amongst the Jews did falsly accuse Christ with being a vicious person the men of that generation those who were the men of the times then they said of the Son of Man Behold a gluttonous person and a wine bibber a friend of Publicanes and sinners But saith he Wisdom is justified of all her Children All the Children of Christ and the Gospel know that this is but a slander Luk. 7. 31-35 Matt. 11. 16-19 There is no other Doctrine besides that so sheweth the vileness of sin and necessity of our being washed therefrom in the blood of Christ as doth this Doctrine of the Gospel For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Titus 2. 11-14 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Rom. 5. 18. with chap. 6. 1-3 But this slander of theirs is the issue of their ignorance and prejudice and what better fruit can be expected from such evil and bitter roots 3. This instruction may also shew unto us the great evil of those that deny that Christ hath died for all and by the grace of God tasted death for every man for these render it impossible for the greatest part of men to be made partakers of that darable riches and righteousness in Christ The Doctrine of the Gospel maketh the gate unto life strait enough and yet no straiter then is needful But these shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to enter The little finger of this Doctrine is heavier then the loyns of the Gospel to the greatest part of man kind Nay indeed as with respect to one part of men there is no straitness in the gate at all and with reference to the other and greatest part there is no gate open for them at all were their doctrines as true as they are counted by many But these herein are false witnesses of God and like the evil spies that brought an evil report upon the Land of Canaan and thereby discouraged the hearts of many of their brethren Take we heed and beware of those evil and pernicious doctrines that cause to err from the words of knowledg and way of truth 4. Seeing we cannot have these heavenly commodities without buying in selling all that we have let us so seriously consider the excellency of them that we may be made willing to let go all things as loâ—s and dung 〈◊〉 for the excellency of the knowledg of them that we may be made partakers of them For the great and eternal worth and excellency of these considered will make this yoke easy ano this burden light And this leadeth us to the last instruction propounded to be considered by us viz. 4. That to the end the wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked may buy this gold tried in the fire and this white raiment here commended to us it is good and neeful for them that they anoint their eyes with eye salve that they may see This though the last mentioned and counselled unto is surely needful to the former for without knowledg the soul cannot be good Prov. 19. 2. How should any man so highly prize any commodity as to part with all his substance for it that seeth no worth or excellency in it And how should Christ's Angels and Churches part with all they have for those heavenly treasures if they see no beauty in them why they should desire them There is no earnest desire after or high prizing of that which we are ignorant of and see no worthiness in Now then in this Instruction here propounded we shall speak unto these three things contained therein which may be usefully and profitably considered by us As to say 1. That Christ's Angels and Churches may be blind and ignorant of the excellency of Christ and those treasures in him 2. That there is eye-salve prepared for such blind ones also wherewith anointing their eyes they may see 3. That to the end they buy Christ and that in him it is neeful they anoint their eyes herewith that they may see 1. That Christ's Angels and Churches may so depart from him as to become blind and ignorant of the excellency of Christ and of those treasures hid in him Thus it appeareth here in this place in which our Lord saith to the Angel Thou art blind and counselleth every one that hath an ear to hear what the spirit saith to the Churches as intimating this was spoken to them all for their admonition and that it might so befall them also if they did not look diligently lest they failed of or fell from the grace of God God's people may become foolish and not know him they may be sottish children and have no understanding Jer. 4. 22. Yea the Pastours may become brutish and not seek the Lord. Jer. 10. 19-21 The blindness here spoken of is not the being destitute of natural or artificial wisdom the wisdom of this world for this men may have and yet be sufficiently blind in this consideration we have to speal of for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God Where is the wise Where is the Scribe Where is the disputer of this world Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world 1 Cor. 3. 19. and chap. 1. 18-21 But the blindness here spoken of is a being without the wisdom that is from above a being destitute of spiritual understanding And so this Angel was blind if not wholly yet in a great measure and in so great a measure as that our Saviour the wisdom of God signifieth that he was blind Those that are watchmen amongst God's people and who have high conceits of themselves for knowledg and piety may yet have their eyes blinded with darkness His watchmen saith the Lord are blind they are all ignorant there may be blind guides blind leaders of the blind and how sad is it when it is thus Then surely their leaders cause them to err and they that are led of them are destroyed Isa 56. 10. 3. 12. 9. 16. Matt. 15. 14. 23. 24. Jer. 2. 8. This Angel and Church might be in such a condition as the Apostle Peter speaketh of when he saith He that lacketh these things to wit these great and precious promises ministred in and with the Gospel he in whom these are not and abound not dwell not richly so as he addeth not to his faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly-kindness and to brotherly-kindness charity such an one is blind and cannot see afarr off he is poreblind He may see some things near hand but he is so blind he cannot see these things afarr off he cannot see within the vail he cannot see into Heaven where Christ is nor those things above where he sitteth Deut. 30. 11 12.
