his name is called Wonderfull Isay 9.1 Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Wonderfull for the admirable union of two natures in one person for his wonderfull conception and birth of a Virgine and Wonderfull for the administration of his kingdome wonderfully saving his servants wonderfully destroying his enemies Counsâ—llour for the wisedome which he revealeth and counsell which hee giveth the elect by the Gospel making them wise unto salvation The mighty God for the miracles hee wrought the donation of the Spirit and regeneration of Gods chosen The everlasting Father for the life of grace and glory which hee ministers to all true beleevers And the Prince of Peace for the peace which hee makes between God and his chosen for the concord which hee workes between Gods children and the heavenly tranquillity which hee puts into the consciences of contrite and broken-hearted sinners The names of the Lord Iesus are Characters full of wonders in the eyes of all beleevers and beames ministring the heavenly light of wisedome and consolation to all that come unto him Sometimes he is figuratively stiled a Head Eph. 1.22 for the excellency dignity and eminency of his condition above others as the head is the most noble and eminent above all the members for his mysticall conjunction with true beleevers direction gubernation protection which hee ministers to them and for the communication of all spirituall life sense motion and every good thing to Gods children Sometimes hee is stiled a Rocke 1 Cor. 10.4 1 Pet. 2 5. and the head stone of the corner for his conjunction of Jew and Gentile in one Church and for his might in sustaining all such as are by a lively faith built a spirituall house upon him Sometimes hee is called a Lyon the Lyon of the tribe of Juda Rev. 5.5 for his principality and eminence as the Lyon is the King of all beasts for his vigilancie as the Lyon sleeps with his eyes open Christ is a keeper that never sleeps for his power efficacie in plucking us out of the mouth of the roaring Lyon the Divel for his custody keeping us as the Lyon his whelps for the terrour he casts upon the hearts of his enemies by the preaching of his word as the Lyon by his voyce makes all the beasts to tremble and by the raising of his chosen unto life as the Lyon by his cry awakens his young which sleepe Sometimes hee is called the Sunne Mal. 4.2 the Sunne is the Prince of the Starres Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the earth the Sunne is the eye of the world Christ of the Church the Sunne conferreth light with his beames Christ conferres the light of knowledge faith and all grace to the soule the Sunne is in the midst of the planets Christ is a middle person betweene God and man Christ gives the light of glory to the Saints above the light of grace to beleevers here beneath The Sunne warmes the earth Christ the heart with his divine love the Sun makes the earth fertile Christ makes the soule fruitfull the Sunne casts his light upon the poore mans cottage as well as on the kings palace Christ shines as clearely and comfortably unto the heart of the poorest as of the richest Christian Sometimes he is stiled a Bridegroome a husband 2 Cor. 11.2 for his dominion over despensation and betrothment with and singular affection to his Spouse the Church for his protection nutrition communication of honour to the children of God for his entire union with acquisition of his Spouse Sampson and David obtained their Brides by shedding the bloud of their enemies Christ hath obtained his Spouse by shedding his owne bloud and dissolving the workes of the Divell his their adversary Most excellent is the authority dignity majesty power beauty wisedome love and chiefest goodnesse shining forth to the soules of Gods servants in and through the names of Chrâ—st Jesus Foure excellencies in Christ on which men are to fasten the eyes of their faith 1. Excellency of dominion Let us therfore lock and fasten the eies of our faith First upon the excellency of Christs dominion behold him reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords and vaile and bow to him As Pharaoh put all the people of his land from the lowest to the highest under Joseph because none was excellent as Joseph so let us put all the faculties of our soules and all the members of our bodies the whole man under Christ let all be subject and serviceable unto Christ let all be ruled and guided by Christ Christ hath absolute and most excellent authority over us and therefore as all that travell in the day are guided by the Sunne as all Israel were guided by the pillar as all the members of the body are guided by the head so let us in all things be guided by Christ Mat. 8.8 let us goe and come at Christs command as the souldiers did at the command of the Centurion All mans goings are aberrations if he be not guided by Christ Iesus nothing is wel done but that which answers Christs direction they that walke after their owne fancies walke in darkenesse It is recorded of the wheeles in Ezekiels vision Ezek. 1.21 that when the living creatures went the wheeles went and when the living creatures stood the wheeles stood when the living creatures were lifted up the wheeles were lifted up over against them for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles Thus let our motion station be according to Christs prescription having as the Psalmist saith Psa 40.8 the law of the Lord in our hearts And as Christ hath excellent dominion so let us feele him reigning and ruling within us by illumination as the Sun doth rule the day by filling the aire with light by subjugation putting under all our unruly lusts as Iosua ruled in Canaan by treading upon the neckes of the kings of