not that is as yet He laid aside the person of a Judge then and took on him the Office of a Saviour to offer and purchase Mercy that was his proper Errand when he came first into the world So Luk. 9.56 The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them And to comply with that end he cast a veil upon his Glory and endured the enmity and contradiction of the world but now 't is otherwise so that the scandal of his first estate is fully taken off 2. He appeareth in this great Glory to beget a greater Reverence and Fear in the hearts of all those that shall be Judged by him He telleth them aforehand That the Son of man will come in great Glory and Majesty To daunt and quell the haughty minds and proud conceits of the Potentates Oppressors and great ones of the Earth who often abuse their Power to wrong and violence Eccles. 5.8 If thou seest the Oppression of the poor and the violent perverting of Judgement and Justice in a Province marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they Here is swaying and swaggering and bearing high upon the thought of their Title and greatness but there they and all their greatness and power shall meet with a Judge that is able by the breath of his mouth to consume them What meaneth the Insolency of the Mighty the Pride of the great Heroes of the Earth that swell and grow haughty with their greatness to look and speak so big Nothing is so profitable to allay the excesses of Power or to fortifie us against the fears of it as the consideration of this mighty Judge who will review all matters and cause the great men of the Earth to tremble Power is an unwieldy thing apt to degenerate and to put men upon unwarrantable practices therefore it needeth to be allayed and ballanced with the consideration of a greater power Alas all the Power and Glory of the world is but a Fancy a vain Pageantry if compared to Christs Power and Glory what is their Authority to his their Splendour to his their Guard to his Nothing can excuse them this Judgment must and shall pass upon them 3. For the Comfort of his People for Christ is a pledge and pattern of what shall be done in them in all things he must first it Rom. 8.29 And we are made conformable to his Image and likeness All Priviledges come to us not only from Christ but through Christ He as Mediator is the first Possessor Are we Elected he was Elected first My Elect Servant Isa. 42.1 Are we Justified so was he as our Surety 1 Tim. 3.16 Justified in the Spirit Are we Sanctified First he received the Spirit of Holiness are we Glorified so was he Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear we shall appear with him in Glory 1 Joh. 3.2 We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is There will be a manifestation of the Sons of God Rom. 8.19 First the first-born then all the rest of the Brethren yea we participate of his Judicial Power The Saints shall not only be judged but be Judges 1 Cor. 6.2 3. The evil Spirits a long time ago had their Punishment but then their solemn Doom The Saints shall sit down with him as Justices upon the Bench here the Saints judge the World by their Doctrine and Conversation there by their Vote and Suffrage There is the Relation between Christ and the Church of Wife and Husband Vxor fulget Radiis Mariti as the Husband riseth in honour so doth the Wife Of Head and Members when the Head is Crowned all the Members are cloathed with Honour His Mystical Body shares with him that there may be a proportion in the Body He is the Captain of our Salvation and he will dignifie and reward his Souldiers Heb. 2.10 David when he was Crowned at Hebron his followers were made Captains of thousands Captains of hundreds and Captains of fifties Masters and Servants my Servant shall be where I am he will put marks of Honour and Favour upon all his Servants here they were disgraced with him suffered with him sleighted with him then they shall be glorified with him for still there is a likeness we must be contented to lye hid 'till he be publickly manifested to the world for we have all our Blessings at second hand So much for the first thing His Personal Glory Secondly His Royal Attendance And all the holy Angels with him Chrysostom saith The whole Court of Heaven removeth with him surely there are many of them Jude 14. The Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Judgment on all to convince all that are ungodly 'T is likely these Angels will put on some visible shape for the greater Glory and Majesty of Christs appearing For as he will appear in a Body upon his glorious Throne so will his Legions round about him whose Order Power and formidable Hosts must some way or other be seen of the wicked for their greater terrour Their attendance upon Christ seemeth to be for these Reasons 1. Partly for a Train to make his Appearance the more full of Majesty We find Angels waiting upon Christ at his Ascension and so at his return to Judgment Publick Ministers of Justice are made formidable by their attendance and Christ will come as a Royal King in the midst of his Nobles And 2. Partly that by their Ministry the work of the day may be the more speedily and powerfully dispatched They are to gather the Elect from the four winds Math. 24.31 The Angels that carried their Souls to Heaven shall be imployed in bringing their bodies out of the Graves Luk. 16.22 Carried by Angels into Abrahams bosom They are still serviceable about the Saints this is the last Office they perform to them they are as it were under Christ Guardians of their Bones and Dust Now to the wicked they are to bind the Tares in bundles Math. 13.41 that they may be burnt in the fire They force and present wicked men before the Judge be they never so obstinate they are witnesses they attend upon Congregations 1 Cor. 11.10 In Assemblies there is more Company meets than is visible Devils and Angels meet there the Devils to divert your minds as soon as they begin to be serious to catch the good word out of your Heart and Angels observing you here should be no indecency so in your ordinary Conversations they are conversant about you and then for Execution no sooner is Sentence pronounced but executed As Haman's face was covered and he led away to Execution as soon as the King had but said the word Thus the Scripture in a condescention to our Capacity representeth to us the Ministry of Angels in that great and terrible day We can better understand the Operations of Angels than of God himself they being nearer to us in
given to Christ as Scholars in his School He is the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church Certainly Christ loveth the honour of this Chair he counteth it an honour to be our Prophet It is his Title Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from among your Brethren Christ he came out of the Bosom of God to shew his Mind and Heart he is called the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Heb. 3.1 Christ taketh the Titles of his own Officers Tho he be Lord of the Church yet he is an Apostle He counteth it an honour to be a Preacher of the Gospel God's Legat a latere the Son of God is first on the Roll of Gospel-Preachers He laid the Foundation of the Gospel when on Earth he teacheth now he is in Heaven others teach for him Christ counts it his Liberty to teach He is to be a Light to the Gentiles He doth not teach the Ear but the Heart he is still to nurture us and bring us up He is an excellent Teacher he doth not only set us our Lesson but giveth us an Heart to learn the Scripture is our Book but Christ is our Master and we shall see wondrous Things if he doth but open our Eyes 3. We are to be Children of his Family A Master is not so careful as a Parent This was the thing propounded to allure Christ to the work of Redemption Isa. 53.10 He shall see his Seed he shall have a numberless Issue and Progeny Tho all are Benonies Sons of Sorrow and Christ died in the Birth yet this was his Privilege He shall see his Seed Jesus Christ hath a great Family take it altogether Rev. 7.9 A great Company which none could number redeemed out of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues Christ is wonderfully pleased with the fruitfulness of his Death It is his great triumph at the last Day Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me It is a goodly sight when Christ shall rejoice in the midst of them and go with this glorious Train to the Throne of the Father Jesus Christ is our Brother and our Father By Regeneration and the Merit of the Cross our Father but in the Possession of Heaven our Brother We are Co-Heirs with him 4. We are given to him as the Wife of his Bosom As a Father giveth the Daughter whom he hath begot to another for a Spouse and Wife so doth God give his Elect to Christ. Indeed Christ hath bought her at his Father's Hands other Wives bring a Dowry but Christ was to buy his Spouse As Saul gave his Daughter to David but first he was to kill Goliah and to bring the Fore-Skins of an hundred Philistines 1 Sam. 17.25 and 18.25 So God gave Christ the Church for a Spouse to be redeemed by his Blood the Infernal Goliah was to be slain Eve was taken from Adam when he lay asleep so when Christ was a dying the Church was as it were taken out of his Side He was willing to die that his Spouse might live Christ left his Father at his Incarnation his Mother at his Passion to make the Church his Spouse As a Man leaveth Father and Mother and cleaveth to his Wife This Honour Christ getteth by the Power of his Spirit it costs him long wooing David had bought Michal with the danger of his Life yet he was fain to take her away from Phaltiel 2 Sam. 3.13 c. The Devil hath gotten Christ's Spouse into his Hands Christ by his Spirit is to rescue her and oblige her to Loyalty Hereafter is the great Day of Espousals the Bride's and the Lamb's Hope Christ's Honour as well as our Comfort is but incompleat now Then he shall present the Church to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Christ is now decking her against that time We are to accomplish the Months of our Purification Odors and Garments are to be brought out of the King's Treasury Esther 2.12 5. We are to be Members of his Body Next to that of the Son of God there cannot be a greater Title than Head of the Church Poor Creatures that Christ will take us into his own mystical Body to quicken us enliven us and guide us by his Grace If he were a Head to all things that had been somewhat Col. 2.11 He is the Head of all Principality and Power But he is their Head for the Church's sake And gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.22 over them to us He counteth himself not perfect without us Which is his Body the fulness of him that filleth all in all that we should be called the fulness of Christ He esteemeth himself as â—â—aimed and imperfect without us He treateth his Mystical Body with the same respect as his Natural that was raised ascended glorified so shall we for the present he is grieved in our Miseries as well as we exalted in his Glory and so he communicates to us and with us 1. Vse Admire the Love of God in this Donation 1. Of God the Father that he should bestow us upon his own Son As Christ pleadeth it to the Father so should we plead it to our selves we were God's and he gave us to Christ. Electing Love is the sweetest others were his as well as you Psal. 36.7 How excellent is thy loving-kindness O God! That God should cast a Look on you 2. Of God the Son that he should take us as a Gift from the Father and as a Reward of all his Services Nothing could be more welcom than the tender of Souls Consider nothing could be added to the greatness of him who was equal with the Father the Privileges of the Incarnation were but as so many milder Humiliations but his main Reason was to gain an interest in Souls nothing else could bring Christ out of Heaven into the Manger the Wilderness the Cross the Grave What was his Reward for all his expence of Blood and Sweat He came from Heaven took our Nature shed his Blood Christ is very thirsty of an interest in Souls Isa. 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied This is enough I do not begrudg my Pains my Temptations my Agonies A Woman safely delivered after sore and sharp Labour forgetteth all her past Sorrow for joy of the Birth Christ longed till his Incarnation feasted himself with the thoughts of his Free-Grace Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the habitable parts of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Afterwards he longed for his Passion Luke 12.50 I have a Baptism to be baptized with and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how am I straitned till it be accomplished His Delight was with the Sons of Men. 3. Bless the Spirit for his attesting witnessing working the Comfort of all this in all our Souls We have the
Subjects against Enemies that shall cease but the Kingly Honour which he receiveth from his Subjects shall be for ever and ever he shall always be honoured as King and Mediator of the Church He shall resign the Kingdom that is that way of Administration by which he now governeth for when the Elect are fully converted and sanctified and Enemies destroyed there will be no need of this Care Now after he hath bought us out of his Father's Hands by his Merit and Purchase he is forced to recover us from the Devil by his Power and Conquest The Word is the Rod of his Strength the Sacraments are our Oath of Allegiance in Prayer we perform our Homages by Alms and Acts of Charity we pay him Tribute and Praise and Obedience are the constant Revenues of his Crown This is the first Grant 2. We are given to Christ as Scholars of his School He is the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church certainly Christ loveth the Honour of this Chair He hath also obtained this Title Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from among your Brethren him shall ye hear Christ came out from the Bosom of God to shew us his Heart and Mind So he is called Heb. 3.1 The Apostle of our Profession Christ doth so love a Relation to his Church that you see he taketh the Titles of his own Officers tho he is Lord of the Church yet he is the Apostâ—â— of our Profession he counteth it an Honour to be a Preacher of the Gospel The Son of God is first in the Roll of Gospel-Preachers he is God's Legat à latere an Apostle he laid the Foundation of the Gospel when he was upon the Earth and he teacheth us now he is in Heaven he doth not teach the Ear but the Heart he doth not only set us our Lesson but giveth us an Heart to learn it the Scripture is our Book and Christ our great Master and when he openeth our Eyes we shall see wondrous things in his Law Other Teachers teach for Hire but he bought this Liberty of God that he might open his School and become a Light to Jew and Gentile 3. We are given to him to be Children of his Family The only thing propounded to allure Christ to the Work of Redemption was Isa. 53.10 He shall see his Seed that he might have a numerous Issue and Progeny He delighteth in us tho we are all Benoni's Sons of Sorrow tho he died in the Birth yet he is wonderfully pleased with the Fruitfulness of his Death as a Woman delivered after sharp and sore Sorrow forgetteth all her past Sorrow for joy of the Birth At the last day this will be Christ's Rejoycing and Crown to see the Multitude of his little Ones all brought together Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me It is a goodly sight when Christ shall â—ejoyce in the midst of them and go with them as a glorious Train to the Throne of God the Father Jesus Christ is our Brother and our Father by Regeneration and the Merit of the Cross he is our Father but in the Possession of Heaven he is our Brother for we are Coheirs with him 4. We are given to him as the Spouse of his Bosom This is another of Christ's Honours to be the Churches Bridegroom The Epithalamium is in Canticles and Psal. 45. There the Nuptials are celebrated Ministers they are as John Baptist was called Friends of the Bridegroom Look as a Father giveth her whom he hath begotten to another for a Spouse and Wife so doth God give his Elect to Christ. Indeed Christ hath bought the Church at his Fathers Hands other Wives bring a Dowry but Christ was to buy As Saul gave his Daughter to David but first he was to kill Goliah and to bring the Fore-skins of an hundred Philistines 1 Sam. 17.25 and 18.25 So God gave Christ the Church for a Spouse but Christ was to redeem her with his Blood the infernal Goliah was to be slain Yea ' ere Christ did obtain this Honour he gaineth our Consent by the Power of his Spirit working with the Intreaties of the Word Hosea 2.14 I will allure her and bring her into the Wilderness and speak comfortably unto her and Vers. 19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in Loving-Kindness and in Mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. First I will allure then betroth As David after he had bought Michal with the danger of his Life yet was fain to take her away from Phaltiel 2 Sam. 3.13 The Devil hath gotten Christ's Spouse in his own Arms he is fain to rescue her and oblige her to Loyalty by the Intreaties of his Spirit Hereafter is the Day of Espousals now the Church is called the Bride then the Lamb's Wife Christ's Honour as well as our Consent is incompleat then he cometh to fetch her and present her to God Eph. 5.27 and bring her into his Father's House Christ is decking her against that Time we are to accomplish the Months of our Purification and to have Odours and Garments out of the King's Wardrobe Esth. 1.12 5. We are given to him to be Members of his Body Here is the nearest Relation and that which Christ most prizeth next to the Title of the Son of God to be Head of the Church O what an honour is this to poor Creatures that Christ will take us into his own mystical Body to quicken us and enliven us and guide us by his Grace To Angels he is a Head in point of Sovereignty and Power Col. 2.10 And ye are compleat in him which is the Head of all Principality and Power But to the Church he is an Head by virtue of Mystical Union Angels are his ministring Spirits but we his Spouse they are not called his Bride nor the Spouse of his Bosom nor the Members of his Body In the Ephesians the Church is called his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1.23 Poor Creatures are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth not count himself perfect without us as if he were a maimed imperfect Christ till all the Church be where he is He treateth his Mystical Body with the same respect that he doth his Natural it is raised ascended glorified so shall we For the present there is some Communion between us he is grieved in our Miseries and we are exalted in his Glory As there is a mutual Passage of Spirits between the Head and the Body so there is a Communion between Christ and us by Donatives and Duties II. How this is a ground of Establishment and Consolation 1. By this Gift we have an Interest both in God and Christ. 1 John 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have Fellowship with us and truly
without Purse and Scrip and Shoes lacked ye any thing And they said Nothing God sendeth abroad his Servants many times to make experiments of the care of his Providence they are helpless and shiftless but did ye lack any thing The Lord can wonderfully incline the Hearts of Men and dispose of the Creatures for the Supply of his People he cometh in by wonderful and unexpected ways of Supply It were easy to give Instances if my intended Brevity would permit Merlin was hid in a Hay-mow in the Massacre of Paris and an Hen came constantly and laid an Egg every day for a Fortnight 4. Observe That Christ's keeping extendeth to corporal Safety So it is quoted John 18.8 9. If ye seek me let these go their way that the Saying might be fulfilled which he spake Of those which thou gavest me have I lost none God is in Covenant with both Body and Soul and he looketh after both for the Body as far as it is necessary for his Service and for our Profit and Salvation as well as for the Soul therefore it is but reason we should depend upon him for both It is a pretty Question Which is more difficult to believe in Christ for Temporals or Spirituals The Reason of doubting is because Promises for Temporals are not so express and so exactly accomplished in the Letter as they are in Spirituals But certainly Heaven and Pardon of Sins are greater Mercies and if Conscience were opened and the Heart serious we should see the difficulty to obtain them to be greater There are greater and more plausible Prejudices against Pardon of Sins than against daily Bread God feedeth all his Creatures even the young Ravens but he pardoneth but a few and blesseth them with all spiritual Blessings But here is the Mistake Bodily Wants are more pressing and here Faith is presently to be exercised with Difficulties and Men are careless of their Souls and so content themselves with some general desires and loose hopes of Ease and eternal Welfare which Hopes import their Security and Presumption not their Gospel-Faith But certainly he that durst venture his Estate into Christ's hands by a genuine Act of Faith doth a less thing than he that by a genuine Act of Faith ventures his Soul They say they find no difficulty in believing in Christ for Salvation and Pardon of Sins and yet cannot trust him for daily Bread for Maintenance which God giveth to the Ravens and bestowed upon them when they were Children of Wrath. Well then trust Christ for these common Mercies You shall have temporal Safety as long as God hath a mind to employ you in his Service and as much as is necessary to glorify him and keep your Hearts good In other things we must moderate our desires God is a better Judg than we are our selves and then by an undisturbed Faith without doubts and carkings wait upon him When you cark and run to unlawful Means you take Christ's Work out of his hands and put it into your own yea you put your selves out of Christ's keeping and put your Safety into the Devil's hands O the Children of God should consider this Do you expect God should give you spiritual and eternal Safety and not temporal Shall he give the greater and not the less Martha was of this Temper John 11.23 24. Jesus saith to her Thy Brother shall rise again O saith she I know he shall rise again at the last Day as if it were an easier matter to raise him up after so many Years than after four Days If you put your Souls which are the more excellent part into Christ's hands will you not put your Bodies Will you not trust him with all that you have You should make Experiments this way How are you temporally kept It is good to be acquainted with God by little and little to trust him with smaller Matters and then with greater And what is this Trust Leave all to God's disposal having served Providence in the use of Means It is a shame to see Christians prole and shift as if they had no Father in Heaven no Mediator to take care of them Secondly Now I come to the Success and Fruit of Christ's Care I. As to the Elect. II. As to Judas I. As to the Elect I have kept those whom thou hast given to me and none of them is lost None of the Elect can be lost God's Election cannot be weakned by the falling of Hypocrites Christ may lose Members as he is Head of a Visible Church but not as he is Head of a Mystical Body One of you shall betray me but I know whom I have chosen John 13.18 As if he had said this will not defeat my purposes of Grace So Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded God's Election worketh through all Prejudices wicked Parents bad Education a dumb Ministry and others are hardned notwithstanding all Advantages as Judas tho of the Seed of Abraham tho an Apostle tho under Christ's Inspection The Fathers compared Paul and Judas Paul an open Enemy Judas a seeming Friend 1 Tim. 2.18 19. Who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some Nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his As those that build a Palace are wont to lay a firm Foundation so God in building a heavenly City he hath laid a Foundation by which is meant God's Election which is the great Ground-work of Salvation whoever fall God's Elect stand sure Vse Let us not be troubled at the Defection of Hypocrites let it not shake our Belief of the Doctrine of Perseverance be not offended as if the Salvation of the Elect were not sure Tho glorious Luminaries are quenched and those that seemed to be Stars leave their Orb and Station God's Election standeth sure When a Tree is shaken rotten and unsound Fruit comes clattering down The Devil never had such a season to set Men on work to broach the Doctrine of the Apostacy of the Saints because of the general Defection and Miscarriage of eminent Professors In this case let us run to the Scriptures The Defection of one from the College of the Apostles was a great Scandal but Christ saith That it might be fulfilled which was written So when any Scandal falleth out thus should we run unto the Scriptures II. As to Judas who is here called the Son of Perdition 1. Observ. In the General That there are some Persons that are so wilfully set to destroy and damn themselves that they may be called Sons of Perdition As here is one that perisheth in Christ's own Company a Prey taken out of his Hands one that was never the better for all the care of Christ for seeing his Holy Life and for the excellent Discourses that he heard from him for all the Kindness that he had shewed to him in taking him into a near Office and
that they may grow together in one Body whereof I am the Head or one Temple It is sometimes set out by One Mystical Body sometimes by One Spiritual Temple One Body Col. 2.19 And not holding the Head from which all the Body by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God Rom. 12.5 We being many are One Body in Christ and every one Members one of another Ephes. 1.22 23. And gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body And One Temple Ephes. 2.20 21 22. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit One as thou in me and I in thee Christ doth not say that they may be One in another that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not agree to them but in the Mystery of the Trinity it denotes the Union between the Divine Persons One in Vs that is by the Communication and Inhabitation of that Spirit which proceedeth from us Our Union is from God in God and to God from the Spirit with God through Christ. Let me now enquire I. What it is II. Why it is so valued by Christ I. What it is There is an Union with Christ the Head and between the Members one with another I shall speak of both tho but little of the latter because I handled it Vers. 11. 1. There is a Union with Christ the Head That ye may conceive of it take these Propositions 1. The whole Trinity is concerned in this Union By the Communion of the Spirit we are mystically united to Christ and by Christ to God The Father is as it were the Root Christ the Trunk the Spirit the Sap we the Branches and our Works the Fruits John 15. This is the great Mystery delivered in the Scriptures Christ doth not only dwell in us by Faith Ephes. 3.17 But God dwelleth in us and we in God 1 John 4.16 and the Spirit dwelleth in us Rom. 8.11 We are consecrated Temples wherein the whole Trinity take up their Residence We are Children of God Members of Christ Pupils to the Holy Ghost Gods Family Christ's Body and the Spirit 's Charge We are united to the Father as the Fountain of Grace and Mercy to the Son as the Pipe and Conveyance and the Spirit accomplisheth and effecteth all The Father sendeth the Son to merit this Grace and the Son sendeth the Spirit to accomplish it therefore we are said by one Spirit to be baptized into the same Body 2. Tho all the Persons be concerned in it yet the Honour is chiefly devolved upon Christ the Second Person Christ as God-Man is Head of the Church upon a double Ground because of his two Natures and the Union of these in the same Person It was needful that our Head should be Man of the same Nature with our selves Heb. 2.11 He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are of One the same Stock It were monstrous to have an Head and Members of a different Nature as in Nebuchadnezzar's Image the Substance of the Head and Body differed the Head was of fine God the Arms of Silver the Belly and Thighs of Brass the Legs of Iron part of the Feet of Clay Here was a monstrous Body indeed made up of so many Metals differing in Nature and Kind But Christ took our Nature that he might be a suitable Head and so have a right to redeem us and be in a Capacity to give himself for the Body and sympathize with us All these are Fruits of the Son 's being of the same Nature And again God he needed to be to pour out the Spirit and to have Grace sufficient for all his Members Meer Man was not enough to be Head of the Church for the Head must be more excellent than the Body it is above the Body the Seat of the Senses it guideth the whole Body it is the Shop of the Thoughts and Musings And so Christ the Head must have a preheminence in him the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily that we might be compleat in him Col. 2.8 9. And it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Col. 1.19 The Grace of God is most eminent in him as Life is most eminent in the Head Now there must be an Union of these two Natures in the same Person If Christ had not been God and Man in the same Person God and we had never been united and brought together he is Emanuel God with Vs Mat. 1.23 God is in Christ and the Believer is in Christ we have a share in his Person and so hath God he descendeth and cometh down to us in the Person of the Mediator and by the Man Christ Jesus we ascend and clime up to God And so you see the Reason why the Honour of Head of the Church is devolved upon Christ. 3. Whole Christ is united to a whole Believer Whole Christ is united to us God-Man and whole Man is united to Christ Body and Soul Whole Christ is united to us the Godhead is the Fountain and the Humane Nature is the Pipe and Conveyance Grace cometh from him as God and through him as Man John 6.56 57. He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me God is a Sealed Fountain his Humanity is the Pipe so that his Flesh is the Food of the Soul Christ came from Heaven on purpose and sanctified our Flesh that there might be one in our Nature to do us good that Righteousness and Life might pass from him as Sin and Death from Adam but our Faith first pitcheth upon the Manhood of Christ as they went into the holy Place by the Vail And then a whole Christian is united to Christ Body and Soul The Soul is united unto him because it receiveth Influences of Grace and the Body also is taken in Therefore the Apostle disputeth against Fornication because the Body is a Member of Christ 1 Cor. 6.15 Shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot God forbid It is a kind of dismembring and plucking a Limb from Christ you defile Christ's Body the Disgrace redounds to him And hereupon elsewhere doth the Apostle prove the Resurrection by virtue of our Union with Christ Rom. 8.10 11. If Christ be in you the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you You may die but