cometh out again and is Gold tried only the Dross and mixture is taken out so it is here this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold which was in the fire and was then Gold the most precious one even he the same Jesus who dyed for our sins and was buried he in that very personal body is raised again discharged from the guilt of our sins and free from the fruits thereof God did not leave his Soul which was made an Offering for our sins Isa 53. 10 in Hell nor suffer his Flesh in which he was put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18 to see corruption Acts 2. 27-31 So the Apostle Peter saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He that descended is the same also that assended far above all Heavens even into the presence of God that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 8-10 The Stone which the builders set at nought and disallowed the same is made the head of the Corner 1 Pet. 2. 7. It is even he the same person who was delivered for us that is raised again and taken from prison and judgment And in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily even in the body of his flesh Col. 2. 9 10. And this same Jesus shall so come in like manner As those men of Galilee saw him go into Heaven Acts 1. 9. 11. And herein is he preferred before David He fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption and his Sepulchre is with us saith Peter unto this day but Christ whom God raised again saw no corruption Acts 13. 36 37. 2. 29-32 And Christ in those fourty days after his resurrection in which he was seen of his Apostles Shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs Acts 1. 2 3. And shewed them his hands and his feet that were nailed to the Tree and his side that was pierced with a Spear of a Souldier and his Disciples did see and look upon and handle his raised body by which it appeared he was not a Spirit simply but hath a body that hath flesh and bones And these infallible proofs are given us that we may know and be assured That Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing in him we may have life through his name Luke 24. 36-40-48 John 20. 19-31 And of this the Apostles are Witnesses and have testified That he is the first born from the dead brought forth out of the heart or Womb of the Earth as Jonas was out of the Belly of the Whale Mat. 12. 40. Col. 1. 18. Rev. 1. 5. And it is he that person that same Jesus that is very Christ Acts 9. 22. Anointed with the Holy-Ghost And in him this first-born from the dead it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell even all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and so he is become Gold for us and hath the pre-eminence in all things Col. 1. 18 19. 2. 9 10. And hath all Dominion given unto him Because he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross therefore hath God highly exalted him and given him who so humbled himself a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bowe c. Philip. 2. 8 9. And it is needful and good for us to be rooted and grounded in the hearty perswasion and belief hereof that we may be saved and preserved from those evil and Antichristian Spirits that say There is no resurrection of the dead and so by consequence that Christ is not raised again and then we are yet in our sins and the Apostles are found false Witnesses of God and faith is vain and those who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished But Christ is risen from the dead and is become Gold for us even the same that was tried in the fire 1 Cor. 15. 3 4-12-20 And herein he answereth to nay infinitely exceedeth and goeth beyond Gold that is the most incorruptible Metal Yet it will perish though tried with fire 1 Pet. 1. 7. It may canker and rust Jam. 5. 3. And is called a corruptible thing 1 Pet. 1. 18. But his Blood is said to be and is precious as opposed to corruptible of infinite value and worth and highly to be esteemed by us because it is incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And he himself in his own body in which he died for us is in the virtue of his precious and incorruptible Blood raised again no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. And is become incorruptible Seed even the Word of God which by the Gospel is preached unto us he liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Isa 40. 8. And whosoever is born of this Seed shall live for ever this man continueth ever and therefore hath an unchangeable Priesthood He was dead and is alive and liveth for evermore and whosoever believeth on him though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth and believeth shall never dye 1 John 2. 17. John 11. 25 26. In such like respects he is said to be Gold tried in the fire 3. In the next place let us consider what is imported to us in the end why he counselleth this Angel to buy which is also a powerful Motive and Argument used to move us to have such an high estimate of this Gold as to buy it at any rate That thou mayst be rich To which I shall speak more briefly because what is intimated herein hath been noted formerly In this end then is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this Gold tried in the fire they cannot indeed be rich or inriched with the true riches but are poor miserable Creatures in the eyes of him that judgeth righteously though they have large possessions much Gold and a multitude of Rubies We may apply that saying of the Prophet to them Surely these are poor For they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 4. Alass all the substance here below will not procure the love and favour of God in which is life Cant 8. 7. These riches will not deliver from the stroke of Gods hand or from the Testimonies of his displeasure Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold c. Job 36. 18 19. They profit not in the day of wrath or death Zeph. 1. 18. Prov. 11. 4. They are deceitful riches they promise somewhat or rather we promise to our selves much contentment and blessedness in the enjoyment and possession of them but they are not there is no substantial and durable good in them That rich man in the Parable whose ground brought forth plentifully so as he was careful and thoughtful how to dispose of his fruits not having room where to bestow them and therefore resolved to pull down his Barns and build greater and there to dispose all his fruits
