worke out his owne salvation and that because it is God that worketh in him both to will and to do Because God worketh all therefore he should worke so reasoneth the Apostle so that God's working is an argument and motive to man to worke and not an argument to him to lye by idle and do nothing And here is the holy art divine skill requisite in this businesse to wit for the believer to be as diligent and active as if he could bring forth fruit in his own strength and by his owne working and yet to be as abstracted from himself his owne grace ability knowledge and experience in his working as if he were lying by like a meeâ—… block only moving as moved by externall force 5. The soul that would make progresse in Christianity and grow in grace would remember that Christ is proposed to us as a copy which we are to imitate and that therefore we should set Christ continually before us as our patterne that we may follow his steps 1. Pet. 1 15. and 2 â—…1 But with all it would be remembered that He is not like other ensamples or copies that can helpe the man that imitateth them no other way than by their objective prospect for looking by faith on this copy will bring vertue to the man that studyeth to imitate whereby he shall be inabled to follow his copie the better O 〈◊〉 we knew in experience what this were to take a look of Chrâ—…'s Love Patience Long suffering Meeknesse Hatred of sin Zeal c. and by 〈◊〉 to pore-in till by vertue proceeding from that copie we found our hearts in some measure framed into the same disposition or at least more inclined to be cast into the same mould 6. The beleever would act faith on Christ aâ—… the Head of the body and as the stock in which the branches are engrafted and thereby suck sap and life and strength from Him that he may work walk and grow as becometh a Christian. The beleever must grow up in Him being a branch in Him and must bring forth fruit in Him as the forementioned places clear Now Christ himselfe tells us that the branches cannot bring forth fruit except they abide in the vine and that no more can his disciples bring forth fruit except they abide in Him Iohn 15. Therefore as it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith that the soul as a branch is united to Christ as the vine and as it is by faith that they abide in Him so is it by faith that they must bring forth fruit and this faith must grippe Christ as the Vine and the Stock or Root from which cometh sap life and strength faith then must look to Christ as the fountain of 〈◊〉 as the head â—…om whence cometh all the in â—…ces of strength and motion Christ 〈◊〉 strength and life enough to give out for the fulnesse of the God head dwelleth in Him bodyly and he is also willing enough to communicate of his fulnesse as the relations He hath taken on do witnesse Thâ—… head will not grudge to give to the members of the body spirits for action and motion 〈◊〉 will a vine grudge to give sap unto the branches â—…ay life strength and furniture will as it were natively flow out of Christ unto beleevers except they through unbeleef and other distempers cause obstructions as life and sap doth natively and kindely flow from the root to the branches of from the head to the members unlesse obstructions stoppe the passage It is necessary therefore that beleevers eye Christ under these and the like relations and look upon Him as standing to speak so obliged by his place and relation to grant strength and influences of life whereby they may become fruitful in every good work and so with holy humble and allowed boldnesse presse in faith for new communications of grace vertue strength courage activity and what else they need for from the head all the body by joints bands having nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2 19. Ephes. 4 16. 7. For this cause beleevers would lye open unto the influences of Christ and guaird against the puting of obstructions in the way through grieving of the Spirit by which He conveyeth communicateth those influences unto the soul and through questioning misbeleeving Christ's faithfulnesse and unchangable willingnesse which as a violent humore stoppeth the passage So then beleevers would lye open by looking and waiting drawing seeking from Him what they need and by guarding against every thing that may provoke the Lord to angerâ—… whether in omission or commission Here is requisite â—…n holy humble sober and watchfull walk an earnest serious and hungry looking out to Him and a patient waiting for supply and furniture from Him This is to open the mouth wide that He may fill it to lie before the sun of righteousnesse that the beames thereof may beat upon them warme revive them and to waite as a beggar at this kings gate till he give the almes 8. For the strengthening of their hope faith in this they would lay hold upon Christ dying and by his death purchaseing all those influences of life and strength which are requisite for carrying on of the work of grace and sanctification in the soul for we must be blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1â—… 3. The beleever then would look on these influences as purchased at a deare rate by the blood of Jesus Christ so that the divine power giveth unto us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory virtue 2 Pet. 1 3. And this will encourage the soul to wait on and expect the flowing down of influences and spiritual blessings and showres of grace to cause the soul to flourish and become fruitfull and to urge and presse more earnestly by faith the bestowing of the purchased benefites 9. Moreover the beleever would look on Jesus as standing engaged and obliged to carry on this work both as receiving them for this end from the Father