as well sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are kneaded together as separate Christ and the Church when once united Impossible est Massam à Pastâ separare Christ will not suffer his Body to be mangled the cutting off of a Joint goeth to the Quick Vse 1. To press us to look after an Interest in this great Priviledg It is the main Work of your Lives To move you consider the Honour and the Happiness of them that they are thus one with God through Christ. 1. The Honour What am I to be Son-in-Law to the King What are you to be Members of Christ Christ counteth himself to be incompleat and maimed without us Eph. 1.23 The Church is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all How are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fulness of him it relateth not to his Personal Perfection take Christ absolutely as God and he is a Person most perfect and glorious Before the Assumption of the Humane Nature before any Creature in the World was made there was enough in Christ to satisfy his Father's Heart Nay take him relatively as Mediator what doth Christ want Doth the Body give ought of Perfection to the Head No the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he filleth all Things But taken in his Mystical Person Christ Mystical as Head and Members are called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 As the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ. So he is not perfect without his Body as an Head without Members is not perfect Now what an Honour is this that he accounteth himself imperfect without us And till all his Members be gathered in we are not grown up to the State wherein Christ is full Eph. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. Christ's Mystical Body hath not its compleat Stature till all the Saints be gathered This Honour is not put upon the Angels they are Servants but not Members He did not take their Seed to be an Head to them nor dy for them nor took them for his Members as he doth us Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. He left the Company of Angels to dwell with us his Heart was set upon our Good that next to the Title of Son of God he valueth this of being Head of the Church He purchased it with his Blood He loveth his Mystical Body above his Natural for he gave his natural Body to redeem the Church which is his Mystical Body as Husbands love their Wives as their own Body Oh Christians is not this a mighty Priviledg We are not only His but Him and Christ knoweth us and loveth us as Parts of his own Body and will glorify us not only as his Clients and Servants but Members all the Injuries and Wrongs done to the Church Christ taketh it as done to himself Wicked Men they are his Foot-stool Christ is over them but not as a Mystical Head As the Head of a King is lifted up above all his Subjects and governeth them and weareth the Garland of Honour but in a peculiar manner it governeth and guideth his own natural Body So Christ is Head over all Things to the Church Eph. 1.22 Certainly this is a great Honour put upon poor Worms What are the Fruits of it We are interessed in all Christ's communicable Priviledges we need not stretch it too far it is ample enough of it self Some Things are incommunicably proper to Christ neither given to Man nor Angel as the Name above all Names to be adored to be set at the Right Hand of God to be Head of the Church the Lord our Righteousness But other Things are communicated to us first to Christ and then to us Christ is one with the Father and a poor Christian though never so mean is one with Christ. Christ is called God's Fellow Zech. 13.7 and every Saint is Christ's Fellow Psal. 45.7 Thou hast anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows The Father loveth him because he is the express Image of his Person and delights in the Saints because they are the Image of Christ. God is his God and our God his Father and our Father where Christ is they are because they are a Part of his Body Alas we should count it Blasphemy to speak so if the Word did not speak it before us 2. The Happiness In him the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily There is a sufficiency in Christ for all his Members We have all things in him which is as good as if we had it in our Hands and better for he is a better Steward and Keeper of the Treasuries of Wisdom Grace and Comfort than we are If he hath it it is for our use for Christ is full as an Officer to impart Life Sense and Motion to all the Body It is the Office of the Liver to impart the Blood to the Veins it were monstrous and unnatural to keep it As a Treasurer it is his Office to pay Mony out upon all just Demands Psal. 16.2 3. My Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight Thou shalt not be forgotten for the care of Christ extendeth to every Member to neglect a Member is to neglect our selves If a Man could forget a Child yet certainly he could not forget his Members This is your Relation to Christ if he hath bid the Members to take care one of another 1 Cor. 12.25 What will the Head do These Grounds of Comfort and Faith you have Vse 2. How shall we know that we have a share in this Mystical Union I Answer By the Spirit of Christ. 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit There is a Communication of the Spirit so Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his his Creature but not his Member a Limb of Satan not a Member of Christ. Christ's Spirit is poured on all his Brethren it is shared among them it is given to every Member as soon as they are added to Christ's Body Now how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of Christ Answ. By Life and Conformity 1. Life and Stirring A Man may know whether the Spirit of Christ be dwelling in him as a Woman knoweth whether the Child in the Womb be quickned yea or no she knoweth it by the stirring So you may know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you by it's working They are no Members of Christ that are not quickned by the Life of Grace there is no withered Member in his Body If a Member of a
from him But when God is willing to come among us and take our Nature and die for a sinful world there is a foundation laid for his being with us to help us and bless us upon all occasions The wonderful Marriage which the Divine Nature hath made with the Humane doth help us against the thoughts of distance but his Death and Sufferings as the price of our Atonement doth make up the quarrel and breach between us and God In his person God manifested in our flesh way is made for access For in Christ God doth condescend to man and man is encouraged to ascend to God But in his Sufferings the distance is taken away and the guilty fears appeased which most do alienate us from God God hath set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 3.25 Now after such a foundation laid will the Lord be strange to his people as if the breach still continued It cannot be Thirdly God in our Nature hath taken upon him an Office to defend and help his people which he manageth both in Heaven and in Earth In Heaven by his constant intercession Heb. 8.1.2 We have such an High Priest who is sate on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord hath pitched and not man And Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not enâ—red into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us We have a friend in Court Jesus the true and great High Priest who hath the Names of his People graven upon his breast and shoulder to shew how much they are in his heart and to represent them and their necessities to God On Earth 1. Externally by his powerful Providence for all Judgment is put into his hands John 5.22 that he may defend his Church and People 2. Internally by his Spirit Matth. 20.20 Lo I am with you always unto the end of the world Into what part or Age of the World our Loâ— falleth Christ is ready with his protection and blessing Now would Christ take such an Office to be Head over all things to the Church and neglect the duty of it No the Head of the Church is also the saviour of the body Ephes. 5.11 The whole body and every member of it is dear to him as united to him in the sacred mystical body and he will take care of them And upon these accounts we may pray for and expect grace to help in a time of need Heb. 4.16 Let us come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need Obj. But you will say If there be such a Power and Goodness in God and thus secured by the mediation of Christ and his blessed Covenant how cometh it that they are reduced to such great exigencies Judges 6.13 If the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us Ans. 1. 'T is supposed you are Christians and have not the spirit of a worldling that liveth upon and seeketh his main happiness in the creatures apart from God a true Christian is one that is dead to the world but alive to God one that hath laid up his treasure above the reach of all enemies Matth. 6.19 20 21. Lay not up treasure for your selves upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is there will your heart be also Otherwise we cannot deal with you for 't is a vain attempt to hope to reconcile Christianity with your carnal affections but if you be such tho the feelings of nature be not altogether quenched in you you will not be greatly moved as long as your main happiness is safe that is while Gods love to you is not lessened while your communion with him is as free as it was before while you lose no degree of grace and your hopes of glory suffer not any Eclipse for your solid happiness lieth in these things other things are but appendages to sweeten our Pilgrimage and tho a Christian hath a value for his natural comforts yet 't is a value and an esteem that is subordinated to higher enjoyments that he hath something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. 2. Temporal protection and prosperity is not excluded from the compass and latitude of this priviledg but included so far as God seeth fit So far as it is good to have peace and liberty heretofore the blessings of Gods presence was visible and sensible as they observed of Abraham Gen. 21.22 God is with thee in all that thou dost So 't is promised to Isaac Gen. 26.3 I will be with thee and bless thee To Jacob Gen. 35.3 God was with me in the way that I went To Moses Exod. 3.17 I will be with thee To Israel Deut. 2.7 The Lord thy God hath been with thee Josh 1.5 I was with Moses and I will be with thee To David 2 Sam. 6.18 So that we cannot say that he will not own and bless us in the course of his Providence but communion with him and the enjoyment of his gracious presence is that which the godly desire most Exod. 33.5 If thy presence go not along with us carry us not up hence 3. Though temporal happiness be not altogether excluded there must be tryal For there is no crowning without striving nor can a reward be expected for sitting still 2 Tim. 2.5 He must strive According to the laws of the exercise to put in for the prize in the Olympick Games and to refuse to run or wrestle was ridiculous so 't is to think of Heaven and do nothing for it or run no hazzard for it partly because we need afflictions that the inner man may be renewed and we be more prepared dispositively fitted for glory being weaned from the world and mortifying the flesh 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 1 Pet. 1.6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice tho now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations We suffer to quicken us in our drouziness and refine us from our dross partly to conform us to Christ that we may overcome the world he overcame it by suffering to shew us that by suffering we shall overcome it which is a nobler victory than if we had overcome it by the sword Rom. 8.37 Nay in these things we are more than conquerors 'T is â—or the honour of God that it should be known that God hath a people that love him and are dearly beloved by him 4. In these tryals God is with us and so if he
the beloved to the praise of his glorious grace The people of God are loved from all eternity by his love of benevolence whereby he willed good unto them and decreed to bestow good upon them even when they were children of wrath in the sentence of the law But there is besides this the love of complacency whereby he accepteth of them as being reconciled to him and acquiesceth in them as his peculiar people and will bestow all manner of grace upon them Secondly As to sense or our feeling of this love Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts When 't is evidenced to us that God hath thus sanctified us and adopted us into his family taken us for his children Rom. 8.16 And we are incouraged to look for the eternal inheritance as our right and portion The effects we have in our conversion called therefore effectual calling the sense we have by the Lords confirming Grace or the witness of the spirit which God giveth as a reward to his faithful and obedient servants Experienced seasoned Christians usually have it in a large measure 2. The people of God apprehend it as a very blessed and comfortable condition for here Paul in their name speaketh that as long as God loveth them they are not troubled about other things Death may separate the soul from the body depth of poverty may separate them not only from the preferments of the world but the enjoyment of their own estates Evil angels may disquiet them with temptations worldly powers exile them from their countrey and separate them from their dearest friends and acquaintance but as long as they are not separated from the love of God in Christ they are well apaid and contented for the Apostles triumph is not that he did escape the troubles but that he was not separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus Now this cometh partly from the real worth of the priviledg its self and partly from their esteem and value of it 1. For the real worth of the priviledge its self Surely Gods love can make us more happy than the world can make us miserable Consider a believer as to his present or future condition he is a blessed man For the present his sins are pardoned Psal. 32.1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered Their natures are healed 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust Their ways are directed and ordered Psal. 119.1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. And for the future they have eternal life 1 John 2.25 And this is the promise he hath promised us even eternal life Now these are blessings the world cannot deprive us of and they are the fruits of distinguishing love but worldly things which are subject to the will and power of our enemies are not Eccles. 9.1 2. Love nor hatred cannot be known by these things all things come alike to all These have escaped the greatest misery and are intitled to the greatest happiness mankind is capable of 2. Their value and esteem of it above all worldly felicities Psal. 4.6 7. Many say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put gladness into my heart more than in the time that their corn and wine increased Yea above life its self Psal. 63.3 Thy loving-kindness is better than life They were willing to renounce all to get it and therefore they are willing to renounce all to keep it Phil. 3.7 8. What things were gain to me I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss He had counted and did count to shew that he had not repented of his choice Man is changeable and fickle highly conceited for one thing to day and another to morrow but the Apostle saw no cause to recede from his choice he continued still of the same opinion We often affect novelties are transported when we first change our profession and repent at leasure Now if he were to do it again he would freely do it supposing it to be gainful But now to have the favour of God and to be like him how valuable a blessing is it None are true Christians but those that are like-minded that value his favour above all things for otherwise God is loved with the respect of an underling and so cannot have the affection from us that is due to the chiefest good Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 3. That nothing can separate us from the fruition of his love This will be best seen from the grounds 1. The immutability of Gods love to the elect His elective love maketh not only our vocation effectual but our justification and glorification also Rom. 8.30 He will not cease to love us nor cast off the care of our salvation till he hath brought it to its final period 2. The infinite merit of Christ. 'T is in the text The love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. His free-love is carried on to us in that way for the fruits of his eternal love we cannot obtain but by Jesus Christ. Now his merit is an everlasting merit he went not to Heaven till he had obtained eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 A purchase that shall ever stand in force 3. The unchangeable Covenant and the promises of God which irreversibly make over this right to us 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God are in him yea and amen And Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong consolation Surely this should give us a strong consolation that we have the word of the eternal God for it That if we run for refuge and stick there nothing shall defeat our right 4. The union of a believer with Christ as a member of his body and so belonging to his care and protection For the Lord Christ is a Saviour to all those to whom he is truly an head Eph. 5.23 Christ is the head of the Church and the Saviour of the body Therefore every living member of the mystical body is safe nothing shall dissolve or break that blessed union that is between Christ and believers 5. The Almighty power of God and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 Ye are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation Heaven is kept for them and they are kept for Heaven Christ hath promised his Almighty Power for the safety of believers As it was he and not we that purchased our salvation so it is Christ and not we that must have the keeping of the purchased benefits and he saith that none shall pluck them out of his hands and out of the Fathers hands
Progress in Religion and stop there they lose what they have Luk. 8.18 From him that hath not shall be taken what he seemeth to have to him that imployeth his stock more shall be given but the other is on the losing hand Secondly As to the Hope and Comfort that followeth this Profession An Inclination to that which is good I suppose without that there can be no true Comfort 'till we should submit to the Conditions of the Gospel-law Matth. 5.28 29 30. There Temporaries are defective all therefore see it and know it when they are serious and considerative and their mistakes and misconceits are blown away by Death and Judgment now the conditions are Believing Repenting and Gospel-walking Now their Faith will not yield Comfort Gal. 5.6 Neither Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but Faith that worketh by love Not their Repenting not a little sorrow for sin past 'till carnal Distempers are mortified 2 Cor. 7.10 So for Gospel-walking not a loose owning of Christ Mat. 7.21 'till there be a full Obedience to his Law putting it in practice with an upright Heart which is not consistent with allowed failings A man may profess himself a Christian yet if he do not his Fathers Will he may come short USE Oh then let us take heed we be not of the number of those whose Lamps are gone out The Lamps of the Sanctuary were never to go out but to burn alwayes Exod. 17.20 To this end 1. Apply your selves to Christ in the use of his appointed means for the renewing your Natures That his Spirit may give you a new Understanding and a new Heart God hath made the offer Ezek. 36.26 and it is only made good to those that diligently attend upon the appointed Means 2. Improve what you receive in that way 1 Thess. 5.14 Quench not the Spirit Fire may be quenched by powring on water or withdrawing the Fuel Quench not the Spirit by fleshly delights nor by a careless Conversation 3. They ask the wise Give us of your Oyl First This demand was unseasonable to be getting Oyl when they should use it to have their Oyl to buy when their Lamps should have been burning There is a time of getting if we lose that our opportunity is gone Luke 14.32 Isa. 55.2 John 9.4 While you have the day work for the night cometh in which no man can work Secondly It was extorted by meer necessity In a time of straits and distresses men will call upon the People of God to help them as Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron when Gods Judgements were upon him SERMON VII MATTH XXV v. 9. But the wise answered saying Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves IN the words we have 1. A Denyal 2. The Reason of the Denyal 3. Their advice and Counsel to the foolish First The Denyal not so 't is not a churlish and envious Denyal but such an Answer as the nature of the thing would bear If they should be so kind they would deprive themselves and not leave sufficient for them both therefore they were better take the usual way of supply Three points are in this Verse 1 Doct. Every one must get Oyl into his own Lamp or get Grace of his own or else in the day of his Accounts the Grace of others will do him no good Secondly From the Reason lest there be not enough for us and you 2 Doct. They that have most grace have none to spare 3 Doct. If we would get Grace we must have recourse to the Ordinances For the first Point That every man must get Grace of his own 1. I do not hereby exclude the Righteousness of Christ or his communicating his Spirit to us There is a great deal of difference between Christ and the Saints in point of Sufficiency Power and Authority First They have not a Sufficiency for themselves and us too Christ hath a fulness out of which you may receive enough John 1.16 Of his fulness we receive grace for grace There is plenitudo Fontis plenitudo Vasis The Fulness of a Fountain and the Fulness of a Vessel The fulness of a Vessel is lessened and abated the more you take out of it the Creature is wasted by giving but a fountain is ever flowing and overflowing it keepeth its fulness still though it affordeth to others God saith to Moses Numb 11.12 I will take of the Spirit that is upon thee and put it upon them The words seem principally to intend as if his own Gifts and Abilities were given to them to help bear a part in the burden of the Government Secondly In point of Power they have no power to transfuse and put over their Righteousness to another As a man cannot divide and part his Life between him and another But Christ who liveth in us and is spiritually united to us he can impart his Grace and Righteousness 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Gal. 2.20 The life that I live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Thirdly If they could do so they have no Authority and Commission to do it as God hath given to Christ Joh. 3.34 35. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand And Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him Such a difference there is between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Saints He can give us of his Oyl and will do it will not deny those that seek it humbly and seasonably and have enough himself as the precious Oyntment upon Aarons head and beard ran down to the skirts of his Garments Psal. 133.2 so doth Christ the Head communicate his Gifts and Graces to all his Members 2. I do not hereby exclude the Benefit which we have by the Communion of the Saints in the Mystical Body of Christ here in this World The Members are mutually usefull to one another as 't is said Col. 2.19 From which all the Body by joynts and hands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God 'T is from the Head but knit together by Nerves Veins and Arteries The Apostle saith that every joynt supplyeth something Eph. 4.16 we communicate to one another that strength and nourishment which all receive by the Head There is no Member but is of use we have benefit from one anothers Gifts and Graces or else we could not be serviceable in the Body But the Case in the Text is different these foolish Virgins had their former advantages which they should have improved to have supplyed them in the day of their Account Now the wise could not help the
explicitly and formally engaged and contracted to one another Christ to us as Head we to him as Members of his Mystical Body as 't is real so 't is near they twain shall be one flesh we one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit Whole Christ is ours we are or should be altogether his as full of Kindness and Love Eph. 5.25 26 27. Zeph. 3.17 And 't is indissoluble the Marriage knot remaineth inviolable for ever I will betroth thee to me for ever Hos. 2.19 2. This Marriage may be considered in four respects 1. With respect to the ground and foundation of it 2. With respect to our first Entrance into this Relation 3. With respect to the State of it in this world 4. With respect to its perfect Consummation First With respect to the Ground and Foundation that was laid for it in Christs Incarnation or at his first coming Marriage is between parties of the same kind as in the first Marriage Adam called Eve Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh Gen. 2.20 So Christ came to fit himself for that relation of Husband to his Church by taking our nature upon him and therefore the Apostle when he speaketh of the Marriage between Christ and his Church useth the same name which Adam had used Eph. 5.30 For we are members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone When Christ was in the world he made a way for the Marriage He parted from us 't is true but there was an interchange of tokens he took our Flesh and left with us his Spirit Secondly With respect to our first Entrance into this relation when first converted to God or upon our thankful broken-hearted willing acceptance of Christ for Lord and Husband All Marriage is utered into by a consent Christ giveth his Consent in the Promises and we by Faith which is a broken-hearted willing and thankful acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ to the ends for which God offereth him Where note that Faith is an Acceptance of Christ John 1.12 To as many as received him Next for the mode and manner of this Acceptance 't is Broken-hearted because we are undeserving and ill deserving Creatures altogether unworthy to be taken into such a near relation to Christ as Abigail when David sent to her to make her his Wife debased her self 1 Sam. 25.40 41. Let thine hand-maid wash the feet of thy Servants Alas who are we A poor trembling Soul is afraid of being too bold but Gods offer encourageth it And as 't is a broken-hearted so 't is a Willing acceptance of Christ for Christ will not draw us into this Relation by force or bestow the Priviledges of it without or against our consent Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take of the water of Life freely If the will be to Christ the great difficulty is over Christianity is but an hearty consent to accept of Christ and his Benefits but the Creatures Will is not soon gained Math. 23.37 I would but ye would not he inviteth and clucketh by the renewed messages of his Grace but we will not be gathered Isa. 65.2 I have spread out my hands all the day long to a rebellious People The ungodly careless world knoweth not the worth of Gods greatest Mercies and therefore despise them yea take them for intolerable Injuries and Troubles because they are against their fleshly Appetites but when the will is once thoroughly gained to God the great work of Conversion is drawing to a happy Period the consent of the Will is the closing act When we yield our selves to the Lord resolving to become his and to be disposed ordered and governed by him at his own pleasure I entered into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 And as 't is a willing acceptance so 't is a thankful acceptance of Christ because 't is a great favour and honour done to us considering the infinite distance between the parties to be joyned in the Marriage-covenant God over all blessed for ever and we poor wretched Creatures There may be among us great distance between the persons that enter into the Marriage-covenant but all that distance is but finite for it is but such as can be between Creature and Creature which are equal in their being notwithstanding the inequality of many extrinsical respects but in this distance between Christ and his People the distance is between the Creator and the Creature the Potter and the Clay the thing formed and him that formed it betwixt the most lovely person and the most loathsome between the Heir of all things and the Children of Wrath the King immortal and a poor Vassal to Sin and Sathan And consider also the many benefits we enjoy by it we have the Communion of his Righteousness Spirit and Graces 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him There are two Maxims in the Civil Law Vxor fulget radiis mariti the Wife participateth in the Honour of the Husband so we have the Communion of Christs Righteousness and Vxori lis non intenditur the Husband is answerable for the Wife the Pleas must be brought against him So Jesus Christ hath paid our Debts and representeth the merit of his Sacrifice he is responsible for the Debts we owe to Divine Justice Participation is another Benefit Eph. 5.26 Husbands love your Wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of Water Christ upon the Cross had merit enough to purchase and love enough to intend and Wisdom enough to choose the greatest benefit for us and what did he purchase intend and choose but to sanctifie and cleanse us by the washing of water through the Word And lastly we must receive him to the Ends for which God offereth him that is to be Lord and Husband which importeth a forsaking all others and a devoting and giving up our selves to Christ to live in his Love and Obedience 1. Before there can be a Receiving there must be a Renouncing of all other Loves Christ will be entertained alone The Husband cannot endure a Corrival and Competitor And the Marriage consent implyeth an Election and Choice which is a renouncing all others and a preferring him alone So the Marriage Covenant runneth Hos. 3.3 Thou shalt not be for another but shalt be for me So Psal. 45.10 11. Hearken O Daughter and consider incline thine ear Forget also thine own people and thy Fathers House So shall the King greatly desire thy Beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him All that do consider what is offered in Christs name and consent to the motion they must forsake all their old wayes their old Corruptions and old Passions and old Affections and seriously think of leaving all their worldly Pleasures and Vanities they must not stick at their choicest Interests most pleasing Lusts and dearest Sins