Canaan and putting them to death by direction and guidance of our souls to move aright in the wayes of God as the pilot doth guide the ship by love as the husband doth rule the wife by inhabitation possession as the dweller doth rule the house by gracious heavenly influence as the hand doth guide the pen and the load-stone doth turne and draw the iron towards it It is the glory of mans heart to become the Throne of Christ the honour of mans life to bee wholly subject unto Christ it is a far greater honor to be Christs * Bonus obediens domini servus proximi socius mundi dominus superiora habet ad gaudium aequalia ad consortium inferiora ad sâ—rviâ—ium Bern. gracious servant then the worlds profane commander Hee that is most spiritually subject is most truly excellent of all men he hath the choycest dominion that yeelds to Christ most ready free subjection Every thing shall serve him who readily serves
perfection 1. Union with Christ IN regard of union with and incorporation into Christ They are united unto Christ as branches to the vine the vine is of the same nature with the branches so is Christ as man of the same nature with beleevers the branches have their originall from the vine beleevers are begotten againe by Christ to a lively hope the branches are supported nourished and filled by the vine so are all true beleevers by Christ Rom. 12.5 They are united unto Christ as members to the head the head communicates sense and motion to all the members of the body Christ communicates spirituall life sense and motion a heavenly fulnesse of all good things to the members of his mysticall body They are united unto Christ as the bride unto the bridegroome Hos 2.19 they are betrothed unto him for ever the wife by her wedlocke participates of the name honour dignity and earthly fulnesse of her husband the Church by spirituall wedlocke with Christ partakes of the name honour dignity and heavenly fulnesse of Christ As man and wife are one matrimoniall flesh 1 Cor. 12.12 so are Christ and his members one mysticall Christ In regard of proportion 2. Proportion betweene Saints and Christ There is a naturall proportion and likenesse betweene the head and the members betweene the parent and the child betweene the Sunne and the aire enlightned by the Sunne and thus there is a spirituall proportion between Christ and all such as like living members are enlivened by him like children are begotten of him and savingly enlightned by him as the Sunne doth enlighten the aire There is a gracious proportion and answerablenesse betweene Christ and all Gods faithfull servants as betweene the Sunne and the Starres in the firmament as betweene the King and the Queene in the Court as betweene the father and the children in the family they are holy as hee is holy in proportion 1 Pet. 1.15 Rom. 8.29 in imitation in quality but not in adequation degree and equality they are conformed unto Christ in sanctification and in suffering Christ hath fulnesse above measure they have fulnesse in measure In Christ is fulnesse as in the fountaine in them as in the cisterne 3 Christs communication to the Saints In regard of Communication The Sun communicates light unto all the Starres the Sea waters to all the Rivers Christ hath not received for himselfe alone but for all his members Joseph had not the fulnesse of Egypt for himselfe alone but for all the people of the land to dispense to them according to their severall necessities God hath put all fulnesse into Christ and through Christ hee doth dispense the same to us God saith S. Paul hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Ephes 1.3 with knowledge justification remission adoption sanctification and all spirituall riches in Christ God dispenseth all his fulnesse by Christ Jesus to his servants As the Angels came downe by Jacobs ladder so doe all the gifts of God come downe to the soule of man by Christ Of his fulnesse wee doe all receive Ioh. 1.16 Ioh. 17.8 grace for grace The words saith Christ which thou gavest mee I have given them the words of precept to direct them the words of promise to sustaine them the words of life to quicken them the words of peace to comfort them what thou hast revealed and given to me as Mediator have I revealed and communicated unto them as their teacher and Saviour In regard of Imputation 4. Imputation of Christ Christ with all his benefites is imputed to beleevers their sinnes are imputed unto him and his righteousnesse is imputed unto them Hee that knew no sinne 2 Cor. 5.11 was made sinne for us that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him not our righteousnesse but the righteousnesse of God not in us but in Christ As Josua the high Priest had his filthy garments taken from him Zach. 3. and was clothed with change of raiment so is our sinne like a filthy garment put from us and wee are clothed with Christs righteousnesse as with a rich and royall robe and wee are to put on Christ to justification being through faith clothed and covered with Christ his perfect innocencie and holinesse of nature and actions as with a garment to appeare holy and unblameable without spot or wrinkle before God And wee are also said to put on Christ to sanctification Rom. 13. being decked and adorned with the gifts and fruits of his Spirit as with jewels ornaments Yee are of God saith Saint Paul elected 1 Cor. 1.30 called regenerated by his Spirit All things are of God by creation elect beleevers by the grace of adoption and regeneration Yee are of him in Christ elected in Christ before the foundation of the world In Christ who is made unto us of God wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Made unto us of God not by creation but by ordination Wisedome the authour and teacher