life Joh. 6. 27. Riches and honour are with him yea durable riches his fruit is better then Gold yea then fine gold and therefore those that love him shall inherit substance and he will fill all their treasures Prov. 8. 18 21. He hath riches of understanding in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and they that receive and retain him their hearts are comforted with and they are made partakers of the riches of assurance of understanding Col. 2. 1 3. They are made partakers of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ which knowledge hath an excellency in it above all other knowledge it passeth all knowledge for here-through they are filled with all the fulness of God Phil. 3. 8. with Ephes 3. 10. By this knowledge their Chambers their upper and principal parts their minds understandings hearts and souls be filled with all precious and pleasant riches Prov. 24. 4. Christ is made of God to them wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. He hath riches of mercy Rom. 9. 23. He is rich therein Ephes 2. 4. And they are blessed with this great blessedness and inriched with these great riches who have and retain him even the weakest in the faith their sins are forgiven them for his name sake and they receive the forgiveness of them through his name 1 Joh. 2. 12. Rom. 4. 5. 7. He is rich in mercy to all that through faith in his blood call upon him they are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Rom. 10. 12. with Acts 10. 43. 13. 38 39. He hath riches of grace he is full thereof Joh. 1. 14. And of his fulness they that receive him receive and grace for grace vers 16. So as they are made sons of God by grace they obtain that favour of the Lord. Joh. 1. 12. And what admirable grace is this according to that Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us who were by nature the children of wrath even as others Ephes 2. 3. that we should be called the sons of God 1 Joh. 3. 1. This is marvelous grace and favour and because they are sons they have the spirit of grace given unto them even the spirit of God's Son whereby they cry Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. They have the treasures of righteousness given unto them Christ is made of God to them righteousness and they are made accepted in and cloathed upon with him Prov. 10. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Ephes 1. 6. And have liberty and freedome to come with boldness to the throne of grace that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 16. And they are heirs together of the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. He is very rich and inriching and evidenced so to be in that length of days is in his right hand God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son â—he that hath the Son hath life Prov. 3. 14-16 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. And this is so inriching that it is powerful to take off our minds from the things here below according to that set your affection on things above and not on things on the earth for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Moâ—tify therefore your members that are upon the earth Col. 3. 1-3 4. He hath riches of Glory God hath set a Crown of pure Gold on his head and given him glory and he shall appear in his glory and those that receive and have him are called to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Psal 21. 2. 3-5 Col. 3. 4. Titus 2. 13. 2 Thes 2. 14. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Yea what shall we say Though they that have him are as having nothing yet in injoying him they are as possessing all things now by faith some spiritual first fruits and hereafter they shall possess and be possessed of them in a glorious injoyment and fruition of them In the fear and worship of the Lord are riches honour and life Prov. 22. 4. This is the way then for those that are wretched and poor and miserable to become truly rich in buying this gold tried in the fire for the Lamb hath worthily received riches Rev. 5. 12. And with him God freely giveth all things Rom. 8. 32. What a great incouragement then and motive to us all is this to hearken unto and come to Christ to seek him till we find him which we shall do in seeking him in his way for that good name of his is rather to be sought after and chosen then great riches and his loving kindness rather then silver and gold Prov. 22. 1. How much better is it to get Wisdom then Gold And to get understanding is rather to be chosen then choice silver Prov. 16. 16. Hence when the holy Ghost saith the fruit of wisdom is better then gold yea then much fine gold he afterwards saith Now therefore hearken unto me O ye children c. Prov. 8. 16-20-32-34 Aswell as also it is useful to admonish them that have those riches here below not to despise the poor of this world that are in Christ and walk after the spirit for they are truly rich So much the Apostle James saith to them who did despise the poor and lightly esteem them Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 5. They in having Christ Jesus have in and with him in Heaven by faith a better and an induring substance better substance then that of this world and that which is induring whereas these riches below are uncertain Heb. 10. 34. And they are quickened to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and which sadeth not away reserved in Heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation c. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Yea they that have the word of reconciliation in their hearts and have it fitted to their lips how poor soever they are in this world yet they have a treasure in earthen vessels by which they are indebted to and do inrich others also Rom. 1. 14 15. 2 Cor. 4. 7. with chapt 6. 10. And this might therefore warn others and especially those that have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ not to despise these poor ones for how poor soever they are amongst men and as with respect to the riches of this world yet Christ hath loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood and hath made them Kings and priests unto God and they shall reign on the earth Rev. 1. 5 6. 5. 9 10. Yea and the consideration hereof that those that have Christ have in and with him unsearchable riches is proper and powerful to comfort such against those occasions of sadness