coupling of the Cross and Glory The same Disciples Peter James and John were the Witnesses of his Agonies Mat. 26.37 and of his Transfiguration Mat. 17.1 So where Christ began his Passion there he began his Ascension Luke 22.39 He went out to the Mount of Olives and his Disciples followed him And Acts 1.12 he ascended from Mount Olivet 3. For the Advantage of his Members Christ knew it could not go well with the Church unless it went well with himself it was for our Profit The Holy Ointment was first poured on the Head of the High Priest then on his Members Psal. 133.3 His Glory and Grace is an Argument of ours He is endowed with the Spirit without measure that we might have an Unction from the Holy One. We are glorified with him and are said to ascend with him Ephes. 2.6 He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Christ's Glorification is a Pledg of ours he is gone thither as our Fore-runner to seize on Heaven in our Right Heb. 6.20 Whither our Forerunner is for us entred and to prepare a place for us John 14.2 In Heaven he is at God's right Hand and can procure it for us and administreth and governeth the World for our good He is in a greater capacity to do us good He is our Intercessor and the World's Governor all things necessary to Salvation can better be dispatched by his Intercession and Power These things premised the Words will be easily opened Father glorify thou me with thine own self That is suffer me to return to the Glory which I had in common with thee in the Divine Nature by the Resurrection of my Body Ascension and sitting down at thy right Hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is with thy self John 13.31 32. Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him If God be glorified in him God shall also glorify him in himself and shall straightway glorify him God was glorified by Christ as a Servant with an extrinsick Glory in the view of the World And now Christ prays to be glorified in or with the Father himself with his own proper Essential Glory the Godhead being restored to its full use and exercise and the Humanity being raised to the full fruition of the comfort of it Which I had with thee before the World was Grotius and others say Non reali possessione sed divinâ Praedestinatione that is by thy Decree in thy Purpose and Predestination But that 's not all because he speaketh here of that infinite and essential Glory which is one and the same in all the Persons and so Christ had it as God blessed for ever and Christ having abstained from the use and exercise of it in a way proper to it self now craveth a Restitution The Points are Doct. 1. That Christ is God true God and hath an eternal coequal Glory with the Father before the World was Before the World there was nothing but the Eternal Infinite Essence that was common to the Father Son and Holy Ghost The Socinians seem to grant that he is of God but not Eternal God by Nature but here is a clear proof which I had with thee before the World was Doct. 2. We may plead to God his own Promises in deep and weighty Cases Put me in remembrance saith God Isa. 43.26 as when Death approacheth or Difficulties come upon us Christ himself takes this Course Doct. 3. The ground of all sound Hope is what was done before all Worlds Christ had Glory actually and we have a grant of it ◠Tim. 1.9 According to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began There was a grant of Heaven and Grace and Christ received it for us So Tit. 1.2 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie hath promised before the World began There was a solemn Promise which Christ received on our behalf The frame of Grace was ancient God sealed up a large Charter and indented with Christ before ever there were any Men in the World Let us not look for our Happiness in this World our Comforts do not depend upon the standing of it when the World is no more you may be happy Doct. 4. The chief Point which I shall handle is That Christ in the Oeconomy or Dispensation of Grace was reduced to such an exigence that he needeth to pray to be glorified Father glorify thou me with thy self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was It is a matter of weighty Consideration that Christ should pray his Father to bestow on him the Glory which he wanted But how could Christ want Glory who was God-Man in one Person To clear this I shall a little state both his Humiliation and his Exaltation I. How far he humbled himself and wanted Glory What was indeed the utmost of his Humiliation Here I shall shew First What Glory he retained in the midst of it Secondly What he wanted Certainly tho in his outward appearance he had no form and comeliness in him yet inwardly he was the fairest of Men Isa. 53.2 compared with Psal. 45.2 First What Glory he was possessed of at the present Christ had a double Glory the Glory of his Person and the Glory of his Office 1. The Glory of his Person There was the Union of the two Natures He did not lose his God-head tho he took Flesh he was still the eternal Son of the Father The Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 John 1.14 The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he pitched his Tent And we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father He was still co-equal with his Father the fulness of the God-head dwelt in him his Flesh was taken into the Fellowship of the Divine Nature as soon as it began to have a Being in the Womb of the Virgin the highest Dignity a Creature is capable of The Person of the Son was truly communicated to the Nature of Man and the Nature of Man truly communicated to the Person of the Son He that was the Son of Man was truly the Son of God and he that was the Son of God was truly the Son of Man And by virtue of this Union there was a Communion higher than all other Communions the fulness of Grace was subjectively and inherently in his Human Nature He was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows Psal. 45.7 And he is said John 3.34 to receive the Spirit without measure both for the Essence and Virtue of it to all Effects and Purposes for himself and others So that there needed nothing to be added to his full Happiness Christ was Comprehensor he perfectly knew upon Earth what we shall know in Heaven and was perfectly Holy and perfectly Good 2. The Glory of
have no Discharge But now Christ's Ascension gives a further degree of Assurance Christ is not only taken out of Prison but taken up to God with Glory and Honour God hath taken up our Surety to himself and rewarded him Christ hath perfectly done his Work or else he had never been taken out of the Grave much less taken up to God God is well pleased with him he hath not only a Discharge but a Reward Christ is said not only to ascend but to be received into Glory 1 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an active and a passive Word the one noteth the Power of his Godhead the other noteth the Grant of the Father Christ took upon him the Quality of our Surety and he must pay every Farthing e're he can go to his Father It is a sufficient Pledg John 16.10 Of Righteousness because I go to the Father and ye see me no more thus there was an everlasting Righteousness established he was never to see God's Face more if he had not perfectly done his Work Gen. 43.5 Ye shall not see my Face except your Brother be with you He is God's Favourite 2. It is a Pledg of our Ascension John 3.13 No Man hath ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man that is in Heaven Ascendit solus sed non totus Head and Members must be together our Head being there before the Members must follow after Christ speaketh as if he were not content with his own Heaven without us Vers. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Christ took our Flesh to Heaven and left his Spirit which is an Earnest of our Glory 2 Cor. 5.5 He hath given unto us the Earnest of the Spirit God never taketh any thing from his Children but he sendeth them a better thing in the room of it 3. We have an Intercessor at God's Right-hand a Favourite in the Court of Heaven 1 John 2.1 If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the righteous as when Offenders have a Favourite in Court We need a Mediator in Heaven he is gone to disanul all Satan's Accusation The sacrificing part is done and ended and his Intercession now taketh place We have these two great Advantages in Prayer Christ is our Advocate and the Spirit our Notary Vse 1. Information 1. It informeth us of the Priviledges of God's Children When a Child of God dieth he doth but go to his Father Christ and we have the same Relation John 20.17 I ascend unto my Father and your Father to my God and your God He is no more in the World but still he is he doth not say I am no more but I am no more in the World they do not leave Life but the World As Christ was the Son of God by Nature they are the Sons of God by Grace and when they die they go to their Heavenly Father to a sweet Rest to the Bosom of God The same Entertainment Christ had we shall have a joyful Entertainment a sweet Welcome when we come to Heaven and the conduct of Angels thither Luke 16.22 The Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham 's Bosom God will take us as it were by the Hand with a Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord Mat. 25.21 2. It informeth us That all that Christ did was for a Believer's Use and Comfort if he cometh into the World it is to merit if he ascendeth into Heaven it is to apply He descended from Heaven for the Redemption of Man after that Work is accomplished he ascendeth thither again to bestow it on us and at the last Day he will come again and fetch his Bride as when all things are ready the Heir cometh in Person to fetch the Bride into his Father's House Going coming staying still Christ is ours he was born for us he lived for us he rose again and ascended for us it is for our good that he went away whatever he did in his Abasement and Exaltation it was for our good 3. It informeth us that the greatest Comforts may be supplied Christ's Corporal Presence by the Presence of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1.5 That as our Sufferings in Christ Jesus have abounded so our Consolation also hath abounded through Christ They should lose nothing by his Departure John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever He would not leave them Orphans We cannot be made unhappy by the want of any outward Comfort we have the more of God the less we have of these outward Helps If the Corporal Presence of Christ can be recompensed by the Presence of the Spirit certainly lesser Supports of Life will be recompensed Vse 2. Exhortation 1. To all sorts of Persons to get an Interest in Christ and to clear it up to their Souls How sweet would it be if when we are no more to be in this World we could say Holy Father I come to thee We all affect this Let my latter end be like his as Baalam spake At oportuit sic vixisse An evidence of this is if you ascend with Christ Ephes. 2.6 He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Head and Heart ought to be together your Head is in Heaven if your Heart be there too you are Members of his Mystical Body How shall a Man know that he is ascended with Christ 1. If the things of the World seem small as when we are in a high Place Men seem as Ants worldly Glory will appear to be small and worldly Profits small But when we are upon Earth heavenly things seem small as Stars appear but as Spangles 2. If you behave your selves to him as to a glorified Person Do you serve him John 12.26 If any Man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my Servant be if any Man serve me him will my Father honour Carnal Men crucify him again 3. If you keep your selves unspotted from the World James 1.26 No unclean thing shall enter into Heaven The World is a defiâ—ing thing that Filth that cleaveth to our Fingers in telling of Money is an Emblem of the Filthiness of the World A Man that looketh to be like Christ in Glory certainly would not defile himself in the World If a Prince marry a mean Woman would he endure to see her live like a Scullion Christ hath marryed our Nature A Man that loveth the World and would always live here is like a Scullion that lyeth among the Pots would you your selves hug Nastiness and embrace the Dunghil 2. To press God's Children to be holy and heavenly in
Patern or Exemplar of it As we are one The Explicatory Questions are two I. What kind of Unity this is that is prayed for II. Under what respect it is prayed for in this place I. What this Unity is How one One in Judgment or one in Heart or one Body knit together with the same Spirit I answer All these For consider for whom Christ prayeth for the Disciples o◠that Age and principally for the College of the Apostles now saith he Let them be one There is a double Unity Mystical and Moral 1. Mystical Union is the Union of Believers with Christ the Head and with one another with Christ the Head by Faith and with one another by Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So it agreeth with the Letter of this Place nay with the Meaning This Union of Believers in the same Body is often compared with the Mystery of the Trinity and it is elswhere expressed by one Body as Col. 2.19 And not holding the Head from which all the Body by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God a place full to this purpose where all Believers in regard of their Union with the Head and with one another are set forth as one Body governed under one Head by one Spirit by which they increase and grow up till they come to such a kind of Unity as is among the Divine Persons I cannot exclude this because where Christ's Prayers are indefinite it is good to interpret them in their full latitude and according to the extent of his Purchase And yet I think this is not principally intended because as I said Christ chiefly prayeth for the Apostles and Disciples of that Age not for the Church Catholick or Universal 2. There is a Moral Union and that is two-fold 1. Consent in Doctrine 2. Mutual Agreement and Concord of Affection As it is said of the Church Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and one Mind One Heart that noteth Agreement in Affection and one Mind Agreement in Judgment for both these doth Christ pray 1. Let them be one in Doctrine and Judgment Christ had intrusted them with the weightiest Affair the Sons of Men are capable of with the promulgation of the Gospel a Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Bosom of the Father and gave it to the Apostles and they to the Church and Christ obtained that which he prayed for There is such an exact consent and harmony between the Doctrine of the Apostles that is a sufficient Foundation for the Faith and Unity of the Church For the Faith of the Church 1 Cor. 15.10 11. I laboured more abudantly than they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me Therefore whether it were I or they so we preach and so ye believed We have no cause to stumble and take offence at the Doctrine delivered by the Apostles tho God used several Instruments of different Gifts and Opportunities of Service yet all were conducted by an Infallible Spirit So we preached all of us c. So for Unity and Concord in the Church Ephes. 4.3 4 5. Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism c. 2. Let them be one in Heart and with joint consent carry on this great Charge that is committed to them So did the Apostles by unanimous consent divide their Labours for the Edification of the World and kept a Fellowship among themselves Gal. 2.9 They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of Fellowship that we should go unto the Heathen and they to the Circumcision with such Concord and Agreement was this great Work managed between them For all this did Christ pray And this suiteth with the Patern in the Text As we are One. As between the Father and the Son there was a mutual Agreement in the carrying on the Work of Redemption so between the Apostles in carrying on the Doctrine of Redemption II. In what manner doth Christ pray for it Here some take this only as a new Petition different from the former he had prayed for Preservation now for Unity But there is a causal Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore some connexion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken specificativè keep them by making them one the Safety of the Church dependeth much upon the Unity of it Or terminativè keep them that they may be one I had intended because of the necessity of the Matter to have spoken of the Union of the Church with Christ and then with one another But because he chiefly prayeth for the Apostles tho others are not excluded and because the Union of the Church as one Body animated with the same Spirit will fall under discussion in Vers. 21 and 23. I shall adjourn it to that place Only now I shall Observe 1. Obs. How much Christ's Heart is set upon the Vnity and Oneness of his Members Here he prayeth for the Apostles in Vers. 21. he prayeth the same for all Believers Upon this Occasion let us see how much it was in the Aim of Christ. 1. Therefore was he Incarnate He united the Divine and Humane Nature in his own Person that he might unite us to God by himself and with one another God and Man had never been one in Covenant if they had not first been one in Person The Hypostatical Union maketh way for the Mystical It was the main End of Christ's coming into the World Ephes. 1.10 That in the fulness of Time he might gather together in one all things in Christ. The Angels and blessed Spirits and the Saints in all Nations have Communion with us in Christ under the same Head He would gather the Elect rational Creatures into a Body one with God in Christ Saints and Angels As all the Heads of a Discourse are summed up in the conclusion so Christ would draw all into one Body He took a Natural Body that he might have a Mystical Body Christ would not only leave us the Relation of Friends and Brethren but fellow-Fellow-Members He would gather together all into one not only into one Family but into one Body Brothers that have issued from the same Womb that have been nursed with the same Milk have been divided in Interests and Affections and defaced all feelings of Nature Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau are sad Instances But this Mischief is not found in Members of the same Body there is no Contestation and Disagreement Who would use one Hand to cut off another Or divide those parts which preserve the mutual Correspondence and Welfare of all Again Brothers if they do not hurt one another they do not care for one another each liveth to himself a distinct Life apart and studieth his own Advantage But it is not
All Consequent Benefits are procured by the Merit of Christ. The Father that is first in order of Persons is first in order of working and can have no higher Cause than his own Will and Purpose And besides there is an Obligation established to every Person absolute elective Love is the Father's Property and Personal Operation but then his Eternal Purpose is brought to pass in and through Jesus Christ In the carriage of our Salvation Christ interposeth So we are chosen in him as Head of the Elect Ephes. 1.4 pardoned justified sanctified glorified in and through him all these Benefits and Fruits of God's Love are procured by Christ's Merit not only as it is the more for the Freedom of Grace that the Reasons why Man should be loved should be without himself and so the Obligation is increased and not meerly neither for the greater fulness of our Comfort for if God should love us in our selves it would be a very imperfect Love our Graces being so weak and our Services so stained But whence should we have this Grace at first which is the Object of his Love He could never find in us any cause why he should love us God could not love us with honour to himself if his Wisdom had not found out this way of loving us in Christ. There was a double Prejudice against us our Nature was loathed by God's Holiness and then God's Justice had a quarrel against us 1. For God's Holiness What Communion could there be between Light and Darkness God is Holy by Nature and we are Sinners by Nature Nature being corrupted God cannot love it unless he see it in such a Person as Christ is Psal. 5.4 5. For thou art not a God that hast pleasure in Wickedness neither shall Evil dwell with thee The Foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of Iniquity not only the Work but the Person Therefore we are hidden in him found in him as when a Man loaths a Pill we lap it up in something which he affects God abhorred the fight of Man till found in Christ. 2. God's Justice had a Quarrel against us God dealt with Man by way of Covenant and so hated Man not only out of the Purity of his Nature but out of Justice his Righteous Anger was kindled because of the breach of the Covenant When Subjects are fallen into displeasure with their Prince such an one as the King loveth must mediate for them So God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself 2 Cor. 5.19 How cometh God who seemed to be bound in point of Honour to avenge himself on Sinners to be reconciled In Christ he received satisfaction God was resolved to manifest an infinite Love to Man but he would still manifest an infinite Hatred against Sin which could not be more fully manifested than by making Christ â—â—e ground of our Reconciliation Thus the Wisdom of God hath taken up the difference between us and his Holiness and between us and his Justice that so Divine Love may be like it self not blind but rational This was the great Prejudice how could the Holy God the Just God who is not overcome with any Passion love such vile and unworthy Creatures as we are The Question is answered he loveth us in Christ and for Christ's sake Secondly Take the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the ordinary Acceptation So it signifieth Similitude and Likeness but then it signifieth not an exact Equality but some kind of Resemblance Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5.48 One as we are One. So here 1. There is a Disparity 2. A Likeness 1. A Disparity for in all Things Christ hath the preheminence both as God and as Mediator 1. As God he is most perfect in whom God hath found all Complacency and Delight Prov. 8.30 Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his Delight rejoicing always before him He was God we are Creatures He the natural Son Psal. 2.7 Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee We the adopted Children John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God God's Love to Christ was necessary ours is a free dispensation John 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life 2. As Mediator so he is the first Beloved God loves Christ as the first Object of his Love after Christ he loveth those that are Christ's The Relation begins with him John 20.17 Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father unto my God and your God He is loved as the Head of the Mystical Body we as Members the Head first then the Members He is loved for his own sake we for his 2. Yet there is a Likeness God loveth us with a like Love 1. Upon the same Grounds Nearness and Likeness 1. Nearness He loveth Christ as his Son so he loveth us as his Children 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God There is a three-fold Ecce in Scripture 1. Ecce demonstrantis as pointing with the Finger John 1.29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sin of the World It referreth to a Thing or Person present and it noteth the certainty of Sense as there he pointed at him as present or to a Doctrine and then it noteth the certainty of Faith Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good believe it as a certain Truth 2. There is Ecce admirantâ—s as awakening our drowsy Minds more attentively to consider of the Matter as Lam. 1.12 Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow So here entertain it with Wonder and Reverence as an important Truth 3. Ecce exultantis vel gratulantis as rejoicing and blessing our selves in the Privilege Psal. 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel he neither slumbers nor sleeps Now all these take place here Behold it with Faith and Confidence as a certain Truth behold it with Reverence and Wonder as an high Dignity behold it with Joy and Delight as a Blessed Privilege as it is a certain Truth we should believe it more firmly as it is an important Truth we should consider it more seriously as it is a comfortable Truth we should improve it more effectually to our great Joy and Satisfaction in all Conditions The Wisdom of God findeth out Relations between God and us to establish a mutual Love between us He would be known not only as our Creator but our Father and indeed none is so much a Father as God is Earthly Parents have but a drop of Fatherly Compassion suitable to their finite Scantling never had any such Bowels and