of wisedome revealing to us the counsell of his Father touching our salvation and making us wise by giving us the spirit of illumination Righteousnesse our Justifier making us righteous through his righteousnesse imputed to us Sanctification our Sanctifier regenerating and renewing us by the worke of his Spirit Redemption by his merit and efficacie freeing us from the power of Satan the dominion of our corruption and death eternall He is our Wisedome as a Prophet our Justification and Sanctification as a Priest our Redemption as a King Hee is our Righteousnesse Imputativè by way of imputation hee is our Wisedome Sanctification and Redemption Effectivè by way of inherent and gracious operation Christ saith * Christus factus est nobis sapientia in praedicatione justitia in peccatorum absolutione sanctificatio in conversatione redemptio in passione Bernard is made unto us Wisedome in preaching Righteousnesse in the absolution of sinne Sanctification in conversation and Redemption in his passion Christ saith * Liberans ab errore peccatorum dimisâ—ione per spiritum paracletum Two sorts of men excluded from Christ and the number of his Saints Theophilact maketh us wise freeing us from errour hee maketh us wise by forgivenesse of sinnes he sanctifieth us by his Spirit the Comforter And thus he â— parteth to us perfect redemption or dâ—â—â—â—aâ—ce from all evils and thus it appeâ—â—eâ— that there is a spirituall and heavenly perfection and fulnesse in all the Lords servants This shewes how great strangers they are to Christ how farre from the number of Gods faithfull servants First who are empty of all saving grace whose soules like the foolish virgins lamps are empty of all spirituall and heavenly oyle whose hearts are an empty house I. Matth. 25. Rom. 7.18 Hos 10.1 wherein dwelleth no divine and saving good whose lives are as the Prophet said of Israel an empty vine bringing forth to themselves to the flesh but not
not know Christ As the blind man doth not know the Sun though it shine upon him no more doth the carnall and worldly man know Christ though he shine upon him in the Gospel for the light o Ioh. 1.5 shineth in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Such is mans ignorance that as the light shining in Goshen did not pierce the darknes p Exod. 10. where the Egyptians sate no more doth the light of the Gospel penetrate their soules but they sit in darknesse and the shadow of death at the q Isa 59.10 noone day of the Gospel they are in the midnight of ignorance To such our Saviour saith Ye neither r Ioh. 8.19 Isa 53.2 know me nor my Father They know not the beauties of Christ they see no comelinesse in him for which they should desire him he is no more to them then another beloved They know not the power of Christ in softning their hearts as the ground knowes the power of the dew in suppling it in quickning their soules as Lazarus knew the power of Christ in raising his body in restoring them to spirituall liberty as Peter knew the power of the Angell in smiting off his fetters in setting him free from Herods prison They know not the death of Christ as the members know the death of the head and the branches the death of the root in withering and dying with it they doe not so know his death that their Å¿ Rom. 6.6 old man is crucified with him that the body of sin is destroied and they no more serve sin They know not the resurrection of Christ comming forth of the grave of their sin as the dead knew the resurrection of Christ their bodies comming out of the grave with him They know not the gracious presence and inhabitation of Christ in their soules as Obed-Edom knew the presence and dwelling of the Ark in his house causing all that he had to t 2 Sam. 6.11 prosper making their soules flourish in all saving graces They know not the love of Christ as the Bride in the Bride-chamber knows the love of the Bridegroome as the guests in the banquetting house know the love of the master of the feast as David knew the love of Jonathan Christ is not like Jonathan to David very u 2 Sam. 1.26 pleasant unto their soules his love is not to their sense and feeling wonderfull passing the love of women They know not Christ in his Gospel as a friend in his letters as a King in his Embassadours of peace as a Musician in his musicall instrument making a joyfull sound in their eares as the lame w Iohn 5.4 5. man knew the Angell in Bethesda healing their diseases They know not Christs fulnesse as the seeing eye knowes the fulnesse of light in the Sunne as the thirsty palate knowes the fulnesse of water in the fountaine and because they doe not know him they regard not to come unto him Ignorance is a great impediment of mans comming to Christ Jesus Hagar x Gen. 21. came not unto the Well untill her eyes were opened to see the Well No man embraceth Christ untill his understanding is enlightned to see and discerne Christ aright Men through ignorance have very dishonourable opinions of Christ remaine great strangers to Christ and are very injurious against Christ 2. Unsensiblenesse Unsensiblenesse of the want of Christ It was a law of Plato that no man should draw water out of his neighbours Well untill he had digged to the Potters earth in his own court It is a law in nature Man never commeth unto Christ never endevours to partake of his fulnesse untill hee hath tried and knowes his owne emptinesse untill he discernes his want of Christ The y Ios 10.6 Gibeonites sent not to Iosua untill they saw themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes Iud. 11. The Elders of Gilead hated Ieptha and expelled him out of their fathers house came no more unto him untill they were in distresse saw their want of him plainly perceived that none else could help them Mans opinion of his owne fulnesse makes him under-value the fulnesse of Christ Christ is never pretious in the eyes of man untill man feele his want of him As man is more or lesse sensible of his want of Christ so hee is more or lesse industrious in approching unto Christ The z Prov. 27.7 full stomacke regards not the hony combe The full soule a Io. 9.41 Matth. 