they confess not their proper iniquity for which God is rebuking them or they extenuate and excuse it Job 20. 12 13. Sometimes they seek to cover one sin with another and add sin to sin that they may cover their shame As sometimes men seek to cover their adultery or uncleanness with murder or with some other sin 2 Sam. 11. 4-8-13-15 12. 12. Or to hide their theft by lying or by swearing and forswearing thinking this way to clear themselves Lev. 6. 2 3. 19. 11 12. Prov. 30. 9. Yea this way of lying is a general covering men have wherewith they think to cover their other evils not from men onely but from God also to which Satan is tempting men powerfully and in and walking in which they are very like to Satan for he useth lying in all his sinning at first and always from the beginning When he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it Jer. 2. 23 35. Joh. 8. 44. And great need have we every one of us to pray with David remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously Psal 119. 29. Sometimes men think to cover their evils by committing them in secret and in the dark The murderer in the night is as a Thief The eye also of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying none eye shall see me and disguiseth his face In the dark they dig through houses they know not the light for the morning is to them even as the shadow of death if one know them they are in the terrours of the shadow of death Job 24. 14-17 22. 12-17 Isa 29. 15 16. So those that persecute and murder the innocent many times do it in the dark or in secret pretending that they are enemies to them not because they worship God but because they are deceivers and malefactours Ezek. 9. 9. Joh. 18. 30. 19. 12. So those that walk in abominable idolatry act it in the dark many times Ezek. 8. 7-12 And generally those gross lusts and evils are therefore called works of darkness because men commit and serve them in the dark Rom. 13. 12 13. 1 Thes 5. 7. And hereby the workers of iniquity think to hide themselves though they are greatly mistaken and deceived For there is no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 34. 21 22. Sometimes men think to cover their other evils with hypocrisie feigning and pretending themselves to be worshippers of God and religious persons that they may continue in their sins unsuspected Mal. 2. 13. Matt. 23. 14 15. So those that came to intangle our Saviour in his talk that they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governour feigned themselves just men Luk. 20. 20-23 And of Israel generally it is said every one is an hypocrite and an evil deer they thought to cover their evil doings with their hypocrifie Isa 9. 17. Sometimes and too frequently men think to hide their sin and shame by charging God foolishly therewith Thus Adam sought to hide his iniquity by laying it secretly upon God himself as if he were the cause of it Gen. 3. 12. And men bely the holy one and think this way to cover their transgressions either 1. By saying he is the author of their sin and moveth them to what is evil as too too many do who say all is of God and therefore there is no sin or that God perswadeth and inclineth them to evil Nay the holy Ghost seeth it needful to give this warning to the believers themselves Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man Jam. 1. 13. Oh what wickedness is in our hearts Rather then we will take shame to our selves and acknowledge our evils we are naturally ready to condemn him who is most just and to impute evil to him who is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness yea who is of purer eyes then to behold evil Psal 5. 5 6. Hab. 1. 13. Rather then cry guilty we would make him who is holy and none is holy as he like the Devil himself who is called and is the tempter and wicked one emphatically Or 2. Men would excuse themselves and lay the fault upon God by saying God doth not seasonably give them grace and if God would have given them grace they would have done better like that wicked and slothful servant who said he was an austere master reaping where he had not sown and gathering where he had not strown Matt. 25. 24-26 So men would wipe their own mouthes and secretly signify they could not abstain from such or such evils they had no power in themselves and God withheld from them his grace Whereas indeed the grace of God in due time bringeth salvation to all men in the receiving whereof they might be kept from their iniquities See what the holy Ghost saith to such an intimately evil charge Mica 2. 7. O thou who art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned Are these thy evils and iniquities his doings as intimating they are none of his doings because his spirit is not straitned but he is graciously and seasonably calling unto them O do not this abominable thing which I hate And while he calleth he stretcheth forth his hand that men might lay hold on his strength and be preserved from that which causeth shame The spirit indeed which dwelleth in us lusteth to envy and to all that is evil but he giveth more grace grace abounding our natural corruption while he calleth to us wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud that receive not or receive not to purpose his grace but giveth grace continually and more abundantly to the humble that turn at his reproofs and in the light and strength of his grace Jam. 4. 5 6. Many such like coverings our wisdom leadeth us to make use of to hide the shame of our nakedness withall in which we do but add sin to sin and think to hide our shame with what is shameful but alass none of these will avail us for Hell is naked before him and destruction hath no covering Hell and destruction are before the Lord how much more then the hearts and ways of the children of men Job 26. 6. Prov. 15. 11. Job 34. 21. 28. 11. Dan. 2. 22. Jer. 16. 17. And he will hereafter bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart 1 Cor. 4. 5. Job 20. 12 13. Yea now while it is called to day and for our good while we make it our work thus to cover our shame and sin he will make it his work to discover and reveal it Psal 32. 2-5 2 Sam. 12. 12. Nor can any cover the shame of their nakedness or wash away their filth by any washings sanctifyings and purifyings of their own But