Affections as our Father which is in Heaven If we look to his Fatherly Bowels none deserveth the Title but he Isa. 49.15 Can a Mother forget her Sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the Fruit of her Womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee Mat. 7.11 If ye then being Evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more will your Father which is in Heaven give good Things to them that ask him Psal. 27.10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up Certainly God excelleth all temporal Relations never Father had such Bowels and Affections We were never in the Bosom of God to know his Heart but the only Son of God that came out of his Bosom he hath told us Tidings of it and hath bidden us come boldly and call him Father When ye pray say Our Father 2. Likeness is another ground of Love God loveth Christ not only as his Son but as his Image he being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 So he loveth the Saints who are by Grace renewed after his Image Col. 3.10 And that ye put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledg after the Image of him that created him and who are thereby made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 We lost by Adam the Image of God and the Favour of God now first his Image is repaired in us then his Love and Favour is bestowed on us without this we could not be lovely in his Eye for we are amiable in the sight of God by reason of that comeliness he has put upon us 2. There are like Properties 1. It is free So was God's Love to Christ's Manhood as much of his Substance as was taken from the Virgin was chosen out of Grace Christ for his whole Person deserved Love but as to his Humane Nature he was himself an Object of Elective Love as we are and this being assumed into the Unity of his Person Christ was set apart by God for the Work of Mediation Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him Choice supposeth the Preferment or Acceptance of one and refusal of another so was Christ chosen as Man This the Virgin acknowledgeth Luke 1.48 He hath regarded the low Estate of his Handmaid He had done her an Honour the greatest that was done to any of his Servants among which she acknowledged her self the unworthiest So much of the Substance of the Virgin as went to the Person of Christ and his Humane Soul was chosen out of meer Grace Nay in his Divine Person there was a choice which is to be referred to the Wisdom and Pleasure of the Father Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell The same account as is given of our Salvation Mat. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight So is God's Love to us free and undeserved his Love is the Reason of it self he loved us because he loved us Deut. 7.7 8. The Lord did not set his Love on you nor chuse you because ye were more in number than any People but because the Lord loved you There is the last Cause God's Act is its own Law and Reason we can give no other account 2. It is tender and affectionate There is a full complacency and delight in Christ. Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased his Heart was taken up with him he was full of contentment in him as a Husband is called the Covering of the Eyes because a Woman should look no further So Prov. 8.31 I was daily his delight rejoicing always before him So tenderly affectioned is God to the Saints Isa. 62.5 As the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride so shall thy God rejoice over thee then Affections are in their reign and heighth So tender is God of his People Zech. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his Eye The Eye is the most tender part and so is the Apple of the Eye Can there be a more endearing Expression 3. It is Eternal Christ as Mediator was loved before the Foundation of the World in God's Purpose John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory that thou hast given me for thou hast loved me before the Foundation of the World And in loving Christ he loved us and in chusing Christ as Head of the Church the Members were included in that Election for Head and Body cannot be severed This Grace was given us in Christ before the World began 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began Some are not called as soon as others but all are loved as soon as others even from Eternity God's Love is an ancient as himself there was no time when God did not think of us and love us We are wont to prize an Ancient Friend the ancientest Friend we have is God who loved us not only before we were lovely but before we were at all He thought of us before ever we could have a thought of him after we had a being in Infancy we could not so much as know that he loved us and when we came to Years of discretion we knew how to offend before we knew how to love and serve him we cared not for his Love but prostituted our Hearts to other Things Let us measure the short scantling of our Lives with Eternity wherein God shewed Love to us as to our Beings we are but of Yesterday as to the Constitution of our Souls we are Sinners from the Womb and when we are convinced of it we adjourn and put off the Love of God to old decrepid Age when we have spent our strength in the World and wasted our selves in deceitful and flesh-pleasing Vanities Now it should shame us when we remember God's Love is as ancient as his Being Some look after God sooner than others but if you look after God never so soon God was at Work before us those that began earliest as Josiah John Baptist find God more early providing for their Eternal Welfare 4. It is unchangeable as to Christ so to us from Eternity it began to Eternity it continueth it began before the World was and will continue when the World shall be no more Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting upon them that fear him and his Righteousness unto Childrens Children It is Man's weakness to change Purposes we have good Purposes but
quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you So that a vivifical influence is the fruit of this Union which sheweth that our Vnion with Christ is not only an union with him as a political head as the King is Head and Governor of all his Subjects but such a conjunction as maketh way for the lively influence of the Spirit of Grace as well as obligeth us to subjection to him and obedience to his laws 2. That the union of every particular believer with Christ is Immediate Person with Person the thing is plain for the Scripture saith often that Christ is in us and we are in Christ and therefore 't is not said truly that we are united with the Church first and by the Church with Christ. Christ who is the head of the Church is the head of every particular Member of the Church and he that doth not hold the head and abide in him presently withereth and can bring forth no fruit The only place produced with any pretence for that fond conceit is 1 Jo. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. From whence they conclude that our Union and Communion is first with the Apostles and then with Christ not immediately but mediately we have Communion with the Church and we have Communion with them and their Communion is with the Father and the Son but the quite contrary is true that by faith we have first Vnion and Communion with Christ and then with his Church because of the commmon Relation to Christ well but the Apostle saith that ye may have Communion with us and truly our Communion is with the father and the son Communion and Fellowship with us is not meant of Communion between the Apostles and them but that you may have like fellowship with God and Christ as we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ye also that you may have Communion as we have and what is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he had said the Communion of which I speak is Communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ that is we have Communion with God and Christ and we desire that you may have also the same Communion Tho the Thing be evident in its self yet I shall add Reasons not my own but anothers that is Episcopius a Man from whom all the Modern Divinity is derived as is evident by their Homilies and printed Discourses tho they are severe and Tragical upon the Memory of that Blessed Servant of God John Calvin yet methinks they should not differ from their great Master in Divinity now saith he upon the place This Opinion that we are united first to the Apostles and then to God is with all diligence to be refuted First because 't is absurd in it self and secondly because of the absurd Consequences which are deduced from it 1. 'T is absurd in its self because our Communion followeth our Union but our Vnion is not with the Apostles themselves but with Christ for the Apostles are not united to Christ as Apostles with a saving Union but as believers they are united to Christ in the same manner that we are and so we are all Brethren now a Brother is not united to the Father by his brother but immediately for there is no subordination in a Family but a Collateral Respect to their common Parent as they are Apostles they are Instruments whom God Imployeth to work that in us by which we may be united not to them but to God and Christ Immediately and so have Communion with him so the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 11.2 I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chast virgin to Christ. I will add and not only the whole Church but particular Believers are said to be married to the Lord Rom. 7.4 the Union and Conjunction is with him immediate and in this office all Ministers or Pastors are equal with the Apostles only that they first and immediately were sent by God for this work 2. For the absurd Consequences that may be drawn from thence Namely That our union is necessary with some Men or Company of Men that is some Church before we can have Union and Communion with God and Christ which by degrees saith he introduce the Papacy for if such an Vnion be with any Men first necessary certainly with those that first delivered Christian Doctrine but because they abide not for ever others were to be substituted in their place that immediately depended on them and so onward and before we have Union and Commmunion with God and Christ we must have Commmunion with their Successors how much soever they have degenerated from pure Christianity in Doctrine Worship and Government but saith he there is no such necessity Every single Believer the lowest and least among them have an equal Immediate Vnion and Communion with Christ for the Apostles and all other Pastors do only preach the Gospel to no other end but to bring souls to God and have Authority over us to no other end therefore what can be more absurd than that our Union with any Church or Head of the Church should be necessary before our Vnion with Christ should be obtained I proceed to the second Thing which I proposed viz. To open to you 2. How we come to be in Christ. This is by Regeneration or the converting work of his spirit Conversion consists of Three Parts 1. There is in it a turning from the creature to God 2. From self to Christ. 3. From Sin to Holiness First From the creature to God That is from the false happiness to the true from all false ways of felicity here below to God as injoyed in Heaven Certainly our Conversion may be understood by our Aversion or falling off from God Now we fell from God to the creature Jer. 2.13 My people have forsaken me We sought our happiness apart from God in the injoyment of some sublunary Contentment therefore till God be our end there is no use of means Intentio est finis ultimi Electio est mediorum There is no choice of Means without intention of the end and Christ as Mediator is to be considered as a means to come to God John 14.6 whose Favour we have forfeited and not only forfeited but despised for whilst we are satisfied with our worldly enjoyments we care not whether God be a Friend or an Enemy Worldliness is carnal Complacency or well-pleasedness of mind in worldly Things in the midst of Soul-dangers Luke 12.19 I will say to my soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry And the very first Faith is a recovery out of this infatuation or a seâ—ling our minds on eternal Life 1 Tim. 1.16 For a pattern to them that should afterwards believe on him to life everlasting and
them and if others do injuries to us to forgive them as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us The second Operation which the Holy Ghost produceth in us is righteousness or justice in all our dealings giving every one his due honour whom tribute and praise to whom praise belongeth not borrowing without a mind or ability to pay which is but a specious robbery and 't is a shame so many Christians are guilty of it I am sure 't is contrary to the Spirit of God for when God hath done so much to manifest his justice to the world all that have the Spirit of God should be very righteous far from Oppression Fraud or Detention of what is another mans The Third Thing is Truth or Fidelity whereby we carry our selves sincerely and free from Hypocrisie and Dissimulation or lying cozenage and deceit God is a God of Truth and the Holiness be worketh in us is true holiness the Apostle groundeth his Exhortation upon that Wherefore put away lying Eph. 4.24 25. and speak truth every man to his neighbour 'T is a sin inconsistent with sincerity more than any other Well then this is the Gospel-spirit now the Holy Ghost doth not only plant these graces in us at first but doth continually increase them and assist us in the exercise of them he doth plant them in us at first Faith is his gift and 't is he doth change our hearts and kindle an holy love in us to God and raiseth the heart to the hope of Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 begotten to a lively hope This is his first work for men must be good before their actions can be good then he doth increase Grace making all outward means effectual to this end and purpose this is called the supply of the spirit of Christ Jesus Phil. 1.19 meaning thereby a further addition of grace wrought in us by the spirit whereby we grow and advance in the way to Heaven These Impressions are weak in us at first but they are increased by the same Author or Agent in the use of the same means Lastly he doth assist us in the exercise of the same grace still working in us what is pleasing in the sight of God Heb. 13.21 he concurreth to every action and we do not only live in the spirit but walk in the spirit Gal. 5.25 all along we are quickned by his influence Let us in the next place consider from whom we receive it 't is said here the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus it belongeth to Christ to give the spirit 1. He is the head ef the renewed state Christ was filled with the spirit to this end to be the head or quickning spirit to his Mystical Body 1 Cor. 15.45 The first Adam was made a living soul the second a quickening spirit not only as he giveth us the life of glory but the life of Grace also so Eph. 1.22 23. he is head over all things to the church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all He is an Head not only to govern and defend the Church but to give them spiritual life and motion as the Head doth to the members for he filleth all with grace all believers are supplied from this fountain and continually supplied till they be filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3.17 18 19. That is with all the Grace he meaneth to impart to us Well then the spirit is given by Christ John 4.14 Whoso drinketh of the water that I shall give shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life 'T is a living Conduit John 7.38 39. 2. 'T is his law that is written upon our hearts by the spirit The new Covenant is made with sinners in Christ Heb. 8.8 9 10. Behold the days come saith the Lord I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my covenant for this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts Now he that taught us the Christian Faith and Religion doth impress it upon us by his spirit we find a power more than can be from the words alone in the effects on our selves This cometh from Christ whose Law it is but it is immediately wrought by the spirit 3. Christ promised it therefore Christ giveth it John 15.26 The comforter shall come whom I will send you from the father by vertue of his Merit and Intercession Christ from the Father sendeth forth the all-conquering spirit to subdue the world to himself he promised aforehand to send down this sanctifying spirit into mens souls to do this work upon them 4. He giveth it on his own conditions that is to say of Faith John 7.37 38. if any man thirst let him come to me and drink he that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water but this he spake of the spirit which they that believe in him should receive And repentance Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Now these are the conditions of the new covenant which Christ brought out of the Bosom of God 3. By what law By the Gospel this is the law of the spirit of Christ there is some little of the spirit given by the light of nature to help men to read the book of the creatures Rom. 1.19 God shewed it them they might see somewhat of God in the creatures his Wisdom Power and Goodness and God excited their minds to behold it and did dart in some light into their consciences There was more of the spirit given by the legal Covenant they might see much more of the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God in his Statutes and Laws than Heathens could in the book of Nature but generally it wrought unto bondage the free spirit was but sparingly dispensed and to some few choice servants of God but these were but as a few drops of grace the great Flood of grace was poured out by the Gospel The Apostle puts the Galatians to the Question by what Doctrine they received the spirit Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you received you the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith He appealeth to their conscience and experience what kind of Doctrine conveyed the spirit to them the preaching of the Law or the preaching of the Gospel and this is meant not only of the Spirit that wrought Miracles but the sanctifying spirit he speaketh of both ver 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the spirit and worketh miracles among
at his will But the old Inmate is cast out and now we are guided and influenced by another Lord. Thirdly He comforts us with the sense of Gods fatherly love and our eternal inheritance Rom. 8.16 The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God 2 Cor. 2.22 Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the spirit into our hearts By both he leaveth upon the soul a sweet taste and rellish of spiritual and heavenly things 2. Why this inhabitation is the ground of a blessed resurrection 1. To preserve the order of the personal operations To make this evident consider 1. That rising from the dead is a work of divine power for to him it belongeth to restore life who gave life at first 2 Cor. 1.10 Who hath delivered us from so great a death c. and is verified in plain experience 2. That this divine power belongeth in common to Father Son and Holy Ghost who being one and the same God concurred in the same work and whatever is done by the Father or Son is done by the Spirit also and whatever is done by the Spirit is done by the Father and Son also As for instance apply it to the resurrection of Christ or our resurrection To the resurrection of Christ 't is ascribed to the Father and God the Father who raised him from the dead To God the Son in other places Christ is said to rise again by his own virtue and power Rom. 4.25 He dyed for our offences and rose again for our justification not raised only but rose again So the Spirit is said to raise Christ Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead So 1 Pet. 3.18 crucified in the flesh and quickned in the spirit So our resurrection we are raised by the Father for in the Text 't is said we are raised by the spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead We are raised by Christ John 5.21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them even so the son quickneth whom he will So by the Spirit we are raised as in the Text He shall quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you 3. They all concur in a way proper to them In all their personal operations 't is ascribed to the Father as the first fountain of working and spring and well-head of all grace who doth all things from himself and by the Son and Holy Ghost as it refers to Christs resurrection and ours also so Christs resurrection 't is ascribed to God and Father who in the mystery of Redemption hath the relation of Supreme Judg Acts 2.32 This Jesus hath God raised up and Acts 10.40 Him hath God raised up the third day And there is a special reason why it should be ascribed to God as the Apostles when they stood upon their priviledg let them come and fetch us out Acts 12.39 so the God of peace that brought again from the dead the great shepherd c. as referring it to his judicial power Heb. 13.26 Tho Christ had power to rise yet no authority our Surety was fetched out of prison by the Judg. And then 't is ascribed to Christ himself Joh. 2.19 Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up which he spake of the temple of his body To prove the Divinity of his Person it was necessary that he should thus speak or to prove himself to be God John 10.18 I have power to lay down my life and to take it up again He could put a period to his sufferings when he pleased So for the Holy Ghost he raised Christ because the Spirit sanctified his humanity and by him the humane nature of Christ was made partaker of created holiness and so qualified to rise again when he had done his work all the created gifts came from the spirit and therefore they are called the anointing of the Holy Ghost with which he was anointed So to our resurrection God raiseth the dead as 't is usually said in Scripture and Christ raiseth the dead Every one that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6.40 The spirit raiseth and still in a way proper to each person to understand which we must observe that there are three ways of subsistence in the Divine Nature which carry a great correspondence with the prime Attributes in God which are Power Wisdom and Goodness Power we conceive eminently in God the Father it being the most obvious by which the Godhead is apprehended and so proper to him who is the beginning of being and working Rom. 1.20 His eternal power and Godhead are seen by the things which are made Wisdom is appropriated to Christ who is often represented in Scripture as the Wisdom of the Father especially Prov. 8. And goodness to the Spirit therefore often called the good Spirit Neh. 9.20 and Psal. 143.10 Not but that all these agree to each person for the Father is powerful wise and good so the Son and so the Holy Ghost and love is sometimes appropriated to the Father namely the Fountain and original Love But the Evangelical operative and communicative love of God is more distinctly ascribed to the Spirit because all benefits come to the Creature this way we have our natural being from him Job 33.4 The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life The first clause relateth to the body the Spirit of the Lord hath made me that is framed the body the second to the soul that Spirit of Life that God breathed into man when his body was framed and organized to receive it the Spirit created and formed in man the reasonable soul so the new being which is communicated to us by the Redeemer through the covenant of Grace Tit. 3.5 6. Our glorious being which is considered either as to soul or body as to soul the spirit is life because of righteousness as to body the words of the Text. Well then the Holy Ghost is the operative love of God working from the Power of the Father and Grace of the Son and whatever the Father or Son doth you must still suppose it to be communicated to us by the Spirit 2. Because the Holy ghost is vinculum unionis the bond of union between us and Christ. We are united to him because we have the same Spirit which Christ had there is the same Spirit in Head and Members and therefore he will work like effects in you and him if the Head rise the Members will follow after for this Mystical Body was appointed to be conformed to their Head as in obedience and suffering so in happiness and Glory Rom. 8.29 Predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son Christ was raised therefore they shall be raised Christ was raised by the Spirit of Holiness
determine in the case I answer 'T is meant of both Christs love to us and our love to Christ but principally of the love of God in Christ to us First the object us 't is we are in danger to be separated Secondly The word separate also noteth it to separate us from our own love to Christ is an harsh phrase Thirdly 'T is said v. 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through him that loved us And again The love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord v. 34. Which is most properly spoken of Gods love to us but this is not exclusive of our love to him but comprehendeth it rather therefore 't is a mutual love the Apostle speaketh of his love as the cause of ours for we love because he loved us first the comfort is not so great that we love him as that he loveth us and the stability of our love dependeth on his 2. The evils enumerated here are seven kinds of external affliction under which all the rest are comprehended 1. Tribulation whereby is meant common affliction which doth not amount to death any thing which presseth or pincheth us disgrace fines stripes imprisonment banishment at large 2. Distress When there is no shifting nor way of escape left us but we are brought into such straits as we know not which way to turn but are at our wits ends and know not how to escape but must submit to the will of our enemies 3. Persecution When not only cast out but pursued from place to place as David by Saul 1 Sam. 26.20 For the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea at when one doth hunt a partridg in the mountains And 2 Sam. 24.14 And David said unto God I am in a great strait Id genus hominum non inquiro inventos antem puniri oportere A law of Severus against the Christians 4. Famine when for fear of persecution they are forced to shun all Cities Towns Villages and places of resort and to lurk in deserts and places uninhabited where many times they suffer great extremity of hunger Heb. 11.38 They wandred in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth 5. Nakedness When their cloaths were worn and spent so 't is said of those Heb. 11.37 They wandred about in sheeps skins and goats skins So the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 11.27 In hunger cold and nakedness 1 Cor. 4.11 We hunger and tâ—irst and are nakâ—d 6. Peril by which â—e 〈…〉 dangers for even in their lurking places they had no safety Paul reckoneth 〈◊〉 perils 2. Cor. 11.26 In perils of water in perils of robbers in perils by mine own countrey-men in perils by the heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren And of the Christians of those times he he saithâ— They stood in jeopardy every hour 1 Cor. 15.20 7. The last is the sword Whereby he meaneth a violent death And here the Apostle stoppeth for all enemies can do no more than kill the body nor can we suffer more by them a sword may separate body and soul but it cannot separate us from the love of Christ and under sword are comprehended Axes Gibbets Fires Halters all sorts of violent deaths From the whole observe Doct. 1. That it is the usual portion of a Christian in the discharge of his duty to meet with many troâ—bles Doct. 2. That none of these can dissolve the union between them and Christ. First note That troubles are often the portion of Gods people the primitive Christians here spoken of are a sufficient instance First their troubles were for their number many Psal. 34.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous Secondly For their kinds divers Christians by the unthankful world are exposed to sundry evils and molestations sometimes they are assaulted by want and shame by fear and force by all present and possible evils Thirdly for their degree very grievous not only vexatious but destructive There is a gradation they molest them that 's tribulation they follow them close leave them no way of escape that 's distress if they remove still they worry them and follow them from place to place then 't is persecution that driveth to great necessities for food then 't is famine for raiment then 't is nakedness involveth them in sundry dangers then 't is peril yea sometimes they have power to reach life its self and then 't is sword Now shall we think that this was proper to that age only and that the first professors of Christianity were exposed to these sharp and grievous tryals that we might be totally excused from all kind of vexation and trouble No we must not indulge such tenderness and delicacy but must look for our tryals also The bad will ever hate the good the world is still set upon wickedness and worse rather than better by long continuance Certainly the world is the same that ever it was but considering in whose hands the government of the world is that raiseth wonder that he should permit it Therefore let us see the Reasons 1. That we may be conformed to our Head and pledg him in his bitter cup Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows and there would be a strange disproportion between Head and members if we should live altogether in honour and pleasure Col. 1.24 That I may fill up what is behind of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh There is Christ Personal and Christ Mystical the sufferings of Christ personal are compleat and there is nothing behind to be filled up but the sufferings of Christ Mystical are not perfect till every member have their allotted portion 't is an unseemly delicacy to be nice of carrying the Cross after Christ the Apostle counted the fellowship of his sufferings and conformity to his death an honour and priviledg to be bought at the dearest rates Phil. 3.10 All things should be dung and dross to gâ—in this experience and honour 2. God would have his people seen in their proper colours that they are a sort of people that love him above all that is dear and precious to them in the world and that they do not own Christ upon extrinsick and forreign motives that their example may be an help to promote mortification in the world therefore all his people shall be tried Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him And Rev. 2.10 Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed 1 Pet. 1.7 That the tryal of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth tho it be tried with fire might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. God will try the foundation that men build upon and whether his people love him above all yea or no and teach the world to subordinate