9. Rev. 3.17 loatheth Christ who is sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Christ is ever most pretious with the soule that knowes its owne emptinesse Unwillingnesse to bee at the cost of comming unto Christ 3. Unwillingnesse Though Christ proffer himselfe freely yet man must bee at some cost or hee cannot come to Christ hee cannot enjoy Christ b Gen. 35.2 Iacob cannot come to Bethel unlesse hee put away way his Idols Exod. 3.5 Moses cannot come nigh the burning Bush unlesse hee put off his shooes from his feet Man cannot come nigh unto God and Christ Ia. 4.8 unlesse he purge his heart and cleanse his hands The Merchant in the Parable sold c Mat. 13.44 all that hee had to buy the pretious pearle to make that his owne Man that will come to Christ and make Christ his must sell all that is his owne Man must first come out of himselfe before hee can come to Christ If d Luke 9.23 any man saith Christ will come after mee let him deny himselfe and take up his crosse daily and follow me Hee that will come to Christ must deny his owne wisedome and be as a e 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 7.18 foole in his owne apprehension hee must deny his owne fulnesse and be as an empty house in his owne sense and feeling he must deny his owne righteousnesse and bee as a naked man in his owne understanding hee must deny his owne reputation in the eyes of men and bee contented to have his name f Luke 6.22 cast out as abominable to be accounted more vile as David for dancing before the Arke 2 Sam. 6.22 hee must bee willing to bee in the world as nothing who will have Christ and his fulnesse to bee all in all unto him Men are loath to bee at this cost and therefore come not to Christ The young man that came to Christ hearing hee must sell all and follow him g Mat. 19.21 went away sorrowfull Hee that carries the love of the world in his heart will faint by the way and never come to Christ The over-valuing of the world makes the doctrine of the Gospel a sorrowfull doctrine and mans endevour to come to Christ unfruitfull Many h Ioh. 12.42 among the chiefe Rulers beleeved on Christ made some steppes towards him but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him they came not boldly freely and fully home to Christ lest
home the waters which are drawne out of the Wells of salvation as in firme and sure vessels by engraving upon your hearts as letters written with a pen of Iron or the point of a Diamond that it may never bee blotted out by ruminating and meditating thereupon day and night writing them upon the tables of your hâ—arts Pro. 7.2 3 4. keeping them as the apple of your eye binding them as jewels and precious stones upon your fingers in regard of your affection to them high estimation carefull preservation continuall remembrance of them singular delight in them let them be to you as sisters and kinswomen for your daily commemoration of them familiar communion and acquaintance with them Bee fruitfull in your affections let your love grow as the waters which flowed out under the Temple Ezek. 47.5 1 King 18 44 45. as the Cloud which was first no bigger then a mans hand and at length so great that it covered the whole heavens let it grow to a great love to a flaming and a burning fire a fire so strong that no floods be able to quench it to a love like Jonathans love to David a love surpassing the love of women to their children O love the Lord all ye his Saints Ps 35.23 saith the Psalmist love him with a childs love a friends love a wifes love love him with all manner of love love him purely in regard of the spring whence your love ariseth love him sincerely for the quality love him fervently for the measure love him continually constantly for the time love him universally for the extent love him in his Attributes as a God of power supporting a God of wisedome guiding a God of mercy forgiving love him in his Creatures as an Almighty Maker love him in his Word as a King prescribing lawes of obedience as a friend revealing his counsels declaring the riches of his mercies love him in Christ Jesus as a Father love him in his children as the fountaine of all grace and sanctification Bee fruitfull in all your sufferings As spices the more bruised the more fragrant resemble the fire in Nymphaeus which if we give credit to Pliny imbribus fit ardentior let all your sufferings be as Schoolemasters teaching fires purging trumpets awakening spurres quickning Zac. 10.9 winds driving neerer to God come forth of the fornace of affliction as gold out of the fire be able to say out of experience to Satan tempting to the world hating Gen. 50.20 traducing persecuting as Joseph said to his brethren Ye thought evill against me but God meant it unto good as it is this day Be fruitfull in your Callings Ministers in teaching Magistrates in governing every man in his particular Calling As every member in the body the head eyes hands feet are all profitable in their places so should each of us be fruitfull in the station wherein the Lord hath set us Every wheele in the clock hath his motion doth his part every starre in the firmament sendeth forth his influence giveth his light so must every person in that politicall or ecclesiastical orb where God hath set him abide and be fruitfull 1 Cor. 7.24 6 Be fruitfull in all your Actions in your hearing as fields receiving