Him who is the Truth 5. They have none to go to for help and light in the day of their darknesse confusion and perplexity for they are not reconciled unto the Truth which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day 6. They can do nothing to helpe themselves out of that state of darknesse and ignorance and whatever they do to helpe themselves shall but increase their darknesse and misery because there is no truth there and Truth even the Truth alone can dispell these clouds of errour mistakes ignorance c. Secondly Hence we see the happy and blessed condition of beleevers who have imbraced this Truth and gotten their souls opened to Him who is the Truth for 1. They are in part delivered from that masse of lies mistakes misapprehensions errours deceitfulnesse and ignorance under which they lay formerly and all the unregenerate do yet lye and though they be not fully delivered therefrom yet the day is comeing when that shall be and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a certane pledge thereof and at present they have ground to beleeve that that evil shall not againe have dominion over them they being now under grace and under the guidance of Truth 2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts doubts and feares of their state and condition and think many a time that they shall one day or other perish by the way and all their hopes and confidence shall evaniâ—…h yet having given up themselves to Truth and to the Truth they shall not be disappointed in end The Truth shall land them saife on the other side The Truth shall prove no lie 3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to in a day of darknesse clouds doubts when falshood and lies are like to prevail even the Truth who alone can help them in that day 4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God and of the mysteries of the gospell be but small yet that small measure being taught by Him who is the Truth and flowing from Truth shall prove sanctifying and saving 5. They have ground to hope for more freedome from errours and deceitfull lies than others for they have chosen the way of truth and given themselves up to the leading of Truth Object But do not even such drink-in and receive and plead for errours as well as others and is it not sometime found that they even live and die in some mistakes and errours Answere I grant the Lord may suffer even some of his own to fall into and to continue for some time in errors yea and it may be all their dayes as to some errours that hereby all may learne to tremble and feare and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling 2. Some may be tryed thereby Dan. 11 35. 3. Others may break their neck thereupon 4. To punish themselves for not making that use of Truth and of the Truth that they should have done yet we would consider these few things 1. That there are many moe unregenerat persons that fall into errour 2. If his people fall into errour at any time they do not alwayes continue therein to the end God for his own glory maketh some time or other truth shine in upon their soul which discovereth that mistake and presently the grace of God in their soul maketh them to abhore the same 3 Or if some continue in it to their dieing day yet they repent of it by an implicite repentance as they do of other unknown and unseen evils that lye in their soul so that that errour doth not destroy their soul. 4 There are some grosse errours which a regenerat soul cannot readyly imbrace or if through a mistake or the power of a temptation they do imbrace them yet they cannot heartyly close with them whatever for a time through corruption and pride they may seem outwardly to do and that because the very dayly exercise of grace will discover them and so they will be found to be against their dayly experience as some opinions of the Papists Arminians and Socinians together with the abominable Quakers which a gracious soul when not carryed away with the torrent of corruption and with the tempest of a temptation cannot but observe to contradict the dayly workings of grace in their soul and the motions of their sanctified soul in prayer and other holy dutyes and so such as they cannot but finde to be false by their own experience Thirdly Here is ground of a sharpe reproof of the wicked who continue in unbeleef and I Will not beleeve nor give any credite to his promises wherewith He seeketh to allure poor souls to come to Him for life 2 Nor will they beleeve His threatnings wherewith He useth to alarme souls and to pouse them forward to their duty 3 Nor will they beleeve and receive His offers as true 4 Nor will they beleeve that He is the true Prophet Priest and king that must save souls from hell and death and therefore they will not give Him imployment in his offices All which cannot but be an high provocation for in effect it is to say that He is not the Truth nor worthy to be beleeved Let them consider this and â—…ee how they think he shall take this off their hands No man will take it well that another should either call or account Him a liar and can they think that Christ shall take it well at their hands to be accounted by them a liar What will they think to be challenged for this in the great day Now the truth is all unbeleevers as they make God a liar o horrid and abominable crime Whose haire would not stand on end to hear this 1 Iohn 5 10 11 He that beleeveth not God hath made him a liar because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son So do they make the Son of God a liar in all his sayings in all his Offices and in all his works And they make the holy ghost a liar in not beleeving that truth that He hath sealed as a firme truth They make the covenant of surtyshipe betwixt the Father and the Son a mere lie and a forgery o dreadfull They make the word of truth a lie and they make all the saints liars and all the officers of Iesus Christ who declare this truth and the saints who beleeve it and test upon it liars Fourthly Hence is there ground of reproof to the godly in that 1. They do not firmely enough beleeve his sayings neither his promises nor his threatnings as appeareth too oft upon the one hand by their faintings and feares and upon the other hand by their carelesnesse and loose walk 2. They make not use of Him in all cases as they ought his offices lye by and are not improven noâ—… is He gone to as the Truth in cases requireing his helpe as the Truth that is