possessed of That which is said of Wisdom may be said of this also it is more precious then Rubies and all the things we can desire are not to be compared herewith Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living It cannot be gotten for Gold neither shall Silver be weighed for the price thereof it cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire c. Prov. 3. 13-15 8. 10 11. 16. 16. Joh. 3. 31. Jam. 3. 17. It is even the Lord himself and what is treasured up in him and all nations are before him as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity To whom then shall we liken him or what likeness shall we compare unto him Isa 40. 15-18-25 46. 5 6. The world and all the things thereof and all we injoy and are possessed of are not to be compared to this unsearchably rich treasure which we are here counselled to buy Cant 8. 7. 2. And it also appeareth that by buying is not meant parting with any thing as a valuable consideration if we consider what manner of persons they are that are counselled to buy to wit such as had no worth or worthiness in them such as were indigent worthless creatures such as were wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and therefore such as could give nothing in exchange for this excellent commodity that might in the least be valuable therewith or comparable thereto And elsewhere such are invited to buy that have no money nor price Isa 55. 1 2. Luke 14. 21. 3. And it further appeareth that this is not meant by buying because it is highly provoking to God to think that we can purchase the gift of God with any thing we have as a valuable consideration This was the great and hainous iniquity of Simon Magus to think that the gift of God might be purchased with money And therefore Peter said unto him Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right in the sight of God Act. 8. 18-23 2. But this is called and compared to buying 1. Because we must part with somewhat that we may be made partakers of Christ As in in buying any commodity a man must part with one thing for another so here We must part with what we have even all that we have of our own We must be like the wise Merchant who when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Matt. 13. 44-46 So must we do we must part with and forsake all we have that we may have this Gold and white raiment As to say We must at first and always let go our Pride and high thoughts and conceits of our selves and of our being in a good condition already and without Christ This was the great and fundamental evil found with these as is before noted they said they were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing and hereby they grew remiss and lukewarm and therefore unless this evil and high conceit of themselves were abstained from and parted with by them how could they with fervency seek the Lord Hence this faithful and gracious counsellour instructeth and admonisheth them Vers 19. Be zealous and repent and the latter is needful to the former And so it is as if he should say that you may with earnestness and intention of spirit seek to know and be made partakers of Christ and those durable riches in him needful it is that you repent change your minds let go your proud and lofty thoughts and conceits of your selves and of the goodness of your present condition that you may seek the Lord the Lord himself and that substantial preparation in him Forsake your unrighteous thoughts without which you cannot return to the Lord with whom is plenteous redemption Isa 55. 1-6 7. Wash your hearts from wickedness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within you Jer. 4. 14. This haughty concert of the goodness of their present condition was that which hindered the leaders of the people in â—orâ—eâ— times from coming to Christ as the rest and refreshing and directing others thereto because they thou â—â—t the evil should not overtake nor prevent them They had made a covenant with Death and with Hell were they at agreement they were not afraid of death or hell they were in an happy estâ—te already Isa 28. 12-15 and this hindred the Jews from entertaining Christ and his Gospel they thought they were whole already and that eternal life appertained to them they had it in the Scriptures assured to them and they knew all already and took it hainously that they should be reproved or faulted for any thing or that the goodness of their condition should be suspected hence they came not to Christ that they might have light life and righteousness Matt. 9. 10-12 Joh. 5. 39 40. 9. 40 41. Luke 11. 45. God doth in due time give grace to us that we might have our high thoughts of our selves subdued and that we might hate them Oh! that it may be received by us to such end and purpose Jam. 4. 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. So also we must let go and forsake our double mindedness and halting between two opinions This Angel and Church were somewhat polluted herewith they were lukewarm and neither cold nor hot they were not so cold as to leave off all professed waiting upon Christ and use and observance of his ordinances nor so hot as to be chastly and singly for him to be for him and for him only which is a very sad and nauseous distemper and very loathsome and provoking to Christ Jesus and therefore needful it is that we cleanse our selves in the light and strength of God's grace here-from And indeed this is the consequent of pride and high conceits of our selves and of the goodness of our conditions and of our attainments and injoyments as hath been foreshewn and as also appeareth in Jam. 4. 5 6-8 The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men cometh first to save us from our pride and high thoughts of our selves and then and therewith instruction is given to cleanse the heart from couâ—le-mindeâ—ness This double-mindedness as it is very 〈◊〉 and dangerous so also it is very frequent and ordinary amongst many professours who have a great form of godlineâ—s upon them They have some appearance of love for the grace of God in Christ to man-ward and they will come to hear the Gospel in and amongst the Societies of God's people and seem to take delight therein And yet also they have love to and an heart for those differing and contrary doctrines which deny the grace of God to mankind or confess it not speak it not out openly and all are honest and godly men with them both those that declare and contend for the faith of the common salvation