good seed in your prayers draw some water out of Gods well let not thy prayer returne empty Heb. 10.24 but like Noahs Dove with an olive branch of some comfort in your meetings Consider one another provoke one another to good workes in your speeches let your tongue be as choice silver Pro. 10.20 21. and fruitfull pasture for the purity sincerity profitablenesse enrichment of others feeding filling the hungry rejoycing the sorrowfull strengthening the weake by your gracious communication as by a spirituall banquet in your families let every man wife Luke 1.6 like Zachary and Elizabeth walk in all the ordinances of God and be blameles every master like Abraham Gen. 18.19 command his people to keepe the way of the Lord every servant like Joseph in Potiphars house so religious towards God so observant of his master so faithfull in his Calling that all his undertakings may be prosperous every son and daughter so attentive to the parents instruction so full of grace and godlinesse that they may make glad the hearts of their parents be an ornament to their families as the flowers to the garden every subject so loyall faithfull and obsequious to his Soveraigne that he prove both an honour and strength to the Kingdome every houshold like Philemons house Philem. vers 2. a Church of God in regard of holy instructions there delivered religious duties there observed in regard of the lively faith and holy life of such as live in it thus let us endevour to be fruitfull thus let us grow in grace Hearken beloved how Saint Paul perswades you We beseech you brethren 1 Thes 4.1 and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walke and to please God so ye would abound more and more Consider deare Christians how Saint Peter presseth it 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. Giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse And to the end you may be fruitfull under the meanes you must be 1 Carefull in preparing a prepared field is made fruitfull by the seed and a prepared soule receiveth much benefit by the ordinances of the Lord you must put iniquity farre away from you Job 11.13 by desertion detestation declination of every occasion leading thereunto Gen. 43.24 Josephs brethren washed their feet made ready their present when they were to come before him and bowed themselves unto the earth and then Joseph made them eat and drinke and they were merry with him thus when we come before our Joseph our God and our Christ Isa 1.16 we must wash and be cleane wee must make ready our eare to heare our heart to pray and present our petition before the Lord and then the Lord Jesus will sup with us feast and feed us and make us merry Rev. 3.20 Isa 56.7 joyfull with him in his Ordinances 2 Diligent in frequenting the house of God the place where the meanes is we must wisely forecast all our businesse that we be not hindered husband our time well that we may have time to spare for good duties Cleanthes carried water by night that he might not be hindered from studying the Liberall Sciences by day thus should we rather worke by night then be absent from the house of Christ by day It is a foule shame that Shops Tavernes Market places nay the house of Baal 2 Kin. 10.20 21. should be full and the house of God empty If you purpose to be fruitfull you must attend on the Ministers of the Lord as Lydia did on Paul Act. 16.14 the lame man at Bethesda as Suiters
It is the property and practise of the Lords servants like good r Joh. 15.2 branches to grow and beare more fruit to Å¿ Eph. 4.11 grow up in Christ which is the head as the members in the body grow up under the head to t Phil. 3.11 12. follow after to presse toward the mercie to reach forth to the things which are before to apprehend that for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus As they thâ—â— run in a race are swift put to it with all their strength and cease not so the runners in the race of godlinesse are swift put to it to the utmost and cease not untill they have fully apprehended Christ They u Isa 40.31 run on faint not they mount up like the Eagles come nearer nearer unto Christ as the Eagles flye nearer and nearer and cease not untill they come to the carkasse for Grace is of a growing and increasing Reas 1 nature it riseth higher and higher like the w Ezek. 47.5 waters which came forth under the threshold of the Temple it x Prov. 4.18 shineth more and more like the light unto the perfect day God where he y Phil. 1.6 beginnes a good worke Reas 2 continues the same unto perfection Hee is a King that once beginning to make warre against the Divell and the lusts of men goeth on and ceaseth not untill hee hath obtained a full and perfect conquest He is a builder who having once laid the foundation of grace in the heart of man gives not over untill he hath finished the house and made the house of man a perfect Temple for his Spirit to dwell in True saving grace once felt and x 1 Pet. 2.2.3 tasted Reas 3 is most highly prâ—â—ed and most earnestly deâ—â—â—d As the loâ—e of money growes according to the growth of money so doth the love of grace answer the growth of grace the more a man hath of it the more his soule doth thirst and long after it the more hee desires to be filled with it as the thirst of the dropsie-man encreaseth by drinking Hee that hath least grace puts the lowest price upon it no man more sensible of the want of grace then hee that hath the greatest measure of grace no man more desires the encrease of grace then hee that hath the greatest fulnesse of grace Use Take heed then of apostasie and backsliding bee not like Gideons souldiers whose hearts fainted bee not like the a Luk. 14.30 Builder in the Gospel that began to build but could not make an