their opposition to his work prospering in all their wicked attempts This is a very trying dispensation as we see it was to the holy penman of Psalme 73. for it made him to stagger so that his feet were almost gone and his steps had well nigh slipt yea he was almost repenting of his being a godly person saying vers 13. verâ—…ly I have clansed my heart in vaine washed my hands in innocencie It was something like this which made Ieremie say Cap 8 18. when I would comfort my self against sorrow my heart is faint in me The harvest was past and the summer was ended and yet they were not saved vers 20. and they looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health but behold trouble vers 15. and this was fainting and vexatious And what made Baruch Ieremiah's faith full companion in tribulation say woe is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorow I fainted in my sighing and I finde no rest Ier. 45 3. but this that all things were turning upside down God was breaking down that which he had buiâ—… and plucking up that which he had planted Tribulation and suffering for a good cause is even fainting to some as the Apostle hinteth Ephes. 3 13. when he sayes wherefore I desire that yee fainte not at my tribulation for you And that which evinceth the danger of this dispensation is the fainting and backsliding of many in such a time of tryal as sad experience too often cleareth Now the beleevers stay in this case must be the rock of ages Jesus the Truth It is He alone who can keep streight and honest in such a reeling time So that a sight of Christ as the Truth in reference to the carrying on of Truth in the earth and throughing his cause and work will be the only support of a soul shaken by such a piece of tryal But the question is How should Beleevers make use of Christ in such a time to the end they may be keeped from fainting and succumbing in such a storme To which I answere That the faith and consideration of those particulars would helpe to establishment 1. That Christ in all this great work of redemption and in every piece of it is the Fathers servant So is He frequently called his servant Esai 42 1. 49 3 5 6. 52 13. 53 11. Zech. 3 8. therefore this work is a work intrusted to Him He standeth engadged as a servant to be faithful to his trust Moreover adde to this that He hath a commission to perfect that work and we need not doubt but He who is the Truth will be true to his trust Him hath God the Father sealed Iohn 6 27. He oft tells us himself that He is sent of the Father Iohn 4 34. 5 23 24 30 36 37. 6 38 39. 40 44 57. 8 16 18. 12 44 45 49. 7 9 4. 10 36. 11 42. 2. That while He was upon the earth He finished that work that was committed to Him to finish here having purchased all that was to be bought by his blood paying all the price that justice did ask Iohn 17 4. 19 30. By which price he hath purchased a people to himself Revel 5 9. Luk. 1 68. So that His work cause and interest is a purchased work bought with his blood 3. That his resurrection and glorification is an undoubted proof of this that justice is satisfied and that the price is fully payed and also that his exaltation at the Fathers right hand is a sure evidence ground of hope that He shall at last triumphe over all his enemies and that his work of truth shall prosper The Father said to Him Psal. 110 1. Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot stool Being now highly exalted he hath got a name above every name that in his name every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. 4. That the Father standeth engadged to make good to Him all that was promised and to give Him all that He purchased Esa. 53 10 11 12. Christ having now fulfilled his undertaking by making his soul an offering for sin and so satisfying justice which is openly declared by his resurrection admission to glory as the Head of his elect is to expect the accomplishment of what was conditioned unto Him His work therefore on the earth must prosper and the Father hath undertaken to see it prosper Sure the faith of this would much support a poor soul staggering at the thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked and of their evil cause 5. That Christ himself is now throughly furnished and inabled for the carrying on of his work over the belly of all adversaries for all power in heaven and earth is given to Him Matth. 28 18. and every knee must bow to Him Phil. 2 10. all judgment is committed unto Him Ioh. â—… 22 27. Angels powers and authoritie are made subject unto Him 1 Pet. 3 22. Yea all things are under Him Ephes. 1 22. How then can his work miscarry or who can hinder that truth should not flourish in the earth 6. That Christ is actually at work imploying this power for the carrying forward of his designe for the glory of the Father and for his own glory and for the good of his poor people The Father worketh by Him and He by the Spirit which is his great vicegerent sent from the Father and from Him and his work is to glorify the Son and shall receive of his and show it unto us Iohn 16 14. 7 That Christ upon many accounts standeth engadged to perfect this work which He hath begun and is about His honour is engadged to go thorow seing now He is fully furnished for it and hath all the creation at his command He must then perfect his work as to the application as well as He did perfect it as to the purchase His love to his Fathers his own glory to his own peoples good and salvation may assure us that He will not leave the work unperfected and his power and furniture may give us full security that no stope which his work meeteth with shall be able to hinder it 8. That hence it is clear and manifest that his wheel is in the midst of the wheels of men and that therefore He is ordering all their motions and reelings to the best His wheel keepeth an even pace and moveth equally equably in the midst of mens contrary motions 9. And that therefore all the eccentrick and irregular motions of devils and wicked men being in His hand and ordered by Him cannot hinder but further His end So that even enemies while opposeing and seeking to destroy the cause and interest of Christ that his name and