The benefit intended to us that we might be the righteousness of God 2. When we are made partakers of this benefit in him when actually united to Christ Let us explain these circumstances 1. What was done in order to our reconciliation and there 1. The innocency of Christ as Mediator he knew no sin that is practically and Experimentally but was an innocent pure and sinless person otherwise theoretice and speculativè he knew what sin was in its nature and what it will be in its effects and fruits The innocency of Christ is elsewhere asserted John 8.46 Who convinceth me of sin And 1 Pet. 2.22 He did no evil neither was guile found in his Mouth Jesus Christ our Mediatour was free of the least transgression of the Law of God or any defect or inconformity thereunto for he was compleatly obedient to the whole will of God both in heart and practice Matth. 3.15 For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness By his miraculous conception he was exempted from the contagion of Original sin others are defiled with it Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean No not one But Christ was exempted Luke 1.31 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called Jesus And from all actual transgressions Though the strongest of Satans fiery darts were shot at him yet there was nothing to befriend a temptation John 14.30 The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me And it was needful our Redeemer should be so that he might be lovely to God Psa. 45.7 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy fellows And to all the Saints Cant. 5.16 His Mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely Christs innocency hath a double use It serveth for satisfaction and for example For satisfaction that we might know that he did not endure these sufferings as a punishment of his own sin he knew no sin that is â—â—th and experimental approbative knowledge To know signifieth in the Hebrew dialect to love to act to like He knew what it was to suffer for sin but he knew not what it was to commit sin he suffered for sin the just for the unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 There was a necessity of his holiness both as Priest and Sacrifice Heb. 7.26 27. Such an high Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners And as a Sacrifice that he might be compleatly lovely and acceptable to God as being represented by all those spotless Lambs which as Types of him were offered under the Law John 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World And 1 Pet. 1.19 But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot In short our High Priest must be without sin and he must offer an unspotted Sacrifice that he may satisfy Gods Justice merit his favour and enter Heaven and by his intercession procure the actual remission of sins and our full and everlasting salvation So for example that he might be a perfect pattern of holiness to all his followers that they may purify themselves as Christ is pure 1 John 3.3 Not for example only I confess for then Christ needed not to be made sin that is a sin offering or to bear the punishment of sin but yet for example as well as expiation For we must be holy as he that hath called us was holy 1 Pet. 1.15 And we are to walk as he walked 1 John 2.6 Head and Members must be all of a piece or else the Mystical Body of Christ would be monstrous and disproportionate 2. The second thing is the ordination of God He hath made him to be sin for us Two expressions must be explained sin and made 1. Sin Mark 't is not said that God made Christ a sinner but he hath made him sin which I note to prevent bold and daring glosses for wit will play the wanton with such expressions Some have said that Christ was maximus peccator because he stood in the Room of all the rest but this is harsh and of an ill sound Here is enough in the expression its self we need not strain it higher Sin is taken in Scripture sometimes for the punishment of sin sometimes for a Sacrifice for sin or a sin offering 1. By a Metonymy of the cause for the effect sin is put for the punishment of sin as Gen. 4.13 My â—in is greater than I can bear He meaneth Poena Peccati the punishment And verse the 7 th Sin lieth at the door the punishment is at hand and will certainly come on So Heb. 9.28 Christ will come without sin Not only free from its blot for so he was ever holy harmless separate from sinners but from its guilt and punishment which he took upon him in our name 2. By a Metonymy of the Adjunct for the Subject sin is put for a sin offering or a Sacrifice for sin piaculum in Latin is both a sin and a Sacrifice for sin So the Priests are said to eat the sins of the people Hos. 4.8 That is the sacrifices for sin minding nothing but to glut themselves with the fat of the offerings a part of which fell to the Priests portion and so it must be understood here he was made sin for us that is an expiatory Sacrifice for our sin So Paul applyeth it in these two senses to Christ Rom. 8.3 God by sending his Son in the similitude of sinful flesh by sin hath condemned sin in the flesh That is by the Sacrifice abolished sin or the punishment put an everlasting brand upon it to make it hateful to the Saints 2. The word made is to be explained For here is no word but what is emphatical and hath its weight That signifieth Gods solemn ordination and appointment for to make is to ordain as Mark 3.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Made or ordained twelve Disciples And Acts 2.36 Made to be Lord and Christ. Which is not referred to his Nature and Substance but to his Estate and Condition So God made him that is ordered him to bear the punishment of sin or to become a Sacrifice for sin In other places 't is said Isa 53.6 The Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all So Isa 53.10 It pleased the Father to bruise him he put him to grief The punishment and curse of sin was imposed upon him So that our Saviour had all the sins of the Elect upon him by imputation bearing the punishment of them himself 3. The end of what was done about Christ Where 1. The benefit intended That we might be made the righteousness of God that is that we might be just with that righteousness which God giveth imputeth and approveth Mark here four things 1. Righteousness is the
his Glory till he come again There are two Things offered in the Parable and in the Point 1. His Appointing every man his Work as the man disposed of all his matters till his return Christ hath given order how every man according to his Ability and Calling should employ himself till he come again We read Act. 1.3 how Christ before his Ascension instructed his Disciples in all things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven that is in all the Duties of Rulers and Ruled Teachers and Taught the Ordinances Laws and Institutions of his Kingdom the Duties and Priviledges of the Subjects thereof what Immunities they enjoy what Obedience they must perform This was his last charge before his departure now we are to keep his Charge as we will answer it to him at his Coming 1 Tim. 6.13 14. I charge thee in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukeable until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. 'T was needful that Christ should go from us for a while for he would not govern the World by Sense but by Faith Now he will make tryal of our faithfulness and diligence during his absence and therefore having appointed us our work he withdraweth He will come again to take notice not only of the malice of his Enemies against his People and Interest but also of the coldness and negligence of his own Servants and Domesticks 2 Thes. 1.8 He shall come in flaming fire rendring vengeance upon them that know not God and obey not the Gospel nay if not flatly disobedient yet if evil sloathful Servants 2. His giving Gifts Gifts were given at Christs Ascension when he took his Journey then he bestowed his Goods to his Servants As Elijah let fall his Mantle when he was translated so did Christ bestow his Gifts and the Graces of his Spirit Eph. 4.8 He ascended up on high and gave gifts to men There is a three-fold reason of this First The bestowing of the Spirit was necessary to supply the want of his bodily presence John 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you While Christ was with them the Spirit was not given but when his bodily presence was removed then cometh the Comforter God will not with-hold what is useful If he take away outward Comforts he will give us the Spirit Secondly 'T was fit he should Enter upon his Kingdom before his Members participate so largely of his Fulness John 7.38 Before his Incarnation Grace was given upon trust therefore more sparingly afterwards coming in the flesh the Disciples were dull in comparison of what they were when the price was paid He was entered into possession of his Dignity had taken actual possession of his Kingdom then he powreth out the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit that the Glorious Estate of his Church and Subjects might not go before but come after the Glorious Estate of their King and Head Thirdly To shew that in his Exaltation he is still mindful of his Servants As soon as warm in the Mediatorial Throne he sendeth down Gifts and Graces Act. 2.33 Being at the right hand of the Father exalted he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Presently he beginneth to shew for what reason he is gone to Heaven powerfully to apply the work of Redemption 1 VSE Hath Christ appointed to men their Work it should quicken us to keep the Charge of the Lord. Gen. 50.16 Thy Father did command before he dyed If we have any respect to the memory of our Lord departed from us any Expectation of his coming again so let us be faithful in the work appointed us to do He instructed his Apostles in all the Duties and Priviledges of the Kingdom of God and they have instructed us and you must answer it to Christ at his coming therefore be diligent in glorifying God in your places 2. As he gave Gifts Look upon Christ as Exalted at the right hand of God to dispense the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit for the bringing about the Salvation of all that come to God by him It 's said 2 Kings 2.9 10. That if Elisha should see his Master ascending he should have his Spirit doubled upon him 'T is true here if by Faith we look to Christ ascended his Spirit in some measure will come upon us we have free Liberty and Access to him to enjoy him for ever 3. The Master in the Parable giveth not the same Measure of Talents to each Servant Christ giveth not a like measure of Grace to every one but to some more to some less as he thinketh Expedient here are five Talents and two Talents and one Talent given to each Servant as there was a different measure given to Timothy and Demas Doct. III. That it pleaseth the Lord to dispense his Gifts variously among his People to some more to some fewer Talents See this is often inculcated in the Scripture Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace given to us 1 Cor. 7.7 Every man hath his proper Gift one after this manner another after that God giveth to every one in the Church a measure and Portion of Gifts as it pleaseth him So 1 Cor. 12.11 All these things worketh one and the same Spirit which is the proper Seat of this Doctrine So Eph. 4.7 To every one of us is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ. So 1 Pet. 4.10 As every one hath received the Gift so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the Grace of God I have brought all these Scriptures to shew you that this is a thing worthy to be taken Notice of and seriously improved by us I shall give you some Observations concerning this Diversity and Variety 1. That every one hath some Talent or other to improve for God He that had least had one and the least gift is compared to a Talent there is none of Gods People but they have received some Gift from him which being rightly employed may make them useful for the Glory of God and the good of others if not in the higher and more publick Office yet as Wives Children Servants Titus 2.10 Every one hath his Service and Opportunity to do something for God all offered to the Tabernacle Gold or Silver or Brass or Chittim-wood or Goats-hair or Badgers-skins So as Christ went to Jerusalem some strowed the way with garments others cut down branches some cryed Hosanna that was all they could do 2. That there is a great Diversity in the Talents which we have The Lord doth not give all to one nor to all alike 1 There is a diversity of Employments and Offices The Apostle telleth us Rom. 12.4 All Members have not
that is Universal Psal. 2.8 I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession There is a Reign over Mankind and those that do not subject themselves to Christ as a Redeemer shall find him as a Judg. Therefore in Psal. 2. the Judiciary Acts of his Power are only mentioned breaking them with a Rod of Iron and vexing them in his hot displeasure He is Lord over them in Power and Justice as God's Lieutenant they shall pay him Homage and Subjection as King of the World or else they shall perish He over-ruleth them as Rebels but he reigneth in the Church as over voluntary Subjects 2. It is not confined to the Church and things meerly Spiritual This Kingdom is as large as Providence and in the exercise of Justice and Equity Magistrates are but his Deputies Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. He is King of Nations Jer. 10.7 King of Saints Rev. 15.3 Head over all things to the Church Ephes. 1.22 Supream and Absolute in the World but Head to the Church He hath a Rod of Iron to rule the Nations and a Golden Scepter to guide the Church In the World he ruleth by Providence in the Church by his Testimonies Psal. 93. The Lord Reigneth Psal. 24.1 The Earth is the Lord's And then Vers. 4. Who shall dwell in his Holy Hill I confess there is a Question Whether Magistrates be under Christ as Mediator Whether they hold their Power from him But I see no reason why we should doubt of it since all things are put into Christ's Hands and that not only by an Eternal Right but given to him which noteth his Right as Mediator Christ hath a Right of Merit as Lord of all Creatures He is Lord both of th◠Dead and Living Rom. 14.9 The whole Creature is delivered up to Christ upon his undertaking the Work of Redemption he hath a Right of executing the Dominion of God over every Creature Christ the Wisdom of the Father saith By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice By me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the Earth Prov. 8.15 16. And expresly he is said to be Ruler of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 Vse 1. Comfort to God's Children All is put into the Hands of Christ. A Devil cannot stir further than he giveth leave as the Devils could not enter into the Herd of Swine without Christ's leave Mark 8. When thou art in Satan's Hands the Devil is in Christ's Neither Angels nor Principalities nor Powers can hurt The Reigns of the World are in a wise Hand The Lord reigneth though the Waves roar Psal. 99.1 It was much comfort to Jacob and his Children to hear that Joseph did all in Egypt It should be so to us that Jesus doth all in Heaven He holdeth the Chain of Causes in his own Hand It will be much more for thy Comfort at the last Day A Client conceiveth great Hope when one formerly his Advocate is advanced to be Judg of the Court Thy Advocate is thy Judg He that died for thee will not destroy thee Thy Christ hath power over all Flesh to damn whom he will and save whom he will Vse 2. An Invitation to bring in Men to Christ. Oh who would not chuse him to be Lord that whether we will or no he is our Master He can hold thee by the Chains of an invincible Providence that art not held with the Bonds of Duty Oh it is better to touch the Golden Scepter than to be broken with the Iron Rod and to feel the Efficacy of his Grace than the Power of his Anger Christ is resolved Creatures shall stoop The Apostle proveth the Day of Judgment Rom. 14.10 11. We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every Knee shall bow to me c. Christ will bring the Creatures on their Knees at the last Day all Faces shall gather Blackness and the stoutest Hearts be appalled Christ will have the better it is better be his Subjects than his Captives Vse 3. To Magistrates to own the Mediator You hold your Power from Christ and therefore must exercise it for him Psal. 2.10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth it is their Duty chiefly to observe Jesus Christ Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish from the way when his Wrath is kindled but a little Acknowledg Christ your Lord or else he will blast your Counsels you shall perish in the mid-way when you have carried on your Designs a little while you shall perish e're you are aware Christ will call you to an Account Two things Christ is tender of His Servants and his Truth His Servants are weak to appearance but they have a great Champion what is done to them Christ counteth as done to himself Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Acts 9.4 when he raged against the Saints Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing-Fathers and their Queens thy Nursing-Mothers Christ hath little Ones that should be nursed and not oppressed But chiefly his Truth It is Truth maketh Saints Joh. 17.17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth You should own your Lord and Master and not be indifferent to Christ or Satan to tolerate Errors especially directly against Christ's Person Nature and Mediatory Offices is but sorry Thankfulness to your great Master He did not give you a Commission to countenance Rebels against himself Whilst you maintain the Power and Purity of his Ordinances Christ will own you and bear you out but when for secular Ends Men hug his Enemies they are in danger to perish in the mid-way in the course of their Attempts That he should give Eternal Life That signifieth the End why Christ received so much Power for the Elects sake that he might be in a capacity to conduct them to Glory which otherwise could not be if Christ's Power were more limited and restrained I might 1. Observe That Christ's Power in the World is exercised for the Church's good Ephes. 1.22 He is the Head over all things to the Church All Dispensations are in the Hand of a Mediator for the Elects sake to gain them from among others to protect them against the Assaults of others 1. To gain them 2 Pet. 3.9 He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance If the Elect were gathered Providence would be soon at an end God's Dispensations are guided by his Decrees 2. To protect them when they are gained You must pluck Christ from the Throne e're you can pluck a Member from his Body John 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand By his Conduct and Government we are secured against all
1.6 7. When he bringeth in the first begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him And of the Angels he saith Who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a Flame of Fire He cometh royally attended Then the Father welcometh him with Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psal. 2.8 As Mediator Christ was to have a grant of the Kingdom by pleading his Right and then God seateth him on the Throne Sit thou on my right Hand Psal. 110.1 God doth as it were take his Son by the Hand and seat him on the Throne This sitting on God's right Hand implieth 1. The giving of all Power or a restoration of him to the full use of the Godhead He had an Eternal Right as the Second Person but he was to receive a new Grant Mat. 28.18 All Power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth Christ as God hath all Power equal Power with the Father by Eternal Generation but as God Incarnate it is given to him So Phil. 2.9 10. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow of Things in Heaven and Things in Earth and Things under the Earth to make all Enemies stoop to him that he might receive Adoration from Angels Men and Devils 2. A Grant of Authority to rule according to Pleasure He is made Prince of Angels Col. 2.10 He is the Head of all Principality and Power He is to be their Soveraign Lord and Head of the Church Ephes. 1.22 Christ is to us the Head of all Vital Influences And Judg of the World Acts 17.39 He hath appointed a day in which he will judg the World in Righteousness by the Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance to all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead This is the Sum of Christ's Glorification The Uses of the whole Vse 1. In that Christ prayeth for Glory it presseth us 1. To take heed of dishonouring Christ now he prayeth to be glorified It was a great Sin that the Jews crucified the Lord of Glory but they have some excuse in that they knew not what they did 1 Cor. 2.8 Whom none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory His Glory was not easily seen in his Exinanition and Abasement But now we know more and we cross his Prayers if we crucify him again afresh and put him to open shame Heb. 6.6 We cannot indeed crucify Christ really but we may draw the Guilt of his Enemies that crucified him upon us By your scandalous Lives you do in effect as to your Intentions deprive him of his Glory and approve the Act of the Jews against him you live as if no such thing had been done to Christ as his Translation into Heaven 2. Since Christ so earnestly sued for his Glorification it is our Duty by all means to procure and further his Glory We cannot do any thing as his Father doth we cannot bestow any thing upon him but Praise and magnify him by a stedfast Faith and by an Holy Life Mortified Christians are the Glory of Christ. 3. It is Comfort against the Reproaches and Oppositions of Men as to the Kingdom of Christ. Though the Jews scorn it the Turks blaspheme it Hereticks undermine it yet Christ's Prayers will do more than all their Endeavours still he will appear God manifest in the Flesh. Christ's Glory cannot be hindred he hath prayed for it Vse 2. In that Christ was glorified for he cannot be denied whatever he demands it is useful for our Comfort for our Instruction 1. For our Comfort 1. Christ's Glorification is the Pledg and Earnest of ours Had not he risen and ascended and been received up into Glory neither should we the Gates of Death had been barred upon us and the Gates of Heaven shut against us and we should have been covered with eternal Shame and Ignominy But now Christ like another Sampson hath broken through the Gates and carried them away with him our Head is risen and we in him we receive of his Fulness Glory for Glory as well as Grace for Grace Nobis dedit arrhabonem Spiritus à nobis recepit arrhabonem Carnis We have Livery and Seisin of the Kingdom of Heaven already in Christ. We are ascended with him Ephes. 2.6 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus In Contracts Pledges are usually taken and given Our Head is crowned and shall not the Members The Humane Nature is already placed in the highest Seat of Glory 2. It is a sign God hath received Satisfaction The Lord sent an Angel to remove the Stone not to supply any Power in Christ But as a Judg when he is satisfied sends an Officer to open the Prison Doors Our Surety is delivered out of Prison with Glory and Honour God hath taken him up to himself What is done to our Surety concerneth us Christ hath perfectly done his Work there is no more to be done by way of Satisfaction God was well-pleased with him or else he had not been at his right Hand Certainly all the Work of his Mediation was not accomplished on Earth he is now in Exaltation performing those other Offices that remain to be fulfilled by him in Heaven 3. Hence we have Confidence in his Ability to do his People Good He is now restored to the full Use and Exercise of the Godhead he can give the Spirit and perform all the Legacies of the Covenant There were many repaired to Christ in the days of his Flesh when he was under Poverty Crosses Death the Thief on the Cross said Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom What shall we not expect now he is entred into Glory Faithful Servants follow their Prince in Banishment but they have greater Encouragement when he is on the Throne Those that adhered to David in the Desert might look for much from him crowned at Hebron Acts 2.33 Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Not that then only he was endowed with the Gifts of the Spirit for whilst he was on Earth he was filled with the Spirit without measure but then he received the Accomplishment of the Promise of pouring out the Spirit upon us for by Promise is meant the Accomplishment of the Promise for the Promise was long before Luke 24.49 And behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on High Acts 1.4 And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for
the Promise of the Father When he came to Heaven he received the fulfilling of this Promise for God did not bring Christ into Heaven as we are brought into Heaven merely to rest from Labour and to enjoy the Reward of Glory but that he might sit in the Throne of Majesty and Authority to have Power to send the Spirit and gather the Church and condemn the World and to apply to all the Elect the Privileges that he had purchased for them There are Effects of Christ Crucified and there are Effects of Christ Raised and Exalted Psal. 68.18 Thou hast ascended on High thou hast led Captivity captive thou hast received Gifts for Men yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them He gave Gifts when he ascended as Kings do at their Coronation The Humiliation of Christ hath its Effects in fulfilling the Curses of the Law pacifying God's Wrath and Justice the annihilation of the Right which the Devil had in Elect Sinners purchasing a right to returning to God and enjoying the Grace of Eternal Life The Exaltation of Christ hath its Effects viz. the Application of this Righteousness and to possess us of this Right When Christ was dead it was lawful for those for whom he died to return to God and enjoy his Grace but it was not possible for they were dead in Sins Therefore God raised up Christ and gave him Authority to pour out the Holy Ghost that we should seek in Grace not only the force of Satisfaction but of Regeneration that the effect of his Abasement this of his Advancement What a Comfort is this that Christ would not only die for us but rise again and pour out his Spirit that his Blood might not be without Profit 4. Here is Comfort for the Church while our Head is so highly magnified and made Lord of all he will rule all for the best certainly no Good shall be wanting to them that are his Psal. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool There shall come a Time when the Church shall have no Enemies so far shall it be from its being overcome by its Enemies that they shall curse themselves that ever they resisted the Church 5. Our Sins shall not prejudice our Happiness seeing he sitteth at the right Hand of God the Father to be our Intercessor 1 Joh. 2.1 If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous we have a Friend at Court a Favorite in the Court of Heaven If it were not for Christ's Intercession what should we do those that know the Majesty of God their own Unworthiness the pollution of their Prayers what should they do The Spirit is our Notary here Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit is self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And Christ is our Advocate in Heaven Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the Throne Our Prayers have an ill savour as they come from us 2. For our Instruction It teacheth us to seek Heavenly Things Col. 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ. We should imitate Christ whatever he did Corporally we must do Spiritually There is our Treasure if you are the Children of God he is your Delight There is our Head the inferiour Parts never do well when they are severed from the Head All that we expect cometh from thence and therefore a natural desire of Happiness carrieth the Saints thither SERMON VII JOHN XVII 6 I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word WE have now ended the first Paragraph of this Chapter Christ's Prayer for himself Here he cometh to pray for others the Disciples of that Age. When Jacob was about to die he blesseth his Sons so doth Christ his Disciples Christ representeth their Case with as much vehemency as he doth his own In this Verse useth three Arguments They were acquainted with his Father's Name belonged to his Grace and were obedient to his Will Or if you will you may observe First The Persons for whom he prayeth Secondly The Reasons why he prayeth for them which are three I. What Christ had done II. What the Father himself had done III. What they had done First The Persons for whom he prayeth The Men which thou hast given me out of the World Who are these I answer the Disciples or Believers of that Age not only the eleven Apostles are intended tho chiefly But it is not to be restrained to the Apostles only 1. Because the Description is common to other Believers others were given him besides the eleven Apostles It is the usual Description of the Elect in this Chapter ver 2. That he should give eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him So ver 9. I pray for them whom thou hast given me for they are thine And ver 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am And in other Chapters of this Gospel 2. Because Christ had made known the Name of God to more than the Apostles Many of the Jews and Samaritans had received the Faith Acts 1.15 there a hundred and twenty met together in a Church-Assembly presently after Christ's Death 3. Otherwise they had been forgotten in Christ's Prayer for afterwards he prayeth only for future Believers ver 20. Neither pray I for them only but for those that shall believe on me through their Word Mark That shall believe But tho the Apostles are not only intended yet they are chiefly intended as appeareth by that Expression Through their Word We have seen who are the Persons Now they are described to be the Men which the Father hath given me out of the World Men. To note the greatness of the Blessing tho they were frail miserable Men corrupt by Nature as others are yet by singular Mercy they are made familiar Friends of Christ and some of them Doctors of the World Which thou hast given me by way of special Charge There is a double giving to Christ by way of Reward by way of Charge These were given to him as a peculiar Charge Out of the World That is out of the whole Mass of Mankind When others were left and passed by God singled them out and gave them to Christ. I shall open the Phrase more fully in the next Clause The Points of Doctrine are these 1. Observ.