end Doe not with the b 2 Pet. 2.22 Sow return againe and wallow in the mire of sinne returne not to your old lusts and profanesse But as c Gen. 6.14.22 Noah having a paterne from the Lord began to build and ceased not untill he had finished his Arke and was preserved when the deluge came so you having had a paterne of faith and life set before you and having begun to build according to it cease not untill the worke is finished that your soules may be saved when the deluge commeth Be not like the Sun in d Jos 12.13 Aialon that stood still nor like the Sunne in Ahaz Diall that went back but like the Sunne mentioned by the e Psal 19.5 Psalmist comming forth as a Bridegroome out of his chamber and rejoyce yee like a mighty man to runne his race Where is your faith in Christ if like withered branches you fall off from Christ or sinke like the house builded on the sand Where is your love to Christ if you give him a bill of divorce and hold not out with him unto the end Where is the fruit of your long attendance upon Gods ordinances What avails the sowing of all this seed if you fall away before the harvest Where is the Crowne you looke for if yee faint before the conquest O then take heed hold out let your workes be more at last then at first bee constant in your profession bee fruitfull in all well-doing Bee f Phil. 1.10 filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are to the praise glory of God in the day of Christ Jesus So shall the Lord take pleasure in you so shall you honour the Gospel adorn Religion shame the Adversary glorifie the Ministery and fill your owne conscience with much peace and quietnesse and give the Minister good and lust occasion to speake to you in a comfortable language to bid you with Saint Paul to bee of good comfort The second Legacie which the Apostle here bequeatheth a Legacie of Consolation Bee of good comfort Though many changes come many troubles arise and many afflictions be endured for the Name and Cause of Christ yet doe not faint bee not disheartned but bee of good comfort solace and comfort your selves in the Lord and his Word And hence learne that Doct. Gods children ought to bee very comfortable though many changes and afflictions doe attend them The Lilly is fresh beautifull and looks pleasantly though growing among the thornes such must bee the affection and disposition of Gods children though compast about with the Thornes and Briers of many troubles g Jam. 1.2 Account it all joy saith Saint James to fall into manifold temptations h Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulations saith Saint Paul knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed i 1 Pet. 1.8 And beleeving saith Saint Peter yee rejoyce with joy unspeakeable and full of glory And Gods children have great cause of comfort In regard of the Authour of their afflictions Reas 1 They come from k Heb. 12.7 God as a Father they are not a rod in an enemies but in a Fathers hand they are all in mercie they are a serpent which hath lost his sting the venome of them is gone In regard of their end They are not for Reas 2 punishment but for castigation not for destruction but for reformation humiliation and excitation as l 2 Sam. 18. David sent forth his Army against Absolom not to destroy him but to humble and amend him In regard of the comforts mixed with Reas 3 them They are Pills lapped up in Sugar like Sampsons m Jud. 1 4. Lyon they have a honey combe within them There is sweet comming out of the sowre and meat comming out of the eater In regard of the fruit and issue of them Reas 4 Like the waters of the red Sea which drowned not n Exod. 14. Israel but the enemies which pursued them no more doe these destroy Gods children but the corruption which is within them which hangs like a heavie weight about them and like an enemie pursues and followes them O then bee of good comfort all yee that love the Lord that embrace his Christ Use that delight in his service keepe your selves from sinne and whatsoever come let your hearts be joyfull the Lord shall
one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and hee that hath no money come buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price Sometimes to a Fountaine in whom is all plenty of water Sometimes to the Å¿ Cant. 2. â— Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the vallies for the surpassing beautie and transcendent excellencie of graces in himsâ—lfe and for the sweet and plentifull pleasant and delightfull communication of himselfe to the soules of his people Sometime to the Apple tree among the trees of the wood for his dignity worth and excellencie above other persons as the Apple tree excells the trees of the Forrest in comfortablenesse of shadow sweetnesse of smell pleasantnesse and plenty of fruit and the Spouse describing thâ— height fulnesse and perfection of the excellencies of Christ her Bridegroome saith of him thâ—t hee is t 〈◊〉 â— 5 white and ruddy the fairest of ten thousand white for his innocencie in himselfe for his victory peace joy and comfort in his God and for his administration of grace and mercie to penitent and beleeving sinners and ruddy for the imputation of our sinne unto him for his suffering and for his justice to punish his enemies and the fairest of ten thousand for his beauty majesty authoritie worth and fulnesse surpassing all Men and Angels The Lord Jesus is exceeding glorious in the eyes of his unfained friends and lovers hee is indeed beautifull onely in their eyes who love him The more man loves him the more cleare and comfortable is his apprehension of that fâ—â—â—esse which is in him This perfection and fulnesse of Christ was shadowed in the high Priest being washed with u Exod. 29.7 water and annointed