one and as thus furnished is giving himself to us in his Gospel and with himself all things that we might for the excellency of the knowledg of him suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung and dogs-meat that we might win him and be sound in him Now then doth not this render a man unworthy of him that shall preferr his own wisdom which is brutish his righteousness which is filthy his works which are empty and unprofitable his glory which is vain his Mammon which is false and uncertain and his pleasures which are 〈◊〉 and but for a little time to be injoyed before him who is altogether lovely only satisfying and inriching and who rendereth and maketh them eternally happy and blessed that receive and retain him Do not such men by observing lying vanities sorsake and deprive themselves of their own mercy Jona 2. 8. Are they not unworthy of him and worthy of the severest punishment that trample under foot the Son of God and count the blood of the covenant a common and profane thing Heb. 10. 29. Is not their sin herein like unto and yet much greater then was the sin of Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birthwright Heb. 12. 16 17. Is not this justly the condemnation the cause of mens condemnation that Christ the true light hath come and men loved darkness rather then light to wit preferred their sins and idols before Christ in whom God hath taken up all his well pleasedness and whom he hath to loved that he hath given all things into his hand Ioh. 3. 19 35 36. Is not men's iniquity herein like that of the Iows who would not have this man to reign over them but rejected Christ and preserred a murderer before the Prince of life Acts 3. 14 15. And are not they unmeet for and unworthy of him who when called to the waters wine milk bread that which is good fatness to a feast of fat things refuse this because it must be bought though without money and price and yet willingly spend and weigh money for that which is not bread and labour for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 1 2 3. Surely this is great unworthiness and unthankfulness a most foolish and unkind requital of his goodness who in his love and pity hath redeemed us and is now calling us to the injoyment of himself by his grace and it must needs provoke the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to anger that men so lightly esteem the Son of his love as to prefer lies before him who is the truth and empty appearances before the substance Yea they shall all be damned persisting herein who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10-12 How shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2. 3. Them that honour him who give unto him the precedency and preeminence in all things to whom the Father hath given it he will honour But those that despise him who preser Wives or Children or their own wisdom or righteousness or lives before him shall be lightly esteemed Mark 10. 29 30. 1 Sam. 2. 30. O Lord the hope of Israel saith the Prophet all that for sake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from me shall be written in the Earth not in Heaven because they have for saken the Lord the fountain of living waters Jer. 2. 10-13 17. 13. 18. 14 15. Oh! That this may be so considered by us that we may not render our selves so foolish and demean our selves so unworthily as to love other things rather then him which is hatred of him Joh. 3. 19 20. But that we may so consider his infinite and incomparable worthiness that we may hate all for his sake that we may gain him and be made partakers of him and may abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming 3. Yea it is needful this Gold and White raiment be bought in the present time and opportunity therefore this gracious and faithful counsellour instructeth us to do it in the present time I Counsel thee to buy c. Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Now is the Mart as it were in which these inriching commodities are set to sale and may be had and bought by us And if the present opportunity be neglected and let slip by us we may deprive our selves hereof and be guilty of the greatest folly and madness imaginable They were truly called foolish Virgins and were so with a witness who slumbred and slept when there was an opportune season for buying and afterwards while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and those that had formerly bought and were ready went in with him and the door was shut and these foolish ones were excluded Matt. 25. 6-12 What cause have we therefore to watch and redeem the time for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh Matt. 25. 13. Certainly our life-time is the only time allotted us for buying In the grave whither we are going there is no work nor device nor wisdom nor knowledg Eccles 9. 10. The night is then come when no man can work and our times are in the hand of the Lord and not in our own There is no man hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit and there is no discharge in that war but when he pleaseth he can take away our breath and then we return to our dust and in that day all our thoughts perish Oh! that we may therefore seek the Lord and this gold and white raiment while he and it may be found and whatever our hand findeth to do let us do it with our might Isa 55. 6. Eccles 9. 10. To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Strive now to enter in at the straight gate for many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Go to then ye that say to morrow we will buy we will seek after those heavenly treasures when we have more convenient season Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow for what is your life It is even as a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away but now hear counsel this gracious and needful counsel and be wise and refuse it not And do like that wise man spoken of Matt. 13. 44. The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field the which when a man hath found he hideth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that be hath and presently buyeth that field So let us do Walk we circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the opportunity because the days are evil Ephes 5. 15 16. Let us in the present season and perpetually while we are here in this world buy the truth even Christ and those unsearchable riches