Faith with Power What encouragement hath a Minister to go to God for such not only when you send for him in times of sickness but always as the Apostle saith in every Address to God It is sweet to give an account of the thriving Lambs and to desire the Lord to perfect his Work And it argueth in the Minister Sincerity to take pleasure in their gracious Estate and to account it as it were his own Benefit that God hath any way blessed them with Grace which moveth him again to commend their Case to God Certainly if we have but any portion of the Unity of the Spirit or any share in the Communion of Saints or any respect to God's Glory thus it would be Again it concerneth Masters of Families Your Family is your Charge given you of God pray for them in the Bowels of Love You are to make an Errand to the Throne of Grace not only for your selves but your Children and Servants as the Centurion came to Christ for his Servant Mat. 8.6 If we did not want Hearts we could never want an occasion of recourse to God By virtue of our Relation we are to espouse the Interests of our Family and to plead with God on their behalf as we would on our own Job is an excellent Pattern Job 1.5 He rose early day by day and offered Burnt-Offerings for his Children in the time of their Feasting His great care was to keep his Children in the Favour of God he knew no hurt in their Feasting had heard none by information yet because Miscarriages are usual in the heat and license of Feasts the Family should not be without a daily Sacrifice For Job said it may be that my Sons have sinned and cursed God in their Hearts Up then betimes as Job did and milk out a Blessing for your Families not only in general as Men will put up cursory Prayers out of Custom and Use for their Families they pray God to bless their Families but bring them forth by Head and Pole and set them before the Lord as Job offered Sacrifices according to the number of his Children Or as Christ here I pray for these pointing to the Apostles Lord for these and every one of them The occasion of Job's Prayer is not manifest If you do but suspect that a Child hath such a Disease you will go to a Physician should we have less care of their Souls Christ says they live in an evil World vers 11. therefore he prays for them Again look on this Prayer of Christ not only as an Act of Love to his Charge and Familiars but as an Act of Prudence as to the Apostles who were to bring others to believe by their Word I pray for them I pray not for the World c. These that are designed for the great Work of the Gospel chiefly for them they had to do with Obstinate Jews and Idolatrous Gentiles and they had need take the Blessing of Christ's Prayers along with them Ministers and Dispensers of the Mysteries of Salvation above all Men need the help of your Prayers How affectionately doth Paul call for this every where 1 Thess. 5.25 Brethren pray for us It is a Duty you owe and it may be not only of great comfort to us but of great profit to your selves God would have all Orders and Estates in the Church to be obliged to one another you for our Instructions we for your Prayers The Head cannot say to the Foot I have no need of thee 1 Cor. 12.21 Our Calling is encumbred with the more Difficulties and that we may be acquainted with all sorts of Satan's Enterprizes our Persons may be exposed to more Temptations than Yours The many Things requisite to make our Ministry useful call for your Prayers Abilities the right use of them Fruit and success that we may be able Pastors faithful successful that we may have Abilities which are a common Gain whatever Gifts are bestowed on Ministers are for the Peoples profit that out of love of Ease or love of the World or Error we may not mislead you nor be disheartned for lack of success Instead of praying for Ministers many now pray against them the Calling is repined at as if it were some heavy Plague and Judgment sent upon the World But therefore you have need to pray the more 2 Thess. 3.2 That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked Men for all Men have not Faith Pray that the Lights of the Church be not eclipsed pray for our standing amidst the Assaults of Satan It is not enough to give us Love and Maintenance but we must have your Prayers So much for the Object of Christ's Prayer II. Now for the Limitation of that Object I pray not for the World but for them that thou hast given me Many Things may be inferred out of this Limitation 1. Universal Redemption is disproved for those for whom Christ prayed not for them he died not These two Offices of the Priesthood must not be severed Christ doth not only profess to pray for these but denieth to pray for the World His Intercession is of the same latitude with his Redemption they are Acts of the same Office and of the same Extent and Latitude All Men were not intended in his Passion and Intercession See Serm. on 2 Cor. 5.16 2. The Weakness of the World notwithstanding all their outward Props and Supports altho they be strong and have many on their side yet they have not Christ on their side He hath left the World out of his Prayers he will not so much as take their Names into his Lips Therefore Rom. 8.31 If God be for us who shall be against us What will that Party do that have God against them Against how many will you set Me said Antigonus You may shake your Spear and bid defiance against all the Powers of Darkness they have not Christ among them he will not speak one good word for them they may have Riches Honours Friends Countenance in the World but God will never take their part 3. The dangerous and sad Condition of Worldly Men. Oh it is a sad thing not to have a Name in Christ's Prayer There is a great number left out and if you will know who they are they are called the World It presseth us to come out of that State where we are in this danger Men that are now Worldly may be in the Roll of God's Election but it is no comfort to them I pray not for the World so it is expressed and as long as thou art Worldly thou canst take no Comfort in Christ's Intercession Certainly this should be an effectual Consideration with the People of God to cause them to keep themselves unspotted from the World Jam. 1.24 These have the benefit of Christ's Prayers A Christian should never be quiet till he be clearly out of that number which is excepted Christ hath a constant enmity and antipathy against Mammon there must be a
it shall be even given thee to the half of the Kingdom 2 dly The Reasons why Christ would not have gone if it had not been expedient John 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away A Woman had rather have her Husband live at home than go to the Indies but when she considereth that it is to do her good to enrich the Family by Traffick she yieldeth her Consent it is a profitable Voyage So it is expedient that Christ should go to Heaven In the Infancy of the Church Christ was present as a Nurse but he would not have them always hang on the Teat The Reasons of Christ's Ascension are these 1. He is gone that we may look upon him as in a greater Capacity to do us good All Weakness is now removed from him his Human Nature glorified and placed in Heaven his Majesty restored we may now reflect upon the Glory of his Person with Comfort he is now a King on the Throne a King in his Palace and place of Royal Residence David was King assoon as anointed by Samuel but when he was crowned in Hebron then did he actually administer the Kingdom Christ had his Followers in the days of his Flesh as David had his four hundred Companions in the Desert The Thief owned Christ upon the Cross and Christ tells him This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 What may we not expect from Christ now in Heaven every Office is royally exercised as a Prophet he sendeth out his Spirit as a King he ruineth his Adversaries as a Priest he intercedeth with God 2. To prepare a Place for us John 14.2 I go to prepare a Place for you It is good to consider how Christ prepareth Heaven for us by his Ascension It was prepared before the World began by the Decree of God the Father Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit a Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World This was an Inheritance intended for the Heirs of Promise by a free choice he designed the Persons and their particular Portion and Degree of Glory But because we are to hold Heaven not only by Gift but by Purchase Christ came from Heaven to prepare it and went to Heaven again to prepare yet further to open the Door that was before shut up as our Head he went to seize upon it in our Right as our legal Head he possesseth Heaven in our Names as a Guardian taketh up Lands for the Heir Christ holdeth Heaven in our Right till we be ready for it he keepeth Possession And as our Mystical Head and Author of Grace he dispenseth the Spirit and maketh us fit for that place making Intercession for us that our Sins be no Impediment He is called our Fore-runner Heb. 6.20 Whither the Fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec His going is to make way for us as our Harbinger to take up Rooms and Lodgings for us As the Captain of our Salvation he hath taken up Quarters for himself and all his Company Heb. 2.10 It became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons to Glory to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through Sufferings Christ hath opened Heaven-Door that was shut up there was a Guard set upon Paradise but Christ hath removed it He is gone to fit all things for our Entertainment as Joseph was sent into Egypt to prepare for Jacob. Die when we will our place is ready there is nothing to keep us out The Church is tossed with Waves but Christ is gone ashoar and hath secured for us a laâ—ding-Place And his Ascension is a Pledg of ours as he rose as the first Fruits of them that slept It is the meritorious exemplary efficient Cause of our Ascension 3. To represent his Satisfaction The Levitical Priest was to enter into the Sanctuary with Blood so doth Christ into Heaven to shew that he had done his Work The Apostle hath an Expression which needeth opening Heb. 8.4 If he were on Earth he should not be a Priest What is the meaning was not Christ a Priest when he was on Earth I answer Yes Why then doth the Apostle say that if he were on Earth he should not be a Priest that is he could not discharge the whole Office of the Priesthood for the high Priest once a Year carried the Sacrifice through the Court before the Sanctuary and there killed it and there took the Blood thereof into the holiest of all and presented himself before the Lord to intercede for the People So Christ carried his Sacrifice out of the City offered it up to God and then entred into the heavenly Sanctuary where he liveth for ever to intercede for us and his Blood always runneth fresh and therefore if he were on Earth he could not discharge the whole Office of a Priest So Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entred into the holy Places made with Hands which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As the High-Priest entred on the behalf of the People with the Names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders So Christ is entred on the behalf of us all bearing the Memorial of every Saint on his Heart Mark the Apostle saith Now to appear not only once The High-Priest stayed not within the Sanctuary but Christ is our constant Leiger in Heaven all the time from his Ascension unto this day constantly still while it is called Now. 4. To pour out the Spirit John 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given for Christ was not yet glorified When the Husband is wanting then he sendeth Tokens So when Christ is glorified then he giveth out the Spirit as Elijah when he ascended let fall his Mantle Proper Acts have their proper Fruits Christ in Earth established our Right and in Heaven he puts us in actual Possession the Purchase was by Christ's Exinanition the Application by his Advancement It was not meet Christ should use a Royal Act till his Advancement and till he went to the Father he ascended then that his Blood might not be spilt in vain but that he might be in a Capacity to execute his own Testament unless Christ had ascended we needed not this Supply 3 dly The Fruits and Benefits of his Ascension 1. It is a sign God hath received Satisfaction His Resurrection was a Pledg of it then our Surety was let out of Prison the Lord sent an Angel to remove the Stone not to supply any Power in Christ but as a Judg when the Law is satisfied sendeth an Officer to open the Prison Doors with Power and Authority Heb. 13.20 The God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus Christ was not to break Prison While the Surety lyeth in Prison the Debtor can
must we needs go out of the World As the Soul is in the Body but not of the Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just. Mart. So a Christian is in the World but not of the World Use the World we may without offence when a Christian is sanctified he is not glorified and doth not diveâ—â— himself of the innocent Interests and Concernments of Flesh and Blood they have Bodies as others have and must eat drink sleep and put on Apparel as others do 1 Cor. 7.31 And those that use the World as not abusing it The Use is allowed the Abuse only is forbidden We may use the World as a means to sweeten our Pilgrimage but not to weaken our Hopes A Man may use the Comforts of this Life to draw good out of them to imploy them for God as Incouragements to Piety and Instruments of Mercy and Bounty But how then positively are they not to be of this World Not of the World's Gang and Faction nor acted by the same Principles to the same Ends. 1. There is a difference in the inward Principles the Spirit of the World and the Spirit of God Christians are acted by the Spirit of God not by the Spirit of the World 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God There is a particular Genius that suiteth with Worldly Affairs and fits Men to turn and wind in outward Employments as the Ostriches Wings serve her only to run not to fly their Hearts and Affections wholly run out this way It is the Character of some John 3.31 He that is of the Earth is Earthly and speaketh of the Earth They mind nothing affect nothing speak of nothing but the Earth 2. They are under different Rulers Christ is Head of the Church and he professeth that his Kingdom is not of this World John 18.36 But now the Devil is called the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 the Head of the Worldly State 3. There is a difference in their Course and Conversation The Children of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.16 Walk according to the Rule of the Word The Men of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. 2.2 According to the course of the World as Fishes swim with the Stream A Christian is the World's Nonconformist Rom. 12.2 Be ye not conformed to the World he is estranged from the Pursuits and aspiring Projects of worldly Men and can deny the Interests and Concernments of the Flesh for God's sake 4. There is a difference in their Aims A Christian liveth to glorify God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatever you do do all to Glory of God And a Child of the World is all for aspiring Projects how to compass the Conveniences of the present Life and advance his secular Interests Phil. 2.19 They mind earthly Things 5. Their Ends are different A Christian is hastning to his Country his way is upward first he gets his Heart in Heaven and then his Soul and then his Body But a Carnal Man is groveling and tending downward first to the Earth and then to Hell So that you see there is a perfect difference and counter-motion they are not of the World nor of that Faction Communion or Fellowship But if you ask me Why 1. Because of Christ's Example We do not worship the God of this World nor Mammon but Christ. Worldly Men had need seek another God Jesus Christ is not for their turn I am not of this World he is not a worldly Christ. We are to imitate our great Master to be unlike the World and like Christ to be led not by the course of the World but by Christ's Example Christ by his own Example hath put a disgrace upon worldly Greatness he chose a mean Estate to teach us to be contented with a little and his Eye was to the Glory set before him Heb. 12.2 Christ's Poverty was not out of necessity but choice his were the Cattel upon a thousand Hills At his Birth he was born in an Inn to shew that he came into the World as a Stranger and Passenger In the course of his Life we find that he had a Bag that was filled with Alms but no annual Rent or constant Possessions Mat. 8.20 Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head Christ was no landed Man he had no Tenement of his own Christ speaketh it when a young Man came to him and professed to follow him he had no certain place of Residence neither House nor Furniture nor Houshold-stuff certainly he was little beholden to the World it would hardly afford him House-room and Lodging The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof yet Christ his own Son had but little of it He begged a draught of Water of a Stranger when he was weary John 4. and every was lived as a poor Man not out of necessity but choice He refused a Crown when proffered him John 6.15 When Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force and make him a King he departed again into a Mountain himself alone He had no Heart to these Things no relish in Crowns and worldly Glory When he died he was not Master of a Cup of cold Water to quench his thirst his Coat was all his Legacy and he lodged in a borrowed Grave This was the Captain of our Salvation whose Steps we are to follow You see what a disgrace he put upon Crowns and Honours and Pleasures and the Glory which we doat upon Christ came from Heaven on purpose to cast contempt upon the World by his own choice and course of Life 2. Because of their new Birth Man's Heart naturally is addicted to the World and runneth thither whither the World carrieth it even to forsaking God but by Grace it is turned the quite contrary way We have forsaken all and followed thee Mat. 19.27 And Psal. 45.10 Forget also thine own People and thy Father's House It is the proper Work of Grace to alter the course of Nature to take us off from the World and bring us to God by degrees first in Heart and then in Soul and then in Body It is every where made in Effect of the New Birth 1 John 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World The Children of God have somewhat of the Father in them Grace of all things cometh nearest the Nature of God Now God is our Heavenly Father therefore the Children that are born of him cannot be worldly See another place 2 Pet. 1.4 That by these ye might be made partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the World through Lust. There is something Divine in a Christian therefore he cannot live as other Men. When we press Men to strictness they will say We are Saints and not Angels yea but Saints have a new Nature over and above that Nature which
good Work it is not of your selves but of God Every Act every Degree of Holiness is from God III. For whom he prayeth the Apostles I. That were already holy John 13.10 Ye are clean and in the Verse immediately preceding They are not of the World yet now Sanctify them let their Hearts be more heavenly and their Lives more pure every day Observe Those that are sanctified need to be sanctified more and more Rev. 22 1â— He that is righteous let him be righteous still he that is holy let him be holy still 1. Our inward Sanctification must increase because of the weakness of present Grace and the relicts of Corruption 2 Cor. 4.16 Tho our outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day It is not a Work to be done at once 1 Thess. 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is perfect in parts at first the New Creature doth not come out maimed but not in degrees there is need of more Sanctification in Spirit in Soul in Body the Kingdom of Heaven increaseth by degrees 2. Our outward Man must be cleansed day by day because of new defilements John 13.10 He that is washed needeth not but to wash his Feet but is clean every whit It is an Allusion to a Man coming from the Bath his Feet contract Soil in the Passage Your Persons are sanctified by the Spirit but when you are never so holy there are new Defilements Vse 1. Be not satisfied with any present degrees of Grace There is an holy Covetousness I count not my self to have attained Phil. 3.14 Christ is so full that we cannot receive all at once 2. It is a strange Conceit in any to think they may be too good When we begin to be unwilling to grow better we begin to wax worse it is a good degree of Grace to know our Defects 3. Therefore let us use Means to persist in Holiness to increase in Holiness especially Prayer which is the Breath which God hath appointed to keep in the Flame II. For the Persons once more They were to preach the Word as a Preparative he prayeth for Sanctification Observe Holiness is a good Preparative to the Ministry and they are inwardly consecrated by the Spirit sanctifying them 1. That they may have experience of the Truth of the Doctrine upon their own Hearts The Apostles were to preach the Truth to others now saith he Sanctify them through thy Truth I believed and therefore have I spoken Psal. 116.10 We speak best when we speak by experience This is the right way of getting Sermons by Heart We are God's Witnesses now we should have sound Experience 1 John 1.1 That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you Ezekiel was first to eat the Roll Ezek. 3. 1 2 3. not only to see it and to hear it but to eat it Ministers must first eat themselves then feed others We are not to speak by hear-say to deliver God's Message as a meer Narration but out of a deep Impression on the Heart What cometh from the Heart and from Experience is quick and lively 2. For the Honour of God Carnal Ministers bring a Reproach upon the Ordinances 1 Sam. 2.17 The Sin of the young Men was very great before the Lord for Men abhorred the Offering of the Lord. Who will take Meat out of a Leprous Hand 3. To answer the Types of the Law Aaron and his Sons were sanctified for the Levitical Priesthood Exod. 29.4 To be washed with Blood and Oil to be washed in the great Laver sprinkled with Blood anointed with Oil which denotes Remission of Sins Regeneration the Gifts of the Spirit 1 John 5.8 There are three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood Every Office should have a solemn Consecration Vse 1. Ministers should look to their inward Call They that are designed to serve God in a special manner must look after special Purity It breedeth Atheism when we do not live up to our Doctrine People will say they must say something for their Living 2. Let People look to their choice of Ministers There is a great deal of difference between an Eloquent and an Experienced Pastor Secondly We now come to the Means or Manner how Christ's Request is to be accomplished by thy Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be rendred in thy Truth or by thy Truth oâ— through thy Truth as Vers. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without an Article that they may be sanctified through the Truth or as in the Margeâ—t truly sanctified but we better render it by the Truth there is an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not in Truth but in the Truth and it is presently added thy Word is Truth So that it noteth not the kind of their Sanctification but the Instrument and Means Now these words by thy Truth may be understood either of God's Faithfulness or his revealed Will both which are called his Truth Of God's Faithfulness as Vers. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as keep them by thy Power so sanctify them by or according to thy Truth and Faithfulness But this Exposition tho plausible yet is not so proper because it is presently added thy Word is Truth By Truth then is meant not his Faithfulness but his revealed Will. Now God hath revealed his Will by the Light of Nature or by the Light of his Word That Will of God which is revealed by the Light of Nature is called Truth so the Gentiles are charged Rom. 1.8 With-holding the Truth in Vnrighteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be known of God Vers. 19. is called Truth How came the Gentiles by the Truth who are strangers to the Covenant of Promise The Apostle answereth much of God was known to them But this Truth that is here spoken of is the Will of God made known in his Word or the Knowledg of things necessary to Salvation concerning God and his Worship first delivered by the Prophets afterwards explained by Christ himself to the Apostles and by them consigned to the Church Now the Truths delivered in the Word may be referred to two Heads Law and Gospel The distinction in Christ's Time was Law and Prophets In this place Christ chiefly intendeth the Gospel the Truth which they were sent to preach to others Christ would have them to have an experience of it themselves And it is notable that in many places of Scripture the Gospel is called Truth not only in opposition to humane Writings but also with respect to the Law and other parts of Scripture because it is the Truth by way of eminency as we call the Plague
needs be true for God is so infinitely Wise that he cannot be deceived and so infinitely Just and True that he will not deceive us and so Omnipotent that he cannot be jealous of our Knowledg and so Gracious that he is not envious of our Knowledg as the Devil would insinuate Gen. 3.5 For God doth know that in the Day ye eat thereof then your Eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil. It will be no infringement to his Interest if we should know his Nature and his Will But the great Question is What we should take for the Word of God Now that we may have a sure ground in this Kind let us consider how he hath revealed himself to Man The Dispensations of God are several 1. To Adam 2. To the World 3. To the Church 1. To Adam His Bible was his Heart the Law was written there and God preached to him immediatly and by Oracle gave him all extraordinary Commands and the Book of the Creatures for his Contemplation not so much to better his Knowledg as to increase his Reverence 2. To the World to Heathens God gave the Book of Nature which was more than they made use of and therefore he stopt there Psal. 19.1 2 3. The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his Handy-Work Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledg There is no Speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard c. This Revelation God hath made of himself even to all Nations they have Sun and Moon to look upon and the Structure of the Heavens to behold which are as so many Pledges of the Excellency and Infiniteness of God Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest to them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the Things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Acts 14.17 Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness in that he did good and gave us Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness In the Book of Nature there is the rough Draught of God's Will Trismegistus said it was Liber unus Divinitate plenus Creation was nothing else but one Book that was full of the Glory of God and his Excellency God Spake to them by Things not by Words This with some Instincts of Conscience the Relicts of the Fall was all the Heathens had Conscience was God's Deputy to put them in mind of a Judg and the Heavens put them in mind of a God Look as Job's Messengers said I alone am escaped to tell thee so there are some few Reliques and Principles alone escaped out of the Ruins of the Fall to tell us somewhat of God and somewhat of a Judg. That Light proclaims every where and speaks to every Nation and proclaims it aloud to all People Kindred and Tongues of the Earth Take notice there is one infinite eternal God that made us and you and all things else God's refreshing the parched Earth with Showers of Rain shews how willing he is to be gracious to poor hungry Creatures Fruitful Seasons shew us the abundance of his Mercy The decking the Heavens with Stars and the Earth with Plants shew us what Glory he can put upon the Creatures This Language may be gathered out of the Creation and thus did God speak to all Creatures by the Voice of his Creatures 3. To the Church And the Dispensations of God to the Church have been various and diverse Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spake in Times past unto our Fathers by the Prophets c. He spake his Mind by pieces that is signified by the Word now he gave a piece of his Mind and then a piece And he hath spoken also in sundry manners by several ways of Revelation The Church never wanted sufficient Revelation nor Means of Knowledg to guide them to the Enjoyment of God and true Happiness God's Dispensations to the Church may be reduced to three Heads There was 1. His Word without Writing 2. Then Word and Writing 3. Then Writing only 1. There was the Word without Writing by Visions Oracles and Dreams by which he manifested himself to Persons of the greatest Sanctity and Holiness that they might instruct others and impart the Mind of God to others Now mark this Dispensation was sure enough to guide them to Communion with God why Because the People of the World were then but few Families and the Persons intrusted with God's Message were of great Authority and Credit therefore sufficient enough to inform that present Age of God's Counsel and which was another Advantage they lived long to continue the Tradition with certainty to others for hundreds of Years Vision and Tradition was sure enough for as 't is observed by some three Men might continue the Tradition of the Counsel of God from Adam till Israel went down into Egypt There was Adam first God taught him by Oracle and he taught others he lived a long time Methuselah lived with Adam two hundred forty three Years and continued until the Flood then Seâ— lived with Methusalah ninety eight Years and flourished about five hundred Years after the Flood and Isaac lived fifty Years with Sem and died about ten Years before Israel's descent into Egypt So that Methuselah Sem and Isaac might continue the Knowledg of God and preserve the Purity of Religion from Adam's Death till Israel's going down into Egypt for so many hundred Years This was God's Dispensation to that Church 2. Afterwards there was both Word and Writing God's Word was necessary for the further revealing and clearing up of the Doctrine of Salvation which was revealed by pieces And Writing was necessary partly because in process of time Precepts were multiplied and it was needful for Mens Memories that they should be registred in some publick Record and partly because the long Life of God's Witnesses was much lessened and the Corruption of the World was increased and Satan began to imitate God by Oracles Visions and Answers and Idolatry and Superstition crept into the best Families Into â—erah's Josh. 24.2 Your Fathers dwelt on the other side the Flood in old Time even Terah the Father of Abraham and the Father of Nachor and they served other Gods And Jacob's Family was corrupt Gen. 35.2 Then Jacob said to his Houshold and to all that were with him Put away the strange Gods that are among you and be clean and change your Garments The People were grown numerous enough to make a Commonwealth and a Politick Body and it was fit they should have a publick Record and common Rule and therefore to avoid Man's Corruptions and to give a stop to Satan's Deceits the Lord thought fit there should be a written Rule at hand for