with holy oyle signifying Christs sanctity and his unction with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes The high Priest having his loynes w Exod. 28.2 covered with cleane linnen his body gloriously apparelled and a holy crowne upon his head signifying the clothing of Christs humanity with true holinesse the adorning of it with perfect righteousnesse and the crowning thereof with Majesty as King of his chosen This was likewise figured by the Temple that was a stately and glorious edifice full of light in it was the Arke there God appeared and filled it with his glory so is the fabrick of Christs humane nature immaculate and spotlesse full of heavenly knowledge the full treasure of true wisedome grace and knowledge being hidden in him the God-head personally there x Ioh. 1.14 dwelling and filling him with all grace and glory This was also signified in y Gen. 39.6 Ioseph Ioseph was a beautifull person Christ is fairer then the children of men There was none like Ioseph in understanding and wisedome in whom the Spirit of God was as in him Vers 38. there is noâ—â— comparable to Christ in wisedome Men and Angels are his Schollers Ioseph was set over the whole land in generall over the Kings house in speciall Christ is Lord of the whole earth but chiefly over Gods Church Ioseph had the custody of the Kings garner and therewith fed all Egypt other nations Christ hath all the fulness of God and therewith feedeth Jew and Gentile the beleevers of all nations And such fulnesse of Christ was requisite Three grounds of Christs fulnesse In regard of the dignity of his person As the second person he was the Sonne of God by eternall generation as Man hee was the Sonne of God by grace of hypostaticall union Christ is nearer unto God then Saints or Angels and by how much hee commeth neerer to God then all creatures by so much hee participates more of Gods fulnesse Christ is the Sonne of God after a more high and eminent way then others hee is the Sonne of God by eternall generation others are the sonnes of God by regeneration Christ is the Sonne of God by naturall generation wee are the sonnes of God by voluntary dispensation Christ is the Sonne of God begotten of the essence of the Father very God of very God wee are the sonnes of God begotten not of his essence but by the operation of his Spirit Christ is the proper and onely begotten Sonne of the Father wee are the adopted sonnes of God not borne sonnes by nature but made sonnes by grace Many of us saith * Mulli nos filii Dei sed non talis hic filius est hic enim verus proprius filius est orgine non adoptione veritate non nuncupatione Hilary are sonnes of God but this Sonne is not such for this Sonne is a true and proper Sonne by originall not by adoption by truth not by nuncupation by birth not by creation and who doth inherit his Fathers fulnesse but the Sonne the beloved Sonne the onely begotten Sonne the Sonne of the Fathers delights Thou art my Sonne saith God the Father unto Christ this day have I begotten thee there is his eternall generation Aske of mee and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession there is the fulnes of the gift communicated to him Ioseph gave portions to all his brethren but to Benjamin a portion five times as good as what hee gave the residue God gives blessed and liberall portions to all his adopted sonnes but Christs portion doth farre excell them their receivings are from and through him hee is the z Heb. 1.4 heire of all more excellent then the Angels having obtained a more a Hâ—b 1.4 excellent name then they as the name of a Sonne is more excellent then the name of a Servant and the name of a King more excellent then the name of a Subject Christ is both Sonne and King farre above Men and Angels in all divine fulnesse b Heb. 1.3 being the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and express image of his Fathers person upholding all things by the Word of his power having by himselfe purged our sinnes and sate down at the right hand of Majestie on high In regard of divine Ordination God hath appointed to convey all fulnesse of grace by Christ unto his chosen God hath ordained to convey all fulnesse of light to the aire by the Sunne and therefore hath put a great fulnesse of light into the Sunne all fulnesse of nourishment to the branches by the roots and therefore hath put a fulnesse of juyce into the roots In like sort he hath appointed to communicate all gracious and heavenly fulnesse to the soules of men by Christ hee hath given him to bee the c Ephes 1.22 head over all things to the Church The head is above the members rules the members and communicates sense and motion to the members Christ hath preheminence above all the members of his Church rules and guides them communicates spirituall sense and motion to them And the Father saith Saint Iohn hath d Joh. 5.20 committed all judgement to the Sonne the judgement