this giveth understanding Yea herewith Christ is present unto the end of the world and hereby he giveth light to them that are in darkness John 1. 6-9 with Prov. 6. 23. Isa 42. 1-7 Jesus Christ in shewing unto his Apostles in the Scripture the things concerning himself to wit that he hath suffered and risen again from the dead the third day then and thereby opened unto them the Scriptures and opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24. 25-27 32 44 45-47 This then is the Eye-salve wherewith they should anoint their eyes to wit the testimony of Jesus especially in the first things of it which is the spirit of prophecy Rev. 19. 10. and the unction whereby they might 〈◊〉 all things 1 John 2. 20 21. 3. What is this anointing the eyes here called for and counselled unto Surely hereby is meant a receiving this Testimony of Jesus and retaining it in the midst of the heart Or as having reference to the Metaphor a putting it upon the eye and suffering it there to abide and enter in and take place not resisting or putting it away Herein is implied that this Eye-salve is brought nigh in due time unto men yea to such also as have suffered a decay of those things wrought in them by the glorious Gospel The word is nigh thee saith the Apostle in thy mouth and in thine heart that is the word of faith which we preach 'T is brought nigh to men in the preaching of it that it might be received and entertained by them Rom. 10. 8. Now that which is here required is that they should anoint their eyes herewith that they should embrace it and not put it away from them This was the great evil found with the Jews when the Apostles preached the Gospel to them and that which caused them to turn to the Gentiles That when the word of God was spoken to them they put it away from them and would none of it Had they entertained it it would have opened their blind eyes but they refused it and rejected this word of salvation sent to them Acts 13. 45 46. The contrary hereto was required of this Angel and Church Namely that they would receive and let that abide in them which they had heard at the beginning As 1 John 2. 20 21-24 John 9. 11-15 Luke 9. 44. As Salve will not cure any bodily infirmity or distemper unless it be laid upon it and applied thereto So also it is needful to the end our spiritual blindness may be removed and cured that this Eye-salve the testimony of Jesus be received and kept by us and laid to our eyes as it were and suffered there to abide according to what the Proverb saith My son attend to my words incline thine ear unto my sayings let them not depart from thine eyes but apply them thereto as Salve keep them in the midst of thine heart for they are life unto those that find them and medicine to all their flesh Prov. 4. 20-22 3. 21-23 And so certainly that which is contained in this counsel that they should anoint their eyes is like unto that My son keep my words and lay up my commandments with thee keep my commandments and live and my law as the apple of thine eyes Bind them upon thy fingers write them upon the table of thine heart c. Prov. 7. 1-4 John 14. 21-24 1 John 2. 4 5. The anointing then here called for and counselled unto is an embracing and keeping upon the eyes those things they had heard from the beginning in the Gospel of Christ which would heal and cure their blind eyes and help them to see and behold that which at present they were ignorant of and unacquianted with Revel 3. 3. 1 Corinth 15. 2 3 4 4. We come in the next place to shew that this Eye-salve is prepared for the blind and brought nigh unto them in due time that they might anoint their eyes herewith that they may see This Gospel hath been witnessed and preached from the beginning The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets did testifie before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1 9-11 And therewith God was converting and restoring the soul from its wandrings and diseases Psal 19. 7. But now the mystery is so opened as in former times it was not The mystery which was kept secret since the world began is now revealed and made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God made known to all nations for the obedience of faith Rom. 16. 25 26. And this Gospel as thus revealed is in the Scriptures of truth preserved amongst his Angels and Churches through the wonderfulness of Gods working whereby they have great advantage given unto them Rom. 3. 1 2. This is committed to them and they are betrusted with it in the records thereof that thereby they might anoint their eyes and might shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life 1 Tim. 3. 15. Phil. 2 15 16. And in due time God is bringing this nigh unto them and giving it unto them that it might be received This commandment this word of faith is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do is Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the sea that we may hear it and do it But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thine heart that is the word of faith which we preach saith the Apostle Deut. 30. 11-14 with Rom. 10. 8 14-21 It is given unto the blind in due season as is intimated in that the Wisdom of God saith Receive my sayings Prov. 4. 10. Receive my instruction Prov. 8. 4-10 19 20. For a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above John 3. 27. As God hath written unto us excellent things in counsels and knowledge even the great things of his Law so in due time he is shewing them unto men to them that have the Name of Christ called upon them especially and bringing nigh unto them and strengthning them to receive and embrace them that the eyes of their understandings might be enlightened thereinto and thereby into all things needful to be known and understood by them Yea and this Eye-salve may be had freely in its preventing operations not onely without money and price without worth and worthiness for so the Gold and White Raiment may be had as hath been shewn but also without buying And we are not instructed as before is said to buy this Eye-salve to part with any thing before we anoint our eyes but we are counselled to receive and apply this to our eyes freely that we may see And then and so to buy those unvaluable treasures here commended to us