that looketh upon the Gospel in the Light of Parts and External Tradition hath a Model of Truth in his Brain but these find it impressed upon their Hearts there is Light and Fire Wait for this Witness Sixthly By the wonderful preservation of Scriptures even to our Times There is no Doctrine so ancient it describeth the whole History of the World from the very Creation Moses was ancienter than the Gods of the Heathens No Doctrine can produce such Records of the Original of the World The Doctrine of the Gospel is as Old as Paradise where God preached it to Adam Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel The Foundation was laid long since tho it was more explicitly revealed upon the coming of Christ. None so much oppugned We have some ancient Writings of the Heathens tho nothing so ancient as Scripture Other Writings by tract of Time have been much mangled tho they have been cherished by Men as not contrary to their Lusts but the Scripture is still opposed persecuted maligned and yet it continueth Psal. 129.1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth yet they have not prevailed against me The Church hath been always bred up under Afflictions Enmity against it began betimes yet still it holdeth up its Head Errors are not long-lived 1 Cor. 3.12 13. Now if any Man build upon this Foundation Gold Silver precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble Every Man's Work shall be made manifest For the Day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by Fire and the Fire shall try every Man's Work of what sort it is The World hath had time enough to enquire into the Scripture and to discover the vanity and falshood of it if there were any Nay not only the main Doctrine of the Scripture hath been continued but no part of it is falsified corrupted or destroyed The World wanted not Malice nor Opportunity the Powers of the World were bent against it and corrupt Persons in the Church were always given to other gospelling Gal. 1.6 7. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. 1 Tim. 6.3 If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words c. But still the Scriptures are wonderfully preserved as the three Children in the Furnace not an Hair was singed not a jot or tittle of the Truth is perished or corrupted If it were corrupted it must be before Christ's Time or after it not before then Christ would have noted it not after for then the Parts would not agree but we find no such thing but an exact Harmony Nor is there any lost for here is a sufficient Instruction and Guide to Happiness Christ hath promised not a tittle shall fall to the ground The Word hath been in danger of being lost but the Miracle of Preservation is therefore the greater In Joshua's Time there was but one Copy of the Law In Dioclesian's Time there was an Edict to burn their Bibles and Copies were scarce and chargeable and yet still it hath been kept Seventhly By his Judgments on those who have reviled abused and persecuted this Truth The Records of all Ages witness to this The whole Jewish Nation was destroyed for opposing the Doctrine of the Gospel After the slaughter of the Prophets and murder of Christ God let them alone for forty Years and then Wrath came upon them to the uttermost the People were carried captive contrary to the Roman Custom the Land lost its fertility Look into succeeding Times very few Persecutors went to the Grave by a natural Death Particular Stories are full of the Judgments of God executed on them Julian the Apostate confessed Christ had the best at last Vicisti Galilee and so died blaspheming Lucian that railed against God and his Word as he returned from a Supper his Dogs fell mad and tore him in pieces Eusebius reports of a certain Jew that took upon him to apply a sentence of the Word to a prophane End to make a Jest of Scripture was stricken with blindness till he made confession of his Fault Appion scoffing at Scripture and at Circumcision had an Ulcer growing in the place of Circumcision as Josephus reporteth God is very angry when Men are partial in the Law tho they do many good things Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book SERMON XXIX JOHN XVII 17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth II. THE Church hath owned the Word You see how God hath owned it he saith it is my Word Let us see how the Church hath owned it Here I shall shew three things 1. What is the Church's Duty to the Word 2. What Credit and Value we ought to put on the Churches Testimony 3. How the Church hath witnessed to the Word in all Ages 1. What is the Churches Duty To keep the Word and to transmit it pure to the next Age that nothing be added nothing diminished that it be published to the present Age and transmitted pure to the next Rom. 3.2 Vnto them were committed the Oracles of God We are Trustees Jude 3. Earnestly contending for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth The Church is to hold it forth as a Pillar doth a Proclamation that it may not be lost and extinguished This is the Jewel Christ hath left his Spouse as the Law was kept in the Ark. 2. What respect we ought to bear to the Churches Testimony To hearken to it till we have better Evidence We do not ultimately resolve our Faith into the Churches Authority for the Authority of the Church is not Absolute but Ministerial as a Royal Edict doth not receive Credit by the Officer and Crier he only declareth it Yet the Church's Testimony is not to be neglected for Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.14 It is a preparative Inducement John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World If we would know the Truth of a thing before we have experience go to them that have experience the judgment of others whom we respect and reverence causeth us
Lord. I know I tread upon Thorns but yet this seemeth to have been the constant practice of the Church in after Ages Leo the great in an Epistle of his is for Vota Civium the Vote of the People in the Election of Ministers And Cyprian more clearly before him Lib. 1. Epist. 4. Videmus de authoritate Divinâ descendere ut Sacerdos plebe praesente sub omnium oculis deligatur dignus atque idoneus publico judicio ac testimonio comprobetur The Minister should be propounded to the People and approved by their Vote and Suffrage And just before Plebs illa maximè habet potestatem vel eligendi dignos Sacerdotes vel indignos recusandi The People have a Power to chuse those that are Worthy and refuse those that are Unworthy Certainly all allow some consent to the People a full use of the Judgment of Discretion to try the Spirits 1 John 4.1 And to distinguish the Voice of a Stranger from the Voice of a Shepherd John 10.5 It seemeth to be most agreeable to Scripture that the People should by Suffrage propound the Person and then he is to be authoritatively determined by the Presbytery Acts 6.3 Look out from among you seven Men of honest Report c. whom we may appoint over this Business The Apostles did not take to themselves an absolute Power but referred the nomination to the People tho still they reserve the Determination and Ordination to themselves Election is the Peoples Right because he is chosen for their good but Ordination is the Elders Right because that is done in the Name of Christ and therefore must be done by his Deputies and Proxies as an evidence that the Matter is confirmed by Christ and that he accepts him for his Servant in the Work of the Ministry Christ himself as Head of the Church had his Ordination from God and his Election from the Church God hath appointed him to be Head of the Church Ephes. 1.22 And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church And the Church ratifies it by her consent Hos. 1.11 Then shall the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one Head c. And it is notable that in Paul's Vision the Call is managed by a Man of Macedonia that represented the People of that Place Acts 16.9 A Vision appeared to Paul in the Night There stood a Man of Macedonia and prayed him saying Come over into Macedonia and help us Not go thou but come over and help us 2. Ordination which consists in the Trial of Gifts and Authoritative Commission that is the Right of the Elders That appeareth because to them is the Power of the Keys given for the Peoples good And Acts 13.2 The Holy Ghost saith Separate to me Paul and Barnabas unto the Work whereunto I have called them Who were those that were to Separate They were Prophets and Teachers of Antioch as appeareth Vers. 1. And elsewhere the Scripture speaketh of the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 Approbation of Doctrine and Life is the Elders Right who are best able to judg of Men's Fitness and Abilities To Titus an Officer is this given Titus 1.5 6. To ordain Elders in every City If any be blameless the Husband of one Wife c. And then for Imposition of Hands it is a Custom most conform to Apostolical Practice it is not founded on a Precept but only on Apostolical Practice 3. Confirmation is the Magistrates Right The Christian Magistrate hath his share to see that all things are done orderly by the People and Elders Now Magistrates are concerned not only as principal Members of the Church and of the first Rank but as Episcopi ad extra as nursing Fathers to whom Care and Inspection belongeth that all things be done decently and according to the Mind and Will of God The Christian Magistrate is Custos utriusque Tabulae And upon this Ground would the Apostle have us to pray for the Conversion of Magistrates that they might be converted from Paganism 1 Tim. 2.2 That under them we may lead quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty The Magistrate is not only to interpose when Differences arise about Honesty but also about Godliness there is Judex Index Vindex in all Controversies the Word is Judex in it the Mind and Will of God is declared The Minister is Index it is his Office to preserve Knowledg and out of the Word of God to show his Mind and Will And the Magistrate is Vindex he is to see that Duty be not neglected that the Administrations of the Church be not ill managed and carried on contrary to Christ's Appointment because he is the nursing Father of the Church Isa. 49.23 Again the Magistrate is concerned as the Head of the Common-wealth and so to consider who shall be encouraged by Publick Maintenance and allowed to preach publickly without disturbance the Common-wealth being concerned in it And there wants not Precedents in Scripture for this David and Solomon did exercise such a Power Solomon deposed Abiathar 1 Kings 2.26 And to Abiathar the Priest said the King Get thee to Anathoth unto thine own Fields for thou art worthy of Death c. And Jehoshaphat sent Levites and Priests to teach in every City 2 Chron. 17.8 9. And as soon as Magistrates turned Christian in after-Ages they were much concerned in the Votes and Suffrages of the Church The Power of Princes herein hath been much debated especially by those that have pleaded the Rights of Princes against the encroachment of the Romish Synagogue who abundantly prove that the Election of the Pope himself is not valid without the consent of the Emperor So in ancienter History Socrates sheweth that when Ambrose was chosen by the People of Millain the Election was confirmed by the Roman Emperor Lib. 4. cap. 25. And Theodoret sheweth that when Athanasius had nominated one Peter for his Successor and the People had given Consent they solemnly asked the Magistrates Leave and Confirmation I might heap up many other Instances but let these suffice Having spoken to the Call I come to show the Necessity of a Call Now such a Call or Authoritative Mission is necessary 1. In respect of God God enableth those whom he employeth 1 Tim. 1.12 I thank Jesus Christ my Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry And this is the Ground upon which Christ builds his Prayer in this Place Sanctify them through thy Truth For I have sent them into the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that run of their own Heads without a Call cannot expect God's Blessings but those only that are regularly sent can expect the increase of Gifts and success of their Ministry for the Word worketh not by its own Force but by God's Blessing Blessing dependeth altogether upon the Institution and therefore
you shall not be brought to nought because the Body hath a Principle of Life in it it is a Part of Christ and he will lose nothing John 6.39 And this is the Father's Will which sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last Day As Plants live in the Root though the Leaves fade and in Winter they appear not so doth the Body live in Christ. So that it is a Ground of Hope and a Motive to Strictness that you may not wrong a Member of Christ nor seek to pluck a Joint from his Body 4. The manner of this Union It is secret and mysterious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.22 This is a great Mystery not only a Mystery but a great Mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church It is a part of our Portion in Heaven to understand it John 14.20 At the Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you When we are more like God we shall know what it is to be united to God through Christ. Here Believers feel it rather than understand it and it is our Duty rather to get an interest in it than subtily to dispute about it 5. Though it be secret and mystical yet it is real because a Thing is spiritual it doth not cease to be real these are not Words or poor empty Notions only that we are united to Christ but they imply a real Truth Why should the Holy Ghost use so many Terms of being planted into Christ Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection of being joined to Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit of being made Partakers of Christ Hebr. 3.14 For we are made Partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our Confidence stedfast to the end Do these Terms only imply a Relation between us and Christ No then the Emphasis of the Words is lost What great Mystery in all this why is this Mystery so often spoken of Christ is not only ours but he is in us and we in him God is ours and we dwell in God 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And verse 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and be in God It is represented by Similitudes that imply a real Union as well as a Relative by Head and Members Root and Branches as well as by Marriage where Man and Wife are made one Flesh. It is compared here with the Mystery of the Trinity and the Unity of the Divine Persons though not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not a Notion of Scripture but a Thing wrought by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.13 Which Things also we speak c. It worketh a Presence and conveyeth real Influences 6. It may be explained as far as our present Light will bear by Analogy to the Union between Head and Members The Head is united to the Body primarily and first of all by the Soul Head and Members make but one Body because they are animated by the same Soul and by that means doth the Head communicate Life and Motion to the Body Besides this there is a secondary Union by the Bones Muscles Nerves Veins and other Ligaments of the Body and upon all these by the Skin all which do constitute and make up this natural Union Just so in this spiritual and mystical Union there is a primary Band and Tie and that is the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit that is is acted by the same Spirit by which Christ acted and liveth the same Life of Grace that Christ liveth as if there were but one Soul between them both The Fulness remaineth in Christ but we have our share and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his But over and above there is a secondary Bond and Tie that knitteth us and Christ together which answereth to the Joints and Arteries by which the Parts of the Body are united to one another and that is Faith and Love and Fear and other Graces of the Spirit by which the Presence is kept in the Soul Thus I have a little opened this Mystery to you 2. There is an Union of the Members one with another A little of that 1. The same Spirit that uniteth the Members to the Head uniteth the Members one to another Therefore the Apostle as an Argument of Union urgeth the Communion of the same Spirit Phil. 2.1 2. If any Fellowship of the Spirit fulfil ye my Joy that ye be like-minded having the same Love being of one Accord of one Mind As Christ is the Head of the Church so the Holy Ghost is the Soul of the Church by which all the Members are acted As in the Primitive Times Acts 4.32 the Multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and of one Soul And this is that that Christ prayeth for here that they may all be one in the Communion of the same Spirit that they may be of the same Religion and have the same Aim and the same Affection to good things 2. From the Communion of the Spirit there is a secondary Union by Love and seeking one another's good as if they were but one Man where-ever dispersed throughout the World and whatever distinctions of Nations and Interests there are they may love and desire the good of one another and rejoice in the Welfare and grieve for the Evil of one another Ezek. 1.24 When the Beasts went the Wheels went and when the Beasts were lifted up from the Earth the Wheels were lifted up over against them and the reason is given for the Spirit of the living Creature was in the Wheels The same Spirit is in one Christian that is in another and so they wish well to one another even to those whom they never saw in the Flesh. Col. 2.1 For I would that ye knew how great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my Face in the Flesh What Wrestlings had he with God and Fightings for their sakes even for them that had not seen his Face in the Flesh so careful are the Members one of another 3. This Love is manifested by real Effects Look as by virtue of Union with Christ there are real Influences of Grace that pass out to us it is not idle and fruitless so by virtue of this Union that is between the Members there is a real Communication of Gifts and Graces and the good Things of this Life one to another If the Parts of the Body keep what they have to themselves and do not disperse it for the use of the Body it breedeth Diseases as the Liver the
Blood the Stomach the Meat the Liver imparts Blood to the Veins and the Stomach sends the Food abroad into its proper Vessels and Channels So God's Children impart their spiritual or temporal Gifts as the Body needeth When a Famine was but prophesied the Disciples thought of sending relief according to their ability to the Brethren of Judea Acts 11.29 It is never right but when there is this forwardness to distribute and communicate according to the Necessities of the Body II. Why Christ valueth it so much as to make it his only Request for Believers in the present State I answer We can never be happy till we have a share in this Union 1. Because God hath instituted the Mystical Union to be a means to convey all Grace to us Grace to us here and Glory hereafter we receive all from God in it and by it Christ without us doth not save us but Christ in us Christ without us is a perfect Saviour but not to you the Appropriation is by Union Generally we think we shall be saved by a Christ without us He came down from Heaven took our Nature died for Sinners ascended up into Heaven again there he maketh Intercession all this is without us Do not say there is a Saviour in Heaven is there one in thy Heart Col. 1.27 Christ in you the Hope of Glory He doth not say Christ in Heaven the Hope of Glory though that is a Fountain of Comfort but Christ in you 1 Cor. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption Whatsoever is imputed or imparted Light Life Grace Glory it is still in him Still look to Christ within you It were a merry World to carnal Men to be saved by a Christ without them Christ without establisheth the Merit but Christ within maketh Application 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Unless first or last he be in you though disallowed for the present he will be of no advantage to you You have nothing to shew till you feel Christ within you All the Acts of his Mediation must be acted over again in the Heart His Birth he must be born and formed in us Gal. 4.19 My little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you His Death Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death His Resurrection Col. 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those Things that are above His Ascension Eph. 2.6 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus His Intercession Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered The Acts without us do us no good unless we have the Copy of them in our own Hearts 2. It is the Ground of that Exchange that is between Christ and us we communicate to him our Nature our Sins and Troubles and Christ communicateth to us his Nature and Merits and Priviledges What hath Christ from thee thy Nature thy Sins thy Punishments thy Wrath thy Curse thy Shame and thou hast his Titles his Nature his Spirit his Priviledges All this Interchange between us and Christ is by virtue of Union All Interestsly in common between Christ and the Church he taketh our Nature and is made Flesh and we are made Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 He is made the Son of Man we the Sons of God He had a Mother on Earth we a Father in Heaven He is made Sin we Righteousness 2 Cor. 5.21 Who hath made him to be Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him He was made a Curse that we might have the Blessing of Abraham Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree That the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. Thus he imparteth his Priviledges to us and assumeth our Miseries to himself he hath a share in all our Sorrows and we have a share in his Triumphs he is afflicted in our Afflictions as we ascend in his Ascension Eph. 2.6 He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus We live by his Life Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me c. And we are glorified by his Glory He suffereth with us in Heaven and we reign with him on Earth He suffereth with us non per Passionem sed Compassionem not that glorified Christ feeleth any Grief in Heaven but his Bowels yearn to an afflicted Member as if he himself were in our stead and we are sat down with him in heavenly Places because our Head is there and hath seized upon Heaven in our Right It is a notable Expression Col. 1.24 Who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is behind of the Sufferings of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Christ and the Church are considered as one Person whose Afflictions are determined by Providence thus much the Head must suffer thus much the Members Christ suffered his share and we ours in our turn In short Christ suffereth no more in the Body that he carried to Heaven but in his Body that he left upon Earth every Blow that lighteth on a Member lighteth on his Heart Acts 9.6 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Christ was in Heaven at that time how could he say why persecutest thou me did he climb up into Heaven and war upon Christ in the midst of his Glory No Saul persecuted the Christians and them Christ calleth me his mystical Body As in a Throng if some Body treadeth upon your Foot the Tongue crieth out You have hurt me the Tongue is in safety but it is in the same Body with the Foot and so their Good and Bad are common For though Christ's Person be above abuse he still suffereth in his Members and he that persecuteth the Church persecuteth Jesus Christ. 3. If once interessed in the mystical Union then they are safe preserved in Jesus Christ Jude 1. Sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ. Verse 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling c. The Union is indissoluble that is a Cabinet where God's Jewels are kept safe If a Member could be lost Christ's Body could be maimed As the Union between the two Natures could not be dissolved it was the Body of Christ in the Grave there was a Separation between his humane Body and humane Soul yet both still remained united to the Divine Nature so this Union cannot be dissolved You may
the chief Object and Center of our Rest Otherwise we are troubled with divers Cares Fears and Desires Thus Grace worketh upon us But the distance lieth not only on our part but God's Before God and the Creature can be brought together Justice must be satisfied Christ came to restore us to our Primitive Condition 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself The Merit of Christ bringeth God to us and the Spirit of Christ bringeth us to God It is as necessary Christ should be united to us as we to God 5. Our Happiness in God is compleated by degrees In this Life the Foundation is laid we are reconciled to him upon Earth But the compleat fruition we have in Heaven there we are fully made perfect in one Here there is weakness in our Reconciliation we do not cleave to him without distraction there are many goings a whoring and wandring from God after our return to him And here on God's part our Punishment is continued in part God helpeth us by Means at second and third Hand We need many Creatures and cannot be happy without them we need Light Meat Cloaths House Our Life is patched up by Supplies from the Creature But there God is all and in all 1 Cor. 15.28 We find in God whatever is necessary for us without Means and outward Helps There God is all and in all he is our House Cloaths Meat Ordinances We have all immediately from God and in all all are made perfect in one We cannot possess any Thing in the World except we encroach upon one anothers Happiness Worldly Things cannot be divided without lessening and we take that from others which we possess our selves Envy sheweth the narrowness of our Comforts But there the Happiness of one is no hindrance to another all are gratified and none miserable As the Sun is a common Privilege none have less because others have more All possess God as their Happiness without Want and Jealousy Vse If to be drawn into Unity and Oneness with God be our Happiness and Perfection then take heed of two Things 1. Of Sin which divides God from you 2. Of doting upon the Creatures which withdraweth you from God 1. Of Sin which maketh God stand at a distance from you Isa. 59.2 Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you As long as Sin remaineth in full Power there cannot be any Union at all What Communion hath Light with Darkness And the more it is allowed the more it hindreth the Perfection of the Union What is the Reason we do not fully grow up to be one with God in this Life that our Communion with him is so small Sin is in the way the less Holy you are the less you have of this Happiness such unspeakable Joys lively Influences of Grace and immediate Supplies from Heaven In bitter Afflictions we have most Communion with God many times that is nothing so evil as Sin as Afflictions abound so do our Comforts 2. Of doting upon the Creatures which withdraweth your Heart from God The more the Heart is withdrawn from God the more miserable Let the Object be never so pleasing it is an Act of Spiritual Whoredom Sin is Poyson Creatures are not Bread Isa. 55.2 Why do you spend your Mony upon that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not It cannot yield any solid Contentment to the Soul These things are short uncertain things beneath the Dignity of the Soul there is a Restlesness within our selves and Envy towards others they are not enough for us and them too Not for us if enough for the Heart not for the Conscience If God do but arm our own Thoughts against us as usually he doth when the Affections are satisfied with the World he will shew you that the whole Soul is not satisfied therefore he awakeneth Conscience As Children catch at Butterflies the gawdy Wings melt away in their Fingers and there remaineth nothing but an ugly Worm Desertion is occasioned by nothing so much as Carnal Complacency Many times the Object of our Desires is blasted but if not God awakeneth Conscience and all the World will not allay one Pang You may understand this Oneness with respect to our Fellow-Members and so you may understand it jointly of the compleatness of the whole Mystical Body or singly of the strength of that brotherly Affection each Member hath to another There is a double Imperfection for the present in the Church every Member is not gathered and those that are gathered are not come to their perfect growth So that let them be perfect in one is that the whole Body may attain to the integrity of Parts and Degrees First Let us take it Collectively that they may all be gathered together into a perfect Body and no Joints lacking Observe That all the Saints of all Places and all Ages make but one perfect Body In this sense the glorified Saints are not perfect without us Heb. 11.40 God having promised some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect It is no derogation for Christ is not perfect without us The Church is called the Fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1.23 They are as to their Persons perfect free from Sin and Misery made perfect in Holiness and Glory but not as to their Church-Relation So Ephes. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. All the Body must be made up that Christ Mystical may be compleat Now there are some Joints lacking all the Elect are not gathered Vse 1. See the Honour that is put upon the Saints The Saints on Earth and the Saints in Heaven make but one Family Ephes. 3.15 Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named In a great House there are many Rooms and Lodgings some Above some Below but they make but one House So of Saints some are Militant some Triumphant and yet all make but one Assembly and Congregation Heb. 12.23 We are come to the General Assembly and Church of the First-Born which are written in Heaven we upon Earth are come to them Our Christ is the same we are acted by the same Spirit governed by the same Head and shall be conducted to the same Glory As in the State of Grace some are before us in Christ so some are in Heaven before us their Faces once as black as yours We have the same Ground to expect Heaven only they are already entred Vse 2. It is a ground of Hope we shall all meet together in one Assembly Psal. 1. 5. The Vngodly shall not stand in the Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous Now the Saints are scattered up and down where they may be most useful then all shall be gathered together