in mee and my promises with the eyes of godly sorrow mourning for your sinnes and offences with the eyes of love embracing me as the husband of your soules with the eyes of obedience fearing and obeying mee above all commanders Thus looke unto mee and bee yee saved saved from sinne that it sway not over you saved from Satan that hee rule not within you saved from affliction that it shall not swallow you and saved from the Law that it shall not condemne you Christ ministers all salvation to them that by a lively faith come unto him this is the end and fruit of Christs comming by his Word and Spirit to the soules of men My n Cant. 2.10 beloved saith the Spouse spoke unto mee outwardly by his Word and Ministers and inwardly by his Spirit Arise up my Love my faire one and come away Rise up from the death of sinne as sometime the dead rose up from the grave from the disease of sinne ignorance unbeliefe impenitencie as the sicke arise from their disease and returne to health from the sleep and slumber reigne and rule of sinne as Peter arose from his sleepe his fetters the two Souldiers and came forth of Herods prison from communion and fellowship with corrupt and carnall men as Lazarus rose out of his grave from the fellowship of the dead Rise up and come away from the world carnall acquaintance and fleshly delights as the Bride comes away o Psal 45.10 from her owne people and her fathers house unto the Bride-groome as sometime Abraham p Gen. 12.1 came away from his owne countrey and from his kindred and from his fathers house unto a land which the Lord shewed him Arise and come away from all sinfull pleasures as Samson arose from Delilahs lap burst his wit hs asunder and came away from her Rise up and come away from all corrupt and carnall doctrine as the prodigall arose from the huskes and the swine and came to his fathers house to eate his fathers bread Rise up and come away even from thy selfe by selfe-deniall and putting off thy old man as Lazarus rose up put away his grave-clothes and left them behinde him Thus rise up and come away to Christ That man alone comes to Christ Jesus who riseth up from the world himselfe and his own corrupt affections And unto him let us come as the lame man came to Bethesda that we may be healed as the Elders of Gilead came to Jeptha that we may be preserved protected delivered as the thirsty come to the full fountaine that wee may be filled and all our wants supplied Three things perswading to come to Christ And the more effectually to move and perswade you to come to Christ fasten your hearts and thoughts seriously upon these three things 1. Necessitie of Christ Mans necessity of Christ Mans misery without Christ Man is spiritually dead and none but Christ can raise him The life of the soule is hid in Christ as the life of the branch in the root Gehazi q 2 King 4. with Elishah's staffe without Elisha himselfe could not restore the woman of Shunems child to life the Minister with the Word of Christ without Christ concurring and working with him cannot quicken the soule that is dead in sinne all the instruments and meanes of grace leave the soule still gracelesse unlesse Christ the authour and fountaine of grace joyne his blessing to their endevours r Ioh. 5.5 The Sonne quickneth whom he will hee that eates Å¿ Ioh. 6.53 not the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinkes his bloud hee that comes not unto that beleeves not in Christ crucified hath no life in him no life of God no life of grace here no life of glory hereafter The life of man without faith in Christ is as no life but a very death man is dangerously diseased no Balme can heale him no Physician can cure him The art and labour of all Physicians about the diseased woman in the Gospel were fruitlesse Mark 5. untill she came to Christ Jesus The Poole at Bethesda cured no man unlesse the Angell moved in it the ordinance of God cures not unlesse Christ move in it worke together with it hee alone is the Sunne of righteousnesse that hath healing in his wings curing the wounds which are given by sin and Satan Man is possessed by an uncleane Spirit and none but Christ can eject him the soule of man is an uncleane dwelling untill Christ takes possession within him he rebukes the Divell causeth him to depart whom the Disciples cannot t Mat. 17.19 20 21. cast out David overthrew Goliah with whom no Israelite durst enter combate Christ overthrowes the Divell who without the power of Christ is invincible man of himselfe can no more overcome him no more deliver himselfe from him 1 Sam. 17. then the sheep under Davids custody was able to deliver it selfe from the Beare and the Lyon Man is blinde in darknesse and the shadow of death and no Sunne but Christ can enlighten him Man is naked and no garment but Christ can cloath and cover him all other garments are but rotten rags and fading leaves like Adams Figge-leaves a poore and base covering Man is poore and no treasure but Christ can enrich him all is but dung and drosse besides Christ Man is indebted and none but Christ can make satisfaction for him Mich. 6. a thousand Rammes and ten thousand rivers of Oyle nay ten thousand worlds if man were Lord and owner of them were an insufficient price for the least sinne of man None but Christ a price infinite and invaluable is the price of mans redemption Man is empty and none but Christ can fill him the world is a feast the more man feeds upon it the more his hunger is increased like the dropsie man the more hee drinketh the more hee thirsteth Christ alone satisfieth he gives u Joh. 4.1 water whereof whoso drinketh thirsteth no more Not the creature but the Lord Jesus is mans fulnesse Man is distressed perplexed tormented and none but Christ can quiet him hee casteth out the tormenting spirit hee appeaseth the stormy tempest hee calmeth the violent and surging waves and waters he leads him through the sea of affliction to a w Psa 61.2 Rocke that is higher then man to an estate and condition secure and safe from all opposing power Endlesse and easelesse are the soules perplexities which comes not to Christ Jesus As Bernard * Incassum laborat in acquisitione virtuâ—um qui eas alibi quam in Christo quaerit somtime said He labours in vaine in the acquisition of vertues that seeks them elsewhere then in Christ Thus man labours in vaine that seekes peace safety comfort any where except in Christ and what is man that wants Christ but a body without a head a dead and idle a loathsome lump a house without a foundation which cannot stand a field without dew which