And this instruction may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us the sinfulness and provoking nature of their sin and justness and severity of their punishment who close their eyes or remain blind when such Salve is prepared for them and brought nigh unto them in due season Such have no cloke for their sins but are willingly ignorant who reject or despise this remedy provided for them of God And how shall they escape that neglect so great salvation If there were no Salve prepared for the blind or if it were not brought nigh unto them or might not be had freely men might have some excuse they might say Alas we are blind and how then should we seek for healing and poor and miserable and how then should we buy it But what will they now have to say who perish for lack of knowledge especially where the Scriptures are vouchsafed If they shall be inexcusable unto whom the Word and Oracles of God have not been afforded nor committed Rom. 1. 19 20 21. How much rather inexcusable will they be and of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall they be counted worthy who remain in blindness and ignorance unto whom he hath given and shewed his word and afforded more choice advantage and means Psal 147. 19 20. Rom. 3. 1 2. For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt saith the Prophet I am black astonishment hath taken hold on me Is there no balm in Gilead Is there no Physician there Why then is not the hurt of the daughter of my people recovered Jer. 8. 20-22 Great is their sin and terrible will be their judgment so persisting that hate knowledge and will not chuse the fear of the Lord Or after their eyes have been opened wink therewith and close them and will not behold the Majesty of the Lord nor make use of this Medicine prepared lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and Christ should heal them Matth 13. 13-15 Prov. 1. 20-29 Isa 27. 11. Oh that we may none of us be guilty of such like folly and madness as this is 2. In that this Eye-salve is prepared and brought unto the blind and to such of them also as are become blind after their eyes have been opened we may herein perceive and see that God hath no pleasure in the destruction of such He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth And much rather unwilling is he that those little ones should return unto and remain in blindness who have known God or rather been known of him 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 Matt. 18. 11. He hath every way of his goodness provided for us miserable and helpless ones that we might not remain in our miserable condition but might be brought back to God Psal 68. 10. 1 Pet. 3. 18. There is a Medicine prepared and in due time brought nigh unto us and which may be had freely by us to the end we might be healed and cured For this gracious Counsellour hath no pleasure none at all in our misery and destruction while it is called to day For he came not to judge the world but to save the world And in him we may see the Father and be assured that he is not willing that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance John 12. 44-47 2 Pet. 3. 9 15. Therefore he hath not onely provided durable riches that we might be inriched thereby 2 Cor. 8. 9. and durable clothing that we might be covered and adorned therewith Rom. 13. 12-14 but Eye-salve also for giving sight unto us Isa 42. 1-6-7 And may not he then say to us as he did to his people in former times Judge I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard what could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it Isa 5. 3 4. May he not appeal to us and say What iniquity have you found in me Have I been a wilderness unto Israel a land of darkness Jer. 2. 5-31 May we not herein read and be assured of his gracious heart towards us and know that he hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth though he be rebuking and threatning of them Ezek. 18. 32. Rev. 3. 19. Oh that we may never despise such testimonies of Love and riches of goodness but that we may thereby be led to repentance and moved and prevailed with thankfully to accept of his abundant grace Rom. 2. 4 5. 3. It may also be useful unto us to perswade and prevail with us to suffer the word of exhortation and to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see Let us not by observing lying vanities forsake our own mercy but be we exhorted to receive and keep our fathers commandment and forsake we not the law of our mother but let us bind them continually upon our heart like a Salve to a Sore and â—ye them about our neck that they may lead us and guide us for the commandment is a lamp and the law light Prov. 6. â—0-23 He is a gracious Counsellour who giveth to us this good counsel one who hath given intallible proof of the truth and sincerity of his love to us in that he laid down his life for us that he might take it up again And who is desirous of our good and would not that we should continue in our blindness and ignorance and hath therefore prepared for us and is bringing nigh to us this Eye-salve that we might make use of it that we might embrace it and our hearts might retain his words that we might live Consider we the easiness of his Yoke and lightness of his Burden which he putteth upon us His Commandment herein is not grievous he doth not require we should purge away our sin by Sacrifice or make our peace with God by any wisdom or strength of ours He calleth not upon us to get and provide for our selves Eye-salve or to go and seek it we know not where We might then say Alas we are blind and poor how should we do such things But behold the easiness of his requirings he onely saith Anoint thine eyes with Eye-salve apply it and let it not depart from thine eyes If he had commanded us some hard thing there had been reason sufficient for us to have done it if possible because our good is so much concerned herein and ours onely For it doth not adventage him at all how much rather when he saith Anoint and see Micah 6. 6-8 Matth. 11. 28 30. 1 John 5. 3. 2 King 5. 13. Let us then hear his counsel and receive his instruction that we may be wise in the latter end Prov. 4. 1-5 19. 20. Or otherwise we must needs be and remain in a miserable condition And this will further appear in the last Particular viz. 3. That to the end Christs Angels and Churches may win him and those heavenly Treasures hid in him