his own Glory Page ib. What Glory Christ retained in his Humiliation Page 60 What Glory he wanted Page ib. Our Glory for substance the same that Christ's is Page 325 This is matter of Comfort to Believers and an Encouragement to Holiness Page 325 Glorify God what it is to glorify God Page 49 What it is to sanctify justify and glorify God Page 113 How are we to glorify God Page 12 49 52 How Christ glorified God Page 46 How God was glorified in Christ. Page ib. Why it should be our care to glorify God Page 55 Why we should glorify the Name of God Page 52 Glorify Christ what it is to glorify Christ. Page 115 How Christ was glorified by his Disciples Page 112 Objections against glorifying Christ answered Page 118 Consolations to them that glorify Christ. Page 118 To glorify Christ an Evidence of our Interest in Father Son and Spirit Page 112 The great Condition of the Covenant of Grace Page 113 Gratifies the Aim of God Page 114 Pledg of our Interest in his Intercession Page ibid. Glorification of Christ a Pledg of ours Page 14 63 A Pledg of his Satisfaction Page 14 A Ground of Hope to the Creature Page ib. It fits him to do his People good Page 63 God that there is a God proved Page 33 That God is but one Page 36 One God in 3 Persons the only true God Page 39 Gospel a great Blessing Page 32 The excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospel Page 67 The Motion of the Gospel is directed by the Providence of God Page 279 What of God it discovers to us Page 380 Grace seeming Grace may be lost Page 144 149 Initial or preparative Grace may fail Page 144 True Grace may suffer shrew'd decay Page ibid. The Grace that makes for our well-being in Christ may be taken away Page ibid. If left to our selves would be soon lost Page ibid. We are not to rest satisfied in any degrees of Grace Page 230 No Grace where there is not a sound Apprehension of Truth Page 237 The freeness of Grace in giving us Glory Page 349 Grief at worldly Losses a sign of a worldly Heart Page 208 H. HAppiness Man is at a loss for Happiness after the Fall Page 333 Our Happiness in God compleated by degrees Page 334 Hatred of any Man to be watched against Page 203 Hatred of Godliness the evil of the Sin Page 202 Those that profess Religion may hate one another for their Strictness in Religion Page 202 Hatred of Sin the property of the People of God Page 141 Hatred of the World to be expected by Christians Page 192 Instances of this in Scripture Page 197 Reasons of it Page 193 196 200 This Hatred palliated over with Pretences Page 198 199. That it ariseth from an Antipathy to Godliness proved Page 198 People of God most hated by the worst of Men. Page 198 The best of Men most hated of the World notwithstanding many Excellencies to allay their Malice Page 199 How the People of God should carry themselves under it Page 203 Christians not to be troubled at it Page 196 203 Not to be allayed by carnal meant Page 196 Head of the Church why Christ is Head of the Church as God-Man Page 301 How we should respect Christ as Head of the Church Page 309 Hearing we must take heed that we hear how we hear who we hear Page 239 The necessity of Hearing Page 298 Heart Frame of the Heart how it may be known Page 207 Heaven the Happiness of our being with Christ in Heaven Page 353 Heavenly-mindedness exhorted to Page 126 Heaviness vid. Sadness of Spirit Histories of the Word shew it to be from God Page 261 Holiness the signification of the word Page 137 Difference between the Holiness of God and of the Creature Page 137 In the Creature finite and derivative Page 138 The preciousness of it Page 292 Holiness to be prized Page 140 Deriding Holiness a great Sin Page 140 Holiness a good preparative to the Ministry and why Page 230 No coming to God in Prayer but in an holy State Page 140 What this holy State is Page 141 Holiness of God the various Significations of it Page 136 What it is Page 137 The Properties of it Page 137 Essential to God Page 137 His Glory Page 139 Sight of God's Holiness makes us prize Christ. Page 139 How we should draw nigh to God as an holy God vid. Sanctification Page 140 Holy Father when we pray to God we must look on him as a Holy Father Page 137 Reasons of it Page 138 139 Why Christ useth this Title in Prayer to God Page 136 Hope of Heaven the Certainty of it Page 350 The grounds of it Page 363 370 It raiseth a Believer above the World Page 205 It maintains Ioy. Page 189 Human Nature of Christ the Innocency of it Page 281 Reasons why Châ—ist's humane Nature must be innocent Page 288 Hypocrisy one of Judas's Sins Page 175 To be avoided Page 178 I. IDleness the Mischief of it Page 53 Jesus what the Word signifies vid. Saviour Page 42 How we should own Christ as Jesuâ— Page 43 Ignorance the danger of it Page 376 The sad Condition of ignorant People Page 90 Incarnation Christ was incarnate to promote Vnity among Christians Page 161 Intercession of Christ the Nature of it Page 103 Christ is the Intercessor Page 101 The advantage of Christ's being the Intercessor Page 101 The Advantage Priviledg and Fruits of Christ's Intercession Page 14 103 How we may know what Christ is interceeding for in Heaven Page 183 Interest of Christ in Believers Page 134 Interest of God in Believers Page 71 107 Evidences of God's Interest in us Page 109 Ground of Comfort Page 111 God's Interest in his People moveth him to Mercy Page 108 To be urged by Saints in Prayer Page 108 Christ pleads it as an Argument in Prayer Page 71 Interest of Believers in God and Christ. Page 159 Joy the great use of it in the spiritual Life Page 184 The Causes of Spiritual Joy Page 189 How it is maintained vid. Rejoycing Page 189 Some Observations concerning Spiritual Joy Page 185 It ariseth more from Hope than Possession Page 185 It is felt more in Adversity than Prosperity and why Page 185 The feeling of this Joy an uncertain thing Page 186 It mars the taste of carnal Pleasures Page 185 Joy of Believers why called Christ's Joy Page 182 Christ took care to leave his People joyful when he left the World Page 183 What a kind of Joy this was Page 183 His Heart was much set upon it Page 184 Reasons of it Page 184 Joyful Spirit an Honour to Religion Page 185 A Delight to God Page 185 K. KEeping the Word what it signifies Page 80 81 That it is the duty of God's People Page 81 Kept Believers kept in a State of Grace vid. Preservation What it is to be under Christ's keeping Page 171 Keeping of Christ extends to Body and Soul Page 169 172 Various
with his Death II. That the Sacraments are a solemn means of this Communion Here are three things 1. That Union with Christ is the ground of our Communion with him 2. This Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments 3. That both the Sacraments do chiefly refer to Christs Death 1. That Union with Christ is the ground of Communion with him This is evident every where for it is said 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption We are first ingrafted into Christ and then partake of his influence and he conveyeth to us all manner of Grace and is the cause both of our Justification and Sanctification and final Deliverance So 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life Christ is the first gift first God giveth Christ to us and with him all things Rom. 8.32 Christ himself is the first saving gift and therefore before we can have spiritual life we must have Christ himself who is offered to us in the Promises of the Gospel principally and immediately to be received by us and with him all his benefits as the Members receive sense and life and motion from the Head and the Branches sap from the Root We have not what he hath purchased unless we have him first as we are not possessors of Adams guilt till we are united to his person by carnal generation so not of the grace of the Redeemer till united to him by effectual calling In short Christ hath purchased and the Father hath given all things into Christs own hands the gifts and graces of the Spirit are not intrusted with our selves but him we have so foully miscarried already that God will no more trust his Honour in our hands we have nothing but what we have in and from the Son The Spirit dwelleth in Christ and there it can never be lost he dwelleth in Christ by way of radication in us by way of influence and operation We have many disputes about the inhabitation of the Spirit the Spirit is not given to any Believer immediately but to Christ and to us derivatively from Christ. Therefore the Spirit i◠called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 and the Spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 and 't is Christ liveth in us Gal. 2.20 and as head of the Church he filleth all in all Eph. 1.22 23. From this great Cistern the Waters of Life come to us and not immediately from the Godhead and it is our Head which doth communicate and send to all his Members from Himself that Spirit which must operate in them as they have need this Grace our Mediator distributeth to all his Members 2. That this Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments and so they are special means to preserve and uphold the Communion between Christ and us Baptism is spoken of in the Text and that is called a being baptized into Christ nnd is elsewhere said to be a putting on Christ and here v. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a being planted together in the likeness of his death and 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body and are all made to drink into one Spirit The Union is begun by the Spirit but sealed in Baptism then carried on by the same Spirit and further sealed in the Lords Supper Our first implantation is represented by Baptism which is a Solemnization of the New Covenant whereby the Party is solemnly entred a visible Member of Christ and his Church It is carried on by the same spirit the Lords Supper is a Seal of that Communion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we bless is it not the communion of the body of Christ There is not only a solemn Commemoration of the Death and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ but a Participation of his Benefits it is the Communion of his Body and Blood There is a difference between an Historical Representation of Christs Death and a spiritual Communion of his Blood and Body Now the Lords Supper is an holy Rite instituted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in remembrance of him and also to convey to us the benefits of Christs Death Well then you see this Union and Communion is signified and sealed by the Sacraments Baptism is our first implantation and the Lords Supper concerneth our growth and nourishment the external and visible incorporation is by Baptism or Profession of the Christian Faith which all visible Christians have Joh. 15.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit The real and saving Union belongeth to the Regenerate who really believe in Christ in their hearts Christ dwelleth Eph. 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and love is requisite 1 Joh. 4.16 God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and new obedience 1 Joh. 3.24 He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby know we that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us This is the summ then Christ maketh his first entrance into us by his Spirit who regenerateth us this is figured in Baptism continueth his Presence by Faith Love and New Obedience which are exercised and quickened by the Lords Supper 3. The Sacraments do chiefly relate to our Communion with Christs Death as appeareth 1. By the interpretation of both in Scripture Baptism is explained in the Text the chief thing represented is his Death and by what is said 1 Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the name of Paul Whence I gather that for any to have been crucified made a Curse and a Sacrifice to God for us would draw an obligation upon us to be baptized into his Name And that one peculiar reason of our being baptized into the Name of Christ was his having been so crucified for us The Lords Supper is explained 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come The use of the Lords Supper is a solemn Commemoration and Annunciation of the Lords Death We annunciate and shew it forth with respect to our selves that we may anew believe and exercise our Faith with respect to others that we may solemnly profess this Faith in the crucified Saviour with a kind of glorying and rejoycing with respect to God that we may plead the Merits of the Sacrifice of his own Son with affiance expecting the benefits thereof which are Pardon and the sanctifying Spirit Thus you see Christ hath instituted two Sacraments which represent him dead not one to represent him glorified This signification
strengthen your resolutions and increase your dependence that in these means you may meet with more incouragement then come and see what Christ will do for you 2. As to the Lords Supper your great business here is to commemorate Christs Death who is evidently set forth and as it were crucified before your eyes Now you you do not commemorate his Death as a Tragical story but as a Mystery of Godliness and therefore you are to look to the end of it which is the destruction of sin This is what man needeth this is that which God offereth 1. This is needed by man we are undone for ever if sin be not destroyed We may take up the Churches words Lament 5.11 The crown is fallen from our head we unto us that we have sinned If we had a broken hearted sense of what we have brought upon our selves by sin we would more prize our remedy we come to be saved from sin and so by consequence from Wrath and Hell and shall we be cold in such addresses to God while we have so much sin in us 2. This is offered by God His great intention of sending Christ into the World was to be a propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins and therefore he set him forth in the Gospel Rom. 3.24 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood How is it offered 1. It is dearly purchased by the Death of Christ that was the price paid for our Ransom which both commendeth his Love Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us and assureth ouâ— confidence Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things 2. It is freely offered Isa. 55.1 Hâ— every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Rev. 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely These blessings come freely to you though they cost Christ dear 3. It is surely sealed and conveyed to every penitent Believer for God by Deed and Instrument reacheth out to every Believer the Body and Blood of our crucified Saviour or the benefits of Christs Death To others it is a Nullity the whole Duty is lost to them who regard iniquity in their hearts Therefore resolve without any reservation to devote your selves to God always to watch and strive against sin SERMON III. ROM VI. 4 Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life THE words are a proof that we are baptized into Christs Death the Apostle proveth it by explaining the Rites of Baptism The ancient manner of Baptism was to dip the Parties baptized and as it were to bury them under water for a while and if Baptism hath the Figure of a Burial but with an hope to rise again then it signifieth two things Christs Death and Resurrection the one directly and formally the other by consequence and our Communion with him in both Therefore we are buried with him in Baptism c. In the words the Apostle speaketh 1. Of something directly and primarily signified in Baptism We are buried with him c. 2. Of something by just consequence and inference thence That like as c. 1. That which is primarily and directly signified in Baptism We are buried with him in Baptism into his death the like expression you have Col. 2.12 Buried with him in Baptism wherein also ye are risen with him The putting the baptized Person into the Water denoteth and proclaimeth the Burial of Christ and we by submitting to it are baptized with him or profess to be dead to sin for none but the dead are buried So that it signifieth Christs Death for sin and our dying unto sin You will say If the Rite hath this signification and use why is it not retained I answer Christianity lyeth not in Ceremonies the principal thing in Baptism is the washing away of sin Acts 22.16 Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins that may be done by pouring on of water as well as dipping Other things were used about Baptism then as the stripping themselves of their cloaths even to stark nakedness whence came the notions of putting off and putting on so frequently used Eph. 4.22 24. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man and Col. 3.9 10. Seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man c. Gal. 3.27 As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Now none rigorously urge the continuance of these Ceremonies as long as the substance is retained we may not quarrel about the manner 2. That which was signified with just consequence and inference is our conforming to Christs resurrection Baptism referreth to this also as a significant Emblem for the going out of the water is a kind of resurrection so it signifieth Christs Resurrection and ours Now our resurrection is double to the life of Grace spoken of here and called the first Resurrection or to the life of Glory Baptism relateth to that also 1 Cor. 15.29 else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead Baptism is a putting in and taking out of the water or a being buried with an hope to rise The former is intended here our rising to the life of Grace All this abundantly proveth that those which are dead to sin cannot live any longer therein In the latter Clause the Pattern of Christs Resurrection is first propounded then applied the Protasis the Apodosis 1. The Protasis or the Proposal of the Pattern like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father 2. The Conformity or Similitude on our part even so we should walk in newness of life 1. In the Pattern propounded you may observe two things First Christs state after his Burial he was raised up from the dead Secondly The efficient Cause by the glory of the Father that is by his glorious Power as it is explained 2 Cor. 13.4 He was crucified through weakness but he liveth by the power of God and elsewhere by the glory of God is meant his power So Joh. 11.40 If thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God that is his Power in raising Lazarus to life The agreement to this purpose is observable of Eph. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be
of God as not in Christ so not in us the head was to bear his share and the members their share and because the cross and sufferings are a means conducing to conformity to Christ in holiness and happiness for whom he did foreknow c. In the words observe 1. The way God took in bringing his children unto glory by conformity to Christ in those words To be conformed to the image of his Son 2. The grounds of this conformity set forth by two words foreknowledge and predestination whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate 3. The reason of this conformity to Christ that he might be the first-born among many brethren that is that he might have the priviledge of the elder Son or the true and proper heir the elder Son was to be the head of the family and lord of all the rest of the brethren Let us explain these things 1. The way and end aimed at to conform us to the image of his Son That is in resemblance to Christ that we might enter into glory the way by which Christ entred by a life of sufferings and hardness 2. The grounds of this conformity Gods foreknowledge and predestination The first of these terms implieth his gracious purpose to save us foreknowing here is chusing or taking them for his own from all eternity 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God That is according to the eternal purpose of his love to them For having all Adams posterity in his eye and view he freely chose them they were in a sort present to God and in his eye before the foundation of the world so that his foreknowledge is his purpose to do them good the other word predestination is his appointing them to come to glory by the way of faith and holiness for to destinate is to appoint or order means to a certain end and to predestinate is to appoint aforehand and this predestinating is used of Gods act because when man willeth or chuseth or ordereth any thing it presupposeth an antecedent goodness in the things which he willeth or chuseth or an antecedent conveniency in the thing ordered to the end to which it is appointed which is prudent destination but when God chuseth or willeth or ordereth any thing he causeth this goodness or conveniency to be in it and therefore 't is properly called predestination Well then observe Not things but persons are here spoken of whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate his foreknowledge implyeth his favour and his choice John 10.14 I am the good shepherd that know my sheep and am known of mine and verse 27. I know them and they follow me And his predestination is his appointing them to come to such an end by convenient means sometimes 't is applied to priviledges sometimes to duties to priviledges because of the conveniency of antecedent and subsequent priviledges so Eph. 1.5 He hath predestinated us to the adoption of children 't is fit we should be made children before we have a right to a childs portion therefore God by predestinating us to the adoption of children maketh us fit to obtain the inheritance Sometimes to duties as to faith Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed and in the text to holiness he did predestinate us to be conformed to the image of his Son that is by predestination he bringeth it to pass that in time they do resemble Christ. The order and course of Gods saving the elect must not be broken he hath decreed and forecasteth by what means he will bring them to glory in short foreknowledge and predestination agree in that both are eternal but they differ in the formality of the notion foreknowledge noteth his choice or the purpose of his love predestination his decree to bring things to a certain end by certain appointed means and so he did fore ordain and design them by conformity to Christ in life and suffering to come to coelestial glory and thus by foreknowing he did predestinate and by predestinating he did fore-know 3. The reason of this conformity to Christ that he might be the first-born among many brethren That is that he might have the honour due to the first born the first born was lord of the rest of the family Gen. 27.31 I have made him thy lord and the rest of his brethren have I given to him for servants The first born gave to the rest of his brethren a share of his fathers goods reserving to himself a double portion Deut. 21.17 Now this is applied to Christ who is Lord of the Church or head of the body Col. 1.18 and heir of all things Heb. 1.2 And by vertue of this relation to the Church he must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first it in all things or as we translate it he must in all things have the preeminence Col 1.18 in our conflicts and tryals he is the captain of our salvation Heb. 2.10 in holiness he is our pattern or copy 2 Cor. 3.18 primum in unquoque genere est mensura regula Coeterorum in our glory and blessedness he is our forerunner Heb. 6.20 having actuali◠taken possession of that felicity and glory which he spake of to his followers so that Christs honour is reserved and believers are comforted whilest they follow their Head and Leader in every state and condition Doct. That the elect are in time distinguished from others by being conformed to the image of Christ. 1. Wherein this conformity to Christ consisteth 2. Why this is the distinction between the elect or called according to purpose and others 1. Wherein this conformity to Christ consisteth I answer In Three things 1. In sufferings and afflictions In our passage to a better estate As by the bounty of God we tast somewhat of the world to sweeten our pilgrimage so also somewhat of the evil of the world to make us hasten our journey and herein we are made conformable to Christ who was a man of sorrows Isa. 53.3 This must be expected by us for John 15.20 The servant is not greater than the Lord if they have persecuted me they will persecute you also Art thou poor none of us is so poor as Christ was Hast thou many enemies he had more and was pursued with greater malignity It must be patiently indured by us 1 Pet. 2.21 Because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps we that look for his glory must bear his cross Now he calleth us to no harder lot than he himself endured or to go in any part of rough way that he hath not trod before us surely they that fancy to themselves an easie life free from all kind of sufferings and molestations must seek another leader 2 Tim. 2.11 12. If ye be dead with him ye shall also live with him if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him We must be like him whom we have chosen for our head and chief in
one to convince the other to excite and rowse us up By sin man is an enemy to God and hateth him As to the punishment God is an enemy to man and will avenge himself upon him What greater sin than to be enemies to God What greater misery than that God should be an enemy to us Surely where both these are joyned it should awaken us and we should get out of this Condition as fast as we can 1. We are enemies and rebels to God In our natural estate we are all so We will not own this and are ready to defy any that should say we are Gods enemies or haters of God we count him to be a most profligate and forlorn wretch that should profess himself to be so That little spark of Conscience that is left in corrupt nat re will not suffer men openly to own themselves to be so They are ready to say as Hazael Is thy Servant a Dog that I should do this thing Yet the matter is clear we are in our natural estate enemies to God 1. 'T is possible that humane nature may be so far forsaken as that among men there should be found haters of God and enemies to him Rom. 1.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haters of God And Psa. 139.21 Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee There are an opposite party to God in the World some that hate him as well as some that love him some that walk contrary to him that oppose his interest oppress his Servants Psa. 83.2 They that hate thee are risen up against us without a cause The thing is possible then all the business is to find who they are 2. There are open enemies to God and secret enemies The open enemies are such as bid defiance to him Blaspheming his name and breaking his Laws opposing his interests and oppressing his Servants The open enmity is declared the secret is carryed on under a pretence of friendship by their living in the Church and having a form of Godliness and a blind zeal John 16.2 Not only Turks and Infidels and Apostates but also prophane Wretches though they live within the verge of the Church yet if they go on still in their trespasses Psa. 68.21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of all those that go on in their trespasses If they oppose whatsoever of God is â—et a â—oot in their days they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 5.39 Fighters against God And Acts 23.9 Let us not fight against God Or if they oppose his Servants if they be not lovers of those which are good 2 Tim. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 despisers of those which are good God and his people have one Common Interest Those that malign his Servants hate him for they hate his Image Pro. 29.27 The upright in his way is an abomination to the wicked There is a secret rising of heart against those that are stricter and have more of the Image of God then they There is an old enmity between the seeds as between the Raven and the Dove the Wolf and the Lamb now this is enmity against God 3. There are enemies to God directly and formally and implicitely and by Interpretation Directly and formally where there is a positive enmity against God whether secret or open The expressions of the open enmity against God have been already mentioned An hatred of his ways and a rage against his Servants The secret positive enmity is seen in the effect of slavish fear which only apprehendeth God as an avenger of sin And so men hate those whom they fear We have wronged God exceedingly and know that he will call us to an account and being sensible of a Revenge we hate him All that are afraid of God with such a fear as hath torment in it aut extinctum Deum cupiunt aut exarmatum 'T is a pleasing thought to them if no God Psal. 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God As the Devils tremble at their own thoughts of God it would be welcome news to them if there were none These are enemies directly and formally But now by Interpretation that will make us more work Certainly there is such a thing as hatred by Interpretation As appeareth Pro. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul All that hate me love Death So where 't is said He that spareth the Rod hateth his Son Pro. 18.24 His fault is fond indulgence but a wrong love is an Interpretative hatred Now apply it to the case between us and God and those that pretend no such thing can be charged upon them may yet hate God Three ways we may be guilty of this Interpretative hatred and enmity 1. If we love not God at all For not to love is to hate in things worthy to be loved there is no medium For he that is not with God is against him Matth. 12.30 And he that loveth him not hateth him To be a neuter is to be a Rebel And you speak all manner of misery to that man of whom you may say that he loveth not God So Christ brandeth his enemies Joh. 5.42 But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you They pleaded zeal for the Sabbath and opposed Christ for working a miracle on that day Men are in a woful Condition if they be void of the true love of God love being the Fountain of desiring Communion with God and the Root of all sound obedience to him And certainly if men love not God being so deeply ingaged and God so deserving their love they hate him and are enemies to him there being no neutral or middle estate 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 'T is danger enough not to love him though we break not out into open opposition against his ways 2dly If we love him not so much as we ought to do or not so much as we love some other thing for a lesser love is hatred in the sacred dialect as we see in the Law of the hated wife not that the one was not loved at all or absolutely hated but not loved so much as the others Deut. 21.15 16. So in that Proverb Pro. 14.20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour but the Rich hath many friends There hatred is taken for slighting or a less degree of love So in this case between us and God Matth. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me in Luke 't is said Luke 14.26 If any man hate not Father and Mother and Brother and Sisters he cannot be my Disciple Here to love less is to hate So Matth. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will hold to the one and despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon God is of that excellent nature that to esteem any thing